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Abu Aardvark
@abuaardvark.bsky.social
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Marc Lynch. GW Professor, POMEPS commander, Brewers fan. The one true Abu Aardvark. AMERICA’S MIDDLE EAST. Find me at https://abuaardvarkghost.ghost.io

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Marc Lynch is a Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at George Washington University, where he is also director of both the Institute for Middle East Studies and the Middle East Studies Program. .. more

Political science 59%
Sociology 30%
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abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark @abuaardvark.bsky.social · Dec 6
“An excellent, unflinchingly honest account of what every Arab knows: America's policies and dominance in the Middle East have provoked untold disasters based on a deep-rooted culture of racism and colonialism. The world needs this book now more than ever." Fida Jiryis
www.amazon.com/Americas-Mid...
America's Middle East: The Ruination of a Region
America's Middle East: The Ruination of a Region - Kindle edition by Lynch, Marc. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading America's Middle East: The Ruination of a Region.
www.amazon.com

abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 11h
Hiring surge for right wing professors driven by legislative mandate, federal pressure (and pro-Israel counterparts though this article doesn’t go into that part of it). Would be easy for desperate job seekers to game this if they had no morals, standard, or shame.

www.chronicle.com/article/the-...
The Strange New Job Market for Conservative Scholars
Right-leaning academics are in demand. Does that amount to intellectual diversity?
www.chronicle.com

abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 12h
This is crushing. Fuck everyone who chose this or supports it.

abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 12h
Everything going great now that peace has arrived

Reposted by Marc Lynch

larryferlazzo.bsky.social
Larry Ferlazzo @larryferlazzo.bsky.social · 12h
A Winter of Anguish for Minneapolis Children www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/u... gift link
A Winter of Anguish for Minneapolis Children
www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Marc Lynch

theguardian.com
The Guardian @theguardian.com · 13h
Israeli strikes kill 18 in Gaza and patient crossings at Rafah halted, Palestinian officials say
Israeli strikes kill 18 in Gaza and patient crossings at Rafah halted, Palestinian officials say
Four children among dead as restrictions on evacuations put in place days after reopening of crossing to Egypt Israeli tank shelling and airstrikes have killed 18 people, including four children, in Gaza and Israel has halted the evacuation of patients through the Rafah border crossing, Palestinian officials have said. The Israeli military said it fired on Gaza after a gunman shot at Israeli soldiers and seriously injured a reservist. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com

abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 1d
First customer of the season!

abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 1d
This is really sad. HRW (with Shakir) did monumentally important work with the “apartheid” report. Bad bad bad.
maitelsadany.bsky.social Mai El-Sadany @maitelsadany.bsky.social · 1d
Two HRW employees that make up the entirety of the organization's Israel and Palestine program are stepping down after the leadership blocked a report that deems Israel’s denial of Palestinian refugees the right of return a "crime against humanity." www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
Human Rights Watch researchers resign after report on Palestinian right of return blocked
The organization claims the report, which finds Israel’s denial of the right of return is a crime against humanity, is ‘paused pending further analysis and research’
www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Steven Heydemann

abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 1d
“Yom insists on seeing Jordan for itself, not as a function of American interests or of Israeli concerns..based on deep field research and an encylopedic knowledge of the political science literature.. will likely productively annoy certain audiences.”

abuaardvarkghost.ghost.io/this-must-be...
This Must Be The Podcast: Sean Yom
It is difficult to not worry about the stability and even survival of Jordan these days. Escalating Israeli aggression in the West Bank and political momentum towards annexation puts the Kingdom squar...
abuaardvarkghost.ghost.io

Reposted by Marc Lynch, Mauro Gatti

maitelsadany.bsky.social
Mai El-Sadany @maitelsadany.bsky.social · 1d
Two HRW employees that make up the entirety of the organization's Israel and Palestine program are stepping down after the leadership blocked a report that deems Israel’s denial of Palestinian refugees the right of return a "crime against humanity." www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
Human Rights Watch researchers resign after report on Palestinian right of return blocked
The organization claims the report, which finds Israel’s denial of the right of return is a crime against humanity, is ‘paused pending further analysis and research’
www.theguardian.com

abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 1d
“A US disaster response firm submitted a plan to White House officials that would guarantee 300% profits and a seven-year monopoly over a new trucking and logistics plan for Donald Trump’s Board of Peace in Gaza” - what’s Trump cut? Corruption all the way down.

www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
US contractor sent Gaza plan to White House that would secure 300% profits
Exclusive: Gothams LLC’s draft proposal, obtained by the Guardian, suggests seven-year trucking and logistics monopoly
www.theguardian.com

abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 1d
“Too often, as he notes, Jordanians don't recognize their country in the books and articles written about it. They will recognize the Jordan he portrays here.” Sean Yom joins me for this week’s Middle East Political Science Podcast

abuaardvarkghost.ghost.io/this-must-be...
This Must Be The Podcast: Sean Yom
It is difficult to not worry about the stability and even survival of Jordan these days. Escalating Israeli aggression in the West Bank and political momentum towards annexation puts the Kingdom squar...
abuaardvarkghost.ghost.io

