Jonathan French
@JTrea81
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Transportation professional, author, and President of @buildtheera, Roundabout advocate, Oregon Trail generation pragmatist, #Orioles fan, #TeamPete
The Pine Tree State
Joined June 2010
I'm keeping my account here for now but have joined the masses on Bluesky and will likely be there more than here. You can find me at
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Pete Buttigieg doesn't need to shout to inspire. His speech tonight reminded Americans that politics can be "soulcraft" when executed in service of a better America. He may be President someday, but he is already one of America's best leaders today. Always proud to be #TeamPete.
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Buttigieg gets a question from Wallace about the rocket attack on the US embassy in real time and makes the audience wish he was in the Situation Room based on his response. #PeteOnFox.
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Another reason for @PeteButtigieg to be VP is that he is well-known and a draw not only on national TV news, but local TV news as well due to his state visits. More people know who he is due to the local newscasts, which people tune in to and trust more than national news.
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Pete Buttigieg shows empathy, pragmatism and a passion for getting the right policy to address each issue that is so important to those who are suffering. It's why he is the best choice for a new era of unity and belonging. #PeteOnCNN #FITN.
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The sun is rising in the Pine Tree State, we have a new president, and I am ready to #BuildTheEra with @PeteButtigieg and #TeamPete. #SunriseCelebration
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Pete Buttigieg writes his own, original material and he's known for being able to do it on the fly, while Mike Pence is known for having a fly land on his head. Also, Pete won the Iowa caucus, while Pence never will.
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Not a mini-roundabout. And this is creating a deadly fixed object (DFO) for errant vehicles. There are better and safer ways to calm traffic for all users, such as an actual mini-roundabout.
The broke city's guide to traffic calming: old concrete pipe filled with dirt are one the cheapest yet most effective ways to turn any resident intersection into a mini roundabout!. Near impossible to speed through the intersection, and doesn't negatively impact pedestrians!
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Pete Buttigieg's style of governing at USDOT with 🥕s and sticks is proving to be much more effective than constantly using a 🔨 as progressives would like him to do.
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Why did President Biden pick @PeteButtigieg to be the Secretary of Transportation? Look at how aware everybody is now at the state of our infrastructure and the importance of it both personally and politically. There's your answer.
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Mayors know that the presidency is not the only office that matters. @PeteButtigieg will be the candidate to make sure that Democrats win up and down the ticket. #DemDebate #TeamPete.
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Having watched @PeteButtigieg for several years now - on any campaign he'll come up with talking points that will be simple in message but will resonate quite powerfully. And then he'll repeat them over and over in every media spot he does to drive home that message. Masterful.
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It's going to be Biden's agenda, but @PeteButtigieg will have a major role in shaping it. As a candidate, his $1 trillion infrastructure plan was the most practical and detailed of the field. I broke down what it meant for roads and bridges here:
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.@PeteButtigieg just probably had the smoothest confirmation hearing that any Biden nominee will have. He had confidence, but wasn't afraid to admit where he needed to learn more. As @SenatorTester stated, he is "pretty damn refreshing" as #TeamPete knows so well. #HighwayHopes.
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@CoachBalto It's not safe design. Vehicles crash into central islands of roundabouts, they crash into neighborhood traffic circles, so a vehicle could easily crash into the pipes and if/when they do - the occupants will likely be seriously hurt or could die. There are safer designs w/o DFOs.
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It's great to see more people join #TeamPete in recognizing his talents. It is so inspiring that you just have to show appreciation as he continues to "make himself useful" to our country. The best way he can do that now should be as our next VP. #HarrisButtigieg2024.
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So it turns out @PeteButtigieg actually has been working on campaign finance reform since his college years and helped develop the idea of publicly funded elections to empower small donors that is now part of HR 1. #FITN #TeamPete
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As a transportation professional, I was eagerly awaiting the infrastructure plan by @PeteButtigieg. After reading it, I was certainly not disappointed, so I unpacked a few key components for highways and bridges that set his plan apart from the field.
