Edward Russell

BREAKING: Texas House Democrats have fled the state to break quorum and stop the redistricting scheme. Minority Leader Gene Wu is declaring: This corrupt special session is over.

Democrats are now on their way to Illinois and will hold a press conference with Governor JB Pritzker at 7:15pm

Would you trust an economist with your economy? : Planet Money Trust in experts is down. In all kinds of institutions and professions - in government, in media, in medical science... and lately, economists are feeling the burn acutely. In fact, President Trump ju...

“The US official statistics are like the gold standard, globally … It’s burning down something of great public value.”

via @planetmoney.bsky.social

Honolulu (opened 1970-78), by Vladimir Ossipoff and Associates. 📷 Wayne Thom via @usclibraries.bsky.social. #airportarchitecture www.instagram.com/p/CV3eeaTvqAl/

RIP the Brasilia

💯

A Day at Two San Francisco Malls, One That Died and One That Thrived

This makes me wonder: if the San Francisco Centre has pivoted earlier to more experiences and unique shopping options (like what’s found at Stonestown today), would its story be different?

Also: this just makes me sad.

via @heatherknightsf.bsky.social

😍

AI intensifies battle for talent, housing and investments in San Francisco The AI momentum isn’t stopping and it’s bringing workers, venture capital money and life back to San Francisco.

As goes the tech industry, so goes San Francisco (it’s been true since I was a teen, at least).

London is getting a new museum all about brutalist architecture The museum will be housed in one of the UK’s last brutalist school buildings.

Time for a London trip!

Emerging from the dark into Pelli’s “visually light, but grandly monumental” National Hall capped by “Tech Gothic” Jeffersonian domes.

Washington Reagan National, Terminal 2 (opened 1997), by Cesar Pelli. #airportarchitecture www.instagram.com/p/C2kMf5TOaI5/

Random #aviation photo of the day:

US Airways Airbus A319 & Boeing 757 | Boston Logan Terminal B ramp | 2008

FEC Railway sues Brightline over commuter rail expansion plan The move could derail a long-awaited commuter train service in South Florida.

Brightline and Florida East Coast Railway, which owns the tracks that Brightline operates on, in legal dispute over Brightline's plan to add county-funded regional rail on the tracks.

Trump’s White House Ballroom Is a Neoclassical Bludgeon An overscale, reactionary solution to the question of where to host a big state dinner.

Call it the East Megawing, Trump's new ballroom is "the most on-the-nose embodiment of let-them-eat-cake Versailles extravagance — just as he throws old people off Medicare and kids off food stamp."

via @heybonanos.bsky.social

Helsinki just went a full year without a single traffic death The capital city is Finnish’ed with car-related fatalities.

Helsinki had zero traffic-related fatalities last year.

How? "Speed limits are one of the most important," officials said. The Finnish capital lowered speeds to 30kmh and enforced them. It also narrowed streets, planted trees, and built out bike and ped infrastructure. @aitorehm.bsky.social

The new Air & Space galleries on the Mall are open! ✈️🚀

#washingtondc #avgeek

D.C. Council grants initial approval to the Commanders deal The $3.7 billion development is more or less a sure thing.

“All told, the public investment comes out to about to $1.7 billion over 30 years. That money will go toward roads, utilities, public sports and recreational facilities, and parking.” 😒

CM Allen, CM Parker, and CM Lewis George all ultimately backed the deal.

@51st.news

Economy Updates: After a Weak Jobs Report, Trump Fires That Agency’s Commissioner Hours after data showed cracks in the U.S. economy, President Trump said without evidence that Erika McEntarfer “rigged” the data “to make the Republicans, and ME, look bad.”

Firing the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics over a bad jobs report undermines government integrity and sends a chilling message to federal employees: tell POTUS what he wants to hear or else.
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/07...

Plans for D.C.-New York high-speed maglev train are dead for now Gov. Wes Moore (D) expressed enthusiasm for the maglev train from D.C. to Baltimore, as did his Republican predecessor. The Trump administration is opposed.

USDOT pulls support for NE maglev.

Even a broken clock is right twice per day. This has been a vaporwear distraction for decades.

www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202...

Trump, Claiming Weak Jobs Numbers Were ‘Rigged,’ Moves to Fire Labor Official

The data isn't rigged, its just reacting to bad policies.

And that's all she wrote. RFK bill passes on its first vote 9-3. (It still needs to pass at the leg meeting coming up immediately afterward, but that's a formality.)

The Council now gets a break until Sept. 17 (and so do us reporters!) Second and final vote is set for then.

What’s the best budget airline in Europe? We tried 3. Are Europe’s cheapest airlines any good? We tested 3.

What’s the best budget airline in Europe?

My vote is for EasyJet. I always find them straightforward to fly, and I like the brand.

Ryanair’s planes always feel worn and cramped. Wizz lost me when I couldn’t input my children’s birthday on their website. @nataliecompton.bsky.social

A map showing the ETA's proposal for the now confirmed All Faiths Cemetery Tunnel on the IBX

Today Hochul and the MTA confirmed that the planned end-to-end runtime of the IBX has been cut a full 10 min (down to 32min), and projected ridership is up 41k to 160k/day.

This is the power of grade separation and the All Faiths tunnel.

Kudos to the Gov and MTA!

www.youtube.com/live/EhaB99v...

Yes, please! Here is the link:

bikeeastbay.org/rsr2024-2/

Link to the vid: www.instagram.com/p/DM0KWuRMUKA/

Your next American Airlines, Air Canada or Sun Country “flight” could be on a bus. Learn more about Landline’s upcoming expansion.

thepointsguy.com/news/america...

Opinion | Reject the Commanders stadium deal Even after tweaks, the deal still amounts to corporate welfare that the NFL team and its billionaire owner do not need.

The Post has it right. We should not use taxpayer dollars to support a stadium for a private organization, owned by billionaires, that will make them billions of dollars.

www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

Ontario court strikes down Ford government's plan to remove Toronto bike lanes | CBC News An Ontario court has deemed the province's plan to remove three major Toronto bike lanes unconstitutional. In response, the premier told CBC News: "I believe, and the people of Ontario believe, that t...

"The evidence shows that restoring lanes for cars will not result in less congestion, as it will induce more people to use cars and therefore any reduction in driving time will be short-lived, if at all, and will lead to more congestion."

Ontario says it will appeal the Toronto bike lane decision.

Virgin Australia Will Assess Widebody Business Case, CEO Says | Aviation Week Network Virgin Australia CEO Dave Emerson says that while the carrier will consider ordering its own widebody aircraft, any decision is likely to be a few years away.

Virgin Australia will "monitor the performance" of its wet-leased 777s to determine if it wants to buy its own widebodies

Departures 🛫

Munich, Terminal 2 (opened 2003), by Koch+Partner. 📷 @leonardberberi.bsky.social. #airportarchitecture byerussell.substack.com/p/flughafen-...

Hidden in IAG‘s H1 report is the announcement that Vueling will receive the group‘s order for 50 737 Max (25 each 737-8-200 and -10), with deliveries beginning late next year.