Bilge Yesil
@bilgeyesil.bsky.social
Professor, Media Culture @CUNY CSI // Middle Eastern Studies @CUNY Graduate Center.
All things global communication, geopolitics, popular culture, surveillance, censorship, Middle East, Turkey, and food.
All things global communication, geopolitics, popular culture, surveillance, censorship, Middle East, Turkey, and food.
Reposted by Bilge Yesil
If Jeff Bezos could afford to spend $75 million on the Melania movie & $500 million for a yacht to sail off to his $55 million wedding to give his wife a $5 million ring, please don't tell me he needed to fire one-third of the Washington Post staff.
Democracy dies in oligarchy.
Democracy dies in oligarchy.
February 5, 2026 at 12:16 AM
If Jeff Bezos could afford to spend $75 million on the Melania movie & $500 million for a yacht to sail off to his $55 million wedding to give his wife a $5 million ring, please don't tell me he needed to fire one-third of the Washington Post staff.
Democracy dies in oligarchy.
Democracy dies in oligarchy.
They could just walk out en masse, but they don’t
Trump's constant degradation of female reporters is unsurprising but the press corps' collective decision to treat it as background noise is actually kind of sickening
February 4, 2026 at 11:26 PM
They could just walk out en masse, but they don’t
Reposted by Bilge Yesil
This reminds me how the Turkish ruling party puts people on buses to attend Erdogan rallies
Not every ticket sold is a seat occupied.
Embarrassed for my colleagues at the trades, who yesterday breathlessly reported that MELANIA would do $8 million at the box office this weekend, and now, when the number comes in at $7 million, are breathlessly spinning that as a win, too.
$7 million on a $75M investment is not a win—period.
$7 million on a $75M investment is not a win—period.
February 1, 2026 at 5:43 PM
This reminds me how the Turkish ruling party puts people on buses to attend Erdogan rallies
Reposted by Bilge Yesil
Jeffrey Epstein, Peter Thiel, Elon Musk, and Marc Andreessen share an enduring fascination with eugenics, race science, and transhumanism and there is an entire generation of public intellectuals who benefited and continue to benefit from their patronage.
Pinker, Huberman, Attia, Weinstein, etc.
Pinker, Huberman, Attia, Weinstein, etc.
January 31, 2026 at 6:17 PM
Jeffrey Epstein, Peter Thiel, Elon Musk, and Marc Andreessen share an enduring fascination with eugenics, race science, and transhumanism and there is an entire generation of public intellectuals who benefited and continue to benefit from their patronage.
Pinker, Huberman, Attia, Weinstein, etc.
Pinker, Huberman, Attia, Weinstein, etc.
Reposted by Bilge Yesil
"Media strategy in the 'New Turkey' with @bilgeyesil.bsky.social" hosted by @diegocupolo.bsky.social. [5/5]
Media strategy in the 'New Turkey' with Bilge Yeşil
YouTube video by Turkey recap
www.youtube.com
February 1, 2026 at 12:51 PM
"Media strategy in the 'New Turkey' with @bilgeyesil.bsky.social" hosted by @diegocupolo.bsky.social. [5/5]
Reposted by Bilge Yesil
Americans will really use anything but the metric system (complimentary)
I can officially confirm that the snow in NC is roughly one (1) corgi deep
January 31, 2026 at 11:24 PM
Americans will really use anything but the metric system (complimentary)
Reposted by Bilge Yesil
Translated "it's fine if they're slaves or indentured servants"
January 31, 2026 at 4:43 PM
Translated "it's fine if they're slaves or indentured servants"
Reposted by Bilge Yesil
Reposted by Bilge Yesil
Israeli strikes kill at least 29 Palestinians on Saturday, one of the highest tolls since the October ceasefire aimed at stopping the fighting, hospitals in Gaza say.
Israeli strikes in Gaza kill at least 29 Palestinians, one of highest tolls since October ceasefire
Hospitals in Gaza say Israeli strikes killed at least 29 Palestinians Saturday, one of the highest tolls since the October ceasefire aimed at stopping the fighting.
bit.ly
January 31, 2026 at 12:05 PM
Israeli strikes kill at least 29 Palestinians on Saturday, one of the highest tolls since the October ceasefire aimed at stopping the fighting, hospitals in Gaza say.
Reposted by Bilge Yesil
The Media Studies Toolkit, 2nd edition, dropped this week. I'm excited for this refreshed, updated, and expanded version to reach students and instructors of introductory courses in media studies. www.routledge.com/The-Media-St... A short thread about what's inside.
January 30, 2026 at 10:12 PM
The Media Studies Toolkit, 2nd edition, dropped this week. I'm excited for this refreshed, updated, and expanded version to reach students and instructors of introductory courses in media studies. www.routledge.com/The-Media-St... A short thread about what's inside.
Reposted by Bilge Yesil
Excited to give a talk on brokerage in feminist movments next week at the Center for Korean Studies. I will also be exploring the implications of networked leadership on algormithmically curated and creator-centric platforms based on my book project.
korea.sas.upenn.edu/events/broke...
korea.sas.upenn.edu/events/broke...
January 28, 2026 at 6:37 PM
Excited to give a talk on brokerage in feminist movments next week at the Center for Korean Studies. I will also be exploring the implications of networked leadership on algormithmically curated and creator-centric platforms based on my book project.
korea.sas.upenn.edu/events/broke...
korea.sas.upenn.edu/events/broke...
Reposted by Bilge Yesil
Damn who would have thought that Dr. Oz, an Armenian Genocide denier, would immediately start targeting Armenians once he was given a slice of power.
January 28, 2026 at 5:49 PM
Damn who would have thought that Dr. Oz, an Armenian Genocide denier, would immediately start targeting Armenians once he was given a slice of power.
Weapons used in “faraway lands” now used in American cities! What a surprise 🤦🏻♀️
January 28, 2026 at 6:10 PM
Weapons used in “faraway lands” now used in American cities! What a surprise 🤦🏻♀️
There is no “over there”
IDF in the West Bank or Gaza or
US army in Afghanistan or Iraq or
ICE in Minneapolis?
US army in Afghanistan or Iraq or
ICE in Minneapolis?
January 28, 2026 at 4:38 PM
There is no “over there”
Reposted by Bilge Yesil
“America’s mad king” – my devastating interview with journalist and novelist Claire Berlinski on how Trump is destroying American power
comment.press/claire2601
comment.press/claire2601
America’s mad king
Claire Berlinski on a superpower crack-up
comment.press
January 26, 2026 at 8:25 AM
“America’s mad king” – my devastating interview with journalist and novelist Claire Berlinski on how Trump is destroying American power
comment.press/claire2601
comment.press/claire2601
Living in a crumbling empire
Holy moly this chart: Cumulative US measles cases
January 28, 2026 at 2:06 PM
Living in a crumbling empire
Video from this morning shows ICE agents deploying tear gas outside a Minneapolis preschool as parents shout, “This is a preschool! There’s kids here!”
January 27, 2026 at 9:02 PM
Reposted by Bilge Yesil
Until Miller’s gone these are just gestural purges to sanitize and consolidate his reign of terror.
BREAKING: The Border Patrol's Greg Bovino has been ousted from his role of "Commander at Large"—and Kristi Noem and Corey Lewandowski could be next to lose their jobs, sources tell @nickmiroff.bsky.social www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
January 27, 2026 at 1:40 AM
Until Miller’s gone these are just gestural purges to sanitize and consolidate his reign of terror.
Reposted by Bilge Yesil
Even if Bovino gets fired, ICE has to go.
Even if Noem is out, ICE has to go.
Even when Trump leaves office, ICE has to go.
As protests grow and ICE's popularity drops, we may see concessions and leadership changes, like Bovino's departure. ICE still has to go.
www.cnn.com/us/live-news...
Even if Noem is out, ICE has to go.
Even when Trump leaves office, ICE has to go.
As protests grow and ICE's popularity drops, we may see concessions and leadership changes, like Bovino's departure. ICE still has to go.
www.cnn.com/us/live-news...
Live updates: Top Border Patrol official Bovino expected to leave Minneapolis as Trump sends Homan to the state | CNN
Tom Homan is headed to Minnesota after the fatal shooting of ICU nurse Alex Pretti in an encounter Saturday with federal agents deepened outrage over the Trump administration’s surge, part of its nati...
www.cnn.com
January 27, 2026 at 1:15 AM
Even if Bovino gets fired, ICE has to go.
Even if Noem is out, ICE has to go.
Even when Trump leaves office, ICE has to go.
As protests grow and ICE's popularity drops, we may see concessions and leadership changes, like Bovino's departure. ICE still has to go.
www.cnn.com/us/live-news...
Even if Noem is out, ICE has to go.
Even when Trump leaves office, ICE has to go.
As protests grow and ICE's popularity drops, we may see concessions and leadership changes, like Bovino's departure. ICE still has to go.
www.cnn.com/us/live-news...
Reposted by Bilge Yesil
Watching the Trump administration lie its way through Minneapolis and remembering Israel in Gaza, Syria and the White Helmets, and the social media narrative wars on truth. My new @foreignpolicy.com piece on how regimes muddy the waters and when it fails.
foreignpolicy.com/2026/01/26/m...
foreignpolicy.com/2026/01/26/m...
Minneapolis Déjà Vu
In its response to protests, the U.S. evokes repressive regimes around the world.
foreignpolicy.com
January 26, 2026 at 9:46 PM
Watching the Trump administration lie its way through Minneapolis and remembering Israel in Gaza, Syria and the White Helmets, and the social media narrative wars on truth. My new @foreignpolicy.com piece on how regimes muddy the waters and when it fails.
foreignpolicy.com/2026/01/26/m...
foreignpolicy.com/2026/01/26/m...
Reposted by Bilge Yesil
📻 Today on Recap radio:
@bilgeyesil.bsky.social lays out how the Turkish government presents itself as a benevolent global actor that pushes back on Western hypocrisy through state-funded institutions and pro-gov news channels.
Full episode:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-zc...
@bilgeyesil.bsky.social lays out how the Turkish government presents itself as a benevolent global actor that pushes back on Western hypocrisy through state-funded institutions and pro-gov news channels.
Full episode:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-zc...
January 26, 2026 at 5:34 PM
📻 Today on Recap radio:
@bilgeyesil.bsky.social lays out how the Turkish government presents itself as a benevolent global actor that pushes back on Western hypocrisy through state-funded institutions and pro-gov news channels.
Full episode:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-zc...
@bilgeyesil.bsky.social lays out how the Turkish government presents itself as a benevolent global actor that pushes back on Western hypocrisy through state-funded institutions and pro-gov news channels.
Full episode:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-zc...
Reposted by Bilge Yesil
Great piece not only draws connection between Tahrir and current protests but also how BLM protests and anti ICE actions are a part of the same movement.
It’s easy to feel defeated but even when things don’t appear to be immediately successful, every action matters.
It’s easy to feel defeated but even when things don’t appear to be immediately successful, every action matters.
This is one of the things that I find is most shocking to people outside Minnesota who don’t realize it yet—the scale at which everyone who isn’t white has been forced into a spectrum of hiding.
Very good article drawing out the Tahrir Square comparison.
Very good article drawing out the Tahrir Square comparison.
January 26, 2026 at 3:28 PM
Great piece not only draws connection between Tahrir and current protests but also how BLM protests and anti ICE actions are a part of the same movement.
It’s easy to feel defeated but even when things don’t appear to be immediately successful, every action matters.
It’s easy to feel defeated but even when things don’t appear to be immediately successful, every action matters.
Reposted by Bilge Yesil
To explain authoritarian movements through echo chambers, filter bubbles, and misinformation is to deny their deliberateness.
Does anyone have any idea how we break the echo chambers? No Trump voter in my family will ever know what actually happened to Alex Pretti or Renee Good. They will believe the officers were justified. They will watch Fox News and that will be the end of it.
January 24, 2026 at 10:38 PM
To explain authoritarian movements through echo chambers, filter bubbles, and misinformation is to deny their deliberateness.
Reposted by Bilge Yesil
The @nytimes.com is capable of writing an active voice headline that clearly identifies the perpetrator — as long as it's not the Israeli military
January 24, 2026 at 7:00 PM
The @nytimes.com is capable of writing an active voice headline that clearly identifies the perpetrator — as long as it's not the Israeli military