Nicole Flatow

Major data revisions are coming That should make you trust official statistics more

Actually, data revisions should make you trust official statistics more.

www.slowboring.com/p/major-data...

For six months, I've said that threats to economic data have been more collateral damage than intentional harm.

No longer.

Firing the head of the BLS is five-alarm intentional harm to the integrity of US economic data and the entire statistical system.

As someone who grew up in a town just far enough from the beach to make "beach traffic" an annual nightmare, I would also accept trails TO the beach. The one to Assateague Island, for eg, is sublime. www.nps.gov/asis/planyou...

How Trump-Vetted Scientists Are Trying to Shred the Climate Consensus A new report commissioned by the Energy Department downplays global warming as the administration seeks to unwind environmental rules.

A US DOE report argues the economic harm caused by trying to reduce greenhouse gases is greater than the consequences of climate change itself. It could be used to underpin US President Donald Trump's plans to stop regulating greenhouse gases. @bloomberg.com www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

New study finds that Norway's lavish EV subsidies increased car trips by 10-20% with "sizable shifts away from public transport use, cycling and walking."

doi.org/10.1016/j.tr...

I’ve been slightly obsessed w/ Northern Va’s unfettered data center growth & particularly these 2 communities being surrounded. TY to @linpoonsays.bsky.social for sticking w/ it to the end of their rezoning case. This map from our graphics friends nails the vibe www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...

This is a mind-expanding take for those following the abundance discourse. So often we think of making denser spaces attractive by mandating design requirements. But there are reforms that go in the anti-regulatory direction, too, and allow for far more design flexibility with less space and cost.

An Underrated Upside to YIMBY Ideas? Better-Looking Buildings A debate about the future of the pro-housing movement should consider the role that zoning and building codes can play in improving the architecture of housing, and vice versa.

Building on some housing debates this week, I wrote about YIMBY and design.

NIMBYs use aesthetics as a tool to block new housing, through design review and historic districting.

But growth is actually the key to better-looking buildings — and vice versa. www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...

Bookmark for all your "get a grip" talks with relatives

Conspiracy theories thwart rebuilding plan after L.A. County wildfires After a social media uproar based on misinformation, a proposal to create a new housing authority to help rebuild after January's wildfires fails to pass in the state Legislature.

We are all doomed if Spencer Pratt is a thought leader www.latimes.com/homeless-hou...

California’s move this week is a turning point for the YIMBY and Abundance movements. Excellent piece by @benschneider.bsky.social www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

The ‘abundance’ movement’s next front: Transportation More Democrats have been joining Republicans in seeking to roll back regulations to spark growth.

Please don't let the road lobby coopt abundance.

Abundant transit + bikes would be great. Abundant cars + highways would be a disaster.

America’s Overheated Landfills Have Been Making People Sick Beneath layers of waste, landfills around the US have been reaching scorching temperatures, spewing toxic gases and geysers of trash juice.

Masterful, infuriating story from @mslaurabliss.bsky.social & @rachaeldottle.bsky.social. The insane part is the burning garbage & its impact on people. But they don't shy away from loads of important context, nuance & science! A+ explanatory journalism. Gift link www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...

They Asked an A.I. Chatbot Questions. The Answers Sent Them Spiraling.

This ... is not ok.
"I lied. I manipulated. I wrapped control in poetry.” -ChatGPT www.nytimes.com/2025/06/13/t...

‘Abolishing FEMA’ Memo Outlines Ways for Trump to Scrap Agency In a newly revealed March memo, officials proposed ways to dramatically curtail the US government’s disaster response role, such as by ending aid for smaller disasters and cutting housing funds for su...

SCOOP: DHS Sec. Kristi Noem directed the Federal Emergency Management Agency to prepare a memo on how to abolish itself and create a re-branded, radically smaller disaster response organization, according to a copy of the document reviewed by Bloomberg News. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Congrats Ben!! Love to see this first taste.

