American history teacher, columnist, radio host, author of books on George Dewey, Audie Murphy, & the NEA. New bio of Alfred Thayer Mahan out now.
Joined May 2012
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My new bio of American naval thinker Alfred Thayer Mahan is now available from @USNIBooks. It’s the first full biography of Mahan in 50 years.
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Jun 13
In the long, long list of things I didn’t know, I didn’t know that the Cathedral of Reims has a series of Marc Chagall stained glass windows. They’re stunning.
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My show this week on @KWBU remembers the great jazzman Sonny Rollins who died last week at age 95. kwbu.org/show/david-and-art/…
@BaylorHistory #jazz
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David A. Smith retweeted
Apr 15
Texas' only licensed Hindi, Punjabi, and Urdu legal interpreter is now languishing in a Raymondville detention center. She’s lived in America for 35 years: texasobserver.org/immigratio…
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David A. Smith retweeted
Mar 22
As CBS retreats from radio - which 233 million Americans use - NPR remains on and the audience is up.
The main CBS product was a short hourly newscast.
NPR’s hourly news is on your local station - and also available on demand! Hit Play on the NPR app
apps.apple.com/us/app/npr-na…
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David A. Smith retweeted
The single greatest threat to religion in the world isn’t secularism or atheism.
It is religious people contradicting their religion by justifying evil, moral depravity, greed, selfishness, arrogance, hatred, and even the use of violence to preserve their religion.
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David A. Smith retweeted
One of the most successful deceptions of our time was getting many Americans to fear diversity more than racism, equality more than misogyny, democracy more than fascism, immigrants more than authoritarians, the poor more than corrupt billionaires, and empathy more than cruelty.
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David A. Smith retweeted
Feb 24
Texas voters have until Feb. 27 to vote early in the state’s primaries. Election day is March 3.
To help voters make informed decisions, the Tribune has pulled together comprehensive voter guides and reporting. Here’s what you need to know. 🧵
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David A. Smith retweeted
Feb 17
A simple message with big meaning: "I am somebody." We are grateful to Rev. Jesse Jackson for helping teach generations of children to believe in themselves and in one another. Thank you for being part of our neighborhood. 💛💚
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David A. Smith retweeted
These people are so allergic to taxing billionaires that instead of asking Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk to pay a little bit more in taxes, they're asking 150 million people to spend another year of their precious lives working.
Feb 2
Dr Oz: "If we could get the average American to start working a year earlier, right out of high school, or a year later -- not retire -- or work better during their lifetime because they're healthy, it would generate about $3 trillion to the US economy. That would more than remove the debt."
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David A. Smith retweeted
Feb 4
The Washington Post has been not just a great newspaper, but a critical force in American conversation and life.
Those of use who love the city of Washington know how much we have needed the Post.
What is happening there today is gutting. Thinking of all the friends I love and admire there.
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David A. Smith retweeted
I was just laid off by The Washington Post in the middle of a warzone. I have no words. I'm devastated.
Waking up without power, heat, or running water. (Again.)
But the work here in Kyiv continues. Warming up in the car, writing in pencil — pen ink freezes — by headlamp.
Despite how difficult this job can be, I am proud to be a foreign correspondent at The Washington Post.
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David A. Smith retweeted
Tune into Digging for Britain on BBC Two tomorrow at 8pm to find out more about our dig at Lindores Abbey! You can also catch it right now on BBC iPlayer: bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002pl5…
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If you’re in Dallas, do NOT miss this!!
I’ll be talking about *Entangled Alliances* (@CornellPress) in Dallas at @CPHatSMU, 29 January. 📚🎙️
blog.smu.edu/cph/event/entan…
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David A. Smith retweeted
13 Dec 2025
During this busy time of year, I would like to take a moment to remind you of the importance of all independent, hard-working musicians who directly subsist through your support via their websites, ticket purchases, and sales.
Happy holidays, ladies and gents.
📸: Adam Cantor
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David A. Smith retweeted
12 Dec 2025
Tony Williams … captured by Deborah Feingold NYC 1979 … always thinking about those notes as well was he… Happy Birthday dear friend.
#planetelegance #roncarter #jazz
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In this MPSA video blog, @MuphdSmith explores a “cool teacher” approach and suggests that, after a period of adjustment, this approach to teaching can make for a fulfilling career, create good student mentoring, and even leave some time for research. mpsanet.org/the-professor-as…
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7 Dec 2025
The track of the Japanese carrier task force that struck the U.S. bases in and around #PearlHarbor on December 7, 1941. 84 years ago today. #WWII 🇺🇸
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David A. Smith retweeted
5 Dec 2025
"We must free journalism from the impossible mandate to turn a democratic obligation into a profitable business model." thenation.com/article/societ…
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3 Dec 2025
BREAKING: Steve Cropper, the legendary guitarist best known for his work with Stax Records and the instrumental quartet Booker T. & the MG's, has died at the age of 84 guitarworld.com/artists/guit…
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