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Bobby Maxwell

@rmaxwellusn.bsky.social
317 followers 337 following 615 posts

Scholar of Political Science (International Relations/Comparative Politics) at the University of Washington. Currently researching military adaptation. Formally CSIS, UChicago, TUJ, and US Navy

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Bobby Maxwell @rmaxwellusn.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Bear Down 🐻!
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Electronic Frontier Foundation @eff.org · 22/09/2026
EFF joined an amicus brief urging the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals to vacate an FAA drone flight restriction that violated the First Amendment right to record law enforcement. The government can’t avoid accountability by punishing those who exercise their rights.
eff.org
D.C. Circuit Must Vacate a Drone Flight Restriction That Criminalized Recording Immigration Agents
EFF joined an amicus brief with ACLU, ACLU of D.C., National Press Photographers Association, and Professional Photographers of America to urge the D.C. Circuit to vacate an FAA drone flight restricti...
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Brooke Harrington @ebharrington.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Yes. It does not matter if you think the Kennedy Center is bougie: private individuals do not get to destroy public goods. If you budge one iota on this stance, then you lose the right to object when he demands bits of the national parks as a treat. You've already agreed with him on the principle.
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Bobby Maxwell @rmaxwellusn.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
I forgot how much listening to music and riding trains in Japan is my favorite thing.
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Kieran Healy @kjhealy.co · 18/09/2026
This is the far more likely pathway for how AI will end us all, btw. Not via some superintelligent swarm of paperclip maximizers, but by a cascading sequence of dumb fuckups driven by human beings who have arranged things to be fast-moving and catastrophically fragile while also being really lazy.
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jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 18/09/2026
i am genuinely bewildered by people who say that the rise of white nationalism in the republican party is a response to the "woke left." like, did the woke left cause pat buchanan's 1992 presidential campaign? is the woke left why steve king had a long career in congress?
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Bobby Maxwell @rmaxwellusn.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
I'd like to add engineering readiness and navigation errors on the Naval side.
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Mark Copelovitch @mcopelov.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
Folks, just because the DSA has made “abolish the Senate” part of their platform does not mean you have to oppose it. Anyone who is a small-d democrat should believe that it cannot continue to exist in its current form.
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Jules Boykoff @julesboykoff.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
"The greatest rivalry in sports is still sports as a social good vs sports as a commodity for rich people. This is a tension that is growing more obvious with the involvement of venture capitalists & unchecked greed," said @zeets.bsky.social elevennamedpeople.substack.com/p/11-questio...
elevennamedpeople.substack.com
11 Questions: Zito Madu
For this occasional series, I ask people to answer 11 questions about teams, players, rivalries, films, music, and all-time 11s.
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Bobby Maxwell @rmaxwellusn.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
Death looking for Mitch
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Mark Copelovitch @mcopelov.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
This was correct in 2014, as was "Sotomayor & Kagan should immediately retire in Jan 2021," as was "Thurgood Marshall should have retired in 1978" etc. Pretending Justices were irreplaceable geniuses instead of aging partisan votes in a 9-member super-legislature has been Democrats' fatal error.
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LPE Blog @lpeblog.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
In New Political Economy, @melindacooper.bsky.social offers a historical typology of factions of asset-based capitalism.
tandfonline.com
Factions of asset-based capitalism: a historical typology
Recent US election cycles have revealed a startling bifurcation in the political allegiances of finance capitalism. The current configuration of alliances places one faction of finance capital, con...
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Bobby Maxwell @rmaxwellusn.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Bluesky Mechanical Keyboard, here is my new set that is currently actively in GB. If you like it, please reblog it or check out the link, which has links to your local vendor. geekhack.org/index.php?to...
Keycap, MTNU Welles.
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Bobby Maxwell @rmaxwellusn.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
People look at me like I am nuts, but IMO, US Regional rail (like intra metropolitan) needs 2 things to work: 1. Electric trains on short headways. 2. Understanding that some stations are less important than others. Keikyu should be the model for the METRAs of the world.
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Jay Van Bavel, PhD @jayvanbavel.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
A small fraction of online actors exerts outsized influence over what the public sees, believes, and discusses. In a new paper, we trace how social media influencers turn fringe claims into viral narratives by exploiting a feedback loop between influencers, algorithms & crowds osf.io/preprints/ps...
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Bobby Maxwell @rmaxwellusn.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
30,000 pounds of Bananas is a fantastic Harry Chapin Song.
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James Medlock @jdcmedlock.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
DOGE turbocharged the deficit. budgetlab.yale.edu/research/wea...
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Bobby Maxwell @rmaxwellusn.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
I agree with this, the distribution is important. However, when examining things as public policy, you also look at the median hoping the margins follow. The failure, especially in the West Coast, is not caring enough about the left side of the distribution.
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Bobby Maxwell @rmaxwellusn.bsky.social · 12/04/2026
Another underrated victory this week: Artemis had zero to do with SpaceX.
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Bobby Maxwell @rmaxwellusn.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
In terms of job performance, my experience was that three of the four best division officers I served under were Women. To be clear, this is a man's problem, not a woman's problem.
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Mike Black @mikeblack114.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
bigger number is more than smaller number continues to be a concept most of this place does not understand
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Bobby Maxwell @rmaxwellusn.bsky.social · 06/04/2026
You know, Congrassman, there is a remedy for this that you can start. The fact that it wouldn't pass in the Senate should be secondary to you actually doing it. Remember, no double jeopardy for impeachment.
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Bobby Maxwell @rmaxwellusn.bsky.social · 04/04/2026
Really good post. Better explanation of my issues with SLCM-N that I could articulate. It takes a capability that the US has a comparative advantage in and limits its use at best and creates an inadvertent escalation risk at worst.
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Bobby Maxwell @rmaxwellusn.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
This is legit the Air Force cope version of history. The truth is, they realize we were a spent force and let us off the hook after we were all the way out of the picture.
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Bobby Maxwell @rmaxwellusn.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
Finally. I'm so happy.
Two line train
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Bobby Maxwell @rmaxwellusn.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
States conducting political influence is often normal and not something to condemn. Color revolutions were good things.
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escapedexplorer.bsky.social @escapedexplorer.bsky.social · 26/03/2026
man i will admit, even though i figured it'd be wildly unpopular I failed to consider exactly how much the TSA was going to hate ICE for being *scabs* AND doing *literally fuck-all work* "What is ICE actually doing there?"/"They're the reason that we're not getting paid." goddamn
Screenshot from above article:

