Brent Sasley

A huge thanks to @goodauth.bsky.social for having me as one of their Good Fellows. @dadakim.bsky.social and Vanessa were amazing editors and full of patience! I learned a lot about writing. @johnsides.bsky.social and @profsaunders.bsky.social were great to work with, too!

Trump-Appointed Judge Defies Him on AP’s White House Access The outlet and the White House have been at war for months.

These kind of headlines are so problematic. The judge was upholding the law, not defying Trump.

www.thedailybeast.com/trump-appoin...

Good to Know: Antisemitism in America Why is antisemitism now on the rise?

In our latest Good to Know, we ask the question, "Why is antisemitism now on the rise?"

What is antisemitism, exactly? What motivates it – and how prevalent is it in America?

Read: goodauthority.org/news/good-to...

Good to Know: Antisemitism in America Why is antisemitism now on the rise?

Need a primer on antisemitism? Here’s mine, at @goodauth.bsky.social.

goodauthority.org/news/good-to...

Are you a graduate student planning to present a paper at the 2025 APSA conference on an IR/Foreign Policy topic? Need some funds to cover costs of attending? APSA's Foreign Policy section travel grant is there just for you- Apply Now!

This letter from the Harvard president bows to the fiction that the attack on higher education is about antisemitism

They had to cancel their tour because they couldn't find any citizens who wanted to meet with them and they anticipated needing overwhelming security to deal with constant protests. Seems like "the people of Greenland" have made it pretty clear who they feel is making "aggressive incursions".

Does anyone have an electronic copy of the testimonies to the Peel Commission they could share?

"No classified material": Trump officials all but dare The Atlantic to release texts Jeffrey Goldberg has said the texts included precise details about U.S. strikes on the Houthis.

Do they think Goldberg won’t release the texts? Or are they confident that if they’re found to have lied under oath—in addition to the breach itself—Republicans in Congress will protect them?

www.axios.com/2025/03/25/s...

Letter to leadership of universities being targeted, to run in Chronicle tomorrow. Academic friends, pls sign if you are a US citizen and tenured (ie it’s safe for you to do so)
“We Must Leverage the Strength of Our Institutions and Stand Together”
Text in replies

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Also noteworthy that “49% say anti-Muslim attitudes are prevalent on their campuses…and 57% say anti-Palestinian attitudes are prevalent on their campuses.” criticalissues.umd.edu/feature/acad...

This survey of Middle East scholars (which I responded to) add more complexity to the issue. 21% of respondents see antisemitism as prevalent on their campuses, but twice as many say that anti-Israel sentiment is prevalent at their institution (47%)

I wrote about the fact that campus antisemitism is not as wide, deep, or virulent as Trumpworld and many others claims (goodauthority.org/news/the-tru...). This is not to say it isn’t there or only mild. But we need a complete understanding of the issue if we’re going to address it.

Campus antisemitism is widespread, according to Trump. Research suggests the record of antisemitism and antisemitic activities is not as deep and virulent as the Trump administration claims.

Here’s me at @goodauth.bsky.social on why the administration’s claims about antisemitism on campus are too simplistic.

goodauthority.org/news/the-tru...

Columbia University nears deal with Trump administration to restore federal funding The demands include a mask ban and a major crackdown on anti-Israel protests on campus. The Trump administration says their demands protect Jewish students from harassment and empower campus police.

This is not good.

abc7ny.com/post/columbi...

Campus antisemitism is widespread, according to Trump. Research suggests the record of antisemitism and antisemitic activities is not as deep and virulent as the Trump administration claims.

Here’s me at @goodauth.bsky.social on why the administration’s claims about antisemitism on campus are too simplistic.

goodauthority.org/news/the-tru...

Occupying Gaza goes against Donald Trump’s campaign promises President Donald Trump promised to shrink the government budget and withdraw the United States from foreign entanglements. Occupying Gaza goes against that.

Here’s me on why Trump’s ideas about Gaza are so…problematic. It’s paywalled but DM if you want a pdf.

www.expressnews.com/opinion/comm...

Our "Good to Know" series of explainers at @goodauth.bsky.social can be used as teaching tools, as a supplement or complement to assigned readings. See our latest, by @besasley.bsky.social, on Israeli politics:

Israeli politics and political fragmentation, explained. Israeli politics and the electoral system have encouraged the formation of right-wing government coalitions.

Here my Good to Know piece on Israeli politics for @goodauth.bsky.social. Short version: the political right is likely to remain in power for a long time.

goodauthority.org/news/good-to...

Trump Made Chair of Kennedy Center as Its President Is Fired The president solidified his grip on the performing arts complex as the center’s longtime president, Deborah F. Rutter, was fired.

That’s not totalitarian or anything…

www.nytimes.com/2025/02/12/u...

Is this just me? In Trump’s first administration we were constantly seeing news reports about how he treated those around him. That seems to be missing this time. Too early yet?

What surprises in the Middle East did we see in 2024? Middle East surprises last year included the fall of Assad, the death of Nasrallah, and ICC warrants against Netanyahu.

2024’s big surprises in Middle Eastern politics: Nasrallah’s end, Netanyahu’s warrant, and Assad’s fall.

Read: goodauthority.org/news/2024-bi...

What surprises in the Middle East did we see in 2024? Middle East surprises last year included the fall of Assad, the death of Nasrallah, and ICC warrants against Netanyahu.

goodauthority.org/news/2024-bi...

Military leaders are rattled by a list of 'woke' officers that a group urges Hegseth to fire Military leaders are rattled by a list of “woke” senior officers that a conservative group is urging Pete Hegseth to dismiss for promoting diversity in the ranks if he is confirmed to lead the Pentago...

As the Russian and Syrian militaries can tell you (if they could speak freely), imposing ideological conformity on the military weakens the military.

apnews.com/article/hegs...

There was a time when many argued that Russia was gaining on America in the Middle East. It was never the case, but I can see why some thought that. With the end of Assad, Russia doesn’t appear to have any close, important, friends left in the region.

Syria, end of an era. A long, terrible era.

Would Netanyahu face an International Criminal Court trial? The ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders, for war crimes in the October 2023 attack on Israel, and Israel's war on Gaza.

The ICC issued its arrest warrants. What are the chances that Netanyahu will be arrested? What effect will this have on his domestic political position?

goodauthority.org/news/icc-int...

The ICC may issue warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders. The ICC prosecutor said Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Hamas leaders are responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

In light of the ICC arrest warrants, re-upping this @goodauth.bsky.social piece:

goodauthority.org/news/how-isr...

Trump Transition Live Updates: Cabinet Picks and Matt Gaetz News President-elect Donald J. Trump’s attorney general candidate, Matt Gaetz, was investigated, but not charged, with having sex with a 17-year-old girl. The computer file included testimony from the girl...

It’s appalling that we can’t say for sure that in today’s GOP and political arena this would be disqualifying for a cabinet position. Just another example of how weak our political norms are.

www.nytimes.com/live/2024/11...

everything's going fine, why do you ask?