Peter Blitstein
@pblitstein.bsky.social
Provost and Dean of Faculty at Lawrence University. Scholar of Russian history.
Reposted by Peter Blitstein
You don’t know who we just disappeared to El Salvador. Think about that.
March 17, 2025 at 12:35 AM
You don’t know who we just disappeared to El Salvador. Think about that.
Reposted by Peter Blitstein
American politics makes a lot more sense when you realize that the GOP is afraid of pissing off the GOP base, and the Dems are afraid of pissing off the GOP base, but neither party is afraid of pissing off the Dem base.
March 14, 2025 at 10:24 PM
American politics makes a lot more sense when you realize that the GOP is afraid of pissing off the GOP base, and the Dems are afraid of pissing off the GOP base, but neither party is afraid of pissing off the Dem base.
Reposted by Peter Blitstein
Crucial memo shared with me that was sent out to all Department of Justice staffers tonight from Attorney General Pam Bondi:
![Office of the Attorney General
Washington, D.C. 20530
March 11, 2025
MEMORANDUM FOR ALL DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES
FROM: THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
SUBJECT: ENDING PROCUREMENT OF PAPER STRAWS
President Trump recognized that there has been "[a]n irrational campaign against plastic straws” that has led to the forced use of nonfunctional, more expensive, and potentially hazardous, paper straws. The Department stands with the President in rejecting these misguided efforts.
On February 10, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order, Ending Procurement and Forced Use of Paper Straws (Feb. 10, 2025), that restores reason, saves money, and protects human health and the environment by making clear that it is "the Policy of the United States to end the use of paper straws." The Executive Order additionally directed the heads of executive departments and agencies to "take all appropriate action to eliminate the procurement of paper straws and otherwise ensure that paper straws are no longer provided within agency buildings" and to "take appropriate action to eliminate policies designed to disfavor plastic straws."
In accordance with President Trump's direction, it is the policy of the Department to eliminate the procurement and provision of paper straws. The Justice Management Division (and other Department components, if applicable) shall take appropriate action to eliminate the procurement of paper straws and ensure that paper straws are no longer provided within Department buildings. Department components shall take appropriate action to identify and eliminate any portion of policy or guidance documents designed to disfavor plastic straws.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ejihld4sywvvqwe67cdkn4jq/bafkreie5p33dnb4kjxzsdbr6nbvq4qna2xrpelb54ldg6nhxkvylvusnnq@jpeg)
March 12, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Crucial memo shared with me that was sent out to all Department of Justice staffers tonight from Attorney General Pam Bondi:
Reposted by Peter Blitstein
The first lesson of Whiggism was "the legislature must control the power of the purse."
The first lesson of classical market liberalism was "trade wars are bad."
The lesson of the first crisis of the 1787 American constitution was "the Alien and Sedition Acts are bad."
The first lesson of classical market liberalism was "trade wars are bad."
The lesson of the first crisis of the 1787 American constitution was "the Alien and Sedition Acts are bad."
March 10, 2025 at 2:54 PM
The first lesson of Whiggism was "the legislature must control the power of the purse."
The first lesson of classical market liberalism was "trade wars are bad."
The lesson of the first crisis of the 1787 American constitution was "the Alien and Sedition Acts are bad."
The first lesson of classical market liberalism was "trade wars are bad."
The lesson of the first crisis of the 1787 American constitution was "the Alien and Sedition Acts are bad."
Reposted by Peter Blitstein
The idea of putting mayonnaise on a Katz’s sandwich is abhorrent
February 10, 2025 at 1:01 AM
The idea of putting mayonnaise on a Katz’s sandwich is abhorrent
Reposted by Peter Blitstein
Every single right-wing thinker for the past decade: "Liberal democracy is over, when we get in power we're gonna try to do a dictatorship"
Pundits: "I think we can agree Trump is a little unconventional, but perhaps this time he may surprise us"
Pundits: "I think we can agree Trump is a little unconventional, but perhaps this time he may surprise us"
February 7, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Every single right-wing thinker for the past decade: "Liberal democracy is over, when we get in power we're gonna try to do a dictatorship"
Pundits: "I think we can agree Trump is a little unconventional, but perhaps this time he may surprise us"
Pundits: "I think we can agree Trump is a little unconventional, but perhaps this time he may surprise us"
Reposted by Peter Blitstein
Many people visit New York this time of year, so I would like to provide you with a helpful tip: find the coffee or bagel or pizza place with the long line outside, and then go about two blocks down the street. It's the other place that you want.
December 12, 2024 at 11:12 PM
Many people visit New York this time of year, so I would like to provide you with a helpful tip: find the coffee or bagel or pizza place with the long line outside, and then go about two blocks down the street. It's the other place that you want.
Reposted by Peter Blitstein
Meal prepping is like “what if for lunch every day I gave myself a tiny little punishment for being alive?”
September 27, 2024 at 7:58 PM
Meal prepping is like “what if for lunch every day I gave myself a tiny little punishment for being alive?”