Many in the MAGA-verse feel betrayed by the Trump administration’s Iran war. The uproar raises a basic question: Is MAGA about principles — like opposition to regime-change wars — or whatever Trump says? @dannypostel.bsky.social and Alec D’Angelo explore.
"Much of the Gulf’s public-facing response to the conflict has been led by content creators based in the region. So much so that it may not be far-fetched to see them as unofficial spokespeople for many of the region’s major cities." | @surbhigupta.bsky.social
"You won't see 1979-style revolution. But the revolutionary regime built out of 1979 will be gone." @arashtehran.bsky.social joins @faisalalyafai.bsky.social to talk Iran on this week’s episode of The Lede.
https://newlinesmag.com/podcast/in-the-shadow-of-the-ayatollahs-death-war-comes-to-iran/
From the @newlinesmag.bsky.social archives:
Israel’s 2025 bombings shook Tehran & killed hundreds of civilians. Sociologist Asef Bayat reflects on his hometown and its people’s spirit of care, resilience and quiet determination to carry on.
"The war on Iran is an ideological battle in which moral boundaries have been breached unconscionably, and the sheer disregard for human life that’s on display is only one aspect of it." | Kourosh Ziabari
"You won't see 1979-style revolution. But the revolutionary regime built out of 1979 will be gone." Almost a week into the war, what might a new #Iran look like? @arashtehran.bsky.social tells me and Negar Mortazavi on the @newlinesmag.bsky.social podcast. Full ep: newlinesmag.com/podcast/in-t...
The tragic tales of two “ketamine queens” born 55 years apart – Marcia Moore (b. 1928) and Jasveen Sangha (b. 1983) – map the shifting history of drug use in the West over more than half a century, writes Joanne Drayton.
“I cannot wait to turn 18 so I can leave and move back to Italy. There’s never been anything for me here.” Stefania D’Ignoti eports on Ukrainian orphans evacuated to Italy in 2022 who are now caught in a legal tug-of-war as Kyiv demands their return.
Editor’s Pick:
The strikes on Iran will wound its leadership, but regime change requires a counterforce that the U.S. and Israel simply do not have, writes @hhassan.bsky.social .
"Kuwait’s 'friendly fire' downing of three F-15 fighter jets, which cost the U.S. nearly a quarter of a billion dollars in minutes, points to some potential blind spots in the operation of multibillion-dollar high-tech weaponry systems." | @rashaelass.bsky.social
🎧 Listen to “Gaza and the Fall of Western Idealism” — acclaimed writer and journalist Omar El Akkad joins @faisalalyafai.bsky.social for a frank and moving discussion about the implications of the war in Gaza.
🎉 @newlinesmag.bsky.social podcast The Lede has been nominated for Best Interview at the NYC Podcast Awards. Cast your vote here: https://www.silver-nyc.com/nycpodcastawards/vote
NEW: As “ketamine queen” Jasveen Sangha awaits sentencing for her role in the death of “Friends” actor Matthew Perry, Joanne Drayton traces parallels with the all but forgotten tale of the heiress Marcia Moore, for @newlinesmag.bsky.social newlinesmag.com/essays/a-tal...
📹 When the powerful break the law, the consequences can differ wildly. @kayliwewe.bsky.social shows how the Epstein files reveal stark global gaps in justice and accountability.
Watch now:
From the @newlinesmag.bsky.social archives:
Deep in the mountains of northern Azerbaijan, a 300-year-old community of multilingual Jews keeps "Europe's last shtetl" alive, reports Evan Pheiffer.
The Iran war isn't just disrupting oil prices; major cargo lines have halted bookings and rerouted because of threats around the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea, which could push trade toward East African ports, reports @kayliwewe.bsky.social .
"As Iran's January crackdown killed thousands, grieving families abandoned traditional Shiite funerary rites, refusing prayers, releasing doves and dancing at gravesides."
This is a introspectional must read especially for journos. It dissects how a series of investigative stories on a trove of leaked docs containing data & gruesome photos of Syria's forcibly disappeared, ended up retraumatizing families.
Critical reflection on the duty to inform, & minimizing harm.
The Damascus Dossier investigation involved dozens of journalists from at least 20 media outlets, led by German broadcaster NDR. The stories went live in December. The @newlinesmag.bsky.social story outlines shocking behaviour by some journalists, and poor coordination between outlets.
Many in the MAGA-verse feel betrayed by the Trump administration’s Iran war. The uproar raises a basic question: Is MAGA about principles — like opposition to regime-change wars — or whatever Trump says? @dannypostel.bsky.social and Alec D’Angelo explore. newlinesmag.com/running-note...
Amid the Defense Department’s showdown with Anthropic over AI use, Sunday’s “friendly fire” incident over Kuwait serves as a reminder of the folly of automated attack systems, writes @rashaelass.bsky.social in @newlinesmag.bsky.social . newlinesmag.com/running-note...
"The Gulf states are sounding increasingly frustrated and angry at their neighbor, declaring their right to self-defense and even shooting down Iranian jets and arresting Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps agents," writes @kshaheen.bsky.social .
An investigation into leaked files meant to expose abuses under Syria’s Assad regime left many families of the forcibly disappeared feeling misled and retraumatized.
“I’m not a pacifist. … But I was never pro-intervention because it was never clear that this intervention will have any positive consequences. And I think one has to be honest about things.” @arashtehran.bsky.social joins @faisalalyafai.bsky.social on The Lede.
🎧 https://shorturl.at/xXxV9
Current top read:
@ntabrizy.bsky.socialexplains how an open-source investigation debunked viral claims that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard accidentally bombed a girls’ school in Minab, showing the evidence circulating online was misidentified or fabricated.
During the 2022 Russian invasion, Ukrainian children, many with disabilities, were evacuated to foster families in Italy. Now they face traumatic, controversial repatriation orders forcing them back to Ukraine despite having safer, more supportive lives abroad.
"A prolonged crisis could hit East African economies already struggling with debt and currency pressures, with landlocked countries feeling the squeeze first."
| @kayliwewe.bsky.social on how the Iran war poses threats to global shipping and beyond
From the @newlinesmag.bsky.social archives:
An unholy alliance of Trump supporters, conservative Christians and QAnon conspiracy theorists is spreading lurid claims about child trafficking. The aim is not to help abused children but to terrify parents.
"A near-total internet blackout has once again taken hold in Iran. Connectivity has become a privilege. Only those with access to Starlink and other forms of circumvention have been able to connect to the outside world."
"The Damascus Dossier investigation is the latest example of a profound disconnect between survivors of Assad’s atrocities and journalists who report on their suffering."
