Steven Heydemann

Jump! Jump! Jump!

#Syria: the UK national security advisor was hosted today in #Damascus.

Discussions focused around regional security and stability with both sides exploring ways to strengthen bilateral relations.

The meeting was also attended by the head of Syrian General Intelligence.

New non-profit law firm in DC aims to challenge Trump’s executive power | CNN Politics A group of well-known Washington lawyers is opening a law firm focused on challenging President Donald Trump’s executive orders and agency actions as he strives to dramatically reshape the federal gov...

These fine lawyers coming out of retirement to suit up for this fight is inspiring.

www.cnn.com/2025/08/04/p...

Poland is sliding back towards populism. Democrats elsewhere should heed our mistakes | Karolina Wigura and Jarosław Kuisz Donald Tusk has failed to offer a positive vision for the future. Without one, liberals will just be an interval between populist acts, say historian Karolina Wigura and journalist Jarosław Kuisz

A smart take on why rebuilding after the electoral defeat of populists is so hard, and why repairing institutions populists broke is no substitute for a vision for the future.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Right-wingers are so insecure and covetousness that after they gathered public goods, land, economy and education for themselves they wanted the one thing we had: the story of oppression.

They want this more than anything else b/c of the powerful narrative & culture we created from it.

Trump administration is using ‘fascist propaganda’ to promote deportation: experts

IN FOCUS | The Trump administration is using ‘fascist propaganda’ to promote its mass deportation campaign, experts say

Collective Healing: Lessons from Women Human Rights Defenders in Egypt and Tunisia

www.hks.harvard.edu/centers/carr...

The Ordeal of the Syrian Nation-State Today The new Syrian government’s base is narrow and its politics sectarian. No “state” can unify a nation while aggressively alienating wide segments of its people, nor has it any right to demand patriotis...

newlinesmag.com/argument/the...

@jackohman.bsky.social

Separating wheat from chaff by dumping the wheat.

Texas Democrats are standing up for democracy.

The maps are rigged. The process is compromised.

www.texastribune.org/2025/08/03/t...

Outrageous.

Looking forward to seeing Big Balls appointed as head of BLS.

As opposed to a hard boiled egg on the stove in 10 minutes?

No. You’re among the tribe of “noairfryers,” an endangered people.

Donate to Free Xóchitl: Support DACA recipient detained by ICE, organized by Lagartija del sol Catalina “Xóchitl” Santiago, a beloved community member, DACA r… Lagartija del sol needs your support for Free Xóchitl: Support DACA recipient detained by ICE

Xóchitl was detained by border patrol at the airport despite presenting a valid work authorization. She is a longtime organizer and needs help. There’s more info about what happened on this gofundme for her legal support. Please help out if you can. www.gofundme.com/f/stand-with...

Good. But this will become very hard to monitor. What about using AI for a zero draft? And as the tools become more powerful? May need to require authors to video themselves doing actual writing!!! 😳😳😳

Elements of a democratic security dilemma are all there. If blue states don’t reciprocate elections become meaningless.

snhr.org/blog/2025/08...

Did you say “admitted to the bar in 2024?”

The DEI of it all. This is insane.

Looks like integration talks are going just fine.

An aerial view of what the Gaza City area looked like this week. Taken from a Jordanian military aircraft, by our colleague Heidi Levine.

A betrayal of the victims of the Holocaust A view from Israel

robertreich.substack.com/p/a-betrayal...

Protection racket. You have such a nice university it would be awful if something happens to it.

What happens when extortion succeeds.

Son of ex-Yemen president Saleh sentenced to death by Houthis A Houthi court sentenced ex-president Saleh’s son Ahmed to death for treason, weeks after UN and EU sanctions against him were lifted.

www.newarab.com/news/son-ex-...

Fascist brutalism

Donald Trump just wants the next Director of the Bureau of Labor Statistics to find the 111,780 additional jobs he created last month.

Live Updates: After a Weak Jobs Report, Trump Fires That Agency’s Commissioner

It’s the fucking Kremlin during the USSR.

After a Weak Jobs Report, Trump Fires That Agency’s Commissioner www.nytimes.com/live/2025/07...

Turns out Syria’s tariff level is the highest applied by Trump in this round. Last year Syria exported all of $10m to the US. Mostly spices and preserved food. Think of the Syrian and ME small food store owners who will have to shut down. Idiocy.