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Victor Asal

@victorasal.bsky.social

11K followers 11K following 4.1K posts

UAlbany professor Studies insurgency/ terrorism & Ethnic & LGBTQ Discrimination & Pedagogy.

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Political science 53%

Sociology 35%

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Victor Asal @victorasal.bsky.social · Sep 8

shared this in a chat on X & I realized given the world Today I should share with everyone -
There are bad people and good people in every group. I teach my students - you can hate an individual, you can hate an organization or a movement but never hate an entire people

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Victor Asal @victorasal.bsky.social · 2h

Agreed

Victor Asal @victorasal.bsky.social · 2h

James Indictment Mirrors Her Civil Case Against Trump in Miniature www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/n...

James Indictment Mirrors Her Civil Case Against Trump in Miniature

www.nytimes.com

Victor Asal @victorasal.bsky.social · 2h

U.S. to Send 200 Troops to Israel in Support Roles www.nytimes.com/2025/10/09/w...

U.S. to Send 200 Troops to Israel in Support Roles

www.nytimes.com

Victor Asal @victorasal.bsky.social · 2h

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/w...

Israeli Military Says Cease-Fire Is in Effect in Gaza

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Victor Asal

The Conversation U.S. @us.theconversation.com · 4h

Free speech wasn’t part of the original Constitution. It took fierce debate, and a change of heart from James Madison, to make the First Amendment.

buff.ly/S5lKUvG

Why free speech rights got left out of the Constitution – and added in later via the First Amendment

The First Amendment – and the freedom of speech it guarantees – is considered a fundamental element of American freedom and identity. But it wasn’t even part of the original Constitution.

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Reposted by Victor Asal

The Conversation U.S. @us.theconversation.com · 7h

Chromium made it into multivitamins, not because science proved it’s essential, but because nutritionists in the 1950s suspected it was important.

As science has evolved, it looks like we get what we need from stainless steel cookware, not food.

Shared by @dailymail.co.uk:
buff.ly/3DAEfCe

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Reposted by Victor Asal, David Darmofal

The Conversation U.S. @us.theconversation.com · 8h

The FBI had a director before who was openly political: President Nixon’s friend, L. Patrick Gray.

It did not go well for the country.

buff.ly/eBG6AXf
#polisky

History is repeating itself at the FBI as agents resist a director’s political agenda

FBI director Kash Patel says he is making the bureau more accountable. Critics charge him with purging it of anyone not perceived as loyal to President Trump.

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Reposted by Victor Asal

The Conversation U.S. @us.theconversation.com · 10h

The Supreme Court appears ready to embrace the “unitary executive theory”, a Republican idea from the 1980s that could make the presidency all-powerful.

Republished on @salon.com:
buff.ly/oF4akm4

The Supreme Court is headed toward a radically new vision of unlimited presidential power

Recent rulings indicate that the high court is leaning toward expanding the type of presidential power that is more emblematic of dictatorship than democracy.

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Victor Asal @victorasal.bsky.social · 17h

Scenario-Based Learning and Assessment (Part 3 of a Series)
@alpsblog.bsky.social
Ray Mikell

activelearningps.com/2025/10/09/s...

Scenario-Based Learning and Assessment (Part 3 of a Series)

This guest post is by Dr. Ray Mikell, an assistant professor of political science at Jackson State University, a historically black institution and urban research university in Jackson, Mississippi…

activelearningps.com

Victor Asal @victorasal.bsky.social · 18h

N.Y. Attorney General Letitia James Indicted After Trump's Pressure Campaign: Live Updates
Ms. James is accused of committing mortgage fraud, and her indictment follows a case brought against the former F.B.I. director James Comey.
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10...

Live Updates: N.Y. Attorney General Letitia James Indicted After Trump’s Pressure Campaign

www.nytimes.com

Victor Asal @victorasal.bsky.social · 19h

Toda Raba. I hope you follow me back

Victor Asal @victorasal.bsky.social · 22h

Chag Sameach!

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Victor Asal @victorasal.bsky.social · 1d

Live Updates: Israel-Hamas Deal Paves Way for Gaza Cease-Fire www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10...

Live Updates: Israel-Hamas Deal Paves Way for Gaza Cease-Fire

www.nytimes.com

Victor Asal @victorasal.bsky.social · 1d

Live Updates: Israel and Hamas Reach Deal on Hostage and Prisoner Exchange www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10...

