Frederick Deknatel
@freddydeknatel.bsky.social
Journalist, fellow at Century International, editor of Hidden Cities: https://hiddencities.substack.com/
Previously: Founding executive editor, Democracy in Exile @dawnmenaorg.bsky.social; managing editor @wpr.bsky.social; staff editor @foreignaffairs.com
Previously: Founding executive editor, Democracy in Exile @dawnmenaorg.bsky.social; managing editor @wpr.bsky.social; staff editor @foreignaffairs.com
Pinned
Frederick Deknatel - The Century Foundation
Frederick Deknatel is a journalist, editor and fellow at Century International, where he writes about Middle Eastern affairs. From 2021 to 2025, he was
tcf.org
I'm thrilled to join the Century Foundation as a fellow at Century International, where I'll be writing on Syria's future, from the huge challenges of reconstruction to the prospects for U.S.-Syria ties after Assad. @centuryintl.bsky.social @tcfdotorg.bsky.social
tcf.org/experts/fred...
tcf.org/experts/fred...
Reposted by Frederick Deknatel
my "current operations are lawful under US and international law" t-shirt has a lot of people asking questions that are answered by my t-shirt
a lot of words, none of them denying that Hegseth gave an order to kill helpless people who were stranded at sea after he blew up their boats
November 29, 2025 at 1:07 AM
my "current operations are lawful under US and international law" t-shirt has a lot of people asking questions that are answered by my t-shirt
Trump and Hegseth’s Department of War Crimes
Exclusive: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave an order to “kill everybody” in the first strike on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean. After two men survived, the mission commander ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions, according to two sources.
Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order to kill all crew members in the Sept. 2 strike on a suspected drug boat. Navy SEALs fired a second missile.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 28, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Trump and Hegseth’s Department of War Crimes
Trump’s Thanksgiving message to the nation:
We must strip naturalized citizens of their citizenship and deport anyone I want.
We must strip naturalized citizens of their citizenship and deport anyone I want.
Trump: “I will permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries … denaturalize migrants who undermine domestic tranquility, and deport any Foreign National who is a public charge, security risk, or non-compatible with Western Civilization.“
November 28, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Trump’s Thanksgiving message to the nation:
We must strip naturalized citizens of their citizenship and deport anyone I want.
We must strip naturalized citizens of their citizenship and deport anyone I want.
November 27, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Reposted by Frederick Deknatel
Saudi Arabia can’t even afford MBS’s follies, let alone the massive investment into the U.S. he promised Donald Trump.
MBS’ Vanity Projects Are Bleeding Saudi Arabia Dry
Saudi Arabia can’t even afford Mohammed bin Salman’s follies, let alone the investment into the U.S. he promised Donald Trump.
www.worldpoliticsreview.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Saudi Arabia can’t even afford MBS’s follies, let alone the massive investment into the U.S. he promised Donald Trump.
Reposted by Frederick Deknatel
A stark and harrowing new essay in Hidden Cities by Yahya Al Masri:
“This is the story of so many of us in Gaza. We couldn’t rescue our brothers.”
hiddencities.substack.com/p/come-rescu...
“This is the story of so many of us in Gaza. We couldn’t rescue our brothers.”
hiddencities.substack.com/p/come-rescu...
November 24, 2025 at 6:04 PM
A stark and harrowing new essay in Hidden Cities by Yahya Al Masri:
“This is the story of so many of us in Gaza. We couldn’t rescue our brothers.”
hiddencities.substack.com/p/come-rescu...
“This is the story of so many of us in Gaza. We couldn’t rescue our brothers.”
hiddencities.substack.com/p/come-rescu...
Reposted by Frederick Deknatel
“If Egypt has taught me anything, it is that wisdom prefers short paths: a proverb on the tongue, a true measure in the hand, a heart that seeks sincerity and the old confidence that whatever is aligned with truth will last.”
@ysl.bsky.social
hiddencities.substack.com/p/the-ancien...
@ysl.bsky.social
hiddencities.substack.com/p/the-ancien...
The Ancient, Enduring Wisdom of Egyptian Aphorisms
A Lineage of Brief Counsel From Ptahhotep to Ibn ʿAṭā’ Allāh
hiddencities.substack.com
November 17, 2025 at 1:13 AM
“If Egypt has taught me anything, it is that wisdom prefers short paths: a proverb on the tongue, a true measure in the hand, a heart that seeks sincerity and the old confidence that whatever is aligned with truth will last.”
