Matt Smith
@genericuser258.bsky.social
Engineer, ISS, Space Shuttles, nuke electrician, newest docent at the Galveston Naval Museum; trying to figure out where I'm wrong, and to fix it.
Reposted by Matt Smith
How Republicans commemorated Thanksgiving in 1869--with a multi-racial/multi-ethnic gathering of people at a table with a centerpiece celebrating universal suffrage and self-government, and with an engraving of Castle Garden, the pre-Ellis Island point of disembarkation for immigrants.
November 27, 2025 at 6:01 PM
How Republicans commemorated Thanksgiving in 1869--with a multi-racial/multi-ethnic gathering of people at a table with a centerpiece celebrating universal suffrage and self-government, and with an engraving of Castle Garden, the pre-Ellis Island point of disembarkation for immigrants.
So just like with alcohol and the 'hair of the dog', the cure to recovering from a food coma is just eating more first thing the next day, right?
November 28, 2025 at 3:59 PM
So just like with alcohol and the 'hair of the dog', the cure to recovering from a food coma is just eating more first thing the next day, right?
Down with pilgrims and their troublesome history, up with the real reason for the day: the Union ascendant
Happy Victory for US Arms and Down With Treasonous Slavers Day!
Uncomfortable with the First Thanksgiving Narrative? Good News, it’s Actually a Civil War Holiday
Take heart, all you who grow unsettled at the time of year where the narrative of friendly Pilgrims and American Indians is spread around to make us feel good about a brief moment in American histo…
angrystaffofficer.com
November 27, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Down with pilgrims and their troublesome history, up with the real reason for the day: the Union ascendant
Reposted by Matt Smith
...in light of the U.S.'s unprecedented boycott of its own evaluation via the U.N. Universal Periodic Review, the twice-a-decade process in which all U.N. member states' human rights records are evaluated. 2/5 apnews.com/article/unit...
US skips human rights review by UN body as countries appeal for its return next year
The United States on Friday snubbed a U.N. body charged with keeping tabs on the human rights records of all its member countries, on orders of the Trump administration — which has turned its back on ...
apnews.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:09 PM
...in light of the U.S.'s unprecedented boycott of its own evaluation via the U.N. Universal Periodic Review, the twice-a-decade process in which all U.N. member states' human rights records are evaluated. 2/5 apnews.com/article/unit...
Reposted by Matt Smith
This is another example of President Trump and Secretary Hegseth undermining the rule of law to attack a political opponent. In this case, simply for stating a legal fact. This is how things go in Russia and other autocratic regimes. It shouldn’t be happening in America.
November 24, 2025 at 7:23 PM
This is another example of President Trump and Secretary Hegseth undermining the rule of law to attack a political opponent. In this case, simply for stating a legal fact. This is how things go in Russia and other autocratic regimes. It shouldn’t be happening in America.
Reposted by Matt Smith
I served as our Ambassador in Ukraine for 3 years under Putin’s missiles and drones but resigned when Trump kept appeasing Putin. America does not bow to dictators. It’s not who we are.
Here's why this Trump-Putin so-called "peace plan" is a disaster:
Here's why this Trump-Putin so-called "peace plan" is a disaster:
November 21, 2025 at 4:51 PM
I served as our Ambassador in Ukraine for 3 years under Putin’s missiles and drones but resigned when Trump kept appeasing Putin. America does not bow to dictators. It’s not who we are.
Here's why this Trump-Putin so-called "peace plan" is a disaster:
Here's why this Trump-Putin so-called "peace plan" is a disaster:
For anyone who thinks there is any good faith in the Trump/Russia "peace" plan.
Some notable things in what's being called the "Trump peace plan" but which could not have been more clearly written in Moscow if it came with a 2 for 1 deal on tickets to the Bolshoi Ballet. 🧵
November 21, 2025 at 3:05 PM
For anyone who thinks there is any good faith in the Trump/Russia "peace" plan.
Reposted by Matt Smith
It’s one of the war’s most overlooked dynamics: Russia and Ukraine are running two of the century’s fiercest strategic bombing campaigns at once. But do drones offer a new form of strategic bombing, or are they still trapped in the same dilemmas that stumped the bomber mafia? My latest⬇️
Strategic (Drone) Bombing: What Can It Do?
An Evolution or the Same Ol’ Dilemma?
secretaryrofdefenserock.substack.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:07 PM
It’s one of the war’s most overlooked dynamics: Russia and Ukraine are running two of the century’s fiercest strategic bombing campaigns at once. But do drones offer a new form of strategic bombing, or are they still trapped in the same dilemmas that stumped the bomber mafia? My latest⬇️
Reposted by Matt Smith
This one was a long time in coming.
50 years later, here's the origin story of USS Nimitz and its first deployment.
news.usni.org/2025/11/19/n...
50 years later, here's the origin story of USS Nimitz and its first deployment.
news.usni.org/2025/11/19/n...
Nimitz '75 - USNI News
A deep dive into the earliest days of the Navy's oldest aircraft carrier and the history of its creation.
news.usni.org
November 19, 2025 at 6:08 PM
This one was a long time in coming.
