Sarang Shah
@sarangshah.com
Fellow, Center for Law and the Economy, Columbia Law. Political Science PhD, Berkeley. Lawyer.
Corporate law + governance, political economy, democracy + money in politics.
Past: physicist, tech writer, journalist.
Leguinian-Taoist in SF/NYC
Corporate law + governance, political economy, democracy + money in politics.
Past: physicist, tech writer, journalist.
Leguinian-Taoist in SF/NYC
Pinned
Sarang Shah
@sarangshah.com
· 29d
Sarang Shah | Center for Law and the Economy
Sarang Shah is an incoming Fellow in Public Economic Law at the Center for Law and the Economy and Columbia Law School. He is also a PhD candidate in political science at the University of…
law-and-economy.law.columbia.edu
New day, new adventure! I've just finished my PhD, and have started in earnest at The Center for Law and the Economy at Columbia Law School as a Fellow in Public Economic Law!
Also, I now live in NYC (about 3/4 of the year, the other 1/4 in SF)!
law-and-economy.law.columbia.edu/directory/sa...
Also, I now live in NYC (about 3/4 of the year, the other 1/4 in SF)!
law-and-economy.law.columbia.edu/directory/sa...
I wish to be blessed until my dying days with a gentle, but firm editor
September 22, 2026 at 7:13 PM
I wish to be blessed until my dying days with a gentle, but firm editor
Reposted by Sarang Shah
I’ve had some talks with transit-friendly but very tax-weary friends locally about how RTM felt to them bit like a hostage ransom, and I explained as best I can that the stakes are actually this high and this stark based on how the measure passes or fails. Don’t overthink it!
SPUR’s new report details how catastrophic it will be for Bay Area transit riders if the public transit funding Measure RTM fails.
But drivers will feel it too, w an estimated doubling of Bay Bridge crossing times and more than 3X longer through the Caldecott Tunnel.
www.spur.org/sites/defaul...
But drivers will feel it too, w an estimated doubling of Bay Bridge crossing times and more than 3X longer through the Caldecott Tunnel.
www.spur.org/sites/defaul...
September 22, 2026 at 6:17 PM
I’ve had some talks with transit-friendly but very tax-weary friends locally about how RTM felt to them bit like a hostage ransom, and I explained as best I can that the stakes are actually this high and this stark based on how the measure passes or fails. Don’t overthink it!
On the occasional question of what common, sufficiently unremarked-upon thing today will we view as a horror from the vantage point of the future: the "way too high" tolerance we have for those who engage in racialized and gendered violence.
September 22, 2026 at 7:11 PM
On the occasional question of what common, sufficiently unremarked-upon thing today will we view as a horror from the vantage point of the future: the "way too high" tolerance we have for those who engage in racialized and gendered violence.
Reposted by Sarang Shah
reminders for the people:
(1) getting rid of the shell company transparency law / rules was in Project 2025 (pg. 707)
(2) these are the businesses *that we know of* - he is likely tied to dozens more
(3) this is why PUBLIC incorporation registries tying entities to real human owners matters!
(1) getting rid of the shell company transparency law / rules was in Project 2025 (pg. 707)
(2) these are the businesses *that we know of* - he is likely tied to dozens more
(3) this is why PUBLIC incorporation registries tying entities to real human owners matters!
Trump became the presumptive GOP nominee on March 12, 2024, and within days, he started creating new companies and slapping his name on products.
He hasn't stopped since. The tally now stands at 81 new businesses—36 since taking office (he started two more while I was drafting this report)
He hasn't stopped since. The tally now stands at 81 new businesses—36 since taking office (he started two more while I was drafting this report)
Trump incorporated dozens of new companies in lead up to second term—and never stopped - CREW | Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
Trump filed a financial disclosure in June revealing he brought in more than $2.2 billion in revenue during 2025. We found that more than a third of that revenue came from dozens of companies Trump ha...
www.citizensforethics.org
September 16, 2026 at 1:39 PM
reminders for the people:
(1) getting rid of the shell company transparency law / rules was in Project 2025 (pg. 707)
(2) these are the businesses *that we know of* - he is likely tied to dozens more
(3) this is why PUBLIC incorporation registries tying entities to real human owners matters!
(1) getting rid of the shell company transparency law / rules was in Project 2025 (pg. 707)
(2) these are the businesses *that we know of* - he is likely tied to dozens more
(3) this is why PUBLIC incorporation registries tying entities to real human owners matters!
