Dan Silverman
@dmsilverman.bsky.social
Assistant Professor of Political Science at Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy & Technology (CMIST)
Ohio State PhD. International Security, Political Psychology, Middle East Politics
Opinions my own, don’t reflect employer, etc.
Ohio State PhD. International Security, Political Psychology, Middle East Politics
Opinions my own, don’t reflect employer, etc.
Pinned
Dan Silverman
@dmsilverman.bsky.social
· Nov 22
🚨Publication day — my first book is out! “Seeing is Disbelieving: Why People Believe Misinformation in War, and When They Know Better” is a deep dive into factual misinformation in modern war and conflict, and why people do and don’t believe it. @cambridgeup.bsky.social
cambridge.org/9781009523585
cambridge.org/9781009523585
Reposted by Dan Silverman
DOGE was A LOT less likely to cancel contracts from companies that donated money to Republicans than companies that donated to Democrats.
December 25, 2025 at 10:47 PM
DOGE was A LOT less likely to cancel contracts from companies that donated money to Republicans than companies that donated to Democrats.
Wow. And full credit to the Times author here, that is just an absolutely and rightfully *brutal* ending
December 26, 2025 at 4:59 AM
Wow. And full credit to the Times author here, that is just an absolutely and rightfully *brutal* ending
Hardline pro-Israel voices: don't worry, you can always critique Israel's policies and behaviors -- just not its very existence -- without being called a bigot
Also, hardline pro-Israel voices:
Also, hardline pro-Israel voices:
December 26, 2025 at 4:30 AM
Hardline pro-Israel voices: don't worry, you can always critique Israel's policies and behaviors -- just not its very existence -- without being called a bigot
Also, hardline pro-Israel voices:
Also, hardline pro-Israel voices:
Reposted by Dan Silverman
Bombing for Jesus
NEW: U.S. forces "launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS" in Nigeria's northwest, President Trump said.
U.S. forces strike ISIS targets in Nigeria, Trump says
The U.S. military conducted "numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing," Trump said.
www.axios.com
December 25, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Bombing for Jesus
Sounds like it was totally about NATO, huh?
new GWU National Security Archive release
putin in his first meeting with bush, june 2001, already pining for the empire
putin in his first meeting with bush, june 2001, already pining for the empire
December 25, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Sounds like it was totally about NATO, huh?
Almost every word in this sentence gets worse
Update. The ICE supervisor, who is 47, was arrested for domestic violence against his non-citizen partner who he started a relationship when she was 18 and he was 40.
www.fox19.com/2025/12/22/i...
www.fox19.com/2025/12/22/i...
December 25, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Almost every word in this sentence gets worse
Reposted by Dan Silverman
A small (personal) example of this book’s intellectual dishonesty:
My father-in-law is reading In Covid’s Wake, and excitedly told me he found a passage where I’m quoted. The quote in question is me saying the FBI worked to censor speech on social media.
Huh? When did I say that?!
My father-in-law is reading In Covid’s Wake, and excitedly told me he found a passage where I’m quoted. The quote in question is me saying the FBI worked to censor speech on social media.
Huh? When did I say that?!
December 24, 2025 at 7:00 PM
A small (personal) example of this book’s intellectual dishonesty:
My father-in-law is reading In Covid’s Wake, and excitedly told me he found a passage where I’m quoted. The quote in question is me saying the FBI worked to censor speech on social media.
Huh? When did I say that?!
My father-in-law is reading In Covid’s Wake, and excitedly told me he found a passage where I’m quoted. The quote in question is me saying the FBI worked to censor speech on social media.
Huh? When did I say that?!
Ditto. And motion to have “Happy Christmas” replace “Merry Christmas” worldwide
Wishing a very happy Christmas to all who celebrate!
December 25, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Ditto. And motion to have “Happy Christmas” replace “Merry Christmas” worldwide
Clearing the decks for (a) corrupt friends and donors or (b) ideological natcon appointees to fill these slots? Either way, not great
The “What Would Putin Do?” theory of the American presidency remains undefeated www.nytimes.com/2025/12/22/u...
Trump Administration Orders Nearly 30 U.S. Ambassadors to Leave Their Posts
www.nytimes.com
December 25, 2025 at 12:17 AM
Clearing the decks for (a) corrupt friends and donors or (b) ideological natcon appointees to fill these slots? Either way, not great
Man. Europeans have had quite a rollercoaster with America over the last quarter century. I imagine this is, like, ~0% right now.
