Zach Dorfman's avatar

Zach Dorfman

@zachsdorfman.bsky.social

1140 followers 445 following 802 posts

National Security Reporter/Producer, Project Brazen. Host of forthcoming "Spy Valley" podcast. Soon: TK at TK.

Zach Dorfman's avatar Zach Dorfman @zachsdorfman.bsky.social
[ View ]

The idea that it is somehow hysterical or alarmist to worry about a lapse in America into authoritarian illiberalism is unfortunately belied by our own history. Like Woodrow Wilson never happened, or Jim Crow.

1 replies 3 reposts 15 likes

Zach Dorfman's avatar Zach Dorfman @zachsdorfman.bsky.social
[ View ]

“As president, I won’t take sides on 9/11” has got to be one of the most unintentionally hilarious and deranged statements ever made by a modern presidential candidate, and that’s saying something

0 replies 1 reposts 8 likes

Reposted by Zach Dorfman

Reposted by Zach Dorfman

Zach Dorfman's avatar Zach Dorfman @zachsdorfman.bsky.social
[ View ]

Normie opinion: Civic holidays are great and an integral part of the American ideal. Thanksgiving is lovely. The 4th rocks. All hail Woody Guthrie; this land was made for you and me.

0 replies 1 reposts 2 likes

Zach Dorfman's avatar Zach Dorfman @zachsdorfman.bsky.social
[ View ]

Is it now prima facie impossible for an American president to commit a war crime, according to the Supreme Court?

0 replies 0 reposts 2 likes

Reposted by Zach Dorfman

Popehat's avatar Popehat @kenwhite.bsky.social
[ View ]

There are two elements to the immunity decision that are particularly extreme in a way that many will miss: (1) motive is irrelevant and (2) immune acts are not just excluded from prosecution, they’re excluded from evidence. /1

50 replies 906 reposts 2442 likes

Zach Dorfman's avatar Zach Dorfman @zachsdorfman.bsky.social
[ View ]

Cell towers. Prague. Alfa Bank. IP pings. Van der Zwaan

1 replies 0 reposts 1 likes

Zach Dorfman's avatar Zach Dorfman @zachsdorfman.bsky.social
[ View ]

Speaking of Bob Mueller, it was a shock to many observers how unsteady Mueller appeared during his congressional testimony, after the report was released. He wasn’t the same man, either.

0 replies 0 reposts 5 likes

Zach Dorfman's avatar Zach Dorfman @zachsdorfman.bsky.social
[ View ]

I am incredibly confident of One Big Thing: the discourse over the last week is the worst since peak Mueller era

1 replies 1 reposts 18 likes

Zach Dorfman's avatar Zach Dorfman @zachsdorfman.bsky.social
[ View ]

Burner phones and laptops only if you’re visiting China, and that’s non-negotiable

2 replies 7 reposts 21 likes

Reposted by Zach Dorfman

gamera obscura 's avatar gamera obscura @ohrobin.bsky.social
[ View ]

I can’t think of a clever caption for this. It just breaks my fucking heart.

307 replies 641 reposts 2500 likes

Reposted by Zach Dorfman

Reposted by Zach Dorfman

Zach Dorfman's avatar Zach Dorfman @zachsdorfman.bsky.social
[ View ]

The AI gold rush is, among other thing, a wonderful excuse for tech companies to engage in ever-more voracious collection of all available digital consumer data—and spy agencies, of course, to piggyback on the alleged demands of the market

0 replies 0 reposts 6 likes

Reposted by Zach Dorfman

Zach Dorfman's avatar Zach Dorfman @zachsdorfman.bsky.social
[ View ]

Look, Morton’s or not, no one should be eating steak that much

2 replies 0 reposts 2 likes

Reposted by Zach Dorfman

Joe Slowik's avatar Joe Slowik @pylos.co
[ View ]

The difference is when NSA does it, it is promoting US security or deterrence and when PRC does it, it impacts US security. If we wanted to take a completely neutral view this collapses, but from a US perspective directionality and responsibility matters. 🤷‍♂️

