John Carl Baker
@johncarlbaker.bsky.social
nuclear weapons, foreign policy, 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
Pinned
No one is less prepared for the foreign policy of Trump 2.0 than people who think “isolationism” is an accurate description of administration policy
Reposted by John Carl Baker
It would be good for the health of everyone if there was a bit more introspection on the part of the kinds of people who have actually achieved state power and then either squandered it or actively worsened the world in some respects with it.
February 10, 2026 at 7:40 PM
It would be good for the health of everyone if there was a bit more introspection on the part of the kinds of people who have actually achieved state power and then either squandered it or actively worsened the world in some respects with it.
Reposted by John Carl Baker
As someone who more or less agrees with a lot of left-liberal criticism of actually existing socialist foreign policy thinking in the US, I still find it silly that people on here like to pretend that Brett McGurk or Anthony Blinken have less influence than glup shitto who canvasses for PSL
February 10, 2026 at 7:38 PM
As someone who more or less agrees with a lot of left-liberal criticism of actually existing socialist foreign policy thinking in the US, I still find it silly that people on here like to pretend that Brett McGurk or Anthony Blinken have less influence than glup shitto who canvasses for PSL
How did I completely miss that AOC is speaking at the Munich Security Conference? www.un-diplomatic.com/p/anticipati...
Anticipating AOC’s Munich Security Conference Speech
What to look for from a left-populist counter to imperialism, fascism, white supremacy, and oligarchy.
www.un-diplomatic.com
February 11, 2026 at 2:31 PM
How did I completely miss that AOC is speaking at the Munich Security Conference? www.un-diplomatic.com/p/anticipati...
There it is:
“workers increasingly absorbed work that might previously have justified additional help or headcount”
Also: “The boundary between work and non-work did not disappear, but it became easier to cross.” hbr.org/2026/02/ai-d...
“workers increasingly absorbed work that might previously have justified additional help or headcount”
Also: “The boundary between work and non-work did not disappear, but it became easier to cross.” hbr.org/2026/02/ai-d...
AI Doesn’t Reduce Work—It Intensifies It
One of the promises of AI is that it can reduce workloads so employees can focus more on higher-value and more engaging tasks. But according to new research, AI tools don’t reduce work, they consisten...
hbr.org
February 11, 2026 at 12:01 PM
There it is:
“workers increasingly absorbed work that might previously have justified additional help or headcount”
Also: “The boundary between work and non-work did not disappear, but it became easier to cross.” hbr.org/2026/02/ai-d...
“workers increasingly absorbed work that might previously have justified additional help or headcount”
Also: “The boundary between work and non-work did not disappear, but it became easier to cross.” hbr.org/2026/02/ai-d...
Reposted by John Carl Baker
As part of an effort to hold myself externally accountable for making upgrades to the NUKEMAP, and also to make "visible" some of the work I've been doing on it over the last few years, I wrote up an ambitious plan for what I intend to do for the site in 2026: blog.nuclearsecrecy.com/2026/02/10/n...
NUKEMAP roadmap
I've been working on upgrades to the NUKEMAP for several years now, but I actually would like to get them implemented this year. I figured that one way to...
blog.nuclearsecrecy.com
February 10, 2026 at 12:25 PM
As part of an effort to hold myself externally accountable for making upgrades to the NUKEMAP, and also to make "visible" some of the work I've been doing on it over the last few years, I wrote up an ambitious plan for what I intend to do for the site in 2026: blog.nuclearsecrecy.com/2026/02/10/n...
Reposted by John Carl Baker
When histories of this time are written, explaining The Great Replacement Theory as a kind of meta-framework will be as pro forma as learning about the dolchstoßlegende is for those trying to understand WWII.
it's easy to miss if you don't spend much time on X or right-wing media, but the demonization of immigrants ties directly into trump's claims of stolen elections. the notion that there's a dem plot to let illegal immigrants vote is key to how the right justifies both Jan 6 *and* ICE's behavior
February 10, 2026 at 2:25 PM
When histories of this time are written, explaining The Great Replacement Theory as a kind of meta-framework will be as pro forma as learning about the dolchstoßlegende is for those trying to understand WWII.
