The hottest Policy Substack posts right now

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Top U.S. Politics Topics

"The progress of man's welfare"

Hypertext • 99 implied HN points • 14 Nov 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Economics Social Policy Government Policy History
  1. Milton Friedman advocated for 'progressive negative taxation' as a way to address poverty and ensure welfare progress. The idea was rooted in a guaranteed minimum income based on nutritional needs.
  2. Friedman's negative income tax proposal faced challenges and opposition, particularly in implementation and acceptance among policymakers. It aimed to bridge left-wing and right-wing perspectives on poverty alleviation.
  3. The concept of negative income tax, though not fully realized in policy, showcased the ideological uniqueness of grounding economic theories in practical welfare solutions. It sought to balance efficiency, individual freedom, and incentives in addressing poverty.

Elon Musk Is Completely Full Of Shit!

C.O.P. Central Organizing Principle. • 12 implied HN points • 09 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy War International relations Public Figures Media
  1. Elon Musk has made money from the war in Ukraine by using Starlink technology that was meant for military use, which raises questions about his credibility.
  2. The proposal for Ukraine's neutrality and a buffer zone likely won't satisfy Russia, as they have clear goals for their military actions.
  3. Musk and Trump, despite their attempts to present alternative views, are seen as part of the established political system and not genuinely offering solutions.

How The Sugar Tax Ruined Soft Drinks

Vittles • 120 implied HN points • 20 Feb 24
🍲 Food & Drink Policy
  1. The sugar tax led to the reformulation of soft drinks with artificial sweeteners, making them taste worse and impacting people's enjoyment of these beverages.
  2. The reduction in sugar content in popular soft drinks like Sanpellegrino and Irn-Bru due to the sugar tax led to significant backlash from consumers and changes in taste perceptions.
  3. Consumer experiences and health effects were not fully considered in the implementation of the sugar tax, leading to unintended consequences like gastrointestinal issues from artificial sweeteners.

What They’re Still Not Telling Us About the UFOs They Shot Down

theconnector • 117 implied HN points • 14 Feb 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Policy Space Regulation Climate
  1. The US government has limited information about UFOs shot down in American airspace, leading to various speculations.
  2. There is a focus on militarizing space and colonizing other planets instead of pursuing sustainable and peaceful initiatives.
  3. The push for corporate colonization of space, supported by massive government funding, is driven by destructive myths rather than practical priorities.
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A Mishmash of Monday Readings

crimeandpunishment • 117 implied HN points • 14 Mar 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy Community Legislation Economics Government
  1. Preserving dirt roads is about connecting to nature and heritage, slowing down, and appreciating rural life.
  2. Communities are banning Dollar Stores due to predatory business practices and negative impact on local businesses and communities.
  3. Senator Elizabeth Warren discusses the failures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank and the need for financial regulations.

Is Network Reliability a Public Good?

Knowledge Problem • 117 implied HN points • 30 Mar 23
🔬 Science Public Goods Networks Economics Policy Reliability
  1. Club goods are goods that can be consumed non-rivalrously but can exclude non-payers.
  2. Network reliability is not necessarily a public good; not everything valuable to the public is a public good.
  3. Investments in reliability may benefit others but can still be individually worthwhile, leading to efficient outcomes without the need for heavy central coordination.

Sustainability

David Friedman’s Substack • 278 implied HN points • 18 Jul 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics Sustainability Policy Consequences
  1. Sustainability may not be a practical goal if it means continuing our present activities indefinitely.
  2. Defining sustainability based on future needs is challenging due to uncertainties and differing interpretations.
  3. The concept of sustainability can be manipulated to support any policy, which hinders meaningful discussions about future generations.

Inside the mythical NATO-sabotaging version of Trump hallucinated by David Frum

Michael Tracey • 121 implied HN points • 24 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy Election Government Partisanship International relations
  1. The best indicator of what Trump would do as president were his actions during his first term, not hypothetical versions of him invented by different groups.
  2. Despite claims by David Frum that Trump would undermine NATO and favor Russia, the reality was quite the opposite - Trump actually increased sanctions on Russia, supported Ukraine with lethal assistance, and expanded NATO.
  3. Misconceptions about Trump's relationship with Russia persisted, even though Putin publicly preferred Biden over Trump due to unsuccessful attempts to improve relations during the Trump Administration.

