Bessma Momani
@bmomani.bsky.social
Professor at the University of Waterloo in Political Science and Senior Fellow at CIGI, interested in International Affairs.
Reposted by Bessma Momani
The Nazis used the term "Lying Press" (Lügenpresse) to discredit and censor all dissenting media, simultaneously targeting journalists, and seizing, and giving their political allies control of news outlets to crush any opposition.
Just mentioning that now for no reason at all.
Just mentioning that now for no reason at all.
November 30, 2025 at 3:47 AM
The Nazis used the term "Lying Press" (Lügenpresse) to discredit and censor all dissenting media, simultaneously targeting journalists, and seizing, and giving their political allies control of news outlets to crush any opposition.
Just mentioning that now for no reason at all.
Just mentioning that now for no reason at all.
Reposted by Bessma Momani
Latinas in the U.S. are using twin braids with colorful ribbons as a symbol of resistance against immigration raids.
This traditional hairstyle, rooted in Mexican culture, represents resilience and identity.
This traditional hairstyle, rooted in Mexican culture, represents resilience and identity.
Latinas are wearing twin braids with colorful ribbons in peaceful protest
The practice of wearing two long braids isn’t new and is widely associated with Latino culture. But it has gained new significance as a symbol of peaceful protest.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 30, 2025 at 6:00 AM
Latinas in the U.S. are using twin braids with colorful ribbons as a symbol of resistance against immigration raids.
This traditional hairstyle, rooted in Mexican culture, represents resilience and identity.
This traditional hairstyle, rooted in Mexican culture, represents resilience and identity.
Reposted by Bessma Momani
Demolishing the East Wing of the White House before finalizing plans for what will be built above its ruins is a near-perfect metaphor for Trump's approach to economic policy. The only difference is the wrecking crew doesn’t claim the rubble is evidence of unprecedented growth.
November 29, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Demolishing the East Wing of the White House before finalizing plans for what will be built above its ruins is a near-perfect metaphor for Trump's approach to economic policy. The only difference is the wrecking crew doesn’t claim the rubble is evidence of unprecedented growth.
Reposted by Bessma Momani
NEW: The New York Times got a State Dept. cable telling diplomats to destroy visas that had been approved and printed to give to Afghans. And diplomats are told to do scheduled interviews but not grant visas. US shuts all legal entry routes for Afghans. Our story: www.nytimes.com/2025/11/28/u...
Trump Pauses All Asylum Applications and Halts Visas for Afghans
www.nytimes.com
November 29, 2025 at 4:02 AM
NEW: The New York Times got a State Dept. cable telling diplomats to destroy visas that had been approved and printed to give to Afghans. And diplomats are told to do scheduled interviews but not grant visas. US shuts all legal entry routes for Afghans. Our story: www.nytimes.com/2025/11/28/u...
Reposted by Bessma Momani
What a great headline
November 28, 2025 at 3:49 PM
What a great headline
Reposted by Bessma Momani
para 2: not a legit basis for use of force. period.
para 4: almost certainly untrue.
para 4: almost certainly untrue.
This is a lot of words to say, “Yikes! That Washington Post story about us illegally killing survivors on the open seas was 100% correct!”
November 29, 2025 at 2:09 AM
para 2: not a legit basis for use of force. period.
para 4: almost certainly untrue.
para 4: almost certainly untrue.
Reposted by Bessma Momani
"By dangling multibillion-dollar rare-earth and energy deals, Moscow could reshape the economic map of Europe—while driving a wedge between America and its traditional allies"
Read this excellent @wsj.com account of the business deals behind the "peace"negotiations
www.wsj.com/world/russia...
Read this excellent @wsj.com account of the business deals behind the "peace"negotiations
www.wsj.com/world/russia...
Make Money Not War: Trump’s Real Plan for Peace in Ukraine
The Kremlin pitched the White House on peace through business. To Europe’s dismay, the president and his envoy are on board.
www.wsj.com
November 29, 2025 at 5:33 AM
"By dangling multibillion-dollar rare-earth and energy deals, Moscow could reshape the economic map of Europe—while driving a wedge between America and its traditional allies"
Read this excellent @wsj.com account of the business deals behind the "peace"negotiations
www.wsj.com/world/russia...
Read this excellent @wsj.com account of the business deals behind the "peace"negotiations
www.wsj.com/world/russia...
