Neil MacFarquhar
@nmacfarquhar.bsky.social
New York Times correspondent and author covering Russia, the Middle East and sometimes homegrown extremism.
The Russians shanghaied another American veteran, jailing him for five years. No American diplomat has been able to see him while in the slammer for 7 month yet no public criticism from @state-department.bsky.social or @whitehouse-47.bsky.social (Picture is deceptive. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/23/w...
Russia Jails U.S. Navy Veteran for Five Years
www.nytimes.com
January 24, 2026 at 11:49 AM
The Russians shanghaied another American veteran, jailing him for five years. No American diplomat has been able to see him while in the slammer for 7 month yet no public criticism from @state-department.bsky.social or @whitehouse-47.bsky.social (Picture is deceptive. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/23/w...
Iranian society has evolved but its Supreme Leader, 86, has not and little change will come while he endures. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/17/w...
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Unbending Over Time
www.nytimes.com
January 17, 2026 at 2:28 PM
Iranian society has evolved but its Supreme Leader, 86, has not and little change will come while he endures. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/17/w...
“Frankenstein tanks” are not working against drones, prompting roiling debate about tactics and training in Russia www.nytimes.com/2026/01/17/w...
Is the Russian Military Adapting Effectively to the Drone Age?
www.nytimes.com
January 17, 2026 at 2:19 PM
“Frankenstein tanks” are not working against drones, prompting roiling debate about tactics and training in Russia www.nytimes.com/2026/01/17/w...
“The Revolutionists” uses short, telling profiles to illustrate the transition in the Mideast from leftist militants to murderous jihadists during the 1970s. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/12/b...
Marxists and Mullahs Fought Together Once Before. What Happened?
www.nytimes.com
January 12, 2026 at 12:13 PM
“The Revolutionists” uses short, telling profiles to illustrate the transition in the Mideast from leftist militants to murderous jihadists during the 1970s. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/12/b...
Putin at a ceremony marking Orthodox Christmas: “At all times in Russia, this is how people have regarded their warriors, as those who, as if at the Lord’s behest, carry out this holy mission."
In this case their "holy mission" is slaughtering their fellow Orthodox Christians in Ukraine.
In this case their "holy mission" is slaughtering their fellow Orthodox Christians in Ukraine.
January 7, 2026 at 12:11 AM
Putin at a ceremony marking Orthodox Christmas: “At all times in Russia, this is how people have regarded their warriors, as those who, as if at the Lord’s behest, carry out this holy mission."
In this case their "holy mission" is slaughtering their fellow Orthodox Christians in Ukraine.
In this case their "holy mission" is slaughtering their fellow Orthodox Christians in Ukraine.
Russia once suggested (unofficially) that it would cede Venezuela to US interests if Washington would do the same for Moscow with Ukraine.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/06/w...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/06/w...
Russia Once Offered U.S. Control of Venezuela for Free Rein in Ukraine
www.nytimes.com
January 6, 2026 at 3:32 AM
Russia once suggested (unofficially) that it would cede Venezuela to US interests if Washington would do the same for Moscow with Ukraine.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/06/w...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/06/w...
Putin, without irony, always says that Ukraine should hold elections for the government to become “legitimate,” as if there are real elections in Russia. t.me/tass_agency/...
ТАСС
▶️ Власть на Украине должна стать легитимной, а без проведения выборов это невозможно, заявил Путин.
Видео: ТАСС/Ruptly
t.me
December 19, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Putin, without irony, always says that Ukraine should hold elections for the government to become “legitimate,” as if there are real elections in Russia. t.me/tass_agency/...
I hope the Trump envoys negotiating with the Kremlin are paying attention to how much Putin lies about what territory Russia controls. He has been claiming for weeks that Russian soldiers control Kupyansk, where Zelensky took a selfie a couple days ago.
Zelensky stood 1.3 km from Russian positions and 500 meters from the gray zone during his Kupyansk visit, DeepState map shows.
December 14, 2025 at 3:26 PM
I hope the Trump envoys negotiating with the Kremlin are paying attention to how much Putin lies about what territory Russia controls. He has been claiming for weeks that Russian soldiers control Kupyansk, where Zelensky took a selfie a couple days ago.
