David J. Snyder
@fractalpast9.bsky.social
Historian, writer, and editor. Author of "American Power in the Netherlands" (Bloomsbury, 2026). I blog about US empire, history, and culture at fractalpast.com/blog.
For editing inquiries: www.fractalpast.com
For editing inquiries: www.fractalpast.com
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David J. Snyder
@fractalpast9.bsky.social
· Nov 18
Hello Bluesky! I am David J. Snyder, PhD--historian, writer, and non-fiction #editor. My current book, "American Power in the Netherlands: Modernization and the Politics of Clientelism, 1945-1959" will be published by Bloomsbury next year. I am also writing books on higher education and a memoir.
Could not possibly agree more.
John C Reilly not only despises “How’s everything tasting?”as much as I do but uses the exact same phrase to describe how it feels to be asked. I guess I have to get really into hats now?
Servers need to stop saying “HOWS EVERYTHING TASTING?” Feat John .C Reilly #restaurant #servers #nyc
YouTube video by SubwayTakes with Kareem Rahma
youtube.com
November 9, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Could not possibly agree more.
The historical abuse heaped on the word #socialism has been in no way reduced by its current prevalence. One day I'll write a primer on the history for confused Americans. For now, an excerpt from my book, which some may find helpful:
www.fractalpast.com/blog/a-brief...
www.fractalpast.com/blog/a-brief...
A Brief History of Postwar Dutch Socialism
Socialism has been much in the American news of late. The historical and political abuse heaped on the word has been in no way reduced by its prevalence. One day I aim to write a primer on the...
www.fractalpast.com
November 6, 2025 at 5:08 AM
The historical abuse heaped on the word #socialism has been in no way reduced by its current prevalence. One day I'll write a primer on the history for confused Americans. For now, an excerpt from my book, which some may find helpful:
www.fractalpast.com/blog/a-brief...
www.fractalpast.com/blog/a-brief...
There is no liberty if the judiciary power be not separated from the legislative and executive. . . . [J]oined with the legislative, the life and liberty of the subject [is] exposed to arbitrary control . . . Were it joined to the executive power, the judge might behave with violence and oppression.
November 3, 2025 at 10:07 PM
There is no liberty if the judiciary power be not separated from the legislative and executive. . . . [J]oined with the legislative, the life and liberty of the subject [is] exposed to arbitrary control . . . Were it joined to the executive power, the judge might behave with violence and oppression.
Mamdani helping to alleviate housing costs already:
November 3, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Mamdani helping to alleviate housing costs already:
Let's be very clear about something: Whatever combination of economic forces has driven American prosperity over the centuries, very substantial doses of PUBLIC INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC GOODS has been at the center of it all. At most, Mamdani is proposing a slight restoration of some of these.
November 3, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Let's be very clear about something: Whatever combination of economic forces has driven American prosperity over the centuries, very substantial doses of PUBLIC INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC GOODS has been at the center of it all. At most, Mamdani is proposing a slight restoration of some of these.
Dave Roberts is a Hall of Fame manager.
November 2, 2025 at 4:28 AM
Dave Roberts is a Hall of Fame manager.
If the Jays end up winning the whole thing, Springer is going to have to send his oblique to Cooperstown.
November 2, 2025 at 1:00 AM
If the Jays end up winning the whole thing, Springer is going to have to send his oblique to Cooperstown.
There will be a Nuremberg, god hopes, to hold to account the wretched of our age. But it won't happen automatically, in the antiseptic fullness of time. There was no Nuremberg without Omaha Beach.
November 1, 2025 at 2:23 PM
There will be a Nuremberg, god hopes, to hold to account the wretched of our age. But it won't happen automatically, in the antiseptic fullness of time. There was no Nuremberg without Omaha Beach.
Do the Blue Jays not wear white for their home unis?
#worldseries
#worldseries
November 1, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Do the Blue Jays not wear white for their home unis?
#worldseries
#worldseries
When did this game start?
an older woman is crying and says it 's been 84 years
ALT: an older woman is crying and says it 's been 84 years
media.tenor.com
October 28, 2025 at 5:36 AM
When did this game start?
Hey Joe, John: We get it, the Blue Jays catcher is not a svelte guy. Really, your point is made. Can we move on?
October 28, 2025 at 1:29 AM
Hey Joe, John: We get it, the Blue Jays catcher is not a svelte guy. Really, your point is made. Can we move on?
I am always deeply moved by MLB's "StandUp2Cancer" remembrance in the middle of postseason ballgames.
Jonas Bros. interruptions? WTF is this heresy?
Jonas Bros. interruptions? WTF is this heresy?
