Chris Curtis
@curtosis.bsky.social
Computational linguist, artificer, λ(data). Syntactician with semanticist delusions. Theatre artist. Anti-Taylorist. Continuous everywhere, differentiable nowhere. Living in the occupied USA. Boosts are multivalent. He/they.
Pinned
Chris Curtis
@curtosis.bsky.social
· May 3
Feeling deictic today; might delete later.
Reposted by Chris Curtis
Does Pete Hegseth have a "golden shield" against prosecution in the form of a DOJ OLC opinion? Ed Whelan thinks not.
November 28, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Does Pete Hegseth have a "golden shield" against prosecution in the form of a DOJ OLC opinion? Ed Whelan thinks not.
Reposted by Chris Curtis
To be explicit, we executed a German U-Boat commander who said he had to sink lifesaving gear / “inadvertently” kill survivors because it might give away his position, thereby potentially resulting in the loss of his submarine.
We executed multiple members of that crew.
We executed multiple members of that crew.
November 28, 2025 at 6:11 PM
To be explicit, we executed a German U-Boat commander who said he had to sink lifesaving gear / “inadvertently” kill survivors because it might give away his position, thereby potentially resulting in the loss of his submarine.
We executed multiple members of that crew.
We executed multiple members of that crew.
Reposted by Chris Curtis
Pete Hagueseth. We should make it a thing.
Hagueseth
Exclusive: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave an order to “kill everybody” in the first strike on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean. After two men survived, the mission commander ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions, according to two sources.
November 28, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Pete Hagueseth. We should make it a thing.
Reposted by Chris Curtis
Regarding the latter, one could argue there is a level of seniority below which it is not reasonable to expect service members to exercise their own judgement about that.
But the former—*everyone* knows that kind of order is illegal and must be refused. This is basic-training-level stuff.
But the former—*everyone* knows that kind of order is illegal and must be refused. This is basic-training-level stuff.
Refusing to follow a “kill the survivors of the previous strike who are clearly hors de combat” order SHOULD BE significantly more clear-cut than refusing one due to “this entire operation is unlawful because citing inherent Article II authority is insufficient.”
There must be accountability.
There must be accountability.
Exclusive: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave an order to “kill everybody” in the first strike on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean. After two men survived, the mission commander ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions, according to two sources.
November 28, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Regarding the latter, one could argue there is a level of seniority below which it is not reasonable to expect service members to exercise their own judgement about that.
But the former—*everyone* knows that kind of order is illegal and must be refused. This is basic-training-level stuff.
But the former—*everyone* knows that kind of order is illegal and must be refused. This is basic-training-level stuff.
Reposted by Chris Curtis
Dem Senators and MoCs shouldn’t be voting for DoD authorization spending legislation as long as Hegseth remains in charge of DoD. This should be basic and a position that Dem Leadership should be whipping while loudly speaking out against war crimes/extra judicial killings funded by our tax dollars.
Textbook war crime/extrajudicial killing
"Two survivors were clinging to the smoldering wreck. The Special Operations commander overseeing the Sept. 2 attack ... ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions."
Report by @alexhorton.bsky.social @ellenwapo.bsky.social o.bsky.social
"Two survivors were clinging to the smoldering wreck. The Special Operations commander overseeing the Sept. 2 attack ... ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions."
Report by @alexhorton.bsky.social @ellenwapo.bsky.social o.bsky.social
Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order to kill all crew members in the Sept. 2 strike on a suspected drug boat. Navy SEALs fired a second missile.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 28, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Dem Senators and MoCs shouldn’t be voting for DoD authorization spending legislation as long as Hegseth remains in charge of DoD. This should be basic and a position that Dem Leadership should be whipping while loudly speaking out against war crimes/extra judicial killings funded by our tax dollars.
Everyone in this chain, particularly the officers and *especially* an admiral, should have known it was a facially unlawful order, under *any* legal framework.
Even stronger: they were all explicitly, repeatedly trained that “no quarter” orders are war crimes.
