Rodger Payne
@rodgerp.bsky.social
Prof of intern'l relations at U of Louisville. SABR member, Jayhawk hoops fan, film buff, & beer snob. Sabbatical Spring 26: Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development (U Utrecht).
Pictured: Blue Water Bridge linking Michigan to Ontario.
Pictured: Blue Water Bridge linking Michigan to Ontario.
Reposted by Rodger Payne
Last month was the hottest October on record for North America in this dataset... yet another extreme event
Data from @noaa.gov: www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/lan...
Data from @noaa.gov: www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/lan...
November 26, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Last month was the hottest October on record for North America in this dataset... yet another extreme event
Data from @noaa.gov: www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/lan...
Data from @noaa.gov: www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/lan...
Reposted by Rodger Payne
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
Reposted by Rodger Payne
PUNCHBOWL: “.. GOP members messaged us over the weekend saying that they, too, are considering retiring in the middle of the term. Here’s one particularly exercised senior House Republican:
@punchbowlnews.bsky.social
@punchbowlnews.bsky.social
November 24, 2025 at 3:37 PM
PUNCHBOWL: “.. GOP members messaged us over the weekend saying that they, too, are considering retiring in the middle of the term. Here’s one particularly exercised senior House Republican:
@punchbowlnews.bsky.social
@punchbowlnews.bsky.social
Reposted by Rodger Payne
The perception of Canada has soured as news about fossil fuel subsidies, an LNG project, a gas pipeline and even reports about a new bitumen pipeline all landed during the climate negotiations. www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/24/o...
A tough climate summit for Canada
Labeled the "Fossil of the Day" at COP30, Canada faces accusations of pulling back climate policies while pushing forward fossil subsidies and projects. But the committee seemed particularly stung by ...
www.nationalobserver.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:30 PM
The perception of Canada has soured as news about fossil fuel subsidies, an LNG project, a gas pipeline and even reports about a new bitumen pipeline all landed during the climate negotiations. www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/24/o...
Reposted by Rodger Payne
Carville: "the Democratic Party must now run on the most populist economic platform since the Great Depression"
That's not just "it's the economy, stupid."
That's not just "it's the economy, stupid."
I agree that performative moral preening needs to go, but what Carville is recommending is just "it's the economy, stupid" with a Bernie coat of paint.
He hasn't been relevant in a quarter-century for a reason.
He hasn't been relevant in a quarter-century for a reason.
A lot of people are going to love that Carville said this. (They will not love him saying that the performative moral preening has to go.)
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/o...
November 24, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Carville: "the Democratic Party must now run on the most populist economic platform since the Great Depression"
That's not just "it's the economy, stupid."
That's not just "it's the economy, stupid."
Reposted by Rodger Payne
The Trump administration inherited an economy that the Economist called "the envy of the world" in a cover story a week before the election and easily could've coasted on that success (again) but instead they set it on fire.
November 24, 2025 at 1:38 PM
The Trump administration inherited an economy that the Economist called "the envy of the world" in a cover story a week before the election and easily could've coasted on that success (again) but instead they set it on fire.
Reposted by Rodger Payne
"In recent weeks, junior officers in the military, fearing potential legal exposure, asked military lawyers, judge advocates general, for written sign-off before taking part in strikes. It does not appear that such memos were furnished."
wapo.st/43FXQfO
wapo.st/43FXQfO
White House blew past legal concerns in deadly strikes on drug boats
The Trump administration sidestepped skeptical lawyers across national security agencies as it pursued a military campaign against alleged narcotraffickers, officials say.
wapo.st
November 22, 2025 at 7:53 PM
"In recent weeks, junior officers in the military, fearing potential legal exposure, asked military lawyers, judge advocates general, for written sign-off before taking part in strikes. It does not appear that such memos were furnished."
wapo.st/43FXQfO
wapo.st/43FXQfO
Grok, are you smarter than Elon Musk?
November 22, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Grok, are you smarter than Elon Musk?
Reposted by Rodger Payne
On the patently unlawful boat strikes
It's hard for USGs to claim ‘mistake of law’ or ‘advice of counsel’ – when they’re firing lawyers who wouldn't sign off on the strikes.
WaPo's new revelations on firings or removals:
1) CIA General Counsel
2) NSC Legal Adviser
3) CIA Mission Center’s lawyer
🧵
It's hard for USGs to claim ‘mistake of law’ or ‘advice of counsel’ – when they’re firing lawyers who wouldn't sign off on the strikes.
