Nick Messenger

Trump really trying to speed run Bush’s second term.

Cut the Military Budget in Half It’s not enough just to oppose this war on Iran. We should demand major cuts to the US military budget, starting with cutting it in half.

It’s not enough just to oppose this war on Iran.

We should demand major cuts to the US military budget, starting with cutting it in half.

Why “drill, baby, drill” won’t lower your utility bills Increasing fracking and drilling operations could help energy companies, foreign consumers, tech companies, and shareholders— but not struggling Americans.

And so many policies he has enacted that raise prices at the same time: more LNG exports, data center expansion (even behind the grid, they need their own fuel), tariffs on materials & equipment for infrastructure, & cutting off support for renewable development. open.substack.com/pub/ohiorive...

Ohio River Valley Institute (@ohiorivervalleyinstitute) How is it that America can be producing more energy than ever before, yet our utility bills continue to rise? And, more importantly, what is the likelihood that the Trump administration will be able t...

This week, I wrote about the mismatch between President Trump’s “drill, baby, drill” supply side rhetoric and the demand side energy realities. What is driving our utility bills higher? substack.com/profile/6007...

On immigration: "I often am asked to speak as an economist. And what we should never lose sight of is that each of us is a moral being. And you, as I, have to decide how we feel about this form of rhetoric."

This will be the first of many such announcements. I really don’t think the global economy is ready for the restructuring that is starting to hit.

Block shares soar 24% as company slashes workforce by nearly half Block said Thursday it's laying off more than 4,000 employees, or about half of its headcount.

It’s going to be a tumultuous year. www.cnbc.com/2026/02/26/b...

Truly the best graph on AI that I’ve seen.

What shouldn’t be missed is that between the bragging and blaming, President Trump offered exactly zero new policy ideas in last night’s State of the Union. No concrete or realistic plans to help address the economic struggles normal Americans are feeling.

It also seems like just yesterday I remember being told by the Biden admin that there were no workarounds to Supreme Court rulings and student loans would just need repaid. 🥺 Time flies

“Plans a workaround” is a hell of a way to say “President vows to continue illegal thing court already ruled on”

@fractracker.bsky.social

I cross-referenced FracTracker’s US data center dataset with whether their state offers a sales tax exemption for data centers — $100s of millions in chips & cooling equipment. Tech companies chase these tax breaks. Revenue that could support schools, police, roads, & other services for residents.

Jobs Roundup: January 2026 A quick overview of the newest U.S. jobs numbers and industry trends and AI.

A quick summary of Friday’s jobs data, including some white collar AI and manufacturing industry trends I’m tracking. In short, it’s probably the worst year to be graduating with a college degree since 2009. DOGE deferred resignations also showing up publicgood.substack.com/p/jobs-round...

This is a textbook example of “actions speak louder than words.”

‘Clown’ OSU professor tackled is lucky he didn't tangle with guys I know | Opinion John Fortney: Some of the guys I trained with would’ve made sure the hoodie-wearing cameraman tackled by an Ohio State professor didn’t get up.

What a dumb op ed of made up facts.The kid “might have” had a gun! (he didn’t) The professor could be “protecting people in the classroom behind him” (it was an elevator). How did he get in the building?! (It’s public) Slop from The Dispatch to waste e-space on this www.dispatch.com/story/opinio...

Ohio Democrats push to ban 'radioactive brine' as an ice remover for state roadways Democratic state lawmakers are pushing to ban the use of oil and gas brine on Ohio roadways, warning that the common winter de-icing practice is "infecting" the

Analysis has shown that leftover brine from oil and gas drilling, while cheaper than salt, often has high levels of radium and other heavy metals. Banning it from streets, where it seeps into ground water and local waterways, would protect millions of Ohioans abc6onyourside.com/news/local/o...

Legislature: *cuts billions from public schools in their budget*

Legislature: “property taxes are too high! Why are you guys cutting so much? The schools are not being responsible!”

This professor, Luke Perez, used to teach at ASU.

He was an instructor for the School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership, the "freedom school" that was launched with Koch money before the #azleg pumped millions into it.

Background on that: azcir.org/news/2018/05...

Looking forward to digging into this new book from chrisbriem.bsky.social about the future (or lack thereof) of steel in Pittsburgh. Seems to dovetail with much of my own work— smokestack chasing & corporate welfare rather than reckoning with deindustrialization head-on has put our region behind.

Jobs report shows a historic stall in hiring last year • Ohio Capital Journal U.S. job estimates for 2025 were revised down this week by more than a million jobs, to a level of low growth rarely seen outside of recessions.

U.S. job estimates for 2025 were revised down this week by more than a million jobs, to a level of low growth rarely seen outside of recessions. ohiocapitaljournal.com/2026/02/11/r...

As always, thanks to @rooster.info for being unafraid to name names and post the receipts.

Ohio State Chase Center professor placed on administrative leave after assaulting cameraman The Ohio political blog, The Rooster, published video showing Chase Center Assistant Professor Luke Perez hitting a cameraman and then throwing him to the ground.

Ah yes, the Chase Center for Civics, Culture, and Society at Ohio State…where you get violently assaulted for legally asking questions about former board chair Les Wexner’s known connections to Epstein in public spaces. My alma mater continues its streak of embarassments www.wosu.org/politics-gov...

This is El Paso, where the airspace has been shut down without explanation for ten days btw

To be clear, I’m just “educated speculating” from what publicly is available. I hope I’m wrong. :(

Probably not possible or safe to attempt if you’ve also got public commercial passengers coming and going. Also invites protesters and advocates.

Mexican airspace did not have an advisory, which makes me suspect it’s not military action.

Depending on the source you’ve got about 80,000 detainees nationally. If you’re moving a sizable chunk through the airport in a short time frame, I think it’s less about the airspace and more about them setting up processing at the airport. Flights coming and going. Booking. Bus loading.

Federal ruling allows immigrants to be held indefinitely in Texas A ruling by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday means immigrants held in Texas now have limited legal options and indefinite timelines for detention. And in Minnesota, immigration authorities...

sahanjournal.com/immigration/...

DHS buys El Paso warehouses for $123 million ICE mega detention center as deportation capacity expands nationwide El Paso is a strategic location for the Trump administration because of Biggs Army Airfield, from which deportation flights have increasingly taken place. The mega facility is among several nationwide...

elpasomatters.org/2026/02/06/e...

Live Updates: F.A.A. Halts All Flights at El Paso Airport for 10 Days

A few source articles: www.nytimes.com/live/2026/02...