“This has been a traumatic experience for the American people. And even though the government is going to come back on, I don’t think that trauma is just going to be erased.” My latest for @nytimes.com:

Microsoft is donating 20-some acres of vacant land for the city of Atlanta to build housing. How exactly the property will evolve, though, remains mysterious. For @atlantaciviccircle.org:

NEW: Jeffrey Epstein said in emails that he had been advising the Russian government on how to deal with Donald Trump, one of several cases in which he wielded his connections to try to influence the course of foreign affairs. w @nahaltoosi www.politico.com/news/2025/11...

Epstein trending on Truth Social

Many Travelers Escaped Major Headaches. Some Weren’t So Lucky. My latest latest for @nytimes.com:

read this

Down to $1.18: How Families Are Coping With SNAP Cuts My latest for @nytimes.com, with a crack team from across the country:

In FY25, Andre Dickens’ administration allocated almost $13 million — over 75% of the $17 million disbursed to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund — to pay $8.8 million toward housing-related bond debt and at least $4 million for city staff salaries. Matt Westmoreland don't want that to happen again.

With their election night triumphs on Tuesday, Democrats showed that their demoralized party — which spent the past year mired in self-recriminations and soul-searching — could still accomplish the most important goal in politics. They can win. And win big. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/05/u...

Matt Westmoreland wants to fix Atlanta’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund Last fiscal year, Atlanta spent most of the Affordable Housing Trust Fund's money on debt service and payroll.

This would be an improvement! Atlanta is using most of its housing trust fund to pay down bond debt & employee salaries instead of creating new homes (which is ridiculous). Councilmember Matt Westmoreland has a plan for ensuring that most of the fund creates affordable housing.

Christmas came early!

In FY25, Andre Dickens’ administration allocated almost $13 million — over 75% of the $17 million disbursed to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund — to pay $8.8 million toward housing-related bond debt and at least $4 million for city staff salaries. Matt Westmoreland don't want that to happen again.

[email protected]'s “Federal Action, Local Impact” journalism summit in D.C. struck a bleak tone. Over three days, a stacked roster of experts conveyed a grim message to 30 reporters who’d flown in from across the country: This is not the America we know.

[email protected]'s “Federal Action, Local Impact” journalism summit in D.C. struck a bleak tone. Over three days, a stacked roster of experts conveyed a grim message to 30 reporters who’d flown in from across the country: This is not the America we know.

Three days in D.C., one grim takeaway: America can’t look to feds to solve housing crisis Cities must deploy new responses to a norm-breaking federal government.

WELKER: Are you looking at invoking the Insurrection Act? VANCE: We have to remember we are talking about this bc crime has gotten out of control W: Crime is down in both Chicago & Portland V: Crime is down bc they are so overwhelmed at the local level they are not even keeping stats properly

All-time ratio with 3 likes, 204 quotes, and 477 replies

I have a conspiracy theory about Trump’s former Atlanta lawyer, hear me out...

On metro Atlanta ballots: New property tax breaks for seniors? Three ballot measures would establish new homestead exemptions for homeowners over 65.

The Pentagon will impose new restrictions on reporters covering the Defense Department, requiring them to pledge not to gather or use any information that had not been formally authorized for release or risk losing their credentials to cover the military. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/20/b...

I wrote something about all the kudos (from media & think tanks) that Atlanta's Dickens Administration has been receiving recently about its affordable housing activities. (Good thing I am physically in Chicago.)

Celebrity attorney Ben Crump convened ex-Forest Cove tenants to sue their old landlord, Millennia Housing Management. He also floated a RICO prosecution against the company. For @atlantaciviccircle.org: atlantaciviccircle.org/2025/09/11/b...

Housing Justice League debuts ambitious housing policy vision for Atlanta The group’s “Housing First” platform urges the city to define affordability based on local income metrics.

Cop City RICO motions hearings Sept. 8, 2025, live thread. Live video stream: www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJvX...

