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Reposted by Tahra Hoops

Wyatt Gordon @yitgordon.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

“Taken individually, none of these provisions solves the housing shortage. Taken together, they represent one of the most substantial federal efforts in decades to address the regulatory, financing, permitting, and construction barriers that limit housing supply.” 🏗️🏢 @tahrajirari.bsky.social

therebuild.pub

The Biggest Housing Bill in Decades Is Almost Law

Last August I made a bet in this newsletter: the ROAD to Housing Act was the most consequential housing legislation in a generation, and almost no one was paying attention.

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Paul Graf @paulginva.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

Nice article by @tahrajirari.bsky.social on permitting reform. While she normally writes about housing, this one deals with regulations that strangle working-class entrepreneurs and communities of color with red tape. This kind of deregulation should have always been a Dem issue.

This progressive vision for cutting red tape starts from a simple premise: Bureaucracy shouldn't be a tax on the poor or the newcomer. Excessive licensing and permitting hurdles act like a hidden tax on anyone trying to start a business or a community project - and those hurdles hit marginalized groups the hardest. When a street vendor or hair braider has to spend thousands of dollars and months of paperwork just to legally earn a living, something is deeply wrong with our system. Instead of accepting that deregulation is a right-wing domain, progressives are reclaiming it in the name of empowering the little guy. As Vox's Eric Levitz notes, there's no contradiction between cracking down on corporate abuses and clearing bureaucratic bottlenecks for everyday people, Democrats "don't actually need to choose" between fighting greed and pursuing abundance for all. In fact, delivering real-world improvements - like faster permits, lower fees, and more affordable housing, strengthens progressive governance and undermines conservative narratives that government only creates roadblocks.

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Paul Graf @paulginva.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

BTW, if you're at all interested in what Democrats in urban areas can do to improve affordability, particularly in housing, this is the Substack for you.

therebuild.pub

Why Is It So Hard to Renovate?

Simple home renovations now cost five figures in big cities

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Paul Graf @paulginva.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

Excellent new article from Tahra Hoops today on how blue cities' over-regulation is driving up the costs of home renovations. Well worth a read. It's so emblematic of what needs to change if Democrats are going to do better on the cost-of-living.

Recently, while visiting Washington, D.C., I caught up with some old friends. Our conversation eventually turned to their new home and how unexpectedly painful the renovation process has been. One particularly frustrating example was their bathroom remodel. They didn't move any plumbing or alter the layout, just a straightforward interior update - just updated the space with modern finishes - yet the total cost of their self-described "small" bathroom soared well into five figures.

What struck me most wasn't just the price, but the permitting process required to renovate their own home. In D.C., the system is so byzantine that one of the people explaining it to me-a regulatory lawyer-couldn't get clear answers on how to proceed. The rules themselves were so unclear that when he contacted the local permitting office for guidance, he received different, and sometimes conflicting, answers depending on whom he spoke with. After digging further, I found that this is hardly unique to Washington. Similar stories are common across many large cities, where home renovations have become increasingly expensive and time-consuming.

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George Takei @georgetakei.bsky.social · 06/11/2025

They need to do the David and Victoria Beckham meme with this.

A tweet from Tahra Hoops (@TahraHoops) says:
“Hearing Justice Roberts ask directly who pays the tariffs, and Trump’s attorney admit that Americans do pay the tariffs was just chef’s kiss.”

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Gbenga Ajilore @gbenga-ajilore.bsky.social · 28/05/2025

I appreciate this piece from @garywinslett.bsky.social & @tahrajirari.bsky.social about Medicaid and what it means for rural communities. I particularly like this callout that the point is to kick people off of Medicaid to achieve the "savings." open.substack.com/pub/colrebui...

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Tahra Hoops @tahrajirari.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

New: The battle for the House in 2026 will be won in the suburbs. Our analysis shows Democrats targeting districts where economic anxiety over healthcare, childcare & daily costs is high. With just 3 seats between the parties, cost-of-living issues will decide who governs. 🧵

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Tahra Hoops @tahrajirari.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

Democrats need a real pro-family agenda that makes it easier, and cheaper, to raise kids. @garywinslett outlines 10 smart policies, from baby bonuses to single-stair reform. Families deserve affordable childcare, safe cities, and homes that work for real life.

