Hein Goemans
@heingoemans.bsky.social
Galactic Effectuator (obvious Jack Vance aficionado); Professor of Political Science at the University of Rochester. Interests: war and war termination, territorial disputes, why do leaders and why do individuals fight?
Reposted by Hein Goemans
20 y/o: I'm going to drop my honors class this semester
Me: ok, please just verify with financial aid that this won't affect your scholarship
20: professor says it won't
Me: they don't work in financial aid
20: my friend is doing it
Me: they don't work in financial aid *screaming internally*
Me: ok, please just verify with financial aid that this won't affect your scholarship
20: professor says it won't
Me: they don't work in financial aid
20: my friend is doing it
Me: they don't work in financial aid *screaming internally*
February 5, 2026 at 10:36 PM
20 y/o: I'm going to drop my honors class this semester
Me: ok, please just verify with financial aid that this won't affect your scholarship
20: professor says it won't
Me: they don't work in financial aid
20: my friend is doing it
Me: they don't work in financial aid *screaming internally*
Me: ok, please just verify with financial aid that this won't affect your scholarship
20: professor says it won't
Me: they don't work in financial aid
20: my friend is doing it
Me: they don't work in financial aid *screaming internally*
Reposted by Hein Goemans
There have been increasingly shrill accusations against the EU over its digital legislation, based on accusations of "censorship" by defenders of "free speech" -- including, so it appears, the right to peddle an AI app that seemingly produces child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
1/9
1/9
February 5, 2026 at 7:21 PM
There have been increasingly shrill accusations against the EU over its digital legislation, based on accusations of "censorship" by defenders of "free speech" -- including, so it appears, the right to peddle an AI app that seemingly produces child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
1/9
1/9
Reposted by Hein Goemans
The above link mangled itself through some authentication thing in my browser. Correct link is www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Internet platforms must be held accountable for their actions
Multiple independent research institutions have recently and repeatedly sounded the alarm that democracy is in retreat worldwide. In the United States, a British academic has painstakingly recorded mo...
www.science.org
February 5, 2026 at 7:47 PM
The above link mangled itself through some authentication thing in my browser. Correct link is www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Hein Goemans
One of the best books about former soldiers turning into mercenaries (while not about Colombia) yet remains to be translated into English
February 5, 2026 at 7:23 PM
One of the best books about former soldiers turning into mercenaries (while not about Colombia) yet remains to be translated into English
Reposted by Hein Goemans
Jessie Diggins, Olympic cross-country skiing gold medalist, from the Twin Cities: “I want to make sure you know who I’m racing for…”
February 5, 2026 at 5:27 PM
Jessie Diggins, Olympic cross-country skiing gold medalist, from the Twin Cities: “I want to make sure you know who I’m racing for…”
Reposted by Hein Goemans
There isn't a sigh hard enough for these dumbass headlines. Warriors were a SOCIAL GROUP, and later a legal classification. Gender was not relevant to whether one was part of a warrior group/family/etc. You might as well write: THIS JUST IN: WOMEN EXISTED! www.the-independent.com/asia/japan/b...
Half of Japan’s samurai were women, groundbreaking exhibition at British Museum says
‘Samurai’ explores over a thousand years of Japanese history related to the elite warrior class
www.the-independent.com
February 5, 2026 at 5:29 PM
There isn't a sigh hard enough for these dumbass headlines. Warriors were a SOCIAL GROUP, and later a legal classification. Gender was not relevant to whether one was part of a warrior group/family/etc. You might as well write: THIS JUST IN: WOMEN EXISTED! www.the-independent.com/asia/japan/b...
Reposted by Hein Goemans
While reporting this, I had something happen that's never happened. A comms rep for one of the co's disputed my reporting and said what I was telling them was untrue because it was not in Grok, xAI's chatbot.
I was looking directly at the files. And this person was using AI to challenge the truth.
I was looking directly at the files. And this person was using AI to challenge the truth.
Epstein had many known connections to Silicon Valley CEOs, but less known was how he made money from those relationships.
We did a deep dive into how he got dealflow in Silicon Valley, giving him shots to invest in Coinbase, Palantir, SpaceX and other companies.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/b...