Something is deeply rotten in JSOC.
Even stronger: they were all explicitly, repeatedly trained that “no quarter” orders are war crimes.
Something is deeply rotten in JSOC.
Exclusive: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave an order to “kill everybody” in the first strike on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean. After two men survived, the mission commander ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions, according to two sources.
Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order to kill all crew members in the Sept. 2 strike on a suspected drug boat. Navy SEALs fired a second missile.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 28, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Everyone in this chain, particularly the officers and *especially* an admiral, should have known it was a facially unlawful order, under *any* legal framework.
Even stronger: they were all explicitly, repeatedly trained that “no quarter” orders are war crimes.
Something is deeply rotten in JSOC.
Even stronger: they were all explicitly, repeatedly trained that “no quarter” orders are war crimes.
Something is deeply rotten in JSOC.
Reposted by Chris Curtis
Every single congressional Democrat needs to be out there, right now, insisting that Pete Hegseth resign right now and announcing that he will be held accountable for committing war crimes.
If you do not demand accountability here and now, they will only become more emboldened.
If you do not demand accountability here and now, they will only become more emboldened.
Exclusive: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave an order to “kill everybody” in the first strike on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean. After two men survived, the mission commander ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions, according to two sources.
Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order to kill all crew members in the Sept. 2 strike on a suspected drug boat. Navy SEALs fired a second missile.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 28, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Every single congressional Democrat needs to be out there, right now, insisting that Pete Hegseth resign right now and announcing that he will be held accountable for committing war crimes.
If you do not demand accountability here and now, they will only become more emboldened.
If you do not demand accountability here and now, they will only become more emboldened.
Reposted by Chris Curtis
Stephen Miller, ranting abt "mass migration" & failure to assimilate, is the descendant of immigrants fleeing "broken homelands" & only has a US passport bc of the birthright citizenship he wants to abolish.
As @sethcotlar.bsky.social says, it's MILLER who hasn't culturally assimilated to the US.
As @sethcotlar.bsky.social says, it's MILLER who hasn't culturally assimilated to the US.
November 28, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Stephen Miller, ranting abt "mass migration" & failure to assimilate, is the descendant of immigrants fleeing "broken homelands" & only has a US passport bc of the birthright citizenship he wants to abolish.
As @sethcotlar.bsky.social says, it's MILLER who hasn't culturally assimilated to the US.
As @sethcotlar.bsky.social says, it's MILLER who hasn't culturally assimilated to the US.
Reposted by Chris Curtis
Hey @nature.com, have you got an explanation for how the hell THIS happened? & especially why you accepted a paper with such a bizarre piece of genAI slop in it?!
& more to the point, why we should take you seriously at all going forward?
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
& more to the point, why we should take you seriously at all going forward?
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
November 27, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Hey @nature.com, have you got an explanation for how the hell THIS happened? & especially why you accepted a paper with such a bizarre piece of genAI slop in it?!
& more to the point, why we should take you seriously at all going forward?
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
& more to the point, why we should take you seriously at all going forward?
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Chris Curtis
"It took only weeks for Trump to turn the US from a biomedical & global health leader to a pariah, shattering trust while shattering lives, all the while posing fundamental threats to a law-based international order grounded in human rights & democratic governance"
journals.plos.org/globalpublic...
journals.plos.org/globalpublic...
The Trump presidency: Cascading global shocks on global health
journals.plos.org
November 28, 2025 at 2:08 AM
"It took only weeks for Trump to turn the US from a biomedical & global health leader to a pariah, shattering trust while shattering lives, all the while posing fundamental threats to a law-based international order grounded in human rights & democratic governance"
journals.plos.org/globalpublic...
journals.plos.org/globalpublic...
Reposted by Chris Curtis
The Trump administration has reacted to a small scale lone wolf attack by in DC announcing a sweeping collective punishment, using the organs of government to heap blame on partisan rivals, and potentially dissuading anyone from collaborating with US forces abroad for a generation.
