Happy Star Wars day. From my cat.

This one minute clip of @spindel.bsky.social explaining the political meaning of Andor highlights one of the critical insights offered by the brilliant speakers at the recent ‘Andor and the Politics of Star Wars’ conference. youtu.be/vnVDlrn4U2k

Jen Spindel explains the meaning of Andor: The imperative "to try"

YouTube video by Waleed Hazbun

youtu.be

hey @nytimes.com what if instead of this you reported accurately that the president of the united states has violated the united states constitution by entering into war with a foreign power without the approval of congress, just like, what if

Are... are you... are you fucking serious........

"While tanks, fighter jets, & warships will continue to have their place in future conflict, we argue that the war in Ukraine... is demonstrating the increasing importance & wide operational use of mid-tier weapons." @spindel.bsky.social & Keith Carter www.ifc.usafa.edu/articles/mor...

@spindel.bsky.social "... We are headed toward a world in which the flow of arms is unprecedented and where human rights concerns are willfully overlooked..." Read her fuller assessment of Trump's first #100days at www.forumarmstrade.org/trump100days...

Assessing Trump's First 100 Days

To mark the first 100 days in office, experts independently assess aspects of the Trump administration's policies.

forumarmstrade.org

Foreign military sales are under the microscope. What should change? warontherocks.com/20...

In Brief: How to Improve the Foreign Military Sales Process - War on the Rocks

In an April 9 executive order, the president directed his administration to “improve speed and accountability in the defense sales system.” The order aims

warontherocks.com

"I don't know anything about it" In a functioning democracy, Hegseth would resign and Trump would be impeached over this. OVER JUST THIS.

Justin Baragona@justinbaragona.bsky.social · last yr.

Trump asked about his Cabinet officials including Jeffrey Goldberg on a secret war plan Signal exchange: "I don’t know anything about it. I’m not a big fan of the Atlantic. To me, it's a magazine that’s going out of business. It’s not much of a magazine, but I know nothing about it."

Hegseth has always been unqualified, but this is clear irresponsibility and a lack of information security. If we won't call for his resignation, how do I get added to the group chat? Paging @schumer.senate.gov @housedemocrats.bsky.social @democrats.senate.gov if not now, when?

Kyle Griffin@kylegriffin1.bsky.social · last yr.

FLAG: Top Trump officials including JD Vance, Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth, and Tulsi Gabbard planned military strikes on Yemen's Houthis in a Signal messaging group — a group to which they accidentally added The Atlantic editor in chief Jeffrey Goldberg. www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...

Excellent excellent excellent from Princeton president and constitutional/ political theorist Chris Eisgruber. There's been far too little of this kind of thing; here's hoping others follow his good example. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...

The Cost of the Government’s Attack on Columbia

American universities have given the country prosperity and security. The Trump administration’s attack on academic freedom endangers all of that.

theatlantic.com

"DOGE lies to police, uses force to gain entry into privately-owned building, commandeers a nonprofit organization unconnected to the federal government." Come on, @washingtonpost.com, this isn't "hardball " it's piracy. Fucking do better.

DOGE plays hardball in U.S. Institute of Peace takeover

DOGE, which stands for Department of Government Efficiency, took over the U.S. Institute of Peace after threatening its officials with criminal prosecution.

washingtonpost.com

Required reading👇 Browning's book shows how "ordinary middle-aged, working-class men who committed these atrocities out of a mixture of motives, including the group dynamics of conformity, deference to authority, role adaptation, and the altering of moral norms to justify their actions."

Ordinary Men

“A remarkable—and singularly chilling—glimpse of human behavior. . .This meticulously researched book...represents a major contribution to the literature of...

harpercollins.com

Today's workspace...

Dear FPA section members, remember we have our business meeting today (Tuesday 4) at 12:30. Make sure to come! #ISA2025 #FPA

6/ @spindel.bsky.social "Why do states send and seek conventional weapons? Though it may seem obvious that the balance of power motivates states to do so... This article argues that states seek weapons because arms transfers send signals about political alignments..." direct.mit.edu/isec/article...

