Matthew Specter
@matthewspecter.bsky.social
Historian of political ideas, Sr Fellow@UC Berkeley’s Institute European Studies;
lecturer @Santa Clara U; editor at HISTORY & THEORY; author, THE ATLANTIC REALISTS (Stanford 2022), write on IR theory, 20th cent. Germany, transatlantic intellectual history
lecturer @Santa Clara U; editor at HISTORY & THEORY; author, THE ATLANTIC REALISTS (Stanford 2022), write on IR theory, 20th cent. Germany, transatlantic intellectual history
Reposted by Matthew Specter
Three things:
1) No longer classifying swastikas, nooses, and the Confederate flag as hate symbols is quite bad, and in line with many other actions from this admin.
2) Congrats to the cancel culture moral panickers.
3) I don't think a good political response to this is to shrug at Nazi tattoos.
1) No longer classifying swastikas, nooses, and the Confederate flag as hate symbols is quite bad, and in line with many other actions from this admin.
2) Congrats to the cancel culture moral panickers.
3) I don't think a good political response to this is to shrug at Nazi tattoos.
Exclusive: The U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify the swastika, nooses and the Confederate flag as hate symbols.
The military service drafted a new policy that classifies them as “potentially divisive.”
The military service drafted a new policy that classifies them as “potentially divisive.”
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.”
www.washingtonpost.com
November 20, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Three things:
1) No longer classifying swastikas, nooses, and the Confederate flag as hate symbols is quite bad, and in line with many other actions from this admin.
2) Congrats to the cancel culture moral panickers.
3) I don't think a good political response to this is to shrug at Nazi tattoos.
1) No longer classifying swastikas, nooses, and the Confederate flag as hate symbols is quite bad, and in line with many other actions from this admin.
2) Congrats to the cancel culture moral panickers.
3) I don't think a good political response to this is to shrug at Nazi tattoos.
Reposted by Matthew Specter
222 years ago to the day Haiti gained independence after fighting off the French.
Exactly 222 years on to the day, Haiti won entry into the World Cup.
🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹
Exactly 222 years on to the day, Haiti won entry into the World Cup.
🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹
November 20, 2025 at 3:57 AM
222 years ago to the day Haiti gained independence after fighting off the French.
Exactly 222 years on to the day, Haiti won entry into the World Cup.
🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹
Exactly 222 years on to the day, Haiti won entry into the World Cup.
🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹
“Further, it is neither necessary nor prudent to pause admissions to PhD programs at TNS.”—support @AAUP TNS, rally planned for 11/21
While AAUP TNS has not yet commented on last night’s closures, it issued this joint statement on cuts with the full time faculty union docs.google.com/document/u/2...
Statement on the President's Announcement of Austerity Measures
November 18, 2025 Dear Colleagues, We are writing with deep dismay over yesterday’s announcement of austerity measures made without meaningful, representative consultation with faculty, staff, or stud...
docs.google.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:43 PM
“Further, it is neither necessary nor prudent to pause admissions to PhD programs at TNS.”—support @AAUP TNS, rally planned for 11/21
Reposted by Matthew Specter
Congratulations, @brian-goldstone.bsky.social! Listen to our episode of The Intercept Briefing with Goldstone on working and homelessness in today’s America: interc.pt/47UfVth
Speechless and deeply grateful: There Is No Place for Us has been named one of three finalists for the Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction.
November 18, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Congratulations, @brian-goldstone.bsky.social! Listen to our episode of The Intercept Briefing with Goldstone on working and homelessness in today’s America: interc.pt/47UfVth
Trump now starring in: “Lord of the Fries”
November 18, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Trump now starring in: “Lord of the Fries”
Reposted by Matthew Specter
NEW: Epstein survivors release the most powerful PSA I have ever seen.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
November 16, 2025 at 11:43 PM
NEW: Epstein survivors release the most powerful PSA I have ever seen.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
Reposted by Matthew Specter
It’s hard to even know where to begin with this. Professor Falk is in his 90s and one of the world’s most prominent international legal scholars. It beggars belief that he could even remotely be considered a threat to Canada.
Falk, who has investigated Israeli abuses, says questioning reflects push to silence truth of Israel's war on Gaza.
Former UN special rapporteur Richard Falk interrogated for hours in Canada
Falk, who has investigated Israeli abuses, says questioning reflects push to silence truth of Israel's war on Gaza.
bit.ly
November 16, 2025 at 12:04 AM
It’s hard to even know where to begin with this. Professor Falk is in his 90s and one of the world’s most prominent international legal scholars. It beggars belief that he could even remotely be considered a threat to Canada.
Reposted by Matthew Specter
Russia Pummels Kyiv and Tries to Plunge Ukraine Into Darkness
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/14/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/14/w...
Russia Pummels Kyiv and Tries to Plunge Ukraine Into Darkness
www.nytimes.com
November 14, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Russia Pummels Kyiv and Tries to Plunge Ukraine Into Darkness
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/14/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/14/w...