Reposted by Sarang Shah
SHELL COMPANIES RULE EVERYTHING AROUND ME
a top anti-corruption priority needs to be the enforcement and extension of the Corporate Transparency Act
a top anti-corruption priority needs to be the enforcement and extension of the Corporate Transparency Act
4/ To skirt campaign finance laws and conceal the source of the funds, Navatek’s CEO, Martin Kao, sends an initial $150K to the pro-Collins super PAC (1820 PAC) using a shell company.
Reed knows Kao is behind the donation. “Very smart,” he says in an email viewed by ProPublica.
Reed knows Kao is behind the donation. “Very smart,” he says in an email viewed by ProPublica.
September 22, 2026 at 6:53 PM
SHELL COMPANIES RULE EVERYTHING AROUND ME
a top anti-corruption priority needs to be the enforcement and extension of the Corporate Transparency Act
a top anti-corruption priority needs to be the enforcement and extension of the Corporate Transparency Act
Ooo yeah, this is a good one, using an LLC as a cover for anonymizing where the money is really coming for and to what end
6/ Weeks later, Kao tells his team Collins committed to getting the company $32M in naval contracts.
September 22, 2026 at 6:35 PM
Ooo yeah, this is a good one, using an LLC as a cover for anonymizing where the money is really coming for and to what end
Reposted by Sarang Shah
I did a Q&A with coauthor Lisa Singh for the @mccourtschool.bsky.social website about a short book our team wrote for the Cambridge Elements Series. It is about the lessons Trump has taught us about the "attention economy" during presidential campaigns. mccourt.georgetown.edu/news/is-all-...
The Attention Economy of Presidential Campaigns
McCourt School faculty explore how presidential campaigns compete for attention in a changing media landscape.
mccourt.georgetown.edu
September 22, 2026 at 2:05 PM
I did a Q&A with coauthor Lisa Singh for the @mccourtschool.bsky.social website about a short book our team wrote for the Cambridge Elements Series. It is about the lessons Trump has taught us about the "attention economy" during presidential campaigns. mccourt.georgetown.edu/news/is-all-...
Reposted by Sarang Shah
this hilarious Jenny Chase riff on a cartoon sums it up.
@katemac.bsky.social and I warned about the fortresses, & what countries are doing and should do in face of China's technological dominance
www.phenomenalworld.org/analysis/bri...
@katemac.bsky.social and I warned about the fortresses, & what countries are doing and should do in face of China's technological dominance
www.phenomenalworld.org/analysis/bri...
August 23, 2025 at 5:20 PM
this hilarious Jenny Chase riff on a cartoon sums it up.
@katemac.bsky.social and I warned about the fortresses, & what countries are doing and should do in face of China's technological dominance
www.phenomenalworld.org/analysis/bri...
@katemac.bsky.social and I warned about the fortresses, & what countries are doing and should do in face of China's technological dominance
www.phenomenalworld.org/analysis/bri...
This upcoming elections and all foreseeable ones in the future are highly likely to be driven by national conditions/retrospective voting. So we should ask, what structures have instituted democratic conditions such as this? And if we don't like to run our democracy this way, how can we change it?
So many vibe shift/realignment interpretations of the 2024 election have aged like cottage cheese.
I believe the correct interpretation is that it was an election result driven by national conditions/retrospective voting.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
I believe the correct interpretation is that it was an election result driven by national conditions/retrospective voting.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
September 22, 2026 at 2:09 PM
This upcoming elections and all foreseeable ones in the future are highly likely to be driven by national conditions/retrospective voting. So we should ask, what structures have instituted democratic conditions such as this? And if we don't like to run our democracy this way, how can we change it?
Reposted by Sarang Shah
Anti cross dressing ordinances over time in the US.
What's remarkable is how much of this nucleated around St Louis and the Mississippi River in the mid 19th century. There's a story there to find.
What's remarkable is how much of this nucleated around St Louis and the Mississippi River in the mid 19th century. There's a story there to find.
August 29, 2026 at 11:31 PM
Anti cross dressing ordinances over time in the US.
What's remarkable is how much of this nucleated around St Louis and the Mississippi River in the mid 19th century. There's a story there to find.
What's remarkable is how much of this nucleated around St Louis and the Mississippi River in the mid 19th century. There's a story there to find.
Reposted by Sarang Shah
get in losers, we’re redefining “social disorder” as elite impunity; the broken windows are inside the country club
September 22, 2026 at 12:58 PM
get in losers, we’re redefining “social disorder” as elite impunity; the broken windows are inside the country club
Reposted by Sarang Shah
One of the basic points in Mills' The Racial Contract (originally published in 1997!) was that, if nothing else, White Supremacy deserves to be taken seriously as one of the great motivating ideologies of modernity and it's bizarre that political philosophers are so disinclined to treat it as such.
