Ben Fordham
@benfordham.bsky.social
Political science professor at Binghamton University. International relations, especially the political economy of conflict and security, domestic politics and foreign policy, historical social science. Enjoyer of beaches and mountains.
Reposted by Ben Fordham
Some of the people running the world used Running the World as a cover for a sex trafficking ring, instead of a more conventional front like a car service, laundromat, or auto repair shop.
November 13, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Some of the people running the world used Running the World as a cover for a sex trafficking ring, instead of a more conventional front like a car service, laundromat, or auto repair shop.
Finding new ways to be evil every day!
Trump Officials Accused of Bullying Tactics to Kill a Climate Measure www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/c...
Trump Officials Accused of Bullying Tactics to Kill a Climate Measure www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/c...
Trump Officials Accused of Bullying Tactics to Kill a Climate Measure
www.nytimes.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Finding new ways to be evil every day!
Trump Officials Accused of Bullying Tactics to Kill a Climate Measure www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/c...
Trump Officials Accused of Bullying Tactics to Kill a Climate Measure www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/c...
Reposted by Ben Fordham
November 4, 2025 at 12:41 AM
Reposted by Ben Fordham
Hey everyone! Can I get 50 reposts for this program? It would mean a lot!
www.jccsf.org/event/michae... #RecipesfromtheAmericanSouth
www.jccsf.org/event/michae... #RecipesfromtheAmericanSouth
November 4, 2025 at 12:32 AM
Hey everyone! Can I get 50 reposts for this program? It would mean a lot!
www.jccsf.org/event/michae... #RecipesfromtheAmericanSouth
www.jccsf.org/event/michae... #RecipesfromtheAmericanSouth
Reposted by Ben Fordham
Want to read what I really think about the Trump administration and the Asia Pacific? Here you go. It’s a goddamn catastrophe for U.S. national interests and for the regional economic and diplomatic order.
A United States that is disintegrating and no longer a leader in Asia
As Trump 2.0 hollows out US state capacity, the Asia Pacific must prepare for a world without US leadership
eastasiaforum.org
November 2, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Want to read what I really think about the Trump administration and the Asia Pacific? Here you go. It’s a goddamn catastrophe for U.S. national interests and for the regional economic and diplomatic order.
Behold, Chunk Style and his little buddy. 🎃
October 31, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Behold, Chunk Style and his little buddy. 🎃
Reposted by Ben Fordham
An embarrassingly obvious point, but...
This. Is. Illegal.
If anything like the rule of law were in force, Trump couldn't arbitrarily increase a tariff because he is annoyed.
In important and increasing ways, the rule of law in the US no longer exists.
www.cnn.com/2025/10/25/b...
This. Is. Illegal.
If anything like the rule of law were in force, Trump couldn't arbitrarily increase a tariff because he is annoyed.
In important and increasing ways, the rule of law in the US no longer exists.
www.cnn.com/2025/10/25/b...
Trump says he’s increasing tariffs on Canada by 10% after Ontario’s Reagan ad | CNN Business
President Donald Trump said Saturday he is increasing the tariff on Canada by 10% over current levels, further escalating trade tensions over what he called a “fake” ad that featured parts of an anti-...
www.cnn.com
October 25, 2025 at 9:38 PM
An embarrassingly obvious point, but...
This. Is. Illegal.
If anything like the rule of law were in force, Trump couldn't arbitrarily increase a tariff because he is annoyed.
In important and increasing ways, the rule of law in the US no longer exists.
www.cnn.com/2025/10/25/b...
This. Is. Illegal.
If anything like the rule of law were in force, Trump couldn't arbitrarily increase a tariff because he is annoyed.
In important and increasing ways, the rule of law in the US no longer exists.
www.cnn.com/2025/10/25/b...
Reposted by Ben Fordham
Changes to Oklahoma’s curriculum rules make it so teachers aren’t supposed to tell students that the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 — a defining incident of racial violence in Oklahoma history — was perpetrated by racists.
➡️ Full story: https://propub.li/3WXTkFm
➡️ Full story: https://propub.li/3WXTkFm
October 24, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Changes to Oklahoma’s curriculum rules make it so teachers aren’t supposed to tell students that the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 — a defining incident of racial violence in Oklahoma history — was perpetrated by racists.
➡️ Full story: https://propub.li/3WXTkFm
➡️ Full story: https://propub.li/3WXTkFm
Reposted by Ben Fordham
if you’ve got strong undergrads who are interested in doing phds in early modern, consider Binghamton English! Our stipends have just radically increased + Bing is a very low cost of living area, and tho not traditionally a strong hub for early modern, our dept is pretty stacked right now +
October 25, 2025 at 12:12 AM
if you’ve got strong undergrads who are interested in doing phds in early modern, consider Binghamton English! Our stipends have just radically increased + Bing is a very low cost of living area, and tho not traditionally a strong hub for early modern, our dept is pretty stacked right now +
Reposted by Ben Fordham
NEW: NBC News confirms that the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, on the east side of the White House, has been destroyed as part of the demolition of the East Wing.