Unpacking the Executive Order on AI

The Exformation Newsletter • 98 implied HN points • 09 Nov 23
🕹 Technology AI Regulation Legal Policy Government
  1. The Executive Order on AI has raised concerns about legal challenges and the impact on the rule of law.
  2. Government policy decisions can have long-lasting effects, as seen in examples like the Electronic Communications Privacy Act and technical requirements for new technologies.
  3. The Executive Order gives the White House new authority over 'dual use foundation models,' raising questions about regulation and potential impacts on innovation.

EU Systems Transformation Hub launched

Surfing the Future • 59 implied HN points • 30 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Environment Policy European Union Sustainability Collaboration
  1. EU Systems Transformation Hub launched to find systemic solutions for systemic crises in Europe.
  2. The Hub involves five organizations like Metabolic, EIT Climate-KIC, and the Club of Rome, with an open invite for more to join.
  3. The Hub focuses on mapping EU progress on Sustainable Development Goals, crafting progressive narratives for policymakers, and consulting with stakeholders.

How would you improve food in the UK?

Vittles • 110 implied HN points • 26 Feb 24
🍲 Food & Drink Policy Agriculture Nutrition Food culture
  1. Minimum Wage Tied to Cost of Food: Consider including the cost of food in minimum wage and benefit calculations to ensure everyone can afford to eat.
  2. Reform Universal Credit: Reforming the Universal Credit system can help end the reliance on food aid and inconsistent income, promoting food security for all.
  3. Agroecology Development Officers: Implementing Agroecology Development Officers can help transition to more sustainable agroecological food systems with regional collaboration.

New applied metascience lab - Future House announced + some thoughts on UK applied metascience

James W. Phillips' Newsletter • 98 implied HN points • 01 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Research AI Innovation Policy Entrepreneurship
  1. A new applied metascience lab called Future House has been announced, with a focus on using AI to accelerate scientific research.
  2. Future House aims to create an 'AI scientist' that can independently develop hypotheses by analyzing scientific papers.
  3. The UK needs to prioritize initiatives like Future House to orient to new opportunities and empower quality talent in research.

The Demon in the Can

Vittles • 112 implied HN points • 19 Feb 24
🍲 Food & Drink Policy Health Social Issues Industry
  1. The sugar tax introduced in the UK aimed to reduce sugar consumption and combat obesity, but there is uncertainty about its effectiveness in delivering health benefits.
  2. The sugar tax generated revenue, but there are concerns about whether the funds are being used as promised for health-related interventions.
  3. The sugar tax embodies a broader societal issue of shifting blame onto individuals for their food choices, rather than addressing underlying social justice and inequalities.

America's Money Nuke

Diane Francis • 499 implied HN points • 25 Apr 22
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy Economy Leadership Foreign Relations National Security
  1. Janet Yellen is a key figure in managing the U.S. economy, showing that size doesn't matter when it comes to leadership.
  2. The financial tools created by her department are seen as powerful weapons meant to combat global threats, specifically targeting Russia.
  3. These economic strategies aim to influence international relations and bring about significant changes in global politics.

Commentator

Castalia • 139 implied HN points • 28 Jun 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Media Public Opinion Government Policy
  1. Prigozhin's mutiny showed that he overstepped and is now out of the game. Putin might actually benefit from this by seeing Wagner reintegrated into the army without the chaos.
  2. The lab leak theory about COVID's origin is getting more attention, with new evidence suggesting possible links to a lab in Wuhan. However, discussions around it are still complicated and often shaky.
  3. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s campaign is shaking things up, and there's a push in media to avoid confronting his controversial views. This could backfire and attract more interest in his candidacy.

American politicians are "honoring" Navalny by brazenly misrepresenting his views

Michael Tracey • 102 implied HN points • 01 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy Bipartisanship Foreign affairs Legislation Government
  1. American politicians have been misrepresenting Alexei Navalny's views to push for increased military aid to Ukraine after his death
  2. Navalny did not support flooding Ukraine with US weapons, and his widow expressed exhaustion and disappointment with the ongoing conflict
  3. The bipartisan exploitation of Navalny's death for political gain highlights the disregard for his true beliefs and widow's statements

An overview of my thesis in response to an incisive comment

America in Crisis • 99 implied HN points • 21 Jul 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy Economy Culture Inequality History
  1. Leftists were not happy with President Obama's performance, believing he should have done more to oppose Republican-influenced policies.
  2. The shift in economic culture from stakeholder capitalism to shareholder primacy after 1981 has led to prioritizing shareholder interests over other stakeholders, resulting in growing income inequality.
  3. The discussion around economic policy typically focuses on job creation over wages and income, reflecting a shareholder primacy culture, which has implications for economic outcomes and equality.