“Washington is actively weighing the deployment of more nuclear weapons, and it is also likely to conduct a nuclear test of some kind.” www.nytimes.com/2026/02/09/u...
Newly Unbound, Trump Weighs More Nuclear Arms and Underground Tests
www.nytimes.com
February 10, 2026 at 11:57 AM
“Washington is actively weighing the deployment of more nuclear weapons, and it is also likely to conduct a nuclear test of some kind.” www.nytimes.com/2026/02/09/u...
Reposted by John Carl Baker
ross diner, quechee, vermont, 1995
February 9, 2026 at 8:36 PM
ross diner, quechee, vermont, 1995
Guy who loves the Cocteau Twins but is mad about not understanding Bad Bunny's lyrics
February 9, 2026 at 7:51 PM
Guy who loves the Cocteau Twins but is mad about not understanding Bad Bunny's lyrics
"By 48% to 28%, Americans are more likely to oppose than support the U.S. taking military action in Iran" today.yougov.com/politics/art...
U.S. military intervention in Iran has little support but half of Americans think it's likely to happen soon | YouGov
More Americans oppose than support U.S. military intervention in Iran. Few are confident that protests will succeed in overthrowing the Iranian government and many believe the U.S. military is likely ...
today.yougov.com
February 9, 2026 at 7:41 PM
"By 48% to 28%, Americans are more likely to oppose than support the U.S. taking military action in Iran" today.yougov.com/politics/art...
Iranian Foreign Minister:
"Zero enrichment can never be accepted by us. Hence, we need to focus on discussions that accept enrichment inside Iran while building trust that enrichment is and will stay for peaceful purposes." www.reuters.com/world/middle...
"Zero enrichment can never be accepted by us. Hence, we need to focus on discussions that accept enrichment inside Iran while building trust that enrichment is and will stay for peaceful purposes." www.reuters.com/world/middle...
Iran insists on right to enrichment, ready for confidence-building
Recognition of Iran's right to enrich uranium is key for nuclear talks with the U.S. to succeed, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Sunday.
www.reuters.com
February 9, 2026 at 5:59 PM
Iranian Foreign Minister:
"Zero enrichment can never be accepted by us. Hence, we need to focus on discussions that accept enrichment inside Iran while building trust that enrichment is and will stay for peaceful purposes." www.reuters.com/world/middle...
"Zero enrichment can never be accepted by us. Hence, we need to focus on discussions that accept enrichment inside Iran while building trust that enrichment is and will stay for peaceful purposes." www.reuters.com/world/middle...
And we're back:
"A day after the negotiation on Saturday, Araghchi told Al Jazeera that his country will not accept completely halting its nuclear enrichment." edition.cnn.com/2026/02/06/m...
"A day after the negotiation on Saturday, Araghchi told Al Jazeera that his country will not accept completely halting its nuclear enrichment." edition.cnn.com/2026/02/06/m...
Trump confirms more talks with Iran as Tehran stands firm on nuclear enrichment. Here’s what to know | CNN
President Donald Trump said the United States had “very good talks” with Iran after delegations from both countries participated in indirect discussions in Oman Friday.
edition.cnn.com
February 9, 2026 at 5:30 PM
And we're back:
"A day after the negotiation on Saturday, Araghchi told Al Jazeera that his country will not accept completely halting its nuclear enrichment." edition.cnn.com/2026/02/06/m...
"A day after the negotiation on Saturday, Araghchi told Al Jazeera that his country will not accept completely halting its nuclear enrichment." edition.cnn.com/2026/02/06/m...
This is such a banger open.spotify.com/track/2XFW2M...
Stuck In My Head
open.spotify.com
February 8, 2026 at 11:54 PM
This is such a banger open.spotify.com/track/2XFW2M...
Reposted by John Carl Baker
the extremely is a nice touch. very poaster.
February 8, 2026 at 9:43 PM
the extremely is a nice touch. very poaster.
