Brian Taylor
@bdtaylor-su.bsky.social
Professor @SUpolisci and Director of the Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs, Maxwell School, Syracuse University. Latest book: Russian Politics: A Very Short Introduction. http://amzn.to/3gdhiFe
🚨New book alert!🚨
"Once Upon a Russia: Voices From a Vanished Era," edited by
Steven Fisher.
"Over one hundred vivid, personal accounts from foreigners who lived, worked, or wandered through Russia during a time that now feels irretrievably past." (Including 1 by me.)
At the usual outlets.
"Once Upon a Russia: Voices From a Vanished Era," edited by
Steven Fisher.
"Over one hundred vivid, personal accounts from foreigners who lived, worked, or wandered through Russia during a time that now feels irretrievably past." (Including 1 by me.)
At the usual outlets.
November 14, 2025 at 9:14 PM
🚨New book alert!🚨
"Once Upon a Russia: Voices From a Vanished Era," edited by
Steven Fisher.
"Over one hundred vivid, personal accounts from foreigners who lived, worked, or wandered through Russia during a time that now feels irretrievably past." (Including 1 by me.)
At the usual outlets.
"Once Upon a Russia: Voices From a Vanished Era," edited by
Steven Fisher.
"Over one hundred vivid, personal accounts from foreigners who lived, worked, or wandered through Russia during a time that now feels irretrievably past." (Including 1 by me.)
At the usual outlets.
This "terrorist and extremist" was a member of the Russian Presidential Council for the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights as recently as 2019 and was named one of the "Women of the Year" by the Russian version of Glamour in 2020.
November 13, 2025 at 3:17 PM
This "terrorist and extremist" was a member of the Russian Presidential Council for the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights as recently as 2019 and was named one of the "Women of the Year" by the Russian version of Glamour in 2020.
Levada Center Russia survey: "Would you be more likely to approve or disapprove if a member of your family or loved one signed a contract to participate in the special military operation?"
May 23: 52% approve, 41% disapprove
Apr 24: 47% app, 44% dis
Oct 24: 40% app, 42% dis
Oct 25: 30% app, 55% dis
May 23: 52% approve, 41% disapprove
Apr 24: 47% app, 44% dis
Oct 24: 40% app, 42% dis
Oct 25: 30% app, 55% dis
November 13, 2025 at 3:59 AM
Levada Center Russia survey: "Would you be more likely to approve or disapprove if a member of your family or loved one signed a contract to participate in the special military operation?"
May 23: 52% approve, 41% disapprove
Apr 24: 47% app, 44% dis
Oct 24: 40% app, 42% dis
Oct 25: 30% app, 55% dis
May 23: 52% approve, 41% disapprove
Apr 24: 47% app, 44% dis
Oct 24: 40% app, 42% dis
Oct 25: 30% app, 55% dis
Putin envoy Dmitriev claims in his most recent meeting with Trump envoy Witkoff they discussed "the US proposal to prohibit nazi ideology in Ukraine."
This means 2 things:
1) "Denazification" (ie regime change) is still on the agenda for Russia, not just territory;
2) Witkoff remains an idiot.
This means 2 things:
1) "Denazification" (ie regime change) is still on the agenda for Russia, not just territory;
2) Witkoff remains an idiot.
November 7, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Putin envoy Dmitriev claims in his most recent meeting with Trump envoy Witkoff they discussed "the US proposal to prohibit nazi ideology in Ukraine."
This means 2 things:
1) "Denazification" (ie regime change) is still on the agenda for Russia, not just territory;
2) Witkoff remains an idiot.
This means 2 things:
1) "Denazification" (ie regime change) is still on the agenda for Russia, not just territory;
2) Witkoff remains an idiot.
New project from Proekt Media about how ruling Russia is a family affair for Putin. Lovers, kids, cousins, in-laws, nieces - 24 in all. He's been in power so long that there are 3 generations of Putin's working for the state or state companies. 1/2
www.agents.media/putin-pomog-...
www.agents.media/putin-pomog-...
November 6, 2025 at 5:07 PM
New project from Proekt Media about how ruling Russia is a family affair for Putin. Lovers, kids, cousins, in-laws, nieces - 24 in all. He's been in power so long that there are 3 generations of Putin's working for the state or state companies. 1/2
www.agents.media/putin-pomog-...
www.agents.media/putin-pomog-...
I think Kubrick would have liked this passage from today's Russian Security Council meeting, where they discussed Trump's post about resuming nuclear testing. The whole thing was great theater. This is from Sergey Naryshkin, head of foreign intel (yeah, that guy):
en.kremlin.ru/events/presi...
en.kremlin.ru/events/presi...
November 6, 2025 at 3:48 AM
I think Kubrick would have liked this passage from today's Russian Security Council meeting, where they discussed Trump's post about resuming nuclear testing. The whole thing was great theater. This is from Sergey Naryshkin, head of foreign intel (yeah, that guy):
en.kremlin.ru/events/presi...
en.kremlin.ru/events/presi...
Mamdani has demonstrated impeccable judgment on the most important issue, I think he’ll make a great mayor.
November 5, 2025 at 2:50 AM
Mamdani has demonstrated impeccable judgment on the most important issue, I think he’ll make a great mayor.
NYC folks interested in Ukraine, Russia, & human rights law. Very excited about this special Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs @maxwellsu.bsky.social event Monday November 10 at 6 pm. Featuring Judge Ioannis Ktistakis of the ECHR.
Register at link. In person.
www.maxwell.syr.edu/events/2025/...
