Jake Werner
@jwdwerner.bsky.social
Historian, director for East Asia @quincyinst.bsky.social, cofounder Justice Is Global. Previously @gdp-center.bsky.social, University of Chicago. Writing on US–China relations and global capitalism.
Pinned
Jake Werner
@jwdwerner.bsky.social
· Nov 13
A Program for Progressive China Policy
Foregrounding internationalism, global cooperation, and multilateral collaboration are essential to solving shared challenges like climate change, public health crises, and global inequality. This can...
quincyinst.org
From the Quincy Institute, the Institute for Policy Studies, and Justice Is Global, my essay laying out a comprehensive progressive strategy for US policy on China.
quincyinst.org/research/a-p...
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quincyinst.org/research/a-p...
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An important contrast from @polgreen.bsky.social, calling into question basic assumptions driving the US foreign policy establishment.
But instead of self-reflection, we’ve mostly seen denial, defensiveness, and compensatory fantasies of geopolitical bloc formation.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/o...
But instead of self-reflection, we’ve mostly seen denial, defensiveness, and compensatory fantasies of geopolitical bloc formation.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/o...
November 21, 2025 at 10:54 PM
An important contrast from @polgreen.bsky.social, calling into question basic assumptions driving the US foreign policy establishment.
But instead of self-reflection, we’ve mostly seen denial, defensiveness, and compensatory fantasies of geopolitical bloc formation.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/o...
But instead of self-reflection, we’ve mostly seen denial, defensiveness, and compensatory fantasies of geopolitical bloc formation.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/o...
Reposted by Jake Werner
One of the themes of our new police state is the sheer lack of professionalism. They can't do the basics, and when challenged, double down. A dysfunctional organizational culture deeply suspicious of the society they are tasked with controlling.
bsky.app/profile/radl...
bsky.app/profile/radl...
They misidentified the intern. The judge told them they had misidentified the intern. But instead of double checking, they took that as an affront to their authority. So they surrounded the judge's car and threatened to smash the windows to get to the intern.
They had misidentified the intern.
They had misidentified the intern.
The part where they threatened to break a judge’s car windows should be a bigger story … they feel comfortable treating judges this way, which means they are being told that they can do literally anything to nearly everyone
November 21, 2025 at 5:13 PM
One of the themes of our new police state is the sheer lack of professionalism. They can't do the basics, and when challenged, double down. A dysfunctional organizational culture deeply suspicious of the society they are tasked with controlling.
bsky.app/profile/radl...
bsky.app/profile/radl...
Reposted by Jake Werner
The grind & grift: (Starbucks) paid our CEO $98 million for the first four months of his employment with this company. They spent $81 million for a four-day manager's retreat in Vegas (in) June. It would cost less ... to finalize a multi-year union contract ... less than a single day's profit."
"Facing Unprecedented Labor violations, Starbucks Workers Overwhelmingly Agree to Strike Indefinitely"
Now that's what we call a headline! 🤭 #NoContractNoCoffee
inthesetimes.com/article/star...
Now that's what we call a headline! 🤭 #NoContractNoCoffee
inthesetimes.com/article/star...
Facing Unprecedented Labor Violations, Starbucks Workers Overwhelmingly Agree to Strike Indefinitely
Unfair wages, chronic understaffing and hundreds of ULPs have led to a Starbucks Workers United super-majority vote to strike.
inthesetimes.com
November 21, 2025 at 5:03 PM
The grind & grift: (Starbucks) paid our CEO $98 million for the first four months of his employment with this company. They spent $81 million for a four-day manager's retreat in Vegas (in) June. It would cost less ... to finalize a multi-year union contract ... less than a single day's profit."
The sadism of reactionary politics is not the opposite of impersonal market exchange but its logical outcome
I know people think I’m too woo-woo about theory and capitalism and markets. But I sincerely believe this kind of degradation of micro-trust is the real social and economic rot. We constantly feel scammed and then we start reacting like marks instead of mutually reliant humans.
November 20, 2025 at 10:49 PM
The sadism of reactionary politics is not the opposite of impersonal market exchange but its logical outcome
Great essay from @timhirschelburns.bsky.social: constant invocations of the Third World show that MAGA’s aim of race and class hierarchy is as much a global as a domestic project.
Any genuine alternative to Trump politics needs to confront this head-on.
timhirschelburns.substack.com/p/why-maga-c...
