Derek Thompson
@dkthomp.bsky.social
Staff writer at The Atlantic. Host of Plain English podcast. Books.
I'm going to lose my mind here.
Lance said he sees no evidence for your position.
Your whole Dallas oligopoly case is: Big builders use market share to create shortages and drive up profits.
Lance just said: Nope! I don't see any evidence that they do.
Lance said he sees no evidence for your position.
Your whole Dallas oligopoly case is: Big builders use market share to create shortages and drive up profits.
Lance just said: Nope! I don't see any evidence that they do.
August 1, 2025 at 6:04 PM
I'm going to lose my mind here.
Lance said he sees no evidence for your position.
Your whole Dallas oligopoly case is: Big builders use market share to create shortages and drive up profits.
Lance just said: Nope! I don't see any evidence that they do.
Lance said he sees no evidence for your position.
Your whole Dallas oligopoly case is: Big builders use market share to create shortages and drive up profits.
Lance just said: Nope! I don't see any evidence that they do.
There's a thread from Matt Stoller going around accusing me of lying and purposefully misrepresenting my conversation with the real estate analyst Lance Lambert.
Well, I knew that was wrong.
So I called Lance.
Here's what happened next.
Well, I knew that was wrong.
So I called Lance.
Here's what happened next.
August 1, 2025 at 1:09 AM
There's a thread from Matt Stoller going around accusing me of lying and purposefully misrepresenting my conversation with the real estate analyst Lance Lambert.
Well, I knew that was wrong.
So I called Lance.
Here's what happened next.
Well, I knew that was wrong.
So I called Lance.
Here's what happened next.
frequent theme of today's episode: there are 2 housing americas now
if you live in the northeast or midwest, prices are rising, everywhere around you.
if you live in the south or west, prices are falling, everywhere around you.
if you live in the northeast or midwest, prices are rising, everywhere around you.
if you live in the south or west, prices are falling, everywhere around you.
July 30, 2025 at 3:00 PM
frequent theme of today's episode: there are 2 housing americas now
if you live in the northeast or midwest, prices are rising, everywhere around you.
if you live in the south or west, prices are falling, everywhere around you.
if you live in the northeast or midwest, prices are rising, everywhere around you.
if you live in the south or west, prices are falling, everywhere around you.
New pod: Something very strange is happening to the labor market for college graduates. Their unemployment is rising much faster than the overall economy—in a way that's unprecedented in the last 40 yrs.
Why?
Harvard's David Deming and I talk thru the evidence.
open.spotify.com/episode/3Feh...
Why?
Harvard's David Deming and I talk thru the evidence.
open.spotify.com/episode/3Feh...
May 6, 2025 at 1:01 PM
New pod: Something very strange is happening to the labor market for college graduates. Their unemployment is rising much faster than the overall economy—in a way that's unprecedented in the last 40 yrs.
Why?
Harvard's David Deming and I talk thru the evidence.
open.spotify.com/episode/3Feh...
Why?
Harvard's David Deming and I talk thru the evidence.
open.spotify.com/episode/3Feh...
This is actual US policy right now
May 5, 2025 at 2:01 PM
This is actual US policy right now
The unemployment rate for recent grads is worse now relative to the overall economy than any time on record. Three flavors of explanation:
Short-term: It's Trump.
Medium-term: It's the flagging college premium.
Long-term: Is Gen-AI substituting for new hires?
www.theatlantic.com/economy/arch...
Short-term: It's Trump.
Medium-term: It's the flagging college premium.
Long-term: Is Gen-AI substituting for new hires?
www.theatlantic.com/economy/arch...
April 30, 2025 at 5:08 PM
The unemployment rate for recent grads is worse now relative to the overall economy than any time on record. Three flavors of explanation:
Short-term: It's Trump.
Medium-term: It's the flagging college premium.
Long-term: Is Gen-AI substituting for new hires?
www.theatlantic.com/economy/arch...
Short-term: It's Trump.
Medium-term: It's the flagging college premium.
Long-term: Is Gen-AI substituting for new hires?
www.theatlantic.com/economy/arch...
New pod: What's behind the extreme rise in ADHD diagnoses in the last decade?
Paul Tough joins the show, to plot a middle path between "ADHD was invented by Big Pharma to sell kids pills" vs. "There's absolutely no downside to the boom in stimulant prescriptions"
open.spotify.com/episode/6Gga...
Paul Tough joins the show, to plot a middle path between "ADHD was invented by Big Pharma to sell kids pills" vs. "There's absolutely no downside to the boom in stimulant prescriptions"
open.spotify.com/episode/6Gga...
