LLMs suck at lit review, and they're getting worse at it. Transparently obvious from today's news (HHS's nonsense MAHA report!) and backed with recently published peer-reviewed research by Peters & Chin-Yee: doi.org/10.1098/rsos...

1/ Property taxes are the best value-capture mechanism, per Aurora Echevarria & @elpaavo.bsky.social based on intensive study of Mexico City. Excellent summary of their arguments on @urbanaffairsreview.bsky.social blog: www.urbanaffairsreview.com/uar-archive/...

I promised my friend @rpplan.bsky.social that I would activate my account here to share my thoughts about the larger economic, political and global aspirations behind the tariffs, written for @chathamhouse.org www.chathamhouse.org/2025/04/trum...

Interesting reading. What implications for housing policy? Households are aging and shrinking but it’s expensive to adapt the stock. Would it be cost-effective to socialize costs of retrofits for energy efficiency, health, & safety?

New data tool launch today 🚨 @urbaninstitute.bsky.social's Federal Infrastructure site. It includes detailed information on funds from 110 programs across all states, counties & metro areas. Tool pinpoints the support that communities receive for transportation, housing, energy, water & broadband.

Please, please, if you report on this: the mandate to affirmatively further fair housing is literally codified in the Fair Housing Act of 1968 and neither Trump nor HUD can “repeal” this law. The rule defined how to enforce the law, but the law and obligation remain. www.yahoo.com/news/hud-sec...

I'm seeing an uptick in the anti-inclusionary zoning narrative from an econ 101 standpoint, which assumes a questionable counterfactual (upzoning could occur without IZ). In many places, IZ is the political cost of upzoning.

Insights from @timothysnyder.bsky.social about the ongoing coup and how patriots (i.e., those who believe in the rule of law) can counter it. The Logic of Destruction open.substack.com/pub/snyder/p...

Whom would you choose as the Dems’ shadow Secretaries of HUD, DOT, EPA, USDA, Treasury, HHS, Education, or any other agency? @timothysnyder.bsky.social has a good summary of this brilliant idea here: snyder.substack.com/p/shadow-cab...

What drivers get | What walkers get, Champaign “in-town” edition, I.e., the area that’s supposed to be pedestrian-friendly

Excellent recap by @sara-mctarnaghan.bsky.social on Treasury’s analysis of homeowner insurance: harder to get and more expensive.

This morning I overheard my doctor scoffing outside the closed exam room door about UnitedHealthcare listing its CEO job opening within 12 hours of the event. He was repeating misinformation but still. Our docs are fed up w private health insurance—why not the AMA?

Smart perspective from John Landis on causes of housing shortages + practical solutions. It isn’t just zoning; in a lot of places, it’s not about zoning at all. www-planetizen-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.plan...

Amid a scalding heat wave, parts of South Australia exceeded 45°C (113°F) Monday. It met 96% of power demand with renewables. Result: energy prices remained below zero. reneweconomy.com.au/wind-and-sol...

Check out the whole thread. Excellent work—thank you!!from post 6: “the median renter making less than $30,000 has just $250 left, a 55% drop (inflation-adjusted) since 2001. burdened lower-income renters spend less on basic necessities, threatening their well-being and housing stability.”

Valuable critique by @sara-mctarnaghan.bsky.social of efforts to measure resilience

I learned so much just now about Chapter 40B (MA's "anti-NIMBY" law) from a new article by Noémie Sportiche and colleages in @houspoldebate.bsky.social. 40B has created tens of thousands of units in "high-opportunity" neighborhoods. doi.org/10.1080/1051...

My first Bluesky post. It’s daunting to start on a new platform. Whom do I imagine as the community(ies) I’ll most want to be part of here? I.e., who do I want to be here? Early followers: why did you follow me (back)? What can I offer that you think few others can? Thanks.

Unintended consequences of well-meaning policies: using rent payments to boost credit scores can hurt long-term renters more than it helps would-be homebuyers. Thanks @corpkiller.bsky.social for the insight.

My first Bluesky post. It’s daunting to start on a new platform. Whom do I imagine as the community(ies) I’ll most want to be part of here? I.e., who do I want to be here? Early followers: why did you follow me (back)? What can I offer that you think few others can? Thanks.