(📸 Getty Images)
(📸 Getty Images)
October 24, 2025 at 2:22 PM
NEW: NBC News confirms that the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, on the east side of the White House, has been destroyed as part of the demolition of the East Wing.
(📸 Getty Images)
(📸 Getty Images)
Reposted by Ben Fordham
I am kind of astonished at how muted the reaction has been so far in a country were people try to get, like, gas stations declared as historic landmarks. Can we at least get Mike Johnson on camera claiming he hasn’t seen these pictures? Or doesn’t know where or what the White House is?
October 22, 2025 at 8:05 PM
I am kind of astonished at how muted the reaction has been so far in a country were people try to get, like, gas stations declared as historic landmarks. Can we at least get Mike Johnson on camera claiming he hasn’t seen these pictures? Or doesn’t know where or what the White House is?
This is a great piece.
Hi. I wrote an essay about AI slop: How it feels like an invasive species for the internet. How its boosters describe building a future that’s devoid of craft. How frictionlessness can be nihilistic & how this stuff seems to leach part of our shared humanity out of the world. I hope you'll read it.
AI’s Invasive Species
The slop is winning.
www.theatlantic.com
October 21, 2025 at 12:46 AM
This is a great piece.
Reposted by Ben Fordham
white house has joined bluesky
click here to block all official us government accounts instantly
bsky.app/profile/did:...
click here to block all official us government accounts instantly
bsky.app/profile/did:...
October 17, 2025 at 10:08 PM
white house has joined bluesky
click here to block all official us government accounts instantly
bsky.app/profile/did:...
click here to block all official us government accounts instantly
bsky.app/profile/did:...
Reposted by Ben Fordham
Where we stand, in long arc of history:
-Story on left, adding race as a factor when that favors white people.
-Story on right, banning race as a factor when that favors non-whites.
I often complain about NYT headlines and story-play. But these are strong. Including "If Court Guts 1965 Law."
-Story on left, adding race as a factor when that favors white people.
-Story on right, banning race as a factor when that favors non-whites.
I often complain about NYT headlines and story-play. But these are strong. Including "If Court Guts 1965 Law."
October 16, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Where we stand, in long arc of history:
-Story on left, adding race as a factor when that favors white people.
-Story on right, banning race as a factor when that favors non-whites.
I often complain about NYT headlines and story-play. But these are strong. Including "If Court Guts 1965 Law."
-Story on left, adding race as a factor when that favors white people.
-Story on right, banning race as a factor when that favors non-whites.
I often complain about NYT headlines and story-play. But these are strong. Including "If Court Guts 1965 Law."
Reposted by Ben Fordham
"Expanding his authority"?
Jesus H. Christ.
There are people at the NYT who know better than this. Lots of them.
Some of them should check the headlines, sub-heds, and "social sells."
Jesus H. Christ.
There are people at the NYT who know better than this. Lots of them.
Some of them should check the headlines, sub-heds, and "social sells."
President Trump on Wednesday signed a memorandum expanding his administration’s authority to repurpose unspent federal funds to pay members of the military during the government shutdown, escalating his challenge to the authority of Congress on spending matters.
Trump Signs Memo Expanding His Authority to Spend Federal Money
The president gave Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wide authority to repurpose funds to pay members of the military without approval from Congress, which has the sole constitutional authority to decide federal spending.
nyti.ms
October 16, 2025 at 12:56 AM
"Expanding his authority"?
Jesus H. Christ.
There are people at the NYT who know better than this. Lots of them.
Some of them should check the headlines, sub-heds, and "social sells."
Jesus H. Christ.
There are people at the NYT who know better than this. Lots of them.
Some of them should check the headlines, sub-heds, and "social sells."
I thought Congress had the power to declare war, but I guess we can add that idea to the growing pile of quaint, obsolete notions about how the U.S. government works.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/u...
Trump ‘Determined’ the U.S. Is Now in a War With Drug Cartels, Congress Is Told
www.nytimes.com
October 2, 2025 at 5:45 PM
I thought Congress had the power to declare war, but I guess we can add that idea to the growing pile of quaint, obsolete notions about how the U.S. government works.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/u...
Reposted by Ben Fordham
"The sheer number of American elites willing to acquiesce to the destruction of democratic institutions is demoralizing. But it’s worth noting that many ordinary people seem to be made of sterner stuff."
