Nick Baumann
@nickbaumann.bsky.social
Politics Editor at The Washington Post | Pats fan. Eagle Scout. Beer pong aficionado. | 202.630.2380 | Signal: nickbaumann.97 | Usual disclaimers
Pinned
Nick Baumann
@nickbaumann.bsky.social
· Feb 2
Got a tip on what's going on in the federal government? Signal me: nickbaumann.97
Reposted by Nick Baumann
TOP: Household surveys ask women age 15-49 a lot more questions.
BOTTOM: So enumerators appear to drop them, non-randomly.
Adjusting for this "[calls] into question whether Africa’s fertility transition is as uniquely slow as previously thought."
economics.yale.edu/sites/defau...
BOTTOM: So enumerators appear to drop them, non-randomly.
Adjusting for this "[calls] into question whether Africa’s fertility transition is as uniquely slow as previously thought."
economics.yale.edu/sites/defau...
December 9, 2025 at 1:52 PM
TOP: Household surveys ask women age 15-49 a lot more questions.
BOTTOM: So enumerators appear to drop them, non-randomly.
Adjusting for this "[calls] into question whether Africa’s fertility transition is as uniquely slow as previously thought."
economics.yale.edu/sites/defau...
BOTTOM: So enumerators appear to drop them, non-randomly.
Adjusting for this "[calls] into question whether Africa’s fertility transition is as uniquely slow as previously thought."
economics.yale.edu/sites/defau...
Reposted by Nick Baumann
Our new study provides rare causal evidence about NYC’s speed camera program. We find large reductions in collisions (30%) and injuries (16%) near intersections with cameras. www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1... @astagoff.bsky.social ky.social @brendenbeck.bsky.social nbeck.bsky.social 🧪
Can speed cameras make streets safer? Quasi-experimental evidence from New York City | PNAS
Each year, approximately 40,000 people die in vehicle collisions in the United States,
generating $340 billion in economic costs. To make roads saf...
www.pnas.org
December 8, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Our new study provides rare causal evidence about NYC’s speed camera program. We find large reductions in collisions (30%) and injuries (16%) near intersections with cameras. www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1... @astagoff.bsky.social ky.social @brendenbeck.bsky.social nbeck.bsky.social 🧪
Reposted by Nick Baumann
Everyone seems to have forgotten but the AP actually went to Venezuela and found some of these men. They aren’t terminator-like cartel warriors, ready to give their life to ship kilos. They’re random dudes from small towns - bus drivers, fishermen - recruited for a payday. apnews.com/article/trum...
Trump has accused boat crews of being narco-terrorists. The truth, AP found, is more nuanced
One was a fisherman struggling to eke out a living on $100 a month. Another was a career criminal. A third was a former military cadet.
apnews.com
December 7, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Everyone seems to have forgotten but the AP actually went to Venezuela and found some of these men. They aren’t terminator-like cartel warriors, ready to give their life to ship kilos. They’re random dudes from small towns - bus drivers, fishermen - recruited for a payday. apnews.com/article/trum...
"Vision Zero’s failures in more than two dozen cities fit a predictable pattern." www.washingtonpost.com/business/int...
America’s plan to protect pedestrians failed. A young woman’s death reveals why.
U.S. officials adopted Europe's Vision Zero initiative, but many cities have seen an increase in pedestrian fatalities despite efforts to improve road safety.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 8, 2025 at 6:00 PM
"Vision Zero’s failures in more than two dozen cities fit a predictable pattern." www.washingtonpost.com/business/int...
Reposted by Nick Baumann
Trump hung up on a ProPublica reporter after being asked whether his Florida mortgages were similar to those of others he had accused of fraud. 🤔
Trump’s Own Mortgages Match His Description of Mortgage Fraud, Records Reveal
The Trump administration has argued that Fed board member Lisa Cook may have committed mortgage fraud by declaring more than one primary residence on her loans. We found Trump once did the very thing ...
www.propublica.org
December 8, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Trump hung up on a ProPublica reporter after being asked whether his Florida mortgages were similar to those of others he had accused of fraud. 🤔
Reposted by Nick Baumann
COVID broke everyone's brains, now they're slowly getting their shit together
"Deaths from traffic accidents, drug overdoses, and alcohol-related causes are all falling fast in a similar manner to homicides based on data from the CDC." open.substack.com/pub/jasher/p...
It's Not Just Murder That Is Falling Rapidly
Death rates from several causes in the US are falling fast.
open.substack.com
December 8, 2025 at 3:16 PM
COVID broke everyone's brains, now they're slowly getting their shit together
"A Gallup poll from July 2025 found only 54 percent of Americans saying they drink alcohol... the lowest share ever recorded." jasher.substack.com/p/its-not-ju...
