first you cant help but laugh
then you cry #EmpireSuicideWatch
then you cry #EmpireSuicideWatch
June 20, 2026 at 4:22 PM
first you cant help but laugh
then you cry #EmpireSuicideWatch
then you cry #EmpireSuicideWatch
i'm still confused 😭
@thunen.bsky.social explains why US is on #EmpireSuicideWatch
www.nytimes.com/2026/06/19/o...
@thunen.bsky.social explains why US is on #EmpireSuicideWatch
www.nytimes.com/2026/06/19/o...
June 28, 2026 at 10:49 PM
i'm still confused 😭
@thunen.bsky.social explains why US is on #EmpireSuicideWatch
www.nytimes.com/2026/06/19/o...
@thunen.bsky.social explains why US is on #EmpireSuicideWatch
www.nytimes.com/2026/06/19/o...
#empiresuicidewatch 150
🌮 doing the lord's work. lord putin that is.
🌮 doing the lord's work. lord putin that is.
Latest piece out. There was some confusion about why the UK, France and the Baltics were not invited by the US to its NATO meeting. Its actually brutally simple and part of a US strategy of divide and rule towards European security. And it might work. phillipspobrien.substack.com/p/divide-and...
Divide And Rule: The US Strategy Towards Europe
And Why It Could Work
phillipspobrien.substack.com
October 2, 2026 at 12:04 PM
#empiresuicidewatch 150
🌮 doing the lord's work. lord putin that is.
🌮 doing the lord's work. lord putin that is.
#empiresuicidewatch 95
when ideology and loyalty to the emperor replaces the most basic analysis / history / facts policy is bound to be disastrous.
when ideology and loyalty to the emperor replaces the most basic analysis / history / facts policy is bound to be disastrous.
GOP's new line: China duped us!! “We were ahead of them by a mile, by 10 miles on the internal combustion engine,”....But then the Chinese “went into EVs, and then they convinced the Western world to go into EVs and play their game.”
bsky.app/profile/70sb...
bsky.app/profile/70sb...
December 10, 2025 at 1:07 PM
#empiresuicidewatch 95
when ideology and loyalty to the emperor replaces the most basic analysis / history / facts policy is bound to be disastrous.
when ideology and loyalty to the emperor replaces the most basic analysis / history / facts policy is bound to be disastrous.
FT: "Donald Trump declared making more than 22,000 stock transactions in 2025, according to the FT analysis.
His immediate predecessor, Joe Biden, made 13 transactions over four years.
In his first term, Trump made 517. "
#EmpireSuicideWatch @thunen.bsky.social
ft.trib.al/lE26Tv9
His immediate predecessor, Joe Biden, made 13 transactions over four years.
In his first term, Trump made 517. "
#EmpireSuicideWatch @thunen.bsky.social
ft.trib.al/lE26Tv9
July 2, 2026 at 5:57 AM
FT: "Donald Trump declared making more than 22,000 stock transactions in 2025, according to the FT analysis.
His immediate predecessor, Joe Biden, made 13 transactions over four years.
In his first term, Trump made 517. "
#EmpireSuicideWatch @thunen.bsky.social
ft.trib.al/lE26Tv9
His immediate predecessor, Joe Biden, made 13 transactions over four years.
In his first term, Trump made 517. "
#EmpireSuicideWatch @thunen.bsky.social
ft.trib.al/lE26Tv9
Breaking News: The Pentagon is set to brief Elon Musk on the U.S. military’s closely guarded plan for any potential war with China, officials said.
Musk Set to Get Access to Top-Secret U.S. Plan for Potential War With China
Giving Elon Musk access to some of the nation’s most closely guarded military secrets is a major expansion of his role as an adviser to President Trump and highlights his conflicts of interest.
www.nytimes.com
March 21, 2025 at 11:56 AM
#empiresuicidewatch 147
Obviously the answer will be to form a manly testosterone fueled group of highly lethal Super Soldiers to be known by their initials
Obviously the answer will be to form a manly testosterone fueled group of highly lethal Super Soldiers to be known by their initials
The Pentagon taps Elon Musk and Palmer Luckey to help decide what the military should do next
The Pentagon taps Elon Musk and Palmer Luckey to help decide what the military should do next
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth just launched a 120-day study on the future of warfare, led by Elon Musk, Palmer Luckey, and Newt Gingrich, and while it makes sense given their ties to the administration, critics could point out that Musk's and Luckey's companies already sell the kinds of technology the study is likely to recommend.
techcrunch.com
October 1, 2026 at 11:12 AM
#empiresuicidewatch 147
Obviously the answer will be to form a manly testosterone fueled group of highly lethal Super Soldiers to be known by their initials
Obviously the answer will be to form a manly testosterone fueled group of highly lethal Super Soldiers to be known by their initials
#empiresuicidewatch 146
I’ve met many smart officers in my time, but with one exception they are not academics, and stable civil-military relations and good strategic thinking require civilian academic perspectives.
I’ve met many smart officers in my time, but with one exception they are not academics, and stable civil-military relations and good strategic thinking require civilian academic perspectives.
It’s faded from the news but Hegseth is still working to strangle teaching and speech at the military academies. wapo.st/4hDFceJ
Hegseth bars military academies from hiring civilians as tenured professors
The move marks the latest effort by the Trump administration to exert more control over faculty at service academies.
wapo.st
September 30, 2026 at 11:46 AM
#empiresuicidewatch 146
I’ve met many smart officers in my time, but with one exception they are not academics, and stable civil-military relations and good strategic thinking require civilian academic perspectives.
I’ve met many smart officers in my time, but with one exception they are not academics, and stable civil-military relations and good strategic thinking require civilian academic perspectives.
#empiresuicidewatch 125
now some shameless self promotion:
phenomenalworld.org/interviews/e...
next step, get my face on a $250 bill...
now some shameless self promotion:
phenomenalworld.org/interviews/e...
next step, get my face on a $250 bill...
Empire Suicide Watch | Herman Mark Schwartz
Examining the anatomy of US power
phenomenalworld.org
May 29, 2026 at 7:08 AM
#empiresuicidewatch 125
now some shameless self promotion:
phenomenalworld.org/interviews/e...
next step, get my face on a $250 bill...
now some shameless self promotion:
phenomenalworld.org/interviews/e...
next step, get my face on a $250 bill...
TACO damages everything he touches.
#empiresuicidewatch 76
#empiresuicidewatch 76
David Autor: Trump's tariff and policies are compounding the error. If we want to keep these industries flourishing, we need them to be able to export to the rest of the world.
www.theatlantic.com/economy/arch...
" We could lose Boeing. We could lose GM and Ford. We could lose Apple"
www.theatlantic.com/economy/arch...
" We could lose Boeing. We could lose GM and Ford. We could lose Apple"
August 16, 2025 at 2:39 PM
TACO damages everything he touches.
#empiresuicidewatch 76
#empiresuicidewatch 76
One for @thunen.bsky.social‘s #empiresuicidewatch
The govt handing over another $765 million in taxpayer dollars to companies to NOT build wind turbines, during an energy crisis, is bonkers. The total amount paid to cancel wind is now $2.5 billion dollars. About the same as DOE spends on all clean energy, transportation, & energy efficiency R&D.
Breaking: Trump made another deal to pay an offshore wind developer to walk away from all 4 of its leases, this time with Invenergy.
More details in Heatmap. heatmap.news/energy/trump...
More details in Heatmap. heatmap.news/energy/trump...
June 20, 2026 at 2:54 PM
One for @thunen.bsky.social‘s #empiresuicidewatch
March 16, 2025 at 3:18 AM
March 2, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Countries that now have travel warnings discouraging their citizens from traveling here:
Australia
Belgium
Canada
China
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Ireland
Netherlands
New Zealand
Portugal
United Kingdom
www.cntraveler.com/story/which-...
Australia
Belgium
Canada
China
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Ireland
Netherlands
New Zealand
Portugal
United Kingdom
www.cntraveler.com/story/which-...
The Full List of Countries That Have Updated Their US Travel Guidance
From Canada to China, more than a dozen countries are advising their citizens about travel to the US. Here's why—and how it's impacting tourism.
www.cntraveler.com
August 24, 2025 at 6:44 AM
More today on #empiresuicidewatch, the series that @thunen.bsky.social periodically alerts us to.
@katemac.bsky.social & I wrote last week on how the Iran war & oil shock accelerates the end of US hegemony
www.phenomenalworld.org/analysis/war...
bsky.app/profile/phil...
@katemac.bsky.social & I wrote last week on how the Iran war & oil shock accelerates the end of US hegemony
www.phenomenalworld.org/analysis/war...
bsky.app/profile/phil...
Worth noting that Donald Trump just announced the end of NATO and the Special Relationship in one tweet.
March 31, 2026 at 12:43 PM
More today on #empiresuicidewatch, the series that @thunen.bsky.social periodically alerts us to.
@katemac.bsky.social & I wrote last week on how the Iran war & oil shock accelerates the end of US hegemony
www.phenomenalworld.org/analysis/war...
bsky.app/profile/phil...
@katemac.bsky.social & I wrote last week on how the Iran war & oil shock accelerates the end of US hegemony
www.phenomenalworld.org/analysis/war...
bsky.app/profile/phil...
9/ Meanwhile GOP budget bill in US: "Loathing science, medical research, victims of overseas disasters, food stamps, education for all age groups, healthcare for the poor + clean energy. Each are severely cut...The most anti-blue collar budget in memory"
#EmpireSuicideWatch @thunen.bsky.social
#EmpireSuicideWatch @thunen.bsky.social
May 20, 2025 at 9:56 PM
9/ Meanwhile GOP budget bill in US: "Loathing science, medical research, victims of overseas disasters, food stamps, education for all age groups, healthcare for the poor + clean energy. Each are severely cut...The most anti-blue collar budget in memory"
#EmpireSuicideWatch @thunen.bsky.social
#EmpireSuicideWatch @thunen.bsky.social
“We will restore peace, stability and harmony throughout the world"-Donald Trump
Phenomenal World picking 2026 to launch our first themed issue! LOL at herman mark schwartz @thunen.bsky.social
#EmpireSuicideWatch year long trump 2 hashtag topping the table of contents.
