Gerard Toal
@critgeopolitics.bsky.social
Irish immigrant, political geographer, DC resident, SPIA Virginia Tech (Arlington) professor studying geopolitical competition, territorial conflicts (BiH, Ukraine, Caucasus) & the geopolitics-climate nexus. Thinking about MAGA & DC these days .. more
Irish immigrant, political geographer, DC resident, SPIA Virginia Tech (Arlington) professor studying geopolitical competition, territorial conflicts (BiH, Ukraine, Caucasus) & the geopolitics-climate nexus. Thinking about MAGA & DC these days
Gerard Toal is Professor of Government and International Affairs at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
Source: Wikipedia
Political science
68%
Sociology
14%
Pinned
So the new and outgoing Presidents of Ireland met yesterday and a certain book was visible on the table...
Thanks @president.ie Michael D. Higgins for your great service to Ireland down the years (and for this little personal surprise).
Here's to the success of President elect Catherine Connolly.
Thanks @president.ie Michael D. Higgins for your great service to Ireland down the years (and for this little personal surprise).
Here's to the success of President elect Catherine Connolly.
Kennedy Center adds Trump’s name to building
The signage change follows a vote by the board of trustees to rename the performing arts complex “the Trump Kennedy Center.”
www.washingtonpost.com
Brazenly capture the institutions & dare the law to catch up.
Enjoy the spectacle of shameless illegality.
Forget words like 'groceries' & 'affordability' & 'Epstein' & 'Ukraine.'
www.washingtonpost.com/entertainmen...
Enjoy the spectacle of shameless illegality.
Forget words like 'groceries' & 'affordability' & 'Epstein' & 'Ukraine.'
www.washingtonpost.com/entertainmen...
Reminder! Join us on Dec. 18 for a presentation of Anger, Fear, Domination. The author, Bill Galston, will be in conversation with Kristen Collins and Laura K. Field. You won't want to miss it!
RSVP: tinyurl.com/y643my7w
@ieres-gwu.bsky.social @lkatfield.bsky.social @kristenrosec.bsky.social
RSVP: tinyurl.com/y643my7w
@ieres-gwu.bsky.social @lkatfield.bsky.social @kristenrosec.bsky.social
Short new book on Trump's rhetorical skill at mobilizing dark passions, drawing upon classical political theory:
Anger, Fear, Domination by William Galston (Yale UP)
Anger, Fear, Domination by William Galston (Yale UP)
Reposted by Gerard Toal
Reminder! Join us on Dec. 18 for a presentation of Anger, Fear, Domination. The author, Bill Galston, will be in conversation with Kristen Collins and Laura K. Field. You won't want to miss it!
RSVP: tinyurl.com/y643my7w
@ieres-gwu.bsky.social @lkatfield.bsky.social @kristenrosec.bsky.social
RSVP: tinyurl.com/y643my7w
@ieres-gwu.bsky.social @lkatfield.bsky.social @kristenrosec.bsky.social
Trump's white nationalist aides are churning out vile videos glorifying migrant suffering. But Trump-MAGA are *losing* the online culture wars over deportations, because the humane side is info-warring better.
Check out @paulwaldman.bsky.social and me on this:
newrepublic.com/article/2038...
Check out @paulwaldman.bsky.social and me on this:
newrepublic.com/article/2038...
The “joys of dehumanization.”
Helpful conversation on the jokey sadism of this awful White House.
Helpful conversation on the jokey sadism of this awful White House.
White House renames building the ‘Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace’
The change comes as Trump officials tout his peace deals and prepare to host leaders from Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo to sign an accord.
www.washingtonpost.com
In the magical kingdom of MAGA World there’s a Donald J. Trump Institute for Peace.
✌️
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
✌️
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
The phrase “fascist passions” is provocatively developed by Judith Butler today but the idea has a rich history. I also discuss Bill Connolly and others in elaborating the concept in the talk.
Due to a family emergency, I have reluctantly had to cancel scheduled talks at Durham today and Oxford tomorrow. I hope to give these talks next year.