CIA statement about the Afghan man identified as the gunman who shot two National Guardsmen in Washington
November 27, 2025 at 2:38 PM
The Trump administration has reacted to a small scale lone wolf attack by in DC announcing a sweeping collective punishment, using the organs of government to heap blame on partisan rivals, and potentially dissuading anyone from collaborating with US forces abroad for a generation.
Reposted by Chris Curtis
i know WHY this is but that just makes it even more of a kick in the pants lmao
November 28, 2025 at 3:28 AM
i know WHY this is but that just makes it even more of a kick in the pants lmao
Introduce yourself with five concerts you’ve seen —
Genesis (post-Gabriel)
Royksöpp / Robyn
Sleater-Kinney
The Mountain Goats*
The Joy Formidable*
*at least 3x
Genesis (post-Gabriel)
Royksöpp / Robyn
Sleater-Kinney
The Mountain Goats*
The Joy Formidable*
*at least 3x
Introduce yourself with five concerts you've seen —
NIN
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Soul Coughing
Poe
Tom Morello
NIN
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Soul Coughing
Poe
Tom Morello
Introduce yourself with five concerts you've seen:
Bowie *
Roger Waters
July Talk *
Metric *
Alice Phoebe Lou *
* multiple times
Bowie *
Roger Waters
July Talk *
Metric *
Alice Phoebe Lou *
* multiple times
November 27, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Introduce yourself with five concerts you’ve seen —
Genesis (post-Gabriel)
Royksöpp / Robyn
Sleater-Kinney
The Mountain Goats*
The Joy Formidable*
*at least 3x
Genesis (post-Gabriel)
Royksöpp / Robyn
Sleater-Kinney
The Mountain Goats*
The Joy Formidable*
*at least 3x
Reposted by Chris Curtis
ICE is kidnapping people on Thanksgiving.
If you think they can be reformed, ask your family how they would feel if they never saw you today.
If you think they can be reformed, ask your family how they would feel if they never saw you today.
November 27, 2025 at 9:23 PM
ICE is kidnapping people on Thanksgiving.
If you think they can be reformed, ask your family how they would feel if they never saw you today.
If you think they can be reformed, ask your family how they would feel if they never saw you today.
Reposted by Chris Curtis
"As deeply flawed as it has been in the execution, this principle was voiced by the Founders in 1776, by George Washington in 1796, by Abraham Lincoln in 1863." www.liberalcurrents.com/we-must-recl...
We Must Reclaim a Government That Belongs to All of Us
From the White House rubble to the bottomless pit of Epstein, we are in the midst of a nationwide struggle over whose government this really is.
www.liberalcurrents.com
November 27, 2025 at 10:46 PM
"As deeply flawed as it has been in the execution, this principle was voiced by the Founders in 1776, by George Washington in 1796, by Abraham Lincoln in 1863." www.liberalcurrents.com/we-must-recl...
Reposted by Chris Curtis
The Democratic politician commitment to boilerplate tragedy comms is not all that different from "thoughts and prayers." This is as much a time for "they were killed while enforcing Trump's dumb racist stunts" as any school shooting is for calling out the NRA.
Violence has no place in America. Michelle and I are praying for the servicemembers shot in Washington, DC today, and send our love to their families as they enter this holiday season under the most tragic of circumstances.
November 27, 2025 at 10:52 PM
The Democratic politician commitment to boilerplate tragedy comms is not all that different from "thoughts and prayers." This is as much a time for "they were killed while enforcing Trump's dumb racist stunts" as any school shooting is for calling out the NRA.
Reposted by Chris Curtis
FYI: the “disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan” was negotiated and begun by…. Donald Trump
November 27, 2025 at 3:12 PM
FYI: the “disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan” was negotiated and begun by…. Donald Trump
Reposted by Chris Curtis
No one shld lose sight of the fact that the Guard was only in DC as part of an extended political messaging stunt. The shooter is guilty for the attacks/carnage. Donald Trump is responsible for them. This is the collateral damage of Trump abusing his powers as President.
Pirro: "These Guardsmen and all who are here to protect the District are the line that separates a civilized society from a barbaric one."
