Matthew Buckley
@physicsmatt.bsky.social
Theoretical physicist, Rutgers professor.
Reposted by Matthew Buckley
MOM SAYS YOU HAVE TO PLAY WITH ME
New at the Kennedy Center: declining to perform may now require a lawyer.
Trump’s Kennedy Center chief threatens jazz musician with $1M suit over canceled Christmas gig
Richard Grenell says they will seek damages for “this political stunt."
www.motherjones.com
December 28, 2025 at 12:52 AM
MOM SAYS YOU HAVE TO PLAY WITH ME
Lotta movies about winning through the power of friendship and love, or through the power of incredible violence, but not very many about winning through the power of boring competence and spreadsheets.
December 28, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Lotta movies about winning through the power of friendship and love, or through the power of incredible violence, but not very many about winning through the power of boring competence and spreadsheets.
Let’s be honest, Saturday December 27 isn’t a real day that exists.
December 27, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Let’s be honest, Saturday December 27 isn’t a real day that exists.
Reposted by Matthew Buckley
First-ever US airstrikes in Nigeria put the second Trump admin’s 2025 combat actions at:
—Nigeria—tonight’s strikes
—Yemen—1,000+ strikes (Mar-Apr)
—Somalia—120 strikes, 1 ground raid
—Syria—78+ strikes, 3 ground raids
—Caribbean—11 strikes
—Eastern Pacific—20 strikes
—Iran—3 strikes
—Iraq—1 strike
—Nigeria—tonight’s strikes
—Yemen—1,000+ strikes (Mar-Apr)
—Somalia—120 strikes, 1 ground raid
—Syria—78+ strikes, 3 ground raids
—Caribbean—11 strikes
—Eastern Pacific—20 strikes
—Iran—3 strikes
—Iraq—1 strike
December 26, 2025 at 12:09 AM
First-ever US airstrikes in Nigeria put the second Trump admin’s 2025 combat actions at:
—Nigeria—tonight’s strikes
—Yemen—1,000+ strikes (Mar-Apr)
—Somalia—120 strikes, 1 ground raid
—Syria—78+ strikes, 3 ground raids
—Caribbean—11 strikes
—Eastern Pacific—20 strikes
—Iran—3 strikes
—Iraq—1 strike
—Nigeria—tonight’s strikes
—Yemen—1,000+ strikes (Mar-Apr)
—Somalia—120 strikes, 1 ground raid
—Syria—78+ strikes, 3 ground raids
—Caribbean—11 strikes
—Eastern Pacific—20 strikes
—Iran—3 strikes
—Iraq—1 strike
Reposted by Matthew Buckley
ICE detain father shopping on Christmas Eve—then steal his family's groceries.
Then 3 agents divvy up his paid for food—taking what they want for themselves.
"Can I just get the wife's number to call and let her know?" woman asks.
"No, guess he should've complied," agent says.
Yakima, Washington
Then 3 agents divvy up his paid for food—taking what they want for themselves.
"Can I just get the wife's number to call and let her know?" woman asks.
"No, guess he should've complied," agent says.
Yakima, Washington
December 25, 2025 at 7:03 PM
ICE detain father shopping on Christmas Eve—then steal his family's groceries.
Then 3 agents divvy up his paid for food—taking what they want for themselves.
"Can I just get the wife's number to call and let her know?" woman asks.
"No, guess he should've complied," agent says.
Yakima, Washington
Then 3 agents divvy up his paid for food—taking what they want for themselves.
"Can I just get the wife's number to call and let her know?" woman asks.
"No, guess he should've complied," agent says.
Yakima, Washington
Reposted by Matthew Buckley
Texas A&M University will not reinstate a lecturer who was fired after a video of her teaching about gender identity in a children’s literature class went viral, despite a faculty appeals panel unanimously concluding that her dismissal was not justified.
Texas A&M won’t reinstate fired lecturer despite findings
A vice chancellor upheld the firing of Melissa McCoul, seen in a viral video being confronted by a student on her gender identity teachings, saying the termination was done with “good cause.”
www.texastribune.org
December 24, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Texas A&M University will not reinstate a lecturer who was fired after a video of her teaching about gender identity in a children’s literature class went viral, despite a faculty appeals panel unanimously concluding that her dismissal was not justified.
Reposted by Matthew Buckley
This is literally a holiday-themed missile strike. It is as insane as it sounds and should be front-page news.
