Ambassador (ret.) Janet Sanderson
@jastucaz.bsky.social
Former U.S. Ambassador, retired career Foreign Service officer, still writing that long-delayed biography of Tudor humanist Mildred Cooke Cecil, helped by the cat. Not as diplomatic as I once was.
I love this! @jessicashortall.bsky.social
Peace Corps, USAID, State, FCS, military, whatever. Anyone who served abroad has stories like this one. It’s one of the reasons we do (or, like me, did) what we do as public servants.
Happy Thanksgiving to all who serve-wherever you find your turkey.
Peace Corps, USAID, State, FCS, military, whatever. Anyone who served abroad has stories like this one. It’s one of the reasons we do (or, like me, did) what we do as public servants.
Happy Thanksgiving to all who serve-wherever you find your turkey.
Maybe I’ll tell y’all about Thanksgiving in Uzbekistan, where I was in the peace corps 2000-2001.
I lived in a town; nearest American lived in a qishloq - a true village. A few of us somehow figured out to meet there. (How? No internet, no phones. No recollection of how we planned anything.) 1/
I lived in a town; nearest American lived in a qishloq - a true village. A few of us somehow figured out to meet there. (How? No internet, no phones. No recollection of how we planned anything.) 1/
November 27, 2025 at 5:11 AM
I love this! @jessicashortall.bsky.social
Peace Corps, USAID, State, FCS, military, whatever. Anyone who served abroad has stories like this one. It’s one of the reasons we do (or, like me, did) what we do as public servants.
Happy Thanksgiving to all who serve-wherever you find your turkey.
Peace Corps, USAID, State, FCS, military, whatever. Anyone who served abroad has stories like this one. It’s one of the reasons we do (or, like me, did) what we do as public servants.
Happy Thanksgiving to all who serve-wherever you find your turkey.
Reposted by Ambassador (ret.) Janet Sanderson
This isn’t confidence. It’s insecurity. It’s the emperor with no clothes demanding applause. The frantic attacks on the press and claims of “perfect” everything are exactly how authoritarian leaders behave when they feel control and support slipping away.
November 26, 2025 at 11:33 PM
This isn’t confidence. It’s insecurity. It’s the emperor with no clothes demanding applause. The frantic attacks on the press and claims of “perfect” everything are exactly how authoritarian leaders behave when they feel control and support slipping away.
Jamelle nails it.
Denying Haitians here in the U.S.TPS status while Haiti totters on the abyss, in part due to the failures of its friends, is criminal.
And yes, I’m including us in that category.
Denying Haitians here in the U.S.TPS status while Haiti totters on the abyss, in part due to the failures of its friends, is criminal.
And yes, I’m including us in that category.
the requirement is, of course, “be white” amp.miamiherald.com/news/nation-...
Trump says Haiti no longer meets requirements for TPS. Haitians have to leave
The Department of Homeland Security said TPS for Haiti ends Feb. 3, 2026, affecting over half a million people who may face return to gang-controlled Port-au-Prince.
amp.miamiherald.com
November 26, 2025 at 11:33 PM
Jamelle nails it.
Denying Haitians here in the U.S.TPS status while Haiti totters on the abyss, in part due to the failures of its friends, is criminal.
And yes, I’m including us in that category.
Denying Haitians here in the U.S.TPS status while Haiti totters on the abyss, in part due to the failures of its friends, is criminal.
And yes, I’m including us in that category.
Reposted by Ambassador (ret.) Janet Sanderson
Trump wastes no time targeting Sen. Mark Kelly after the indictments he orchestrated against James Comey & Letitia James are dismissed
anntelnaes.substack.com/p/james-come...
anntelnaes.substack.com/p/james-come...
November 26, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Trump wastes no time targeting Sen. Mark Kelly after the indictments he orchestrated against James Comey & Letitia James are dismissed
anntelnaes.substack.com/p/james-come...
anntelnaes.substack.com/p/james-come...
Reposted by Ambassador (ret.) Janet Sanderson
St. Mary’s Food Bank has already distributed 20,000 meals to families.
St. Mary’s is not the only food bank in AZ.
The need is overwhelming.
First, thank you to the food banks for being there for Arizona families.
Secondly, Trump did this.
Trump is creating food lines like we are Russia.
St. Mary’s is not the only food bank in AZ.
The need is overwhelming.
First, thank you to the food banks for being there for Arizona families.
Secondly, Trump did this.
Trump is creating food lines like we are Russia.
donald trump is smiling and talking into a microphone .
ALT: donald trump is smiling and talking into a microphone .
media.tenor.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:40 PM
St. Mary’s Food Bank has already distributed 20,000 meals to families.
St. Mary’s is not the only food bank in AZ.
The need is overwhelming.
First, thank you to the food banks for being there for Arizona families.
