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Eric Bazail-Eimil

@ebazail.bsky.social
1.2K followers 368 following 19 posts

POLITICO national security reporter | Come for the news, stay for the sports commentary | send tips: ebazail@politico.com

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Reposted by Eric Bazail-Eimil
Josh Gerstein @joshgerstein.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Texas law firm gets $150M contract from Trump admin to represent minors in immigration court. None of the lawyers on the firm's website claims expertise in immigration law. Via @ebazail.bsky.social www.politico.com/news/2026/08...
politico.com
26-employee Texas law firm gets $150M to represent 24,000 children in immigration court
None of the Burke Law Group’s lawyers list immigration law as an area of expertise, per the firm’s website.
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Phelim Kine @phelimkine.bsky.social · 07/06/2026
Buckle up for "a trip through Washington’s rollicking 21st-century influence bazaar, in which elite credibility and social media followings developed around one cause can be rented for any other" @ebazail.bsky.social @adamwren.bsky.social @politico.com www.politico.com/news/2026/06...
politico.com
The back-channel bid to go soft on Maduro
A web of oil interests, a fallen congressmember, a special envoy and a fleet of social-media influencers tried to pull the Trump administration toward a more accommodating posture on Venezuela. It alm...
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Adam Wren @adamwren.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
EXCLUSIVE: A web of oil interests, a fallen congress member, a special envoy and a fleet of social-media influencers tried to pull the Trump administration toward a more accommodating posture on Venezuela. It almost worked. W/ @ebazail.bsky.social www.politico.com/news/2026/06...
politico.com
The back-channel bid to go soft on Maduro
A web of oil interests, a fallen congressmember, a special envoy and a fleet of social-media influencers tried to pull the Trump administration toward a more accommodating posture on Venezuela. It alm...
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Reposted by Eric Bazail-Eimil
Adam Wren @adamwren.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
EXCLUSIVE: Aaron Schock traded congressional disgrace for what he said was his shot at a Venezuelan gold mine — and the chance to remake himself in Trump's Washington. W/ @ebazail.bsky.social www.politico.com/news/2026/06...
politico.com
All that glitters
Aaron Schock traded congressional disgrace for what he said was his shot at a Venezuelan gold mine — and the chance to remake himself in Trump's Washington.
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Reposted by Eric Bazail-Eimil
Nahal Toosi @nahaltoosi.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
NEW COLUMN … and a quick first foray into video: www.politico.com/news/magazin...
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Hassan Ali Kanu @hassankanu.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
NEW: Plaintiffs' attorneys obtained Signal messages between Homeland Security & FEMA officials that corroborate allegations that an outside contractor served as the 'shadow administrator' of FEMA for months. w @ebazail.bsky.social www.politico.com/news/2026/04...
politico.com
Court filing backs up claims of ‘shadow administrator’ at FEMA
Republicans have raised specific questions about the role Kara Voorhies played at DHS.
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Reposted by Eric Bazail-Eimil
Nahal Toosi @nahaltoosi.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
SCOOP: The Trump admin is implementing a detailed strategy to push Western Hemisphere countries to stop using Cuba’s (lucrative) medical missions program, according to a State Dept memo: w/ @ebazail.bsky.social www.politico.com/news/2026/03...
politico.com
Memo lays out Trump’s squeeze on Cuban doctor program
“Honestly, there’s a lot of fear” as Washington pressures other countries to ditch Cuba, a senior Caribbean official said.
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Michael Kruse @michaelkruse.bsky.social · 09/01/2026
"Thucydides would be so happy with Stephen Miller," says @ebazail.bsky.social.
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Nahal Toosi @nahaltoosi.bsky.social · 22/11/2025
Marco Rubio is taking some serious political risks in pushing the military campaign against Venezeula's Nicolas Maduro. A deep-ish dive by @ebazail.bsky.social and myself: www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
politico.com
How Rubio’s political fate is entangled with Maduro’s
The U.S. move against Venezuela’s dictator is resonating in Florida, home to a key political constituency of the secretary of State.
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Reposted by Eric Bazail-Eimil
Nahal Toosi @nahaltoosi.bsky.social · 16/11/2025
Why “intends to”*? Why not do it & announce you already have? That’s the standard process. Unless you’re trying to pressure Nicolas Maduro to negotiate something before then? *In his full statement, Rubio says it takes effect Nov. 24.
