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Greg Jaffe

@gregjaffe.bsky.social
5.8K followers 258 following 198 posts

New York Times reporter Email me at greg.jaffe@nytimes.com

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Greg Jaffe @gregjaffe.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
A few paragraphs on Gen. Dan Caine's difficult position. From his National Defense University commencement speech. Free link: www.nytimes.com/2026/09/14/u...
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Greg Jaffe @gregjaffe.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Hegseth has ushered the country's culture wars into the Pentagon. The result: Turmoil at a time the military cannot afford it. My effort to take stock of what it all means. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/14/u...
nytimes.com
Trying to Rid the Pentagon of Culture Wars, Hegseth Has Created His Own (Gift Article)
Persistent distractions are feeding a climate of mistrust as the U.S. military faces a series of wartime issues, including shortfalls of missile interceptors.
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Greg Jaffe @gregjaffe.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Gripping story on the search for a disposable camera and the photos it took from inside twin towers on 9/11. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/09/n... www.nytimes.com/2026/09/09/n...
nytimes.com
He’s Seen Images of 9/11 From Just About Every Angle. Except This One. (Gift Article)
The 9/11 completist community wants to know and see everything. The Holy Grail? Pictures from inside the twin towers.
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Greg Jaffe @gregjaffe.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
The battle to CD Donahue from Pete Hegseth's purge spanned the Pentagon, Congress and the White House. It's a window into Donahue's accomplishments and but also Hegseth's grievances and insecurities. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/06/u...
nytimes.com
The Battle to Save General Donahue From Hegseth’s Army Purge (Gift Article)
Gen. Christopher T. Donahue’s vision for fighting future wars won him powerful supporters around the world. Could they save his career?
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Greg Jaffe @gregjaffe.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Inside the Battle to Save One Pioneering General From Hegseth’s Purge with Adam Entous. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/06/u...
nytimes.com
The Battle to Save General Donahue From Hegseth’s Army Purge (Gift Article)
Gen. Christopher T. Donahue’s vision for fighting future wars won him powerful supporters around the world. Could they save his career?
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Hamed Aleaziz @haleaziz.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
SCOOP: An ICE whistleblower report obtained by the NYT said ICE was cutting corners, violating the law and fast-tracking unqualified, “improperly vetted” candidates into ICE’s ranks, part of a dangerous move that exposed the agency to “grave national security risks.” www.nytimes.com/2026/09/03/u...
nytimes.com
ICE Skipped Basic Checks in Rush for Recruits, Whistle-Blower Says
An official who oversaw the vetting of ICE recruits cited an “unprecedented lowering of standards” amid a hiring surge.
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Ben Collins @bencollins.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
What Pablo Torre did was ridiculously impressive. Uncovered a conspiracy between rich guys, withstood a propaganda campaign by one of the richest guys in the world with a pretty good reputation, didn't buckle or panic, and just kept reporting. That's some Pulitzerin' right there.
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Greg Jaffe @gregjaffe.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Hegseth has purged at least 10 percent of the military’s top brass and shows no signs of slowing. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/01/u...
nytimes.com
Hegseth Targets 7 More Officers as His Frustrated Army Secretary Quits (Gift Article)
The defense secretary’s cuts, which have hit about 10 percent of the military’s top officers, are dividing the Pentagon, officials said.
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Greg Jaffe @gregjaffe.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
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Captain Obvious @cooledgydude.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
Obsessing over the "winning" and "losing" is half the problem... EVERYBODY loses in war... from the start... by definition... Making the best of the situation is what it is all about from there, and endless finger-pointing over "who lost" and what "winning means" doesn't help end it...
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Greg Jaffe @gregjaffe.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
Five years ago (today) we quit in Afghanistan. www.nytimes.com/2026/08/30/u...
nytimes.com
Why the United States Can’t Quit Its Wars (Gift Article)
The country’s longest war came to an end exactly five years ago. Today it offers lessons for policymakers seeking to avoid an endless war in Iran.
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Greg Jaffe @gregjaffe.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
An essay on the difficulty of knowing when to say when. www.nytimes.com/2026/08/30/u...
nytimes.com
Why the United States Can’t Quit Its Wars (Gift Article)
The country’s longest war came to an end exactly five years ago. Today it offers lessons for policymakers seeking to avoid an endless war in Iran.
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Greg Jaffe @gregjaffe.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
For much of the Afghanistan war, the only thing harder for the United States than winning was quitting. What does our struggle to quit Afghanistan tell us about the way forward in Iran? www.nytimes.com/2026/08/30/u...
nytimes.com
Why the United States Can’t Quit Its Wars (Gift Article)
The country’s longest war came to an end exactly five years ago. Today it offers lessons for policymakers seeking to avoid an endless war in Iran.
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The New York Times @nytimes.com · 25/08/2026
A series of firings and feuds initiated by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has left the Army essentially rudderless as it struggles to deal with the threat posed by cheap, deadly drones and missiles that have pounded U.S. bases in the Middle East.
nyti.ms
Hegseth’s Purge of Top Generals Leaves the Army Rudderless
The leadership vacuum comes as the Army is trying to adapt to a new kind of war dominated by deadly drones.
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Greg Jaffe @gregjaffe.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
A series of firings and feuds, initiated by Sec. Hegseth, has left the Army rudderless at a dangerous moment for U.S. troops in Iran and a key moment in the war in Ukraine. www.nytimes.com/2026/08/25/u...
nytimes.com
Hegseth’s Purge of Top Generals Leaves the Army Rudderless (Gift Article)
The leadership vacuum comes as the Army is trying to adapt to a new kind of war dominated by deadly drones.
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Greg Jaffe @gregjaffe.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Interesting debate on metrics -- which ones are meaningful -- and are we focused on the right ones? Should reporters and editors focus different metrics? (I kind of think reporters should focus on those they can control, like time on story?)
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Greg Jaffe @gregjaffe.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
Fascinating essay: "When my tour finally ended, Pence invited my family to the White House. In his office, he took my mother’s hand and smiled: 'You must be very proud of your daughter'...No one has affirmed my gender identity quite like Mike Pence." www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
theatlantic.com
The Wrong Kind of American
The Trump White House needed me—until the fact that I am trans became public.
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Greg Jaffe @gregjaffe.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
“Hampton Inn said in a statement that there are no official limits to how many waffles someone can make in one trip, but suggested that making one at the time is probably the friendliest approach if there’s a line.” www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2026/...
washingtonpost.com
12 rules for the hotel breakfast buffet
Consider these tips about waffle-making, buffet etiquette and cleaning up after yourself before your next hotel stay.
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Greg Jaffe @gregjaffe.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Hegseth Is Pressed to Clarify Lawyer’s Role in Promotion Decisions. (A folo on our earlier story about Admiral Caudle's promotion to CNO). www.nytimes.com/2026/08/13/u...
nytimes.com
Hegseth Is Pressed to Clarify Lawyer’s Role in Promotion Decisions (Gift Article)
Representative Jason Crow asked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to explain statements about his special adviser’s influence following a New York Times report.
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Greg Jaffe @gregjaffe.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Hegseth’s blocking of promotions for high-ranking women in the military has contributed to the lowest percentage of such nominations for women in at least 25 years, according to a NYT analysis. www.nytimes.com/2026/08/06/u...
nytimes.com
Under Hegseth, Women’s Share of Top Military Promotions Plunged This Year
The percentage of high-ranking officer nominations going to women is currently at its lowest level in over two decades.
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Greg Jaffe @gregjaffe.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Inside the Secretive Boards Deciding Trans Troops’ Fate "...a humiliation ritual," says Priya Rashid, the lawyer who had handled most of them. www.nytimes.com/2026/08/03/u...
nytimes.com
Inside the Secretive Boards Deciding Trans Troops’ Fate (Gift Article)
The Pentagon is relying on closed-door hearings to kick out transgender service members. An Army Reserve lawyer is one of the few who have seen how they really work.
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Greg Jaffe @gregjaffe.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
"The Pentagon has treated the trans separation board hearings with levels of security and silence usually reserved for state secrets... In some cases, service members’ spouses and even the service members themselves are kept out." w/ Dave Philipps www.nytimes.com/2026/08/03/u...
nytimes.com
Inside the Secretive Boards Deciding Trans Troops’ Fate (Gift Article)
The Pentagon is relying on closed-door hearings to kick out transgender service members. An Army Reserve lawyer is one of the few who have seen how they really work.
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Greg Jaffe @gregjaffe.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
Rep. Jason Crow asked Pete Hegseth if Tim Parlatore, his special adviser and personal attorney, represented any officers seeking promotions from him. “He doesn’t represent anyone,” Mr. Hegseth replied. This was not true. He rep'd the future CNO. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/26/u...
nytimes.com
An Admiral’s Rise Reveals the Politics Driving Hegseth’s Pentagon (Gift Article)
Before he was picked to lead the Navy, Adm. Daryl Caudle found ways to signal his support for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s anti-diversity goals.
