Aaron Y. Zelin

A Fight Over a West Point Job Reveals Two Visions of America Under Trump

www.nytimes.com/2025/08/03/u...

The sudden shift from “the Internet isn’t real life” to “the Internet is real life and everything else is irrelevant” over the last decade or so has been absolutely astounding to witness.

#Syria: the Anti‑Narcotics Department arrested Amer Sheikh - an internationally renowned drug kingpin once closely associated with Maher Assad - who led a global Captagon-smuggling network.

This achievement, after months of tracking, was made possible in close coordination with Turkish authorities.

Chart detailing local non-Latin, non-Armenian, non-Protestant churches found in the Levant today. The top 5 stem from the Patriarch of Antioch (after splits over the Chalcedon, monothelitism, and 3 later entering into communion with Rome), while the other 3 have their origins in the School of Edessa

🇧🇫 #BurkinaFaso – Map of JNIM activity (January-July 2025)

Each 25 km hexagon highlights militant-related activity, including operations targeting militants, and non-violent events.

Higher resolution available on my website: www.julesduhamel.com/burkina-faso...
Data: @acleddata.bsky.social

Today's discourse apparently is that we need a "Stephen Miller but for the left," which is kind of like solving police brutality by hiring Dirty Harry, who is only ever brutal to the "right" ones.

#Syria: a former Regime fighter was arrested by the Security forces in #Latakia province.

he was wanted for war crimes and mutilation of bodies.

He's identified in gruesome evidence, like playing with decapitated heads.

#Syria: Deir Baalba district, Homs-city was recaptured by Regime in 2013 without massive damage.

Depopulated Sunni-majority area, houses were extensively plundered by Regime & then razed in 2020-21.

Another example of the Assad widespread use of collective punishment & demographic engineering.

The Current Situation in al-Suwayda': Interview with a Local Druze Faction Interview with the Shaykh al-Karama Forces

An interview I conducted w/al-Suwayda' Druze faction 'Shaykh al-Karama Forces' on current situation in province & issues of relations w/Syrian central govt following the recent fighting, complaints of a 'siege' on al-Suwayda' & loss of Druze trust in govt

www.aymennaltamimi.com/p/the-curren...

For six months, I've said that threats to economic data have been more collateral damage than intentional harm.

No longer.

Firing the head of the BLS is five-alarm intentional harm to the integrity of US economic data and the entire statistical system.

Trump, Claiming Weak Jobs Numbers Were ‘Rigged,’ Fires Labor Official

For months, people have been asking me whether I still trusted gov’t data. My answer was always the same: The stats agencies faced longstanding challenges, some of which Trump was making worse. But there was no sign of political meddling.
I can’t say that anymore.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/01/b...

#Syria: the first flow of Azerbaijani gas has just started to be pumped into the pipeline, with #Aleppo as the destination.

Once the flow reaches full capacity, it will provide an average of 5 additional hours of electricity, marking the first major improvement in that field in post-Assad era.

Just in case you were harboring any doubts about whether you can trust *any* government data going forward...

Re: The Bluesky Discourse of the Bay. The reason right-wingers can politicize "getting laid" is the same reason that left-wingers should not: They're reducing women's bodies into public infrastructure. Don't do that.

#Syria: while several hundreds of people have left #Suwayda province over the past 2 days, for the first time the Civil defense reports that 293 people returned to the province today via the Bosra corridor.

#Syria: the Security forces arrested in #Latakia province a former Regime sniper accused of war crimes & mutilation of bodies.

He was deployed on several fronts including Kabana.

He also took part in Assadist attacks on March 6th.

🧵 and link to a #longread on how the ADL is failing to meet the moment

Virginia Education Board Could Oust George Mason’s President

Virginia Education Board Could Oust George Mason’s President www.nytimes.com/2025/08/01/u...

The headquarters of the four churches headquartered in Syria - all in Bab Touma/Bab Sharqi

St. George Cathedral (Syriac Orthodox)
Mariamite Cathedral (Rum Orthodox)
St. Paul Cathedral (Syriac Catholic)
Our Lady of the Dormition Cathedral (Melkite Catholic)

Quite the photo today from #Suwayda-city.
Hijri
Karama (dignity) Square
Mixed Druze-Israeli flag.

Smithsonian removes Trump from impeachment exhibit in American history museum A temporary placard, on display since 2021, described the president's historic impeachments. Officials said the exhibit was restored to an earlier version following a review of legacy content.

Smithsonian removes Trump from impeachment exhibit in American history museum - so Trump's Orwellian idiocy continues. If we erase history.... www.washingtonpost.com/entertainmen...

#Syria: anti-Government protest in #Suwayda-city - where the Israeli flag is clearly displayed in Karama square -, asking intl accountability, opening of a crossing w/ Jordan and expulsion of Gov' forces from the province & counter-protests in #Daraa, opposing Israeli interference & sedition plans.

May and June revised down by combined 258,000. That's a very significant sign of weakening.

Recession incoming

‘Clinton Plan’ Emails Were Likely Made by Russian Spies, Declassified Report Shows

‘Clinton Plan’ Emails Were Likely Made by Russian Spies, Declassified Report Shows - again, the Trump administration is ignoring Russian interference. Why? www.nytimes.com/2025/07/31/u...

"The Rearers of the Franks' Pigs" Islamic State Editorial on Syrian Government Collaboration with the Americans and al-Suwayda'

Translation & overview of new Islamic State editorial on the joint Syrian government-U.S.-led coalition raid targeting IS in al-Bab as well as the recent events in al-Suwayda'. The editorial's title is an interesting reference to medieval Iberian history www.aymennaltamimi.com/p/the-rearer...

The majority of traffic from Elon Musk's X may have been fake during the Super Bowl, report suggests These numbers are legitimately shocking.

you had one job mashable.com/article/x-tw...

#Syria: the Security forces thwarted another attempt to smuggle weapons into #Lebanon.

The shipment was concealed in an agricultural tractor.

2 individuals were arrested.

This is exactly right, concisely and eloquently on point

Balancing Fairness and Stability in Syria’s Political Transition The new government says deals with Assad-era cronies are a form of justice that protects economic recovery and provides no immunity for past abuses

We spoke to the Syrian government about Reuters’ recent investigation about reported deals with Assad-era business cronies & tycoons.

New, exclusive details by @kshaheen.bsky.social and me in @newlinesmag.bsky.social

newlinesmag.com/spotlight/ba...