December 25, 2025 at 11:16 PM
This is literally a holiday-themed missile strike. It is as insane as it sounds and should be front-page news.
Reposted by Matthew Buckley
GOP operatives Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman, convicted election fraudsters, were paid $960,000 in the second quarter to secure a pardon for a former nursing-home operator who defrauded the government of $38 million. Trump pardoned the man, Joseph Schwartz, last month.
Inside the New Fast Track to a Presidential Pardon
Even some of the president’s closest advisers have been surprised by a number of the recent series of pardons.
www.wsj.com
December 25, 2025 at 10:35 PM
GOP operatives Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman, convicted election fraudsters, were paid $960,000 in the second quarter to secure a pardon for a former nursing-home operator who defrauded the government of $38 million. Trump pardoned the man, Joseph Schwartz, last month.
Reposted by Matthew Buckley
It's incredible how much of this stuff is just out in the open, but because Trump said "Russiagate hoax!" 5000 times, the media was brainwashed into treating it like a nothing story instead of one of a ten alarm scandal
Tenet Media founder Lauren Chen, who secretly took money from two people with ties to Russian state media to involve conservative influencers in an unwitting propaganda scheme, is back in the US after being deported to Canada under President Biden. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
December 25, 2025 at 9:12 PM
It's incredible how much of this stuff is just out in the open, but because Trump said "Russiagate hoax!" 5000 times, the media was brainwashed into treating it like a nothing story instead of one of a ten alarm scandal
Reposted by Matthew Buckley
"If you don't fund the State Department fully, then I need to buy more ammunition.”
-James Mattis as Secretary of Defense testifying before Congress in 2017.
Succeeding with soft power is greatly preferable—and a lot cheaper—than having to address something with hard power.
-James Mattis as Secretary of Defense testifying before Congress in 2017.
Succeeding with soft power is greatly preferable—and a lot cheaper—than having to address something with hard power.
Context for Trump withdrawing dozens of ambassadors
*China has invested heavily in expanding diplomacy
*The US has significantly degraded soft power
*The US already has scores of diplomatic vacancies
*China has invested heavily in expanding diplomacy
*The US has significantly degraded soft power
*The US already has scores of diplomatic vacancies
December 25, 2025 at 12:33 AM
"If you don't fund the State Department fully, then I need to buy more ammunition.”
-James Mattis as Secretary of Defense testifying before Congress in 2017.
Succeeding with soft power is greatly preferable—and a lot cheaper—than having to address something with hard power.
-James Mattis as Secretary of Defense testifying before Congress in 2017.
Succeeding with soft power is greatly preferable—and a lot cheaper—than having to address something with hard power.
Reposted by Matthew Buckley
yeah, I’m not trying to add anything to the “conversation.” I do not like this guy. I think his work is bad. I think this piece is bad and the point of the threat is to express my contempt.
December 24, 2025 at 5:50 PM
yeah, I’m not trying to add anything to the “conversation.” I do not like this guy. I think his work is bad. I think this piece is bad and the point of the threat is to express my contempt.
Reposted by Matthew Buckley
it requires an absolutely staggering lack of self awareness for chatterton to complain that he has lost elite opportunities because he has anti-woke views.
The Other Way the ‘Super Woke’ Left Discriminates
Race and gender aren’t the only categories that determine who gets special treatment.
www.theatlantic.com
December 24, 2025 at 5:16 PM
it requires an absolutely staggering lack of self awareness for chatterton to complain that he has lost elite opportunities because he has anti-woke views.
Reposted by Matthew Buckley
In February, DOGE - under Elon Musk’s direction - gutted the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, notably including their autonomous vehicle safety unit, which was investigating Tesla.
For years, people have lodged complaints about Tesla’s doors. With no official statistics, Bloomberg did its own analysis on the number of fatal crashes in the US in which door functionality played a role. Read more: bloom.bg/49tm0fF
📷️: Getty Images
📷️: Getty Images
December 24, 2025 at 4:35 PM
In February, DOGE - under Elon Musk’s direction - gutted the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, notably including their autonomous vehicle safety unit, which was investigating Tesla.
Reposted by Matthew Buckley
Anti-trans demagogue and fifth place swimmer Riley Gaines earned $470,000+ last year from a conservative non-profit.
Notably, $420k was incentive-based.
A neat little window into the way the transphobic grift is being compensated.
I wonder what the per-post rate is?
Notably, $420k was incentive-based.
