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PolicySphere Morning Briefing – April 18, 2024

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#Energy #Infrastructure – IFP has a fascinating series on geothermal energy and how it could be boosted. We recommend it.

#AdministrativeState – Ilya Shapiro, well-known libertarian legal scholar, notes that “the Supreme Court this year has launched a major review of the administrative state”, including accepting challenges to Chevron deference and the CFPB’s regulatory authority. Another topic interests him, though: the Antiquities Act, which he says has been abused and the Supreme Court should review.

#Jorbs – “Standing at 5ft 8in and weighing 160 pounds, the humanoid Apollo robots from Texan group Apptronik will be used to deliver parts to car assembly lines as well as to carry out quality inspections. Each model can lift up to 55 pounds.” (FT)

#EVs #AmericanManufacturing – The EV hype seems to be tapering off. “After years of explosive growth, EV sales have leveled off and even dropped in some cases,” writes Manhattan Institute Senior Fellow Jim Meigs at Commentary.

#BigTech – According to a new study, contrary to what many people expect, “if you randomly follow the algorithm, you probably would consume less radical content using YouTube as you typically do,” the author says. Reason has the writeup.

#AI #K12 – Interesting new report from RAND on the use of AI by teachers in the classroom.

#AI #Healthcare – The use of AI to assist or even replace doctors is very exciting. But it raises an important policy question: if the AI makes a mistake, who pays? Two cents: the question is less “who” and more “how much”. The enormous costs of medical malpractice in the US lead to “defensive medicine”, exploding healthcare costs and creating its own risks.

#DEI – Neat dataviz tool from Heritage: a state DEI legislation tracker.

#Trans – Absolutely harrowing from IWF: a look at how trans-identified males in women’s prisons create a reign of terror. “Cruel and unusual” indeed.

#EnergyInteresting new NBER paper on the possibility of phasing out coal for energy production: “Using our preferred scenarios, we find that between 66 and 94 percent of coal generation could be replaced immediately, reducing electricity sector carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions between 18 and 29 percent – equivalent to between 5 and 8 percent of total U.S. energy related emissions. The cost range is between $49 and $92 per ton of CO₂, where benefit-cost ratios are favorable in some scenarios considering local pollutant co-benefits alone. Despite the command-and-control nature of prioritizing natural gas generation, we find it relatively cost effective even in comparison to a Pigouvian tax.” Not the results we would have expected, take with a grain of salt. Still an interesting addition to the conversation.

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