Christine Ahn
@christineahn.bsky.social
Peace activist, organizer, writer, mom, surfer and hopeaholic. Fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies; founder, Women Cross DMZ.
Today you're going to see a lot of tributes and assessments of Gloria Steinem (I thought this one very good: www.thecut.com/article/glor...). You'll also see some people raising her involvement with the CIA, and others ignore it. (That obit doesn't even mentioned it.) What was that about?
Gloria Steinem Loved Women
The feminist icon, who has died at the age of 92, epitomized the contradictions and hopes of the women’s liberation movement.
thecut.com
NEW: U.S.-South Korea military exercises are wildly costly and dangerous. Progressives should take the chance to oppose them — even when Trump is the one to suggest it. IPS scholar @christineahn.bsky.social in @truthout.org:
Trump Moves to Scale Back US War Drills in Korea. We Should Support That.
While any diplomatic overture from Trump should be viewed with skepticism, we should welcome a chance to advance peace.
truthout.org
For over 75 years, the U.S. has relied on air strikes as an alternative to politically costly ground occupations. But history shows that this doctrine has not lived up to its promise—with civilians often bearing the highest cost. @christineahn.bsky.social on @truthout.org
From Asia to the Middle East, US Bombs Are a Failed Foreign Policy Choice
The only reliable products of US airpower are devastated civilian populations and suppression of internal movements.
truthout.org
As we push back against U.S. invasions and wars, we must keep an eye on places where we can demilitarize for our collective survival: Hawaii. In this piece with Native Hawaiian leader Davis Price of @ndncollective.bsky.social we explore the opportunity to reclaim land back from the military.
Institute for Policy Studies@ips-dc.org · 9mo agoNEW: Since 1964, the U.S. military has leased 47,000 acres of land from the State of Hawai‘i — for a token $1. The leases expire in 2029, offering Hawai‘i a rare chance to reclaim land from the war machine. IPS fellow @christineahn.bsky.social and Davis Price in @truthout.org:
Excellent analysis by my colleague @lindsaykosh.bsky.social at @ips-dc.org on the travesty of Trump and Congress to invade Venezuela using taxpayer dollars at a time when Americans are struggling to make ends meet.
Institute for Policy Studies@ips-dc.org · 9mo agoNEW: Trump has said plenty about the U.S. "ruling over" Venezuela. He hasn’t said why the tax dollars that paid for this invasion aren't being used to help the 1 in 2 Americans now struggling to buy groceries. IPS @nationalpriorities.bsky.social scholar @lindsaykosh.bsky.social:
Trump is pressuring Gov Josh Green to expedite the renewal of 65-year old military leases in Hawaii, and the Dem governor is capitulating. Grateful that a global team is partnering with Hawaii experts to analyze the true costs of US military occupation. Here’s some events coming up!
"To Win Against the Right, We Must Challenge U.S. Militarism." Absolutely. Really good piece breaking it down.
To Win Against the Right, We Must Challenge U.S. Militarism
“The Feminist Peace Playbook” charts a path to real security, which is grounded in human rights, collective care, and community safety.
convergencemag.com
What’s going on with Israel’s war on Iran? My colleagues @ips-dc.org Phyllis Bennis and Khury Petersen-Smith break it down. www.commondreams.org/opinion/stop...
One Certainty About Israel’s Attack on Iran? We in the US Must Try to Stop It | Common Dreams
Whatever the president or the secretary of state or any other official says or refuses to say, Washington is supplying the weapons and preventing accountability for Israel’s wars.
commondreams.org
Lee Jae-Myung is poised to be the next South Korean President, which is a victory for democracy and creates an opening for peace. My piece in @truthout.org on the role for peace movements to get ahead of Trump. truthout.org/articles/und...
Under a New South Korean President, Can Peace Activists Push US Troops Out?
A pro-peace presidential candidate offers a historic opening to transform the front line of a new Cold War.
truthout.org
TONIGHT: Don't miss @christineahn.bsky.social joined by a panel of journalists, labor leaders, and experts on South Korea's resistance movements. Last chance to register:
Lessons from South Korean Resistance to Authoritarianism and the MAGA Global Playbook - Institute for Policy Studies
The pro-democracy movement of activists, labor, and media pushing back against martial law and rising authoritarianism, part of the monthly series on: Lessons from Resistance to Authoritarianism Aroun...
ips-dc.org
Letter from Dem Senator Chris Van Hollen (MD) requesting a meeting with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele To discuss MD father Kilmar Abrego Garcia's return "If Kilmar is not home by midweek – I plan to travel to El Salvador this week to check on his condition and discuss his release."
South Koreans may have ousted a far right authoritarian president, but they haven’t addressed the forces that will keep threatening democracy. Great piece in @jacobinmagazin.bsky.social about this by Kap Seol. jacobin.com/2025/04/kore...
South Korea’s Presidential Impeachment Was Long Overdue
South Korea’s Constitutional Court has finally impeached disgraced right-wing president Yoon Suk-yeol after his failed coup last December. Yoon and his conservative allies have given a major boost to ...
jacobin.com
Even in the chill Aloha state, hundreds came out for the #Handsoff protest. Multi-racial, multi-generational, multi-issue all united by our love for democracy, freedom and justice.
South Korea’s pro-democracy movement is a shining model of the power of people to fight back the tyrannical impulses of leaders. @bbcnewsnight.bsky.social @ips-dc.org @womencrossdmz.bsky.social
On April 17, join us for an online roundtable with leading experts to discuss the South Korean pro-democracy movement, especially the critical roles of activists, labor, and media. Panelists include Francis Dae-Hoon Lee, Wolsan Liem, Kap Seol, and @christineahn.bsky.social. Register now:
Lessons from South Korean Resistance to Authoritarianism and the MAGA Global Playbook - Institute for Policy Studies
The pro-democracy movement of activists, labor, and media pushing back against martial law and rising authoritarianism, part of the monthly series on: Lessons from Resistance to Authoritarianism Aroun...
ips-dc.org
Honored to deliver the 2025 Cyril Foster Lecture at Oxford University on May 8! I’ll be speaking with Ret. Lt. General Dan Leaf on “Ending Wars: Pragmatic Approaches to Peacebuilding.” If you’re in London please come! www.qeh.ox.ac.uk/event/cyril-...
Cyril Foster Lecture 2025: 'How to End Wars: Pragmatic Approaches to Peacebuilding' | Oxford Department of International Development
qeh.ox.ac.uk
Chung v. Trump, Constitutional right to free speech and protest upheld for now. The Korean American community stands with you, Yunseo! www.newsweek.com/yunseo-chung...
Yunseo Chung speaks out after judge blocks ICE deporting Columbia student
"This decision feels like a million pounds off of my chest. I feel like I could fly," Chung said in a statement.
newsweek.com
Thank you Phyllis Bennis for lifting up the story here — the Yemeni civilians.
Institute for Policy Studies@ips-dc.org · 2y agoNEW: Multitudes of Congresspeople, pundits, former intelligence and military operatives, and too many journalists are all outraged by Signalgate. Seemingly no one among them is paying much attention to the actual scandal: The Yemenis under the bombs. IPS scholar Phyllis Bennis in @thenation.com:
That moment when you realize that the person sitting in the packed conference room at the UN Conf on Status of Women is @amygoodman.bsky.social @democracynow.org and got right away our Feminist Peace Playbook. @madrespeaks.bsky.social @marieberry.bsky.social @womencrossdmz.bsky.social
Really proud to be @ips-dc.org which provided analysis for faith leaders who gathered at the Capitol to condemn the Trump-GOP agenda. Rev. Barber said, “The only way wannabe kings can be kings is if we bow. But bowing is not in our DNA.” @sarahanderson.bsky.social inequality.org/article/bish...
Bishop Barber: ‘Bowing is Not in Our DNA’
At a Capitol Hill rally, faith leaders called for a season of nonviolent moral dissent against Republican budget proposals that will deepen inequality.
inequality.org
Thank you @sarahlazare.bsky.social @stephensemler.bsky.social for exposing Trump’s fake Pentagon budget cuts. He knows it’s politically popular, but like Biden, is beholden to the blob. We’ve got the majority with us, we just need an organizing strategy. inthesetimes.com/article/trum...
The Myth of Pentagon Budget Cuts
As Trump and Musk slash social spending, military spending is set to soar.
inthesetimes.com
Beautiful oped by my colleagues @ips-dc.org taking a stand for trans kids & fams. “We hope that parents everywhere can raise our voices in defense of this more inclusive world against those who seek to destroy it — especially by targeting children and families.” otherwords.org/were-parents...
We’re Parents. Trump’s Attacks on Trans Kids Don’t Speak for Us. - OtherWords
Our kids aren’t trans. But we’re horrified that politicians are attempting to ban reputable health care for kids in the name of “parents’ rights.”
otherwords.org
Excellent oped by @rexhuppke.bsky.social in @usatoday.com. Nails it.
Rex Huppke@rexhuppke.bsky.social · 2y agoThe SNAP- and Medicaid-gutting House budget bill Trump/Musk-Republicans just passed makes today's column even more accurate. "Dear MAGA voters: President Donald Trump thanks you for your service, but he has determined you are now expendable." www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
Watch out Asia Pacific. US militarization of region won’t be scaled back. “According to the Post, the memo calls for continued “support agency” funding for several major regional headquarters, including Indo-Pacific command, northern command and space command.” www.theguardian.com/us-news/live...
Trump administration reportedly orders Pentagon to plan for sweeping defense budget cuts – live
Hegseth orders senior leaders at the Pentagon to develop plans to cut 8% of the defense budget in each of the next five years, the Washington Post reports
theguardian.com
Assume no one else will speak. Assume no one else will march. Assume no one else will fight. Assume it has to be you. That’s how we stop fascism.
Really important piece on the link between MAGA and the attempted coup in South Korea. We need to watch what’s happening in South Korea; a lot of linkages to oligarchs here and the MAGA playbook.
Cathi Choi@cathichoi.bsky.social · 2y agoMy latest for @inthesetimesmag.bsky.social “How MAGA Made Its Way to South Korea”
I spent Inauguration Day with Gloria Steinem, a reminder that the antidote to fascism is feminism, that we are linked not ranked, and the struggle is long and intersectional. Happy to see our DMZ crossing pic on her book shelf. She’s impacted so many lives and movements.
