"Online Rent-a-Sage" Bret Devereaux
@bretdevereaux.bsky.social
Ancient & military historian specializing in the Roman economy and military. PhD from UNC History. More impressive credential is that I have beaten both Dark Souls and Elden Ring.
Blogs at acoup.blog
Blogs at acoup.blog
It seems like in each age we are doomed to have a Guy who rises to 'intellectual' prominence simply on the thesis that "the people with wealth and power are actually better and deserve wealth and power" and yet Curtis Yarvin is somehow the dumbest of these guys yet to have arrived.
Curtis Yarvin, the pseudo-intellectual guru of Peter Thiel, Marc Andreessen, Elon Musk and J.D.Vance, explaining how he was red-pilled by a neo-Nazi propaganda video on YouTube. Real deep stuff.
December 3, 2025 at 5:19 PM
It seems like in each age we are doomed to have a Guy who rises to 'intellectual' prominence simply on the thesis that "the people with wealth and power are actually better and deserve wealth and power" and yet Curtis Yarvin is somehow the dumbest of these guys yet to have arrived.
The only thing I can think of is maybe a bump if SCOTUS kills the tariffs.
The irony is what they need is mean-reversion, which would require not doing a new dumb illegal thing every week.
But @jamellebouie.net said 'remotely plausible' and 'be normal for 12 months' is not remotely plausible.
The irony is what they need is mean-reversion, which would require not doing a new dumb illegal thing every week.
But @jamellebouie.net said 'remotely plausible' and 'be normal for 12 months' is not remotely plausible.
a thing to ask yourself re: the GOP's electoral position is what could happen over the next year that could *improve* its position? and what could trump do, plausibly, that might *boost* his numbers with the public?
December 3, 2025 at 3:49 AM
The only thing I can think of is maybe a bump if SCOTUS kills the tariffs.
The irony is what they need is mean-reversion, which would require not doing a new dumb illegal thing every week.
But @jamellebouie.net said 'remotely plausible' and 'be normal for 12 months' is not remotely plausible.
The irony is what they need is mean-reversion, which would require not doing a new dumb illegal thing every week.
But @jamellebouie.net said 'remotely plausible' and 'be normal for 12 months' is not remotely plausible.
They thought it was an act! They assumed Hegseth was insincere in his open advocacy of war crimes because they too are insincere in their beliefs.
I also think this is why the media lets so many Trump insanities slide: they assume he is insincere because they are too!
I also think this is why the media lets so many Trump insanities slide: they assume he is insincere because they are too!
This person who openly advocates war crimes, who lobbied for pardons for war criminals, and repeatedly disdains the laws and ethics of war, the one we confirmed as Secretary of Defense, turns out to have done war crimes. Shocking!
(But hey, if they're finally coming around, better late than never.)
(But hey, if they're finally coming around, better late than never.)
GOP Senator Says Reporting on Hegseth’s Kill Order ‘Shocked Us All’
December 2, 2025 at 6:54 PM
They thought it was an act! They assumed Hegseth was insincere in his open advocacy of war crimes because they too are insincere in their beliefs.
I also think this is why the media lets so many Trump insanities slide: they assume he is insincere because they are too!
I also think this is why the media lets so many Trump insanities slide: they assume he is insincere because they are too!
Communication from colleague, 'students here don't applaud at the end of the last class of a course like they did at [previous institution.]'
Uh, they do though - some of the time. Ask me how I know!
Uh, they do though - some of the time. Ask me how I know!
December 2, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Communication from colleague, 'students here don't applaud at the end of the last class of a course like they did at [previous institution.]'
Uh, they do though - some of the time. Ask me how I know!
Uh, they do though - some of the time. Ask me how I know!
Reposted by "Online Rent-a-Sage" Bret Devereaux
I wrote much of this several months ago, about Ezra Klein's response to the Kirk assassination, and then never ended up publishing it, but I think this UO "controversy" is a such a perfect example of how TPUSA et al actually advance conservative power that I decided to revive and rewrite it.
