Maxwell Palmer
@maxwellpalmer.com
Political scientist at Boston University. Institutions + local politics + voting rights.
www.maxwellpalmer.com / www.housingpolitics.com
www.maxwellpalmer.com / www.housingpolitics.com
Is there an incompleteness or impossibility theorem about this? It's impossible to prevent hallucinations, and any model that reviews models to detect hallucinations is also vulnerable to hallucinations?
"In a landmark study, OpenAI researchers reveal that large language models will always produce plausible but false outputs, even with perfect data, due to fundamental statistical and computational limits."
www.computerworld.com/article/4059...
www.computerworld.com/article/4059...
OpenAI admits AI hallucinations are mathematically inevitable, not just engineering flaws
In a landmark study, OpenAI researchers reveal that large language models will always produce plausible but false outputs, even with perfect data, due to fundamental statistical and computational limi...
www.computerworld.com
September 21, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Is there an incompleteness or impossibility theorem about this? It's impossible to prevent hallucinations, and any model that reviews models to detect hallucinations is also vulnerable to hallucinations?
Reposted by Maxwell Palmer
How to fix America's gerrymandering problem? @benschneer.bsky.social and I wrote in Time today about a solution we developed (with @cantstopkevin.bsky.social). time.com/7309565/amer...
How to Fix America’s Gerrymandering Problem
As Trump pushes states to redraw districts in favor of Republicans, this solution could help stop gerrymandering.
time.com
August 14, 2025 at 9:36 PM
How to fix America's gerrymandering problem? @benschneer.bsky.social and I wrote in Time today about a solution we developed (with @cantstopkevin.bsky.social). time.com/7309565/amer...
How to fix America's gerrymandering problem? @benschneer.bsky.social and I wrote in Time today about a solution we developed (with @cantstopkevin.bsky.social). time.com/7309565/amer...
How to Fix America’s Gerrymandering Problem
As Trump pushes states to redraw districts in favor of Republicans, this solution could help stop gerrymandering.
time.com
August 14, 2025 at 9:36 PM
How to fix America's gerrymandering problem? @benschneer.bsky.social and I wrote in Time today about a solution we developed (with @cantstopkevin.bsky.social). time.com/7309565/amer...
Reposted by Maxwell Palmer
I've been thinking through the implications of extreme gerrymandering for several years now.
Today I wrote an article in Time that lays out the problem and describes one solution.
We think that we need a "partisan" solution to partisan gerrymandering.
time.com/7309565/amer...
Today I wrote an article in Time that lays out the problem and describes one solution.
We think that we need a "partisan" solution to partisan gerrymandering.
time.com/7309565/amer...
How to Fix America’s Gerrymandering Problem
As Trump pushes states to redraw districts in favor of Republicans, this solution could help stop gerrymandering.
time.com
August 14, 2025 at 4:49 PM
I've been thinking through the implications of extreme gerrymandering for several years now.
Today I wrote an article in Time that lays out the problem and describes one solution.
We think that we need a "partisan" solution to partisan gerrymandering.
time.com/7309565/amer...
Today I wrote an article in Time that lays out the problem and describes one solution.
We think that we need a "partisan" solution to partisan gerrymandering.
time.com/7309565/amer...
Reposted by Maxwell Palmer
You may have noticed things are happening fast in the world of redistricting…
I along with @maxwellpalmer.com and @simko.bsky.social wrote an article last week (though published today) that analyzes the changes to the congressional district map in Texas, and particularly San Antonio.
I along with @maxwellpalmer.com and @simko.bsky.social wrote an article last week (though published today) that analyzes the changes to the congressional district map in Texas, and particularly San Antonio.
Republicans are seeking to create a durable gerrymander in Texas
Short-term tactical gains in Texas could ultimately yield a race to the bottom.
www.expressnews.com
August 8, 2025 at 11:49 AM
You may have noticed things are happening fast in the world of redistricting…
I along with @maxwellpalmer.com and @simko.bsky.social wrote an article last week (though published today) that analyzes the changes to the congressional district map in Texas, and particularly San Antonio.
I along with @maxwellpalmer.com and @simko.bsky.social wrote an article last week (though published today) that analyzes the changes to the congressional district map in Texas, and particularly San Antonio.
Reposted by Maxwell Palmer
Blocking new development doesn’t “preserve” your town—it drains your wallet.
No new homes = no new taxpayers… but guess what does grow? School budgets, potholes, annual maintenance costs and legacy pension requirements.
Fewer people to split that bill = higher taxes for you.
