Victor Caston
@vcaston.bsky.social
Philosophy & Classical Studies, University of Michigan. In case anyone was in doubt, my opinions are my own.
Reposted by Victor Caston
CONTINGENT PHILOSOPHERS! (Contractually, not metaphysically). I’ve been a big fan of @contingent-mag.bsky.social for a while. This year they’re letting philosophy piggyback one of their institutions: the year-end list of books and articles written by non tenured/permanent academics in that year.
Publications by Non-Tenure-Track Historians
Since we began publishing in 2019, Contingent has published end-of-year lists of books and articles by non-tenure-track historians released in the past calendar year. To submit something for inclusion...
contingentmagazine.org
November 26, 2025 at 9:33 AM
CONTINGENT PHILOSOPHERS! (Contractually, not metaphysically). I’ve been a big fan of @contingent-mag.bsky.social for a while. This year they’re letting philosophy piggyback one of their institutions: the year-end list of books and articles written by non tenured/permanent academics in that year.
Impeachable even, one would have thought
November 26, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Impeachable even, one would have thought
Reposted by Victor Caston
Trump envoy Steve Witkoff has been outed as a Russian asset. This is traitorous stuff.
Steve Witkoff helped Russia derail Ukraine’s access to Tomahawk missiles. He tipped off the Kremlin about Zelensky’s U.S. visit, giving Moscow time to arrange a call that convinced Trump to block the deal. Witkoff actively works against Ukraine’s defense, in coordination with Putin’s regime.
November 26, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Trump envoy Steve Witkoff has been outed as a Russian asset. This is traitorous stuff.
The security implications of the Witkoff leaks — more than just the disastrous "peace" plan.
November 26, 2025 at 11:37 AM
The security implications of the Witkoff leaks — more than just the disastrous "peace" plan.
Reposted by Victor Caston
Well, well, well.
"A woman with a family connection to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has been arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Revere, Massachusetts."
www.wcvb.com/article/karo...
www.wcvb.com/article/karo...
![REVERE, Mass. —
A woman with a family connection to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has been arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Revere, Massachusetts.
The woman, Bruna Ferreira, has an 11-year-old son with Michael Leavitt, Karoline Leavitt's brother.
Ferreira migrated with her family to the United States from Brazil as a child and is currently in custody at an ICE facility in southern Louisiana.
Michael Leavitt released a statement, saying that his "only concern has always been the safety, well-being, and privacy of [his] son."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:x4qyokjtdzgl7gmqhsw4ajqj/bafkreiacyzixchgacpjse7wyra342opgjsvdxzqdrkxq55zzqah65zyeae@jpeg)
November 26, 2025 at 4:14 AM
Well, well, well.
Reposted by Victor Caston
Turns out Mamdani's controversial proposal for government-run supermarkets isn't so novel. Other cities also are toying with the idea to bring fresh, affordable food to communities that do not have easy access to it. Good WSJ read (gift link)
www.wsj.com/real-estate/...
www.wsj.com/real-estate/...
Inside Atlanta’s First Government-Funded Supermarket
The goal is for the store to become profitable without any government subsidy within three years.
www.wsj.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Turns out Mamdani's controversial proposal for government-run supermarkets isn't so novel. Other cities also are toying with the idea to bring fresh, affordable food to communities that do not have easy access to it. Good WSJ read (gift link)
www.wsj.com/real-estate/...
www.wsj.com/real-estate/...
Reposted by Victor Caston
This is the same playbook the Trump administration ran in Portland, where DHS officials falsely accused local police of failing to help them (or not arriving quickly enough). Strikes me as a problem that the government lies so freely to the Supreme Court now. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/u...
November 25, 2025 at 8:12 PM
This is the same playbook the Trump administration ran in Portland, where DHS officials falsely accused local police of failing to help them (or not arriving quickly enough). Strikes me as a problem that the government lies so freely to the Supreme Court now. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/u...
Reposted by Victor Caston
Lots of useful details in here.
🚨 NEW/EXCLUSIVE: The FBI turned over dozens of emails to me in response to my #FOIA request that provides a behind-the-scenes look at discussions involving the review and redaction of the Epstein files
www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
November 25, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Lots of useful details in here.
Reposted by Victor Caston
In 1968, a soldier named Hugh Thompson defied orders to save Vietnamese lives during the My Lai massacre. Eventually seen as a hero, in real time he was vilified and nearly court-martialed
It's Congress' job to stop Trump's war crimes, not the troops. My new column www.inquirer.com/columnists/a...
It's Congress' job to stop Trump's war crimes, not the troops. My new column www.inquirer.com/columnists/a...
The Catch-22 around Trump’s illegal orders | Will Bunch Newsletter
Plus, Pennsylvania chooses a budget over the planet.
www.inquirer.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:52 PM
In 1968, a soldier named Hugh Thompson defied orders to save Vietnamese lives during the My Lai massacre. Eventually seen as a hero, in real time he was vilified and nearly court-martialed
It's Congress' job to stop Trump's war crimes, not the troops. My new column www.inquirer.com/columnists/a...