"And fewer people are coming in to work.
We’re dwindling. You might be able to miss one paycheck and say, “Damn.” But missing two? TSA has given us nothing — no gas card, no donations. And now we have ICE coming in here.

What is ICE actually doing there?
They’re the reason that we’re not getting paid. And now I’m working next to that person. And they’re getting paid to do nothing. They’re not trained. It takes six months to train a Transportation Security Officer. They’ve received none of that. A tweet went out and the next day they’re at the airport walking around sipping coffees, holding on to their vest. They arrived on Monday, and now they’re hanging out in the break room doing nothing. They’re warming up their lunch. I don’t know what you’re hungry from — you didn’t do anything! We already have Federal Air Marshal police and Port Authority police, so there’s already ten armed officers at any given moment.

Are the ICE agents armed too?
Why do you need your vest and gun to move a line? That’s weird. If police said they were going to come in and help you move a bag or a tray, I don’t think they’d come in riot gear. It’s gonna make anybody feel uncomfortable. Don’t you guys have ICE T-shirts? Don’t they have ICE polos?"
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Elizabeth (Bit) Meehan, PhD @elizabethbitmeehan.com · 25/03/2026
chat i'm going to ask a somewhat prickly question: what do you (fellow political scientists) want out of your professional association right now (knowing that this is a sample of Very Online People and folks with wildly differing opinions)
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Bobby Maxwell @rmaxwellusn.bsky.social · 21/03/2026
I would also like to point out that his was the most "positive" for the administration of the initial polling I've seen.
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Bobby Maxwell @rmaxwellusn.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
A great work and one of the major reasons I ended up doing a PhD in political science.
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Elizabeth N. Saunders @profsaunders.bsky.social · 15/03/2026
Fun fact: my dissertation was called "Wars of Choice" (became Leaders at War: How Presidents Shape Military Interventions @cornellupress.bsky.social). Tl;dr: they rarely go well. 1/ www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9780801...
cornellpress.cornell.edu
Leaders at War by Elizabeth N. Saunders | Paperback | Cornell University Press
Examining the the role played by the threat perceptions of heads of state in national foreign and military policies.
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laryssa 🎶 @laryssaokada.bsky.social · 17/03/2026
My partner and best friend Kyle suffered from two strokes last week. We need your help. gofund.me/e25c60dfb Anything helps, a like, a share, a donation. thank you for your support during this difficult time ❤️
Support Kyle Fraser’s Recovery after Two StrokesSome of you may know I’ve been dealing with a personal matter over the last week. Most of you do not. I consider myself a very private person but I need to ask for help at this time. 

Last week, my partner and best friend, Kyle Fraser, suffered from two strokes in a single day. 

There is a very long and expensive road ahead, and our friends have been gracious enough to help organize a GoFundMe for anyone who wishes to offer their support. On it, we have written up more detail on his condition for anyone curious.  Even a repost or share helps. The link to that is in my bio, my story, highlights - pretty much anywhere. 

Thank you for your thoughts and support at this time. Apologies in advance if I take some time to reply, I’m taking it one day at a time. 

For those who don’t know him, Kyle is probably the most compassionate person I’ve ever met. He is as gentle and brilliant as much as he is strong and funny. He loves his two cats Poly and Moog, and adopted them with the explicit intention of ‘which cats are you having a hard time adopting?’ Though he can be reserved and introverted, Kyle has a fierce passion for his career and will always offer a helping hand to anyone in need, often taking calls to mentor professionals beginning their career. I’ve become a better person through knowing and loving him. Photo of Kyle and I early last year
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H I Sutton @covertshores.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
New guide to Iranian naval mines - www.hisutton.com/Iranian-Nava... #OSINT #Iran #Hormuz
iranian navy mines which could close the Strait of Hormuz
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derek guy @dieworkwear.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
i feel like if i was tasked with not starting a war and bringing back US manufacturing jobs, i could have done a better job than this
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Nancy A. Collins @nancyacollins.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
Punk Legend Jello Biafra Hospitalized After Suffering Stroke share.google/z4Qo0kcVZrUj... In 1995 I helped Eric move some belongings out of his parents house in Boulder. He was still recovering from having his legs broken & had to use a cane. He's an awesome dude. Here's to his recovery.
share.google
Punk Legend Jello Biafra Hospitalized After Suffering Stroke
Jello Biafra, the iconic former singer of punk legends Dead Kennedys, has been hospitalized after suffering a stroke.
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Bobby Maxwell @rmaxwellusn.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
Mom: machinist Dad: Army vet, truck driver
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Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
The Republicans seem to be prepping an argument that any domestic terror attacks in the aftermath of their Iran attacks will be the fault of Democrats for shutting down DHS funding, so I'd like to remind everyone of this appointment:
propublica.org
“The Intern in Charge”: Meet the 22-Year-Old Trump’s Team Picked to Lead Terrorism Prevention
One year out of college and with no apparent national security expertise, Thomas Fugate is the Department of Homeland Security official tasked with overseeing the government’s main hub for combating v...
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Bobby Maxwell @rmaxwellusn.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
I suspect that a graduate degree specializing in deviant psychology would give me more applicable heuristics than my IR degrees. I am tired, boss.
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Doug Lindner @douglindner.bsky.social · 28/02/2026
Long term, we need parliamentary government. The executive should be chosen by and easily removable by a simple majority of parliament. Less incentive to act lawlessly and more accountability it it happens. And that parliament should be elected through mixed-member proportional representation.
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Mark M. Turner @markturner25.bsky.social · 01/03/2026
CW4 Michael Novosel served in the U.S. military from 1941 to 1984. He earned the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions on October 2nd, 1969 in Kien Tuong Province, Vietnam. A U.S. Army fort was renamed for Novosel in 2023 but that honor was taken away in 2025. Video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Cx7...
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Dead Carl @deadcarl.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
I think it’s less than ideal how many people convinced themselves that being the VP of the United States makes you directly responsible for the actions of Israel, a standard which is applied to none of America’s other allies.
Screenshot of skeet: I voted for Harris who was directly responsible for committing a genocide. I did that because I believed it was the best choice in terms of harm reduction. My analysis would be the same regarding Plattner in Maine if I lived there. until someone else shows they likely would beat Collins.
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Bobby Maxwell @rmaxwellusn.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
@mtsw.bsky.social, another one for the file. That's like calling Kermit Washington punching Rudy T a common foul. It might be the case, but there is a lot missing.
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Adam Serwer @adamserwer.bsky.social · 22/02/2026
The reason we're here is that tens of millions of people will punch a hole in a wall if they hear someone used food stamps to buy soda but they're fine if the right-wing podcaster turned fbi director uses his taxpayer funded private jet to go party whenever he feels like it bsky.app/profile/thed...
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Bobby Maxwell @rmaxwellusn.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
I am mad that I cannot meaningfully, in a good-natured way, talk shit about the US beating Canada in hockey twice, because our government decided to make a bunch of weird threats to Canada. They managed to ruin the first men's hockey gold of my natural life.
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Bobby Maxwell @rmaxwellusn.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
Yes, because repeating sections of the Uniform Code of Military Justice- part of US Code, BTW, is not a crime, and part of the core responsibilities of Congress.
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The Onion @theonion.com · 09/02/2026
Drunken Seahawks Fans Climbing Space Needle
Drunken Seahawks Fans Climbing Space Needle
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Bobby Maxwell @rmaxwellusn.bsky.social · 06/02/2026
He's right, but I think it is strange, because many of the most extreme forms of Christian practice are relatively new, whilst "moderate" forms of Christianity like Anglicanism and Catholicism are half a millennium old or greater. There should be some consideration for that.
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Bobby Maxwell @rmaxwellusn.bsky.social · 03/02/2026
Bluesky mechanical keyboard, this is my set MTNU Welles, which will be entering group buy soon. If you like it, keep an eye out for it.
Mechanical keyboard
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