Daniel Knowles
@dlknowles.bsky.social
Midwest correspondent at The Economist, in Chicago. Before that, in London, Mumbai, Nairobi and DC.
Buy my book: http://shorturl.at/BJOUV
Buy my book: http://shorturl.at/BJOUV
Pinned
Daniel Knowles
@dlknowles.bsky.social
· Oct 9
Forget EVs. Cycling is revolutionising transport
Pedal power is booming, spinning up a new culture war
www.economist.com
By me this week - the happiest thing I've got to report of late, with a glorious trip over the summer to Montreal
"Forget EVs. Cycling is revolutionising transport."
www.economist.com/internationa...
"Forget EVs. Cycling is revolutionising transport."
www.economist.com/internationa...
Reposted by Daniel Knowles
Based on data we got in a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, DHS statistics show that the agents have worked about 33 percent fewer hours on child exploitation than is typical and at least five times as many hours on immigration enforcement.
November 17, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Based on data we got in a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, DHS statistics show that the agents have worked about 33 percent fewer hours on child exploitation than is typical and at least five times as many hours on immigration enforcement.
Reposted by Daniel Knowles
this is an important example of the NYT at its best - when it deploys the sheer scale of its resources to do a story as comprehensively as possible.
This piece is important. It is also a great (annoyingly great) example of what a properly resourced team of journalists can do. There are five bylines and almost 20 additional reporting credits on this piece. I've wanted to write this story for months but... do not have that many colleagues
The cost of Trump's immigration surge: Stalled investigations into child sexual abuse, Iranian oil smuggling and human trafficking, among others. My latest piece is a big team effort on how DHS has been transformed into the Department of Deportation.
Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2025/11/16/u...
Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2025/11/16/u...
November 17, 2025 at 4:33 PM
this is an important example of the NYT at its best - when it deploys the sheer scale of its resources to do a story as comprehensively as possible.
Reposted by Daniel Knowles
The "please just do something" argument for British political survival.
Reeves should risk it all on one last roll of the dice.
Raise income tax, break the triple lock, slay the deficit, spend the money on the things she believes in.
It may not work - but better than waiting for doom to overtake her.
open.substack.com/pub/edrith/p...
Raise income tax, break the triple lock, slay the deficit, spend the money on the things she believes in.
It may not work - but better than waiting for doom to overtake her.
open.substack.com/pub/edrith/p...
Reeves in Zugzwang
Incremental politics no longer works
open.substack.com
November 17, 2025 at 8:17 AM
The "please just do something" argument for British political survival.
Crypto is for crime, and really nothing else at all - latest edition: www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/t...
How Fraudsters Use Cryptocurrency A.T.M.s to Target Victims
www.nytimes.com
November 17, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Crypto is for crime, and really nothing else at all - latest edition: www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/t...
This piece is important. It is also a great (annoyingly great) example of what a properly resourced team of journalists can do. There are five bylines and almost 20 additional reporting credits on this piece. I've wanted to write this story for months but... do not have that many colleagues
The cost of Trump's immigration surge: Stalled investigations into child sexual abuse, Iranian oil smuggling and human trafficking, among others. My latest piece is a big team effort on how DHS has been transformed into the Department of Deportation.
Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2025/11/16/u...
Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2025/11/16/u...
Homeland Security Missions Falter Amid Focus on Deportations
www.nytimes.com
November 17, 2025 at 12:28 PM
This piece is important. It is also a great (annoyingly great) example of what a properly resourced team of journalists can do. There are five bylines and almost 20 additional reporting credits on this piece. I've wanted to write this story for months but... do not have that many colleagues
Reposted by Daniel Knowles
This… 👇
We Came Here Legally. ICE Locked Us Up Anyway. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/o...
We Came Here Legally. ICE Locked Us Up Anyway. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/o...
Opinion | We Came Here Legally. ICE Locked Us Up Anyway.
www.nytimes.com
November 17, 2025 at 10:13 AM
This… 👇
We Came Here Legally. ICE Locked Us Up Anyway. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/o...
We Came Here Legally. ICE Locked Us Up Anyway. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/o...
ZERO CHARGES, my god
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem should resign and be criminally charged, according to critics who seized on a report revealing that zero people who were arrested in a high-profile raid were charged with a crime.
