A publication of working methods
Big City AI
Problems, tools, implementations, and results — plus live feeds the desk has subscribed to.
0 first-party stories · 571 live feed items · Updated 2026-11-02 · RSS
Intelligence brief
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1651: Specificity and September 11th
Episode: 1651 Specificity and understanding: Coming to grips with September 11th. Today, six weeks later, we think about specificity.
In volatile Tarrant County, both political parties are on the prowl for moderate Republicans
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1650: Inherent Stability in 1916
Latest
View allThey spent more than a year inside a NASA hangar in Houston simulating life on Mars. Now, they’re finally out
The four crew members of NASA’s CHAPEA mission had spent 378 days inside a 1,700 square foot facility, living and working in Mars-like conditions. Their families welcomed them back to Earth on Saturday.
Ken Paxton appears to cancel final rally of his “Come and Take It” tour at the Alamo
Paxton’s campaign initially said he would close his get-out-the-vote push at the landmark. Instead, his campaign schedule lists events in North Texas on the eve of Election Day.
More than 7.4 million Texans voted early in 2026 election, nearly matching 2018 pace
Thirty-nine percent of voters cast a ballot during the early voting period, just shy of the modern-day record set in 2018.
Local AI
All in Local AITexas A&M to open fully automated metallurgy lab, using AI and robotic workers to develop metal alloys
The laboratory, funded by a $2 million grant, is the first of its kind in western academia — touted as democratizing metallurgy while freeing researchers to pursue bigger-picture questions without worrying about the labor of polishing metal alloys.
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1649: Fessenden and Radio Sound
Episode: 1649 Reginald Fessenden endows radio with sound. Today, we add sound to radio.
Could Texas Turn Blue? What to Watch in the 2026 Midterms
Co-hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jeronimo Cortina delve into the latest news in politics
Democrats ride THC ban backlash in race for lieutenant governor
Vikki Goodwin, the Democrat trying to unseat Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, is drawing support from hemp business owners who've become single-issue voters in the 2026 election.
Business of AI
All in Business of AITexas parks department fights to withhold draft agenda amid fears of Boca Chica sale to SpaceX
The Texas Tribune reviewed a copy of a draft Texas Parks and Wildlife agenda that included discussion about ceding control of 1,300 acres in Cameron County, home to Boca Chica Beach and SpaceX’s launch site.
This young Latino mayor went all in for John Cornyn. But Ken Paxton is a sore subject.
Erik Gomez, a rising GOP star in South Texas, has modeled his career after Republicans like Cornyn. He’s wrestling with the idea of voting for Paxton.
With U.S. Senate control at stake, Republicans fear the once-unthinkable: a blue Texas
Ken Paxton and James Talarico are neck-and-neck in the country's most expensive U.S. Senate race on record. The outcome's ripple effects will extend years.
An Hinojosa win would be a political feat, but she wouldn’t inherit the power Abbott holds
Even if a Democrat were in the Governor’s Mansion, Republicans would likely control the Legislature. Divided government could mean limited political control.