Danny Postel

Latest Essays | New Lines Magazine A local magazine for the world

1.🧵 Week in Review: The pigeoneers of Damascus, Britain’s summer of the right, Dutch-Indonesian families caught between two worlds, Nigeria’s nightclubs and more. Check out our stories from this week:

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Solace and Community in a Tigray Spice Mill The ancient work is an act of resilience for this women’s collective, preserving identity in the aftermath of war

For the women of Tigray, milling ancient spices is a way to reconnect with their heritage in the aftermath of war, reports Paddy Dowling, with photography, for @newlinesmag.bsky.social

NYT editorial board calls for deradicalizing the surviving Palestinians in Gaza The multinational authority should have an ambitious agenda. It would span the restoration of basic services, the feeding of the population, the reconstruction of neighborhoods and the creation of a police force. Crucially, as experts at the Wilson Center in Washington have argued, this authority should create a program in schools, the media and elsewhere "to remove Hamas's pervasive radicalizing influence over Gazan society." Another task would be disarming any Hamas fighters who keep fighting. Qatar, given its longtime relationship with Hamas, can help pressure the group, much as the United States can pressure Israel. There are historical antecedents for an international mission along these lines. Deradicalization programs succeeded in Germany and Japan after World War II, and multinational police forces have operated in Bosnia, Kosovo, Haiti and elsewhere. Of course, these efforts come with dangers. Participating countries would risk having their personnel become targets for Hamas.

I struggle to think of an editorial board that's been more overtly racist and genocidal that the NY Times one.

This is on the level of Putinist bullshit about denazifying Ukraine.

Do these people think Palestinians have grievances because an islamist group told them so? So palestinian grievances have nothing to do with the camps and the displacement and the bombardment and the no political rights thing? Huh, how interesting 🤔

China’s First AI Actor Makes Her Debut Lili Ziren and similar characters are attracting hundreds of thousands of the country’s fans online

The AI actor Lili Ziren, the first such personality to appear in a TV series alongside human castmates in China, highlights a growing fascination with the technology in the country, reports Amanda Florian for @newlinesmag.bsky.social

A Turkish Journalist Breaks New Ground From Behind Bars Even in a high-security prison, Fatih Altaylı keeps broadcasting scoops

“Make no mistake — Altaylı is no saint. Yet solidarity against antidemocratic practices casts a wide net in Turkey today.”

Merve Pehlivan reports on Fatih Altaylı’s upcoming trial for @newlinesmag.bsky.social

The Suffering of Canada’s Indigenous People It began when my mother was apprehended and taken to residential school at the age of 7, where she stayed for seven years without once going home. I cannot even imagine all that my Mama lost. How…

The discovery in 2021 of the bodies of 215 indigenous children at a residential school in British Columbia highlighted a brutal part of Canada's legacy. Crystal Semaganis recounts her family’s story for @newlinesmag.bsky.social

The Arab World’s First Indie Record Label A Lebanese family’s global brand reflects the story of 20th-century Europe — and its relationship with the Middle East

The rise and fall of a pioneering Lebanese record label headquartered in Berlin was bound up with the geopolitics of the 20th century. Anna-Theresa Bachmann and Hannah El-Hitami explore the history of Baidaphon for @newlinesmag.bsky.social

Preserving Afghanistan’s Soul: A Race Against Time From his house in California, a young member of the country’s diaspora is digitizing his homeland’s sounds

From his California home, a young member of the Afghan diaspora is digitizing his homeland’s sounds before they are erased by time or the Taliban. Tamana Ayazi reports for @newlinesmag.bsky.social

Pope Francis Apologizes to Canada’s Indigenous Peoples As with the earlier apology from the Vatican, the majority of the criticism pointed to the words the pontiff chose to use—and those he didn’t. It was discouraging to see Pope Francis once again forgo…

When the late Pope Francis performed his week-long “pilgrimage of penance” in Canada, many expressed disappointment with his highly-anticipated apology for the abuses committed against Indigenous people, @chriselkholy.bsky.social writes for @newlinesmag.bsky.social

The Return of Syrian Horse Racing From Damascus to Aleppo, equestrian clubs scarred by war are stirring back to life, as breeders, jockeys and dreamers try to rebuild a sport that was once a symbol of national pride

NEW: Once a showcase for Assad-era power and corruption, Syria’s equestrian world was left in ruins. Now a few breeders and riders are trying to revive Syria’s horse racing heritage, report Inès Gil and Hugo Lautissier for @newlinesmag.bsky.social

newlinesmag.com/spotlight/th...

The Undimmed Passion of Damascus’ Pigeon Fanciers The centuries-old tradition survived wartime’s rooftop snipers, but is struggling to inspire the young

NEW: The pigeon fanciers of Damascus survived Syria’s civil war, sometimes alongside their prized birds. Now they wonder if their centuries-old hobby might be on its last flight, writes Alex Martin Astley for @newlinesmag.bsky.social.

newlinesmag.com/reportage/th...

Many will remember Ruwa from the Uncommitted movement, which pressed Kamala Harris to include a Palestinian speaker at the DNC last summer.

Kamala’s failure to give even 2 minutes to any Palestinian, no matter how vetted & mutually humanising toward Israelis, was an unforced error in my view.

Many young Americans on the left are giving up on politics. And many women, disgusted by Trump’s sexism & feeling like the double standards will always stop us, have backed down.

