Zeeshan Aleem
@zeeshanaleem.bsky.social
Political columnist and editor MS NOW.
Say hello: zeeshan.aleem@versantmedia.com
Sign up for my free politics newsletter: http://zeeshanaleem.substack.com/subscribe
Say hello: zeeshan.aleem@versantmedia.com
Sign up for my free politics newsletter: http://zeeshanaleem.substack.com/subscribe
Pinned
Zeeshan Aleem
@zeeshanaleem.bsky.social
· Nov 12
an intro note to pin to my profile:
Hello! I’m a political columnist & editor. I have left-wing views but I value independence and critique actors and ideas across the political spectrum — including those on my side. It's okay if you don't always agree with me; I often don't agree with myself.
Hello! I’m a political columnist & editor. I have left-wing views but I value independence and critique actors and ideas across the political spectrum — including those on my side. It's okay if you don't always agree with me; I often don't agree with myself.
Smart comment by Alex Gendler on DHS calling the woman killed by ICE while driving away from them a "domestic terrorist":
January 7, 2026 at 8:40 PM
Smart comment by Alex Gendler on DHS calling the woman killed by ICE while driving away from them a "domestic terrorist":
Honestly, humanity deserves what's coming to it. We aren't built to last.
The National Weather Service used AI to create a forecast for Idaho. Low chances of wind for the nonexistent towns of Cocrerrireod, Orangeotild and Whata Bod www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2026...
January 7, 2026 at 4:16 PM
Honestly, humanity deserves what's coming to it. We aren't built to last.
Jesus
Here's the clip of Tony Dokoupil ending tonight's broadcast by absolutely gushing over "ultimate Florida Man" Marco Rubio.
January 7, 2026 at 4:14 PM
Jesus
cool cool cool www.nytimes.com/2026/01/06/w...
Russia Sends Naval Vessel to Escort Oil Tanker U.S. Is Pursuing
www.nytimes.com
January 7, 2026 at 12:48 PM
cool cool cool www.nytimes.com/2026/01/06/w...
Reposted by Zeeshan Aleem
"Brazilian authorities refused to isolate January 8 as a spontaneous and feverish riot. Instead, they treated it as a conspiracy with identifiable authors. Days after the attack, police searched the home of Anderson Torres (...Brasília’s then–security chief)..."
jacobin.com/2026/01/janu...
jacobin.com/2026/01/janu...
What Brazil’s January 8 Can Teach Us About January 6
In 2021, the January 6 Capitol attack exposed deep connections between the US state and far-right groups. When something similar happened in Brazil in 2023, it prompted a national attempt to reform th...
jacobin.com
January 7, 2026 at 2:08 AM
"Brazilian authorities refused to isolate January 8 as a spontaneous and feverish riot. Instead, they treated it as a conspiracy with identifiable authors. Days after the attack, police searched the home of Anderson Torres (...Brasília’s then–security chief)..."
jacobin.com/2026/01/janu...
jacobin.com/2026/01/janu...
A rare departure from cool restraint in the Times -- no greater sin than betraying the empire! www.nytimes.com/2026/01/06/o...
January 7, 2026 at 1:57 AM
A rare departure from cool restraint in the Times -- no greater sin than betraying the empire! www.nytimes.com/2026/01/06/o...
Watching The Fugitive (1993) and it is INCREDIBLE
January 7, 2026 at 12:47 AM
Watching The Fugitive (1993) and it is INCREDIBLE
Excellent from Osita Nwanevu
ositanwanevu.substack.com/p/hello-agai...
ositanwanevu.substack.com/p/hello-agai...
January 6, 2026 at 10:22 PM
Excellent from Osita Nwanevu
ositanwanevu.substack.com/p/hello-agai...
ositanwanevu.substack.com/p/hello-agai...
Reposted by Zeeshan Aleem
In a frankly bizarre interview with the New York Times, Dan Goldman says he's not ready to conclude that Israel has committed any war crimes in Gaza.
Not genocide, any war crimes at all.
Not genocide, any war crimes at all.
Facing Challenge From Lander, Dan Goldman Prepares to Defend His Seat
www.nytimes.com
January 6, 2026 at 5:17 PM
In a frankly bizarre interview with the New York Times, Dan Goldman says he's not ready to conclude that Israel has committed any war crimes in Gaza.
Not genocide, any war crimes at all.
Not genocide, any war crimes at all.
Reposted by Zeeshan Aleem
Great thread. Thank you.
Most importantly: "That the GOP chose not to banish him from entering office again even when they had the power to showed that they were okay with this. They were locked in to the cult."
And they still are.
Most importantly: "That the GOP chose not to banish him from entering office again even when they had the power to showed that they were okay with this. They were locked in to the cult."
And they still are.
My Jan. 6 anniversary take that didn't make it into an article — because Trump decided to mark the new year with another spectacular act of political violence in Venezuela — was that it was the biggest mask off moment of his political career and marked the beginning of Trump's second term.
January 6, 2026 at 5:17 PM
Great thread. Thank you.
Most importantly: "That the GOP chose not to banish him from entering office again even when they had the power to showed that they were okay with this. They were locked in to the cult."
