Aeillien
@aeillien.bsky.social
History and Literature Geek. Teacher. Husband. Father. Hispanic. Feminist. Socialist. General threat to society.
Reposted by Aeillien
I see we're doing this again. Anyways, Zionism is Jewish ethno-nationalism, which doesn't make it any more inherently evil than Serbian or Italian or Greek or Turkish or Mexican nationalism, but is also no reason to it treat it as any more exculpatory for the crimes of the Israeli state.
The Banality of Zionism
Zionism is just 19th century nationalism, and its conflicts are ordinary nationalist conflicts.
www.liberalcurrents.com
May 19, 2026 at 5:02 AM
I see we're doing this again. Anyways, Zionism is Jewish ethno-nationalism, which doesn't make it any more inherently evil than Serbian or Italian or Greek or Turkish or Mexican nationalism, but is also no reason to it treat it as any more exculpatory for the crimes of the Israeli state.
Are we sure that Trump is not secretly the stupidest environmentalist?
We're only 3 weeks into this. If this keeps up, a substantial portion of the world's fossil fuel supply will effectively be wiped out permanently.
www.reuters.com/business/ene...
www.reuters.com/business/ene...
Exclusive: Iran attack wipes out 17% of Qatar’s LNG capacity for up to five years, QatarEnergy CEO says
Iranian attacks have knocked out 17% of Qatar's liquefied natural gas (LNG) export capacity, causing an estimated $20 billion in lost annual revenue and threatening supplies to Europe and Asia, Qatar...
www.reuters.com
March 19, 2026 at 3:29 PM
Are we sure that Trump is not secretly the stupidest environmentalist?
Remember that the general history of the United States and its military efforts from Vietnam onward is tactical and operational dominance combined with strategic incompetence.
We win every "battle" and always hold or occupy the country we seek to hold or occupy. But then lose the war.
We win every "battle" and always hold or occupy the country we seek to hold or occupy. But then lose the war.
March 13, 2026 at 3:25 PM
Remember that the general history of the United States and its military efforts from Vietnam onward is tactical and operational dominance combined with strategic incompetence.
We win every "battle" and always hold or occupy the country we seek to hold or occupy. But then lose the war.
We win every "battle" and always hold or occupy the country we seek to hold or occupy. But then lose the war.
Reposted by Aeillien
Another fantasy that leaders engage in is the fantasy that their opponents lack agency: we can just do stuff to them and they will not respond. That one *always* goes badly.
BREAKING: Iran’s Parliament approves the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Decision needs ratified by Iran’s Security Council.
It would trap 20% of the world’s oil supply and send a catastrophic shock through the global economy.
Decision needs ratified by Iran’s Security Council.
It would trap 20% of the world’s oil supply and send a catastrophic shock through the global economy.
June 22, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Another fantasy that leaders engage in is the fantasy that their opponents lack agency: we can just do stuff to them and they will not respond. That one *always* goes badly.
Reposted by Aeillien
The people who talk about expanding the tent are never, ever actually expanding the tent. They want to pick up the tent and move it rightwards. If the tent were getting bigger, letting in new people would not require pushing other people out, which the metaphorical expansion somehow always does.
Well um is the tent big enough for us? Oh just big enough for hate mongers? Oh.
December 30, 2025 at 6:14 PM
The people who talk about expanding the tent are never, ever actually expanding the tent. They want to pick up the tent and move it rightwards. If the tent were getting bigger, letting in new people would not require pushing other people out, which the metaphorical expansion somehow always does.
Even if we grant that: those who insist we should remain Over There refuse to engage with the fact that we will not be heard. The app has been designed, on purpose, to silence some voices and raise others. It is not even close to a neutral space. You are asking people to go scream in a void.
December 15, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Even if we grant that: those who insist we should remain Over There refuse to engage with the fact that we will not be heard. The app has been designed, on purpose, to silence some voices and raise others. It is not even close to a neutral space. You are asking people to go scream in a void.
Reposted by Aeillien
Unfortunately, in US journalism it is considered neutral to spread a lie, but it is considered "biased" to call out a lie. So, there is a structural asymmetry that rewards colorful lies with virality.
November 30, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Unfortunately, in US journalism it is considered neutral to spread a lie, but it is considered "biased" to call out a lie. So, there is a structural asymmetry that rewards colorful lies with virality.
On further thought, it really worth pointing out that the *entire* post WW2 international order as regards trade, economic policy, social policy, the always of war, you name it, was built by the greatest generation and it is this order which is being destroyed as we speak by Trump and Hegseth.
It's worse. In a fundamental sense the Greatest Generation created, expanded and enforced the laws of warfare as a *result* of WW2.