It's Not Just Murder That Is Falling Rapidly
Death rates from several causes in the US are falling fast.
jasher.substack.com
December 8, 2025 at 3:15 PM
"A Gallup poll from July 2025 found only 54 percent of Americans saying they drink alcohol... the lowest share ever recorded." jasher.substack.com/p/its-not-ju...
"Deaths from traffic accidents, drug overdoses, and alcohol-related causes are all falling fast in a similar manner to homicides based on data from the CDC." open.substack.com/pub/jasher/p...
It's Not Just Murder That Is Falling Rapidly
Death rates from several causes in the US are falling fast.
open.substack.com
December 8, 2025 at 3:14 PM
"Deaths from traffic accidents, drug overdoses, and alcohol-related causes are all falling fast in a similar manner to homicides based on data from the CDC." open.substack.com/pub/jasher/p...
Smart @danmerica.bsky.social @matthewchoi.bsky.social on why some Republicans are worried that their party's redistricting plan could backfire: www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Analysis | Why some Republicans are sweating their party’s redistricting plan
The Washington Post’s essential guide to power and influence in D.C.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 8, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Smart @danmerica.bsky.social @matthewchoi.bsky.social on why some Republicans are worried that their party's redistricting plan could backfire: www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Nick Baumann
me: i need a delicious source of potassium
banana: i'm here for you
me: i am also an avid fan of slapstick comedy
banana: ok you're not gonna believe this
banana: i'm here for you
me: i am also an avid fan of slapstick comedy
banana: ok you're not gonna believe this
June 11, 2023 at 8:24 PM
me: i need a delicious source of potassium
banana: i'm here for you
me: i am also an avid fan of slapstick comedy
banana: ok you're not gonna believe this
banana: i'm here for you
me: i am also an avid fan of slapstick comedy
banana: ok you're not gonna believe this
Reposted by Nick Baumann
I spoke with Any Lucía López Belloza, the Babson College student who was on her way to surprise her family for Thanksgiving when ICE deported her.
"My 5-year-old sister still believes that I might go home for Christmas," she tells me.
www.thecut.com/article/any-...
"My 5-year-old sister still believes that I might go home for Christmas," she tells me.
www.thecut.com/article/any-...
I Wanted to Surprise My Family on Thanksgiving. ICE Deported Me Instead.
How the Trump administration turned a college freshman’s life upside down.
www.thecut.com
December 5, 2025 at 4:28 PM
I spoke with Any Lucía López Belloza, the Babson College student who was on her way to surprise her family for Thanksgiving when ICE deported her.
"My 5-year-old sister still believes that I might go home for Christmas," she tells me.
www.thecut.com/article/any-...
"My 5-year-old sister still believes that I might go home for Christmas," she tells me.
www.thecut.com/article/any-...
Reposted by Nick Baumann
This came to me in a dream
December 5, 2025 at 12:24 PM
This came to me in a dream
Reposted by Nick Baumann
Jeff Yass, one of the richest people on the planet, funds political pressure for his pet issue: publicly funded vouchers for enrolling students in nonpublic schools.
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Meet the billionaire pushing taxpayer-funded school vouchers
How one of the richest people on the planet presses his pet issue: school choice
www.washingtonpost.com
December 5, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Jeff Yass, one of the richest people on the planet, funds political pressure for his pet issue: publicly funded vouchers for enrolling students in nonpublic schools.
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
"All of the scenarios consist of analogizing the actions of suspected drug runners to traditional combat activities. The comparisons are strained at best," @charliesavage.bsky.social and @julianbarnes.bsky.social write: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/04/u...
Second Strike Scrutiny Obscures Larger Question About Trump’s Boat Attacks
www.nytimes.com
December 5, 2025 at 1:39 PM
"All of the scenarios consist of analogizing the actions of suspected drug runners to traditional combat activities. The comparisons are strained at best," @charliesavage.bsky.social and @julianbarnes.bsky.social write: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/04/u...
Reposted by Nick Baumann
Scathing dissent from Justice Kagan:
"[T]his Court reverses that judgment based on its perusal, over a holiday weekend, of a cold paper record. We are a higher court than the District Court, but we are not a better one when it comes to making such a fact-based decision."
"[T]his Court reverses that judgment based on its perusal, over a holiday weekend, of a cold paper record. We are a higher court than the District Court, but we are not a better one when it comes to making such a fact-based decision."
Reuters: U.S. SUPREME COURT REVIVES REDRAWN PRO-REPUBLICAN TEXAS VOTING MAP INTENDED TO HELP TRUMP'S PARTY KEEP CONTROL OF CONGRESS
December 4, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Scathing dissent from Justice Kagan:
"[T]his Court reverses that judgment based on its perusal, over a holiday weekend, of a cold paper record. We are a higher court than the District Court, but we are not a better one when it comes to making such a fact-based decision."
"[T]his Court reverses that judgment based on its perusal, over a holiday weekend, of a cold paper record. We are a higher court than the District Court, but we are not a better one when it comes to making such a fact-based decision."