No new homes = no new taxpayers… but guess what does grow? School budgets, potholes, annual maintenance costs and legacy pension requirements.
Fewer people to split that bill = higher taxes for you.
June 5, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Blocking new development doesn’t “preserve” your town—it drains your wallet.
No new homes = no new taxpayers… but guess what does grow? School budgets, potholes, annual maintenance costs and legacy pension requirements.
Fewer people to split that bill = higher taxes for you.
No new homes = no new taxpayers… but guess what does grow? School budgets, potholes, annual maintenance costs and legacy pension requirements.
Fewer people to split that bill = higher taxes for you.
Reposted by Maxwell Palmer
Please check out the thread and paper @jamesfeigenbaum.bsky.social, @maxwellpalmer.com, and I wrote below. We started this project a LONG time ago, and could never have anticipated exactly how timely it would be when it finally was published.
June 17, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Please check out the thread and paper @jamesfeigenbaum.bsky.social, @maxwellpalmer.com, and I wrote below. We started this project a LONG time ago, and could never have anticipated exactly how timely it would be when it finally was published.
Reposted by Maxwell Palmer
What happens when immigrants and their descendants enter the halls of power? Does family history matter for policy on a contentious topic like immigration? @benschneer.bsky.social, @maxwellpalmer.com, and I wrote a post for the LSE United States Centre about our forthcoming @qjeharvard.bsky.social
Legislators who descend from immigrants historically supported more permissive immigration policies find @jamesfeigenbaum.bsky.social and @maxwellpalmer.com of @bostonu.bsky.social and Benjamin Schneer of @harvardkennedy.bsky.social
blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/20...
blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/20...
Legislators who descend from immigrants historically supported more permissive immigration policies | USAPP
Recent years have seen dramatic shifts in Americans’ attitudes towards immigration, with a majority now favoring decreasing immigration levels. But in what is often called a “nation of immigrants”, ho...
blogs.lse.ac.uk
June 12, 2025 at 2:10 PM
What happens when immigrants and their descendants enter the halls of power? Does family history matter for policy on a contentious topic like immigration? @benschneer.bsky.social, @maxwellpalmer.com, and I wrote a post for the LSE United States Centre about our forthcoming @qjeharvard.bsky.social
Reposted by Maxwell Palmer
A truly depressing account of the enormous time, effort, & resources that go into building *anything* in blue cities.
Can not be exaggerated how much this phenomenon is crippling blue politics in the US.
www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...
Can not be exaggerated how much this phenomenon is crippling blue politics in the US.
www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...
How many meetings does it take in Philadelphia to build 57 affordable homes? A lot.
The Philadelphia Housing Authority and developer Pennrose have been trying to get project approval since 2019. The cost has risen, and federal funding could be at risk.
www.inquirer.com
May 6, 2025 at 4:01 PM
A truly depressing account of the enormous time, effort, & resources that go into building *anything* in blue cities.
Can not be exaggerated how much this phenomenon is crippling blue politics in the US.
www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...
Can not be exaggerated how much this phenomenon is crippling blue politics in the US.
www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...
Reposted by Maxwell Palmer
bill de blasio in park slope, ordering his breakfast sandwich as “mi sandwich especial” and quoting the onion headline omg
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
May 6, 2025 at 2:45 PM
bill de blasio in park slope, ordering his breakfast sandwich as “mi sandwich especial” and quoting the onion headline omg
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
Reposted by Maxwell Palmer
Boston's Zoning Board of Appeals, in a 5-2 vote, rejected plans for 70-units of new housing, just 0.3mi to the MBTA's Andrew Square station, to replace a 2-story industrial building.
US Congressman Stephen Lynch (D) sent an aide to read a letter opposing the development for lack of parking...
US Congressman Stephen Lynch (D) sent an aide to read a letter opposing the development for lack of parking...
April 30, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Boston's Zoning Board of Appeals, in a 5-2 vote, rejected plans for 70-units of new housing, just 0.3mi to the MBTA's Andrew Square station, to replace a 2-story industrial building.
US Congressman Stephen Lynch (D) sent an aide to read a letter opposing the development for lack of parking...
US Congressman Stephen Lynch (D) sent an aide to read a letter opposing the development for lack of parking...
Reposted by Maxwell Palmer
New: Johnston, R.I., has formally taken ownership of 31 acres of land through eminent domain as it moves forward with plans to build a new Town Hall and police and fire stations there, thwarting a proposal seeking to build affordable housing at the site.
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/03/17/m...
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/03/17/m...
