Victor Silverman
@victorsilverman.bsky.social
Author, Filmmaker, Professor of Contemporary US and International History. Emeritus Professor Pomona College.
Pinned
Cruzando la línea | Penguin Libros
«Ya es hora de tener un debate público amplio y bien informado sobre cuál debe ser el papel de las Fuerzas Armadas en México y cómo tienen que cambiar sus funciones en el tiempo presente y de cara al futuro.» -Ted Lewis
www.penguinlibros.com
Con Miguel TInker Salas contribuimos un capítulo, “La militarización de la política de drogas mexicana: pasado y presente” a este libro importante “CRUZANDO LA LÍNEA: LAS FUERZAS ARMADAS EN MÉXICO”
www.penguinlibros.com/mx/economia-...
www.penguinlibros.com/mx/economia-...
Impeachable offense, in a sane world
NEW: DOJ said tonight that it was DHS Secretary Kristi Noem who made the call to proceed with the deportation of more than 100 Venezuelan men to El Salvador, despite a judge's order seeking to block the transfer.
w/ @joshgerstein
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
w/ @joshgerstein
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
November 26, 2025 at 3:28 AM
Impeachable offense, in a sane world
Reposted by Victor Silverman
NEW: AI “recipe slop” is overrunning search and social. Food creators say Google’s AI Overviews and glossy fake food pics are drowning out real, tested recipes — collapsing traffic and setting home cooks up for disaster, especially this Thanksgiving.
Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
AI Slop Recipes Are Taking Over the Internet -- And Thanksgiving Dinner
Food bloggers see traffic dip as home cooks turn to AI, inspired by impossible pictures
www.bloomberg.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:16 PM
NEW: AI “recipe slop” is overrunning search and social. Food creators say Google’s AI Overviews and glossy fake food pics are drowning out real, tested recipes — collapsing traffic and setting home cooks up for disaster, especially this Thanksgiving.
Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Reposted by Victor Silverman
Sleeper issue around the data center boom: cooling water used for Amazon's server farms in Eastern Oregon creates major groundwater contamination issue, poisoning local drinking water. thefern.org/2025/11/the-...
‘The precedent is Flint’: How Oregon’s data center boom is supercharging a water crisis | Food and Environment Reporting Network
In the spring of 2022, Jim Doherty kept having the same conversation with folks at the only grocery store in Boardman, his eastern Oregon hometown, or at the grain depot where he picked up food for…
thefern.org
November 25, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Sleeper issue around the data center boom: cooling water used for Amazon's server farms in Eastern Oregon creates major groundwater contamination issue, poisoning local drinking water. thefern.org/2025/11/the-...
Reposted by Victor Silverman
Google at its peak was basically the best information retrieval system in human history and they and every competitor decided going from there to “you didn’t want answers you wanted half-assed auto-complete 80%-wrong hallucinations” in a few years was the right idea
November 25, 2025 at 1:57 AM
Google at its peak was basically the best information retrieval system in human history and they and every competitor decided going from there to “you didn’t want answers you wanted half-assed auto-complete 80%-wrong hallucinations” in a few years was the right idea
Reposted by Victor Silverman
EXCLUSIVE: US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff advised Russia on how to pitch Ukraine plans to Trump, in audio files reviewed by Bloomberg
Witkoff Advised Russia on How to Pitch Ukraine Plan to Trump
US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff, fresh from the triumph of the Gaza peace deal, held a phone call last month with a senior Kremlin official to suggest they work together on a similar plan for Ukraine — and that Vladimir Putin should raise it with Donald Trump.
bloom.bg
November 25, 2025 at 7:52 PM
EXCLUSIVE: US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff advised Russia on how to pitch Ukraine plans to Trump, in audio files reviewed by Bloomberg
It's just Monopoly pieces to Witkoff and Trump.
"Now, me to you, I know what it’s going to take to get a peace deal done: Donetsk and maybe a land swap somewhere."
