So much depends upon the choice of a price index.

Apartment List and Bureau of Labor Statistics rent data tell very different stories about price trends, with the private sector data stating inflation is a lot higher but already falling. Matthew Yglesias explores which data is more reliable.

Matthew Yglesias is the author of the Slow Boring newsletter, a senior fellow at the Niskanen Center, and host of The Weeds podcast.

Matthew Yglesias

Housing inflation is higher than the Fed thinks — but already falling

We need to accept that the pipeline problem is real.

This instalment of Slow Boring argues that people concerned about progressive issues should also be worried about the progressive organisation staff meltdowns. Here, Matthew Yglesias states that "not only do they consume resources and paralyse organisations directly, but to the extent that leaders avert paralysis by adopting generic across-the-board left politics, they will fail."

Why progressive organizations have become so vulnerable to staff meltdowns

Addressing an upcoming home heating crisis.

While many of us are struggling with the rising cost of living, the current climate has created profit windfalls for the oil and gas industry. Most agree with Bharat Ramamurti's statement that this is 'outrageous'. However, there is no current consensus about how to solve the issue. Here, Matthew Yglesias discusses how a lesser-known idea about levying an infra-marginal windfall profits tax on oil companies could be the way to go.

A windfall profits tax idea that could actually work

Pushing for institutional destruction could lead to societal collapse.

The American political system requires constant compromise from the left and right to function on a fundamental level. However, with a rise in increasingly principled politicians, Matthew Yglesias questions the merits of parliamentarism over presidentialism, and the long-term sustainability of the American political institutions.

Is American democracy still doomed?

In international terms, our funding for both is very average. 

From the grief and horror of the Uvalde school shooting came cries to defund the police. However, as Matthew Yglesias argues, this arises from a common misunderstanding about the scale of law enforcement relative to other important causes like education. And while Uvalde does need to tackle serious issues with its local law enforcement, taking funding away from the police force will have a marginal difference on overall school safety.

America spends a lot more on schools than on police

There don't seem to be any good marriage-promotion ideas.

Matthew Yglesias examines whether cohabiting couples gain or lose money by marrying in this instalment of Slow Boring. Here he reveals that they gain a little at lower-level incomes, but at higher income levels, they lose. But why is this?

Does the Bush-era poverty cure deserve a comeback?

The economy and energy industries will always be intrinsically linked. 

The price of electricity and home energy use (for most Americans) is rising significantly faster than wages. Of course, this isn't solely due to inflation. However, it cannot be denied that the state of the economy is partially to blame. While there isn't a straightforward solution to this problem, Matthew Yglesias explains how expensive oil and gas results in everyday economic hardship, why it's a grave problem that policymakers should address and what could help ease this financial crisis.

Expensive energy is really bad

To get people to agree with you, you need to use the right messaging.

Our word choices matter, and as a result, politicians should try to portray their ideas in a way which appeals to the average voter instead of tricking them into thinking reforms are more modest than they are. In this edition of Slow Boring, Matthew Yglesias weighs in on the Medicare For All and Roe v. Wade cases to emphasise how language influences politics.

Words aren't magic

Could Canadian paediatric guidelines help ease the shortage? 

Baby formula is essential for many families, and while it's good to address the deep underlying causes of the current crisis, a short-term solution is also required. To be clear, Matthew Yglesias is not a medical professional and cannot know everyone's specific family circumstances. However, since the guidelines vary, he discusses whether we should consider adopting Canada's official nutrition recommendations for infants to ensure an adequate supply of formula for the children who need it. 

A straightforward solution to the formula crisis

What's the most pragmatic path forward? 

Years ago, Matthew Yglesias once believed that allowing financial compensation for live organ donors and surrogates would be a good way of increasing supply. Now, he's changed his mind. With concerns raised over economic coercion and the exploitation that goes along with it, here he discusses the equilibrium effect and how we should be trying to develop politically appealing policies instead of complaining about society's aversions to medical transactions.

Solving problems by letting people do things voluntarily

Reflections on Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness.

Movies about superheroes will not be realistic, but good films should take their own stories seriously. One of the most significant talking points in Marvel’s franchises is the Blip, in which half of all living things disappeared for five years, but comprehensively, life went on pretty much generally for those who survived. Matthew Yglesias uses lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic to explain why the actual scenario would have had enormous, sweeping consequences that were nowhere to be seen in the movies.

Half the population dying and then returning five years later would be a really big deal

We live in a new world and have to adapt.

The hottest political debates from 15-20 years ago are now off the agenda, which has led to many wondering how the 2022 Democratic Party aligns with the Democratic Leadership Council from a generation ago. Of course, the party itself is now more left-wing. However, as Matthew Yglesias discusses his opinion on what the DLC has got right and wrong over the years, one thing became clear: it must meet the moral challenge of its day regardless of an individual's ideals.

What the DLC got wrong

Why banning companies from investing in the housing market won't stop opioid addiction. 

The conservative movement has entered a new "populist" phase in the Twittersphere, erring on bizarre. Most appear to be harmless. However, as Matthew Yglesias argues, the misinformation about the "threat" of BlackRock buying single-family homes is a big deal. And he debunks the hypothesis that lower homeownership rates lead to worsening mental health and opioid addiction by using verified statistics.

Do investor-owned single-family homes cause drug overdoses?

Once again, taking popular positions on high-profile issues matters.

In the 2022 French presidential election, Emmanuel Macron triumphed over rival Marine Le Pen. However, beyond the surface statistics, the facts remain that the far-right National Rally went from a fringe party to the status of the main opposition, and Macron played a dangerous gamble by digging his heels in on specific issues. Matthew Yglesias discusses the most prominent topics from the election, including tactical voting, Le Pen's pivot towards the centre-right and Macron's significant (and unpopular) risk in committing to raise the French retirement age.

Some boring takes on the French election

Is it time to raise taxes for the wealthy?

The pressing issue on everyones' minds is inflation. It's reasonable to expect that our political parties would be trying to do something to reduce it. But with dislocations related to COVID-19 still impacting the economy, Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent counter-sanctioning by the western coalition striking another set of blows to the supply-side of the economy, what are our best options? Matthew Yglesias explains that along with passing a bill that is overall anti-inflationary,  taxing the rich is likely our best chance of surviving the current financial crisis.

The global economy is a complicated machine

Is it wise to let China control a popular media platform?

The Soviet Union could not buy a broadcast television network or a considerable chain or local affiliates.  And, as Matthew Yglesias argues in this instalment of Slow Boring, that’s the problem with TikTok — keeping the user data in China doesn’t solve anything as "we have enough problems in the world without China dominating youth programming."

Data privacy is not the issue with TikTok

Why getting the correct answer matters.

The most self-flattering thing a political movement can tell itself is that it has tons of great policy ideas and needs to focus on organising them. Matthew Yglesias argues that the Democrat’s policy development and analysis infrastructure has seriously degraded.

Rigorous, accurate policy analysis is underrated

Skynet (not the killer androids) is a decent introduction to the AI risk problem.

Reflecting on his favourite film franchise, Matthew Yglesias argues that the real AI risk found in these movies has nothing to do with Schwarzenegger's cyborg but everything to do with the military AI system called Skynet ends up launching a nuclear war.

"The point of developing the advanced AI system is that it can think faster and better than a human and is capable of self-improvement. But that means humans don't totally understand what it's thinking or how or why. It's been given some kind of instruction to eliminate threats — but it decides all humans are a threat and boom."

The case for Terminator analogies

An attempt to reboot a boring conversation.

This instalment of Slow Boring reflects on popularism. Here he argues that it should not be seen as a comprehensive theory of politics but a vital and straightforward point that advocates should not tell the world that the test of political virtue is a willingness to adopt losing stances.

What was the popularism debate?

A case for fracking, but mostly, a case for nuclear, geothermal, and hydro.

Could natural gas accelerate a clean-energy future? This is the advertisement angle gas industries have been promoting lately, and for Matthew Yglesias, there is definitely a compelling argument to be made there. In this instalment of Slow Boring, he digs deeper into the premise.