@ysl.bsky.social
hiddencities.substack.com/p/the-ancien...
@ysl.bsky.social
hiddencities.substack.com/p/the-ancien...
Reposted by Frederick Deknatel
“For all their utopian dreams, the megaprojects championed by MBS don’t signal the future, but rather the trap represented by Saudi Arabia’s political economy,” @freddydeknatel.bsky.social writes.
MBS’ Vanity Projects Are Bleeding Saudi Arabia Dry
Saudi Arabia can’t even afford Mohammed bin Salman’s follies, let alone the investment into the U.S. he promised Donald Trump.
www.worldpoliticsreview.com
November 26, 2025 at 1:00 AM
“For all their utopian dreams, the megaprojects championed by MBS don’t signal the future, but rather the trap represented by Saudi Arabia’s political economy,” @freddydeknatel.bsky.social writes.
Reposted by Frederick Deknatel
"For all their utopian dreams, the megaprojects championed by MBS don’t signal the future, but the trap represented by Saudi Arabia’s political economy."
Megaproject fiascos, an overdrawn sovereign wealth fund and speculative, crony real estate schemes won’t create MBS's “thriving economy.”
Megaproject fiascos, an overdrawn sovereign wealth fund and speculative, crony real estate schemes won’t create MBS's “thriving economy.”
November 25, 2025 at 2:22 PM
"For all their utopian dreams, the megaprojects championed by MBS don’t signal the future, but the trap represented by Saudi Arabia’s political economy."
Megaproject fiascos, an overdrawn sovereign wealth fund and speculative, crony real estate schemes won’t create MBS's “thriving economy.”
Megaproject fiascos, an overdrawn sovereign wealth fund and speculative, crony real estate schemes won’t create MBS's “thriving economy.”
Reposted by Frederick Deknatel
As per Okaz, this morning the Saudi Central Bank banned all banks and financial institutions in the country try from discussing topics deemed political or sensitive when participating in conferences and fora inside and outside the Kingdom.
Saudi Arabia can’t even afford MBS’s follies, let alone the investment into the U.S. he promised Donald Trump, @freddydeknatel.bsky.social writes.
MBS’ Vanity Projects Are Bleeding Saudi Arabia Dry
Saudi Arabia can’t even afford Mohammed bin Salman’s follies, let alone the investment into the U.S. he promised Donald Trump.
www.worldpoliticsreview.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:42 PM
As per Okaz, this morning the Saudi Central Bank banned all banks and financial institutions in the country try from discussing topics deemed political or sensitive when participating in conferences and fora inside and outside the Kingdom.
You’ll be shocked to discover that Rubio’s walk-back was a lie. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
November 25, 2025 at 9:24 PM
You’ll be shocked to discover that Rubio’s walk-back was a lie. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Reposted by Frederick Deknatel
Saudi Arabia can’t even afford MBS’s follies, let alone the investment into the U.S. he promised Donald Trump, @freddydeknatel.bsky.social writes.
MBS’ Vanity Projects Are Bleeding Saudi Arabia Dry
Saudi Arabia can’t even afford Mohammed bin Salman’s follies, let alone the investment into the U.S. he promised Donald Trump.
www.worldpoliticsreview.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Saudi Arabia can’t even afford MBS’s follies, let alone the investment into the U.S. he promised Donald Trump, @freddydeknatel.bsky.social writes.
Reposted by Frederick Deknatel
"Rather than delivering a development dream, MBS may be overseeing the biggest waste of a state’s resources in decades."
My new column on MBS, Trump and the trouble with promising $1 trillion in US investments as billions are wasted on vanity projects at home (sorry, "giga-projects"). Gift link:
My new column on MBS, Trump and the trouble with promising $1 trillion in US investments as billions are wasted on vanity projects at home (sorry, "giga-projects"). Gift link:
MBS’ Vanity Projects Are Bleeding Saudi Arabia Dry
Saudi Arabia can’t even afford Mohammed bin Salman’s follies, let alone the investment into the U.S. he promised Donald Trump.
www.worldpoliticsreview.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:15 PM
"Rather than delivering a development dream, MBS may be overseeing the biggest waste of a state’s resources in decades."
My new column on MBS, Trump and the trouble with promising $1 trillion in US investments as billions are wasted on vanity projects at home (sorry, "giga-projects"). Gift link:
My new column on MBS, Trump and the trouble with promising $1 trillion in US investments as billions are wasted on vanity projects at home (sorry, "giga-projects"). Gift link:
"Rather than delivering a development dream, MBS may be overseeing the biggest waste of a state’s resources in decades."
