Dr. Raymond Kuo | 郭泓均
@kuorum.bsky.social
Expert on international order and Asian security. Director, Taiwan Policy Initiative and Senior Political Scientist @ RAND. 🇹🇼🇺🇸
Website: https://www.raymondkuo.com/
Website: https://www.raymondkuo.com/
Pinned
Today in War on the Rocks:
Taiwan’s Will to Fight Isn’t the Problem
Data Centers on the 21st Century Battlefield
Taiwan’s Will to Fight Isn’t the Problem
Data Centers on the 21st Century Battlefield
War on the Rocks
A platform for analysis, commentary, debate and multimedia content on foreign policy and national security issues through a realist lens.
warontherocks.com
My latest in War on the Rocks. Catherine Kish and I argue that Taiwan has deep reserves of societal resilience and will to fight. Politics holds back efforts to deepen these reserves, but the United States can help.
#TWSky
#TWSky
This is a great resource for anyone interested in Chinese influence operations and effects! #TWSky
We launched the China Index (中文版) with a press briefing on how Beijing shapes narratives & influence in Taiwan. A major challenge is how broad and varied these efforts are, often reaching those left out of the social safety net — a reminder how social gaps can turn into leverage points.
November 7, 2025 at 7:14 AM
This is a great resource for anyone interested in Chinese influence operations and effects! #TWSky
Reposted by Dr. Raymond Kuo | 郭泓均
The White House is a public building and a National Park, maintained by the National Park Service. The President is a tenant. He has zero authority to tear up this building.
Scoop: Trump has started demolishing the White House's East Wing facade to build his ballroom. The president had claimed construction of the $250 million building wouldn’t ‘interfere’ with the existing White House structure. /W @ddiamond.bsky.social wapo.st/4hqBNiU
White House begins demolishing East Wing facade to build Trump’s ballroom
The president had claimed construction of the $250 million ballroom wouldn’t ‘interfere’ with the existing White House structure.
wapo.st
October 20, 2025 at 7:55 PM
The White House is a public building and a National Park, maintained by the National Park Service. The President is a tenant. He has zero authority to tear up this building.
Reposted by Dr. Raymond Kuo | 郭泓均
“There’s no way I’m bending the knee I have left for a king in America.”
Damn. Just … damn.
Damn. Just … damn.
Retired Army Sgt. Brian Wofford spoke to me this morning at the Oklahoma City #NoKings protest. Didn’t expect him to be carrying his DD214 so I asked some warmup questions like when he got out and whether his injury was service-related.
He paused while describing the car bomb in Iraq to say this:
He paused while describing the car bomb in Iraq to say this:
October 19, 2025 at 2:14 AM
“There’s no way I’m bending the knee I have left for a king in America.”
Damn. Just … damn.
Damn. Just … damn.
Reposted by Dr. Raymond Kuo | 郭泓均
Retired Army Sgt. Brian Wofford spoke to me this morning at the Oklahoma City #NoKings protest. Didn’t expect him to be carrying his DD214 so I asked some warmup questions like when he got out and whether his injury was service-related.
He paused while describing the car bomb in Iraq to say this:
He paused while describing the car bomb in Iraq to say this:
October 19, 2025 at 12:42 AM
Retired Army Sgt. Brian Wofford spoke to me this morning at the Oklahoma City #NoKings protest. Didn’t expect him to be carrying his DD214 so I asked some warmup questions like when he got out and whether his injury was service-related.
He paused while describing the car bomb in Iraq to say this:
He paused while describing the car bomb in Iraq to say this:
No Kings in the Twin Cities
October 18, 2025 at 8:07 PM
No Kings in the Twin Cities
Trace-ism with American characteristics.
NEW: Pentagon officials are forcing staff to watch Pete Hegseth's "Warrior" speech he forced generals to listen to.
Officials are even "testing" staff to see if they watched — and are threatening consequences if they lie about watching it or if they mock it, sources tell @swin24.bsky.social and I.
Officials are even "testing" staff to see if they watched — and are threatening consequences if they lie about watching it or if they mock it, sources tell @swin24.bsky.social and I.
