explain it like I'm a Dune fan - news edition: a landsraad committe recently released the stolen journals of a tleilaxu flesh merchant, which include a drawing and some cryptic messages form the God Emperor, hinting at major beefswelling

I am so sad to here about the passing of Mete Hoca... he was one of the kindest and most thoughtful professors I had at Bilgi. It was an honour to study under him. medyascope.tv/2025/08/18/t...

As a scandal of forged electronic signatures, false diplomas and forged official documents hits Turkey, Murat Yetkin points out that the main institution responsible for cyber security (Siber Güvenlik Başkanlığı’na, SGG), founded in January, still has no director. yetkinreport.com/2025/08/05/d...

The Ankara Institute has published a vast opinion survey (coordinated by Hatem Ete, Osman Sert, and Galip Dalay) on the disarmament of the PKK and the Kurdish issue. A few points : 1) 1/3 of respondents (37%) acknowledge the existence of a Kurdish issue in Turkey, while 63% deny such an issue +

Ankara‘s release of an imprisoned PKK fighter is consistent with its repeated emphasis that the process is to end „terror“ (read: armed conflict btw the Turkish state and the PKK): no more, no less.

"Faced with these structural difficulties, the AKP could be tempted to transform the democratic process into an empty shell and reduce politics to a forum for negotiation among elites [...] new areas of legitimacy could emerge outside the ballot box" clmentplaisant.substack.com/p/how-far-wi...

Hear me out... we could heal this nation...

I mean, its a bit mean spirited of Freddie; but it is not entirely unfounded... academics can be cringe... I guess.

Attempts by the pro-Israel crowd to compare the Battle for Mosul with the "War" in Gaza are just plain absurd. However, pro-Israeli talking points are getting more and more outlandish.

Say what you want about Bret Stephens, but the Gaza-Mosul comparison is actually extremely-if unintentionally-revealing. A legitimate military operation would seek to hold territory, protect civilians and provide services. A genocide would look like Gaza.

This interview by Gökçer Tahincioğlu and Ceren Bayar with Tuncer Bakırhan clearly illustrates the pro-Kurdish DEM's (teleological) vision of the solution process: it will resolve the Kurdish question and this resolution will automatically lead to the democratisation of Turkey

Its Iraq 1958 all over again...

Someone needs to do an AI version of Creep sung by Cuomo.

I think that conservatives fundamentally misunderstand "leftist" family abolitionist types; they see them as satanic sexual libertines who engage in all kinds of titillating deviancy. The reality is that they are usually pathetic, misanthropic cat ladies ...

Lots of speculation on how/why Colbert’s show was cancelled. I distinctly remember giving a presentation on media capture in early Fall 2024. Audiences were skeptical that my insights from Turkey - or those of my panelists from India and Venezuela - had anything to do with the US. Ah well.

Oooo

A few more words (this time in English) on the legal and political shortcoming surrounding PKK disarmament. Several days after the arms burning ceremony, we still don't know anything more about the details of the process. This should raise more questions. clmentplaisant.substack.com/p/is-this-re...

Kürtçe müzik dinledikleri için gözaltına alındığı iddia edilen aile isyan etti 16 baro ortak açıklama yaptı, "İşkence kabul edilemez" dedi DEM Parti olayı meclise taşıdı

"Between 2003 and 2019, the number of Turkish embassies in Africa rose from 12 to 42, reaching 44 by 2024. By way of comparison, historical partners such as France have 46 embassies on the continent, and the United States 50." lerubicon.org/un-renforcem...

I wrote something new about the New Turkey, in response to @selimkoru.bsky.social’s book, and whether to think of it as far right or something else nateschenkkan.substack.com/p/is-the-new...

Being associated with Doug Lain is the real insult here.

First they came for the HDP and I said nothing because Kurds are traitors...

Kilicdaroglu... "Pick Me!"

So Zohran vs. Adams will basically be the Battle of Chaldiran?

Has anyone checked on Fredo Cuomo? How is he taking it?

I managed to paint up a whole Cathay army! A dream come true to say the least! A big thank you to our friends at Games Workshop for the minis Honestly still in shock! #warhammer #theoldworld

🇹🇷Turkey Last Week 1️⃣ An arrest warrant was issued for the owner of Halk TV, aligned with the main opposition CHP, on bid-rigging charges—critics see it as part of Erdoğan’s broader media crackdown. 2️⃣ TÜSİAD’s chair warned of deepening economic troubles: ++

Missed this when it went up last week, but glad to have this conversation with @djenebajalan.bsky.social about my forever nemesis, Modernization Theory. www.ksmu.org/podcast/talk...

An interesting conversation based on a thoughtful exploration of the milieu of the Tarikats in Turkey...

New dress

Increased tensions along the Euphrates with SDF/Gov't negotiations in a lull: renewed clashes around Tishrin dam, SDF obstructing gov't efforts to repair bridges btw the territories, SNA firing around service workers in eastern Aleppo, read more here: akmckeever.substack.com/p/this-week-...

"few had any real knowledge of the areas they worked in. What united them was desperation. 'We do this because we don’t have a job,' one man told me. When I asked what type of work it would take to pull him away from treasure hunting, he replied, simply, 'Anything.'" newlinesmag.com/reportage/tr...

Midnight milky...

An important piece.

I probably didn't express myself correctly; I found your article to be important and more comprehensive than anything I have written - I'm just glad I'm not the only one who has pointed this similarity out.

I think this is fair... let's not get orbed...

From @akmckeever.bsky.social www.syriaintransition.com/syriasphanto...

"Great, young, attractive tough guy, very strong past."

Where did Hollywood go so wrong? I thought movies were supposed to be an escape from reality, a chance to put your worries aside and not have to think about any underlying ideas or concepts. Well, not anymore. theonion.com/you-can...

A win!

Rebecca triggered the power of para-social relations!

The idea that the government would stop doing trustees over municipalities after the dissolution deal always seemed absurd

I think the explanation is far more "short-term"; that is, to stall the consolidation of an anti-Erdogan front.

I'm a #Palpatine Lefty! #StarWars #Andor

What the left doesn't want you to know about #Ghorman #StarWars #Andor

Outrageous #Rebel lies about #Ghorman #Andor #StarWars I felt they had to be challenged.

Look up Andrew Brunson?

PKK fesih kongresini topladı ama açıklamada "fesih" yoktu; "hafta sonu açıklanacak" deniyor. "Tarihi açıklama" derken Pervin Buldan'ın bilip bizim bilmediğimiz şeyler var muhakkak ;)

ICYMI: Our event with @JournalSpectre.bsky.social "Syria at the Crossroads: Popular Revolt, Counterrevolution and Regional Transformation" is now on YouTube, featuring Leila al-Shami, Wafa Mustafa, @djenebajalan.bsky.social, Shireen Akram-Boshar and @jdryan08.bsky.social Watch Now!