Joe Murphy
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joemurph.com
Joe Murphy
@joemurph.com
5K followers 2K following 760 posts
Data editor @ NBC News, @NBCguild.bsky.social strong, Oregonian born & raised, lives in NYC (Gowanus, Brooklyn). Formerly: NY Daily News, Denver Post, Medill.

Into dataviz, data pipelines, accessibility, a good story.

joemurph.76 @ signal

joemurph.com
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joemurph.com
I'm in a long-running fantasy football league, and two years ago I cooked up a metric, the ”Luck Rating,” measuring how lucky each team's outcome was based on their score. Last year I started charting this data in earnest, and here's (a small part of) the dashboard I built. #dataViz
Three charts, one a steamgraph showing fantasy points per week, by team, the other showing the distribution of team scores over the season, and the final chart showing cumulative luck scores per week, over the 16-week season.
September 13, 2026 at 6:12 PM
joemurph.com
In the print edition it's right next to this sublime prediction:
What do you want your life to be like in 2050? I want to live in a floating house. What would that look like? Pink and flying. There would be a slide for the stairs. How would you go up, if there was a slide for stairs? A trampoline.
September 13, 2026 at 3:47 PM
joemurph.com
Here's @amowreader.com for @nbcnews.com with a thorough piece on international student enrollment in the U.S., and why U.S. higher education expects a significant drop in the number of international students: [paywall]
This is a column chart showing the year-over-year change in the number of international students studying in the U.S. From January 2025, international enrollment has declined, with more than 50,000 fewer international students at U.S. colleges and universities between August 2025 and August 2026, the largest such decline in the months shown. Atop the chart is the text "A year-over-year comparison of active-status international students for each month since 2025 shows a growing drop."
September 9, 2026 at 2:07 PM
joemurph.com
Canada added tariffs to several hundred U.S. imports, those tariffs went into effect today. These are three of the Canadian imports the U.S. imposed tariffs on last month, part of this @amowreader.com report on the raging trade war. [paywall] www.nbcnews.com/data-graphic...
This is an illustrative graphic showing new tariffs on Canadian goods and how much in U.S. dollar amounts these goods accounted for in 2025. Three products that that saw significant imports in 2025 are shown: A lipstick tube ($138 million in imports), a bottle of Canadian whisky ($164 million), and a chandelier ($251 million). Atop the chart is the text "New tariffs on Canadian imports."
September 8, 2026 at 2:16 PM
joemurph.com
A woodcut from the first Labor Day parade (Sept. 5, 1882), in NYC, as it passed the reviewing stands at Union Square Park.

Holiday history: www.dol.gov/general/labo...
About that particular parade: science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-...
A black-and-white woodcut of the first Labor Day parade depicts lines of participants holding signs as they pass through crowds lining the edges of Union Square Park.
September 7, 2026 at 1:36 PM
joemurph.com
This is the first time in NBC News Decision Desk polling that the percentage of Republicans who say they "strongly" approve of Trump’s job performance has dipped below 50%.
[paywall] www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
In the spring, 52% of Republicans and 71% of MAGA supporters said they strongly approved of Trump’s job performance. The most recent survey, conducted from Aug. 20 to Sept. 1, finds drops among those groups, with 41% of Republicans and 62% of MAGA supporters now saying they strongly approve of Trump’s job performance. It’s the first time the share of Republicans who say they “strongly” approve of Trump’s job performance has dipped below 50% in NBC News Decision Desk polling.
September 6, 2026 at 1:53 PM
joemurph.com
New profile photo, work commissioned from my sister @manniemurphy.bsky.social / www.instagram.com/manniemurphy/ (thanks sis!)
A deep blue watercolor and ink drawing of my face, looking slightly worried.
August 9, 2026 at 5:01 PM
joemurph.com
It's time for a new header background image of mine (texture-01683.jpg)
A digital drawing of iridescent rough pixel-ish possibly flowers maybe laid out in a diagonal grid green red yellow purple turquoise bright.
August 9, 2026 at 12:57 PM
joemurph.com
I've been making summer playlists for 15 years, and my SUMMER 2026 playlist is one of my three most-favorites. Firm voice, wide range of artists (representing nearly 30 countries), available on six music streaming platforms. Ada and I made this art for it here.

Listen: joemurph.com/playlists/de...
Digital art that looks like the surface of the sun in reds and oranges and yellows all splotch and hot.
August 9, 2026 at 12:45 PM
joemurph.com
Portland Oregon's Lloyd Center mall closes to the public for good today. I worked my second job (Payless ShoeSource) and third (Copeland Sports, RIP) at that mall. Took these photos from a visit back there last June. Can't believe Hot Topic was still in operation, 30-plus years later.
Me, in 2026, in front of the now-closed Payless ShoeSource. A hallway in Lloyd Center mall, full with empty storefronts. The parking lot, second floor. A paining of clouds adorns the number 2. Hot Topic... still standing, still in operation, more than 30 years later.
August 8, 2026 at 3:35 PM
joemurph.com
Data from the Government Accountability Office puts the tally of DOGE's federal job cuts at close to 400,000, and @amowreader.com's analysis for @nbcnews.com shows that it wasn’t just D.C. that was affected. [paywall] www.nbcnews.com/data-graphic...
This is a square map chart of the U.S. showing reductions in federal staff across the nation. Hawaii, Maine and Virginia had the largest declines. Atop the chart is the text "The DOGE job cuts didn’t just hit D.C."
August 4, 2026 at 3:55 PM
joemurph.com
This story was also the Staff Pick in this morning's @nbcnews.com email newsletter: [no paywall] www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
It’s no secret that the job market stinks right now. But for soon-to-be college graduates, like myself, breaking into the workforce is harder now than it used to be. I analyzed data and spoke with experts from job platforms LinkedIn, Indeed and Handshake and found that fewer entry-level jobs are available to this year’s graduates than to their peers in previous years. And when they enter the job market, students are receiving fewer offers despite submitting more applications. Most people hold the belief that earning a college degree is a guaranteed way to advance your career, and that’s still true for some folks. But for the class of 2026, that guarantee may take more time. Explore more of the data and some of the factors putting a damper on entry-level hiring. — Ashley Mowreader, data graphics intern
July 31, 2026 at 2:27 PM
joemurph.com
Hi, not exactly – job postings are down 24% from 2019 levels.
This is a column chart showing the rate of hiring among entry-level talent on LinkedIn compared to June 2019. There was a drastic drop in the first year of the pandemic, followed by an increase of 29% in 2021. Since then, each year has seen a lower percentage of entry-level hiring rates, which have descended each year and is down 24% so far this year. Atop the chart is the text "The job market for new grads keeps getting worse: Full-time job postings for graduating college seniors are on the decline."
July 29, 2026 at 5:27 PM
joemurph.com
Data from job boards and surveys show an unusually cool job market for new graduates, as well as a multiyear decline in entry-level job postings. Here's @amowreader.com for @nbcnews.com [paywall] www.nbcnews.com/data-graphic...
This is a column chart showing the rate of hiring among entry-level talent on LinkedIn compared to June 2019. There was a drastic drop in the first year of the pandemic, followed by an increase of 29% in 2021. Since then, each year has seen a lower percentage of entry-level hiring rates, which have descended each year and is down 24% so far this year. Atop the chart is the text "The job market for new grads keeps getting worse: Full-time job postings for graduating college seniors are on the decline."
July 29, 2026 at 3:55 PM
joemurph.com
Update: it's not just javascript (h/t @aprotim.com)
python code and results: >>> import math >>> a = 4.06 >>> print(math.floor(a*100)) 405 >>> print(a*100) 405.99999999999994
July 22, 2026 at 4:06 PM
joemurph.com
javascript..... why
code: let b = 4.06 Math.floor(b*100) returns 405 b*100 returns 405.99999999994
July 22, 2026 at 12:12 PM
joemurph.com
We’ve been tracking the Messi vs. Mbappé career World Cup goals back-and-forth, and one of the little details we accounted for was whether Messi or Mbappé looked happy in their photos. Today, for the first time, we see a happy Mbappé. #dataViz #worldCup [no paywall] www.nbcnews.com/data-graphic...
A graphic tracking the World Cup goals scored by Messi and Mbappé. Messi had 13 goals going into this year’s tournament and has scored eight this year so far, totalling 21 goals. Mbappé had 12 goals heading into this year, and has scored ten so far. His total is 22 goals, which means he holds the current record of the most career World Cup goals.
July 19, 2026 at 12:42 AM
joemurph.com
New from @nbcnews.com's Data / Graphics team: A visual #dataViz dive into the wildfire smoke smothering the Midwest and northern U.S., with two maps and two diagrams.

