Howard Eissenstat
@heissenstat.bsky.social
Laurentian Associate Professor of History, St. Lawrence University.
Non-resident scholar, Stockholm University, Institute for Turkish Studies (SUITS)
Focused on Turkey and the Middle East.
Unlikely to argue on-line. Blocks dumb, annoying, or noisy.
Non-resident scholar, Stockholm University, Institute for Turkish Studies (SUITS)
Focused on Turkey and the Middle East.
Unlikely to argue on-line. Blocks dumb, annoying, or noisy.
Pinned
Lots of new follows this past few days. Welcome!
By way of introduction, I am a historian working on modern Turkey and, more generally, the Middle East.
I will also sometimes post on running, work dogs, and running with work dogs.
And the occasional snarky commments on US politics
By way of introduction, I am a historian working on modern Turkey and, more generally, the Middle East.
I will also sometimes post on running, work dogs, and running with work dogs.
And the occasional snarky commments on US politics
Reposted by Howard Eissenstat
Senior PKK figure rules out revival of group, says ‘there’s no going back’
Senior PKK figure rules out revival of group, says ‘there’s no going back’ - Stockholm Center for Freedom
A senior leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) has ruled out any return to the militant group’s former structure, saying it has effectively ended its existence and that “there will…
stockholmcf.org
November 13, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Senior PKK figure rules out revival of group, says ‘there’s no going back’
Reposted by Howard Eissenstat
I know people have a lot on their plates right now, but the opposition candidate who Erdogan most wants to avoid running against is being threatened with a jail sentence of over 2000 years.
apnews.com/article/turk...
apnews.com/article/turk...
Prosecutor seeks 2,352-year jail term for Istanbul's jailed mayor over alleged corruption
Istanbul’s chief public prosecutor has filed a sweeping indictment against the city's jailed mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu.
apnews.com
November 12, 2025 at 7:37 PM
I know people have a lot on their plates right now, but the opposition candidate who Erdogan most wants to avoid running against is being threatened with a jail sentence of over 2000 years.
apnews.com/article/turk...
apnews.com/article/turk...
Reposted by Howard Eissenstat
You'd think that the President of Harvard would have known that old folk saying, “Dance like no one is watching; email like it's being read aloud at your deposition”
November 12, 2025 at 7:47 PM
You'd think that the President of Harvard would have known that old folk saying, “Dance like no one is watching; email like it's being read aloud at your deposition”
Reposted by Howard Eissenstat
The cool stuff you find online (or why visiting digital archives is bad for your productivity)
November 12, 2025 at 8:10 PM
The cool stuff you find online (or why visiting digital archives is bad for your productivity)
Reposted by Howard Eissenstat
Can we circle back to the part where the NY Times never disclosed that they have incriminating information on Donald Trump from sent by Epstein that's been sitting on their email servers for nearly a decade?
Stuff like this makes me wonder why there hasn't been any reporting about Trump having affairs during his presidencies
November 12, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Can we circle back to the part where the NY Times never disclosed that they have incriminating information on Donald Trump from sent by Epstein that's been sitting on their email servers for nearly a decade?
Reposted by Howard Eissenstat
Over 11,000 people, mostly women and children, are missing in Gaza. The vast majority of them are likely dead. That puts the total number of Palestinians killed directly in Gaza at over 80,000.
www.972mag.com/search-gaza-...
www.972mag.com/search-gaza-...
The search for Gaza's missing
Over 11,000 Palestinians have disappeared since Oct. 7. Relatives don’t know if they’re dead or alive, under rubble or in prison.
www.972mag.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Over 11,000 people, mostly women and children, are missing in Gaza. The vast majority of them are likely dead. That puts the total number of Palestinians killed directly in Gaza at over 80,000.
www.972mag.com/search-gaza-...
www.972mag.com/search-gaza-...
Middle East wonks take note
I just googled this man like 'ew who tf is this Tom Barrack guy' and the answer is the sitting, Donald Trump-appointed U.S. Ambassador to Turkey
November 12, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Middle East wonks take note
The cool stuff you find online (or why visiting digital archives is bad for your productivity)
November 12, 2025 at 8:10 PM
The cool stuff you find online (or why visiting digital archives is bad for your productivity)
You'd think that the President of Harvard would have known that old folk saying, “Dance like no one is watching; email like it's being read aloud at your deposition”
November 12, 2025 at 7:47 PM
You'd think that the President of Harvard would have known that old folk saying, “Dance like no one is watching; email like it's being read aloud at your deposition”
I'm not going to share them, but the descriptions of rape and torture by Israeli soldiers are beyond sickening.
November 12, 2025 at 7:46 PM
I'm not going to share them, but the descriptions of rape and torture by Israeli soldiers are beyond sickening.