The White House published a website detailing what it calls “false and misleading” media coverage….Once again the Trump administration aping the Russian Foreign Ministry, which has been doing this for about a decade. Despite the vitriol directed at “Communists” it sure does love Bolshevik tactics.
December 2, 2025 at 1:01 PM
The White House published a website detailing what it calls “false and misleading” media coverage….Once again the Trump administration aping the Russian Foreign Ministry, which has been doing this for about a decade. Despite the vitriol directed at “Communists” it sure does love Bolshevik tactics.
Big win in NYC for Starbucks workers: A $38.9 million settlement with City Hall over violations of New York City’s law guaranteeing fair working conditions, a resolution that city officials said was the largest worker protection settlement in the city’s history.
December 1, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Big win in NYC for Starbucks workers: A $38.9 million settlement with City Hall over violations of New York City’s law guaranteeing fair working conditions, a resolution that city officials said was the largest worker protection settlement in the city’s history.
Ms. Hill suggested this type of branding was part of the “populist, strong man” approach to everything. “Trump does exactly the same,” she said. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/w...
The New Putin Calendar Is Here: ‘A Man for Every Season’
www.nytimes.com
November 26, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Ms. Hill suggested this type of branding was part of the “populist, strong man” approach to everything. “Trump does exactly the same,” she said. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/w...
A reader was inspired to send me a haiku about this Mariupol story (He does it periodically for various NYT stories):
The lights winking out
The rank grass prepares cover
For the blameless bones
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/w...
The lights winking out
The rank grass prepares cover
For the blameless bones
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/w...
In Russian-Occupied Mariupol, Everything Ukrainian Must Go
www.nytimes.com
November 23, 2025 at 3:37 PM
A reader was inspired to send me a haiku about this Mariupol story (He does it periodically for various NYT stories):
The lights winking out
The rank grass prepares cover
For the blameless bones
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/w...
The lights winking out
The rank grass prepares cover
For the blameless bones
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/w...
Reposted by Neil MacFarquhar
X has changed their policy and now you can see where the accounts are based.
Here’s an “influencer from Texas”
Here’s an “influencer from Texas”
November 21, 2025 at 6:36 PM
X has changed their policy and now you can see where the accounts are based.
Here’s an “influencer from Texas”
Here’s an “influencer from Texas”
RIP American penny. A nickel for your thoughts? Inflation! www.nytimes.com/2025/11/12/b...
The Penny Dies at 232
www.nytimes.com
November 13, 2025 at 1:59 PM
RIP American penny. A nickel for your thoughts? Inflation! www.nytimes.com/2025/11/12/b...
Seven Years for Antiwar Stickers? Russian Activist Would Do It Again.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/w...
Seven Years for Antiwar Stickers? Russian Activist Would Do It Again.
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Seven Years for Antiwar Stickers? Russian Activist Would Do It Again.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/w...
NYC tabloid goes to town on Mamdani win with even a little Cyrillic abuse.(aka faux Cyrillic) Theme continues inside with headlines like “Mamdani Paints the town red” No boldface reference to Islam, however..
November 5, 2025 at 3:52 PM
NYC tabloid goes to town on Mamdani win with even a little Cyrillic abuse.(aka faux Cyrillic) Theme continues inside with headlines like “Mamdani Paints the town red” No boldface reference to Islam, however..
Happy Halloween!!
October 31, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Happy Halloween!!
Reposted by Neil MacFarquhar
Amazon just announced 14,000 layoffs. Its CEO made over $40M last year.
UPS announced 48,000 layoffs. Its CEO made over $24M last year.
Intel announced 20,000 layoffs. Its new CEO's pay package is valued at nearly $69M.
This is what I mean when I say the system is rigged.
UPS announced 48,000 layoffs. Its CEO made over $24M last year.
Intel announced 20,000 layoffs. Its new CEO's pay package is valued at nearly $69M.
This is what I mean when I say the system is rigged.
October 29, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Amazon just announced 14,000 layoffs. Its CEO made over $40M last year.
UPS announced 48,000 layoffs. Its CEO made over $24M last year.
Intel announced 20,000 layoffs. Its new CEO's pay package is valued at nearly $69M.
This is what I mean when I say the system is rigged.
UPS announced 48,000 layoffs. Its CEO made over $24M last year.
Intel announced 20,000 layoffs. Its new CEO's pay package is valued at nearly $69M.
