Anna Grzymala-Busse
@annagbusse.bsky.social
Professor of political science at Stanford. State formation, religion, political parties, Europe, etc. Amateur electrician.
I have made it to the 7th circle of Dante's hell:
November 20, 2025 at 3:32 AM
I have made it to the 7th circle of Dante's hell:
Seriously? How hard is it to cook or eat a turkey?
My guy, my family of immigrants had no problem hosting Thanksgiving, including roast turkey with all the trimmings,* within 2 months of arriving on these verdant shores.
*Except sweet potatoes, which remain controversial.
My guy, my family of immigrants had no problem hosting Thanksgiving, including roast turkey with all the trimmings,* within 2 months of arriving on these verdant shores.
*Except sweet potatoes, which remain controversial.
It’s how you end up with language like “paperwork American” or the idea that Thanksgiving turkey is some sort of natural ethno-national tradition that certain other groups are incapable of ever appreciating
November 13, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Seriously? How hard is it to cook or eat a turkey?
My guy, my family of immigrants had no problem hosting Thanksgiving, including roast turkey with all the trimmings,* within 2 months of arriving on these verdant shores.
*Except sweet potatoes, which remain controversial.
My guy, my family of immigrants had no problem hosting Thanksgiving, including roast turkey with all the trimmings,* within 2 months of arriving on these verdant shores.
*Except sweet potatoes, which remain controversial.
Book workshops are *fantastic.* Whether or not resources are an issue, the Zoom version (2-3 hours) works incredibly well and makes it much easier for participants to attend.
Other book workshop tips 🧵:
Other book workshop tips 🧵:
I wish more schools had money to organize book workshops. I have attended one today that was intellectually so stimulating. As any good book workshop, it will not only make the manuscript that was being discussed better, but it will make the future work of all the participants better.
November 7, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Book workshops are *fantastic.* Whether or not resources are an issue, the Zoom version (2-3 hours) works incredibly well and makes it much easier for participants to attend.
Other book workshop tips 🧵:
Other book workshop tips 🧵:
November 7, 2025 at 5:41 AM
Reposted by Anna Grzymala-Busse
I’ll keep pushing this line of analysis because I’m increasingly convinced the clearest path out of this mess is for Dems to adopt a relentless anti-corruption, anti-inequality, anti-oligarchy, pro-democracy platform. The Dem leadership hasn’t realized it yet, but they’re now a reform party.
November 6, 2025 at 12:06 AM
I’ll keep pushing this line of analysis because I’m increasingly convinced the clearest path out of this mess is for Dems to adopt a relentless anti-corruption, anti-inequality, anti-oligarchy, pro-democracy platform. The Dem leadership hasn’t realized it yet, but they’re now a reform party.
On the other hand, life in the European Soviet satellites has vastly improved: people are so much better off (richer, freer) by 1995 or in 2025 than they were in 1975.
(notable and horrific exceptions: FYR and Albania in the mid-1990s)
(notable and horrific exceptions: FYR and Albania in the mid-1990s)
If I offered you in a time machine and told you to pick living in the Soviet union in 1975, Russia in 1995, or Russia in 2025 and you aren’t sure which of those would give you the best standard of living you need to go read a book, any book.
November 5, 2025 at 8:33 PM
On the other hand, life in the European Soviet satellites has vastly improved: people are so much better off (richer, freer) by 1995 or in 2025 than they were in 1975.
(notable and horrific exceptions: FYR and Albania in the mid-1990s)
(notable and horrific exceptions: FYR and Albania in the mid-1990s)
Zohran Mamdani won with 50.4%.
Eric Adams won in 2021 with 67%.
Bill de Blasio won in 2017 with 66%
Eric Adams won in 2021 with 67%.
Bill de Blasio won in 2017 with 66%
The far-right and its centrist enablers are grossly overestimating the resistance to a Mamdani-type candidate in the 2026 Midterms. Their Trump Stockholm Syndrome prevents them from seeing how unpopular he is. Most people will accept almost any alternative to the current GOP!
November 5, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Zohran Mamdani won with 50.4%.
Eric Adams won in 2021 with 67%.
Bill de Blasio won in 2017 with 66%
Eric Adams won in 2021 with 67%.
Bill de Blasio won in 2017 with 66%
How did the interview go, sweetheart?
I don't find it super convincing.
October 26, 2025 at 11:50 PM
How did the interview go, sweetheart?
One more reason to use and protect mail-in ballots (81% of CA’s ballots were mailed in the last election.)
Breaking: The Department of Justice announced it will "monitor polling sites in six jurisdictions [in New Jersey and California] ahead of the upcoming November 4, 2025, general election to ensure transparency, ballot security, and compliance with federal law." www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justi...
Justice Department to Monitor Polling Sites in California, New Jersey
WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of Justice announced that it will monitor polling sites in six jurisdictions ahead of the upcoming November 4, 2025, general election to ensure transparency, ballot ...
www.justice.gov
October 24, 2025 at 4:45 PM
One more reason to use and protect mail-in ballots (81% of CA’s ballots were mailed in the last election.)