But Ruwa—a granddaughter of Palestinian refugees—is standing up to @runforsomething.net.

I applaud her. A 🧵 about why:

Trump’s horrifying speech to U.S. generals: ‘It’s a war from within’ Trump tells U.S. generals that he plans to primarily use the U.S. military to fight “the enemy within,” in American cities.

New: Trump’s horrifying speech to U.S. generals envisions war at home

diplomatic.substack.com/p/trumps-hor...

This plan is a farce, intended to give Israel everything it wants quickly and then manufacture reasons to never give Palestinians anything.

Another violent attack by an ICE officer on a civilian at 26 Federal Plaza—this time on a journalist, who had to be carried out on stretcher.

Another attack on the First Amendment, our neighbors, and our democracy.

@continentaldrifts.bsky.social just e-mailed you. Does your Northwestern e-mail still work or should I reroute my message to a different address?

Caught Between States as an Empire Dissolved A Dutch-Indonesian family’s documents from the mid-20th century reveal a painful story of separation and an administrative nightmare that prefigures today’s xenophobic politics

When my grandfather died in 2004, I was 11. At his home in Nijmegen I found a battered briefcase, unopened for years. Inside: photos, consular forms and letters — a history of falling empire, colonial decoupling and rising nationalism that marked those who lived it.

newlinesmag.com/first-person...

Caught Between States as an Empire Dissolved A Dutch-Indonesian family’s documents from the mid-20th century reveal a painful story of separation and an administrative nightmare that prefigures today’s xenophobic politics

NEW: A trove of family documents reveals how Dutch-Indonesian families were caught between two worlds as an empire collapsed. @chrisosieck.bsky.social writes for @newlinesmag.bsky.social on a painful personal story that crosses continents and generations.

newlinesmag.com/first-person...

Confessions of a Syrian Barrel Bomber A colonel in Bashar al-Assad’s air force recounts his role in the campaigns that devastated his country, and his escape after the regime’s fall

“I apologize to every Syrian I killed or wounded. Even if I was not the one pressing the trigger, I was part of this machine of death. Forgive me.”

A Syrian air force colonel recalls bribery and betrayals in this confessional profile from Kamal Shahin.

Solace and Community in a Tigray Spice Mill The ancient work is an act of resilience for this women’s collective, preserving identity in the aftermath of war

“For the women of Tigray, spice is their past and present, a colorful mainstay of their lives, which have seen joy but also fighting and sexual violence.” Paddy Dowling reports, with photography, for @newlinesmag.bsky.social

Charlie Kirk’s Assassination Reveals a Terrifying New Reality Around Political Violence The murder of the influencer and Trump ally presents a crossroads for a hyperpolarized America

“When polarization becomes so extreme that the term ‘political disagreement’ sounds euphemistic, and condemnations of violence feel like they create a false equivalence, the outrage machine is spinning out of control.”

Welcome to Syria’s Fragile Paradise On a once-exclusive strip of Mediterranean coast, DJs, influencers and beach bars are testing how far freedom can stretch in a country emerging from war

“For Rama, Rasha, Amro, Sam and Morad, every post is an act: to attract, to protect, to defy. To show just enough to spark desire, but not too much to provoke, trying to transform Syria one post at a time.”

Nepal’s Youth Uprising Is Part of a South Asian Wave of Rebellion Fueled by frustration and discontent, the Himalayan nation follows Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in witnessing mass protests against political corruption and elitism

Nepal’s youth-led uprising follows similar events in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, signaling a push for greater accountability and a break from the past across South Asia, writes Vandana Menon for @newlinesmag.bsky.social

The Signal Listener's Choice Award needs YOU I just voted for this finalist to win a Signal Listener's Choice Award. You should too.

The Lede was named a finalist in this year's @signalawards.bsky.social for our episode “The War We Don't See" with @arwadamon.bsky.social in the Interview/Talk Show category.

Vote for us in the 2025 Signal Listener’s Choice Award here!

vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting...

The Arab World’s First Indie Record Label A Lebanese family’s global brand reflects the story of 20th-century Europe — and its relationship with the Middle East

“The Lebanese label produced hundreds, if not thousands, of recordings in Berlin up until the eve of World War II.”

Anna-Theresa Bachmann and Hannah El-Hitami explore the history of Baidaphon for @newlinesmag.bsky.social

The Autumn of Charlie Kirk What does it mean to turn a far-right activist into a national martyr?

What does it mean to turn a far-right activist into a national martyr? The memorialization of Charlie Kirk has made him far bigger in death than he was in life, Joe Lowndes argues in @newlinesmag.bsky.social

newlinesmag.com/spotlight/th...

How the Shipwrights of Arwad Weathered Syria’s War The country’s only inhabited island escaped the worst of the conflict, keeping its ancient boatbuilding tradition alive

NEW: Syria’s only inhabited island, Arwad, survived the civil war intact. Its boatbuilders are reviving their craft, which dates back to Phoenician times, and welcoming visitors once more, reports Anagha Nair for @newlinesmag.bsky.social

newlinesmag.com/spotlight/ho...

1. 🧵On Global Insights this week, @bylinetimes.bsky.social’s
@hardeepmatharu.bsky.social and @josbetts.bsky.social join Kwangu Liwewe to discuss the British right’s evolving relationship with identity and race.

newlinesmag.com/podcast/brit...