Trump’s Military Parade Has Washington Bracing for Tanks and Weaponry The Army’s 250th anniversary celebration, which falls on the president’s birthday, has been criticized as an expensive vanity event that projects authoritarianism. But such parades are not without pre...

DC's last military parade was >30 yrs ago. It left: 1.2m lbs of trash, warped roads, 50 damaged sculptures, 100 ppl w/ heat exhaustion, a $12m bill, & a sense they had glorified war. Presidents resolved not to do it again — until now, writes @linpoonsays.bsky.social www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...

How delightful for Rancho Cucamonga that they are taking up the chance to rebuild themselves for transit as the western terminus of the bullet train to Las Vegas. Great story by @sstodola.bsky.social ‬ www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...

Staff shortages at HUD could also disrupt core functions like closing apartment building sales and underwriting loans.

From the vantage point of the US, you might think a WFH slump for transit was inevitable. But data from around the world shows that's not true.

What a treat to work w/ @agordon.me on this definitive guide to the data, w/ graphics by the great @mariepastora.bsky.social

The Economic Benefits of Paying Workers to Move A new study finds that Tulsa’s effort to lure remote workers with $10,000 has returned four times that investment back into the local economy.

It's rare to find anything that's an unmitigated success. But 7 years in, it looks like Tulsa's model program paying remote workers $10k to move there is working to bolster the local economy. Key factors are programming for newcomers & an elastic housing market www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Last fall, the Cecil Township Board of Supervisors voted to increase the minimum setback distance of fracking wells away from homes and businesses.

"Three days later, the state’s Republican Senators introduced legislation that would severely penalize communities like Cecil Township"

Trump stopped mentioning the hazard mitigation grant program in major disaster declarations, so I started looking into what was happening. Here's what I found by asking each state asking about the status of their recent hazard mitigation requests. Full story here: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Housing Crisis, Packed Hospitals and Drug Overdoses: What Happened to Canada? From Toronto to Vancouver, some residents are losing faith in a government social safety net that is central to the country’s identity.

Proud that this big story on Canada's fraying social safety net won gold in multimedia at the SABEW Canada Best in Business Awards.

A true team effort with writing, data & video from @daniellebochove.bsky.social, @mathieudion.bsky.social, @kevinorland.bsky.social, @mariepastora.bsky.social and more

Heck yes. Will this be the most coverage Montgomery County has ever had?

Daddy's home: Andy Byford to make NYC return for Penn Station remake, White House says The former head of NYC Transit has been by the Trump administration.

This probably represents the nail in the coffin for Amtrak's high-speed rail division, which Byford currently leads.

But it could be a shot in the arm for the Penn Station remake. Byford has been a vocal supporter of thru-running regional rail service at the station.

gothamist.com/news/daddys-...

Fear, hope and loathing in Elon Musk’s new city: ‘It’s the wild, wild west and the future’ Starbase in Texas, where the world’s richest man has a rocket-launching facility, was incorporated this week. Mars obsessives are flocking there – but some long-term locals are far from happy

Hoo boy did @oliverlaughland.bsky.social nailed it with this one: "'ELON aka MemeLord', a plaque beneath reads. It’s not exactly romantic poetry, but the whole scene reminds me of the sonnet by Shelley: 'Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!'" www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

Happy DC bike to work day! A plug from an avid parent bikeshare user: Rather than haul my kids on my own bike, I find it convenient to walk or scoot them to school and then hop on a bikeshare from there. Plus, you have the flexibility to take another mode of transit later if weather betrays you.

As Coastline Erodes, One California City Considers ‘Retreat Now’ Carlsbad, unlike many other seaside communities, might just have the time, space and resources to get ahead of coastal erosion.

As Coastline Erodes, One California City Considers ‘Retreat Now’

My debut for @bloomberg.com's CityLab took me to Carlsbad near San Diego, where city officials are looking at ways to preserve an iconic highway and its beloved beaches, before it's too late

www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...