Reposted by Nick Baumann
Yeah I like waymo. Waymo public transit, bike lanes and benches!
December 4, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Yeah I like waymo. Waymo public transit, bike lanes and benches!
How is it that there are like 20 streaming services and the movie you want to watch is available on none of them?
December 5, 2025 at 12:26 AM
How is it that there are like 20 streaming services and the movie you want to watch is available on none of them?
Pleased to report that my elder millennial listening habits (top 5: Rilo Kiley, Jenny Lewis, Cherub, Disclosure, LCD Soundsystem) combined with a habit of listening to crooners and jazz to calm down has resulted in a Spotify "listening age" of.... 82.
December 4, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Pleased to report that my elder millennial listening habits (top 5: Rilo Kiley, Jenny Lewis, Cherub, Disclosure, LCD Soundsystem) combined with a habit of listening to crooners and jazz to calm down has resulted in a Spotify "listening age" of.... 82.
“Sorry, darling, that’s progress." www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Trump hires new White House ballroom architect
Although the two had clashed over the size of the project, the decisive factor was the small firm’s limited capacity to handle such an enormous project.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 4, 2025 at 8:59 PM
“Sorry, darling, that’s progress." www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
"Update, Dec. 4: News stories published Thursday morning report that the FBI had arrested a male suspect in the pipe bomb case. At this point, there is no indication from the FBI that Shauni Kerkhoff is a suspect in the FBI's investigation." www.theblaze.com/news/former-...
Former Capitol Police officer a forensic match for Jan. 6 pipe bomber, sources say | Blaze Media
A computer program that compared the bomb suspect’s gait to that of Shauni Kerkhoff produced a 94% match.
www.theblaze.com
December 4, 2025 at 7:55 PM
"Update, Dec. 4: News stories published Thursday morning report that the FBI had arrested a male suspect in the pipe bomb case. At this point, there is no indication from the FBI that Shauni Kerkhoff is a suspect in the FBI's investigation." www.theblaze.com/news/former-...
Reposted by Nick Baumann
I wrote a bit for McSweeney's about Isaac Chotiner interviewing Santa Claus. Just a little something for the holiday season. Enjoy!
The New Yorker’s Isaac Chotiner Interviews Santa Claus
For several centuries, Santa Claus has been one of the most prolific mythical gift-givers in the world. Formerly known as Saint Nicholas of Myra, a...
www.mcsweeneys.net
December 4, 2025 at 7:02 PM
I wrote a bit for McSweeney's about Isaac Chotiner interviewing Santa Claus. Just a little something for the holiday season. Enjoy!
Reposted by Nick Baumann
Brown University accepted nearly equal numbers of male and female students, but got almost twice as many female applicants. That math meant it was easier for men to get in.
Trump's DEI ban may end gender balancing efforts that often benefit men.
Trump's DEI ban may end gender balancing efforts that often benefit men.
Trump’s attack on DEI may hurt college men, particularly White men
The Trump administration’s ban on diversity, equity and inclusion also targets gender. The ban may impact gender balancing practices that often benefit college men.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 4, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Brown University accepted nearly equal numbers of male and female students, but got almost twice as many female applicants. That math meant it was easier for men to get in.
Trump's DEI ban may end gender balancing efforts that often benefit men.
Trump's DEI ban may end gender balancing efforts that often benefit men.
Reposted by Nick Baumann
it is an underrated miracle of the 21st century that we really did massively, massively reduce bullying in schools
My experience as well. So far we're 2-for-2 on kids having a largely bullying/abuse-free middle school experience. Not without bumpy spots of course, but light years away from what I endured.
My hot take: the anti-bullying stuff has really worked, which is why conservatives are pushing back at it.
My hot take: the anti-bullying stuff has really worked, which is why conservatives are pushing back at it.
for what it’s worth I got roped into helping out with my sixth grader’s extracurricular thing so I’ve had more recent contact with middle schoolers who aren’t mine than I usually do, and biased sample/biased reviewer/etc but my verdict is that the kids are all right
December 4, 2025 at 3:15 PM
it is an underrated miracle of the 21st century that we really did massively, massively reduce bullying in schools
"What’s gone up is not the cost of living relative to a single earner’s wages, but the opportunity cost of the second adult not working," @mattyglesias.bsky.social argues: www.slowboring.com/p/you-can-af...
You can afford a tradlife
It’s rising, not falling, wages and incomes that make full-time homemaking rare.
www.slowboring.com
December 4, 2025 at 3:08 PM
"What’s gone up is not the cost of living relative to a single earner’s wages, but the opportunity cost of the second adult not working," @mattyglesias.bsky.social argues: www.slowboring.com/p/you-can-af...
Reposted by Nick Baumann
December 4, 2025 at 1:49 PM