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Greg Jaffe @gregjaffe.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
What does it take to get a top job in Pete Hegseth's Pentagon? Our story on the chief of naval operations campaign, which began before Sec. Hegseth was even confirmed by the Senate. w/@katekelly www.nytimes.com/2026/07/26/u...
nytimes.com
An Admiral’s Rise Reveals the Politics Driving Hegseth’s Pentagon (Gift Article)
Before he was picked to lead the Navy, Adm. Daryl Caudle found ways to signal his support for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s anti-diversity goals.
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Greg Jaffe @gregjaffe.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
It’s quittin’ time. www.theatlantic.com/internationa...
theatlantic.com
The War Is Lost. Now Fix What It Broke.
America has to rethink how it moves resources, fights wars, and deters adversaries.
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Greg Jaffe @gregjaffe.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
"I’ve had a hand in killing around six people. Maybe seven. I don’t know if one man bled out on the side of the road or was taken to a doctor. I think about him often... The killing wasn’t detached; it felt deeply personal." @tmgneff.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2026/07/23/w...
nytimes.com
Why I Sought Out a Taliban Commander I Had Fought
First as a Marine and then as a journalist, I spent years tied to Afghanistan. I returned one last time to speak to a former enemy in search of answers, and perhaps closure.
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Greg Jaffe @gregjaffe.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Best thing you'll read this week. The Pentagon might not want to take accountability for the Afghanistan war. @tmgneff.bsky.social did it for them. Hope this circulates far and wide at the Pentagon. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/23/w...
nytimes.com
Why I Sought Out a Taliban Commander I Had Fought (Gift Article)
First as a Marine and then as a journalist, I spent years tied to Afghanistan. I returned one last time to speak to a former enemy in search of answers, and perhaps closure.
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Greg Jaffe @gregjaffe.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
Four Iranian attacks in five days have targeted U.S. troops in Jordan, U.S. officials said, including one on Friday that killed two soldiers and left another service member missing. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/18/w...
nytimes.com
Why Jordan Is Becoming a New Focus in the U.S.-Iran War (Gift Article)
Four Iranian attacks in five days have targeted U.S. troops in Jordan, U.S. officials said, including one on Friday that killed two soldiers and left another service member missing.
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Greg Jaffe @gregjaffe.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Trump Faces the Limits of U.S. Firepower and the Lessons of Past Wars From Iraq: “Sometimes doing nothing is the best reaction.” w/ @ericschmittnytbot.mirrors.bot www.nytimes.com/2026/07/17/u...
nytimes.com
Trump Faces the Limits of U.S. Firepower and the Lessons of Past Wars
Like his predecessors, President Trump has struggled to turn battlefield successes into long-term victories.
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Greg Jaffe @gregjaffe.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
Hegseth Plans to Screen All Troops, Even Women, for Low Testosterone www.nytimes.com/2026/07/15/u...
nytimes.com
Hegseth Plans to Screen All Troops, Even Women, for Low Testosterone (Gift Article)
Pete Hegseth, as defense secretary, has sought to cultivate an image as a manosphere-friendly leader.
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The New York Times @nytimes.com · 15/07/2026
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth blocked promotions for seven senior Navy officers, mostly women or people of color.
nyti.ms
Opportunities Narrow for Women as Hegseth Blocks More Promotions
For the first time in more than a decade, no active-duty female Navy officers are likely to be promoted to admiral this year.
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Greg Jaffe @gregjaffe.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
Hegseth strikes 7 from promotion list: Rear Adm. Amy Bauernschmidt, the first woman to command one of the Navy’s 11 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, was pulled off the list. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/14/u...
nytimes.com
Opportunities Narrow for Women as Hegseth Blocks More Promotions (Gift Article)
For the first time in more than a decade, no active-duty female Navy officers are likely to be promoted to admiral this year.
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Greg Jaffe @gregjaffe.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
Opportunities Narrow for Women as Hegseth Blocks More Promotions For the first time in more than a decade, no active-duty female Navy officers are likely to be promoted to admiral this year. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/14/u...
nytimes.com
Opportunities Narrow for Women as Hegseth Blocks More Promotions (Gift Article)
For the first time in more than a decade, no active-duty female Navy officers are likely to be promoted to admiral this year.
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Greg Jaffe @gregjaffe.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
For the first time in more than a decade, no active-duty female Navy officers are likely to be promoted to admiral this year. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/14/u...
nytimes.com
Opportunities Narrow for Women as Hegseth Blocks More Promotions (Gift Article)
For the first time in more than a decade, no active-duty female Navy officers are likely to be promoted to admiral this year.
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Greg Jaffe @gregjaffe.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
The Senator is alive. The Sports section is dead. Jeff Bezos killed it.
