Gautam Mukunda
@gmukunda.bsky.social
Lecturer @YaleSOM.bsky.social, Columnist @opinion.bloomberg.com, author Indispensable and Picking Presidents
Reposted by Gautam Mukunda
Leaders trapped in the past don’t become cautious; they become brittle. They mistake decisiveness for wisdom and blindness to risk for courage.
The Venezuela Raid Is a Lesson in Intellectual Regression
If you were dropped into the White House of the 1890s, much of Donald Trump’s presidency would look entirely unremarkable. Tariffs as a primary economic weapon? Routine. Casual threats of force against weaker neighbors? Common. Immigration restrictions framed in explicitly racial or cultural terms? Standard practice. Even the episodic flirtation with imperial intervention — such as the raid by US forces in Venezuela that seized President Nicolas Maduro — would have fit comfortably into the menta
bloom.bg
January 9, 2026 at 10:45 AM
Leaders trapped in the past don’t become cautious; they become brittle. They mistake decisiveness for wisdom and blindness to risk for courage.
Reposted by Gautam Mukunda
People who fancy quoting the Melian Dialogue ("the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must") ignore the fact that Thucydides was clearly portraying this as the kind of hubris that squandered Athens' primacy and paved the way for a devastating peer war that it ultimately lost.
January 7, 2026 at 3:36 AM
People who fancy quoting the Melian Dialogue ("the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must") ignore the fact that Thucydides was clearly portraying this as the kind of hubris that squandered Athens' primacy and paved the way for a devastating peer war that it ultimately lost.
Reposted by Gautam Mukunda
i asked chat gpt to fact check an article for me
December 8, 2025 at 9:33 PM
i asked chat gpt to fact check an article for me
Reposted by Gautam Mukunda
This is Cole. He is a deaf service dog at Dr. William Mennies Elementary School. He just turned 9, and all of his students learned sign language to sing him happy birthday at a massive party. 14/10 for all (IG: colethedeafdog)
November 20, 2025 at 9:16 PM
This is Cole. He is a deaf service dog at Dr. William Mennies Elementary School. He just turned 9, and all of his students learned sign language to sing him happy birthday at a massive party. 14/10 for all (IG: colethedeafdog)
Reposted by Gautam Mukunda
The dissent of Judge Jerry Smith
To read it, have a drink with!
In reasoning, scant,
It’s really a rant,
A swing and embarrassing mith!
To read it, have a drink with!
In reasoning, scant,
It’s really a rant,
A swing and embarrassing mith!
To recap: My law firm represented Black and Latino voters in striking down Texas' new congressional map.
The dissenting opinion mentions George Soros 17 times and me and my law firm 3 times (all about how connected to Soros I allegedly am). I have never seen anything like it.
The dissenting opinion mentions George Soros 17 times and me and my law firm 3 times (all about how connected to Soros I allegedly am). I have never seen anything like it.
In a remarkable and deeply unconventional dissent, U.S. Circuit Judge Jerry E. Smith unleashed a blistering and bizarre attack on his fellow judges after a federal court struck down Texas’ unconstitutional racial gerrymander. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
November 20, 2025 at 12:31 AM
The dissent of Judge Jerry Smith
To read it, have a drink with!
In reasoning, scant,
It’s really a rant,
A swing and embarrassing mith!
To read it, have a drink with!
In reasoning, scant,
It’s really a rant,
A swing and embarrassing mith!
Reposted by Gautam Mukunda
a lot of people regretting the 'this shoulda been an email' advice rn lol
November 13, 2025 at 3:57 AM
a lot of people regretting the 'this shoulda been an email' advice rn lol
Reposted by Gautam Mukunda
Joyce Carol Oates sitting across a desk from Kendrick Lamar:
"So I'm putting a team together..."
Isaac Chotiner knocks on the open door.
"So I'm putting a team together..."
Isaac Chotiner knocks on the open door.
Personally, I will be trying to avoid the notice of Joyce Carol Oates and Kendrick Lamar for the rest of my natural life
I need Joyce Carol Oates to be mean to me online so I can get my life together
November 11, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Joyce Carol Oates sitting across a desk from Kendrick Lamar:
"So I'm putting a team together..."
Isaac Chotiner knocks on the open door.
"So I'm putting a team together..."
Isaac Chotiner knocks on the open door.
Reposted by Gautam Mukunda
Can’t be wry or cool about what Ohtani did tonight.
No one like him in baseball. Never has been. And tonight he was incandescent.
No one like him in baseball. Never has been. And tonight he was incandescent.
October 18, 2025 at 2:53 AM
Can’t be wry or cool about what Ohtani did tonight.
No one like him in baseball. Never has been. And tonight he was incandescent.
No one like him in baseball. Never has been. And tonight he was incandescent.
Reposted by Gautam Mukunda
For Tolkien fans, a timely passage for No Kings Eve, from WH Auden’s review of Lord of the Rings.
