Winthrop Rodgers
@wrodgers2.bsky.social
Journalist and analyst focused on Kurdistan and Iraq | Virginian | Bates College and Queen's University Belfast | Washington Capitals and Washington Spirit |
Sulaimani turns 241 today. Such a wonderful city.
November 14, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Sulaimani turns 241 today. Such a wonderful city.
Kurdistan's opposition win about a third of the seats in each election since 2018. But it's like a closed system: relative changes happen in terms of power balance between the parties within that box, but it does not expand beyond that.
November 12, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Kurdistan's opposition win about a third of the seats in each election since 2018. But it's like a closed system: relative changes happen in terms of power balance between the parties within that box, but it does not expand beyond that.
Boo! I’m a high priced Washington lobbying peddling influence! Who wants candy?
October 31, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Boo! I’m a high priced Washington lobbying peddling influence! Who wants candy?
October 29, 2025 at 12:32 PM
In the US for a bit and taking the opportunity to do something I’ve always wanted to do: write for a local paper. In this case, the Chester County Press. Local news is the backbone of our communities. My first story:
Chili cook-off helps fight food insecurity in Chester County
Chili cook-off helps fight food insecurity in Chester County
October 22, 2025 at 9:17 PM
In the US for a bit and taking the opportunity to do something I’ve always wanted to do: write for a local paper. In this case, the Chester County Press. Local news is the backbone of our communities. My first story:
Chili cook-off helps fight food insecurity in Chester County
Chili cook-off helps fight food insecurity in Chester County
It was a ton of fun photographing for this report.
October 15, 2025 at 5:47 PM
It was a ton of fun photographing for this report.
Electric cars were a punchline in Iraq's Kurdistan Region a few years ago. Thanks to Chinese companies, that’s not the case anymore with plug-in hybrids leading the way. It's a story of global market dynamics meeting changing local conditions.
foreignpolicy.com/2025/09/23/i...
foreignpolicy.com/2025/09/23/i...
September 24, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Electric cars were a punchline in Iraq's Kurdistan Region a few years ago. Thanks to Chinese companies, that’s not the case anymore with plug-in hybrids leading the way. It's a story of global market dynamics meeting changing local conditions.
foreignpolicy.com/2025/09/23/i...
foreignpolicy.com/2025/09/23/i...
Members of the Kurdish diaspora held a protest in Glasgow and other cities in the UK today in solidarity with the public servants who tried to hold a demonstration today in Sulaimani.
Salaries are not just an economic issue but “a matter of respect and dignity,” one speaker said.
Salaries are not just an economic issue but “a matter of respect and dignity,” one speaker said.
June 26, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Members of the Kurdish diaspora held a protest in Glasgow and other cities in the UK today in solidarity with the public servants who tried to hold a demonstration today in Sulaimani.
Salaries are not just an economic issue but “a matter of respect and dignity,” one speaker said.
Salaries are not just an economic issue but “a matter of respect and dignity,” one speaker said.
Dukan's surface area shrank by 56 percent between the end of May 2019, the last year it was completely full, and the beginning of June 2025.
June 21, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Dukan's surface area shrank by 56 percent between the end of May 2019, the last year it was completely full, and the beginning of June 2025.
Masrour Barzani was nominated as KRG PM on Day 254 of the previous cycle, which will fall on July 1 this time.
The full cabinet was confirmed on Day 238, which will be July 30.
So, there's about six weeks before we are well and truly past the timeline of the 2018-19 cycle.
The full cabinet was confirmed on Day 238, which will be July 30.
So, there's about six weeks before we are well and truly past the timeline of the 2018-19 cycle.
June 18, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Masrour Barzani was nominated as KRG PM on Day 254 of the previous cycle, which will fall on July 1 this time.
The full cabinet was confirmed on Day 238, which will be July 30.
So, there's about six weeks before we are well and truly past the timeline of the 2018-19 cycle.
The full cabinet was confirmed on Day 238, which will be July 30.
So, there's about six weeks before we are well and truly past the timeline of the 2018-19 cycle.
After the Oct 20 Kurdistan Parliament election, I wrote for
@chmenap.bsky.social that government formation would be "exceedingly difficult."
It's more than 240 days since the election and officially going slower than last time. In the 2018-19 cycle, that's when a KR President was picked.
@chmenap.bsky.social that government formation would be "exceedingly difficult."
It's more than 240 days since the election and officially going slower than last time. In the 2018-19 cycle, that's when a KR President was picked.
June 18, 2025 at 8:26 AM
After the Oct 20 Kurdistan Parliament election, I wrote for
@chmenap.bsky.social that government formation would be "exceedingly difficult."
It's more than 240 days since the election and officially going slower than last time. In the 2018-19 cycle, that's when a KR President was picked.
@chmenap.bsky.social that government formation would be "exceedingly difficult."
It's more than 240 days since the election and officially going slower than last time. In the 2018-19 cycle, that's when a KR President was picked.
This year, I’ll present a paper on “Trends on Press Freedom in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region.” It analyzes a 13-year dataset of violations against journalists and uses time, frequency, location, outlet/perpetrator and its political affiliation to assess to anecdotal understanding.
June 11, 2025 at 3:46 PM
This year, I’ll present a paper on “Trends on Press Freedom in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region.” It analyzes a 13-year dataset of violations against journalists and uses time, frequency, location, outlet/perpetrator and its political affiliation to assess to anecdotal understanding.
