The hottest Policy Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top U.S. Politics Topics

Debt ceiling hypocrisy: US boosts military budget while restricting food stamps for poor

Geopolitical Economy Report • 757 implied HN points • 03 Jun 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy
  1. The US government prioritizes boosting the military budget over providing assistance to those in need, like restricting access to food stamps for the poor.
  2. US politicians across parties show little concern for the national debt, as evident from the bipartisan agreement to increase the military budget significantly.
  3. The US economic dominance, particularly with the dollar as the global reserve currency, affords it privileges that other nations, especially in the Global South, do not have, allowing the US to handle debt and deficits uniquely.

Sorry, This Is Not Going Away

COVID Reason • 1467 implied HN points • 22 May 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy
  1. Various consequences from the pandemic response are still present such as educational setbacks, economic issues, and distrust in government.
  2. A group of individuals criticized the US policy response to the pandemic and suggested different strategies for the future.
  3. The book by the Covid Crisis Group attempts to address the pandemic aftermath but faces skepticism and criticism for its content and approach.

What Healthy Boards Look Like

DruGroup • 159 implied HN points • 07 May 24
💼 Business Policy
  1. Healthy boards focus on governance, avoiding micromanagement. They concentrate on big-picture decisions rather than getting caught up in daily operations.
  2. Good boards prioritize setting strategic direction over just directing actions. They work on long-term goals instead of getting bogged down in immediate tasks.
  3. Instead of panicking during crises, successful boards take time to think things through. They focus on understanding the situation for lasting solutions rather than quick fixes.

The Great Confinement

OK Doomer • 347 implied HN points • 25 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy
  1. Fascism has deep roots in American history, influenced by race laws and policies aimed at Native Americans long before it appeared in Europe. These ideas shaped actions in both the U.S. and Nazi Germany.
  2. The eugenics movement in America was popular and supported by many, even reaching influential figures and organizations. This movement promoted harmful policies that aimed to exclude and sterilize those deemed 'unfit'.
  3. Throughout history, societies have often confined or excluded people who don't fit certain norms, treating them as undesirable. Recognizing this pattern can help us understand and confront ongoing injustices today.
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Inequality Has Become Its Own Explanation

Journal of Free Black Thought • 50 implied HN points • 23 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Policy
  1. Calling disparities "systemic racism" without naming specific policies or institutional practices and showing they caused the outcomes is circular and not an explanation.
  2. Rare acts of discrimination can produce large group gaps in competitive selection processes, so low measured rates of discriminatory acts can coexist with big disparities—but that dynamic alone does not identify a discriminatory system.
  3. Programs like implicit bias training and generic DEI often have weak effects; a more effective approach is structuring decisions so evaluators must consider concrete, job‑relevant individuating information, which greatly reduces biased judgments.

From Dollar Dominance to the Slop Machine

Kyla’s Newsletter • 364 implied HN points • 08 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy
  1. The US economy is focused on extracting value rather than creating new things. This means we're taking from what we already have instead of building for the future.
  2. China is investing in infrastructure and technology, strengthening its economy while the US is stuck in old patterns. They're creating new systems, while we're just trying to make money from what's already there.
  3. To improve, we need to treat attention and information carefully, focusing on long-term growth instead of quick engagement. It's important to build trust and invest in real solutions rather than just trying to capture attention.

Top Links 753 Front-running European exports. The American transfer state. Troll farm hierarchy & the economics of motor-racing.

Chartbook • 472 implied HN points • 29 May 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy
  1. European exports are being closely watched, possibly for trends or economic implications. It's important to stay updated on how they impact global trade.
  2. The idea of an American transfer state likely refers to the financial support systems in place within the U.S. Understanding this can help in grasping economic dynamics.
  3. There's a mention of troll farms and their organizational structure, highlighting the complexities of online information and influence. This can affect how we view digital communication.

Top Links 768 Here come the robots. Truck parking & Walt Whitman as "self-fashioning vector of the spirit of the age".

Chartbook • 429 implied HN points • 13 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy
  1. There are new ideas about robots taking over jobs, especially in trucking. This could change how we think about work and technology.
  2. Walt Whitman is being seen as a symbol of individual expression and identity in today's world. His ideas about self-fashioning relate to how people view themselves now.
  3. The impact of tariffs and factory jobs assumes there are enough workers to fill those roles. This might not be true, given current labor shortages.

Top Links 748 Why US agricultural exports matter. Industrializing Carrara & the giant impact of America's mass incarceration.

Chartbook • 486 implied HN points • 24 May 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy
  1. US agricultural exports are important for farmers and the economy, helping to stabilize prices and increase income.
  2. Industrializing Carrara highlights the significant impact of industries on local economies and communities.
  3. America's mass incarceration has wide-ranging effects, affecting both individuals and society as a whole.

