David Burbach 🇺🇸🌹
@dburbach.bsky.social
Prof. National Security and International Relations. Space security, civil-military relations. Cats, science, photography for fun. Providence RI; Oregon at heart! Personal views ONLY; no govt resources used. Assoc Ed @TNSR.org
Pinned
My pinned tweet through Presidents of both parties: Sen. Leahy reminds an appointee that federal employees swear an oath to the Constitution, not of personal loyalty to any one man or woman.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlSI...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlSI...
Reposted by David Burbach 🇺🇸🌹
Yup. The administration is engaging in blatantly lawless shakedowns. And the DOJ is a massively understaffed wreck. Not the time to cower and cave.
One reason why elite schools (Columbia, Brown, Cornell) caving to Trump’s illegal impoundment and extortion is so galling — a betrayal, really — is that they would have won had they fought. By giving up, they guaranteed every other school will have to fight harder.
Judge bars Trump from immediately cutting funding to the University of California | CNN Politics
The Trump administration cannot immediately cut federal funding to the University of California or issue fines against the school system over claims it allows antisemitism or other forms of discrimina...
www.cnn.com
November 15, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Yup. The administration is engaging in blatantly lawless shakedowns. And the DOJ is a massively understaffed wreck. Not the time to cower and cave.
Zoilgl number 2, an Oktoberfest with freshly harvested US grown Hallertau Mitelfruh. A bit malt thin and more hoppy vs style but the point is the hops, and it is a nice herbal-spicy taste.
November 15, 2025 at 4:30 AM
Zoilgl number 2, an Oktoberfest with freshly harvested US grown Hallertau Mitelfruh. A bit malt thin and more hoppy vs style but the point is the hops, and it is a nice herbal-spicy taste.
Friday night game and a Zoiglhaus "Petite Pilsner", not bad for 2.8% 😂
November 15, 2025 at 3:08 AM
Friday night game and a Zoiglhaus "Petite Pilsner", not bad for 2.8% 😂
online: Epstein Revelation -- Bill Clinton Going Down!
Me: well yes, if the evidence suggests prosecuting him then... < taps ear, listens a moment >
Me: oh. Oh my. 🙈
Me: well yes, if the evidence suggests prosecuting him then... < taps ear, listens a moment >
Me: oh. Oh my. 🙈
November 15, 2025 at 2:33 AM
online: Epstein Revelation -- Bill Clinton Going Down!
Me: well yes, if the evidence suggests prosecuting him then... < taps ear, listens a moment >
Me: oh. Oh my. 🙈
Me: well yes, if the evidence suggests prosecuting him then... < taps ear, listens a moment >
Me: oh. Oh my. 🙈
Reposted by David Burbach 🇺🇸🌹
Blue Origin planning next New Glenn flight for early next year
After a successful second flight of New Glenn, includig landing the booster, Blue Origin is looking to perform its next launch early next year, possibly with the same booster.
After a successful second flight of New Glenn, includig landing the booster, Blue Origin is looking to perform its next launch early next year, possibly with the same booster.
Blue Origin planning next New Glenn flight for early next year
After a successful second flight of New Glenn, includig landing the booster, Blue Origin is looking to perform its next launch early next year, possibly with the same booster.
spacenews.com
November 15, 2025 at 1:48 AM
Blue Origin planning next New Glenn flight for early next year
After a successful second flight of New Glenn, includig landing the booster, Blue Origin is looking to perform its next launch early next year, possibly with the same booster.
After a successful second flight of New Glenn, includig landing the booster, Blue Origin is looking to perform its next launch early next year, possibly with the same booster.
Reposted by David Burbach 🇺🇸🌹
How many profs in major PhD granting science departments have *not* advised even 1 Chinese student or Chinese postdoc in the last five years 😧?
“The prohibited activities would include joint research, co-authorship on papers, and advising a foreign graduate student or postdoctoral fellow. The language is retroactive, meaning any interactions during the previous 5 years could make a scientist ineligible for future federal funding.”
U.S. Congress considers sweeping ban on Chinese collaborations
Researchers speak out against proposal that would bar funding for U.S. scientists working with Chinese partners or training Chinese students
www.science.org
November 14, 2025 at 2:13 AM
How many profs in major PhD granting science departments have *not* advised even 1 Chinese student or Chinese postdoc in the last five years 😧?
