Sign in

Brad Smith

@bradsmithtx.bsky.social
360 followers 257 following 495 posts

ATX 🌮 | Data Science 📊 | Progressive 🫎 Austin-based data scientist turning analytics into action. Turning insights into impact, because the numbers don’t lie, but they can tell a damn good story 📚

PostsRepliesMedia
Brad Smith @bradsmithtx.bsky.social · 15/02/2026
A current House member was on the OSU wrestling staff at the time. If you want to talk about accountability, start with the people who had access, authority, and responsibility to protect them... and didn't. If you want justice, start with Jim Jordon. www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
nbcnews.com
Judge orders Leslie Wexner to testify in Ohio State abuse survivors' lawsuit
Wexner, who was on the OSU board of trustees when Dr. Richard Strauss preyed on students, is also scheduled to testify before Congress about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
010
Brad Smith @bradsmithtx.bsky.social · 31/12/2025
People aren’t leaving Jesus. They’re leaving a church that chose politics over Him.
000
Brad Smith @bradsmithtx.bsky.social · 23/11/2025
Mhmm so what’s the question?
media.tenor.com
a man in a black shirt is making a face and saying that 's correct .
ALT: a man in a black shirt is making a face and saying that 's correct .
010
Brad Smith @bradsmithtx.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
AI therapy is like texting your ex during a mental breakdown: it might feel good for a minute, but then you remember why your therapist is licensed and your ex is… your ex. Please don’t use AI as a substitute for real therapy. Chart - @economist.com Data - @yougov.co.uk #AI #Therapy #MentalHealth
010
Brad Smith @bradsmithtx.bsky.social · 18/11/2025
The national debt increased $257.2 billion during the shutdown. Start (Oct 1, 2025): $37.9T End (Nov 12, 2025): $38.1T Source: fiscaldata.treasury.gov/datasets/deb... #EconSky
293
Brad Smith @bradsmithtx.bsky.social · 30/10/2025
The giraffe, duh
010
Brad Smith @bradsmithtx.bsky.social · 29/10/2025
Covfefe walked so South Carerddd could run.
2216
Brad Smith @bradsmithtx.bsky.social · 05/10/2025
When a president’s party label matters more than inflation, jobs, or growth… that’s not economics. That’s identity masquerading as analysis, grievance dressed up as data. And that’s how we end up arguing about an imaginary economy while the real one moves on without us. #EconSky
Composite chart showing partisan perceptions of U.S. economic conditions from 2016–2026. The top panel (Pew data) shows Democrats’ and Republicans’ ratings diverging after each presidential transition. The bottom panel overlays those perceptions with real GDP growth, illustrating that Democrats’ optimism follows actual growth trends while Republicans’ sharply diverges under Democratic presidents.
440
Brad Smith @bradsmithtx.bsky.social · 05/10/2025
Line up perception with real GDP though and pretty clear: Democrats’ optimism rises and falls with actual growth; up in recoveries, down in recessions, no matter who’s president. Republicans’ optimism collapses the moment a Democrat takes office, regardless of actual economic growth.
Same chart overlaid with real GDP growth, showing Democrats’ sentiment tracks growth while Republicans’ sentiment diverges.
100
Brad Smith @bradsmithtx.bsky.social · 05/10/2025
For the most part, both parties view the economy through partisan lenses. Which makes sense, right? When your team’s in charge, you like what they’re doing (at least you’d hope so). But how does that line up with reality? #PewResearch #Politics #Economics
Line chart of Americans rating the economy as excellent/good since 2016, split by party. Republicans rise sharply under Trump and collapse under Biden; Democrats show the reverse.
120
Brad Smith @bradsmithtx.bsky.social · 23/09/2025
His first impeachment was literally for selling out Ukraine.
010
Brad Smith @bradsmithtx.bsky.social · 21/09/2025
Can’t wait for the LinkedIn posts to start from this about how important networking is. “I thought I was holding a clipboard. Turns out I was sending a connection request that brought me home years later.” - Josh McCown (probably)
010
Reposted by Brad Smith
Molly Knight @mollyknight.bsky.social · 08/09/2025
what a humiliating way for don jr. to find out his dad sends birthday cards.
953536549289
Brad Smith @bradsmithtx.bsky.social · 07/09/2025
media.tenor.com
a man in a suit and tie is sitting at a table and pointing up with his finger .
ALT: a man in a suit and tie is sitting at a table and pointing up with his finger .
010
Brad Smith @bradsmithtx.bsky.social · 06/09/2025
Yes and no. A couple things worth flagging: August: - Full-time (35+ hrs): –357k - Part-time (<35 hrs): +597k - Invol part-time (economic reasons): +65k (+284k since June) The risk isn’t vanishing jobs, it’s jobs hollowing out.
020
Brad Smith @bradsmithtx.bsky.social · 06/09/2025
America 2025: The Vice President doesn’t care if it’s a war crime. Cool cool cool.
030
Brad Smith @bradsmithtx.bsky.social · 06/09/2025
Anytime!
media.tenor.com
a little girl in a pink shirt is saying you got it dude !
ALT: a little girl in a pink shirt is saying you got it dude !