Secondly, Trump did this.
Trump is creating food lines like we are Russia.
St. Mary’s is not the only food bank in AZ.
The need is overwhelming.
First, thank you to the food banks for being there for Arizona families.
Secondly, Trump did this.
Trump is creating food lines like we are Russia.
This. And this again.
As I have said before and I will repeat again: In fast-moving moments of crisis such as this, trust NOTHING this regime tells you that cannot be independently verified.
November 26, 2025 at 10:19 PM
This. And this again.
Reposted by Ambassador (ret.) Janet Sanderson
They had submitted extensive paperwork and paid fees. The foreign spouses had been fingerprinted, passed medical exams, no criminal records. They entered the country legally were authorized to work.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
Green Card Interviews End in Handcuffs for Spouses of U.S. Citizens
www.nytimes.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:47 PM
They had submitted extensive paperwork and paid fees. The foreign spouses had been fingerprinted, passed medical exams, no criminal records. They entered the country legally were authorized to work.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
This.
And he’s a raving incompetent as well.
And he’s a raving incompetent as well.
Steve Witkoff isn’t promoting peace. His interventions are helping Vladimir Putin and prolonging the war
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
What Is Steve Witkoff Trying to Do?
Trump’s envoy isn’t promoting peace. His interventions are helping Vladimir Putin and prolonging the war.
www.theatlantic.com
November 26, 2025 at 10:15 PM
This.
And he’s a raving incompetent as well.
And he’s a raving incompetent as well.
Reposted by Ambassador (ret.) Janet Sanderson
Chamberlain did not win a Nobel Peace Prize.
November 24, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Chamberlain did not win a Nobel Peace Prize.
This is how real diplomats, not wannabes, do it.
When I worked for Obama, I advised him on how to talk to Russian leaders. I never gave the Kremlin advice on how to talk to Obama (and I talked to Ushakov many times!).
November 26, 2025 at 5:48 PM
This is how real diplomats, not wannabes, do it.
Reposted by Ambassador (ret.) Janet Sanderson
They are aware that Russians quite literally wrote the capitulation document that some people in the White House and sadly many people in the media refer to as a peace plan.
Congressional Republicans including Senator Mitch McConnell are openly blasting President Trump’s team of appeasing Russia, warning that doing so would not lead to lasting peace.
Republicans Fight With Trump’s Team Over Ukraine Talks
Senator Mitch McConnell and several other lawmakers accused President Trump’s team of appeasing the Kremlin, warning that doing so would not lead to lasting peace.
nyti.ms
November 26, 2025 at 5:20 PM
They are aware that Russians quite literally wrote the capitulation document that some people in the White House and sadly many people in the media refer to as a peace plan.
Reposted by Ambassador (ret.) Janet Sanderson
'An ordinary president, Kelly told us on Tuesday afternoon, would have responded to the video by affirming that troops should of course follow lawful orders. “But not this guy,” he added. “We basically said, ‘Follow the law.’ And he said, ‘Kill them.’”'
www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...
www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...
‘An Example MUST BE SET’
The pursuit of Mark Kelly in the military-justice system sends a clear message to service members and veterans.
www.theatlantic.com
November 26, 2025 at 1:58 PM
'An ordinary president, Kelly told us on Tuesday afternoon, would have responded to the video by affirming that troops should of course follow lawful orders. “But not this guy,” he added. “We basically said, ‘Follow the law.’ And he said, ‘Kill them.’”'
www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...
www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...
Reposted by Ambassador (ret.) Janet Sanderson
Years ago, on World AIDS Day, Haitian PM Alexis and I publicly took HIV tests at GHESKIO, the superb Haitian institute working with PEPFAR to combat HIV/AIDS, to encourage, memorialize, and remind people that the disease could be detected, battled, and beaten.
I guess hope no longer matters.
I guess hope no longer matters.
November 25, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Years ago, on World AIDS Day, Haitian PM Alexis and I publicly took HIV tests at GHESKIO, the superb Haitian institute working with PEPFAR to combat HIV/AIDS, to encourage, memorialize, and remind people that the disease could be detected, battled, and beaten.
I guess hope no longer matters.
I guess hope no longer matters.
Reposted by Ambassador (ret.) Janet Sanderson
This fucking sucks and is hostile af (yes, I get that this is the point). Our national parks are a treasure and I love sharing them with people. People visit the US specifically to see them. Nature should be open to everyone.
National Parks to raise fees by $100 for international tourists to popular U.S. parks
The National Park Service says it is going to start charging international tourists an extra $100 to enter popular parks. They will be left out of fee-free days, reserved for American residents.
www.npr.org
November 26, 2025 at 3:51 PM
This fucking sucks and is hostile af (yes, I get that this is the point). Our national parks are a treasure and I love sharing them with people. People visit the US specifically to see them. Nature should be open to everyone.
