Stephen Bates
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batess.bsky.social
Stephen Bates
@batess.bsky.social
Signal Corps | #FlyEaglesFly | a euphonious medley of philosophy, politics, economics, art, culture, and sport
NYT Gift Link from me:

n.b. HKS NIS programs also includes senior US and foreign civilians and foreign flag officers, we had several in my 2014 class.
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www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/u...
Hegseth Says Defense Department Will Cut Ties With Harvard
www.nytimes.com
February 7, 2026 at 2:03 PM
Reposted by Stephen Bates
an *extremely* damning profile of Stephen Miller. this piece goes out of its way to cast him in a very harsh light, and it heavily implies that Miller is consciously lying to Trump to intentionally get him pissed off while several unnamed White House sources solely blame him for their worst actions.
How Stephen Miller Stokes Trump’s Boundary-Pushing Impulses
The White House aide has been an architect of aggressive immigration sweeps in U.S. cities and deadly boat strikes in the Caribbean.
www.wsj.com
February 4, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Thefacebook was established on this day, 2004.

#$META market cap $1.75T

“You know what’s cool? A trillion dollar valuation.”

finance.yahoo.com/quote/META/
February 4, 2026 at 9:35 AM
On this day in 1913, the federal income tax was born with the 16th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It overturned Article I, Section 9 of the Constitution, which had expressly forbidden a general income tax.
February 3, 2026 at 1:41 PM
January 31, 2026 at 2:07 PM
Gift Link NYT: A Year Inside Lil' Kash Patel’s F.B.I.

Forty-five current and former employees on the changes they say are undermining the agency and making America less safe.

www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Inside Kash Patel’s F.B.I.: Meltdowns, Chaos, Vendettas (Gift Article)
Forty-five current and former employees on the changes they say are undermining the agency and making America less safe.
www.nytimes.com
January 30, 2026 at 8:09 PM
January 28, 2026 at 10:16 AM
Bloomberg: Washington has a 230-acre federal no-man’s-land. Will Trump finally force its transformation?

Welcome to Fedlandia. (gift link from me)

www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...
Inside the Plan to Demolish and Rebuild Trump’s Washington
When President Donald Trump demolished the East Wing in October, it came as a public shock. But the White House likely won’t be the last historic DC building to face a wrecking ball.
www.bloomberg.com
January 23, 2026 at 3:48 PM
January 22, 2026 at 4:43 PM
There are three truths in religion:

1) Jewish people do not recognize Jesus as the Messiah.

2) Protestants do not recognize the Pope as the leader of the Christian faith.

3) Baptists don't recognize each other in the liquor store.
January 20, 2026 at 1:31 AM
WSJ Gift Link From Me: The 2026 War for Greenland

www.wsj.com/opinion/a-lo...
Opinion | A Look Back at the War That Is About to Begin
The U.S. easily won the 2026 Battle of Greenland, but the consequences proved convulsive for all.
www.wsj.com
January 20, 2026 at 12:13 AM
Reposted by Stephen Bates
Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind gets injunction against December 22 stop-work order, allowing construction to resume. That's now 3 for 3 of those projects that have had their day in court; 2 are still pending (gift link). 🔌💡
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/16/c...
Judge in Virginia Hands Trump 3rd Setback This Week on Wind Farms
www.nytimes.com
January 16, 2026 at 10:29 PM
Reposted by Stephen Bates
Oh hell yes, Gov. Spanberger! www.nytimes.com/2026/01/16/u... [gift link]
Some U.Va. Board Members Asked to Resign as a Democratic Governor Takes Power
www.nytimes.com
January 16, 2026 at 10:36 PM
It's like the homeless just keep hanging around the high-end hotels and steakhouses around every major US city?
January 15, 2026 at 12:45 AM
Reposted by Stephen Bates
NYT Gift Link From Me:
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/10/o...
Opinion | American Violence Is Pushing Families to Think About Leaving
www.nytimes.com
January 12, 2026 at 1:11 PM
Reposted by Stephen Bates
Trump is going to use DOJ/FBI to try to steal the 2026 election. My legal team and I will fight back in court but we all have a role to play.

Tomorrow, I will offer my thoughts on what Trump is up to and what we need to do now. Subscribe to Democracy Docket for free to find out. hubs.ly/Q03M8rql0
January 12, 2026 at 3:12 AM
January 11, 2026 at 5:49 PM
Reposted by Stephen Bates
"And by the way, we don't want Russia or China going to Greenland, which if we don't take Greenland, you're going to have Russia or China as your next door neighbor," Trump said. "That's not going to happen."

For fucks sake, release the complete Epstein files.

www.usatoday.com/story/news/w...
By right or by might? Trump vows to take Greenland before Russia, China.
"If we don't do it the easy way, we're going to do it the hard way," Trump said about taking over Greenland, a territory of Denmark.
www.usatoday.com
January 10, 2026 at 2:28 AM
Reposted by Stephen Bates
He didn't shoot her in the head at point blank range because he felt like he was in danger. He shot her in the head at point blank range because he was furious that she wasn't afraid of him. He shot her in the head at point blank range because he felt emasculated.
January 9, 2026 at 11:25 PM