The outright refusal to treat white supremacy as an ideology which motivates action and treat it as generally objectionable is what allows this strategy to be viable for Elon Musk.
When Elon Musk's groups spent $20M+ on Wisconsin's 2025 Supreme Court race, his involvement backfired and his candidate lost by 10 points.
Now his super PAC has quietly spent $14M+ on key midterm races, including the Texas Senate race.
Would be a shame if people found out.
Now his super PAC has quietly spent $14M+ on key midterm races, including the Texas Senate race.
Would be a shame if people found out.
September 22, 2026 at 12:48 PM
One of the basic points in Mills' The Racial Contract (originally published in 1997!) was that, if nothing else, White Supremacy deserves to be taken seriously as one of the great motivating ideologies of modernity and it's bizarre that political philosophers are so disinclined to treat it as such.
Reposted by Sarang Shah
Once again, I'm asking Democrats in every contest to center anticorruption messages
NEW: In ‘24, the FBI sought to launch a sweeping bribery probe that could ensnare top lawmakers, including Sen. Susan Collins.
Then Trump eviscerated the FBI & DOJ public corruption teams.
ProPublica unearthed the investigation and you can read it 👇
www.propublica.org/article/fbi-...
Then Trump eviscerated the FBI & DOJ public corruption teams.
ProPublica unearthed the investigation and you can read it 👇
www.propublica.org/article/fbi-...
September 22, 2026 at 12:38 PM
Once again, I'm asking Democrats in every contest to center anticorruption messages
Reposted by Sarang Shah
Exclusive: In late 2024, FBI agents were looking at Sen. Susan Collins’ role in a massive illegal bribery scheme alleged by a former federal contractor. Then Trump gutted the FBI and DOJ, leaving no one to carry on the investigation – it’s dead. 🧵
September 22, 2026 at 10:44 AM
Exclusive: In late 2024, FBI agents were looking at Sen. Susan Collins’ role in a massive illegal bribery scheme alleged by a former federal contractor. Then Trump gutted the FBI and DOJ, leaving no one to carry on the investigation – it’s dead. 🧵
Reposted by Sarang Shah
Indeed!
A reminder that a starter pack on the History of Economic Thought exists: bsky.app/starter-pack...
Created by @hugocerqueira.bsky.social
A reminder that a starter pack on the History of Economic Thought exists: bsky.app/starter-pack...
Created by @hugocerqueira.bsky.social
Bluesky will survive if people invest in the network. Repost good things. Find new people to follow. Today I found two new ones. How many did you find? Over follow a bit so that your followers can find those people. Recirculate your starter packs and update them. Recommend people.
September 22, 2026 at 10:05 AM
Indeed!
A reminder that a starter pack on the History of Economic Thought exists: bsky.app/starter-pack...
Created by @hugocerqueira.bsky.social
A reminder that a starter pack on the History of Economic Thought exists: bsky.app/starter-pack...
Created by @hugocerqueira.bsky.social
Reposted by Sarang Shah
Except central banks have significantly raised the bar for financial crashes. Systemic loss of market confidence matters less than sudden collapse in trust that central banks can still backstop the system. We replaced price signals with politico-technocratic ones.
All the signs say another financial crisis is coming. Here’s why we need to prepare for it now | Larry Elliott
War, AI disruption and markets in turmoil: the warnings are all there. But lessons from the 2008 crash could help us, says Guardian columnist Larry Elliott
www.theguardian.com
September 22, 2026 at 7:55 AM
Except central banks have significantly raised the bar for financial crashes. Systemic loss of market confidence matters less than sudden collapse in trust that central banks can still backstop the system. We replaced price signals with politico-technocratic ones.
Reposted by Sarang Shah
“If you are staring at an example of social disorder or social inefficiency, and the left refuses to explain either why it has happened or how they will fix it, then the right gets to point at someone in the immediate area and say, ‘That’s who did it.’”
crazy how much Mamdani speaks my language
crazy how much Mamdani speaks my language
September 22, 2026 at 11:08 AM
“If you are staring at an example of social disorder or social inefficiency, and the left refuses to explain either why it has happened or how they will fix it, then the right gets to point at someone in the immediate area and say, ‘That’s who did it.’”
crazy how much Mamdani speaks my language
crazy how much Mamdani speaks my language
Why use the word "gotten" instead of "become"?
