Matt Nowlin
@mnowlin.bsky.social
I study energy and environmental policy and politics. All views I express are my own. I repost things I find interesting or funny.
Don’t let the bastards grind you down
Don’t let the bastards grind you down
Reposted by Matt Nowlin
"there's a new serif in town"
Marco Rubio ordered diplomats to return to using Times New Roman font in official communications, calling his predecessor's decision to adopt Calibri a “wasteful” diversity move
Rubio Stages Font Coup: Times New Roman Ousts Calibri
The secretary of state called it a "wasteful" diversity move, according to an internal department cable seen by Reuters.
www.huffpost.com
December 10, 2025 at 1:06 AM
"there's a new serif in town"
Reposted by Matt Nowlin
Study after study shows campaign ads barely move the needle. So where does money’s real power come from? I ranked the five ways money corrupts politics—from least to most corrosive. What I’ve learned from 15 years of tracking political money:
Money Doesn't Buy Elections. It Does Something Worse.
Campaign ads barely move the needle. The real influence is hiding in plain sight.
open.substack.com
December 6, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Study after study shows campaign ads barely move the needle. So where does money’s real power come from? I ranked the five ways money corrupts politics—from least to most corrosive. What I’ve learned from 15 years of tracking political money:
Reposted by Matt Nowlin
For no particular reason, a thread of books on presidential power that I recommend. 🧵📚
November 15, 2025 at 5:00 AM
For no particular reason, a thread of books on presidential power that I recommend. 🧵📚
Reposted by Matt Nowlin
Reposted by Matt Nowlin
Hi Internet! I'm Drew and THIS IS MY FACE.
If this GIF has ever brought you joy in the past, I humbly ask you to consider making a donation to the National MS Society. It would mean a lot to me and to those I know affected by the disease!
Donate at blinkingguy.com
If this GIF has ever brought you joy in the past, I humbly ask you to consider making a donation to the National MS Society. It would mean a lot to me and to those I know affected by the disease!
Donate at blinkingguy.com
September 26, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Hi Internet! I'm Drew and THIS IS MY FACE.
If this GIF has ever brought you joy in the past, I humbly ask you to consider making a donation to the National MS Society. It would mean a lot to me and to those I know affected by the disease!
Donate at blinkingguy.com
If this GIF has ever brought you joy in the past, I humbly ask you to consider making a donation to the National MS Society. It would mean a lot to me and to those I know affected by the disease!
Donate at blinkingguy.com
Reposted by Matt Nowlin
This dog led an officer to his leash while being rescued from his burning home. 14/10 for all (IG: aurorapoliceil)
September 16, 2025 at 11:17 PM
This dog led an officer to his leash while being rescued from his burning home. 14/10 for all (IG: aurorapoliceil)
Reposted by Matt Nowlin
September 16, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Reposted by Matt Nowlin
Jocelyn Brooks pursued her dream of working in medicine after she escaped from the World Trade Center on 9/11.
“I want to hold somebody’s hands when they’re crying and when they’re at their lowest because I survived,” she said.
“I want to hold somebody’s hands when they’re crying and when they’re at their lowest because I survived,” she said.
She survived 9/11, then began a life of healing others
Jocelyn Brooks said she would’ve regretted not becoming a nurse if she had not survived the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center.
www.washingtonpost.com
September 11, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Jocelyn Brooks pursued her dream of working in medicine after she escaped from the World Trade Center on 9/11.
“I want to hold somebody’s hands when they’re crying and when they’re at their lowest because I survived,” she said.
“I want to hold somebody’s hands when they’re crying and when they’re at their lowest because I survived,” she said.
Reposted by Matt Nowlin
This is Holly. She won't fall sleep until she's been given her stuffed cow. 13/10 sweet dreams Holly (TT: hollythebluestaffy__)
September 11, 2025 at 12:32 AM
This is Holly. She won't fall sleep until she's been given her stuffed cow. 13/10 sweet dreams Holly (TT: hollythebluestaffy__)
Reposted by Matt Nowlin
Reposted by Matt Nowlin
Master of Public Administration degree, folks!
people.com/jessica-chas...
people.com/jessica-chas...
Jessica Chastain Opens Up About Studying at Harvard as She Admits She's a 'Secret Nerd'
During a Sept. 2 appearance on 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,' Jessica Chastain opened up about attending Harvard University to attain a Master's degree. The Oscar winner said that her progr...
people.com
September 5, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Master of Public Administration degree, folks!
people.com/jessica-chas...
people.com/jessica-chas...
Reposted by Matt Nowlin
Imagine asking people two questions -- whether each of these is a good or bad way to run a govt:
1) having a democratic political system
2) having a strong leader who does not have to bother with parliament and elections
What percent says *both* are good?
44%!
1) having a democratic political system
2) having a strong leader who does not have to bother with parliament and elections
What percent says *both* are good?
44%!
September 3, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Imagine asking people two questions -- whether each of these is a good or bad way to run a govt:
1) having a democratic political system
2) having a strong leader who does not have to bother with parliament and elections
What percent says *both* are good?
44%!
1) having a democratic political system
2) having a strong leader who does not have to bother with parliament and elections
What percent says *both* are good?
44%!
Reposted by Matt Nowlin
As wildfires burn at home in 🇵🇹 and here in CA, we have a new paper that finds: exposure to fires doesn’t necessarily predict greater support for climate change mitigation. But people closest to the 2021-2022 fires do prioritize personal adaptive action. link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Paying attention and paying the costs: wildfires in the American West - Climatic Change
Preliminary estimates suggest that the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires could be the costliest disaster in U.S. history to date when accounting for both direct and indirect losses. As personal exper...
link.springer.com
August 30, 2025 at 4:39 PM
As wildfires burn at home in 🇵🇹 and here in CA, we have a new paper that finds: exposure to fires doesn’t necessarily predict greater support for climate change mitigation. But people closest to the 2021-2022 fires do prioritize personal adaptive action. link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Reposted by Matt Nowlin
some of you need to make like travis kelce and engage with a tailor swiftly
August 27, 2025 at 1:00 AM
some of you need to make like travis kelce and engage with a tailor swiftly
Reposted by Matt Nowlin
First day of 2025 over 84,000 megawatts in Texas/ERCOT.
Days like today would have been very expensive in years past. But today, with renewables meeting ~40% of peak demand, there's an extra 20,000 megawatts of capacity available and wholesale prices are low. #txenergy #txlege
Days like today would have been very expensive in years past. But today, with renewables meeting ~40% of peak demand, there's an extra 20,000 megawatts of capacity available and wholesale prices are low. #txenergy #txlege
August 18, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Reposted by Matt Nowlin
I'll admit, I was skeptical when they said Gemini was just like a bunch of PhDs. But I gotta admit they nailed it.
August 17, 2025 at 1:51 PM
I'll admit, I was skeptical when they said Gemini was just like a bunch of PhDs. But I gotta admit they nailed it.
Reposted by Matt Nowlin
Standing athwart history, yelling Stamp
August 9, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Standing athwart history, yelling Stamp
Reposted by Matt Nowlin
GPT-5 regularly asks you why you are not citing its work. GPT-5 always believes your estimator is biased. GPT-5 has more of a comment than a question. Sometimes GPT-5 tells you stories about grad school and expresses regret about getting a PhD. GPT-5's mom wonders when it will start making money.
“GPT-5 is the first time that it feels like talking to an expert in any topic — a Ph.D.-level expert,” OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said.
OpenAI Unveils GPT-5, Its Latest and Most Powerful Model, After Two-Year Wait
CEO Sam Altman said using the chatbot will be like talking with a doctorate-level expert in any topic.
www.wsj.com
August 7, 2025 at 8:22 PM
GPT-5 regularly asks you why you are not citing its work. GPT-5 always believes your estimator is biased. GPT-5 has more of a comment than a question. Sometimes GPT-5 tells you stories about grad school and expresses regret about getting a PhD. GPT-5's mom wonders when it will start making money.
Reposted by Matt Nowlin
Just out at @polbehavior.bsky.social w/Carey Stapleton:
Voting by mail has the upside of boosting correct voting.
When people vote by mail rather than in-person, they are more likely to choose the presidential candidate best aligned with their preferences.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Voting by mail has the upside of boosting correct voting.
When people vote by mail rather than in-person, they are more likely to choose the presidential candidate best aligned with their preferences.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
The Effects of Voting by Mail on Correct Voting - Political Behavior
The share of Americans voting by mail surged in 2020. For those casting a mail-in ballot, their voting experience was different from those who voted in-person. When voting by mail, people can make the...
link.springer.com
August 6, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Just out at @polbehavior.bsky.social w/Carey Stapleton:
Voting by mail has the upside of boosting correct voting.
When people vote by mail rather than in-person, they are more likely to choose the presidential candidate best aligned with their preferences.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Voting by mail has the upside of boosting correct voting.
When people vote by mail rather than in-person, they are more likely to choose the presidential candidate best aligned with their preferences.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
💔 RIP Ryno
With great sadness, we share that Ryne Sandberg has passed away today.
July 29, 2025 at 2:10 AM
💔 RIP Ryno
Reposted by Matt Nowlin
It's Harrison Ford's birthday today, thus we are contractually obligated to point you to this ridiculous classic from our archives.
Back from Yet Another Globetrotting Adventure, Indiana Jones Checks His Mail and Discovers That His Bid for Tenure Has Been Denied
January 22, 1939 Assistant Professor Henry “Indiana” Jones Jr. Department of Anthropology Chapman Hall 227B Marshall College Dr. Jones: As chairman...
buff.ly
July 14, 2025 at 1:30 AM
It's Harrison Ford's birthday today, thus we are contractually obligated to point you to this ridiculous classic from our archives.
Reposted by Matt Nowlin
There have been claims that NOAA/NWS did not foresee catastrophic TX floods--but that's simply not true. This was undoubtedly an extreme event, but messaging rapidly escalated beginning ~12 hrs prior. Flood Watch mid PM, "heads up" outlook late PM, flash flood warnings ~1am.
WPC issued as many as six MPDs for the deadly flash flooding in the TX Hill Country starting yesterday evening and lasting through much of today. The first MPD generally set the stage for what was to come, while the next three shown were as the event unfolded.
July 5, 2025 at 3:50 PM
There have been claims that NOAA/NWS did not foresee catastrophic TX floods--but that's simply not true. This was undoubtedly an extreme event, but messaging rapidly escalated beginning ~12 hrs prior. Flood Watch mid PM, "heads up" outlook late PM, flash flood warnings ~1am.
Reposted by Matt Nowlin
State repression of peaceful protests can subject activists to injury and even death but—when broadcast to the world through media—often turns mass opinion against the state. bsky.app/profile/owas...
I’ve been studying civil rights protests for 20 years. With new mobilization against Trump’s agenda, I’m sharing a thread summarizing my research on how nonviolent & violent actions by 1960s activists and police influenced media, elites, public opinion & voters. 1/ www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
June 8, 2025 at 2:39 AM
State repression of peaceful protests can subject activists to injury and even death but—when broadcast to the world through media—often turns mass opinion against the state. bsky.app/profile/owas...