Stephen Walt
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Stephen Walt
@stephenwalt.bsky.social
3.7K followers 210 following 250 posts

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%
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Reposted by Stephen M. Walt, Stella M. Rouse, David Darmofal

brendannyhan.bsky.social
Brendan Nyhan @brendannyhan.bsky.social · 12h
People have no idea what a premium we have enjoyed and what losing it will cost us
filipecampante.bsky.social Filipe Campante @filipecampante.bsky.social · 15h
This piece is a great illustration of how the long-term effect of Trump’s destruction of US institutions won’t be felt in a dramatic market collapse, but rather in permanently worse economic conditions, and lower prosperity.

giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... So long, American exceptionalism
So long, American exceptionalism
For the first time, investors are talking about ‘US risk’
giftarticle.ft.com

Reposted by Dani Rodrik, Stephen M. Walt

drfarls.bsky.social
Robert Farley @drfarls.bsky.social · 13h
Trump’s Fake Peace Deals Are Dangerous foreignpolicy.com/2025/12/22/t...
Trump’s Fake Peace Deals Are Dangerous
Potemkin peace can be a threat all its own.
foreignpolicy.com

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt, Anna O. Law, Brendan Nyhan , and 20 more

originalsp.in
Jeff Yang @originalsp.in · 16h
Dean Martin, born Dino Paul Crocetti, son of Italian immigrant Gaetano Crocetti

Frank Sinatra, son of Italian immigrants Antonino Sinatra and Natalina Garavanta

Merry Christmas to everyone except Stephen Miller and his enablers and handlers
Stephen Miller • @St... • 13m Ø Watched the Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra Family Christmas with my kids. Imagine watching that and thinking America needed infinity migrants from the third world.

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt, Anna O. Law, Kim L. Scheppele , and 6 more

paolosandro.bsky.social
Paolo Sandro @paolosandro.bsky.social · 17h
I had missed this latest delirium by Adrian Vermeule on birthright citizenship

'Common law?! NAH, it's the Roman law of adoption that should govern the interpretation of the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution!'

thenewdigest.substack.com/p/immigratio...
What I suggest is different. Although broadly in the spirit of Aquinas’ two-or-three generations test insofar as it emphasizes the duties rather than the rights of immigrants who becomes citizens, it is derived not from theological principles but from a civil-law analogy — an analogy to the Roman law of adoption. After all, inclusion within “our posterity” may ordinarily arise not only through natural descent, but through legal adoption. In brief, I suggest that the legal immigrant should understand himself as an adopted son of a natural and concretely existing family, the American family, and this brings with it particular duties of filial piety and reverence for that particular family and for its thick heritage and traditions. Our laws as made, interpreted and applied should reflect that understanding as well. Because it is an analogy, not an identity, what I propose is not a set of legal rules to be directly mapped from Roman law into the American legal system. Rather it is a suggestion that the Roman law of adoption rested on a set of discernible principles of legal justice and political morality that represent the spirit of the laws bearing on immigration and citizenship in America — a time-honored mode of legal interpretation here, albeit not an originalist mode. Such principles should affect the interpretation of actually existing legal texts, rules, and doctrines; they should be understood as the soul of our law of citizenship. Needless to say, this does not answer or even purport to speak to all questions bearing on immigration. I do not speak here, for example, to the enforcement of the immigration laws against illegal immigrants, or to prospective questions of policy about exactly how much legal immigration, if any, there should be, and from where. All I address is the question what principles of legal justice and political duty apply, under existing law, to the immigrant who is already here legally. To that end I suggest a conceptual model for understanding the role and obligations of that immigrant — what justice classically understood requires of him.

stephenwalt.bsky.social
Stephen Walt @stephenwalt.bsky.social · 20h
I didn’t know #Trump would bomb Nigeria on Xmas when I wrote this, but it’s hardly surprising that the phony peace Prez would do something like that. foreignpolicy.com/2025/12/22/t...
Trump’s Fake Peace Deals Are Dangerous
Potemkin peace can be a threat all its own.
foreignpolicy.com

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt, David R. Miller

scottlgreer.bsky.social
Scott L Greer @scottlgreer.bsky.social · 1d
“Who’s gonna stop you for that” is Trump’s key political insight
newrepublic.com The New Republic @newrepublic.com · 1d
Newly discovered recordings show how far Donald Trump went to attempt overturning the 2020 presidential election results in Georgia.