This is what I mean when I say the system is rigged.
E-bikes in NY:
Recently, mayoral candidate Mamdani was filmed releasing one of the hefty e-bikes on the Upper East Side. A bystander, apparently not a fan, yelled out: “Communist!”
The candidate smiled as he pedaled away.
“It’s pronounced ‘cyclist,’” he said.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/24/n...
Recently, mayoral candidate Mamdani was filmed releasing one of the hefty e-bikes on the Upper East Side. A bystander, apparently not a fan, yelled out: “Communist!”
The candidate smiled as he pedaled away.
“It’s pronounced ‘cyclist,’” he said.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/24/n...
Speed Limits Are Taking the Wind Out of Cyclists’ Exhilarating Commutes
www.nytimes.com
October 24, 2025 at 7:20 PM
E-bikes in NY:
Recently, mayoral candidate Mamdani was filmed releasing one of the hefty e-bikes on the Upper East Side. A bystander, apparently not a fan, yelled out: “Communist!”
The candidate smiled as he pedaled away.
“It’s pronounced ‘cyclist,’” he said.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/24/n...
Recently, mayoral candidate Mamdani was filmed releasing one of the hefty e-bikes on the Upper East Side. A bystander, apparently not a fan, yelled out: “Communist!”
The candidate smiled as he pedaled away.
“It’s pronounced ‘cyclist,’” he said.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/24/n...
The United States used to dominate the list of the world's most powerful passports, defined by how many countries grant U.S. citizens entry without a visa. As of this year, it is not even in the top 10 anymore. Waning influence...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
US falls out of world’s 10 most powerful passports list for first time in 20 years
Declining strength of US passport, tied with Malaysia’s at 12th, signals ‘shift in global mobility’, says index creator
www.theguardian.com
October 15, 2025 at 9:27 PM
The United States used to dominate the list of the world's most powerful passports, defined by how many countries grant U.S. citizens entry without a visa. As of this year, it is not even in the top 10 anymore. Waning influence...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
The global drift toward right-wing populism must also be confronted, she said, otherwise “the world itself and people will become even more terrifying, even more monstrous.”
“The people who hold power today are trying to shut us up,” she added. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/w...
“The people who hold power today are trying to shut us up,” she added. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/w...
Understanding Post-Soviet Tyranny, in Order to Fight It
www.nytimes.com
October 11, 2025 at 12:41 PM
The global drift toward right-wing populism must also be confronted, she said, otherwise “the world itself and people will become even more terrifying, even more monstrous.”
“The people who hold power today are trying to shut us up,” she added. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/w...
“The people who hold power today are trying to shut us up,” she added. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/w...
Reposted by Neil MacFarquhar
Today, Oct.2nd, is the anniversary of Jamal Khashoggi’s murder by Saudi agents.
October 2, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Today, Oct.2nd, is the anniversary of Jamal Khashoggi’s murder by Saudi agents.
Reposted by Neil MacFarquhar
I dunno... Signaling you'll nationalize the Russian units of Raiffeisen & UniCredit kinda sounds like threatening EU regulators with a good time
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Russia Drafts Plan to Seize Assets If EU Acts on Funds
Russia may nationalize and swiftly sell off foreign-owned assets under a new privatization mechanism in retaliation for any European moves to seize Russian holdings abroad, according to a person close...
www.bloomberg.com
October 1, 2025 at 4:41 PM
I dunno... Signaling you'll nationalize the Russian units of Raiffeisen & UniCredit kinda sounds like threatening EU regulators with a good time
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Disapproval of the Gaza war appears to have prompted a striking reassessment by American voters of their sympathies in the decades-old conflict, with slightly more voters siding with Palestinians 1998.https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/29/polls/israel-gaza-war-us-poll.html?smid=url-share
Americans’ Support for Israel Dramatically Declines, Times/Siena Poll Finds
www.nytimes.com
September 29, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Disapproval of the Gaza war appears to have prompted a striking reassessment by American voters of their sympathies in the decades-old conflict, with slightly more voters siding with Palestinians 1998.https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/29/polls/israel-gaza-war-us-poll.html?smid=url-share
Reposted by Neil MacFarquhar
Jumbo bottles of Tylenol are America's version of universal healthcare.
September 23, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Jumbo bottles of Tylenol are America's version of universal healthcare.