KJ Boyle

@kjboyle

Writer and Researcher. Philly sports enthusiast. Looking into revolving doors. Gov capacity, congressional oversight, aviation safety

286 Siguiendo332 Seguidores464 Publicaciones

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KJ Boyle@kjboyle· 7d

Never let anyone tell you AI doesn't have good use cases

First in Playbook: Miller posted documents on Dropbox over the weekend that may have been created by his congressional office in violation of House rules, POLITICO’s Daniel Lippman reports. An analysis of metadata for four documents in Miller’s Dropbox folder showed the authorship was “Office of Rep. Max Miller – Legal Counsel.” After Playbook asked if congressional resources were used to create them, Miller’s personal attorney Aaron Minc told Playbook he would change the metadata, which now reads “Minc Law LLC.”
Miller chief of staff Phil Poe said only Minc handled the production of the documents and creation of the folder, and the congressional office doesn’t employ anyone with the title of “Legal Counsel.” Minc also said the error may have been caused by using AI.

KJ Boyle@kjboyle· 13d

The Bailey's told me the fever will break any day now!

WAPO headline:
Schumer pitches new federal agency to investigate corruption
The new bill is part of Democrats’ effort to articulate a legislative agenda ahead of the midterm elections.

The bill faces little chance of passage in the Republican-controlled Senate — and it could face a hard road even if Democrats retake Congress and voters elect a Democratic president in 2028. Unlike some Democratic priorities, the bill could be filibustered and would need the support of 60 senators to advance.

Schumer predicted the backlash to the Trump administration’s corruption would be so fierce that some Republicans might support the bill.

KJ Boyle@kjboyle· 18d

Republicans know this is important so they say it plainly, refer to DOJ & get coverage in every national outlet. Democrats meanwhile…

Bunch of news stories about Jim Jordan accusing Jack Smith of lying to Congress and referring to DOJ for charges

Headlines about how Democrats say Bisignano “misled” Congress

KJ Boyle@kjboyle· 18d

These types of statements are not enough. Vought didn’t just lie to you, he lied to Congress under oath!! That’s a crime—demand his resignation, move for impeachment etc. Make it a big deal!

Sen. Andy Kim: Last week OMB Director Vought lied to my face when he said they don't use politics in funding decisions. Now we have proof. In court, the Trump admin admits they based decisions on who the states voted for President. That's a disgusting abuse of power.

KJ Boyle@kjboyle· 26d

Trump and DOGE fired the people that make sure your food isn't contaminated with human shit.

How does Cyclospora get into food?
A Cyclospora infection means that someone has consumed food or water
that was contaminated by human faeces. C. cayetanensis reproduces
through egg-like structures called oocysts that are shed in human stool.
These oocysts are not immediately infectious: they must first sporulate, or
mature, in a warm environment at temperatures between 22 °C and 32 °C
for a week or two — which is one reason why outbreaks tend to occur
during summer.

Workforce reductions across federal agencies under the Trump
administration last year have slowed down this response, Barratt says.
1
2
Diseases Infection Parasitology
For example, Barratt’s former team at the
CDC, which was responsible for processing
parasite samples during such outbreaks,
dropped from 11 scientists to just three, he
says. With fewer hands available to sequence
DNA and conduct interviews, contaminated
produce sits in shops and restaurants for
longer, making more consumers ill, he adds.
“The outbreak won’t stop any time soon,
until public-health agencies are able to pinpoint exactly where the
parasite is entering our food system,
” Barratt says.

KJ Boyle@kjboyle· 26d

"Barratt left the agency ten months ago, after the administration of US President Donald Trump fired employees or encouraged them to leave in a bid to downsize the government." DOGE destroyed our ability to prevent and respond to public health crises (as we at RDP said it would!)

The safety of our food and drug systems has also been put at risk. Even prior to losing
over 3,000 employees, the FDA inspection regime was woefully inadequate: in 2024,
the Government Accountability Office found a 16% vacancy rate for FDA investigators,
leading to fewer inspections than in 2019. While investigators themselves were
exempted from cuts, terminating the support staff that handle travel and logistics for
investigators will only slow the pace of inspections and investigations, diminishing the
government’s ability to guarantee sanitary food processing and safe medical devices.
Current FDA investigators speaking with NPR detailed how travel reimbursements
were slowed and booking travel arrangements made more difficult due to the loss of
staff. Speaking about the firings at the FDA, the president of the American Veterinary
Medical Association warned that oversight of food safety and animal-borne diseases
would become limited by personnel cuts.
At the CDC, experts warned that cuts at the agency will harm disease research,
prevention, and communication. The cuts were far ranging across the agency, hitting
research into hepatitis, sexually transmitted diseases, tuberculosis, gun violence, and
domestic violence. It will be hard to directly trace the relationship between these cuts
and any spikes in these issues, but one thing is clear: the government’s ability to
understand and combat these problems has been decimated by DOGE

KJ Boyle@kjboyle· 27d

The American Chemistry Council asked OSHA to drop a ladder safety compliance deadline, claiming it would save them $3.6 billion. But ACC member 3M said that number has “no reasonable relationship to actual market pricing and should not be accorded significant weight in OSHA’s rulemaking analysis."