I know people have a lot on their plates right now, but the opposition candidate who Erdogan most wants to avoid running against is being threatened with a jail sentence of over 2000 years.
apnews.com/article/turk...
apnews.com/article/turk...
Prosecutor seeks 2,352-year jail term for Istanbul's jailed mayor over alleged corruption
Istanbul’s chief public prosecutor has filed a sweeping indictment against the city's jailed mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu.
apnews.com
November 12, 2025 at 7:37 PM
I know people have a lot on their plates right now, but the opposition candidate who Erdogan most wants to avoid running against is being threatened with a jail sentence of over 2000 years.
apnews.com/article/turk...
apnews.com/article/turk...
Reposted by Howard Eissenstat
Happy Epstein Files Day. In other news, the US government switching to a "it's all good, just trust us" model of economic data reporting.
Oof
*OCTOBER CPI AND JOBS DATA LIKELY WON'T BE RELEASED: WHITE HOUSE
*OCTOBER CPI AND JOBS DATA LIKELY WON'T BE RELEASED: WHITE HOUSE
November 12, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Happy Epstein Files Day. In other news, the US government switching to a "it's all good, just trust us" model of economic data reporting.
Reposted by Howard Eissenstat
Just a fundamental misunderstanding of how the scientific method works: It's not that someone *disagrees* was theory or finding and then argues with it, it's that you've got data that doesn't align and you go from there. Science isn't really about agreement or disagreement in an emotional sense.
JD Vance: "Science as practiced in its best form is that if you disagree with it, then you ought to criticize it and you ought to argue against it."
November 12, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Just a fundamental misunderstanding of how the scientific method works: It's not that someone *disagrees* was theory or finding and then argues with it, it's that you've got data that doesn't align and you go from there. Science isn't really about agreement or disagreement in an emotional sense.
Reposted by Howard Eissenstat
EN DIRECT, Liban : Israël accusé d’empêcher la reconstruction dans le Sud en attaquant systématiquement les engins de chantier
EN DIRECT, Liban : Israël accusé d’empêcher la reconstruction dans le Sud en attaquant systématiquement les engins de chantier
Depuis l’entrée en vigueur d’un cessez-le-feu il y a près d’un an, Israël, qui dit attaquer des sites du Hezbollah au Liban, est accusé par des officiels libanais d’entraver toute reconstruction des villages frontaliers. L’ONU estime que près de 82 000 habitants du Sud, qui ont fui pendant le conflit entre Israël et le Hezbollah, restent déplacés.
www.lemonde.fr
November 12, 2025 at 5:25 PM
EN DIRECT, Liban : Israël accusé d’empêcher la reconstruction dans le Sud en attaquant systématiquement les engins de chantier
November 12, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Reposted by Howard Eissenstat
Did Istanbul’s prosecutor seek to shut down the CHP? Confusion grows over ‘notification’ to Supreme Court
Did Istanbul’s prosecutor seek to shut down the CHP? Confusion grows over ‘notification’ to Supreme Court
A legal move by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has sparked debate over whether Turkish authorities are laying the groundwork for a possible closure case against the main opposition Repu...
ankahaber.net
November 12, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Did Istanbul’s prosecutor seek to shut down the CHP? Confusion grows over ‘notification’ to Supreme Court
Reposted by Howard Eissenstat
Some bizarre stuff going down in the Oval these days. After spraying the Syrian president with his Trump Fragrance he then asks him how many wives he has.
November 12, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Some bizarre stuff going down in the Oval these days. After spraying the Syrian president with his Trump Fragrance he then asks him how many wives he has.
So, on weight lifting days (ca. 2 or 3 days a week), I typically just run on the treadmill for a mile or so, leaving my real mileage for the other days of the week.
And, I gotta tell you folks, I do not know how people manage #running on treadmills for extended periods of time.
So very boring.
And, I gotta tell you folks, I do not know how people manage #running on treadmills for extended periods of time.
So very boring.
November 12, 2025 at 2:28 PM
So, on weight lifting days (ca. 2 or 3 days a week), I typically just run on the treadmill for a mile or so, leaving my real mileage for the other days of the week.
And, I gotta tell you folks, I do not know how people manage #running on treadmills for extended periods of time.
So very boring.
And, I gotta tell you folks, I do not know how people manage #running on treadmills for extended periods of time.
So very boring.
Reposted by Howard Eissenstat
It is interesting to note that the image of the octopus was used by Erdogan himself in a speech on July 9, 2025, which, in retrospect, appears to be a true indictment ahead of its time.
t24.com.tr/haber/erdoga...
t24.com.tr/haber/erdoga...
November 12, 2025 at 12:51 PM
It is interesting to note that the image of the octopus was used by Erdogan himself in a speech on July 9, 2025, which, in retrospect, appears to be a true indictment ahead of its time.
t24.com.tr/haber/erdoga...
t24.com.tr/haber/erdoga...
Reposted by Howard Eissenstat
"Pro-Israel and right-wing advocacy organizations – including those without any campus presence – have driven the surge in antisemitism investigations; in at least 78% of the complaints we analyzed, such groups either represent complainants or act as complainants themselves."
AAUP/MESA Report: 'Most government investigations of antisemitism are prompted by complaints received from outside campuses... Of the 102 complaints filed with the Office of Civil Rights that the report analyzes, all but one focus on speech critical of Israel.'
www.aaup.org/news/new-rep...
www.aaup.org/news/new-rep...
New Report: Civil Rights Law Weaponized to Chill Speech
A report published today is the first systematic empirical study of government investigations and private lawsuits against US colleges and universities under Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
www.aaup.org
November 12, 2025 at 1:51 PM
"Pro-Israel and right-wing advocacy organizations – including those without any campus presence – have driven the surge in antisemitism investigations; in at least 78% of the complaints we analyzed, such groups either represent complainants or act as complainants themselves."
Reposted by Howard Eissenstat
This earlier assessment about what the tactical retreat could mean turns out to be misleading. The indictment against İmamoğlu concerns not only İmamoğlu but also the CHP. Although I do not hold party closure likely at present, the indictment aims to move the CHP leadership away from İmamoğlu.
I am not surprised that the court today dismissed a case seeking to oust Ozgur Ozel, and annul the CHP's 2023 congress over irregularities. Following the tactical retreat in last month's hearing, Ankara seems to have decided to limit the assault on the CHP to Imamoglu.
November 12, 2025 at 7:23 AM
This earlier assessment about what the tactical retreat could mean turns out to be misleading. The indictment against İmamoğlu concerns not only İmamoğlu but also the CHP. Although I do not hold party closure likely at present, the indictment aims to move the CHP leadership away from İmamoğlu.
Reposted by Howard Eissenstat
With the Imamoglu indictment, political competition ("establishing an organization for the purpose of raising funds to nominate a presidential candidate") is now officially criminizalized.
November 11, 2025 at 2:22 PM
With the Imamoglu indictment, political competition ("establishing an organization for the purpose of raising funds to nominate a presidential candidate") is now officially criminizalized.
Reposted by Howard Eissenstat
I interviewed Ahmed Moor, writer and 2025 foundation for Middle east peace fellow, on what the pro palestine movement can learn after 2 years of genocide
www.iheart.com/podcast/105-...
www.iheart.com/podcast/105-...
The Pro Palestine Movement Two Years After Genocide - It Could Happen Here | iHeart
<p>Dana El Kurd speaks with author, activist, and 2025 Foundation for Middle East Peace fellow Ahmed Moor on the pro-Palestine movement in the US, and what we can learn after two years of genocide.</p...
www.iheart.com
November 12, 2025 at 11:34 AM
I interviewed Ahmed Moor, writer and 2025 foundation for Middle east peace fellow, on what the pro palestine movement can learn after 2 years of genocide
www.iheart.com/podcast/105-...
www.iheart.com/podcast/105-...
Reposted by Howard Eissenstat
“Iraqi leaders must address the issues of dwindling voter turnout, the persistence of ethno-sectarian campaigning [etc etc] ...Yet Iraq’s political elite have no incentive to reform a system that benefits them.” Marsin Alshamary and Hamzeh Hadad
www.brookings.edu/articles/why...
www.brookings.edu/articles/why...
Why Iraq’s stability demands deeper democratic reforms | Brookings
If change is to occur in Iraq, outside actors must press for meaningful reforms through parliamentary opposition.
www.brookings.edu
November 12, 2025 at 11:53 AM
“Iraqi leaders must address the issues of dwindling voter turnout, the persistence of ethno-sectarian campaigning [etc etc] ...Yet Iraq’s political elite have no incentive to reform a system that benefits them.” Marsin Alshamary and Hamzeh Hadad
www.brookings.edu/articles/why...
www.brookings.edu/articles/why...
Reposted by Howard Eissenstat
The indictment of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu is a textbook example of how hybrid regimes operate: elections continue, but the field is tilted beyond recognition.
It’s a sobering signal for Turkey — and for other democracies, including the US - that is under threat.
apnews.com/article/turk...
It’s a sobering signal for Turkey — and for other democracies, including the US - that is under threat.
apnews.com/article/turk...
Istanbul's jailed mayor Imamoglu faces 142 criminal charges in corruption probe
Istanbul’s chief public prosecutor has filed an indictment against the city's jailed mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu.
apnews.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:40 PM
The indictment of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu is a textbook example of how hybrid regimes operate: elections continue, but the field is tilted beyond recognition.
It’s a sobering signal for Turkey — and for other democracies, including the US - that is under threat.
apnews.com/article/turk...
It’s a sobering signal for Turkey — and for other democracies, including the US - that is under threat.
apnews.com/article/turk...