James Kendall

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Urbanism & City-Building
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Better Transportation & Mobility
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Smart Cities & Climate Action
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Changing the Conversation About Cities
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Why a NASA satellite that scientists and farmers rely on may be destroyed on purpose The Trump administration has asked NASA staffers to draw up plans to end at least two satellite missions that measure carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, according to current and former NASA employees.

Head of NASA Sean Duffy intends to destroy a satellite that collects key data on carbon dioxide and plant health, by causing it to burn up in the atmosphere. The U.S. Dept of Agriculture and private agriculture firms use the data to forecast crop yield, drought conditions and more.

Photographs of the pages of a colourful information booklet about Zurich’s “E-Bike City” project, which proposes reallocating half of its street space to pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport.

Photographs of the pages of a colourful information booklet about Zurich’s “E-Bike City” project, which proposes reallocating half of its street space to pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport.

Photographs of the pages of a colourful information booklet about Zurich’s “E-Bike City” project, which proposes reallocating half of its street space to pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport.

Photographs of the pages of a colourful information booklet about Zurich’s “E-Bike City” project, which proposes reallocating half of its street space to pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport.

Initiated by ETH Zurich’s Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, the E‑Bike City project explores how cities can repurpose existing road space to prioritise micromobility—bikes, e‑bikes, cargo bikes and scooters—and public transport, all while maintaining essential car access.🧵

Has the pierogi war commenced @karaswisher.bsky.social
🏹⚔️🗡️🛡️

‘Just Asking Questions’ Got No Answers About Epstein Right-wing internet personalities have a lot to learn from the mainstream media that they decry.

“If the Epstein scandal teaches us anything, it is that America needs a dedicated and decently funded group of people whose job is not just to ask questions, but to find answers,” @helenlewis.bsky.social writes. “Let’s call them journalists.”

Canadian Cities Guru Teams Up with Paris Mayor for Groundbreaking New Exhibition Canadian urbanist Brent Toderian teamed up with Paris and, in particular, Mayor Anne Hidalgo on a new exhibition, From Paris to Belém.

Canadian Cities Guru @brenttoderian.bsky.social Teams Up with Paris Mayor for Groundbreaking New Exhibition.
momentummag.com/from-paris-t...

All Praise Shade To survive a heating planet, humans need shade—lots of it.

"What if the key to that life is older than civilization itself? We need to manage heat to live. And we have an effective and democratic way of doing it: shade," Sam Bloch writes:

General Motors #GM reported that its second-quarter earnings beat estimates, but its profit fell to $1.9 billion from $2.9 billion last year. GM disclosed that #tariffs took a toll on the company’s bottom line, costing it over $1 billion.

Shares of GM are down 7% today(so far) #EconSky

Bubble bath?
Just indulge yourself for awhile 🫧🛁

Same in MA
@massgovernor.bsky.social

Already have the book but thanks for the generous offer @ricksteves.bsky.social
Keep on Travelin

It’s often called a circular firing squad 🤦🏻‍♂️

David Gergen, who advised four presidents of both parties, dies at 83 | CNN Politics David Gergen served as a presidential adviser to four presidents of both parties and was a longtime CNN political analyst.

May his memory be a blessing… to an old friend and colleague. Sitting in the green room or on a set with David Gergen, you always learned something. Our best to his son Christopher and the whole family.

www.cnn.com/2025/07/11/p...

My 💔 @jamiegangel.bsky.social
He had a wealth of institutional memory that is now lost.
I’ve often repeated his comment from early in the first Trump term
“He hasn’t figured out yet what he can get away with and that’s all that’s protecting us”
He’s sadly figured it out @jamiegangel.bsky.social

Title page of the document

This is interesting — “The Hidden Wealth of Cities” by the World Bank, on how the PUBLIC SPACES in cities are a great economic investment and asset rather than a cost or liability. But too many cities aren’t taking smart advantage of the economic benefits. openknowledge.worldbank.org/server/api/c...

FYI @mayorwu.boston.gov
💖 Boston

In the mid 1990’s they started a cleanup of the Charles River in Boston aka Dirty Water that could actually catch 🔥.
Now it and Boston Harbor are safe to 🏊🏻🏊🏻‍♂️ in.
Huge change 😉

Doesn’t seem to have her new FEMA cosplay outfit yet. No wonder she’s grumpy.

Doesn’t seem to be on @bsky.app yet.
That will be a tell @karaswisher.bsky.social

I want to share a couple of unusual thoughts I had today, while speaking next to a world famous mayor, artist, and climate scientist, opening a remarkable Paris Exhibition.

Sure, I was personally proud.

But I was also proud that a Canadian was there.

And I was proud that a city planner was there.