We did a deep dive into how he got dealflow in Silicon Valley, giving him shots to invest in Coinbase, Palantir, SpaceX and other companies.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/b...
Jeffrey Epstein’s Money Mingled With Silicon Valley Start-Ups
www.nytimes.com
February 5, 2026 at 5:38 PM
While reporting this, I had something happen that's never happened. A comms rep for one of the co's disputed my reporting and said what I was telling them was untrue because it was not in Grok, xAI's chatbot.
I was looking directly at the files. And this person was using AI to challenge the truth.
I was looking directly at the files. And this person was using AI to challenge the truth.
Reposted by Hein Goemans
NOTUS on disappearance of federal data www.notus.org/trump-white-...
Federal Data Is Disappearing
The Trump administration has disrupted data collection on everything from homeland security, maternal mortality, hunger, drug use, education, disaster preparation and the economy.
www.notus.org
February 5, 2026 at 7:01 PM
NOTUS on disappearance of federal data www.notus.org/trump-white-...
Reposted by Hein Goemans
the Epstein files are really devastating because they remind me of how many girls and women miss out on professional opportunities, mentorship and careers because of how many powerful, rich and influential men only view girls and women — and interactions with them — through the lens of sex
February 5, 2026 at 5:05 PM
the Epstein files are really devastating because they remind me of how many girls and women miss out on professional opportunities, mentorship and careers because of how many powerful, rich and influential men only view girls and women — and interactions with them — through the lens of sex
Reposted by Hein Goemans
Additionally, this investigation concluded that around 45% of all wineries in Israel source their grapes from illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.
February 5, 2026 at 5:39 PM
Additionally, this investigation concluded that around 45% of all wineries in Israel source their grapes from illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Reposted by Hein Goemans
Well then DHS won’t get funded while the rest of government is. Democrats have the upper hand thanks to Schumer. Thune’s bluffing.
For the doubters about the demand list: Thune is literally saying they won't engage with a list that more or less just asks to recodify that it's illegal to break the laws they're already breaking. Now they have congressional Republicans committed to letting masked goons break into your home
As I was saying,
*THUNE: NOT WORTH ENGAGING DEMOCRATS ON CURRENT DHS DEMAND LIST
*THUNE: NOT WORTH ENGAGING DEMOCRATS ON CURRENT DHS DEMAND LIST
February 5, 2026 at 5:32 PM
Well then DHS won’t get funded while the rest of government is. Democrats have the upper hand thanks to Schumer. Thune’s bluffing.
Reposted by Hein Goemans
“Never once in the many years I have been reporting on Wyden have I ever encountered a warning of his to be hyperbolic, let alone baseless.” www.forever-wars.com/ron-wyden-on...
Ron Wyden Only Talks Like This When The Spies Do Something *Real* Bad
No, I don't know what they did. But I have a lot of experience with the senator
www.forever-wars.com
February 5, 2026 at 5:34 PM
“Never once in the many years I have been reporting on Wyden have I ever encountered a warning of his to be hyperbolic, let alone baseless.” www.forever-wars.com/ron-wyden-on...
Reposted by Hein Goemans
I am speechless.
"The National Park Service has removed visitor brochures from the Medgar & Myrlie Evers Home National Monument. Among the anticipated changes? No longer calling his murderer a 'racist.'" 🗃️ mississippitoday.org/2026/02/05/m...
"The National Park Service has removed visitor brochures from the Medgar & Myrlie Evers Home National Monument. Among the anticipated changes? No longer calling his murderer a 'racist.'" 🗃️ mississippitoday.org/2026/02/05/m...
Medgar Evers’ killer was a Klansman, but Trump administration says stop calling him a racist - Mississippi Today
Among anticipated changes to a new visitor brochure for the Medgar & Myrlie Evers Home National Monument is no longer using "racist" to describe the killer of the civil rights leader.
mississippitoday.org
February 5, 2026 at 3:59 PM
I am speechless.
"The National Park Service has removed visitor brochures from the Medgar & Myrlie Evers Home National Monument. Among the anticipated changes? No longer calling his murderer a 'racist.'" 🗃️ mississippitoday.org/2026/02/05/m...
