Nate Schenkkan
@nateschenkkan.bsky.social
Independent human rights expert working on global authoritarianism, transnational repression, Turkey and Eurasia. Ex-Freedom House, SPLC.
https://tcf.org/content/report/centurys-new-democracy-meter-shows-america-took-an-authoritarian-turn-in-2025/
https://tcf.org/content/report/centurys-new-democracy-meter-shows-america-took-an-authoritarian-turn-in-2025/
Reposted by Nate Schenkkan
I mean what is this going to show? Explicit racial vilification? Swastikas? The list of stuff that is outright banned across Europe is quite short, quite grim, and ultimately quite tedious.
Exclusive: The US State Department is developing an online portal to enable people in Europe and elsewhere to see content banned by their governments including alleged hate speech and terrorist propaganda, sources told Reuters reut.rs/4cySsA6
Exclusive: US plans online portal to bypass content bans in Europe and elsewhere
The U.S. State Department is developing an online portal that will enable people in Europe and elsewhere to see content banned by their governments including alleged hate speech and terrorist propagan...
reut.rs
February 18, 2026 at 10:38 PM
I mean what is this going to show? Explicit racial vilification? Swastikas? The list of stuff that is outright banned across Europe is quite short, quite grim, and ultimately quite tedious.
Wait what
Exclusive: The US State Department is developing an online portal to enable people in Europe and elsewhere to see content banned by their governments including alleged hate speech and terrorist propaganda, sources told Reuters reut.rs/4cySsA6
Exclusive: US plans online portal to bypass content bans in Europe and elsewhere
The U.S. State Department is developing an online portal that will enable people in Europe and elsewhere to see content banned by their governments including alleged hate speech and terrorist propagan...
reut.rs
February 18, 2026 at 10:28 PM
Wait what
I always think of the Eddie Izzard bit about white Christian singing youtu.be/kfMEtl26G1E?...
February 18, 2026 at 10:01 PM
I always think of the Eddie Izzard bit about white Christian singing youtu.be/kfMEtl26G1E?...
Reposted by Nate Schenkkan
But it's not just the multiparty system per se. The ironic twist is that Brazil's corrupt political culture, one of the country's biggest problems, proved a strength.
First, it made elites (including Congress) loyal to the current system, because they benefitted from it personally directly.
First, it made elites (including Congress) loyal to the current system, because they benefitted from it personally directly.
February 18, 2026 at 6:54 PM
But it's not just the multiparty system per se. The ironic twist is that Brazil's corrupt political culture, one of the country's biggest problems, proved a strength.
First, it made elites (including Congress) loyal to the current system, because they benefitted from it personally directly.
First, it made elites (including Congress) loyal to the current system, because they benefitted from it personally directly.
Reposted by Nate Schenkkan
Unlike in the United States, where the center-right was forced to bend the knee, in Brazil they stood up for their (highly corrupt) self-interest. And that led to them defending the institution of Congress, and its powers, against a would-be imperial president
February 18, 2026 at 6:48 PM
Unlike in the United States, where the center-right was forced to bend the knee, in Brazil they stood up for their (highly corrupt) self-interest. And that led to them defending the institution of Congress, and its powers, against a would-be imperial president
Reposted by Nate Schenkkan
More reckless abuse of mercenary spyware, in this case, Predator spyware in Angola.
Great work by @donncha.is & colleagues @amnesty.org
cpj.org/2026/02/i-li...
Great work by @donncha.is & colleagues @amnesty.org
cpj.org/2026/02/i-li...
‘I literally felt naked’: Angolan journalist Teixeira Cândido targeted with Predator spyware - Committee to Protect Journalists
Angolan journalist and lawyer Teixeira Cândido wants to know who targeted him with spyware, and he wants justice. “First and foremost, we must seek to find out who the entities are that have acquired ...
cpj.org
February 18, 2026 at 2:56 PM
More reckless abuse of mercenary spyware, in this case, Predator spyware in Angola.
Great work by @donncha.is & colleagues @amnesty.org
cpj.org/2026/02/i-li...
Great work by @donncha.is & colleagues @amnesty.org
cpj.org/2026/02/i-li...
In New York City public schools, this is known as a vacation eclipse
February 18, 2026 at 2:37 AM
In New York City public schools, this is known as a vacation eclipse
Reposted by Nate Schenkkan
I have now read at least 100 habeas cases involving non Mexicans who are detained and threatened with removal to Mexico. The shenanigans going on.
February 18, 2026 at 1:42 AM
I have now read at least 100 habeas cases involving non Mexicans who are detained and threatened with removal to Mexico. The shenanigans going on.
Narrator: no there does not
February 18, 2026 at 2:32 AM
Narrator: no there does not
Reposted by Nate Schenkkan
NEW: Today, an immigration judge terminated removal proceedings for Mohsen Mahdawi, the Columbia student, Palestinian activist, and U.S. permanent resident whom the Trump administration arrested in April 2025 and attempted to deport under the foreign policy provision.
February 17, 2026 at 9:11 PM
NEW: Today, an immigration judge terminated removal proceedings for Mohsen Mahdawi, the Columbia student, Palestinian activist, and U.S. permanent resident whom the Trump administration arrested in April 2025 and attempted to deport under the foreign policy provision.
Reposted by Nate Schenkkan
There's a common assumption in Western political thought: republicanism grew out of centuries of nobles and parliaments challenging kings. And that this tradition is unique to the West — that in the Islamic world, rulers were obeyed with religious submission, and self-government was a foreign import
February 16, 2026 at 9:26 AM
There's a common assumption in Western political thought: republicanism grew out of centuries of nobles and parliaments challenging kings. And that this tradition is unique to the West — that in the Islamic world, rulers were obeyed with religious submission, and self-government was a foreign import
Reposted by Nate Schenkkan
Tricia McLaughlin is reportedly out at DHS, according to multiple sources. She’s a very close ally of Noem.
That news, plus stories like the below which are coming out daily, strongly suggest the knives are clearly out for Noem inside DHS.
That news, plus stories like the below which are coming out daily, strongly suggest the knives are clearly out for Noem inside DHS.
February 17, 2026 at 5:26 PM
Tricia McLaughlin is reportedly out at DHS, according to multiple sources. She’s a very close ally of Noem.
That news, plus stories like the below which are coming out daily, strongly suggest the knives are clearly out for Noem inside DHS.
That news, plus stories like the below which are coming out daily, strongly suggest the knives are clearly out for Noem inside DHS.
Reposted by Nate Schenkkan
Prime Minister Mark Carney is in Montreal this morning to unveil Canada's new defence industrial strategy. The plan is nothing short of standing up a massive new dual use industrial base, independent of the U.S.
File this under: America's allies are unplugging from the US with gusto.
File this under: America's allies are unplugging from the US with gusto.
February 17, 2026 at 3:43 PM
Prime Minister Mark Carney is in Montreal this morning to unveil Canada's new defence industrial strategy. The plan is nothing short of standing up a massive new dual use industrial base, independent of the U.S.
File this under: America's allies are unplugging from the US with gusto.
File this under: America's allies are unplugging from the US with gusto.
Reposted by Nate Schenkkan
“Not one third of the inhabitants, even of this province, are of English descent,” Thomas Paine noted in Common Sense, "This new world hath been the asylum for the persecuted lovers of civil and religious liberty from every part of Europe."
February 17, 2026 at 4:04 PM
“Not one third of the inhabitants, even of this province, are of English descent,” Thomas Paine noted in Common Sense, "This new world hath been the asylum for the persecuted lovers of civil and religious liberty from every part of Europe."
Reposted by Nate Schenkkan
The Trump administration’s lawless killing spree continues with three more maritime strikes—two in the Pacific and one in the Caribbean.
11 more people reportedly killed.
No amount of terrorism talk renders this slaughter lawful.
11 more people reportedly killed.
No amount of terrorism talk renders this slaughter lawful.
February 17, 2026 at 4:29 PM
The Trump administration’s lawless killing spree continues with three more maritime strikes—two in the Pacific and one in the Caribbean.
11 more people reportedly killed.
No amount of terrorism talk renders this slaughter lawful.
11 more people reportedly killed.
No amount of terrorism talk renders this slaughter lawful.
Reposted by Nate Schenkkan
Look, I'm going to be very clear as someone who does interviews every once in a blue moon. Putting people's "ums" in a quote is malicious.
Have you ever once seen the New York Times quote Trump like this?
February 16, 2026 at 10:48 PM
Look, I'm going to be very clear as someone who does interviews every once in a blue moon. Putting people's "ums" in a quote is malicious.
Reposted by Nate Schenkkan
“In the Gulf, only 9% say Israel is the greatest threat…the most telling number in the survey in these highly autocratic countries is the whopping 42% who said don't know/decline to answer.. the mukhabarat (secret police) is, in fact, the greatest threat.”
abuaardvarkghost.ghost.io/mena-academy...
abuaardvarkghost.ghost.io/mena-academy...
The latest in Arab public opinion
This week we feature new Arab public opinion surveys, a new issue of Middle East Report, and some of the latest research from the MENA Academy. I was traveling all last week, so the Middle East Politi...
abuaardvarkghost.ghost.io
February 16, 2026 at 4:35 PM
“In the Gulf, only 9% say Israel is the greatest threat…the most telling number in the survey in these highly autocratic countries is the whopping 42% who said don't know/decline to answer.. the mukhabarat (secret police) is, in fact, the greatest threat.”
abuaardvarkghost.ghost.io/mena-academy...
abuaardvarkghost.ghost.io/mena-academy...
Reposted by Nate Schenkkan
Looks like this reporting is about releasing the first tranche of SAFE. But if Hungary does receive the €2.4B, that'd directly contradict what Commissioner Serafin said two weeks ago, that SAFE is subject to conditionality audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/media/video/...
February 16, 2026 at 12:43 PM
Looks like this reporting is about releasing the first tranche of SAFE. But if Hungary does receive the €2.4B, that'd directly contradict what Commissioner Serafin said two weeks ago, that SAFE is subject to conditionality audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/media/video/...
Reposted by Nate Schenkkan
Now over the course of US women’s hockey games, we’ve been subjected to JD Vance & Marco Rubio at a game with the transphobic Lamoureux twins & now the Tkachuk brothers. I addressed the brothers in today’s queer Olympic news roundup. www.thefrankiedlc.news/p/more-gay-n...
February 16, 2026 at 4:06 PM
Now over the course of US women’s hockey games, we’ve been subjected to JD Vance & Marco Rubio at a game with the transphobic Lamoureux twins & now the Tkachuk brothers. I addressed the brothers in today’s queer Olympic news roundup. www.thefrankiedlc.news/p/more-gay-n...
Reposted by Nate Schenkkan
Turkish state TV just aired a scene where an Ottoman prince slaughters Jewish merchants on screen while the Khaybar chant plays in the background. This is new territory — even for TRT. I wrote about what it means, and why almost nobody in Turkey noticed or cared.
The State as Edgelord
TRT's revenge fantasy and the audience that didn't show up
kulturkampftr.substack.com
February 16, 2026 at 4:26 PM
Turkish state TV just aired a scene where an Ottoman prince slaughters Jewish merchants on screen while the Khaybar chant plays in the background. This is new territory — even for TRT. I wrote about what it means, and why almost nobody in Turkey noticed or cared.
Reposted by Nate Schenkkan
Not that it matters to any of these Nazi fucks, but multiculturalism is far older and more “traditional” than racism or ethnonationalism.
1/3 What Musk is really referring to here is, of course “race” - that construct that served to define the hierarchies of wealth & power structured by modern colonialism. Like other far right racists though, he uses the word “culture” as a seemingly less pernicious synonym.
February 15, 2026 at 5:19 PM
Not that it matters to any of these Nazi fucks, but multiculturalism is far older and more “traditional” than racism or ethnonationalism.
Reposted by Nate Schenkkan
sadly the world Communist killing record continues to be held by Communist countries by a long, long distance.
The United States has killed more communist than any other currenly existing countries on earth
February 15, 2026 at 4:13 AM
sadly the world Communist killing record continues to be held by Communist countries by a long, long distance.
Reposted by Nate Schenkkan
Propaganda during WWI and WWII in fact
February 15, 2026 at 4:23 PM
Propaganda during WWI and WWII in fact
Why is Elon Musk speaking with any claimed authority about American culture anyway?
February 15, 2026 at 5:24 PM
Why is Elon Musk speaking with any claimed authority about American culture anyway?
Reposted by Nate Schenkkan
tl;dr Join me, and together, we can rule the galaxy as son and father!
foreignpolicy.com/2026/02/14/r...
foreignpolicy.com/2026/02/14/r...
Rubio to Europe: ‘We Care Deeply’
In a widely anticipated speech at the Munich Security Conference, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described concerns about a shared “Western civilization” as reason…
foreignpolicy.com
February 15, 2026 at 1:47 PM
tl;dr Join me, and together, we can rule the galaxy as son and father!
foreignpolicy.com/2026/02/14/r...
foreignpolicy.com/2026/02/14/r...