Jen Spindel
@spindel.bsky.social
🎓 political scientist
🎀 breast cancer survivor
😺 cat person
👽sci-fi dork
Follow for cat pics, hot takes on sci-fi, and occasional international security and foreign policy posts.
🎀 breast cancer survivor
😺 cat person
👽sci-fi dork
Follow for cat pics, hot takes on sci-fi, and occasional international security and foreign policy posts.
Reposted by Jen Spindel
hey @nytimes.com what if instead of this you reported accurately that the president of the united states has violated the united states constitution by entering into war with a foreign power without the approval of congress, just like, what if
June 22, 2025 at 12:30 AM
hey @nytimes.com what if instead of this you reported accurately that the president of the united states has violated the united states constitution by entering into war with a foreign power without the approval of congress, just like, what if
Reposted by Jen Spindel
Are... are you... are you fucking serious........
June 21, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Are... are you... are you fucking serious........
Reposted by Jen Spindel
"While tanks, fighter jets, & warships will continue to have their place in future conflict, we argue that the war in Ukraine... is demonstrating the increasing importance & wide operational use of mid-tier weapons." @spindel.bsky.social & Keith Carter
www.ifc.usafa.edu/articles/mor...
www.ifc.usafa.edu/articles/mor...
Institute for Future Conflict (IFC)
www.ifc.usafa.edu
May 15, 2025 at 4:26 PM
"While tanks, fighter jets, & warships will continue to have their place in future conflict, we argue that the war in Ukraine... is demonstrating the increasing importance & wide operational use of mid-tier weapons." @spindel.bsky.social & Keith Carter
www.ifc.usafa.edu/articles/mor...
www.ifc.usafa.edu/articles/mor...
Reposted by Jen Spindel
@spindel.bsky.social "... We are headed toward a world in which the flow of arms is unprecedented and where human rights concerns are willfully overlooked..." Read her fuller assessment of Trump's first #100days at
www.forumarmstrade.org/trump100days...
www.forumarmstrade.org/trump100days...
Assessing Trump's First 100 Days
To mark the first 100 days in office, experts independently assess aspects of the Trump administration's policies.
www.forumarmstrade.org
April 29, 2025 at 1:35 PM
@spindel.bsky.social "... We are headed toward a world in which the flow of arms is unprecedented and where human rights concerns are willfully overlooked..." Read her fuller assessment of Trump's first #100days at
www.forumarmstrade.org/trump100days...
www.forumarmstrade.org/trump100days...
Reposted by Jen Spindel
Foreign military sales are under the microscope. What should change?
warontherocks.com/20...
warontherocks.com/20...
In Brief: How to Improve the Foreign Military Sales Process - War on the Rocks
In an April 9 executive order, the president directed his administration to “improve speed and accountability in the defense sales system.” The order aims
warontherocks.com
April 23, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Foreign military sales are under the microscope. What should change?
warontherocks.com/20...
warontherocks.com/20...
Reposted by Jen Spindel
"I don't know anything about it"
In a functioning democracy, Hegseth would resign and Trump would be impeached over this.
OVER JUST THIS.
In a functioning democracy, Hegseth would resign and Trump would be impeached over this.
OVER JUST THIS.
Trump asked about his Cabinet officials including Jeffrey Goldberg on a secret war plan Signal exchange:
"I don’t know anything about it. I’m not a big fan of the Atlantic. To me, it's a magazine that’s going out of business. It’s not much of a magazine, but I know nothing about it."
"I don’t know anything about it. I’m not a big fan of the Atlantic. To me, it's a magazine that’s going out of business. It’s not much of a magazine, but I know nothing about it."
March 24, 2025 at 6:55 PM
"I don't know anything about it"
In a functioning democracy, Hegseth would resign and Trump would be impeached over this.
OVER JUST THIS.
In a functioning democracy, Hegseth would resign and Trump would be impeached over this.
OVER JUST THIS.
Hegseth has always been unqualified, but this is clear irresponsibility and a lack of information security. If we won't call for his resignation, how do I get added to the group chat?
