Stryer
stryer.bsky.social
Stryer
@stryer.bsky.social
A historian who is concerned for liberty.
Reposted by Stryer
In honor of Viktor Orban's visit to Washington, here's a reminder that Orban has made his country corrupt, stagnant, and impoverished:
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
America’s Future Is Hungary
MAGA conservatives love Viktor Orbán. But he’s left his country corrupt, stagnant, and impoverished.
www.theatlantic.com
November 8, 2025 at 5:52 PM
UK–Israel 2030 Roadmap sets several policies that risk weakening UK sovereignty and independent scrutiny:

• Anti-BDS legislation
• Adoption of IHRA definitions in ways that can chill political speech
• Commitments to counter “delegitimisation” online via gov-tech cooperation
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/2030-roadmap-for-uk-israel-bilateral-relations/2030-roadmap-for-uk-israel-bilateral-relationsUK–Israel
November 7, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Reposted by Stryer
1. This is a thread on freedom, and how easy it is to lose.

Over the past 2,000 years in Europe, there have been few periods and places of freedom. For much of the time we lived under highly oppressive tyrannies of various kinds, whether small or grand, local or imperial, secular or religious.🧵
November 7, 2025 at 6:35 AM
Reposted by Stryer
Fascism 101
November 5, 2025 at 7:30 PM
If you're not worried about AI, or if you are, watch this.
If you remember one AI disaster, make it this one
YouTube video by AI In Context
youtu.be
November 6, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Reposted by Stryer
1. In the wake on Mamdani’s win, we’ll see a lot more far right anti-urban sentiment. Here’s a thread on its roots and evolution.

The idea that the city is evil and corrupt, and the countryside innocent and pure, goes back a long way: to Theocritus in Alexandria, and to the Old Testament. 🧵
November 5, 2025 at 7:58 AM
Great wins for the Dems last night which will tell the white house they have not yet got control of the election machinery. They will ramp up anti democratic efforts now, rather than dial down their oppressive measures. They will also seek to divide all opposition. Keep strong.
November 5, 2025 at 7:40 AM
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November 1, 2025 at 1:36 PM
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Part of the challenge is that most people have no concept of how cruel & dystopian the technofascist perspective is or how *successfully* those billionaire are pushing their plans through governments.

I wish people would focus less on #Tacos & more on the horrors of #Thiel & #Palantir, etc.
What the Technofascists and Religious Fanatics Have in Common: End Days Theology
Silicon Valley elite want to “disrupt” democracy with feudalism. Understanding their new and evolving ideology is critical to grappling with what’s happening in the U.S. today.
drilled.media
June 16, 2025 at 11:49 AM
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We need more accountability like this.
Hold this administration to their broken promises on immigration and more.

#ProudBlue
#Voices4Victory
October 31, 2025 at 12:05 AM
Reposted by Stryer
The Walton family (who own Walmart) are worth over $400 billion, yet many of their employees are on SNAP.

Bezos is worth over $400 billion, many Amazon employees require SNAP.

The people who need help are not the problem.

It’s corporate greed. It’s an unwillingness to pay a living wage.
October 27, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Reposted by Stryer
Musk has transformed one of the world’s largest social media sites and source of news into an attack platform to assist a hostile foreign power during the biggest and bloodiest war in Europe since World War Two.

bylinetimes.com/2024/10/25/e...
X - Marks the Spot: Russia’s Second Front
Peter Jukes looks at the mounting evidence that Elon Musk is using his social media platform as a vector to attack Ukraine and support Putin’s murderous invasion
bylinetimes.com
October 27, 2025 at 1:49 AM
"through a military..."
He was going to say 'coup'. He nearly admitted on camera he wants to be given total control and has at the very least considered a military coup.
Likely he's planned for it.
October 27, 2025 at 6:16 AM
Reposted by Stryer
Proof that the U.S. government social media accounts are in fact white nationalist propaganda accounts, funded by our tax dollars.

You’ve got to see this…
October 26, 2025 at 5:49 PM
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1/5 Russia's war on Ukraine is as black and white as it gets.

It is not morally complicated. It is one of the clearest cases of good vs evil in recent history.

Russia is the aggressor. Ukraine is the victim. No gray area. No equivalence.

Just a criminal invasion
October 26, 2025 at 8:40 AM
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Don’t laugh at this. Don’t dismiss it. They’re serious. Prepare for it. And get ready to fight against it.
October 23, 2025 at 10:49 PM
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Let's point out the obvious here.

What Trump is doing with this Alaska move is demonstrating that government business can continue—if he desires—without Congress being functional.

Therefore, the legislative branch is not needed and can be disbanded.

This should be a big heads-up to everyone.
October 24, 2025 at 6:51 AM
After a conversation with my brother about digital ID that got nowhere I realised arguing over WhatsApp was too limiting to make a real case, so I made this, expanding from my WhatsApp comments into an article. I thought Id share it here too.
If you have any feedback or criticism I'd love to hear it
Drawing the Line: Why Digital ID Is a Step Too Far
Over the past decade, the United Kingdom has witnessed a quiet but steady creep of legislation that chips away at civil liberties.
open.substack.com
October 23, 2025 at 4:04 PM
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The Green Party's proposal for a wealth tax on 1% of assets above £10m and 2% on assets above £1bn comes top of our list of tax reforms that Britons would support, with 75% giving it their backing

yougov.co.uk/economy/arti...
October 23, 2025 at 11:25 AM
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At the plenary, Christophe Grudler said what many Europeans are thinking: the 2022 energy crisis was a wake-up call. We cannot keep living under Moscow’s blackmail. The safest, cheapest energy is European. 1/2
October 23, 2025 at 6:58 AM
Reposted by Stryer
My message at the United Nations General Assembly #UNGA80: "Welfare cuts are fuelling far right rise"

Press release ➡️: www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...
Welfare cuts are fuelling far right rise, warns UN expert
NEW YORK – The rolling back of protections for people living in poverty has created fertile ground for far-right movements across the world, warned the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human ...
www.ohchr.org
October 22, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Please know that in 2003 one of Putin's early moves was to install loyalists at the Russian tax apparatus, and bring it firmly under Kremlin control. He used this power to go after political rivals.
Under the plan, MAGA allies would be installed at the IRS criminal investigative division, where they would “exert firmer control over the unit and weaken the involvement of IRS lawyers in criminal investigations.”

The administration is already drawing up a list of targets. trib.al/7bphzyZ
October 21, 2025 at 5:21 AM
Reposted by Stryer
⚔️🇸🇪 Swedish Defense Minister:

“To preserve this peace, we must be prepared for a possible war both morally and militarily. A change of mentality is needed: we must go into war mode to resolutely deter, protect and maintain peace."
October 19, 2025 at 1:33 PM