Whether something like Direct File (or something like it) returns someday depends on many factors. What gives me hope is the Direct File team’s commitment to open source. They laid a strong foundation for centering taxpayer needs by making some of the code public -> github.com/IRS-Public
The administration has pulled the plug on IRS Direct File, a tool that helped eligible taxpayers file for free. This decision comes despite Direct File’s immense popularity with its users.
Map of the US showing wide spread of SNAP shortages
What are the effects of the shutdown on SNAP users? Propel provides an app to SNAP users to allow them to track their spending and so can offer real-time estimates of needs.
About 70% of SNAP households have a $10 or less balance on their SNAP card accounts.
www.propel.app/shutdown-fun...
"normies do not care about this thing and so it is no use raising a stink" is imho just an excuse for not doing politics, which is the job of making normies care about something
Cuomo's "plan" for the city to take over the MTA is basically plagiarized from the currently-funded capital plan and involves Andrew Cuomo taking credit for a bunch of projects he had nothing to do with in the first place. Here's @samanthaliebman.bsky.social with the story:
ny1.com/nyc/all-boro...
Painting of Michelle Obama
Jacqueline Kennedy Garden
Painting of Hillary Clinton
Guest entrance into the East Wing
Before times ... images from the East Wing, honoring the First Ladies and women who shaped history. 2023 tour.
WELL HOW ABOUT THAT
"A millionaire levy in Massachusetts has generated $3 billion more in revenue than expected without forcing significant high-profile departures from the state."
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
When you are geolocating at the protest based on inflatable animals
Even without jobs data, Google Search Results for "Unemployment Benefits" being at a post-Covid high is probably —and I hate to use such labor econ/technical jargon here, but it's probably— "not good."
#EconSky
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IN WHICH ONE AUTHOR tried to file a claim in the Anthropic copyright case, failed, got frustrated, then blogged about it while still pretty hot under the collar.
(it’s me; i’m author)
ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/a-righ...
🗣️ We're hosting an archival version of "plainlanguage.gov" to help make sure this trusted resource remains available to folks who need it.
More Than Half of ACA Marketplace Enrollees Live in Republican Congressional Districts | KFF Quick Takes www.kff.org/quick-take/m...
This is the main issue I have with so much of the coverage around e-bikes. It's not that there aren't legitimate issues. But there is a panic around e-bikes and crickets regarding the daily toll of cars. And that's because the harm of cars is just accepted. It's baked into our society.
We are thrilled to announce that our NEW Large Language Model will be released on 11.18.25.
Do you ever think about the fact that Wikipedia is the last good major website on the internet? You aren't bombarded with ads. It doesn't try to push video on you, and it doesn't redirect you to a scam site.
BREAKING: The number of jobs created in August has been revised from 54,000 down to -3,000.
@Erie.bsky.social accepting the EFF Award: “Speaking up is hard and it's scary. But it will only get harder and scarier from here. The best time to do it was yesterday. The second-best time is today. These are not choices we will always have.”
BREAKING: Social Security Administration chief data officer and whistle-blower Charles Borges has resigned after bombshell report that SSA put highly-sensitive data at risk. He sent out an email to colleagues moments ago.
Here is the text of his email shared with me:
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I wrote about the administration’s “national design studio,” and how its shoddy construction isn’t a mistake. It’s a clear signal of priorities, and ones we need to actively, urgently rebuke. ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/a-noti...
Great summary by Rachael Dietkus. America by Design, Harm by Default. www.linkedin.com/pulse/americ...
Our democracy is not a brand. Our country is not a retail store. At 18F, our inspiration was (and is) the American people.
The entire Social Security database, dumped on a random cloud server: www.nytimes.com/2025/08/26/u...
The daily digital interactions its web designers are tasked with improving include paying a student loan, renewing a passport, planning trips to national monuments, managing social security payments and filing taxes.
This WaPo piece about the Airbnb/DOGE guy who is now the head of design in government ignores that:
*DOGE fired the actual talented design people in government, including Social Security!
*IRS had a beautifully designed tax filing system that DOGE killed
*USDS already did online passport renewals
been at the eric adams scavenger hunt all day. mostly we were in a crawlspace under a house in howard beach learning “how to out-hustle the rats.” not sure what this does for the campaign
Trump fired all of the designers in 18F, the US Digital Service, and elsewhere in government.
Now he is calling for improved government design.
www.nextgov.com/digital-gove...
Zohran’s citibike numbers make me feel like we need to start demanding bike share stats from our politicians in the same way we demand tax returns
Displaced federal worker to lawyer pipeline
Sand and stone garden
Trees over a pond
Old tree
Portland Japanese Garden. Highly recommend for others who are laid off and really stressed out.
Your Amazon Prime reminder that half of Amazon warehouse workers struggle with food & housing costs.
A third have had to rely on government assistance like SNAP, which is about to get cut.
If Bezos can spend $50M on a wedding, Amazon can afford to treat its workers with dignity. #amazon
