Hein Goemans
@heingoemans.bsky.social
Galactic Effectuator (obvious Jack Vance aficionado); Professor of Political Science at the University of Rochester. Interests: war and war termination, territorial disputes, why do leaders and why do individuals fight?
Reposted by Hein Goemans
I hope folks realize that between Trump, Kushner, Hegseth, Witkoff, Noem, RFK, Jr., Kash Patel, and Tulsi Gabbard, this country is almost entirely undefended.
Q: Have you heard this audio that Bloomberg has of Witkoff coaching the Russians on how to appeal to you?
TRUMP: That's a standard thing. He's gotta sell this to Ukraine, he's gonna sell Ukraine to Russia. That's what a dealmaker does. I haven't heard it but I heard it was standard negotiation.
TRUMP: That's a standard thing. He's gotta sell this to Ukraine, he's gonna sell Ukraine to Russia. That's what a dealmaker does. I haven't heard it but I heard it was standard negotiation.
November 26, 2025 at 1:28 AM
I hope folks realize that between Trump, Kushner, Hegseth, Witkoff, Noem, RFK, Jr., Kash Patel, and Tulsi Gabbard, this country is almost entirely undefended.
Reposted by Hein Goemans
I regret to tell you that Donald Trump is a practitioner of huanjing bunao in order that women do not steal his vital energy.
The thing about Trump stories is that they always have that extra layer of stupidity that you’re not expecting. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/u...
November 26, 2025 at 1:25 AM
I regret to tell you that Donald Trump is a practitioner of huanjing bunao in order that women do not steal his vital energy.
I'm very interested in the source of the intelligence on the Witkoff and Russian officials calls.
There are very few intelligence agencies who have this from scratch. One of them is the intelligence agency that pursued the MH-17 investigation.
There are very few intelligence agencies who have this from scratch. One of them is the intelligence agency that pursued the MH-17 investigation.
November 26, 2025 at 1:47 AM
I'm very interested in the source of the intelligence on the Witkoff and Russian officials calls.
There are very few intelligence agencies who have this from scratch. One of them is the intelligence agency that pursued the MH-17 investigation.
There are very few intelligence agencies who have this from scratch. One of them is the intelligence agency that pursued the MH-17 investigation.
Reposted by Hein Goemans
The national security adviser is supposed to oversee policy coordination. The secretary of State is supposed to lead on diplomatic negotiations. In theory, neither would be the clean-up crew, because they’re supposed to prevent the mess from happening in the first place.
November 26, 2025 at 12:27 AM
The national security adviser is supposed to oversee policy coordination. The secretary of State is supposed to lead on diplomatic negotiations. In theory, neither would be the clean-up crew, because they’re supposed to prevent the mess from happening in the first place.
Reposted by Hein Goemans
THOSE ARE NOT CONCESSIONS!!
REPORTER: What kind of concessions are the Russians going to have to make?
TRUMP: The big concession is they stop fighting and they don't take any more land
TRUMP: The big concession is they stop fighting and they don't take any more land
November 26, 2025 at 12:39 AM
THOSE ARE NOT CONCESSIONS!!
Reposted by Hein Goemans
This 👇
My thoughts on the latest civ-mil fracas: "the American military cannot save us from the politicians we elect to high office...the proper role for our military is political inertness. However well-meaning, to encourage them to be otherwise is further pulling them into the political fray.”
www.aei.org
November 26, 2025 at 12:12 AM
This 👇
Reposted by Hein Goemans
Republican senator now publicly defending Mark Kelly
November 25, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Republican senator now publicly defending Mark Kelly
Reposted by Hein Goemans
New Bloomberg bombshell: A Dmitriev-Ushakov conversation from October 29.
Witkoff should be fired.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Witkoff should be fired.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
November 26, 2025 at 12:09 AM
New Bloomberg bombshell: A Dmitriev-Ushakov conversation from October 29.
Witkoff should be fired.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Witkoff should be fired.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Reposted by Hein Goemans
one of the coolest things about ChatGPT is how you can actually just never use it. you can fill your whole entire life with simply not once using it. it's incredible.
November 25, 2025 at 4:15 PM
one of the coolest things about ChatGPT is how you can actually just never use it. you can fill your whole entire life with simply not once using it. it's incredible.
Reposted by Hein Goemans
NEWS --> BBC confirms to me that they did edit a line out of historian @rutgerbregman.com's speech. It called Trump "the most openly corrupt president in US history."
BBC also confirms this was done on the advice of lawyers. So Trump's threats worked.
New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
BBC also confirms this was done on the advice of lawyers. So Trump's threats worked.
