John Carl Baker
@johncarlbaker.bsky.social
nuclear weapons, foreign policy, Korea, the left - occasional antiquity and cocktail posts
Words: Nation, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, NK News, US Institute of Peace, New Republic, elsewhere
seniores tollunt omnia
Words: Nation, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, NK News, US Institute of Peace, New Republic, elsewhere
seniores tollunt omnia
We should drive the right insane by proceeding as if “heritage Americans” just means Indigenous peoples
December 27, 2025 at 3:01 PM
We should drive the right insane by proceeding as if “heritage Americans” just means Indigenous peoples
“The Senate Foreign Relations Committee, for instance, has held two full committee hearings with administration witnesses this year, down from 24 such hearings and briefings in 2021, the first year of the Biden administration” www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Kennedy, other Trump officials balk at requests to testify on Capitol Hill
Democrats have suggested the lack of testimony is yet another way the administration is snubbing the legislative branch.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 27, 2025 at 2:47 PM
“The Senate Foreign Relations Committee, for instance, has held two full committee hearings with administration witnesses this year, down from 24 such hearings and briefings in 2021, the first year of the Biden administration” www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Anonymous DEA official:
“They are trying to avoid having to defend their policies and standards in court” www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
“They are trying to avoid having to defend their policies and standards in court” www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
The U.S. sank the alleged narco-terrorists’ boat — and let them go
In blowing up the vessel, destroying evidence and repatriating the survivors, the U.S. cut short a process that’s helped bring down traffickers.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 27, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Anonymous DEA official:
“They are trying to avoid having to defend their policies and standards in court” www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
“They are trying to avoid having to defend their policies and standards in court” www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
Again, this is pretty stark www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
December 26, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Again, this is pretty stark www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
It’s that time of year again youtu.be/nz9c5HBs1h8?...
Santa Came On A Nuclear Missile
YouTube video by Heather Noel - Topic
youtu.be
December 24, 2025 at 3:31 PM
It’s that time of year again youtu.be/nz9c5HBs1h8?...
Reposted by John Carl Baker
In the early 1960s, Santa even gave the US Air Force a brand new, liquid-fueled Titan I ICBM armed with a 4.5-Megaton W38 warhead (for use against the especially naughty?).
December 24, 2025 at 3:28 PM
In the early 1960s, Santa even gave the US Air Force a brand new, liquid-fueled Titan I ICBM armed with a 4.5-Megaton W38 warhead (for use against the especially naughty?).
Reposted by John Carl Baker
CHOTINER: and when you're in water you
PARTICLE MAN: don't get wet, that's right.
CHOTINER: And this is because
PARTICLE MAN: the water gets me instead. It becomes particle-manish
CHOTINER: There's been some debate on this point. Triangle Man, for example
PARTICLE MAN: I think we're done here
PARTICLE MAN: don't get wet, that's right.
CHOTINER: And this is because
PARTICLE MAN: the water gets me instead. It becomes particle-manish
CHOTINER: There's been some debate on this point. Triangle Man, for example
PARTICLE MAN: I think we're done here
December 23, 2025 at 3:24 AM
CHOTINER: and when you're in water you
PARTICLE MAN: don't get wet, that's right.
CHOTINER: And this is because
PARTICLE MAN: the water gets me instead. It becomes particle-manish
CHOTINER: There's been some debate on this point. Triangle Man, for example
PARTICLE MAN: I think we're done here
PARTICLE MAN: don't get wet, that's right.
CHOTINER: And this is because
PARTICLE MAN: the water gets me instead. It becomes particle-manish
CHOTINER: There's been some debate on this point. Triangle Man, for example
PARTICLE MAN: I think we're done here
New Memorials is a real banger open.spotify.com/track/5FXQJV...
In The Weeds
open.spotify.com
December 23, 2025 at 1:38 AM
New Memorials is a real banger open.spotify.com/track/5FXQJV...
One of the most authoritarian developments in ostensibly non-political culture
It’s depressing how today’s movies and shows think the audience is so stupid. This character just spelled out the entire plot while talking to a dog. A pretext to erase all doubt about what is the most trite, obvious storyline in written language.
December 23, 2025 at 1:25 AM
One of the most authoritarian developments in ostensibly non-political culture
My good friend @nuclearwilson.bsky.social on the risks of the sea-launched nuclear-capable cruise missile (SLCM-N), which Trump wants to put on ships www.stimson.org/2025/gamblin...
December 23, 2025 at 1:07 AM
My good friend @nuclearwilson.bsky.social on the risks of the sea-launched nuclear-capable cruise missile (SLCM-N), which Trump wants to put on ships www.stimson.org/2025/gamblin...
Reposted by John Carl Baker
The SLCM-N logic is that the seemingly wide gap between conventional bombardment and strategic nuclear weapons is "not credible." Buying that means looking past the immense conventional ability of the USN and pretty much every reasonable theater of use.
December 23, 2025 at 12:49 AM
The SLCM-N logic is that the seemingly wide gap between conventional bombardment and strategic nuclear weapons is "not credible." Buying that means looking past the immense conventional ability of the USN and pretty much every reasonable theater of use.
Reposted by John Carl Baker
Renuclearizing the surface navy means assuming so many new risks: more chances for mistaken identity, severe complications for crewing and sustainment, and just blurring of stakes.