What Liberals Can Learn from Charlie Kirk
Over the last few days, if you’re active on political media, you have probably seen references to the “controversy” over a student’s failing grade on an essay at Oklahoma Un…
nathangoldwag.wordpress.com
December 1, 2025 at 10:27 PM
I wrote much of this several months ago, about Ezra Klein's response to the Kirk assassination, and then never ended up publishing it, but I think this UO "controversy" is a such a perfect example of how TPUSA et al actually advance conservative power that I decided to revive and rewrite it.
Pete Hegseth stands behind our troops and behind Admiral Mitch Bradley - juuuuuuuust far enough behind to make sure they go to jail instead of him for the illegal strike that Pete Hegseth ordered.
Here for the tough man talk, gone for the tough many consequences. Profiles in cowardice.
Here for the tough man talk, gone for the tough many consequences. Profiles in cowardice.
Ladies and gentlemen: let’s all watch the chest-beating lethality macho warfighter dude trying to scurry away at the first sign of trouble.
December 2, 2025 at 5:04 AM
Pete Hegseth stands behind our troops and behind Admiral Mitch Bradley - juuuuuuuust far enough behind to make sure they go to jail instead of him for the illegal strike that Pete Hegseth ordered.
Here for the tough man talk, gone for the tough many consequences. Profiles in cowardice.
Here for the tough man talk, gone for the tough many consequences. Profiles in cowardice.
The least awful thing here, but I can't help but notice that Hegseth is so incompetent and/or drunk that in celebrating his war crimes, he's picked an image of a Canadian children's book character firing a Russian RPG-7 for his 'American' war criminal.
This is what the so-called "Secretary of War" is tweeting amid reports that his department ordered a second strike to make sure they killed survivors of a boat they attacked that they allege with no proof carries drugs (which doesn't justify bombing them even it were true)
December 2, 2025 at 4:06 AM
The least awful thing here, but I can't help but notice that Hegseth is so incompetent and/or drunk that in celebrating his war crimes, he's picked an image of a Canadian children's book character firing a Russian RPG-7 for his 'American' war criminal.
This is an obscene violation of both the first amendment (protections which have been held to apply to professors, Kyishian v. BoR (1967)) and general guidelines of academic freedom.
So long as that process remains, to be frank, Texas Tech should be both sued and lose accreditation.
So long as that process remains, to be frank, Texas Tech should be both sued and lose accreditation.
TX Tech has a flow chat for guidance on what can be taught in the university system. Two things:
1. Very little content seems to be permitted. This is partisan control of the curriculum.
2. I would not enjoy teaching under these conditions, but I really would not want to be a Chair or Dean.
1. Very little content seems to be permitted. This is partisan control of the curriculum.
2. I would not enjoy teaching under these conditions, but I really would not want to be a Chair or Dean.
December 2, 2025 at 12:35 AM
This is an obscene violation of both the first amendment (protections which have been held to apply to professors, Kyishian v. BoR (1967)) and general guidelines of academic freedom.
So long as that process remains, to be frank, Texas Tech should be both sued and lose accreditation.
So long as that process remains, to be frank, Texas Tech should be both sued and lose accreditation.
Gonna go with, "So was [Cleopatra, the Romans, the Greeks, the Spartans, the Phoenicians, Octavian, Aeneas somehow, Cyrus II *somehow*] white?"
You may submit as many variants as you like, they're all bad.
You may submit as many variants as you like, they're all bad.
What’s the worst question someone can ask after you tell them your profession? For linguists, it’s definitely “how many languages do you speak?”, but I’m curious what else is happening to the rest of y’all out there?!
December 2, 2025 at 12:20 AM
Gonna go with, "So was [Cleopatra, the Romans, the Greeks, the Spartans, the Phoenicians, Octavian, Aeneas somehow, Cyrus II *somehow*] white?"
You may submit as many variants as you like, they're all bad.
You may submit as many variants as you like, they're all bad.
Because who doesn't want a Master Roksn and a Coat Bath for their house.
December 1, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Because who doesn't want a Master Roksn and a Coat Bath for their house.
Reposted by "Online Rent-a-Sage" Bret Devereaux
This is part 4 of subpart 9 of our 15-part (I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIIIa, VIIIb, VIIIc-1, VIIIc-2, IX, IX with clusters, IX with honey nut clusters, X, XI, XII: Tokyo Drift, XIII, XIV, XV) series that lists all the other articles on this blog. If you donate I will buy the Pentagon.