October 18, 2025 at 4:13 AM
For Tolkien fans, a timely passage for No Kings Eve, from WH Auden’s review of Lord of the Rings.
Reposted by Gautam Mukunda
It was bad enough when Meta didn't prioritize safety with social media. The stakes with AI are even higher
Meta’s Chatbot Scandal Is Really a Culture Problem
It was bad enough when the company didn’t prioritize safety with social media. The stakes with AI are even higher.
bloom.bg
September 27, 2025 at 12:30 PM
It was bad enough when Meta didn't prioritize safety with social media. The stakes with AI are even higher
Reposted by Gautam Mukunda
Trump: Jimmy Kimmel is next
Trump admin: We will definitely exploit this murder to censor our critics
Carr: ABC must fire Jimmy Kimmel
ABC, minutes later: We have suspended Jimmy Kimmel
Anti-cancel culture crusader: I sure wish this clear business decision didn’t look so much like censorship!
Trump admin: We will definitely exploit this murder to censor our critics
Carr: ABC must fire Jimmy Kimmel
ABC, minutes later: We have suspended Jimmy Kimmel
Anti-cancel culture crusader: I sure wish this clear business decision didn’t look so much like censorship!
September 18, 2025 at 1:49 AM
Trump: Jimmy Kimmel is next
Trump admin: We will definitely exploit this murder to censor our critics
Carr: ABC must fire Jimmy Kimmel
ABC, minutes later: We have suspended Jimmy Kimmel
Anti-cancel culture crusader: I sure wish this clear business decision didn’t look so much like censorship!
Trump admin: We will definitely exploit this murder to censor our critics
Carr: ABC must fire Jimmy Kimmel
ABC, minutes later: We have suspended Jimmy Kimmel
Anti-cancel culture crusader: I sure wish this clear business decision didn’t look so much like censorship!
Reposted by Gautam Mukunda
I’m afraid to comment on what Chotiner did to Cass Sunstein lest said Chotiner learn my name and for some reason wish to interview me. (About the Yankees?)
As my friend @gmukunda.bsky.social said awhile back, if Isaac Chotiner called to interview him he’d change his name and leave the country.
As my friend @gmukunda.bsky.social said awhile back, if Isaac Chotiner called to interview him he’d change his name and leave the country.
September 23, 2025 at 10:29 PM
I’m afraid to comment on what Chotiner did to Cass Sunstein lest said Chotiner learn my name and for some reason wish to interview me. (About the Yankees?)
As my friend @gmukunda.bsky.social said awhile back, if Isaac Chotiner called to interview him he’d change his name and leave the country.
As my friend @gmukunda.bsky.social said awhile back, if Isaac Chotiner called to interview him he’d change his name and leave the country.
I continue to fail to understand why people Isaac Chotiner wants to interview don’t take the simple expedient of faking their own deaths and moving to a different country.
September 23, 2025 at 9:54 PM
I continue to fail to understand why people Isaac Chotiner wants to interview don’t take the simple expedient of faking their own deaths and moving to a different country.
Reposted by Gautam Mukunda
Reposted by Gautam Mukunda
We must stand resolutely against political assassination and political violence of all kinds, and just as resolutely against everyone who exploits acts of violence as the pretext or excuse for political repression of political opponents.
Very, very bad stuff coming from leading right-wingers
September 10, 2025 at 9:12 PM
We must stand resolutely against political assassination and political violence of all kinds, and just as resolutely against everyone who exploits acts of violence as the pretext or excuse for political repression of political opponents.
Reposted by Gautam Mukunda
This is Horus. He got a lot of attention on a recent flight in Mexico. Clearly the other passengers have never flown with someone so handsome. 14/10 we're told he was very well behaved (TT: denniabuendagalvn, paulinagtza_, cheetahbash, cristianjbetancourt)
August 6, 2025 at 6:09 PM
This is Horus. He got a lot of attention on a recent flight in Mexico. Clearly the other passengers have never flown with someone so handsome. 14/10 we're told he was very well behaved (TT: denniabuendagalvn, paulinagtza_, cheetahbash, cristianjbetancourt)
Reposted by Gautam Mukunda
For context:
Jimmy Carter decided to put his small peanut business into blind trust, to avoid any appearance of conflict of interest.
Trump is admitting squalidness of a depth most of us have never dreamt of.
(Virginia G was one of the bravest and most tragic Epstein victims. Trump knew her.)
Jimmy Carter decided to put his small peanut business into blind trust, to avoid any appearance of conflict of interest.
Trump is admitting squalidness of a depth most of us have never dreamt of.
(Virginia G was one of the bravest and most tragic Epstein victims. Trump knew her.)
Trump: People were taken out of the spa, hired by Epstein… I told him we don’t want you taking our people, whether it’s spa or not spa. He did it again, I said out of here.
Reporter: Was one of the stolen people Virginia Giuffre?
Trump: I think so. He stole her.
Reporter: Was one of the stolen people Virginia Giuffre?
Trump: I think so. He stole her.
July 29, 2025 at 11:23 PM
For context:
Jimmy Carter decided to put his small peanut business into blind trust, to avoid any appearance of conflict of interest.
Trump is admitting squalidness of a depth most of us have never dreamt of.
(Virginia G was one of the bravest and most tragic Epstein victims. Trump knew her.)
Jimmy Carter decided to put his small peanut business into blind trust, to avoid any appearance of conflict of interest.
Trump is admitting squalidness of a depth most of us have never dreamt of.
(Virginia G was one of the bravest and most tragic Epstein victims. Trump knew her.)
Reposted by Gautam Mukunda
This is Cosmo. He doesn't believe in stranger danger. Because strangers are just friends you haven't met yet. 13/10 (TT: lawdogcosmo)
July 29, 2025 at 11:31 PM
This is Cosmo. He doesn't believe in stranger danger. Because strangers are just friends you haven't met yet. 13/10 (TT: lawdogcosmo)
Reposted by Gautam Mukunda
When no one knows which conspiracy theory to believe, and you partake in a movement animated by conspiracies about everything, two things tend to happen: fault lines develop within the cult and then its members start turning on one another. www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...
Epstein Conspiracies Split Trump, Musk and the MAGAsphere
The president is learning the consequences of courting outlandish theories.
www.bloomberg.com
July 14, 2025 at 11:24 AM
When no one knows which conspiracy theory to believe, and you partake in a movement animated by conspiracies about everything, two things tend to happen: fault lines develop within the cult and then its members start turning on one another. www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...
Reposted by Gautam Mukunda
Attorney General Pam Bondi has fired her personal ethics adviser, removing the Justice Department’s top official responsible for counseling the most senior political appointees. news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Bondi Fires Her Personal Ethics Chief as DOJ Purge Continues (1)
Attorney General Pam Bondi has fired her personal ethics adviser, removing the Justice Department’s top official responsible for counseling the most senior political appointees, according to two peopl...
news.bloomberglaw.com
July 14, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Attorney General Pam Bondi has fired her personal ethics adviser, removing the Justice Department’s top official responsible for counseling the most senior political appointees. news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Reposted by Gautam Mukunda
All well & good dunking on Bezos, but this is an odd argument by @rutgerbregman.com: the Republic of Venice thrived for *half a millennium* after 1297, with the city’s power peaking in the 15th century. Most historians understand the Serrata as what *cemented* Venice’s successful republican system.
June 28, 2025 at 2:57 PM
All well & good dunking on Bezos, but this is an odd argument by @rutgerbregman.com: the Republic of Venice thrived for *half a millennium* after 1297, with the city’s power peaking in the 15th century. Most historians understand the Serrata as what *cemented* Venice’s successful republican system.
Reposted by Gautam Mukunda
“ICE gets a bigger budget than the Marine Corps” is a simple fact that should be communicated very widely because it clearly expresses how crazy and radical this is
With this budget, ICE alone would have nearly as large a detention operation as all 50 states' prison systems combined. Bigger budget than the Marine Corps. Police-state levels of spending
If the GOP reconciliation bill passes, ICE gets through FY2029:
- $45 billion for detention, on top of the current annual budget of $3.4 billion
- $14.4 billion for transportation and removal, on top of the current annual budget of $750 million
- $8 billion for hiring/retention
- Billions more.
- $45 billion for detention, on top of the current annual budget of $3.4 billion
- $14.4 billion for transportation and removal, on top of the current annual budget of $750 million
- $8 billion for hiring/retention
- Billions more.
June 29, 2025 at 2:26 PM
“ICE gets a bigger budget than the Marine Corps” is a simple fact that should be communicated very widely because it clearly expresses how crazy and radical this is
Reposted by Gautam Mukunda
Both Vice President JD Vance and Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, acknowledged questions about the whereabouts of Iran’s stockpile of near-bomb-grade nuclear material.
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/22/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/22/u...
Officials Concede They Don’t Know the Fate of Iran’s Uranium Stockpile
www.nytimes.com
June 23, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Both Vice President JD Vance and Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, acknowledged questions about the whereabouts of Iran’s stockpile of near-bomb-grade nuclear material.
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/22/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/22/u...
Reposted by Gautam Mukunda
“Eight year olds, dude.”
BREAKING: Federal agents in plain clothes and unmarked cars tried to snatch 1st graders from LA elementary schools—told staff they had “parental consent.”
They lied. When pressed, they HID THEIR IDS. DHS admits they sent them. This wasn’t a welfare check. It was a test run for a police state.
They lied. When pressed, they HID THEIR IDS. DHS admits they sent them. This wasn’t a welfare check. It was a test run for a police state.
June 10, 2025 at 5:18 AM
“Eight year olds, dude.”