Elizabeth N. Saunders
@profsaunders.bsky.social
Professor of Political Science & Director of the Saltzman Institute of War & Peace Studies, Columbia. New Book: The Insiders' Game: How Elites Make War and Peace https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691215808/the-insiders-game
Pinned
Hard to think through problems when we are in a mode where the current problem gets eaten by a bigger problem within hours.
"A topography of silence and absences" -- @qjurecic.bsky.social on what "The Third Red Scare" is doing to us.
This is really good--one of the most powerful and insightful pieces I've read about what @qjurecic.bsky.social appropriately calls "The Third Red Scare." www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
November 10, 2025 at 4:36 PM
"A topography of silence and absences" -- @qjurecic.bsky.social on what "The Third Red Scare" is doing to us.
Reposted by Elizabeth N. Saunders
This is really good--one of the most powerful and insightful pieces I've read about what @qjurecic.bsky.social appropriately calls "The Third Red Scare." www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
November 10, 2025 at 4:10 PM
This is really good--one of the most powerful and insightful pieces I've read about what @qjurecic.bsky.social appropriately calls "The Third Red Scare." www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Ending or cutting back SNAP was the point, so why believe R's will do anything to stop the Trump administration from trying other ways once the government re-opens?
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TELLS U.S. SUPREME COURT IT CONTINUES TO SEEK HALT OF JUDGE'S ORDER THAT REQUIRED IT TO FULLY FUND FOOD AID THIS MONTH FOR 42 MILLION AMERICANS
November 10, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Ending or cutting back SNAP was the point, so why believe R's will do anything to stop the Trump administration from trying other ways once the government re-opens?
Reposted by Elizabeth N. Saunders
The United States killed six more men in Sunday strikes on suspected drug boats. Our news article and tracker on this offensive, which has killed at least 76 people in 19 attacks in the Pacific and the Caribbean Sea since early September.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/u...
U.S. Military Kills 6 in Strikes on Suspected Drug Boats, Hegseth Says
www.nytimes.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:40 PM
The United States killed six more men in Sunday strikes on suspected drug boats. Our news article and tracker on this offensive, which has killed at least 76 people in 19 attacks in the Pacific and the Caribbean Sea since early September.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/u...
REALLY this 👇
if they were going to cave anyway they should’ve done it a week ago to spare SNAP recipients the agony.
November 10, 2025 at 12:54 AM
REALLY this 👇
This this this
I think some of you have not taken a single moment to consider that the people who’ve been out of work for the last 40 days and who are presently staring down the prospect of going into the holiday season without a paycheck are *also* calling their congresspeople.
November 10, 2025 at 12:49 AM
This this this
Reposted by Elizabeth N. Saunders
tomorrow's announcement on truth social
darth vader says " i am altering the deal pray i don t alter it any further "
Alt: darth vader says " i am altering the deal pray i don t alter it any further "
media.tenor.com
November 10, 2025 at 12:44 AM
tomorrow's announcement on truth social
Reposted by Elizabeth N. Saunders
Exactly.
Someone just asked me "but is political gain (vs Trump) worth seismic political risk?"
Allowing Trump to function as a lawless dictator without any pushback from Congress IS the seismic political risk here.
Someone just asked me "but is political gain (vs Trump) worth seismic political risk?"
Allowing Trump to function as a lawless dictator without any pushback from Congress IS the seismic political risk here.
Democrats have to stop bailing out Republicans from facing the consequences of their own policies. And yeah, that means they have to stop sparing voters from experiencing what GOP government truly means.
Every time Dems step in, it only emboldens the GOP & they make it even worse the next time.
Every time Dems step in, it only emboldens the GOP & they make it even worse the next time.
So Democrats get:
1. A CR that will prevent the GOP from facing the wrath of Americans for a shutdown over the holidays
2. A coupon for one (1) meaningless ACA vote that will fail
3. An end to the illegal RIF/SNAP moves that are already before the courts
Those all seem like wins for the GOP.
1. A CR that will prevent the GOP from facing the wrath of Americans for a shutdown over the holidays
2. A coupon for one (1) meaningless ACA vote that will fail
3. An end to the illegal RIF/SNAP moves that are already before the courts
Those all seem like wins for the GOP.
November 10, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Exactly.
Someone just asked me "but is political gain (vs Trump) worth seismic political risk?"
Allowing Trump to function as a lawless dictator without any pushback from Congress IS the seismic political risk here.
Someone just asked me "but is political gain (vs Trump) worth seismic political risk?"
Allowing Trump to function as a lawless dictator without any pushback from Congress IS the seismic political risk here.
And the credible commitment from R’s not to let the administration make facts on the ground is where?
