Marc Edward Hoffman

people use the shorthand, "it's because of capitalism" to explain why our modern condition is so fucked, but i think "it's because of nationalism" might be equally if not more accurate

Have you ever once seen the New York Times quote Trump like this?

Roy Medvedev, Soviet Era Historian and Dissident, Is Dead at 100

May this extraordinary man rest in peace.

www.nytimes.com/2026/02/14/w...

That honestly sounds more interesting.

meta-discursive comment: the incentives of social media where making an incorrect naive prediction is seen as much more embarrassing than making an incorrect cynical one are very bad.

Front pages of American newspapers after Jan. 6, 2021, with headlines like "Capitol Chaos," "Assault on Democracy," "Pro-Trump mob storms Capitol."

Five years ago.

I read it rather recently. It's one of the better contemporaneous accounts by a foreign observer.

It's funny how us parochial Americans generally seem to perceive that the EV revolution is stalling or reversing when in fact it's accelerating rapidly worldwide. 25% of cars sold globally in 2025 were EVs!

It's mostly just the US that's being left behind

I'm watching folks steadfastly insist that 'actually military history isn't popular' and, like, just the most casual glance at what public-facing history content and books draw views should tell you that if this is your experience, something is probably wrong in your department.

Truth Social Parent to Merge With Nuclear Fusion Firm in $6 Billion Deal

So this is how the apocalypse happens.

www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/b...

Nah, the Chinese are much worse, as evidenced by the efflorescence of terrible quality Chinese restaurants wherever their package tours operate (and the fact that they pretty much only travel thusly).

Absolutely delightful thread. Stick around for the nether regions discussion!

"The day NYC elects a Muslim Mayor will be the day I die."

--Dick Cheney probably

Ding dong, the Dick is dead.

"Neither divided nor corrupted," can you even imagine?

As an erstwhile Philadelphian who still keeps an eye on Pennsylvania politics from my perch abroad, I have to say I'm pretty burnt out on this playbook. That was John Fetterman's whole schtick, and he's been a disaster. Will they never learn?

It's really mystifying that these guys can't just take the L and move on.

Şimdi tüm kitapçılarda…

I know it's the most recent episode, and probably occasioned this query, but Bibi's invocation really takes the cake.

after careful study, I believe only people born between 1975 and 1995 should be allowed to use the internet

It's hard to see Trump dumping his good buddy Tom Barrack.

I'm just bummed that no one responded to the following, so I'm gonna keep banging my drum.
bsky.app/profile/meho...

Dunno about the name, but I've got your theme song:
"Goin' home late last night / Suddenly, I got a bite / Yeah, I looked through a window and, yum, what I saw / A mustachioed man slicing lamb halal"

GEM de Ste. Croix: “The Helot danger was the curse Sparta had brought upon herself, an admirable illustration of the maxim that a people which oppresses another cannot itself be free.”

The comparison of Israel to Sparta is literally what Hannah Arendt predicted would happen back in 1947.

Gee, I wonder who the helots are in this schema.

This reminds me of the hooding incident in Iraq that deeply scarred US-Turkish relations and was a footnote at most to the US public

I suspect this would play out differently than Giuliani having Yasser Arafat seized in the middle of a performance of Beethoven's Ninth at the Lincoln Center in 1995 during celebrations for he U.N.'s 50th anniversary.