Sam Heller | سام هيلر
@abujamajem.com
Researcher and analyst looking at Lebanon, Syria and the wider neighborhood. Century International Fellow. Former Crisis Group. "Jamajem" means ☠️.
www.abujamajem.com
www.abujamajem.com
Pinned
Sam Heller | سام هيلر
@abujamajem.com
· Sep 23
The Meaning of Ahmed al-Sharaa's U.N. Debut
It will solidify global recognition of the Syrian president's government. Yet the situation back in Syria is shaky, writes Sam Heller.
time.com
My latest for @time.com: On Syrian president Ahmad al-Shara's appearance at the UN General Assembly, and how UN members now welcoming him in New York need to be careful not to encourage him to impose control on a still divided country: time.com/7319571/syri...
Reposted by Sam Heller | سام هيلر
I’m never going to stop finding this funny, and by ”this” I mean this whole thing.
November 10, 2025 at 9:48 PM
I’m never going to stop finding this funny, and by ”this” I mean this whole thing.
@reuters.com team on Bedouins driven out of Suweida during July violence: www.reuters.com/world/syrias...
In Syria’s south, Bedouins uprooted by sectarian clashes see little hope of return
A week of bloodletting all-but ended the presence of Bedouins in most of Druze-dominated Sweida province. Months later, their path home remains uncertain.
www.reuters.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:51 PM
@reuters.com team on Bedouins driven out of Suweida during July violence: www.reuters.com/world/syrias...
@dropsitenews.com's @mazmhussain.bsky.social and @ryangrim.bsky.social piece together how Jeffrey Epstein helped facilitate Israel-Cote d'Ivoire security tie-up: www.dropsitenews.com/p/jeffrey-ep...
Jeffrey Epstein Helped Israel Sell a Surveillance State to Côte d’Ivoire
Leaked emails show the details behind talks between Cote d’Ivoire and Israel shepherded by Ehud Barak and Jeffrey Epstein
www.dropsitenews.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:01 AM
@dropsitenews.com's @mazmhussain.bsky.social and @ryangrim.bsky.social piece together how Jeffrey Epstein helped facilitate Israel-Cote d'Ivoire security tie-up: www.dropsitenews.com/p/jeffrey-ep...
Reposted by Sam Heller | سام هيلر
demand shock incoming
I asked my subscribers to send me their new ACA premium quotes. OH MY GOD. Republicans are sending us into a full on healthcare crisis. You’ve got to see this.
November 8, 2025 at 11:03 PM
demand shock incoming
Reposted by Sam Heller | سام هيلر
Earlier today, a mob of Israeli Jewish settlers attacked and assaulted roughly 30 Palestinian villagers and activists, plus about 10 journalists who had gathered during an attempt to harvest olives near a settler outpost in the Israeli-occupied West Bank
November 9, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Earlier today, a mob of Israeli Jewish settlers attacked and assaulted roughly 30 Palestinian villagers and activists, plus about 10 journalists who had gathered during an attempt to harvest olives near a settler outpost in the Israeli-occupied West Bank
@centuryintl.bsky.social colleague @sajadjiyad.bsky.social on Iraqis' general apathy and disillusionment with electoral politics ahead of this week's parliamentary elections: tcf.org/content/comm...
Apathy and Skepticism Cloud Iraq’s Upcoming Election
It is impossible to ignore that it is election season in Iraq. Walking in the Karrada neighborhood of Baghdad means struggling to avoid falling into a
tcf.org
November 8, 2025 at 12:13 PM
@centuryintl.bsky.social colleague @sajadjiyad.bsky.social on Iraqis' general apathy and disillusionment with electoral politics ahead of this week's parliamentary elections: tcf.org/content/comm...
🇺🇸
Video of Greg Bovino in Waukegan, with residents following and shouting, “You a bitch!” Taken by Armando Sanchez
November 8, 2025 at 8:15 AM
🇺🇸
Reposted by Sam Heller | سام هيلر
The BBC visits an IDF outpost on the eastern edge of Gaza City:
“The Gaza of maps and memories is gone, replaced by a monochrome landscape of rubble stretching flat and still for 180 degrees…there's almost nothing left to orient you here or identify the neighbourhoods.”