New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
Trump’s Fury at BBC Gets Unnerving Results with Pro-MAGA Edit Stunner
First, British Broadcasting Corporation execs resigned after Trump complained about a segment. Now the BBC edited out a line from a historian that was critical of Trump. Where does this end?
newrepublic.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:10 PM
NEWS --> BBC confirms to me that they did edit a line out of historian @rutgerbregman.com's speech. It called Trump "the most openly corrupt president in US history."
BBC also confirms this was done on the advice of lawyers. So Trump's threats worked.
New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
BBC also confirms this was done on the advice of lawyers. So Trump's threats worked.
New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
Reposted by Hein Goemans
November 25, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Reposted by Hein Goemans
More seriously, the fact that Witkoff still thinks that this is just a war about a bit of territory shows he's learned nothing about Putin's aims, and has no interest in learning.
"I know what it’s going to take to get a peace deal done: Donetsk and maybe a land swap somewhere."
🙄
"I know what it’s going to take to get a peace deal done: Donetsk and maybe a land swap somewhere."
🙄
November 25, 2025 at 10:11 PM
More seriously, the fact that Witkoff still thinks that this is just a war about a bit of territory shows he's learned nothing about Putin's aims, and has no interest in learning.
"I know what it’s going to take to get a peace deal done: Donetsk and maybe a land swap somewhere."
🙄
"I know what it’s going to take to get a peace deal done: Donetsk and maybe a land swap somewhere."
🙄
Reposted by Hein Goemans
oh Americans may not understand this, but a 'magistrate' in the UK is a local volunteer with typically no legal background. But it's ok, they receive about 10 days of training. And now they can send you to jail for two years without a jury!
what the fuck
November 25, 2025 at 7:53 PM
oh Americans may not understand this, but a 'magistrate' in the UK is a local volunteer with typically no legal background. But it's ok, they receive about 10 days of training. And now they can send you to jail for two years without a jury!
Reposted by Hein Goemans
My grandma was a magistrate for a few years when she retired and whilst I love her, I’m not sure she should have been sending people to prison.
oh Americans may not understand this, but a 'magistrate' in the UK is a local volunteer with typically no legal background. But it's ok, they receive about 10 days of training. And now they can send you to jail for two years without a jury!
what the fuck
November 25, 2025 at 8:10 PM
My grandma was a magistrate for a few years when she retired and whilst I love her, I’m not sure she should have been sending people to prison.
Thread on the R) Russian(-American?) and E) European(-Ukrainian) peace proposals. I'm going to compare and contrast and see where the biggest obstacles appear to be. First, though, the proposals:
R) www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/e50b18a...
E) www.onestnetwork.com/post/draft-e...
R) www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/e50b18a...
E) www.onestnetwork.com/post/draft-e...
www.telegraph.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Thread on the R) Russian(-American?) and E) European(-Ukrainian) peace proposals. I'm going to compare and contrast and see where the biggest obstacles appear to be. First, though, the proposals:
R) www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/e50b18a...
E) www.onestnetwork.com/post/draft-e...
R) www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/e50b18a...
E) www.onestnetwork.com/post/draft-e...
Reposted by Hein Goemans
Now the new plan is a nonstarter for Russia. This whole episode was just an embarrassing and useless fire-drill.
While Trump couldn’t care less about Ukraine, he’s foolish to believe he could force an ultimatum and more foolish to not realize he’s being endlessly played by Putin.
While Trump couldn’t care less about Ukraine, he’s foolish to believe he could force an ultimatum and more foolish to not realize he’s being endlessly played by Putin.
November 25, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Now the new plan is a nonstarter for Russia. This whole episode was just an embarrassing and useless fire-drill.
While Trump couldn’t care less about Ukraine, he’s foolish to believe he could force an ultimatum and more foolish to not realize he’s being endlessly played by Putin.
While Trump couldn’t care less about Ukraine, he’s foolish to believe he could force an ultimatum and more foolish to not realize he’s being endlessly played by Putin.
Reposted by Hein Goemans
Calling them the “Seditious Six” & branding their statements “despicable” before review is textbook definition of prejudgment. No panel, judge, or reviewing authority can claim neutrality once the SECDEF declares the accused guilty. This looks like the procedures used in dictatorships, not the US.
November 24, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Calling them the “Seditious Six” & branding their statements “despicable” before review is textbook definition of prejudgment. No panel, judge, or reviewing authority can claim neutrality once the SECDEF declares the accused guilty. This looks like the procedures used in dictatorships, not the US.
Reposted by Hein Goemans
Understand that the Halligan thing is 100% Pam Bondi's fuck-up. She could have appointed Halligan Special Attorney and this thing would still be alive.
So it's not just that HALLIGAN is an incompetent bigot.
It's that Bondi is too.
So it's not just that HALLIGAN is an incompetent bigot.
It's that Bondi is too.
November 24, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Understand that the Halligan thing is 100% Pam Bondi's fuck-up. She could have appointed Halligan Special Attorney and this thing would still be alive.
So it's not just that HALLIGAN is an incompetent bigot.
It's that Bondi is too.
So it's not just that HALLIGAN is an incompetent bigot.
It's that Bondi is too.
Reposted by Hein Goemans
Baker is Deputy NSA & a Vance person. Here's a story about his meeting with pro-Ukraine constituents from Ohio in 2024. A participant said:
"I would go as far as to describe [Baker] as kind of a mouthpiece of the Kremlin. He just offered up Russian propaganda over and over again."
Seems bad.
2/2
"I would go as far as to describe [Baker] as kind of a mouthpiece of the Kremlin. He just offered up Russian propaganda over and over again."
Seems bad.
2/2
Like Trump, but worse. How activists were persuading JD Vance to support Ukraine
JD Vance is a fierce opponent of aid to Ukraine, but his Ukrainian American constituents attempted to change this stance.
www.eurointegration.com.ua
November 24, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Baker is Deputy NSA & a Vance person. Here's a story about his meeting with pro-Ukraine constituents from Ohio in 2024. A participant said:
"I would go as far as to describe [Baker] as kind of a mouthpiece of the Kremlin. He just offered up Russian propaganda over and over again."
Seems bad.
2/2
"I would go as far as to describe [Baker] as kind of a mouthpiece of the Kremlin. He just offered up Russian propaganda over and over again."
Seems bad.
2/2
Reposted by Hein Goemans
This cover oozes with contempt for the magazine’s history and its readership
Over many interviews, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told Michael Scherer about how he plans to remake America’s public-health system. Can he lead the scientific establishment he’s spent much of his life crusading against?
Read more in our new cover story: theatln.tc/q9hXxlbM
Read more in our new cover story: theatln.tc/q9hXxlbM
November 24, 2025 at 5:56 PM
This cover oozes with contempt for the magazine’s history and its readership
Reposted by Hein Goemans
I lack the words to describe the horrors of the war in Sudan while the situation around the so-called peace plan is just so inappropriately amateurish given the gravity of daily life in Ukraine.
November 24, 2025 at 6:02 PM
I lack the words to describe the horrors of the war in Sudan while the situation around the so-called peace plan is just so inappropriately amateurish given the gravity of daily life in Ukraine.
Reposted by Hein Goemans
If DoD prosecutes Mark Kelly under the UCMJ, I look forward to a raft of prosecutions of retirees under Article 88 for their comments about Obama and Biden.
November 24, 2025 at 5:22 PM
If DoD prosecutes Mark Kelly under the UCMJ, I look forward to a raft of prosecutions of retirees under Article 88 for their comments about Obama and Biden.
Reposted by Hein Goemans
Using the powers of government to smear their opponents with dubious allegations
November 24, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Using the powers of government to smear their opponents with dubious allegations
Reposted by Hein Goemans
“This is X in 2025: Potentially fake accounts crying at other potentially fake accounts that they aren’t real, all while refusing to acknowledge that they themselves aren’t who they say they are—a Russian nesting doll of bullshit.”
I wrote about the fake account blowup on X this weekend. A genuine post-truth nightmare and proof that these companies have polluted their platforms so thoroughly and traded reality for profit that they've undermined the very idea of what the internet is supposed to be.
That MAGA Account Might Be a Troll From Pakistan
How X blew up its own platform with a new location feature
www.theatlantic.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:07 PM
“This is X in 2025: Potentially fake accounts crying at other potentially fake accounts that they aren’t real, all while refusing to acknowledge that they themselves aren’t who they say they are—a Russian nesting doll of bullshit.”
Reposted by Hein Goemans
I know people are going to revel in the schadenfreude here, but this is really just an admission—given how close the House is split—that they’re just mad it didn’t work. Fewer than a dozen House GOPers could change America tomorrow. That they’re not proves this is just about losing, not principles.
PUNCHBOWL: “.. GOP members messaged us over the weekend saying that they, too, are considering retiring in the middle of the term. Here’s one particularly exercised senior House Republican:
@punchbowlnews.bsky.social
@punchbowlnews.bsky.social
November 24, 2025 at 4:02 PM
I know people are going to revel in the schadenfreude here, but this is really just an admission—given how close the House is split—that they’re just mad it didn’t work. Fewer than a dozen House GOPers could change America tomorrow. That they’re not proves this is just about losing, not principles.