Delighted to be back at the LSE/Sheffield Kurdish Studies Conference in London. It’s grown every year and has been great so far this time as well. If you’re around, come say hello. #LSEKurdishConference
June 11, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Delighted to be back at the LSE/Sheffield Kurdish Studies Conference in London. It’s grown every year and has been great so far this time as well. If you’re around, come say hello. #LSEKurdishConference
Happy Eid al-Adha to all those celebrating. The doors of #Sulaimani's Grand Mosque in 2020. #Iraq #Kurdistan
جەژنتان پیرۆز بێت
عيد مبارك
جەژنتان پیرۆز بێت
عيد مبارك
June 5, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Happy Eid al-Adha to all those celebrating. The doors of #Sulaimani's Grand Mosque in 2020. #Iraq #Kurdistan
جەژنتان پیرۆز بێت
عيد مبارك
جەژنتان پیرۆز بێت
عيد مبارك
KRG officials used to insist to me that the relationship with the US was strong and durable because it was “institutional,” not partisan or personalized.
May 22, 2025 at 9:26 AM
KRG officials used to insist to me that the relationship with the US was strong and durable because it was “institutional,” not partisan or personalized.
Heavy dust in Sulaymaniyah right now.
May 5, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Heavy dust in Sulaymaniyah right now.
There are three journalists currently imprisoned in Iraq's Kurdistan Region on World Press Freedom Day: Sherwan Sherwani (since Oct 7, 2020), Qaraman Shukri (since Jan 27, 2021), and Omed Baroshky (since Jan 23, 2025).
#WPFD2025 #WorldPressFreedomDay #pressfreedom
#WPFD2025 #WorldPressFreedomDay #pressfreedom
May 3, 2025 at 11:04 AM
There are three journalists currently imprisoned in Iraq's Kurdistan Region on World Press Freedom Day: Sherwan Sherwani (since Oct 7, 2020), Qaraman Shukri (since Jan 27, 2021), and Omed Baroshky (since Jan 23, 2025).
#WPFD2025 #WorldPressFreedomDay #pressfreedom
#WPFD2025 #WorldPressFreedomDay #pressfreedom
On May 3, 1988, the Iraqi military gassed the village of Goptapa on the Little Zab River with chemical weapons as part of the Anfal campaign. They followed up with a ground assault the next day. Hundreds died and more than 1,500 people went missing.
These days it looks like this.
These days it looks like this.
May 3, 2025 at 7:35 AM
On May 3, 1988, the Iraqi military gassed the village of Goptapa on the Little Zab River with chemical weapons as part of the Anfal campaign. They followed up with a ground assault the next day. Hundreds died and more than 1,500 people went missing.
These days it looks like this.
These days it looks like this.
Football fans in the Kurdistan Region are well-aware of these political dynamics. Like many other supporters around the world, they have a complicated relationship with patrons who seem driven by personal statures or financial bottom lines.
April 26, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Football fans in the Kurdistan Region are well-aware of these political dynamics. Like many other supporters around the world, they have a complicated relationship with patrons who seem driven by personal statures or financial bottom lines.
NEW from me for @amwajmedia.bsky.social: The Kurdistan Region’s local football clubs are on the rise with new stadiums & success on bigger stages. Politicians are getting in on the game, using sport to boost their image & influence.
amwaj.media/en/article/h...
amwaj.media/en/article/h...
April 26, 2025 at 8:58 AM
NEW from me for @amwajmedia.bsky.social: The Kurdistan Region’s local football clubs are on the rise with new stadiums & success on bigger stages. Politicians are getting in on the game, using sport to boost their image & influence.
amwaj.media/en/article/h...
amwaj.media/en/article/h...
A very happy Kurdish Journalism Day to my Kurdish colleagues. Your work is invaluable. I hope that you will be free to work without interference, co-option, or repression in service of the public. #PressFreedom
April 22, 2025 at 10:01 AM
A very happy Kurdish Journalism Day to my Kurdish colleagues. Your work is invaluable. I hope that you will be free to work without interference, co-option, or repression in service of the public. #PressFreedom
With Pope Francis' passing, I fondly remember his visit to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region in March 2021 and what it meant to people here.
A truly good pope. His moral leadership will be desperately missed.
A truly good pope. His moral leadership will be desperately missed.
April 21, 2025 at 8:17 AM
With Pope Francis' passing, I fondly remember his visit to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region in March 2021 and what it meant to people here.
A truly good pope. His moral leadership will be desperately missed.
A truly good pope. His moral leadership will be desperately missed.
“No discussion about changes in timelines maybe platforms…We're still waiting for the Americans to formulate their policies,” Krikor Der-Hagopian, a Sudani advisor, says on US military presence. #suliforum25
“Discussions are ongoing but this is ultimately a political decision.”
“Discussions are ongoing but this is ultimately a political decision.”
April 16, 2025 at 9:40 AM
“No discussion about changes in timelines maybe platforms…We're still waiting for the Americans to formulate their policies,” Krikor Der-Hagopian, a Sudani advisor, says on US military presence. #suliforum25
“Discussions are ongoing but this is ultimately a political decision.”
“Discussions are ongoing but this is ultimately a political decision.”
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani congratulated Halabja’s elevation as a new governorate.
This gets a round of applause in the room.
“We are committed to seizing this opportunity to serve Halabja and its people.”
#suliforum25
This gets a round of applause in the room.
“We are committed to seizing this opportunity to serve Halabja and its people.”
#suliforum25
April 16, 2025 at 8:34 AM
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani congratulated Halabja’s elevation as a new governorate.
This gets a round of applause in the room.
“We are committed to seizing this opportunity to serve Halabja and its people.”
#suliforum25
This gets a round of applause in the room.
“We are committed to seizing this opportunity to serve Halabja and its people.”
#suliforum25