Stephen Miles
@spmiles42.bsky.social
Former President of Win Without War, lover of Philly sports, and opinionated observer of foreign policy.
Pinned
Stephen Miles
@spmiles42.bsky.social
· Nov 10
Whole lotta new folks here 👋 so seems like a good to introduce myself again! On here mostly to talk US foreign policy, politics, and Philly sports, not necessarily in that order.
Excited to see so many old friends here and to make some new ones. Time to build something new for a better tomorrow.
Excited to see so many old friends here and to make some new ones. Time to build something new for a better tomorrow.
Fantastic rundown of the madness that is Kash Patel's tenure as FBI Director by @vermontgmg.bsky.social today www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/kash-patel...
Kash Patel, the FBI's Agent of Chaos
The biggest little scandal in Washington right now is how bad Patel is at being FBI director
www.doomsdayscenario.co
November 13, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Fantastic rundown of the madness that is Kash Patel's tenure as FBI Director by @vermontgmg.bsky.social today www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/kash-patel...
Has there ever been a greater need for an anti corruption movement in this country?
79% of Americans believe that at least half the people running the government are corrupt, with only 21% saying it's few/none of them—again with no real partisan skew.
d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/ec... 2/2
d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/ec... 2/2
November 11, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Has there ever been a greater need for an anti corruption movement in this country?
Just two political images captured by Getty in the past 24 hours...
November 6, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Just two political images captured by Getty in the past 24 hours...
I believe the term is shellacking 🌊
November 5, 2025 at 1:27 AM
I believe the term is shellacking 🌊
Reposted by Stephen Miles
Is social media dying? How much has Twitter changed as it became X? Which party now dominates the conversation?
Using nationally representative ANES data from 2020 & 2024, I map how the U.S. social media landscape has transformed.
Here are the key take-aways 🧵
arxiv.org/abs/2510.25417
Using nationally representative ANES data from 2020 & 2024, I map how the U.S. social media landscape has transformed.
Here are the key take-aways 🧵
arxiv.org/abs/2510.25417
October 30, 2025 at 8:09 AM
Is social media dying? How much has Twitter changed as it became X? Which party now dominates the conversation?
Using nationally representative ANES data from 2020 & 2024, I map how the U.S. social media landscape has transformed.
Here are the key take-aways 🧵
arxiv.org/abs/2510.25417
Using nationally representative ANES data from 2020 & 2024, I map how the U.S. social media landscape has transformed.
Here are the key take-aways 🧵
arxiv.org/abs/2510.25417
Reposted by Stephen Miles
ICE abducted Sami Hamdi, a Muslim journalist and political commentator, from SFO and is holding him in custody.
Punishing speech is censorship.
Release him now.
Punishing speech is censorship.
Release him now.
October 27, 2025 at 1:53 AM
ICE abducted Sami Hamdi, a Muslim journalist and political commentator, from SFO and is holding him in custody.
Punishing speech is censorship.
Release him now.
Punishing speech is censorship.
Release him now.
Reposted by Stephen Miles
CZ pleaded guilty to a criminal money laundering charge and was sentenced to prison.
But then he financed President Trump’s stablecoin and lobbied for a pardon.
Today, he got it.
If Congress does not stop this kind of corruption, it owns it.
But then he financed President Trump’s stablecoin and lobbied for a pardon.
Today, he got it.
If Congress does not stop this kind of corruption, it owns it.
October 23, 2025 at 4:44 PM
CZ pleaded guilty to a criminal money laundering charge and was sentenced to prison.
But then he financed President Trump’s stablecoin and lobbied for a pardon.
Today, he got it.
If Congress does not stop this kind of corruption, it owns it.
But then he financed President Trump’s stablecoin and lobbied for a pardon.
Today, he got it.
If Congress does not stop this kind of corruption, it owns it.
We're just unprepared for corruption this brazen and open.
Trump pardons corrupt crypto king and Binance founder Changpeng Zhao. Zhao admitted to money-laundering violations that allowed terrorists, drug traffickers and other criminals to move money on the platform.
Binance has a deal with Trump crypto venture. www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10...
Binance has a deal with Trump crypto venture. www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10...
Trump Administration Live Updates: President Pardons Binance Founder With Ties to First Family’s Crypto Venture
www.nytimes.com
October 23, 2025 at 5:54 PM
We're just unprepared for corruption this brazen and open.
Reposted by Stephen Miles
George Santos is the 10th GOP Congressman to get a pardon or clemency from President Trump. The other nine were also all convicted of various criminal charges:
October 17, 2025 at 10:17 PM
George Santos is the 10th GOP Congressman to get a pardon or clemency from President Trump. The other nine were also all convicted of various criminal charges:
Really fascinating and essential reading from Peter Attia digging into the latest on Tylenol and autism. Spoiler, no, maternal Tylenol use is almost surely not causing the rise in autism. Sharing because there's so much disinformation out there, it can be helpful to actually dig into the facts.
#367 - Tylenol, pregnancy, and autism: What recent studies show and how to interpret the data
“Science is not about being right or wrong in an absolute sense. It's really about constantly updating our priors, understanding the probability of something as new evidence becomes emergent.” —Peter ...
peterattiamd.com
October 6, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Really fascinating and essential reading from Peter Attia digging into the latest on Tylenol and autism. Spoiler, no, maternal Tylenol use is almost surely not causing the rise in autism. Sharing because there's so much disinformation out there, it can be helpful to actually dig into the facts.
Reposted by Stephen Miles
Okatsuka posted the censorship rules for the controversial comedy festival, noting how many "You can’t say anything anymore!" comedians have signed on.
www.avclub.com/riyadh-comed...
www.avclub.com/riyadh-comed...
Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka posts contract after turning down Riyadh Comedy Festival
Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka posts contract after turning down Riyadh Comedy Festival
www.avclub.com
September 27, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Okatsuka posted the censorship rules for the controversial comedy festival, noting how many "You can’t say anything anymore!" comedians have signed on.
www.avclub.com/riyadh-comed...
www.avclub.com/riyadh-comed...
Reposted by Stephen Miles
Though nice to see Jon Finer and Philip Gordon catch up to bare minimum of where activists and the public have been for nearly two years on restricting US arms to the Israeli government, their article erases their own role in abetting the Netanyahu government’s genocide.
September 26, 2025 at 1:12 AM
Though nice to see Jon Finer and Philip Gordon catch up to bare minimum of where activists and the public have been for nearly two years on restricting US arms to the Israeli government, their article erases their own role in abetting the Netanyahu government’s genocide.
Reposted by Stephen Miles
Some personal news:
I've been fired from the Washington Post in the aftermath of the Charlie Kirk shooting.
Thread incoming.
substack.com/@karenattiah...
I've been fired from the Washington Post in the aftermath of the Charlie Kirk shooting.
Thread incoming.
substack.com/@karenattiah...
The Washington Post Fired Me — But My Voice Will Not Be Silenced.
I spoke out against hatred and violence in America — and it cost me my job.
substack.com
September 15, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Some personal news:
I've been fired from the Washington Post in the aftermath of the Charlie Kirk shooting.
Thread incoming.
substack.com/@karenattiah...
I've been fired from the Washington Post in the aftermath of the Charlie Kirk shooting.
Thread incoming.
substack.com/@karenattiah...
Reposted by Stephen Miles
New from me: As we learn more information about Charlie Kirk's alleged killer, here's what you need to to know. open.substack.com/pub/ctrlaltr...
Meme Ideology
The shooter’s political leanings don’t matter. Here’s what does.
open.substack.com
September 14, 2025 at 10:22 PM
New from me: As we learn more information about Charlie Kirk's alleged killer, here's what you need to to know. open.substack.com/pub/ctrlaltr...
These are dark times and even darker days appear to lay ahead.
Find the light in your life, hold it close.
But this darkness is not new and it will not last.
Protect yourself and your light. Protect one another. And build for a better tomorrow.
Find the light in your life, hold it close.
But this darkness is not new and it will not last.
Protect yourself and your light. Protect one another. And build for a better tomorrow.
September 11, 2025 at 3:51 PM
These are dark times and even darker days appear to lay ahead.
Find the light in your life, hold it close.
But this darkness is not new and it will not last.
Protect yourself and your light. Protect one another. And build for a better tomorrow.
Find the light in your life, hold it close.
But this darkness is not new and it will not last.
Protect yourself and your light. Protect one another. And build for a better tomorrow.
Reposted by Stephen Miles
My new commentary on how Trump is repurposing "War on Terror" mechanisms to target immigrants and cartels, and how we got here: (link below)
September 11, 2025 at 12:20 PM
My new commentary on how Trump is repurposing "War on Terror" mechanisms to target immigrants and cartels, and how we got here: (link below)
Reposted by Stephen Miles
The escalatory potential of political violence is why this should be a moment of American political unity where left & right call for calm.
Deliberately incendiary MAGA responses show, once again, that they are not a peaceful movement operating under the normal civic values of the US Constitution.
Deliberately incendiary MAGA responses show, once again, that they are not a peaceful movement operating under the normal civic values of the US Constitution.
September 10, 2025 at 10:32 PM
The escalatory potential of political violence is why this should be a moment of American political unity where left & right call for calm.
Deliberately incendiary MAGA responses show, once again, that they are not a peaceful movement operating under the normal civic values of the US Constitution.
Deliberately incendiary MAGA responses show, once again, that they are not a peaceful movement operating under the normal civic values of the US Constitution.
Reposted by Stephen Miles
My main observation from the last few hours of monitoring US social media is that Democrats are universally denouncing political violence and calling for calm while MAGA are escalating language and openly lusting for retribution against broad categories of people they identity as their enemies.
September 10, 2025 at 9:19 PM
My main observation from the last few hours of monitoring US social media is that Democrats are universally denouncing political violence and calling for calm while MAGA are escalating language and openly lusting for retribution against broad categories of people they identity as their enemies.
Reposted by Stephen Miles
We don’t yet know what motivated the person who shot and killed Charlie Kirk, but this kind of despicable violence has no place in our democracy. Michelle and I will be praying for Charlie’s family tonight, especially his wife Erika and their two young children.
September 10, 2025 at 9:26 PM
We don’t yet know what motivated the person who shot and killed Charlie Kirk, but this kind of despicable violence has no place in our democracy. Michelle and I will be praying for Charlie’s family tonight, especially his wife Erika and their two young children.
Reposted by Stephen Miles
“what is one to make of a book that, after detailing how Biden and his team helped perpetrate an era-defining catastrophe in Gaza, proceeds to describe that team as ‘an example of steady and purposeful leadership’?”
On Woodward’s “War” @thenation.com www.thenation.com/article/worl...
On Woodward’s “War” @thenation.com www.thenation.com/article/worl...
The Catastrophe of Democratic Foreign Policy
A new book on the Biden’s wars serves as a stark reminder that the Democrats need to formulate a new foreign policy—as well as reckon with the one they had.
www.thenation.com
September 9, 2025 at 1:12 PM
“what is one to make of a book that, after detailing how Biden and his team helped perpetrate an era-defining catastrophe in Gaza, proceeds to describe that team as ‘an example of steady and purposeful leadership’?”
On Woodward’s “War” @thenation.com www.thenation.com/article/worl...
On Woodward’s “War” @thenation.com www.thenation.com/article/worl...
Have been offline so just sharing this now even though it's from last week, but new from me!
Congress is asking if Trump's trillion dollar budget for the Pentagon is big enough or if he actually needs $22 billion more.
I wrote about what they should be asking instead.
Congress is asking if Trump's trillion dollar budget for the Pentagon is big enough or if he actually needs $22 billion more.
I wrote about what they should be asking instead.
Why does peace cost a trillion dollars?
As Congress returns to a Pentagon budget fight, we must ask ourselves: why is military spending skyrocketing even without a war?
responsiblestatecraft.org
September 8, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Have been offline so just sharing this now even though it's from last week, but new from me!
Congress is asking if Trump's trillion dollar budget for the Pentagon is big enough or if he actually needs $22 billion more.
I wrote about what they should be asking instead.
Congress is asking if Trump's trillion dollar budget for the Pentagon is big enough or if he actually needs $22 billion more.
I wrote about what they should be asking instead.
Reposted by Stephen Miles
Undoubtedly right. As so often is the theme under Trump, the international law violations are blatant and unapologetic, forcing the real question: what is anyone going to do about it?
1/ I worked at DoD. I literally cannot imagine lawyers coming up with a legal basis for lethal strike of suspected Venezuelan drug boat.
Hard to see how this would not be "murder" or war crime under international law that DoD considers applicable.
Read expert analysis by @bcfinucane.bsky.social⤵️
Hard to see how this would not be "murder" or war crime under international law that DoD considers applicable.
Read expert analysis by @bcfinucane.bsky.social⤵️
Legal Issues Raised by a Lethal U.S. Military Attack in the Caribbean
The Trump administration’s extraordinary lethal attack on this purported smuggling vessel raises significant potential legal issues.
www.justsecurity.org
September 3, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Undoubtedly right. As so often is the theme under Trump, the international law violations are blatant and unapologetic, forcing the real question: what is anyone going to do about it?
Reposted by Stephen Miles
As a lawyer, I'll tell you that there's nobody who knows this law better than Ryan and Brian. Sure looks like murder or war crime to me. But as a human, I'll tell you that the Rubio statement -- we could have stopped the boat but we blew it up to send a message -- is sickening and depraved.
1/ I worked at DoD. I literally cannot imagine lawyers coming up with a legal basis for lethal strike of suspected Venezuelan drug boat.
Hard to see how this would not be "murder" or war crime under international law that DoD considers applicable.
Read expert analysis by @bcfinucane.bsky.social⤵️
Hard to see how this would not be "murder" or war crime under international law that DoD considers applicable.
Read expert analysis by @bcfinucane.bsky.social⤵️
Legal Issues Raised by a Lethal U.S. Military Attack in the Caribbean
The Trump administration’s extraordinary lethal attack on this purported smuggling vessel raises significant potential legal issues.
www.justsecurity.org
September 3, 2025 at 10:09 PM
As a lawyer, I'll tell you that there's nobody who knows this law better than Ryan and Brian. Sure looks like murder or war crime to me. But as a human, I'll tell you that the Rubio statement -- we could have stopped the boat but we blew it up to send a message -- is sickening and depraved.
Reposted by Stephen Miles
New from me: Trump wants to control what media we consume and he wants us to know he has that power. What we’re learning is how many wealthy individuals and institutions will roll over and destroy the free press for him. open.substack.com/pub/ctrlaltr...
Swapping Satire for Substack
Colbert is out, Weiss is in, and legacy media continues to erode.
open.substack.com
July 27, 2025 at 10:15 PM
New from me: Trump wants to control what media we consume and he wants us to know he has that power. What we’re learning is how many wealthy individuals and institutions will roll over and destroy the free press for him. open.substack.com/pub/ctrlaltr...
Reposted by Stephen Miles
You've probably seen news recently about the Israeli military deliberately targeting Palestinian civilians seeking food and water at aid sites.
Because it's difficult to truly grasp how often these war crimes are taking place, here is a thread of some distinct incidents since June 1. 🧵
Because it's difficult to truly grasp how often these war crimes are taking place, here is a thread of some distinct incidents since June 1. 🧵
July 20, 2025 at 11:18 PM
You've probably seen news recently about the Israeli military deliberately targeting Palestinian civilians seeking food and water at aid sites.
Because it's difficult to truly grasp how often these war crimes are taking place, here is a thread of some distinct incidents since June 1. 🧵
Because it's difficult to truly grasp how often these war crimes are taking place, here is a thread of some distinct incidents since June 1. 🧵