But OSHA also received an opposing comment from 3M, the manufacturing conglomerate whose portfolio includes fall protection equipment. 3M is a member of the American Chemistry Council, which filed the initial petition that prompted OSHA’s rulemaking. In their comment, 3M reiterated the safety concerns highlighted by other groups, while also raising issues with OSHA’s estimated savings from deadline removal.

OSHA, citing data from the industry groups’ petition, estimated $3.6 billion in savings for the petrochemical industry, as compliance costs could reach $55,000 per ladder. 3M, however, called the estimate “significantly overstated,” saying the market data indicates compliance costs to be around $1,000 to $3,000 per ladder. The conglomerate added that the petitioners’ estimate has “no reasonable relationship to actual market pricing and should not be accorded significant weight in OSHA’s rulemaking analysis.”

KJ Boyle@kjboyle· Jul 3

Ticket prices for the DC Open, a 500-level event, are 2-3 times the price of Wimbledon. Absolutely insane.

Seat Geek prices for Mubadala DC Open. Lowest price is $122 for a single ticket in the upper levels, with most prices much higher

Wimbledon day one prices are a low of £55 for day 1, high of €115 for centre court

KJ Boyle@kjboyle· Jun 24

you will simply never get a better chance than this

croatia vs panama match when croatia had a 2 v 0 breakway but somehow did not score

KJ Boyle@kjboyle· Jun 22

Calling all lantern fly stompers to my building. The invasion has begun. (I stomped 10+ at the front door but they are falling en masse into my unit’s window well/fire escape)

One dead & one living late stage lantern fly nymph

KJ Boyle@kjboyle· Jun 16

huh, weird. extapps2.oge.gov/201/Presiden...

1. Filer's Positions Held Outside United States Government
None

KJ Boyle@kjboyle· Jun 16

Duncan goes on to agree that the federal government shouldn't be a work program for unqualified people. I wonder what his resume looks like!

KJ Boyle@kjboyle· May 22

"Abundance is a grassroots movement!" The grass roots in question:

KJ Boyle@kjboyle· May 13

OSHA claims, taking the industry's numbers at face value, that the rule change will save the industry $3.6 billion. They make no mention of the human cost in lives lost and injuries that could occur—over 1,000 people died in 2024 from workplace falls, slips and trips.

National Safety Stand-Down highlights fall hazards in construction
May 05, 2026
The National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction highlights fall hazards and emphasizes the importance of fall prevention in the construction industry. The National Safety Stand-Down is being observed this year from May 4 to May 8.

In 2024, there were 1,034 workplace deaths in the private-sector construction industry. Over one-third (389) of fatal injuries in construction were due to falls, slips, and trips, and 95.9 percent of these were falls to a lower level. Construction accounted for almost half (48.8 percent) of all fatal falls, slips, and trips in private industry in 2024.

Based on petitioners' data, OSHA calculates a compliance cost of $55,000 per ladder ($1.2 billion divided by 22,000 ladders rounded to the nearest thousand); however, other entities in the petitioners' industry not surveyed could indicate different potential cost savings associated with the other two-thirds of this industry's ladders, thus the $55,000 estimate may not reflect the true average. By applying these per-ladder compliance costs to an estimated 66,000 ladders in this industry sector (extrapolating the petitioner's report of 22,000 ladders in one third of the industry to the whole industry), OSHA estimates cost savings over $3.6 billion could be achieved in this sector alone by eliminating the compliance deadline. OSHA seeks public comment on these estimates.

KJ Boyle@kjboyle· May 13

Trump's OSHA is proposing to remove a rule requiring employers to provide personal fall arrest systems—basically harnesses with with straps to anchors—to workers on ladders above 24 feet. They proposed the repeal after a bunch of oil, gas, and chemical industry trade groups asked them too.

OSHA proposed Rule: This proposed rule removes a deadline in OSHA's Walking-Working Surfaces standard by which all fixed ladders that extend more than 24 feet above a lower level must be equipped with personal fall arrest systems or ladder safety systems. Additionally, OSHA is seeking comment on repealing or revising the requirement that employers use personal fall arrest systems on all fixed ladders over 24 feet tall and instead permitting employers to continue to use ladder cages or wells.

