Andrew Balis
@andrewbalis.bsky.social
Grad student at GW. Fascinated by humans. I like to share my thoughts about stuff.
I think an underdiscussed dynamic in '24 was the extent to which swing voters convinced themselves that they weren't voting *for* Trump so much as for Republican governance. Because that's what his first term was, more or less. What they failed to realize was that the normies had been purged...
January 18, 2026 at 3:19 PM
I think an underdiscussed dynamic in '24 was the extent to which swing voters convinced themselves that they weren't voting *for* Trump so much as for Republican governance. Because that's what his first term was, more or less. What they failed to realize was that the normies had been purged...
This guy is such an obsequious toady, I don't know how he hasn't died from embarrassment yet.
Bessent: "I'm not going to discuss my conversations with the president. But if I said that, I was wrong."
January 18, 2026 at 3:05 PM
This guy is such an obsequious toady, I don't know how he hasn't died from embarrassment yet.
Watching the Toxic Avenger remake from 2023, and all anyone needs to know is that the villains live on a compound called "Chudhaven" (with an umlaut over the U.)
January 18, 2026 at 1:31 AM
Watching the Toxic Avenger remake from 2023, and all anyone needs to know is that the villains live on a compound called "Chudhaven" (with an umlaut over the U.)
I know it's beside the point, but how come this so-called master communicator always writes a wall of text every time he announces that we're gonna start selling orphan tears to the Saudis, or whatever?
A terrible day.
The U.S. government vs. the free world.
The U.S. government vs. the free world.
January 18, 2026 at 1:08 AM
I know it's beside the point, but how come this so-called master communicator always writes a wall of text every time he announces that we're gonna start selling orphan tears to the Saudis, or whatever?
"I would just remind the island of Melos what happened to them two millennia ago, and that absolutely nothing bad happened to Athens afterward. Nope. Not a thing."
Miller: Denmark is a tiny country with a tiny economy and a tiny military. They cannot defend Greenland… Under every understanding of law that has existed about territorial control for 500 years, to control a territory you have to be able to defend a territory…
January 17, 2026 at 4:22 PM
"I would just remind the island of Melos what happened to them two millennia ago, and that absolutely nothing bad happened to Athens afterward. Nope. Not a thing."
2020 was a turning point for the country, not only because of *gestures at everything,* but because, for a large part of the body politic, the pandemic and George Floyd protests were the first time they ever had to think about other people. And they never forgot it.
January 17, 2026 at 3:16 PM
2020 was a turning point for the country, not only because of *gestures at everything,* but because, for a large part of the body politic, the pandemic and George Floyd protests were the first time they ever had to think about other people. And they never forgot it.
Reposted by Andrew Balis
It genuinely sucks that I feel like I can’t trust left wing critiques of Dems to reflect reality. I’m sure I sound to many here like a huge Dem booster, but I actually have big issues with most Dem politicians, both individually and as a group. But the amount of BS makes those topics not worth it.
January 17, 2026 at 3:19 AM
It genuinely sucks that I feel like I can’t trust left wing critiques of Dems to reflect reality. I’m sure I sound to many here like a huge Dem booster, but I actually have big issues with most Dem politicians, both individually and as a group. But the amount of BS makes those topics not worth it.
Reposted by Andrew Balis
a big problem here is the way every scrap of a claim about Democrats supposedly selling out gets hyped and inflated, and then even when it turns out to be untrue people remember it as having happened, or as having almost happened. Builds bad mental models.
the post everyone got mad about for two hours has been updated turns out it's the opposite actually
🚨BREAKING: DEMS DRAW RED LINE IN DHS APPROPS: NO FUNDING INCREASE FOR ICE. POLICY RIDERS GROWING. STORY COMING IN MIGRANT INSIDER
January 16, 2026 at 8:30 PM
a big problem here is the way every scrap of a claim about Democrats supposedly selling out gets hyped and inflated, and then even when it turns out to be untrue people remember it as having happened, or as having almost happened. Builds bad mental models.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5XR...
Look, things are pretty bleak right now, but there's still beauty in this world.
Look, things are pretty bleak right now, but there's still beauty in this world.
GWAR cover “Pink Pony Club” by Chappell Roan
YouTube video by The A.V. Club
www.youtube.com
January 15, 2026 at 11:35 PM
www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5XR...
Look, things are pretty bleak right now, but there's still beauty in this world.
Look, things are pretty bleak right now, but there's still beauty in this world.
*Sabrina Carpenter voice*
January 15, 2026 at 8:51 PM
*Sabrina Carpenter voice*
Knew the Dallas Love Field logo looked familiar.
January 11, 2026 at 9:25 PM
Knew the Dallas Love Field logo looked familiar.
Pasolini aaah olive oil
January 10, 2026 at 9:15 PM
Pasolini aaah olive oil
Post hawk tuah ergo propter hawk tuah.
January 9, 2026 at 1:55 AM
Post hawk tuah ergo propter hawk tuah.