Phenomenal World picking 2026 to launch our first themed issue! LOL at herman mark schwartz @thunen.bsky.social
#EmpireSuicideWatch year long trump 2 hashtag topping the table of contents.
Coming this week: AMERICAN POWER.
For the inaugural issue of Phenomenal World, thirteen essays and interviews on the geopolitical and economic pathologies of the global scene.
Join us: phenomenalworld.org
For the inaugural issue of Phenomenal World, thirteen essays and interviews on the geopolitical and economic pathologies of the global scene.
Join us: phenomenalworld.org
May 26, 2026 at 4:41 PM
“We will restore peace, stability and harmony throughout the world"-Donald Trump
Phenomenal World picking 2026 to launch our first themed issue! LOL at herman mark schwartz @thunen.bsky.social
#EmpireSuicideWatch year long trump 2 hashtag topping the table of contents.
Phenomenal World picking 2026 to launch our first themed issue! LOL at herman mark schwartz @thunen.bsky.social
#EmpireSuicideWatch year long trump 2 hashtag topping the table of contents.
We have a plausible explanation for why the US military underperformed badly against Iran and did far less damage to the Iranian military than it had claimed.
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Pentagon used Elon Musk’s Grok AI to fire missiles at Iran, official says
Top defense official says data centers powering trillionaire’s chatbot are critical to national security
www.independent.co.uk
June 19, 2026 at 10:11 AM
1/8
Reuters: "During Sunday's meeting, the countries' trade ministers agreed to speed up talks on a South Korea-Japan-China free trade agreement deal to promote "regional and global trade", according to a statement released after the meeting."
www.reuters.com/world/china-...
Reuters: "During Sunday's meeting, the countries' trade ministers agreed to speed up talks on a South Korea-Japan-China free trade agreement deal to promote "regional and global trade", according to a statement released after the meeting."
www.reuters.com/world/china-...
China, Japan, South Korea will jointly respond to US tariffs, Chinese state media says
China, Japan and South Korea agreed to jointly respond to U.S. tariffs, a social media account affiliated with Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said on Monday.
www.reuters.com
April 1, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Breaking: Trump has fired the membership of the National Science Board, which is oversees NSF.
I have confirmed separately with multiple now-former members of NSB.
I have confirmed separately with multiple now-former members of NSB.
Ranking Member Lofgren Reacts to Latest Trump Scheme to Undermine Science | House Committee on Science, Space and Technology
The House Committee on Science, Space and Technology
democrats-science.house.gov
April 25, 2026 at 10:43 PM
#empiresuicidewatch 45
Boring. Boring is good in trade policy.
Boring. Boring is good in trade policy.
April 12, 2025 at 7:57 PM
#empiresuicidewatch 45
Boring. Boring is good in trade policy.
Boring. Boring is good in trade policy.
The Trump administration released its latest National Security Strategy--and one thing that can be said is that there is no more pretending. It’s a plan to weaken European unity, to make Europe MAGA, to force Europe to take economic dictation by the USA…. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
The New US National Security Strategy
Trump Says Openly That the US Wants to Dominate Europe and Make it MAGA
open.substack.com
December 5, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Remarkable indeed.
September 1, 2026 at 6:52 AM
He is just itching to join an alliance with Russia, North Korea and China.
And who knows, maybe eventually Iran.
And who knows, maybe eventually Iran.
August 17, 2026 at 6:24 AM
#empiresuicidewatch 127
if you want to contain China you need India. but the war itself is the problem here.
if you want to contain China you need India. but the war itself is the problem here.
US has killed 3 indian sailors!
"Three dead sailors, three struck tankers in four days, and a summoned diplomat: How Washington’s aggressive enforcement of the Iranian blockade has triggered an explosive geopolitical feud with New Delhi"
energygeopoliticsandstatecraft.substack.com/p/us-strikes...
"Three dead sailors, three struck tankers in four days, and a summoned diplomat: How Washington’s aggressive enforcement of the Iranian blockade has triggered an explosive geopolitical feud with New Delhi"
energygeopoliticsandstatecraft.substack.com/p/us-strikes...
US Strikes on Iranian-Bound Tanker Kill Three Indian Sailors, Igniting Diplomatic Row
Three dead sailors, three struck tankers in four days, and a summoned diplomat: How Washington’s aggressive enforcement of the Iranian blockade has triggered an explosive geopolitical feud with New De
energygeopoliticsandstatecraft.substack.com
June 11, 2026 at 5:01 PM
#empiresuicidewatch 127
if you want to contain China you need India. but the war itself is the problem here.
if you want to contain China you need India. but the war itself is the problem here.