Paul Fritz
@pbfritz.bsky.social
Political scientist studying & teaching mostly international relations. Likes democracy.
Reposted by Paul Fritz
This. Constraint and accountability for using military force start closest to home. Advisers and members of the president’s party. Doesn’t have to be a vote, doesn’t have to be public. But there’s no constraining without it. War is an Insiders’ Game.
The absence of any public pushback from the Republican Party on a situation as insane as Trump is rapidly reaching on Greenland is itself a huge sign of how far gone the US already is.
January 14, 2026 at 11:57 PM
This. Constraint and accountability for using military force start closest to home. Advisers and members of the president’s party. Doesn’t have to be a vote, doesn’t have to be public. But there’s no constraining without it. War is an Insiders’ Game.
NATO allies setting up a trip wire to deter the US from invading Greenland.
www.newsweek.com/greenland-ge...
www.newsweek.com/greenland-ge...
Germany, other NATO allies sending troops to Greenland amid Trump threats
Trump said Wednesday that anything less than U.S. control of Greenland would be "unacceptable" in a warning to NATO allies.
www.newsweek.com
January 14, 2026 at 8:57 PM
NATO allies setting up a trip wire to deter the US from invading Greenland.
www.newsweek.com/greenland-ge...
www.newsweek.com/greenland-ge...
Reposted by Paul Fritz
The past week has shown us something scary — the concrete and specific outlines of a durable authoritarian state in America.
Here's what this state would look like, and the precise policy levers Trump is pulling to get there from here.
www.vox.com/politics/462...
Here's what this state would look like, and the precise policy levers Trump is pulling to get there from here.
www.vox.com/politics/462...
This is how Trump ends democracy
The past week has revealed Trump’s policy road map to veto one-party rule. Will Americans let him follow it?
www.vox.com
September 19, 2025 at 6:22 PM
The past week has shown us something scary — the concrete and specific outlines of a durable authoritarian state in America.
Here's what this state would look like, and the precise policy levers Trump is pulling to get there from here.
www.vox.com/politics/462...
Here's what this state would look like, and the precise policy levers Trump is pulling to get there from here.
www.vox.com/politics/462...
Reposted by Paul Fritz
This emergency food aid, enough to feed about 1.5 million children for a week, will be incinerated tomorrow rather than distributed in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Another in a long list of Trump's crimes against humanity.
Another in a long list of Trump's crimes against humanity.
The Trump Administration Is About to Incinerate 500 Tons of Emergency Food
Federal workers warned for months that the high-energy biscuits would go to waste.
www.theatlantic.com
July 15, 2025 at 3:23 PM
This emergency food aid, enough to feed about 1.5 million children for a week, will be incinerated tomorrow rather than distributed in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Another in a long list of Trump's crimes against humanity.
Another in a long list of Trump's crimes against humanity.
Reposted by Paul Fritz
Still my biggest question aside from Iranian retaliation. What is the diplomatic plan?
11. And I think the really big question I have, apart from what the Iranians will do: what is the diplomatic plan from here? The point is supposed to be "peace," a "deal," who is going to do the diplomatic spadework Trump *never* *ever* bothers to do? Rubio, the nation' top diplomat, is nowhere.
June 22, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Still my biggest question aside from Iranian retaliation. What is the diplomatic plan?
Reposted by Paul Fritz
Trump is once against arsonist and fireman. If he hadn't pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal (which our own State Dept. certified Iran was in compliance with), we wouldn't be here.
June 22, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Trump is once against arsonist and fireman. If he hadn't pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal (which our own State Dept. certified Iran was in compliance with), we wouldn't be here.
Reposted by Paul Fritz
Reposted by Paul Fritz
🧵 To make this more concrete: don't assume Trump himself knows what he is going to do next in in the Israel-Iran conflict. He definitely doesn't want to get the US involved in a major war in the Middle East (that much he's been clear on). But he loves to bomb and look tough. 1/
The poor communication, lack of trust, and awkward history in this group, plus Trump’s own track record, should give anyone who thinks they know what happens next a very long pause.
Vice President JD Vance, Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine, and top aides gathered at the White House earlier, CNN reports. Rubio has been keeping Trump informed.