And they still are.
Most importantly: "That the GOP chose not to banish him from entering office again even when they had the power to showed that they were okay with this. They were locked in to the cult."
And they still are.
My Jan. 6 anniversary take that didn't make it into an article — because Trump decided to mark the new year with another spectacular act of political violence in Venezuela — was that it was the biggest mask off moment of his political career and marked the beginning of Trump's second term.
January 6, 2026 at 5:13 PM
My Jan. 6 anniversary take that didn't make it into an article — because Trump decided to mark the new year with another spectacular act of political violence in Venezuela — was that it was the biggest mask off moment of his political career and marked the beginning of Trump's second term.
I wrote about how Marjorie Taylor Greene showed brief interest in forming a more politically palatable and ideologically disciplined form of right-wing nationalism, and then checked out the second it got hard -- right after securing her congressional pension, that is. www.ms.now/opinion/marj...
Opinion | Marjorie Taylor Greene's resignation was not honorable
The MAGA firebrand's rebellion was short-lived and ended expediently.
www.ms.now
January 6, 2026 at 4:56 PM
I wrote about how Marjorie Taylor Greene showed brief interest in forming a more politically palatable and ideologically disciplined form of right-wing nationalism, and then checked out the second it got hard -- right after securing her congressional pension, that is. www.ms.now/opinion/marj...
Reposted by Zeeshan Aleem
This happened during the "rules-based order." As did lots of other acts of aggression.
January 6, 2026 at 2:19 AM
This happened during the "rules-based order." As did lots of other acts of aggression.
This outrageous quasi-endorsement of Trump's operation is maybe one or two degrees more deferential to Trump than statements by Hakeem Jeffries, Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi. This party -- which voted unanimously to put Maduro abduction point man Marco Rubio in the Trump admin -- loves empire.
Democratic Senator Jack Reed calls the Venezuela operation "well conceived and courageously executed" before adding the campaign is "illegal"
January 6, 2026 at 12:04 AM
This outrageous quasi-endorsement of Trump's operation is maybe one or two degrees more deferential to Trump than statements by Hakeem Jeffries, Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi. This party -- which voted unanimously to put Maduro abduction point man Marco Rubio in the Trump admin -- loves empire.
Reposted by Zeeshan Aleem
Some career diplomats have volunteered to travel to Caracas and open up the U.S. embassy, viewing it as an opportunity to chart a new path in U.S.-Venezuela relations. Other diplomats have sworn off the assignment, seeing it as akin to representing an occupying force, per source
On opening the U.S. embassy in Venezuela, a major step in legitimizing the rump Maduro regime, a senior State Department official says "we are making preparations to allow for a reopening should the President make that decision.”
January 5, 2026 at 6:49 PM
Some career diplomats have volunteered to travel to Caracas and open up the U.S. embassy, viewing it as an opportunity to chart a new path in U.S.-Venezuela relations. Other diplomats have sworn off the assignment, seeing it as akin to representing an occupying force, per source
Reposted by Zeeshan Aleem
On opening the U.S. embassy in Venezuela, a major step in legitimizing the rump Maduro regime, a senior State Department official says "we are making preparations to allow for a reopening should the President make that decision.”
January 5, 2026 at 6:48 PM
On opening the U.S. embassy in Venezuela, a major step in legitimizing the rump Maduro regime, a senior State Department official says "we are making preparations to allow for a reopening should the President make that decision.”
I've seen very little coverage or discussion of Venezuelan perspectives on all this.
January 5, 2026 at 6:40 PM
I've seen very little coverage or discussion of Venezuelan perspectives on all this.
I don't buy this, but it's hilarious reporting anyway.
January 5, 2026 at 6:02 PM
I don't buy this, but it's hilarious reporting anyway.
Amazing round-up.
amazing how the entire machine can pivot within 24 hours. no need to slowly upsell the argument; just issue new marching orders
January 5, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Amazing round-up.
Regime Change Lite -- brought to you by the unholy alliance of neocons and right-wing nationalists with the attention span of a toddler. I pray that this does not end up with Venezuela being torn apart by the power vacuum.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/04/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/04/u...
January 4, 2026 at 10:19 PM
Regime Change Lite -- brought to you by the unholy alliance of neocons and right-wing nationalists with the attention span of a toddler. I pray that this does not end up with Venezuela being torn apart by the power vacuum.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/04/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/04/u...
Reposted by Zeeshan Aleem
Captain America in 1990
January 4, 2026 at 7:26 PM
Captain America in 1990
Reposted by Zeeshan Aleem
just one more regime change bro, one more regime change i swear
January 4, 2026 at 5:31 PM
just one more regime change bro, one more regime change i swear
Ukraine's position is to quasi-endorse the kidnapping of Maduro. They also support Israel's domination of Gaza. Nice window into what it means to try to vie for entry into the West's "rule-based" order.
January 4, 2026 at 4:49 PM
Ukraine's position is to quasi-endorse the kidnapping of Maduro. They also support Israel's domination of Gaza. Nice window into what it means to try to vie for entry into the West's "rule-based" order.