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Tahra Hoops @tahrajirari.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

NEW: California voters put housing costs first, yet the Senate made Aisha Wahab housing chair. She says “protect supply, curb demand” and fights parking reforms. Putting a brake pedal at the wheel shows Sacramento won't kick its anti‑development habit. By @GaryWinslett

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Tahra Hoops @tahrajirari.bsky.social · 15/04/2025

New Rebuild Post! Maritime protectionism has failed for 100 years. It didn't build us a fleet. It won't now. But the USTR's originally proposed fees of up to $1.5M per port call on Chinese ships will raise prices, shrink exports, and creates more chaos for U.S. businesses. 🧵

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Tahra Hoops @tahrajirari.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

NEW Economist/YouGov Poll: 55% of Americans believe Trump's recent tariffs will hurt their financial wellbeing. The negative perception crosses demographic lines but is strongest among Black (64%) and Hispanic (60%) respondents. 🧵

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Tahra Hoops @tahrajirari.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

Tomorrow's "Liberation Day" is just the start of a trade war that jeopardizes America's economic growth. When we limit ourselves to domestic production of basics, we sacrifice the diverse economic ecosystem that drives prosperity. 🧵

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Tahra Hoops @tahrajirari.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

NEW: NYC's Airbnb ban has been in effect for 18 months, and the unintended consequences are piling up. Beyond failing to lower rents, it's disproportionately harming outer borough communities and small businesses.

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Tahra Hoops @tahrajirari.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

NEW: Last week, @PatrickRuffini coined the term "Combative Centrism" to describe what could be a winning strategy for Democrats. With cost of living back to being the #1 voter concern, Democrats need a strategy that's both forceful and practical. 🧵

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Tahra Hoops @tahrajirari.bsky.social · 13/03/2025

New Tourism Economic Impact Report from Waymo just dropped! In SF alone, Waymo visitor rides contribute: • $39.7M+ in total economic output • $15.98M in income generated • More spending at hotels, restaurants & attractions

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Tahra Hoops @tahrajirari.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

America faces a critical housing shortage with millions of homes in underproduction. The only way out is to build more and now lumber prices are hitting 30-month highs all due to tariffs + construction costs are soaring. We need affordability to build more, not higher prices.

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Tahra Hoops @tahrajirari.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

NEW post in The Rebuild by @GaryWinslett on critical minerals: US depends on China & others for materials vital to tech & green energy. How can we help reverse this? Restore the Bureau of Mines to secure domestic supply chains & reduce foreign dependence.

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Tahra Hoops @tahrajirari.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

NEW The Rebuild post out today! Boomers love progress—until it moves next door. Older progressives have become the biggest roadblock to housing reform. The generation that once championed change now blocks it when their property values are at stake. 🧵

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Chamber of Progress @progresschamber.org · 21/02/2025

🚨 New Substack Alert: The Rebuild Dems need to get back to basics: 🏗️ Building more 📉 Lowering costs 🏆 Delivering results Less process obsession, more progress. Join @tahrajirari.bsky.social and @garywinslett.bsky.social as they explore how Dems can govern better, cut red tape - and win again.

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Tahra Hoops @tahrajirari.bsky.social · 20/02/2025

NEW: Excited to announce, I am starting a Substack with the great @garywinslett: The Rebuild! The Rebuild will focus on how Democrats can break through bureaucracy, build more, cut costs, and actually deliver results that win back voters' trust. 🧵+ Link below ⬇️

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Tahra Hoops @tahrajirari.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

Will it ever end? Auto tariffs threaten global automakers and risk major supply chain disruption. With 50% of US auto market being imports, these tariffs could spike car prices, hurt consumers, and damage integrated North American manufacturing networks.

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Tahra Hoops @tahrajirari.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

"There is nothing to study since it does not impact me because I am rich"

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Tahra Hoops @tahrajirari.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

Trump’s plan to treat VATs as tariffs is bad economics. VATs are standard consumption taxes, not trade barriers. This move risks unjustified tariffs, higher prices for Americans, and retaliation from key trade partners—hurting U.S. businesses more than it helps.

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Tahra Hoops @tahrajirari.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

Well, that is not what they are but we also have the Gulf of America now so I guess we are just calling things whatever they want now

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Tahra Hoops @tahrajirari.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

"He believes" is holding up a lot of this sentence here. I don't think even he knows what Trump is going to exempt. It's a free for all.

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Tahra Hoops @tahrajirari.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

🚨 January inflation jumped 0.5% (vs. 0.3% forecast), with big spikes in: • Fuel oil +6.2% • Gas +1.8% • Food at home +0.5% (eggs +15.2%!!) • Transport services +1.8% • Insurance +2.0% With 25% tariffs looming on food/energy/metals, supply chain pressures could worsen.

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Tahra Hoops @tahrajirari.bsky.social · 11/02/2025

Temu's shift to "half-custody" shipping due to Trump's tariffs means higher consumer prices ahead. Merchants losing bulk shipping benefits & handling new logistics costs themselves. With both Temu & Shein adapting to stricter rules, the era of ultra-cheap Chinese goods may be ending.

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Tahra Hoops @tahrajirari.bsky.social · 11/02/2025

Important to note that the 2018 tariffs on steel and aluminum led to increase costs and likely resulted in "75,000 fewer manufacturing jobs in firms where steel or aluminum are an input into production." But yeah, we will be owning Canada with this one.