Boom, Bling, Backbone, or Blip? The Signaling Inherent in Arms Transfers

Abstract. Why do states send and seek conventional weapons? Though it may seem obvious that the balance of power motivates states to do so, numerous conventional arms transfers do not conform to the b...

direct.mit.edu

Wasn't sure if this article would ever see the light of day, but am absolutely thrilled to have an article in the forthcoming Winter 2024/2025 of @intsecurity.bsky.social

My statements that Republican Party = Pro-Cancer are not hyperbole. Why are Dems and media silent? Do your jobs and report this! GOP = pro-cancer @schumer.senate.gov @nytimes.com @washingtonpost.com @startribune.com @buzzfeed.com @senatefinance.bsky.social

Sam Stein@samsteindc.bsky.social · last yr.

They're now cancelling key meetings at the NIH to give the green light for future cancer research

There are 268,000 new diagnoses of #breastcancer each year in the US. That's half the population of Wyoming. We have power, we have voice. The current HHS head & GOP are pro-cancer. They are attacking the NIH and other grant bodies. Raise your voice! #PinkWave

a pink breast cancer ribbon is crossed over itself

ALT: a pink breast cancer ribbon is crossed over itself

media.tenor.com

Executive wants to frame the NIH indirects cut as $4B in savings. But given that NIH returns $2.5 on every $1 investment, this would actually cost US economy a net $6 BILLION (per year!). Not to mention the human costs of wrecking education and research sectors and the communities they serve.

NEW: An internal email obtained by WIRED from a threat intelligence team monitoring US Treasury systems advised labeling DOGE operatives an "insider threat," adding that it recommended suspending their access "immediately." | www.wired.com/story/treasu...

Let's be clear: The latest attack on NIH funding mechanisms is again proof that the Republican Party, led by Musk and enabled by Trump, is anti-life and pro-cancer. It's that simple. Hey: @schumer.senate.gov @senatefinance.bsky.social @democrats-judiciary.house.gov where you all at?

Kevin M. Kruse@kevinmkruse.bsky.social · last yr.

Odds are good that someone in your life has received vital care at a university-affiliated hospital near you. Trump and Musk want to destroy them. Call your reps and demand they push back -- especially if they're Republicans. www.house.gov/representati...

Great article by @profsaunders.bsky.social & @jimgoldgeier.bsky.social on the national security threats posed by the DOGE boys (I'm 100% sure they wouldn't have a question mark in the title!). www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...

Does DOGE Pose a National Security Risk?

Uncertainty about access and authority will worry allies and tempt adversaries.

foreignaffairs.com

Murphy: "This is a constitutional crisis that we are in today. Let's call it what it is."

paging @schumer.senate.gov @democrats-judiciary.house.gov @democrats.org @houseforeign.bsky.social @housedemocrats.bsky.social @waysmeanscmte.bsky.social There's a real simple, straightforward duty that you are all failing to do. DJT & EM are perpetrating an illegal coup. You MUST act. Now.

Right, because a great strategy for countering DJT and EM is snark. Where is the outrage?! Where is the clear statement? Where is the real talk? Be better, Chuck. And since you and the media can't seem to find the lede, here ya go: "this is unconstitutional, illegal, and will kill people."

Chuck Schumer@schumer.senate.gov · 2y ago

You’re watching the Super Bowl next week. Wait till Trump’s tariffs raise your pizza prices.

Good “what Dems should do to fight this” piece, in that it’s realistic about their limited institutional power, and offers actionable recommendations that could make some difference. By @joshtpm.bsky.social.

Who Can Stop Elon’s ‘Team’ Wilding Its Way Through the Federal Government?

Over the course of the last two weeks, I’ve tried to drive...

talkingpointsmemo.com

So...when is impeachment going to happen for blatant violation of the constitution? Not to mention the wanton cruelty and deliberate attempts to subvert democracy? Time to stand up, folks. Call your representatives and your governor's. We cannot stay silent.

Why are democrats - and anyone who believes in democracy - not shouting from the rooftops about the effects of Trump's budget pause? NIH and NSF grant suspensions are actively harming cancer research. Let's call these folks out for what they are: anti-life, pro-cancer