I spent yesterday in Ellabell, Ga., reporting on how the Hyundai plant has transformed the community, how the ICE raid has affected its residents, and what it all means for the small town's future.

Sen. @ossoff.senate.gov wants a federal watchdog to scrutinize living conditions in Section 8 apartment complexes — and the agency that oversees them. For @atlantaciviccircle.org:

Housing advocates back Ossoff’s proposed probe of Section 8 inspections The measure won bipartisan support from the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee last month. 

Exclusive: The Pentagon has been planning a military deployment to Chicago as President Trump says he wants to crack down on crime, homelessness and undocumented immigration, in a model that could later be used in other major cities, officials familiar with the matter said. https://wapo.st/477Gs66

New England NIMBYs offer a special level of cruelty www.bostonglobe.com/2025/08/25/m...

America’s democratic system depends on the public’s understanding that law is bigger than politics, @davidfrum.bsky.social argues. But now, Trump is sending a clear message that he is willing to go after his enemies and undermine that system.

Texas is expected to be where IRS’ new stance on religious leaders endorsing candidates will matter most, one expert said. More than 200 megachurches call Texas home. “Texas will be the epicenter for testing all these ideas out,” the expert said.

Trump's exec order reflects not only the admin’s disdain for the unhoused, said @anthonymkreis.bsky.social, but also a fundamental misunderstanding of the structural drivers of homelessness, from income inequality to a lack of mental health care and affordable housing. For @atlantaciviccircle.org:

Two new resolutions put negligent landlords on notice across Atlanta: Make long-overdue repairs or be forced to sell your assets to the city. For @atlantaciviccircle.org:

NEWS: Federal judge finds that Alina Habba is NOT lawfully performing functions and duties of U.S. Attorney in New Jersey. Judge Matthew Brann disqualifies Habba from prosecution of two criminal defendants who challenged her appointment

After the IRS said it would allow religious leaders to endorse candidates, @fortworthreport.bsky.social identified at least three churches in Texas whose leaders openly praised the IRS decision.

Two new resolutions put negligent landlords on notice across Atlanta: Make long-overdue repairs or be forced to sell your assets to the city. For @atlantaciviccircle.org:

Angela Blackmon won't turn on her A/C, worried it could start “another fire in the fuse box.” Her neighbor’s doesn’t work at all. The temperature in their apartments crept up toward 90 on Sunday — and Atlanta’s heat wave will only worsen this week. My latest for @atlantaciviccircle.org:

Angela Blackmon won't turn on her A/C, worried it could start “another fire in the fuse box.” Her neighbor’s doesn’t work at all. The temperature in their apartments crept up toward 90 on Sunday — and Atlanta’s heat wave will only worsen this week. My latest for @atlantaciviccircle.org:

🧵: New details on CDC shooting suspect Joseph White: Cobb County police were dispatched to the Whites' home three times over the last year to address Kenneth White's concerns for his son's mental health, according to incident reports I obtained.

🧵: New details on CDC shooting suspect Joseph White: Cobb County police were dispatched to the Whites' home three times over the last year to address Kenneth White's concerns for his son's mental health, according to incident reports I obtained.

"His apparent obsession with anti-vaccine conspiracy theories seemed to come out of nowhere about a year ago, she said. Mr. White would launch into unrelenting monologues about it on her front porch, describing a vast and confusing conspiracy."

Exclusive: CDC Director Susan Monarez met with its vaccine-focused center to talk about yesterday’s shooting. I listened to a recording. Scientists and officials are shaken & pointing fingers at RFK Jr. Many said his vilification and misinfo turned them into targets. www.msnbc.com/opinion/anal...

I spent this morning talking to the CDC shooting suspect's neighbors. They said he was polite, helpful and OBSESSED with vaccine conspiracy theories. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/09/u...

Just saw Sean Spicer in a commercial for an extended auto warranty company...

I spent this morning talking to the CDC shooting suspect's neighbors. They said he was polite, helpful and OBSESSED with vaccine conspiracy theories. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/09/u...