Sharon
@sharonk.bsky.social
political theologian at the ministry for the future
interests: classics, history, philosophy, conflict + IR, economics, foreign policy, climate change, east asia (korea + japan)
words: Foreign Policy + LiberalCurrents
interests: classics, history, philosophy, conflict + IR, economics, foreign policy, climate change, east asia (korea + japan)
words: Foreign Policy + LiberalCurrents
Pinned
Reposted by Sharon
I love the suggestion that the AI companion is superior because they have a better memory than my friends do, and, reader, I need my friends to forget some things.
December 18, 2025 at 1:30 PM
I love the suggestion that the AI companion is superior because they have a better memory than my friends do, and, reader, I need my friends to forget some things.
Reposted by Sharon
He doesn't but no one in DoD will say otherwise (much like the shutdown pay stunt there's a bunch of GS-13s and 14s who need to be facing ADA violation criminal penalties when this is over with)
The bigger question is where is the $ coming from
The bigger question is where is the $ coming from
How does the president have independent authority to mail out Christmas bonuses?
December 18, 2025 at 6:21 AM
He doesn't but no one in DoD will say otherwise (much like the shutdown pay stunt there's a bunch of GS-13s and 14s who need to be facing ADA violation criminal penalties when this is over with)
The bigger question is where is the $ coming from
The bigger question is where is the $ coming from
Reposted by Sharon
And then there is a third comedy option, which is that this isn't additional pay at all but rather is taking money from the reconciliation bill that was supposed to be used to plus up the BAH account (presumably to allow BAH increases in line w/higher housing costs) and doling it out in a lump sum
This is assuming they rerun the reprogramming script from the shutdown to give it a facade of legality
They could also go full mask off and just tell Treasury to redirect monies to DoD absent any appropriation or other statutory authority to do so, in which case it's officially the Cool Zone
They could also go full mask off and just tell Treasury to redirect monies to DoD absent any appropriation or other statutory authority to do so, in which case it's officially the Cool Zone
They'll probably just do it and then dare Congress to not retroactively appropriate the funds to make everything square on the back end, but I think it's a lot less likely the appropriators go along with this
Also Congress is nowhere near getting FY26 defense approps out the door so
Also Congress is nowhere near getting FY26 defense approps out the door so
December 18, 2025 at 7:04 AM
And then there is a third comedy option, which is that this isn't additional pay at all but rather is taking money from the reconciliation bill that was supposed to be used to plus up the BAH account (presumably to allow BAH increases in line w/higher housing costs) and doling it out in a lump sum
Reposted by Sharon
Just kidding on the taxes bit possibly, but if they do somehow try to shoehorn it in as BAH does raise the interesting question of how you disburse a "BAH supplement" to people not receiving BAH (ie junior enlisted in the barracks/dorms)
This is literally just a bribe for officers, senior NCOs, and people with families.
December 18, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Just kidding on the taxes bit possibly, but if they do somehow try to shoehorn it in as BAH does raise the interesting question of how you disburse a "BAH supplement" to people not receiving BAH (ie junior enlisted in the barracks/dorms)
Reposted by Sharon
The high cut helmet phenomenon needs to be studied in a lab lol
Meanwhile both sides have infantry wearing 21st Century Operator™ aesthetic with 70s era rifles- M16A1s for Thailand (left) and Type 81 and Type 56s for Cambodia (right)
December 18, 2025 at 1:09 PM
The high cut helmet phenomenon needs to be studied in a lab lol
Reposted by Sharon
Pope Leo XIV names fellow Chicagoan, Bishop Ronald Hicks, as archbishop of New York in his most important U.S. appointment to date.
Pope names fellow Chicagoan, Bishop Ronald Hicks, as new archbishop of New York
Pope Leo XIV has made a significant U.S. appointment by naming Bishop Ronald Hicks as the next archbishop of New York.
bit.ly
December 18, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Pope Leo XIV names fellow Chicagoan, Bishop Ronald Hicks, as archbishop of New York in his most important U.S. appointment to date.