Reposted by David Burbach 🇺🇸🌹
*Shenzhou-20 crew returned to Earth as expected within reentry window
*They used their colleagues' SZ-21 spacecraft as SZ-20 return module window has minor crack, likely due to a debris impact
*Uncrewed Shenzhou-22 with cargo will be launched to Tiangong for SZ-21 astrosnauts
*They used their colleagues' SZ-21 spacecraft as SZ-20 return module window has minor crack, likely due to a debris impact
*Uncrewed Shenzhou-22 with cargo will be launched to Tiangong for SZ-21 astrosnauts
Shenzhou-20 astronauts safely return to Earth on Shenzhou-21 spacecraft after space debris damage concerns
Three Chinese astronauts have safely returned to Earth in the recently-launched Shenzhou-21 spacecraft after their own spacecraft was declared unsafe.
Three Chinese astronauts have safely returned to Earth in the recently-launched Shenzhou-21 spacecraft after their own spacecraft was declared unsafe.
Shenzhou-20 astronauts safely return to Earth on Shenzhou-21 spacecraft after space debris damage concerns
Three Chinese astronauts have safely returned to Earth in the recently-launched Shenzhou-21 spacecraft after their own spacecraft was declared unsafe.
spacenews.com
November 14, 2025 at 10:02 AM
*Shenzhou-20 crew returned to Earth as expected within reentry window
*They used their colleagues' SZ-21 spacecraft as SZ-20 return module window has minor crack, likely due to a debris impact
*Uncrewed Shenzhou-22 with cargo will be launched to Tiangong for SZ-21 astrosnauts
*They used their colleagues' SZ-21 spacecraft as SZ-20 return module window has minor crack, likely due to a debris impact
*Uncrewed Shenzhou-22 with cargo will be launched to Tiangong for SZ-21 astrosnauts
How many profs in major PhD granting science departments have *not* advised even 1 Chinese student or Chinese postdoc in the last five years 😧?
“The prohibited activities would include joint research, co-authorship on papers, and advising a foreign graduate student or postdoctoral fellow. The language is retroactive, meaning any interactions during the previous 5 years could make a scientist ineligible for future federal funding.”
U.S. Congress considers sweeping ban on Chinese collaborations
Researchers speak out against proposal that would bar funding for U.S. scientists working with Chinese partners or training Chinese students
www.science.org
November 14, 2025 at 2:13 AM
How many profs in major PhD granting science departments have *not* advised even 1 Chinese student or Chinese postdoc in the last five years 😧?
Good graphic from @spaceflightnow.com
There are big players in space launch 🇺🇸 🇨🇳, and some also-rans
Really the players right now are China and SpaceX with "rest of USA" one of the also-rans, though New Glenn's success today is one step towards that changing
There are big players in space launch 🇺🇸 🇨🇳, and some also-rans
Really the players right now are China and SpaceX with "rest of USA" one of the also-rans, though New Glenn's success today is one step towards that changing
November 13, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Good graphic from @spaceflightnow.com
There are big players in space launch 🇺🇸 🇨🇳, and some also-rans
Really the players right now are China and SpaceX with "rest of USA" one of the also-rans, though New Glenn's success today is one step towards that changing
There are big players in space launch 🇺🇸 🇨🇳, and some also-rans
Really the players right now are China and SpaceX with "rest of USA" one of the also-rans, though New Glenn's success today is one step towards that changing
These people are *also* pushing Americans to have more babies, a LOT more babies, and routinely bash leftists who advocate zero population growth, so I'm not sure "there are too many people in America" is a 100% good faith argument here...
JD Vance: "A lot of young people are saying housing is way too expensive. Why is that? Because we flooded the country with 30 million illegal immigrants who were taking houses that ought by right go to American citizens."
November 13, 2025 at 9:58 PM
These people are *also* pushing Americans to have more babies, a LOT more babies, and routinely bash leftists who advocate zero population growth, so I'm not sure "there are too many people in America" is a 100% good faith argument here...
Reposted by David Burbach 🇺🇸🌹
Blue Origin sticks the landing on New Glenn's second flight www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Bezos’ Blue Origin New Glenn Rocket Launches First NASA Mission
Blue Origin LLC launched its flagship New Glenn rocket from Cape Canaveral on Thursday, successfully reaching space and landing its first-stage booster shortly after launch, a major feat for the Jeff ...
www.bloomberg.com
November 13, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Blue Origin sticks the landing on New Glenn's second flight www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
NEW GLENN SUCCESS!
Was so busy prepping to teach I forgot to watch live, but 30 m ago Blue Origin (Bezos) launched their big new rocket, which successfully placed two NASA Mars probes into orbit and landed the booster at sea.
New Glenn is smaller than Starship, bigger than Falcon 9
Was so busy prepping to teach I forgot to watch live, but 30 m ago Blue Origin (Bezos) launched their big new rocket, which successfully placed two NASA Mars probes into orbit and landed the booster at sea.
New Glenn is smaller than Starship, bigger than Falcon 9
November 13, 2025 at 9:24 PM
NEW GLENN SUCCESS!
Was so busy prepping to teach I forgot to watch live, but 30 m ago Blue Origin (Bezos) launched their big new rocket, which successfully placed two NASA Mars probes into orbit and landed the booster at sea.
New Glenn is smaller than Starship, bigger than Falcon 9
Was so busy prepping to teach I forgot to watch live, but 30 m ago Blue Origin (Bezos) launched their big new rocket, which successfully placed two NASA Mars probes into orbit and landed the booster at sea.
New Glenn is smaller than Starship, bigger than Falcon 9
Reposted by David Burbach 🇺🇸🌹
Predictable but still amazing to watch people who spent literally years accusing every librarian, teacher, and trans person they could find of sexually grooming children suddenly throw themselves in with "actually it's ephebophilia"
Megyn Kelly: "I know somebody very close to this case…Jeffrey Epstein, in this person's view, was not a pedophile…He was into the barely legal type, like he liked 15 year old girls…He wasn't into like 8 year olds…There's a difference between a 15 year old and a 5 year old."
November 13, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Predictable but still amazing to watch people who spent literally years accusing every librarian, teacher, and trans person they could find of sexually grooming children suddenly throw themselves in with "actually it's ephebophilia"
Back to back in feed when I log in.
1. Video from ICE Chicago detention facility was "inadvertently" destroyed for much of October
2. Grand jury transcript from when Halligan -- alone -- presented the Comey indictment is "missing"
🤷♂️
1. Video from ICE Chicago detention facility was "inadvertently" destroyed for much of October
2. Grand jury transcript from when Halligan -- alone -- presented the Comey indictment is "missing"
🤷♂️
November 13, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Back to back in feed when I log in.
1. Video from ICE Chicago detention facility was "inadvertently" destroyed for much of October
2. Grand jury transcript from when Halligan -- alone -- presented the Comey indictment is "missing"
🤷♂️
1. Video from ICE Chicago detention facility was "inadvertently" destroyed for much of October
2. Grand jury transcript from when Halligan -- alone -- presented the Comey indictment is "missing"
🤷♂️
Reposted by David Burbach 🇺🇸🌹
Florida, where billionaire sex traffickers are treated as gods but drag shows are considered harmful to the children.
November 13, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Florida, where billionaire sex traffickers are treated as gods but drag shows are considered harmful to the children.
Reposted by David Burbach 🇺🇸🌹
he’s a provider of access to money, connections and beautiful women and girls — everything that these people need to affirm their own status. being rich and powerful is a grift which requires other to bolster & buy in. That’s the service Epstein provided.
Something that’s so striking in these emails is how…unimpressive Epstein is. He comes off as a pompous, sub-literate lech. Yes everyone is so mortifyingly solicitous of him! All fawning and flattery! Why?????
November 13, 2025 at 9:10 AM
he’s a provider of access to money, connections and beautiful women and girls — everything that these people need to affirm their own status. being rich and powerful is a grift which requires other to bolster & buy in. That’s the service Epstein provided.
Pope Leo is apparently quite familiar with Illinois Nazis (yes, that is the Pope, the one with the fancy hat in Rome, wearing a Blues Brothers outfit in the early 80s)
November 13, 2025 at 4:48 AM
Pope Leo is apparently quite familiar with Illinois Nazis (yes, that is the Pope, the one with the fancy hat in Rome, wearing a Blues Brothers outfit in the early 80s)
Just catching up on this particular thread from the documents, and WHAT IN THE NAME OF FRAK, NYT????
NYT had details of Trump's engagement with Jeffrey Epstein's child sex trafficking and *hid it for him*, at the same time it was crucifying Clinton as untrustworthy due to her document retention & security.
November 13, 2025 at 12:37 AM
Just catching up on this particular thread from the documents, and WHAT IN THE NAME OF FRAK, NYT????
I have been saying since 2019 that it would be health for our politics and our society to send more elites to prison. Not fines and NPAs, but prison
November 13, 2025 at 12:35 AM
I have been saying since 2019 that it would be health for our politics and our society to send more elites to prison. Not fines and NPAs, but prison
Frantically prepping for regular teaching days and kept myself away from news and social media since noon.
I see Oversight Dems Epstein releases 😧, and yet more 😨, and more 🤯.
But:
1. Did the House pass a budget? Am I working tomorrow?
2. Did the discharge petition have 218 at 4:30?
I see Oversight Dems Epstein releases 😧, and yet more 😨, and more 🤯.
But:
1. Did the House pass a budget? Am I working tomorrow?
2. Did the discharge petition have 218 at 4:30?
November 13, 2025 at 12:32 AM
Frantically prepping for regular teaching days and kept myself away from news and social media since noon.
I see Oversight Dems Epstein releases 😧, and yet more 😨, and more 🤯.
But:
1. Did the House pass a budget? Am I working tomorrow?
2. Did the discharge petition have 218 at 4:30?
I see Oversight Dems Epstein releases 😧, and yet more 😨, and more 🤯.
But:
1. Did the House pass a budget? Am I working tomorrow?
2. Did the discharge petition have 218 at 4:30?
Reposted by David Burbach 🇺🇸🌹
SBIs will require defensive capabilities to help protect them from adversary ASATS -- and that is a cost factor/tech challenge that is not often included in ongoing discussions about investment requirements. breakingdefense.com/2025/11/gold...
Golden Dome SBIs will need to be defended from adversary attack: Experts - Breaking Defense
The satellites will need to be defended "not only from adversary kinetic or local orbital issues, but also from cyber attacks, electronic jamming and laser attacks," said Patrick Binning, a professor ...
breakingdefense.com
November 12, 2025 at 11:46 PM
SBIs will require defensive capabilities to help protect them from adversary ASATS -- and that is a cost factor/tech challenge that is not often included in ongoing discussions about investment requirements. breakingdefense.com/2025/11/gold...
Reposted by David Burbach 🇺🇸🌹
@vanjackson.bsky.social has the single best analysis of the Epstein story I have read, precisely because he reads Epstein through the lens of the geopolitics of American empire. www.un-diplomatic.com/p/epstein-ge...
Epstein Geopolitics
Un-Diplomatic is entirely reader-supported.
www.un-diplomatic.com
November 12, 2025 at 2:13 PM
@vanjackson.bsky.social has the single best analysis of the Epstein story I have read, precisely because he reads Epstein through the lens of the geopolitics of American empire. www.un-diplomatic.com/p/epstein-ge...
As a practical matter in US courts, it would be almost impossible to prosecute a federal employee (mil or civ) for just following orders if there was a formal contemporaneous DOJ OLC opinion that those orders were legal, even if a future DOJ disagrees with the finding
Exclusive: U.S. troops are not liable in the deadly strikes on alleged drug-trafficking boats in Latin America, a new classified Justice Department memo announced.
U.S. troops not liable in boat strikes, classified Justice Dept. memo says
In a classified memo, the Trump administration’s Office of Legal Counsel said that U.S. troops would not be liable for participating in boat strikes on alleged narco-traffickers.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 12, 2025 at 6:52 PM
As a practical matter in US courts, it would be almost impossible to prosecute a federal employee (mil or civ) for just following orders if there was a formal contemporaneous DOJ OLC opinion that those orders were legal, even if a future DOJ disagrees with the finding
Best aurora pics from my DSLR last night, from light polluted Warwick, RI. This was about 10:15 Eastern, it was *much* better in RI an hour earlier (which tracks space weather graphs I've seen)
The one with 'rays' is due to thin high clouds, not auroral bands
The one with 'rays' is due to thin high clouds, not auroral bands
November 12, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Best aurora pics from my DSLR last night, from light polluted Warwick, RI. This was about 10:15 Eastern, it was *much* better in RI an hour earlier (which tracks space weather graphs I've seen)
The one with 'rays' is due to thin high clouds, not auroral bands
The one with 'rays' is due to thin high clouds, not auroral bands
Reposted by David Burbach 🇺🇸🌹
Glad this story is finally public but also incredible that it is taking media so long to dig up what is essentially open knowledge in these communities rn.
November 12, 2025 at 2:07 AM
Glad this story is finally public but also incredible that it is taking media so long to dig up what is essentially open knowledge in these communities rn.