northstarnomad.bsky.social - Profile | ThreadSky | a Reddit-style client for Bluesky

Current read. If you haven’t checked out Levitsky and @dziblatt.bsky.social previous, “How Democracies Die,” you are missing out on a powerful framing and language highly relevant to the ongoing U.S. crisis… and elsewhere.

submitted 30 minutes ago • 0 comments

elon still working the bugs out of grok 3…

submitted 1 hour ago • 10 comments

A reassuring framing but the frightening part is still in a multi party system, 20% flocked TO the AfD. And more moved to the other end of the spectrum, amplifying the divide while the center declines. We will see how the government forms and what compromises will be made to firm a coalition.

submitted 51 minutes ago • 0 comments

It is not unprecedented to purge military leaders. It is unprecedented in a democracy with the world’s most powerful military. Analogies to Stalin & Mao aren’t comforting. We aren’t there …yet At least Erdogan had a coup attempt justification. This is just sycophant space making. Despicable.

submitted 1 day ago • 0 comments

Reminder: Facts beyond Bizzarro world: Canada is still our closest Ally. NATO & the EU are the good guys. Ukraine was brutally and wrongfully invaded. Russia seeks to defeat the U.S. Trump didn’t win a majority. The military is nonpartisan. Journalism is democracy. We are destroying ourselves.

submitted 1 day ago • 0 comments

This would be an epic skip day.

submitted 1 day ago • 0 comments

Hegseth said CQ Brown should be fired in November with some absurd justification about DEI. He was fired today. There really is no reason to look any deeper. Why are people surprised this administration continues doing exactly what they said they would? Have the day you voted for.

submitted 1 day ago • 0 comments

In case you need a refresher on SadoPopulism, which accurately describes the conditions the U.S. is under currently, here is the brilliant Tim Snyder’s original explanation. youtu.be/oOjJtEkKMX4?...

submitted 2 days ago • 0 comments

Naturally… All European Leaders. Millions of hardworking U.S. Civil Servants and Military Leaders. All of Ukraine. Half the World. The entire other political party. Thousands of scholars and political journalists. Are liars. And this eccentric clown, his clown posse and Putin are honest brokers.

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Who benefits? www.nytimes.com/2025/02/20/b...

submitted 3 days ago • 0 comments

“A word of command has made these silent figures our enemies; a word of command might transform them into our friends.” AQOTWF, ‘29 Does the public understand that it is they who choose our friends & enemies-not a Soldier beholden to orders and unknown decisions? Seems doubtful. Slava Ukraini.

submitted 3 days ago • 0 comments

“the United States is not a startup. The federal government exists to do all of the things that are definitionally not profitable, that serve the public good rather than protect investor profits. (The vast majority of startups also fail, something the United States cannot afford to do.)”

submitted 3 days ago • 231 comments

DOD: Cutting 8%/yr, for 5 yrs, yields a remaining 66% of current defense budget or 560BN/yr. In 2024: $250BN for mil & civ compensation. $316BN to Ops & Maint (O&M). Without MAJOR cuts to force size or training, this leaves $0 for R&D, Acquisitions or otherwise. Can’t grow lethality AND cut.

submitted 3 days ago • 1 comment

Who benefits? The U.S. and all allies, across the globe, have stood by Ukraine for 3 years +. Democracies united around a single cause like rarely before. Who benefits from shifting the narrative and demonizing Zelensky? Not much imagination is required.

submitted 4 days ago • 0 comments

Oh Canada being sung at the #NBAAllStar game hits different this year. Canada is our closest ally. Inextricably linked. We would do well to remember that.

submitted 6 days ago • 0 comments

Followed by the UK, Russia and Germany (Prussia) ganging up and whooping his tail. For the second time. In unrelated news, the Weimar meeting had a starkly stronger tone this year.

submitted 7 days ago • 0 comments

Now being served: Musky Fascism. Appetizing upfront, salty and tangy in the middle then followed by a jarring whiff of grapeshot when things start to get lively.

submitted 7 days ago • 0 comments

What in the actual bloody heck is this? And the backpay bit is a whole other conversation. Who benefits?

submitted 8 days ago • 0 comments

Do your homework for your country 😝 youtube.com/shorts/7dPZR...

submitted 8 days ago • 0 comments

Is it just me or does every policy coming out seem to be a continuation of campaign antagonizing? Pleas to the base for further support on populist initiatives. What, do tell, could some elites possibly gain from continuing to rouse loyalists and concentrate power after an election…. I’ll wait.

submitted 9 days ago • 0 comments

The U.S. Civil War resulted from a multitude of tensions. Primarily, and understandably most discuss slavery. A particularly poignant note in our time though is extreme congressional partisanship. Not a single slave holding state voted for Lincoln, yet he won - sparking open calls for secession.

submitted 9 days ago • 0 comments

It is hard to imagine a tragedy more fortuitous for #AfD than an Afghan born suspected terrorist incident on the front page across Germany before the elections. www.dw.com/en/germany-m...

submitted 10 days ago • 0 comments

this year’s munich security conference is going to be historic…and not in a good way i break down what to expect for @gzeromedia.com

submitted 10 days ago • 17 comments

The natural logic of the UKR negotiations is that U.S.-Russia relations are being prioritized. Not as a return to status quo but as a move towards closer cooperation. Particularly with expressed similar global views. What this means for Europe and for vulnerable countries is tough to contemplate.

submitted 10 days ago • 0 comments

“NATO is the most secure option. It is also the cheapest option.” Spot on. Values matter when countries agree to support and enforce them at a level that creates a dilemma for any nation that choose to violate them. Values are power. They can’t be shot but they can deter, protect and empower.

submitted 10 days ago • 0 comments

“We can’t shoot values.” “There is no replacement for hard power.” The point is not to use the hard power by signaling commitment to values, allies, partners, commitments. A last resort - not a first response.

submitted 10 days ago • 0 comments

”we must start by recognizing that returning to Ukraine's pre-2014 borders is an unrealistic objective.” “U.S. does not believe that NATO membership for Ukraine is a realistic outcome of a negotiated settlement.“ “security guarantee must be backed by capable European and non-European troops.”

submitted 10 days ago • 0 comments

Hats Off to the EU powerhouse nations. Continue preserving values, sovereignty and democracy. America will be back at the table as soon as we can get past this madness.

submitted 10 days ago • 0 comments

The challenge isn’t just that the U.S. may not be supporting Ukraine. It is that the U.S. and EU could actually find themselves in competition within the broader political military conflict. A potential sea change.

submitted 11 days ago • 0 comments

Hegseth’s visit to U.S. base in Germany met with student walkout

submitted 11 days ago • 0 comments