Greg Sanders
@gregorysanders.bsky.social
International relations Fellow CSIS ISP and DIIG Deputy Director. Separately Vice President of PurpleLineNow. Opinions are strictly my own.
Pinned
Greg Sanders
@gregorysanders.bsky.social
· Dec 10
Burden Sharing via Modular Open Systems Approaches: A Collaborative Path to Affordable Mass
Boosting defense production and sharing collective defense burdens with allies have bipartisan support but are challenging to implement. A new Air Force program offers a collaborative path to achievin...
www.csis.org
Audrey Aldisert & I have a new piece on the topic, that argues that the CCA provides a path to affordable mass by building the infrastructure of modular open systems and international cooperation. www.csis.org/analysis/bur...
Reposted by Greg Sanders
Social media an endless information buffet of different beliefs and claims and arguments and even factual realities, and we are encouraged to seek out the ones we prefer and listen to them.
Shortly afterwards, half the world began believing profoundly deranged things. Seems related!
Shortly afterwards, half the world began believing profoundly deranged things. Seems related!
It's the ability to lie to yourself and protect yourself from truth or correction or changing your mind and admitting being wrong that makes these platforms dangerous...
This isn’t the real problem, imo. There’s no cure for liars except a mutual agreement to not condone liars. The bigger issue is people who are simply migrating to whichever viewpoint feels best to them, and blocking out people who disagree, thus conforming their personal reality to their own biases.
December 20, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Social media an endless information buffet of different beliefs and claims and arguments and even factual realities, and we are encouraged to seek out the ones we prefer and listen to them.
Shortly afterwards, half the world began believing profoundly deranged things. Seems related!
Shortly afterwards, half the world began believing profoundly deranged things. Seems related!
Reposted by Greg Sanders
China is now doing in the West Sea what it did in the South China Sea. And no one is paying attention — here is a quick explainer.
China has been building structures in and around the Korea-China Provisional Measures Zone.
@csis.org @victordcha.bsky.social observes these activities mirror Beijing's "creeping sovereignty" grey zone tactics previously used.
🎥10-minute explainer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=lO3A...
@csis.org @victordcha.bsky.social observes these activities mirror Beijing's "creeping sovereignty" grey zone tactics previously used.
🎥10-minute explainer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=lO3A...
December 14, 2025 at 1:00 PM
China is now doing in the West Sea what it did in the South China Sea. And no one is paying attention — here is a quick explainer.
Reposted by Greg Sanders
Prime Minister of Poland. 🇵🇱
December 6, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Prime Minister of Poland. 🇵🇱
Reposted by Greg Sanders
i think to understand the meaning of the birthright citizenship clause to the framers of the 14th amendment, you have to understand significance of dred scott to the civil war republican party. dred scott wasn't just a bad ruling, it was understood as a rejection of the declaration itself.
December 6, 2025 at 6:03 PM
i think to understand the meaning of the birthright citizenship clause to the framers of the 14th amendment, you have to understand significance of dred scott to the civil war republican party. dred scott wasn't just a bad ruling, it was understood as a rejection of the declaration itself.
Reposted by Greg Sanders
Fox News legal contributor Andy McCarthy knocks down Hegseth's defense:
"Neither Hegseth’s statement nor the explanation attributed to Bradley ... makes legal sense.
...
It cannot be a defense to say, as Hegseth does, that one has killed because one’s objective was 'lethal, kinetic strikes.'"
"Neither Hegseth’s statement nor the explanation attributed to Bradley ... makes legal sense.
...
It cannot be a defense to say, as Hegseth does, that one has killed because one’s objective was 'lethal, kinetic strikes.'"
‘We Intended the Strike to Be Lethal’ Is Not a Defense | National Review
The laws of war, incorporated in the federal war crimes statute, prohibit the killing of people who have been rendered hors de combat.
www.nationalreview.com
November 30, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Fox News legal contributor Andy McCarthy knocks down Hegseth's defense:
"Neither Hegseth’s statement nor the explanation attributed to Bradley ... makes legal sense.
...
It cannot be a defense to say, as Hegseth does, that one has killed because one’s objective was 'lethal, kinetic strikes.'"
"Neither Hegseth’s statement nor the explanation attributed to Bradley ... makes legal sense.
...
It cannot be a defense to say, as Hegseth does, that one has killed because one’s objective was 'lethal, kinetic strikes.'"
I have had a similar journey, though I think my priority at the moment is thinking through how we could better systematically and impartially applying the law to elites while also simplifying (at the loss of technocratic optimization) so lawyers/tax pros aren't needed to comply. (1/2)
I spent much of my life believing in this. More important, I thought, that the poor have a floor under them than that no one be too rich.
The last ten years have changed that. And a note to John Roberts: if you hadn’t gutted campaign finance laws, I might still be on board with this.
The last ten years have changed that. And a note to John Roberts: if you hadn’t gutted campaign finance laws, I might still be on board with this.
No value, no villain, no vision. Sounds like the tagline for the earnings call of a collapsing appliance retailer
November 30, 2025 at 5:32 PM
I have had a similar journey, though I think my priority at the moment is thinking through how we could better systematically and impartially applying the law to elites while also simplifying (at the loss of technocratic optimization) so lawyers/tax pros aren't needed to comply. (1/2)
Reposted by Greg Sanders
Reposting because it’s fairly rare that I blog these days, so of course when I do it’s late Sunday evening.
I’m pretty happy with this as a starting point of something, but there’s a lot more to extract.
I’m pretty happy with this as a starting point of something, but there’s a lot more to extract.
I really don't like anything about D&D's alignment system, but I appreciate its power as a shorthand, and I'd love to do something that could work similarly, and this is a swing at that.
walkingmind.evilhat.com/2025/11/23/o...
walkingmind.evilhat.com/2025/11/23/o...
Oops, All Heroes
Caveat before all of this begins – the material I’m about to use is sourced from a psychology paper on values which were used as the source for the diagram in a Common Cause article. I …
walkingmind.evilhat.com
November 24, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Reposting because it’s fairly rare that I blog these days, so of course when I do it’s late Sunday evening.
I’m pretty happy with this as a starting point of something, but there’s a lot more to extract.
I’m pretty happy with this as a starting point of something, but there’s a lot more to extract.
Reposted by Greg Sanders
This list dates back to the mid-1990s (ah listservs and Usenet) If this admonition makes sense to you as a way to prevent the hero from succeeding, you are probably old:
"Any data file of crucial importance will be padded to 1.45Mb in size."
"Any data file of crucial importance will be padded to 1.45Mb in size."
November 20, 2025 at 11:43 PM
This list dates back to the mid-1990s (ah listservs and Usenet) If this admonition makes sense to you as a way to prevent the hero from succeeding, you are probably old:
"Any data file of crucial importance will be padded to 1.45Mb in size."
"Any data file of crucial importance will be padded to 1.45Mb in size."
Reposted by Greg Sanders
What will it take for Europe to defend itself with reduced American support?
@maxbergmann.bsky.social outlines key vulnerabilities that would be created from a withdrawal of US forces––and how Europe can work cohesively to guarantee its own security.
Watch here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhQj...
@maxbergmann.bsky.social outlines key vulnerabilities that would be created from a withdrawal of US forces––and how Europe can work cohesively to guarantee its own security.
Watch here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhQj...
How Europe Can Defend Itself with Less America
YouTube video by Center for Strategic & International Studies
www.youtube.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:06 PM
What will it take for Europe to defend itself with reduced American support?
@maxbergmann.bsky.social outlines key vulnerabilities that would be created from a withdrawal of US forces––and how Europe can work cohesively to guarantee its own security.
Watch here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhQj...