“He was an excellent soldier, but extremely illiterate.” - Zosimus on Valentinian
February 8, 2026 at 9:33 PM
“He was an excellent soldier, but extremely illiterate.” - Zosimus on Valentinian
Just finished @brunoleipold.com’s Citizen Marx: Republicanism and the Formation of Karl Marx’s Social and Political Thought - easily one of the best books I’ve read in recent years.
Well-researched but also super timely and generative (see: No Kings). Read it. press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
Well-researched but also super timely and generative (see: No Kings). Read it. press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
Citizen Marx
The first book to offer a comprehensive exploration of Marx’s relationship to republicanism, arguing that it is essential to understanding his thought
press.princeton.edu
February 8, 2026 at 6:38 PM
Just finished @brunoleipold.com’s Citizen Marx: Republicanism and the Formation of Karl Marx’s Social and Political Thought - easily one of the best books I’ve read in recent years.
Well-researched but also super timely and generative (see: No Kings). Read it. press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
Well-researched but also super timely and generative (see: No Kings). Read it. press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
Reposted by John Carl Baker
It really looks like the March for
Life brought measles to DC
Life brought measles to DC
March for Life rally among infection sites for confirmed measles cases in DC
Health officials urge vigilance after confirming multiple measles cases in DC, potentially exposing attendees at several public venues.
www.wusa9.com
February 8, 2026 at 4:07 PM
It really looks like the March for
Life brought measles to DC
Life brought measles to DC
They just don’t have the numbers www.nytimes.com/2026/02/07/u...
Demanding Support for Trump, Justice Dept. Struggles to Recruit Prosecutors
www.nytimes.com
February 8, 2026 at 1:51 PM
They just don’t have the numbers www.nytimes.com/2026/02/07/u...
Something tells me this Zosimus guy may not be an impartial historian of the Christianizing Roman Empire
February 7, 2026 at 7:57 PM
Something tells me this Zosimus guy may not be an impartial historian of the Christianizing Roman Empire
I’m not dismissing its significance but I really hope Dems do not coalesce around this DNI whistleblower thing as yet another One Weird Trick to get rid of Trump. The relative absence of natsec-focused “resistance” has honestly been refreshing this go-round.
February 7, 2026 at 5:34 PM
I’m not dismissing its significance but I really hope Dems do not coalesce around this DNI whistleblower thing as yet another One Weird Trick to get rid of Trump. The relative absence of natsec-focused “resistance” has honestly been refreshing this go-round.
Reposted by John Carl Baker
basically if dishonesty is a loadbearing aspect of a discourse feel free to hit the snooze button on your Good Faith module
February 7, 2026 at 3:56 PM
basically if dishonesty is a loadbearing aspect of a discourse feel free to hit the snooze button on your Good Faith module
Reposted by John Carl Baker
this is so funny, god bless louise lucas, Hero of the Commonwealth
February 7, 2026 at 2:20 PM
this is so funny, god bless louise lucas, Hero of the Commonwealth
“Across Mr. Trump’s administration, racist images and slogans have become common on government websites and accounts, with the White House, Labor Department and Homeland Security Department all having promoted posts that echo white supremacist messaging.” www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/u...
‘I Didn’t Make a Mistake’: Trump Declines to Apologize for Racist Video of Obamas
www.nytimes.com
February 7, 2026 at 1:40 PM
“Across Mr. Trump’s administration, racist images and slogans have become common on government websites and accounts, with the White House, Labor Department and Homeland Security Department all having promoted posts that echo white supremacist messaging.” www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/u...
A fitting tribute to a writer rightly described here as the preeminent thinker of “millennial socialism”
I wrote something about my friend Asad Haider for the new issue of @nybooks.com www.nybooks.com/articles/202...
People Think | Ben Tarnoff
Asad Haider, the foremost socialist thinker of his generation, staked his philosophy on the principle that everyone should be fundamentally free.
www.nybooks.com
February 6, 2026 at 8:46 PM
A fitting tribute to a writer rightly described here as the preeminent thinker of “millennial socialism”