If you use the CIA World Leaders publications, now would be a good time to download and/or archive all the PDFs apnews.com/article/cia-...

Across two separate FOIA requests... Request 1. State Dept FOIA office Jan 16: "You're associated with an educational institution, no search fees." Request 2. State Dept FOIA office Feb 5: "You're not associated with a waiver category, pay up." Same researcher. Same topic. Same agency.

PM Mitchell frames accepting third-country deportees as addressing Grenada's "labor shortage." But when the offer comes after a fish export ban, visa freeze, and travel warning downgrade, it seems more like compliance under pressure dressed as opportunity www.thenewtodaygrenada.com/local-news/g...

A few dozen Cuban officers/construction workers also died during the US invasion of Grenada in 1983. They had been stationed mostly around the international airport, assisting with its development. This monument stands outside it and a marker inside thanks Fidel Castro for his contributions.

FYI the National Defence Council that the Venezuelan VP announced isn't an irregular junta or anything. It's a constitutional body made up of various ministers, judicial entities, and security heads. Specifically convened for emergency periods.

You ever be 80% done with the book you're writing but start obsessing over the one you haven't started writing yet? 😑

There are so many books and articles being released on the topic of revolutions. Insightful conversations being had about origins, processes, consolidation, and the durability of these regimes. Very rich quantitative and qualitative assessments that I've enjoyed.

West Africa's coup wave raises a question for civil-military relations: if autonomy and professionalism are insufficient for prevention, should coup-proofing be reconsidered for unconsolidated democracies? Can coup-proofing even be done without it being inherently repressive or personalistic?

In the southern Caribbean, the nation of Grenada grapples with renewed geopolitical attention. Once again, the United States sees its wider interests run through the small island and ironically its international airport. Struggling with its revolutionary past. nowgrenada.com/2025/10/no-l...

The recent coup wave continues: the military has seized power in Madagascar amidst protests. The president (on the run) interestingly was himself installed via a coup in the early 2010s. Latest episode of youth protests parlayed into a coup. www.bbc.com/news/live/cq...

Archival work yielding some irrelevant, yet incredible, findings.

In case anyone was wondering how US regional universities are doing. We just had all graduate assistantships pulled. Funding cuts every year since I arrived. Dept is down three people and can't hire replacements. Yet, construction everywhere and big celebrations of our R1 status upgrade.

Thread of my findings from the released JFK files. Not making any deep judgements, just general observations based on what I know. Cuba in particular.

Seriously, what the hell is wrong with some journal editors? How can a paper be reasonably under review for over five months? This is malpractice.

That whole press conference was a disgusting and shameful set-up. Bunch of absolute jackals.

Reviewer said my historical narrative was written `bit too poetically.' Presented as a criticism, but I'm flattered they recognized my prose.

Just found a 1979 secret police memo assessing the `political loyalty' of the guy who drove me around in his taxi over the summer.

#Dictatorsky Can anyone give me some solid recommendations for papers that are: 1) qual studies of an individual institution in a single regime; 2) in a dictatorship; 3) published in a political science (or adjacent) journal?

Found a circular from the commander of the Grenada People's Revolutionary Army warning his soldiers in December 1980 not to fall into a "jingle bells mentality".

Found a bunch of secret police memos from communist Grenada (1979-1983) that makes it sound like they were in a shadow war with the Rastafarians. Started after Bishop didn't give `King Nang Nang' a cabinet spot after the revolution, leading to a fall-out.

I will be in DC this week for research at the National Archives. Digitizing portions of the Grenada seized documents, which were taken during the 1983 invasion by the US and CARICOM participants. My focus will be on civil-military and state security developments.

al-Golani states the Assad security forces will be dissolved. Abolishing the old military is a major transformative project, intended to build a new loyal army from the rebel columns. However, transformation alone is not enough to develop military cohesion and loyalty. www.cbc.ca/news/world/s...

Syria's rebels are in a tenuous position based on origins. There are many factions in the coalition that ousted Assad, this creates extreme disharmony in the new elite. Possible violent purges to consolidate positions. Makes for a strong likelihood of rebellions or coups by those that get sidelined.

How did I get 400 followers without posting for half a year lol

Bing AI could never top this masterpiece

I was also quoted on Ukrainian state television Freedom News. Again, speaking about purges in dictatorships. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gl-t...

Looking forward to ending up on the persona-non-grata list! My interview with Meduza on Prigozhin and purges in general meduza.io/feature/2023... polisky dictatorsky civmilsky

Any good leads on research grants focused on country scholarship in LATAM, specifically the Caribbean?