Colby
@mobilecheco.bsky.social
human rights, movements, civic space, conflict, extremism, IR, mostly Africa & US.
Reposted by Colby
This is what Bari Weiss et al think "censorship" actually is; when subordinates criticize their superiors. That has been the bedrock of the entire "cancel culture" discourse in elite media; rage at the idea that students, women, journalists, interns, etc might be able to speak against the boss.
The CBS reporter who led the story calls pulling it a "political" decision.
"The decision was made after Bari Weiss, the new editor in chief of CBS News, requested numerous changes to the segment."
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/21/b...
"The decision was made after Bari Weiss, the new editor in chief of CBS News, requested numerous changes to the segment."
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/21/b...
December 22, 2025 at 3:24 AM
This is what Bari Weiss et al think "censorship" actually is; when subordinates criticize their superiors. That has been the bedrock of the entire "cancel culture" discourse in elite media; rage at the idea that students, women, journalists, interns, etc might be able to speak against the boss.
Reposted by Colby
Militia fighters killed at least 22 civilians in an attack in November 2025 on a village in western Democratic Republic of Congo.
The attack underscores the Congolese government’s failure to scale-up security in the area despite warnings of violence.
The attack underscores the Congolese government’s failure to scale-up security in the area despite warnings of violence.
DR Congo: Militia Massacres Civilians Near Kinshasa
Militia fighters killed at least 22 civilians and injured many more in an attack in late November 2025 on a village in Kwamouth territory in western Democratic Republic of Congo.
www.hrw.org
December 16, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Militia fighters killed at least 22 civilians in an attack in November 2025 on a village in western Democratic Republic of Congo.
The attack underscores the Congolese government’s failure to scale-up security in the area despite warnings of violence.
The attack underscores the Congolese government’s failure to scale-up security in the area despite warnings of violence.
Reposted by Colby
the defensiveness and incredulity of a good chunk of the commentary class toward arguments about trump’s racism is, imho, downstream of the same impulse behind the endless trump voter safaris and self-flagellation about being out of touch with the heartland
Thinking back to how people were "hysterical" for calling trump white supremacist and now he's doing nordic theory on the campaign trail
December 10, 2025 at 4:06 PM
the defensiveness and incredulity of a good chunk of the commentary class toward arguments about trump’s racism is, imho, downstream of the same impulse behind the endless trump voter safaris and self-flagellation about being out of touch with the heartland
Reposted by Colby
The military junta in Burkina Faso has adopted a bill restoring the death penalty nearly a decade after abolishing the practice.
Human Rights Watch opposes the death penalty in all circumstances because of its inherent cruelty.
Human Rights Watch opposes the death penalty in all circumstances because of its inherent cruelty.
Burkina Faso Junta Restores Death Penalty
The military junta in Burkina Faso has adopted a bill restoring the death penalty nearly a decade after the West African country abolished the heinous practice. The last known judicial execution in Bu...
www.hrw.org
December 9, 2025 at 3:38 PM
The military junta in Burkina Faso has adopted a bill restoring the death penalty nearly a decade after abolishing the practice.
Human Rights Watch opposes the death penalty in all circumstances because of its inherent cruelty.
Human Rights Watch opposes the death penalty in all circumstances because of its inherent cruelty.
Reposted by Colby
Did you know? Children, not soldiers, are often the victims of landmines and cluster munitions.
Rep. Sara Jacobs and Rep. Jim McGovern breakdown why the U.S. must lead in the global effort to ban these immoral, indiscriminate weapons. 🧵👇
Rep. Sara Jacobs and Rep. Jim McGovern breakdown why the U.S. must lead in the global effort to ban these immoral, indiscriminate weapons. 🧵👇
December 3, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Did you know? Children, not soldiers, are often the victims of landmines and cluster munitions.
Rep. Sara Jacobs and Rep. Jim McGovern breakdown why the U.S. must lead in the global effort to ban these immoral, indiscriminate weapons. 🧵👇
Rep. Sara Jacobs and Rep. Jim McGovern breakdown why the U.S. must lead in the global effort to ban these immoral, indiscriminate weapons. 🧵👇
Reposted by Colby
As new details come out about follow-up strikes on a boat in the Caribbean Sea, a reminder that each of these attacks sets a dangerous precedent for a United States government that is trying to use a non-existent armed conflict to justify dozens of patently unlawful killings.