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Another trait that @KamalaHarris and @PeteButtigieg both share is leadership and specifically how they lead. This is my favorite quote from the 2020 campaign. #HarrisButtigieg2024 #TeamPeteforHarris
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Great job by @donlemon with @PeteButtigieg, probably the best interview of his circuit so far as Secretary-designate.
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Pete Buttigieg is not just any Secretary of Transportation, however. He is the most influential Cabinet Secretary since Herbert Hoover held the role of Commerce Secretary. The awareness of US transportation and its importance in people's daily lives is due to him.
Which is closer to your opinion about any Secretary of Transportation?. A. Basically a figurehead for the administration. Not someone who will make meaningful change. B. Capable of making meaningful change in transportation industry (however you define meaningful).
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The Digital Captains idea started by @TheStefanSmith was revolutionary and help propel @PeteButtigieg to a leading presidential contender by organizing and directing the online force that is #TeamPete.
The idea that I don’t understand Pete’s online audience is . a bold assertion.
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If you don't blame yourself when your computer crashes, then it doesn't make sense to blame @SecretaryPete for an unanticipated system failure. His job is to direct the FAA to expedite repair and restoration and investigate to prevent future problems. He's doing just that.
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The very fact people actually know and care about train derailments is a testament to just how effective @SecretaryPete has been at bringing awareness to the state of our infrastructure and the safety concerns that have gone unaddressed for decades, because of lack of awareness.
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The sales pitch has been missing from this package. The #IIJA has already been sold, but the "human infrastructure" #BBB was always nebulous. Glad to have @SecretaryPete back on the airwaves to explain it using scenarios that we all face.
Transportation @SecretaryPete: "We're Building Back Better. Whether we're talking about physical infrastructure, or whether we're just talking about making it easier to raise a child, to get through life, to participate in the economy in this country."
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Pete will decide his own path, but whatever he does, he will lift that position to a point of prominence the likes it hasn't seen before. More importantly, he will also lift up and bring awareness to the work of that office and the people that do that work under it each day.
WSJ: “Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg—who was vetted as a possible running mate for Harris—has been discussed by some Democrats as a contender for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations”.
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The #MayorPeteMovie certainly captured the year of the campaign and the ending was perfect. Pete has always said he has wanted to make himself useful and he is at the right place and exactly the right time to do just that.
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Congrats to @PeteButtigieg for this historic confirmation. Never have I been this excited to be a transportation professional. I can't wait to see what #SecretaryPete does at @USDOT and I know #TeamPete is ready to spread joy to the world of transportation!
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And unlike Pence, many of Pete's volunteers will continue to do the work inspired by the campaign years later.
It’s wild to have covered both Pete Buttigieg’s 2020 and Mike Pence’s 2024 presidential campaigns. One of them ran as the incumbent mayor of Indiana’s fourth-largest city and raised more than $100 million and won the Iowa caucuses. One of them was VP and has $1.2m cash on hand.
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It's time to #LetRyannSpeak so people can hear a voice that needs to be heard about @PeteButtigieg and the false "zero black support" narrative. #TeamPete.
@MayaPOliver @SwedishBling @ReginaC62303805 @ABC I am a surrogate. The campaign has pitched me to outlets multiple times. They don't want folks to hear me.
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Joy is also one of the important Rules of the Road for #TeamPete. #HarrisButtigieg2024
.@PeteButtigieg on the contrast this election (with a "future former Republicans" shoutout!):. "Politics doesn't have to be a death match. [Trump's message] is really dark. the other side of the coin is the joy of the right & better politics. it's animating our side."
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To do what is suggested in this article is pretty likely to get the Secretary hauled in front of a Congressional committee for agency overreach and potential illegal activity. Ignore the noise from the misinformed. The fact is Congress must act to solve this safety issue.
NEW: Facing pressure to act, America’s chief rail regulator Pete Buttigieg now insists he is “constrained.” He’s not.
