Life as a clean energy journalist in an age of madness Robinson Meyer and I discuss why the traditional climate movement struggles to build infrastructure and how a global oil shock is scrambling US energy politics.

Today on Volts: There sure is a lot going on! Instead of a nerdy deep dive, today I go broad, talking current events with @robinsonmeyer.bsky.social of @heatmap.news: the Iran War, its effects on Trump's energy policy, the lessons of the IRA, the Dem pivot to "affordability," and lots more.

Phenomenon of homes being used for investment or 2nd homes is rare overall—but a major issue in small sections of big, rich cities like New York. Some areas of Midtown & Upper East Side have >30% overall housing vacancy, with a large share of that coming from homes being used as vacation properties.

The US Spends More Time and Money Building Transit Than Most Countries. Inefficient Community Engagement May Help Explain Why. Public participation remains essential, and policymakers can take steps to ensure engagement processes reflect the entire community’s needs without increasin…

Transit construction costs in the US keep rising, and projects keep taking longer and longer to build.

One possible explanation? Ineffective, inefficient community engagement processes, we argue @urbaninstitute.bsky.social ⏬

How to have a Perfect Day in Philly, according to culinary power couple Phila and Rachel Lorn

The married restauranteurs behind Mawn and Sao don't get a lot of time off. When they do, they pack in a day of eating across Rittenhouse Square, South Philly, and Kensington.

Bookhaven in Fairmount closes after a nearly 40-year ‘labor of love’ Beloved used bookstore Bookhaven, located in Fairmount, has closed after almost 40 years in business and the building is for sale.

Old news but this is such a loss

www.inquirer.com/news/philade...

www.nytimes.com/2026/04/14/o...

A 120-unit apartment building is planned next to Fishtown’s Girard SEPTA station The apartment building would take the place of a closed dollar store.

Derelict building literally next door to a mass transit stop finally being razed and replaced with an apartment building www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...

A 120-unit apartment building is planned next to Fishtown’s Girard SEPTA station The apartment building would take the place of a closed dollar store.

Derelict building literally next door to a mass transit stop finally being razed and replaced with an apartment building www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...

Thats why its little

?

Comcast Spectacor reveals new location for Sixers and Flyers arena The chairman and CEO of Comcast Spectacor, which owns the Flyers and is working with the 76ers on the new facility, said it would be located where the old Spectrum was located.

a little scoop www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...

SEPTA will keep $2.90 fare for World Cup transit rides. Boston is charging $80. NJ Transit, rumored to be charging $100 a ride, will make an announcement on Friday.

News from @inquirer.com colleagues Tom Fitzgerald and @aliyareports.bsky.social:

While Boston's MBTA charges $80 for train tickets at the World Cup and New Jersey Transit might go over $100, here in Philadelphia, SEPTA will keep the standard subway fare of $2.90.

www.inquirer.com/transportati...

well well well!

Philadelphia Housing Authority buys 200 apartments in North Philly for $49.1 million The building near N. Fifth St. and Cecil B. Moore Ave. is part of PHA's efforts to expand affordable housing by buying homes from private developers.

And our story from last month on the latest purchase: www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...

PHA has spent $330 million to acquire apartments all over Philadelphia. Here’s where. Philadelphia Housing Authority has purchased 1,715 units for affordable housing in the last 18 months. Find out where and why.

This seems really promising and we are lucky to have @jblumgart.bsky.social on this beat

www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...

PHA has spent $330 million to acquire apartments all over Philadelphia. Here’s where. Philadelphia Housing Authority has purchased 1,715 units for affordable housing in the last 18 months. Find out where and why.

The Philadelphia Housing Authority has been buying private sector housing all over the city with plans to turn them into mixed income properties. We mapped where their acquisitions have been located so far: www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...

Exclusive: Maryland’s biggest newspaper is going after the governor’s 2028 campaign The owner of Maryland’s biggest paper and TV stations is keeping close tabs on his outlet’s investigation of Gov. Wes Moore.

www.semafor.com/article/04/0...

PHA has spent $330 million to acquire apartments all over Philadelphia. Here’s where. Philadelphia Housing Authority has purchased 1,715 units for affordable housing in the last 18 months. Find out where and why.

The Philadelphia Housing Authority has been buying private sector housing all over the city with plans to turn them into mixed income properties. We mapped where their acquisitions have been located so far: www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...

Fort Mifflin, long besieged by flooding and lack of money, is finally getting some help

Fort Mifflin receives zero federal or city dollars and operates on a shoestring budget of $100,000 to $200,000 a year.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Saved From Closure by Nonprofit

thank god www.nytimes.com/2026/04/14/b...

Trump’s Erratic Behavior and Extreme Comments Revive Mental Health Debate

“The dissent on the right has not extended to Congress, where Republican lawmakers remain publicly loyal to the president”

www.nytimes.com/2026/04/13/u...

Two ironworkers who died in the CHOP garage collapse have been recovered The bodies of Matthew Kane and Mark Scott Jr., the two ironworkers trapped under the debris of the collapsed CHOP garage, were recovered early Monday morning.

The bodies of the two missing workers were found last night around 1:00 AM. Today, Mayor Parker issued an executive order requiring the Law Dept to investigate what went wrong. The report is due in 180 days then a special committee will recommend reforms:
www.inquirer.com/news/philade...

Orbán’s 16-year rule over Hungary ends in crushing election defeat The Hungarian prime minister concedes to Péter Magyar, who is set to win a supermajority in the 199-seat parliament.

The 16-year reign of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is at an end after a crushing election loss on Sunday that will send political shockwaves from Washington to Moscow.

Crews began demolition and continued search efforts on Saturday for two missing ironworkers trapped in the rubble of a Grays Ferry parking garage that collapsed this week.

Column | Philadelphia’s dining scene is better than ever. Here’s where to eat. Indonesian breakfast delights, a proper Sunday roast and Philadelphia’s other favorite sandwich are on our food critic’s can’t-miss list.

I love that the Washington Post's list of best Philly restaurants opens with a tiny Indonesian South Philly breakfast place (that I went to this morning) wapo.st/4su8orQ

We Caught Up With the Viral Pacers Couple—Here’s What They’d Like the Internet to Know Meet Grace and Michael, the couple who became a meme Thursday night for their conversation caught on the Pacers’ broadcast. So, what were they talking about?

This is either the biggest dork shit ever or beautiful or both.

Amazing: the viral pacers bickering couple were actually yakking about uh the Ben Sasse podcast and hashing out ways to rejigger liberal arts education www.si.com/nba/pacers/v...

My “im not trying to create an antipope” tshirt is raising a lot of questions already answered by my shirt

4 Philly buildings that just got historic protection Mount Airy Train Station is one of four buildings protected from demolition.

Here's what got added to Philly's historic register, and protected from demolition, today: www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...

🚨

www.inquirer.com/eagles/josh-...

Two missing workers at CHOP garage ‘presumed deceased,’ Mayor Cherelle L. Parker says

Mayor Cherelle L. Parker said Thursday night that two workers missing in the collapse of a Grays Ferry parking garage are “presumed deceased.”

Parker said that the demolition of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s parking garage will begin tomorrow.