December 24, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Man. Europeans have had quite a rollercoaster with America over the last quarter century. I imagine this is, like, ~0% right now.
Reposted by Dan Silverman
If you’re wondering why your friends in academia are a little on edge right now, it’s because an eighteen-year-old who hasn’t done the reading, doesn’t look at the assignment, and has does no critical thinking skills more complex than “because I think it’s in the Bible” can literally end your career
The University of Oklahoma has removed an instructor who was accused by a student of religious discrimination over a failing grade on a psychology paper in which she cited the Bible and argued that promoting a “belief in multiple genders” was “demonic.” https://cnn.it/4b6g3rd
Oklahoma instructor removed from teaching for failing a Bible-based gender essay | CNN
The University of Oklahoma has removed an instructor who was accused by a student of religious discrimination over a failing grade on a psychology paper in which she cited the Bible and argued that promoting a “belief in multiple genders” was “demonic.”
cnn.it
December 24, 2025 at 6:21 PM
If you’re wondering why your friends in academia are a little on edge right now, it’s because an eighteen-year-old who hasn’t done the reading, doesn’t look at the assignment, and has does no critical thinking skills more complex than “because I think it’s in the Bible” can literally end your career
Kind of amazing how the 2 parties flipped on this question over time
December 24, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Kind of amazing how the 2 parties flipped on this question over time
Reposted by Dan Silverman
“I’m 84 years old. Threats against my life expectancy are kind of hollow. I don’t have much time anyway. I’m more concerned that our democracy is at risk because of the trends against the rule of law.” www.nbcnews.com/politics/pol...
Judges who ruled against Trump say harassment and threats have changed their lives
More than 100 pizzas were delivered to the homes of judges and their families this year, some with signs of foreign involvement. Judges say the message is clear: We know where you live.
www.nbcnews.com
December 24, 2025 at 2:46 PM
“I’m 84 years old. Threats against my life expectancy are kind of hollow. I don’t have much time anyway. I’m more concerned that our democracy is at risk because of the trends against the rule of law.” www.nbcnews.com/politics/pol...
Reposted by Dan Silverman
Facebook, Instagram, X are simply banned in Russia. No US outrage about free speech there—yet the EU is the target. That contrast says a lot.
Visa bans may be moderate, but the message isn’t: the US is signaling it feels entitled to challenge EU rules governing digital speech.
www.state.gov/releases/off...
www.state.gov/releases/off...
Announcement of Actions to Combat the Global Censorship-Industrial Complex - United States Department of State
The State Department is taking decisive action against five individuals who have led organized efforts to coerce American platforms to censor, demonetize, and suppress American viewpoints they oppose....
www.state.gov
December 24, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Facebook, Instagram, X are simply banned in Russia. No US outrage about free speech there—yet the EU is the target. That contrast says a lot.
Reposted by Dan Silverman
This needs more widespread coverage: The US has sanctioned five individuals, including the founder and Director of @hateaid.org - a German NGO that supports victims of online hate and harassment and image-based sexual abuse
December 24, 2025 at 9:45 AM
This needs more widespread coverage: The US has sanctioned five individuals, including the founder and Director of @hateaid.org - a German NGO that supports victims of online hate and harassment and image-based sexual abuse
Reposted by Dan Silverman
If we just went by the perpetrator‘s stated motive, according to Jeffrey Epstein in his letter to Larry Nassar he was driven by a desire to “help young girls reach their full potential.”
See how that’s maybe not such a good yardstick?
See how that’s maybe not such a good yardstick?
Thing is, you can say “I’m just against the state of Israel,” and you might even earnestly believe that, but once the action you take to express that opposition involves attacking random Jews worldwide, you’ve crossed the line into antisemitism. The actual motive is irrelevant here.
When you’ve gone to this place, it’s time to just admit your only interest in antisemitism is claiming it doesn’t exist
December 24, 2025 at 4:28 AM
If we just went by the perpetrator‘s stated motive, according to Jeffrey Epstein in his letter to Larry Nassar he was driven by a desire to “help young girls reach their full potential.”
See how that’s maybe not such a good yardstick?
See how that’s maybe not such a good yardstick?
