Stephen Walt
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Stephen Walt
@stephenwalt.bsky.social
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Harvard professor, realist, FP columnist. Tennis enthusiast, amateur musician, proud dad, & grateful husband. Troubled by the state of the world & looking for solutions. For speaking engagements contact John Bute at john@chartwellspeakers.com .. more

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Stephen Martin Walt is an American political scientist serving as the Robert and Renee Belfer Professor of international relations at the Harvard Kennedy School. A member of the realist school of international relations, Walt has made important contributions to the theory of neorealism and has authored the balance of threat theory. Books that he has authored or coauthored include Origins of Alliances, Revolution and War, and The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy. .. more

Political science 72%
Sociology 17%
Posts Replies Media Videos

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt, Ben Tonra, Michael Gentile

alanderminna.bsky.social
Minna Ålander 🌻 @alanderminna.bsky.social · 8h
Trump will likely try to make Denmark choose between NATO and Greenland, and wider Europe between Greenland and Ukraine.

But luckily Trump has also demonstrated that under his leadership, any US security guarantee won’t be worth much. So the choice should be simple.
maxbergmann.bsky.social Max Bergmann @maxbergmann.bsky.social · 16h
What European leaders have been most nervous about is the US pulling back on NATO or Ukraine… but how can Europe trust the US will come to its defense if its trying to seize territory from a NATO country. They can’t. So why cave to keep a security commitment that is not real. 6/

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt

steadystatevets.bsky.social
The Steady State @steadystatevets.bsky.social · 1d
Investigating elected officials for speech is not law enforcement but intimidation. If governors and mayors can be investigated for criticizing federal actions, neither elected officials nor anyone else is truly free to speak. #holdfast

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt, Tom Clark, Steve Peers , and 3 more

thetnholler.bsky.social
The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 2d
NEWSMAX host Carl Higbie: “This 6 month old who unfortunately got tear gassed by ICE… That sucks 🤷🏼 , but why was a 6 month old near tear gas in the first place?”

The live there Carl, you soulless puppet

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt, Henry Jones

meteorblades.bsky.social
MeteorBlades @meteorblades.bsky.social · 2d
This counterproductive policy must put a smile on the face of the notoriously unsmiling President Xi as the U.S. actively seeks to fall even further behind China’s clean energy juggernaut. www.canarymedia.com/articles/cle...
22GW of renewables thwarted or in limbo under Trump ‘blockade’
An Interior Department memo is hampering wind and solar on public lands. It’s one of many federal actions slowing the build-out of cheap, clean energy.
www.canarymedia.com

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt, Brendan Nyhan, Rosemary A. Joyce , and 5 more

paleofuture.bsky.social
Matt Novak @paleofuture.bsky.social · 2d
The 6-month-old that DHS is tweeting about here lived in the neighborhood and the baby’s father was just trying to evacuate his family after federal agents had shot someone.
DHS: It is horrific to see radical agitators bring children to their violent riots. PLEASE STOP ENDANGERING YOUR CHILDREN. ABC News • @ABC• 7h Two children, including a 6-month-old, were hospitalized last night after federal agents deployed tear gas during Wednesday night's protests, according to the Minneapolis Office of Community Safety.... 7:32 AM • 1/16/26 • 145

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt

profjwdavidson.bsky.social
Jason Davidson @profjwdavidson.bsky.social · 2d
Donald Trump continues to use US Foreign Policy to advance the interests of his billionaire business buddies.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
How a billionaire with interests in Greenland encouraged Trump to acquire the territory
US president’s friend Ronald Lauder – who first proposed Arctic expansion – is now making deals in the island
www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt, David R. Miller

brendannyhan.bsky.social
Brendan Nyhan @brendannyhan.bsky.social · 2d
Everyone gets a taste
emptywheel.bsky.social emptywheel @emptywheel.bsky.social · 2d
Remember when Trump demanded the petroleum industry give $1B to his campaign fund?

You'll never guess how that worked out.

www.ft.com/content/da74...
Please use the sharing tools found via the share button at the top or side of articles. Copying articles to share with others is a breach of FT.com T&Cs and Copyright Policy. Email licensing@ft.com to buy additional rights. Subscribers may share up to 10 or 20 articles per month using the gift article service. More information can be found at https://www.ft.com/tour. https://www.ft.com/content/da74c248-fb36-4ff1-8fb2-d2dd1e00fde8?utm_sf_cserv_ref=18949452&utm_sf_post_ref=652350648 Donald Trump’s first Venezuela oil sale deal goes to megadonor’s company Senior Vitol trader met US president at White House last week and gave millions of dollars to his re-election campaign John Addison, right, donated more than $6mn to political action committees backing Donald Trump’s re-election campaign © Evan Vucci/AP Donald Trump’s first Venezuela oil sale deal goes to megadonor’s company on x (opens in a new window) Donald Trump’s first Venezuela oil sale deal goes to megadonor’s company on facebook (opens in a new window) Donald Trump’s first Venezuela oil sale deal goes to megadonor’s company on linkedin (opens in a new window) Share Save current progress 0% Malcolm Moore in London and Jamie Smyth in New York Published11 HOURS AGO 218 Print this page Get ahead with daily markets updates.Join the FT's WhatsApp channel The first US sale of Venezuelan crude was to a company whose senior oil trader donated to Donald Trump’s re-election campaign and attended a White House meeting with the president last week. John Addison, a senior trader at Vitol who donated about $6mn to political action committees backing Trump’s re-election campaign, was involved in his company’s efforts to secure a $250mn deal for Venezuelan crude.

