David J. Snyder
@fractalpast9.bsky.social
Historian, writer, editor. Author of "American Power in the Netherlands" (Bloomsbury, 2026). I blog about US empire, history, and culture at fractalpast.com. Working on a biography of Pittsburgh's Daisy Lampkin.
For editing inquiries: www.fractalpast.com.
For editing inquiries: www.fractalpast.com.
Pinned
David J. Snyder
@fractalpast9.bsky.social
· Nov 18
Hello Bluesky! I am David J. Snyder, PhD--historian, writer, and non-fiction #editor. My current book, "American Power in the Netherlands: Modernization and the Politics of Clientelism, 1945-1959" will be published by Bloomsbury next year. I am also writing books on higher education and a memoir.
Necessary clarity from a retired three-star: "Officers are duty-bound to refuse an unlawful order. It is not optional. It is not situational. It is their job."
What Americans Should Understand About the Military Disobeying Illegal Orders open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
What Americans Should Understand About the Military Disobeying Illegal Orders open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
What Americans Should Understand About the Military Disobeying Illegal Orders
And why it matters there are two military oaths.
open.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:45 AM
Necessary clarity from a retired three-star: "Officers are duty-bound to refuse an unlawful order. It is not optional. It is not situational. It is their job."
What Americans Should Understand About the Military Disobeying Illegal Orders open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
What Americans Should Understand About the Military Disobeying Illegal Orders open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
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A partial list of the groups and organizations in which Daisy Lampkin took a prominent or defined leadership role include:
Bethel AME Church (local)
Aurora Reading Club (local)
Lucy Stone League
Red Cross (local)
Allegheny County Colored Women’s Committee (local) . . .
A partial list of the groups and organizations in which Daisy Lampkin took a prominent or defined leadership role include:
Bethel AME Church (local)
Aurora Reading Club (local)
Lucy Stone League
Red Cross (local)
Allegheny County Colored Women’s Committee (local) . . .
November 22, 2025 at 10:17 PM
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A partial list of the groups and organizations in which Daisy Lampkin took a prominent or defined leadership role include:
Bethel AME Church (local)
Aurora Reading Club (local)
Lucy Stone League
Red Cross (local)
Allegheny County Colored Women’s Committee (local) . . .
A partial list of the groups and organizations in which Daisy Lampkin took a prominent or defined leadership role include:
Bethel AME Church (local)
Aurora Reading Club (local)
Lucy Stone League
Red Cross (local)
Allegheny County Colored Women’s Committee (local) . . .
We [sic] the People [sic] of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union [sic], establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common [sic] defense,
November 21, 2025 at 7:42 PM
We [sic] the People [sic] of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union [sic], establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common [sic] defense,
For those whose understanding of modern socialism is thin, I report here a link to an excerpt from my forthcoming book on the post-WWII evolution of Dutch socialism. It may be helpful: www.fractalpast.com/blog/a-brief...
November 21, 2025 at 5:07 PM
For those whose understanding of modern socialism is thin, I report here a link to an excerpt from my forthcoming book on the post-WWII evolution of Dutch socialism. It may be helpful: www.fractalpast.com/blog/a-brief...
Reposted by David J. Snyder
while I’m being cranky, access journalism needs to go. When the president does his “I’m alpha because I insulted you” thing somebody needs to fall on his sword and say “what the fuck is wrong with you, old man?” on a hot mic. the hero of the wizard of Oz is Toto.
November 21, 2025 at 12:11 PM
while I’m being cranky, access journalism needs to go. When the president does his “I’m alpha because I insulted you” thing somebody needs to fall on his sword and say “what the fuck is wrong with you, old man?” on a hot mic. the hero of the wizard of Oz is Toto.
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Over the past several months, as I await the arrival of my book, I have started a new project: a biography of noted suffrage and civil rights pioneer, Daisy Lampkin of Pittsburgh. Lampkin's work for the Urban League, the NAACP, the Pgh. Courier, and . . .
www.fractalpast.com/blog/daisy-l...
Over the past several months, as I await the arrival of my book, I have started a new project: a biography of noted suffrage and civil rights pioneer, Daisy Lampkin of Pittsburgh. Lampkin's work for the Urban League, the NAACP, the Pgh. Courier, and . . .
www.fractalpast.com/blog/daisy-l...
Daisy Lampkin of Pittsburgh
I am pleased to introduce the subject of my next and current project. Daisy Lampkin of Pittsburgh was a leading suffrage and civil rights activist throughout most of the first half of the twentieth...
www.fractalpast.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:39 AM
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Over the past several months, as I await the arrival of my book, I have started a new project: a biography of noted suffrage and civil rights pioneer, Daisy Lampkin of Pittsburgh. Lampkin's work for the Urban League, the NAACP, the Pgh. Courier, and . . .
www.fractalpast.com/blog/daisy-l...