'Noem should resign over this': Fury over alleged DHS 'child kidnapping and trafficking'
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem should resign and be criminally charged, according to critics who seized on a report revealing that zero people who were arrested in a high-profile raid were charged with a crime.ProPublica recently reported on the DHS raid on an apartment building that was al...
bit.ly
November 16, 2025 at 6:27 PM
ZERO CHARGES, my god
Reposted by Daniel Knowles
To be clear, it’s not ICE, it’s CBP. It’s more related to a series on X influencers who were elevated and got the attention of Bovino (who is from Boone)
NC law now requires some degree of cooperation with ICE.
NC law now requires some degree of cooperation with ICE.
I'm seeing people wonder why ICE is going after Charlotte.
ICE has been at war with Charlotte's sheriff ever since he won in 2018.
We'd covered this at Bolts back in the day; this quote is from that sheriff:
ICE has been at war with Charlotte's sheriff ever since he won in 2018.
We'd covered this at Bolts back in the day; this quote is from that sheriff:
“When the 8 African American sheriffs took over the largest counties in North Carolina, it became a threat to the good ol’ boy system,” says the sheriff of Charlotte. These new sheriffs broke ties with ICE.
But GOP lawmakers cracked down this week, overbidding the governor’s veto to adopt this law:
But GOP lawmakers cracked down this week, overbidding the governor’s veto to adopt this law:
November 16, 2025 at 6:20 PM
To be clear, it’s not ICE, it’s CBP. It’s more related to a series on X influencers who were elevated and got the attention of Bovino (who is from Boone)
NC law now requires some degree of cooperation with ICE.
NC law now requires some degree of cooperation with ICE.
Reposted by Daniel Knowles
Have to admit it’s weird that a lot of this site’s users lose their minds every other day over anodyne Times stories just because every other line isn’t “To be clear, the now-vanished Manhattan power elite of elderly sex predators who reeked of Ben-Gay and lube and ate in bad restaurants was Bad.”
November 16, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Have to admit it’s weird that a lot of this site’s users lose their minds every other day over anodyne Times stories just because every other line isn’t “To be clear, the now-vanished Manhattan power elite of elderly sex predators who reeked of Ben-Gay and lube and ate in bad restaurants was Bad.”
Reposted by Daniel Knowles
5 headlines tonight on Charlotte Observer’s homepage:
“Manolo's Bakery closes to protect customers”
“Church members flee as federal agents arrive”
“Super G executive describes agents dragging out teen employee”
“Border Patrol questions people at Walmart”
“Border Patrol sweep sparks fear”
“Manolo's Bakery closes to protect customers”
“Church members flee as federal agents arrive”
“Super G executive describes agents dragging out teen employee”
“Border Patrol questions people at Walmart”
“Border Patrol sweep sparks fear”
November 16, 2025 at 4:25 AM
5 headlines tonight on Charlotte Observer’s homepage:
“Manolo's Bakery closes to protect customers”
“Church members flee as federal agents arrive”
“Super G executive describes agents dragging out teen employee”
“Border Patrol questions people at Walmart”
“Border Patrol sweep sparks fear”
“Manolo's Bakery closes to protect customers”
“Church members flee as federal agents arrive”
“Super G executive describes agents dragging out teen employee”
“Border Patrol questions people at Walmart”
“Border Patrol sweep sparks fear”
Reposted by Daniel Knowles
"It was tough to beat Apple, but the Swiss did it." said one administration official.
How the Swiss convinced Trump to drop tariffs with gifts of a Rolex desk clock and a 1 kg gold bar.
www.axios.com/2025/11/14/t...
How the Swiss convinced Trump to drop tariffs with gifts of a Rolex desk clock and a 1 kg gold bar.
www.axios.com/2025/11/14/t...
How to lobby Trump with Swiss precision: gifts, gold and gab
How the Swiss broke a diplomatic logjam on tariffs by arriving with tributes fit for a king.
www.axios.com
November 15, 2025 at 2:05 PM
"It was tough to beat Apple, but the Swiss did it." said one administration official.
How the Swiss convinced Trump to drop tariffs with gifts of a Rolex desk clock and a 1 kg gold bar.
www.axios.com/2025/11/14/t...
How the Swiss convinced Trump to drop tariffs with gifts of a Rolex desk clock and a 1 kg gold bar.
www.axios.com/2025/11/14/t...
Every time I am reminded that in the 1970s people thought "yeah let's build a skyscraper federal prison in downtown Chicago, that's like a great use of land," I think my God the past really is another country
November 15, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Every time I am reminded that in the 1970s people thought "yeah let's build a skyscraper federal prison in downtown Chicago, that's like a great use of land," I think my God the past really is another country
Reposted by Daniel Knowles
This is astonishingly good feature from The Economist. It demonstrates exactly what it has felt like to me to live in Chicago during Operation Midway Blitz. And not in a good way.