Johnston, R.I., follows through on seizure of land by eminent domain, halting 250-unit affordable housing project - The Boston Globe
Town officials are facing a lawsuit alleging they abused the law to block the housing “simply because they don’t want that kind of thing in their town.”
www.bostonglobe.com
March 17, 2025 at 6:08 PM
New: Johnston, R.I., has formally taken ownership of 31 acres of land through eminent domain as it moves forward with plans to build a new Town Hall and police and fire stations there, thwarting a proposal seeking to build affordable housing at the site.
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/03/17/m...
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/03/17/m...
Local politics is the best politics. www.wsj.com/us-news/educ...
The Missing $25 Gift Card That’s Rocking the Hamptons
Mystery has prompted a disciplinary trial with 1,400 pages of testimony and derailed a school principal’s career; 38 surveillance cameras
www.wsj.com
February 25, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Local politics is the best politics. www.wsj.com/us-news/educ...
I am confident that this will be the best thing I read today.
February 7, 2025 at 4:03 PM
I am confident that this will be the best thing I read today.
Reposted by Maxwell Palmer
This story underscores just how much communities are willing to spend to avoid building more housing. @maxwellpalmer.com and I find that communities buy land, sometimes to block affordable housing, with no plan or capacity to maintain/redevelop the property.
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/01/05/m...
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/01/05/m...
After eight years, Northborough has no purpose for historic White Cliffs estate - The Boston Globe
Northborough has poured millions into the White Cliffs estate. It still is unused.
www.bostonglobe.com
January 6, 2025 at 1:32 PM
This story underscores just how much communities are willing to spend to avoid building more housing. @maxwellpalmer.com and I find that communities buy land, sometimes to block affordable housing, with no plan or capacity to maintain/redevelop the property.
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/01/05/m...
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/01/05/m...
I just completed all 25 days of Advent of Code 2024! #AdventOfCode adventofcode.com
Advent of Code 2024
adventofcode.com
December 30, 2024 at 4:57 AM
I just completed all 25 days of Advent of Code 2024! #AdventOfCode adventofcode.com
I just completed "Hoof It" - Day 10 - Advent of Code 2024 #AdventOfCode adventofcode.com/2024/day/10
Day 10 - Advent of Code 2024
adventofcode.com
December 11, 2024 at 4:11 AM
I just completed "Hoof It" - Day 10 - Advent of Code 2024 #AdventOfCode adventofcode.com/2024/day/10
I just completed "Red-Nosed Reports" - Day 2 - Advent of Code 2024 #AdventOfCode adventofcode.com/2024/day/2
December 2, 2024 at 1:32 PM
I just completed "Red-Nosed Reports" - Day 2 - Advent of Code 2024 #AdventOfCode adventofcode.com/2024/day/2
The Thanksgiving stuffing waffle is the platonic ideal of leftovers.
November 30, 2024 at 4:25 PM
The Thanksgiving stuffing waffle is the platonic ideal of leftovers.
Nothing says "climate emergency" like "policies to slow down addressing the climate emergency."
Not sure how anyone could see @maxwellpalmer.bsky.social @davidmglick.bsky.social and my research on public meetings in MA and think that more community input will produce better development outcomes. www.housingpolitics.com/research/nei...
November 26, 2024 at 5:20 PM
Nothing says "climate emergency" like "policies to slow down addressing the climate emergency."
How much money is going to be spent from the "Intervenor Trust Fund" on lawsuits brought solely to delay clean energy infrastructure?
November 26, 2024 at 5:18 PM
How much money is going to be spent from the "Intervenor Trust Fund" on lawsuits brought solely to delay clean energy infrastructure?
Great callout from @bostonglobe.com from our new report with The Boston Foundation:
November 25, 2024 at 1:51 PM
Great callout from @bostonglobe.com from our new report with The Boston Foundation:
Reposted by Maxwell Palmer
Excited to see @maxwellpalmer.bsky.social and my research in this @bostonglobe.com op-ed this morning. The use of public money to actively block much-needed affordable housing is appalling, and shows the strength of opposition to new housing in Greater Boston. www.bostonglobe.com/2024/11/25/o...
Using tax dollars to block new housing is bad policy - The Boston Globe
More than a dozen communities have been accused of ‘weaponizing’ the sale of public land to stop housing development.
www.bostonglobe.com
November 25, 2024 at 1:10 PM
Excited to see @maxwellpalmer.bsky.social and my research in this @bostonglobe.com op-ed this morning. The use of public money to actively block much-needed affordable housing is appalling, and shows the strength of opposition to new housing in Greater Boston. www.bostonglobe.com/2024/11/25/o...