"The National Park Service has removed visitor brochures from the Medgar & Myrlie Evers Home National Monument. Among the anticipated changes? No longer calling his murderer a 'racist.'" 🗃️ mississippitoday.org/2026/02/05/m...
Reposted by Hein Goemans
You'd think someone might have the self-awareness to stop and think "wait, am I seriously defending pedophilia? Am I hand-waving it away?" but then if they did that, they would not be who and where they are.
February 5, 2026 at 4:04 PM
You'd think someone might have the self-awareness to stop and think "wait, am I seriously defending pedophilia? Am I hand-waving it away?" but then if they did that, they would not be who and where they are.
Reposted by Hein Goemans
today’s tech barons get compared to the robber barons (I’ve done it myself) but it’s notable how the current generation has responded to the philanthropic and cultural legacy of Carnegie et al with their own campaign of wanton destruction of cultural institutions
February 5, 2026 at 3:31 AM
today’s tech barons get compared to the robber barons (I’ve done it myself) but it’s notable how the current generation has responded to the philanthropic and cultural legacy of Carnegie et al with their own campaign of wanton destruction of cultural institutions
Reposted by Hein Goemans
It’s such a freaky relief to have the governor & the mayor working together instead of engaging in a non-stop egotistical hissing match
February 5, 2026 at 3:30 PM
It’s such a freaky relief to have the governor & the mayor working together instead of engaging in a non-stop egotistical hissing match
Reposted by Hein Goemans
Yale prof David Gelernter defends his letter urging Epstein to hire "v small goodlooking blonde" student by saying that he was "keep[ing] the potential boss's habits in mind."
This creep shouldn't be allowed anywhere near students.
yaledailynews.com/articles/gel...
This creep shouldn't be allowed anywhere near students.
yaledailynews.com/articles/gel...
February 5, 2026 at 2:27 PM
Yale prof David Gelernter defends his letter urging Epstein to hire "v small goodlooking blonde" student by saying that he was "keep[ing] the potential boss's habits in mind."
This creep shouldn't be allowed anywhere near students.
yaledailynews.com/articles/gel...
This creep shouldn't be allowed anywhere near students.
yaledailynews.com/articles/gel...
Reposted by Hein Goemans
one of my strongest beliefs is that we're in our situation right now bc some of the most prominent talking heads (e.g. joe rogan, andrew schulz) are learning about politics in their 40s and 50s, instead of their teens and early 20s, and we have to go along for the ride as they learn basic things
February 4, 2026 at 10:10 PM
one of my strongest beliefs is that we're in our situation right now bc some of the most prominent talking heads (e.g. joe rogan, andrew schulz) are learning about politics in their 40s and 50s, instead of their teens and early 20s, and we have to go along for the ride as they learn basic things
Reposted by Hein Goemans
I can, sadly, understand a business case for the Washington Post dropping its Metro, World, and Sports coverage and doubling down on political and regulatory journalism. Can’t understand what was more important for Will Lewis to do today than attend that meeting, though. Just POS leadership.
February 5, 2026 at 2:47 AM
I can, sadly, understand a business case for the Washington Post dropping its Metro, World, and Sports coverage and doubling down on political and regulatory journalism. Can’t understand what was more important for Will Lewis to do today than attend that meeting, though. Just POS leadership.
Reposted by Hein Goemans
The Trump era exposed how badly Congress erred over decades by granting the president emergency powers in certain situations while also making the president the one who decides when we’re in those situations.
ICE can’t mask except when ICE’s boss says it’s necessary? Repeating that same mistake.
ICE can’t mask except when ICE’s boss says it’s necessary? Repeating that same mistake.
"except in extraordinary and unusual circumstances" is a big enough loophole for a family of elephants to walk through. www.huffpost.com/entry/democr...
Democrats Ease Up On 1 Of Their Biggest ICE Demands
Masks might still be OK in "extraordinary and unusual circumstances," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said.
www.huffpost.com
February 5, 2026 at 2:49 AM
The Trump era exposed how badly Congress erred over decades by granting the president emergency powers in certain situations while also making the president the one who decides when we’re in those situations.