Reposted by Marc Lynch

thenationalnews.com
The National @thenationalnews.com · 1d
Only 12 of 50 were allowed to pass through Israeli checkpoint on Gaza-Egypt border
Israel blocks majority of Gazans seeking return home as Rafah crossing reopens | The National
www.thenationalnews.com

Reposted by Marc Lynch, Karen Benjamin Guzzo, Stacy D. VanDeveer , and 2 more

mayasen.bsky.social
Maya Sen @mayasen.bsky.social · 1d
Trump is now demanding One Billion Dollars from Harvard, threatening criminal punishment, and insinuating Harvard’s president was chosen because of his religion (?)

Reposted by Marc Lynch

jonathancohn.bsky.social
Jonathan Cohn @jonathancohn.bsky.social · 1d
"You need only know this: Whatever is happening with your data, it is important enough to the most egregiously lawless administration in American history that it be collected and consolidated." www.nytimes.com/2026/02/03/o...
Opinion | Democracy Dies by Database
www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Marc Lynch, Laurent Pech

larryglickman.bsky.social
Larry Glickman @larryglickman.bsky.social · 1d
An incredible ongoing saga which highlights that Trump’s attacks on elite higher education has always been about the whims of the president, and the desire of his cronies and billionaire allies to bring universities “to heel,” rather than the rule of law. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/02/u...
Trump Is Said to Have Dropped Demand for Cash From Harvard
www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Marc Lynch

heissenstat.bsky.social
Howard Eissenstat @heissenstat.bsky.social · 1d
The pace with which Turkey has moved from "regional disruptor" to "supporter of regional status quo" is really quite remarkable.

www.yahoo.com/news/article...
Erdoğan to discuss 'regional cooperation' on Saudi Arabia, Egypt tour
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is visiting Saudi Arabia on Tuesday and Egypt on Wednesday to discuss deepening bilateral ties alongside regional and global developments, according to his commu...
www.yahoo.com

Reposted by Marc Lynch, Anne Norton

justinsalhani.bsky.social
Justin Salhani @justinsalhani.bsky.social · 1d
More than a year after the Nov 2024 ceasefire, there are still 64,000 internally displaced people in Lebanon, according to the IOM.

www.aljazeera.com/features/202...
A year after Hezbollah-Israel ceasefire, over 64,000 Lebanese displaced
Many say they have received little support from government or Hezbollah, not enough to rebuild lives or homes destroyed.
www.aljazeera.com

abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 2d
If Trump grew enormous white wings he could fly like an eagle and yet earn his oh I give up
foreignaffairs.com Foreign Affairs @foreignaffairs.com · 2d
If Trump can bring about a managed leadership transition in Tehran, “he may yet earn his self-bestowed title of ‘peacemaker-in-chief,’” write Ilan Goldenberg and Nate Swanson.
America’s Best Chance to Transform Iran
The right way to deploy military threats, pressure, and support for the opposition.
fam.ag

abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 2d
Yeah maybe that wasn’t the right ask Chuck.
paleofuture.bsky.social Matt Novak @paleofuture.bsky.social · 2d
Kristi Noem: “Effective immediately we are deploying body cameras to every officer in the field in Minneapolis.”
Noem: I just spoke with @RealTomHoman @ICEDirector @CBPCommissioner. Effective immediately we are deploying body cameras to every officer in the field in Minneapolis. As funding is available, the body camera program will be expanded nationwide. We will rapidly acquire and deploy body cameras to DHS law enforcement across the country. The most transparent administration in American history-thank you @POTUS Trump. Make America Safe Again 1:24 PM • 2/2/26 • 101K Views

abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 2d
I’m sorry but it’s morbidly funny how quickly Trump killed the Kennedy Center by putting his name on it. Everything he touches dies, rotting in shame, and he needs to know that every moment of what’s left of his life.

abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 2d
“While the Trumps got to fill their pockets with royal cash, it’s unclear what, if anything, the Emiratis got out of the deal, at least from a financial perspective.”
zacheverson.com Zach Everson @zacheverson.com · 2d
New: “Why The Trump-UAE Crypto Deal Made No Financial Sense—For The Emiratis” 💰🤷🇦🇪

@kylekhanmullins.bsky.social (whom you should follow) and me for @forbes.com
Why The UAE’s Investment In World Liberty Financial Was A Sweetheart Deal For Trump
What did the UAE get out of it?
www.forbes.com

Reposted by Marc Lynch

foreignaffairs.com
Foreign Affairs @foreignaffairs.com · 2d
If Trump can bring about a managed leadership transition in Tehran, “he may yet earn his self-bestowed title of ‘peacemaker-in-chief,’” write Ilan Goldenberg and Nate Swanson.
America’s Best Chance to Transform Iran
The right way to deploy military threats, pressure, and support for the opposition.
fam.ag

abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 2d
XTwitter is still the only place for Arabic language content and is better for Middle East news. Everything else I see is either AI slop or profoundly tilted to right wing and explicitly racist narratives; the “left” stuff is mostly extreme clickbait content. Ben Smith saying more about himself.
brizzyc.bsky.social Carrie Brown @brizzyc.bsky.social · 2d
So Semafor's Ben Smith thinks "X is back" "now undoubtedly at the beating heart of news again" and boy is that profoundly depressing if true. It was just weeks ago that news broke that it is flooded with fake sexualized photos of women and KIDS. www.semafor.com/newsletter/0...
🟡 Semafor Media: Heated rivalry | Semafor
In today’s edition: the arrival of the California Post.
www.semafor.com

Reposted by Marc Lynch

brizzyc.bsky.social
Carrie Brown @brizzyc.bsky.social · 2d
So Semafor's Ben Smith thinks "X is back" "now undoubtedly at the beating heart of news again" and boy is that profoundly depressing if true. It was just weeks ago that news broke that it is flooded with fake sexualized photos of women and KIDS. www.semafor.com/newsletter/0...
🟡 Semafor Media: Heated rivalry | Semafor
In today’s edition: the arrival of the California Post.
www.semafor.com

Reposted by Marc Lynch, Rosemary A. Joyce, Aviel Roshwald

ryanjreilly.com
Ryan J. Reilly “paints a vivid and urgent portrait of… disarray” @ryanjreilly.com · 2d
"President Trump has backtracked on a major point in negotiations with Harvard, dropping his administration’s demand for a $200 million payment to the government in hopes of finally resolving the administration’s conflicts with the university, according to four people briefed on the matter."
Trump Drops Demand for Cash From Harvard After Stiff Resistance
www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Marc Lynch, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò

paleofuture.bsky.social
Matt Novak @paleofuture.bsky.social · 2d
Kristi Noem: “Effective immediately we are deploying body cameras to every officer in the field in Minneapolis.”
Noem: I just spoke with @RealTomHoman @ICEDirector @CBPCommissioner. Effective immediately we are deploying body cameras to every officer in the field in Minneapolis. As funding is available, the body camera program will be expanded nationwide. We will rapidly acquire and deploy body cameras to DHS law enforcement across the country. The most transparent administration in American history-thank you @POTUS Trump. Make America Safe Again 1:24 PM • 2/2/26 • 101K Views

Reposted by Marc Lynch

rondeibert.bsky.social
Ron Deibert @rondeibert.bsky.social · 2d
NEW from @suzannesmalley.bsky.social

NSO Group tried to hijack an international diplomatic process on spyware (called "Pall Mall") to launder their sullied reputation

Fortunately, the French 🇫🇷 and UK 🇬🇧 govts (who steer Pall Mall) weren't having any of it therecord.media/spyware-make...
Spyware maker is hijacking diplomatic efforts to limit commercial hacking, civil society warns
Spyware maker NSO Group trumpeted the company’s participation in the Pall Mall Process, which drew criticism from civil society leaders and government officials who called out human rights abuses.
therecord.media

Reposted by Marc Lynch, Jack N. Rakove

rachelshelden.bsky.social
Rachel Shelden @rachelshelden.bsky.social · 2d
The idea that the Court should operate entirely in secret is a modern phenomenon. The idea that the Court should be separated from the public is a modern phenomenon. Earlier generations did not accept a powerful, isolated & secretive Court and we shouldn't either 1/6

www.nytimes.com/2026/02/02/u...
How the Supreme Court Secretly Made Itself Even More Secretive
www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Marc Lynch

zacheverson.com
Zach Everson @zacheverson.com · 2d
New: “Why The Trump-UAE Crypto Deal Made No Financial Sense—For The Emiratis” 💰🤷🇦🇪

@kylekhanmullins.bsky.social (whom you should follow) and me for @forbes.com
Why The UAE’s Investment In World Liberty Financial Was A Sweetheart Deal For Trump
What did the UAE get out of it?
www.forbes.com

Reposted by Marc Lynch, Nandita Sharma, Peter Holmes , and 10 more

chadbourn.bsky.social
Mark Chadbourn @chadbourn.bsky.social · 2d
CNN is reporting the real reason Trump is closing the Kennedy Centre for two years is not for renovation: “the Kennedy Center does not have a 2026/2027 season. There would not have been any programming to announce."