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, Jacobin, New Republic, elsewhere
seniores tollunt omnia
Words: Nation, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, NK News, US Institute of Peace, Jacobin, New Republic, elsewhere
seniores tollunt omnia
Pinned
Sen. Charles Sumner attacking the whole notion of white supremacy in 1866
Mar-a-Lago face is like if people put on the sunglasses from THEY LIVE and said "give me the alien"
November 11, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Mar-a-Lago face is like if people put on the sunglasses from THEY LIVE and said "give me the alien"
Really informative interview with a seismologist - we would almost certainly know if a country conducted an explosive nuclear weapons test www.sciencenews.org/article/nucl...
If another country tested nuclear weapons, here’s how we’d know
President Trump has argued the U.S. should test nuclear weapons because other countries are doing it. But scientific data suggest they’re not.
www.sciencenews.org
November 11, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Really informative interview with a seismologist - we would almost certainly know if a country conducted an explosive nuclear weapons test www.sciencenews.org/article/nucl...
Reposted by John Carl Baker
The South Korean workers arrested and detained in the Hyundai raid are preparing a class action lawsuit accusing ICE of unlawful detention, racial profiling, human rights violations and excessive use of force. Says one worker: "We were locked up without knowing why, and the fear was overwhelming.”
Koreans detained in Georgia battery plant raid preparing class action lawsuit against ICE
Korean workers detained during an immigration raid at a Georgia EV battery plant in September are preparing a class-action lawsuit against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), ABC News repo...
koreajoongangdaily.joins.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:52 PM
The South Korean workers arrested and detained in the Hyundai raid are preparing a class action lawsuit accusing ICE of unlawful detention, racial profiling, human rights violations and excessive use of force. Says one worker: "We were locked up without knowing why, and the fear was overwhelming.”
"I get a lot of emails from people who say my brother doesn't think this is real, he thinks it's a scam. There are a lot of people who don’t want to send their documents because they don’t trust the federal government." www.ksdk.com/article/news...
300,000 people in St. Louis County are eligible for big payouts in RECA settlement money – less than 1% have applied
Government distrust is at the root of the lack of applications, organizers told 5 On Your Side. Here's how you can get either $50,000 or $25,000 in restitution.
www.ksdk.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:38 PM
"I get a lot of emails from people who say my brother doesn't think this is real, he thinks it's a scam. There are a lot of people who don’t want to send their documents because they don’t trust the federal government." www.ksdk.com/article/news...
Reposted by John Carl Baker
I expect Canadian government lawyers along with those in the UK, etc, have asked their USG counterparts some pointed questions about the legal justifications for the U.S. strikes.
Potentially relevant for intel sharing, etc.
Potentially relevant for intel sharing, etc.
November 11, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Reposted by John Carl Baker
Reposted by John Carl Baker
(“Having An Average Weekend” plays)
November 11, 2025 at 3:28 PM
(“Having An Average Weekend” plays)
Caspar Weinberger used to do this sort of thing with Reagan www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
November 11, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Caspar Weinberger used to do this sort of thing with Reagan www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Reposted by John Carl Baker
I do think this is a point of radicalization because a lot of angry, angry normal people were ready to dig in and suffer a lot in order to make fascists suffer a little, and their resolution was sold out and made into a mockery
November 11, 2025 at 1:22 PM
I do think this is a point of radicalization because a lot of angry, angry normal people were ready to dig in and suffer a lot in order to make fascists suffer a little, and their resolution was sold out and made into a mockery
Reposted by John Carl Baker
Reposted by John Carl Baker
incidentally I missed the anniversary last week but I've now been at the Center for International Policy for two years which is the longest time I've been staff anywhere. I'm thrilled to keep doing the work of imagining better foreign policy and better futures.
November 10, 2025 at 5:35 PM
incidentally I missed the anniversary last week but I've now been at the Center for International Policy for two years which is the longest time I've been staff anywhere. I'm thrilled to keep doing the work of imagining better foreign policy and better futures.
Reposted by John Carl Baker
I think this touches a deep, often-overlooked point. In my labour law days, I saw some employers spend MORE money fighting unionization than they would have paid accepting it. Loss of control was driving them at least as much as profits! Control is vital – with environmental policy as well.
I should write the argument up properly somewhere, but I think this is fundamentally wrong. A decisive fraction of the capitalist class does oppose addressing the climate crisis, but *not* because it would be bad for profits. If anything, a green New Deal type program would raise aggregate profits.
Yes, this is correct. And the reason is because our capitalist classes have decided that it is not sufficiently profitable, so they're not going to do it.
We must understand this reality. Capital *cannot* be relied upon to address the climate crisis.
We must understand this reality. Capital *cannot* be relied upon to address the climate crisis.
November 10, 2025 at 4:37 PM
I think this touches a deep, often-overlooked point. In my labour law days, I saw some employers spend MORE money fighting unionization than they would have paid accepting it. Loss of control was driving them at least as much as profits! Control is vital – with environmental policy as well.
Reposted by John Carl Baker
The problem from their point of view is that rapid decarbonization requires public, collective decisions about the organization of production, in a way that threaten capital-owners' authority over both the production process and the political system.
November 10, 2025 at 4:20 PM
The problem from their point of view is that rapid decarbonization requires public, collective decisions about the organization of production, in a way that threaten capital-owners' authority over both the production process and the political system.
Reposted by John Carl Baker
I should write the argument up properly somewhere, but I think this is fundamentally wrong. A decisive fraction of the capitalist class does oppose addressing the climate crisis, but *not* because it would be bad for profits. If anything, a green New Deal type program would raise aggregate profits.
Yes, this is correct. And the reason is because our capitalist classes have decided that it is not sufficiently profitable, so they're not going to do it.
We must understand this reality. Capital *cannot* be relied upon to address the climate crisis.
We must understand this reality. Capital *cannot* be relied upon to address the climate crisis.
November 10, 2025 at 4:18 PM
I should write the argument up properly somewhere, but I think this is fundamentally wrong. A decisive fraction of the capitalist class does oppose addressing the climate crisis, but *not* because it would be bad for profits. If anything, a green New Deal type program would raise aggregate profits.
Reposted by John Carl Baker
The U.S. Air Force Academy's academic accreditation is under review following a formal complaint that the institution no longer has sufficient Ph.D.-level faculty as the federal government reduces its civilian workforce // Story by @thenoellephillips.bsky.social
Air Force Academy’s accreditation under review after cuts to civilian faculty
Concerned alumni and former faculty told The Denver Post they believe the academy is losing too many civilian Ph.D.-level instructors without the ability to replace them with qualified military mem…
www.denverpost.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:56 PM
The U.S. Air Force Academy's academic accreditation is under review following a formal complaint that the institution no longer has sufficient Ph.D.-level faculty as the federal government reduces its civilian workforce // Story by @thenoellephillips.bsky.social
Reposted by John Carl Baker
I bet some of my non existent money that Trump ranting about the filibuster became a real threat behind the scenes and the Dems can't have the filibuster going away
November 9, 2025 at 11:21 PM
I bet some of my non existent money that Trump ranting about the filibuster became a real threat behind the scenes and the Dems can't have the filibuster going away
Reposted by John Carl Baker
I heard from a bunch of federal employees last night and this morning. They aren't happy.
"I would rather be an actual pawn. At least pawn sacrifices are calculated and achieve something. All this for a fucking meaningless vote."
"I would rather be an actual pawn. At least pawn sacrifices are calculated and achieve something. All this for a fucking meaningless vote."
'A Slap in the Face': Federal Employees Feel Betrayed by Democrats' Shutdown Cave
"I would rather be an actual pawn. At least pawn sacrifices are calculated and achieve something."
www.gravityisgone.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:46 PM
I heard from a bunch of federal employees last night and this morning. They aren't happy.
"I would rather be an actual pawn. At least pawn sacrifices are calculated and achieve something. All this for a fucking meaningless vote."
"I would rather be an actual pawn. At least pawn sacrifices are calculated and achieve something. All this for a fucking meaningless vote."
Pretty sure that just happened, Senator
Kaine on why he thinks just getting a vote on healthcare is a win: "We're the minority party, but everybody will get to see who is standing for them when it comes to lowering their healthcare costs"
November 10, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Pretty sure that just happened, Senator
Reposted by John Carl Baker
Ypsilanti, Michigan has officially decided to fight against the construction of a 'high-performance computing facility' that would service a nuclear weapons laboratory 1,500 miles away.
A Small Town Is Fighting a $1.2 Billion AI Datacenter for America's Nuclear Weapon Scientists
Ypsilanti, Michigan has officially decided to fight against the construction of a 'high-performance computing facility' that would service a nuclear weapons laboratory 1,500 miles away.
www.404media.co
November 10, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Ypsilanti, Michigan has officially decided to fight against the construction of a 'high-performance computing facility' that would service a nuclear weapons laboratory 1,500 miles away.
Reposted by John Carl Baker
Los Alamos and U of Michigan want to build a data center in the small town of Ypsilanti. The city's people don't want to help make weapons of mass destruction. The fight is only just starting
A Small Town Is Fighting a $1.2 Billion AI Datacenter for America's Nuclear Weapon Scientists
Ypsilanti, Michigan has officially decided to fight against the construction of a 'high-performance computing facility' that would service a nuclear weapons laboratory 1,500 miles away.
www.404media.co
November 10, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Los Alamos and U of Michigan want to build a data center in the small town of Ypsilanti. The city's people don't want to help make weapons of mass destruction. The fight is only just starting
Reposted by John Carl Baker
This is exactly correct.
Assume all the yes and no votes from Dem senators are strategic and not sincere votes. The party caucus made a decision. No way to know how many were in favor. Then the caucus decided who would vote yes and no based on what would protect each of them politically the most. That’s how this works.
November 10, 2025 at 1:50 PM
This is exactly correct.
Caving to Republicans is a way to rebuild the Democratic brand, in the sense that fecklessness was the original brand threatened by recent electoral successes.
November 10, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Caving to Republicans is a way to rebuild the Democratic brand, in the sense that fecklessness was the original brand threatened by recent electoral successes.
Reposted by John Carl Baker
Warner is up for reelection. He was widely seen driving towards surrender behind the scenes, but he's voting no in public because it's unpopular. The real question is whether he supports a senate leadership change. If not, someone who supports senate leadership change should primary him.
But I cannot support a deal that still leaves millions of Americans wondering how they are going to pay for their health care or whether they will be able to afford to get sick.
November 10, 2025 at 1:56 AM
Warner is up for reelection. He was widely seen driving towards surrender behind the scenes, but he's voting no in public because it's unpopular. The real question is whether he supports a senate leadership change. If not, someone who supports senate leadership change should primary him.
Reposted by John Carl Baker
I keep seeing regular Americans taking more risks every day to fight tyranny, want, and cynicism than I see from the opposition party, and I imagine many of those regular Americans are asking themselves what the value proposition of such an opposition party is, really
November 10, 2025 at 4:31 AM
I keep seeing regular Americans taking more risks every day to fight tyranny, want, and cynicism than I see from the opposition party, and I imagine many of those regular Americans are asking themselves what the value proposition of such an opposition party is, really