With @arynbraun.bsky.social, this week we ran this big look at what ICE/CBP has become under Donald Trump and how the agencies increasingly resemble a sort of national police force he can send to whatever city he likes to intimidate people:
www.economist.com/interactive/...
www.economist.com/interactive/...
See how Donald Trump is creating his own police force
Immigration agents are operating in cities with few legal constraints
www.economist.com
November 15, 2025 at 8:32 PM
This is astonishingly good feature from The Economist. It demonstrates exactly what it has felt like to me to live in Chicago during Operation Midway Blitz. And not in a good way.
Reposted by Daniel Knowles
“What began as a way to increase the pace of deportations has come to look like a national police force, answerable to the president, that is at least as focused on bullying the residents of Democrat-run cities as it is on deporting undocumented migrants.”
See how Donald Trump is creating his own police force
Immigration agents are operating in cities with few legal constraints
www.economist.com
November 14, 2025 at 7:46 PM
“What began as a way to increase the pace of deportations has come to look like a national police force, answerable to the president, that is at least as focused on bullying the residents of Democrat-run cities as it is on deporting undocumented migrants.”
Reposted by Daniel Knowles
they promptly let the individual go
November 15, 2025 at 5:44 PM
they promptly let the individual go
With @arynbraun.bsky.social, this week we ran this big look at what ICE/CBP has become under Donald Trump and how the agencies increasingly resemble a sort of national police force he can send to whatever city he likes to intimidate people:
www.economist.com/interactive/...
www.economist.com/interactive/...
See how Donald Trump is creating his own police force
Immigration agents are operating in cities with few legal constraints
www.economist.com
November 15, 2025 at 5:29 PM
With @arynbraun.bsky.social, this week we ran this big look at what ICE/CBP has become under Donald Trump and how the agencies increasingly resemble a sort of national police force he can send to whatever city he likes to intimidate people:
www.economist.com/interactive/...
www.economist.com/interactive/...
Every single one of these stories deserves to be aired nationally, and talked about until the people responsible learn shame
For two months, the U.S. government has been racial profiling as masked federal agents hunted for immigrants throughout Chicago. They’ve repeatedly snatched up U.S. citizens while traumatizing communities. “I felt like a piece of trash.” Here is our story www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/15/l...
Latino US citizens racially profiled by federal immigration agents in Chicago: ‘I felt like a piece of trash’
The Tribune spoke to U.S. citizens and green card holders who have either been questioned or detained during Trump’s Operation Midway Blitz.
www.chicagotribune.com
November 15, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Every single one of these stories deserves to be aired nationally, and talked about until the people responsible learn shame
Reposted by Daniel Knowles
“I told them I’m a U.S. citizen, I know my rights,” he said. “All they said was, I don’t (expletive) care.”
For two months, the U.S. government has been racial profiling as masked federal agents hunted for immigrants throughout Chicago. They’ve repeatedly snatched up U.S. citizens while traumatizing communities. “I felt like a piece of trash.” Here is our story www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/15/l...
Latino US citizens racially profiled by federal immigration agents in Chicago: ‘I felt like a piece of trash’
The Tribune spoke to U.S. citizens and green card holders who have either been questioned or detained during Trump’s Operation Midway Blitz.
www.chicagotribune.com
November 15, 2025 at 2:33 PM
“I told them I’m a U.S. citizen, I know my rights,” he said. “All they said was, I don’t (expletive) care.”
The way politicians should approach immigration is to speak generously about immigrants and stress how economically vital it is, while being restrictive in actual policy. Most seem to embrace the exact opposite, and essentially say "immigrants are awful, there's nothing we can do to stop them"
The government just keeps doubling down on the strategy that’s taken it to genuinely historical unpopularity ever harder.
The horse will be flogged until it sprints.
