The second Trump administration would not give Palestinian leader Abbas a visa to speak at UNGA; he'll speak via video. Flashback to 2017 when Trump hosted Abbas at the White House and promised he'd get an Israeli-Palestinian peace 'done.' www.theguardian.com/world/2017/m...

Friends who grew up in authoritarian countries with state media, censorship, and crackdowns on dissent understand where America is headed.

Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert … who is the next to be silenced? | Moira Donegan

It is worth reading the French/Saudi New York Declaration. If you support the end of the Gaza war, the release of hostages, and a two state solution there is no reason not to support it, especially when there are no other feasible proposals out there. onu.delegfrance.org/new-york-dec...

Trump in UK talking about wanting the Gaza war to end and getting the hostages out but meanwhile this is what's happening on the ground.

As Israel's ground offensive in Gaza City escalates, Shaina Low of the Norwegian Refugee Council warns civilians are trapped, forced to choose between staying under bombardment or fleeing south.

depressing to come across an article during some research discussing Biden officials 'quietly' visiting Saudi Arabia to discuss the so-called 'mega-deal' just 3 days BEFORE the Oct 7 Hamas attack. so many misguided assumptions then (and now) www.axios.com/2023/10/04/s...

This is what the Trump administration is focused on--an Israel-Syria deal (which will likely be framed as expansion of Abraham accords if it happens, which continues to be their priority).

Happening while Rubio was in Israel. There is no indication this administration plans to pressure Israel in Gaza or beyond.

There is always a choice. None of what's happening is inevitable. www.foreignaffairs.com/israel/israe...

Did the Trump administration fail to stop Israel's strike in Doha because they thought it through and thought, no big deal. Or because they didn't think it through. Either way suggests a dysfunctional national security process.

A five-byline alert from NYT: “.. Over the past few months, Mr. Witkoff and Sheikh Tahnoon had become both diplomatic allies and business partners, testing the limits of ethics rules while enriching the president ..” @nytimes.com www.nytimes.com/2025/09/15/u...

if Rubio thinks the only way to end the war is Hamas' surrender and he doesn't think that's going to happen, is he basically saying Israel will continue the war no matter the consequences? Because you can't keep saying you want the war to end soon and hold these positions.

Some circles in the US and Israel downplay the repercussions of the Doha strike. This is likely misreading the mood in the Gulf and these states economic levers. We'll see.

Well deserved!

Cruel detention of South Korean nationals with work visas, reckless Israeli strike in Doha resulting in death of Qatari official, non response to Russian drone incursion into Poland. Current US policies are creating fissures with allies that may be irreversible.

In the past Netanyahu was hesitant to launch risky attacks without backing of key security heads. No such restraints today.

There's a very important point @stelhami.bsky.social makes that extends beyond Israel's attack on Qatar--there is no functioning national security process in the USG today. That's alarming.

“Stop crying,” Rick Rescorla told his wife, on September 11, 2001. “I have to get these people out safely. If something should happen to me, I want you to know I’ve never been happier. You made my life.” #NewYorkerArchive

We need these inspirational stories more than ever. A reminder that disasters can bring out the best in people, not just the worst.

It is incredibly simple to acknowledge that violence in any form is awful and erodes society.

Ahead of the IDF’s evacuation order for all of Gaza City, the Military Advocate General—the top IDF lawyer—advised Chief of Staff Gen. Zamir that the order would not be legal without further humanitarian preparation. Zamir cut the MAG out of subsequent discussions of the order and issued it anyway.

It’s not simply important to denounce political violence because it looks bad not to. It’s the right thing to do on the merits. Even more specifically to this moment it’s important because the forces of fascism are inherently better at political violence than the forces of civic democracy.

This seems to work against Trump's assurance to Qatar that this won't happen again in their country.

Sad news. Natalie was a RAND legend and a terrific colleague.

The mood is changing quickly since Trump's May tour of Gulf Arab states. It's unlikely these leaders believe the US could not have restrained Israel given the significant US military base in Qatar.

Tusk using some strong language here “huge number”, “direct threat”. Makes it less likely that these were “just” some stray drones violating Polish airspace by accident. Not good. bsky.app/profile/dona...

I want to underline this point for everyone outside foreign policy, NatSec, and Middle East circles. Israel bombing a US partner (Qatar) is significantly different from bombing countries the US considers adversarial (Iran, Assad's Syria) or groups the US designates as terrorists (Hezbollah, Hamas).

Good 🧵on the dangerous implications of the Israeli attack in Qatar, apparently with knowledge of US administration. Reckless.

And U.S. forces at Al Udeid are there to provide air defenses. Likely to call into question the value of hosting U.S. bases.

Now this is a headline. Front page lead in NYT. And very strong, no-BS story by @julianbarnes.bsky.social Barnes and Catie Edmondson. Respect, to all involved. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/07/u...

This is deadly serious. And it's why we cannot separate what this administration is doing abroad from its actions at home that are trampling on the rule of law.

Just the daunting task of changing Pentagon acronyms alone should have raised alarms about this already absurd move.

Remarkable story on a botched 2019 mission in N. Korea that also includes another shocking episode in Yemen illustrating the reckless use of military force in Trump's first term, making what we're seeing today less surprising but no less disturbing

history.state.gov/milestones/1... (a sign of the times that the State Department's office of the historian is no longer producing these summaries of key points in US history)

Also, no. The Dept of War was something entirely different — it was just the Army. There was a separate Dept of the Navy. (Also, it was never an agency.) The DoD brought together both and added the Air Force and the structure of the Joint Chiefs. This tweet is wrong in a bunch of ways that matter.

I'm trying to remember again why folks thought Rubio was the moderate among Trump 2.0 nominees?

He has no power to do that. I guess y’all forgot to add that part

"They paved paradise and put up a parking lot"

It was clear from Trump 1.0 that this is not a president averse to using military force. It seems to be on overdrive in Trump 2.0.

Nine former heads of the CDC—appointed by presidents of both parties—warn the nation of the immense peril RFK Jr is putting the country in. Gift link, please send to families and friends www.nytimes.com/2025/09/01/o...

Put the pieces together: --bans on Palestinians entering the US --Israel considering annexation of the W. Bank --Trump administration Gaza 'Riviera' plan to 'relocate' Palestinians outside of Gaza A full assault on Palestinian nationalism. How will this advance peace?

I should add that without resumed diplomacy, we're back to either a grey zone of 'no war no peace' or further rounds of open military conflict. In other words, the '12-day war' by no means ended this crisis.

Initial Iranian reaction to E3 snapback from @nicolegrajewski.bsky.social translation The question is what concrete actions will follow this statement challenging the legitimacy of the measure given the US withdrawal from the JCPOA. One thing seems certain: the resumption of talks is unlikely

We either live in a country governed by the rule of law, or we don’t. Yes, I’m an economist. But more than that, I want to live in a society where the rule of law prevails. That conviction doesn't depend on asset market reactions.

Context to this firing: www.bbc.com/news/article...

This sorry state of affairs is of course bad for American democracy but it's also dangerous for US national security.

Remember in Trump 1.0 (and early days of Trump 2.0) when folks were trying to discern policy differences among advisors in top positions? No more. With Rubio still acting NSC advisor the capitulation to Trump is complete; the attack on Bolton is a reminder of what happens if you don't.

This is getting very bad: *FBI raids top Trump critic's home *Trump loyalist gins up "mortgage fraud" pretexts for DOJ probes of Schiff, Letitia James, Lisa Cook *Bannon says ICE will monitor 2026 voting *DHS memo vows LA operations "for years to come" New from me: newrepublic.com/article/1994...