November 29, 2025 at 6:03 PM
On further thought, it really worth pointing out that the *entire* post WW2 international order as regards trade, economic policy, social policy, the always of war, you name it, was built by the greatest generation and it is this order which is being destroyed as we speak by Trump and Hegseth.
Reposted by Aeillien
People’s ideas about the world are formed mostly from their social environment.
Their social environment includes their parasocial environment: media and social media.
The parasocial share of our social environment has been growing for many decades.
Their social environment includes their parasocial environment: media and social media.
The parasocial share of our social environment has been growing for many decades.
November 29, 2025 at 11:36 AM
People’s ideas about the world are formed mostly from their social environment.
Their social environment includes their parasocial environment: media and social media.
The parasocial share of our social environment has been growing for many decades.
Their social environment includes their parasocial environment: media and social media.
The parasocial share of our social environment has been growing for many decades.
Reposted by Aeillien
A chapter in Hegseth’s book is literally titled “More Lethality, Less Lawyers.”
It’s almost as if there were signs!
It’s almost as if there were signs!
November 29, 2025 at 3:02 AM
A chapter in Hegseth’s book is literally titled “More Lethality, Less Lawyers.”
It’s almost as if there were signs!
It’s almost as if there were signs!
Reposted by Aeillien
look, I’ve been operating on the assumption that we cannot reach Bush 2 numbers because the media environment makes the floor much higher than it was back then (and Fox won’t throw him overboard the same way)
but, uh, we aren’t through year one and…
but, uh, we aren’t through year one and…
Gallup poll | 11/3-11/25
President Trump approval
Disapprove 60% (+6)
Approve 36% (-5)
news.gallup.com/poll/699221/...
President Trump approval
Disapprove 60% (+6)
Approve 36% (-5)
news.gallup.com/poll/699221/...
November 28, 2025 at 4:53 PM
look, I’ve been operating on the assumption that we cannot reach Bush 2 numbers because the media environment makes the floor much higher than it was back then (and Fox won’t throw him overboard the same way)
but, uh, we aren’t through year one and…
but, uh, we aren’t through year one and…
Reposted by Aeillien
Many of us weren't well supervised in the 80s. Our parents gave us house keys, dropped us at school, and hoped for the best.
Okay. So I just finished S1 of Stranger Things!
Thoroughly enjoyed it!
I feel like none of the children in the entire series are properly supervised though 😂
Thoroughly enjoyed it!
I feel like none of the children in the entire series are properly supervised though 😂
November 28, 2025 at 4:19 AM
Many of us weren't well supervised in the 80s. Our parents gave us house keys, dropped us at school, and hoped for the best.
Fundamentally, the Trump/Miller definition of citizenship requires not just mass deportation of immigrants but mass de naturalization of those judged as "un-American" (Black, Latino, Asian) followed by their subsequent deportation. And we already know they want to redefine birthright citizenship.
Trump: “I will permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries … denaturalize migrants who undermine domestic tranquility, and deport any Foreign National who is a public charge, security risk, or non-compatible with Western Civilization.“
November 28, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Fundamentally, the Trump/Miller definition of citizenship requires not just mass deportation of immigrants but mass de naturalization of those judged as "un-American" (Black, Latino, Asian) followed by their subsequent deportation. And we already know they want to redefine birthright citizenship.
Reposted by Aeillien
I think more than anything else AI feels like a miracle to people with questionable literacy because it can read and write for you, and a lot of us who are highly literate underestimate how many of our society's leaders, esp in business, struggle with literacy.
It's pretty much mandatory at work that I appear to be using it, so I've doe a few functional things with it, and it's a moderate time-saver if used right. But nowhere near worth it's stock value, energy cost.
Then I realize there's a lot of people who simply can't write coherent paragraphs.
Then I realize there's a lot of people who simply can't write coherent paragraphs.
September 4, 2025 at 2:54 PM
I think more than anything else AI feels like a miracle to people with questionable literacy because it can read and write for you, and a lot of us who are highly literate underestimate how many of our society's leaders, esp in business, struggle with literacy.
Reposted by Aeillien
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
November 26, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
Reposted by Aeillien
oh this is absolutely what i think. i think they feed him fake polls and outright AI slop
At this point, I wonder if he isn't lying when he says he has "my highest Poll Numbers, ever" since it's entirely possible that's what his aides are telling him. It's quite likely that there's an entire Potemkin village built around Trump right now.
Trump responds to a detailed report about his waning energy and propensity to sleep through on-camera events by calling the New York Times's Katie Rogers ugly
November 26, 2025 at 2:41 PM
oh this is absolutely what i think. i think they feed him fake polls and outright AI slop
Reposted by Aeillien
This is an insightful but deeply upsetting article about why everyone in the US feels poor, and why the current political situation emerges as a direct result.
www.yesigiveafig.com/p/part-1-my-...
www.yesigiveafig.com/p/part-1-my-...