The horse will be flogged until it sprints.
the video goes on and on about illegal immigration and yet the new proposal will target legal migration by confirmed refugees
November 15, 2025 at 12:22 PM
The way politicians should approach immigration is to speak generously about immigrants and stress how economically vital it is, while being restrictive in actual policy. Most seem to embrace the exact opposite, and essentially say "immigrants are awful, there's nothing we can do to stop them"
All this Trump Epstein stuff is bringing the Bible story of Nebuchadnezzar's dream strongly to my mind. A giant seemingly impregnable statue crumbling on its feet of clay. Only in my head the statue is Trump and a bunch of people in suits prostrating themselves at the base are about to get crushed
November 15, 2025 at 6:49 AM
All this Trump Epstein stuff is bringing the Bible story of Nebuchadnezzar's dream strongly to my mind. A giant seemingly impregnable statue crumbling on its feet of clay. Only in my head the statue is Trump and a bunch of people in suits prostrating themselves at the base are about to get crushed
Reposted by Daniel Knowles
Trump admin Is attempting to massive cut federal transit funds, seeking to:
1–Eliminate transit account, which funds billions of $ in capital expenses for transit agencies
2–Prevent state DOTs from “flexing” funds for transit
These changes, if they occurred, would be devastating for US transit.
1–Eliminate transit account, which funds billions of $ in capital expenses for transit agencies
2–Prevent state DOTs from “flexing” funds for transit
These changes, if they occurred, would be devastating for US transit.
POLITICO Pro: Trump administration proposals seek to eliminate transit funding
DOT recently sent two proposals to the White House budget office seeking to pare back transit money.
subscriber.politicopro.com
November 15, 2025 at 2:44 AM
Trump admin Is attempting to massive cut federal transit funds, seeking to:
1–Eliminate transit account, which funds billions of $ in capital expenses for transit agencies
2–Prevent state DOTs from “flexing” funds for transit
These changes, if they occurred, would be devastating for US transit.
1–Eliminate transit account, which funds billions of $ in capital expenses for transit agencies
2–Prevent state DOTs from “flexing” funds for transit
These changes, if they occurred, would be devastating for US transit.
Reposted by Daniel Knowles
NEW: We’ve uncovered the first known example of taxpayer money flowing from DHS to businesses controlled by Kristi Noem’s allies and friends.
It’s part of a money trail that’s been shrouded in secrecy—and involves $220 million, a mysterious Delaware LLC & a horse named Gill.
It’s part of a money trail that’s been shrouded in secrecy—and involves $220 million, a mysterious Delaware LLC & a horse named Gill.
November 14, 2025 at 12:20 PM
NEW: We’ve uncovered the first known example of taxpayer money flowing from DHS to businesses controlled by Kristi Noem’s allies and friends.
It’s part of a money trail that’s been shrouded in secrecy—and involves $220 million, a mysterious Delaware LLC & a horse named Gill.
It’s part of a money trail that’s been shrouded in secrecy—and involves $220 million, a mysterious Delaware LLC & a horse named Gill.
Reposted by Daniel Knowles
![4-panel vertical comic. (1) 100 Years Ago [two people standing next to bicycle with small car nearby] PERSON 1: It’s too dangerous riding a bike with these cars around. I should get a car, too. (2) 50 Years Ago [two people between smaller car and bigger car] PERSON 2 with short hair: Small cars are less safe in collisions with larger vehicles, so I should get a bigger one. (3) Today [two people between big car and even bigger car] PERSON 1: Everyone has huge SUVs now. If I don’t get the biggest one, I’m putting my family at risk. (4) Soon [two people next to large armored car with spiked clubs attached] PERSON 2: If I don’t install more whirling spike clubs, I’ll be destroyed by all the other drivers who...](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreiby6can6k76yzfmv2czxs4pu2l7zie7bqbrpswi7h3ifmiadkuqvu@jpeg)
A blog post about my article (follow my substack if you mostly want me to send you links whenever I write something urbanism-related for The Economist): danielknowles.substack.com/p/the-rise-o...
The rise of the e-bike dad
(And of course of the e-bike mum, too)
danielknowles.substack.com
November 14, 2025 at 9:13 PM
A blog post about my article (follow my substack if you mostly want me to send you links whenever I write something urbanism-related for The Economist): danielknowles.substack.com/p/the-rise-o...
Reposted by Daniel Knowles
Do you think the government was right or wrong to decide not to raise income tax at the Budget?
Right: 58%
Wrong: 21%
yougov.co.uk/topics/polit...
Right: 58%
Wrong: 21%
yougov.co.uk/topics/polit...
November 14, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Do you think the government was right or wrong to decide not to raise income tax at the Budget?
Right: 58%
Wrong: 21%
yougov.co.uk/topics/polit...
Right: 58%
Wrong: 21%
yougov.co.uk/topics/polit...