@maxbergmann.bsky.social outlines key vulnerabilities that would be created from a withdrawal of US forces––and how Europe can work cohesively to guarantee its own security.
Watch here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhQj...
Reposted by Greg Sanders
FWIW, I love Parks and Rec because is a love letter to the people who, like Leslie Nope, show up every day to do the deeply unsexy work of making society function because they believe that their small contributions make the world a better place. In sufficient numbers, that’s exactly what they do.
November 5, 2025 at 11:35 PM
FWIW, I love Parks and Rec because is a love letter to the people who, like Leslie Nope, show up every day to do the deeply unsexy work of making society function because they believe that their small contributions make the world a better place. In sufficient numbers, that’s exactly what they do.
Reposted by Greg Sanders
For the lead graph.
wow.
wow.
once seen it cannot be unseen
November 1, 2025 at 7:06 PM
For the lead graph.
wow.
wow.
Reposted by Greg Sanders
Good morning!
Last night, Illinois’ legislature passed a law, SB2111, which will fund a major expansion of service for the Chicago region’s transit systems, thanks to new revenue sources.
The law also takes a major step forward in coordination between agencies.
Last night, Illinois’ legislature passed a law, SB2111, which will fund a major expansion of service for the Chicago region’s transit systems, thanks to new revenue sources.
The law also takes a major step forward in coordination between agencies.
Statement from the RTA: "The passage of SB2111 is a landmark moment for public transit in Illinois."
Read the full statement here or below. www.rtachicago.org/about-rta/pr...
Read the full statement here or below. www.rtachicago.org/about-rta/pr...
Regional Transportation Authority | RTA Statement on passage of Senate Bill 2111
This bill provides the stable funding and governance reforms needed to protect transit service for the millions who ride CTA, Metra, and Pace—and the…
www.rtachicago.org
October 31, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Good morning!
Last night, Illinois’ legislature passed a law, SB2111, which will fund a major expansion of service for the Chicago region’s transit systems, thanks to new revenue sources.
The law also takes a major step forward in coordination between agencies.
Last night, Illinois’ legislature passed a law, SB2111, which will fund a major expansion of service for the Chicago region’s transit systems, thanks to new revenue sources.
The law also takes a major step forward in coordination between agencies.
Reposted by Greg Sanders
“likely the largest single-day political demonstration since 1970” www.gelliottmorris.com/p/second-no-...
Second "No Kings Day" protests likely the largest single-day political demonstration since 1970, with 4.2-7.6 million participants
Here are the initial results from our crowdsourced crowd-counting estimates
www.gelliottmorris.com
October 19, 2025 at 3:39 AM
“likely the largest single-day political demonstration since 1970” www.gelliottmorris.com/p/second-no-...
Reposted by Greg Sanders
The president has one core job under the Constitution: to “take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed.” Not thwarted, diverted, blunted, revised or ignored. Faithfully executed.
October 18, 2025 at 10:50 PM
The president has one core job under the Constitution: to “take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed.” Not thwarted, diverted, blunted, revised or ignored. Faithfully executed.
Reposted by Greg Sanders
just go to the protests
take whatever precautions you personally feel comfortable with but these are massive, joyful events, go and have fun
take whatever precautions you personally feel comfortable with but these are massive, joyful events, go and have fun
October 17, 2025 at 7:06 PM
just go to the protests
take whatever precautions you personally feel comfortable with but these are massive, joyful events, go and have fun
take whatever precautions you personally feel comfortable with but these are massive, joyful events, go and have fun
Reposted by Greg Sanders
1/ Weaponized interdependence has proliferated and the US doesnt seem ready: “China has really begun to figure out how to take a leaf from the U.S. playbook and in a certain sense play that game better than the U.S. is currently playing it,” Mr. Farrell said.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/16/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/16/b...