It's Congress' job to stop Trump's war crimes, not the troops. My new column www.inquirer.com/columnists/a...
Reposted by Victor Caston
Wait this isn’t just from one crank this is from the ENTIRE EDITORIAL BOARD lol
At this point, the Washpost edit page is just trolling its readers.
This is today's actual house editorial.
This is today's actual house editorial.
November 25, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Wait this isn’t just from one crank this is from the ENTIRE EDITORIAL BOARD lol
Thread worth reading. The cowardice of elites.
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Thread worth reading. The cowardice of elites.
Reposted by Victor Caston
NEW: After a @ctmirror.org and @propublica.org Investigation, Connecticut DMV Fires Employee Who Made Thousands Selling Towed Cars
Connecticut DMV Fires Employee Who Made Thousands Selling Towed Cars
Investigators found the longtime employee traded favors with a towing company to purchase vehicles at a steep discount, according to a termination letter.
www.propublica.org
November 25, 2025 at 12:53 PM
NEW: After a @ctmirror.org and @propublica.org Investigation, Connecticut DMV Fires Employee Who Made Thousands Selling Towed Cars
Reposted by Victor Caston
Seriously, what other president is even remotely in his league?
There was corruption in the Grant and Harding administrations, but the presidents were largely uninvolved. Nixon committed crimes in secret but didn't really line his own pockets.
Trump is like a Thomas Nast cartoon come to life.
There was corruption in the Grant and Harding administrations, but the presidents were largely uninvolved. Nixon committed crimes in secret but didn't really line his own pockets.
Trump is like a Thomas Nast cartoon come to life.
November 25, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Seriously, what other president is even remotely in his league?
There was corruption in the Grant and Harding administrations, but the presidents were largely uninvolved. Nixon committed crimes in secret but didn't really line his own pockets.
Trump is like a Thomas Nast cartoon come to life.
There was corruption in the Grant and Harding administrations, but the presidents were largely uninvolved. Nixon committed crimes in secret but didn't really line his own pockets.
Trump is like a Thomas Nast cartoon come to life.
Reposted by Victor Caston
November 24, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Reposted by Victor Caston
Obvious to all, except the foolish people in charge here
"I see restrictions placed on only the defending nation; the granting of territory to an invader; the lifting of sanctions; the absence of enforceable guarantees. This creates the conditions for the next war—the world will have taught the aggressor force prevails."
www.thebulwark.com/p/letter-fro...
www.thebulwark.com/p/letter-fro...
A Letter from Clausewitz to Secretary Rubio
Channeling the author of ‘On War’ on the U.S. pursuit of peace in Ukraine.
www.thebulwark.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Obvious to all, except the foolish people in charge here
Reposted by Victor Caston
On this pod:
-why restoring rule of law after Trump will be so challenging
-the need for a post-Trump reckoning that rivals what happened after abuses of Vietnam/Watergate
-why Trump's effort to get revenge on Sen Mark Kelly is so deeply corrupt
@davidkurtz.bsky.social is very good throughout:
-why restoring rule of law after Trump will be so challenging
-the need for a post-Trump reckoning that rivals what happened after abuses of Vietnam/Watergate
-why Trump's effort to get revenge on Sen Mark Kelly is so deeply corrupt
@davidkurtz.bsky.social is very good throughout:
Trump's prosecutions of Comey and Letitia James fell apart precisely because he ousted career prosecutors who insisted on following facts and law. His installation of a pliant stooge is what blew up in his face.
On the pod, @davidkurtz.bsky.social is great on this:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
On the pod, @davidkurtz.bsky.social is great on this:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
Raging Trump Spirals Further as Push to Jail Enemies Backfires Badly
With Trump seething at Dems even as his efforts to prosecute foes hits new setbacks, a sharp legal commentator explains why Trump’s revenge project is running aground—and why he’s at fault for all of ...
newrepublic.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:08 PM
On this pod:
-why restoring rule of law after Trump will be so challenging
-the need for a post-Trump reckoning that rivals what happened after abuses of Vietnam/Watergate
-why Trump's effort to get revenge on Sen Mark Kelly is so deeply corrupt
@davidkurtz.bsky.social is very good throughout:
-why restoring rule of law after Trump will be so challenging
-the need for a post-Trump reckoning that rivals what happened after abuses of Vietnam/Watergate
-why Trump's effort to get revenge on Sen Mark Kelly is so deeply corrupt
@davidkurtz.bsky.social is very good throughout:
"the brain stays in the adolescent phase until our early thirties when we "peak"."
Four pivotal ages in your brain's development revealed in new scientific study
Brain scans on thousands of people reveal the dramatic shifts the brain goes through between birth and death.
www.bbc.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:10 PM
"the brain stays in the adolescent phase until our early thirties when we "peak"."
