Joe Stieb
@joestieb.bsky.social
Asst Prof. of US History at UNC Chapel Hill.
Basketball, running, cats. Go celtics go heels.
Basketball, running, cats. Go celtics go heels.
FWIW, I think choice is essential. I did a highly scaffolded critical book review assignment this year where students chose a book from a curated (but large) list.
These were not academic books but good non-fic books and memoirs relating to modern US that have sold well.
I had at least half of/
These were not academic books but good non-fic books and memoirs relating to modern US that have sold well.
I had at least half of/
I don't know how to teach students who hate reading/writing, when reading/writing are the foundations of what I'm supposed to teach. Yes, I engage with audio technologies, digital narratives, cinema, material culture...but it's all forms of reading. I just don't know what they want out of this.
November 29, 2025 at 3:33 PM
FWIW, I think choice is essential. I did a highly scaffolded critical book review assignment this year where students chose a book from a curated (but large) list.
These were not academic books but good non-fic books and memoirs relating to modern US that have sold well.
I had at least half of/
These were not academic books but good non-fic books and memoirs relating to modern US that have sold well.
I had at least half of/
I’m not saying that this isn’t happening, but this was not my experience at all this semester.
An issue we're seeing at all levels of university is that many students are simply refusing to do *anything*. They aren't reading the syllabus, aren't following assignment guidelines, aren't engaging with material, ignoring deadlines. And this might seem like old news, but it truly has ramped up.
November 29, 2025 at 3:13 PM
I’m not saying that this isn’t happening, but this was not my experience at all this semester.
Reposted by Joe Stieb
murdering millions at the altar of moloch not even for any reason, racist or not, just total apathy
November 28, 2025 at 10:04 AM
murdering millions at the altar of moloch not even for any reason, racist or not, just total apathy
Reposted by Joe Stieb
Team Trump justifies his endless parade of lawless actions as what Americans voted for but it clearly is not. He’s minus 25 and people hate everything he’s doing. There’s no support for any of this, let alone in the illegal manner it’s being imposed.
November 29, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Team Trump justifies his endless parade of lawless actions as what Americans voted for but it clearly is not. He’s minus 25 and people hate everything he’s doing. There’s no support for any of this, let alone in the illegal manner it’s being imposed.
Reposted by Joe Stieb
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 Joe Stieb
Reposted by Joe Stieb
the other other reason I Think that snowden was a russian asset is that only ~1/3rd of what he stole was even NSA, and a lot was DOD/DIA on our military facilities [security], weapons R&D, foreign military capabiltiies, etc. and less than 0.1% of the stolen docs were given to the press. Wonder Why!
![In a paragraph on page three of the documents DIA turned over to VICE News, Leatherwood said “DIA describes the classified discussions [with Congress] concerning the impact of the Snowden disclosures on military plans and operations. The paragraph refers to the assessment of the scope of that impact, and thus warrants classification. Disclosure of the information would degrade the military capabilities of the United States … “
Additionally, Leatherwood said one paragraph on page twelve of the documents was redacted because it refers to “a nuclear program or facility.” Another paragraph on the same page “relates to vulnerabilities or capabilities of systems, installations, infrastructure, projects, plans or protective services related to national security.”
Some information within the remaining pages of the congressional briefing documents was withheld because it pertains to “strength and deployment of forces, troop movements, ship sailings, the location and timing of planned attacks, tactics and strategy, operations of weapons systems and supply logistics” and, within two pages, “scientific or technological capabilities related to national security.”
https://www.vice.com/en/article/exclusive-inside-washingtons-quest-to-bring-down-edward-snowden/](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:j2kmiyhld5btzozgzwy3lc2m/bafkreieawarrmkq3jtrglq4f543xdcy3sei7xsrhbov3lemzcsdlxquz3u@jpeg)
November 28, 2025 at 4:20 AM
the other other reason I Think that snowden was a russian asset is that only ~1/3rd of what he stole was even NSA, and a lot was DOD/DIA on our military facilities [security], weapons R&D, foreign military capabiltiies, etc. and less than 0.1% of the stolen docs were given to the press. Wonder Why!
Reposted by Joe Stieb
this is getting some traction on the other place, but might as well bring it over here
November 28, 2025 at 4:04 AM
this is getting some traction on the other place, but might as well bring it over here
Reposted by Joe Stieb
Straight up war crime
Every single congressional Democrat needs to be out there, right now, insisting that Pete Hegseth resign right now and announcing that he will be held accountable for committing war crimes.
If you do not demand accountability here and now, they will only become more emboldened.
If you do not demand accountability here and now, they will only become more emboldened.
Exclusive: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave an order to “kill everybody” in the first strike on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean. After two men survived, the mission commander ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions, according to two sources.
November 28, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Straight up war crime
Reposted by Joe Stieb
Absolutely. Doing this remotely with drones or bombs is no different than pulling up in a boat and shooting them in the water. If this isn’t an illegal order, hard to imagine what could be.
And unlike some of the finer questions of “was the president’s inherent Art 2 powers in play”, shouldn’t offing people who are hors de combat be clearly known to be an illegal order all the way down the line to the lowest Seaman?
November 28, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Absolutely. Doing this remotely with drones or bombs is no different than pulling up in a boat and shooting them in the water. If this isn’t an illegal order, hard to imagine what could be.
Reposted by Joe Stieb
Honestly, no officer should need advice to decide if "kill these guys flailing around in the water" is a legal order
My understanding is that, at the height of the "drone war on terror" that when the military officer thought the legality of a particular strike was legally dubious, they'd have a CIA guy actually "pull the trigger". I wonder if that is happening in our current "War on Fishing Boats"?
November 29, 2025 at 2:02 AM
Honestly, no officer should need advice to decide if "kill these guys flailing around in the water" is a legal order
Reposted by Joe Stieb
People really, really need to let go of this idea. The ICC is not a Magic Court of Final Justice, and no American president, GOP or Dem, is going to hand over American officers.
I expect the mass pardons that will come, will require us to sign and ratify the Rome Treaty and join the ICC, so they can face justice that way.
1. The men and women of the US military are honorable people and didn't ask for this shitshow.
2. Pretty sure they're not eager to be sent to Venezuela.
3. We are not signatories to the Rome Treaty and the ICC.
2. Pretty sure they're not eager to be sent to Venezuela.
3. We are not signatories to the Rome Treaty and the ICC.
November 29, 2025 at 3:09 AM
People really, really need to let go of this idea. The ICC is not a Magic Court of Final Justice, and no American president, GOP or Dem, is going to hand over American officers.
Reposted by Joe Stieb
omg
Yes, the most important thing is for the Democrats to get into a pointless food fight about handing over US officers to international tribunals.
What could go wrong
Yes, the most important thing is for the Democrats to get into a pointless food fight about handing over US officers to international tribunals.
What could go wrong
A willingness to hand over American war criminals may well be an issue in the 2028 Dem primaries, particularly since the whole rationale for why we don’t participate now is that the American judicial system handles these sorts of problems, which is clearly no longer true.
November 29, 2025 at 3:20 AM
omg
Yes, the most important thing is for the Democrats to get into a pointless food fight about handing over US officers to international tribunals.
What could go wrong
Yes, the most important thing is for the Democrats to get into a pointless food fight about handing over US officers to international tribunals.
What could go wrong
Reposted by Joe Stieb
1. The men and women of the US military are honorable people and didn't ask for this shitshow.
2. Pretty sure they're not eager to be sent to Venezuela.
3. We are not signatories to the Rome Treaty and the ICC.
2. Pretty sure they're not eager to be sent to Venezuela.
3. We are not signatories to the Rome Treaty and the ICC.
The United States military has been reduced to a group of war criminals. Stop the nonsense of thanking them for their service. They're simply a bunch of cheap thugs armed by American taxpayers and out to steal the resources of Venezuela. The International Criminal Court is watching.
November 29, 2025 at 2:58 AM
1. The men and women of the US military are honorable people and didn't ask for this shitshow.
2. Pretty sure they're not eager to be sent to Venezuela.
3. We are not signatories to the Rome Treaty and the ICC.
2. Pretty sure they're not eager to be sent to Venezuela.
3. We are not signatories to the Rome Treaty and the ICC.
Reposted by Joe Stieb
I'm starting to think accounts like this are Republican moles.
Yes, by all means, let's have Democrats campaign on going to the UNSC and voting to send our own officers outside of the US justice system to foreign courts.
Yes, by all means, let's have Democrats campaign on going to the UNSC and voting to send our own officers outside of the US justice system to foreign courts.
We could also, in theory, abstain or even vote in favor of a binding UNSC resolution creating a tribunal on extrajudicial killings in the Caribbean or something. There’s a path to submitting to international accountability.
November 29, 2025 at 3:27 AM
I'm starting to think accounts like this are Republican moles.
Yes, by all means, let's have Democrats campaign on going to the UNSC and voting to send our own officers outside of the US justice system to foreign courts.
Yes, by all means, let's have Democrats campaign on going to the UNSC and voting to send our own officers outside of the US justice system to foreign courts.
Reposted by Joe Stieb
Pipe dreams don't change things. I've said point-blank that I think what happened in the boat strikes is a war crime, but I don't think "let's hand over US officers to foreign courts" is a winning Dem message, even if it makes people on Bluesky feel brave and virtuous and good about themselves.
Part of the reason to speak out, even if it’s a pipe dream, is that Americans generally aren’t keen on letting a pundit class euphemize international accountability for war crimes as some kind of nebulous international control of U.S. military personnel generally.
Because if there's one thing Americans of all classes love, it's arguing over how much power over US military personnel we should give to international courts
I mean, do you guys *know* any voters?
I mean, do you guys *know* any voters?
November 29, 2025 at 3:54 AM
Pipe dreams don't change things. I've said point-blank that I think what happened in the boat strikes is a war crime, but I don't think "let's hand over US officers to foreign courts" is a winning Dem message, even if it makes people on Bluesky feel brave and virtuous and good about themselves.
Reposted by Joe Stieb
Just got the word that the Trump administration is throwing a brilliant medical researcher friend of mine out of the country because they’re Chinese. Insane and unreal. Literally doing research in the US to help the US
November 29, 2025 at 3:55 AM
Just got the word that the Trump administration is throwing a brilliant medical researcher friend of mine out of the country because they’re Chinese. Insane and unreal. Literally doing research in the US to help the US
Reposted by Joe Stieb
Hagueseth
Exclusive: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave an order to “kill everybody” in the first strike on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean. After two men survived, the mission commander ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions, according to two sources.
Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order to kill all crew members in the Sept. 2 strike on a suspected drug boat. Navy SEALs fired a second missile.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 28, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Hagueseth
Reposted by Joe Stieb
Democrats should commit now to disregarding any presidential pardons issued before charges have been filed. Whether or not Trump tries to sign blanket pardons for officials like Hegseth, they should be arrested as soon as Trump leaves office.
November 28, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Democrats should commit now to disregarding any presidential pardons issued before charges have been filed. Whether or not Trump tries to sign blanket pardons for officials like Hegseth, they should be arrested as soon as Trump leaves office.
Reposted by Joe Stieb
To put a finer point on this whole thing: "Two people with direct knowledge of the operation" — presumably uniformed military leaders — are accusing the U.S. Secretary of Defense of personally ordering specific war crimes. That's a historic accusation.
Textbook war crime/extrajudicial killing
"Two survivors were clinging to the smoldering wreck. The Special Operations commander overseeing the Sept. 2 attack ... ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions."
Report by @alexhorton.bsky.social @ellenwapo.bsky.social o.bsky.social
"Two survivors were clinging to the smoldering wreck. The Special Operations commander overseeing the Sept. 2 attack ... ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions."
Report by @alexhorton.bsky.social @ellenwapo.bsky.social o.bsky.social
Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order to kill all crew members in the Sept. 2 strike on a suspected drug boat. Navy SEALs fired a second missile.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 28, 2025 at 11:48 PM
To put a finer point on this whole thing: "Two people with direct knowledge of the operation" — presumably uniformed military leaders — are accusing the U.S. Secretary of Defense of personally ordering specific war crimes. That's a historic accusation.
Reposted by Joe Stieb
In case you’re wondering why Pete Hegseth is freaking out about a congressional video reminding the military not to participate in illegal orders:
To put a finer point on this whole thing: "Two people with direct knowledge of the operation" — presumably uniformed military leaders — are accusing the U.S. Secretary of Defense of personally ordering specific war crimes. That's a historic accusation.
Textbook war crime/extrajudicial killing
"Two survivors were clinging to the smoldering wreck. The Special Operations commander overseeing the Sept. 2 attack ... ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions."
Report by @alexhorton.bsky.social @ellenwapo.bsky.social o.bsky.social
"Two survivors were clinging to the smoldering wreck. The Special Operations commander overseeing the Sept. 2 attack ... ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions."
Report by @alexhorton.bsky.social @ellenwapo.bsky.social o.bsky.social
November 29, 2025 at 12:14 AM
In case you’re wondering why Pete Hegseth is freaking out about a congressional video reminding the military not to participate in illegal orders:
Reposted by Joe Stieb
Donald Trump incited an insurrection on J6. He should never have been able to run for public office again. What a failure of justice to not hold this man accountable.
November 28, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Donald Trump incited an insurrection on J6. He should never have been able to run for public office again. What a failure of justice to not hold this man accountable.
Reposted by Joe Stieb
Pete Hagueseth. We should make it a thing.
Hagueseth
Exclusive: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave an order to “kill everybody” in the first strike on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean. After two men survived, the mission commander ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions, according to two sources.
November 28, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Pete Hagueseth. We should make it a thing.
Reposted by Joe Stieb
this is just gutter racism
Stephen Miller is now arguing that assimilation is fundamentally impossible and that certain cultures are not compatible with Western civilization
November 28, 2025 at 12:59 PM
this is just gutter racism
Reposted by Joe Stieb
A reminder that the current SECDEF caught the eye of the president by championing the pardoning of American war criminals — men whose own units testified against them, and who were convicted by military juries
He should never have been nominated for, let alone confirmed in, this job
He should never have been nominated for, let alone confirmed in, this job
November 28, 2025 at 7:28 PM
A reminder that the current SECDEF caught the eye of the president by championing the pardoning of American war criminals — men whose own units testified against them, and who were convicted by military juries
He should never have been nominated for, let alone confirmed in, this job
He should never have been nominated for, let alone confirmed in, this job