Ambassador (ret.) Janet Sanderson
@jastucaz.bsky.social
Former U.S. Ambassador, retired career Foreign Service officer, still writing that long-delayed biography of Tudor humanist Mildred Cooke Cecil. Not as diplomatic as I once was.
As @kevinmkruse.bsky.social noted, this was the cover of the pro-free-market, not-progressive Economist one month before the election that brought Trump back to power. The economy had problems, hence the result, but a “total catastrophe” it was not.
Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 2h agoTrump: "When we took office, we inherited a total catastrophe"
The upside is that wall would keep Tuberville in. So maybe he could get to know the state he purports to represent. So, tradeoffs, right?
Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 3h agoTuberville: "If we don't straighten out this country's voting and immigration system, we're not gonna make it. It's gonna be over. I'm gonna go back to Alabama and hey, we might build a 30-foot wall around our state."
as noted yesterday, Trump has now come around to treating an Iranian toll system covering the Strait of Hormuz as a given. Hard to overstate the level of strategic failure. US started the war purely as a war of choice and ends up dramatically empowering Iran and given the Iranian govt big wins.
Bill Grueskin@bgrueskin.bsky.social · 8h agoReuters: Iran wants fees of 5%-7% of the price of cargo from ships using the strait; Oman wants 3%. "Making fees voluntary, at least nominally, could be a way out of the impasse, although an implied threat of Iranian attacks could mean shippers would be unlikely to risk transit without paying."
Strongly agree! ACJ’s @mluckovich.bsky.social is indeed one of the very best. Hey, Pulitzer Prize folks, time to hand him another gong.
Mark Hamill@markhamillofficial.bsky.social · 7h agoSHOUT OUT to Mike Luckovich: one of the all-time great political cartoonists. 🏆 With corporate media doing such a poor job in these most perilous of times, his work is more vital than ever! THANK YOU @mluckovich.bsky.social!!! 🙏
This is just rank Islamophobia and anti-Arab racism, based on the bigoted idea that there is something inherently scary about a president with the last name "El-Sayed." It is incumbent on all of us to call it out.
Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 9h agoJD Vance: "We don't want the next administration, whoever -- god forbid you're gonna have President El-Sayed in three years ... "
WASHINGTON (AP) - Trump administration has detained more than 50 spouses, parents of US troops in immigration crackdown, AP review finds. @apnews.com apnews.com/article/mili...
AP Exclusive: Trump's immigration crackdown has detained more than 50 military spouses and parents
An Associated Press investigation reveals that President Donald Trump’s administration has detained dozens of parents and spouses of active-duty U.S. troops.
apnews.com
“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Marco Rubio does not provide any value-added above a generic Trump flunkie.” Dan is more diplomatic than I am these days.
Daniel Drezner@dandrezner.bsky.social · 12h agoMarco Rubio is ostensibly neglecting his State Department duties to stay close to Trump and focus on the important stuff… except for the most important foreign policy quagmire of the day. danieldrezner.substack.com/p/why-isnt-m...
Good God, this administration is full of fools. Just effing fools.
The New York Times@nytimes.com · 20h agoThe Trump administration has revoked the visa of Brazil’s top diplomat in the U.S., according to a senior U.S. official, deepening a diplomatic crisis between the two countries.
Pretty Trumpy of Infantino. Make promised to pay and then stiff the provider. newrepublic.com/post/213952/...
World Cup Host Cities Chase FIFA as It Refuses to Pay Up
President Donald Trump remains silent as American cities are left to foot the bill.
newrepublic.com
As usual, Susan Collins does the tally, sees that Todd Blanche has the votes to win, and then announces...
And a significant blow to the U.S. role- real, assumed, or aspired to- in the region. But whatevs..
Rima I Anabtawi@rimaanabtawi.bsky.social · yesterday“If deal goes through with US blessing, it would be: - major breakthrough + leverage for Iran - new status quo, solidifies/rewards Iran ctrl since war - bitter pill for many in Gulf but preferred to all-out war - opening for more negotiations between Trump & Tehran”
I drove over this bridge every day on my way to work when I was assigned to DC. Ick. Just wrong.
Jamie Dupree@jamiedupree.bsky.social · yesterdayThese were cast in bronze, gifts from Italy, on Memorial Bridge near the Lincoln Memorial. Now they have been covered in gold.
Which will Trump be able to open sooner, the Reflecting Pool or the Strait of Hormuz?
A CIA veteran and Iran specialist on why the regime survives, the MOU disaster, the lessons of Iraq, and the history and humanity of Iranians. Watch The Steady State's latest episode of the Sentinel on our Youtube channel.
New aerial photos expose fire’s devastation of the Boundary Waters in northern Minnesota Photos by Anthony Souffle
There are heroes among us. Both World Central Kitchen and our firefighters from across the western US. Proud to support @wck.org.
World Central Kitchen@wck.org · yesterdayFirefighters in Spokane are working around the clock to battle the wildfires, and WCK & our local partners are there to support them no matter what time it is. Chef Chad & his team at Trail Feast served up a hearty breakfast at 6:00 AM to first responders stationed at Mt. Spokane High School. (1/2)
Imagine thinking so little of yourself that you just let this half sentient rotten potato talk to you like this. I don't care if he's president, have some self respect.
Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 2d agoTrump says Jeanine Pirro "choked" and then snaps at a reporter who asks if her job is safe: "Don't ever talk again"
Such a talent-and, perhaps more importantly, a lovely person-lost.
The Irish Times@irishtimes.com · yesterdayGlen Hansard funeral: A wicker coffin, a grieving widow and a son too young to be there
Molly, realizing we have another 105+ day ahead here in southern Arizona. She tired of it. So am I.
I take it he hasn’t read the Constitution recently. Or at all.
Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · yesterdayCornyn: "There's nothing we could do to rein in the president"
I stand with Adrian Fontes. He’s been an effective, principled Secretary of State here in Arizona.
azcentral@azcentral.com · 2d agoThe Arizona Secretary of State faces a lawsuit from America First Legal, a firm founded by a top adviser to President Donald Trump.
Yep, it’s hard to tell these days what is satire and what is real. Sure sounds like something Hegseth would (and probably will) say.
The Onion@theonion.com · 2d ago“Female Americans, you are being called upon to serve the most important men in our country,” said Hegseth
There are echoes of Trump’s 2020 election denialism in the Reflecting Pool debacle. In both cases he concocted ego salving nonsense to cover for his failure and then railed against loyalist senior DOJ lawyers who were unable/unwilling to pursue baseless legal actions to vindicate his fantasies.