April 25, 2025 at 5:51 PM
New pod: What's behind the extreme rise in ADHD diagnoses in the last decade?
Paul Tough joins the show, to plot a middle path between "ADHD was invented by Big Pharma to sell kids pills" vs. "There's absolutely no downside to the boom in stimulant prescriptions"
open.spotify.com/episode/6Gga...
Paul Tough joins the show, to plot a middle path between "ADHD was invented by Big Pharma to sell kids pills" vs. "There's absolutely no downside to the boom in stimulant prescriptions"
open.spotify.com/episode/6Gga...
When you consider that Tesla was a world leader in its category until a top exec made a series of unforced and eccentric errors, which tarnished its image and demolished growth, all while a Chinese industrial giant threatened to leave it in the dust ... you really get what drew Musk to this admin
April 23, 2025 at 12:13 PM
When you consider that Tesla was a world leader in its category until a top exec made a series of unforced and eccentric errors, which tarnished its image and demolished growth, all while a Chinese industrial giant threatened to leave it in the dust ... you really get what drew Musk to this admin
If China defeated the US in war and forced us to sign a treaty that would ensure a century of Chinese dominion in science and tech, they'd be smart to force the U.S. to:
- slash scientific grants in half
- reduce foreign students
- gut our manufacturing base
Instead, we're doing it all by choice.
- slash scientific grants in half
- reduce foreign students
- gut our manufacturing base
Instead, we're doing it all by choice.
April 17, 2025 at 4:04 PM
If China defeated the US in war and forced us to sign a treaty that would ensure a century of Chinese dominion in science and tech, they'd be smart to force the U.S. to:
- slash scientific grants in half
- reduce foreign students
- gut our manufacturing base
Instead, we're doing it all by choice.
- slash scientific grants in half
- reduce foreign students
- gut our manufacturing base
Instead, we're doing it all by choice.
Trumpists want to argue for a future-world that doesn't yet exist, in which the tariffs create a perfect equilibrium for US growth. But the tariff plan announced yesterday does exist. We can read it. It does not make sense and is not defensible on its own terms.
www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...
www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...
April 3, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Trumpists want to argue for a future-world that doesn't yet exist, in which the tariffs create a perfect equilibrium for US growth. But the tariff plan announced yesterday does exist. We can read it. It does not make sense and is not defensible on its own terms.
www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...
www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...
Three years ago, I wrote my "abundance agenda" essay.
Today, my book ABUNDANCE, co-written with Ezra Klein, comes out.
Here's my best summary of our view of abundance vs. Donald Trump's regime of scarcity.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
Today, my book ABUNDANCE, co-written with Ezra Klein, comes out.
Here's my best summary of our view of abundance vs. Donald Trump's regime of scarcity.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
March 18, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Three years ago, I wrote my "abundance agenda" essay.
Today, my book ABUNDANCE, co-written with Ezra Klein, comes out.
Here's my best summary of our view of abundance vs. Donald Trump's regime of scarcity.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
Today, my book ABUNDANCE, co-written with Ezra Klein, comes out.
Here's my best summary of our view of abundance vs. Donald Trump's regime of scarcity.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
Trump's interpersonal psychology sort of haphazardly recreating late-19th century US political economy.
Trump doesn't like or understand trade. (He thinks when we import stuff, we lose money.) So, we get tariffs *plus* special dispensation for companies that make attractive appeals to him.
Trump doesn't like or understand trade. (He thinks when we import stuff, we lose money.) So, we get tariffs *plus* special dispensation for companies that make attractive appeals to him.
March 5, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Trump's interpersonal psychology sort of haphazardly recreating late-19th century US political economy.
Trump doesn't like or understand trade. (He thinks when we import stuff, we lose money.) So, we get tariffs *plus* special dispensation for companies that make attractive appeals to him.
Trump doesn't like or understand trade. (He thinks when we import stuff, we lose money.) So, we get tariffs *plus* special dispensation for companies that make attractive appeals to him.
BESSENT: US TO DEVELOP MAJOR DOMESTIC FILM BUSINESS IN CALIFORNIA, TO BE NAMED AFTER HOLLYWOOD HILLS
March 4, 2025 at 3:38 PM
BESSENT: US TO DEVELOP MAJOR DOMESTIC FILM BUSINESS IN CALIFORNIA, TO BE NAMED AFTER HOLLYWOOD HILLS
New pod: The End of Reading
Student reading scores are plummeting. Elite-college students say they can't read full books. Leisure reading has declined >30% for adults. And, as @weisenthal.bsky.social says, it's happening as US culture swings back to "orality."
open.spotify.com/episode/0tFL...