Over the past several months, as I await the arrival of my book, I have started a new project: a biography of noted suffrage and civil rights pioneer, Daisy Lampkin of Pittsburgh. Lampkin's work for the Urban League, the NAACP, the Pgh. Courier, and . . .
www.fractalpast.com/blog/daisy-l...
Agreed. Would that I could wave a wand and make this the basis of our politics going forward, for the next couple of generations at least.
It is genuinely incredible to me how much evidence there is to support investing in the public good and how much animus there is to do this simple, effective thing.
November 18, 2025 at 5:39 AM
Agreed. Would that I could wave a wand and make this the basis of our politics going forward, for the next couple of generations at least.
With apologies to the original poster, whose post was lost to me in the digital abyss of a mis-click, but this is really worth watching, despite the advertisement at the end. In case you have ever wondered why today's movies so often just don't seem real:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvwP...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvwP...
Why Movies Just Don't Feel "Real" Anymore
YouTube video by Like Stories of Old
www.youtube.com
November 17, 2025 at 5:18 AM
With apologies to the original poster, whose post was lost to me in the digital abyss of a mis-click, but this is really worth watching, despite the advertisement at the end. In case you have ever wondered why today's movies so often just don't seem real:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvwP...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvwP...
I'm very curious: has anyone established a prominent or vibrant (I dunno, say, 5 or 10K followers or more) on Bluesky de novo? In other words, built the account here from scratch and not imported an account and followers from another platform?
November 16, 2025 at 11:12 PM
I'm very curious: has anyone established a prominent or vibrant (I dunno, say, 5 or 10K followers or more) on Bluesky de novo? In other words, built the account here from scratch and not imported an account and followers from another platform?
Not exactly my genres, but I think this is exactly right. We need slow, we need inefficient, we need imperfect, because we need human:
November 16, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Not exactly my genres, but I think this is exactly right. We need slow, we need inefficient, we need imperfect, because we need human:
I'm not in the habit of seconding popes, but this I heartily endorse:
November 16, 2025 at 10:01 PM
I'm not in the habit of seconding popes, but this I heartily endorse:
"Wealth is the relentless enemy of understanding."
-- J. K. Galbraith
-- J. K. Galbraith
The ultrawealthy live lives in which literally the only human beings they ever come in contact with are either other rich freaks or people who are being paid to serve them.
Of course that turns them into sociopaths. How could it not?
www.wsj.com/lifestyle/tr...
Of course that turns them into sociopaths. How could it not?
www.wsj.com/lifestyle/tr...
The Ultrarich Are Spending a Fortune to Live in Extreme Privacy
In Miami and elsewhere, the wealthy are moving in increasingly private spheres, shelling out big money to bypass the indignities of public life.
www.wsj.com
November 16, 2025 at 5:11 AM
"Wealth is the relentless enemy of understanding."
-- J. K. Galbraith
-- J. K. Galbraith
Can't recommend strongly enough the PBS Great Performances production of Twelfth Night. Peter Dinklage, Sandra Oh, and the rest of the cast are superb. Lupita Nyong'o is a sublime, revelatory Cesario/Viola.
(And shout out to #publicgoods: invest in PBS!)
(And shout out to #publicgoods: invest in PBS!)
November 16, 2025 at 5:02 AM
Can't recommend strongly enough the PBS Great Performances production of Twelfth Night. Peter Dinklage, Sandra Oh, and the rest of the cast are superb. Lupita Nyong'o is a sublime, revelatory Cesario/Viola.
(And shout out to #publicgoods: invest in PBS!)
(And shout out to #publicgoods: invest in PBS!)
Book excerpt:
In the 20th century US empire, the State Department, the Marshall Plan, the CIA, and the U.S. Information Agency (USIA), blanketed foreign audiences with performances, exhibits, lectures, film, radio, pamphlets, and much more. Scholars call this effort "public diplomacy," though . . .
In the 20th century US empire, the State Department, the Marshall Plan, the CIA, and the U.S. Information Agency (USIA), blanketed foreign audiences with performances, exhibits, lectures, film, radio, pamphlets, and much more. Scholars call this effort "public diplomacy," though . . .
November 15, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Book excerpt:
In the 20th century US empire, the State Department, the Marshall Plan, the CIA, and the U.S. Information Agency (USIA), blanketed foreign audiences with performances, exhibits, lectures, film, radio, pamphlets, and much more. Scholars call this effort "public diplomacy," though . . .
In the 20th century US empire, the State Department, the Marshall Plan, the CIA, and the U.S. Information Agency (USIA), blanketed foreign audiences with performances, exhibits, lectures, film, radio, pamphlets, and much more. Scholars call this effort "public diplomacy," though . . .