Register at link. In person.
www.maxwell.syr.edu/events/2025/...
November 4, 2025 at 5:12 PM
NYC folks interested in Ukraine, Russia, & human rights law. Very excited about this special Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs @maxwellsu.bsky.social event Monday November 10 at 6 pm. Featuring Judge Ioannis Ktistakis of the ECHR.
Register at link. In person.
www.maxwell.syr.edu/events/2025/...
Register at link. In person.
www.maxwell.syr.edu/events/2025/...
🥳🎂
Happy 1st birthday to Russian Politics: A Very Short Introduction! Cover and table of contents below, with link to Oxford University Press website.
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
Happy 1st birthday to Russian Politics: A Very Short Introduction! Cover and table of contents below, with link to Oxford University Press website.
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
October 31, 2025 at 2:34 PM
🥳🎂
Happy 1st birthday to Russian Politics: A Very Short Introduction! Cover and table of contents below, with link to Oxford University Press website.
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
Happy 1st birthday to Russian Politics: A Very Short Introduction! Cover and table of contents below, with link to Oxford University Press website.
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
If we can believe Lavrov here (I know, I know), I'd really like to know what proposals Witkoff was making prior to and at Anchorage.
msknews77.ru/society/2025...
msknews77.ru/society/2025...
October 28, 2025 at 2:54 PM
If we can believe Lavrov here (I know, I know), I'd really like to know what proposals Witkoff was making prior to and at Anchorage.
msknews77.ru/society/2025...
msknews77.ru/society/2025...
Checking something on DOJ website just now and greeted by this nonsense header. This is not normal.
October 27, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Checking something on DOJ website just now and greeted by this nonsense header. This is not normal.
Not a terrible game to miss even though an important win
October 27, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Not a terrible game to miss even though an important win
2 days in a row. Don't make me do a whole article comparing Putin and Trump sycophants.
"God put you [Putin] in power so that you could perform a service of special importance and of great responsibility for the fate of the country and the people entrusted to your care."
- Patriarch Kirill
"God put you [Putin] in power so that you could perform a service of special importance and of great responsibility for the fate of the country and the people entrusted to your care."
- Patriarch Kirill
October 24, 2025 at 2:37 PM
2 days in a row. Don't make me do a whole article comparing Putin and Trump sycophants.
"God put you [Putin] in power so that you could perform a service of special importance and of great responsibility for the fate of the country and the people entrusted to your care."
- Patriarch Kirill
"God put you [Putin] in power so that you could perform a service of special importance and of great responsibility for the fate of the country and the people entrusted to your care."
- Patriarch Kirill
COIN is coming back, but there's a nuance...
October 23, 2025 at 7:07 PM
COIN is coming back, but there's a nuance...
With the discussion about how Putin could get to Hungary for a possible meeting with Trump given the ICC warrant for Putin's arrest, a reminder of the basis for the ICC warrant, issued in March 2023:
www.icc-cpi.int/news/situati...
www.icc-cpi.int/news/situati...
October 17, 2025 at 5:00 PM
With the discussion about how Putin could get to Hungary for a possible meeting with Trump given the ICC warrant for Putin's arrest, a reminder of the basis for the ICC warrant, issued in March 2023:
www.icc-cpi.int/news/situati...
www.icc-cpi.int/news/situati...
Was off the grid for a few days in the Adirondacks High Peaks region.
October 15, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Was off the grid for a few days in the Adirondacks High Peaks region.
Putin turns 73 on October 7. He was 46 when he first became Prime Minister in August 1999. Since that time he has been either Prime Minister or President for more than 26 years, more than 1/3 of his life. In 2004, he said "one could go crazy" working as president for 7 years.
October 7, 2025 at 12:09 AM
Putin turns 73 on October 7. He was 46 when he first became Prime Minister in August 1999. Since that time he has been either Prime Minister or President for more than 26 years, more than 1/3 of his life. In 2004, he said "one could go crazy" working as president for 7 years.
I find this very funny (sorry, non-Russian speakers)
Путин и Трамп общаются на "ты"
Путин и Трамп общаются на "ты"
September 24, 2025 at 5:48 PM
I find this very funny (sorry, non-Russian speakers)
Путин и Трамп общаются на "ты"
Путин и Трамп общаются на "ты"
2 weeks ago, I registered for compensation from the class action settlement agreed to by Anthropic for using authors' books & articles to train its AI model without permission. Today:
September 24, 2025 at 1:22 PM
2 weeks ago, I registered for compensation from the class action settlement agreed to by Anthropic for using authors' books & articles to train its AI model without permission. Today:
I know it's a cliche, but yet another move that looks like it's straight from the Russian playbook
September 20, 2025 at 2:18 AM
I know it's a cliche, but yet another move that looks like it's straight from the Russian playbook
WTF Google. None of these people were "Secretary of War"
September 19, 2025 at 8:31 PM
WTF Google. None of these people were "Secretary of War"
Timeline cleanse: clip of Cowboy Junkies, “Sweet Jane,” in Ithaca last night.
September 18, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Timeline cleanse: clip of Cowboy Junkies, “Sweet Jane,” in Ithaca last night.
Trump designating "Antifa" a "terrorist organization" is as absurd and dangerous as the Russian state 2 years ago designating "the international LGBT movement" an "extremist organization."
September 18, 2025 at 4:11 AM
Trump designating "Antifa" a "terrorist organization" is as absurd and dangerous as the Russian state 2 years ago designating "the international LGBT movement" an "extremist organization."