Neville Chamberlain would like a word
Q: Did you tell Zelenskyy he needed to cede all of the Donbas region to Russia?
TRUMP: No. We think that what they should do is just stop at the lines where they are
Q: What do you think should happen w/ the Donbas?
T: I think 78% of the land is already taken by Russia. You leave it the way it is
TRUMP: No. We think that what they should do is just stop at the lines where they are
Q: What do you think should happen w/ the Donbas?
T: I think 78% of the land is already taken by Russia. You leave it the way it is
October 20, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Neville Chamberlain would like a word
The Cuomo campaign should also appeal to its Balkan voters, addressing Estonians, Latvians, and Lithuanians.
October 20, 2025 at 12:36 AM
The Cuomo campaign should also appeal to its Balkan voters, addressing Estonians, Latvians, and Lithuanians.
The town over from our tiny one: patriotic songs, unicorns and giraffes, banjos and ukuleles, and so much hope. Then we bunked off and the local restaurants made a killing.
October 18, 2025 at 10:03 PM
The town over from our tiny one: patriotic songs, unicorns and giraffes, banjos and ukuleles, and so much hope. Then we bunked off and the local restaurants made a killing.
Putin, an autocrat, passed a Foreign Agents law in 2012.
Orban, an autocrat, uses investigations, tax audits, regulations, and new laws to harass civil organizations in name of sovereignty.
Both sought to intimidate civil society, so that no independent or opposing voices remained.
Orban, an autocrat, uses investigations, tax audits, regulations, and new laws to harass civil organizations in name of sovereignty.
Both sought to intimidate civil society, so that no independent or opposing voices remained.
September 26, 2025 at 2:51 AM
Putin, an autocrat, passed a Foreign Agents law in 2012.
Orban, an autocrat, uses investigations, tax audits, regulations, and new laws to harass civil organizations in name of sovereignty.
Both sought to intimidate civil society, so that no independent or opposing voices remained.
Orban, an autocrat, uses investigations, tax audits, regulations, and new laws to harass civil organizations in name of sovereignty.
Both sought to intimidate civil society, so that no independent or opposing voices remained.
After the drone attack, Poland has invoked Article 4 of NATO.
Note:
a) Article 4 calls for consultation, NOT mutual defense,
b) Not the first time Russia has "accidentally" bombed Poland, nor the 1st time Poland used Article 4
c) Yes, it's a Putin troll; no, it is not an inevitable escalation
Note:
a) Article 4 calls for consultation, NOT mutual defense,
b) Not the first time Russia has "accidentally" bombed Poland, nor the 1st time Poland used Article 4
c) Yes, it's a Putin troll; no, it is not an inevitable escalation
Russian drone incursion into Poland will test Nato resolve
Whether the drone incursion was deliberate or accidental, Moscow will be watching Nato's response to it closely.
www.bbc.com
September 10, 2025 at 11:08 PM
After the drone attack, Poland has invoked Article 4 of NATO.
Note:
a) Article 4 calls for consultation, NOT mutual defense,
b) Not the first time Russia has "accidentally" bombed Poland, nor the 1st time Poland used Article 4
c) Yes, it's a Putin troll; no, it is not an inevitable escalation
Note:
a) Article 4 calls for consultation, NOT mutual defense,
b) Not the first time Russia has "accidentally" bombed Poland, nor the 1st time Poland used Article 4
c) Yes, it's a Putin troll; no, it is not an inevitable escalation
Every day, my mother carefully boiled milk, bc otherwise we'd be exposed to tuberculosis, massive GI issues, and other pathogen-borne disease.
When we came to the US, you could just drink milk cold! straight from the bottle! with no gross coat to skim!
Welcome to communist-era Poland, y'all.
When we came to the US, you could just drink milk cold! straight from the bottle! with no gross coat to skim!
Welcome to communist-era Poland, y'all.
Boiling milk before use was just what you did. They had dedicated cookware for it. (Specially shaped to contain boil-overs, which milk is really prone to.)
Household hygiene had SERIOUSLY high stakes back before hot running water & pasteurization.
That's… like… why they taught home economics.
Household hygiene had SERIOUSLY high stakes back before hot running water & pasteurization.
That's… like… why they taught home economics.
September 3, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Every day, my mother carefully boiled milk, bc otherwise we'd be exposed to tuberculosis, massive GI issues, and other pathogen-borne disease.
When we came to the US, you could just drink milk cold! straight from the bottle! with no gross coat to skim!
Welcome to communist-era Poland, y'all.
When we came to the US, you could just drink milk cold! straight from the bottle! with no gross coat to skim!
Welcome to communist-era Poland, y'all.
A must read, especially for anyone who thinks that making little concessions and keeping your head down will work:
August 28, 2025 at 5:18 PM
A must read, especially for anyone who thinks that making little concessions and keeping your head down will work:
Nicolae Ceaușescu was known as the Genius of the Carpathians, the Man of Humanity, the Hero of Heroes and Romania's First Architect. He was endlessly praised by his inner circle, the media, and state-organized public demonstrations.
