iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Rick Herrera @herreramilhist.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Barrel-aged barleywine? Don’t mind if I do!

Reposted by Rick Herrera

Bill Kristol @billkristolbulwark.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

“Originalism is an incoherent doctrine. It allows you to prove anything. Thus what it amounts to is a ritual invocation of the Founders, gesturing at this or that piece of text, before delivering whatever conclusion was approved on Fox News the night before.” www.liberalcurrents.com/we-have-no-s...

liberalcurrents.com

We Have No Supreme Court

The philosophical incoherence of originalism prevents the Court from performing its core functions as a supreme court.

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Rick Herrera @herreramilhist.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Hmmm. If you can't express yourself clearly in writing, odds are you can't do so speaking. The bit about not lecturing or conducting a seminar with written notes comes across as little more than a canard.

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Reposted by Rick Herrera

Jacob Öberg @profjacob.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

🚨🚨 @coe.int of Europe said yesterday that the #US formally notified it that it would leave the Group of States against Corruption, or #GRECO. Only two other countries have left GRECO before — #Russia and #Belarus. The fall of the #US on the world scene is striking. apnews.com/article/trum...

apnews.com

US withdraws from European anti-corruption panel in latest shift away from global groups

The Trump administration has withdrawn the United States from a top European anti-corruption watchdog.

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Reposted by Rick Herrera

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 29/09/2026

Jack Smith: "History teaches that the rule of law is rarely destroyed all at once. It's often weakened by attacks on the institutions and the public servants sworn to uphold it. Since January 2025, we have witnessed precisely such an effort."

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Reposted by Rick Herrera

Agathe Demarais @agathedemarais.com · 29/09/2026

Mainstream narrative of China shock decimating EU industry may be overblown • Over past decade, China accounted for just one quarter of growth in bloc's extra-EU imports • China's share of EU’s imports has barely moved over past decade, rising from 20.5% to 22.3% www.economist.com/business/202...

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Rick Herrera @herreramilhist.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Just published and available for download @smh-historians.bsky.social ndupress.ndu.edu/Media/News/N...

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Rick Herrera @herreramilhist.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Fascinating. This brings to mind Tony Carlson's historical account of how Americans came to see wetlands as wastelands. See his Perilous Waters: Settlers, Swamps, and the State, 1775–1920 uncpress.org/978146969480...

uncpress.org

Perilous Waters

Wetlands—particularly swamps—have evoked contradictory responses from different groups in the United States, from the early republic to the end of World ...

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Rick Herrera @herreramilhist.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

I've described AI as at best a D- student. Wrong was I. It's an F. Process matters.

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Rick Herrera @herreramilhist.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

The only trap is self-inflicted foolishness, including believing that the past must repeat itself.

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Reposted by Rick Herrera

Kyle Griffin @kylegriffin1.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

The Pentagon's public tally of troops wounded during the Iran war was quietly increased this week without explanation from Trump's Defense Department. The total number of troops now wounded during the war is 861, according to DCAS.

washingtonpost.com

Pentagon quietly adds dozens to tally of troops wounded amid Iran war

With the addition of 29 U.S. sailors and eight Marines, the total number of personnel wounded since the start of hostilities has risen to 861, a Pentagon database shows.

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Reposted by Rick Herrera

Holly Brewer @earlymodjustice.bsky.social · 18/12/2025

My forthcoming book— For which I began research in 2006. Is now posted on the website for Princeton University Press. Cover will be added soon. The King’s Slaves: The British Empire & the Origins of American Slavery

press.princeton.edu

The King's Slaves

A provocative account of how empire and absolutism institutionalized slavery in America

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Reposted by Rick Herrera

Nicholas Grossman @nicholasgrossman.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Saudi Arabia is in big trouble, with their oil industry under attack from multiple directions. The Saudis spent years bribing Trump and Kushner. At first, it seemed like a good investment. But the Iran war screwed them, now they really need help, and the US can't/won't. Me, in @foreignpolicy.com:

foreignpolicy.com

Saudi Arabia Bribed the Wrong People

Riyadh’s bet on Trumpism has failed.