On July 28, 2025, OSHA received a letter on behalf of member companies of the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM), American Chemistry Council (ACC), and American Petroleum Institute (API) (the “industry petition”), petitioning the agency to initiate rulemaking that would repeal the requirement to use personal fall arrest systems on all fixed ladders that extend more than 24 feet above a lower level and allow employers to continue to use cages and wells or, alternatively, that would allow the use of cages and wells on these ladders and require installation of personal fall arrest systems or ladder safety systems only on the ladders installed or modified after a new final rule (Ex. OSHA-2025-0072-0002). The letter states that retrofitting existing fixed ladders with personal fall arrest systems or ladder safety systems imposes extraordinary costs on the industry with “very little, if any, safety enhancement.” The member companies contend that these expenses are unjustified, as there have been very few incidents involving fixed ladders.

KJ Boyle@kjboyle· May 13

Checks out

Spotify years review showing Mac Miller as my most streamed artist with 25,462 minutes

KJ Boyle@kjboyle· May 5

The 2020 primary never ended

Lis Smith: "Parenting is hard etc" from someone who doesn't have to do it is a wild way to start a sermon.
Parenting is hard, period. Screen time is often a last resort for families.
The last thing moms need is judgmental commentary from the childless peanut gallery.

@neeratanden: Screens for toddlers are actually bad for the kids. Is it ok if I speak on the topic because I'm a mom? Just want to make sure.

@Lis_Smith:
Ah yes, let's demonize those parents who rely on screen time in a crunch. They definitely are in that basket of deplorables.

@neeratanden:
Kind of ironic that you'd take a shot at Hillary here, who did more for children's well-being than maybe any other political leader. But not surpising.
It's not like parents weren't stressed before screens.

KJ Boyle@kjboyle· May 4

FLYERS ARE ALIVE

KJ Boyle@kjboyle· May 3

Vibe rn

KJ Boyle@kjboyle· May 1

A Reason mag writer thinks the downfall of Spirit Airlines is an “enormous L” for Lina Khan who had … nothing to do with blocking the Jet Blue merger. The DOJ oversees airline mergers! Even libertarian political “reporters” should know basic facts.

Billy Binion: This is a colossal failure on the part of the Biden admin (and antitrust hawks generally).
The government stopped Spirit from merging with JetBlue over concerns about ticket prices. So instead the low-price company will just shut down instead. A total faceplant.

Binion: It's not good that Lina Khan is adored by many on the left AND the right. She claims to fight for the little guy, but her heavy-handed and economically illiterate approach hurts the people she's trying to help. Spirit going under is an enormous L for her.

Acquisition Would Allow JetBlue to Eliminate Its Largest Ultra-Low-Cost Rival, Further Concentrate the Airline Industry, and Harm American Travelers
The Justice Department, together with Attorneys General of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the State of New York, and the District of Columbia, filed a civil antitrust lawsuit today to block JetBlue Airways Corporation's (JetBlue) proposed $3.8 billion acquisition of its largest and fastest-growing ultra-low-cost rival, Spirit Airlines, Inc. (Spirit).
JetBlue and Spirit compete fiercely today on hundreds of routes serving millions of travelers.
By eliminating that competition and further consolidating the United States airlines industry, the proposed transaction will increase fares and reduce choice on routes across the country, raising costs for the flying public and harming cost-conscious fliers most acutely.

KJ Boyle@kjboyle· Apr 3

Another $46 million cut from the Bureau of International Labor Affairs, which helps to lift working conditions abroad. These efforts are worthwhile on their own, but they also protect American workers by discouraging outsourcing to countries with horrendous labor protections.

ILAB (–$46 million). The Budget reorients ILAB to vigorously advance the President’s America First trade
agenda and defend American workers from unfair competitive practices abroad, such as forced and child
labor. In the past, these funds have been wasted on woke grants that failed to advance America’s interests,
but this Administration has put America frst by re-focusing ILAB on strictly enforcing labor standards in
trade agreements to ensure fairness for American workers and businesses. The Administration has already
canceled wasteful, woke grants supporting projects for:
Ț “Improving gender equity in the Mexican workplace”;
Ț “Elevating women’s participation in the workplace,” in West Africa;
Ț “Assisting foreign migrant workers,” in Malaysia;
Ț Enhancing “social security access and worker protections for internal migrant workers,” in
Bangladesh; and
Ț Supporting “safe and inclusive work environments,” in Lesotho.

KJ Boyle@kjboyle· Apr 3

They're cutting $101 million form the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, which ensures federal contractors do not discriminate in their hiring. As federal contracts are increasingly given to friends of the Trump family, it makes sense they'd want to limit oversight.