Good piece on Israel’s meddling and arming of the Druze in Syria
How Israeli covert activities in Syria seek to thwart its new government
Israel is suspicious of President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a longtime Islamist militant, and has provided weapons, intelligence and cash to militiamen at odds with his rule.
wapo.st
December 24, 2025 at 3:24 AM
Good piece on Israel’s meddling and arming of the Druze in Syria
This is so true. MENAsky is really extremely limited. I don’t fully understand why
Not covered very well on here (MENAsky remains so barren) but Netanyahu's hope for his forthcoming visit this next week is to convince Trump to attack Iran yet again
December 24, 2025 at 1:26 AM
This is so true. MENAsky is really extremely limited. I don’t fully understand why
“We prefer to ship it to Argentina, or just embezzle it here in the good old USA,” he added to widespread applause.
JD Vance: "We believe in honoring your father and mother rather than shipping all their money off to Ukraine"
December 24, 2025 at 1:23 AM
“We prefer to ship it to Argentina, or just embezzle it here in the good old USA,” he added to widespread applause.
Good counter thread pushing back on the cautionary urgings about the Epstein-Nassar note
UPDATE: CNN confirms that "the envelope [holding the Epstein-Nassar Note] was sent from the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York City [where Epstein was being held] to Nassar"—*and* got vetted by federal officials.
Which explains the Virginia postmark (where the FBI is).
Which explains the Virginia postmark (where the FBI is).
December 24, 2025 at 1:14 AM
Good counter thread pushing back on the cautionary urgings about the Epstein-Nassar note
Reposted by Dan Silverman
Brett Kavanaugh (September 2025): The facts and how they relate to the law don’t matter. Assume ICE and other federal forces always act with integrity, always respect rights, and consistently impose minimal burden.
Brett Kavanaugh (December 2025): Should I not have done that? Was that wrong?
Brett Kavanaugh (December 2025): Should I not have done that? Was that wrong?
Kavanaugh in a footnote in today's opinion says "the officers must not make interior immigration stops or arrests based on race or ethnicity."
December 23, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Brett Kavanaugh (September 2025): The facts and how they relate to the law don’t matter. Assume ICE and other federal forces always act with integrity, always respect rights, and consistently impose minimal burden.
Brett Kavanaugh (December 2025): Should I not have done that? Was that wrong?
Brett Kavanaugh (December 2025): Should I not have done that? Was that wrong?
Reposted by Dan Silverman
I don't understand any rhyme or reason to the organization or provenance of the various tranches of Epstein Files, but they clearly contain tons of raw investigative materials of dubious reliability/value and—at the risk of being a huge buzzkill—we all should exercise some careful discernment
December 23, 2025 at 7:27 PM
I don't understand any rhyme or reason to the organization or provenance of the various tranches of Epstein Files, but they clearly contain tons of raw investigative materials of dubious reliability/value and—at the risk of being a huge buzzkill—we all should exercise some careful discernment
Reposted by Dan Silverman
These declines are MASSIVE.
And the comparative silence in media coverage is absolutely DAMNING.
“Why are ppl always so afraid of crime?”
THIS is why. When crime goes up, media trips over itself to report it.
Falls to pre-war (!!) levels? Just CRICKETS.
And the comparative silence in media coverage is absolutely DAMNING.
“Why are ppl always so afraid of crime?”
THIS is why. When crime goes up, media trips over itself to report it.
Falls to pre-war (!!) levels? Just CRICKETS.
I count 10 cities in 2025 that are on track to have the fewest murders since at least 1970. Newark is on pace to have the fewest murders since 1956 (though only have data through Oct this year) and San Francisco is on pace to have the fewest murders since 1942.
December 23, 2025 at 10:03 PM
These declines are MASSIVE.
And the comparative silence in media coverage is absolutely DAMNING.
“Why are ppl always so afraid of crime?”
THIS is why. When crime goes up, media trips over itself to report it.
Falls to pre-war (!!) levels? Just CRICKETS.
And the comparative silence in media coverage is absolutely DAMNING.
“Why are ppl always so afraid of crime?”
THIS is why. When crime goes up, media trips over itself to report it.
Falls to pre-war (!!) levels? Just CRICKETS.
Reposted by Dan Silverman
No, our first duty is to the truth
Will — you don’t need to do the work for the Admin to debunk this letter. Debunking this for free is just unpaid PR for Trump. Let his coalition eat itself.
December 23, 2025 at 7:55 PM
No, our first duty is to the truth