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Reposted by Rick Herrera

Joanne Freeman @jbf1755.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

They know there’s no widespread fraud. We know there’s no widespread fraud. The courts have proven that there’s no widespread fraud. STOP TRYING TO DEPRIVE CITIZENS OF THE VOTE Desperate cheaters all.

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Reposted by Rick Herrera

War on the Rocks @warontherocks.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

AI-assisted writing is now, by far, the leading reason we reject submissions. Light polishing is one thing. Anything beyond that is not permitted. We require work that clearly reflects self-evident human voice, judgment, and expertise. Our readers deserve nothing less. warontherocks.com/submissions/

warontherocks.com

Editorial Guidelines for Pitching and Submitting

Want to write for War on the Rocks? Start here.

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Reposted by Rick Herrera

Nate Ledbetter @nhledbetter.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

"courtmartialed for his unhinged rant after the Afghan withdrawal" is a feature, not a bug, in his selection.

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Rick Herrera @herreramilhist.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Let us hope, let us all work together toward our fuller potential, our better angels, as Lincoln put it.

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Reposted by Rick Herrera

Philip K. Allan - Author @philipkallan.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

New York City Docks - c1900s photo taken by Paul W Faust Most of the world’s great ports would have looked similar at the time, with forests of masts. #Ageofsail #NewYork #ships

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Reposted by Rick Herrera

Bart⚓️ @bartgonnissen.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

1/x In the 1840s, a lame American naval officer, grounded at a desk in Washington, cut weeks off the world's ocean voyages without inventing a single machine. His raw material: a warehouse of logbooks nobody had ever read. Matthew Fontaine Maury, Pathfinder of the Seas. A 🧵 #maritimehistory

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Rick Herrera @herreramilhist.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

As it should always be. Go Doyers!

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Reposted by Rick Herrera

Karl Jacoby @karl-jacoby.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

"[W]e will never agree to a wall." Tohono O'odham on Trump's effort to build a border wall through their homeland. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/17/u...

nytimes.com

For a Border Tribe, Trump’s Wall Is a Betrayal: ‘They Want to Erase Us’

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Reposted by Rick Herrera

History News Network @myhnn.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Famous for his books about the founders, Gordon S. Wood’s true legacy may have been about showing how futile their efforts were in the face of pressures from below. www.hnn.us/article/a-re...

hnn.us

A Republic of the People, a Constitution of Air

Famous for his books about the founders, Gordon S. Wood’s true legacy may have been about showing how futile their efforts were in the face of pressures from below.

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Reposted by Rick Herrera

Mrs. Betty Bowers @mrsbettybowers.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Since it is Constitution Day, I have a question for all you Christian nationalists out there. QUESTION: "How many times does the Constitution mention Jesus?" ANSWER: "Zero times. That's right—NEVER." Thank you for your strenuous lack of attention to this fact.

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Reposted by Rick Herrera

Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

New — I wrote about this weird thing where people within the Republican party keep being exposed as Nazis and the party then tries to claim each one is an aberration. The facts, as I lay out here, indicate otherwise:

thehandbasket.co

Republicans don’t have a Nazi problem—they are the Nazi problem

A spate of recent revelations have shown the ideologies and their adherents are one and the same.

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Reposted by Rick Herrera

Matthew J Kuiper @matthewjkuiper.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

“Professors and students are often in a bind about what they should do: Use more A.I. to stay relevant, or dial back to preserve learning and thinking?” Let’s fix this framing: Using AI does NOT = staying relevant. No, the only way to stay relevant is to preserve actual learning and thinking.

nytimes.com

Universities Sound Warnings About A.I. Even as They Embrace It (Gift Article)

As A.I. upends education, university leaders have been all over the map about how to respond. It can be very confusing for students.

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Reposted by Rick Herrera

Helen Kennedy @helenkennedy.com · 16/09/2026

This is why they wanted Pentagon reporters to sign an oath promising to seek approval before publishing anything. They wanted to lie without pushback. www.aljazeera.com/features/202...

aljazeera.com

Dozens of aircraft, hundreds of buildings: US loss to Iran attacks revealed

The Pentagon watchdog's report paints a picture of significant losses to US forces and facilities in the region.