-- Steve Witkoff, in his call to Putin aide Yuri Ushakov
Read the whole transcript of the Oct 14 call. It's amazing.
Gift link (for 7 days) ⤵️
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
-- Steve Witkoff, in his call to Putin aide Yuri Ushakov
Read the whole transcript of the Oct 14 call. It's amazing.
Gift link (for 7 days) ⤵️
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Witkoff Discusses Ukraine Plans With Key Putin Aide: Transcript
The following is a transcript of an Oct. 14 phone call lasting just over 5 minutes between Steve Witkoff, Donald Trump’s special envoy for peace missions, and Yuri Ushakov, Vladimir Putin’s most senio...
www.bloomberg.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:42 PM
It's just Monopoly pieces to Witkoff and Trump.
Reposted by Victor Silverman
Every time I think this administration has plumbed the depths of incompetence, it goes down another level. Will this make Putin think he should end the war? Or will it make him think that if he keeps pushing, the US will offer him even more?
"Now, me to you, I know what it’s going to take to get a peace deal done: Donetsk and maybe a land swap somewhere."
-- Steve Witkoff, in his call to Putin aide Yuri Ushakov
Read the whole transcript of the Oct 14 call. It's amazing.
Gift link (for 7 days) ⤵️
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
-- Steve Witkoff, in his call to Putin aide Yuri Ushakov
Read the whole transcript of the Oct 14 call. It's amazing.
Gift link (for 7 days) ⤵️
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Witkoff Discusses Ukraine Plans With Key Putin Aide: Transcript
The following is a transcript of an Oct. 14 phone call lasting just over 5 minutes between Steve Witkoff, Donald Trump’s special envoy for peace missions, and Yuri Ushakov, Vladimir Putin’s most senio...
www.bloomberg.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Every time I think this administration has plumbed the depths of incompetence, it goes down another level. Will this make Putin think he should end the war? Or will it make him think that if he keeps pushing, the US will offer him even more?
Reposted by Victor Silverman
At least one insurrectionist goes to jail
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/w...
Bolsonaro to Start Serving 27-Year Sentence Over Coup Plot
www.nytimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:45 PM
At least one insurrectionist goes to jail
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/w...
Reposted by Victor Silverman
Ezra Klein's chart doesn't say what he thinks it says cepr.net/publications...
Ezra Klein Needs to Look More Closely at His Housing Chart
A look at why today’s housing shortage stems less from zoning and more from the long shadow of the 2008 housing bubble and its collapse.
cepr.net
November 24, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Ezra Klein's chart doesn't say what he thinks it says cepr.net/publications...
Reposted by Victor Silverman
The level of anti-Muslim bigotry and harassment by MAGA is out of control, folks.
They're going after kids just for praying peacefully and quietly.
Vile stuff. Look what they did to Mamdani. Thankfully, the majority is rejecting it.
They're going after kids just for praying peacefully and quietly.
Vile stuff. Look what they did to Mamdani. Thankfully, the majority is rejecting it.
November 24, 2025 at 5:46 AM
The level of anti-Muslim bigotry and harassment by MAGA is out of control, folks.
They're going after kids just for praying peacefully and quietly.
Vile stuff. Look what they did to Mamdani. Thankfully, the majority is rejecting it.
They're going after kids just for praying peacefully and quietly.
Vile stuff. Look what they did to Mamdani. Thankfully, the majority is rejecting it.
Reposted by Victor Silverman
Human Rights Watch Report: "The Israeli government’s forced displacement of the populations of three West Bank refugee camps in January and February 2025 amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity" www.hrw.org/news/2025/11...
West Bank: Israel Emptying Refugee Camps a Crime Against Humanity
The Israeli government’s forced displacement of the populations of three West Bank refugee camps in January and February 2025 amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, Human Rights Watch said ...
www.hrw.org
November 22, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Human Rights Watch Report: "The Israeli government’s forced displacement of the populations of three West Bank refugee camps in January and February 2025 amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity" www.hrw.org/news/2025/11...
