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drdegraff.bsky.social
Historian of Mod Russia/USSR: childhood, war, visual culture, religion; digital history learner. Baylor (Sic ‘em) • 🪑 🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦
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My past Minerva grants included studying ways China and Russia promote illiberalism across the globe

RFK Jr. shrugs his shoulders at deadly Texas measles outbreak as he goes about kneecapping flu and COVID vaccines. That’s what happens when you put a raging lunatic in charge of America’s health. My column: www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...

Tired: Touching the stove Wired: Grabbing the third rail

Autocracies are stupid. Autocracies that ban research are even more stupid.

RFK really missed the simplest lesson of LBJ’s career, try not to get any kids killed if your name rhymes with “how many kids did you kill today”

The National Weather Service is THE ONLY source of weather data in the US. Every weather app, local broadcaster, and weather forecast map is based on NWS data from NOAA. This is a ridiculously stupid own goal for the US that will disrupt all kinds of social and economic activity, and endanger lives.

JFC. The US Economic Policy Uncertainty Index is at its highest level since 2000, higher than during the Financial Crisis, higher than during COVID

Undocumented immigrants paid about $26 billion per year into Social Security, even though they will get nothing out of it. They subsidize citizens to an extraordinary degree. www.nytimes.com/2025/01/13/b...

Elon is advancing a campaign of disrespect for and intimidation of judges who rule unfavorably to Trump. It’s dangerous and it needs to stop.

Meanwhile in Russia: TV pundits discussed the drastic change of America's foreign policy under Trump and how Moscow can use it to its advantage. They rejoiced that Trump's enemies are also Russia's enemies. Once again, Vladimir Solovyov threatened Germany. youtu.be/EEY1wMEqXs0?...

"Right before our eyes, a world order is being formed in which truth as a category does not exist."-- Oleksandr Mykhed

I wrote this piece three years ago. As Russian narratives are partotted by US officials, now, more than ever, scholars need to make sure we prevent disinformation from thriving: activehistory.ca/blog/2022/03...

"Ukraine serves as a stark reminder that competition and conflict remain the norm in international relations,.... The assumption that economic interdependence can deter aggression has once again failed." Good piece! www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...

Name every victory when they come

"The most likely scenario is that Ukraine will reject the Trump-Putin pact, and the war will grind on. ... which is probably [Putin's] preferred outcome all along anyway." tol.org/client/artic...

The strangest aspect of current events is that the US is ardently, demonstratively & even triumphantly destroying the post-World War II order principally designed & shaped by the same US. Today's America's biggest enemy is neither China, Russia, Iran... but yesterday's America.

We've been told "over and over again that Trump is a businessman, so we should expect him to conduct his foreign and domestic policy like a business. But he is a businessman who has made terrible decisions....To set up his latest bad deal, he's put Ukrainian and American democracy on the table."

The $400M worth of State Department Teslas? Trump admin said that started in Biden White House. But I obtained a document showing the amount Biden's State Department planned to spend on EVs: $483,000. Former WH official on $400M: "I don’t think this is a clerical error" www.npr.org/2025/02/24/n...

Their body language says it all: Ukraine matters even no matter what.

Since Trump has claimed Elon doesn’t run DOGE, we wanted to make sure you know who is running our government. This list has been updated with 15 names.

If you’re not alarmed yet you’re not paying attention

Another shameful move by trump admin. Placating aggressor & bullying victim as well as allies doesn’t bring stable peace any closer.

Brilliant but devastating editorial in the Financial Times. “In the past 10 days, he [Trump] has all but incinerated 80 years of postwar American leadership. If you are not at the table, you are on the menu. America has turned.”

Let Ukrainians decide their own future. Support their choices to live freely. They deserve as much.

3 years ago, Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. I still remember trying to follow it all on Twitter. I still remember the chilling reality when someone tweeted, "Go to Google Maps." You could see the convoy of Russian units heading for Kyiv. Little did we know what would follow.

In today’s Russian papers: ◾️“Russian army must be ready for possible military conflict with Nato in the next decade.” ◾️“First time since Cold War that America's changed its tone with Russia. It's one of Moscow’s biggest breakthroughs.” ◾️ Bread prices to rise. #ReadingRussia

Der Spiegel is HUGE PUBLICATION NOT ONLY GERMANY BUT EUROPE "VERRATEN" German for BETRAYRD

I was set to launch my book at the Carter Library next month. This week, we were told all events now need approval from the National Archives. The next day, my event was forced to relocate. A book about the working homeless. A book about civil rights. Apparently these topics are now off limits.

How bad is it? This bad.

So they removed the black chairman of the Joint Chiefs in the middle of his 4-year tour, without cause, and they're seeking to replace him with a white **retired** Air Force three-star general who lacks the requisite experience as a service chief or combatant commander? Huh, how about that

Powerful. Tomorrow’s front page of the most influential weekly publication in Germany. “BETRAYED. First Zelensky, Soon Us? The radical departure of the US from its allies.”

Trump’s revolution will end badly — for himself, and for America - The Hill

Such hostile nonsense from Americans in power just now. I wish we would listen to people who have suffered for reporting the truth, like Stanislav Aseyev, combat veteran and survivor of a Russian torture camp.

My thoughts on the Russian-American talks on Ukraine, without Ukraine. The simplest interpretation of the available facts is that the Americans are using Russian violence to try to exploit Ukraine. snyder.substack.com/p/peace-or-p...

Put this on blast.

This has been my point for weeks about what Musk is after. Consolidated data from the biggest mine of information in the world. He’s so thirsty for data he’d get his hands on the nuclear codes if he could. Could he? www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...

Meet Trump's Oil oligarch Harold Hamm the Continental Resources CEO. In 2024, he organized a dinner where Trump promised to give the fossil fuel industry anything it wanted in exchange for a $1 billion bribe, additionally promising deregulation. #OpCanary #3E #EndOligarchy #EndAutogenocide 🧵

The Moscow Institute of Computer Science has "caught fire", I felt a great disturbance in the algorithm, as if millions of bots suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced.

This.

Except 0 x 20% is still . . . apple.news/AOk2ofMbzTC-...

Another Moscow-DC parallel, if you’re collecting them

Tsar.

Meanwhile in Russia: state TV host Vladimir Solovyov boasts that Trump's information comes straight from Putin after their 1 1/2 hour long phone call, as well as the preceding 3 1/2 hour long conversation between Putin and Trump's buddy Steve Witkoff. www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyeY...

russian fascist chairing for trum. Talk about losing soul, respect, and more.

HEADS UP! We need to give this story more attention. This is the next phase - investigations of those who criticize Trump, Musk or SCOTUS. It’s already started. It is a campaign of intimidation designed to silence criticism. wapo.st/3X8d75G

Whitehouse: "Remember Trump-Russia? The Mueller report said there was Trump-Russia. The bipartisan Senate intelligence report said there was Trump-Russia. Repeated trials brought in evidence showing Trump-Russia. There was, is, and forever shall be Trump-Russia."

Read this whole thread. But this point in particular is so important. Europe (and Ukraine) have agency, and Europe can and should act regardless if the US acts differently or fails to act.

The corrupt Prime Minister of Hungary and key Donald Trump ally in Europe, Viktor Orbán, revealed to own a €45 million castle after officially declaring, only having €14 thousand in his bank account and only owning two houses. #SpookyConnections 🧵

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who is in the running to serve as health and human services secretary, revealed he was carrying up to $1.2 million in credit card debt in recent financial disclosures, per CNBC.