iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Jack A. Goldstone @jgoldstone.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

Go to any corrupt African or Asian country and you will hear "You can't get govt. contracts for your business unless you are connected to the ruling family." The same is now apparently true in the USA; welcome to the Third World, America!

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Jack A. Goldstone @jgoldstone.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

I am glad we have video of all this nonsense so that future historians can marvel at what happened to the Presidency. I just fear it will all seem so ridiculous it will be dismissed as AI fakes.

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Jack A. Goldstone @jgoldstone.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

If that is just bravado, fine. But if Trump actually BELIEVES this, he is deep in a bubble, and it's going to be even worse for the GOP than they think.

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Jack A. Goldstone @jgoldstone.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Just like Biden. When people don't think you are doing a great job, blame bad messenging, not your own failures!

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Jack A. Goldstone @jgoldstone.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Hmn. Looks like he's a zombie -- who's been keeping him alive?

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Jack A. Goldstone @jgoldstone.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

We are now at the Stalinist-style point where the state decides what science should say, rather than science informing what the state should do. So of course anyone who teaches what science actually does say will be fired if they hold a federal government post.

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Jack A. Goldstone @jgoldstone.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

EVERY serious senior commander knows that wars are won with intelligence, logistics, and long-term strategy, not lighting kills. They tried this in Iran, only to find they lacked intel on Iranian weapons, had no strategy if the initial kill blows failed to end the war, and ran out of missiles.

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Jack A. Goldstone @jgoldstone.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

All the best minds from all the best universities in country. Nothing against these, but these institutions are best known for extreme conservative views rather than being "premier higher ed institutions."

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Jack A. Goldstone @jgoldstone.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

So warriors can't have beards? Goes against almost everything in history from Roman generals to MMA fighters!

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Jack A. Goldstone @jgoldstone.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Which means the only question is which will do more damage to our civilization: global warming or AI?

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Jack A. Goldstone @jgoldstone.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

The lies just keep coming, and the economy keeps straining for mostwhile the fat cats enjoy their stockmarket gains. Might, at some point, Americans look back at Biden, when we had a quietly aging president but you didn't have to be afraid of what our government might do next, as the good old days?"

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Jack A. Goldstone @jgoldstone.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Hegseth shows the fear and hatred of transgender people that stems from deep insecurity over his own masculinity. The performative exercise, exaggerated manly dress and tatoos, the war on DEI and trans, the testoterone shots for soldiers: all scream "I need to shout I am a man to cover my doubts".

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Jack A. Goldstone @jgoldstone.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Actually, millions of pregnant women got the vaccine with no complications to pregnancy. Lying in the GOP now is not just routine and totally shameless, it is competitive: seeking to tell the biggest, craziest whoppers that will support Dear Leader.

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Jack A. Goldstone @jgoldstone.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Dems who are upset about DSA/Progressive gains need to wise up. Same thing that brought Trump to power. For 20 yrs-Housing Crisis, Broken Borders, COVID, Inflation surge-the system has been great for the rich and terrible for everyone else. So people want someone who will break the system. Period.

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Jack A. Goldstone @jgoldstone.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

2/Instead we get "any criticism of Israel or Zionism is evil anti-Semitism" from the right and "Israel and all Jews are hateful and evil" from the left. Really? Can't anyone exercise a bit of common sense and realize neither of these statements is true or reasonable? Saying them just breeds anger.

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Jack A. Goldstone @jgoldstone.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

1/ I find it hard to understand why mainstream politicians can distinguish between radical Islam (dangerous and bad) and moderate, mainstream Muslims (generally good, productive citizens) but find it impossible to distinguish between radical Zionism (dangerous and bad) and moderate, mainstream Jews.

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Jack A. Goldstone @jgoldstone.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

For most of the last six decades, while local and state law enforcement too often killed innocent civilians, the Federal govt. and its agencies tried to uphold a higher standard, with Fed courts and agencies seeking to restrain local excess. Now Feds are killing us.

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Reposted by Jack A. Goldstone

David J. Bier @davidjbier.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

I suspect that this killing was the same as Renée Good. If I had to bet, I'd bet that Lorenzo was shot as he was turning around. As he pulls away (after seemingly being rammed in the side by an ICE vehicle), you can see ICE agents to the side of his vehicle (not in front) on the passenger side...