Reposted by Matthew Specter
everyone interested in the fate of American higher education should read former UVA president Jim Ryan's letter rehearsing the intense pressure placed on him to resign last summer
it offers a precious glimpse not only on DOJ's assault on higher ed, but the readiness of many other stakeholders
1/
it offers a precious glimpse not only on DOJ's assault on higher ed, but the readiness of many other stakeholders
1/
Former UVA president Jim Ryan, who resigned over the summer due to pressure from the Trump Administration, just shared this 12-page letter with the Faculty Senate, detailing his experience with the Board of Visitors and DOJ.
It's a surreal--and troubling--read.
drive.google.com/file/d/1Is6x...
It's a surreal--and troubling--read.
drive.google.com/file/d/1Is6x...
November 14, 2025 at 4:20 PM
everyone interested in the fate of American higher education should read former UVA president Jim Ryan's letter rehearsing the intense pressure placed on him to resign last summer
it offers a precious glimpse not only on DOJ's assault on higher ed, but the readiness of many other stakeholders
1/
it offers a precious glimpse not only on DOJ's assault on higher ed, but the readiness of many other stakeholders
1/
Reposted by Matthew Specter
NEW — I spoke to DoorDash about the White House claiming the company's report shows "inflation has been tamed" and whether that's an interpretation one should make. An economist also weighed in, pointing out dictatorships use data obfuscation as a tool, and right now they're "grasping at straws."
WH claims 'inflation tamed,' per DoorDash stats. Company says that's not in its report.
It comes the same week we learned the WH would likely not release key economic reports for October.
www.thehandbasket.co
November 13, 2025 at 9:52 PM
NEW — I spoke to DoorDash about the White House claiming the company's report shows "inflation has been tamed" and whether that's an interpretation one should make. An economist also weighed in, pointing out dictatorships use data obfuscation as a tool, and right now they're "grasping at straws."
Reposted by Matthew Specter
This Saturday's Lawyers March for Democracy, spearheaded by @peoplesparity.bsky.social , is a very important moment. Participate if you can!
Recent history has shown that attorneys and jurists can play a big role in bringing their nations back from the brink of autocracy. That day is coming for us as well. The Lawyers March for Democracy kicks off on Nov 15 @1pm: @skennedy2504.myatproto.social in @newrepublic.com
The Legal Professionals Planning to March Against Trump
Recent history has shown that attorneys and jurists can play a big role in bringing their nations back from the brink of autocracy. That day is coming for us as well.
newrepublic.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:03 PM
This Saturday's Lawyers March for Democracy, spearheaded by @peoplesparity.bsky.social , is a very important moment. Participate if you can!
Reposted by Matthew Specter
TODAY! DC peeps, join us. Wondering how we got to a place where the Republican party is currently debating whether to mainstream a Nazi influencer?! Laura’s got answers.
Open to the public with free registration:
Open to the public with free registration:
November 10, 2025 at 4:40 PM
TODAY! DC peeps, join us. Wondering how we got to a place where the Republican party is currently debating whether to mainstream a Nazi influencer?! Laura’s got answers.
Open to the public with free registration:
Open to the public with free registration:
Reposted by Matthew Specter
The Supreme Court met on Friday to consider hearing a longshot case aimed at upending the right of same-sex couples to marry. I appeared on CNN News Central to break it all down.
open.substack.com/pub/theoatha...
open.substack.com/pub/theoatha...
The Supreme Court is set to consider a bid to overturn same-sex marriage. I went on CNN to talk about it.
The Supreme Court met on Friday to consider hearing a longshot case aimed at upending the right of same-sex couples to marry.
open.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 12:33 AM
The Supreme Court met on Friday to consider hearing a longshot case aimed at upending the right of same-sex couples to marry. I appeared on CNN News Central to break it all down.
open.substack.com/pub/theoatha...
open.substack.com/pub/theoatha...
Reposted by Matthew Specter
They’re wearing masks so they can’t be prosecuted later. As long as they think they can’t be prosecuted, their crimes will intensify. They will torture, starve and kill, as they have already, on greater and greater scale.
Signed, someone who’s covered the unaccountable War on Terror for 23 years.
Signed, someone who’s covered the unaccountable War on Terror for 23 years.
I’ve come to believe that we need to gather considerable forces and a campaign to demand the removal of face masks by ICE, Border Patrol, FBI and police.
It is a practice in conflict with the principles of transparency & accountability that are central to the concept of democracy.
It is a practice in conflict with the principles of transparency & accountability that are central to the concept of democracy.
Video on social media shows an immigration agent pulling a gun in Little Village and holding it to the side — which is not an appropriate or safe way to hold a gun. (Among other issues.)
November 9, 2025 at 2:36 PM
They’re wearing masks so they can’t be prosecuted later. As long as they think they can’t be prosecuted, their crimes will intensify. They will torture, starve and kill, as they have already, on greater and greater scale.