A neat little window into the way the transphobic grift is being compensated.
I wonder what the per-post rate is?
December 24, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Anti-trans demagogue and fifth place swimmer Riley Gaines earned $470,000+ last year from a conservative non-profit.
Notably, $420k was incentive-based.
A neat little window into the way the transphobic grift is being compensated.
I wonder what the per-post rate is?
Notably, $420k was incentive-based.
A neat little window into the way the transphobic grift is being compensated.
I wonder what the per-post rate is?
Reposted by Matthew Buckley
Bending your institution to meet the prejudices of your dumbest, meanest students is a surefire way to destroy a university.
Now any student can just scrawl “the Bible says this is wrong” on any test and skate to an A at the Oklahoma Football Outlet and Diploma Factory.
Now any student can just scrawl “the Bible says this is wrong” on any test and skate to an A at the Oklahoma Football Outlet and Diploma Factory.
The University of Oklahoma has removed an instructor who was accused by a student of religious discrimination over a failing grade on a psychology paper in which she cited the Bible and argued that promoting a “belief in multiple genders” was “demonic.” https://cnn.it/4b6g3rd
Oklahoma instructor removed from teaching for failing a Bible-based gender essay | CNN
The University of Oklahoma has removed an instructor who was accused by a student of religious discrimination over a failing grade on a psychology paper in which she cited the Bible and argued that promoting a “belief in multiple genders” was “demonic.”
cnn.it
December 24, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Bending your institution to meet the prejudices of your dumbest, meanest students is a surefire way to destroy a university.
Now any student can just scrawl “the Bible says this is wrong” on any test and skate to an A at the Oklahoma Football Outlet and Diploma Factory.
Now any student can just scrawl “the Bible says this is wrong” on any test and skate to an A at the Oklahoma Football Outlet and Diploma Factory.
Reposted by Matthew Buckley
The thesis of the book is that early COVID lockdowns weren't worth it and mid-COVID mitigation measures like masks, contact tracing and business closures don't work.
This is laughably false and the authors have endorsed the people now running Trump's HHS.
This is laughably false and the authors have endorsed the people now running Trump's HHS.
December 24, 2025 at 5:04 AM
The thesis of the book is that early COVID lockdowns weren't worth it and mid-COVID mitigation measures like masks, contact tracing and business closures don't work.
This is laughably false and the authors have endorsed the people now running Trump's HHS.
This is laughably false and the authors have endorsed the people now running Trump's HHS.
Reposted by Matthew Buckley
This is genuinely horrifying. Fact-free far-right agitprop given accolades by credible media across the political spectrum.
Congratulations to Stephen Macedo & Frances Lee, whose book In Covid's Wake has been recognized as:
⭐ A @newyorker.com Best Book of the Year
⭐ An @economist.com Book of the Year
⭐ A @wsj.com Best Book of the Year
Learn more about this eye-opening book: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
⭐ A @newyorker.com Best Book of the Year
⭐ An @economist.com Book of the Year
⭐ A @wsj.com Best Book of the Year
Learn more about this eye-opening book: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
December 24, 2025 at 5:00 AM
This is genuinely horrifying. Fact-free far-right agitprop given accolades by credible media across the political spectrum.
Reposted by Matthew Buckley
“In DOGE’s published list of canceled contracts and grants, the 13 largest were all incorrect.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/23/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/23/u...
How Did DOGE Disrupt So Much While Saving So Little?
www.nytimes.com
December 23, 2025 at 11:29 PM
“In DOGE’s published list of canceled contracts and grants, the 13 largest were all incorrect.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/23/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/23/u...
Reposted by Matthew Buckley
Peter Navarro: "In an age of AI when all the white collar jobs are going away pretty damn quick, I think maybe it's a good time for people to think about having good blue collar jobs ... give tariffs a chance, because they're working"
December 23, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Peter Navarro: "In an age of AI when all the white collar jobs are going away pretty damn quick, I think maybe it's a good time for people to think about having good blue collar jobs ... give tariffs a chance, because they're working"
Reposted by Matthew Buckley
Imagine my shock when I found out this guy is one of the Danish investigators doing the unethical trial funded by RFK Jr through a non-competitive grant, in which they'll deliberately withhold the hep B vaccine birth dose from babies in Guinea-Bissau even though it's a proven effective intervention
What's up with the *ACADEMICS* who lovingly praised and massively boosted RFK Jr, like this guy?
