Kenneth Silber
@kensil.bsky.social
Writer, editor, fact-checker. Politics, science, history. Based in NJ. https://substack.com/@kensilber https://www.splicetoday.com/authors/Kenneth%20Silber https://www.eriecanalbook.com/
ksilber65[at]proton.me
ksilber65[at]proton.me
Reposted by Kenneth Silber
I write of troubled times. www.splicetoday.com/politics-and...
Oppressions Across Centuries
Readings on historic and current attacks on liberty. || Kenneth Silber
www.splicetoday.com
February 11, 2026 at 12:54 PM
I write of troubled times. www.splicetoday.com/politics-and...
I write of troubled times. www.splicetoday.com/politics-and...
Oppressions Across Centuries
Readings on historic and current attacks on liberty. || Kenneth Silber
www.splicetoday.com
February 11, 2026 at 12:54 PM
I write of troubled times. www.splicetoday.com/politics-and...
Reposted by Kenneth Silber
Yep. Many of us who weren't sufficiently Trump-curious had to find other places to work.
The libertarian movement had one job, and it failed, and now it wants credit for success.
The libertarian movement had one job, and it failed, and now it wants credit for success.
Yes, some libertarians *did* try to warn you about Trump. But you canceled them for it.
February 9, 2026 at 2:54 PM
Yep. Many of us who weren't sufficiently Trump-curious had to find other places to work.
The libertarian movement had one job, and it failed, and now it wants credit for success.
The libertarian movement had one job, and it failed, and now it wants credit for success.
Reposted by Kenneth Silber
Epstein files show a complicated relationship with science and journalism
Jeffrey Epstein aggressively sought access to publishers, mentions of Scientific American and other media in Department of Justice files show
www.scientificamerican.com/article/epst...
Jeffrey Epstein aggressively sought access to publishers, mentions of Scientific American and other media in Department of Justice files show
www.scientificamerican.com/article/epst...
Epstein files show a complicated relationship with science and journalism
Jeffrey Epstein aggressively sought access to publishers, mentions of Scientific American and other media in Department of Justice files show
www.scientificamerican.com
February 5, 2026 at 7:11 PM
Epstein files show a complicated relationship with science and journalism
Jeffrey Epstein aggressively sought access to publishers, mentions of Scientific American and other media in Department of Justice files show
www.scientificamerican.com/article/epst...
Jeffrey Epstein aggressively sought access to publishers, mentions of Scientific American and other media in Department of Justice files show
www.scientificamerican.com/article/epst...
What would personal immortality be like? Gardner contemplated various theological debates about the afterlife, noting for example that Muslims and Christians have broadly differed on whether there’ll be sex there (the former saying yes, the latter no). www.splicetoday.com/writing/memo...
Memories of Souls and Particles
Recalling Martin Gardner’s contemplations of the afterlife. || Kenneth Silber
www.splicetoday.com
February 5, 2026 at 5:06 PM
What would personal immortality be like? Gardner contemplated various theological debates about the afterlife, noting for example that Muslims and Christians have broadly differed on whether there’ll be sex there (the former saying yes, the latter no). www.splicetoday.com/writing/memo...
Background: I reviewed @lkatfield.bsky.social's book recently. www.splicetoday.com/politics-and...
Understanding MAGA’s Furious Minds
Laura K. Field examines Trumpism as an intellectual movement. || Kenneth Silber
www.splicetoday.com
February 5, 2026 at 4:55 PM
Background: I reviewed @lkatfield.bsky.social's book recently. www.splicetoday.com/politics-and...
In keeping with the trend of US govt ceasing to be a reliable info source. abcnews.go.com/Politics/wir...
CIA ends publication of its popular World Factbook reference tool
The CIA is ending the publication of its popular World Factbook reference manual
abcnews.go.com
February 5, 2026 at 2:45 PM
In keeping with the trend of US govt ceasing to be a reliable info source. abcnews.go.com/Politics/wir...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0... Insightful by @lkatfield.bsky.social.
The Intellectual Edgelords of the GOP
The mainstreaming of transgressive ideas is the culmination of a yearslong conservative project.
www.theatlantic.com
February 5, 2026 at 2:38 PM
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0... Insightful by @lkatfield.bsky.social.
Notes on immortality. www.splicetoday.com/writing/memo...