October 26, 2025 at 1:33 AM
I am always deeply moved by MLB's "StandUp2Cancer" remembrance in the middle of postseason ballgames.
Jonas Bros. interruptions? WTF is this heresy?
Jonas Bros. interruptions? WTF is this heresy?
Reposted by David J. Snyder
I really think that we need to talk more about the fact that Republicans have basically quietly abolished the House of Representatives
October 25, 2025 at 10:30 PM
I really think that we need to talk more about the fact that Republicans have basically quietly abolished the House of Representatives
Reposted by David J. Snyder
Our military is being paid by an anonymous donor.
Our WH East Wing was demolished for a ballroom - paid for by donors.
These aren’t acts of benevolence or patriotism.
This is the oligarchy assuming control, insidiously becoming part of how we function.
Every American should reject it.
Our WH East Wing was demolished for a ballroom - paid for by donors.
These aren’t acts of benevolence or patriotism.
This is the oligarchy assuming control, insidiously becoming part of how we function.
Every American should reject it.
October 25, 2025 at 2:21 AM
Our military is being paid by an anonymous donor.
Our WH East Wing was demolished for a ballroom - paid for by donors.
These aren’t acts of benevolence or patriotism.
This is the oligarchy assuming control, insidiously becoming part of how we function.
Every American should reject it.
Our WH East Wing was demolished for a ballroom - paid for by donors.
These aren’t acts of benevolence or patriotism.
This is the oligarchy assuming control, insidiously becoming part of how we function.
Every American should reject it.
It is in markets that we have our freedom, but markets cannot deliver or safeguard our rights. Our rights are vouchsafed in the public goods that we build, We need a balance of the private and the public to be free in our rights.
October 23, 2025 at 5:42 PM
It is in markets that we have our freedom, but markets cannot deliver or safeguard our rights. Our rights are vouchsafed in the public goods that we build, We need a balance of the private and the public to be free in our rights.
Very long, provocative thread. I repost because I think the ideas here demand serious contemplation.
(🧵) I’m going to say some things that may cost me followers. That’s only appropriate, given that what I say in this thread is about exactly that: how utterly meaningless everything is right now besides saving America—because without rule of law and democracy, nothing we dream of will ever come true.
October 20, 2025 at 2:51 AM
Very long, provocative thread. I repost because I think the ideas here demand serious contemplation.
Today's #nokings protests are inspiring, necessary, and hopefully a spark to relight our democratic fires. But preserving democracy, equal protections, and justice for all means we have to build something affirmative. At a minimum, we need a . . .
October 18, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Today's #nokings protests are inspiring, necessary, and hopefully a spark to relight our democratic fires. But preserving democracy, equal protections, and justice for all means we have to build something affirmative. At a minimum, we need a . . .
Reposted by David J. Snyder
Powerful sign at No Kings in Cleveland
October 18, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Powerful sign at No Kings in Cleveland
I don't do a very good job of promoting my work here on BlueSky, but my principal client, Savas Beatie, has just come out with a gorgeous new book that takes a "fog of war" approach to 2d Bull Run: one author took the Union side, one the Confederacy. A great read!
www.savasbeatie.com/opening-mana...
www.savasbeatie.com/opening-mana...
Opening Manassas: The Iron Brigade, Stonewall Jackson, and the Battle on Brawner’s Farm, August 28, 1862
A leader in military and general history book publishing.
www.savasbeatie.com
October 17, 2025 at 8:17 PM
I don't do a very good job of promoting my work here on BlueSky, but my principal client, Savas Beatie, has just come out with a gorgeous new book that takes a "fog of war" approach to 2d Bull Run: one author took the Union side, one the Confederacy. A great read!
www.savasbeatie.com/opening-mana...
www.savasbeatie.com/opening-mana...
Apropos of my last post:
OTD 1871: President Grant issues Proclamation 201 suspending the writ of habeas corpus in several counties in South Carolina.
Citing the Enforcement Acts, also known as the KKK Acts, Grant explained that “insurgents” (members of the Ku Klux Klan) were in rebellion against the U.S. government…
1/3
Citing the Enforcement Acts, also known as the KKK Acts, Grant explained that “insurgents” (members of the Ku Klux Klan) were in rebellion against the U.S. government…
1/3
October 17, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Apropos of my last post:
I think this is very true for a not insignificant number of us. If just a few more Americans understood just a little bit (more) about Reconstruction, our politics would be very different. I wrote a little blog post about this a while back: www.fractalpast.com/blog/nothing...
October 17, 2025 at 3:38 PM
I think this is very true for a not insignificant number of us. If just a few more Americans understood just a little bit (more) about Reconstruction, our politics would be very different. I wrote a little blog post about this a while back: www.fractalpast.com/blog/nothing...