000
Brad Smith @bradsmithtx.bsky.social · 06/09/2025
This comes from the BLS Household Survey (Current Population Survey), Table A-9: Selected Employment Indicators in the Employment Situation release: - Full-time (35+ hrs): LNS12500000 - Part-time (<35 hrs): LNS12600000 You can see the full tables here: www.bls.gov/news.release...
bls.gov
Employment Situation Summary - 2025 M08 Results
120
Brad Smith @bradsmithtx.bsky.social · 06/09/2025
Full-time work: -357k Part-time: +597k. People aren’t finding jobs, they’re settling for hours. #JobMarket #LaborReport #EconSky
42921
Brad Smith @bradsmithtx.bsky.social · 06/09/2025
Bread and circuses for all!
000
Brad Smith @bradsmithtx.bsky.social · 03/09/2025
When hedge fund billionaires start sounding the alarm on inequality, you know the system is cooked. www.theguardian.com/business/202...
theguardian.com
Rising inequality is turning US into an autocratic state, billionaire warns
Ray Dalio says business leaders scared to criticise Donald Trump as he warns of debt-induced crisis for the economy
000
Brad Smith @bradsmithtx.bsky.social · 01/09/2025
Fitting contrast on Labor Day: - Roosevelt fought for shorter hours & better pay - Trump said workers get too many holidays #LaborDay
000
Brad Smith @bradsmithtx.bsky.social · 30/08/2025
Told y’all this wasn’t gonna go well.
012
Brad Smith @bradsmithtx.bsky.social · 28/08/2025
Not silent, just overshadowed. They made a public announcement, it just got buried because the Pope literally died the day before. Definitely wasn’t quiet but wasn’t a focus for most. bsky.app/profile/brad...
threads.com
Brad Smith (@bee.radley) on Threads
Damnit… I’m gonna have to write a whole research paper and get this peer reviewed, aren’t I? I spent a decade in dairy so I was only trying to figure out how bad the FDA’s recent decision to suspend...
031
Brad Smith @bradsmithtx.bsky.social · 27/08/2025
Our kids deserve classrooms, not caskets. www.cnn.com/us/live-news...
cnn.com
Live updates: Minneapolis police responding to Catholic school shooting, governor says | CNN
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said he has been briefed on a shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis. Follow here for the latest.
000
Brad Smith @bradsmithtx.bsky.social · 27/08/2025
That total seems a little low for the public housing program according to HUD’s data. 5,600 × $45.44/person/day = $254,464/day. Still, well below the $1.1M per day. www.commondreams.org/news/trump-n...
commondreams.org
Trump's DC Occupation Costs 4 Times More Than It Would Take to House City's Entire Homeless Population | Common Dreams
Trump's deployment of the National Guard to Washington, DC costs more than 4 times as much as it would cost to simply house every homeless person in the city, according to researcher Hanna Homestead.
010
Brad Smith @bradsmithtx.bsky.social · 27/08/2025
If fair representation is the goal, why are we packing Congress so tight? Congress could do this today. No amendment. No funky maps. Just a vote. Imagine a Congress that finally represents us all. #FairRepresentation youtu.be/moG7ZOUXHv0?...
youtu.be
Why Expanding Congress Would End Gerrymandering
YouTube video by The Recount
000
Brad Smith @bradsmithtx.bsky.social · 25/08/2025
Damnit Aaron, I’ve been telling you to check the tariff shelf…
000
Reposted by Brad Smith
Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 25/08/2025
Sending troops into US cities against their will. Strong-arming corporations and extracting gifts in exchange for tariff exemptions. Calling on state governments to gerrymander in his favor. Trump is the "big government" nightmare conservatives have always warned us about.
13940201372
Reposted by Brad Smith
Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 25/08/2025
CNBC: So we should expect the US government to be taking more equity stakes in businesses around the country? KEVIN HASSETT: It's possible, yeah. That's absolutely right.
100236661354
Brad Smith @bradsmithtx.bsky.social · 25/08/2025
Fair question. While it won’t change anything legally, it’s leverage. If 76% of TX GDP comes from 5 blue metros, cities = the economy. It busts the “Texas runs on oil/ranchland” myth and reframes the narrative. That can pressure policymakers (“we make the $, fund us”) and show where turnout matters.
120
Brad Smith @bradsmithtx.bsky.social · 25/08/2025
Thanks for the question! I didn’t start out in data either. I just really like puzzles and knew how to use pivot tables haha
000
Brad Smith @bradsmithtx.bsky.social · 25/08/2025
Great questions! Collin County is included. The comptroller doesn’t break them out but based on BEA data: - Dallas: $299.7 B - Tarrant: $127.6 B - Collin: $83.2 B - Denton: $45.9 B Total: $556.4 B There numbers end up with a slightly lower total for the DFW at $694 B.
110
Brad Smith @bradsmithtx.bsky.social · 24/08/2025
76% of Texas’s $2.4 trillion GDP comes from the blue parts. - DFW: $709.0 B (29.5%) - Houston: $642.1 B (26.7%) - Austin: $229.2 B (9.5%) - San Antonio: $201.2 B (8.4%) - El Paso: $49.3 B (1.9%) Blue: $1.83 T (76%) Red: $0.57 T (24%) #EconSky #Gerrymandering comptroller.texas.gov/economy/econ...