Paging @schumer.senate.gov @housedemocrats.bsky.social @democrats.senate.gov if not now, when?
Paging @schumer.senate.gov @housedemocrats.bsky.social @democrats.senate.gov if not now, when?
FLAG: Top Trump officials including JD Vance, Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth, and Tulsi Gabbard planned military strikes on Yemen's Houthis in a Signal messaging group — a group to which they accidentally added The Atlantic editor in chief Jeffrey Goldberg.
www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...
www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...
The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans
U.S. national-security leaders included me in a group chat about upcoming military strikes in Yemen. I didn’t think it could be real. Then the bombs started falling.
www.theatlantic.com
March 24, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Hegseth has always been unqualified, but this is clear irresponsibility and a lack of information security. If we won't call for his resignation, how do I get added to the group chat?
Paging @schumer.senate.gov @housedemocrats.bsky.social @democrats.senate.gov if not now, when?
Paging @schumer.senate.gov @housedemocrats.bsky.social @democrats.senate.gov if not now, when?
Reposted by Jen Spindel
Excellent excellent excellent from Princeton president and constitutional/ political theorist Chris Eisgruber. There's been far too little of this kind of thing; here's hoping others follow his good example.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
The Cost of the Government’s Attack on Columbia
American universities have given the country prosperity and security. The Trump administration’s attack on academic freedom endangers all of that.
www.theatlantic.com
March 19, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Excellent excellent excellent from Princeton president and constitutional/ political theorist Chris Eisgruber. There's been far too little of this kind of thing; here's hoping others follow his good example.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
Reposted by Jen Spindel
"DOGE lies to police, uses force to gain entry into privately-owned building, commandeers a nonprofit organization unconnected to the federal government." Come on, @washingtonpost.com, this isn't "hardball " it's piracy. Fucking do better.
DOGE plays hardball in U.S. Institute of Peace takeover
DOGE, which stands for Department of Government Efficiency, took over the U.S. Institute of Peace after threatening its officials with criminal prosecution.
www.washingtonpost.com
March 19, 2025 at 3:22 PM
"DOGE lies to police, uses force to gain entry into privately-owned building, commandeers a nonprofit organization unconnected to the federal government." Come on, @washingtonpost.com, this isn't "hardball " it's piracy. Fucking do better.
Required reading👇
Browning's book shows how "ordinary middle-aged, working-class men who committed these atrocities out of a mixture of motives, including the group dynamics of conformity, deference to authority, role adaptation, and the altering of moral norms to justify their actions."
Browning's book shows how "ordinary middle-aged, working-class men who committed these atrocities out of a mixture of motives, including the group dynamics of conformity, deference to authority, role adaptation, and the altering of moral norms to justify their actions."
Ordinary Men
“A remarkable—and singularly chilling—glimpse of human behavior. . .This meticulously researched book...represents a major contribution to the literature of...
www.harpercollins.com
March 17, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Required reading👇
Browning's book shows how "ordinary middle-aged, working-class men who committed these atrocities out of a mixture of motives, including the group dynamics of conformity, deference to authority, role adaptation, and the altering of moral norms to justify their actions."
Browning's book shows how "ordinary middle-aged, working-class men who committed these atrocities out of a mixture of motives, including the group dynamics of conformity, deference to authority, role adaptation, and the altering of moral norms to justify their actions."
Today's workspace...
March 10, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Today's workspace...
Reposted by Jen Spindel
6/ @spindel.bsky.social "Why do states send and seek conventional weapons? Though it may seem obvious that the balance of power motivates states to do so... This article argues that states seek weapons because arms transfers send signals about political alignments..." direct.mit.edu/isec/article...
Boom, Bling, Backbone, or Blip? The Signaling Inherent in Arms Transfers
Abstract. Why do states send and seek conventional weapons? Though it may seem obvious that the balance of power motivates states to do so, numerous conventional arms transfers do not conform to the b...
direct.mit.edu
February 28, 2025 at 3:11 PM
6/ @spindel.bsky.social "Why do states send and seek conventional weapons? Though it may seem obvious that the balance of power motivates states to do so... This article argues that states seek weapons because arms transfers send signals about political alignments..." direct.mit.edu/isec/article...