WaPo's new revelations on firings or removals:
1) CIA General Counsel
2) NSC Legal Adviser
3) CIA Mission Center’s lawyer
🧵
White House blew past legal concerns in deadly strikes on drug boats
The Trump administration sidestepped skeptical lawyers across national security agencies as it pursued a military campaign against alleged narcotraffickers, officials say.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 22, 2025 at 3:10 PM
On the patently unlawful boat strikes
It's hard for USGs to claim ‘mistake of law’ or ‘advice of counsel’ – when they’re firing lawyers who wouldn't sign off on the strikes.
WaPo's new revelations on firings or removals:
1) CIA General Counsel
2) NSC Legal Adviser
3) CIA Mission Center’s lawyer
🧵
It's hard for USGs to claim ‘mistake of law’ or ‘advice of counsel’ – when they’re firing lawyers who wouldn't sign off on the strikes.
WaPo's new revelations on firings or removals:
1) CIA General Counsel
2) NSC Legal Adviser
3) CIA Mission Center’s lawyer
🧵
Reposted by Rodger Payne
Q: Are you affirming that you think President Trump is a fascist?
MAMDANI: I've spoken about--
TRUMP: That's okay. You can just say yes. I don't mind.
MAMDANI: I've spoken about--
TRUMP: That's okay. You can just say yes. I don't mind.
November 21, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Q: Are you affirming that you think President Trump is a fascist?
MAMDANI: I've spoken about--
TRUMP: That's okay. You can just say yes. I don't mind.
MAMDANI: I've spoken about--
TRUMP: That's okay. You can just say yes. I don't mind.
Reposted by Rodger Payne
An interesting snippet of information...
Electricity generation from coal in India has dropped in the first 10 months of 2025, with renewables covering for all the growth in electricity use.
Noting, growth in electricity use is rather low...
More figures: robbieandrew.github.io/india/
Electricity generation from coal in India has dropped in the first 10 months of 2025, with renewables covering for all the growth in electricity use.
Noting, growth in electricity use is rather low...
More figures: robbieandrew.github.io/india/
November 20, 2025 at 11:39 AM
An interesting snippet of information...
Electricity generation from coal in India has dropped in the first 10 months of 2025, with renewables covering for all the growth in electricity use.
Noting, growth in electricity use is rather low...
More figures: robbieandrew.github.io/india/
Electricity generation from coal in India has dropped in the first 10 months of 2025, with renewables covering for all the growth in electricity use.
Noting, growth in electricity use is rather low...
More figures: robbieandrew.github.io/india/
Reposted by Rodger Payne
Relying on ChatGPT to teach you about a topic leaves you with shallower knowledge than Googling and reading about it, according to new research that compared what more than 10,000 people knew after using one method or the other.
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
November 21, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Relying on ChatGPT to teach you about a topic leaves you with shallower knowledge than Googling and reading about it, according to new research that compared what more than 10,000 people knew after using one method or the other.
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
Reposted by Rodger Payne
It is good to see the pushback on Trump lead to real losses for him. But it's hard to be optimistic when he still wields the enormous power of the presidency. ICE is still rampaging, HHS is harming people, the U.S. may be about to sell out Ukraine, the boat strikes...he's still doing so much damage.
November 21, 2025 at 2:46 PM
It is good to see the pushback on Trump lead to real losses for him. But it's hard to be optimistic when he still wields the enormous power of the presidency. ICE is still rampaging, HHS is harming people, the U.S. may be about to sell out Ukraine, the boat strikes...he's still doing so much damage.
Pushback works with this crowd, especially when they seek Bond-villain levels of evil and/or Austin Powers-villain levels of stupidity.
Update: The U.S. Coast Guard reversed course, saying the swastika and noose were indeed hate symbols that are prohibited.
This came hours after The Post reported that the service was about to enact a new policy that downgraded those symbols.
This came hours after The Post reported that the service was about to enact a new policy that downgraded those symbols.
In reversal, Coast Guard again classifies swastikas, nooses as hate symbols
The new order came hours after The Post reported the service would instead classify such symbols as “potentially divisive” under guidelines set for release next month.
wapo.st
November 21, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Pushback works with this crowd, especially when they seek Bond-villain levels of evil and/or Austin Powers-villain levels of stupidity.
Reposted by Rodger Payne
If the Republicans have decided that they want to die on the hill that troops should obey illegal orders and that encouraging them not to is a threat to Trump's defense policy, then I say let them.
November 21, 2025 at 2:51 AM
If the Republicans have decided that they want to die on the hill that troops should obey illegal orders and that encouraging them not to is a threat to Trump's defense policy, then I say let them.
I'm sure libertarians will be cool with this.
They apparently voted for Trump in 2024: www.npr.org/2024/11/29/n...
They apparently voted for Trump in 2024: www.npr.org/2024/11/29/n...
November 20, 2025 at 8:07 PM
I'm sure libertarians will be cool with this.
They apparently voted for Trump in 2024: www.npr.org/2024/11/29/n...