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Jack A. Goldstone @jgoldstone.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

Fox is worried that more people going to libraries means more readers, and a better informed public, which is dangerous to their preferred candidates and issues.

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Jack A. Goldstone @jgoldstone.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

He's making DC look more and more like Nazi Berlin every day.

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Jack A. Goldstone @jgoldstone.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Need to reverse the trend toward "Trumpington" as soon as possible.

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Jack A. Goldstone @jgoldstone.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

As we move toward the 250th anniversary of the USA, Washington DC is starting to look more like "Trumpington"--giant posters of Trump on multiple bldgs., his name on the Kennedy Ctr and US Institute of Peace, his troops on the streets. His remade White House, Reflecting Pool, and planned Arch.

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Jack A. Goldstone @jgoldstone.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

Today's SCOTUS decision bodes ill for the upcoming birthright citizenship case. This court seems to pay no attention to precedent and the meaning--original or otherwise--of law and the Constitution. Their project is restoring White Christian dominance of America. So they may limit citizenship.

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Jack A. Goldstone @jgoldstone.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

SCOTUS has decided that since Obama was elected POTUS there is no longer any racial discrimination in America, that all legacies of slavery have been eliminated, and no protection is any longer necessary or reasonable for African American voters. Instead, unlimited partisan gerrymandering is OK.

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Jack A. Goldstone @jgoldstone.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

The money is being paid back to AMERICAN companies.

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Jack A. Goldstone @jgoldstone.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

It is hard to know if this is Trump's usual bluster or genuine self-delusion! The only country making loads of money on this will be Iran. As to a "Golden Age" in the Middle East like that in the US: there is no such thing in the US, and Israel is making much of the Middle East suffer terribly.

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Jack A. Goldstone @jgoldstone.bsky.social · 05/04/2026

In 1985, making 25k/yr in Chicago, got a lovely house on the Fox River an hour north of my job, for 50k. Who can buy a house for just twice their salary today?

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Jack A. Goldstone @jgoldstone.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

I wonder when Trump's delusional view of reality will catch up to him. Could it be when oil hits $150 and he still insists that has no effect on us?

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Jack A. Goldstone @jgoldstone.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

It says a LOT about the quality of life in America and the US's standing in the world that NOT ONE of the top 20 airports in the world is in the US. Tokyo, Seoul, Vancouver, Munich, Paris, London, Vancouver but none here. www.afar.com/magazine/bes...

afar.com

The World's Best Airport Has a Semi-Olympic Pool, Giant Trampoline, and More Than 60 Places to Eat

Hubs in Asia dominated the Skytrax 2026 World's Best Airport list, with a strong showing from Europe as well, and one North American airport making the top 10.

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Jack A. Goldstone @jgoldstone.bsky.social · 21/03/2026

4/Did anyone tell Trump this? Doesn't anyone tell the American people what we have started?

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Jack A. Goldstone @jgoldstone.bsky.social · 21/03/2026

3/Iran's economy is 24th largest in the world: roughly same as Australia, larger than the Netherlands. This is a country with resources for war. More than 3x the economy and 2x the population of Ukraine, which is doing pretty well against Russia. And drone technology so good it supplies Russia.

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Jack A. Goldstone @jgoldstone.bsky.social · 21/03/2026

2/Iran's pop is 92 million. Iran today, for all its troubles, is a much larger, MUCH richer country, with a larger scientific/professional/military, than Iraq in 2003. THIS IS NOT A PUSHOVER. Just showed they now have ballistic missiles that can reach European capitals. ...

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Jack A. Goldstone @jgoldstone.bsky.social · 21/03/2026

1/ America began a war with Iran - but did Trump or Congress have any idea of the country the US was attacking? In 2000, before the US invasion, Iraq had a GDP of $312 B (PPP in constant 2021 Int. $). Population was 24.4 million. In 2024, Iran's GDP was $1.6 TRILLION (by the same metric)...

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Jack A. Goldstone @jgoldstone.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

People are numb to these numbers. But the $200 Billion being asked "to kill bad guys" is $600 for every single man, woman and child in America. $2,400 TAKEN from every family of four. Trump promised to give money to Americans; now he is taking it away.