Coming in August: The Devil Reached Toward the Sky My new book — and a special preorder promotion

My new book — an oral history of the Manhattan Project and the atomic bombings — comes out one month from today. More info (and information on preordering!) here: www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/coming-in-...

Photographs of “From Paris to Belém”, an interactive visual exhibition celebrating a decade of urban transformation in the fight against climate change, which is being curated by the City of Paris in the Hôtel de Ville.

Photographs of “From Paris to Belém”, an interactive visual exhibition celebrating a decade of urban transformation in the fight against climate change, which is being curated by the City of Paris in the Hôtel de Ville.

Photographs of “From Paris to Belém”, an interactive visual exhibition celebrating a decade of urban transformation in the fight against climate change, which is being curated by the City of Paris in the Hôtel de Ville.

Photographs of “From Paris to Belém”, an interactive visual exhibition celebrating a decade of urban transformation in the fight against climate change, which is being curated by the City of Paris in the Hôtel de Ville.

Over the past decade, global cities have mobilised to implement innovative actions against the climate crisis. These projects are showcased with an ambitious scenographic display curated by @brenttoderian.bsky.social, which takes visitors on a journey from Paris to Belém—the host of COP30 this year.

Photographs of “From Paris to Belém”, an interactive visual exhibition celebrating a decade of urban transformation in the fight against climate change, which is being curated by the City of Paris in the Hôtel de Ville.

Photographs of “From Paris to Belém”, an interactive visual exhibition celebrating a decade of urban transformation in the fight against climate change, which is being curated by the City of Paris in the Hôtel de Ville.

Photographs of “From Paris to Belém”, an interactive visual exhibition celebrating a decade of urban transformation in the fight against climate change, which is being curated by the City of Paris in the Hôtel de Ville.

Photographs of “From Paris to Belém”, an interactive visual exhibition celebrating a decade of urban transformation in the fight against climate change, which is being curated by the City of Paris in the Hôtel de Ville.

The entire exhibition has been designed from a child's point of view, with space for discussion with Académie du Climat, who created some of the works presented. Throughout their journey, younger ones will be guided by Copi, a little character they also find in the activity booklet provided to them.

Photographs of “From Paris to Belém”, an interactive visual exhibition celebrating a decade of urban transformation in the fight against climate change, which is being curated by the City of Paris in the Hôtel de Ville.

Photographs of “From Paris to Belém”, an interactive visual exhibition celebrating a decade of urban transformation in the fight against climate change, which is being curated by the City of Paris in the Hôtel de Ville.

Photographs of “From Paris to Belém”, an interactive visual exhibition celebrating a decade of urban transformation in the fight against climate change, which is being curated by the City of Paris in the Hôtel de Ville.

Photographs of “From Paris to Belém”, an interactive visual exhibition celebrating a decade of urban transformation in the fight against climate change, which is being curated by the City of Paris in the Hôtel de Ville.

Spotlighting diverse locales like Montréal, Mexico City, Utrecht and Nouakchott, this exhibition argues the battle for the climate in a rapidly urbanising world will be won or lost in our cities, and refusal to change is a dereliction of duty. Details and (free) tickets: www.paris.fr/evenements/f...

Four Fears about ICE, Trump's New Masked Monster We're about to pour $200 billion into immigration enforcement—it's a terrible idea, sure, but understanding *specifically* why is important.

I spent years reporting on the wave of criminality and corruption that ate the Border Patrol away from the inside after its last hiring surge. Now Congress just approved even doing worse to ICE. A look, specifically, at what will go wrong: www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/four-fears...

“‘The devil never sleeps’, but it is the second part of the quote that matters most: ‘but he only wins if we don’t do better next time.’ People of all faiths and no faith have to commit to that because we will see these disasters again and again and again.” @cnn.com

Paris reopens River Seine to public swimming after century-long ban About 1,000 swimmers a day will be allowed to use three bathing sites after €1.4bn clean-up programme

NEW: Paris reopens the Seine River to public swimming after a century-long ban! “About 1,000 swimmers a day will be allowed to use 3 public bathing sites after €1.4bn clean-up program.” 14 more bathing spots beyond the city are planned.

Big, bold leadership.

@annehidalgo.bsky.social @paris.fr

@styleminds.bsky.social
Pretty consistent ranking 🫶🏻

In my latest newsletter, I share 12 thoughts on AI, health and humanity: bit.ly/3U3B2B7

I’d love for you to read and comment with your thoughts. 💬

Why do we assume there’s a 1:1 equation between the level of scientific progress and human flourishing? Are we evolving at the same pace as the machines we’re creating? And how can we come up with a new AI narrative that reaches a much broader audience beyond media, tech and business professionals?