China’s Rare Earth Restrictions Aim to Beat U.S. at Its Own Game
www.nytimes.com
October 16, 2025 at 11:10 AM
1/ Weaponized interdependence has proliferated and the US doesnt seem ready: “China has really begun to figure out how to take a leaf from the U.S. playbook and in a certain sense play that game better than the U.S. is currently playing it,” Mr. Farrell said.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/16/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/16/b...
Reposted by Greg Sanders
Also, at no point should we lose sight of the face that this problem could easily be solved by calling the House back into session, pass a bill for military pay, send it to the Senate, etc
Mike Johnson won't do that bc he doesn't want to seat Rep Grijalva bc she will be the final Epstein files vote
Mike Johnson won't do that bc he doesn't want to seat Rep Grijalva bc she will be the final Epstein files vote
October 12, 2025 at 12:45 AM
Also, at no point should we lose sight of the face that this problem could easily be solved by calling the House back into session, pass a bill for military pay, send it to the Senate, etc
Mike Johnson won't do that bc he doesn't want to seat Rep Grijalva bc she will be the final Epstein files vote
Mike Johnson won't do that bc he doesn't want to seat Rep Grijalva bc she will be the final Epstein files vote
Reposted by Greg Sanders
I'm waiting to hear from the Senate appropriators who wouldn't let us determine on our own how to use money in the Army missiles procurement account to buy various Army missiles.
But sure lets use RDT&E - or reconciliation funds - for MILPERS.
But sure lets use RDT&E - or reconciliation funds - for MILPERS.
Unconstitutionally taking money that the law says must be spent on one purpose & using it for something else—when it's to establish personalist control over the FUCKING MILITARY—is about as dangerous a constitutional crisis/failure as you can imagine
Via: www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
Via: www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
October 12, 2025 at 12:35 AM
I'm waiting to hear from the Senate appropriators who wouldn't let us determine on our own how to use money in the Army missiles procurement account to buy various Army missiles.
But sure lets use RDT&E - or reconciliation funds - for MILPERS.
But sure lets use RDT&E - or reconciliation funds - for MILPERS.
Reposted by Greg Sanders
Purple Line light rail vehicles are running to an actual station as part of testing! This testing runs from 9 pm to 5 am and started with New Carrollton.
The original testing was limited to the one one-milemile test track at the Glenridge Operations and Maintenance facility.
The original testing was limited to the one one-milemile test track at the Glenridge Operations and Maintenance facility.
October 7, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Purple Line light rail vehicles are running to an actual station as part of testing! This testing runs from 9 pm to 5 am and started with New Carrollton.
The original testing was limited to the one one-milemile test track at the Glenridge Operations and Maintenance facility.
The original testing was limited to the one one-milemile test track at the Glenridge Operations and Maintenance facility.
Reposted by Greg Sanders
Reposted by Greg Sanders
So, THIS is happening
"Rewild the Internet: How to Resist Big Tech" will be published by Simon & Schuster in NY and Bloomsbury in London.
Every bit of power we take from Big Tech takes it away from autocrats like Trump. Showing how is what I'm doing to meet this moment.
(tk u @robin.berjon.com)
"Rewild the Internet: How to Resist Big Tech" will be published by Simon & Schuster in NY and Bloomsbury in London.
Every bit of power we take from Big Tech takes it away from autocrats like Trump. Showing how is what I'm doing to meet this moment.
(tk u @robin.berjon.com)
September 19, 2025 at 4:32 PM
So, THIS is happening
"Rewild the Internet: How to Resist Big Tech" will be published by Simon & Schuster in NY and Bloomsbury in London.
Every bit of power we take from Big Tech takes it away from autocrats like Trump. Showing how is what I'm doing to meet this moment.
(tk u @robin.berjon.com)
"Rewild the Internet: How to Resist Big Tech" will be published by Simon & Schuster in NY and Bloomsbury in London.
Every bit of power we take from Big Tech takes it away from autocrats like Trump. Showing how is what I'm doing to meet this moment.
(tk u @robin.berjon.com)
New entrants are great, I think SpaceX is genuinely impressive and their willingness to tolerate failure is part of how they do it. But the U.S. commercial sector also needs to regaining process knowledge and cutbacks to NASA, basic science, and the university research sector are going to cost us.
NEW: U.S. Is Losing Race to Return to Moon, Critics Say, Pointing at SpaceX
The company’s Starship rocket, which has suffered a series of recent test explosions, is still years away from being ready for the mission, former NASA executives say.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/20/u...
The company’s Starship rocket, which has suffered a series of recent test explosions, is still years away from being ready for the mission, former NASA executives say.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/20/u...
U.S. Is Losing Race to Return to Moon, Critics Say, Pointing at SpaceX
www.nytimes.com
September 20, 2025 at 5:32 PM
New entrants are great, I think SpaceX is genuinely impressive and their willingness to tolerate failure is part of how they do it. But the U.S. commercial sector also needs to regaining process knowledge and cutbacks to NASA, basic science, and the university research sector are going to cost us.
Reposted by Greg Sanders
As an aside, when I donated to @vanhollen.senate.gov a couple of weeks ago (acknowledging one of the few normie Democrats who has been plainspoken on Gaza), it was actually difficult to find how to do it (in contrast to most elected officials whose web presences are designed as dollar funnels)
"“We’ve become a party that too often trims its sails. Too cautious, too rudderless. Too attached to poll-washed, pundit-rinsed, and donor-dried messages,” he said. “What comes out of the wash is all bleached and blow-dried.”
Senator Chris Van Hollen, Democrat of Maryland, endorsed Zohran Mamdani for mayor of New York City on Saturday and called on his party’s leadership to do the same, criticizing them for a delay that he said allowed President Trump to exploit Democratic divisions.
September 13, 2025 at 11:55 PM
As an aside, when I donated to @vanhollen.senate.gov a couple of weeks ago (acknowledging one of the few normie Democrats who has been plainspoken on Gaza), it was actually difficult to find how to do it (in contrast to most elected officials whose web presences are designed as dollar funnels)
Reposted by Greg Sanders
Senator Chris Van Hollen, Democrat of Maryland, endorsed Zohran Mamdani for mayor of New York City on Saturday and called on his party’s leadership to do the same, criticizing them for a delay that he said allowed President Trump to exploit Democratic divisions.
Van Hollen Criticizes Democratic Leaders for Delay in Endorsing Mamdani
At an annual fund-raiser in Iowa, the Maryland Democrat said he supported Zohran Mamdani for mayor of New York City and said people were sick of “spineless politics.”
nyti.ms
September 13, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Senator Chris Van Hollen, Democrat of Maryland, endorsed Zohran Mamdani for mayor of New York City on Saturday and called on his party’s leadership to do the same, criticizing them for a delay that he said allowed President Trump to exploit Democratic divisions.
Reposted by Greg Sanders
One of the things I have come to appreciate is that a good deal of Rome's success came from the fact that, as rapacious and opportunistic and bellicose as they could be, they mostly avoided giving unnecessary insult to their allies.
A virtue rare in antiquity as today; we used to be good at it.
A virtue rare in antiquity as today; we used to be good at it.
South Korea denounces ‘shocking’ US treatment of detained workers www.ft.com/content/c71a...
South Korea denounces ‘shocking’ US treatment of detained workers
Labour minister’s comments reflect widespread outrage at raid by immigration agents on Hyundai-LG plant
www.ft.com
September 13, 2025 at 6:32 PM
One of the things I have come to appreciate is that a good deal of Rome's success came from the fact that, as rapacious and opportunistic and bellicose as they could be, they mostly avoided giving unnecessary insult to their allies.
A virtue rare in antiquity as today; we used to be good at it.
A virtue rare in antiquity as today; we used to be good at it.