Ireland second highest in EU for greenhouse gas emissions per person
Farming and forestry responsible for 38% of State’s total output of gases linked to climate change
www.irishtimes.com
Ireland’s green fields signify a country locked in a high emission way of life.
www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025...
www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025...
I will be speaking on “Fascist Passions: MAGA & Washington DC” at Trinity College Dublin next week.
Unfortunately the length of the talk keeps growing…
Unfortunately the length of the talk keeps growing…
Reposted by Rosemary A. Joyce, Bruce D. Baker, Gerard Toal
Trump's white nationalist aides are churning out vile videos glorifying migrant suffering. But Trump-MAGA are *losing* the online culture wars over deportations, because the humane side is info-warring better.
Check out @paulwaldman.bsky.social and me on this:
newrepublic.com/article/2038...
Check out @paulwaldman.bsky.social and me on this:
newrepublic.com/article/2038...
Sabrina Carpenter slams ‘evil and disgusting’ ICE video that uses her song
Pop star calls out White House’s ‘inhumane agenda’ after post that soundtracks immigration raids to her song Juno
www.theguardian.com
Fair play to the women artists refusing to allow their music to be the soundtrack to fascist right stripping videos.
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/d...
The pleasure these freaks take in killing people is really disturbing.
![Pete Hegseth @PeteHegseth
For your Christmas wish list...
[a fake children’s book cover]
A Classic Franklin Story
Franklin
Targets Narco Terrorists
[a drawing of a turtle in infantry gear standing in an open, flying helicopter shooting a shell at a boat filled with people and drugs]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:xalxqffcayyidntafmptzhta/bafkreia2eg5otg3hhbefqcmhctv6mbfxc6i6wgyzf2rql6cxygn44j63ii@jpeg)
Fascist passion.
Definition: pleasurable infliction of violence against fantasmatic ‘enemies.’
Illustration: 👇🏼
Definition: pleasurable infliction of violence against fantasmatic ‘enemies.’
Illustration: 👇🏼
Reposted by Gerard Toal
The pleasure these freaks take in killing people is really disturbing.
Leaked files show far-right influences among Project 2025 applicants
Applicants reportedly cited Nazi theorists and other extremists as inspiration for Trump administration roles
www.theguardian.com
Carl Schmitt admirers, Heritage and officials in the Trump administration.
No doubt that Trump thinks politics as friend/enemy.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
No doubt that Trump thinks politics as friend/enemy.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Gerard Toal
@critgeopolitics.bsky.social
· Nov 25
I’m pro-negotiations and skeptical they will succeed.
No matter what, any immediate “peace” will be ugly and illiberal, and likely temporary.
No matter what, any immediate “peace” will be ugly and illiberal, and likely temporary.
Gerard Toal
@critgeopolitics.bsky.social
· Nov 25
US holds Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Abu Dhabi
Kremlin calls for talks on original plan that Kyiv presidential aide says ‘no longer exists’
www.irishtimes.com
“It is important to support the negotiation process ... and crucial to support the principles on which Europe stands – that borders cannot be changed by force; that war criminals must not escape justice; & that the aggressor must pay fully for the war he started.”
www.irishtimes.com/world/europe...
www.irishtimes.com/world/europe...
Gerard Toal
@critgeopolitics.bsky.social
· Nov 24
A united Ireland referendum must not be ‘another Brexit’, analysts say
Two leading journalists from both sides of the border warn against another ‘vague, thumbs up-thumbs down’ vote
www.theguardian.com
A work of service to public discourse on an issue that has scarred this island for a hundred years.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Gerard Toal
@critgeopolitics.bsky.social
· Nov 23
A carousing carousel.
Gerard Toal
@critgeopolitics.bsky.social
· Nov 23
36% turnout 🙄
Gerard Toal
@critgeopolitics.bsky.social
· Nov 22
The Dayton Peace Accords at 30: An ugly peace that has prevented a return to war over Bosnia
More than 100,000 people were killed in the Bosnian war. But the peace that ended it in 1995 sowed the seeds for ethnonationalism.
theconversation.com
30 years ago this week a US administration pressured a state victimized by larger neighboring state aggression & genocide to accept an unjust illiberal peace.