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Tahra Hoops @tahrajirari.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

This morning, WH advisor said they want to increase labor supply - yet past steel tariffs like those in 2002 cut nearly 200k downstream jobs vs 187k total steel jobs. New tariffs would work against this goal and attempt to "fight inflation" by cutting jobs and raising costs.

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Tahra Hoops @tahrajirari.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

🚨🚨These 25% tariffs will likely harm US manufacturing jobs, as steel-using industries employ 46x more workers than steel production. Higher steel prices cut into margins for countless manufacturers, reducing investment and growth while raising costs for consumers.

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Tahra Hoops @tahrajirari.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

Canada stands to lose the most from the looming 25% tariffs on steel & aluminum. This isn’t our first threat against them, and with a deal pause until March, these moves only hurt us—undermining stability and making us look like erratic actors.

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Tahra Hoops @tahrajirari.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

Reciprocal tariffs, tariffs on steel, it's like we want consumers to pay more for the same goods! Especially in regards to housing and transportation!

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Tahra Hoops @tahrajirari.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

Trump admin found out about tariffs 6 months ago and are trying to apply it *everywhere* without bothering to understand any of the impacts and effects on Americans.

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Tahra Hoops @tahrajirari.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

We are continuing to see impacts on tariffs even after the pause where insurers may be looking to increase rates from uncertainty. Auto parts costs and supply chain concerns could drive premium hikes across multiple insurance lines.

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Tahra Hoops @tahrajirari.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

ICYMI: While LA's devastating fires demand urgent rebuilding, we shouldn't settle for incremental solutions. America has a history of innovative crisis response—but waiting for disasters to force reform extracts a massive toll. LA needs an overhaul, not minimal recovery. medium.com/chamber-of-p...

medium.com

Los Angeles Needs Its Own Operation Warp Speed

America Excels in Crisis Response, But We Shouldn’t Wait for Disaster

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Tahra Hoops @tahrajirari.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

Incredible diagram via @kyleichan showing China's overlapping tech ecosystems & their network effects. Companies leverage expertise across EVs, batteries, robotics & AI, creating reinforcing loops. Ex: Battery knowledge from smartphones enabled EV advances.

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Kyle Saunders @kylesaunders.bsky.social · 26/12/2024

Interesting frm @tahrajirari.bsky.social: 50% of US profs come from rich families, ~5% from poor ones. Kids tend to follow parents (architect dad = architecture prof). Working-class profs either don't publish and/or make huge breakthroughs; when they do, they get less credit despite equal output.

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Tahra Hoops @tahrajirari.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

Hidden $73B gap in 2023 US-China trade reveals massive undercounting of actual trade dependence, suggesting new tariffs will boost evasion rather than reduce imports. Gap has already hit $64B in 2024 and is set to surpass 2023's record.

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Tahra Hoops @tahrajirari.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

The US has created nearly 100x more value in new public companies under 50 years old ($30T vs $400B in EU) - Apple, Google, Amazon, & Nvidia leading plus hundreds of $10B+ companies across sectors. EU has 13 such companies total. We should not want to be like the EU.

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Tahra Hoops @tahrajirari.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

Trump's 25% Canada tariff would spike building costs dramatically if consumers received brunt of cost. Key materials we rely on: $105B in cement/minerals jumping to $131B $28B in lumber/paper to $34B $33B in metals/tools to $42B Total hit: $41B more for same materials. Building will get pricier.

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Tahra Hoops @tahrajirari.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

Study shows rapid workplace AI adoption (28% of workers), most commonly used for writing, searching info, and getting instructions. With 52% using it 15-60 mins daily for admin tasks, suggests potential productivity gains as workers streamline routine work through AI tools.

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Tahra Hoops @tahrajirari.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

We've made infrastructure too costly and time-consuming: Moynihan Train Hall took 10 years and $1.6B (2.27B adj. inflation), while Union Station's modernization will take 13 years and $8.8B. Penn Station/Moynihan serves 600K daily riders vs Union's 100K, yet costs balloon.

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James Medlock @jdcmedlock.bsky.social · 14/11/2024

oh you think a fascist politician actually has some interesting takes on antitrust policy? should we tell everyone? should we throw a party? should we invite matt stoller

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Tahra Hoops @tahrajirari.bsky.social · 13/11/2024

Democrats are fighting with each other because we were too scared to put Harris on Rogan over "backlash" from our OWN party, meanwhile Trump has nominated Matt Gaetz for AG, a man who was at the center of trafficking probe

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Tahra Hoops @tahrajirari.bsky.social · 13/11/2024

New here, so feel free to follow, and I will follow back! Content will replicate similar to X. Econ, Policy, Tech and more.

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Tahra Hoops @tahrajirari.bsky.social · 13/11/2024

Progressive staff asked Harris to not go on Rogan. I am going to s c r e a m Like what do you mean the fear factor guy was part of why we lost the election

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