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Greg Jaffe @gregjaffe.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
ADM McRaven: “I can tell you from experience that Generals C. Q. Brown, Randy George, Jim Mingus, J. P. McGee, Dave Hodne, Jim Slife, and Joe Berger and Admirals Lisa Franchetti and Jamie Sands were war fighters through and through.” www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...
theatlantic.com
Americans Deserve Answers From Hegseth
The president and the secretary of defense have a right to remove officers, but also an obligation to explain their actions.
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Greg Jaffe @gregjaffe.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
On May 5, military leaders asked Hegseth's office for permission to mandate flu vaccinations. On Jun 17, they finally got the OK. By that point the flu was racing through Air Force basic training. www.nytimes.com/2026/06/25/u...
nytimes.com
Military Leaders Sought Vaccination Program Weeks Before Flu Outbreak Hit Base
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Mike J @mikejason.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
"I mean, say what you want about the tenets of Unlimited Shrimp, Dude, at least it's an ethos."
static.klipy.com
The Big Lebowski: Oh Really?
ALT: The Big Lebowski: Oh Really?
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Greg Jaffe @gregjaffe.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
Green camouflage was a good choice.
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The New York Times @nytimes.com · 19/06/2026
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has blocked the promotions of at least 40 senior officers to general and admiral ranks so far this year. About half of those are women or members of minority groups. Read the inside story on the process Hegseth and his team have used to halt their advancements.
nyti.ms
Inside Hegseth’s War on Diversity and Blocked Promotions of Women and Black Officers
A Black admiral fixed one of the Navy’s worst messes. Mr. Hegseth blocked his promotion anyway.
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Greg Jaffe @gregjaffe.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
A Black Admiral's Promotion Seemed Like a Given. Hegseth Blocked It Anyway www.nytimes.com/2026/06/19/u...
nytimes.com
Secret Vetting and Blocked Promotions: Inside Hegseth’s War on Diversity
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Greg Jaffe @gregjaffe.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
Secret Vetting and Blocked Promotions: Inside Hegseth’s War on Diversity w/ Kate Kelly www.nytimes.com/2026/06/19/u...
nytimes.com
Secret Vetting and Blocked Promotions: Inside Hegseth’s War on Diversity
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Greg Jaffe @gregjaffe.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Scores Fall Ill at Air Force Base After Hegseth Makes Flu Vaccine Optional. One trainees' death is under investigation. www.nytimes.com/2026/06/18/u...
nytimes.com
Scores Fall Ill at Air Force Base After Hegseth Makes Flu Vaccine Optional
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Greg Jaffe @gregjaffe.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Scores Fall Ill at Air Force Base After Hegseth Makes Flu Vaccine Optional In April, he disparaged the vaccine requirement as an “absurd, overreaching” mandate. www.nytimes.com/2026/06/18/u...
nytimes.com
Scores Fall Ill at Air Force Base After Hegseth Makes Flu Vaccine Optional
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Greg Jaffe @gregjaffe.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
Update: Hegseth pulled nine officers off the Navy one-star list. The only three female and two of the three black male officers on the 22-person list.
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Greg Jaffe @gregjaffe.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Hegseth Strikes Female and Black Navy Officers From Promotion List. The net result: a slate of 22 new one-star admiral nominees that bears little resemblance to the broader force these officers will help lead. Of special note: The list has no women. www.nytimes.com/2026/06/01/u...
nytimes.com
Hegseth Strikes Female and Black Navy Officers From Promotion List
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Bill Grueskin @bgrueskin.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
The Post lost > 250,000 subscribers after Bezos screwed up the editorial page, and an additional 60,000 subs after he fired around half the staff. Doesn’t seem like profit is his actual motive here.
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Greg Jaffe @gregjaffe.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
Adm. Cooper’s testimony suggested that he believed that the U.S. military’s record since Feb. 28 school strike had been near perfect. “Ridiculous,” said human rights group that investigates civilian casualties. www.nytimes.com/2026/05/14/u...
nytimes.com
A Top U.S. Commander Dismisses Reports of Civilian Deaths in Iran
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The Sunday Long Read @thesundaylongread.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
Powerful personal essay meets fascinating science reporting in this exploration of what dementia takes from us. @jacobfeldman.bsky.social's favorite this week by @ellenbarry.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2026/05/07/s...
nytimes.com
When My Father’s Canary Flew Away
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Greg Jaffe @gregjaffe.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
“My mind shot back a decade, to that day we had marched into Vietnam, swaggering, confident and full of idealism. We had believed we were there for a high moral purpose. But somehow our idealism was lost, our morals corrupted and the purpose forgotten.” www.nytimes.com/2026/05/08/b...
nytimes.com
Philip Caputo, Who Wrote Blistering Vietnam War Memoir, Dies at 84
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