June 17, 2025 at 12:50 AM
🧵 To make this more concrete: don't assume Trump himself knows what he is going to do next in in the Israel-Iran conflict. He definitely doesn't want to get the US involved in a major war in the Middle East (that much he's been clear on). But he loves to bomb and look tough. 1/
Reposted by Paul Fritz
"The American regime today arrested a member of the legislative opposition, after declaring it would 'liberate' that senator's province from opposition control using the armed forces"
Sitting US Senator Alex Padilla forcibly wrestled to the ground and arrested by the FBI for attempting to ask a question of DHS secretary Kristin Noem.
June 12, 2025 at 6:46 PM
"The American regime today arrested a member of the legislative opposition, after declaring it would 'liberate' that senator's province from opposition control using the armed forces"
Reposted by Paul Fritz
Literally describing themselves as occupying a blue state like hostile territory with the military and federal forces.
Kristi Noem: "We are not going away. We are staying here to liberate the city from the socialists and the burdensome leadership that this governor and that this mayor have placed on this country and what they have tried to insert into the city."
Sen. Alex Padilla is then forcibly removed!
Sen. Alex Padilla is then forcibly removed!
June 12, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Literally describing themselves as occupying a blue state like hostile territory with the military and federal forces.
“The actions have obliterated decades of experience in national security and criminal matters at the F.B.I. and raised questions about whether the agents taking over such critical posts have the institutional knowledge to pursue cornerstones of its work.
Image”
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/01/u...
Image”
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/01/u...
Unease at F.B.I. Intensifies as Patel Ousts Top Officials
www.nytimes.com
June 1, 2025 at 2:16 PM
“The actions have obliterated decades of experience in national security and criminal matters at the F.B.I. and raised questions about whether the agents taking over such critical posts have the institutional knowledge to pursue cornerstones of its work.
Image”
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/01/u...
Image”
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/01/u...
This may end up being onw of the biggest self-owns ever www.nytimes.com/2025/05/31/w...
World Scientists Look Elsewhere as U.S. Labs Stagger Under Trump Cuts
www.nytimes.com
May 31, 2025 at 3:24 PM
This may end up being onw of the biggest self-owns ever www.nytimes.com/2025/05/31/w...
Reposted by Paul Fritz
Secretary of Transportation says you should be scared of public transportation. Four million people will ignore him, justifiably, and ride the NY subway tomorrow. 🤡
Duffy: "If you're liberal, they want you to take public transportation ... the problem is that it's dirty. You have criminals. It's homeless shelters. It's insane asylums. It's a work ground for the criminal element of the city to prey upon the good people."
May 28, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Secretary of Transportation says you should be scared of public transportation. Four million people will ignore him, justifiably, and ride the NY subway tomorrow. 🤡
Is clownsmanship a word? If not, can we make it one?
Patel gets mad at Patty Murray and says he's "not gonna tolerate" her line of questioning
May 8, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Is clownsmanship a word? If not, can we make it one?
Reposted by Paul Fritz
This is blatantly authoritarian. No specific and credible allegations are laid against Krebs, beyond the fact he undermined the President's false claims about a stolen election. Nevertheless, Trump will direct the federal government to make his life hell.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/01/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/01/u...
Chris Krebs, Ex-Leader of Cybersecurity Agency, Is Under Investigation, Trump Officials Say
The disclosure came three weeks after President Trump directed the Justice Department to investigate the former agency leader, Chris Krebs, in an act of score settling.
www.nytimes.com
May 2, 2025 at 5:07 PM
This is blatantly authoritarian. No specific and credible allegations are laid against Krebs, beyond the fact he undermined the President's false claims about a stolen election. Nevertheless, Trump will direct the federal government to make his life hell.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/01/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/01/u...
Reposted by Paul Fritz
Rock band REM releasing a remix of its first single, “Radio Free Europe,” to raise money for RFE/RL after the Trump administration froze its funding. www.instagram.com/reel/DJJluTO...
May 2, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Rock band REM releasing a remix of its first single, “Radio Free Europe,” to raise money for RFE/RL after the Trump administration froze its funding. www.instagram.com/reel/DJJluTO...
Reposted by Paul Fritz
We should thank [our] lucky stars that Trump chose to do this in the most stupid way possible,” says Lucan Way, a political scientist at the University of Toronto who studies democratic backsliding.
I've spent years reporting on how democracies die. And I've noticed something: by international standards, Donald Trump is really, really bad at destroying a democracy.
And that should give us real reason for hope. www.vox.com/politics/410...
And that should give us real reason for hope. www.vox.com/politics/410...
Trump is losing his war on democracy
Trump’s power grabs are dangerous. But he’s going about them all wrong — and facing effective resistance as a result.
www.vox.com
April 30, 2025 at 1:15 PM
We should thank [our] lucky stars that Trump chose to do this in the most stupid way possible,” says Lucan Way, a political scientist at the University of Toronto who studies democratic backsliding.
Reposted by Paul Fritz
Literally straight out of the authoritarian playbook. And no one should be calling it a "news distortion review" uncritically in a headline - that is Orwellian doublespeak
FCC chair says 'all options" open in CBS '60 Minutes' news distortion review reut.rs/3EDw4Hs
FCC chair says 'all options" open in CBS '60 Minutes' news distortion review
The chair of the Federal Communications Commission said Monday "all options remain on the table" in the agency's ongoing investigation into a "60 Minutes" interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris.
reut.rs
April 28, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Literally straight out of the authoritarian playbook. And no one should be calling it a "news distortion review" uncritically in a headline - that is Orwellian doublespeak
Reposted by Paul Fritz
It’s only getting much play in the trade/transport niche press. But pretty real product shortages beginning in mid-May or so are already locked in. They’re maybe a thousand miles out in the Pacific Ocean. Modern trade takes place in gargantuan container ships. There are very detailed records …
April 27, 2025 at 2:19 PM
It’s only getting much play in the trade/transport niche press. But pretty real product shortages beginning in mid-May or so are already locked in. They’re maybe a thousand miles out in the Pacific Ocean. Modern trade takes place in gargantuan container ships. There are very detailed records …
Reposted by Paul Fritz
Basis in Reality (descending order):
1. Horoscopes
2. Army Detachment Steiner
3. Easter Bunny 🐰
4. This
1. Horoscopes
2. Army Detachment Steiner
3. Easter Bunny 🐰
4. This
April 27, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Basis in Reality (descending order):
1. Horoscopes
2. Army Detachment Steiner
3. Easter Bunny 🐰
4. This
1. Horoscopes
2. Army Detachment Steiner
3. Easter Bunny 🐰
4. This
Reposted by Paul Fritz
Trump's executive order directing DOJ to investigate ActBlue makes clear we no longer a fully democratic country - my comments to the Associated Press
apnews.com/article/wisc...
apnews.com/article/wisc...
April 26, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Trump's executive order directing DOJ to investigate ActBlue makes clear we no longer a fully democratic country - my comments to the Associated Press
apnews.com/article/wisc...
apnews.com/article/wisc...
Reposted by Paul Fritz
This is the kind of leader-worship bs I associate with the USSR in the 80s. Absolutely unbelievable that’s where the US is now.
My god, Trump admin has altered Hatch Act rules so that it is OK for federal employees to display campaign paraphenalia on the job -- but ONLY for the current President/VP, not for any challengers.
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/25/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/25/u...
Trump Officials Weaken Rules Insulating Government Workers From Politics
A reinterpretation of the Hatch Act announced by the administration lets officials wear campaign paraphernalia like MAGA hats, and removes an independent board’s role in policing violations.
www.nytimes.com
April 26, 2025 at 10:23 PM
This is the kind of leader-worship bs I associate with the USSR in the 80s. Absolutely unbelievable that’s where the US is now.
A Russian asset would be much more subtle than eveything @peterbakernyt.bsky.social accurately describes here www.nytimes.com/2025/04/26/u...
How Trump Plays Into Putin’s Hands, From Ukraine to Slashing U.S. Institutions
Many of President Trump’s actions have been seen as benefiting Russia either directly or indirectly, so much so that Russian officials have celebrated some of his moves.
www.nytimes.com
April 26, 2025 at 1:48 PM
A Russian asset would be much more subtle than eveything @peterbakernyt.bsky.social accurately describes here www.nytimes.com/2025/04/26/u...