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Happy Birthday to @PeteButtigieg, someone who exemplifies what it is to be a leader and continues to inspire people to act the same. #HBDSecretaryPete #TeamPete
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With @PeteButtigieg as our 46th President, America would join the trend of multiple nations that chose a new leadership from a younger generation to guide their country into the next era. #FITN #nhpolitics
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The media could have had Kamala vs. Pete in 2020 for the primary if it didn't spend its time tearing down both campaigns when each got momentum. Now is not the time to try plan a rematch when both are doing important work for the Biden Administration.
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Getting future vibes from this scene.
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#TeamPete has brought belonging and also joy into many lives. Happy Birthday @PeteButtigieg, and thanks for the journey thus far. There's still a long road ahead and it's great to be along for the ride!.
Happy Birthday @PeteButtigieg. This campaign made people feel something, and for that you get an extra slice of cake and a big scoop of ice cream.
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A reminder as the #MovingAmericaForward infrastructure forum starts - @PeteButtigieg has proposed the most comprehensive and pragmatic plan for fixing our nation's roads and bridges.
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#MAGAnomics isn't a "new" term, but @PeteButtigieg and the rest of the Biden Administration can certainly make sure it is publicized and sticks.
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Body armor is becoming as much of a trend as the AR-15 in mass shootings. Nobody really needs an AR-15, but there is absolutely no reason for any civilian to be able to purchase body armor.
At least 21 mass shooters in the US have worn some kind of body armor; the majority within the last 10 years. While it’s illegal under federal law for a convicted felon to buy body armor, there are few restrictions on purchasing it.
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@OMGno2trump 1.This is a photo from 2017 when Zuckerberg wanted to see South Bend to see what Buttigieg had done for tech. 2. Zuckerberg wrote an e-mail because former employees asked him to because they wanted to work on the campaign. He was a reference only.
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Today is a historic day for #TeamPete and the country. Mayor @PeteButtigieg becomes #SecretaryPete. Transportation and the way we think about transportation infrastructure is about to change.
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Something people may not know about public service: even when you take "leave time," you aren't truly ever "away from the job." And this is even more true the higher up the career ladder you go.
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@OMGno2trump Opposing campaigns or bots are trying to portray Buttigieg's relationship w/Zuckerberg closer than it is and with more influence because they are threatened by his candidacy. Don't take the bait.
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@PeteButtigieg is not doing this to entertain. Rather, he's fighting to keep his family intact and to give his kids a future they deserve to grow up in. He's good at this because he has to be, as that future depends on this messaging resonating with the entire political spectrum.
"People want to nitpick the show flow of the cabinet meeting? When we had a country that when he inherited it was in a condition where you couldn't even approach the Capitol bc of violence by Trump supporters" -- Buttigieg went on Fox & Friends this morn for another masterclass
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I'm going to enjoy watching @SecretaryPete dismantle these points one-by-one in his usual calm manner on conservative outlets.
House GOP talking point against the BIF:. "Part of the $110 billion earmarked for rebuilding roads/bridges is dedicated to fixing the 'racism physically built into some of our highways' that Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg described.".
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Pete Buttigieg's run for DNC Chair was an introduction to the national stage. It led his campaign to be president, which inspired so many. His loss in that race then led to him being the most powerful and influential Cabinet Secretary since Herbert Hoover.
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We are seeing just how many individual companies have monopolies on critical parts of American lives and how reckless they are with that responsibility. One plant shutting down due to safety or any other reason shouldn't create a supply crisis. And yet here we are.
Transportation Sec. Buttigieg blames the nationwide baby formula shortage on the Abbott plant shutdown:. “It’s got to be safe and it’s got to be up and running as soon as possible. This is the difference between a supply-chain problem…and a supply problem.”
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Fantastic night in Portland. Great crowd energy for a great and truly inspiring candidate. It's time to #WinTheEra. Thanks for visiting Maine @PeteButtigieg and come back soon! #mepolitics
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A lot of people don't know how the federal government actually works, including many members of Congress.
A lot of y’all don’t know the powers of the Secretary of Transportation….