Trump told the Speaker he could call the session “for transparency, and to uncover fraud,” adding, “Who’s gonna stop you for that?” trib.al/Yk7Lyb5

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt, Anna O. Law, Lisa W. Fazio , and 4 more

larryglickman.bsky.social
Larry Glickman @larryglickman.bsky.social · 1d
This is not a “duel,” which suggests both sides are equally culpable, but the latest salvo in the Trump administration’s ideological war on Harvard and higher education.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/24/u...
In Private Letters, Harvard and Trump Administration Escalate Duel
www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt, Gavin A. Schmidt, Anders Sundnes Løvlie , and 2 more

nkalamb.bsky.social
Nathan Kalman-Lamb @nkalamb.bsky.social · 2d
"We’re monitoring what you do online. Disseminating, writing, or publishing inciting content online is considered a terrorist crime in every sense and may lead to arrest or imprisonment. We have warned you."

Israel warns Palestinians that posting about their suffering will be considered terrorism.
Israeli occupation forces distributed warning leaflets in Tubas, in the northern occupied West Bank, this morning, threatening Palestinian residents that posting, sharing, or publishing online content critical of Israel would be treated as a terrorist offense, potentially resulting in arrest or imprisonment. The leaflets stated: "We are monitoring what you do online. Disseminating, writing, or publishing inciting content online is considered a terrorist crime in every sense and may lead to arrest or imprisonment, as has happened in this house. We have warned you."

stephenwalt.bsky.social
Stephen Walt @stephenwalt.bsky.social · 2d
Trump’s goofy idea of building a giant battleship in an era of drones and antiship ballistic missiles gives new meaning to the term “sunk costs.” Not that it will ever get built, of course.

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt, Alison Phipps

dropsitenews.com
Drop Site @dropsitenews.com · 3d
🇺🇳 UN Secretary General’s Office:
“Over the past 24 hours, and despite the ceasefire, the UN has continued to receive reports of air strikes, shelling and gunfire in all 5 governorates of the Gaza Strip.”

(December 22, 2025)

stephenwalt.bsky.social
Stephen Walt @stephenwalt.bsky.social · 3d
It is not normally considered the job of the Secretary of State to systematically undermine relations with as many formerly friendly countries as possible, but we are where we are.

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt

gypsyrights.bsky.social
Gypsy Guillén Kaiser @gypsyrights.bsky.social · 3d
apnews.com/article/stat...
US bars five Europeans it says pressured tech firms to censor American viewpoints online
The State Department is barring five Europeans it accuses of leading efforts to pressure U.S. tech firms to censor or suppress American viewpoints.
apnews.com

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt

nickturse.bsky.social
Nick Turse @nickturse.bsky.social · 3d
www.civilrightsteaching.org/resource/nat...

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt

profsaunders.bsky.social
Elizabeth N. Saunders @profsaunders.bsky.social · 3d
The Party of National Security in 2 headlines
Two headlines in the New York Times, one on the recall of 30 ambassadors, the other on the new “Trump-class” warships

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt, Anna O. Law, Nicholas A. Christakis , and 17 more

marklevinenyc.bsky.social
Mark D. Levine @marklevinenyc.bsky.social · 3d
Year 1 data on congestion pricing in Manhattan…

* Vehicle traffic: -11%
* Foot traffic: +3.4%
* Storefront vacancy: -0.9%
* Pollution: -22%
* Revenue for mass transit: $548M

So YES this has been a huge success.

stephenwalt.bsky.social
Stephen Walt @stephenwalt.bsky.social · 3d
Our egomaniac president has apparently never heard of the battleship Yamato, sunk during WW2.

www.nytimes.com/2025/12/22/u...
Trump Announces New ‘Trump Class’ of Warships
www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt

profjwdavidson.bsky.social
Jason Davidson @profjwdavidson.bsky.social · 3d
Germans and Canadians used to be among the most loyal US allies. Donald Trump's policies have irrevocably damaged that loyalty.

www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
Poll: Major allies see US as unreliable and destabilizing
Pluralities in Germany and France — and a majority of Canadians — say the US is a negative force globally, new POLITICO-Public First polling finds.
www.politico.com

Reposted by Dani Rodrik, Stephen M. Walt

himself.bsky.social
Henry Farrell @himself.bsky.social · 3d
"Trump boasts in ... the strategy that, at last, ‘America is strong and respected again”. The problem is that this obviously isn’t true. Countries ... treat it like an angry, incoherent drunk with a bazooka. You say whatever you hope might calm them down, but you certainly don’t respect them."
Trump and Putin share a craving for status. That’s why they both want to destroy Europe | Henry Farrell and Sergey Radchenko
Liberal democracies view Putin’s Russia as a bully – and Trump’s US as an angry drunk with a bazooka. The response is pure venom, say Henry Farrell and Sergey Radchenko of Johns Hopkins
www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt, Alan Richardson, David Darmofal

brendannyhan.bsky.social
Brendan Nyhan @brendannyhan.bsky.social · 4d
"were expected to power more than 2.5 million homes and businesses across the Eastern United States" and "create together about 10,000 jobs"
maxinejoselow.bsky.social Maxine Joselow @maxinejoselow.bsky.social · 4d
The Trump admin just halted five additional wind farms off the East Coast, jeopardizing billions of dollars of investments. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/22/c...
Trump Halts Five Wind Farms Off the East Coast
www.nytimes.com

stephenwalt.bsky.social
Stephen Walt @stephenwalt.bsky.social · 4d
I can think of many respected journalists whose reputations are based on their willingness to investigate and challenge powerful people and institutions. By contrast, I can’t think of any whose reputation was enhanced by a willingness to serve as a supine propagandist. #CBSNews

