Conor Mulderrig

Aware of how little sharing things here matters, does it anyway. UNCA ATMS | MEM Duke Universtiy. Former Climate Advisor @RoyCooper. Opinions my own.

[Conor Mulderrig @ConorMulderrig]

Objectively, SCOTUS being made up of a rotating representative from each of the 13 regional Appeals Courts with mechanisms for partisan appointee balance is genuinely just more in line with how the rest of our government is structured than randomly having 9 lifetime appointees.

[emilie @emiliepfrank]

things we should implement immediately
- all primary elections held on the same day
- no more off year elections
- all elected officials receive their healthcare from the public exchange
- moratorium on sitting politicians endorsing in elections
- expanded, rotating scotus bench

[Conor Mulderrig @ConorMulderrig]

@crosstown_line Agree that being reflexively anti is dumb. They’ll absolutely have safety benefits, which are positive for multi-modal practicality, but I am here for the arguments that they won’t really be that transformative in current built environment.

[Conor Mulderrig @ConorMulderrig]

You’d think these pragmatic center left groups would be the ones to take up the mantle of fixing the economy-wide cost inflation of our inefficient land use.

Can’t risk the donor checks coming from the suburbs I guess.

[sam @sam_d_1995]

centrists be like “we have bold, serious, inspiring policy proposals” and it’s literally just taxpayer-subsidized car loans

beyond parody

[sam @sam_d_1995]

centrists be like “we have bold, serious, inspiring policy proposals” and it’s literally just taxpayer-subsidized car loans

beyond parody

[Conor Mulderrig @ConorMulderrig]

This is why no one takes warnings from political figures seriously. Social security was never going to run out, republicans just had to get to the point where not doing anything was more politically harmful than annoying big donors.

[Politics & Poll Tracker 📡 @PollTracker2024]

WaPo: Some Republicans Eye Tax Increase for Social Security

For decades, Washington has replayed the same fight over taming the soaring national debt: Democrats cite a need for more taxes. Republicans refuse. And anyone who suggests cutting the biggest source of spending — federal retirement benefits — gets attacked

But a coming crisis in Social Security appears to be pushing at least a few Republicans off the GOP’s long-standing pledge never to raise taxes.

This summer, Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH) joined Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) in proposing to raise the payroll tax cap so people with higher incomes pay more into the program.

Now the idea is emerging as an acceptable fix among other GOP lawmakers, including Rep. Tom Cole, the influential chair of the House Appropriations Committee.

https://t.co/nsdCh8UMTk

[Conor Mulderrig @ConorMulderrig]

Man, I’m personally not religious, but I will say, “no, actually the anti-Christ is manipulating the Pope” sounds like anti-Christ level gaslighting to me 🤷‍♂️

[Christopher Hale @ChristopherHale]

In leaked audio recordings, Peter Thiel revealed he told JD Vance to ignore Pope Leo XIV on moral issues, including the development of ethical AI.

He also suggested the American pope was a tool of the Antichrist.

Here’s the full story. https://t.co/yGHSMJIZNL

[Andy Specht @AndySpecht]

Earlier this year, Republicans had more registered voters than Democrats for the first time in NC history.

If trends continue, Democrats will retake the lead by 2027.

Of course, people don’t always vote how they’re registered. Still: I’m struck by HOW CLOSE these margins are.

[Conor Mulderrig @ConorMulderrig]

Real ball knowers know that urban reforms would actually accelerate transportation electrification by actually creating a domestic market for an assortment of smaller and lower range cars, e-bikes, and reduce range constraints on electric buses.

[Fietser @AmericanFietser]

Am I taking crazy pills?

[Conor Mulderrig @ConorMulderrig]

Perfect example of the type of conversation that we miss from not having a widely trusted source of information. Instead factions just target intended audience bashing the competing product’s subsidy.

Scale of subsidy matters, but needs to be balanced with other costs/benefits.

[Gniewomir @gnievchenko]

One point that I should have stressed more, and that fatally Sam misses, is that practically any new generation requires a subsidy. This is because every new build has to sell into an existing market where participants are already either *partially or even fully amortised*.

Absent a technological breakthrough, or an energy shortage that pushes prices far above the marginal cost of existing plants, there is no signal to invest in supply. That's why subsidies are actually necessary to bring in supply before anticipated demand comes and sends prices vertical

[Conor Mulderrig @ConorMulderrig]

A world where we took the cost savings from building faster and compensated directly adjacent businesses for the disruption caused would be ideal, but easier said than done of course.

[Conor Mulderrig @ConorMulderrig]

It’s insane how our inability to quickly build anything not only drives up cost, but also opposition by businesses that (understandably) fear long construction disruptions.

Even if a big rail project would be beneficial eventually, they might not make it long enough to see it!

[Joshua Wx @joshuawx_]

It rains and the whole thing and all the business essentially shut down. Backwards society

[Team Roy Cooper @TeamCooperNC]

Can confirm: Michael Whatley is not the most skilled at talking to people

[Conor Mulderrig @ConorMulderrig]

@_Murphy_Dan @Car_Free_USA Sorry, I’m not understanding your question. You mean like who zoned the surrounding areas?

[Conor Mulderrig @ConorMulderrig]

He didn’t directly say this, but it’s true!

And I for one am glad that the Trump Administration is fully funding transit projects to create a world where Americans aren’t fully dependent on peace in the Middle East to afford to get to work!

Oh wait… https://t.co/AimWD1YWpx

[Kalshi @Kalshi]

JUST IN: US Energy Secretary says Americans have to drive less if they want lower gas prices

[Adam Neely @its_adamneely]

i can safely say...I was wrong....

the future is here. holy shit.

[Conor Mulderrig @ConorMulderrig]

@humantransit And then shielding those same suburbanites from actually paying for the inefficiencies they cause by socializing costs.

Maybe people would chose the same things if forced to truly pay their share of parking, roads, sewers, electric distribution, stormwater, etc., but I doubt it

[Conor Mulderrig @ConorMulderrig]

@humantransit Knowing the history means knowing that multiple things are true: many people do like suburbs and cars, but their prevalence at the expense of other options is due to political leaders protecting the preferences by law of traditionally white suburbanites.

[Phil @Urban_Connector]

Propose? No!

This was voted on and approved a decade ago.

It was “proposed” almost 3 decades ago.