December 2, 2025 at 6:54 PM
As new details come out about follow-up strikes on a boat in the Caribbean Sea, a reminder that each of these attacks sets a dangerous precedent for a United States government that is trying to use a non-existent armed conflict to justify dozens of patently unlawful killings.
Reposted by Colby
Frankly, this is political pseudoscience. Postulations of intra-group unity and intergroup incommensurability are as facile and cartoonish when framed in terms of "civilisations" as they are when framed in terms of "races". Thankfully, IR as a discipline is moving on from this sort of nonsense.
Amid the liberal internationalist optimism of the late 1990s, Samuel Huntington foresaw a world marked by continued conflict.
Samuel Huntington Is Getting His Revenge
The idea of a global “clash of civilizations” wasn’t wrong—it was just premature.
foreignpolicy.com
December 1, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Frankly, this is political pseudoscience. Postulations of intra-group unity and intergroup incommensurability are as facile and cartoonish when framed in terms of "civilisations" as they are when framed in terms of "races". Thankfully, IR as a discipline is moving on from this sort of nonsense.
Closing civic space and media censorship have been the norm in Tanzania for a decade+ Magafuli was a brutish moron but Hassan was assumed to be different because of her gender. As late as 2023 Biden was still considering making Hassan a face of his "democracy agenda"... www.cnn.com/2025/11/21/a...
‘Oh my God, this is our Tanzania’: CNN investigation shows police shooting protesters, signs of mass graves | CNN
In the chaotic aftermath of Tanzania’s disputed presidential election last month, police and gun-wielding men on patrol shot at groups of protesters, many of whom appeared unarmed or were holding only...
www.cnn.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Closing civic space and media censorship have been the norm in Tanzania for a decade+ Magafuli was a brutish moron but Hassan was assumed to be different because of her gender. As late as 2023 Biden was still considering making Hassan a face of his "democracy agenda"... www.cnn.com/2025/11/21/a...
UAE continuing to fund massacres in Darfur
www.middleeasteye.net/news/darfur-...
www.middleeasteye.net/news/darfur-...
Darfur Governor Minni Minnawi says RSF killed 27,000 Sudanese in el-Fasher
Former rebel leader tells MEE that several of his relatives were 'eliminated' when the UAE-backed paramilitaries overran the city
www.middleeasteye.net
November 25, 2025 at 7:29 PM
UAE continuing to fund massacres in Darfur
www.middleeasteye.net/news/darfur-...
www.middleeasteye.net/news/darfur-...
Reposted by Colby
I presume Foreign Affairs is not yet running my one-word rebuttal "don't"
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
How to Topple Maduro
And why regime change is the only way forward in Venezuela.
www.foreignaffairs.com
November 23, 2025 at 8:21 PM
I presume Foreign Affairs is not yet running my one-word rebuttal "don't"
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
Reposted by Colby
I wrote for @theintercept.com about how prosecuting transportation of these pamphlets is a danger to all writers, journalists, and Americans.
Possession of words is not a crime, even with intent to distribute.
Possession of words is not a crime, even with intent to distribute.
November 23, 2025 at 3:45 PM
I wrote for @theintercept.com about how prosecuting transportation of these pamphlets is a danger to all writers, journalists, and Americans.
Possession of words is not a crime, even with intent to distribute.
Possession of words is not a crime, even with intent to distribute.
Reposted by Colby
USAID's capacities took decades to build and Musk, through DOGE, gutted it all with the enthusiasim and foresight of a 14 year old given keys to a Lambourghini in a town where his dad's the sheriff internationalpolicy.org/publications...
DOGE’s Gutting Of USAID Weakened Disaster Response - CIP
For over 30 years, USAID had a leading role is disaster response for the United States, a capacity shattered when it was shut down.
internationalpolicy.org
November 23, 2025 at 4:25 PM
USAID's capacities took decades to build and Musk, through DOGE, gutted it all with the enthusiasim and foresight of a 14 year old given keys to a Lambourghini in a town where his dad's the sheriff internationalpolicy.org/publications...
