Reading archive 2025-02-13

The Cognitive Bias Codex

Trump, Musk and America are headed for a very rude awakening: Elon Musk is trying to gut government programs, claiming it's what the people want. But is it really?

US Department of State removes Tesla armoured vehicles from list of planned purchases: Earlier procurement forecast list showing $400m for armoured Tesla units was incorrect, says department spokesperson - "However, a spokesperson for the department said the document was incorrect, and should have been a generic entry reading 'electric vehicle manufacturer'. The department said the order was on hold."

The Path to American Authoritarianism: What Comes After Democratic Breakdown - "But authoritarianism does not require the destruction of the constitutional order. What lies ahead is not fascist or single-party dictatorship but competitive authoritarianism—a system in which parties compete in elections but the incumbent’s abuse of power tilts the playing field against the opposition. Most autocracies that have emerged since the end of the Cold War fall into this category, including Alberto Fujimori’s Peru, Hugo Chávez’s Venezuela, and contemporary El Salvador, Hungary, India, Tunisia, and Turkey. Under competitive authoritarianism, the formal architecture of democracy, including multiparty elections, remains intact. Opposition forces are legal and aboveground, and they contest seriously for power. Elections are often fiercely contested battles in which incumbents have to sweat it out. And once in a while, incumbents lose, as they did in Malaysia in 2018 and in Poland in 2023. But the system is not democratic, because incumbents rig the game by deploying the machinery of government to attack opponents and co-opt critics. Competition is real but unfair."

D.C. mayor proposes permanent rollback of pandemic-era housing protections: Mayor Muriel E. Bowser said the legislation is an attempt to support affordable housing providers who are in crisis mode over unpaid rent. Tenant advocates are worried.

Trump cuts affect signature Youngkin lab school program in Virginia: State officials say lab school partnership will continue even as federal funds are removed from university teacher program.

Trump announces ‘reciprocal’ tariffs in latest trade move: The tariffs would be customized to specific countries, White House officials said. - "'Reciprocity may sound appealing. But remember who pays tariffs: It’s the American importer and the burden eventually falls on the consumer,' said Erica York, vice president of federal tax policy for the Tax Foundation. 'It’s like shooting yourselves in the foot because someone else is shooting themselves in the foot.'"

Justice, FBI ousters remove longtime experts from daily threats meeting: Trump administration shake-ups at the Justice Department and FBI have eroded continuity on national security matters, people familiar with the situation said.

Under pressure, Trump exempts military spouses from federal return to office: Military families sought consideration as the administration’s blunt exercise of power proved uniquely disruptive for federal workers married to service members.

Scientists detect a mysterious messenger from the cosmos: With a deep-sea detector off the coast of Sicily, scientists have captured evidence of an exceptional ultra-high-energy neutrino.

Hegseth stumbles out of the gate: In his first big turn on the world stage, the defense secretary has already been forced to offer a major walk-back.

Welcome to the resistance? Mitch McConnell bucks Trump with ‘no’ votes.: Democrats heap praise on their former foe, while his GOP colleagues express disappointment.