And then came December 25, 1989.
And then came December 25, 1989.
Witkoff: "There's only one thing I wish for: that that Nobel committee finally gets its act together and realizes that you are the single finest candidate since that Nobel award was ever talked about."
August 26, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Nicolae Ceaușescu was known as the Genius of the Carpathians, the Man of Humanity, the Hero of Heroes and Romania's First Architect. He was endlessly praised by his inner circle, the media, and state-organized public demonstrations.
And then came December 25, 1989.
And then came December 25, 1989.
Stalin purged his brilliant general Mikhail Tukachevsky, known for his commitment to professionalism. He was executed, along with several other generals, in 1937. Stalin also purged over 35K officers.
The result was the Winter War disaster, and a near-total lack of preparation for Barbarossa.
The result was the Winter War disaster, and a near-total lack of preparation for Barbarossa.
This is the kind of choice that leads to a military that tells you you’ll take Kyiv the first day
BREAKING: Pete Hegseth fires the general whose agency's initial intel assessment of damage to Iran nuclear sites angered President Trump, AP sources say.
August 23, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Stalin purged his brilliant general Mikhail Tukachevsky, known for his commitment to professionalism. He was executed, along with several other generals, in 1937. Stalin also purged over 35K officers.
The result was the Winter War disaster, and a near-total lack of preparation for Barbarossa.
The result was the Winter War disaster, and a near-total lack of preparation for Barbarossa.
To punish critics and to intimidate dissidents, the communist parties in the Soviet bloc would conduct raids on their apartments, searching for more pretexts to put them on show trials.
BREAKING: FBI searches the home of ex-Trump national security adviser John Bolton as part of classified documents investigation, an AP source says.
Live updates: FBI searches home of ex-Trump national security adviser John Bolton, AP source says
The FBI is searching the home of President Donald Trump's former national security adviser John Bolton over the the handling of classified documents, per a person familiar with the matter.
bit.ly
August 22, 2025 at 3:11 PM
To punish critics and to intimidate dissidents, the communist parties in the Soviet bloc would conduct raids on their apartments, searching for more pretexts to put them on show trials.
You can end an assault immediately by saying you consent.
Just remember how you asked for it.
Just remember how you asked for it.
Trump announces that Ukraine will not get Crimea back and and no NATO for Ukraine
August 18, 2025 at 3:26 AM
You can end an assault immediately by saying you consent.
Just remember how you asked for it.
Just remember how you asked for it.
Red carpet for Putin:
August 18, 2025 at 3:09 AM
Red carpet for Putin:
Reposted by Anna Grzymala-Busse
At just over 2 troops per 1000 inhabitants, the deployment to DC is larger per capita than the US deployment in Afghanistan except during the Obama surge 2009-13.
Updated this story @taskandpurpose.com. Ohio and South Carolina are joining West Virginia in sending National Guard troops in DC. That brings the number of Guardsmen activated for this to ~1,500. taskandpurpose.com/news/west-vi...
3 states sending 700 National Guard troops to DC
At least 700 National Guard troops will be sent to Washington, D.C., nearly doubling the number of Guardsmen active in the capital.
taskandpurpose.com
August 17, 2025 at 9:41 PM
At just over 2 troops per 1000 inhabitants, the deployment to DC is larger per capita than the US deployment in Afghanistan except during the Obama surge 2009-13.
Putin plays Trump like a violin, over and over again.
Trump: "Vladimir Putin said something- one of the most interesting things. He said 'your election was rigged because you have mail in voting. It's impossible to have mail in voting & have honest elections.' He said that to me because we talked about 2020. He said, 'you won that election by so much'"
August 16, 2025 at 2:42 AM
Putin plays Trump like a violin, over and over again.
All that, and then the attentiveness/ admiring looks. Astonishing.
"We expect that Kyiv and the European capitals will perceive all of this in a constructive manner and will not create any obstacles. That they will not attempt to disrupt the emerging progress through provocation or behind-the-scenes intrigue."
And the US president is just standing there...
And the US president is just standing there...
Highlights of Putin statement after summit with Trump
Following are key quotes from Russian President Vladimir Putin's statement after meeting U.S. President Donald Trump in Alaska on Friday. Translation by Reuters.
www.reuters.com
August 16, 2025 at 1:25 AM
All that, and then the attentiveness/ admiring looks. Astonishing.
Putin scored a major PR victory: claiming agreement where none exists, once again trotting out the "root causes of the conflict canard," and getting his "businessmen" to do their intelligence jobs.
Trump profusely thanking him was just the cherry on top of this noxious sundae.
Trump profusely thanking him was just the cherry on top of this noxious sundae.
August 16, 2025 at 12:33 AM
Putin scored a major PR victory: claiming agreement where none exists, once again trotting out the "root causes of the conflict canard," and getting his "businessmen" to do their intelligence jobs.
Trump profusely thanking him was just the cherry on top of this noxious sundae.
Trump profusely thanking him was just the cherry on top of this noxious sundae.