Reposted by Colby
Has any reporter asked them to define "Western civilization"? I suspect it would be illuminating
November 21, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Has any reporter asked them to define "Western civilization"? I suspect it would be illuminating
Reposted by Colby
The Trump administration will welcome Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the US this week.
This is the crown prince's first visit since he approved the murder of Jamal Khashoggi and oversaw an unprecedented rights crackdown in Saudi Arabia.
This is the crown prince's first visit since he approved the murder of Jamal Khashoggi and oversaw an unprecedented rights crackdown in Saudi Arabia.
US: Prioritize Rights During Saudi Leader’s Visit
The United States government, including Congress, should address Saudi human rights abuses during Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s expected visit to Washington on November 18, 2025.
www.hrw.org
November 11, 2025 at 4:03 PM
The Trump administration will welcome Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the US this week.
This is the crown prince's first visit since he approved the murder of Jamal Khashoggi and oversaw an unprecedented rights crackdown in Saudi Arabia.
This is the crown prince's first visit since he approved the murder of Jamal Khashoggi and oversaw an unprecedented rights crackdown in Saudi Arabia.
Reposted by Colby
no quote about the US political system has ever gone harder than this one
November 10, 2025 at 10:02 PM
no quote about the US political system has ever gone harder than this one
Reposted by Colby
Breaking News: Late last night Conde Nast illegally fired 4 union organizers who asked company execs to explain the downsizing of Teen Vogue and continued layoffs. We’ve filed a grievance.
November 6, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Breaking News: Late last night Conde Nast illegally fired 4 union organizers who asked company execs to explain the downsizing of Teen Vogue and continued layoffs. We’ve filed a grievance.
Reposted by Colby
No to war on #Venezuela!
No to murder on the high seas!
☎️ Take action before today’s Senate vote ⬇️
No to murder on the high seas!
☎️ Take action before today’s Senate vote ⬇️
November 6, 2025 at 7:01 PM
No to war on #Venezuela!
No to murder on the high seas!
☎️ Take action before today’s Senate vote ⬇️
No to murder on the high seas!
☎️ Take action before today’s Senate vote ⬇️
Reposted by Colby
I would read the hell out of a deeply reported piece on how the media/political elite addiction to Twitter is shaping their views, which in turn shape the views of millions of people. It's a total reality-warper.
i’m increasingly convinced that many people in d.c. are just suffering from x dot com brain rot
October 29, 2025 at 9:16 PM
I would read the hell out of a deeply reported piece on how the media/political elite addiction to Twitter is shaping their views, which in turn shape the views of millions of people. It's a total reality-warper.
Reposted by Colby
In Cameroon, tensions are running high given the contested reelection of Paul Biya.
At least four people have been killed allegedly by security forces, dozens injured, and hundreds more arrested since the Oct. 12 presidential election.
At least four people have been killed allegedly by security forces, dozens injured, and hundreds more arrested since the Oct. 12 presidential election.
Cameroon: Biya Declared the Winner Amid Post-Election Violence
Cameroon’s post-election period has been marred with violence with at least four people killed allegedly by security forces, dozens injured, and hundreds more arrested across the country arrested sinc...
www.hrw.org
October 28, 2025 at 2:02 PM
In Cameroon, tensions are running high given the contested reelection of Paul Biya.
At least four people have been killed allegedly by security forces, dozens injured, and hundreds more arrested since the Oct. 12 presidential election.
At least four people have been killed allegedly by security forces, dozens injured, and hundreds more arrested since the Oct. 12 presidential election.
Reposted by Colby
The detention by ICE of British journalist and commentator Sami Hamdi solely for his views while on a speaking tour in the U.S. is a blatant assault on free speech.
These are the tactics of the Thought Police.
These are the tactics of the Thought Police.
ICE detains British journalist after criticism of Israel on US tour
Trump ally Laura Loomer took credit for Sami Hamdi’s detainment in move denounced as ‘affront to free speech’
www.theguardian.com
October 28, 2025 at 1:55 PM
The detention by ICE of British journalist and commentator Sami Hamdi solely for his views while on a speaking tour in the U.S. is a blatant assault on free speech.
