Kenneth Silber
@kensil.bsky.social
Writer, editor, fact-checker. Politics, science, history. Based in NJ. https://substack.com/@kensilber https://www.splicetoday.com/authors/Kenneth%20Silber https://www.eriecanalbook.com/
ksilber65[at]proton.me
ksilber65[at]proton.me
Pinned
The Lethality of the Irrational
Parsing policies on Venezuela and narcotrafficking. || Kenneth Silber
www.splicetoday.com
I examine policies that are non compos mentis. www.splicetoday.com/politics-and...
Troubling, to say the least. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Opinion | Overmatched: Why the U.S. Military Must Reinvent Itself (Gift Article)
Investing in the old ways of war leaves America at risk.
www.nytimes.com
December 8, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Troubling, to say the least. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Reposted by Kenneth Silber
For the first time this century, the number of children worldwide who die before their fifth birthday is projected to rise, according to a new study published by the Gates Foundation.
Child deaths under 5 believed to be rising for first time in decades
Cuts to development aid from several countries is a key factor, researchers said.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 8, 2025 at 10:00 AM
For the first time this century, the number of children worldwide who die before their fifth birthday is projected to rise, according to a new study published by the Gates Foundation.
Reposted by Kenneth Silber
The California Democrat questioned whether the pipe-bomb suspect would be included in Trump’s mass pardons of Jan. 6 rioters.
trib.al/E9HCm96
trib.al/E9HCm96
December 5, 2025 at 5:52 PM
The California Democrat questioned whether the pipe-bomb suspect would be included in Trump’s mass pardons of Jan. 6 rioters.
trib.al/E9HCm96
trib.al/E9HCm96
I examine policies that are non compos mentis. www.splicetoday.com/politics-and...
The Lethality of the Irrational
Parsing policies on Venezuela and narcotrafficking. || Kenneth Silber
www.splicetoday.com
December 5, 2025 at 11:34 AM
I examine policies that are non compos mentis. www.splicetoday.com/politics-and...
www.politico.com/news/2025/12... Tom Cotton saying the men were trying to "flip" the boat over raises a lot of questions. For starters, was it a kayak?
Lawmakers sharply divided as Congress probes killings at sea
Democrats and Republicans had demanded unedited footage of the Sept. 2 boat strike in the Caribbean after The Washington Post reported that shipwrecked survivors were targeted in a follow-up attack.
www.politico.com
December 4, 2025 at 8:56 PM
www.politico.com/news/2025/12... Tom Cotton saying the men were trying to "flip" the boat over raises a lot of questions. For starters, was it a kayak?
"Is There Life After MAGA?" www.nytimes.com/2025/12/02/o...
Opinion | ‘The $64,000 Question Is What Happens When He Is Gone’
www.nytimes.com
December 2, 2025 at 7:49 PM
"Is There Life After MAGA?" www.nytimes.com/2025/12/02/o...
Reposted by Kenneth Silber
"The Age of Disclosure, a documentary about UAP (unidentified anomalous phenomena, previously known as UFOs) and government efforts to cover them up, is claptrap. "
"The Age of Disclosure" leaves me unsatisfied. www.splicetoday.com/pop-culture/...
Murkiness of the Extraterrestrials
The Age of Disclosure leaves mysteries intact. || Kenneth Silber
www.splicetoday.com
December 2, 2025 at 2:31 AM
"The Age of Disclosure, a documentary about UAP (unidentified anomalous phenomena, previously known as UFOs) and government efforts to cover them up, is claptrap. "
Reposted by Kenneth Silber
If a man personally implicated in war crimes can remain atop the Pentagon, why would he stand by and risk his freedom should Vance (or Trump again) lose the 2028 election?
And unless Bradley sees the inside of a brig, the message to USSOCOM's chain of command is that no action is impermissible.
And unless Bradley sees the inside of a brig, the message to USSOCOM's chain of command is that no action is impermissible.
Pete Hegseth And Adm. Mitch Bradley Belong In Prison
The South American boat strikes are plainly murders. Now we have the names of the murderers. Do we have the political will to lock them up?
www.forever-wars.com
December 1, 2025 at 6:08 PM
If a man personally implicated in war crimes can remain atop the Pentagon, why would he stand by and risk his freedom should Vance (or Trump again) lose the 2028 election?
And unless Bradley sees the inside of a brig, the message to USSOCOM's chain of command is that no action is impermissible.
And unless Bradley sees the inside of a brig, the message to USSOCOM's chain of command is that no action is impermissible.
Reposted by Kenneth Silber
Ok but what if the president was part of a conspiracy to traffic 400 tons of cocaine from that country into our country?
Reporter: You have made so clear how you want to keep drugs out of the US—
Trump: Right
Reporter: Can you explain why you would pardon a notorious drug trafficker?
