Incredibly stupid take considering the United States isn’t exactly maintaining stability in the Middle East right now.

Carl Quintanilla@carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 3d ago

“.. With Saudi oil now blockaded, Americans are about to discover why maintaining stability in the Middle East and not handing it to a consortium of Russia and Iran was always important.” @jayinkyiv.bsky.social

Florence. 🇮🇹

Ever since Axel Springer bought the Telegraph, I’ve had a terrible time trying to get their attention on pitches. Funny how that works.

Ever since Axel Springer bought the Telegraph, I’ve had a terrible time trying to get their attention on pitches. Funny how that works.

Milano 🇮🇹

A reminder that we get most of our potash fertilizer and a lot of our crude oil from Canada, the country Trump is now warring with on trade.

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 2w ago

“We could do tremendous good for ourselves by just not trading with countries” — Trump’s bonkers view of trade is that you become wealthy by not engaging in commerce

Why the f— is the editor in chief of a major U.S. news network dictating tweets? Doesn’t she have better things to do, like, say, getting the network out the sewer (oh wait…)?

Scott Lemieux@lemieuxlgm.bsky.social · 2w ago

Weiss *personally ordered* the ridiculous framing of the tweet!

Would have been pleased to speak with ABC News about there practical efficacy. In a phrase: dog-shit.

Brian Finucane@bcfinucane.bsky.social · 2w ago

Pleased to speak with ABC News about the DOJ memo blessing the Trump administration's boat strikes. It's essentially "a get-of-jail-free card to give the military comfort to engage in lawless premeditated killing." abcnews.com/US/return-tr...

What is he going to run on? A lost war in Iran? How many fisherman he’s killed in the Caribbean?

Carl Quintanilla@carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 3w ago

(NBC News) - Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has told close friends and associates that he is considering a run for president in 2028 .. @nbcnews.com www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...

Not sure how establishing a U.S. government-backed venture in Venezuela is supposed to attract oil majors into the country—who wants to compete against the U.S. government?—but maybe that’s just me…

Edward Wong@ewong.bsky.social · 2w ago

NEW: After toppling Maduro, Trump and Rubio aimed to get Venezuelan oil through Alejandro Betancourt, a polarizing businessman. He has been under investigation by Swiss officials for years. State Dept. pressed Switzerland and the UK to ease up on him. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/08/29/b...

Stupid times.

What is he going to run on? A lost war in Iran? How many fisherman he’s killed in the Caribbean?

Carl Quintanilla@carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 3w ago

(NBC News) - Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has told close friends and associates that he is considering a run for president in 2028 .. @nbcnews.com www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...

I agree with all of this. But I’m not sure it matters in the end: the Trump administration doesn’t care about human rights and accountability as general principles and has already pushed out a top general in part for registering objections to the boat strikes.

Benjamin Farley@brfarley.bsky.social · 3w ago

Stop what you're doing and go read @seharrison7.bsky.social's essential piece at @lawfaremedia.org on the Trump Administration's murderous, illegal campaign of boat strikes (#RWOB)--and Congress' dismal failure to understand or grapple with it appropriately: www.lawfaremedia.org/article/the-...

I agree with all of this. But I’m not sure it matters in the end: the Trump administration doesn’t care about human rights and accountability as general principles and has already pushed out a top general in part for registering objections to the boat strikes.

Benjamin Farley@brfarley.bsky.social · 3w ago

Stop what you're doing and go read @seharrison7.bsky.social's essential piece at @lawfaremedia.org on the Trump Administration's murderous, illegal campaign of boat strikes (#RWOB)--and Congress' dismal failure to understand or grapple with it appropriately: www.lawfaremedia.org/article/the-...

"Trump has since settled on a policy of squeezing Iran economically and is willing to wait to see if the strategy bears fruit, the people said." Going to make a bold prediction here... www.wsj.com/world/middle...

Iran Talks Sputter as Trump Spurns a Return to His June Deal

The president is willing to wait and see if the strategy of squeezing Iran economically bears fruit.

wsj.com

I think most of us can agree that the war in Iran has been a total and complete dumpster-fire. But if we’re smart, it could also be an opportunity to finally get out of the Middle East rather than just talking about getting out of the Middle East (1/3).

I think most of us can agree that the war in Iran has been a total and complete dumpster-fire. But if we’re smart, it could also be an opportunity to finally get out of the Middle East rather than just talking about getting out of the Middle East (1/3).

The Canadians are fed up. The Iranians are defiant. The Brazilians are striking more economic deals with China. Trump’s coercion has hit a wall.

The Canadians are fed up. The Iranians are defiant. The Brazilians are striking more economic deals with China. Trump’s coercion has hit a wall.

Trump Needs to Channel His Inner George Costanza to End His Disastrous Iran War In ‘Seinfeld,’ George does the opposite of his instincts to get what he wants. Trump should do the same, as everything he has done so far has been a disaster. Do the opposite! Read: zeteo.com/p/trump-iran...

Touching grass.

I’m glad this article was written but let’s be honest: it’s not a new argument. The U.S. has a god awful tendency of mixing up success at the tactical level (blowing shit up) with success at the strategic level (accomplishing the mission). And sometimes the former is used to cover up the latter.

"Online Rent-a-Sage" Bret Devereaux@bretdevereaux.bsky.social · 4w ago

I wrote a(nother) thing! This time it is about how no amount of military technical excellence can salvage a situation where political leadership has, in their abject strategic incompetence, demanded the military accomplish an impossible mission. Gift link: foreignpolicy.com/2026/08/21/i...

I’m glad this article was written but let’s be honest: it’s not a new argument. The U.S. has a god awful tendency of mixing up success at the tactical level (blowing shit up) with success at the strategic level (accomplishing the mission). And sometimes the former is used to cover up the latter.

"Online Rent-a-Sage" Bret Devereaux@bretdevereaux.bsky.social · 4w ago

I wrote a(nother) thing! This time it is about how no amount of military technical excellence can salvage a situation where political leadership has, in their abject strategic incompetence, demanded the military accomplish an impossible mission. Gift link: foreignpolicy.com/2026/08/21/i...

I now have possession of the Brooklyn Bridge.

Brian Finucane@bcfinucane.bsky.social · 4w ago

The Power of Positive Thinking, military debacle edition

"There is a significant shift away from the unconditional support U.S. administrations of both political parties have offered Israel since its founding in 1948," foreign affairs columnist @dandepetris.bsky.social writes on @chicagotribune.com www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/18/c...

Daniel DePetris: Israel can no longer deny the shift in US politics

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s trip to the U.S. underscores the fact that Israel is no longer immune from criticism.

chicagotribune.com

Absolutely pathetic that the New York Post allows two failed think tank analysts who have been wrong in pretty much everything to opine on its pages. But I suppose it’s better than seeing them in the Wall Street Journal.

Abu Aardvark@abuaardvark.bsky.social · 4w ago

“What’s shaping up, therefore, is not merely a victory over Iran. If seen through to completion, these developments will set the stage for a new American century.” Mmhmmm nypost.com/2026/08/12/o...

Commentary: The Middle East hasn’t been kind to the United States. The United States hasn’t been kind to the Middle East either. Frankly, both could use a break from each other, which is why last week’s big news from three of the region’s major powers has the potential of being significant.

Daniel DePetris: The Saudi Arabia-Pakistan-Turkey deal provides the US with an opportunity

chicagotribune.com

The number of times I get screwed over by an editor is comical at this point.

US theory of subordination is playing out in Venezuela www.ft.com/content/eed0...

Letter: US theory of subordination is playing out in Venezuela

From Daniel R DePetris, Fellow at Defense Priorities, a foreign policy think-tank, Washington, DC; New Rochelle, NY, US

ft.com

What “ceasefire?” 1,200 Gazans have been killed since that “ceasefire” was enacted 10 months ago.

The Economist@economist.com · last mo.

If there is any glimmer of hope for Gazans, it is that arguments in Israel about whether to keep the ceasefire are over. But real change is unlikely until after the Israeli election in October