Dr. Gabriel Baker
@gabrielbaker.bsky.social
Ancient History PhD. Teacher. H-War Network Editor. Author of Spare No One: Mass Violence in Roman Warfare. Views/opinions are my own. Currently taking a break from socials.
Introduce yourself with four spaceships.
November 26, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Introduce yourself with four spaceships.
Reposted by Dr. Gabriel Baker
Just a reminder that I'm happy to speak to any journalist, or to recommend other scholars to do so, about why prejudice and "potentially divisive symbols" like swastikas (!) are so harmful to morale and cohesion in militaries
U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify swastikas, nooses as hate symbols
The military service, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security, has drafted a new policy that classifies such items “potentially divisive.”
www.washingtonpost.com
November 20, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Just a reminder that I'm happy to speak to any journalist, or to recommend other scholars to do so, about why prejudice and "potentially divisive symbols" like swastikas (!) are so harmful to morale and cohesion in militaries
www.npr.org/2025/11/10/n...
"'I swore an oath to the Constitution, not a person,' she says. 'I just really, really implore my peers and everybody outside looking in, to just think about that. Really think about that, and think about what that means.'"
"'I swore an oath to the Constitution, not a person,' she says. 'I just really, really implore my peers and everybody outside looking in, to just think about that. Really think about that, and think about what that means.'"
In an encrypted group chat, National Guard members question Trump deployments
As President Trump's call for National Guard deployments rings out across the U.S., a small contingent of Ohio guard members is quietly expressing concern in an encrypted group chat.
www.npr.org
November 10, 2025 at 11:30 PM
www.npr.org/2025/11/10/n...
"'I swore an oath to the Constitution, not a person,' she says. 'I just really, really implore my peers and everybody outside looking in, to just think about that. Really think about that, and think about what that means.'"
"'I swore an oath to the Constitution, not a person,' she says. 'I just really, really implore my peers and everybody outside looking in, to just think about that. Really think about that, and think about what that means.'"
Reposted by Dr. Gabriel Baker
"Wouldn't it be fascinating to live in the late Roman Republic?"
(Monkey paw curls).
(Monkey paw curls).
New: The Pentagon confirms to CNN it will funnel $130M from an anonymous Trump “friend” toward military pay.
Asked about the donor’s identity and any foreign or domestic entanglements, the WH referred questions to DoD. DoD then referred questions back to the WH
www.cnn.com/2025/10/24/p...
Asked about the donor’s identity and any foreign or domestic entanglements, the WH referred questions to DoD. DoD then referred questions back to the WH
www.cnn.com/2025/10/24/p...
Pentagon to use $130 million donation from anonymous Trump ‘friend’ to pay military members | CNN Politics
The Trump administration plans to funnel a $130 million donation from an anonymous ally of President Donald Trump toward paying military service members during the government shutdown, the Defense Dep...
www.cnn.com
October 24, 2025 at 7:56 PM
"Wouldn't it be fascinating to live in the late Roman Republic?"
(Monkey paw curls).
(Monkey paw curls).
Reposted by Dr. Gabriel Baker
BEST BIG CITY IN THE US 9 YEARS IN A ROW.
While critics try to paint Chicago as something to fear, the rest of the world knows the truth — this is the best big city in America.
While critics try to paint Chicago as something to fear, the rest of the world knows the truth — this is the best big city in America.
Best Big City: Chicago Wins Award 9th Year in a Row
Learn why Chicago was voted the Best Big City for the 9th consecutive year by exploring our vibrant culture, welcoming inclusion, and so much more.
www.choosechicago.com
October 7, 2025 at 8:26 PM
BEST BIG CITY IN THE US 9 YEARS IN A ROW.
While critics try to paint Chicago as something to fear, the rest of the world knows the truth — this is the best big city in America.
While critics try to paint Chicago as something to fear, the rest of the world knows the truth — this is the best big city in America.
Reposted by Dr. Gabriel Baker
If Putin concludes that NATO’s incredibly weak physical and verbal response to his aerial assault on Poland is as robust as it is willing to get, then the disparity in wealth etc won’t deter him at all. How is this not blindingly obvious? VERY serious danger is now heading towards us at speed.
September 10, 2025 at 10:36 AM
If Putin concludes that NATO’s incredibly weak physical and verbal response to his aerial assault on Poland is as robust as it is willing to get, then the disparity in wealth etc won’t deter him at all. How is this not blindingly obvious? VERY serious danger is now heading towards us at speed.
Reposted by Dr. Gabriel Baker
So if you remember that frustrating article a couple of weeks ago at the Dispatch suggesting that we ought to save the sciences by shoving the humanities overboard, I wrote a response to the financial illiteracy and moral cowardice of that position: thedispatch.com/article/univ...