Reposted by David J. Snyder
Remember: The richest 1% evade over $160 billion in taxes every year.
That amount would fund SNAP for a year with money to spare.
Ask yourself who the real freeloaders are.
That amount would fund SNAP for a year with money to spare.
Ask yourself who the real freeloaders are.
November 14, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Remember: The richest 1% evade over $160 billion in taxes every year.
That amount would fund SNAP for a year with money to spare.
Ask yourself who the real freeloaders are.
That amount would fund SNAP for a year with money to spare.
Ask yourself who the real freeloaders are.
A more humane world would and should keep space for inefficiency.
True, but what else has been lost? The quality of digital calls is much worse. We've lost privacy and right not to be monitored. And we've still lost all those Mabels and Gladyses to boot. I want them back. And elevator operators, gas station attendants, and porters too. Unionized, and well paid.
November 13, 2025 at 7:33 PM
A more humane world would and should keep space for inefficiency.
Anniversary of one of my most favorite pictures I've ever taken:
November 12, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Anniversary of one of my most favorite pictures I've ever taken:
We have GOT to learn how to make a much better, affirmative, enthusiastic case for public goods, throughout the West, and especially here in the USA.
My feelings about the BBC are largely in line with my feelings about the NHS.
I think it is vital we have a publicly owned and funded broadcaster and its enemies are my enemies, but I *detest* the way it's talked about as some gift to the peasantry we're supposed to be fawningly grateful for.
I think it is vital we have a publicly owned and funded broadcaster and its enemies are my enemies, but I *detest* the way it's talked about as some gift to the peasantry we're supposed to be fawningly grateful for.
Revealing division in my timeline between (1) my insider friends who have lived privileged lives who are very keen that we defend the BBC and think it's important it survives and (2) my outsider friends who feel (at best) ambivalent about the BBC's survival.
November 12, 2025 at 4:19 AM
We have GOT to learn how to make a much better, affirmative, enthusiastic case for public goods, throughout the West, and especially here in the USA.
Super proud that one of my recent editing projects will be featured on Jake Tapper's show this afternoon, in honor of Veterans' Day, Ross Berkoff's engrossing and illuminating "Beyond the Outpost." Check it out!
www.linkedin.com/posts/ross-b...
www.linkedin.com/posts/ross-b...
It’s humbling to know that our Veteran stories still matter, and that others want to listen. Thank you, Jake Tapper, for helping me carry that forward…
Check out our full conversation tomorrow night…...
It’s humbling to know that our Veteran stories still matter, and that others want to listen. Thank you, Jake Tapper, for helping me carry that forward…
Check out our full conversation tomorrow night ...
www.linkedin.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Super proud that one of my recent editing projects will be featured on Jake Tapper's show this afternoon, in honor of Veterans' Day, Ross Berkoff's engrossing and illuminating "Beyond the Outpost." Check it out!
www.linkedin.com/posts/ross-b...
www.linkedin.com/posts/ross-b...
Could not possibly agree more.
John C Reilly not only despises “How’s everything tasting?”as much as I do but uses the exact same phrase to describe how it feels to be asked. I guess I have to get really into hats now?
Servers need to stop saying “HOWS EVERYTHING TASTING?” Feat John .C Reilly #restaurant #servers #nyc
YouTube video by SubwayTakes with Kareem Rahma
youtube.com
November 9, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Could not possibly agree more.
The historical abuse heaped on the word #socialism has been in no way reduced by its current prevalence. One day I'll write a primer on the history for confused Americans. For now, an excerpt from my book, which some may find helpful:
www.fractalpast.com/blog/a-brief...
www.fractalpast.com/blog/a-brief...
A Brief History of Postwar Dutch Socialism
Socialism has been much in the American news of late. The historical and political abuse heaped on the word has been in no way reduced by its prevalence. One day I aim to write a primer on the...
www.fractalpast.com
November 6, 2025 at 5:08 AM
The historical abuse heaped on the word #socialism has been in no way reduced by its current prevalence. One day I'll write a primer on the history for confused Americans. For now, an excerpt from my book, which some may find helpful:
www.fractalpast.com/blog/a-brief...
www.fractalpast.com/blog/a-brief...
There is no liberty if the judiciary power be not separated from the legislative and executive. . . . [J]oined with the legislative, the life and liberty of the subject [is] exposed to arbitrary control . . . Were it joined to the executive power, the judge might behave with violence and oppression.
November 3, 2025 at 10:07 PM
There is no liberty if the judiciary power be not separated from the legislative and executive. . . . [J]oined with the legislative, the life and liberty of the subject [is] exposed to arbitrary control . . . Were it joined to the executive power, the judge might behave with violence and oppression.
Mamdani helping to alleviate housing costs already:
November 3, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Mamdani helping to alleviate housing costs already: