I am particularly proud of this piece, in part because several outlets said they “could not run the phrase human graham cracker.” open.substack.com/pub/nonstate...

The U.S. national security establishment equates sounding like a human graham cracker with being serious, intelligent, and important. And now? Democracy isn't just under attack - it's hemorrhaging from crusty self-inflicted wounds. open.substack.com/pub/nonstate...

May Sean Combs rot in hell. The only explanation of the outcome is this country sees the trafficking and sexual violence against Cassandra Ventura, and so many other Black and Brown women, as “a home matter.” Women deserve a better. Will we ever get it?

The husband of Svitlana Tsikhanouskaya, President-Elect of Belarus, is a free man. Siaheri is free after FIVE YEARS as a political prisoner in Belarus. His arrest and detention is what led to Svitlana’s candidacy. Five years.

I am a Red Sox fan because my father is a Red Sox fan, and his father was a Red Sox fan, and this is what we do. I am a Dodgers fan because the Dodgers know what rule of law is, and uphold constitutionally articulated rights.

We are *slowly* (VERY slowly) getting our life back together after last January’s bonkers flood. The status of our stuff is ??? including the dozens of archives of pro-democracy art I’d compiled over ~20 years. I hope I don’t have to rebuild the whole collection, but empty walls ain’t it:

We’re all looking to Feel Something. But please, do not Nair your eyebrows after 8pm (or ever tbh). Don’t assume a bunch of KC 135s in the air mean a war is imminent. And don’t check the group chat. You can *absolutely* watch The West Wing though. open.substack.com/pub/nonstate...

You gotta fight. For your right. To….troll authoritarian men on the internet. open.substack.com/pub/nonstate...

We will outlive, outlast, out build your fascist narcissistic wasteland. I promise.

For folks living in the United States, participating in this sort of thing is a federal crime and will land you on the radar of the US Office of Foreign Assets Control If you don't go broke defending yourself from the federal indictment first, you'll likely go broke while you're in federal prison

Is America a Girl’s Girl, or are we a Pick-Me who thinks women are asking for it? And are we ready to live with our choice? If you’re paywalled let me know - happy to comp a link or two. open.substack.com/pub/nonstate...

Looking for hope? Try Non-State Actress’ paid newsletter- The Iceberg. It’s in the early days. A thorough & efficient look at security/defense news below the surface AND how it can be opportunities for democracy. Happy to share a test subscriptions if you’re curious :) nonstateactress.substack.com

This week’s Main Character Energy: Lord Farquaad, Elle Woods, Ursula, Scar, Veronica Sawyer, Kermit, & Pedro Pascal. Said another way… it covers #Myanmar, #Mali, #Poland, China-#Belarus, #China-#Russia, #India-#Pakistan, #Soundwaves, Enes Banter Freedom, and T.Rex! open.substack.com/pub/nonstate...

Actual footage of me realizing no one has received anything I’ve written in 2 weeks because I forgot to “subscribe existing subscribers” to the sections, and it’s not that no one wants to open my emails anymore. Hopefully.

The next edition of The Iceberg, the Non-State Actress newsletter exclusively for paid subscribers goes out tomorrow. You can subscribe here: nonstateactress.substack.com

Here are more than 400 jobs, links and salary ranges confirmed, in national security, defense, international affairs, intelligence, and connected fields: #NatSecGirlSquad open.substack.com/pub/natsecgi...

Good morning! There’s a free preview up for today's piece, covering the potential delisting of Chinese companies from the stock exchange, a Central Asian intel summit, Putin embracing his inner P.Diddy in Niger-Mali-Burkina Faso, & North Korea. nonstateactress.substack.com/p/non-state-...

I’m writing a lot more now “in public.” A roundup called The Iceberg 2x a week for paid subscribers covering US & intl security, plus a free weekly (below) and 1-2 longforms a month. Plus Technical Directing a nightly show for one of my favorite people: scottsimonspeaks.substack.com

There is a special place in heaven for Bernstein. I am absolutely confident he is sitting on the edge of his seat tonight. Shout the big dreams, my friends. Shout them as loud as you can for as long as you can & teach someone else to do the same before you go. www.nytimes.com/2025/05/02/o...

A building engineer flooded our co-op unit with 8 inches of water, destroying everything inside, 422 days ago. I joke this story will end up as a book, published after my upcoming book. It’s starting to feel less like a joke and more like a necessity. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/07/r...

