Andy Vitek
@avitek.bsky.social
Political science professor. Teacher/researcher of terrorism and extremism with a focus on the far-right.
Posting through it.
#BillsMafia
Posting through it.
#BillsMafia
Pinned
Andy Vitek
@avitek.bsky.social
· Feb 28
I seem to have gotten an influx of new followers. Welcome friends! To those hoping for sober and insightful academic analysis: I am so sorry.
The one thing I'll say about the shit show in Venezuela right now is that it is truly insane that so many people seem to just assume the regime has fallen because Maduro is out of the picture.
January 3, 2026 at 5:48 PM
The one thing I'll say about the shit show in Venezuela right now is that it is truly insane that so many people seem to just assume the regime has fallen because Maduro is out of the picture.
I tend to pooh-pooh most Nazi/MAGA comparisons, but one you can't deny is the urge to surround themselves with the most embarrassing crackpot pseudo-intellectuals on the planet.
Curtis Yarvin, JD Vance’s friend & ideological influence, ended 2025 by claiming “only Hitler spoke the truth” about “too many subjects” & “Hitler was a genius.”
Extremism isn’t fringe on the right. Once marginal online extremists like Yarvin are influential at the highest levels of government.
Extremism isn’t fringe on the right. Once marginal online extremists like Yarvin are influential at the highest levels of government.
January 1, 2026 at 5:45 PM
I tend to pooh-pooh most Nazi/MAGA comparisons, but one you can't deny is the urge to surround themselves with the most embarrassing crackpot pseudo-intellectuals on the planet.
This is your end-of-2025 reminder that there is no such thing as red states and blue states. Like the largest concentrations of actual Nazis are in places like Southern California.
I absolutely want the next D prez to send NG into red states and rural areas tho.
January 1, 2026 at 4:47 AM
This is your end-of-2025 reminder that there is no such thing as red states and blue states. Like the largest concentrations of actual Nazis are in places like Southern California.
Everyone get in here and laugh at THE Ohio State University!
January 1, 2026 at 3:49 AM
Everyone get in here and laugh at THE Ohio State University!
The comments around this have convinced me far too many of yall have never had proper BBQ. Like BBQ ribs should be tender, but if they are falling off the bone like this, that means they were cooked too long and the connective tissue broke down. All this meat is gonna have the texture of mush.
January 1, 2026 at 12:40 AM
The comments around this have convinced me far too many of yall have never had proper BBQ. Like BBQ ribs should be tender, but if they are falling off the bone like this, that means they were cooked too long and the connective tissue broke down. All this meat is gonna have the texture of mush.
One take I've been cooking is that kids/teens should be encouraged to play super-toxic online games (CoD, LoL, Dota, etc). We're currently seeing what happens when a load-bearing part of the body politic goes insane the second someone calls them a bitch on the internet. The youth must be tempered.
December 31, 2025 at 8:51 PM
One take I've been cooking is that kids/teens should be encouraged to play super-toxic online games (CoD, LoL, Dota, etc). We're currently seeing what happens when a load-bearing part of the body politic goes insane the second someone calls them a bitch on the internet. The youth must be tempered.
As shit as 2025 was for things that actually matter, it did kinda rock for media. Here are my end of year superlatives:
Film: tie between 'Sinners' and 'Frankenstein'
Show: 'Andor' season 2
Album: 'Let God Sort Em Out' - Clipse
Game: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Film: tie between 'Sinners' and 'Frankenstein'
Show: 'Andor' season 2
Album: 'Let God Sort Em Out' - Clipse
Game: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
December 30, 2025 at 7:15 PM
As shit as 2025 was for things that actually matter, it did kinda rock for media. Here are my end of year superlatives:
Film: tie between 'Sinners' and 'Frankenstein'
Show: 'Andor' season 2
Album: 'Let God Sort Em Out' - Clipse
Game: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Film: tie between 'Sinners' and 'Frankenstein'
Show: 'Andor' season 2
Album: 'Let God Sort Em Out' - Clipse
Game: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
I still think a 'popular front' approach is needed to defeat fascism once it has achieved state power, but this is always one of the primary risks.
I agree with Never Trumpers on a lot, but split hard on this: I do not think the Democratic Party needs to convince swing voters that Democratic candidates aren't too liberal. I think the party needs to convince swing voters that they themselves are actually quite liberal. They just won't admit it.
December 30, 2025 at 6:03 PM
I still think a 'popular front' approach is needed to defeat fascism once it has achieved state power, but this is always one of the primary risks.
lol at all that Pats fans who were convinced they got 'reformed Diggs.'
Patriots WR Stefon Diggs facing strangulation, assault charges, per Boston 25 www.boston25news.com/news/local/p...
Patriots star Stefon Diggs facing strangulation, assault charges
New England Patriots star Stefon Diggs is facing serious criminal charges.
www.boston25news.com
December 30, 2025 at 5:01 PM
lol at all that Pats fans who were convinced they got 'reformed Diggs.'
This is seriously one of the most deranged statistics I've ever seen. How every single Falcons fan hasn't turned into the Joker at this point is entirely beyond me.
Since 2018, the Atlanta Falcons are 53-78 (.405) in games played with playoff eligibility, and 11-4 (.733) in games played after being mathematically eliminated.
HOW DID THIS TEAM LOSE TO THE JETS
December 30, 2025 at 4:17 AM
This is seriously one of the most deranged statistics I've ever seen. How every single Falcons fan hasn't turned into the Joker at this point is entirely beyond me.