Reposted by Bessma Momani
This is ridiculous. All G20 members are always invited.The point of the organization is to bring together all major countries regardless of disagreements. Not attending the G20 was dumb. Trying to block a member when we host is a diplomatic train wreck. Hosting G20 is an opportunity. Were blowing it
Another shameful Trump act. South Africa has serious problems but it remains exemplary both in its peaceful democratic transition from a racist regime and in its more recent bounce back from corrupt populism. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/w...
Trump Says South Africa Is Not Invited to G20 Summit in U.S. in 2026
www.nytimes.com
November 27, 2025 at 3:52 PM
This is ridiculous. All G20 members are always invited.The point of the organization is to bring together all major countries regardless of disagreements. Not attending the G20 was dumb. Trying to block a member when we host is a diplomatic train wreck. Hosting G20 is an opportunity. Were blowing it
Reposted by Bessma Momani
Left unchecked, company and government use of automated decision-making systems in areas such as housing, health care, law enforcement, and employment have already caused discriminatory outcomes based on protected statuses. www.eff.org/deeplinks/2...
The Trump Administration’s Order on AI Is Deeply Misguided
Widespread news reports indicate that President Donald Trump’s administration has prepared an executive order to punish states that have passed laws attempting to address harms from artificial
www.eff.org
November 28, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Left unchecked, company and government use of automated decision-making systems in areas such as housing, health care, law enforcement, and employment have already caused discriminatory outcomes based on protected statuses. www.eff.org/deeplinks/2...
Reposted by Bessma Momani
The President of the United States promising a policy of mass denaturalization of citizens "who undermine domestic tranquility"
Trump: “I will permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries … denaturalize migrants who undermine domestic tranquility, and deport any Foreign National who is a public charge, security risk, or non-compatible with Western Civilization.“
November 28, 2025 at 3:59 PM
The President of the United States promising a policy of mass denaturalization of citizens "who undermine domestic tranquility"
Reposted by Bessma Momani
“The members of Trump’s coalition might all ultimately want different things, but they have a shared interest in renegotiating power within the government, including by further routing control away from Congress and into the executive.”—Susannah Glickman
Runaway Short-Termism | Susannah Glickman, Nic Johnson
Since retaking the presidency in January, Donald Trump has initiated a blitz of chaotic, damaging economic policies. For months, as Nic Johnson wrote in
www.nybooks.com
November 28, 2025 at 4:07 PM
“The members of Trump’s coalition might all ultimately want different things, but they have a shared interest in renegotiating power within the government, including by further routing control away from Congress and into the executive.”—Susannah Glickman
Reposted by Bessma Momani
On the second day of his inaugural overseas trip, Pope Leo XIV visited the ancient site of the First Council of Nicaea, in Turkey, urging Christians — and all faiths — to reject the use of religion to justify violence. n.pr/44zFUDK
Pope Leo prays for unity at historic Nicaea site
On the second day of his inaugural overseas trip, Pope Leo XIV visited the ancient site of the First Council of Nicaea, in Turkey, urging Christians — and all faiths — to reject the use of religion to justify violence.
n.pr
November 28, 2025 at 4:14 PM
On the second day of his inaugural overseas trip, Pope Leo XIV visited the ancient site of the First Council of Nicaea, in Turkey, urging Christians — and all faiths — to reject the use of religion to justify violence. n.pr/44zFUDK
Reposted by Bessma Momani
"The presence of Palantir and Dataminr at the CMCC suggests that despite vague mention of Palestinian self-determination in Trump’s plan, Israel’s control over Gaza will remain deeply entrenched — with AI-powered surveillance and weapons systems at the center of post-war security architecture."
AI-powered surveillance firms are gunning for a share of the Gaza spoils
www.972mag.com/ai-surveilla...
www.972mag.com/ai-surveilla...
AI-powered surveillance firms are gunning for a share of Gaza spoils
The presence of Palantir and Dataminr at the new U.S. military compound in Israel offers a glimpse of how tech companies are cashing in on the genocide.
www.972mag.com
November 28, 2025 at 4:47 PM
"The presence of Palantir and Dataminr at the CMCC suggests that despite vague mention of Palestinian self-determination in Trump’s plan, Israel’s control over Gaza will remain deeply entrenched — with AI-powered surveillance and weapons systems at the center of post-war security architecture."
