Stephen Walt
@stephenwalt.bsky.social
Harvard professor, realist, FP columnist. Tennis enthusiast, amateur musician, proud dad, & grateful husband. Troubled by the state of the world & looking for solutions. For speaking engagements contact John Bute at [email protected]
Reposted by Stephen Walt
The EPA decision denying that greenhouse gases are harmful is a giant announcement to the entire world that America is in the hands of ignorant people for whom greed #trumps truth. Another fundamental blow to US influence and prestige.
February 12, 2026 at 8:01 PM
The EPA decision denying that greenhouse gases are harmful is a giant announcement to the entire world that America is in the hands of ignorant people for whom greed #trumps truth. Another fundamental blow to US influence and prestige.
Reposted by Stephen Walt
My team at the Crowd Counting Consortium (@djpressman.bsky.social, Soha Hammam, & Chris Shay) has shared a big data update, covering all recorded US protests through Jan 2026. Some key takeaways 🧵:
February 12, 2026 at 6:19 PM
My team at the Crowd Counting Consortium (@djpressman.bsky.social, Soha Hammam, & Chris Shay) has shared a big data update, covering all recorded US protests through Jan 2026. Some key takeaways 🧵:
#Valentine'sDay is almost here, which means it is time for me to re-upt what could be my most important contribution to human happiness. foreignpolicy.com/2009/02/13/i...
IR Theory for Lovers: A Valentine’s Guide
Important international relations insights for people in love.
foreignpolicy.com
February 12, 2026 at 3:41 PM
#Valentine'sDay is almost here, which means it is time for me to re-upt what could be my most important contribution to human happiness. foreignpolicy.com/2009/02/13/i...
Reposted by Stephen Walt
It’s raining stupid.
This is what happens when you have the former Fox News morning team running our government…..🤦♂️
A U.S. official confirms to Fox News that earlier this week the U.S. military shot down a party balloon near El Paso, thinking it was a foreign drone, leading to the unexpected airspace closure.
A U.S. official confirms to Fox News that earlier this week the U.S. military shot down a party balloon near El Paso, thinking it was a foreign drone, leading to the unexpected airspace closure.
February 11, 2026 at 5:50 PM
It’s raining stupid.
Given all the conspiracy theories that are out there these days, I'm reposting a 16 year-old FP column explaining the difference between a conspiracy theory and a serious, legitimate effort to analyze the influence of elite policy networks. foreignpolicy.com/2010/03/26/o...
On 'conspiracy theories'
foreignpolicy.com
February 11, 2026 at 3:30 PM
Given all the conspiracy theories that are out there these days, I'm reposting a 16 year-old FP column explaining the difference between a conspiracy theory and a serious, legitimate effort to analyze the influence of elite policy networks. foreignpolicy.com/2010/03/26/o...
Reposted by Stephen Walt
Every single president of the United States since Lyndon Baines Johnson has expressed public and private opposition to Israeli annexation of the occupied West Bank, but every single president since LBJ has also greenlit unconditional support while Israel annexes it anyway.
Exclusive: Trump says he opposes Israeli annexation steps in West Bank
"We have enough things to think about now. We don't need to be dealing with the West Bank."
www.axios.com
February 10, 2026 at 11:59 PM
Every single president of the United States since Lyndon Baines Johnson has expressed public and private opposition to Israeli annexation of the occupied West Bank, but every single president since LBJ has also greenlit unconditional support while Israel annexes it anyway.
Reposted by Stephen Walt
Harvard isn’t just fighting for Harvard- they are fighting for our democracy.
If Harvard crumbles, so to will so many of our nation’s strongest institutions.
Thanks for everything you, and so many others, are doing to lead the resistance!
We need your courage & clear moral compass now more than ever
If Harvard crumbles, so to will so many of our nation’s strongest institutions.
Thanks for everything you, and so many others, are doing to lead the resistance!
We need your courage & clear moral compass now more than ever
"Silence is not neutrality; it is permission."
Wise words on what higher education needs right now from
@arneduncan.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Wise words on what higher education needs right now from
@arneduncan.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
www.washingtonpost.com
February 10, 2026 at 3:35 PM
Harvard isn’t just fighting for Harvard- they are fighting for our democracy.
If Harvard crumbles, so to will so many of our nation’s strongest institutions.
Thanks for everything you, and so many others, are doing to lead the resistance!
We need your courage & clear moral compass now more than ever
If Harvard crumbles, so to will so many of our nation’s strongest institutions.
Thanks for everything you, and so many others, are doing to lead the resistance!
We need your courage & clear moral compass now more than ever
Grateful for the opportunity to discuss my forthcoming FOREIGN AFFAIRS article on the US as a "predatory hegemon" on Ian Masters' BACKGROUND BRIEFING. You can find the link here: www.backgroundbriefing.org
Background Briefing
www.backgroundbriefing.org
February 10, 2026 at 1:56 PM
Grateful for the opportunity to discuss my forthcoming FOREIGN AFFAIRS article on the US as a "predatory hegemon" on Ian Masters' BACKGROUND BRIEFING. You can find the link here: www.backgroundbriefing.org
Reposted by Stephen Walt
This is so idiotic that words fail me. Fortunately they did not fail @ronfournier.bsky.social. open.substack.com/pub/convulsi...
Howe Dumb
Trump threatens the Gordie Howe International Bridge, dumping on Canada (and Michigan) again.
open.substack.com
February 10, 2026 at 2:25 AM
This is so idiotic that words fail me. Fortunately they did not fail @ronfournier.bsky.social. open.substack.com/pub/convulsi...
Reposted by Stephen Walt
The Champions League final in Germany last year opened with Linkin Park
February 9, 2026 at 2:31 AM
The Champions League final in Germany last year opened with Linkin Park
The only response to a #PredatoryHegemon.
Europe -- are you listening? There's really only one way to deal with a bully . . . www.theguardian.com/books/2026/f...
Want to stop Trump bullying your country? Retaliate
Faced with economic coercion, Europe has trodden carefully. My experience tells me that’s not enough
www.theguardian.com
February 9, 2026 at 12:55 AM
The only response to a #PredatoryHegemon.
Reposted by Stephen Walt
Europe -- are you listening? There's really only one way to deal with a bully . . . www.theguardian.com/books/2026/f...
Want to stop Trump bullying your country? Retaliate
Faced with economic coercion, Europe has trodden carefully. My experience tells me that’s not enough
www.theguardian.com
February 9, 2026 at 12:37 AM
Europe -- are you listening? There's really only one way to deal with a bully . . . www.theguardian.com/books/2026/f...
Reposted by Stephen Walt
Yea, nobody who has a “Trump account” for their kids should expect it to be a sound investment 🤦🏼♀️ (that commercial)
February 8, 2026 at 11:35 PM
Yea, nobody who has a “Trump account” for their kids should expect it to be a sound investment 🤦🏼♀️ (that commercial)
Reposted by Stephen Walt
And the women’s team:
- the daughter of Chinese immigrants who rebuffed an aggressive campaign to get her to skate for China
- the daughter of an Italian immigrant embryologist mom who named her after a Michelle Pfeiffer character
- the pansexual daughter of a Texas cop (who is her biggest fan)
- the daughter of Chinese immigrants who rebuffed an aggressive campaign to get her to skate for China
- the daughter of an Italian immigrant embryologist mom who named her after a Michelle Pfeiffer character
- the pansexual daughter of a Texas cop (who is her biggest fan)
This year, the U.S. Olympic Figure Skating Men's Team is represented by:
• the son of Ukrainian Junior World Champion skaters in Florida who like Papa John's
• the son of Russian World Champion skaters in Connecticut
• the son of Uzbek Olympic skaters in Virginia
That's what makes America great.
• the son of Ukrainian Junior World Champion skaters in Florida who like Papa John's
• the son of Russian World Champion skaters in Connecticut
• the son of Uzbek Olympic skaters in Virginia
That's what makes America great.
This year, the U.S. Olympic Figure Skating Pairs Team is represented by:
• A Japanese and Chinese Hawaiian
• A Michigan guy (You'll notice a trend here)
• A Hong Kong and Taiwanese Texan
• A Japanese American and Army soldier who is studying to become a chaplain!
That's what makes America great.
• A Japanese and Chinese Hawaiian
• A Michigan guy (You'll notice a trend here)
• A Hong Kong and Taiwanese Texan
• A Japanese American and Army soldier who is studying to become a chaplain!
That's what makes America great.