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Reposted by Rick Herrera

@LAhistory @lahistory.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

The first issue of La Opinión [ @laopinionla.bsky.social ] was published in Los Angeles 100 years ago today. news.google.com/newspapers?n... #newspaperhistory

A screen capture of the La Opinion article titled "La Ceremonia del 'Grito' en Los Angeles". The excerpt reads: En el "Lincoln Park", el Consul de Mexico vitoreo a los heroes de la independencia —Las fiestas en Balverde — El programa para hoy. En medio del más grande de los entusiasmos, como es aquel que se inflama en el fuego del patriotismo, se celebró anoche la tradicional ceremonia de El Grito en el Parque Lincoln de esta ciudad, donde se conglomera ron las multitudes ansiosas de sentir dentro de su entraña la voz de la Patria, encarnada en el Himno Nacional y en
¡la bandera del Ejército Trigarante. Desde las primeras horas de la noche los terrenos del Parque Lincoln empezaron a verse invadidos de lindas mujeres mexicanas, desde las de las clases más distinguidas hasta las de las más humildes, mujeres que por ser hondamente, patriotas son más hermosas, porque tienen la belleza del ideal; de hombres de tez broncínea. raza fuerte que en tierra extraña busca el pan, y que cuando llega el día en que se llevan las ofrendas ante el altar de la patria, están siempre listos a agruparse en hermandad sin tasa, a abandonar tods ls rencillas, y a unir su corazón noble. al corazón latente de la Patria.

A screen capture of the first issue of La Opinión, above the fold. The Spanish headlines read:

- Se Registraron Los Primeros Combates En El Yaqui
- El Gobierno envia fuertes contingentes de soldados
- Cien pasajeros venian en el convoy asaltado por los rebeldes
- El asunto de la evangelista McPhersonse enreda mas
- Este Numero de "LA OPINION"
- Cien pasajeros venian en el convoy asaltado por los rebeldes yaquis
- La Ceremonia del "Grito" en Los Angeles
- Los Prelados de E.U. Apoyan a Los De Mexico

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Rick Herrera @herreramilhist.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

The “very best” minds, hard at work on strategy, planning, logistics, alliances, anticipating consequences. Nah. That shit’s too DEI, too woke, low T. Not “warrior” enough. Too many women & minorities involved.

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Rick Herrera @herreramilhist.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Nitro milk stout & carnitas tacos, a well-balanced meal.

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Reposted by Rick Herrera

The War Horse @thewarhorsenews.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

We obtained early data from the Marine Corps’ new fitness standards for women in combat roles after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered that women serving in combat jobs be scored against the male fitness test standard. thewarhorse.org/hegseth-mari...

thewarhorse.org

Hegseth Made the Fitness Test Harder for Women in Combat Roles. Most Female Marines Are Passing

Data shows almost all Marine females serving in combat roles have met or exceeded Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's new physical fitness standard.

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Rick Herrera @herreramilhist.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Sliced California tri-tip & Lagunitas Pilsner at Phil’s in San Diego. Oh yeah.

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Rick Herrera @herreramilhist.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Mexico-U.S. Relations, 1756-2010. Follow the links, both volumes gratis. @smh-historians.bsky.social historicas.unam.mx/publicacione...

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Rick Herrera @herreramilhist.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Resources for historians of slavery and the slave trade.

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Reposted by Rick Herrera

ProPublica @propublica.org · 14/09/2026

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who derides rules of engagement as “woke,” gutted the civilian harm reduction program over the objections of top military commanders, ProPublica previously reported. Staff plunged from nearly 200 to about two dozen.

propublica.org

Empty Seat: U.S. Absent as Western Powers Meet on Wartime Protections for Civilians

A multinational group meets this week at NATO headquarters in Belgium to discuss protections for civilians during combat. Even though the U.S. co-founded this effort, no American delegation will be in...

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