Favorite Rejects 2022-03-05

Ben Golub 🇺🇦 @ben_golub

A very odd tone shift on Russian state TV: (1) calling the war a war (2) some light banter about a military coup in Russia. The first speaker is federal legislator Alexander Babakov. The host is Vladimir Solovyov, a leading propagandist. 1/

Noah Smith 🐇🇺🇦 @Noahpinion

Thread.

Tony Yates🇺🇦 @t0nyyates

Suppose Russia manage to occupy Ukraine in some form, the immediate post war period is going to be very tense. The Russian leadership will feel more exposed than they did, realising that their forces are much less capable than they thought. And hard to improve under sanctions.

Matthew Yglesias @mattyglesias

This is my whole problem with Kevin’s engagement on this issue. Most people are dumb and make bad arguments, so most arguments in favor of all positions (including correct positions) are bad arguments made by dumb people. The question is can you engage with the good arguments.

Kevin Drum @kdrum

It's remarkable how incoherent the urbanist arguments are. And most of them are just juvenile ad hominems anyway (boomer! white guy! suburban dweller!). There's almost no engagement with facts. 1/2

Hugh Howey @hughhowey

PLEASE WATCH IF YOU EVER HAVE DRY SKIN OR PROBLEMS DISPOSING OF BODIES

Lisa Gilroy @TheLisaGilroy

My nighttime skin care routine! (🔪) https://t.co/EKDLMi6sf0

Dan Gardner @dgardner

It should have been obvious that Putin's invasion plan was extremely dangerous. So why greenlight it? The history of American debacles suggests the answer will eventually be found, at least in part, in humble human nature. My analysis in my new newsletter:

dgardner.substack.comAll Too HumanThe powerful are subject to the same flaws and follies as the rest of us.

Dan Lamothe @DanLamothe

"We're shocked at how dumb their behavior is," one Ukrainian Special Operations soldier told @WSJ.

Rob Lee @RALee85

Some useful details of how Ukrainian SOF are holding back Russian forces in the Bucha, Irpin, and Hostomel neighborhoods northwest of Kyiv. It will be a very useful SOF case study. https://t.co/okMNxjY8h2 https://t.co/ZwyQbsaPna

Leah McElrath 🏳️‍🌈🌻 @leahmcelrath

Harald Malmgren now publicly reporting his Moscow sources say Putin is seriously ill, requires isolation, and being treated with steroids: ⚠️ https://t.co/AF02n7wim7

Harald Malmgren @Halsrethink

Consenus of information I have received from Moscow is Putin seriously ill, requiring isolation. Treatment includes heavy steroids which explains swollen face. Continuous flow of steroids has behavioral effects https://t.co/M6yBHINhiv

Noah Smith 🐇🇺🇦 @Noahpinion

Interesting thread. For the good of Russia, the FSB should stick Putin in the trunk of a car and ship him out of the country...

Christo Grozev @christogrozev

Last night, an alleged FSB whistle-blower letter was published that damned Russia's military performance in Ukraine and predicted a disaster for the RU in the next weeks and months. I wasn't sure if it was authentic - as Ukraine had previously leaked fake FSB letters as psy-ops.

Noah Smith 🐇🇺🇦 @Noahpinion

Important thread on the causes of the war.

Paul Poast @ProfPaulPoast

I disagree with John Mearsheimer on the causes of the Ukraine-Russian War. Instead, I think...and stay with me on this one... Offensive Realism offers a better explanation. [THREAD]

John Hudson @John_Hudson

Wapo photojournalist @salwangeorges captured scores of Ukrainian women and children saying goodbye to men at a train station in Odessa today. The men are staying to fight Russian forces washingtonpost.com/world/2022/03/…