Bulls and bears: a nuclear update

Everything is Light • 373 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Policy
  1. Energy security is a global concern and nuclear energy is crucial for societal progress.
  2. Many countries are investing in expanding nuclear energy generation, with significant projects underway in Asia, Europe, and North America.
  3. Despite past reservations, some nations like Japan and Italy are reconsidering nuclear power, while others like Denmark and Singapore are exploring options.

Nobody Votes for Podcasters

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 347 implied HN points • 16 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy
  1. Some people think Trump has turned his back on the working-class voters who supported him. They feel he hasn't kept important promises, especially on immigration and social policies.
  2. Critics say that Trump's recent actions, like supporting Israel and changing tax policies, align more with traditional Republican ideas than the 'America First' approach he campaigned on.
  3. These opinions about Trump's betrayal show a misunderstanding of today's political landscape in America, where many factors come into play beyond just promises made during a campaign.

ACIP at a Historic Turning Point

Injecting Freedom • 72 implied HN points • 11 Dec 25
🏥 Health Politics Policy
  1. Clinical trials used to license childhood vaccines matter a lot because ACIP often recommends those vaccines soon after licensure.
  2. There is a lack of post-licensure safety data and current safety monitoring isn't adequate, so more thorough follow-up is needed after vaccines are approved.
  3. ACIP has a historic opportunity to recommit to vaccine safety and to more carefully weigh efficacy issues when making its vaccine schedule recommendations.

Top Links 754 Exxon's long plateau. Banana economics. Modal magic & the General of Physics.

Chartbook • 457 implied HN points • 30 May 25
💰 Finance Policy
  1. ExxonMobil is not rapidly expanding its fossil fuel production. This suggests a more stable or declining phase for the company rather than aggressive growth.
  2. The content focuses on varied topics like economics and physics, indicating a diverse range of interests and insights.
  3. The support of subscribers is essential for maintaining the platform, highlighting the importance of community in content creation.

Natan Sharansky: A President’s Words Saved Me in the Gulag

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 779 implied HN points • 21 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy
  1. Words from leaders can have a big impact, like how Reagan's words helped people in the Soviet Union. They find hope in support from powerful figures.
  2. Trump's comments about Ukraine's president being illegitimate mirror dangerous propaganda, which is concerning. It shows a shift away from supporting freedom against oppression.
  3. Political prisoners in Russia today might feel abandoned without clear support from American leadership. Having an ally is crucial for their morale and hope.

We need more than Westminster reporters to understand government

Odds and Ends of History • 1072 implied HN points • 09 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy
  1. Relying only on political reporters can lead to misunderstandings of complex topics. We need experts in various fields to report accurately.
  2. Specialist journalists can provide important context that general political reporters might miss. This can help clarify complicated subjects for the public.
  3. The issue isn't about political bias, but rather the dominance of lobby reporters in news coverage. This can result in incomplete or unclear stories about significant issues.

Looking for a better story

imperfect offerings • 239 implied HN points • 18 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Policy
  1. The future of AI may not necessarily be as promising as it has been hyped, with concerns about inflated expectations and potential limited use cases.
  2. The use of generative AI can have unintended negative consequences, such as detrimental effects on academia, exploitation of data workers, and potential harm to minority languages.
  3. AI's impact on the environment, from excessive water usage to electricity consumption, raises concerns about accelerating climate change and misinformation.

Huawei Founder on US v China and Basic Research

ChinaTalk • 415 implied HN points • 11 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Policy
  1. Basic research is crucial for long-term success. Without it, countries can't make significant advancements and keep up with other leading nations.
  2. There are many challenges in the tech industry, but rather than focusing on the negative, it's important to keep moving forward and adapt. China is making progress through collaboration among its numerous chip companies.
  3. Support for theoretical scientists and researchers is essential. Their work, though often misunderstood and slow to show results, is key to the future development and innovation of the country.

Why American needs fewer bus stops

The Works in Progress Newsletter • 29 implied HN points • 19 Jan 26
🪑 Design Policy
  1. American buses stop too often, which makes them slow, unreliable, and less useful than driving. Increasing the distance between stops (stop balancing) speeds buses up and expands how far riders can get in the same time.
  2. Stop balancing is cheap and quick to do and lowers operating costs because faster routes need fewer drivers to maintain the same frequency. Agencies can use those savings to run more service or protect routes from cuts.
  3. Fewer, better-placed stops let agencies invest in higher-quality shelters, real-time info, and safer sidewalks, improving the rider experience and visibility of the network. Closing overlapping stops usually only slightly reduces coverage while making the remaining stops more useful and likely to attract riders.

A Rebuttal to a School Choice Legislator

The View from Rural Missouri by Jess Piper • 517 implied HN points • 28 Nov 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy
  1. School choice arguments often promote a free-market approach to education, but they may not be suitable for all communities.
  2. Rural towns might not have the necessary market conditions for school competition or choice to be effective.
  3. Public school funding issues, particularly in rural areas, are a significant concern and can be exacerbated by privatization schemes.

Service Academy Majors/Minors

Points And Figures • 879 implied HN points • 24 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy
  1. Service academies are meant to train future military officers, and their classes should reflect that mission. This means focusing on skills and knowledge relevant to defense rather than other topics.
  2. There has been pushback against classes like 'Diversity and Inclusion Studies' in military academies, which some view as unnecessary or indoctrination rather than practical education.
  3. Life at service academies is very different from civilian college experiences, with strict rules and a heavy emphasis on discipline and military training.

What about the cost?

Everything is Light • 668 implied HN points • 01 Apr 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Policy
  1. Comparing the costs of different energy sources is more complex than just looking at the upfront costs of individual components.
  2. The Levelised Cost of Energy (LCOE) metric is not sufficient for assessing cost-effectiveness because it overlooks various factors like system costs and reliability.
  3. It's essential to consider the true costs of energy sources, including factors like backup power needs, disposal costs, and environmental impacts, to make informed and effective energy policy decisions.

This Week in Canada: Don’t Try to Say No to a Land Acknowledgment

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 421 implied HN points • 12 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy
  1. A Canadian company is trying to lead the U.S. in deep-sea mining, which could provide important minerals for technology like phones and electric cars.
  2. The U.S. government is looking to change rules that made deep-sea mining difficult since 1982, pushing to take advantage of these resources quickly.
  3. There is a debate around the idea of land acknowledgments in Canada, highlighting differing views on their importance and impact.

($) H20 and the Broken Export Control Debate

Interconnected • 293 implied HN points • 29 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Policy
  1. The export control debate about Nvidia's H20 chip is complicated because both sides use the same evidence to argue their points. It shows that the argument is not fully addressing the real concerns.
  2. Chinese tech companies are placing large orders for these H20 chips, but they fear getting too reliant on Nvidia's products instead of developing their own. This means they want to ensure they have various options.
  3. Interestingly, many Chinese companies also dislike Huawei, as they don’t want to be stuck with a single supplier. They are looking for better choices in the tech landscape.

Network connectivity problems

Odds and Ends of History • 67 implied HN points • 15 Dec 25
🎙 Podcasts Policy
  1. The National Grid’s queuing system for connecting new customers is badly broken and causes frustrating delays, and the government is trying to fix it.
  2. There’s a remarkable World War II railway bridge in Weston-super-Mare with an unusual wartime story that’s worth knowing.
  3. London’s planning system forces data centres and new homes to compete for limited electricity capacity, creating constraints on development, and the Gridlocked report argues planning changes could ease that pressure.

Do politicians need Legos to explain housing on social media?

The New Urban Order • 219 implied HN points • 25 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy
  1. Using creative and simple methods, like Legos, can effectively convey complex topics like housing supply and demand to a wider audience on social media.
  2. Politicians can make their housing messages more engaging by focusing on simple but impactful messages, avoiding getting lost in technical details.
  3. Creating approachable and visually appealing social media content can help elevate the dialogue around housing issues and engage a broader audience in the conversation.

🔃 How bad policy can offset the AI boom

Faster, Please! • 91 implied HN points • 25 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy
  1. AI is advancing quickly in the U.S., but trade restrictions could slow its growth. It's important to keep trade open for technology to thrive.
  2. Bad policies can negatively affect the benefits that AI could bring to the economy. Making smart choices is key to reaping those rewards.
  3. Balancing AI growth with thoughtful regulations is crucial. We need to support innovation while addressing risks.

Top Links 756 Tariff-sensitive inflation is on its way. The crisis in the diamond business. The Sound of Music and Caught by the Tides.

Chartbook • 429 implied HN points • 01 Jun 25
💰 Finance Policy
  1. Tariff-sensitive inflation is expected to rise soon. This means that prices on certain goods may go up because of changes in tariffs.
  2. The diamond industry is facing a crisis. This could impact the availability and pricing of diamonds in the market.
  3. There are interesting discussions around cultural topics like 'The Sound of Music' and environmental issues like 'Caught by the Tides'. These may provide insights into how culture and nature intersect.

Open letter to the Christchurch City Council NZ – available for anyone to sign who is a current, or potential, resident or visitor to Christchurch.

A B’Old Woman • 359 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy
  1. The Christchurch City Council is being criticized for not including the word 'sex' in their new policy, which only mentions 'gender'.
  2. There are concerns about allowing men who identify as women to access women-only spaces like the pool's women's sessions.
  3. An open letter is available for current or prospective residents and visitors to Christchurch to support keeping female-only services and facilities.

113 predictions for Trump's second term

Silver Bulletin • 829 implied HN points • 26 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy
  1. The predictions aim to explore various possible outcomes of Trump's second term, from political events to global issues. It's like guessing how a story might unfold, mixing serious and bizarre scenarios.
  2. The predictions are based on probabilities, meaning some events are more likely to happen than others. For example, predicting a Republican win in 2028 isn't just a simple yes or no; there's a chance it could happen.
  3. There’s an emphasis on keeping track of unusual risks and looking at the bigger picture. These predictions could shape how we think about future political events and the changing landscape in the US.

You Can’t Write Vague And Censorship-Friendly Editorial Guidelines And Then Pretend They Won’t Apply In The Real World

Singal-Minded • 856 implied HN points • 11 Jan 25
🔬 Science Policy
  1. Vague editorial guidelines can lead to serious issues in real-life situations. It's important to have clear and specific rules to avoid confusion and misapplication.
  2. Censorship in the sciences is a topic that many people are discussing. There are different viewpoints on how to balance respect for human dignity with academic freedom.
  3. It's essential to protect published research from being altered or withdrawn unjustly. Making changes for social justice reasons can lead to more harm than good in the scientific community.

How the reconciliation bill would change America

Can We Still Govern? • 357 implied HN points • 30 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy
  1. The recent reconciliation bill favors the rich while harming the poor, making it harder for those in need to access benefits like healthcare and food support.
  2. It significantly increases funding for the security state, leading to more aggressive enforcement actions and potentially less safety for everyday people.
  3. The bill could massively increase the national deficit and cut support for renewable energy, which would hurt efforts to address climate change and invest in future generations.

EXCLUSIVE: Trump Is Starving the National Endowment for Democracy

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 760 implied HN points • 11 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy
  1. The National Endowment for Democracy is facing severe funding cuts under Trump's administration. This could impact its ability to promote democracy worldwide.
  2. The situation at the National Endowment for Democracy is one of the significant changes happening in Washington today.
  3. Understanding these changes is important as they could affect important international relations and democratic efforts globally.

An Argument For Tariffs

Points And Figures • 746 implied HN points • 17 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy
  1. Tariffs can hurt consumers because they end up paying higher prices. Even if some believe they help local businesses, they can actually make those businesses less competitive.
  2. In some cases, tariffs might be necessary to protect industries that are important for national security, like drone technology. This can help the country stay strong in a competitive world.
  3. Big companies can create advantages that make it hard for others to compete. If countries like China dominate certain industries, tariffs may be needed to keep a fair playing field.

Letters to the Editor: ‘Make America Healthy Again’ Gets the Facts Wrong

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 792 implied HN points • 30 Jan 25
🏥 Health Politics Policy
  1. There's a new movement called MAHA, or 'Make America Healthy Again,' which includes people with different views on health and nutrition.
  2. Some people are questioning the accuracy and safety of vaccines and other scientific claims, which has led to strong opinions and debates.
  3. Doctors are particularly concerned about the misinformation being spread by the MAHA advocates, especially regarding children's health and vaccines.

Four THB Takeaways from the Incredible 2024 US Election

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 1079 implied HN points • 06 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy
  1. There has been a big shift in U.S. politics, showing that more voters are supporting Trump than in previous elections. This could change the political landscape for years to come.
  2. Policies are really important for making actual changes in government. It's crucial for Congress to play a bigger role in creating effective policies that help everyone.
  3. Independent media has become more important because they provide thoughtful and diverse viewpoints. Many traditional media outlets missed key points during the election, so people are turning to independent sources for better insights.

When Did Trump Change His Mind about Lockdowns?

COVID Reason • 1447 implied HN points • 24 Mar 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy
  1. Trump initially agreed to nationwide lockdowns in March 2020 due to influence from key advisors like Deborah Birx and Anthony Fauci.
  2. Trump's stance on lockdowns shifted over time, with him expressing desire to reopen by Easter 2020 but eventually extending lockdowns beyond that.
  3. Despite expressing some willingness to reopen, Trump ultimately stood by lockdown measures and criticized governors who attempted to ease restrictions.

Quadrilemma

Ironsides Macroeconomics 'It's Never Different This Time' • 373 implied HN points • 06 Jan 24
💰 Finance Policy
  1. The market outlook suggests it's time to increase exposure to cyclical sectors.
  2. Understanding the market implied policy path, earnings expectations, and the Fed's reaction function is crucial for making strategic investment decisions.
  3. A healthy broadening out in the market may require certain economic conditions to be met, like unemployment rates and average hourly earnings.