50 years later, here's the origin story of USS Nimitz and its first deployment.
news.usni.org/2025/11/19/n...
50 years later, here's the origin story of USS Nimitz and its first deployment.
news.usni.org/2025/11/19/n...
Reposted by Matt Smith
When former Harvard President Lawrence H. Summers was pursuing a romantic relationship with a woman he described as a mentee, he turned to a longtime associate for guidance: Jeffrey E. Epstein.
Dhruv T. Patel and Cam N. Srivastava report.
Dhruv T. Patel and Cam N. Srivastava report.
As Summers Sought Clandestine Relationship With Woman He Called a Mentee, Epstein Was His ‘Wing Man’ | News | The Harvard Crimson
When former Harvard President Lawrence H. Summers was pursuing a romantic relationship with a woman he described as a mentee, he turned to a longtime associate for guidance: convicted sex offender…
www.thecrimson.com
November 17, 2025 at 1:45 AM
When former Harvard President Lawrence H. Summers was pursuing a romantic relationship with a woman he described as a mentee, he turned to a longtime associate for guidance: Jeffrey E. Epstein.
Dhruv T. Patel and Cam N. Srivastava report.
Dhruv T. Patel and Cam N. Srivastava report.
Reposted by Matt Smith
After a short hiatus on YouTube, I am back with a Q&A video. I discuss missiles, Russia's war economy, who is winning the war, and whether Denmark can close the straits to Russian ships. Watch it here.
Q&A: Missiles, strategy, shadow fleet, Russia's economy
YouTube video by Anders Puck Nielsen
www.youtube.com
November 16, 2025 at 8:07 PM
After a short hiatus on YouTube, I am back with a Q&A video. I discuss missiles, Russia's war economy, who is winning the war, and whether Denmark can close the straits to Russian ships. Watch it here.
Has anyone plotted the length of time taken to sing the national anthem at NFL games over time? It definitely feels like it's been getting longer and longer, and I wanna know when we can expect it to take as long as the game itself.
November 16, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Has anyone plotted the length of time taken to sing the national anthem at NFL games over time? It definitely feels like it's been getting longer and longer, and I wanna know when we can expect it to take as long as the game itself.
Reposted by Matt Smith
Aww this reminds me of my mid-late 90s glory days when I was immersed in this for my dissertation. Can't wait to finish my chores so I can read this @democracyprof.bsky.social. I confidently predict Bret will be an engaging and insightful read on this as usual. 1/
#AncientBluesky
#AncientBluesky
Collections: Hoplite Wars, Part I: The Othismos over Othismos
This week (and next) we’re looking at hoplites, the heavy infantry of the ancient Greek poleis in the (early? mid? late?) Archaic and Classical periods, into the Hellenistic. In particular, I…
acoup.blog
November 15, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Aww this reminds me of my mid-late 90s glory days when I was immersed in this for my dissertation. Can't wait to finish my chores so I can read this @democracyprof.bsky.social. I confidently predict Bret will be an engaging and insightful read on this as usual. 1/
#AncientBluesky
#AncientBluesky
Reposted by Matt Smith
Earnest post: there is increasingly direct evidence that Trump participated in child sex trafficking or at least knew about it.
He should resign, be impeached and removed from office, and prosecuted.
Even if you don’t think that WILL happen it’s important to say publicly that it SHOULD happen.
He should resign, be impeached and removed from office, and prosecuted.
Even if you don’t think that WILL happen it’s important to say publicly that it SHOULD happen.
November 12, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Earnest post: there is increasingly direct evidence that Trump participated in child sex trafficking or at least knew about it.
He should resign, be impeached and removed from office, and prosecuted.
Even if you don’t think that WILL happen it’s important to say publicly that it SHOULD happen.
He should resign, be impeached and removed from office, and prosecuted.
Even if you don’t think that WILL happen it’s important to say publicly that it SHOULD happen.
Reposted by Matt Smith
1/ The US Government has quietly removed a memorial to Black soldiers who died in World War II from the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, South Limburg. The move follows a complaint from the right-wing Heritage Foundation to the American Battle Monuments Commission. ⬇️
November 9, 2025 at 9:23 AM
1/ The US Government has quietly removed a memorial to Black soldiers who died in World War II from the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, South Limburg. The move follows a complaint from the right-wing Heritage Foundation to the American Battle Monuments Commission. ⬇️
Reposted by Matt Smith
As Zohran Mamdani wins the New York election, check out our @empirepoduk.bsky.social special, an interview with his father, my friend the wonderful Professor Mahmoud Mamdani on his family's history in East Africa & their journey to America. Zohran zindabad!
share.google/RS4MWp65kxNy...
share.google/RS4MWp65kxNy...
November 5, 2025 at 12:48 PM
As Zohran Mamdani wins the New York election, check out our @empirepoduk.bsky.social special, an interview with his father, my friend the wonderful Professor Mahmoud Mamdani on his family's history in East Africa & their journey to America. Zohran zindabad!
share.google/RS4MWp65kxNy...
share.google/RS4MWp65kxNy...
Reposted by Matt Smith
2nd Nov. 2025 marks the 25th anniversary of the ongoing human presence off-world.
That is, humans have continuously occupied the ISS for exactly 25 years today.
So if you're <= 24 years old, you've never lived in a world where humans were *only* terrestrial-based.
Image by HEO (from above!)
🔭🧪
That is, humans have continuously occupied the ISS for exactly 25 years today.
So if you're <= 24 years old, you've never lived in a world where humans were *only* terrestrial-based.
Image by HEO (from above!)
🔭🧪
November 2, 2025 at 4:35 AM
2nd Nov. 2025 marks the 25th anniversary of the ongoing human presence off-world.
That is, humans have continuously occupied the ISS for exactly 25 years today.
So if you're <= 24 years old, you've never lived in a world where humans were *only* terrestrial-based.
Image by HEO (from above!)
🔭🧪
That is, humans have continuously occupied the ISS for exactly 25 years today.
So if you're <= 24 years old, you've never lived in a world where humans were *only* terrestrial-based.
Image by HEO (from above!)
🔭🧪
Reposted by Matt Smith
Nov. 2, 1775: News arrives from Britain that King George III, ignoring the Americans’ Olive Branch Petition, has issued a proclamation declaring the colonists to be in rebellion and will step up military measures against them. Hopes for a peaceful resolution to the crisis appear to be dashed. 1/3
November 2, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Nov. 2, 1775: News arrives from Britain that King George III, ignoring the Americans’ Olive Branch Petition, has issued a proclamation declaring the colonists to be in rebellion and will step up military measures against them. Hopes for a peaceful resolution to the crisis appear to be dashed. 1/3
Reposted by Matt Smith
Trump’s saber-rattling in Venezuela is illegal | Kenneth Roth
Trump’s saber-rattling in Venezuela is illegal | Kenneth Roth
Trump’s threats against the country and attacks on nearby boats cannot be justified under international law
www.theguardian.com
October 28, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Trump’s saber-rattling in Venezuela is illegal | Kenneth Roth
Reposted by Matt Smith
Melissa is now a rapidly intensifying hurricane, and it is plausible that it will produce an almost unimaginably bad outcome for Jamaica over the next 48 hours. Details below or at theeyewall.com.
Hurricane Melissa is rapidly intensifying southeast of Jamaica tonight
A devastating, catastrophic storm is expected in Jamaica, with torrential rain, flooding, and more for portions of Cuba, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic as well
theeyewall.substack.com
October 26, 2025 at 12:47 AM
Melissa is now a rapidly intensifying hurricane, and it is plausible that it will produce an almost unimaginably bad outcome for Jamaica over the next 48 hours. Details below or at theeyewall.com.
Reposted by Matt Smith
The dooming on this site is getting out of control. Every time you post anything about politics some rando condescendingly wonders how you can't possibly know that elections are over and all hope is lost. If you've completely lost hope, I'm sorry, but shut the fuck up, OK? You're not helping.
October 24, 2025 at 12:10 PM
The dooming on this site is getting out of control. Every time you post anything about politics some rando condescendingly wonders how you can't possibly know that elections are over and all hope is lost. If you've completely lost hope, I'm sorry, but shut the fuck up, OK? You're not helping.
New rule: The only articles you can comment on before reading are those whose headlines are in the form of a question. I think that's fair.
October 24, 2025 at 9:51 PM
New rule: The only articles you can comment on before reading are those whose headlines are in the form of a question. I think that's fair.
Reposted by Matt Smith
You should block the MAGA government-created Bluesky accounts.
Do not engage them.
Do not give them a single scrap of what they want.
Do not engage them.
Do not give them a single scrap of what they want.
October 17, 2025 at 11:02 PM
You should block the MAGA government-created Bluesky accounts.
Do not engage them.
Do not give them a single scrap of what they want.
Do not engage them.
Do not give them a single scrap of what they want.
Reposted by Matt Smith
ONE WEEK FROM TODAY: Make your voices heard. Join us in a peaceful protest across our country against the most corrupt, deceitful & criminal Administration in U.S. History. We say NO KINGS, NO CROOKS, NO SPRAY-TAN CONMAN! 👎
Check for a location near you at: www.nokings.org
#BeThere 👍
Check for a location near you at: www.nokings.org
#BeThere 👍
No Kings
As the president escalates his authoritarian power grab, the NO KINGS non-violent movement continues to rise stronger. We are united once again to remind the world: America has No Kings and the power ...
www.nokings.org
October 11, 2025 at 7:18 PM
ONE WEEK FROM TODAY: Make your voices heard. Join us in a peaceful protest across our country against the most corrupt, deceitful & criminal Administration in U.S. History. We say NO KINGS, NO CROOKS, NO SPRAY-TAN CONMAN! 👎
Check for a location near you at: www.nokings.org
#BeThere 👍
Check for a location near you at: www.nokings.org
#BeThere 👍