In 2021, Larry Summers Won the Inflation Debate. Now His Victory Is Looking a Little Transitory.

Informer • 98 implied HN points • 16 Feb 23
💼 Business Inflation Economics Policy Labor Market
  1. Larry Summers' victory in the inflation debate of 2021-22 is now appearing transitory as inflation rates have steadily decreased without a spike in unemployment.
  2. Wages play a crucial role in determining inflation levels, with high wage inflation being a reliable predictor of high price inflation.
  3. Keynes and his collaborators emphasized the importance of rising money wages as the essence of inflation, diverging from the Quantity Theory of Money.

SBSQ #3: Forget the polls — has Joe Biden been a good president?

Silver Bulletin • 147 implied HN points • 30 Nov 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy Election Gambling Presidency Cities
  1. Nate Silver believes Joe Biden has been a good president based on bills passed and handling of certain issues.
  2. Nate Silver shares his 7 favorite American cities, including Chicago, Los Angeles, and Miami.
  3. Nate Silver discusses the betting odds for the US Presidential election and whether it's a good bet to buy GOP for the popular vote.

Milei vs. A School Board Epidemiologist

Variations on a Theme • 79 implied HN points • 21 Nov 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Epidemiology Bureaucracy Education Policy
  1. Javier Milei, a Libertarian, faced challenges in pushing for government limitations and administrative state cuts after being elected President of Argentina.
  2. The story highlights how bureaucrats often resist change, prioritize personal status, and maintain power against external pressure, even to the detriment of societal outcomes.
  3. The narrative underscores the importance of scrutinizing reformers and holding them accountable, as outsider status doesn't always guarantee sustainable reforms in complex systems.

GMU's "Just Societies" + March Events: Nashua, Boston, and AMA

Bet On It • 95 implied HN points • 01 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Education Events Critique Policy
  1. GMU economist shared a first-hand account critiquing the 'Just Societies' course requirement at the university, highlighting issues with DEI promoters.
  2. Upcoming Bet On It events include a Premium Subscriber Ask Me Anything session, the Liberty Forum Experience in Nashua, along with a Boston Meet-Up.
  3. Bryan Caplan's events include discussions on localism, land-use regulation, and his famous 'Build, Baby, Build' keynote talk, showcasing his engagement with current socio-economic topics.

✍️ New Jobs and Crisis At The BBC ✍️ — March 13

Inside The Newsroom • 98 implied HN points • 13 Mar 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media Government Policy Journalism
  1. The BBC faced a crisis after suspending football presenter Gary Linekar for his comments on the UK government's new immigration policy.
  2. The controversy highlighted the BBC's struggle for impartiality and the challenges of balancing political influences with public service broadcasting.
  3. The situation also brought attention to the impact of social media guidelines, government influence, and perceptions of bias on the BBC's operations.

The Forgotten Case Against Milton Friedman

Informer • 98 implied HN points • 14 May 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Economics Policy Inflation Progressives Interest Rates
  1. Milton Friedman's ideas changed economics by challenging the Phillips curve trade-off between inflation and unemployment.
  2. James Tobin provided an alternative theory of inflation focusing on demand shifts between sectors.
  3. Progressives didn't fully embrace Tobin's theory, leading to disagreements on tackling inflation and interest rates.

"It’s about policing people and policing people’s culture"

Worcester Sucks and I Love It • 98 implied HN points • 25 Mar 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy Social Issues Law enforcement Local government Civil Rights
  1. The city administration faced criticism for making it hard to hold events like the Worcester Caribbean American Carnival.
  2. The Worcester Police Department came under scrutiny for a past officer-involved shooting and handling of a dog attack.
  3. The Quality of Life Team in Worcester appears to prioritize addressing 'blight' over helping the unhoused population.