Here's the full text of the deal:
- House CR extended to January 30, no RIFs permitted until then
- Minibus
- Ds get a filibusterable ACA vote in December
Read the text:
hillheat.com/files/467/co...
- House CR extended to January 30, no RIFs permitted until then
- Minibus
- Ds get a filibusterable ACA vote in December
Read the text:
hillheat.com/files/467/co...
November 10, 2025 at 12:21 AM
And the credible commitment from R’s not to let the administration make facts on the ground is where?
Thanks @cambup-polsci.cambridge.org for ungating my @iojournal.bsky.social article on presidential advisers!
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
November 9, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Thanks @cambup-polsci.cambridge.org for ungating my @iojournal.bsky.social article on presidential advisers!
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Reposted by Elizabeth N. Saunders
Trump may strike Venezuela. His team makes that very risky -
@profsaunders.bsky.social references her @iojournal.bsky.social article in her @goodauth.bsky.social piece on presidential advisers -
https://cup.org/43oHMim
@profsaunders.bsky.social references her @iojournal.bsky.social article in her @goodauth.bsky.social piece on presidential advisers -
https://cup.org/43oHMim
Trump may strike Venezuela. His team makes that very risky.
Take a close look at who is advising the president on U.S. policy.
goodauthority.org
November 9, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Trump may strike Venezuela. His team makes that very risky -
@profsaunders.bsky.social references her @iojournal.bsky.social article in her @goodauth.bsky.social piece on presidential advisers -
https://cup.org/43oHMim
@profsaunders.bsky.social references her @iojournal.bsky.social article in her @goodauth.bsky.social piece on presidential advisers -
https://cup.org/43oHMim
Reposted by Elizabeth N. Saunders
Chinese naval analysts trying to make sense of it all staring at a map of American ships doing doughnuts between Venezuela and Nigeria.
“Last week, the Pentagon ordered an aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald Ford, to join the large buildup of U.S. forces off the Venezuelan coast. Trump and his team have talked openly about attacking targets inside Venezuela.” @profsaunders.bsky.social
Trump may strike Venezuela. His team makes that very risky.
Take a close look at who is advising the president on U.S. policy.
goodauthority.org
November 9, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Chinese naval analysts trying to make sense of it all staring at a map of American ships doing doughnuts between Venezuela and Nigeria.
Reposted by Elizabeth N. Saunders
“Last week, the Pentagon ordered an aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald Ford, to join the large buildup of U.S. forces off the Venezuelan coast. Trump and his team have talked openly about attacking targets inside Venezuela.” @profsaunders.bsky.social
Trump may strike Venezuela. His team makes that very risky.
Take a close look at who is advising the president on U.S. policy.
goodauthority.org
November 9, 2025 at 6:44 PM
“Last week, the Pentagon ordered an aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald Ford, to join the large buildup of U.S. forces off the Venezuelan coast. Trump and his team have talked openly about attacking targets inside Venezuela.” @profsaunders.bsky.social
Universities’ rollout of AI feels similar…who could possibly have foreseen? (Everyone)
“gambling is the worst, most game integrity destroying crime you can commit against the game of baseball
now please read this sports betting advertisement, they’re our biggest sponsor”
truly one of the most predictable disasters of all time
now please read this sports betting advertisement, they’re our biggest sponsor”
truly one of the most predictable disasters of all time
November 9, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Universities’ rollout of AI feels similar…who could possibly have foreseen? (Everyone)
Reposted by Elizabeth N. Saunders
“gambling is the worst, most game integrity destroying crime you can commit against the game of baseball
now please read this sports betting advertisement, they’re our biggest sponsor”
truly one of the most predictable disasters of all time
now please read this sports betting advertisement, they’re our biggest sponsor”
truly one of the most predictable disasters of all time
November 9, 2025 at 6:46 PM
“gambling is the worst, most game integrity destroying crime you can commit against the game of baseball
now please read this sports betting advertisement, they’re our biggest sponsor”
truly one of the most predictable disasters of all time
now please read this sports betting advertisement, they’re our biggest sponsor”
truly one of the most predictable disasters of all time
Reposted by Elizabeth N. Saunders
This was inevitable. And it's astonishing to me that the major sport whose history is most marked by very well-known gambling scandals (the Black Sox, Pete Rose) has so promoted betting on baseball in recent years.
November 9, 2025 at 6:45 PM
This was inevitable. And it's astonishing to me that the major sport whose history is most marked by very well-known gambling scandals (the Black Sox, Pete Rose) has so promoted betting on baseball in recent years.
Reposted by Elizabeth N. Saunders
Terrific piece by @profsaunders.bsky.social on Trump's foreign policy advising and the risks it runs.
goodauthority.org/news/trump-m...
goodauthority.org/news/trump-m...