Part 1: My Life Is a Lie
How a Broken Benchmark Quietly Broke America
www.yesigiveafig.com
November 26, 2025 at 1:42 AM
This is an insightful but deeply upsetting article about why everyone in the US feels poor, and why the current political situation emerges as a direct result.
www.yesigiveafig.com/p/part-1-my-...
www.yesigiveafig.com/p/part-1-my-...
Reposted by Aeillien
Kids don't always want to be on screens, they just need spaces and places to live, grow and play independently.
November 26, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Kids don't always want to be on screens, they just need spaces and places to live, grow and play independently.
I love pretty much all pie and don't understand why we have to make all these bad bitches fight each other.
My personal fav is strawberry rhubarb, but if you don't like a certain kind of pie, I think it's likely you have only had poor examples of that pie.
My personal fav is strawberry rhubarb, but if you don't like a certain kind of pie, I think it's likely you have only had poor examples of that pie.
November 26, 2025 at 11:46 AM
I love pretty much all pie and don't understand why we have to make all these bad bitches fight each other.
My personal fav is strawberry rhubarb, but if you don't like a certain kind of pie, I think it's likely you have only had poor examples of that pie.
My personal fav is strawberry rhubarb, but if you don't like a certain kind of pie, I think it's likely you have only had poor examples of that pie.
Reposted by Aeillien
Sometimes I think it’s going to be the librarians who will save us all.
November 25, 2025 at 1:47 AM
Sometimes I think it’s going to be the librarians who will save us all.
Reposted by Aeillien
I think the fact that we're basically looking at Bush 08 bubbling up before year one is even wrapped is what makes this period fundamentally different to the cycle we've seen with Bush and Trump I
it's still Year One guys
November 25, 2025 at 9:36 PM
I think the fact that we're basically looking at Bush 08 bubbling up before year one is even wrapped is what makes this period fundamentally different to the cycle we've seen with Bush and Trump I
The thing about laws is that they are nothing more & nothing less than agreements we decide to abide by. As Locke observed people in general will stick by laws even under fairly bad circumstances. But past a certain point, if the law is perceived as being broken beyond repair, we can just change it.
November 25, 2025 at 4:36 PM
The thing about laws is that they are nothing more & nothing less than agreements we decide to abide by. As Locke observed people in general will stick by laws even under fairly bad circumstances. But past a certain point, if the law is perceived as being broken beyond repair, we can just change it.
Reposted by Aeillien
The problem with this article is they asked too many lawyers and not enough historians.
As a historian, I'd say the legality of Trump's immunity and pardons depends on how he leaves office.
At 40 over 55 approval? He's immune.
At 25 over 65? He's probably not immune & self-pardons aren't legal.
As a historian, I'd say the legality of Trump's immunity and pardons depends on how he leaves office.
At 40 over 55 approval? He's immune.
At 25 over 65? He's probably not immune & self-pardons aren't legal.
John Roberts has secured his place in history alongside Al Capone and Bernard Madoff. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/o...
Opinion | Why Trump Won’t Face Prosecution This Time Around
www.nytimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:20 PM
The problem with this article is they asked too many lawyers and not enough historians.
As a historian, I'd say the legality of Trump's immunity and pardons depends on how he leaves office.
At 40 over 55 approval? He's immune.
At 25 over 65? He's probably not immune & self-pardons aren't legal.
As a historian, I'd say the legality of Trump's immunity and pardons depends on how he leaves office.
At 40 over 55 approval? He's immune.
At 25 over 65? He's probably not immune & self-pardons aren't legal.
Reposted by Aeillien
So we are currently at multiple threatened military operations, attorneys being rejected for improper appointments, suburbanites chasing the armed agents of the state cursing their names, a two vote margin in the house, and consumer sentiment worse than 2008/2009. It’s been less than a year.
November 24, 2025 at 5:48 PM
So we are currently at multiple threatened military operations, attorneys being rejected for improper appointments, suburbanites chasing the armed agents of the state cursing their names, a two vote margin in the house, and consumer sentiment worse than 2008/2009. It’s been less than a year.
Reposted by Aeillien
One of my favorite things is getting to tell friends who are new to NYC that the subway "stand clear of the closing doors please" voice is a trans woman named Bernie Wagenblast and she's amazing.
November 24, 2025 at 6:19 PM
One of my favorite things is getting to tell friends who are new to NYC that the subway "stand clear of the closing doors please" voice is a trans woman named Bernie Wagenblast and she's amazing.