November 27, 2025 at 4:19 PM
No one shld lose sight of the fact that the Guard was only in DC as part of an extended political messaging stunt. The shooter is guilty for the attacks/carnage. Donald Trump is responsible for them. This is the collateral damage of Trump abusing his powers as President.
PSA: Initial news is often very wrong. Even from official sources.
And that’s true even for sources who *don’t* have a history of making shit up to create a preferred narrative.
And that’s true even for sources who *don’t* have a history of making shit up to create a preferred narrative.
November 26, 2025 at 9:31 PM
PSA: Initial news is often very wrong. Even from official sources.
And that’s true even for sources who *don’t* have a history of making shit up to create a preferred narrative.
And that’s true even for sources who *don’t* have a history of making shit up to create a preferred narrative.
Reposted by Chris Curtis
The amount of illegal this is is a lot.
SCOOP—In August, nearly 200 current/former FEMA staffers published the Katrina Declaration, a whistleblower letter detailing all the dangers posed by current leadership.
All current employees were put on indefinite leave, and now I've learned one has been fired in violation of federal protections:
All current employees were put on indefinite leave, and now I've learned one has been fired in violation of federal protections:
FEMA employee terminated for signing whistleblower letter
It appears to be a major violation of federal whistleblower protections and constitutional rights.
www.thehandbasket.co
November 26, 2025 at 8:37 PM
The amount of illegal this is is a lot.
Reposted by Chris Curtis
I need everybody to read this and understand what’s going on. These are spouses of US citizens in the country legally. They have entry clearance and green cards, they’ve passed background checks and have no criminal records. ICE is taking them anyway.
Gift link:
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
Gift link:
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
Green Card Interviews End in Handcuffs for Spouses of U.S. Citizens
www.nytimes.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:40 PM
I need everybody to read this and understand what’s going on. These are spouses of US citizens in the country legally. They have entry clearance and green cards, they’ve passed background checks and have no criminal records. ICE is taking them anyway.
Gift link:
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
Gift link:
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
Reposted by Chris Curtis
The problem with ICE is not that it's targeting people who aren't criminals. The problem with ICE is that it's an unaccountable secret deportation police. It cannot be reformed under a better president. It can be made less terrible, but the instrument of repression remains for the next tyrant.
November 26, 2025 at 5:04 PM
The problem with ICE is not that it's targeting people who aren't criminals. The problem with ICE is that it's an unaccountable secret deportation police. It cannot be reformed under a better president. It can be made less terrible, but the instrument of repression remains for the next tyrant.
Reposted by Chris Curtis
As @gregsargent.bsky.social points out, Trump *has* given illegal orders.
But he’s also so allergic to democratic ideals that the very idea of a military (or any other institution) that serves the people rather than the ruler is totally illegible and incomprehensible to him.
But he’s also so allergic to democratic ideals that the very idea of a military (or any other institution) that serves the people rather than the ruler is totally illegible and incomprehensible to him.
November 26, 2025 at 4:53 PM
As @gregsargent.bsky.social points out, Trump *has* given illegal orders.
But he’s also so allergic to democratic ideals that the very idea of a military (or any other institution) that serves the people rather than the ruler is totally illegible and incomprehensible to him.
But he’s also so allergic to democratic ideals that the very idea of a military (or any other institution) that serves the people rather than the ruler is totally illegible and incomprehensible to him.
Reposted by Chris Curtis
the decline and fall of the american republic in two headlines
November 26, 2025 at 4:52 PM
the decline and fall of the american republic in two headlines
Reposted by Chris Curtis
I want my taxes to bail out people who racked up student-loan debt because they were told education was the gateway to affluence, not the dumbfuck AI bros gambling the national economy on tech that encourages teenagers to end their lives.
November 25, 2025 at 6:09 PM
I want my taxes to bail out people who racked up student-loan debt because they were told education was the gateway to affluence, not the dumbfuck AI bros gambling the national economy on tech that encourages teenagers to end their lives.