On the eve of the passage of the biggest climate bill in US history, I’ve been trying - not very successfully - to figure out ho we should feel about the relative roles of ambition and prudence in progressive policymaking. On the one hand, the fact that the Democrats spent two years arguing about a $3.5tn bill that became a $1.75tn bill that became a $375b bill would seem to legitimize the critique that the original ask on BBB was insanely overambitious.

The debate about the World Bank's planned $500m loan to Tanzania illustrates a lot of very interesting assumptions people make about (a) democracy, rights and development and (b) the Bank and its clout.

cnn.com/2020/01/27/afr… The backstory: the Bank planned a $300m investment in new secondary schools, teachers and reforms in Tanzania, which desperately needs them, on the condition that the Government repeal or sideline a law that prevents pregnant girls and young mothers from attending school.