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Phelim Kine @phelimkine.bsky.social · 21/10/2025
It's on: The Trump administration is gunning for Maduro's Venezuela via @ebazail.bsky.social www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
politico.com
Trump’s boat strikes unite regime change advocates and immigration hardliners
Deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are “on the same page” about the U.S. government approaching the South American petrostate as a transnational criminal group.
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Kathleen Bush-Joseph @kathleenbush.bsky.social · 06/10/2025
Federal court blocks ICE from detaining unaccompanied minors once they turn 18 The ruling comes a day after ICE confirmed it would offer unaccompanied minors money to self-deport to their home countries From @ebazail.bsky.social www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
politico.com
Federal court blocks ICE from detaining unaccompanied minors once they turn 18
The ruling comes a day after ICE confirmed it would offer unaccompanied minors money to self-deport to their home countries.
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Phelim Kine @phelimkine.bsky.social · 09/07/2025
“Either through a singular, exceptional penetration or through cumulative penetrations, the Chinese may have a major intelligence advantage in the event of a war with Taiwan and, by extension, with the United States" w/ @ebazail.bsky.social www.politico.com/newsletters/...
politico.com
Chinese spies threaten Taiwan’s war readiness
Chinese spies have been found lurking in the upper ranks of President Lai Ching-Te's government.
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Reposted by Eric Bazail-Eimil
Politico @politico.com · 18/06/2025
EXCLUSIVE: US diplomats have officially been directed to screen the social media and online presence of all student visa applicants.
politico.com
State Department unveils social media screening rules for all student visa applicants
Applicants will be vetted for “any indications of hostility towards the citizens, culture, government, institutions or founding principles of the United States.”
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Nahal Toosi @nahaltoosi.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
The story has been updated with a bunch more details, including how the department is defining what counts as "onlne presence." Major thanks to @ebazail.bsky.social for crucial help on this. www.politico.com/news/2025/06...
politico.com
State Department unveils social media screening rules for all student visa applicants
Applicants will be vetted for “any indications of hostility towards the citizens, culture, government, institutions or founding principles of the United States.”
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Politico @politico.com · 30/05/2025
Exclusive: The State Department has told U.S. consulates and embassies to start reviewing the social media accounts of Harvard's student visa applicants for antisemitism.
politico.com
State begins rolling out expanded student visa vetting — starting with Harvard
The State Department issued instructions to consulates and embassies late Thursday telling them to start the vetting immediately.
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Nahal Toosi @nahaltoosi.bsky.social · 30/05/2025
Here’s the free version. FYI — we will update with this info soon — but this also affects visiting faculty, scholars & more, not just students. And if you set your social media to private or don’t do much social media, the visa officer may hold that against you: www.politico.com/news/2025/05...
politico.com
State implements reviews of Harvard visa applicants’ social media accounts
The State Department issued instructions to consulates and embassies late Thursday telling them to start the vetting immediately.
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Nahal Toosi @nahaltoosi.bsky.social · 30/05/2025
SCOOP: The State Dept has begun rolling out its enhanced social media vetting plan. It’s starting with Harvard. We have the cable. Free version of story will post soon, and we will update with details: subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
subscriber.politicopro.com
POLITICO Pro: State implements reviews of Harvard visa applicants’ social media accounts
The State Department issued instructions to consulates and embassies late Thursday telling them to start the vetting immediately.
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Georgetown School of Foreign Service @georgetown-sfs.bsky.social · 27/05/2025
As we gear up for #GUReunion 2025, we're spotlighting SFS alums @ldelevingne.bsky.social, @megkinnardap.bsky.social, @ebazail.bsky.social & Annabelle Timsit who've turned a passion for global affairs into journalism careers. 🗞️🌍 Read more: bit.ly/4dKT4Bl
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SFS journalist alumni tell the world's stories - SFS - School of Foreign Service - Georgetown University
Many SFS alumni become journalists, driven by a shared call to inform. We spoke with several about their paths, lessons and lasting SFS impact.