Reposted by Victor Silverman
"America’s 902 billionaires are collectively worth more than $6.7 trillion, the most wealth ever amassed by the nation’s ultra-rich, according to Forbes."
"Trump’s Cabinet is the wealthiest in US history, with a combined net worth of $7.5 billion."
wapo.st/4ipXaBd
"Trump’s Cabinet is the wealthiest in US history, with a combined net worth of $7.5 billion."
wapo.st/4ipXaBd
November 22, 2025 at 9:05 PM
"America’s 902 billionaires are collectively worth more than $6.7 trillion, the most wealth ever amassed by the nation’s ultra-rich, according to Forbes."
"Trump’s Cabinet is the wealthiest in US history, with a combined net worth of $7.5 billion."
wapo.st/4ipXaBd
"Trump’s Cabinet is the wealthiest in US history, with a combined net worth of $7.5 billion."
wapo.st/4ipXaBd
Reposted by Victor Silverman
Reposted by Victor Silverman
No single person, especially someone with zero expertise, should be able to just change the CDC website on a whim. The fact that federal health and science pages are no longer trustable is a catastrophe for public health and democracy.
Kennedy Says He Told C.D.C. to Change Website’s Language on Autism and Vaccines
www.nytimes.com
November 21, 2025 at 8:05 PM
No single person, especially someone with zero expertise, should be able to just change the CDC website on a whim. The fact that federal health and science pages are no longer trustable is a catastrophe for public health and democracy.
Reposted by Victor Silverman
"A senior State Department official said the new rules were 'a tool to change the behaviour of governments'."
As I've said before, the Trump administration is not practicing isolationism, but rather a nefarious version of interventionism (I'd prefer isolationism to what they are doing here).
As I've said before, the Trump administration is not practicing isolationism, but rather a nefarious version of interventionism (I'd prefer isolationism to what they are doing here).
More ideological shifting to the hard right at State Department: www.bbc.com/news/article...
US says countries with DEI policies as infringing human rights
US officials say the rules will stop "destructive ideologies" but others argue it is redefining human rights principles for Trump's goals.
www.bbc.com
November 21, 2025 at 8:13 PM
"A senior State Department official said the new rules were 'a tool to change the behaviour of governments'."
As I've said before, the Trump administration is not practicing isolationism, but rather a nefarious version of interventionism (I'd prefer isolationism to what they are doing here).
As I've said before, the Trump administration is not practicing isolationism, but rather a nefarious version of interventionism (I'd prefer isolationism to what they are doing here).
Reposted by Victor Silverman
NEW: A copy of a letter from the Senate homeland security committee reviewed by @wired.com asks for documents linked to 300+ terms, including “mask mandates,” “origins of Covid-19,” “Trump voter," "red hat,” “sedition,” and much more. @awinston.bsky.social has the scoop www.wired.com/story/senato...
Senators Want Extremism Researchers to Surrender Documents Linked to Right-Wing Grudges
The Senate homeland security committee's chair has asked researchers to turn over troves of documents related to the January 6 attack, vaccines, and more, according to a letter reviewed by WIRED.
www.wired.com
November 21, 2025 at 5:09 PM
NEW: A copy of a letter from the Senate homeland security committee reviewed by @wired.com asks for documents linked to 300+ terms, including “mask mandates,” “origins of Covid-19,” “Trump voter," "red hat,” “sedition,” and much more. @awinston.bsky.social has the scoop www.wired.com/story/senato...
Reposted by Victor Silverman
The Senate homeland security committee's chair has asked researchers to turn over troves of documents related to the January 6 attack, vaccines, and more, according to a letter reviewed by WIRED. www.wired.com/story/senato...