Memories of Souls and Particles
Recalling Martin Gardner’s contemplations of the afterlife. || Kenneth Silber
www.splicetoday.com
February 5, 2026 at 11:30 AM
Notes on immortality. www.splicetoday.com/writing/memo...
Reposted by Kenneth Silber
R/P @cdelawalla.bsky.social from an Atlantic article by Peter Drucker.
cdn.theatlantic.com/media/archiv...
"What about the funding?" is the wrong question.
Science needs funds, but it needs democracy first and foremost.
cdn.theatlantic.com/media/archiv...
"What about the funding?" is the wrong question.
Science needs funds, but it needs democracy first and foremost.
February 4, 2026 at 6:40 PM
R/P @cdelawalla.bsky.social from an Atlantic article by Peter Drucker.
cdn.theatlantic.com/media/archiv...
"What about the funding?" is the wrong question.
Science needs funds, but it needs democracy first and foremost.
cdn.theatlantic.com/media/archiv...
"What about the funding?" is the wrong question.
Science needs funds, but it needs democracy first and foremost.
Reposted by Kenneth Silber
Sometimes I think, "DHS can't be lying about ALL of these incidents, right?" Well, just about EVERY time, this is what happens:
Remember the incident where DHS claimed officers shot a guy because he attacked them with a snow shovel?
Yeah. It didn't happen. They shot him through the door of his own home. And then arrested him. And then lied about it. Again.
And they almost shot some kids in the process.
Yeah. It didn't happen. They shot him through the door of his own home. And then arrested him. And then lied about it. Again.
And they almost shot some kids in the process.
They just blindly shot through the fucking door.
"Additional photographs show damage consistent with a bullet fragment lodged in a bedroom wall down the hallway — suggesting it traveled between a mattress and a portable crib in a room where several small children sleep."
"Additional photographs show damage consistent with a bullet fragment lodged in a bedroom wall down the hallway — suggesting it traveled between a mattress and a portable crib in a room where several small children sleep."
February 3, 2026 at 11:46 PM
Sometimes I think, "DHS can't be lying about ALL of these incidents, right?" Well, just about EVERY time, this is what happens:
Reposted by Kenneth Silber
Walter Olson: The fiscal effects of immigrants, both legal and illegal, on federal budgets builds upon a National Academies model. First of its kind in 30 years, it finds that the fiscal effects of immigration remain strongly positive and have helped keep federal deficits from being even higher.
Cato study: Immigrants reduced deficits by $14.5 trillion since 1994
Immigrants have cut deficits by nearly one third over three decades.
open.substack.com
February 3, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Walter Olson: The fiscal effects of immigrants, both legal and illegal, on federal budgets builds upon a National Academies model. First of its kind in 30 years, it finds that the fiscal effects of immigration remain strongly positive and have helped keep federal deficits from being even higher.
Dystopian. www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...
DHS confirms measles cases at Texas immigration detention center
Two people detained at the South Texas Family Residential Center have "active measles infections," DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin told USA TODAY.
www.usatoday.com
February 2, 2026 at 9:23 AM
Dystopian. www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...
"The emerging global system is one in which three nuclear-armed leaders, insulated from dissent, pursue risky gambits." www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
The Personalist Global Order
When individual whims drive great-power policy.
www.foreignaffairs.com
January 31, 2026 at 12:45 PM
"The emerging global system is one in which three nuclear-armed leaders, insulated from dissent, pursue risky gambits." www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
They're listed at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kent_St...
Kent State shootings - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
January 30, 2026 at 7:38 PM
They're listed at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kent_St...
Right-wing nationalism also not good for space programs. www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...
Israel's space program is falling behind – just as the global space race accelerates
Internal Documents and Testimony Obtained by Haaretz Show How Years of Policy Decisions Hollowed Out Israel's Space Capabilities – Just as the Global Sector Enters a Period of Rapid Growth
www.haaretz.com
January 30, 2026 at 7:34 PM
Right-wing nationalism also not good for space programs. www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...
Reposted by Kenneth Silber
DOJ has since killed this link. This is what was there:
January 30, 2026 at 6:28 PM
DOJ has since killed this link. This is what was there:
The National Science Foundation will receive $8.75 billion, compared to $9.06 billion last year, not the administration’s proposed $3.9 billion. This means, for one thing, that the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) will not be crippled. www.splicetoday.com/politics-and...
Glimpses of a Better Future
Notes on some positive developments. || Kenneth Silber
www.splicetoday.com
January 30, 2026 at 3:13 PM
The National Science Foundation will receive $8.75 billion, compared to $9.06 billion last year, not the administration’s proposed $3.9 billion. This means, for one thing, that the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) will not be crippled. www.splicetoday.com/politics-and...
I look at some good news that might be overlooked.
www.splicetoday.com/politics-and...
www.splicetoday.com/politics-and...
Glimpses of a Better Future
Notes on some positive developments. || Kenneth Silber
www.splicetoday.com
January 30, 2026 at 12:05 PM
I look at some good news that might be overlooked.
www.splicetoday.com/politics-and...
www.splicetoday.com/politics-and...
Right-wing nationalism isn't good for science anywhere. www.jpost.com/science/arti...
Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities degrading | The Jerusalem Post
The Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities warns of the danger of losing independence and being left out of research collaborations.
www.jpost.com
January 27, 2026 at 1:16 AM
Right-wing nationalism isn't good for science anywhere. www.jpost.com/science/arti...
Prediction market bearish on Noem. www.predictit.org/markets/deta...
January 26, 2026 at 6:22 PM
Prediction market bearish on Noem. www.predictit.org/markets/deta...
Reposted by Kenneth Silber
General Tony Thomas is a retired general of United States Army and former commander of US Special Operations Command.
He participated in numerous combat operations; Operation Urgent Fury 1983, Operation Just Cause 1989, Gulf War 1991, and since 2001 Iraq & Afghanistan.
Replying to Stephen Miller:
He participated in numerous combat operations; Operation Urgent Fury 1983, Operation Just Cause 1989, Gulf War 1991, and since 2001 Iraq & Afghanistan.
Replying to Stephen Miller:
January 26, 2026 at 3:29 PM
General Tony Thomas is a retired general of United States Army and former commander of US Special Operations Command.
He participated in numerous combat operations; Operation Urgent Fury 1983, Operation Just Cause 1989, Gulf War 1991, and since 2001 Iraq & Afghanistan.
Replying to Stephen Miller:
He participated in numerous combat operations; Operation Urgent Fury 1983, Operation Just Cause 1989, Gulf War 1991, and since 2001 Iraq & Afghanistan.
Replying to Stephen Miller:
Reposted by Kenneth Silber
This analysis deploying the Fraenkel framework might be single best thing written on the Pretti execution thus far. At @theunpopulist.net. Must must read:
open.substack.com/pub/theunpop...
open.substack.com/pub/theunpop...
In Trump's 'Dual State,' Dissenters Face Extrajudicial Executions, Loyalists Enjoy Protections
America's system of justice has fundamentally broken because the regime believes it can justify attacks on citizens via lies rather than in a court of law
open.substack.com
January 25, 2026 at 7:16 PM
This analysis deploying the Fraenkel framework might be single best thing written on the Pretti execution thus far. At @theunpopulist.net. Must must read:
open.substack.com/pub/theunpop...
open.substack.com/pub/theunpop...
Reposted by Kenneth Silber
Saying there must be trials isn't just an emotive aspiration.
Congress can:
- Create a new court (complying w/ 6A jury vicinage)
- Give it jurisdiction over defined category of crimes
- Also create dedicated prosecutors for the same
- Strip SCOTUS of appellate jurisdiction
It can be done.
Congress can:
- Create a new court (complying w/ 6A jury vicinage)
- Give it jurisdiction over defined category of crimes
- Also create dedicated prosecutors for the same
- Strip SCOTUS of appellate jurisdiction
It can be done.
January 25, 2026 at 7:28 AM
Saying there must be trials isn't just an emotive aspiration.
Congress can:
- Create a new court (complying w/ 6A jury vicinage)
- Give it jurisdiction over defined category of crimes
- Also create dedicated prosecutors for the same
- Strip SCOTUS of appellate jurisdiction
It can be done.
Congress can:
- Create a new court (complying w/ 6A jury vicinage)
- Give it jurisdiction over defined category of crimes
- Also create dedicated prosecutors for the same
- Strip SCOTUS of appellate jurisdiction
It can be done.
Reposted by Kenneth Silber
Another brick of a piece by M Gessen. Few voices are as indispensable now.
This piece by M. Gessen should have been co-signed by the entire NYT editorial board. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/24/o...
Opinion | State Terror Has Arrived
www.nytimes.com
January 25, 2026 at 1:50 AM
Another brick of a piece by M Gessen. Few voices are as indispensable now.