“The Gaza of maps and memories is gone, replaced by a monochrome landscape of rubble stretching flat and still for 180 degrees…there's almost nothing left to orient you here or identify the neighbourhoods.”
Inside Gaza, BBC sees total devastation after two years of war
With endless rubble and destroyed streets as far as the eye can see, any plans for Gaza's future are a far cry from where it is today, writes Lucy Williamson.
www.bbc.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:34 PM
The BBC visits an IDF outpost on the eastern edge of Gaza City:
“The Gaza of maps and memories is gone, replaced by a monochrome landscape of rubble stretching flat and still for 180 degrees…there's almost nothing left to orient you here or identify the neighbourhoods.”
“The Gaza of maps and memories is gone, replaced by a monochrome landscape of rubble stretching flat and still for 180 degrees…there's almost nothing left to orient you here or identify the neighbourhoods.”
Reposted by Sam Heller | سام هيلر
Democrats who want to maintain the standard U.S. support for Israel despite their own voters’ deep opposition to the country’s government will increasingly struggle — not because voters are obsessed with Israel but because it’s an indication they’re deeply out-of-touch or beholden to lobbyists.
November 6, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Democrats who want to maintain the standard U.S. support for Israel despite their own voters’ deep opposition to the country’s government will increasingly struggle — not because voters are obsessed with Israel but because it’s an indication they’re deeply out-of-touch or beholden to lobbyists.
Reposted by Sam Heller | سام هيلر
A lot of Mamdani critics complained that anti-Zionism was a core part of his platform — it wasn’t.
More significant is that he didn’t have to twist himself in knots to defend Israel, which contributed to his core being pitch of being an authentic leader.
More significant is that he didn’t have to twist himself in knots to defend Israel, which contributed to his core being pitch of being an authentic leader.
November 6, 2025 at 2:20 PM
A lot of Mamdani critics complained that anti-Zionism was a core part of his platform — it wasn’t.
More significant is that he didn’t have to twist himself in knots to defend Israel, which contributed to his core being pitch of being an authentic leader.
More significant is that he didn’t have to twist himself in knots to defend Israel, which contributed to his core being pitch of being an authentic leader.
Reposted by Sam Heller | سام هيلر
great day for the legal theory of "not guilty if it's funny enough"
November 6, 2025 at 7:55 PM
great day for the legal theory of "not guilty if it's funny enough"
Reposted by Sam Heller | سام هيلر
It seems untenable for the Democratic Party’s top leader to view himself as a “guardian of Israel” at a time when like 70% of the party’s voters think Israel committed genocide
Senate Democratic Minority Leader Schumer’s decision not to endorse Zohran Mamdani in the NYC mayoral race “was driven in large part…by his self-conception as a guardian of Israel, something he considers a core part of his personal and political identity.”
Gift link:
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/04/u...
Gift link:
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/04/u...
Even on Election Day, Schumer Is Mum on Mamdani
www.nytimes.com
November 6, 2025 at 2:17 PM
It seems untenable for the Democratic Party’s top leader to view himself as a “guardian of Israel” at a time when like 70% of the party’s voters think Israel committed genocide
What does Kazakhstan get for this
Did Israel agree to render Sasha Baron Cohen to Kazakhstan
Did Israel agree to render Sasha Baron Cohen to Kazakhstan
Source tells 'Post' Kazakhstan will be the country joining the Abraham Accords.
www.jpost.com/israel-news/...
www.jpost.com/israel-news/...