All of Ukraine is Ukraine open.substack.com/pub/nonstate...

There are ~10,000 North Koreans fighting for Russia. Did Putin ask for them or did Kim Jong-Un *offer to send them*? open.substack.com/pub/nonstate...

We read great journo Dominique Lapierre’s memoir of being 13 at the liberation of Paris. 6;15 pm et 4:25 pm pt youtube.com/@scottsimon-...

A cold is making its way through our homestead, and it’s my turn now. Fingers crossed there’s enough NyQuil in my veins to knock me straight to Moses ASAP but in the interim: Ken Burns’ BASEBALL. A Spring Forward Tradition.

A little ALI with Scott Simon this evening - join us? www.youtube.com/live/kqW5I8Y...

The US military has removed photos of the B-29 bomber “Enola Gay” — which dropped the first atomic bomb on Japan — apparently because it contains the word “gay,” which violates their new anti-DEI rules.

Do not let Ukraine become Afghanistan. Mineral access = sovereignty. nonstateactress.substack.com/p/non-state-...

Look, I get it. Critical minerals don't have the same ring to them as "coastal grandmother aesthetic" or whatever else is trending this week. But here's the reality check: whoever controls these minerals controls the future. nonstateactress.substack.com/p/non-state-...

When we’re talking about critical minerals, we’re actually talking about sovereignty and freedom in the 21st century. open.substack.com/pub/nonstate...

It is also a crucial leverage point in the larger diplomatic systems the US engages in. Not all countries like having these numbers made available to their own people.

Wearing my shirt from @slotkin.senate.gov ‘s first campaign this AM while Doing Stuff because *yes* I grabbed this shirt and not a lot of other stuff when my house flooded. Do you get it now?

Freedom to access accurate, meaningful, timely information whenever and wherever is a basic human right…and a crucial element of statecraft. Right, @kschake.bsky.social

Meanwhile, I’m going to keep doing my little tool kits for all the content creators talking to North Korean soldiers because wow is this fun

There is no reason good enough to give in to an authoritarian

415 days after losing everything, we have a tentative move in date. And tariffs 🥲. Sigh.

I am quite literally genetically engineered to survive. I am made up of the remnants of a long line of people who lived through cruelty, genocide, authoritarianism…all of it.

We can’t say no to FDR and Churchill, especially these days. Exhausted from the week and from the day, and this is a nice reminder… www.youtube.com/live/1LQdE8h...

“Bonnets, much like the Marine Corps, are not inherently gendered.”

“They're on our right, they're on our left, they're in front of us, they're behind us; they can't get away from us this time." — Lt. Gen. Chesty Puller

I get to help out on this daily show, ‘Open Book,’ which features Scott reading or interviewing a writer for 15-20 minutes each night. Going into its 5th year! It’s a wonderful way to spend a few minutes and stay sane. So consider joining us. www.youtube.com/live/R8URxjb...

If you’re looking for a palette cleansing moment, come join my dear friend Scott Simon in just a few minutes- youtube.com/@scottsimon-...

If you’re looking for a way to Keep Going (I have a few recommendations coming down the pipeline), may I recommend nightly ‘Open Book,’ with Scott Simon? Excerpts of wonderful reads, visits from authors. 15ish minutes at 6:15 ET live, forever on YouTube (and X). www.youtube.com/live/gaT8FkJ...

We’re listening to snacks and writing and writing about snacks… www.youtube.com/live/gaT8FkJ...

When we say that, are we comparing ourselves to the Visigoths, adjusted for inflation?

My list of reasons for hope gets longer every day. So does my list of reasons for frustration - but as long as the first list is weightier than the second, we keep going.

Here is a list of things that are good from today so far: -My dog -The pup cup my dog ate -My little brothers. Haven’t spoken to them yet, but they’re out there. -The lady who stopped to say hi to my dog while she was eating a pup cup

Every night at about 6:15pm, I play “technical support” to my chosen family’s daily show ‘Open Book.’ 15 minutes of reading and joy. Tonight? The Manchurian Candidate. We’re expanding from The Other Platform where Scott has ~1 million followers. Join us? youtube.com/@scottsimon-...

Had to pleasure, honor, and adventure to get to know Governor Mills in December 2024. This is a woman who loves America, democracy, the law, and protecting those three things.

Freedom for Ukraine, Freedom for All. #SlavaUkraini