These are the tactics of the Thought Police.
These are the tactics of the Thought Police.
Reposted by Colby
A flurry of videos shows Rapid Support Forces in Sudan carrying out extrajudicial killings and attacking apparent civilians fleeing North Darfur’s capital El Fasher following the takeover of the city by the RSF.
Urgent international action is needed.
Urgent international action is needed.
October 27, 2025 at 9:23 PM
A flurry of videos shows Rapid Support Forces in Sudan carrying out extrajudicial killings and attacking apparent civilians fleeing North Darfur’s capital El Fasher following the takeover of the city by the RSF.
Urgent international action is needed.
Urgent international action is needed.
Reposted by Colby
People will say illegal immigration is obviously a problem and then struggle to name what the actual problem they have with it is in ways that aren't just xenophobia. "Oh, some people aren't legible to the state? Why do you, not the state, care?"
October 27, 2025 at 1:59 PM
People will say illegal immigration is obviously a problem and then struggle to name what the actual problem they have with it is in ways that aren't just xenophobia. "Oh, some people aren't legible to the state? Why do you, not the state, care?"
Reposted by Colby
NEW: DHS is asking companies to submit plans to turn standard 4x4 trucks into AI-powered watchtowers—combining radar, cameras, and autonomous tracking to extend surveillance on demand.
by me @ wired:
by me @ wired:
DHS Wants a Fleet of AI-Powered Surveillance Trucks
US border patrol is asking companies to submit plans to turn standard 4x4 trucks into AI-powered watchtowers—combining radar, cameras, and autonomous tracking to extend surveillance on demand.
www.wired.com
October 24, 2025 at 11:01 PM
NEW: DHS is asking companies to submit plans to turn standard 4x4 trucks into AI-powered watchtowers—combining radar, cameras, and autonomous tracking to extend surveillance on demand.
by me @ wired:
by me @ wired:
“The animating issue shaping the U.N.’s work is whether it furthers the continuation of colonialism, exploitation, and subordination, or supports the radical transformation of the international order that governs our lived realities.”
The #UnitedNations’ 80th anniversary slogan “for peace, development and human rights” falls flat for too many, writes @matiangai.bsky.social
Read her reflections on the 1960 coup in now-Democratic Republic of Congo and the historic NYC protest that followed:
www.justsecurity.org/123129/unite...
Read her reflections on the 1960 coup in now-Democratic Republic of Congo and the historic NYC protest that followed:
www.justsecurity.org/123129/unite...
The United Nations and a World in Pain
The U.N.’s survival depends on how it positions itself between the elephant and the mouse, in South America, Asia, Africa, and beyond.
www.justsecurity.org
October 24, 2025 at 4:43 PM
“The animating issue shaping the U.N.’s work is whether it furthers the continuation of colonialism, exploitation, and subordination, or supports the radical transformation of the international order that governs our lived realities.”
Reposted by Colby
Me and @janus.bsky.social in @teenvogue.com:
"If lawmakers really cared about kids, they’d stop trying to take away their health care ... Instead, many top Democrats in Congress are trying to help Trump censor the internet. And by speaking out, it’s the kids who are protecting us from them."
"If lawmakers really cared about kids, they’d stop trying to take away their health care ... Instead, many top Democrats in Congress are trying to help Trump censor the internet. And by speaking out, it’s the kids who are protecting us from them."
Why Are Some Democrats Backing MAGA's Anti-LGBTQ+ Censorship?
From late-night host cancellations to removing LGBTQ+ history from government sites, politicians in both parties are contributing to the overwriting of the internet — a place where lots of queer and t...
www.teenvogue.com
October 23, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Me and @janus.bsky.social in @teenvogue.com:
"If lawmakers really cared about kids, they’d stop trying to take away their health care ... Instead, many top Democrats in Congress are trying to help Trump censor the internet. And by speaking out, it’s the kids who are protecting us from them."
"If lawmakers really cared about kids, they’d stop trying to take away their health care ... Instead, many top Democrats in Congress are trying to help Trump censor the internet. And by speaking out, it’s the kids who are protecting us from them."