December 1, 2025 at 10:04 PM
This is part 4 of subpart 9 of our 15-part (I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIIIa, VIIIb, VIIIc-1, VIIIc-2, IX, IX with clusters, IX with honey nut clusters, X, XI, XII: Tokyo Drift, XIII, XIV, XV) series that lists all the other articles on this blog. If you donate I will buy the Pentagon.
It is really kind of funny to see someone reference something I wrote up on the blog and think, "wait, oh yeah, I guess I did write that."
Then again, I'd argue, at 350 blog posts, you are allowed to forget a few of them.
Like that one that... um... that... it was about that thing, I, uh...
Then again, I'd argue, at 350 blog posts, you are allowed to forget a few of them.
Like that one that... um... that... it was about that thing, I, uh...
December 1, 2025 at 9:27 PM
It is really kind of funny to see someone reference something I wrote up on the blog and think, "wait, oh yeah, I guess I did write that."
Then again, I'd argue, at 350 blog posts, you are allowed to forget a few of them.
Like that one that... um... that... it was about that thing, I, uh...
Then again, I'd argue, at 350 blog posts, you are allowed to forget a few of them.
Like that one that... um... that... it was about that thing, I, uh...
Reposted by "Online Rent-a-Sage" Bret Devereaux
"This won't be a popular opinion, b/c I'm going to credulously take an obvious hit job at face value in order to pontificate about what a fair grade is as if that's the question at hand, all while the right wing harassment machine hungry for blood does its thing just out of frame. I am very smart."
December 1, 2025 at 8:04 PM
"This won't be a popular opinion, b/c I'm going to credulously take an obvious hit job at face value in order to pontificate about what a fair grade is as if that's the question at hand, all while the right wing harassment machine hungry for blood does its thing just out of frame. I am very smart."
The 'republicans are getting worried' part of this is honestly funny to me.
Of course Trump isn't out Amongst the People anymore. He never cared about them and now he doesn't need them.
They were always just one more set of marks, a vast crowd of bag-holders in red hats, already discarded.
Of course Trump isn't out Amongst the People anymore. He never cared about them and now he doesn't need them.
They were always just one more set of marks, a vast crowd of bag-holders in red hats, already discarded.
Trump’s echo chamber:
Very little U.S travel
No rallies or contact with supporters
Right-wing media
Dinners with rich donors and billionaires
Truth Social
Lack of staff to tell him no www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
Very little U.S travel
No rallies or contact with supporters
Right-wing media
Dinners with rich donors and billionaires
Truth Social
Lack of staff to tell him no www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
The Bubble-Wrapped President
Trump surrounds himself with those who flatter him in places where he is comfortable.
www.theatlantic.com
December 1, 2025 at 4:30 PM
The 'republicans are getting worried' part of this is honestly funny to me.
Of course Trump isn't out Amongst the People anymore. He never cared about them and now he doesn't need them.
They were always just one more set of marks, a vast crowd of bag-holders in red hats, already discarded.
Of course Trump isn't out Amongst the People anymore. He never cared about them and now he doesn't need them.
They were always just one more set of marks, a vast crowd of bag-holders in red hats, already discarded.
Reposted by "Online Rent-a-Sage" Bret Devereaux
This is actually quite brilliant, up to and including the final sentence 🔥
December 1, 2025 at 11:09 AM
This is actually quite brilliant, up to and including the final sentence 🔥
Reposted by "Online Rent-a-Sage" Bret Devereaux
PUBLICATION DAY "The Coinage issued in the Mithridatic Years" for RBN article with L. Carbone. We test traditional quantification techniques against new data, suggest a new means of comparing the intensity of coin production and trace Roman intervention in Eastern Med livyarrow.org/2025/12/01/n...
December 1, 2025 at 2:15 PM
PUBLICATION DAY "The Coinage issued in the Mithridatic Years" for RBN article with L. Carbone. We test traditional quantification techniques against new data, suggest a new means of comparing the intensity of coin production and trace Roman intervention in Eastern Med livyarrow.org/2025/12/01/n...