Senators Want Extremism Researchers to Surrender Documents Linked to Right-Wing Grudges
The Senate homeland security committee's chair has asked researchers to turn over troves of documents related to the January 6 attack, vaccines, and more, according to a letter reviewed by WIRED.
www.wired.com
November 21, 2025 at 5:12 PM
The Senate homeland security committee's chair has asked researchers to turn over troves of documents related to the January 6 attack, vaccines, and more, according to a letter reviewed by WIRED. www.wired.com/story/senato...
Reposted by Victor Silverman
“Claudia Sahm, a former Fed economist who blasted Summers and others for sexism in a widely shared and highly critical 2020 blog post, sounded vindicated. “Okay, so maybe I wasn’t too mean to him…” she said on social media after the emails were made public last week.” www.wsj.com/us-news/larr...
How Larry Summers’s Power Delayed the Reckoning Over His Epstein Ties
The former Treasury Secretary and Harvard president’s enormous network and clout kept him immune from past Jeffrey Epstein revelations. But this time was just too much.
www.wsj.com
November 21, 2025 at 4:02 AM
“Claudia Sahm, a former Fed economist who blasted Summers and others for sexism in a widely shared and highly critical 2020 blog post, sounded vindicated. “Okay, so maybe I wasn’t too mean to him…” she said on social media after the emails were made public last week.” www.wsj.com/us-news/larr...
Reposted by Victor Silverman
this defies parody. also helps explain why Sec Bessent bizarrely blamed immigrants when confronted with a question about high beef prices
November 20, 2025 at 4:58 PM
this defies parody. also helps explain why Sec Bessent bizarrely blamed immigrants when confronted with a question about high beef prices
US Coast Guard allows real antisemitism and racism.
WAPO SCOOP: U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify swastikas, nooses as hate symbols
wapo.st/3Mbd9a6
wapo.st/3Mbd9a6
U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify swastikas, nooses as hate symbols
The military service, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security, has drafted a new policy that classifies such items “potentially divisive.”
wapo.st
November 20, 2025 at 9:38 PM
US Coast Guard allows real antisemitism and racism.
Reposted by Victor Silverman
WAPO SCOOP: U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify swastikas, nooses as hate symbols
wapo.st/3Mbd9a6
wapo.st/3Mbd9a6
U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify swastikas, nooses as hate symbols
The military service, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security, has drafted a new policy that classifies such items “potentially divisive.”
wapo.st
November 20, 2025 at 6:33 PM
WAPO SCOOP: U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify swastikas, nooses as hate symbols
wapo.st/3Mbd9a6
wapo.st/3Mbd9a6
Reposted by Victor Silverman
CIA Assassination Plots: The Church Committee Report 50 Years Later
Read how the Ford administration tried to keep the landmark assassinations report secret
nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-boo...
Read how the Ford administration tried to keep the landmark assassinations report secret
nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-boo...
CIA Assassination Plots: The Church Committee Report 50 Years Later
Washington D.C., November 20, 2025 - Fifty years ago today, a special Senate Committee led by Idaho Senator Frank Church lifted the veil of secrecy on the clandestine efforts of the Central Intelligen...
nsarchive.gwu.edu
November 20, 2025 at 9:28 PM
CIA Assassination Plots: The Church Committee Report 50 Years Later
Read how the Ford administration tried to keep the landmark assassinations report secret
nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-boo...
Read how the Ford administration tried to keep the landmark assassinations report secret
nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-boo...
Reposted by Victor Silverman
CDC has overhauled its website to assert that “the claim ‘vaccines do not cause autism’ is not an evidence-based claim”
November 20, 2025 at 2:26 AM
CDC has overhauled its website to assert that “the claim ‘vaccines do not cause autism’ is not an evidence-based claim”
Reposted by Victor Silverman
just outright disinformation — American Lysenkoism wreaking havoc and endangering our lives
CDC has overhauled its website to assert that “the claim ‘vaccines do not cause autism’ is not an evidence-based claim”
November 20, 2025 at 2:32 AM
just outright disinformation — American Lysenkoism wreaking havoc and endangering our lives