Reposted by Sharon
Excited to share my latest publication in an edited volume from Air University Press, available here:
www.airuniversity.af.edu/AUPress/Disp...
I argue we need to revitalize airpower theory. For too long, we have focused on technological advances and tactical acumen over any overall raison d'etre.
www.airuniversity.af.edu/AUPress/Disp...
I argue we need to revitalize airpower theory. For too long, we have focused on technological advances and tactical acumen over any overall raison d'etre.
December 18, 2025 at 2:40 AM
Excited to share my latest publication in an edited volume from Air University Press, available here:
www.airuniversity.af.edu/AUPress/Disp...
I argue we need to revitalize airpower theory. For too long, we have focused on technological advances and tactical acumen over any overall raison d'etre.
www.airuniversity.af.edu/AUPress/Disp...
I argue we need to revitalize airpower theory. For too long, we have focused on technological advances and tactical acumen over any overall raison d'etre.
Reposted by Sharon
While Pete Hegseth may have missed the Pentagon Christmas sermon today, Franklin Graham offered the Secretary of War a Christmas gift by proclaiming a God of war.
At Pentagon Christmas Service, Franklin Graham Praises “God of War”
Speaking at a “Christmas Worship Service” at the Pentagon, evangelist Franklin Graham celebrated that God is not just a God of love but also of hate and war.
publicwitness.wordandway.org
December 18, 2025 at 3:18 AM
While Pete Hegseth may have missed the Pentagon Christmas sermon today, Franklin Graham offered the Secretary of War a Christmas gift by proclaiming a God of war.
Reposted by Sharon
Matt Walsh has never been true MAGA — Trump has never been bigoted enough for him.
But always worth noting.
But always worth noting.
December 18, 2025 at 3:35 AM
Matt Walsh has never been true MAGA — Trump has never been bigoted enough for him.
But always worth noting.
But always worth noting.
Reposted by Sharon
If it's true that car dealerships are the engine driving millionaire-level Republican wealth, handing out a ~$1500 bonus that all boots qualify for is perhaps the most brazen partisan redistribution of public funds in history
Congratulations equally to every strip club and car dealership within 20 miles of a base.
Trump announces $1,776 'Warrior Dividend' checks for 1,450,000 US military service members; the checks will be in the mail before Christmas.
December 18, 2025 at 3:28 AM
If it's true that car dealerships are the engine driving millionaire-level Republican wealth, handing out a ~$1500 bonus that all boots qualify for is perhaps the most brazen partisan redistribution of public funds in history
Reposted by Sharon
If you are A Troop who is about to receive $1776 maybe please for the love of your NCO just spend it on strippers and alcohol and not drugs. You have a 100% urinalysis test on January 5th.
December 18, 2025 at 3:20 AM
If you are A Troop who is about to receive $1776 maybe please for the love of your NCO just spend it on strippers and alcohol and not drugs. You have a 100% urinalysis test on January 5th.
Reposted by Sharon
Now that I've signed a contract, here's a post about my forthcoming book ("The Head and Not the Tail: The Political Theology of the New Apostolic Reformation"), including some brief chapter descriptions: open.substack.com/pub/stephenw...
December 17, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Now that I've signed a contract, here's a post about my forthcoming book ("The Head and Not the Tail: The Political Theology of the New Apostolic Reformation"), including some brief chapter descriptions: open.substack.com/pub/stephenw...
Reposted by Sharon
I know people don’t get all excited by “good governance,” but it’s not a sign of good governance to be constantly changing your laws and regulations to prevent entirely foreseeable uses of it.
Peace, order, and something something.
Peace, order, and something something.
No big deal, but the Alberta government just increased the fee to submit a citizen initiated petition from $500 to $25, 000. After the separatism initiative was approved, but before Corb Lund's coal mining petition gets re-approved. No political shenanigans going on here.
December 18, 2025 at 2:08 AM
I know people don’t get all excited by “good governance,” but it’s not a sign of good governance to be constantly changing your laws and regulations to prevent entirely foreseeable uses of it.
Peace, order, and something something.
Peace, order, and something something.