The Pentagon Is Ordering Staff to Watch Hegseth’s ‘MAGA Garbage’ Speech… Or Else
Defense Department sources tell Zeteo that staff have been warned that if they don’t watch or read the speech, or if they speak negatively of it, they could face severe consequences.
zeteo.com
October 15, 2025 at 2:36 AM
Trace-ism with American characteristics.
This just seems like an incredibly cool job: www.spymuseum.org/about/career...
For PhDs in history, poli sci, IR, or related fields!
For PhDs in history, poli sci, IR, or related fields!
Historian
Job Opportunity: The International Spy Museum is searching for a Historian & Curator to join our Exhibitions and Collections team. Our new museum is located at L’Enfant Plaza.
www.spymuseum.org
October 14, 2025 at 1:45 PM
This just seems like an incredibly cool job: www.spymuseum.org/about/career...
For PhDs in history, poli sci, IR, or related fields!
For PhDs in history, poli sci, IR, or related fields!
Saw the barr bros, Stephen Sanchez, and mumford and sons tonight! Outstanding performances!
October 10, 2025 at 4:55 AM
Saw the barr bros, Stephen Sanchez, and mumford and sons tonight! Outstanding performances!
Reposted by Dr. Raymond Kuo | 郭泓均
If appropriations bills are not seen as enforceable contracts, why should any Member of Congress vote to fund any part of the federal government under Donald Trump? You're voting to provide money for lawlessness. www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/there-is-n...
There is no budget "deal" to be made
President Trump has so broken the constitutional framework as to make joint normal, responsible government impossible.
www.doomsdayscenario.co
October 7, 2025 at 5:10 PM
If appropriations bills are not seen as enforceable contracts, why should any Member of Congress vote to fund any part of the federal government under Donald Trump? You're voting to provide money for lawlessness. www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/there-is-n...
Reposted by Dr. Raymond Kuo | 郭泓均
🧵 Fascism is an ideology. The government is fascist. But it's an unconsolidated competitive authoritarian regime, not a totalitarian one.
@justinscasey.bsky.social and I discuss this, and the heterogeneity of interwar fascism, here 👇
@justinscasey.bsky.social and I discuss this, and the heterogeneity of interwar fascism, here 👇
October 5, 2025 at 3:01 AM
🧵 Fascism is an ideology. The government is fascist. But it's an unconsolidated competitive authoritarian regime, not a totalitarian one.
@justinscasey.bsky.social and I discuss this, and the heterogeneity of interwar fascism, here 👇
@justinscasey.bsky.social and I discuss this, and the heterogeneity of interwar fascism, here 👇
Reposted by Dr. Raymond Kuo | 郭泓均
So much Democrat and pundit handwringing about the shutdown as if they're in charge of the government.
They're not. The only possibilities are Trump makes things worse with Democratic approval or Trump makes things worse despite Democratic resistance. Don't bail him out.
My latest (on @msnbc.com):
They're not. The only possibilities are Trump makes things worse with Democratic approval or Trump makes things worse despite Democratic resistance. Don't bail him out.
My latest (on @msnbc.com):
Opinion | Democrats shouldn’t bail out Trump as the shutdown drags on
The best time for the opposition to take a stand, rather than settle for untrustworthy promises, is right now.
www.msnbc.com
October 5, 2025 at 1:00 PM
So much Democrat and pundit handwringing about the shutdown as if they're in charge of the government.
They're not. The only possibilities are Trump makes things worse with Democratic approval or Trump makes things worse despite Democratic resistance. Don't bail him out.
My latest (on @msnbc.com):
They're not. The only possibilities are Trump makes things worse with Democratic approval or Trump makes things worse despite Democratic resistance. Don't bail him out.
My latest (on @msnbc.com):
Reposted by Dr. Raymond Kuo | 郭泓均
Crockett: "What assurances do we have if we entered into an agreement with these Republicans that they wouldn't go back on their word and just say, 'Oh yeah, we'll sign off on a rescissions package'"
October 2, 2025 at 1:47 AM
Crockett: "What assurances do we have if we entered into an agreement with these Republicans that they wouldn't go back on their word and just say, 'Oh yeah, we'll sign off on a rescissions package'"
Applications for the next cohort of the Taiwan Next Gen Working Group are open: conta.cc/4gtPME5
Great program, outstanding opportunity to build networks in Taiwan, the US, and Europe. Everyone is incredibly passionate about better understanding Taiwan and its global role.
Great program, outstanding opportunity to build networks in Taiwan, the US, and Europe. Everyone is incredibly passionate about better understanding Taiwan and its global role.
APPS DUE: 11/1 - U.S.-Taiwan-European Next Generation Working Group
Email from Institute of East Asian Studies CALL FOR APPLICATIONS The Institute of East Asian Studies (IEAS) at UC Berkeley is currently accepting applications for the third cohort of the U.S.-Taiwan N
conta.cc
September 24, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Applications for the next cohort of the Taiwan Next Gen Working Group are open: conta.cc/4gtPME5
Great program, outstanding opportunity to build networks in Taiwan, the US, and Europe. Everyone is incredibly passionate about better understanding Taiwan and its global role.
Great program, outstanding opportunity to build networks in Taiwan, the US, and Europe. Everyone is incredibly passionate about better understanding Taiwan and its global role.
This was a lot of fun! Thanks so much, @warontherocks.bsky.social!
Look past the weapons and exercises — Taiwan’s future security depends on something deeper.
Listen here: warontherocks.com/ep...
Listen here: warontherocks.com/ep...
September 19, 2025 at 1:22 AM
This was a lot of fun! Thanks so much, @warontherocks.bsky.social!
Reposted by Dr. Raymond Kuo | 郭泓均
I have many thoughts about Charlie Kirk—and perhaps even more about the white elites, including some on the left, who insist we can’t hold multiple realities at once. We can. And we must.
A brief 🧵
A brief 🧵
September 13, 2025 at 5:08 PM
I have many thoughts about Charlie Kirk—and perhaps even more about the white elites, including some on the left, who insist we can’t hold multiple realities at once. We can. And we must.
A brief 🧵
A brief 🧵
Reposted by Dr. Raymond Kuo | 郭泓均
elbridge colby is who i have in mind when i say that "respectable" milhead cons' basic pitch is "we must sell out ukraine today so that we can sell out taiwan tomorrow"
he once suggested sanctioning Taiwan to get them to adopt US-favoured policy and bombing the fabs in Taiwan during a war
What's your quick take on why this guy is a clown? DeSantis is pretty bad, I just don't think I know enough about this guy Elbridge to hate him yet.
December 4, 2024 at 7:26 PM
elbridge colby is who i have in mind when i say that "respectable" milhead cons' basic pitch is "we must sell out ukraine today so that we can sell out taiwan tomorrow"
My latest in War on the Rocks. Catherine Kish and I argue that Taiwan has deep reserves of societal resilience and will to fight. Politics holds back efforts to deepen these reserves, but the United States can help.
#TWSky
#TWSky
Today in War on the Rocks:
Taiwan’s Will to Fight Isn’t the Problem
Data Centers on the 21st Century Battlefield
Taiwan’s Will to Fight Isn’t the Problem
Data Centers on the 21st Century Battlefield
War on the Rocks
A platform for analysis, commentary, debate and multimedia content on foreign policy and national security issues through a realist lens.
warontherocks.com
September 5, 2025 at 1:20 PM
My latest in War on the Rocks. Catherine Kish and I argue that Taiwan has deep reserves of societal resilience and will to fight. Politics holds back efforts to deepen these reserves, but the United States can help.
#TWSky
#TWSky
Reposted by Dr. Raymond Kuo | 郭泓均
“…I am infuriated that the Air Force plans to grant military funeral honors to Ashli Babbitt. She did not die defending the Constitution. She died trying to overturn it.”
My latest in @thebulwark.com
www.thebulwark.com/p/honoring-a...
My latest in @thebulwark.com
www.thebulwark.com/p/honoring-a...
Honoring Ashli Babbitt Dishonors the Military
If there’s no difference between upholding the Constitution and attacking it, then there’s no honor in service.
www.thebulwark.com
August 30, 2025 at 11:44 AM
“…I am infuriated that the Air Force plans to grant military funeral honors to Ashli Babbitt. She did not die defending the Constitution. She died trying to overturn it.”