Student reading scores are plummeting. Elite-college students say they can't read full books. Leisure reading has declined >30% for adults. And, as @weisenthal.bsky.social says, it's happening as US culture swings back to "orality."
open.spotify.com/episode/0tFL...
February 28, 2025 at 6:10 PM
New pod: The End of Reading
Student reading scores are plummeting. Elite-college students say they can't read full books. Leisure reading has declined >30% for adults. And, as @weisenthal.bsky.social says, it's happening as US culture swings back to "orality."
open.spotify.com/episode/0tFL...
Student reading scores are plummeting. Elite-college students say they can't read full books. Leisure reading has declined >30% for adults. And, as @weisenthal.bsky.social says, it's happening as US culture swings back to "orality."
open.spotify.com/episode/0tFL...
Atlanta Fed forecasts Q1 GDP declining 1.5% (ht @conorsen.bsky.social)
Would the worst quarter in the last decade (outside of 2020 spring).
Notably, expected contribution of net exports fell from -0.41 percentage points to -3.7. Weird, since US trade policy has been very normal recently.
Would the worst quarter in the last decade (outside of 2020 spring).
Notably, expected contribution of net exports fell from -0.41 percentage points to -3.7. Weird, since US trade policy has been very normal recently.
February 28, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Atlanta Fed forecasts Q1 GDP declining 1.5% (ht @conorsen.bsky.social)
Would the worst quarter in the last decade (outside of 2020 spring).
Notably, expected contribution of net exports fell from -0.41 percentage points to -3.7. Weird, since US trade policy has been very normal recently.
Would the worst quarter in the last decade (outside of 2020 spring).
Notably, expected contribution of net exports fell from -0.41 percentage points to -3.7. Weird, since US trade policy has been very normal recently.
Unbelievable news.
Pancreatic is one of the deadliest cancers.
New paper shows personalized mRNA vaccines can induce durable T cells that attack pancreatic cancer, with 75% of patients cancer free at three years—far, far better than standard of care.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Pancreatic is one of the deadliest cancers.
New paper shows personalized mRNA vaccines can induce durable T cells that attack pancreatic cancer, with 75% of patients cancer free at three years—far, far better than standard of care.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
February 27, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Unbelievable news.
Pancreatic is one of the deadliest cancers.
New paper shows personalized mRNA vaccines can induce durable T cells that attack pancreatic cancer, with 75% of patients cancer free at three years—far, far better than standard of care.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Pancreatic is one of the deadliest cancers.
New paper shows personalized mRNA vaccines can induce durable T cells that attack pancreatic cancer, with 75% of patients cancer free at three years—far, far better than standard of care.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Two million views of a tweet
a) accusing the NYT of "putting the lives of DOGE employees at risk" (... by naming the people running the government)
b) accusing the NYT of "hiding the names" of its reporters from the public (... when they are listed, all 15 of them, right there on the page)
a) accusing the NYT of "putting the lives of DOGE employees at risk" (... by naming the people running the government)
b) accusing the NYT of "hiding the names" of its reporters from the public (... when they are listed, all 15 of them, right there on the page)
February 27, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Two million views of a tweet
a) accusing the NYT of "putting the lives of DOGE employees at risk" (... by naming the people running the government)
b) accusing the NYT of "hiding the names" of its reporters from the public (... when they are listed, all 15 of them, right there on the page)
a) accusing the NYT of "putting the lives of DOGE employees at risk" (... by naming the people running the government)
b) accusing the NYT of "hiding the names" of its reporters from the public (... when they are listed, all 15 of them, right there on the page)
is it fair to point out that global fertility trends seem to be harmonizing in a weird way?
it looks like in, say, the 1925 cohort, you have significant differences between the age specific fertility rate in US/UK/Japan
but now, it feels like many many countries are moving toward the same curve
it looks like in, say, the 1925 cohort, you have significant differences between the age specific fertility rate in US/UK/Japan
but now, it feels like many many countries are moving toward the same curve
February 24, 2025 at 4:11 PM
is it fair to point out that global fertility trends seem to be harmonizing in a weird way?
it looks like in, say, the 1925 cohort, you have significant differences between the age specific fertility rate in US/UK/Japan
but now, it feels like many many countries are moving toward the same curve
it looks like in, say, the 1925 cohort, you have significant differences between the age specific fertility rate in US/UK/Japan
but now, it feels like many many countries are moving toward the same curve
Are young ppl shifting right? Germany's election tests the case.