28753319
Reposted by Brad Smith
Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 17/08/2025
RADDATZ: The president went in to that meeting saying he wanted a ceasefire and there would be consequences if they didn't agree on a ceasefire in that meeting, and they didn't agree to a ceasefire. Where are the consequences? RUBIO: That's not the aim RADDATZ: The president said that was the aim
2125223666038
Brad Smith @bradsmithtx.bsky.social · 07/08/2025
Some of us were paying attention the first time round.
020
Brad Smith @bradsmithtx.bsky.social · 06/08/2025
Remember in the office when Andy gets beat up and makes it into this whole big thing and it turns out he got punched by a little girl? Well… it was two 15 year old girls. #BigBalls #DCViolence #NardDog thehill.com/homenews/sta...
thehill.com
DOGE staffer known as ‘Big Balls’ attacked in DC
A former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) employee was beaten in an attempted carjacking in Washington, D.C. this week, prompting President Trump to renew his threats to take control of t…
000
Brad Smith @bradsmithtx.bsky.social · 06/08/2025
Oh so NOW Abbott cares about reps not showing up for work for months… #PoliticalTheater #Texas #Abbott www.politico.com/news/magazin...
politico.com
A Congresswoman With Dementia Stopped Coming to Work. The DC Press Corps Never Noticed.
Here’s the story behind how the media missed the story.
030
Brad Smith @bradsmithtx.bsky.social · 05/08/2025
Remember when the FDA to stop testing raw milk? 21 infected in Florida. www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcn...
nbcnews.com
Florida officials warn about risks of drinking raw milk after 21 infections
There have been 21 cases of Campylobacter and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli infections linked to raw milk from the same farm, health officials said. Of those, six have been in children under the age o...
010
Reposted by Brad Smith
Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 04/08/2025
Hello?
18353601648
Brad Smith @bradsmithtx.bsky.social · 03/08/2025
TX Democrats aren’t “fleeing”. They are blocking a vote, not ducking accountability. Now, if they had sent everyone home to avoid voting on releasing the Epstein files... THAT would be fleeing. #TexasRedistricting #Gerrymandering #Epstein
010
Brad Smith @bradsmithtx.bsky.social · 03/08/2025
When you inherit a stable economy and spark a recession in six months… that’s not policy, that’s malpractice. #Recession #EconSky #MAGAeconomics www.economist.com/special-repo...
economist.com
The envy of the world | Oct 19th 2024 | The Economist
The envy of the world. Special reports from The Economist. You've seen the news, now discover the story.
23313
Brad Smith @bradsmithtx.bsky.social · 21/07/2025
So, Trump released the MLK files. Turns out, it was definitely the guy we all thought it was. Like… for sure. Now release the Epstein files. #Trump #Epstein #MLKFiles
010
Brad Smith @bradsmithtx.bsky.social · 21/07/2025
Trumps administration withheld $100m in funding to Ethiopia in 2020 specifically because of that dam. #Trump #Ethipoia #USAID www.reuters.com/article/worl...
reuters.com
U.S. to cut $100 million in aid to Ethiopia over GERD dam dispute
The United States had decided to cut $100 million in aid to Ethiopia amid a dispute with Egypt and Sudan over a megadam that Ethiopia is building on the Nile, a congressional source told Reuters on Wednesday.
000
Brad Smith @bradsmithtx.bsky.social · 20/07/2025
Sooo… one of the credit score companies is sending out newsletters on how to prepare for a recession. That does not sound very bueno! #Equifax #Recession #NoBueno
000
Brad Smith @bradsmithtx.bsky.social · 20/07/2025
“They said it was exclusive, they didn’t say anyone was gonna read it!”
000
Brad Smith @bradsmithtx.bsky.social · 20/07/2025
~90% of counties losing funding already had little to no local news. 91% of counties with limited to no news coverage went red last election.
nytimes.com
Where Congress’s Cuts Threaten Access to PBS and NPR (Gift Article)
The loss of federal funding threatens scores of public TV and radio stations across the United States.
153
Brad Smith @bradsmithtx.bsky.social · 20/07/2025
They almost exclusively defunded their own district when they defunded public radio and tv… Est. 2024 Trump-Voting Area Overlap (%) Radio: 77.5% Television: 72.5% #PBS #PublicRadio #PublicTelevision
000
Brad Smith @bradsmithtx.bsky.social · 19/07/2025
They stopped calling it “Obamacare” when it started working. Now that they’ve kneecapped it and premiums are exploding? Bet your ass it’s gonna be Obamacare again pretty soon. #ACA #Obamacare #Healthcare
washingtonpost.com
Health insurance through Affordable Care Act faces big premium hikes
The average consumer could also pay 75 percent more for a marketplace plan, according to a KFF analysis, driven by the expiration of federal subsidies.
110
Reposted by Brad Smith
George Conway ⚖️🇺🇸 @gtconway.bsky.social · 18/07/2025
144118331870