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
Lower Than Cowards
The surrender of America’s elites
www.theatlantic.com
September 26, 2025 at 2:02 AM
"The sheer number of American elites willing to acquiesce to the destruction of democratic institutions is demoralizing. But it’s worth noting that many ordinary people seem to be made of sterner stuff."
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
Reposted by Ben Fordham
really interesting to me that pete hegseth — who incidentally was accused of domestic abuse — is obsessed with war crimes
The MAGA monocultural revolution is so thorough that Hegseth made it a priority to honor soldiers who carried out war crimes in 1890.
September 26, 2025 at 1:58 AM
really interesting to me that pete hegseth — who incidentally was accused of domestic abuse — is obsessed with war crimes
Reposted by Ben Fordham
The Republican reaction to Kirk’s murder has been a campaign of state repression that ends with Trumpist toadies deciding what Americans are allowed to think, do and say. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
September 18, 2025 at 3:38 PM
The Republican reaction to Kirk’s murder has been a campaign of state repression that ends with Trumpist toadies deciding what Americans are allowed to think, do and say. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
Reposted by Ben Fordham
Reposted by Ben Fordham
“New York will give pharmacists cover to dispense COVID-19 vaccines this fall in the wake of uncertainty over federal immunization policy, a state official said.”
From Jimmy Vielkind:
gothamist.com/news/hochul-...
From Jimmy Vielkind:
gothamist.com/news/hochul-...
Hochul to let pharmacists prescribe COVID vaccines amid federal policy shift
An executive order comes as access tightens and lawmakers eye state-level solutions.
gothamist.com
September 5, 2025 at 12:29 AM
“New York will give pharmacists cover to dispense COVID-19 vaccines this fall in the wake of uncertainty over federal immunization policy, a state official said.”
From Jimmy Vielkind:
gothamist.com/news/hochul-...
From Jimmy Vielkind:
gothamist.com/news/hochul-...
Reposted by Ben Fordham
@governor.ny.gov New York needs this right now
Colorado finds a work-around on COVID vaccines, allowing pharmacies to give them to anyone — without requiring prescriptions, or meeting the FDA's new list of conditions — even though RFK Jr's reformulated vaccine advisory committee has not recommended them
Colorado issues order allowing pharmacies to provide COVID vaccines without prescription
Dr. Ned Calonge issued a “standing order” allowing anyone six months or older to receive the updated COVID-19 vaccines at a pharmacy starting Friday.
www.denverpost.com
September 4, 2025 at 1:59 PM
@governor.ny.gov New York needs this right now
Reposted by Ben Fordham
A huge moment -- Melvyn Bragg steps down from In Our Time after over a quarter of a century. What a programme and what a legacy! Just a model for how to make great, clever, engaging radio, and a twenty-seven-year experiment that proves there's a huge global audience for smart, scholarly programming.
Melvyn Bragg decides to step down from presenting In Our Time
After 26 years on the programme, the legendary presenter bids farewell to the series
www.bbc.co.uk
September 3, 2025 at 10:48 AM
A huge moment -- Melvyn Bragg steps down from In Our Time after over a quarter of a century. What a programme and what a legacy! Just a model for how to make great, clever, engaging radio, and a twenty-seven-year experiment that proves there's a huge global audience for smart, scholarly programming.
Reposted by Ben Fordham
against-a-i.com
Teachers! And everyone else struggling with course and assignment prep for the fall: a website with resources, readings, assignments, and background on Gen AI and its classroom use/implications. With the great @annakornbluh.bsky.social
Teachers! And everyone else struggling with course and assignment prep for the fall: a website with resources, readings, assignments, and background on Gen AI and its classroom use/implications. With the great @annakornbluh.bsky.social
AGAINST AI
against-a-i.com
August 15, 2025 at 7:52 PM
against-a-i.com
Teachers! And everyone else struggling with course and assignment prep for the fall: a website with resources, readings, assignments, and background on Gen AI and its classroom use/implications. With the great @annakornbluh.bsky.social
Teachers! And everyone else struggling with course and assignment prep for the fall: a website with resources, readings, assignments, and background on Gen AI and its classroom use/implications. With the great @annakornbluh.bsky.social
"What if ...we pollute the internet and the planet, reorient our economy, outsource big chunks of our minds, realign our geopolitics and culture, and fight endlessly over a technology that never comes close to delivering on its grandest promises?"
www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
AI Is a Mass-Delusion Event
Three years in, one of AI’s enduring impacts is to make people feel like they’re losing it.
www.theatlantic.com
August 18, 2025 at 11:22 PM
"What if ...we pollute the internet and the planet, reorient our economy, outsource big chunks of our minds, realign our geopolitics and culture, and fight endlessly over a technology that never comes close to delivering on its grandest promises?"
www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...