@bature70.bsky.social
Interested in the global economy, Africa in the global economy, West African politics, survival in 2025.
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“The president’s righteous strike against Islamic State targets in Nigeria is a reminder that America is capable of much more.”
Mark Milley infamously referred to the Kabul strike on an aid worker and a bunch of kids as “righteous.”
Maybe wait for BDA?
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Mark Milley infamously referred to the Kabul strike on an aid worker and a bunch of kids as “righteous.”
Maybe wait for BDA?
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Opinion | Why West Africa is worth worrying about
Strikes on ISIS targets in Nigeria are welcome but insufficient.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 28, 2025 at 3:55 AM
“The president’s righteous strike against Islamic State targets in Nigeria is a reminder that America is capable of much more.”
Mark Milley infamously referred to the Kabul strike on an aid worker and a bunch of kids as “righteous.”
Maybe wait for BDA?
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Mark Milley infamously referred to the Kabul strike on an aid worker and a bunch of kids as “righteous.”
Maybe wait for BDA?
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
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This, by @anamariecox.bsky.social on the OU essay, is very, very good. youtu.be/GvCmeuJyT9g?...
That OU Essay Is Supposed to Be Bad | An Editor’s Note
YouTube video by Ana Marie Cox
youtu.be
December 27, 2025 at 4:21 PM
This, by @anamariecox.bsky.social on the OU essay, is very, very good. youtu.be/GvCmeuJyT9g?...
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DHS spokesperson routinely make statements which are then contradicted by the facts. Their bodycam footage disappears during shootings. Now they also want to block the public from monitoring them. Media should be deeply cautious about presenting their claims uncritically.
reason.com/2025/12/26/j...
reason.com/2025/12/26/j...
Justice Department says filming immigration raids is 'domestic terrorism'
A leaked Justice Department memo directs federal prosecutors to press “domestic terrorism” charges against individuals who record immigration operations.
reason.com
December 27, 2025 at 7:05 PM
DHS spokesperson routinely make statements which are then contradicted by the facts. Their bodycam footage disappears during shootings. Now they also want to block the public from monitoring them. Media should be deeply cautious about presenting their claims uncritically.
reason.com/2025/12/26/j...
reason.com/2025/12/26/j...
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More on the continuing purges at #NIH. Now 13 out of 27 institute directors have been gotten rid of. This is not normal. @jonathanwosen.bsky.social www.statnews.com/2025/12/27/n...
Director of NIH neurological disorders institute is ousted, adding to leadership churn
Walter Koroshetz, director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, will soon be leaving his role, STAT has learned. His departure
www.statnews.com
December 27, 2025 at 7:05 PM
More on the continuing purges at #NIH. Now 13 out of 27 institute directors have been gotten rid of. This is not normal. @jonathanwosen.bsky.social www.statnews.com/2025/12/27/n...
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US aligning with the "bad guys" in votes at the UN has been one of the biggest disappointments of 2025.
Unbelievable, and nobody would have expected that ever to happen.
MAGA is basically shitting on the US legacy.
Unbelievable, and nobody would have expected that ever to happen.
MAGA is basically shitting on the US legacy.
December 27, 2025 at 7:06 PM
US aligning with the "bad guys" in votes at the UN has been one of the biggest disappointments of 2025.
Unbelievable, and nobody would have expected that ever to happen.
MAGA is basically shitting on the US legacy.
Unbelievable, and nobody would have expected that ever to happen.
MAGA is basically shitting on the US legacy.
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[COMMENTARY]
2025 marked the midpoint of the U.N. Decade of Ocean Science — and a pivotal year. Major multilateral wins, new finance commitments, and momentum toward protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030 stood out. Experts reflect on the key ocean stories of the year.
** Views are the authors’.
2025 marked the midpoint of the U.N. Decade of Ocean Science — and a pivotal year. Major multilateral wins, new finance commitments, and momentum toward protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030 stood out. Experts reflect on the key ocean stories of the year.
** Views are the authors’.
Top ocean news stories of 2025 (commentary)
2025 was a key year for ocean policymaking, marking the midway point in the U.N. Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. The past 12 months brought landslide multilateral wins for ocean…
news.mongabay.com
December 27, 2025 at 7:18 PM
[COMMENTARY]
2025 marked the midpoint of the U.N. Decade of Ocean Science — and a pivotal year. Major multilateral wins, new finance commitments, and momentum toward protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030 stood out. Experts reflect on the key ocean stories of the year.
** Views are the authors’.
2025 marked the midpoint of the U.N. Decade of Ocean Science — and a pivotal year. Major multilateral wins, new finance commitments, and momentum toward protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030 stood out. Experts reflect on the key ocean stories of the year.
** Views are the authors’.
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But that one white guy couldn’t get a job in Hollywood because woke!!!!
December 27, 2025 at 7:00 PM
But that one white guy couldn’t get a job in Hollywood because woke!!!!
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V counterproductive. Antagonises allies who will divert procurement and cooperate more intensively against US interests. Will encourage other competitors to annexe territory. US could previously do most of what it would want for security reasons anyway with current access.
Again, it is utterly shameful & demonstrates the total failure of all of our political institutions that threatening our closest NATO allies with territorial conquest has not immediately ended this presidency.
Denmark lost more troops per capita in the post 9/11 war on Afghanistan. Saying they “are not a good ally” because they won’t surrender their territories to the US is lunacy. We are betraying our allies to satisfy the whims of a would-be Emperor for whom the US is not enough.
December 27, 2025 at 4:36 PM
V counterproductive. Antagonises allies who will divert procurement and cooperate more intensively against US interests. Will encourage other competitors to annexe territory. US could previously do most of what it would want for security reasons anyway with current access.
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There is a lot of money and coordination behind those pushing America and Europe in the same far right direction. Based on recent conversations with friends, I don’t think enough people know this.
“The Heritage Foundation, the intellectual engine behind the 922-page blueprint that has become the key policy manual for Trump’s second term, is partnering with a constellation of European nationalist far-right movements to export its playbook for countering progressive policies.” 11/10/25 …1/
The Heritage Foundation goes from MAGA to MEGA — Make Europe Great Again
On the agenda: pro-natalism, freedom of expression, opposing trans rights and fighting Chinese influence.
www.politico.eu
December 27, 2025 at 7:29 PM
There is a lot of money and coordination behind those pushing America and Europe in the same far right direction. Based on recent conversations with friends, I don’t think enough people know this.
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The most common question I receive is how everyday citizens can help in the fight for democracy. My advice, take the first step, start with something small and see what works for you. Here are ten things all of us can do. www.democracydocket.com/opinion/10-t...
Ten Things We Can All Do to Protect Democracy
From Marc | The most common question I receive is how everyday citizens can help in the fight for democracy.
www.democracydocket.com
December 26, 2025 at 7:11 PM
The most common question I receive is how everyday citizens can help in the fight for democracy. My advice, take the first step, start with something small and see what works for you. Here are ten things all of us can do. www.democracydocket.com/opinion/10-t...
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Remember, the Secretary of Transportation is absolutely terrified of this subway system. Just mentioning the ACE line will reduce him to tears.
And yet ...
And yet ...
Freaking love this city and all the people in it so much….a bunch of people went and turned the 4 train into the Polar Express giving out toys to kids along the way from the Bronx to Brooklyn….shoutout to the @newyorkers.live account on IG for doing this 🙏 www.instagram.com/reel/DSnsvWS...
December 26, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Remember, the Secretary of Transportation is absolutely terrified of this subway system. Just mentioning the ACE line will reduce him to tears.
And yet ...
And yet ...
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Great 2018 piece from @hofrench.bsky.social on the various rationalizations made regarding the Middle Passage, including the now in fashion claims that the Arab slave trade somehow absolves European nations of any responsibility www.nybooks.com/articles/201...
A History of Denial | Howard W. French
All too many publications about the history of Europe’s relationship with Africa fail to sufficiently convey the damage that was done to the African economy, peoples, and political development by the ...
www.nybooks.com
December 24, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Great 2018 piece from @hofrench.bsky.social on the various rationalizations made regarding the Middle Passage, including the now in fashion claims that the Arab slave trade somehow absolves European nations of any responsibility www.nybooks.com/articles/201...
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AKA Limit immigration and we'll consider investing in extracting your strategic minerals at usurious rates. www.ft.com/content/2de1... EU foreign aid takes transactional turn with Africa minerals push
EU foreign aid takes transactional turn with Africa minerals push
Investment in Lobito Corridor comes as bloc channels development assistance towards energy, metals and migration
www.ft.com
December 24, 2025 at 2:22 PM
AKA Limit immigration and we'll consider investing in extracting your strategic minerals at usurious rates. www.ft.com/content/2de1... EU foreign aid takes transactional turn with Africa minerals push
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Great reporting on how Putin has played these people. www.wsj.com/world/putin-...
How Putin Got His Preferred U.S. Envoy: Come Alone, No CIA
The Kremlin fueled the rise of Trump’s friend Steve Witkoff with a prisoner release, sidelining career diplomats.
www.wsj.com
December 20, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Great reporting on how Putin has played these people. www.wsj.com/world/putin-...
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good luck staffing up those rural hospitals bsky.app/profile/reic...
Here is a map of the affected countries (excluding Tonga), to give you a sense of how much this new ban restricts immigration from Africa in particular.
Of the newly-added country, Nigeria faces the largest impact, with tens of thousands of visas issued every year to Nigerians.
Of the newly-added country, Nigeria faces the largest impact, with tens of thousands of visas issued every year to Nigerians.
December 16, 2025 at 10:42 PM
good luck staffing up those rural hospitals bsky.app/profile/reic...
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If you read one thing from this thread make it this @propublica.org piece and never forget the human toll of this administration’s actions.
So please, let's stop with the "Trump is an outsider who will blow up the foreign policy establishment" takes. What we've blown up is our soft power, our values (see below on the devastation from USAID cuts), our allies' trust, our research edge, and more. 6/
www.propublica.org/article/usai...
www.propublica.org/article/usai...
Trump Officials Celebrated With Cake After Slashing Aid. Then People Died of Cholera.
Behind closed doors in Washington, top advisers made a series of decisions that had devastating repercussions for the poorest country on earth. We went to South Sudan and found people who died as a re...
www.propublica.org
December 15, 2025 at 11:06 PM
If you read one thing from this thread make it this @propublica.org piece and never forget the human toll of this administration’s actions.
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👇
December 14, 2025 at 6:55 PM
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The message that Trump and Marco Rubio are sending is that America does not care about human rights and are all too happy to punish those who do. Even from a purely self-interested perspective, this makes no sense as it diminishes America's soft power in the world.
A Chinese dissident filmed Uyghur detention sites and then released the video on YouTube after fleeing China. He sought asylum in the US. Now the Trump admin wants to deport him to a country with strong ties to China.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/15/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/15/u...
He Recorded China’s Detention of Uyghurs. The U.S. Wants to Deport Him to Uganda.
www.nytimes.com
December 15, 2025 at 11:12 PM
The message that Trump and Marco Rubio are sending is that America does not care about human rights and are all too happy to punish those who do. Even from a purely self-interested perspective, this makes no sense as it diminishes America's soft power in the world.
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Are state AGs formulating plans for prosecutions in 2029?
ICE pepper-sprayed this 1-year-old girl.
Once at the hospital, the doctor had to call in a poison control specialist.
They had never seen anyone that young pepper sprayed.
Another horrific story.
More details below.
Once at the hospital, the doctor had to call in a poison control specialist.
They had never seen anyone that young pepper sprayed.
Another horrific story.
More details below.
December 15, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Are state AGs formulating plans for prosecutions in 2029?
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Remarkable how brutal the ruling against Trump on Abrego Garcia truly is: It details flagrant and malicious abuses of power all throughout. Trump and Stephen Miller were testing their ability to spread lawless state terror. But the court held the line. 1/
(new piece)
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
(new piece)
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
Fiasco for Trump as Judge Issues Harsh Rebuke in Abrego Garcia Case
Judge Paula Xinis’s ruling temporarily freed Kilmar Abrego Garcia from custody. It also savagely indicted Trump’s lawless handling of this whole affair from start to finish.
newrepublic.com
December 12, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Remarkable how brutal the ruling against Trump on Abrego Garcia truly is: It details flagrant and malicious abuses of power all throughout. Trump and Stephen Miller were testing their ability to spread lawless state terror. But the court held the line. 1/
(new piece)
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
(new piece)
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
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If you’re looking for something to do, start working on overturning citizens united in your state. States control the power corporations have. Take their political power away with a ballot initiative. Here’s how: open.substack.com/pub/robertre...
How to Get Rid of "Citizens United"
We can do away with it without a new Supreme Court. Nor do we need a constitutional amendment. There’s a far simpler way.
open.substack.com
December 12, 2025 at 4:28 PM
If you’re looking for something to do, start working on overturning citizens united in your state. States control the power corporations have. Take their political power away with a ballot initiative. Here’s how: open.substack.com/pub/robertre...
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Say it again for the folks in the back: "The first time the House has voted to overturn a Trump executive order in this term." 🙌
BREAKING: Democrats and Republicans in Congress just voted to pass the Protect America’s Workforce Act to restore federal workers’ union rights – the first time the House has voted to overturn a Trump executive order in this term. https://bit.ly/4oNyBQc
December 11, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Say it again for the folks in the back: "The first time the House has voted to overturn a Trump executive order in this term." 🙌