Miranda Yaver

Every day the news is like “the US government announces that meat can be sold without saying what animal it is & they are also mandating a return to mercury thermometers,” followed by “RFK Jr. has removed the coloring from Twizzlers in a major win for everyday Americans & their health & pocketbooks”

Curious which of my behaviors caused me to have Hashimoto’s, pseudohypoparathyroidism, and pernicious anemia.

The thing about lying about cutting prescription drug prices is that while a lot of economic policy is too complicated for the average American to understand, Americans know whether they’re paying more/less for their prescriptions when they go to the pharmacy.

This scene gave rise to the worst dubbing ever: “You see what happens when you meet a stranger in the Alps? You see what happens when you feed a stoner scrambled eggs?”

It has begun

Cue “The Man in Me.”

I just ordered a cocktail that makes me feel like I need to put on The Big Lebowski.

If you work in/adjacent to Democratic politics, or even if you are an occasional Democratic donor, this new @adambonica.bsky.social piece is the most important thing you can read today.

The Democratic Party cannot build power if it allows scam pacs to thrive

open.substack.com/pub/data4dem...

you know the world is ending when Summers is supporting a woman in STEM

The Mothership Vortex: An Investigation Into the Firm at the Heart of the Democratic Spam Machine How a single consulting firm extracted $282 million from a network of spam PACs while delivering just $11 million to actual campaigns.

The annoying spam texts destroying the Democratic brand:

$678M raised through those spam tactics

$282M to one consulting firm: Mothership Strategies.

$11M to actual campaigns (1.6%)

The party isn’t just treating donors like marks—it’s being fleeced itself yet continues to back Mothership.

Much of the settlement has nothing to do with antisemitism. As @mbkplus.bsky.social and I discussed on the pod, how can a university cede authority over admissions, hiring, and even locker rooms and still profess a commitment to "core values?"

livefromwatthall.transistor.fm/episodes/col...

This is cataclysmic in just about every imaginable way.

Americans are still waiting on Trump's pledge of IVF treatment for all On the campaign trail, Donald Trump said the U.S. would be "paying for" IVF.

Oh you mean he lied about it, no way www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-i...

Why are child vaccination rates the lowest they have been in more than a decade? The World Health Organisation sets a 95% target for routine childhood vaccinations to ensure herd immunity and protect the vulnerable who cannot have immunisations themselves - but uptake in England h...

Weird how herd immunity is desirable if attained through massive sickness and death but not so desirable if achieved through safe and effective vaccines

Truth

It’s almost like this was predictable

My first memory was the 1989 earthquake. That was unfun.

Stella is spending Caturday judging me. And probably you.

August 1, 2025 AMERICAN ECONOMIC ASSOCIATION Committee on Economic Statistics and Committee on Government Relations Statement from the American Economic Association on the Dismissal of the BLS Commissioner Leaders of the American Economic Association express their grave concern over the dismissal of the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) earlier today. The independence of the federal statistical agencies is essential to the proper functioning of a modern economy. Accurate, timely, and impartial statistics are the foundation upon which households, businesses, and policymakers make critical decisions. Undermining the independence or credibility of these agencies threatens the integrity of the information that markets, institutions, and the public rely on every day. Measuring the vast and dynamic U.S. economy in real time is inherently challenging. It is standard practice for statistical estimates to be revised as more complete and higher-quality data become available. These revisions reflect the commitment of statistical agencies to accuracy, transparency, and methodological rigor-not failure or bias. The BLS has long had a well-deserved reputation for professional excellence and nonpartisan integrity. Safeguarding this tradition is vital for the continued health of the U.S. economy and public trust in our institutions. We call upon elected officials to respect and preserve the independence of the nation's statistical infrastructure. Lawrence Katz President, American Economic Association Katharine Abraham President-Elect, American Economic Association Karen Dynan Chair, American Economic Association Committee on Economic Statistics Kenneth Troske Chair, American Economic Association Committee on Government Relations

Statement from the largest economics association about the BLS firing

As context: AEA approximately never makes such public statements

This is a big deal

I’m from the Bay Area and lived in LA in my 30s, so when I see 3.8, my reaction is, “aw, cute.”

What’s the status of Cornell’s? Ours has been rebranded (hopefully only rebranded).

I had a good editorial assistant as I was finishing page proofs of my book on this fine Caturday.

Now there’s a depressing thought.

Is Trump going to end up increasing the quality of Fox News by hiring every one of its dumbest contributors to work in the administration?

the voting rights act is, in its entirety, obviously constitutional under the 15th amendment, which gives congress broad and proactive authority to stop racial discrimination in voting. and you know it is obviously constitutional because roberts has had to invent entire new doctrines to gut it.

I did my postdoctoral work in Health Policy & Management at UCLA. I'm a proud Cal bear and UCLA bruin. UCLA is where I found myself again in academia after being lost for a bit, and began work toward my book. I just signed this open letter defending its core values. sites.google.com/view/ucstand...

Me anytime Trump allies claim to give a flying fuck about the Hatch Act

Celebratory bourbon smash.

I haven’t been sleeping much and have been in the zone with proofing my book.

And it appears that I have now completed the proofing of my book!

Feeling so much gratitude to my press and editor, the reviewers, and friends and mentors who’ve shaped my thinking on this health politics/policy problem

I honestly don’t think the national Rs pushing Texas understand how much fire they’re playing with.

If they tick off IL enough, and CA voters enough to change CA law, that’s every single member of the Republican delegation gone. All twelve.

If there are no rules, there are no rules.