November 6, 2025 at 7:50 PM
What does Kazakhstan get for this
Did Israel agree to render Sasha Baron Cohen to Kazakhstan
Did Israel agree to render Sasha Baron Cohen to Kazakhstan
Reposted by Sam Heller | سام هيلر
American interest in Iraq’s November 11 parliamentary elections is mostly focused on whether Iraqis will choose pro-Iran representatives. That’s a mistake, @sajadjiyad.bsky.social argues in a new commentary. (1/3)
Apathy and Skepticism Cloud Iraq’s Upcoming Election
The Century Foundation The Century Foundation The Century Foundation
tcf.org
November 6, 2025 at 2:21 PM
American interest in Iraq’s November 11 parliamentary elections is mostly focused on whether Iraqis will choose pro-Iran representatives. That’s a mistake, @sajadjiyad.bsky.social argues in a new commentary. (1/3)
@walid-alnofal.bsky.social @syriadirect.bsky.social: "هل يغيّر انضمام سوريا للتحالف الدولي معادلة الحرب مع “داعش”؟" syriadirect.org/ar/%D9%87%D9... فيها تعليقاتي
هل يغيّر انضمام سوريا للتحالف الدولي معادلة الحرب مع "داعش"؟
مع الحديث المتزايد عن انضمام سوريا للتحالف الدولي ضد تنظيم الدولة، تظهر مؤشرات تعاون أمني واستخباراتي بين دمشق وقوات التحالف، إذ اشترك الطرفان في ما لا يقل عن خمس عمليات ضد داعش.
syriadirect.org
November 6, 2025 at 4:05 PM
@walid-alnofal.bsky.social @syriadirect.bsky.social: "هل يغيّر انضمام سوريا للتحالف الدولي معادلة الحرب مع “داعش”؟" syriadirect.org/ar/%D9%87%D9... فيها تعليقاتي
Reposted by Sam Heller | سام هيلر
Abolishing ICE is the moderate position. What we need is prosecutions and long prison terms at every level of the agency.
“They didn’t just walk in chasing one person, they went into multiple rooms asking and looking for teachers while children were present,” Ramirez said. “This is an agency that has gone rogue and it an agency that believes that as long as they can cover their face, they can get away with anything.”
Families "horrified" after daycare teacher pulled out of school by federal agents.
The incident happened in front of parents and children at Rayito de Sol in North Center, a parent said. They believe the employee, who cares for infants, is legally allowed to work in the United State...
www.chalkbeat.org
November 6, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Abolishing ICE is the moderate position. What we need is prosecutions and long prison terms at every level of the agency.
Reposted by Sam Heller | سام هيلر
The haters said they couldn't do it. And they were right. Honestly, great call from the haters.
NEW: The End of the Line: the centrepiece of Saudi Arabia’s Neom gigaproject - a 500m tall, 170km long wall-like building intended ultimately to house 9 million people - can’t get out of the ground, say more than 20 former Neom architects, engineers and senior executives.
ig.ft.com/saudi-neom-l...
ig.ft.com/saudi-neom-l...
End of The Line: how Saudi Arabia’s Neom dream unravelled
Mohammed bin Salman’s utopian city was undone by the laws of physics and finance
ig.ft.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:08 AM
The haters said they couldn't do it. And they were right. Honestly, great call from the haters.
Reposted by Sam Heller | سام هيلر
We just received a pitch that in all seriousness proposed using this rubble to build artificial islands off the coast of Gaza as a cost-saving way to promote economic development, written by a former high-ranking Israeli national security official.
Inside Gaza, BBC sees total devastation after two years of war
With endless rubble and destroyed streets as far as the eye can see, any plans for Gaza's future are a far cry from where it is today, writes Lucy Williamson.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 6, 2025 at 1:24 PM
We just received a pitch that in all seriousness proposed using this rubble to build artificial islands off the coast of Gaza as a cost-saving way to promote economic development, written by a former high-ranking Israeli national security official.
Reposted by Sam Heller | سام هيلر
Predictably, some in the administration are trying to leverage the prior terrorism designation of the purported "Cartel de los Soles" to provide a supposed legal basis for attacking Venezuela and even killing Maduro.
This would all be wildly illegal.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/04/u...
This would all be wildly illegal.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/04/u...
November 4, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Predictably, some in the administration are trying to leverage the prior terrorism designation of the purported "Cartel de los Soles" to provide a supposed legal basis for attacking Venezuela and even killing Maduro.
This would all be wildly illegal.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/04/u...
This would all be wildly illegal.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/04/u...
Reposted by Sam Heller | سام هيلر
NEW: Donald Trump just dropped massive healthcare hikes onto Americans. Now, he wants to make sure they crush your credit.
Read more in @nytimes.com on Trump's effort to push medical debt into credit scores, with @jmargetta.bsky.social:
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/31/y...
Read more in @nytimes.com on Trump's effort to push medical debt into credit scores, with @jmargetta.bsky.social:
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/31/y...
Trump Administration Seeks to Return Medical Debt to Credit Reports
www.nytimes.com
November 4, 2025 at 8:27 PM
NEW: Donald Trump just dropped massive healthcare hikes onto Americans. Now, he wants to make sure they crush your credit.
Read more in @nytimes.com on Trump's effort to push medical debt into credit scores, with @jmargetta.bsky.social:
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/31/y...
Read more in @nytimes.com on Trump's effort to push medical debt into credit scores, with @jmargetta.bsky.social:
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/31/y...
Reposted by Sam Heller | سام هيلر
Sure, sometimes we choose our wallets over the sweet treat or one more coffee.
Today, some Americans must choose between their wallets and their health.
Former CMS chief @chiquitabl.bsky.social thinks that maybe, just maybe, we should be able to have both.
READ: www.newsweek.com/former-cms-a...
Today, some Americans must choose between their wallets and their health.
Former CMS chief @chiquitabl.bsky.social thinks that maybe, just maybe, we should be able to have both.
READ: www.newsweek.com/former-cms-a...
Former CMS Administrator: Here’s Why Your Monthly Health Care Insurance Costs Doubled | Opinion
It’s time for our elected leaders to put America’s health first.
www.newsweek.com
November 4, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Sure, sometimes we choose our wallets over the sweet treat or one more coffee.
Today, some Americans must choose between their wallets and their health.
Former CMS chief @chiquitabl.bsky.social thinks that maybe, just maybe, we should be able to have both.
READ: www.newsweek.com/former-cms-a...
Today, some Americans must choose between their wallets and their health.
Former CMS chief @chiquitabl.bsky.social thinks that maybe, just maybe, we should be able to have both.
READ: www.newsweek.com/former-cms-a...
@arabreforminit.bsky.social's @naderatassi.bsky.social on opacity surrounding big-ticket investments announced by Syrian government, and what it implies about government's vision for private investment-driven recovery: www.arab-reform.net/publication/...
Deals Without Details: The Opaque Political Economy of Syria’s New Mega-Projects
Amid a flurry of multi-billion-dollar memoranda of understanding (MoUs), the Syrian Transitional Government is positioning private investment as the engine of reconstruction. The recent announcemen…
www.arab-reform.net
November 4, 2025 at 8:15 AM
@arabreforminit.bsky.social's @naderatassi.bsky.social on opacity surrounding big-ticket investments announced by Syrian government, and what it implies about government's vision for private investment-driven recovery: www.arab-reform.net/publication/...
Reposted by Sam Heller | سام هيلر
Seems likely the result of the IDF’s Military Advocate General leaking the detainee rape video in an apparent effort to defend her office from allegations that it looked the other way at IDF Gaza war crimes will be…the dismissal of the only serious war crimes charges her office actually pursued
November 3, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Seems likely the result of the IDF’s Military Advocate General leaking the detainee rape video in an apparent effort to defend her office from allegations that it looked the other way at IDF Gaza war crimes will be…the dismissal of the only serious war crimes charges her office actually pursued
Reposted by Sam Heller | سام هيلر
Erdoğan announced the launch of a special support program for Syria under the umbrella of COMCEC to strengthen Syria's human and institutional capacities: "The recovery of our neighbor and return to its former state as soon as possible is our top priority." ankahaber.net/haber/detay/...
Cumhurbaşkanı Erdoğan: İSEDAK çatısı altında Suriye'ye özel bir destek programını başlatıyoruz
Cumhurbaşkanı Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, "Komşumuz Suriye'nin yeninden ayağa kalkması, bir an önce eski günlerine kavuşması temel önceliğimizdir. Bu doğrultuda İslam İşbirliği Teşkilatı Ekonomik ve Ticari ...
ankahaber.net
November 3, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Erdoğan announced the launch of a special support program for Syria under the umbrella of COMCEC to strengthen Syria's human and institutional capacities: "The recovery of our neighbor and return to its former state as soon as possible is our top priority." ankahaber.net/haber/detay/...