Trump’s Ukraine peace has Bosnia echoes.
theconversation.com/the-dayton-p...
Trump’s Ukraine peace has Bosnia echoes.
theconversation.com/the-dayton-p...
Gerard Toal
@critgeopolitics.bsky.social
· Nov 22
What Is Trump’s 28-Point Plan to End Russia’s War in Ukraine?
www.nytimes.com
Trump’s 28-Point Plan to End Russia’s War in Ukraine is perfectly consistent with the administration’s broader moralized sadism.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/22/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/22/w...
Gerard Toal
@critgeopolitics.bsky.social
· Nov 21
“This powerful series exposes how our economic system is driving the climate crisis, while lifting up the courageous people charting an alternative path.”
- @jasonhickel.bsky.social
Find out more on overshootpod.com
Episodes 1 & 2 available now
- @jasonhickel.bsky.social
Find out more on overshootpod.com
Episodes 1 & 2 available now
Excellent podcast series this.
Gerard Toal
@critgeopolitics.bsky.social
· Nov 21
Remarkable: Rep Chrissy Houlahan, one of the Dems that Trump called for executing, tells me her office literally filled out a Capitol Police threat report that listed "the president" as the person making the threat.
It's at 9:20 on our pod. Much more like that here:
newrepublic.com/article/2034...
It's at 9:20 on our pod. Much more like that here:
newrepublic.com/article/2034...
Trump’s Angry Tirade Calling for “Death” to Dems Just Backfired Badly
As Trump’s call for the execution of “seditious” Dems works against him, Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, one of his targets, explains why she and other Dems are warning servicemembers against carrying out ille...
newrepublic.com
The Executive Branch threatens to execute the Legislative Branch in the US.
Greg Sargent
@gregsargent.bsky.social
· Nov 21
Trump’s Angry Tirade Calling for “Death” to Dems Just Backfired Badly
As Trump’s call for the execution of “seditious” Dems works against him, Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, one of his targets, explains why she and other Dems are warning servicemembers against carrying out ille...
newrepublic.com
Remarkable: Rep Chrissy Houlahan, one of the Dems that Trump called for executing, tells me her office literally filled out a Capitol Police threat report that listed "the president" as the person making the threat.
It's at 9:20 on our pod. Much more like that here:
newrepublic.com/article/2034...
It's at 9:20 on our pod. Much more like that here:
newrepublic.com/article/2034...
Gerard Toal
@critgeopolitics.bsky.social
· Nov 20
“Fly-by assertion”
Trump’s militarist performances rely upon the time gap between command action and legal accountability…
Move fast and break laws: excite fascist passions.
Trump’s militarist performances rely upon the time gap between command action and legal accountability…
Move fast and break laws: excite fascist passions.
Gerard Toal
@critgeopolitics.bsky.social
· Nov 20
Judge rules Trump’s DC National Guard deployment was illegal
Judge rules Trump’s DC National Guard deployment was illegal
The judge postponed the impact of her decision until Dec. 11 to give the Trump administration time to appeal her decision.
dlvr.it
“The Court rejects Defendants’ fly-by assertion of constitutional power, finding that such a broad reading of the President’s Article II authority would erase Congress’s role in governing the District and its National Guard” 👏
Reposted by Marc Lynch, Gerard Toal
Politico
@politico.com
· Nov 20
Judge rules Trump’s DC National Guard deployment was illegal
The judge postponed the impact of her decision until Dec. 11 to give the Trump administration time to appeal her decision.
dlvr.it
Judge rules Trump’s DC National Guard deployment was illegal
Gerard Toal
@critgeopolitics.bsky.social
· Nov 19
Moral duty ‘to act now’ on climate change for future generations, says President Connolly
Figures of possible fines of between €8bn and €26bn for breaching emissions targets ‘incredible’, President says
www.irishtimes.com
Imagine a country whose president understands the moral urgency of decarbonization & climate justice.
In Ireland, you don’t need to…
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
In Ireland, you don’t need to…
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...