Jen Spindel's Avatar

Jen Spindel

@spindel.bsky.social

πŸŽ“ political scientist πŸŽ€ breast cancer survivor 😺 cat person πŸ‘½sci-fi dork Follow for cat pics, hot takes on sci-fi, and occasional international security and foreign policy posts.

252 Followers  |  143 Following  |  56 Posts  |  Joined: 08.09.2023  |  2.3908

Latest posts by spindel.bsky.social on Bluesky

Post image

hey @nytimes.com what if instead of this you reported accurately that the president of the united states has violated the united states constitution by entering into war with a foreign power without the approval of congress, just like, what if

22.06.2025 00:30 β€” πŸ‘ 3590    πŸ” 942    πŸ’¬ 45    πŸ“Œ 37
Is Donald Trump an Antagonist or Champion of the Gay Community? Gay backers of Donald Trump say he is blind to sexuality. Not everyone agrees 
Listen to this article . 16:43 min Learn more 
Share full article 
【 
LBT' foTRU 
S 
a rally in 2016 in Colorado holding a Pride flag. Gay supporters of the president say that the economy an ving forces in their embrace of him and his policies. Stephen Crowley/The New York Times 
nd Guy Trebay 48 p.m. ET 
June 21, 2025 p

Is Donald Trump an Antagonist or Champion of the Gay Community? Gay backers of Donald Trump say he is blind to sexuality. Not everyone agrees Listen to this article . 16:43 min Learn more Share full article 【 LBT' foTRU S a rally in 2016 in Colorado holding a Pride flag. Gay supporters of the president say that the economy an ving forces in their embrace of him and his policies. Stephen Crowley/The New York Times nd Guy Trebay 48 p.m. ET June 21, 2025 p

Are... are you... are you fucking serious........

21.06.2025 20:21 β€” πŸ‘ 2566    πŸ” 386    πŸ’¬ 167    πŸ“Œ 156
Institute for Future Conflict (IFC)

"While tanks, fighter jets, & warships will continue to have their place in future conflict, we argue that the war in Ukraine... is demonstrating the increasing importance & wide operational use of mid-tier weapons." @spindel.bsky.social & Keith Carter

www.ifc.usafa.edu/articles/mor...

15.05.2025 16:26 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Assessing Trump's First 100 Days To mark the first 100 days in office, experts independently assess aspects of the Trump administration's policies.

@spindel.bsky.social "... We are headed toward a world in which the flow of arms is unprecedented and where human rights concerns are willfully overlooked..." Read her fuller assessment of Trump's first #100days at
www.forumarmstrade.org/trump100days...

29.04.2025 13:35 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
In Brief: How to Improve the Foreign Military Sales Process - War on the Rocks In an April 9 executive order, the president directed his administration to β€œimprove speed and accountability in the defense sales system.” The order aims

Foreign military sales are under the microscope. What should change?
warontherocks.com/20...

23.04.2025 11:00 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

"I don't know anything about it"

In a functioning democracy, Hegseth would resign and Trump would be impeached over this.

OVER JUST THIS.

24.03.2025 18:55 β€” πŸ‘ 1841    πŸ” 485    πŸ’¬ 20    πŸ“Œ 16

Hegseth has always been unqualified, but this is clear irresponsibility and a lack of information security. If we won't call for his resignation, how do I get added to the group chat?

Paging @schumer.senate.gov @housedemocrats.bsky.social @democrats.senate.gov if not now, when?

24.03.2025 19:00 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
The Cost of the Government’s Attack on Columbia American universities have given the country prosperity and security. The Trump administration’s attack on academic freedom endangers all of that.

Excellent excellent excellent from Princeton president and constitutional/ political theorist Chris Eisgruber. There's been far too little of this kind of thing; here's hoping others follow his good example.

www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...

19.03.2025 13:04 β€” πŸ‘ 955    πŸ” 379    πŸ’¬ 23    πŸ“Œ 37
Preview
DOGE plays hardball in U.S. Institute of Peace takeover DOGE, which stands for Department of Government Efficiency, took over the U.S. Institute of Peace after threatening its officials with criminal prosecution.

"DOGE lies to police, uses force to gain entry into privately-owned building, commandeers a nonprofit organization unconnected to the federal government." Come on, @washingtonpost.com, this isn't "hardball " it's piracy. Fucking do better.

19.03.2025 15:22 β€” πŸ‘ 931    πŸ” 249    πŸ’¬ 27    πŸ“Œ 17
Preview
Ordinary Men β€œA remarkableβ€”and singularly chillingβ€”glimpse of human behavior. . .This meticulously researched book...represents a major contribution to the literature of...

Required readingπŸ‘‡

Browning's book shows how "ordinary middle-aged, working-class men who committed these atrocities out of a mixture of motives, including the group dynamics of conformity, deference to authority, role adaptation, and the altering of moral norms to justify their actions."

17.03.2025 22:26 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

Today's workspace...

10.03.2025 16:35 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

Dear FPA section members, remember we have our business meeting today (Tuesday 4) at 12:30. Make sure to come! #ISA2025 #FPA

04.03.2025 15:35 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Boom, Bling, Backbone, or Blip? The Signaling Inherent in Arms Transfers Abstract. Why do states send and seek conventional weapons? Though it may seem obvious that the balance of power motivates states to do so, numerous conventional arms transfers do not conform to the b...

6/ @spindel.bsky.social "Why do states send and seek conventional weapons? Though it may seem obvious that the balance of power motivates states to do so... This article argues that states seek weapons because arms transfers send signals about political alignments..." direct.mit.edu/isec/article...