He wrote, "My prediction? RFK Jr. will be a net positive for public health in the US"😔
He is largely "in agreement" with RFK Jr 😨
My God.
[H/T @joho.bsky.social]
He wrote, "My prediction? RFK Jr. will be a net positive for public health in the US"😔
He is largely "in agreement" with RFK Jr 😨
My God.
[H/T @joho.bsky.social]
![Today’s guest column is by Dr. Frederik Schaltz-Buchholzer. He is Danish expert in vaccine science, who is supportive of US reforms. How can he possibly be enthusiastic about RFK Jr? And enthusiastic despite writing, “[Mr Kennedy] focuses on topics that are potentially important/relevant, and then unfortunately often exaggerates or distorts the facts.” So what are the facts, and what are the distortions? Why is this expert in vaccine science largely in agreement with RFK Jr’s skepticism? In my opinion, this is why Sensible Medicine exists. To take you, the reader, out of your comfort zone, and towards a more refined view of evidence based medicine. If you believe in what we are doing, subscribe.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:nuqrjelqx4a2ewqzvwekhuro/bafkreiainijyiv3327daunb5oisis4sax5zsibnr4jt2zblxvpxehucyhy@jpeg)
December 23, 2025 at 12:54 AM
Imagine my shock when I found out this guy is one of the Danish investigators doing the unethical trial funded by RFK Jr through a non-competitive grant, in which they'll deliberately withhold the hep B vaccine birth dose from babies in Guinea-Bissau even though it's a proven effective intervention
Reposted by Matthew Buckley
His wife says they were refusing to properly treat his diabetes. The facility where he died is a private prison.
Bulgarian Chicago business owner dies in ICE custody, sparking calls for 'immediate investigation'
A Bulgarian business owner who lived in Chicago for decades and was arrested during an immigration enforcement 'blitz' has died while in the custody of ICE at a private prison in Michigan, the ABC7 I-...
abc7chicago.com
December 23, 2025 at 1:36 PM
His wife says they were refusing to properly treat his diabetes. The facility where he died is a private prison.
Reposted by Matthew Buckley
A couple thoughts on reading this:
- Epstein was a snake who when he wrote this in 2019 knew trying to make his links to Trump prominent would be an embarrassment for the admin, so it’s possible this was an elaborate ruse to seek a better plea deal.
- Jesus Christ this is bad.
- Epstein was a snake who when he wrote this in 2019 knew trying to make his links to Trump prominent would be an embarrassment for the admin, so it’s possible this was an elaborate ruse to seek a better plea deal.
- Jesus Christ this is bad.
DOJ briefly uploaded this letter from Jeff Epstein to serial child molester Larry Nassar:
"Our president shares our love of young, nubile girls. When a young beauty walked by he loved to 'grab snatch,' whereas we ended up snatching grub in the mess halls of the system."
"Our president shares our love of young, nubile girls. When a young beauty walked by he loved to 'grab snatch,' whereas we ended up snatching grub in the mess halls of the system."
December 23, 2025 at 1:19 PM
A couple thoughts on reading this:
- Epstein was a snake who when he wrote this in 2019 knew trying to make his links to Trump prominent would be an embarrassment for the admin, so it’s possible this was an elaborate ruse to seek a better plea deal.
- Jesus Christ this is bad.
- Epstein was a snake who when he wrote this in 2019 knew trying to make his links to Trump prominent would be an embarrassment for the admin, so it’s possible this was an elaborate ruse to seek a better plea deal.
- Jesus Christ this is bad.
Reposted by Matthew Buckley
Just watched the 60 Minutes segment. Basically it debunks the fundamental claim used by Trump admin that the detainees it sent there are “terrorists” and corroborates torture using clips from El Salvadorean influencers Bukele uses internally. Would be a shock to low information voters, probably
December 22, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Just watched the 60 Minutes segment. Basically it debunks the fundamental claim used by Trump admin that the detainees it sent there are “terrorists” and corroborates torture using clips from El Salvadorean influencers Bukele uses internally. Would be a shock to low information voters, probably
Love how the US watched the Russians lose their Black Sea navy to a nation that doesn't even have a navy and decided "wow, we should give some nation something incredibly expensive to sink in a meme-able way in a decade or two."
December 23, 2025 at 1:13 AM
Love how the US watched the Russians lose their Black Sea navy to a nation that doesn't even have a navy and decided "wow, we should give some nation something incredibly expensive to sink in a meme-able way in a decade or two."