Reposted by Ambassador (ret.) Janet Sanderson
This is so true.
November 26, 2025 at 2:28 PM
This is so true.
Reposted by Ambassador (ret.) Janet Sanderson
If we had a functional justice system, Donald Trump would be in prison right now.
November 26, 2025 at 4:39 PM
If we had a functional justice system, Donald Trump would be in prison right now.
Reposted by Ambassador (ret.) Janet Sanderson
Reposted by Ambassador (ret.) Janet Sanderson
We’d like to end today with a quote from Eleanor Roosevelt:
We do not have to become heroes overnight. Just a step at a time, meeting each thing that comes up, seeing it as not as dreadful as it appears, discovering that we have the strength to stare it down.
Just keep going. Goodnight, heroes.
We do not have to become heroes overnight. Just a step at a time, meeting each thing that comes up, seeing it as not as dreadful as it appears, discovering that we have the strength to stare it down.
Just keep going. Goodnight, heroes.
November 26, 2025 at 2:04 AM
We’d like to end today with a quote from Eleanor Roosevelt:
We do not have to become heroes overnight. Just a step at a time, meeting each thing that comes up, seeing it as not as dreadful as it appears, discovering that we have the strength to stare it down.
Just keep going. Goodnight, heroes.
We do not have to become heroes overnight. Just a step at a time, meeting each thing that comes up, seeing it as not as dreadful as it appears, discovering that we have the strength to stare it down.
Just keep going. Goodnight, heroes.
Reposted by Ambassador (ret.) Janet Sanderson
No matter how long I live after we get through this dark chapter, I will never get over the immorality, the amorality, the corruption, the criminality and the cruelty in service to one of the worst humans to ever walk the earth.
November 26, 2025 at 1:13 AM
No matter how long I live after we get through this dark chapter, I will never get over the immorality, the amorality, the corruption, the criminality and the cruelty in service to one of the worst humans to ever walk the earth.
Reposted by Ambassador (ret.) Janet Sanderson
Three things about the Witkoff tapes:
1) It appears Western intelligence services have decided to let Witkoff (and Trump) know they have recordings of their traitorous conversations w/Russia.
2) This Ukraine "deal" was all Witkoff's idea.
3) Congressional leaders should demand he be fired.
1) It appears Western intelligence services have decided to let Witkoff (and Trump) know they have recordings of their traitorous conversations w/Russia.
2) This Ukraine "deal" was all Witkoff's idea.
3) Congressional leaders should demand he be fired.
EXCLUSIVE: US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff advised Russia on how to pitch Ukraine plans to Trump, in audio files reviewed by Bloomberg
Witkoff Advised Russia on How to Pitch Ukraine Plan to Trump
US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff, fresh from the triumph of the Gaza peace deal, held a phone call last month with a senior Kremlin official to suggest they work together on a similar plan for Ukraine — and that Vladimir Putin should raise it with Donald Trump.
bloom.bg
November 25, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Three things about the Witkoff tapes:
1) It appears Western intelligence services have decided to let Witkoff (and Trump) know they have recordings of their traitorous conversations w/Russia.
2) This Ukraine "deal" was all Witkoff's idea.
3) Congressional leaders should demand he be fired.
1) It appears Western intelligence services have decided to let Witkoff (and Trump) know they have recordings of their traitorous conversations w/Russia.
2) This Ukraine "deal" was all Witkoff's idea.
3) Congressional leaders should demand he be fired.
How much longer must we live with a president whose mind is clearly slipping-or gone? This isn’t joke any longer.
Trump Makes Heinous Deportation Joke During Turkey Pardon
Apparently Donald Trump thinks ignoring people’s right to due process is funny.
newrepublic.com
November 25, 2025 at 11:05 PM
How much longer must we live with a president whose mind is clearly slipping-or gone? This isn’t joke any longer.
Reposted by Ambassador (ret.) Janet Sanderson
So it can be done.
November 25, 2025 at 10:16 PM
So it can be done.
Yikes.
"By 2025, Brexit had reduced UK GDP by 6% to 8%, with the impact accumulating gradually over time. We estimate that investment was reduced by between 12% and 18%, employment by 3% to 4% and productivity by 3% to 4%"
Read the Stanford report:
siepr.stanford.edu/publications...
Read the Stanford report:
siepr.stanford.edu/publications...
The Economic Impact of Brexit
Other
siepr.stanford.edu
November 25, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Yikes.
Reposted by Ambassador (ret.) Janet Sanderson
I'm wondering if Kegseth is hell-bent on going after Mark Kelly because he outranked him. Small men do that kind of thing.
November 25, 2025 at 6:43 PM
I'm wondering if Kegseth is hell-bent on going after Mark Kelly because he outranked him. Small men do that kind of thing.