28.02.2025 15:11 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Thanks! Credit to @drjlhazelton.bsky.social for the title. I am notoriously horrible at coming up with titles!

21.02.2025 14:30 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

Wasn't sure if this article would ever see the light of day, but am absolutely thrilled to have an article in the forthcoming Winter 2024/2025 of @intsecurity.bsky.social

20.02.2025 14:48 β€” πŸ‘ 29    πŸ” 7    πŸ’¬ 5    πŸ“Œ 0

My statements that Republican Party = Pro-Cancer are not hyperbole. Why are Dems and media silent? Do your jobs and report this!

GOP = pro-cancer

@schumer.senate.gov @nytimes.com @washingtonpost.com @startribune.com @buzzfeed.com @senatefinance.bsky.social

13.02.2025 22:11 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
5 Calls Spend 5 minutes. Make 5 calls. Make your voice heard.

The Pro-Cancer government needs to hear, loudly and clearly, that their attack on science and healthcare is unacceptable.

There are 4.54 million of us! And our friends and loved ones. That's a tsunami of voices. Join the #PinkWave. Call your representatives. www.5calls.org

#GOPisProCancer

13.02.2025 21:37 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
a cartoon drawing of a bear with a cross on it 's arm ALT: a cartoon drawing of a bear with a cross on it 's arm

There are 4.54 million breast cancer survivors in the US. 1 in 8 women will experience breast cancer. You know someone who has had to deal with this. And if you're convinced no one in your life has affected by breast cancer, hi, it's me.

13.02.2025 21:37 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
a pink breast cancer ribbon is crossed over itself ALT: a pink breast cancer ribbon is crossed over itself

There are 268,000 new diagnoses of #breastcancer each year in the US. That's half the population of Wyoming. We have power, we have voice. The current HHS head & GOP are pro-cancer. They are attacking the NIH and other grant bodies. Raise your voice!

#PinkWave

13.02.2025 21:37 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Direct Economic Contributions NIH directly supports the economy through investments in research institutions and job formation.

Executive wants to frame the NIH indirects cut as $4B in savings.

But given that NIH returns $2.5 on every $1 investment, this would actually cost US economy a net $6 BILLION (per year!). Not to mention the human costs of wrecking education and research sectors and the communities they serve.

08.02.2025 03:08 β€” πŸ‘ 4474    πŸ” 2129    πŸ’¬ 73    πŸ“Œ 93
Vittoria Elliott Leah Feiger
Feb 7, 2025 2:47 PM
A US Treasury Threat Intelligence Analysis Designates DOGE Staff as β€˜Insider Threat’
An internal email reviewed by WIRED calls DOGE staff's access to federal payments systems β€œthe single biggest insider threat risk the Bureau of the Fiscal Service has ever faced.”

Vittoria Elliott Leah Feiger Feb 7, 2025 2:47 PM A US Treasury Threat Intelligence Analysis Designates DOGE Staff as β€˜Insider Threat’ An internal email reviewed by WIRED calls DOGE staff's access to federal payments systems β€œthe single biggest insider threat risk the Bureau of the Fiscal Service has ever faced.”

NEW: An internal email obtained by WIRED from a threat intelligence team monitoring US Treasury systems advised labeling DOGE operatives an "insider threat," adding that it recommended suspending their access "immediately."
|
www.wired.com/story/treasu...

07.02.2025 19:57 β€” πŸ‘ 18386    πŸ” 6302    πŸ’¬ 324    πŸ“Œ 400

Let's be clear: The latest attack on NIH funding mechanisms is again proof that the Republican Party, led by Musk and enabled by Trump, is anti-life and pro-cancer. It's that simple.

Hey: @schumer.senate.gov @senatefinance.bsky.social @democrats-judiciary.house.gov where you all at?

08.02.2025 18:09 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Does DOGE Pose a National Security Risk? Uncertainty about access and authority will worry allies and tempt adversaries.

Great article by @profsaunders.bsky.social & @jimgoldgeier.bsky.social on the national security threats posed by the DOGE boys (I'm 100% sure they wouldn't have a question mark in the title!).

www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...

08.02.2025 16:35 β€” πŸ‘ 57    πŸ” 22    πŸ’¬ 5    πŸ“Œ 0
Video thumbnail

Murphy: "This is a constitutional crisis that we are in today. Let's call it what it is."

03.02.2025 18:26 β€” πŸ‘ 68094    πŸ” 17655    πŸ’¬ 2418    πŸ“Œ 1361

Also paging @budget.senate.gov @senatefinance.bsky.social @sanders.senate.gov
Thought that you guys liked exercising your Constitutionally-obligated power. You just going to sit back while the Constitution is ripped to shreds in front of you?
The nation is begging you to do something. Will you?

01.02.2025 23:54 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

paging @schumer.senate.gov @democrats-judiciary.house.gov @democrats.org @houseforeign.bsky.social @housedemocrats.bsky.social @waysmeanscmte.bsky.social
There's a real simple, straightforward duty that you are all failing to do.

DJT & EM are perpetrating an illegal coup. You MUST act. Now.

01.02.2025 23:50 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Right, because a great strategy for countering DJT and EM is snark. Where is the outrage?! Where is the clear statement? Where is the real talk? Be better, Chuck.

And since you and the media can't seem to find the lede, here ya go:

"this is unconstitutional, illegal, and will kill people."

01.02.2025 23:48 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

SO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! Why are all of the Dems snark-posting and talking? Why are you not pushing for impeachment? Why are you not clearly stating that this is illegal and unconstitutional? Why can you guys not manage to do the basics of communicating? DO SOMETHING, I beg you. I beg you.

01.02.2025 23:45 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

@spindel is following 20 prominent accounts