This major California river has gotten too warm for its salmon
This major California river has gotten too warm for its salmon
The Sacramento River has gotten too warm for salmon eggs. Environmental advocates blame the Trump administration for taking too much water out of Shasta Lake.
www.latimes.com
September 22, 2026 at 12:31 PM
Why use the word "gotten" instead of "become"?
Reposted by Sarang Shah
“Kao laid out in devastating detail how his operation worked. He gave agents a 50-page document naming dozens of lobbyists, congressional staffers and members of Congress who he said helped him trade cash for contracts.”
www.propublica.org/article/fbi-...
www.propublica.org/article/fbi-...
The FBI Anti-Corruption Squad Was Circling Susan Collins — Until Trump Got in the Way
After the FBI caught a defense contractor’s CEO making illegal campaign contributions, it sought to launch a sweeping political bribery probe involving Collins and others. Then the second Trump admini...
www.propublica.org
September 22, 2026 at 12:17 PM
“Kao laid out in devastating detail how his operation worked. He gave agents a 50-page document naming dozens of lobbyists, congressional staffers and members of Congress who he said helped him trade cash for contracts.”
www.propublica.org/article/fbi-...
www.propublica.org/article/fbi-...
Reposted by Sarang Shah
Je recommande l'intro et le chap 1 de ce livre à quiconque veut savoir/expliquer comment fonctionne les grandes entreprises, publiques ou non, en France.
Banger.
Banger.
September 22, 2026 at 12:20 PM
Je recommande l'intro et le chap 1 de ce livre à quiconque veut savoir/expliquer comment fonctionne les grandes entreprises, publiques ou non, en France.
Banger.
Banger.
Reposted by Sarang Shah
Finally, some news that can offer some hope for the future of journalism.
(At least if the outlets are based in California)
www.niemanlab.org/2026/08/cali...
(At least if the outlets are based in California)
www.niemanlab.org/2026/08/cali...
California legislature passes a major local news funding bill: “If you hire more people, you get more money”
"If you lay people off, you get less money. If you don't employ anyone, you don't get anything."
www.niemanlab.org
September 21, 2026 at 7:14 PM
Finally, some news that can offer some hope for the future of journalism.
(At least if the outlets are based in California)
www.niemanlab.org/2026/08/cali...
(At least if the outlets are based in California)
www.niemanlab.org/2026/08/cali...
Reposted by Sarang Shah
"Corporate rule has always coexisted with state rule, and companies don’t necessarily pursue it to advance their business interests. That means restoring the state won’t, by itself, fix the problem."
On the long history of corporate power and what to do about it today: cupblog.org/2026/09/18/m...
On the long history of corporate power and what to do about it today: cupblog.org/2026/09/18/m...
Maha Rafi Atal on When Companies Rule - Columbia University Press Blog
Maha Rafi Atal discusses the history of corporate rule, the limits of state regulation, and what it takes to hold global companies accountable.
cupblog.org
September 21, 2026 at 5:25 PM
"Corporate rule has always coexisted with state rule, and companies don’t necessarily pursue it to advance their business interests. That means restoring the state won’t, by itself, fix the problem."
On the long history of corporate power and what to do about it today: cupblog.org/2026/09/18/m...
On the long history of corporate power and what to do about it today: cupblog.org/2026/09/18/m...
There are more mechanisms under heaven than there are transparent incentive structures to beget them
September 21, 2026 at 3:40 PM
There are more mechanisms under heaven than there are transparent incentive structures to beget them
Reposted by Sarang Shah
I’m organising a workshop on the history of economic planning, 10–11 December at Sciences Po Paris. It's open to scholars from all disciplines engaging with the history of economic planning (philosophy, sociology, intellectual history, political economy) philevents.org/event/show/1...
What is Economic Planning? Historical and Contemporary Perspectives
The workshop aims to bring together scholars working across intellectual history, political theory, socio-economic history, political economy, sociology, and related fields in order to foster dialogue...
philevents.org
September 21, 2026 at 11:03 AM
I’m organising a workshop on the history of economic planning, 10–11 December at Sciences Po Paris. It's open to scholars from all disciplines engaging with the history of economic planning (philosophy, sociology, intellectual history, political economy) philevents.org/event/show/1...
Our generic model of political campaigns assumes too often that the candidate is the ultimate decider rather than a performer conscripted into a role
September 21, 2026 at 12:12 PM
Our generic model of political campaigns assumes too often that the candidate is the ultimate decider rather than a performer conscripted into a role