Reposted by Sharon
Dershowitz is also totally wrong about how this works. House can only pick somebody who’s in the top three from the Electoral College. A candidate’s electors all abstaining, even setting aside how state binding laws wouldn’t let them do that, would mean they’re not eligible in a contingent election.
Chris, this asshole. The vote in the house is called a "contingent election." Just fuck you you fucking clown.
December 18, 2025 at 2:00 AM
Dershowitz is also totally wrong about how this works. House can only pick somebody who’s in the top three from the Electoral College. A candidate’s electors all abstaining, even setting aside how state binding laws wouldn’t let them do that, would mean they’re not eligible in a contingent election.
Reposted by Sharon
Congratulations equally to every strip club and car dealership within 20 miles of a base.
Trump announces $1,776 'Warrior Dividend' checks for 1,450,000 US military service members; the checks will be in the mail before Christmas.
December 18, 2025 at 3:15 AM
Congratulations equally to every strip club and car dealership within 20 miles of a base.
Reposted by Sharon
It honestly doesn't feel real that we're finally getting our new rail hub *and* it's being properly funded by all 3 levels of government. What a great day for Waterloo Region.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Region of Waterloo receives $211M for new transit hub, hybrid buses, paths and pedestrian bridges | CBC News
Nine public transit projects will see investments from the federal, provincial and regional government totaling $291 million, it was announced Thursday. The federal government will invest $115 million...
www.cbc.ca
December 18, 2025 at 1:19 AM
It honestly doesn't feel real that we're finally getting our new rail hub *and* it's being properly funded by all 3 levels of government. What a great day for Waterloo Region.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Reposted by Sharon
Incoherent moderate voter who wants transgender only for those who don’t want it
I'm a moderate who merely just wants transgender for all who want it
December 18, 2025 at 2:12 AM
Incoherent moderate voter who wants transgender only for those who don’t want it
Reposted by Sharon
It is kinda funny that back in 2016, MAGA was seen as a reaction to “liberal” Silicon Valley, and the “coastal elite” and now the movement has been completely subsumed by those same interests.
December 18, 2025 at 3:10 AM
It is kinda funny that back in 2016, MAGA was seen as a reaction to “liberal” Silicon Valley, and the “coastal elite” and now the movement has been completely subsumed by those same interests.
Reposted by Sharon
I too wish people would read but this right here is the problem with the term “AI”
December 18, 2025 at 1:50 AM
I too wish people would read but this right here is the problem with the term “AI”
Reposted by Sharon
Republicans this is the 8th time this week you've suggested replacing Obamacare with HSAs
December 18, 2025 at 2:16 AM
Republicans this is the 8th time this week you've suggested replacing Obamacare with HSAs
on the plus side, given the size of the US military, going to be a great time for empirical macroeconomists to watch the impact of this on inflation
December 18, 2025 at 3:02 AM
on the plus side, given the size of the US military, going to be a great time for empirical macroeconomists to watch the impact of this on inflation
Reposted by Sharon
Also calling for lower interest rates and more direct cash injection to fight inflation is lol lmao
December 18, 2025 at 2:20 AM
Also calling for lower interest rates and more direct cash injection to fight inflation is lol lmao
it could be worse
warfighter dividend (with lethality characteristics)
warfighter dividend (with lethality characteristics)
"Warrior dividend" kill me
Trump announces tax funded “warrior dividends” for troops
December 18, 2025 at 2:59 AM
it could be worse
warfighter dividend (with lethality characteristics)
warfighter dividend (with lethality characteristics)
Reposted by Sharon
"Warrior dividend" kill me
December 18, 2025 at 2:19 AM
"Warrior dividend" kill me
Reposted by Sharon
These people are living in retirement communities and don’t even know it. It’s incredible. Student enrollment has fallen off a cliff all over coastal communities. Marin county’s median age is as old as Japan!
December 18, 2025 at 2:56 AM
These people are living in retirement communities and don’t even know it. It’s incredible. Student enrollment has fallen off a cliff all over coastal communities. Marin county’s median age is as old as Japan!