My new column on MBS, Trump and the trouble with promising $1 trillion in US investments as billions are wasted on vanity projects at home (sorry, "giga-projects"). Gift link:
My new column on MBS, Trump and the trouble with promising $1 trillion in US investments as billions are wasted on vanity projects at home (sorry, "giga-projects"). Gift link:
MBS’ Vanity Projects Are Bleeding Saudi Arabia Dry
Saudi Arabia can’t even afford Mohammed bin Salman’s follies, let alone the investment into the U.S. he promised Donald Trump.
www.worldpoliticsreview.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:15 PM
"Rather than delivering a development dream, MBS may be overseeing the biggest waste of a state’s resources in decades."
My new column on MBS, Trump and the trouble with promising $1 trillion in US investments as billions are wasted on vanity projects at home (sorry, "giga-projects"). Gift link:
My new column on MBS, Trump and the trouble with promising $1 trillion in US investments as billions are wasted on vanity projects at home (sorry, "giga-projects"). Gift link:
Omar El Akkad’s book is indispensable—and now a National
Book Award winner.
Read an excerpt in Hidden Cities:
“It is not so hard to believe, even during the worst of things, that courage is the more potent contagion. That there are more invested in solidarity than annihilation.”
Book Award winner.
Read an excerpt in Hidden Cities:
“It is not so hard to believe, even during the worst of things, that courage is the more potent contagion. That there are more invested in solidarity than annihilation.”
November 25, 2025 at 2:12 AM
Omar El Akkad’s book is indispensable—and now a National
Book Award winner.
Read an excerpt in Hidden Cities:
“It is not so hard to believe, even during the worst of things, that courage is the more potent contagion. That there are more invested in solidarity than annihilation.”
Book Award winner.
Read an excerpt in Hidden Cities:
“It is not so hard to believe, even during the worst of things, that courage is the more potent contagion. That there are more invested in solidarity than annihilation.”
A stark and harrowing new essay in Hidden Cities by Yahya Al Masri:
“This is the story of so many of us in Gaza. We couldn’t rescue our brothers.”
hiddencities.substack.com/p/come-rescu...
“This is the story of so many of us in Gaza. We couldn’t rescue our brothers.”
hiddencities.substack.com/p/come-rescu...
November 24, 2025 at 6:04 PM
A stark and harrowing new essay in Hidden Cities by Yahya Al Masri:
“This is the story of so many of us in Gaza. We couldn’t rescue our brothers.”
hiddencities.substack.com/p/come-rescu...
“This is the story of so many of us in Gaza. We couldn’t rescue our brothers.”
hiddencities.substack.com/p/come-rescu...
The most sinister version of this meme imaginable.
November 24, 2025 at 3:22 PM
The most sinister version of this meme imaginable.
Reposted by Frederick Deknatel
“Ismael, where are you? Are you okay?”
It wasn’t Ismael who answered. It was his 10-year-old son, Nabil.
“Yes, my uncle, please come rescue your brother,” he said, his little voice trembling.
Yahya Al Masri's new essay in Hidden Cities:
hiddencities.substack.com/p/come-rescu...
It wasn’t Ismael who answered. It was his 10-year-old son, Nabil.
“Yes, my uncle, please come rescue your brother,” he said, his little voice trembling.
Yahya Al Masri's new essay in Hidden Cities:
hiddencities.substack.com/p/come-rescu...
‘Come Rescue Your Brother.’ Life and Loss in Gaza
Ibrahim tried to reassure me, saying everything would be okay, but my gut told me otherwise.
hiddencities.substack.com
November 23, 2025 at 5:01 PM
“Ismael, where are you? Are you okay?”
It wasn’t Ismael who answered. It was his 10-year-old son, Nabil.
“Yes, my uncle, please come rescue your brother,” he said, his little voice trembling.
Yahya Al Masri's new essay in Hidden Cities:
hiddencities.substack.com/p/come-rescu...
It wasn’t Ismael who answered. It was his 10-year-old son, Nabil.
“Yes, my uncle, please come rescue your brother,” he said, his little voice trembling.
Yahya Al Masri's new essay in Hidden Cities:
hiddencities.substack.com/p/come-rescu...
Trump’s “peace plan” for Ukraine was actually a Russian wishlist? Where would you ever get that idea? 🤔 www.axios.com/2025/11/20/t...
