Andy Vitek
@avitek.bsky.social
Political science professor. Teacher/researcher of terrorism and extremism with a focus on the far-right.
Posting through it.
#BillsMafia
Posting through it.
#BillsMafia
Pinned
Andy Vitek
@avitek.bsky.social
· Feb 28
I seem to have gotten an influx of new followers. Welcome friends! To those hoping for sober and insightful academic analysis: I am so sorry.
You really, really don't.
February 11, 2026 at 2:32 AM
You really, really don't.
I study primarily far-right extremism for a living, and that is still probably in my bottom 5.
February 11, 2026 at 2:21 AM
I study primarily far-right extremism for a living, and that is still probably in my bottom 5.
I am well aware. I also think that, despite any disagreements between us, Will is a really smart guy and can tell the difference between bad faith shitheads and people presenting legit criticism. I just wish he would spend more time blocking the former and engaging with the latter.
February 11, 2026 at 1:05 AM
I am well aware. I also think that, despite any disagreements between us, Will is a really smart guy and can tell the difference between bad faith shitheads and people presenting legit criticism. I just wish he would spend more time blocking the former and engaging with the latter.
And I'm sure the left was crushed by the loss of such a luminary.
February 11, 2026 at 12:01 AM
And I'm sure the left was crushed by the loss of such a luminary.
Reposted by Andy Vitek
Hey, Bluesky history nerds! Who are your favorite pre-modern historians on here?
February 10, 2026 at 10:51 PM
Hey, Bluesky history nerds! Who are your favorite pre-modern historians on here?
Ok, that's solid burn.
February 10, 2026 at 11:59 PM
Ok, that's solid burn.
Not sure yet, still on season 1. Last night I watched Dale Cooper talk about Tibet and then solve crime by throwing rocks at bottles and I couldn't tell if I was having a stroke.
February 10, 2026 at 11:50 PM
Not sure yet, still on season 1. Last night I watched Dale Cooper talk about Tibet and then solve crime by throwing rocks at bottles and I couldn't tell if I was having a stroke.
I'll check it out presuming I finish 'Twin Peaks' with a functioning frontal lobe.
February 10, 2026 at 11:37 PM
I'll check it out presuming I finish 'Twin Peaks' with a functioning frontal lobe.
I would go into battle with Mikhail.
February 10, 2026 at 11:31 PM
I would go into battle with Mikhail.
I've never even watched Gundam but I instantly feel a deep kinship with this man.
February 10, 2026 at 11:27 PM
I've never even watched Gundam but I instantly feel a deep kinship with this man.
I make no demands of anyone, let alone Will. But if he wants to be taken seriously, and I don't it's out of pocket to say that he does, I think he should make a better effort to meaningfully engage with criticism. And I'm not saying I'm innocent, we can all be better on that front.
February 10, 2026 at 10:27 PM
I make no demands of anyone, let alone Will. But if he wants to be taken seriously, and I don't it's out of pocket to say that he does, I think he should make a better effort to meaningfully engage with criticism. And I'm not saying I'm innocent, we can all be better on that front.
I agree, he does deal with a lot of bad faith attacks. Hell I'd wager you and I both contend with more than a few bad faith attacks too. But you're acting like the existence of bad faith attacks is grounds for not engaging with criticism. Maybe that's not your intent, but that's how it's coming off.
February 10, 2026 at 10:25 PM
I agree, he does deal with a lot of bad faith attacks. Hell I'd wager you and I both contend with more than a few bad faith attacks too. But you're acting like the existence of bad faith attacks is grounds for not engaging with criticism. Maybe that's not your intent, but that's how it's coming off.
To be clear, I'm not mad at you Will. In fact I really admire the work you've been doing on the ground lately. But I'll be real, I think people would get mad at you a lot less if you simply were less combative in the face of criticism. Hell that's something we could all stand to do better on.
February 10, 2026 at 9:53 PM
To be clear, I'm not mad at you Will. In fact I really admire the work you've been doing on the ground lately. But I'll be real, I think people would get mad at you a lot less if you simply were less combative in the face of criticism. Hell that's something we could all stand to do better on.
The head shot.
If you spend all day rage baiting and celebrating when people you harass block you, you have mommy issues I’m sorry to say
February 10, 2026 at 8:58 PM
The head shot.
Reposted by Andy Vitek
CALL FOR CHAPTERS!
Me and @grahammacklin.bsky.social are putting together an edited collection looking at the use of pseudoscientific ideas by extremist movements. If you are interested, please send us your abstracts at this link: forms.gle/mAUtpDGNEj9i...
Me and @grahammacklin.bsky.social are putting together an edited collection looking at the use of pseudoscientific ideas by extremist movements. If you are interested, please send us your abstracts at this link: forms.gle/mAUtpDGNEj9i...
February 10, 2026 at 7:38 PM
CALL FOR CHAPTERS!
Me and @grahammacklin.bsky.social are putting together an edited collection looking at the use of pseudoscientific ideas by extremist movements. If you are interested, please send us your abstracts at this link: forms.gle/mAUtpDGNEj9i...
Me and @grahammacklin.bsky.social are putting together an edited collection looking at the use of pseudoscientific ideas by extremist movements. If you are interested, please send us your abstracts at this link: forms.gle/mAUtpDGNEj9i...
I'm glad to hear that! I fully admit that I don't follow all his posts, it's just something I've seen from him in the past. And hell, if he's not doing it much anymore that just means he's doing exactly what I think we all need to do more of in my initial post :)
February 10, 2026 at 7:52 PM
I'm glad to hear that! I fully admit that I don't follow all his posts, it's just something I've seen from him in the past. And hell, if he's not doing it much anymore that just means he's doing exactly what I think we all need to do more of in my initial post :)
Joe, you and I both call out bad takes from people who don't know what they're talking about on this platform all the time. Let's not pretend like we prefer them digging in their heels and doubling down as opposed to actually listening to what we have to say. Like come on.
February 10, 2026 at 7:46 PM
Joe, you and I both call out bad takes from people who don't know what they're talking about on this platform all the time. Let's not pretend like we prefer them digging in their heels and doubling down as opposed to actually listening to what we have to say. Like come on.
Yea this is unfortunately kinda bullshit. Yes Trump won that district by 13 in 20204 but Democrats have been winning that State Senate seat by double digits for decades.
February 10, 2026 at 7:39 PM
Yea this is unfortunately kinda bullshit. Yes Trump won that district by 13 in 20204 but Democrats have been winning that State Senate seat by double digits for decades.
There is so funny math here. Yes Trump won there but that state seat has been held by Democrats for decades.
February 10, 2026 at 7:37 PM
There is so funny math here. Yes Trump won there but that state seat has been held by Democrats for decades.
Joe, you're literally a teacher. Would you not want folks to ask you to teach them things you know about?
February 10, 2026 at 7:09 PM
Joe, you're literally a teacher. Would you not want folks to ask you to teach them things you know about?
Maybe one or two lean a bit in that direction, but most are pretty reasonable. Like how many times have you had to correct someone super out of their depth trying to explain your area of expertise to you? I bet you would respect them a great deal more if they responded like this.
February 10, 2026 at 6:49 PM
Maybe one or two lean a bit in that direction, but most are pretty reasonable. Like how many times have you had to correct someone super out of their depth trying to explain your area of expertise to you? I bet you would respect them a great deal more if they responded like this.
Obviously Will's failures on this front are well documented but this is a lesson all of us could internalize better.
I don't care who you are, you're going to have bad takes. Probably more than a few of them. I sure as hell have had my share. Have the courage and maturity to own it and move on.
I don't care who you are, you're going to have bad takes. Probably more than a few of them. I sure as hell have had my share. Have the courage and maturity to own it and move on.
@whstancil.bsky.social when was the last time, and to whom, you have said any of the following:
“oh, i was wrong”
“my bad, i’m sorry”
“please, teach me”
“thank you for teaching me”
“i am grateful for having this difficult conversation”
“understood i’ll do my best”
“forgive me for my mistakes”
“oh, i was wrong”
“my bad, i’m sorry”
“please, teach me”
“thank you for teaching me”
“i am grateful for having this difficult conversation”
“understood i’ll do my best”
“forgive me for my mistakes”
February 10, 2026 at 6:47 PM
Obviously Will's failures on this front are well documented but this is a lesson all of us could internalize better.
I don't care who you are, you're going to have bad takes. Probably more than a few of them. I sure as hell have had my share. Have the courage and maturity to own it and move on.
I don't care who you are, you're going to have bad takes. Probably more than a few of them. I sure as hell have had my share. Have the courage and maturity to own it and move on.