Wasn't sure if this article would ever see the light of day, but am absolutely thrilled to have an article in the forthcoming Winter 2024/2025 of @intsecurity.bsky.social
February 20, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Wasn't sure if this article would ever see the light of day, but am absolutely thrilled to have an article in the forthcoming Winter 2024/2025 of @intsecurity.bsky.social
My statements that Republican Party = Pro-Cancer are not hyperbole. Why are Dems and media silent? Do your jobs and report this!
GOP = pro-cancer
@schumer.senate.gov @nytimes.com @washingtonpost.com @startribune.com @buzzfeed.com @senatefinance.bsky.social
GOP = pro-cancer
@schumer.senate.gov @nytimes.com @washingtonpost.com @startribune.com @buzzfeed.com @senatefinance.bsky.social
They're now cancelling key meetings at the NIH to give the green light for future cancer research
February 13, 2025 at 10:11 PM
My statements that Republican Party = Pro-Cancer are not hyperbole. Why are Dems and media silent? Do your jobs and report this!
GOP = pro-cancer
@schumer.senate.gov @nytimes.com @washingtonpost.com @startribune.com @buzzfeed.com @senatefinance.bsky.social
GOP = pro-cancer
@schumer.senate.gov @nytimes.com @washingtonpost.com @startribune.com @buzzfeed.com @senatefinance.bsky.social
There are 268,000 new diagnoses of #breastcancer each year in the US. That's half the population of Wyoming. We have power, we have voice. The current HHS head & GOP are pro-cancer. They are attacking the NIH and other grant bodies. Raise your voice!
#PinkWave
#PinkWave
a pink breast cancer ribbon is crossed over itself
ALT: a pink breast cancer ribbon is crossed over itself
media.tenor.com
February 13, 2025 at 9:38 PM
There are 268,000 new diagnoses of #breastcancer each year in the US. That's half the population of Wyoming. We have power, we have voice. The current HHS head & GOP are pro-cancer. They are attacking the NIH and other grant bodies. Raise your voice!
#PinkWave
#PinkWave
Reposted by Jen Spindel
Executive wants to frame the NIH indirects cut as $4B in savings.
But given that NIH returns $2.5 on every $1 investment, this would actually cost US economy a net $6 BILLION (per year!). Not to mention the human costs of wrecking education and research sectors and the communities they serve.
But given that NIH returns $2.5 on every $1 investment, this would actually cost US economy a net $6 BILLION (per year!). Not to mention the human costs of wrecking education and research sectors and the communities they serve.
Direct Economic Contributions
NIH directly supports the economy through investments in research institutions and job formation.
www.nih.gov
February 8, 2025 at 3:08 AM
Executive wants to frame the NIH indirects cut as $4B in savings.
But given that NIH returns $2.5 on every $1 investment, this would actually cost US economy a net $6 BILLION (per year!). Not to mention the human costs of wrecking education and research sectors and the communities they serve.
But given that NIH returns $2.5 on every $1 investment, this would actually cost US economy a net $6 BILLION (per year!). Not to mention the human costs of wrecking education and research sectors and the communities they serve.
Reposted by Jen Spindel
NEW: An internal email obtained by WIRED from a threat intelligence team monitoring US Treasury systems advised labeling DOGE operatives an "insider threat," adding that it recommended suspending their access "immediately."
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www.wired.com/story/treasu...
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www.wired.com/story/treasu...
February 7, 2025 at 7:57 PM
NEW: An internal email obtained by WIRED from a threat intelligence team monitoring US Treasury systems advised labeling DOGE operatives an "insider threat," adding that it recommended suspending their access "immediately."
|
www.wired.com/story/treasu...
|
www.wired.com/story/treasu...
Let's be clear: The latest attack on NIH funding mechanisms is again proof that the Republican Party, led by Musk and enabled by Trump, is anti-life and pro-cancer. It's that simple.