Ofce of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) (–$101 million). The Budget defunds
OFCCP and moves its more limited statutory functions, requiring Federal contractor nondiscrimination
on the basis of veteran- and disability-status, to an expanded Ofce of Civil Rights, which would enforce
them in a more rational manner as it also takes on most whistleblower functions currently administered
by OSHA. For decades, OFCCP has used arbitrary, legally dubious rules to promote discriminatory, quotabased employment practices by companies doing business with the Federal Government. E.O. 14173,
“Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity,” abolished afrmative action
policies Government-wide, including the 1960s-era Executive Order that was the basis for most of OFCCP’s
legal authority. The Ofce also engaged in activities that:

KJ Boyle@kjboyle· Apr 3

The budget cuts $234 million from worker protection agencies because they've funded "questionable activities such as 'workers' rights training,' for migrant farmworkers." They also make clear the DoL enforcement will move away from financial penalties—the one thing that disincentives law breaking.

Worker Protection Agencies (–$234 million). The Budget emphasizes outreach, education, and
assistance—rather than harsh penalties—for employers and workers trying to comply with labor laws and
standards, and eliminates overbearing and burdensome regulations. This approach makes better use of
taxpayer dollars while prioritizing worker safety and American economic strength. The Budget eliminates
wasteful and unnecessary spending to refocus the Department’s worker protection agencies on the core
missions of protecting American workers’ safety, health, wages, and benefts. For example, the Budget
proposes to eliminate OSHA’s Susan Harwood Training Grants, which under previous administrations:
Ț Were weaponized to fund questionable activities such as “workers’ rights training,” for migrant
farmworkers, as opposed to occupational safety training; and
Ț Funded woke organizations like the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, Farmworker Justice,
Laborers International Union of North America, Asian Immigrant Women Advocates, Brazilian
Worker Center Inc., Legal Aid Justice Center, and Latino Worker Safety Center.

KJ Boyle@kjboyle· Apr 3

In a budget the White House claims "supports American workers," they are seeking to cut the Department of Labor by over 25%. The cuts serve to help employers get away with discrimination and suppression of workers' rights. 🧵

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR BUDGET REQUEST:

The Budget supports American workers, job seekers, and retirees by providing workforce development,
ensuring appropriate working conditions, and securing retirement benefts. Moreover, the Budget puts
American workers frst by enforcing trade agreements, improving program efciency, eliminating wasteful
unnecessary programs, and giving States and localities more control over delivering job training.
The Budget requests $9.9 billion in discretionary budget authority for the Department of Labor (DOL) for
2027, a $3.5 billion or 25.9-percent decrease from the 2026 enacted level.

KJ Boyle@kjboyle· Mar 21

No one tells you you’ll run more than 13.1 miles during a half marathon

me and mackenzie posing with our medals in front of cherry blossoms

runkeeper map around DC. I ran 13.48 miles in 1:46:23 for a 7:54 pace

my official race time of 1:46:15 for a 8:03 min/mile

KJ Boyle@kjboyle· Mar 14

Guy who relies on Polymarket to figure out whether starting a war with a 20% approval rating is good or bad for one’s electoral outlook

Nate silver tweet with an image showing polymarket odds for ‘which party will win the senate in 2026?’ showing republicans up 53-48 but margins getting thinner.

nate said:
From a purely electoral standpoint (not that I don't have opinions about it from a non-electoral standpoint) Iran has to be one of the dumber moves in recent memory. Maybe the base case is that things get back to normal, but the risks for Trump are weighted to the downside.

KJ Boyle@kjboyle· Mar 13

Denny’s has finally spoke on the Iran War

A Denny’s instagram post showing Dubai skyscrapers with the UAE flag and a Denny’s sign at the bottom with the caption “Peace and strength to the UAE & Region. We stand together” in the top left. The post caption says “in moments when the world feels unsettled, people gravitate toward what’s familiar…”

KJ Boyle@kjboyle· Mar 12

Warren pressed Gen. Reed on whether the failure to evacuate more people is due to a lack of requests for assistance from Rubio and the State Department. Gen. Reed: "We've been asked for help, and we're available to do that. [...] We have been tasked and we have responded to each of those tasks."

KJ Boyle@kjboyle· Mar 12

Warren: How many people have been airlifted from the Middle East since Feb. 28? Gen. Reed: It's been in the hundreds. Warren: Hundreds? Not in the thousands? Gen. Reed: That is correct.

KJ Boyle@kjboyle· Mar 12

Sen. Tim Kaine: "American troops are dying because this nation's political leadership tragically abandoned diplomacy. [...] Have we learned nothing from 25 years of war in the Middle East?"