@jfallows.bsky.social
Reporter and writer: https://fallows.substack.com/ and https://www.ourtownsfoundation.org/ One-time speechwriter, long-time pilot, longer-time husband of linguist/writer Deborah Fallows. Note same wristwatch in the two photos, more than 50 years apart.
From Deb Fallows on the Our Towns site, how libraries are continuing to step up, in under-reported ways, to meet the civic needs of this moment.
www.ourtownsfoundation.org#special-report
Via FlightAware, only planes visible right now in airspace around Dulles IAD, National DCA, and Balt-Wash BWI are those *overflying*, at 30,000+ ft, en route someplace else.
None of the usual long approach-and-landing queues for all three airports, plus those departing.
Awaiting more info.
Back in their SNL days, Dana Carvey and Kevin Nealon did their "Hans and Franz" bits, making fun of "girlie men."
They would have a field day w Kristi Noem's cosplaying twin, Pete Hegseth. Colin Jost is acing it now.
Ever hear Eisenhower whine this way? Any *genuine* tough guy?
Really enjoyed doing Friday News Roundup with the famed Diane Rehm today.
Follow her substack! dianerehm.substack.com/p/the-friday...
Two days ago in DC: Sunny, hot (80+F), early start of summer.
Yesterday: Heavy snow till about 3pm. Early-blossoming cherry trees w tiny pink flowers covered by white snow.
Right now: 40+ knot winds from the south. 60+ foot hemlock uprooted as I watched.
"Normal" DC spring ... sort of.
If people in the White House thought the war was going well I don't think JD Vance's allies would be leaking stories like this
www.politico.com/news/2026/03...
Question would be whether sub crew (or entirety of USN fleet it was in touch with) did anything whatsoever to assist potential rescuers.
(Track record in the Caribbean, via drones rather than subs, not encouraging.)
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From Geneva Convention, about affirmative duty of attacking forces to search for, rescue, and assist any crew members who survived an attack.
The Iranians who survived US torpedo attack in international waters were rescued by a Sri Lankan ship.
ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/ihl-treat...
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This is crucially important point.
1) "No quarter" is indeed specifically war-crime term
2) Under Geneva Conventions, after sinking an enemy ship, the attackers must "take all positive measures" to find and rescue any survivors. Text in next post
No evidence US sub did so after attack, AFAIK
As always, we'll wait for details on latest air tragedy over Iraq.
But given that this was a *refueling* plane, which by definition flies very close to other aircraft when transferring fuel, one detail in news reports seems significant:
The most pathetic thing you'll see today. Here's President Bone Spurs trying to pretend he went to one of the military academies. I've no doubt millions of his followers will believe it.
Yes, it was the kind of school that used to advertise in back pages of NYT Magazine as a place for kids who were having (or making) trouble in mainstream public/private high schools.
A kid in my public high school (in Calif!) was sent off to one of them.
NYT op-ed page leading w Iran pensées of Bret Stephens
—In early 2003, he wrote that toppling statue of Saddam Hussein signaled that the hard part was over in Iraq. Dismissed views of "doom-and-gloomers."
—Early 2003 named Paul Wolfowitz "man of the year" for "vision" in orchestrating Iraq plans
Anyone who has ever studied any military history of the past 150 years learns this as Lesson One.
(This group notably excludes Hegseth, Vance, Rubio, Trump.)
Excellent @nprfreshair.bsky.social interview w the unmatchable Harrison Ford.
Especially recc part starting around 15:00. Terry Gross asks what it was like when plane engine failed (in WWII era plane). Ford's answer will ring 100% true to anyone who has flown.
www.npr.org/2026/03/11/n...
This was funny for a while, but:
—24 hours ago it was 80 degrees in DC and I was hitting tennis balls outside. And sweating.
—Right now IT IS SNOWING AGAIN.
Some time this has to end...
Ah, yes, American Exceptionalism: the Palantir edition.
Adams, Jefferson, Lincoln, Harriet Tubman, Jane Addams, FDR, MLK, etc would all be so proud.
Avoiding all products from co's led by amoral nuts takes work, but Palantir/Thiel/Karp empire is a good place to start.
Yes, this is an excellent piece of investigation, narration, and accountability, by Mike Baker and Steven Rich in @nytimes.com Very much worth going back to read.
With departure of Noem, Hegseth now leads the cabinet in cosplaying.
He is in a snit because people are using "unflattering" pictures.
Here's one I used two days ago, matching him with a SecDef who actually took the job seriously. (Original images via Getty. fallows.substack.com/p/the-arroga... )
Good to see a current US Senator talking this way.
(No sarcasm.)
Who could possibly have foreseen that war on Iran would (a) make Iran retaliate by closing the strait of Hormuz, which (b) could disrupt world oil markets, enriching Russia and penalizing most everyone else?
Who, indeed, except EVERYONE WHO HAS EVER THOUGHT FOR ONE MINUTE about the situation.
As a nation, do you know how assholic you have to be and how badly you have to behave to radicalize Canadians?
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Since this slipped through cracks ystrday: Trump said Iranians could have hit their own girls school, because they also have Tomahawk missiles
THEY DO NOT. These are not "generic." Used by US UK Japan Aussies Dutch. NOT Iran
Either: 1) Trump doesn't know this. Disqualifying.
2) He does. Liar.
Really excellent interview by @amnanawaz.bsky.social on PBS NewsHour this evening, with Foreign Minister of Iran.
www.pbs.org/newshour/sho...
Listen to this man. Compare what he says (in English) with the slop we're getting from Hegseth, Trump, or Araghchi's counterpart, Rubio.
If you are watching Trump's presser right now, you are seeing beyond reasonable doubt a person not mentally suited for any position of responsibility. Even running a small store.
GOP members of the House and Senate: You are seeing this too.
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And, to make the obvious points:
—The US offers "thoughts and prayers" when school children are gunned down with AR-15s.
—Any country's reaction is different when a foreign entity is involved.
How long will people in Iran remember? How long would Americans remember an Iranian missile.
Imagine the reaction in the US if ~175 schoolgirls had been killed by a targeted Iranian missile. (Or anyone's missile.)
This is an atrocity.
Powerful, gripping new story by @garrettepps.bsky.social in @washingtonmonthly.com, about the reaction in small-town coastal Oregon when ICE and the "deportation industrial complex" arrived.
washingtonmonthly.com/2026/03/09/i...
Yeah, and (as you know) that does not mean it will be over for the people in Iran. And therefore not for the US.