Reposted by Victor Caston
"What ties these situations together is the utter lack of critical distance from sources on the part of these writers [and] the apparent disregard for the primary journalistic mission of representing the public"
@sulliview.bsky.social on ethics failure.
margaretsullivan.substack.com/p/three-ugly...
@sulliview.bsky.social on ethics failure.
margaretsullivan.substack.com/p/three-ugly...
Three lessons in unethical media behavior
Plus: Some moments that made me proud to be a journalist
margaretsullivan.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:36 PM
"What ties these situations together is the utter lack of critical distance from sources on the part of these writers [and] the apparent disregard for the primary journalistic mission of representing the public"
@sulliview.bsky.social on ethics failure.
margaretsullivan.substack.com/p/three-ugly...
@sulliview.bsky.social on ethics failure.
margaretsullivan.substack.com/p/three-ugly...
Demanding a list of Jewish faculty, students, and employees doesn't sound like a way of combatting antisemitism. Just the opposite.
“Penn has only objected to providing the personal information and confidential information of Jewish employees without their consent, and over employees’ objections.”
“Penn has only objected to providing the personal information and confidential information of Jewish employees without their consent, and over employees’ objections.”
Penn Refuses to Disclose Jewish Faculty, Student Names
The Trump administration asked the university to hand over personal information for the members of Jewish clubs and organizations as well as the Jewish Studies department.
www.insidehighered.com
November 25, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Demanding a list of Jewish faculty, students, and employees doesn't sound like a way of combatting antisemitism. Just the opposite.
“Penn has only objected to providing the personal information and confidential information of Jewish employees without their consent, and over employees’ objections.”
“Penn has only objected to providing the personal information and confidential information of Jewish employees without their consent, and over employees’ objections.”
Reposted by Victor Caston
Recently did around 30 requests to ppl who'd published very similar papers to the one I needed reviews for. 3 declines, 25 no response. Please at least decline guys it slows stuff down so much otherwise.
I'm still relatively new to this journal associate editor business, but it already sucks… I've had a paper on my desk for more than a month now:
Reviewers invited: 12
Of those…
Declined: 5
No response: 7
Reviewers invited: 12
Of those…
Declined: 5
No response: 7
November 24, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Recently did around 30 requests to ppl who'd published very similar papers to the one I needed reviews for. 3 declines, 25 no response. Please at least decline guys it slows stuff down so much otherwise.
Reposted by Victor Caston
She has it exactly backwards. The domestic deployments to date are a much weaker case for being so manifestly illegal as to justify refusal; that's a high bar. The boat strikes are outright unambiguous murder, everyone in that chain down to the one pulling the trigger has had a clear duty to refuse.
Sen. Slotkin said today—to my surprise—that she's unaware of any illegal orders *so far*.
abcnews.go.com/Politics/wee...
abcnews.go.com/Politics/wee...
November 24, 2025 at 12:24 AM
She has it exactly backwards. The domestic deployments to date are a much weaker case for being so manifestly illegal as to justify refusal; that's a high bar. The boat strikes are outright unambiguous murder, everyone in that chain down to the one pulling the trigger has had a clear duty to refuse.
Reposted by Victor Caston
Meta halted internal research that purportedly showed (young) people who stopped using Facebook became less depressed and anxious, according to an unredacted legal filing released on Friday. www.cnbc.com/2025/11/23/m...
Meta halted internal research suggesting social media harm, court filing alleges
Meta is alleged to have halted internal research suggesting social media harm, according to court documents.
www.cnbc.com
November 24, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Meta halted internal research that purportedly showed (young) people who stopped using Facebook became less depressed and anxious, according to an unredacted legal filing released on Friday. www.cnbc.com/2025/11/23/m...
GO BLUE!
My MVP for this week: I've discovered some folks who could do a much better job running American trade policy. #Econ101 #GoBlue #TeachEcon
November 24, 2025 at 12:12 AM
GO BLUE!
Reposted by Victor Caston
Although the scale of this is still to be assessed, this is the inevitable outcome of the monetization of the algorithm. Rage-bait becomes a personal revenue model. Nothing about this should be a surprise.
NEWS: I spent the past 24 hours going through major MAGA accounts on Twitter, and a bombshell development has become clear: most of the right-wing ecosphere is being fed propaganda from foreign actors.
This impacts elections. This impacts discourse. This is major. Subscribe to support my work:
This impacts elections. This impacts discourse. This is major. Subscribe to support my work:
NEWS: Major MAGA Accounts on Twitter Exposed as Foreign Actors
A stunning development over the past 24 hours.
open.substack.com
November 23, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Although the scale of this is still to be assessed, this is the inevitable outcome of the monetization of the algorithm. Rage-bait becomes a personal revenue model. Nothing about this should be a surprise.