In the article linked below, co-authored with friend and colleague Ned McMahon, we consider whether the MAGA evisceration of the U.S. government’s foreign aid structure represents a passing phase, or an end point.
saisreview.sais.jhu.edu/foreign-assi...
My latest J Street policy piece on the post-ceasefire, humanitarian situation in Gaza. jstreetdotorg.substack.com/p/immediate-...
My latest J Street explainer: Palestinian Authority Reform, jstreet.org/explainer-pa...
My latest article on the dire situation in Gaza. While I had hope that Trump would pressure Netanyahu to ease the situation, the public reporting suggests that has not occurred and the number of Palestinian civilians is rising daily.
forward.com/opinion/7532...
My latest op-ed in Haaretz newspaper on the situation in Gaza. www.haaretz.com/opinion/2025...
My J Street Explainer on the New Gaza Humanitarian Foundation Mechanism for Aid Delivery. jstreet.org/explainer-ne...
How the death of USAID will haunt Israel, Gaza and Trump
The tragic consequences of Trump's cuts to foreign assistance as they are playing out in Sudan.
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/19/w...
Wonderful article by Hisham Jabi, a Palestinian who first came to the United States on a USAID-funded scholarship, became a citizen, and is now a successful entrepreneur.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-ru...
This eight minute clip with Jake Tapper interviewing a USAID official illustrates the Trump Adminitration's animus and cruelty toward USAID employees, and belies whatever pro-life/pro-family rhetoric the Administration expresses. Shame!
www.cnn.com/2025/04/02/w...
Excellent summary of current state of play with respect to assault on democracy in US and what needs to be done.
open.substack.com/pub/persuasi...
Great analysis ofnisduesnin Khalil case. open.substack.com/pub/stevevla...
Great deconstructing of Trump's penalty of Columbia University, which is taking serious steps to address the "anti-semitism" issue without totally compromising protection of free speech.
10. And if Trump really cared about fighting antisemitism, he wouldn’t be trying to defund the Department of Education, which plays such an essential role in fighting antisemitism on campus.
Excellent analysis all the way through. Hopefully, the Judge will see through these shenanigans and offer an appropriate remedy, including an explicit authorization for USAID COs to implement the TRO terms and requiring the government to comply with the prompt payment act.
What the Last Four Weeks have Wrought
open.substack.com/pub/contrari...
My friend Max Stier’s take on the Trump/Musk dismantling of the federal government (with more to come).
The consequences of the Trump Administration's actions overseas are dire, but Musk and his team don't seem to care. And sadly, even those who know better amond Republican politicos are unwilling to speak out.
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Nice to have Marco Rubio, Lindsey Graham, and Mark Green make the case for the important role that USAID plays in supporting US foreign policy and enhancing our national security.
www.instagram.com/reel/DF9NoJu...
Yes, Gaza must be rebuild, but let's forthrightly understand the challenges and organize a coalition that is willing to undertake such a task. This article posted by the Middle East Institute reflect my thoughts on what such an effort would look like.
www.mei.edu/publications...
My take on the dismantling of USAID and the harm it is doing to U.S. interests around the globe. Even if the macro decisions are reveresed or partially pulled back, the damage has already done.
www.cfr.org/article/cost...
Having worked as USAID’s Mission Director in Palestine for 5 years, Tuesday was truly a bad day. Between the mindless decapitation of USAID and Trump’s endorsement of ethnic cleansing in Gaza, I suffered a double gut punch. And this only day 15 of a 4 year term - I fear what may come next.
Important op ed by my colleague Kevin Johnson, Executive Director of Election Reformers Network.
thefulcrum.us/rule-of-law/...
Under what authority does DOGE staff, who are not federal employees, enter a federal building, in this case USAID, over the objections of USAID's head of security. And why does an Acting Administrator fire his security chief in obesiance to an order from a body established without any safeguards.
Humanitarian workers now have to decide whether to continue providing life-saving assistance or adhere to the immoral stop work orders issued by newly-ensconced Trump officials. Hopefully, their moral compasses will provide them with guidance.
www.propublica.org/article/trum...
As millions go without treatment - the latest on USAID and the dismantlement of the USG foreign assistance agency.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
I heard the news yesterday of President Carter’ death while visiting an exhibit on Haitian art at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, which somehow seemed appropriate given Carter’s long involvement with that troubled country….
Continues on Facebook
www.facebook.com/786817222/po...?
My reminiscences on the death of President Carter.
www.facebook.com/786817222/po...?