Signed, someone who’s covered the unaccountable War on Terror for 23 years.
Signed, someone who’s covered the unaccountable War on Terror for 23 years.
Reposted by Matthew Specter
Can’t emphasise enough what an incredibly insightful discussion this is, with lots of points one rarely if ever hears elsewhere.
Must listen
Check out the latest Russia Contingency. I join the head of Lasar’s Group, one of Ukraine’s best and lesser known drone units to talk about their experience, how drone use is evolving, adaptation on both sides, and what the future holds.
@WarOnTheRocks warontherocks.com/episode/ther...
@WarOnTheRocks warontherocks.com/episode/ther...
November 9, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Can’t emphasise enough what an incredibly insightful discussion this is, with lots of points one rarely if ever hears elsewhere.
Reposted by Matthew Specter
BREAKING: Judge Immergut issues a permanent injunction against Pete Hegseth and the deployment of the National Guard to Portland.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
November 8, 2025 at 1:01 AM
BREAKING: Judge Immergut issues a permanent injunction against Pete Hegseth and the deployment of the National Guard to Portland.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by Matthew Specter
this has been one of my central arguments the past ten years. the theory underpinning the anti-democratic elements of the american constitutional order is wrong!
The more democratic elements of the American constitutional and economic order are actually throwing up road blocks to Trumpism. Protests and boycotts and low level courts and juries and cetera. Elite actors on the other hand are all too frequently caving. Fascinating study in who actually cares!
BREAKING: JUSTICE DEPARTMENT EATS A LOSS IN 'SANDWICH GUY' CASE AS JURORS FIND DEFENDANT NOT GUILTY www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...
November 6, 2025 at 10:38 PM
this has been one of my central arguments the past ten years. the theory underpinning the anti-democratic elements of the american constitutional order is wrong!
Reposted by Matthew Specter
The irony is that a century ago, the exact same kind of religious bigotry that Cuomo’s embraced down the stretch — we can’t elect someone from that faith or they’ll impose it on all of us! — was aimed squarely at Catholics like Cuomo.
Boy Mamdani's race is really a vivid reminder that anti-Islamic bigotry is 100% accepted in US public discourse. People don't even bother dog whistling, it's just right out in the open.
November 4, 2025 at 11:02 PM
The irony is that a century ago, the exact same kind of religious bigotry that Cuomo’s embraced down the stretch — we can’t elect someone from that faith or they’ll impose it on all of us! — was aimed squarely at Catholics like Cuomo.
LIVE: Dean Erwin Chemerinsky of @ucberkeleylaw.bsky.social on the “unprecedented” threat to American democracy.
November 4, 2025 at 1:12 AM
LIVE: Dean Erwin Chemerinsky of @ucberkeleylaw.bsky.social on the “unprecedented” threat to American democracy.
Reposted by Matthew Specter
Nearly half of UC undergraduates and graduate students experience food insecurity. Those numbers will increase with the federal government's refusal to fund SNAP (CalFresh). If you can afford it, please consider contributing to the UCI Basic Needs Center, which feeds many of our students.
Fill Our Pantries: Nourish Student Success
Help University of California, Irvine raise $15,000 for the project: Fill Our Pantries: Nourish Student Success. Your gift will make a difference!
zotfunder.give.uci.edu
October 30, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Nearly half of UC undergraduates and graduate students experience food insecurity. Those numbers will increase with the federal government's refusal to fund SNAP (CalFresh). If you can afford it, please consider contributing to the UCI Basic Needs Center, which feeds many of our students.
Pleased to be presenting here in Berlin—program here: transatlantic-reason.info
October 30, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Pleased to be presenting here in Berlin—program here: transatlantic-reason.info
Reposted by Matthew Specter
New: Videos show ICE/CBP agents are scanning peoples' faces on the street to verify citizenship. ICE has tool to instantly look up unprecedented number of databases with just a photo
“I’m an American citizen so leave me alone”
“Alright, we just got to verify that”
www.404media.co/ice-and-cbp-...
“I’m an American citizen so leave me alone”
“Alright, we just got to verify that”
www.404media.co/ice-and-cbp-...
ICE and CBP Agents Are Scanning Peoples’ Faces on the Street To Verify Citizenship
Videos on social media show officers from ICE and CBP using facial recognition technology on people in the field. One expert described the practice as “pure dystopian creep.”
www.404media.co
October 29, 2025 at 2:42 PM
New: Videos show ICE/CBP agents are scanning peoples' faces on the street to verify citizenship. ICE has tool to instantly look up unprecedented number of databases with just a photo
“I’m an American citizen so leave me alone”
“Alright, we just got to verify that”
www.404media.co/ice-and-cbp-...
“I’m an American citizen so leave me alone”
“Alright, we just got to verify that”
www.404media.co/ice-and-cbp-...