Reposted by Bessma Momani
“When we critique AI, we should do so with intellectual honesty and in a principled way. Utmost care is needed to avoid ethics washing, greenwashing, and generally — what we dub — critical washing.”
“Reflecting on the harms of AI is not itself harm reduction. It may even contribute to rationalizing, normalizing, and enabling harm. Critical reflection without appropriate action is thus quintessentially critical washing.”
Suarez [et al. (2025, par. 7)]
zenodo.org/records/1567...
Suarez [et al. (2025, par. 7)]
zenodo.org/records/1567...
Critical AI Literacy: Beyond hegemonic perspectives on sustainability
How can universities resist being coopted and corrupted by the AI industries’ agendas? Originally published here: https://rcsc.substack.com/p/critical-ai-literacy-beyond-hegemonic
zenodo.org
November 27, 2025 at 11:56 PM
“When we critique AI, we should do so with intellectual honesty and in a principled way. Utmost care is needed to avoid ethics washing, greenwashing, and generally — what we dub — critical washing.”
Reposted by Bessma Momani
Trump has never once in his life extemporaneously used the phrase "western civilization." He was once asked about western liberalism and thought they were talking about California Democrats. One of the more blatant tells for a Miller-written screed.
Trump: “I will permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries … denaturalize migrants who undermine domestic tranquility, and deport any Foreign National who is a public charge, security risk, or non-compatible with Western Civilization.“
November 28, 2025 at 5:13 AM
Trump has never once in his life extemporaneously used the phrase "western civilization." He was once asked about western liberalism and thought they were talking about California Democrats. One of the more blatant tells for a Miller-written screed.
Reposted by Bessma Momani
To make their quota, ICE is now arresting spouses of US citizens who are in the country legally and who have passed all background checks, have no criminal records and are just waiting for their green card to be issued. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
Green Card Interviews End in Handcuffs for Spouses of U.S. Citizens
www.nytimes.com
November 27, 2025 at 3:30 AM
To make their quota, ICE is now arresting spouses of US citizens who are in the country legally and who have passed all background checks, have no criminal records and are just waiting for their green card to be issued. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
Reposted by Bessma Momani
Do Less Things, Do Them Really Well: A Recipe for Canadian Aid.
Spurred by an excellent @charlesjkenny.bsky.social piece on global aid, I did some thinking about what this should mean for Canada
ldhconsulting.org/2025/11/25/d...
www.cgdev.org/publication/...
Spurred by an excellent @charlesjkenny.bsky.social piece on global aid, I did some thinking about what this should mean for Canada
ldhconsulting.org/2025/11/25/d...
www.cgdev.org/publication/...
Do Less Things, Do Them Really Well: A Recipe for Canadian Aid
Even before the Budget 2025 announcement of $2.7bn in cuts to Canada’s aid budget, there was a recognition Canadian aid needed to change. Partly driven by the destruction of USAID, partly by the el…
ldhconsulting.org
November 25, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Do Less Things, Do Them Really Well: A Recipe for Canadian Aid.
Spurred by an excellent @charlesjkenny.bsky.social piece on global aid, I did some thinking about what this should mean for Canada
ldhconsulting.org/2025/11/25/d...
www.cgdev.org/publication/...
Spurred by an excellent @charlesjkenny.bsky.social piece on global aid, I did some thinking about what this should mean for Canada
ldhconsulting.org/2025/11/25/d...
www.cgdev.org/publication/...
Reposted by Bessma Momani
The simplest explanation just may be that the president gave responsibility to real estate guys he trusts and understands, and who think about the issues as he does. But as this is their first tour in the political cone, they lack experience or expertise, and operate without relying on those who do.
How the U.S. Drafted a Russia-Friendly Peace Plan for Ukraine
Crucial input from a Kremlin confidant influenced the document that for a week roiled relations among the U.S., Ukraine and Europe.
www.wsj.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:27 AM
The simplest explanation just may be that the president gave responsibility to real estate guys he trusts and understands, and who think about the issues as he does. But as this is their first tour in the political cone, they lack experience or expertise, and operate without relying on those who do.