November 23, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Trump’s “peace plan” for Ukraine was actually a Russian wishlist? Where would you ever get that idea? 🤔 www.axios.com/2025/11/20/t...
“This is the story of so many of us in Gaza.”
A new essay in Hidden Cities by Yahya Al Masri—”of love lost and life interrupted.” hiddencities.substack.com/p/come-rescu...
A new essay in Hidden Cities by Yahya Al Masri—”of love lost and life interrupted.” hiddencities.substack.com/p/come-rescu...
‘Come Rescue Your Brother.’ Life and Loss in Gaza
Ibrahim tried to reassure me, saying everything would be okay, but my gut told me otherwise.
hiddencities.substack.com
November 23, 2025 at 10:07 PM
“This is the story of so many of us in Gaza.”
A new essay in Hidden Cities by Yahya Al Masri—”of love lost and life interrupted.” hiddencities.substack.com/p/come-rescu...
A new essay in Hidden Cities by Yahya Al Masri—”of love lost and life interrupted.” hiddencities.substack.com/p/come-rescu...
“Ismael, where are you? Are you okay?”
It wasn’t Ismael who answered. It was his 10-year-old son, Nabil.
“Yes, my uncle, please come rescue your brother,” he said, his little voice trembling.
Yahya Al Masri's new essay in Hidden Cities:
hiddencities.substack.com/p/come-rescu...
It wasn’t Ismael who answered. It was his 10-year-old son, Nabil.
“Yes, my uncle, please come rescue your brother,” he said, his little voice trembling.
Yahya Al Masri's new essay in Hidden Cities:
hiddencities.substack.com/p/come-rescu...
‘Come Rescue Your Brother.’ Life and Loss in Gaza
Ibrahim tried to reassure me, saying everything would be okay, but my gut told me otherwise.
hiddencities.substack.com
November 23, 2025 at 5:01 PM
“Ismael, where are you? Are you okay?”
It wasn’t Ismael who answered. It was his 10-year-old son, Nabil.
“Yes, my uncle, please come rescue your brother,” he said, his little voice trembling.
Yahya Al Masri's new essay in Hidden Cities:
hiddencities.substack.com/p/come-rescu...
It wasn’t Ismael who answered. It was his 10-year-old son, Nabil.
“Yes, my uncle, please come rescue your brother,” he said, his little voice trembling.
Yahya Al Masri's new essay in Hidden Cities:
hiddencities.substack.com/p/come-rescu...
Reposted by Frederick Deknatel
every so-called moderate who refused to endorse Mamdani for whatever nonsense reasoning around The Deep-Red Heartland must be spiraling rn bsky.app/profile/fred...
It's priceless that 86 Democrats, including leadership, voted for a pathetic Republican messaging bill about the "horrors" of socialism and Zohran just… charmed Trump and got him to gush about FDR and the New Deal.
November 21, 2025 at 9:40 PM
every so-called moderate who refused to endorse Mamdani for whatever nonsense reasoning around The Deep-Red Heartland must be spiraling rn bsky.app/profile/fred...
It's priceless that 86 Democrats, including leadership, voted for a pathetic Republican messaging bill about the "horrors" of socialism and Zohran just… charmed Trump and got him to gush about FDR and the New Deal.
November 21, 2025 at 9:35 PM
It's priceless that 86 Democrats, including leadership, voted for a pathetic Republican messaging bill about the "horrors" of socialism and Zohran just… charmed Trump and got him to gush about FDR and the New Deal.
You can see major American media outlets in real time performing for Trump and the right, which has cowed them into thinking they have a "liberal bias."
Democrats should get more combative in interviews like this — call out TV hosts out for sounding like they work for the White House.
Democrats should get more combative in interviews like this — call out TV hosts out for sounding like they work for the White House.
"That's absolutely a ridiculous assertion. Shame on you for saying that" -- Hakeem Jeffries was not happy when CNBC's Rebecca Quick claimed he actually wants healthcare costs to go up to score political points on Republicans
November 21, 2025 at 2:55 PM
You can see major American media outlets in real time performing for Trump and the right, which has cowed them into thinking they have a "liberal bias."
Democrats should get more combative in interviews like this — call out TV hosts out for sounding like they work for the White House.
Democrats should get more combative in interviews like this — call out TV hosts out for sounding like they work for the White House.
I think we know now what Trump and Putin’s calls have been about:
All the rape, torture, and murder will be brushed under the carpet, a great lesson for any future war criminals.
November 21, 2025 at 12:46 PM
I think we know now what Trump and Putin’s calls have been about: