Avishay BSG (Ben-Sasson-Gordis)
@avishaybsg.bsky.social
Normative Theory of Civ-Mil especially under democratic backsliding | Liberalism Rekindled Postdoctoral Fellow @Hebrew U | Ruderman Scholar in Residence and Senior Researcher at the INSS | Napper extraordinaire | Kartofellophile
Pinned
Things about politics I’ve come to believe strongly:
1. Less bad is better than more bad
2. Nostalgia is generally incorrect. Things weren’t better
3. Still, things can get much worse
4. Democracy is an outlier in human political history
5. Optimism is rooted in agency, not positive predictions
1. Less bad is better than more bad
2. Nostalgia is generally incorrect. Things weren’t better
3. Still, things can get much worse
4. Democracy is an outlier in human political history
5. Optimism is rooted in agency, not positive predictions
February 14, 2026 at 6:08 PM
Reposted by Avishay BSG (Ben-Sasson-Gordis)
“The settler movement has taken advantage of Israelis’ nervousness and the distraction of Gaza to reconfigure the status quo in the West Bank with a breathtakingly ambitious program of spatial engineering,” writes Shira Efron.
Israel Is Quietly Annexing the West Bank
The blunder that will imperil any Mideast peace.
www.foreignaffairs.com
February 12, 2026 at 4:42 PM
“The settler movement has taken advantage of Israelis’ nervousness and the distraction of Gaza to reconfigure the status quo in the West Bank with a breathtakingly ambitious program of spatial engineering,” writes Shira Efron.
Sorting. Detaining. Separating. Cool cool cool cool cool
More than 400 people, including hundreds of citizens, were “sorted” at gun point into racial and ethnic groups by 200 ICE agents who fired flash-bang grenades into cars with people inside, pointed guns at children & demanded their zip tied parents not comfort them. apple.news/Ausdx6kWtT0e...
Idaho families sue over immigration raid that swept up hundreds, including U.S. citizens — NBC News
About 400 people, including children and U.S. citizens, were detained for four hours while they were denied food and water in the raid, according to the lawsuit.
apple.news
February 12, 2026 at 11:42 AM
Sorting. Detaining. Separating. Cool cool cool cool cool
Reposted by Avishay BSG (Ben-Sasson-Gordis)
LSE Political Theory Group research seminar TODAY:
Speaker: Daniel Häuser (LSE)
Title: In Defense of a Modest Political Liberalism
When: Thursday, 12 February, 4:00 PM
Where: CKK.2.06
All are welcome!
Speaker: Daniel Häuser (LSE)
Title: In Defense of a Modest Political Liberalism
When: Thursday, 12 February, 4:00 PM
Where: CKK.2.06
All are welcome!
February 12, 2026 at 10:31 AM
LSE Political Theory Group research seminar TODAY:
Speaker: Daniel Häuser (LSE)
Title: In Defense of a Modest Political Liberalism
When: Thursday, 12 February, 4:00 PM
Where: CKK.2.06
All are welcome!
Speaker: Daniel Häuser (LSE)
Title: In Defense of a Modest Political Liberalism
When: Thursday, 12 February, 4:00 PM
Where: CKK.2.06
All are welcome!
It never ceases to amaze me that we've gone from European powers dividing up the Middle East to Europe being divided up in the Middle East
As we speak, trilateral “peace” negotiations are underway in Abu Dhabi. Reps of the Russia, Ukraine and the U.S. are trying to hammer out how on earth Ukraine can be assured of iron-clad security against further Russian aggression.
But there’s more on the table…
But there’s more on the table…
February 12, 2026 at 7:33 AM
It never ceases to amaze me that we've gone from European powers dividing up the Middle East to Europe being divided up in the Middle East
Reposted by Avishay BSG (Ben-Sasson-Gordis)
Seems the Pentagon is testing anti-drone high-energy lasers near Fort Bliss in El Paso, and didn't feel this was dangerous enough to close airspace over.
The FAA administrator disagreed.
Last week, these lasers successfully protected the American people from a sinister children's party balloon.
The FAA administrator disagreed.
Last week, these lasers successfully protected the American people from a sinister children's party balloon.
Airspace closure followed spat over drone-related tests and party balloon shoot-down, sources say
Pentagon officials had undertaken planning to use military technology near Fort Bliss, in El Paso, to practice downing drones.
www.cbsnews.com
February 11, 2026 at 5:36 PM
Seems the Pentagon is testing anti-drone high-energy lasers near Fort Bliss in El Paso, and didn't feel this was dangerous enough to close airspace over.
The FAA administrator disagreed.
Last week, these lasers successfully protected the American people from a sinister children's party balloon.
The FAA administrator disagreed.
Last week, these lasers successfully protected the American people from a sinister children's party balloon.
Who just took apart the bottle trap and unclogged their sink? Me!
February 11, 2026 at 12:47 PM
Who just took apart the bottle trap and unclogged their sink? Me!
If your framework for American policy in the age of Trump is domination, you’re going to get most things right.
This is true abroad and at home.
This is true abroad and at home.
Trump: "So I put on a 30% tariff, which is very low. I got an emergency call from I believe the prime minister of Switzerland. She was very aggressive ... I didn't really like the way she talked to us, so instead of giving her a reduction, I raised it to 39%."
February 11, 2026 at 5:33 AM
If your framework for American policy in the age of Trump is domination, you’re going to get most things right.
This is true abroad and at home.
This is true abroad and at home.
Stage 2
A key thing about “mass deportation” is that it doesn’t work so you go from mass deportation to mass imprisonment without cause and sometimes to other more final solutions
Madagascar again? Or were they planning on a different destination this time?
February 10, 2026 at 6:38 AM
Stage 2
I’m quoted in this @wsj.com story by Anat Peled about recent annexationist decisions by the Israeli government. I talked about why their actions are bad for Israel. Coincidentally, this is also why many Palestinians criticize the PA
www.wsj.com/world/middle...
www.wsj.com/world/middle...
February 9, 2026 at 10:00 PM
I’m quoted in this @wsj.com story by Anat Peled about recent annexationist decisions by the Israeli government. I talked about why their actions are bad for Israel. Coincidentally, this is also why many Palestinians criticize the PA
www.wsj.com/world/middle...
www.wsj.com/world/middle...
A thought on this. Iran learned several lessons in its direct confrontations with Israel that culminated in the Israeli attack last June. One of the major ones was that potentially, its missile program is a more useful deterrent than its (setback) nuclear program. 1/3
I'm glad everyone is now being open about the fact that the demands keep shifting and will continue to shift ad infinitum until the US decides to just do Iraq 2
February 9, 2026 at 7:02 PM
A thought on this. Iran learned several lessons in its direct confrontations with Israel that culminated in the Israeli attack last June. One of the major ones was that potentially, its missile program is a more useful deterrent than its (setback) nuclear program. 1/3
There's some serious democratic-backsliding/neo-authoritarian BS happening in Israel these days, and I just don't have it in me to write about it...
February 9, 2026 at 2:18 PM
There's some serious democratic-backsliding/neo-authoritarian BS happening in Israel these days, and I just don't have it in me to write about it...
Is he a bad bunny or merely a bunny having a bad time?
February 9, 2026 at 7:19 AM
Is he a bad bunny or merely a bunny having a bad time?
At the site of the Nova party where two and a half years ago Hell was unleashed by Hamas. It’s my fist time here since the war broke out and it’s a beautiful calm day. Each of these trees is in memory of a party goer murdered here.
February 8, 2026 at 6:40 AM
At the site of the Nova party where two and a half years ago Hell was unleashed by Hamas. It’s my fist time here since the war broke out and it’s a beautiful calm day. Each of these trees is in memory of a party goer murdered here.
Reposted by Avishay BSG (Ben-Sasson-Gordis)
UPDATE
Talks involving the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran, which took place in Oman, have concluded for today.
The United States was represented by Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and CENTCOM Commander Brad Cooper.
Talks are expected to continue in the coming days.
Talks involving the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran, which took place in Oman, have concluded for today.
The United States was represented by Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and CENTCOM Commander Brad Cooper.
Talks are expected to continue in the coming days.
February 6, 2026 at 2:05 PM
UPDATE
Talks involving the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran, which took place in Oman, have concluded for today.
The United States was represented by Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and CENTCOM Commander Brad Cooper.
Talks are expected to continue in the coming days.
Talks involving the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran, which took place in Oman, have concluded for today.
The United States was represented by Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and CENTCOM Commander Brad Cooper.
Talks are expected to continue in the coming days.
It is. Especially in the summer in Tel Aviv
A land of milk and honey sounds like it would be really sticky
February 6, 2026 at 12:38 PM
It is. Especially in the summer in Tel Aviv
Reposted by Avishay BSG (Ben-Sasson-Gordis)
The two interesting things here are that: 1) Trump doesn't have the constitutional authority to conclude this deal without congressional approval, so any enforcement of it is open to legal challenge; and, 2) Milei's timing on torpedoing Mercosur, right after it sealed the EU deal, is curious.
Argentina and U.S. Sign Sweeping Trade Deal as Alliance Deepens
www.nytimes.com
February 6, 2026 at 11:15 AM
The two interesting things here are that: 1) Trump doesn't have the constitutional authority to conclude this deal without congressional approval, so any enforcement of it is open to legal challenge; and, 2) Milei's timing on torpedoing Mercosur, right after it sealed the EU deal, is curious.