It feels a bit odd that apart from Tower Defense games and the Stronghold series, there aren't a lot of real 'fortress design' games, particularly ones that seek to capture actual fortress design language (castles, star forts, etc).
Feels like there's got to be at least some demand for that.
Feels like there's got to be at least some demand for that.
December 1, 2025 at 4:51 AM
It feels a bit odd that apart from Tower Defense games and the Stronghold series, there aren't a lot of real 'fortress design' games, particularly ones that seek to capture actual fortress design language (castles, star forts, etc).
Feels like there's got to be at least some demand for that.
Feels like there's got to be at least some demand for that.
"Why is there grade inflation? Why do our courses lack rigor?'
"Also we will immediately throw any graduate student TA or instructor who upsets an influential constituency under the bus, no matter how obviously manufactured their outrage is." 🤷♂️
"Also we will immediately throw any graduate student TA or instructor who upsets an influential constituency under the bus, no matter how obviously manufactured their outrage is." 🤷♂️
OU has put the professor here on administrative leave:
November 30, 2025 at 10:32 PM
"Why is there grade inflation? Why do our courses lack rigor?'
"Also we will immediately throw any graduate student TA or instructor who upsets an influential constituency under the bus, no matter how obviously manufactured their outrage is." 🤷♂️
"Also we will immediately throw any graduate student TA or instructor who upsets an influential constituency under the bus, no matter how obviously manufactured their outrage is." 🤷♂️
Every time I see these BS answers, I can't help but think of Sthenelaidas' retort to the Athenians in Thuc. 1, "The long speech of the Athenians I do not pretend to understand. They said a good deal in praise of themselves, but nowhere denied that they are injuring our allies and the Peloponnese."
KARL: Did you know about the judge's order when you issued your order for the planes to continue?
KRISTI NOEM: This is an activist judge. We comply with all federal orders that are lawful and binding.
KRISTI NOEM: This is an activist judge. We comply with all federal orders that are lawful and binding.
November 30, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Every time I see these BS answers, I can't help but think of Sthenelaidas' retort to the Athenians in Thuc. 1, "The long speech of the Athenians I do not pretend to understand. They said a good deal in praise of themselves, but nowhere denied that they are injuring our allies and the Peloponnese."
Reposted by "Online Rent-a-Sage" Bret Devereaux
Senator Kelly is correct.
Plus a Public Service Announcement:
KEY section of Department of Defense's Law of War Manual is 18.3.2.1.
The VERY rule on the "requirement" to refuse illegal orders gives as its paradigmatic example of what is "clearly illegal:
"orders to fire upon the shipwrecked."
Plus a Public Service Announcement:
KEY section of Department of Defense's Law of War Manual is 18.3.2.1.
The VERY rule on the "requirement" to refuse illegal orders gives as its paradigmatic example of what is "clearly illegal:
"orders to fire upon the shipwrecked."
November 30, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Senator Kelly is correct.
Plus a Public Service Announcement:
KEY section of Department of Defense's Law of War Manual is 18.3.2.1.
The VERY rule on the "requirement" to refuse illegal orders gives as its paradigmatic example of what is "clearly illegal:
"orders to fire upon the shipwrecked."
Plus a Public Service Announcement:
KEY section of Department of Defense's Law of War Manual is 18.3.2.1.
The VERY rule on the "requirement" to refuse illegal orders gives as its paradigmatic example of what is "clearly illegal:
"orders to fire upon the shipwrecked."
The core problem is that in a state, something has to be sovereign - in a democracy, it is the people - and you can design and tinker as much as you like but there is no way to design around a loss of virtue in that sovereign entity.
If the people keep elected maniacs, no guardrails can hold.
If the people keep elected maniacs, no guardrails can hold.
one of the things dr schake and i were both wrestling with in this conversation--i think not really conclusively--is how you maintain the norm of civilian supremacy when the civilians are issuing objectively illegal, murderous orders
Neon Liberalism #54: Join Samantha and guest Kori Schake, author of "The State and the Soldier," as they discuss the history of civil-military relations in America—and how that relationship is being pushed to the breaking point. www.liberalcurrents.com/neon-liberal...