Hey: @schumer.senate.gov @senatefinance.bsky.social @democrats-judiciary.house.gov where you all at?
Hey: @schumer.senate.gov @senatefinance.bsky.social @democrats-judiciary.house.gov where you all at?
Odds are good that someone in your life has received vital care at a university-affiliated hospital near you.
Trump and Musk want to destroy them. Call your reps and demand they push back -- especially if they're Republicans.
www.house.gov/representati...
Trump and Musk want to destroy them. Call your reps and demand they push back -- especially if they're Republicans.
www.house.gov/representati...
February 8, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Let's be clear: The latest attack on NIH funding mechanisms is again proof that the Republican Party, led by Musk and enabled by Trump, is anti-life and pro-cancer. It's that simple.
Hey: @schumer.senate.gov @senatefinance.bsky.social @democrats-judiciary.house.gov where you all at?
Hey: @schumer.senate.gov @senatefinance.bsky.social @democrats-judiciary.house.gov where you all at?
Reposted by Jen Spindel
Great article by @profsaunders.bsky.social & @jimgoldgeier.bsky.social on the national security threats posed by the DOGE boys (I'm 100% sure they wouldn't have a question mark in the title!).
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
Does DOGE Pose a National Security Risk?
Uncertainty about access and authority will worry allies and tempt adversaries.
www.foreignaffairs.com
February 8, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Great article by @profsaunders.bsky.social & @jimgoldgeier.bsky.social on the national security threats posed by the DOGE boys (I'm 100% sure they wouldn't have a question mark in the title!).
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
Reposted by Jen Spindel
Murphy: "This is a constitutional crisis that we are in today. Let's call it what it is."
February 3, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Murphy: "This is a constitutional crisis that we are in today. Let's call it what it is."
paging @schumer.senate.gov @democrats-judiciary.house.gov @democrats.org @houseforeign.bsky.social @housedemocrats.bsky.social @waysmeanscmte.bsky.social
There's a real simple, straightforward duty that you are all failing to do.
DJT & EM are perpetrating an illegal coup. You MUST act. Now.
There's a real simple, straightforward duty that you are all failing to do.
DJT & EM are perpetrating an illegal coup. You MUST act. Now.
I think it’s important to underline here that doing this to the federal government is illegal and a breach of the constitutional order
Musk's cost-cutting process is this: First, he asks to cut off payments. Then his people go line-by-line to justify expenses. If they can't, the expense is cut or severely reduced. Payments are withheld to payee, who either accept cut rates or is dared to take Musk to court.
From CHARACTER LIMIT:
From CHARACTER LIMIT:
February 1, 2025 at 11:50 PM
paging @schumer.senate.gov @democrats-judiciary.house.gov @democrats.org @houseforeign.bsky.social @housedemocrats.bsky.social @waysmeanscmte.bsky.social
There's a real simple, straightforward duty that you are all failing to do.
DJT & EM are perpetrating an illegal coup. You MUST act. Now.
There's a real simple, straightforward duty that you are all failing to do.
DJT & EM are perpetrating an illegal coup. You MUST act. Now.
Right, because a great strategy for countering DJT and EM is snark. Where is the outrage?! Where is the clear statement? Where is the real talk? Be better, Chuck.
And since you and the media can't seem to find the lede, here ya go:
"this is unconstitutional, illegal, and will kill people."
And since you and the media can't seem to find the lede, here ya go:
"this is unconstitutional, illegal, and will kill people."
You’re watching the Super Bowl next week.
Wait till Trump’s tariffs raise your pizza prices.
Wait till Trump’s tariffs raise your pizza prices.
February 1, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Right, because a great strategy for countering DJT and EM is snark. Where is the outrage?! Where is the clear statement? Where is the real talk? Be better, Chuck.
And since you and the media can't seem to find the lede, here ya go:
"this is unconstitutional, illegal, and will kill people."
And since you and the media can't seem to find the lede, here ya go:
"this is unconstitutional, illegal, and will kill people."