Any genuine alternative to Trump politics needs to confront this head-on.
timhirschelburns.substack.com/p/why-maga-c...
Why MAGA Can't Stop Saying "Third World"
Don’t look up works best when you can convince people they need to be looking down
timhirschelburns.substack.com
November 19, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Great essay from @timhirschelburns.bsky.social: constant invocations of the Third World show that MAGA’s aim of race and class hierarchy is as much a global as a domestic project.
Any genuine alternative to Trump politics needs to confront this head-on.
timhirschelburns.substack.com/p/why-maga-c...
Any genuine alternative to Trump politics needs to confront this head-on.
timhirschelburns.substack.com/p/why-maga-c...
Reposted by Jake Werner
In this paper, @jayatighosh.bsky.social talks about the dismantlement of the current system of aid, and how global public investment can fit in that picture.
GPI can preserve its best qualities while taking global cooperation into the 21st century.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
GPI can preserve its best qualities while taking global cooperation into the 21st century.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
November 19, 2025 at 7:51 PM
In this paper, @jayatighosh.bsky.social talks about the dismantlement of the current system of aid, and how global public investment can fit in that picture.
GPI can preserve its best qualities while taking global cooperation into the 21st century.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
GPI can preserve its best qualities while taking global cooperation into the 21st century.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Reposted by Jake Werner
Trump Administration is to propose a massive cut in federal transit funding as part of 2026 transport legislation.
This proposal would decimate the nation's transit systems, while not actually solving the revenue problem federal transportation funding faces.
Evidence @urbaninstitute.bsky.social ⏬
This proposal would decimate the nation's transit systems, while not actually solving the revenue problem federal transportation funding faces.
Evidence @urbaninstitute.bsky.social ⏬
Cutting Federal Transit Funding Won’t Fix Budget Shortfalls. But It Would Make Transportation Less Affordable for Americans.
A proposal to eliminate federal public transit funding would not only fail to address the existing funding gap but would also leave millions of Americans, pa…
www.urban.org
November 18, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Trump Administration is to propose a massive cut in federal transit funding as part of 2026 transport legislation.
This proposal would decimate the nation's transit systems, while not actually solving the revenue problem federal transportation funding faces.
Evidence @urbaninstitute.bsky.social ⏬
This proposal would decimate the nation's transit systems, while not actually solving the revenue problem federal transportation funding faces.
Evidence @urbaninstitute.bsky.social ⏬
Reposted by Jake Werner
"But he knew nothing about it," Trump says. False: The CIA (under Trump) concluded that Mohammed bin Salman ordered the operation that killed Jamal Khashoggi. Trump has long resisted that fact. But it's a fact. www.washingtonpost.com/world/nation...
November 18, 2025 at 7:04 PM
"But he knew nothing about it," Trump says. False: The CIA (under Trump) concluded that Mohammed bin Salman ordered the operation that killed Jamal Khashoggi. Trump has long resisted that fact. But it's a fact. www.washingtonpost.com/world/nation...
Reposted by Jake Werner
To put it another way, *capital* is perfectly capable of organizing decarbonization. The problem is *capital-owners*, who are political actors and not just the embodiments of the accumulation process. Elon Musk is symptomatic here.
November 10, 2025 at 4:26 PM
To put it another way, *capital* is perfectly capable of organizing decarbonization. The problem is *capital-owners*, who are political actors and not just the embodiments of the accumulation process. Elon Musk is symptomatic here.
“Summers have gotten so much worse in the past five years that Ms. Aahir said she ends up losing a week’s worth of work [recycling trash] each month because of dehydration and vomiting. Her already unstable income—she makes ₹200 (just over $2) on a good day—dries up.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/16/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/16/w...
Women Toiling in India’s Insufferable Heat Face Mounting Toll on Health
www.nytimes.com
November 18, 2025 at 3:37 PM
“Summers have gotten so much worse in the past five years that Ms. Aahir said she ends up losing a week’s worth of work [recycling trash] each month because of dehydration and vomiting. Her already unstable income—she makes ₹200 (just over $2) on a good day—dries up.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/16/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/16/w...
Reposted by Jake Werner
This is the population of Sweden, Denmark, and Norway combined
November 18, 2025 at 3:06 PM
This is the population of Sweden, Denmark, and Norway combined
Reposted by Jake Werner
Four months ago, Bondi's DOJ declared that Epstein files warranted no further investigation. But it took Bondi four hours to open an investigation anyway once Trump demanded--and only into Democrats @ericalgj.bsky.social @glennthrush.bsky.social @alanfeuer.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2025/11/14/u...
Justice Department to Investigate Epstein Ties, but Not to Trump
www.nytimes.com
November 15, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Four months ago, Bondi's DOJ declared that Epstein files warranted no further investigation. But it took Bondi four hours to open an investigation anyway once Trump demanded--and only into Democrats @ericalgj.bsky.social @glennthrush.bsky.social @alanfeuer.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2025/11/14/u...
Reposted by Jake Werner
BREAKING: The Trump administration is officially withdrawing a Biden-era plan to require airlines to pay passengers cash compensation when flight disruptions are caused by the airlines.
November 14, 2025 at 4:16 PM
BREAKING: The Trump administration is officially withdrawing a Biden-era plan to require airlines to pay passengers cash compensation when flight disruptions are caused by the airlines.
Reposted by Jake Werner
The Republican president is a pedophile who has doubled my healthcare costs and let scores of violent criminals out of jail. But a Democratic mayor-elect wants to make busses free in a city I don't live in. I have never felt more politically homeless.
November 13, 2025 at 12:47 PM
The Republican president is a pedophile who has doubled my healthcare costs and let scores of violent criminals out of jail. But a Democratic mayor-elect wants to make busses free in a city I don't live in. I have never felt more politically homeless.
Reposted by Jake Werner
You know how ChatGPT 5 is meant to fix stupid mistakes in maths? Not so much. Even when asked about stupid mistakes in maths.
November 5, 2025 at 5:49 PM
You know how ChatGPT 5 is meant to fix stupid mistakes in maths? Not so much. Even when asked about stupid mistakes in maths.
Reposted by Jake Werner
Something absolutely perfect about Larry Summers riffing about the scourge of woke cancel culture being unfair to predatory men in a friendly email to his pal JEFFREY EPSTEIN.
November 13, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Something absolutely perfect about Larry Summers riffing about the scourge of woke cancel culture being unfair to predatory men in a friendly email to his pal JEFFREY EPSTEIN.
Reposted by Jake Werner
Blinken asked if Israel was conducting ethnic cleansing
Biden + advisors discussed if American officials were liable for war crimes
New details on the late 2024 deliberations that could have helped Gaza—and how Biden dodged accountability, kicking the can to Trump:
www.huffpost.com/entry/biden-...
Biden + advisors discussed if American officials were liable for war crimes
New details on the late 2024 deliberations that could have helped Gaza—and how Biden dodged accountability, kicking the can to Trump:
www.huffpost.com/entry/biden-...
Biden Discussed Potential Israeli War Crimes In Gaza. He Kicked The Can To Trump.
New intelligence shocked officials in late 2024, spurring heightened fear of U.S. liability, HuffPost has learned. The period saw Secretary of State Antony Blinken ask if Israel’s actions constituted ...
www.huffpost.com
November 12, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Blinken asked if Israel was conducting ethnic cleansing
Biden + advisors discussed if American officials were liable for war crimes
New details on the late 2024 deliberations that could have helped Gaza—and how Biden dodged accountability, kicking the can to Trump:
www.huffpost.com/entry/biden-...
Biden + advisors discussed if American officials were liable for war crimes
New details on the late 2024 deliberations that could have helped Gaza—and how Biden dodged accountability, kicking the can to Trump:
www.huffpost.com/entry/biden-...
Reposted by Jake Werner
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed 4 years ago. In new research @urbaninstitute.bsky.social we study its effects.
US transport spending increased by 30%, but:
—Funding for non-highway projects flatlined
—Construction cost increases resulted in no actual increase in infrastructure
US transport spending increased by 30%, but:
—Funding for non-highway projects flatlined
—Construction cost increases resulted in no actual increase in infrastructure
Federal Infrastructure Spending on Transportation, Four Years after the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is up for reauthorization in 2026. New analysis shows that the act increased spending on transportation infrastructure, but…
www.urban.org
November 12, 2025 at 5:32 PM
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed 4 years ago. In new research @urbaninstitute.bsky.social we study its effects.
US transport spending increased by 30%, but:
—Funding for non-highway projects flatlined
—Construction cost increases resulted in no actual increase in infrastructure
US transport spending increased by 30%, but:
—Funding for non-highway projects flatlined
—Construction cost increases resulted in no actual increase in infrastructure
Reposted by Jake Werner
“I’ve been hearing that standards will be eliminated or severely cut back. Bari has told people that she wants to get rid of standards and is shocked that they have so much power. She also asked openly, ‘What’s the point of standards?’” one CBS source said.
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Bari Weiss wants to take down ‘too much power’ CBS News Standards unit: sources
EXCLUSIVE: Internal rumblings within the newsroom come after the S&P head resigned and the network disbanded its vaunted Race and Culture unit.
www.independent.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 2:03 PM
“I’ve been hearing that standards will be eliminated or severely cut back. Bari has told people that she wants to get rid of standards and is shocked that they have so much power. She also asked openly, ‘What’s the point of standards?’” one CBS source said.
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Reposted by Jake Werner
NEW from me: CO2 emissions in China have now been flat or falling for 18 months, the first time that energy demand growth at or above historical averages doesn't drive emissions up, thanks to the clean energy boom. 🧵👇
🇨🇳 📰 NEW | Analysis: #China’s #CO2 #emissions have now been flat or falling for 18 months
www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-chinas-co2-emissions-have-now-been-flat-or-falling-for-18-months/
@laurimyllyvirta.bsky.social w/ @carbonbrief.org
www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-chinas-co2-emissions-have-now-been-flat-or-falling-for-18-months/
@laurimyllyvirta.bsky.social w/ @carbonbrief.org
November 11, 2025 at 6:35 AM
NEW from me: CO2 emissions in China have now been flat or falling for 18 months, the first time that energy demand growth at or above historical averages doesn't drive emissions up, thanks to the clean energy boom. 🧵👇
Reposted by Jake Werner
The ICE budget is higher than all but about 15 militaries worldwide, and we’re seeing what kind of country that gives us.
www.stephensemler.com/p/ice-budget...
www.stephensemler.com/p/ice-budget...
November 8, 2025 at 10:37 PM
The ICE budget is higher than all but about 15 militaries worldwide, and we’re seeing what kind of country that gives us.
www.stephensemler.com/p/ice-budget...
www.stephensemler.com/p/ice-budget...
Reposted by Jake Werner
Stunning investigation by Reuters reveals income from ads for scams and banned goods on Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp may have amounted to 10% of Meta global revenue in 2024, with 15 billion (!) scam ads being shown to users daily - based on company's own figures.
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
Meta is earning a fortune on a deluge of fraudulent ads, documents show
Meta projected 10% of its 2024 revenue would come from ads for scams and banned goods, and it internally estimates that its platforms show users 15 billion scam ads a day, company documents show.
www.reuters.com
November 7, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Stunning investigation by Reuters reveals income from ads for scams and banned goods on Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp may have amounted to 10% of Meta global revenue in 2024, with 15 billion (!) scam ads being shown to users daily - based on company's own figures.
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
Reposted by Jake Werner
AI could end scarcity, end humanity - or boost trend growth by 0.2 percentage points
November 7, 2025 at 1:24 PM
AI could end scarcity, end humanity - or boost trend growth by 0.2 percentage points
Reposted by Jake Werner
Very excited that on November 14 at 2PM EST, I will moderate a webinar on N. American integration featuring Susan Helper, former Chief Economist at Commerce, Arturo Sarukhan, former MX ambassador to US, & Flavio Volpe, head of CA auto parts manuf. assoc. Join Us!!
quincyinst.org/events/the-u...
quincyinst.org/events/the-u...
The USMCA Review: What Future for North American Economic Integration?
We discuss the future of the USMCA.
quincyinst.org
November 6, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Very excited that on November 14 at 2PM EST, I will moderate a webinar on N. American integration featuring Susan Helper, former Chief Economist at Commerce, Arturo Sarukhan, former MX ambassador to US, & Flavio Volpe, head of CA auto parts manuf. assoc. Join Us!!
quincyinst.org/events/the-u...
quincyinst.org/events/the-u...
Reposted by Jake Werner
Just so we are clear: ICE went into a day care center—a private business—without a judicial warrant, and unlawfully kidnapped a worker in front of parents and children.
VIDEO: Day care teacher detained by ICE agents on Chicago’s North Side
A day care teacher was taken into ICE custody Wednesday morning at the Rayito de Sol Spanish Immersion Early Learning Center in Chicago’s North Center neighborhood.
wgntv.com
November 5, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Just so we are clear: ICE went into a day care center—a private business—without a judicial warrant, and unlawfully kidnapped a worker in front of parents and children.