Trump may strike Venezuela. His team makes that very risky.
Take a close look at who is advising the president on U.S. policy.
goodauthority.org
November 9, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Terrific piece by @profsaunders.bsky.social on Trump's foreign policy advising and the risks it runs.
goodauthority.org/news/trump-m...
goodauthority.org/news/trump-m...
Reposted by Elizabeth N. Saunders
Hegseth has fired two dozen top military commanders and derailed the promotions of others.
“His actions…have come with little explanation. In many cases, they have run counter to the advice of top military leaders who fought alongside the officers in combat.”
“His actions…have come with little explanation. In many cases, they have run counter to the advice of top military leaders who fought alongside the officers in combat.”
Explore this gift article from The New York Times. You can read it for free without a subscription. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/u...
Please readl. Hegseth is such a disgrace. We have lost so much fine leadership.
Please readl. Hegseth is such a disgrace. We have lost so much fine leadership.
Hegseth Is Purging Military Leaders With Little Explanation
www.nytimes.com
November 8, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Hegseth has fired two dozen top military commanders and derailed the promotions of others.
“His actions…have come with little explanation. In many cases, they have run counter to the advice of top military leaders who fought alongside the officers in combat.”
“His actions…have come with little explanation. In many cases, they have run counter to the advice of top military leaders who fought alongside the officers in combat.”
Reposted by Elizabeth N. Saunders
We're disappointed to see Ben Barres's powerful book "The Autobiography of a Transgender Scientist" among the ~400 titles removed from the Naval Academy Library. Needless to say, we're proud to have published his book and will keep it — and his memory — alive.
The Coming Out of a Transgender Scientist
"I know that I am making the right decision because whenever I think about changing my gender role, I am flooded with feelings of relief."
thereader.mitpress.mit.edu
April 8, 2025 at 8:24 PM
We're disappointed to see Ben Barres's powerful book "The Autobiography of a Transgender Scientist" among the ~400 titles removed from the Naval Academy Library. Needless to say, we're proud to have published his book and will keep it — and his memory — alive.
Reposted by Elizabeth N. Saunders
Just remembering that the conventional wisdom that was building in the minds of senior officers around me in March was that despite all that was going on, at least the guidance was clear and consistent.
I don't hear that much anymore. Lol.
I don't hear that much anymore. Lol.
So, uh, what exactly is our defense posture? Does anyone know what our China policy is? Will we have any generals to implement it?
November 8, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Just remembering that the conventional wisdom that was building in the minds of senior officers around me in March was that despite all that was going on, at least the guidance was clear and consistent.
I don't hear that much anymore. Lol.
I don't hear that much anymore. Lol.
“Mr. Hegseth’s moves have fed the impression that there are pro-Trump and anti-Trump generals, officials said.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/u...
Hegseth Is Purging Military Leaders With Little Explanation
www.nytimes.com
November 8, 2025 at 1:27 PM
“Mr. Hegseth’s moves have fed the impression that there are pro-Trump and anti-Trump generals, officials said.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/u...
Reposted by Elizabeth N. Saunders
The Omnimergency Presidency
Some belated thoughts on the Supreme Court arguments about the tariffs: danieldrezner.substack.com/p/sometimes-...
Sometimes Constitutional Law is Dumb
A meditation on the Supreme Court argument regarding Trump's tariffs
danieldrezner.substack.com
November 8, 2025 at 1:04 PM
The Omnimergency Presidency
Reposted by Elizabeth N. Saunders
If anyone’s actually concerned about mass migration and/or drug trafficking, collapsing the Venezuelan government with no plan to stabilize the situation after would be, um, counterproductive.
November 7, 2025 at 5:54 PM
If anyone’s actually concerned about mass migration and/or drug trafficking, collapsing the Venezuelan government with no plan to stabilize the situation after would be, um, counterproductive.
Reposted by Elizabeth N. Saunders
“If #Milei cannot control inflation and translate his market-oriented agenda into tangible gains for a majority of #Argentines, the electorate that brought him to power may quickly turn elsewhere,” @vickymurillo.bsky.social for @foreignaffairs.com
Read it here: www.foreignaffairs.com/argentina/mi...
Read it here: www.foreignaffairs.com/argentina/mi...
Milei’s Tightrope Act
Why the Argentine president will struggle to exploit his new mandate.
www.foreignaffairs.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:54 PM
“If #Milei cannot control inflation and translate his market-oriented agenda into tangible gains for a majority of #Argentines, the electorate that brought him to power may quickly turn elsewhere,” @vickymurillo.bsky.social for @foreignaffairs.com
Read it here: www.foreignaffairs.com/argentina/mi...
Read it here: www.foreignaffairs.com/argentina/mi...