Live Updates: Israel and Hamas Reach Deal on Hostage Release and Troop Pullback

www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Victor Asal

Cynthia Miller-Idriss @milleridriss.bsky.social · 1d

It is almost time to Man Up Ottawa, and the talk just got a whole lot more amazing with this addition of @yasirnaqvicdn.bsky.social - I am so honored. Join us Oct 30!

@perilresearch.bsky.social @au-spa.bsky.social

Jen Evans @jennifervevans.bsky.social · 1d

Thrilled to say that Member of Parliament for Ottawa Centre @yasirnaqvicdn.bsky.social will also speak at @milleridriss.bsky.social's Ottawa talk October 30th.

Free and open to the public.

www.eventbrite.com/e/man-up-the...

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Reposted by Victor Asal, Cynthia Miller‐Idriss

Jen Evans @jennifervevans.bsky.social · 1d

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Victor Asal @victorasal.bsky.social · 1d

For Trump’s perceived enemies, the process may be the punishment
@us.theconversation.com
Paul M. Collins Jr.

theconversation.com/for-trumps-p...

For Trump’s perceived enemies, the process may be the punishment

Even when a prosecution fails to convict someone, the process of defending against charges can itself can be a form of punishment.

theconversation.com

Victor Asal @victorasal.bsky.social · 1d

James Comey’s indictment is a trademark tactic of authoritarians
@us.theconversation.com
@andrarobertson.bsky.social
theconversation.com/james-comeys...

James Comey’s indictment is a trademark tactic of authoritarians

The former FBI director’s indictment breaks a principle that has protected American democracy for 50 years.

theconversation.com

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Victor Asal @victorasal.bsky.social · 1d

True

Victor Asal @victorasal.bsky.social · 1d

Agreed

Victor Asal @victorasal.bsky.social · 1d

Agreed

Victor Asal @victorasal.bsky.social · 1d

Very nice

Victor Asal @victorasal.bsky.social · 1d

Flight delays roil major U.S. airports amid government shutdown

www.washingtonpost.com/transportati...

Flight delays roil major U.S. airports amid government shutdown

The delays came after Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy warned the shutdown could add to the strain on air traffic controllers and lead to cancellations.

www.washingtonpost.com

Victor Asal @victorasal.bsky.social · 1d

Russia escalates warning as Trump considers sale of Tomahawks to Ukraine

www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...

Russia escalates warning as Trump considers sale of Tomahawks to Ukraine

The warning is part of a concerted Russian effort to deter President Donald Trump from giving Ukraine access to the missiles, repeating a tactic Moscow has used throughout the war.

www.washingtonpost.com

Victor Asal @victorasal.bsky.social · 1d

Why the White House might dial up the shutdown pain

www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

Opinion | Why the White House might dial up the shutdown pain

Democratic leaders play a dangerous game as Trump threatens not to pay furloughed federal workers.

www.washingtonpost.com

Victor Asal @victorasal.bsky.social · 1d

Why this one area of cities is usually the poorest

www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

Column | Why this one area of cities is usually the poorest

The Department of Data went looking for geographic patterns in poverty, and stumbled upon a surprising culprit.

www.washingtonpost.com

Victor Asal @victorasal.bsky.social · 1d

Officials Make an Arrest in Palisades Fire www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/u...

Officials Make an Arrest in Palisades Fire

www.nytimes.com

Victor Asal @victorasal.bsky.social · 1d

Trump Takes Aim at Illinois Governor and Chicago Mayor
In an early morning Truth Social post, the president said Gov. JB Pritzker of Illinois and Mayor Brandon Johnson of Chicago should be jailed for failing to protect ICE officers.

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/u...

Trump Takes Aim at Illinois Governor and Chicago Mayor

www.nytimes.com

Victor Asal @victorasal.bsky.social · 1d

Voters Favor Deporting Those in U.S. Illegally, but Say Trump Has Gone Too Far www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/u...

Voters Favor Deporting Those in U.S. Illegally, but Say Trump Has Gone Too Far

www.nytimes.com

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Victor Asal @victorasal.bsky.social · 1d

These veterans are defrauding VA's 'honor system' disability program - Washington Post

www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio...

VA’s disability program is an ‘honor system.’ These veterans are defrauding it.

Post investigation finds VA’s $193 billion disability program has turned into a rich target for fraudsters. Some fake blindness or paralysis to get as much as $1 million.