This is that this is basically the end of higher ed. The ROI for education in academia is extremely low as is, but at least you had tenure to look forward to and working on what’s interesting. Take the first and prosecute the second and there’s no incentive.
This has slowly been happening at all but flagship public universities. This would accelerate the practice, and I expect more states (including some blue states) to follow suit in the coming years.
Breaking, from me: An executive order from Oklahoma's governor directs most of the state's public colleges to "phase out tenure." #AcademicSky #HigherEd @chronicle.com
www.chronicle.com/article/tenu...
www.chronicle.com/article/tenu...
February 5, 2026 at 10:16 PM
This is that this is basically the end of higher ed. The ROI for education in academia is extremely low as is, but at least you had tenure to look forward to and working on what’s interesting. Take the first and prosecute the second and there’s no incentive.
God of War Ragnarok is very good. The Norns in particular.
It’s also waaaay too much game.
It’s also waaaay too much game.
February 5, 2026 at 2:12 PM
God of War Ragnarok is very good. The Norns in particular.
It’s also waaaay too much game.
It’s also waaaay too much game.
Talks are back on for Friday after multiple Arab states urgently requested the US give it a chance.
Iran insisting it will only discuss nuclear issue but not proxy militias or ballistic missile program so unclear if there’s a zone of possible agreement.
Israeli security cabinet to meet tmrw.
Iran insisting it will only discuss nuclear issue but not proxy militias or ballistic missile program so unclear if there’s a zone of possible agreement.
Israeli security cabinet to meet tmrw.
US cancels weekend talks scheduled with Iran over Iranian attempts to move the talks from Turkey to Oman and change their agenda.
My read: The US making it clear these are capitulation talks, not negotiations among equals. And the US is actually willing to strike so it has a BATNA.
My read: The US making it clear these are capitulation talks, not negotiations among equals. And the US is actually willing to strike so it has a BATNA.
February 4, 2026 at 9:24 PM
Talks are back on for Friday after multiple Arab states urgently requested the US give it a chance.
Iran insisting it will only discuss nuclear issue but not proxy militias or ballistic missile program so unclear if there’s a zone of possible agreement.
Israeli security cabinet to meet tmrw.
Iran insisting it will only discuss nuclear issue but not proxy militias or ballistic missile program so unclear if there’s a zone of possible agreement.
Israeli security cabinet to meet tmrw.
Just the most excellent and relevant exchange
Moderate, run to the center, assume opinions are fixed and chase what polls well — that’s a badly misguided strategy for this moment.
If interested in US elections, “popularism,” and opposing authoritarianism, read what the poli sci says, from
@adambonica.bsky.social and @jakemgrumbach.bsky.social.
If interested in US elections, “popularism,” and opposing authoritarianism, read what the poli sci says, from
@adambonica.bsky.social and @jakemgrumbach.bsky.social.
How Not to Defeat Authoritarianism
Moderation used to help Democrats win, but its advantages now have been greatly exaggerated.
www.bostonreview.net
February 4, 2026 at 6:40 PM
Just the most excellent and relevant exchange
US cancels weekend talks scheduled with Iran over Iranian attempts to move the talks from Turkey to Oman and change their agenda.
My read: The US making it clear these are capitulation talks, not negotiations among equals. And the US is actually willing to strike so it has a BATNA.
My read: The US making it clear these are capitulation talks, not negotiations among equals. And the US is actually willing to strike so it has a BATNA.
February 4, 2026 at 5:56 PM
US cancels weekend talks scheduled with Iran over Iranian attempts to move the talks from Turkey to Oman and change their agenda.
My read: The US making it clear these are capitulation talks, not negotiations among equals. And the US is actually willing to strike so it has a BATNA.
My read: The US making it clear these are capitulation talks, not negotiations among equals. And the US is actually willing to strike so it has a BATNA.
An example straight out of my job-talk (which is based on this article www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...).
February 4, 2026 at 5:52 PM
An example straight out of my job-talk (which is based on this article www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...).
Fools forgot the Stringer Bell rule
February 4, 2026 at 2:01 PM
Fools forgot the Stringer Bell rule
My wife made this pottery bowl. It’s 28cm (11”) across. It’s an ongoing topic of conversation so out of curiosity, what would you pay for something like this/would be unphazed to see charged for it?
February 4, 2026 at 11:35 AM
My wife made this pottery bowl. It’s 28cm (11”) across. It’s an ongoing topic of conversation so out of curiosity, what would you pay for something like this/would be unphazed to see charged for it?