February 8, 2026 at 10:12 PM
And the women’s team:
- the daughter of Chinese immigrants who rebuffed an aggressive campaign to get her to skate for China
- the daughter of an Italian immigrant embryologist mom who named her after a Michelle Pfeiffer character
- the pansexual daughter of a Texas cop (who is her biggest fan)
- the daughter of Chinese immigrants who rebuffed an aggressive campaign to get her to skate for China
- the daughter of an Italian immigrant embryologist mom who named her after a Michelle Pfeiffer character
- the pansexual daughter of a Texas cop (who is her biggest fan)
The propaganda has begun.
February 8, 2026 at 11:31 PM
The propaganda has begun.
Reposted by Stephen Walt
Simple: War with Iran is mostly about Israel. As long as Israel remains expansionist, its project will be regionally rejected, leading it to define its security as regional hegemony - a state of 10 million dominating a region of half a billion. That’s impossible without the USA – thus forever war.
February 7, 2026 at 2:51 PM
Simple: War with Iran is mostly about Israel. As long as Israel remains expansionist, its project will be regionally rejected, leading it to define its security as regional hegemony - a state of 10 million dominating a region of half a billion. That’s impossible without the USA – thus forever war.
Reposted by Stephen Walt
Pete Hegseth's decision to end all military education and fellowships at Harvard is bad for the military, as well as bad for Harvard. I'm proud to say many of my former fellows are making big contributions to the U.S. military -- helped by their time at Harvard.
x.com
February 7, 2026 at 4:40 PM
Pete Hegseth's decision to end all military education and fellowships at Harvard is bad for the military, as well as bad for Harvard. I'm proud to say many of my former fellows are making big contributions to the U.S. military -- helped by their time at Harvard.
Reposted by Stephen Walt
Read this and check out the index across all 12 dimensions www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Opinion | ICE and Minnesota Have Pushed the U.S. Closer to Autocracy
Measuring America’s slide toward democratic erosion.
www.nytimes.com
February 6, 2026 at 12:56 PM
Read this and check out the index across all 12 dimensions www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Reposted by Stephen Walt
could we please retire the word "testing"? you mean "violating
ICE has asserted it can enter homes without judicial warrants. Legal experts say schools are protected by the Fourth Amendment — but agents are testing those limits.
ICE Is ‘At the School Yard Gate’
ICE may not be conducting large-scale raids inside schools. But agents are getting close to schools, leaving a mark on students across the country.
www.truthdig.com
February 5, 2026 at 10:23 PM
could we please retire the word "testing"? you mean "violating
Reposted by Stephen Walt
"Appeasing Trump isn’t working. Rutte has gone to enormous lengths to appease and flatter Trump (at one point likening him to a benevolent “daddy”), and what did it get him?" foreignpolicy.com/2026/02/04/n...
NATO’s Leader Is Totally Lost
What does Mark Rutte think he’s doing?
foreignpolicy.com
February 5, 2026 at 5:28 PM
"Appeasing Trump isn’t working. Rutte has gone to enormous lengths to appease and flatter Trump (at one point likening him to a benevolent “daddy”), and what did it get him?" foreignpolicy.com/2026/02/04/n...
Reposted by Stephen Walt
💯
Our founders, though deeply flawed, understood that democracy requires an informed citizenry and a government accountable to it people. That’s why the press is the only profession protected by the Constitution. It’s also why autocrats and oligarchs seek to control and destroy it.
February 5, 2026 at 1:17 PM
💯
Silver lining: #Trump's remarks at the #NationalPrayerBreakfast will make even non-believers start praying for a miracle that stops him from doing even more damage to a once-great nation.
February 5, 2026 at 2:57 PM
Silver lining: #Trump's remarks at the #NationalPrayerBreakfast will make even non-believers start praying for a miracle that stops him from doing even more damage to a once-great nation.
Reposted by Stephen Walt
“Theory is the basis for all explanation and prediction.” - Chief, Methods and Forecasting Division, Office of Regional & Political Analysis, Central Intelligence Agency, 1978
apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA...
apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA...
apps.dtic.mil
February 5, 2026 at 2:28 AM
“Theory is the basis for all explanation and prediction.” - Chief, Methods and Forecasting Division, Office of Regional & Political Analysis, Central Intelligence Agency, 1978
apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA...
apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA...