Steve Herman
@newsguy.bsky.social
Exec. Director, Jordan Center for Journalism Advocacy & Innovation/Asst. Professor of Practice, @OleMiss.bsky.social;
Board: @npcinstitute.bsky.social; @juristnews.bsky.social;
Ex VOA White House bureau chief; 2022 Kiplinger Fellow; W7VOA on ham radio
Board: @npcinstitute.bsky.social; @juristnews.bsky.social;
Ex VOA White House bureau chief; 2022 Kiplinger Fellow; W7VOA on ham radio
Pinned
Behind the White House Curtain
Check out this great listen on Audible.com. Steven L Herman, chief national correspondent for the nonpartisan, government-funded Voice of America (VOA), weaves together memoir and history to pull back...
www.audible.com
The audiobook version of “Behind the White House Curtain” is now available. www.audible.com/pd/Behind-th...
Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai has been sentenced to 20 years in jail following his conviction on foreign collusion and sedition charges. hongkongfp.com/2026/02/09/bre...
Jimmy Lai jailed for 20 years in Hong Kong after nat. security conviction
Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai has been jailed for 20 years following his foreign collusion and sedition conviction.
hongkongfp.com
February 9, 2026 at 2:54 AM
Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai has been sentenced to 20 years in jail following his conviction on foreign collusion and sedition charges. hongkongfp.com/2026/02/09/bre...
Oklahoma State has received a $50,000 fine for anti-Mormon chants directed at BYU's basketball team. www.sltrib.com/sports/byu-cou...
The Big 12 Conference stepped in to stop the anti-LDS chants at BYU games. This is what it did to punish Oklahoma State.
The Big 12 Conference stepped in to stop the anti-LDS chants at BYU games. This is what it did to punish Oklahoma State.
www.sltrib.com
February 9, 2026 at 12:15 AM
Oklahoma State has received a $50,000 fine for anti-Mormon chants directed at BYU's basketball team. www.sltrib.com/sports/byu-cou...
Andrew Marr has a bit of history with predictions...
5 Jul 2022: Predicts the end of Boris Johnson.
7 Jul 2022: Johnson resigns.
14 Oct 2022: Predicts the end of Liz Truss.
20 Oct 2022: Truss resigns.
8 Feb 2026: Says Starmer will resign in the ‘next few days’.
Will he be proven right again?
5 Jul 2022: Predicts the end of Boris Johnson.
7 Jul 2022: Johnson resigns.
14 Oct 2022: Predicts the end of Liz Truss.
20 Oct 2022: Truss resigns.
8 Feb 2026: Says Starmer will resign in the ‘next few days’.
Will he be proven right again?
February 8, 2026 at 11:30 PM
LA Times - Traditionally, US athletes have avoided discussing politics on the world stage. But at the Milan-Cortina Games, several Americans are speaking about the conflict of representing a country that may no longer be representing their values. www.latimes.com/sports/olympi...
U.S. Olympic athletes in Italy are speaking out about the political situation at home
American skiers Mikaela Shiffrin and Hunter Hess and other Milan-Cortina Olympic athletes aren't shying away from talking about what's going on in the United States.
www.latimes.com
February 8, 2026 at 8:50 PM
LA Times - Traditionally, US athletes have avoided discussing politics on the world stage. But at the Milan-Cortina Games, several Americans are speaking about the conflict of representing a country that may no longer be representing their values. www.latimes.com/sports/olympi...
Thailand's general election produces a political upset with the conservative Bhumjaithai Party surging to a near landslide victory while the progressive People's Party suffers a steep and unexpected decline. www.khaosodenglish.com/featur...
Thailand Election 2026: People’s Party loses ground as Anutin nears landslide
BANGKOK — Thailand’s general election on Sunday night produced one of the country’s most dramatic political upsets in recent years, according to unofficial results, with the conservative Bhumjaithai Party surging to a near landslide victory while the progressive People’s Party suffered a steep and unexpected decline. Despite early polling suggesting the People’s Party would once […]
www.khaosodenglish.com
February 8, 2026 at 7:57 PM
Thailand's general election produces a political upset with the conservative Bhumjaithai Party surging to a near landslide victory while the progressive People's Party suffers a steep and unexpected decline. www.khaosodenglish.com/featur...
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi, imprisoned in Iran, reportedly on hunger strike. www.euronews.com/2026/02/08/i...
Iranian Nobel laureate's prison sentence extended by seven years
Supporters of Narges Mohammadi, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2023, said she had been on hunger strike since 2 February.
www.euronews.com
February 8, 2026 at 6:36 PM
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi, imprisoned in Iran, reportedly on hunger strike. www.euronews.com/2026/02/08/i...
Chief of staff to the UK prime minister resigns. Many MPs blame Morgan McSweeney for the appointment of the now disgraced Peter Mandeslon to be ambassador to the US. news.sky.com/story/politics-l...
Politics latest: Starmer reacts as chief of staff Morgan McSweeney resigns - but PM doesn't mention Mandelson
Morgan McSweeney, Keir Starmer's chief of staff, has resigned. It comes after Pat McFadden told Sky News that prime ministers must take responsibility for their decisions - and called for Peter Mandelson to return a pay-off. Follow the latest below.
news.sky.com
February 8, 2026 at 6:18 PM
Chief of staff to the UK prime minister resigns. Many MPs blame Morgan McSweeney for the appointment of the now disgraced Peter Mandeslon to be ambassador to the US. news.sky.com/story/politics-l...
"It was not the far left that most actively sought to sabotage the Nixon-Kissinger foreign policy but the hard right, not lowly pencil-pushers in the civil service but the most senior commanders at the Pentagon," writes James Rosen in an essay about the Watergate era. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/08/op..
www.nytimes.com
February 8, 2026 at 3:54 PM
"It was not the far left that most actively sought to sabotage the Nixon-Kissinger foreign policy but the hard right, not lowly pencil-pushers in the civil service but the most senior commanders at the Pentagon," writes James Rosen in an essay about the Watergate era. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/08/op..
A man suspected of shooting and wounding a senior Russian military intelligence officer in Moscow has been arrested in Dubai, according to the FSB. www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/0...
Man Suspected of Shooting GRU General Arrested in Dubai, FSB Says - The Moscow Times
A man suspected of shooting and wounding senior Russian military intelligence officer Vladimir Alexeyev in Moscow has been arrested in Dubai, Russia's FSB security service said Sunday.
www.themoscowtimes.com
February 8, 2026 at 1:44 PM
A man suspected of shooting and wounding a senior Russian military intelligence officer in Moscow has been arrested in Dubai, according to the FSB. www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/0...
Dalai Lama's office, regarding the Buddhist spiritual leader's name being mentioned 150+ times in the Epstein Files: "We can unequivocally confirm that His Holiness has never met Jeffrey Epstein or authorized any meeting or interaction with him by anyone on His Holiness's behalf."
February 8, 2026 at 12:37 PM
Dalai Lama's office, regarding the Buddhist spiritual leader's name being mentioned 150+ times in the Epstein Files: "We can unequivocally confirm that His Holiness has never met Jeffrey Epstein or authorized any meeting or interaction with him by anyone on His Holiness's behalf."
As expected, the LDP is projected to secure a Lower House majority on its own, keeping Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae in power. www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/ne...
Japan Lower House Election: LDP to secure majority on its own | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News
www3.nhk.or.jp
February 8, 2026 at 12:21 PM
As expected, the LDP is projected to secure a Lower House majority on its own, keeping Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae in power. www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/ne...
The Israeli prime minister and the US president are scheduled to meet in Washington on Wednesday to discuss the Iran nuclear negotiations. www.jpost.com/international/a...
Benjamin Netanyahu, Donald Trump to meet in DC to discuss Iran talks | The Jerusalem Post
"The Prime Minister believes that any negotiations must include limiting ballistic missiles and ending support for the Iranian axis," the PMO stated.
www.jpost.com
February 8, 2026 at 12:37 AM
The Israeli prime minister and the US president are scheduled to meet in Washington on Wednesday to discuss the Iran nuclear negotiations. www.jpost.com/international/a...
The Guardian - NSA detected a phone call between foreign intelligence and a person close to President Trump. A whistleblower says DNI Tulsi Gabbard blocked sharing of the report and took it to the White House chief of staff. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2...
NSA detected phone call between foreign intelligence and a person close to Trump
Whistleblower says that Tulsi Gabbard blocked agency from sharing report and delivered it to White House chief of staff
www.theguardian.com
February 7, 2026 at 11:31 PM
The Guardian - NSA detected a phone call between foreign intelligence and a person close to President Trump. A whistleblower says DNI Tulsi Gabbard blocked sharing of the report and took it to the White House chief of staff. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2...
Washington Post CEO William Lewis is resigning just days after the dramatic newsroom purge and years of controversy leading the newspaper. Jeff D’Onofrio, formerly the chief financial officer, will take over the Bezos-owned publication.
February 7, 2026 at 11:05 PM
Washington Post CEO William Lewis is resigning just days after the dramatic newsroom purge and years of controversy leading the newspaper. Jeff D’Onofrio, formerly the chief financial officer, will take over the Bezos-owned publication.
Italian railroad line sabotaged, disrupting travel to Winter Olympics. www.rainews.it/articoli/2026/...
Cavi ferroviari tranciati sulla Bologna-Padova, ipotesi sabotaggio. S'indaga per terrorismo
Sospetti sugli anarchici, ma si attende una rivendicazione. Salvini: "Un attentato, vogliono male all'Italia"
www.rainews.it
February 7, 2026 at 9:55 PM
Italian railroad line sabotaged, disrupting travel to Winter Olympics. www.rainews.it/articoli/2026/...
NYT - Federal prosecutors had a warrant to collect evidence from Renee Good’s vehicle, but Trump administration leaders said to drop it. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/07/u...
Prosecutors Began Investigating Renee Good’s Killing. Washington Told Them to Stop.
www.nytimes.com
February 7, 2026 at 4:09 PM
NYT - Federal prosecutors had a warrant to collect evidence from Renee Good’s vehicle, but Trump administration leaders said to drop it. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/07/u...
Russian mass attack hits key elements of Ukraine's power grid as freezing temperatures returned. kyivindependent.com/mass-atta...
Russia causes 'significant damage' to thermal plants in mass attack on Ukraine power grid
Attacks were reported across the country, including in western regions.
kyivindependent.com
February 7, 2026 at 12:34 PM
Russian mass attack hits key elements of Ukraine's power grid as freezing temperatures returned. kyivindependent.com/mass-atta...
Rep. Mark Amodei, the only Republican in Nevada's congressional delegation, has made a surprise announcement he is retiring at the end of his term. thenevadaindependent.com/arti...
Mark Amodei will retire at the end of his term - The Nevada Independent
The congressman, who has served for a decade and a half, is the only Republican in Nevada’s delegation.
thenevadaindependent.com
February 6, 2026 at 11:01 PM
Rep. Mark Amodei, the only Republican in Nevada's congressional delegation, has made a surprise announcement he is retiring at the end of his term. thenevadaindependent.com/arti...
President Trump signs a proclamation temporarily quadrupling imports of lean beef trimmings from Argentina. www.drovers.com/news/ag-poli...
www.drovers.com
February 6, 2026 at 10:52 PM
President Trump signs a proclamation temporarily quadrupling imports of lean beef trimmings from Argentina. www.drovers.com/news/ag-poli...
A White House meeting around the upcoming National Governors Association weekend will only include Republicans — a break from its bipartisan past. www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
White House excluding Dems from its annual governors meeting
It’s a break from a decades-long bipartisan tradition.
www.politico.com
February 6, 2026 at 10:35 PM
A White House meeting around the upcoming National Governors Association weekend will only include Republicans — a break from its bipartisan past. www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
DoJ - Zubayar Al-Bakoush, an armed coconspirator in the 2012 attack on US facilities in Benghazi that killed Ambassador Stevens and three other Americans, charged in an indictment unsealed today in U.S. District Court on multiple terrorism and murder counts. www.justice.gov/opa/pr/third...
Third Coconspirator in Fatal Benghazi Attacks in U.S. Custody, Charged in Washington D.C. with Murder and Terrorism Counts
Zubayar Al-Bakoush, an armed coconspirator in the 2012 attack on U.S. facilities in Benghazi, Libya, that killed U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three other Americans, was charged in an eig...
www.justice.gov
February 6, 2026 at 8:17 PM
DoJ - Zubayar Al-Bakoush, an armed coconspirator in the 2012 attack on US facilities in Benghazi that killed Ambassador Stevens and three other Americans, charged in an indictment unsealed today in U.S. District Court on multiple terrorism and murder counts. www.justice.gov/opa/pr/third...
FIRE files a lawsuit against the FTC, alleging the government agency "has used its broad regulatory powers to attack NewsGuard, a private news organization, because it doesn’t like its news ratings." www.newsguardtech.com/wp-content/u...
www.newsguardtech.com
February 6, 2026 at 5:34 PM
FIRE files a lawsuit against the FTC, alleging the government agency "has used its broad regulatory powers to attack NewsGuard, a private news organization, because it doesn’t like its news ratings." www.newsguardtech.com/wp-content/u...
NYT - President Trump posted a blatantly racist video clip portraying former President Obama and the former first lady Michelle Obama as apes, the latest in a long pattern by Trump of promoting offensive stereotypes about Black Americans and others. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/us...
www.nytimes.com
February 6, 2026 at 4:16 PM
NYT - President Trump posted a blatantly racist video clip portraying former President Obama and the former first lady Michelle Obama as apes, the latest in a long pattern by Trump of promoting offensive stereotypes about Black Americans and others. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/us...
At least 31 people were killed and another 169 injured in a suicide bombing attack on a Shia congregation during Friday prayers in Islamabad, Pakistan. www.dawn.com/news/1971418
At least 31 killed, 169 injured in suicide bombing at Islamabad imambargah
Defence minister points finger at India and Afghanistan, says the state will respond to this “cruelty with full force”; emergency imposed in hospitals across Islamabad, says parliamentary affairs minister; CM Maryam says Punjab govt has dispatched 25 ambulances to Islamabad.
www.dawn.com
February 6, 2026 at 2:33 PM
At least 31 people were killed and another 169 injured in a suicide bombing attack on a Shia congregation during Friday prayers in Islamabad, Pakistan. www.dawn.com/news/1971418