They apparently voted for Trump in 2024: www.npr.org/2024/11/29/n...
The word he's leaving out is "illegal." That's the kind of order that the ad mentions.
Right now this would primarily apply to whoever is killing people on boats. Drone operators, perhaps.
Right now this would primarily apply to whoever is killing people on boats. Drone operators, perhaps.
Mike Johnson responds to my question about saying Democrats committed treasonable by death
November 20, 2025 at 6:01 PM
The word he's leaving out is "illegal." That's the kind of order that the ad mentions.
Right now this would primarily apply to whoever is killing people on boats. Drone operators, perhaps.
Right now this would primarily apply to whoever is killing people on boats. Drone operators, perhaps.
Reposted by Rodger Payne
🚨 Trump calls for the death of Democratic senators and representatives who produced a video advising members of the military and intelligence communities not to follow illegal orders:
November 20, 2025 at 3:31 PM
🚨 Trump calls for the death of Democratic senators and representatives who produced a video advising members of the military and intelligence communities not to follow illegal orders:
Reposted by Rodger Payne
As we knew all along, these were murders.
“The lawyer at U.S. Southern Command, which oversees the operations against alleged drug-smuggling boats near Venezuela, disagreed that the strikes are legal and was overruled, according to six sources.”
“The lawyer at U.S. Southern Command, which oversees the operations against alleged drug-smuggling boats near Venezuela, disagreed that the strikes are legal and was overruled, according to six sources.”
Top military lawyer raised legal concerns about boat strikes
The lawyer at U.S. Southern Command, which oversees the operations against alleged drug-smuggling boats near Venezuela, disagreed that the strikes are legal and was overruled, according to six sources...
www.nbcnews.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:21 AM
As we knew all along, these were murders.
“The lawyer at U.S. Southern Command, which oversees the operations against alleged drug-smuggling boats near Venezuela, disagreed that the strikes are legal and was overruled, according to six sources.”
“The lawyer at U.S. Southern Command, which oversees the operations against alleged drug-smuggling boats near Venezuela, disagreed that the strikes are legal and was overruled, according to six sources.”
Reposted by Rodger Payne
The vice president and other prominent Republicans keep insisting that all people left of center are somehow responsible for an individual assassin, and that seems not great?
JD Vance: "Don't let the debates we're having internally blind us to the fact that we're up against a radical leftist movement that murdered my friend a couple of months ago ... that is the real opponent here ... focus on the enemy."
November 20, 2025 at 4:55 PM
The vice president and other prominent Republicans keep insisting that all people left of center are somehow responsible for an individual assassin, and that seems not great?
Reposted by Rodger Payne
Important: House Dem leaders just said Trump's call for execution of Dems has prompted them to contact US Capitol Police and House Sergeant at Arms to "ensure the safety of these members and their families."
Treat Trump like an unhinged menace. He's weak and in deep political trouble. Don't let up.
Treat Trump like an unhinged menace. He's weak and in deep political trouble. Don't let up.
November 20, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Important: House Dem leaders just said Trump's call for execution of Dems has prompted them to contact US Capitol Police and House Sergeant at Arms to "ensure the safety of these members and their families."
Treat Trump like an unhinged menace. He's weak and in deep political trouble. Don't let up.
Treat Trump like an unhinged menace. He's weak and in deep political trouble. Don't let up.
Reposted by Rodger Payne
heres an example of politico covering the news while still covering for trump. the headline says trump is calling for a "trial" for dems. but what trump actually said is the dems should be offed. its very plain what he said. not saying so is a cover-up.
November 20, 2025 at 5:00 PM
heres an example of politico covering the news while still covering for trump. the headline says trump is calling for a "trial" for dems. but what trump actually said is the dems should be offed. its very plain what he said. not saying so is a cover-up.
An informative thread.
Let’s talk about sedition and treason, because the most powerful yet inadequate man in the world is having a tantrum about it, and his soulless, spineless sycophants are boosting his message.
/1
/1
November 20, 2025 at 5:04 PM
An informative thread.
Reposted by Rodger Payne
Before the midterms of 1866, President Andrew Johnson called his congressional opponents traitors and said they should be hanged.
Voters were so profoundly moved by his words... that they gave his opponents a supermajority in Congress, and the nation got the Fourteenth Amendment.
Voters were so profoundly moved by his words... that they gave his opponents a supermajority in Congress, and the nation got the Fourteenth Amendment.
November 20, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Before the midterms of 1866, President Andrew Johnson called his congressional opponents traitors and said they should be hanged.
Voters were so profoundly moved by his words... that they gave his opponents a supermajority in Congress, and the nation got the Fourteenth Amendment.
Voters were so profoundly moved by his words... that they gave his opponents a supermajority in Congress, and the nation got the Fourteenth Amendment.