1. Far-right had historic results and young ppl were a third more likely than seniors to vote AfD.
2. But a plurality of young ppl voted for the left—MUCH higher than seniors.
Youth flight from the center cc @mcopelov.bsky.social
1. Far-right had historic results and young ppl were a third more likely than seniors to vote AfD.
2. But a plurality of young ppl voted for the left—MUCH higher than seniors.
Youth flight from the center cc @mcopelov.bsky.social
February 23, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Are young ppl shifting right? Germany's election tests the case.
1. Far-right had historic results and young ppl were a third more likely than seniors to vote AfD.
2. But a plurality of young ppl voted for the left—MUCH higher than seniors.
Youth flight from the center cc @mcopelov.bsky.social
1. Far-right had historic results and young ppl were a third more likely than seniors to vote AfD.
2. But a plurality of young ppl voted for the left—MUCH higher than seniors.
Youth flight from the center cc @mcopelov.bsky.social
Important piece.
Young people are hard to poll, but this fits the general thrust of my essays and pods over the last year. Young ppl, esp men, have moved right in the last few years; and in many cases young men are even more right-leaning than older men (OTOH: Watch that dip...)
Young people are hard to poll, but this fits the general thrust of my essays and pods over the last year. Young ppl, esp men, have moved right in the last few years; and in many cases young men are even more right-leaning than older men (OTOH: Watch that dip...)
February 21, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Important piece.
Young people are hard to poll, but this fits the general thrust of my essays and pods over the last year. Young ppl, esp men, have moved right in the last few years; and in many cases young men are even more right-leaning than older men (OTOH: Watch that dip...)
Young people are hard to poll, but this fits the general thrust of my essays and pods over the last year. Young ppl, esp men, have moved right in the last few years; and in many cases young men are even more right-leaning than older men (OTOH: Watch that dip...)
There is, in some corners, an intellectual effort to dress up Trump's personal style of politics as a deep ideology—e.g., he's an old-school Jacksonian; he's for returning the world to 19th c spheres of influence; etc—but fundamentally, the guy just cannot stand having mean things said about him
February 19, 2025 at 4:44 PM
There is, in some corners, an intellectual effort to dress up Trump's personal style of politics as a deep ideology—e.g., he's an old-school Jacksonian; he's for returning the world to 19th c spheres of influence; etc—but fundamentally, the guy just cannot stand having mean things said about him
Straightforward from here
1. DOGE cuts $50 million in govt spending
2. Falsely calls it $50 billion
3. Sends every taxpayer a share of that $50 billion as a savings "dividend"
4. Republicans add $5 trillion in tax cuts
5. GOP complains about deficit under next Democratic administration
1. DOGE cuts $50 million in govt spending
2. Falsely calls it $50 billion
3. Sends every taxpayer a share of that $50 billion as a savings "dividend"
4. Republicans add $5 trillion in tax cuts
5. GOP complains about deficit under next Democratic administration
February 19, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Straightforward from here
1. DOGE cuts $50 million in govt spending
2. Falsely calls it $50 billion
3. Sends every taxpayer a share of that $50 billion as a savings "dividend"
4. Republicans add $5 trillion in tax cuts
5. GOP complains about deficit under next Democratic administration
1. DOGE cuts $50 million in govt spending
2. Falsely calls it $50 billion
3. Sends every taxpayer a share of that $50 billion as a savings "dividend"
4. Republicans add $5 trillion in tax cuts
5. GOP complains about deficit under next Democratic administration
New ep: The state of energy in 2025, with @nathanielbullard.com
Feat.
1. Why solar is historic
2. How BYD is taking over the global auto industry
3. The ESG bubble has popped—but does it matter?
4. The AI build-out in context: Uh, holy shit ...
open.spotify.com/episode/21z6...
Feat.
1. Why solar is historic
2. How BYD is taking over the global auto industry
3. The ESG bubble has popped—but does it matter?
4. The AI build-out in context: Uh, holy shit ...
open.spotify.com/episode/21z6...
February 7, 2025 at 2:30 PM
New ep: The state of energy in 2025, with @nathanielbullard.com
Feat.
1. Why solar is historic
2. How BYD is taking over the global auto industry
3. The ESG bubble has popped—but does it matter?
4. The AI build-out in context: Uh, holy shit ...
open.spotify.com/episode/21z6...
Feat.
1. Why solar is historic
2. How BYD is taking over the global auto industry
3. The ESG bubble has popped—but does it matter?
4. The AI build-out in context: Uh, holy shit ...
open.spotify.com/episode/21z6...
February 5, 2025 at 6:09 PM