Reposted by Bessma Momani
Take a few million of all the new defence spending, and fund African excellence in disease surveillance and Disease X tracking
For the cost of a wing mirror on a fighter jet, we could avoid the next pandemic www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
For the cost of a wing mirror on a fighter jet, we could avoid the next pandemic www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Inside the African lab hunting for Disease X – and the next pandemic
As rich countries turn their back on foreign aid, the Institut Pasteur in Senegal is preparing the continent to fight deadly diseases that can spread silently across borders. Rachel Schraer reports
www.independent.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Take a few million of all the new defence spending, and fund African excellence in disease surveillance and Disease X tracking
For the cost of a wing mirror on a fighter jet, we could avoid the next pandemic www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
For the cost of a wing mirror on a fighter jet, we could avoid the next pandemic www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Reposted by Bessma Momani
Dialing down the use of social media for a week reduced symptoms of anxiety, depression and insomnia in young adults, according to a study published on Monday in the journal JAMA Network Open.
Study Finds Mental Health Benefit to One-Week Social Media Break
Young adults who engaged in a social media “detox” reported reductions in depression, anxiety and insomnia, though it was unclear how long the effects would last.
nyti.ms
November 25, 2025 at 4:20 AM
Dialing down the use of social media for a week reduced symptoms of anxiety, depression and insomnia in young adults, according to a study published on Monday in the journal JAMA Network Open.
Reposted by Bessma Momani
In Feb 26, it will be 80 years since the UN selected its first secretary-general, a man. Since then, eight others have had that job, all men. Surely it’s long past time a woman held the post. In these perilous times we cannot afford an all-men’s club at the top of the UN.
www.hrw.org/news/2025/11...
www.hrw.org/news/2025/11...
Seventy-Nine Years Without a Woman Leader at the UN
In February 2026, it will be 80 years since the United Nations selected its first secretary-general, a man. Since then, eight other people have had that job, all men.
www.hrw.org
November 24, 2025 at 8:59 AM
In Feb 26, it will be 80 years since the UN selected its first secretary-general, a man. Since then, eight others have had that job, all men. Surely it’s long past time a woman held the post. In these perilous times we cannot afford an all-men’s club at the top of the UN.
www.hrw.org/news/2025/11...
www.hrw.org/news/2025/11...
Reposted by Bessma Momani
A new paper shows how social media accelerates extremism by flooding users with emotionally charged, divisive content that algorithms naturally amplify, making extremist narratives far more visible, engaging, and persuasive than they would be otherwise.
November 24, 2025 at 8:00 PM
A new paper shows how social media accelerates extremism by flooding users with emotionally charged, divisive content that algorithms naturally amplify, making extremist narratives far more visible, engaging, and persuasive than they would be otherwise.
Reposted by Bessma Momani
Donald Trump’s targeted attacks against India, Brazil and South Africa are pushing three of the world’s major emerging economies to forge closer ties
Trump’s Attacks Push India, Brazil, South Africa Closer Together
US President Donald Trump’s targeted attacks against three of the world’s major emerging economies are prompting leaders of those countries to forge closer ties and push back against his aggressive trade policies.
bloom.bg
November 23, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Donald Trump’s targeted attacks against India, Brazil and South Africa are pushing three of the world’s major emerging economies to forge closer ties
Reposted by Bessma Momani
Left unchecked, company and government use of automated decision-making systems in areas such as housing, health care, law enforcement, and employment have already caused discriminatory outcomes based on protected statuses. www.eff.org/deeplinks/2...
The Trump Administration’s Order on AI Is Deeply Misguided
Widespread news reports indicate that President Donald Trump’s administration has prepared an executive order to punish states that have passed laws attempting to address harms from artificial
www.eff.org
November 23, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Left unchecked, company and government use of automated decision-making systems in areas such as housing, health care, law enforcement, and employment have already caused discriminatory outcomes based on protected statuses. www.eff.org/deeplinks/2...
Disgusting
Instagram’s former head of safety and well-being Vaishnavi Jayakumar testified the company had a “17x” strike policy for accounts that engaged in the trafficking of humans for sex.
“You could incur 16 violations and upon the 17th violation, your account would be suspended"
time.com/7336204/meta...
“You could incur 16 violations and upon the 17th violation, your account would be suspended"
time.com/7336204/meta...
7 Allegations Against Meta in Newly Unsealed Filings
Court filings allege Meta tolerated sex trafficking, hid harms to teens, and prioritized growth over user safety for years.
time.com
November 23, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Disgusting