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt, Nicholas A. Christakis, Alan Richardson , and 7 more

walterolson.bsky.social
Walter Olson @walterolson.bsky.social · 2d
“Noem: U.S. Citizens Should Be Prepared To Show Proof.”

Did you vote for a “Show Me Your Papers” society?
Screenshot of Fox News from Jan. 15, 2026 with picture of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and chyron: "Breaking News: Noem: U.S. Citizens Should be Prepared To Show Proof."

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt, Kim L. Scheppele, Lisa W. Fazio , and 18 more

gbbranstetter.bsky.social
Gillian Branstetter @gbbranstetter.bsky.social · 3d
The University of Arkansas's law school just withdrew the appointment of its new dean six days after hiring her because conservative politicians complained that she filed an amicus brief to the Supreme Court in support of transgender students
Culture warriors cancel new U of A law dean before she started - Arkansas Times
Culture warriors claim the scalp of Emily Suski, the would-be law school dean whose legal opinion on transgender athletes seems to have offended Arkansas officials.
arktimes.com

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt, Will Jennings, Steve Peers , and 11 more

peark.es
George Pearkes @peark.es · 3d
President threatens to deploy the Insurrection Act against Minnesota.
Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump If the corrupt politicians of Minnesota don’t obey the law and stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking the Patriots of I.C.E., who are only trying to do their job, I will institute the INSURRECTION ACT, which many Presidents have done before me, and quickly put an end to the travesty that is taking place in that once great State. Thank you for you attention to this matter! President DJT 43 ReTruths 183 Likes Jan 15, 2026, 8:04 AM

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt, Elizabeth Saunders, Matthew Bunn , and 11 more

nicholasgrossman.bsky.social
Nicholas Grossman @nicholasgrossman.bsky.social · 3d
US higher education was a crown jewel, generating knowledge, wealth, prestige, and power unrivaled by anyone.

And the US is throwing it away, because Americans elected a govt ideologically opposed to truth, science, merit, and racial/gender equality, preferring to weaken the country to reduce that.
Chinese Universities Surge in Global Rankings as U.S. Schools Slip
www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt, Brendan Nyhan, David R. Miller , and 2 more

robertscotthorton.bsky.social
Scott Horton @robertscotthorton.bsky.social · 3d
Rep Don Bacon (R-NE) says he anticipates that Trump will be impeached if he invades Greenland. omaha.com/news/local/g...
Rep. Don Bacon says House could impeach Trump if U.S. invades Greenland
Rep. Don Bacon tells The World-Herald that there would be GOP support for an impeachment of Donald Trump if the U.S. invaded Greenland.
omaha.com

stephenwalt.bsky.social
Stephen Walt @stephenwalt.bsky.social · 3d
This is a thought-provoking piece that anyone interested in the relationship between power, policy relevance, and scholarship should read and ponder. dissentmagazine.org/article/the-...
The Demise of Conflict Studies - Dissent Magazine
An entire industry specializing in mediation, peacekeeping, disarmament, and transitional justice has become largely obsolete.
dissentmagazine.org

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt

freddydeknatel.bsky.social
Frederick Deknatel @freddydeknatel.bsky.social · 4d
“Superior technology ultimately wins out. By the time the industry is dominated by EVs, GM and Ford may have fallen well behind China, thanks to the Trump admin. This isn’t industrial policy; it’s industrial suicide.”

Not really a question of “may have.” They already have and may catch up.
Opinion | $25 Billion. That’s What Trump Cost Detroit.
www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt

elizkolbert.bsky.social
Elizabeth Kolbert @elizkolbert.bsky.social · 4d
Trump's war on EVs "isn’t industrial policy; it’s industrial suicide."
Opinion | $25 Billion. That’s What Trump Cost Detroit.
www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt, David R. Miller, Jason Lyall , and 1 more

brendannyhan.bsky.social
Brendan Nyhan @brendannyhan.bsky.social · 4d
There is nothing complex or subtle or hard to understand about what is happening here.
ryanenos.bsky.social Ryan Enos @ryanenos.bsky.social · 4d
This is not the language of the government of a free country.

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt, David R. Miller, Kai Gehring

nicholasgrossman.bsky.social
Nicholas Grossman @nicholasgrossman.bsky.social · 4d
The United States needs military access to Greenland, which it already has, to defend the Arctic, which it already does, from Russian and Chinese ships, which aren’t actually there, and this is so important we should destroy the Western alliance to get it, do I have that right?

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt

justsecurity.org
Just Security @justsecurity.org · 5d
On Jan. 7, the U.S. withdrew from 66 international organizations.

“Whatever the modest cost-savings that are generated by this U.S. withdrawal from the multilateral system, the loss of long-term influence will be far greater,” write U.N. and White House policy experts Julian Simcock and Chris Lu
The United States in Retreat
U.S. withdrawal from 66 international organizations marks a retreat from global leadership and an opportunity for adversaries ascend.
www.justsecurity.org

stephenwalt.bsky.social
Stephen Walt @stephenwalt.bsky.social · 5d
“Perfidy” is an apt word for much of what this regime is doing.

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt

clancyny.bsky.social
Eileen Clancy 🧿 @clancyny.bsky.social · 5d
@people.com:
Renee Good, Woman Killed by ICE, Traveled to N.Y.C. to Feed, Photograph Homeless People: 'She Wanted to Know Their Stories' (Exclusive) [Published on January 9]
Renee Good, Woman Killed by ICE, Traveled to N.Y.C. to Feed, Photograph Homeless People: 'She Wanted to Know Their Stories' (Exclusive)
Renee Nicole Good, the woman who was shot and killed by an ICE agent in Minneapolis on Jan. 7, is remembered for taking a photography trip to New York City, where she gave out food to homeless people ...
people.com

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt, Brendan Nyhan, Edgar Morgenroth , and 1 more

maxberger.bsky.social
Max Berger @maxberger.bsky.social · 6d
The DOJ is more than three weeks late in delivering the Epstein Files. In those three weeks:

- Trump declared himself acting President of Venezuela
- ICE murdered a woman in Minnesota
- Trump is preparing an invasion of a NATO ally
- Trump initiated a criminal investigation of Fed Chair Powell

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt, Anna O. Law, Elizabeth Saunders , and 29 more

cthomasjamh.bsky.social
Charlie Thomas @cthomasjamh.bsky.social · 6d
This is the sort of statement that was expected from every university president and law firm partner over the last year. That those statements weren’t made played a huge part in where we are now and people will remember.
joshuajfriedman.com Joshua J. Friedman @joshuajfriedman.com · 6d
Jerome Powell: "This is about whether the Fed will be able to continue to set interest rates based on evidence and economic conditions—or whether instead monetary policy will be directed by political pressure or intimidation."

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt, Brian A. Nosek, Brendan Nyhan , and 6 more

justinwolfers.bsky.social
Justin Wolfers @justinwolfers.bsky.social · 6d
Attempting to criminalize the actions of an independent public servant, Fed Chair Jay Powell, for the sin of acting independently is an outrage. It's bad economics, bad politics, bad for the rule of law, bad for the public sector, bad for American credibility and bad for Americans.

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt, Nazita Lajevardi, Michael D. McDonald , and 1 more

dell.bsky.social
dell cameron @dell.bsky.social · 6d
In extraordinary message, Fed chair announces that he’s being extorted/coerced by the US government under color of law.

Reposted by Anne Applebaum, Stephen M. Walt, Kori Schake , and 88 more

federalreserve.gov
Federal Reserve @federalreserve.gov · 6d
Video message from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KckG...
www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/s...
Statement by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell
YouTube video by Federal Reserve
www.youtube.com

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt

nytimes.com
The New York Times @nytimes.com · 6d
Breaking News: U.S. prosecutors are said to have opened an inquiry into Jerome Powell, an escalation of the clash between the Fed chair and President Trump.
Federal Prosecutors Are Said to Have Opened Inquiry Into Fed Chair Powell
The investigation, which centers on renovations of the Federal Reserve’s headquarters in Washington, signals an escalation in the long-running clash between President Trump and the chair.
nyti.ms

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt

portlandrose.bsky.social
Attie (SHE/HER) @portlandrose.bsky.social · 6d
Hoosiers! Indiana! Tonight in Irvington!!

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt

bostonreview.bsky.social
Boston Review @bostonreview.bsky.social · 6d
“This is how the myth of political violence works: the right elevates isolated acts—Charlie Kirk’s killing, for example—into proof of radical chaos threatening the nation while obscuring the far greater structural violence carried out daily through policy, policing, deportation, and war.”
What Is Political Violence?
Pundits and politicians conceal the truth: it’s all around us, perpetrated by our political system itself.
www.bostonreview.net

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt

rgoodlaw.bsky.social
Ryan Goodman @rgoodlaw.bsky.social · 7d
7/ I have made the 2013 PERF report available here as well as DHS, DOJ, and Customs and Border Patrol Policies on Use of Deadly Force and Moving Vehicles:

www.justsecurity.org/128498/dhs-d...

DHS, DOJ, and Customs and Border Patrol Policies on Use of Deadly Force and Moving Vehicles
Collection of use of force policies issued by the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Patrol, and the Department of Justice over time.
www.justsecurity.org

stephenwalt.bsky.social
Stephen Walt @stephenwalt.bsky.social · 7d
JD Vance says new federal anti-fraud efforts will be run “out of the White House.” That’s good; they won’t have to leave the building. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/08/u...
Vance Announces New Justice Dept. Fraud Post to Be ‘Run Out of the White House’
www.nytimes.com