How (Not) to Save the American University
Why splitting the sciences and humanities—and appeasing Trump—won’t work.
thedispatch.com
September 5, 2025 at 1:14 PM
So if you remember that frustrating article a couple of weeks ago at the Dispatch suggesting that we ought to save the sciences by shoving the humanities overboard, I wrote a response to the financial illiteracy and moral cowardice of that position: thedispatch.com/article/univ...
Reposted by Dr. Gabriel Baker
The University of Chicago recently announced pauses on admissions to some of its humanities doctoral programs. Tyler Austin Harper argues that it's “a particular gut-punch to the humanities, not just at the university itself, but nationally and even globally.”
What’s Really at Stake if Fewer People Study the Humanities
Why the University of Chicago’s decision to pause admissions to some doctoral programs hurts so much
bit.ly
August 27, 2025 at 1:45 AM
The University of Chicago recently announced pauses on admissions to some of its humanities doctoral programs. Tyler Austin Harper argues that it's “a particular gut-punch to the humanities, not just at the university itself, but nationally and even globally.”
Reposted by Dr. Gabriel Baker
I think we should be using “real feel” for more things than just the weather, like you have a half hour meeting today but it’s at 4:00 so the real feel is gonna be up around 53 minutes, or you have 2 cats but they’re in a mood today so the real feel is gonna be somewhere between 7 and 9
August 21, 2025 at 2:13 PM
I think we should be using “real feel” for more things than just the weather, like you have a half hour meeting today but it’s at 4:00 so the real feel is gonna be up around 53 minutes, or you have 2 cats but they’re in a mood today so the real feel is gonna be somewhere between 7 and 9
Reposted by Dr. Gabriel Baker
As we mark the 80th anniversary of WWII's end, I’ve come to believe that in losing that Greatest Generation, we are losing more than just the memories of combat. We are losing the memory and experience of what it means to fight fascism and authoritarianism. www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/what-we-lo...
What We Lost When We Lost the Greatest Generation
It's no coincidence that democracy is backsliding in the US exactly eighty years after the end of World War II.
www.doomsdayscenario.co
August 5, 2025 at 3:57 PM
As we mark the 80th anniversary of WWII's end, I’ve come to believe that in losing that Greatest Generation, we are losing more than just the memories of combat. We are losing the memory and experience of what it means to fight fascism and authoritarianism. www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/what-we-lo...
Reposted by Dr. Gabriel Baker
AI will never locate a new archive. It will never uncover a new source. It will never find a small, privately held collection of papers that can upend what we think we know about the past. It can never work with undigitized sources. It can never do real oral history or ethnography.
AI can only replace historians in the sense that it can spit out mediocre, plagiarized narrative that vaguely resembles history. It will never replace *good* historians. Unfortunately, many university presidents and CEOs don’t seem to care about the quality of work being done, only the quantity- 1/2
Just a reminder this list is drawn from a piece written by four researchers for MICROSOFT (data scientists, CS people, economists) who have never stepped foot in an archive/never taken an oral history/studied material culture, by their CVs.
Unlike them, I do my research, and don't talk out my ass.
Unlike them, I do my research, and don't talk out my ass.
August 5, 2025 at 2:58 PM
AI will never locate a new archive. It will never uncover a new source. It will never find a small, privately held collection of papers that can upend what we think we know about the past. It can never work with undigitized sources. It can never do real oral history or ethnography.
Regurgitating/remixing the work of historians ≠ doing history. But clearly the "researchers" who made this list had no idea what any of these professions actually do.
"You guys just memorize facts and dates right? And maybe speculate about ancient aliens? Prepare to be obsoleted!"
"You guys just memorize facts and dates right? And maybe speculate about ancient aliens? Prepare to be obsoleted!"
Just a reminder this list is drawn from a piece written by four researchers for MICROSOFT (data scientists, CS people, economists) who have never stepped foot in an archive/never taken an oral history/studied material culture, by their CVs.
Unlike them, I do my research, and don't talk out my ass.
Unlike them, I do my research, and don't talk out my ass.
August 5, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Regurgitating/remixing the work of historians ≠ doing history. But clearly the "researchers" who made this list had no idea what any of these professions actually do.
"You guys just memorize facts and dates right? And maybe speculate about ancient aliens? Prepare to be obsoleted!"
"You guys just memorize facts and dates right? And maybe speculate about ancient aliens? Prepare to be obsoleted!"
Reposted by Dr. Gabriel Baker
But because there's no giant 'history formula,' no tables of strange symbols (well, amusingly, there *are* but you don't work with them until you are much deeper in the field), folks assume that history is easy, does not require special skills and so contemptible. 12/
July 25, 2025 at 9:59 PM
But because there's no giant 'history formula,' no tables of strange symbols (well, amusingly, there *are* but you don't work with them until you are much deeper in the field), folks assume that history is easy, does not require special skills and so contemptible. 12/
Reposted by Dr. Gabriel Baker
a good arbiter of how close we are to bad hybrid regime shit is if the political comedy shows start getting pulled for whatever reason
January 23, 2025 at 5:36 AM
a good arbiter of how close we are to bad hybrid regime shit is if the political comedy shows start getting pulled for whatever reason
Reposted by Dr. Gabriel Baker
"We don’t make enough money to put up with this."
Last year, US K-12 schools opened short 55,000 teachers. Between book bans and political attacks on schools and educators, it's looking like this year's shortages will be even more dire, especially in red states.
newrepublic.com/article/1967...
Last year, US K-12 schools opened short 55,000 teachers. Between book bans and political attacks on schools and educators, it's looking like this year's shortages will be even more dire, especially in red states.
newrepublic.com/article/1967...
American Teachers in Red States Are Walking Away for Good
The predictable consequences of the right wing’s war on public schools are being felt as educators leave their communities—and their profession.
newrepublic.com
July 14, 2025 at 10:23 AM
"We don’t make enough money to put up with this."
Last year, US K-12 schools opened short 55,000 teachers. Between book bans and political attacks on schools and educators, it's looking like this year's shortages will be even more dire, especially in red states.
newrepublic.com/article/1967...
Last year, US K-12 schools opened short 55,000 teachers. Between book bans and political attacks on schools and educators, it's looking like this year's shortages will be even more dire, especially in red states.
newrepublic.com/article/1967...
Reposted by Dr. Gabriel Baker
To form a more perfect Union, implies as we all know, that we have something imperfect. But to strive for the betterment of all, and to keep striving no matter what - that is the American legacy. “For that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion.”
We strive still.
We strive still.
July 3, 2025 at 7:47 PM
To form a more perfect Union, implies as we all know, that we have something imperfect. But to strive for the betterment of all, and to keep striving no matter what - that is the American legacy. “For that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion.”
We strive still.
We strive still.
New article out @ruhm.bsky.social! I examined negative reactions to mass violence (massacres, mass enslavements, etc) in Greek+Roman texts. Such reactions suggest that, for some ancient observers, acts of extreme violence were "atrocities"—i.e., transgressive, shocking, & worthy of condemnation. (1)
July 2, 2025 at 7:06 PM
New article out @ruhm.bsky.social! I examined negative reactions to mass violence (massacres, mass enslavements, etc) in Greek+Roman texts. Such reactions suggest that, for some ancient observers, acts of extreme violence were "atrocities"—i.e., transgressive, shocking, & worthy of condemnation. (1)
There are some things I miss about living in the Bay Area and some things I very much do not miss, but *that summer weather* is the thing I miss the most.
I'm writing ("writing") in an outdoor café in Berkeley and the space heaters (I kid you not) are ON.
Late June in the San Francisco Bay Area 😘
June 24, 2025 at 8:58 PM
There are some things I miss about living in the Bay Area and some things I very much do not miss, but *that summer weather* is the thing I miss the most.
Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Okay you guys, what’s the best book, movie, or TV show your dad introduced you to
June 16, 2025 at 4:57 AM
Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Reposted by Dr. Gabriel Baker
Another good reminder from today is that to win this we all need to get used to cooperating with people we sometimes find highly annoying
June 15, 2025 at 5:05 AM
Another good reminder from today is that to win this we all need to get used to cooperating with people we sometimes find highly annoying
I endorse this view.
War is bad.
June 13, 2025 at 7:44 PM
I endorse this view.
I have a joke about Phylarchus but Polybius says it's too dramatic.
I have a joke about Sappho b[ut
].
].
i have a joke about Hera but if she hears it i'll be in big trouble
June 13, 2025 at 12:34 PM
I have a joke about Phylarchus but Polybius says it's too dramatic.
The game was on easy mode, too.
How to torch global standing and soft power in six months.
Exclusive: Morning Consult finds that due to trade policy, global favorability of China is rising, while America is falling
June 3, 2025 at 1:05 AM
The game was on easy mode, too.
Shout out to @bretdevereaux.bsky.social for consistently being super generous.
Same, you were on a history starter pack Bret Devereaux recommended.
May 25, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Shout out to @bretdevereaux.bsky.social for consistently being super generous.