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Jack A. Goldstone @jgoldstone.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

For 45 years, the US gov has had revenues of roughly 17% of GDP, while spending amounted to 20% of GDP or more. THAT is the cause of the national debt: 3% of GDP/year x 45 = 135% of GDP, what the national debt is today ($39 trillion). Taxes on the rich were cut in 1980 and never restored.

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Jack A. Goldstone @jgoldstone.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

Israel clearly wants a forever war. Ali Larijani is one of the few Iranian leaders with sufficient credibilty with the military and the pragmatic streak to be able to negotiate a peace agreement with the US. Killing him makes it certain the military will double down and fight to the bitter end.

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Jack A. Goldstone @jgoldstone.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

10/Outcomes of those vast expenditures of US lives and money: Communist Vietnam (north & south) is thriving; Iraq is a Shia-led state closer to Iran than the US; Afghanistan again ruled by the Taliban. Iran will likely squeeze the world economy until the US agrees to a better deal for its future.

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Jack A. Goldstone @jgoldstone.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

9/As war drags on without achievement of any goals, while world economy is dragged down, US will face "escalation trap" of digging in and looking for a way to "win". Trump may be just the next President after Johnson, GW Bush, Biden to have their presidency defined by a failed, "endless" war.

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Jack A. Goldstone @jgoldstone.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

8/Iran war is thus looking more and more like Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan: hastily entered with lack of preparation for what would follow, with vast ignorance of the enemy and the battlefield. Falling back on counts of ships, factories, missile sites "killed" as false evidence of progress or wins.

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Jack A. Goldstone @jgoldstone.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

7/ US had the advantage of attacking an illegitimate, hated regime in Iran. But by killing school girls and bombing UNESCO heritage sites, US/Israel have shown just as little regard for Iranian people and their values as the Iranian regime. So they are rapidly losing any moral ground or advantage.

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Jack A. Goldstone @jgoldstone.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

6/ Iran knows it can keep the pressure on global oil and fertilizer prices and hurt the world economy longer than Trump can keep bombing. History shows clearly that bombing can be a helpful FIRST STEP to weaken an adversary in preparation for later ground combat. By itself, just increases resolve.

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Jack A. Goldstone @jgoldstone.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

5/ Iran can keep the Strait closed indefinitely. All it takes is a few drones on trucks on Iranian roads near the Strait, or even soldiers with shoulder-mounted anti-ship missiles standing near the shore. The ONLY way to stop this is by occupying the Iranian territory adjacent to the Strait.

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Jack A. Goldstone @jgoldstone.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

4/ Yet the US had NO anti-mine naval forces operating in the area & no plans and ships in place to escort merchant vessels through the Strait. They seem shocked (shocked!) that Iran would close the Strait - so stunned that Trump maintained that the Strait was open even as ships were set ablaze.

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Jack A. Goldstone @jgoldstone.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

3/Meanwhile, US&Israel seem completely unprepared for the risk that Iran might absorb the punishment and strike back, not simply by using missiles and drones to attack US and allied bases, but by closing off the Strait of Hormuz. Again, ALL experts had warned for decades about this risk.

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Jack A. Goldstone @jgoldstone.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

2/ all experts also warned that if the regime fell, a hardline military regime was just as likely to emerge as a moderate or democratic regime. Now that such a regime has emerged, and no regime collapse is in sight, US & Israel seem to have no fallback plan but to keep on bombing.

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Jack A. Goldstone @jgoldstone.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

A few thoughts on the Iran war: 1/seems as if the entire Israeli/US strategy was based on belief that a "shock and awe" bombing campaign would quickly lead the regime to collapse. That was stupid: all experts (including me) said that while the regime was weakened, foreign attacks might revive it. ..

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Jack A. Goldstone @jgoldstone.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

If Iran's nuclear capacity was "totally obliterated," as Trump maintained after the first attacks last year, why did we need to to strike now to stop an 'imminent threat." Lie after lie....

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Jack A. Goldstone @jgoldstone.bsky.social · 12/02/2026

Clear why Trump & GOP are panicked about midterms. If Dems win, not only Trump, but also Bondi & Noem will be impeached for gross dereliction of duty. Possibly Hegseth for violation of laws of war and Lutnick for lying to Congress.

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