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Nahal Toosi @nahaltoosi.bsky.social · 24/04/2025
NEW COLUMN: It's absurd for President Trump and his team to act like they cannot easily free Kilmar Abrego Garcia from El Salvador's prisons. But what if we were to play along with this performance? What are Trump's options? My latest: www.politico.com/news/magazin...
politico.com
Trump Is Pretending to Be Weak When It Comes to El Salvador
Does the president remember he’s already freed many people wrongfully detained overseas?
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Eric Bazail-Eimil @ebazail.bsky.social · 22/04/2025
NEW: I wrote for POLITICO's Nightly Newsletter about Pope Francis, and the uncertain future facing the Catholic Church in the wake of his passing today. www.politico.com/newsletters/...
politico.com
An uncertain next act for the Catholic Church
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Reposted by Eric Bazail-Eimil
Nahal Toosi @nahaltoosi.bsky.social · 20/04/2025
1/Hi all. Yes, I’ve seen the document that may be a draft executive order reorganizing the State Department. No, I’m not certain it’s what will reach the president’s desk — if he even chooses to do this through an EO.
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Eric Bazail-Eimil @ebazail.bsky.social · 17/04/2025
A must-read (again) from @nahaltoosi.bsky.social "While the Trump administration is retrenching globally and imposing tariffs all over, no region appears to matter less to the White House than Africa." www.politico.com/news/magazin...
politico.com
Trump is Actually Doing what Many Presidents Have Promised on Africa
Administration officials say countries can’t just invoke “China” and get aid.
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Reposted by Eric Bazail-Eimil
Maggie Miller @maggiemiller.bsky.social · 10/04/2025
Thanks to my colleagues Robbie Gramer and @ebazail.bsky.social for letting me helm NatSec Daily today and take a look at the massive upheaval for our nation’s cyber defense and intelligence agencies: www.politico.com/newsletters/...
politico.com
National Security Daily
The timing for the nation’s keyboard warriors couldn’t be worse.
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Phelim Kine @phelimkine.bsky.social · 22/03/2025
"Japanese and Philippine officials will likely want more information about Musk’s role at the Pentagon given his massive Tesla investments in China and history of pro-Beijing positions on Taiwan’s status" w/ @ebazail.bsky.social www.politico.com/newsletters/...
politico.com
Musk’s Pentagon briefing may haunt Hegseth in Asia
Some of the concern abroad is that the briefing is just the latest example of the chaotic nature of President Donald Trump’s approach to the world.
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Nahal Toosi @nahaltoosi.bsky.social · 19/03/2025
SCOOP: The Trump team is taking a hatchet to the State Department's annual — and world-renowned — human rights report. www.politico.com/news/2025/03...
politico.com
Trump drastically cutting back annual human rights report
Sections on women’s rights and the security of LGBTQ+ people are among those being axed.
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Ellen Nakashima @ellenwapo.bsky.social · 28/02/2025
SCOOP: USAID's watchdog has yet to release two scathing reports on the consequences of Trump’s dismantling of USAID amid fears of retaliation from the White House, per interviews and documents, my colleagues John Hudson & Lisa Rein report. wapo.st/4h3WxLc
wapo.st
Harsh findings on Trump’s aid freeze kept secret by USAID watchdog
Two reports showing dire impacts on Africa and Gaza have not been released in fear of Trump’s wrath, official says.
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Eric Bazail-Eimil @ebazail.bsky.social · 25/02/2025
Senior State Department officials are compiling a list of additional exemptions to the aid pause for Ukraine that could give the country access to some frozen economic and security-related assistance. w @nahaltoosi.bsky.social Robbie Gramer and Joe Gould www.politico.com/news/2025/02...
politico.com
State Department officials pushing to release more frozen Ukraine funds
The efforts highlight internal discord inside the Trump administration over how to treat Kyiv.
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Center for European Policy Analysis @cepa.org · 15/02/2025
“Half of Europe is asleep, paralyzed into shock and another part is taking security seriously and mobilizing like the Nordic and Baltic countries. But will that be enough?” @apolyakova.bsky.social explains to Robbie Gramer @paulmcleary.bsky.social y & @ebazail.bsky.social at #MSC2025
politico.com
National Security Daily
From the SitRoom to the E-Ring, the inside scoop on defense, national security and foreign policy.
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Nahal Toosi @nahaltoosi.bsky.social · 15/02/2025
1/NEW: Trump appointees at State/USAID announce today they’ve set up a Coordination Support Team to help USAID staff overseas get back to the U.S. I’ve seen the cable that lays it out.
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Maggie Miller @maggiemiller.bsky.social · 11/02/2025
New from my colleague @ebazail.bsky.social: Secretary of State Rubio signed a waiver turning the funding back on for US cyber support to Costa Rica during his trip to the country last week, according to Costa Rican Foreign Minister Arnoldo André: subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
subscriber.politicopro.com
POLITICO Pro: Costa Rica says US State Department issued waiver to unfreeze funding toward its cyber programs
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had pledged to continue support for the country’s cybersecurity efforts.
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Nahal Toosi @nahaltoosi.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
NEW: In new order bashing South Africa, the Trump administration says “the United States shall promote the resettlement of Afrikaner refugees escaping government-sponsored race-based discrimination, including racially discriminatory property confiscation.
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Eric Bazail-Eimil @ebazail.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
SCOOP with Amy Mackinnon: Trump is considering nominating former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich to be U.S. ambassador to Serbia. Blagojevich, whose corruption conviction sentence Trump commuted, chaired a group called Serbians for Trump in the 2024 election. www.politico.com/news/2025/02...
politico.com
Trump considering Blagojevich for ambassador to Serbia
The former governor of Illinois, whose corruption conviction sentence Trump commuted, chaired a group called Serbians for Trump in the 2024 election.
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Eric Bazail-Eimil @ebazail.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
Get ready for a smaller, weaker U.S. Agency for International Development focused mostly on food aid and AIDS clinics. That’s assuming the USAID name even exists in a few weeks. Here's what to expect from Trump's version of USAID. www.politico.com/news/2025/02...
politico.com
Here’s what to expect from Trump’s version of USAID
Programs centered around human rights could be the first to go.
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Eric Bazail-Eimil @ebazail.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
SCOOP on POLITICO Pro: Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) will oppose all of President Donald Trump’s remaining Cabinet nominees, including Commerce Secretary pick Howard Lutnick and U.N. Ambassador pick Elise Stefanik, over the administration’s USAID moves. subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
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Eric Bazail-Eimil @ebazail.bsky.social · 31/01/2025
If you read any one story this weekend, read this one by @nahaltoosi.bsky.social Robbie Gramer and Daniel Lippman.
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Eric Bazail-Eimil @ebazail.bsky.social · 29/01/2025
A must-read story from my colleague Sam Skove: www.politico.com/news/2025/01...
politico.com
IG: Air Force general had multiple sexting relationships with women on Capitol Hill
An inspector general report highlighted instances of inappropriate behavior by the two-star general.
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Reposted by Eric Bazail-Eimil
Dave Brown @davebrown.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
Trump’s decision to halt foreign aid abruptly cut U.S. funding to the guards overseeing an ISIS prison in Syria, leading some to stop showing up for work. State Department officials scrambled to rush through an exemption to turn the tap back on www.politico.com/newsletters/...
politico.com
The ISIS prison break Trump almost risked
To some State Department officials and Middle East analysts who tracked the issue, it showcased the law of unintended consequences.
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Reposted by Eric Bazail-Eimil
Nahal Toosi @nahaltoosi.bsky.social · 19/01/2025
My colleagues @ebazail.bsky.social & Robbie Gramer really pushed Samantha Power in this great Q&A. Read it all! www.politico.com/news/magazin...
politico.com
What Samantha Power Regrets and Her Advice to the Trump Administration
Here's an exit interview with America’s top aid official after confronting a turbulent series of humanitarian crises.
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Eric Bazail-Eimil @ebazail.bsky.social · 14/01/2025
My latest for POLITICO -- Biden removes Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. www.politico.com/news/2025/01...
politico.com
Biden removes Cuba from list of state sponsors of terrorism
It was one of a number of olive branches Biden is extending to Havana in the final days of his presidency.
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Reposted by Eric Bazail-Eimil
Nahal Toosi @nahaltoosi.bsky.social · 14/01/2025
NEW COLUMN: In which I ask the question that’s on so many people’s minds: Just how long can Marco Rubio last as Donald Trump’s secretary of State? Even I was a bit taken aback at the predictions. www.politico.com/news/magazin...
politico.com
How Long Can Marco Rubio Survive as Secretary of State?
He’s being undermined by fellow Republicans, and that’s before he shows up to lead a workforce Trump distrusts.
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Dave Brown @davebrown.bsky.social · 13/01/2025
Trump confidant Elon Musk wants NASA to drop its ambitious plans to return to the moon and instead head straight to Mars. Congress is ready to put up a fight www.politico.com/news/2025/01... by Sam Skove for @politico.com
politico.com
Moon over Mars? Congress is determined to kill Elon Musk’s space dream.
The Trump ally wants the U.S. to forgo the lunar surface for the red planet. He faces one problem: Congress.
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Sebastian Starcevic @sebastianstarc.bsky.social · 09/01/2025
His welcome to the Arctic island was not entirely warm. “People were curious, but some took pictures giving him [the] finger at the airport … Some wrote on Facebook: yankee go home,” the lawmaker said. A transatlantic effort w/ @ebazail.bsky.social and Jack Detsch www.politico.eu/article/dona...
politico.eu
Donald Trump Jr.’s visit was ‘staged,’ says Greenland lawmaker
“We know how they treat the Inuit in Alaska. Make that great before trying to invade us,” Pipaluk Lynge tells POLITICO.
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Phelim Kine @phelimkine.bsky.social · 12/12/2024
Many thanks to today's @politico.com China Watcher contributors @samuelbickett.bsky.social @ebazail.bsky.social @sebstarcevic.bsky.social www.politico.eu/newsletter/c...
politico.eu
What has China House done?
Decoding transatlantic relations with Beijing. By PHELIM KINE Send tips here | Tweet @PhelimKine | Subscribe for free | View in your browser Hi, China Watchers.  Today we check-in on the State…
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Phelim Kine @phelimkine.bsky.social · 10/12/2024
Good news for Beijing: Trump's pick for director of policy planning at the State Department penned a piece for The Federalist titled "Why It's Clearly Not in America's Interest to Go to War Over Taiwan" via @politico.com NatSec Daily w/ @ebazail.bsky.social Robbie Gramer bit.ly/3Blx9C1
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Eric Bazail-Eimil @ebazail.bsky.social · 04/12/2024
NEW: Trump says he'll replace Amb. Roger Carstens, who he appointed hostage envoy in 2020. Carstens played a major role in the swap that freed WNBA player Brittney Griner. He also helped with the 2024 swap that freed WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich and former marine Paul Whelan.
A Truth Social post from Trump announcing he’ll appoint Adam Boehler as Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs
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Phelim Kine @phelimkine.bsky.social · 02/12/2024
Former hostage of the Chinese govt @kovrig.bsky.social raises an eyebrow at an aspect of last week's U.S.-China prisoner swap via @politico.com NatSec Daily w/ @ebazail.bsky.social Robbie Gramer bit.ly/3VjLy8E
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Doug Klain @dougklain.bsky.social · 26/11/2024
Very useful @politico.com NatSec Daily this afternoon from @ebazail.bsky.social and Robbie Gramer on the state of Trump's national security team + whisperings of SpecRep for Ukraine Peace Ric Grenell.
politico.com
National Security Daily
There are some early takeaways we can derive from Trump’s first round of picks.
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Eric Bazail-Eimil @ebazail.bsky.social · 25/11/2024
In today's NatSec Daily: -- Robbie Gramer on the rising IS terror threat in Africa -- @phelimkine.bsky.social on a Chinese espionage conviction -- @connorobriennh.bsky.social on the push for better benefits for servicemembers www.politico.com/newsletters/...
politico.com
Where ISIS is a ‘ticking time bomb’
Western security officials and analysts have drawn comparisons between how ISIS groups are amassing territory in the Sahel with the group’s prominent rise in the Middle East around a decade ago.
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Ryan J. Reilly “paints a vivid and urgent portrait of… disarray” @ryanjreilly.com · 25/11/2024
Cue the journalistic jealousy on this piece. Smart angle, talked to the right people.
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