My latest in @thebulwark.com
www.thebulwark.com/p/honoring-a...
My latest in @thebulwark.com
www.thebulwark.com/p/honoring-a...
And with this, I'm going to go enjoy my birthday with my family. 🎂🥳
Look, I don't have a dog in this fight. I work for the military industrial complex: I'm not on the left. But unless you provide more evidence, it's hard for me to see how this is an instance of rules violation, as opposed to one party being butt hurt they didn't get the result they wanted.
August 23, 2025 at 2:15 AM
And with this, I'm going to go enjoy my birthday with my family. 🎂🥳
See, this is exactly wrong. A "real" remedy is to change the rules to simple majority, which I probably agree with. But if this follows the rules in place, then the decision/vote is probably valid.
The standard for fixing a ballot can't be a supermajority, because then you only need a majority or even a minority to block fixing a miscount that benefited you. Which is what happened! That's why the real remedy is a challenge, not a vote at the convention.
August 22, 2025 at 11:50 PM
See, this is exactly wrong. A "real" remedy is to change the rules to simple majority, which I probably agree with. But if this follows the rules in place, then the decision/vote is probably valid.
Following on this, here are some thoughts on the DFL convention. Easiest first: Running conventions is hard, and tech problems easily cumulate. There's a reason why the international standard for electronic voting is to have *paper backups.*
Some thoughts on the MPLS mayoral race: If the biggest challenge to the city responding to the federal govt, then which is better?
1. Mayor acts as check on city council (further to the left than him).
2. Mayor more closely aligned and works with city council.
1. Mayor acts as check on city council (further to the left than him).
2. Mayor more closely aligned and works with city council.
August 22, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Following on this, here are some thoughts on the DFL convention. Easiest first: Running conventions is hard, and tech problems easily cumulate. There's a reason why the international standard for electronic voting is to have *paper backups.*
Some thoughts on the MPLS mayoral race: If the biggest challenge to the city responding to the federal govt, then which is better?
1. Mayor acts as check on city council (further to the left than him).
2. Mayor more closely aligned and works with city council.
1. Mayor acts as check on city council (further to the left than him).
2. Mayor more closely aligned and works with city council.
August 22, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Some thoughts on the MPLS mayoral race: If the biggest challenge to the city responding to the federal govt, then which is better?
1. Mayor acts as check on city council (further to the left than him).
2. Mayor more closely aligned and works with city council.
1. Mayor acts as check on city council (further to the left than him).
2. Mayor more closely aligned and works with city council.
This is why diversity in newsrooms is important. There's only *one thing* in red envelopes. Anyone with passing familiarity with East Asia would know that, and it should prompt a good reporter to ask the next, obvious question: Why are they handing out money to guests at a political event?
2/ the second/equally likely reason is that they vaguely/subconsciously noted envelops being handed off but didn’t put together until The City story broke.
August 22, 2025 at 3:07 AM
This is why diversity in newsrooms is important. There's only *one thing* in red envelopes. Anyone with passing familiarity with East Asia would know that, and it should prompt a good reporter to ask the next, obvious question: Why are they handing out money to guests at a political event?
"In the Chinese culture, money is often given to others in a gesture of friendship and gratitude."
Sure, during big events like weddings or new years, and certainly not inside a bag of chips. This is a bribe.
Sure, during big events like weddings or new years, and certainly not inside a bag of chips. This is a bribe.
BREAKING: Eric Adams Advisor Winnie Greco Handed a CITY Reporter Cash Stuffed in a Bag of Potato Chips
www.thecity.nyc/2025/08/20/w...
www.thecity.nyc/2025/08/20/w...
Eric Adams Advisor Winnie Greco Handed a CITY Reporter Cash Stuffed in a Bag of Potato Chips
THE CITY reported the incident to law enforcement and was promptly contacted by the Brooklyn U.S. attorney’s office.
www.thecity.nyc
August 21, 2025 at 1:00 AM
"In the Chinese culture, money is often given to others in a gesture of friendship and gratitude."
Sure, during big events like weddings or new years, and certainly not inside a bag of chips. This is a bribe.
Sure, during big events like weddings or new years, and certainly not inside a bag of chips. This is a bribe.