Michele Kelemen
@michelekelemen.bsky.social
8K followers 1.9K following 120 posts
Covering diplomacy for NPR
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Reposted by Michele Kelemen
kairyssdal.bsky.social
I mean come the hell on…

The request for a gift for King Charles came from a State Department liaison who used the email address “giftgirl2025” and initially told the museum that they were looking for “like a sword or something,”

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/a...
After Declining to Give Trump a Sword for King Charles, a Museum Leader Is Out
www.nytimes.com
Reposted by Michele Kelemen
npr.org
NPR @npr.org · 7d
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Reposted by Michele Kelemen
bloomberg.com
US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau expressed regret on Sunday over the recent detention of hundreds of South Korean workers in Georgia and said those who returned home will face no disadvantage when re-entering the US
US Official Offers Regrets Over Detention of South Koreans
US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau on Sunday expressed regret over the recent detention of hundreds of South Korean workers in Georgia.
bloom.bg
Reposted by Michele Kelemen
cgrisales.bsky.social
A source tells me in a tense meeting this morning, Pentagon officials briefed Senate national security and leadership staff on last week’s U.S. strike on a Venezuelan boat. However, they provided little answers, and legal justification for the strike...
michelekelemen.bsky.social
“The Russians now are able to basically control the information environment in Moldova in a way that they could only have dreamed a year ago,” said Thomas O. Melia

Russia Steps Up Disinformation Efforts as Trump Abandons Resistance www.nytimes.com/2025/09/07/b...
Russia Steps Up Disinformation Efforts as Trump Abandons Resistance
www.nytimes.com
Reposted by Michele Kelemen
yasharali.bsky.social
The human-rights situation in Iran has gotten so much worse over the past month….most people outside of Iran don’t understand how bad it’s become.
Reposted by Michele Kelemen
npr.org
NPR @npr.org · Jul 19
Last week, President Trump ramped up pressure on wavering GOP lawmakers, posting, "Any Republican that votes to allow this monstrosity to continue broadcasting will not have my support or Endorsement."
How bipartisan support for public media unraveled in the Trump era
"It will test every single shred of creativity we have to continue to try to serve our mission," says one public media executive, as Congress ends federal funding for public broadcasting.
n.pr
Reposted by Michele Kelemen
annabower.bsky.social
Here’s Abrego Garcia’s amended complaint.

It alleges that Abrego Garcia “was subjected to severe mistreatment upon arrival at CECOT, including but not limited to severe beatings, severe sleep deprivation,
inadequate nutrition, and psychological torture..”

storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Case 8:25-cv-00951-PX Document 211-3 Filed 07/02/25 Page 22 of 40
114. Inmates in CECOT are confined to their cells for 23.5 hours daily and cannot go
outdoors. They are denied access to reading materials, including even letters from friends or
family. Inmates are prohibited from receiving visits from family and friends. Meals are provided
through the bars, and the facility enforces strict regulations to maintain order. See Ex. H.
115. In May 2023, Cristosal, a leading human rights organization in El Salvador,
released a comprehensive report detailing severe human rights abuses within the country's prison
system, especially CECOT. See Ex. I. The investigation documented the deaths of 153 inmates
between March 27, 2022, and March 27, 2023, attributing many to torture, beatings, mechanical
asphyxiation (strangulation), and lack of medical attention. Id. Autopsies revealed common
patterns of lacerations, hematomas, sharp object wounds, and signs of choking or strangulation.
Id. Survivors reported being forced to pick food off the floor with their mouths, subjected to
electric shocks, and exposed to untreated skin fungus epidemics. Id. Cristosal's director has
emphasized that these systemic violations have become state policy. Id.
116. Plaintiff Abrego Garcia reports that he was subjected to severe mistreatment upon
arrival at CECOT, including but not limited to severe beatings, severe sleep deprivation,
inadequate nutrition, and psychological torture
117. Plaintiff Abrego Garcia was the first name called to disembark the plane that
transported him to El Salvador on March 15, 2025. As he exited the aircraft, still in chains, two officials grabbed his arms and pushed him down the stairs, forcing his head down.
118. There were strong lights illuminating the area despite it being nighttime, and
cameras were filming the detainees' arrival.
119. Plaintiff Abrego Garcia was pushed toward a bus, forcibly seated, and fitted with a
second set of chains and handcuffs. He was repe…
Reposted by Michele Kelemen
davidcorn.bsky.social
Why didn’t George W. Bush say anything when there was a fight to be had over this? Ditto for Obama. Solidarity is better than condolences.
angus.bsky.social
I just don't understand this. George W Bush, Barack Obama, and Bono just recorded videos commending the staff of USAID for their work and lamenting the agency's destruction...

And those videos were not released to the public.
Bush, Obama and Bono Commend USAID Staff Members on Their Last Day
www.nytimes.com