Trump: If somebody sells drugs in that country, that doesn’t mean you arrest the president
Trump: Right
Reporter: Can you explain why you would pardon a notorious drug trafficker?
Trump: If somebody sells drugs in that country, that doesn’t mean you arrest the president
November 30, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Ok but what if the president was part of a conspiracy to traffic 400 tons of cocaine from that country into our country?
Fantastic piece at @theunpopulist.net on Musk distorting Tolkien into fascism. www.theunpopulist.net/p/even-by-a-...
Even by a Strict Definition, Elon Musk Is a Fascist
He is weaponizing Tolkien to promote violence by ‘hard men’ against Asian immigrants
www.theunpopulist.net
December 1, 2025 at 4:19 AM
Fantastic piece at @theunpopulist.net on Musk distorting Tolkien into fascism. www.theunpopulist.net/p/even-by-a-...
Reposted by Kenneth Silber
wapo.st/49KbUJ1
@HouseDemocrats
@ericswalwell.bsky.social
@raskin.house.gov
@jimmcgovernma.bsky.social
@repauchincloss.bsky.social
@aoc.bsky.social
This is murder, plain and simple. Hegseth should be forced to resign, and every democrat should be screaming "TRIALS, TRIALS and MORE TRIALS".
@HouseDemocrats
@ericswalwell.bsky.social
@raskin.house.gov
@jimmcgovernma.bsky.social
@repauchincloss.bsky.social
@aoc.bsky.social
This is murder, plain and simple. Hegseth should be forced to resign, and every democrat should be screaming "TRIALS, TRIALS and MORE TRIALS".
Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order to kill all crew members in the Sept. 2 strike on a suspected drug boat. Navy SEALs fired a second missile.
wapo.st
November 28, 2025 at 8:35 PM
wapo.st/49KbUJ1
@HouseDemocrats
@ericswalwell.bsky.social
@raskin.house.gov
@jimmcgovernma.bsky.social
@repauchincloss.bsky.social
@aoc.bsky.social
This is murder, plain and simple. Hegseth should be forced to resign, and every democrat should be screaming "TRIALS, TRIALS and MORE TRIALS".
@HouseDemocrats
@ericswalwell.bsky.social
@raskin.house.gov
@jimmcgovernma.bsky.social
@repauchincloss.bsky.social
@aoc.bsky.social
This is murder, plain and simple. Hegseth should be forced to resign, and every democrat should be screaming "TRIALS, TRIALS and MORE TRIALS".
"The Age of Disclosure" leaves me unsatisfied. www.splicetoday.com/pop-culture/...
Murkiness of the Extraterrestrials
The Age of Disclosure leaves mysteries intact. || Kenneth Silber
www.splicetoday.com
November 28, 2025 at 12:04 PM
"The Age of Disclosure" leaves me unsatisfied. www.splicetoday.com/pop-culture/...
Reposted by Kenneth Silber
Pretty convincing evidence here that the Trump administration was planning to jailbreak and provide asylum for Bolsonaro -- and that Trump inadvertently revealed the plan.
And this, as the now-cliche goes, would have been a paralyzing scandal for any other administration.
And this, as the now-cliche goes, would have been a paralyzing scandal for any other administration.
Trump appears to blurt out secret plan, not knowing it's already a bust
YouTube video by MS NOW
www.youtube.com
November 25, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Pretty convincing evidence here that the Trump administration was planning to jailbreak and provide asylum for Bolsonaro -- and that Trump inadvertently revealed the plan.
And this, as the now-cliche goes, would have been a paralyzing scandal for any other administration.
And this, as the now-cliche goes, would have been a paralyzing scandal for any other administration.
Reposted by Kenneth Silber
The media are always a lagging indicator, piling on after events threaten to overtake them. This was true in the McCarthy era, in the Vietnam era, in the Watergate era, the Iraq War era. By the time the media say something is bad and failing, the public has already turned decisively against it.
"While elite journos and businessmen kiss the ring of Trump, people in jammies and slippers confront ICE in the street. The courage of ordinary people has been stunning compared to the elite."
On the pod @amandamarcotte.bsky.social is good on Trump's downward spiral:
newrepublic.com/article/2035...
On the pod @amandamarcotte.bsky.social is good on Trump's downward spiral:
newrepublic.com/article/2035...
Trump Is a Weak, Failing President, and the Media Is Finally Saying So
As Trump’s downward spiral starts producing harsher media coverage, a writer who regularly dissects MAGA and political media explains why he’s entering a tailspin that will be very hard to reverse.
newrepublic.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:34 PM
The media are always a lagging indicator, piling on after events threaten to overtake them. This was true in the McCarthy era, in the Vietnam era, in the Watergate era, the Iraq War era. By the time the media say something is bad and failing, the public has already turned decisively against it.
I write about the long run.
www.splicetoday.com/writing/huma...
www.splicetoday.com/writing/huma...
Humanity Across the Ages
Intriguing glimpses of our species’ past and future. || Kenneth Silber
www.splicetoday.com
November 25, 2025 at 11:31 AM
I write about the long run.
www.splicetoday.com/writing/huma...
www.splicetoday.com/writing/huma...
Reposted by Kenneth Silber
DOGE members are reportedly worried that they could face prosecution for some of their activities conducted while under the leadership of Elon Musk.
DOGE days are over as Trump disbands Elon Musk's team of federal cost-cutters | TechCrunch
DOGE members are reportedly worried that they could face prosecution for some of their activities conducted while under the leadership of Elon Musk.
techcrunch.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:56 PM
DOGE members are reportedly worried that they could face prosecution for some of their activities conducted while under the leadership of Elon Musk.
Reposted by Kenneth Silber
If I’m understanding this correctly, X is owned by a white nationalist who pays poor people of color in developing countries to pretend to be working class white Americans to scare other white Americans into being afraid poor people of color from developing countries are going to ruin America?
November 23, 2025 at 7:30 PM
If I’m understanding this correctly, X is owned by a white nationalist who pays poor people of color in developing countries to pretend to be working class white Americans to scare other white Americans into being afraid poor people of color from developing countries are going to ruin America?
. @theunpopulist.net on "Furious Minds." www.theunpopulist.net/p/the-neo-ri... My earlier review: www.splicetoday.com/politics-and...
The Neo-Right's Multi-Front Revolt Against America
A political theorist traces the intellectual history of the various strains of a movement gone rogue
www.theunpopulist.net
November 23, 2025 at 7:49 PM
. @theunpopulist.net on "Furious Minds." www.theunpopulist.net/p/the-neo-ri... My earlier review: www.splicetoday.com/politics-and...
Remember that "Don't Be Evil" stuff? www.latimes.com/business/sto...
Former Google chief accused of spying on employees through account 'backdoor'
Former Google CEO and chairman Eric Schmidt was accused in a lawsuit filed Wednesday by a former girlfriend and business partner of using a Gmail "backdoor" to spy on her and company employees.
www.latimes.com
November 23, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Remember that "Don't Be Evil" stuff? www.latimes.com/business/sto...
"But she never did get the joke on the biggest joke in town, the joke that MAGA is about anything more than manipulation, exploitation, corruption, lust, and cruelty." www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Marjorie Taylor Greene Came So Close to Getting the Joke
What the Georgia representative learned in Washington
www.theatlantic.com
November 23, 2025 at 4:13 AM
"But she never did get the joke on the biggest joke in town, the joke that MAGA is about anything more than manipulation, exploitation, corruption, lust, and cruelty." www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Watched this. Strong case, grim viewing.
www.nytimes.com/2024/12/11/m...
www.nytimes.com/2024/12/11/m...
‘The Bibi Files’ Review: The Case Against Netanyahu
www.nytimes.com
November 22, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Watched this. Strong case, grim viewing.
www.nytimes.com/2024/12/11/m...
www.nytimes.com/2024/12/11/m...
"Those who aided and abetted an arsonist are now expressing shock that the city is turning to ashes."
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
The Intellectual and Moral Decline of the American Right
The conservative backlash against Nick Fuentes has yet to challenge the president who had him over for dinner.
www.theatlantic.com
November 22, 2025 at 4:14 PM
"Those who aided and abetted an arsonist are now expressing shock that the city is turning to ashes."
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Reposted by Kenneth Silber
How awful. This is outright health disinformation, lying to the American people. Not only is there massive evidence showing no link between vaccines & autism, there’s not even a plausible mechanism based on what we’ve learned about the genetics of autism, some environmental exposures in pregnancy
HEADS UP: CDC website now officially asserts that vaccines may cause autism.“Studies supporting a link have been ignored by health authorities.” Also says the “vaccines do not cause autism” header remains b/c of an agreement with Cassidy.
November 20, 2025 at 3:18 AM
How awful. This is outright health disinformation, lying to the American people. Not only is there massive evidence showing no link between vaccines & autism, there’s not even a plausible mechanism based on what we’ve learned about the genetics of autism, some environmental exposures in pregnancy
Reposted by Kenneth Silber
we're hiring a senior politics writer at @wired.com -- come work with me!
Senior Writer, Politics
WIRED is where a better future is imagined. For three decades, we have been the indispensable guide to a world in constant transformation. We cover humanity’s biggest challenges, from climate change t...
condenast.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com
November 17, 2025 at 2:25 PM
we're hiring a senior politics writer at @wired.com -- come work with me!