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Michael Flynn @flynnpolsci.bsky.social · 2d

Seems like this was indeed the case.

Screenshot of Hegseth clarifying new relationship with Qatar.

Michael Flynn @flynnpolsci.bsky.social · 2d

Yeah, definitely not uncommon to train at US bases, but the announcement indicated a level of ownership or control that does strike me as unusual.

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Michael Flynn @flynnpolsci.bsky.social · 2d

One possibility, which may be most likely, is that Hegseth flubbed the messaging. Other countries train there, and maybe that’s all this is, but with a lot of publicity to build up the US-Qatar relationship.

Michael Flynn @flynnpolsci.bsky.social · 2d

Talking to friends about this and nobody can think of a comparable case. Hundreds of foreign military officers come through the US and train at a wide range of different institutions every year, but I can't think of any country that's ever been given its own facility *within* the US.

Hegseth announces Qatar will build air force facility at U.S. base in Idaho

The move is a sign of increasingly close ties between the U.S. and Qatar.

www.cbsnews.com

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Michael Flynn @flynnpolsci.bsky.social · 2d

Talking to friends about this and nobody can think of a comparable case. Hundreds of foreign military officers come through the US and train at a wide range of different institutions every year, but I can't think of any country that's ever been given its own facility *within* the US.

Hegseth announces Qatar will build air force facility at U.S. base in Idaho

The move is a sign of increasingly close ties between the U.S. and Qatar.

www.cbsnews.com

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Michael Flynn @flynnpolsci.bsky.social · 8d

Some of this will be narrower in scope, but other incidents will ensnare more people, like this. It will be interesting to see if the lack of discipline by some orgs becomes a wedge and drives local police agencies closer to the populace, particularly where they end up harmed by federal agents.

unraveled @unraveledpress.com · 8d

CPD just relieved feds from this line too. Then a moment later the feds gassed the whole area, including the cops.

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Michael Flynn @flynnpolsci.bsky.social · 8d

Echoing others’ comments re the lack of discipline, but also alarming how these videos betray a complete lack of concern over community relations or monitoring and punishment. This kind of stuff is deeply corrosive all around and will absolutely get worse.

Daniel Connerton @lordnad.bsky.social · 8d

@govpritzker.illinois.gov

37 and Kedzie, East Garfield, Illinois.

This is assault.

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Michael Flynn @flynnpolsci.bsky.social · 8d

The magazine tumbling out onto the ground is a real cherry on top.

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Michael Flynn @flynnpolsci.bsky.social · 10d

“Owns a crotch rocket” continues to be the variable with the most accurate predictive power.

Reposted by Michael Flynn

NE Ohio Regional Sewer District @neorsd.org · 12d

I’m a sewage system. I also have a great personality.

Elizabeth Jacobs, PhD
@elizabethjacobs.bsky.social
I'm an epidemiologist. Sewage systems are sexy.

Dosco Jones @doscojones.bsky.social
I'm an engineer. Sewage systems are sexy.

150 1.1K 8.6K

Michael Flynn @flynnpolsci.bsky.social · 12d

The declaration that the military should use US cities as training grounds is a brazen thing to say on its own, but especially so when we're in a government shutdown fight. There are already massive credibility issues with the WH cutting lawfully appropriated funds and this only raises the stakes.

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Michael Flynn @flynnpolsci.bsky.social · 12d

I think this was the motivation, but it's not clear to me that he's getting what he wants out of this.

Michael Flynn @flynnpolsci.bsky.social · 16d

Time will tell if there's more to it, but given the reported disappointment after the parade it doesn't seem far fetched for this to be mostly about optics and having a room full or stars and ribbons for the cameras.

Michael Flynn @flynnpolsci.bsky.social · 16d

Honestly I find this not only plausible but highly likely and wholly on brand.

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Michael Flynn @flynnpolsci.bsky.social · 12d

This seems to be accurate so far.

Michael Flynn @flynnpolsci.bsky.social · 16d

He can’t fire everyone, but he can subject them to petty exertions of authority.

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Michael Flynn @flynnpolsci.bsky.social · 12d

You can hear people coughing.

Michael Flynn @flynnpolsci.bsky.social · 12d

I often think about the institutional incentives that brought us this.

Photo of Egyptian police cadets staging shirtless parade.

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Michael Flynn @flynnpolsci.bsky.social · 13d

I thought it was a mimic at first. It had small red spots on the back so I didn't think much of it but then I looked it up to see what it might be and realized it was the real deal.

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Michael Flynn @flynnpolsci.bsky.social · 14d

This seems fine. Nothing could go wrong.

A photo of a cat laying on a desk next to a wobbly stack of books with a large box on top.

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Michael Flynn @flynnpolsci.bsky.social · 14d

This weekend I saw my first black widow in person, and I simultaneously learned that the ubiquitous desceiptors re the red hourglass is practically useless as an identifier because it’s on the bottom of their abdomen and I don’t know how often spiders are just laying around working on their tan.

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Michael Flynn @flynnpolsci.bsky.social · 14d

Yeah, doesn’t seem good!

Michael Flynn @flynnpolsci.bsky.social · 14d

I mean really—the president, secretary of defense, and majority of GOFOs in one place with seemingly sparse preparatory measures? That’s an unnecessarily risky endeavor.

Michael Flynn @flynnpolsci.bsky.social · 14d

Well this just seems like a massive unforced security error and strategic blunder.

Trump to attend gathering of top generals, upending last-minute plans

President Trump will attend the unusual gathering of hundreds of generals summoned to Virginia on short notice by Pete Hegseth, adding new security concerns.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Michael Flynn @flynnpolsci.bsky.social · 14d

Well this just seems like a massive unforced security error and strategic blunder.

Trump to attend gathering of top generals, upending last-minute plans

President Trump will attend the unusual gathering of hundreds of generals summoned to Virginia on short notice by Pete Hegseth, adding new security concerns.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Michael Flynn @flynnpolsci.bsky.social · 16d

Time will tell if there's more to it, but given the reported disappointment after the parade it doesn't seem far fetched for this to be mostly about optics and having a room full or stars and ribbons for the cameras.

Michael Flynn @flynnpolsci.bsky.social · 16d

Honestly I find this not only plausible but highly likely and wholly on brand.

Dan Lamothe @danlamothe.bsky.social · 16d

WAPO SCOOP: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered hundreds of generals to travel on short notice from around the world to hear him make a speech on military standards and the “warrior ethos,” multiple people familiar with the event told The Washington Post.

www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

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Michael Flynn @flynnpolsci.bsky.social · 16d

He can’t fire everyone, but he can subject them to petty exertions of authority.

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Michael Flynn @flynnpolsci.bsky.social · 16d

Honestly I find this not only plausible but highly likely and wholly on brand.

Dan Lamothe @danlamothe.bsky.social · 16d

WAPO SCOOP: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered hundreds of generals to travel on short notice from around the world to hear him make a speech on military standards and the “warrior ethos,” multiple people familiar with the event told The Washington Post.

www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

New details emerge on Hegseth’s unusual mass gathering of top brass

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has summoned hundreds of generals for what is expected to be a short lecture on the “warrior ethos.” But top brass is bracing for possible firings or demotions.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Michael Flynn @flynnpolsci.bsky.social · 18d

I think they're saying the message was on the casing itself.

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Michael Flynn @flynnpolsci.bsky.social · 20d

Just so I'm clear, my university's punishment for me NOT completing another online tutorial is to be locked out of Canvas? This sounds like I've just doubled my winnings.

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