Words by @amowreader.com and also, we're taking down the paywall on this one. www.nbcnews.com/data-graphic...
This diagram compares the size of a typical grain of sand with smaller objects: the width of a strand of hair (about half the size), a speck of dust (about one-tenth the size), and wildfire smoke PM2.5 particles (about one-thirtieth the size of sand). Next to the diagram is the text "Small but dangerous: Tinier than a grain of sand, smaller than a speck of dust, the PM2.5 particles found in wildfire smoke can travel deep into the lungs."
July 17, 2026 at 10:57 PM
joemurph.com
The @nbcnews.com Data / Graphics team continues its run of #WorldCup coverage, today with a #dataViz [paywall] piece on the World Cup histories of the teams still left, where we are now on goals per game, and World Cup fatigue. Here's @amowreader.com with the story: www.nbcnews.com/data-graphic...
This is a chart showing the average number of goals scored per game at World Cup tournaments since 1950. The 1954 World Cup had an average of 5.4 goals per game; the 2026 tournament had a rate of 2.9 goals per game, which is the most since the 1970 tournament.
July 16, 2026 at 12:54 PM
joemurph.com
Never seen data visualizations like these before. #dataViz #worldCup wc26.bogachev.fr
A visualization of the state of the pitch in the France / Morocco World Cup 2026 game at the point when Kylian Mbappe took a penalty kick. France's forces are collected in the center near the Moroccan gaol, Moroccos forces are around the side. An explanation of the visualization of the state of the pitch in the France / Morocco World Cup 2026 game. The annotations read "Sharp spikes are sohts. The taller spike the better the chance," and "the seam is...which team is pushing right now."
July 10, 2026 at 1:19 PM
joemurph.com
Here's @amowreader.com for @nbcnews.com: World Cup goals are way up. Is the ball to blame? [paywall] www.nbcnews.com/data-graphic...
This diagram examines the 2026 World Cup soccer ball, called the Trionda, and its features. It has a four-panel design, the fewest amount of panels of any World Cup ball. The 2022 ball had 20 panels, the 2014 ball had six, the 2010 had 10, and the 2002 ball had 32 panels. The Trionda also has a side-mounted microchip, which is balanced by multiple counter-weights inside the ball.
July 1, 2026 at 2:46 PM
joemurph.com
I deleted this post because, after a deeper look, I couldn't verify that theeditorial dot news was an actual publication or that any of its authors were indeed journalists. cc @dwillis.bsky.social @jamellebouie.net @ndiakopoulos.bsky.social @1gregtodd.bsky.social @damon.kiesow.net
A screenshot of a deleted post.
June 28, 2026 at 11:37 PM
joemurph.com
Tracking my commutes in frequency and duration now:
Joe's commutes: Last 8 weeks Of those 8 weeks, Joe commuted in 8 of those. Of the commute weeks, an average of 3.12 commutes per week were made. Across all 8 weeks, that's 3.12 commutes per week. In all, Joe commuted 25 days. On average, a day's commute took 104.9 minutes, and at most it took 152 and at the least it took 61. Last 26 weeks: Of those 26 weeks, Joe commuted in 23 of those. Of the commute weeks, an average of 2.96 commutes per week were made. Across all 26 weeks, that's 2.62 commutes per week. In all, Joe commuted 68 days. On average, a day's commute took 108.6 minutes, and at most it took 211 and at the least it took 61.
June 27, 2026 at 4:06 PM
joemurph.com
June 26, 3:26 p.m. ET. Messi has 18 career World Cup goals, Mbappé 16. France is up 2-1 over Norway.
A graphic tracking the World Cup goals scored by Messi and Mbappé. Messi had 13 goals going into this year’s tournament and has scored five this year so far. He holds the current record of the most World Cup goals at 18. Mbappé had 12 goals heading into this year, and has scored four so far. His total is 16 goals.
June 26, 2026 at 7:27 PM
joemurph.com
Today the Denver Post signs came down from 101 W. Colfax. It was 17 years ago the Rocky Mountain News signs were removed from the same building, it was a Saturday and I saw it happening, ran to the building, took an elevator up and landed this photo.
A sign of the "Rocky" in "Rocky Mountain News" dangling from a rope heading down with part of Denver's skyline in the background.
June 24, 2026 at 12:53 AM