Reposted by Shibley Telhami

stephenwalt.bsky.social
Stephen Walt @stephenwalt.bsky.social · 4d
At this time of year I like to focus on the topic of peace. I just wish I could offer a more upbeat assessment of its current prospects. Latest FP column here: foreignpolicy.com/2025/12/22/t...
Trump’s Fake Peace Deals Are Dangerous
Potemkin peace can be a threat all its own.
foreignpolicy.com

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt

rgoodlaw.bsky.social
Ryan Goodman @rgoodlaw.bsky.social · 4d
2/ To make the one on the right more legible.⬇️

Also in full here (too long for alt-text window):

www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/6...

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt

foreignpolicy.com
Foreign Policy @foreignpolicy.com · 4d
Instead of a genuine end to conflict, Trump’s specialty is a Potemkin peace plan—a symbolic “agreement” proclaimed with great fanfare that soon collapses, writes columnist @stephenwalt.bsky.social.
Trump’s Fake Peace Deals Are Dangerous
Potemkin peace can be a threat all its own.
foreignpolicy.com

Reposted by Dani Rodrik, Stephen M. Walt

robertstavins.bsky.social
Robert N. Stavins @robertstavins.bsky.social · 4d
Truly appalling, and the motivation is mainly Trump's personal antipathy toward wind power since he failed to stop a wind project off the coast of one of his golf courses in Scotland! www.nytimes.com/2025/12/22/c...
Trump Halts Five Wind Farms Off the East Coast
www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt, Brendan Nyhan, Alan Richardson , and 1 more

maxinejoselow.bsky.social
Maxine Joselow @maxinejoselow.bsky.social · 4d
The Trump admin just halted five additional wind farms off the East Coast, jeopardizing billions of dollars of investments. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/22/c...
Trump Halts Five Wind Farms Off the East Coast
www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt, Kate Starbird, David Darmofal

brianstelter.bsky.social
Brian Stelter @brianstelter.bsky.social · 5d
Overwhelming amount of media world chatter and concern about "60 Minutes" tonight. Why would CBS News promote the story about the Trump admin's deportations to CECOT on Friday, only to shelve it today? Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi says it is "not an editorial decision, it is a political one."
60minutes.bsky.social 60 Minutes @60minutes.bsky.social · 5d
An Editor’s Note from 60 Minutes
The broadcast lineup for tonight’s edition of 60 Minutes has been updated. Our report “Inside CECOT” will air in a future broadcast.

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt, Daniel W. Drezner, Robert B. Reich , and 1 more

yasharali.bsky.social
Yashar Ali 🐘 @yasharali.bsky.social · 5d
Hours before 60 Minutes was set to air a story on deportees who were sent by the Trump administration to prison in El Salvador, describing “brutal and torturous conditions,” 60 Minutes announced that it has pulled the segment and will air it in the future.
EDITOR'S NOTE The broadcast lineup for tonight's edition of 60 Minutes has been updated. Our report "Inside CECOT" will air in a future broadcast.

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt, David Darmofal

atrupar.com
Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 5d
JD Vance: "We believe in honoring your father and mother rather than shipping all their money off to Ukraine"

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt, Brendan Nyhan

davidcorn.bsky.social
David Corn @davidcorn.bsky.social · 6d
What could go wrong?

www.wsj.com/world/putin-...

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt, Daniel W. Drezner, Arlene Stein

mehdirhasan.bsky.social
Mehdi Hasan @mehdirhasan.bsky.social · 7d
Steve Bannon reportedly said: 'You raised a kid that slit your throat!' about the late Rob Reiner.

A reminder that not a single prominent Democrat or liberal pundit said anything even vaguely akin to this when Charlie Kirk was murdered.

Oh the hypocrisy.
Turning Point crowd boos Rob Reiner: 'You raised a kid that slit your throat!'
A crowd at Turning Point USA's AmFest event booed slain Hollywood director Rob Reiner after MAGA influencer Steve Bannon said liberals believed he had a larger impact on culture than Charlie Kirk."Jus...
www.rawstory.com