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Every visit is planned in advance, so this isn't something that was scheduled in a day. However, if he cancels, then obviously, it would be a significant sign. That would likely have to happen today given all the involvement of others on the trip. We'll see what happens.
Buttigieg is scheduled to be in Maine—his 50th state—tomorrow and Wednesday, per @USDOT, the same time Harris is expected to be on tour with her new running mate.
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For any future former Republicans that may want to join #TeamPete and vote for @PeteButtigieg in the Maine Primary, make sure to re-register by Friday! #mepolitics.
Want to vote in Maine’s Democratic Presidential Primary on March 3? FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14 is the LAST DAY to register as a Democrat if you’re currently registered with another party! Learn how to register as a Democrat here: #mepolitics #VoteInMaine
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The Situation Room should contain a president who knows what it means to individual lives and families to send members of our military into harm's way. Pete Buttigieg has that personal experience and would make a fantastic commander-in-chief. #PeteOnCNN #FITN.
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One of the reasons I admire the leadership of Pete Buttigieg is his ability to navigate a crisis. The actions he took in South Bend after the fatal police shooting of Eric Logan in 2019 may have scuttled his campaign, but they saved his city.
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Maybe I missed something, but I'm searching House bills including the #INVESTAct before it became the #IIJA/#BIL and I'm not seeing any legislation for electronically controlled pneumatic brakes on freight trains in the 117th Congress.
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Yes, @PeteButtigieg won Iowa, a historic victory as the first LGBTQ candidate to win a state in the Democratic race for President. Maine, we have an opportunity to make our own history on Tuesday too. #TeamPete #mepolitics.
BREAKING: Recount results from the Iowa caucuses show Pete Buttigeig is still the winner, retaining the same number of delegates. The Iowa Democratic Party plans to certify them on Saturday.
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@LeverNews Hopefully, your readers will decide themselves to learn how government works since you either don't or are trying to mislead:. "An agency cannot issue a legislative rule unless it is provided the authority to do so by statute.". Congress must act.
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@CoachBalto Not if the roundabout central islands are designed with errant vehicles in mind, which current guidelines recommend, because errant vehicles are a reality that engineers must consider. Low reveal curb for the perimeter and minimization of DFOs within are examples.
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It's easy to point fingers to try to score political points. It's a lot harder to work with opposition legislators to craft a compromise that will make Americans safer. Laws, not rhetoric, are what improve, save, and protect the lives of Americans.
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#PeteWonIowa and then is going on to #WinTheEra with the Biden Administration while #TeamPete is making itself useful by educating and activating others to help #BuildTheEra that comes next.
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"Until the number of derailments is zero and rail workers are confident in being fully equipped to do their jobs safely, everyone involved in our rail system must make safety improvements a priority." - @SecretaryPete.
New: @SecretaryPete sent a letter today to Norfolk Southern’s CEO regarding the derailment in East Palestine, OH:. “[T]he future must not resemble the past when it comes to your company’s…follow-through on support for stringent safety policies.”
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Maybe it's just me, but there are plenty of things in the American Rescue Plan to ask the Transportation Secretary about that actually deal with, you know, transportation.
Fox “news side” anchor Martha MacCallum interrupts Sec. Pete Buttigieg so many times with different Republican talking points on the COVID-19 relief bill, at a certain point he just responds, “Sorry, I wasn’t able to finish my thought, but what I’m saying is…”
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A lot of people don't know how the federal government actually works, including many members of Congress.
I am alarmed to learn that the Chair of the House Oversight Committee thinks that the NTSB is part of our Department. NTSB is independent (and with good reason). Still, of course, we will fully review this and respond appropriately.
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Some people only tweet, while others actually try to solve a crisis. That's why some people only have the power to tweet, while others have the power to make American lives better, and use it to do just that. Here's an example of the latter: 👇.
Southwest passengers have experienced unacceptable disruptions and customer service conditions. I have made clear to their executives that our department will hold Southwest accountable for making things right with their customers and employees.
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@RachelBitecofer @PeteButtigieg A goal has to be set in order to start to move toward it. The countries in Europe who have set this goal like Sweden who started the #VisionZero movement, have been quite successful at reducing the number of fatal and serious injury crashes.
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@CoachBalto By no means does an engineer have to design a street or road to lessen the safety for drivers to increase the safety for vulnerable road users or vice versa. That is a fallacy. It is possible to create safety for both. This application, however, does not.
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A reminder that @PeteButtigieg was the only 2020 presidential candidate who committed to Vision Zero.
If confirmed, as Secretary, I will ensure that the Department of Transportation carries out its most fundamental mission of ensuring safety for both travelers and workers.
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So did you know @USDOT was responsible for launch and reentry regulations for commercial spaceflight?.
.@SecretaryPete is about to join @VP and fellow members of the administration for the first public meeting of the National Space Council. Watch live 📺.
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The railroads, much like the airline industry, aren't used to this much public scrutiny from the federal government. This is what an effective Transportation Secretary does. Kudos to @SecretaryPete for ensuring that the public is well informed for both safety and convenience.
The US railroad industry trade group pushed back against comments made about rail safety in an unusually forceful letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg
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They are going to be amazed that the private railroad companies essentially are allowed to govern themselves thanks to deregulation back in the late 70s/early 80s and Congress doing little to restore regulations since.
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If members of Congress are wondering what can be done to prevent a derailment like the one in East Palestine, Ohio from happening again, the answer is simple: pass a bill that has the safety regulations for @USDOT to implement so that it doesn't happen again.
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These same volunteers, many who worked for Biden's digital effort, have gone on to develop their own orgs like @buildbridges4am and @buildtheera. @TheStefanSmith deserves credit for initially assembling and developing this awesome volunteer network that is continuing the work.
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"Transportation should always connect, never divide." which was similar to what he said tonight on #WagnerTonight, is so simple, yet is also so profound that you could see it etched on a monument somewhere 50 years from now.
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@CharlotteAlter @KatrinaWTE Pete Buttigieg was laser focused on "freedom" as a message as early as 2017 when he ran for DNC Chair, as he talked about in this interview:.
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In 2020, traffic deaths for Black Americans were 18.3 per 100,000 population and 25.7 for American Indian or Alaskan native compared to 11.6 for White Americans.
Pete Buttigieg says traffic fatalities in the U.S. are on "a level that is comparable to gun violence" because of "a lot of reasons related to discrimination"
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.@SecretaryPete has done something different by using media appearances to not only sell, but bring recognition to the importance of infrastructure in our lives. Also don't underestimate the power of #TeamPete as we are ready to #BuildTheEra and celebrate #InfrastructureYear!.
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In case anybody else was wondering about @PeteButtigieg's military experience, he just broke down what a commander-in-chief must evaluate in the Situation Room better than anybody on the stage. #FITN #DemDebate.
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On @WagnerTonight @SecretaryPete explained perfectly why Congress must intervene to avoid a rail strike. One example: chlorine for drinking water would not be able to be transported, which could cause millions of Americans to have to boil water so it would be safe to drink.
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.@SecretaryPete will get to converse with nations that have already integrated roundabouts as a primary intersection solution, giving them an advantage in meeting their climate goals by default.
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Thanks @SueAnnRawlins for the opportunity to talk highways, highway funding and safety, including my favorite topic - roundabouts. I'm enjoying my worlds of transportation and #TeamPete colliding to help others #LearnAboutDOT.
🚨NEW PODCAST🚨.1st episode in my new series on TRANSPORTATION - Highways!#LearnaboutUSDOT .@JTrea81 Jonathan French, Transportation Engineer, talks about his Medium article on the top 5 priorities that will need Pete's attention. .
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On @colbertlateshow @PeteButtigieg points out the most obvious thing about the GOP: they want to vote "no" or attack Democrat plans, but they have no viable solutions. They did next to nothing to help the middle class when they had total control for 2 years. Why give them 2 more?.
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