November 30, 2025 at 3:31 PM
The core problem is that in a state, something has to be sovereign - in a democracy, it is the people - and you can design and tinker as much as you like but there is no way to design around a loss of virtue in that sovereign entity.
If the people keep elected maniacs, no guardrails can hold.
If the people keep elected maniacs, no guardrails can hold.
Reposted by "Online Rent-a-Sage" Bret Devereaux
one of the things dr schake and i were both wrestling with in this conversation--i think not really conclusively--is how you maintain the norm of civilian supremacy when the civilians are issuing objectively illegal, murderous orders
Neon Liberalism #54: Join Samantha and guest Kori Schake, author of "The State and the Soldier," as they discuss the history of civil-military relations in America—and how that relationship is being pushed to the breaking point. www.liberalcurrents.com/neon-liberal...
Neon Liberalism #54: An Army Is a Dangerous Thing to Play With
Join Samantha and guest Kori Schake, author of The State and the Soldier, as they discuss the history of civil-military relations in America—and how that relationship is being pushed to the breaking p...
www.liberalcurrents.com
November 30, 2025 at 5:30 AM
one of the things dr schake and i were both wrestling with in this conversation--i think not really conclusively--is how you maintain the norm of civilian supremacy when the civilians are issuing objectively illegal, murderous orders
It seems worth noting that, given what he's ordered, Hegseth's freedom long-term almost certainly depends on staying in Trump's good graces enough to swing an end-of-administration pardon.
So he is likely to cling *very hard* to the job to avoid being pushed out before the end.
So he is likely to cling *very hard* to the job to avoid being pushed out before the end.
Hoo boy
Whole buncha folks about to have to face a choice between complying with a Congressional subpoena and getting fired because pete's mad at them
Also if anything is a "start the clock" moment on pete's tenure coming to an end, it's this
Whole buncha folks about to have to face a choice between complying with a Congressional subpoena and getting fired because pete's mad at them
Also if anything is a "start the clock" moment on pete's tenure coming to an end, it's this
There are now bipartisan investigations in both the House and Senate into the administration targeting and killing people in the Caribbean without due process.
November 30, 2025 at 3:39 AM
It seems worth noting that, given what he's ordered, Hegseth's freedom long-term almost certainly depends on staying in Trump's good graces enough to swing an end-of-administration pardon.
So he is likely to cling *very hard* to the job to avoid being pushed out before the end.
So he is likely to cling *very hard* to the job to avoid being pushed out before the end.
"Surely a quick, violent, successful war of aggression is just what the ruler needs to shore up his legitimacy," said just about every failed monarch in history shortly before invading Serbia.
Creating a military conflict with Venezuela gives this administration a legal "hook" to invoke the Alien Enemies Act. In other words, the foreign war is being manufactured in order to facilitate court deference for its domestic mass deportation policy. It's a Stephen Miller Special.
November 29, 2025 at 6:38 PM
"Surely a quick, violent, successful war of aggression is just what the ruler needs to shore up his legitimacy," said just about every failed monarch in history shortly before invading Serbia.
Indeed, this is a point where I find van Wees unconvincing (he argues that hoplites, fighting side-on, are centered behind the aspis). The problem is no one fights entirely side-on outside of foil fencing.
If you want to strike with power, sometimes you are gonna bring that right foot forward.
If you want to strike with power, sometimes you are gonna bring that right foot forward.
The clearest evidence that the aspis was invented (or adapted) for shield walls is right here - the maybe 40% of its width that don't protect the shield bearer.
If the aspis was intended for open-order fighting, the wearer's forehand would likely be in a more central position on the shield's back.
If the aspis was intended for open-order fighting, the wearer's forehand would likely be in a more central position on the shield's back.
November 29, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Indeed, this is a point where I find van Wees unconvincing (he argues that hoplites, fighting side-on, are centered behind the aspis). The problem is no one fights entirely side-on outside of foil fencing.
If you want to strike with power, sometimes you are gonna bring that right foot forward.
If you want to strike with power, sometimes you are gonna bring that right foot forward.