*Baudrillard laser eyes.*
the trump administration is living inside a social media dreamworld where the US is literally all-powerful and can do anything it wants to anyone it wants, and the US media, rather than pointing out this is deranged madness, is trying to demonstrate its neutrality by dignifying the fantasy
January 4, 2026 at 5:56 PM
*Baudrillard laser eyes.*
Reposted by Andrew Balis
Just realized that Emperor Qin Shi Huang's "Terracotta Army" of clay soldiers he kept in a vault in like 200 BC make him the first Warhammer Guy. he got some disposable income and started painting minis. totally get it
January 4, 2026 at 3:11 PM
Just realized that Emperor Qin Shi Huang's "Terracotta Army" of clay soldiers he kept in a vault in like 200 BC make him the first Warhammer Guy. he got some disposable income and started painting minis. totally get it
Reposted by Andrew Balis
And not just your analysis of foreign policy: It’s an idea so profoundly ignorant of what defines Trump, the man and Trumpism, the political project - the desire to dominate and punish - that no one should waste time listening to what the “Trump, the peace president” crowd has to say about anything.
If you thought he was gonna have a restrained foreign policy, you are a mark and a dope and your foreign policy analysis should be discounted.
Trump: "I think Cuba is gonna be something we'll end up talking about, because Cuba is a failing nation. It's very similar"
January 3, 2026 at 8:56 PM
And not just your analysis of foreign policy: It’s an idea so profoundly ignorant of what defines Trump, the man and Trumpism, the political project - the desire to dominate and punish - that no one should waste time listening to what the “Trump, the peace president” crowd has to say about anything.
“You really are the Top Gun, Maverick (2022).”
January 3, 2026 at 7:13 PM
“You really are the Top Gun, Maverick (2022).”
*Scream internally.*
January 3, 2026 at 7:11 PM
*Scream internally.*
Reposted by Andrew Balis
WEEEEEEEE
I LOVE STATE COLLAPSE
I LOVE POWER VACCUMS
I LOVE ARMED GROUPS COMPETING TO CENTRALIZE THEIR POWER IN THE ABSENCE OF A LEGITIMATE MONOPOLY ON VIOLENCE
I LOVE THE SPREAD OF REGIONAL INSTABILITY
I T C A N O N L Y G O O D H A P P E N
I LOVE STATE COLLAPSE
I LOVE POWER VACCUMS
I LOVE ARMED GROUPS COMPETING TO CENTRALIZE THEIR POWER IN THE ABSENCE OF A LEGITIMATE MONOPOLY ON VIOLENCE
I LOVE THE SPREAD OF REGIONAL INSTABILITY
I T C A N O N L Y G O O D H A P P E N
January 3, 2026 at 2:29 PM
WEEEEEEEE
I LOVE STATE COLLAPSE
I LOVE POWER VACCUMS
I LOVE ARMED GROUPS COMPETING TO CENTRALIZE THEIR POWER IN THE ABSENCE OF A LEGITIMATE MONOPOLY ON VIOLENCE
I LOVE THE SPREAD OF REGIONAL INSTABILITY
I T C A N O N L Y G O O D H A P P E N
I LOVE STATE COLLAPSE
I LOVE POWER VACCUMS
I LOVE ARMED GROUPS COMPETING TO CENTRALIZE THEIR POWER IN THE ABSENCE OF A LEGITIMATE MONOPOLY ON VIOLENCE
I LOVE THE SPREAD OF REGIONAL INSTABILITY
I T C A N O N L Y G O O D H A P P E N
Soon.
My daughter’s cat hates our other cat, and will sometimes sit watching him sleep from behind my office door
January 3, 2026 at 3:03 PM
Soon.
The Substance (2024)
January 2, 2026 at 7:21 PM
The Substance (2024)
Reposted by Andrew Balis
DHS publicly fantasizing about massive state violence should be taken seriously, and warrants labels such as fascist and white supremacist. But don't lose sight of the fact that it's beyond their capabilities.
The regime's desire for authoritarian repression is bottomless. Its capacity isn't close.
The regime's desire for authoritarian repression is bottomless. Its capacity isn't close.
They want to wipe out almost a third of the country. It’s got nothing to do with illegal immigration.
It’s white nationalism pure and simple. They’re fascists, and there’s no reason to doubt it.
It’s white nationalism pure and simple. They’re fascists, and there’s no reason to doubt it.
January 1, 2026 at 4:35 PM
DHS publicly fantasizing about massive state violence should be taken seriously, and warrants labels such as fascist and white supremacist. But don't lose sight of the fact that it's beyond their capabilities.
The regime's desire for authoritarian repression is bottomless. Its capacity isn't close.
The regime's desire for authoritarian repression is bottomless. Its capacity isn't close.
Least ominous mayonnaise ad.
January 1, 2026 at 9:40 PM
Least ominous mayonnaise ad.
Reposted by Andrew Balis
Iranian security forces have opened fire on protesters in Lordegan.
January 1, 2026 at 11:20 AM
Iranian security forces have opened fire on protesters in Lordegan.