0 replies 1 reposts 0 likes

Zach Dorfman's avatar Zach Dorfman @zachsdorfman.bsky.social
[ View ]

Spoon has gotta be the most underrated band of the last few decades

2 replies 0 reposts 3 likes

Reposted by Zach Dorfman

Horkos's avatar Horkos @wylienewmark.bsky.social
[ View ]

there is no functional difference there is no normative violation there is only yet another example of traditional intelligence activities — in this case, preparation for sabotage in the event of conflict — continued via cyber means which makes everyone freak out because a computer is involved

0 replies 2 reposts 3 likes

Reposted by Zach Dorfman

Zach Dorfman's avatar Zach Dorfman @zachsdorfman.bsky.social
[ View ]

Not to engage in the collapse of moral distinctions but what is the difference, functionally speaking, between NSA “prepositioning” and the sort undertaken by the MSS or PLA? What norm or understanding is violated when other state intel services engage in this behavior?

4 replies 0 reposts 7 likes

Zach Dorfman's avatar Zach Dorfman @zachsdorfman.bsky.social
[ View ]

I saw The Breeders recently and, my god, Kim Deal.

0 replies 0 reposts 3 likes

Zach Dorfman's avatar Zach Dorfman @zachsdorfman.bsky.social
[ View ]

I’d be interested to see if this changes the politics of voting reform re: ex-felons

0 replies 0 reposts 1 likes

Reposted by Zach Dorfman

Patrick Cosmos's avatar Patrick Cosmos @veryimportant.lawyer
[ View ]

This is what they drive in the Money For Nothing video

57 replies 298 reposts 1716 likes

Zach Dorfman's avatar Zach Dorfman @zachsdorfman.bsky.social
[ View ]

In politics and international relations, everything can always, everywhere and anytime, get worse

0 replies 1 reposts 5 likes

Reposted by Zach Dorfman

Reposted by Zach Dorfman

BeijingPalmer's avatar BeijingPalmer @beijingpalmer.bsky.social
[ View ]

listening to people who build their politics on hatred and sneering will make you a worse person, whatever side they claim to be on.

9 replies 54 reposts 386 likes

Zach Dorfman's avatar Zach Dorfman @zachsdorfman.bsky.social
[ View ]

One must escalate to de-escalate, according to doctrine

0 replies 0 reposts 2 likes

Reposted by Zach Dorfman

Gavin Wilde's avatar Gavin Wilde @gavinwilde.bsky.social
[ View ]

Whomst amongst us has not been guilty of thinking a move was about to be made, thus getting it on was the only and best option?

0 replies 1 reposts 2 likes

Zach Dorfman's avatar Zach Dorfman @zachsdorfman.bsky.social
[ View ]

American politics is full of people who think they’re Waingros but are actually Marcianos

1 replies 2 reposts 5 likes

Reposted by Zach Dorfman

b-boy bouiebaisse's avatar b-boy bouiebaisse @jbouie.bsky.social
[ View ]

at the risk of sounding like someone twice my age, never underestimate the power of a nice walk to make you feel better

94 replies 259 reposts 2784 likes

Reposted by Zach Dorfman

b-boy bouiebaisse's avatar b-boy bouiebaisse @jbouie.bsky.social
[ View ]

sorry to posy a dispatch from the former twitter but this is the funniest thing i have ever seen

204 replies 295 reposts 2682 likes

Zach Dorfman's avatar Zach Dorfman @zachsdorfman.bsky.social
[ View ]

It was a scorching attack on American triumphalism in an atomized post-Reagan era!!!

1 replies 0 reposts 1 likes

Zach Dorfman's avatar Zach Dorfman @zachsdorfman.bsky.social
[ View ]

Because many Americans are allergic to irony, “Born in the USA,” “I Love LA,” and “Rockin in the Free World” are used for totally inappropriate occasions—probably proving the point

1 replies 0 reposts 4 likes