Stafford, in fact, fumbled the MVP in week 17.
Jesus, is Stafford really gonna fumble the MVP in week 17?
December 30, 2025 at 3:55 AM
Stafford, in fact, fumbled the MVP in week 17.
Seriously, there's one game left in the regular season and I have no idea who the good teams are.
Psssast. There aren’t any truly elite teams in 2025’s NFL.
December 30, 2025 at 3:03 AM
Seriously, there's one game left in the regular season and I have no idea who the good teams are.
Jesus, is Stafford really gonna fumble the MVP in week 17?
December 30, 2025 at 2:07 AM
Jesus, is Stafford really gonna fumble the MVP in week 17?
Despite the pacing taking a serious hit in the middle episodes, 'Pluribus' ends strong and has me locked in for season 2.
December 29, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Despite the pacing taking a serious hit in the middle episodes, 'Pluribus' ends strong and has me locked in for season 2.
Some very interesting questions for the 4:30 teams. The Pats would probably like to rest their starters but they are still live for the 1-seed so likely can't. That said, the Chargers will probably rest people since they can't win the division, so Denver *should* lock it.
December 29, 2025 at 4:56 AM
Some very interesting questions for the 4:30 teams. The Pats would probably like to rest their starters but they are still live for the 1-seed so likely can't. That said, the Chargers will probably rest people since they can't win the division, so Denver *should* lock it.
I swear, if the 49ers somehow get the 1-seed in the NFC....
December 29, 2025 at 4:36 AM
I swear, if the 49ers somehow get the 1-seed in the NFC....
This line has been bouncing around for years now and it remains silly. There is and always has been an infinitely more plausible explanation for Trump's dynamic with Putin: he likes him, likes his politics, and sees him as an ally.
It's really that simple.
It's really that simple.
Ask yourself: If Donald Trump was a Russian asset, what would he be doing differently?
If your answer is “nothing,” then ask yourself this:
If the US President is a Russian asset, what should *I* be doing differently?
If your answer is “nothing,” then ask yourself this:
If the US President is a Russian asset, what should *I* be doing differently?
Trump: "Russia wants to see Ukraine succeed. It sounds a little strange but President Putin was very generous in his feeling toward Ukraine succeeding, including supplying energy, electricity and other things at very low prices."
December 29, 2025 at 4:35 AM
This line has been bouncing around for years now and it remains silly. There is and always has been an infinitely more plausible explanation for Trump's dynamic with Putin: he likes him, likes his politics, and sees him as an ally.
It's really that simple.
It's really that simple.
Hey @elizabethbitmeehan.com, did Ben Johnson wake up this morning and realize "wait a minute, I drafted a tight end in the top 10 this year, I should throw HIM the ball!"
December 29, 2025 at 4:04 AM
Hey @elizabethbitmeehan.com, did Ben Johnson wake up this morning and realize "wait a minute, I drafted a tight end in the top 10 this year, I should throw HIM the ball!"
Dude is out here doing 'serious' interviews dressed like a door-to-door bird salesman.
The "lost the rest of my barbershop quartet" guy thinks it's his politics that keep the roles away
December 29, 2025 at 4:00 AM
Dude is out here doing 'serious' interviews dressed like a door-to-door bird salesman.
You can call it cope if you want, but losing this game was the ideal outcome for the Bills. With Allen clearly banged up, the ability to rest him and the rest of the starters next week is just worth more than keeping the minuscule division hopes alive.
The Bills lose to the Eagles 13-12 and fall to 11-5. The Patriots have won the AFC East title, ending a five-year streak by Buffalo. Defense held the Eagles to 17 net yards in the second half before the kneel down. Offense's issues on display, took too long to get going.
December 29, 2025 at 1:20 AM
You can call it cope if you want, but losing this game was the ideal outcome for the Bills. With Allen clearly banged up, the ability to rest him and the rest of the starters next week is just worth more than keeping the minuscule division hopes alive.
Josh Allen is visibly limping and this game barely matters. SHUT HIM DOWN!
December 28, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Josh Allen is visibly limping and this game barely matters. SHUT HIM DOWN!
Sit him and Cook NOW. This game is meaningless.
Again, why is Allen still playing?! Just sit him!!!
December 28, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Sit him and Cook NOW. This game is meaningless.
Ok, I'm beginning to think starting the Chargers defense in my fantasy finals might have been a mistake.
December 27, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Ok, I'm beginning to think starting the Chargers defense in my fantasy finals might have been a mistake.
This is an extremely measured (albeit debatable) take. Will, I'm not being a smart ass when I say this: if you stopped shooting from the hip first and then reverse-engineering measured takes, I'm pretty sure you would get yelled at a little less.
Guys I know you’re all going to yell at me here but mutual aid is not meaningfully distinct from the kind of privatized community charity system where poor people go to the church and hope someone has donated a hot meal. It’s not progressive, it’s not effective, it’s not good service provision.
"poor enough to need mutual aid"
Everyone needs mutual aid.
Everyone needs mutual aid.
December 27, 2025 at 6:05 PM
This is an extremely measured (albeit debatable) take. Will, I'm not being a smart ass when I say this: if you stopped shooting from the hip first and then reverse-engineering measured takes, I'm pretty sure you would get yelled at a little less.
Yea, that email doesn't prove anything except that Epstein was talking to Russian agents, which we already knew.
December 27, 2025 at 6:29 AM
Yea, that email doesn't prove anything except that Epstein was talking to Russian agents, which we already knew.