ICE can’t mask except when ICE’s boss says it’s necessary? Repeating that same mistake.
ICE can’t mask except when ICE’s boss says it’s necessary? Repeating that same mistake.
Reposted by Hein Goemans
Whistleblower’s lawyer to Tulsi: “You have given us zero guidance… I will contact the senate committee re your conduct on Monday… I maintain top secret eligibility and have been routinely read into matters of national security…”
(From @AdamParkhomenko)
(From @AdamParkhomenko)
February 4, 2026 at 9:28 PM
Whistleblower’s lawyer to Tulsi: “You have given us zero guidance… I will contact the senate committee re your conduct on Monday… I maintain top secret eligibility and have been routinely read into matters of national security…”
(From @AdamParkhomenko)
(From @AdamParkhomenko)
Reposted by Hein Goemans
FLASH: Weeks after Trump Admin pushed for crackdown on "fraud in Minnesota", the four prosecutors spearheading the case have *all left their jobs*
Wave of departures is growing inside Justice Dept office in Minneapolis
www.cbsnews.com/news/minneso...
Wave of departures is growing inside Justice Dept office in Minneapolis
www.cbsnews.com/news/minneso...
With latest Minnesota fraud case looming, the lead prosecutors have quit
The four prosecutors who spearheaded a $250 million Minnesota fraud case have all left the U.S. Attorney's Office in a growing wave of resignations.
www.cbsnews.com
February 4, 2026 at 9:28 PM
FLASH: Weeks after Trump Admin pushed for crackdown on "fraud in Minnesota", the four prosecutors spearheading the case have *all left their jobs*
Wave of departures is growing inside Justice Dept office in Minneapolis
www.cbsnews.com/news/minneso...
Wave of departures is growing inside Justice Dept office in Minneapolis
www.cbsnews.com/news/minneso...
Reposted by Hein Goemans
The CIA just stopped publishing their World Factbook and took every page, including the archived copies of previous versions!
This sucks. It was public domain, so I recovered the 2020 edition (the last one published as a zip file) and shared it to GitHub simonwillison.net/2026/Feb/5/t...
This sucks. It was public domain, so I recovered the 2020 edition (the last one published as a zip file) and shared it to GitHub simonwillison.net/2026/Feb/5/t...
Spotlighting The World Factbook as We Bid a Fond Farewell
Somewhat devastating news today from the CIA: One of CIA’s oldest and most recognizable intelligence publications, The World Factbook, has sunset. There's not even a hint as to why they …
simonwillison.net
February 5, 2026 at 2:43 AM
Reposted by Hein Goemans
Sitting U.S. senators don't make letters such as this one public unless they feel a paper trail is needed to inform the public.
Not great. Really not great.
h/t Sahil Kapur
Not great. Really not great.
h/t Sahil Kapur
February 4, 2026 at 9:53 PM
Sitting U.S. senators don't make letters such as this one public unless they feel a paper trail is needed to inform the public.
Not great. Really not great.
h/t Sahil Kapur
Not great. Really not great.
h/t Sahil Kapur
Reposted by Hein Goemans
Speaker Mike Johnson just tried to mansplain the Bible to the Vicar of Jesus Christ.
It’s the latest in a long MAGA campaign to smear Pope Leo XIV — and it falls apart under any honest reading of Scripture.
It’s the latest in a long MAGA campaign to smear Pope Leo XIV — and it falls apart under any honest reading of Scripture.
Speaker Johnson Denounces Pope Leo’s Call to Welcome Migrants
In a 1700-word criticism of Catholic teaching, the House leader claims God backs border crackdowns — and mercy is not the state’s concern.
www.thelettersfromleo.com
February 5, 2026 at 2:55 AM
Speaker Mike Johnson just tried to mansplain the Bible to the Vicar of Jesus Christ.
It’s the latest in a long MAGA campaign to smear Pope Leo XIV — and it falls apart under any honest reading of Scripture.
It’s the latest in a long MAGA campaign to smear Pope Leo XIV — and it falls apart under any honest reading of Scripture.