But even if not, all the inherent problems of TNW would apply. We looked at naval use briefly here:
But even if not, all the inherent problems of TNW would apply. We looked at naval use briefly here:
December 23, 2025 at 12:42 AM
Renuclearizing the surface navy means assuming so many new risks: more chances for mistaken identity, severe complications for crewing and sustainment, and just blurring of stakes.
But even if not, all the inherent problems of TNW would apply. We looked at naval use briefly here:
But even if not, all the inherent problems of TNW would apply. We looked at naval use briefly here:
This is deeply offensive to me as a DS9 fan
First ship in this new battleship will be called the USS Defiant. Typically, that also would be the ship class's name.
December 23, 2025 at 12:34 AM
This is deeply offensive to me as a DS9 fan
Reposted by John Carl Baker
To: CBS News Staff
Team: I think we all deserve a big round of applause for creating the "viral moment" out of the 60 Minutes segment on CECOT,
Team: I think we all deserve a big round of applause for creating the "viral moment" out of the 60 Minutes segment on CECOT,
December 23, 2025 at 12:01 AM
To: CBS News Staff
Team: I think we all deserve a big round of applause for creating the "viral moment" out of the 60 Minutes segment on CECOT,
Team: I think we all deserve a big round of applause for creating the "viral moment" out of the 60 Minutes segment on CECOT,
This is delicious - I subbed Stroh 160 for Denros Strong but it 100% still works. You know you want to drink an alcoholic candy cane. punchdrink.com/recipes/i-do...
I Don't Mind You Shooting Me, Frank, But Take It Easy on the Rum Cocktail Recipe | PUNCH
For those wondering, the name of this cocktail recipe is a quote from holiday classic Scrooged, modified to stave off a Bacardi lawsuit.
punchdrink.com
December 22, 2025 at 11:59 PM
This is delicious - I subbed Stroh 160 for Denros Strong but it 100% still works. You know you want to drink an alcoholic candy cane. punchdrink.com/recipes/i-do...
I see this as great news for anti-SLCM-N people (like me)
The Trump class will be nuclear-armed battleships apparently
share.google/pSDMO4SktcSX...
share.google/pSDMO4SktcSX...
December 22, 2025 at 11:48 PM
I see this as great news for anti-SLCM-N people (like me)
The Trumpist right’s “flood the zone” approach to policymaking can sometimes be effective - but I think we’re also seeing that it has major drawbacks. The right would be in a better political position today if they had quietly but consistently ratcheted up authoritarianism after their 2024 victory.
December 22, 2025 at 9:14 PM
The Trumpist right’s “flood the zone” approach to policymaking can sometimes be effective - but I think we’re also seeing that it has major drawbacks. The right would be in a better political position today if they had quietly but consistently ratcheted up authoritarianism after their 2024 victory.
Oh come ON www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
December 22, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Oh come ON www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Reposted by John Carl Baker
Respectfully, I don’t think his plans for Greenland are a distraction. He genuinely wants to cement his legacy by conquering more land and making the U.S. larger.
The guy tore down 1/3 of the White House, is slapping his name on buildings and plans to put his face on coins by July.
The guy tore down 1/3 of the White House, is slapping his name on buildings and plans to put his face on coins by July.
No...please don't take this bate. Trump thrives by just spinning us from dumb controversy to dumb controversy. Don't go back to discussing Greenland. We already did this.
Stop the merry-go-round and take a look at who's spinning it.
Stop the merry-go-round and take a look at who's spinning it.
December 22, 2025 at 2:53 AM
Respectfully, I don’t think his plans for Greenland are a distraction. He genuinely wants to cement his legacy by conquering more land and making the U.S. larger.
The guy tore down 1/3 of the White House, is slapping his name on buildings and plans to put his face on coins by July.
The guy tore down 1/3 of the White House, is slapping his name on buildings and plans to put his face on coins by July.
Reposted by John Carl Baker
This move was a big one for cigarette companies.
December 22, 2025 at 6:04 PM
This move was a big one for cigarette companies.
I feel like “x has already been reported” is a key tool for the Trump regime and its apologists. They don’t want information out there - but once it is, their line becomes “this is old news”
Bari Weiss, cont'd: "I held that story because it wasn't ready. The story presented very powerful testimony of abuse in CECOT, but that testimony has already been reported... The public knows that Venezuelans have been subjected to horrific treatment in this prison... we simply need to do more."
December 22, 2025 at 6:03 PM
I feel like “x has already been reported” is a key tool for the Trump regime and its apologists. They don’t want information out there - but once it is, their line becomes “this is old news”
Yes - and as a writer or researcher there are few tasks more annoying than correcting a bunch of errors that you wouldn’t have made in the first place.
suspect a big reason why many academics and others who work in areas where getting facts RIGHT is key are disinterested in using LLMs for research:
they’ve tried it, they keep noticing major errors in output, and they conclude that having to verify all that doesn’t actually save them time.
they’ve tried it, they keep noticing major errors in output, and they conclude that having to verify all that doesn’t actually save them time.
December 22, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Yes - and as a writer or researcher there are few tasks more annoying than correcting a bunch of errors that you wouldn’t have made in the first place.
Reposted by John Carl Baker
