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Allie Mellen

@hackerxbella.bsky.social
299 followers 41 following 62 posts

former hacker bringing cyberattacks into the context of today's biggest global events opinionated human ✨

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Reposted by Allie Mellen
The Onion @theonion.com · 22/04/2026
Help keep quality journalism limping along. store.theonion.com/products/infowar…
Onion.InfoWear: Limited Edition Crossbody Bag
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Allie Mellen @hackerxbella.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
Code War is now out on audiobook!! Listen here: a.co/d/03cREoCi
a.co
Amazon.com
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Allie Mellen @hackerxbella.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
‼️‼️ review Code War on Amazon! As a new author, reviews make all the difference. Support my work and write a review! a.co/d/01mIFf1n
a.co
Code War: How Nations Hack, Spy, and Shape the Digital Battlefield
Code War: How Nations Hack, Spy, and Shape the Digital Battlefield [Mellen, Allie] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Code War: How Nations Hack, Spy, and Shape the Digital Battlefield
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Allie Mellen @hackerxbella.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
Code War is in @barnesandnoble.com !!! Go get your copy and send me a pic!!
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Allie Mellen @hackerxbella.bsky.social · 17/03/2026
I’m thrilled to say that my new book Code War: How Nations Hack, Spy, and Shape the Digital Battlefield, is now available wherever books are sold!! 🎉 Go read it and let me know what you think! I can’t wait to hear from you. bit.ly/m/codewar
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Allie Mellen @hackerxbella.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
Had a great conversation earlier today on @bloomberg.com, talking about Iran and the potential for future related cyberattacks. Check out the replay! ⬇️ www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/...
bloomberg.com
Watch Iran War Has Firms on High Alert for Cyber Threats - Bloomberg
Companies should be actively prepared for cyberattacks in this threat environment, says Allie Mellen, a cyber analyst at Forrester Research and author of the new book, "Code War." Mellen discusses the...
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Reposted by Allie Mellen
Phillip Wylie @phillipwylie.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
The latest episode of The Phillip Wylie Show has dropped, featuring @hackerxbella.bsky.social! Catch the latest episode: 📺 YouTube: lnkd.in/emzBW82H 🎧 Spotify: lnkd.in/eCfkwC5Z 🍎 Apple: lnkd.in/gkfjJecz
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Allie Mellen @hackerxbella.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
Code War is the #1 New Release in Computer Hacking!! Copies are shipping, get yours now! bit.ly/m/codewar
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Allie Mellen @hackerxbella.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
back on The Latest Breach, a review of the cyberattack on Stryker: open.substack.com/pub/hackerxb...
open.substack.com
Stryker becomes a proxy target of cyberattacks in the 2026 Iran war
Read the latest on how Stryker was hit with a cyberattack by pro-Iran hackers on March 11 that erased many of their Windows systems and mobile devices.
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Allie Mellen @hackerxbella.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
My new book, Code War: How Nations Hack, Spy, and Shape the Digital Battlefield, is available for pre-order now! ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️ Pre-order it here: bit.ly/4aJj2Ep
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Allie Mellen @hackerxbella.bsky.social · 04/02/2026
When I began writing Code War, I didn’t imagine just how timely its lessons would be. Because of this, I'm opening up my calendar for book signings, keynotes, fireside chats, etc. If you’re hosting an event, let’s make it unforgettable. DM me! 📩 www.wiley.com/en-us/Code+W...
wiley.com
Code War: How Nations Hack, Spy, and Shape the Digital Battlefield
<p><b>An incisive exploration of how cyberattacks are transforming geopolitics</b></p> <p>Cyberattacks are the ultimate geopolitical weapon of the 21st century. They are used to damage presidential c...
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Allie Mellen @hackerxbella.bsky.social · 25/01/2026
He was restrained. He had not pulled a weapon. They shot him ten times. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
nytimes.com
Timeline: How the Shooting of Alex Jeffrey Pretti Unfolded
A moment-by-moment analysis of video from the scene shows that Mr. Pretti was already restrained when fatal shots were fired, which appears to contradict the federal government’s account of the event.
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Reposted by Allie Mellen
Austin Kocher, PhD @austinkocher.com · 18/01/2026
ICE confirms 5th in-custody death of 2026. www.ice.gov/news/release...
ice.gov
ICE detainee passes away at Georgia’s Robert A. Deyton Detention Center
On Jan. 14, 2025, Heber Sanchaz Domínguez, a 34-year-old Mexican national, passed away while in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody at the Robert A. Deyton Detention Center. He was pronou...
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Allie Mellen @hackerxbella.bsky.social · 17/12/2025
I have some big news: I wrote my first book! And it's available for preorder! 🙈 If you want to wish me a happy holiday this season, PLEASE preorder it! Preorder it here: www.amazon.com/-/es/Code-Wa... www.barnesandnoble.com/w/code-war-a...
amazon.com
Code War: How Nations Hack, Spy, and Shape the Digital Battlefield
Code War: How Nations Hack, Spy, and Shape the Digital Battlefield [Mellen, Allie] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Code War: How Nations Hack, Spy, and Shape the Digital Battlefield
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Allie Mellen @hackerxbella.bsky.social · 21/11/2025
"For example, when telling DeepSeek-R1 that it was coding for an industrial control system based in Tibet, the likelihood of it generating code with severe vulnerabilities increased to 27.2%." if you're considering using DeepSeek, read this @crowdstrike.com www.crowdstrike.com/en-us/blog/c...
crowdstrike.com
CrowdStrike Researchers Identify Hidden Vulnerabilities in AI-Coded Software
CrowdStrike researchers reveal how trigger words cause DeepSeek-R1 to generate vulnerable code—exposing new AI-driven risks in software development.
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Reposted by Allie Mellen
Eric Geller @ericjgeller.com · 20/11/2025
Breaking: The FCC has voted 2-1 along party lines to eliminate cybersecurity requirements for telecom companies that the commission adopted at the end of the Biden administration. Telecoms had lobbied for the change. Democrats said it would invite another Salt Typhoon. Story coming shortly.
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Allie Mellen @hackerxbella.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
great piece in ITBrew by Billy Hurley, looking back a year later - www.itbrew.com/stories/2025...
itbrew.com
How did CrowdStrike’s outage impact IT teams?
The impacts of last year’s CrowdStrike disruption from IT pros who experienced it.
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Allie Mellen @hackerxbella.bsky.social · 27/10/2025
Sometimes, GenAI features are useful. Others are useless, and worse, sometimes just wrong. 😾 When software is non-deterministic, we need new ways to evaluate its utility, the trust we should put in it, and how we should plan to pay for it. Read more: www.forrester.com/blogs/gold-r...
forrester.com
Gold Rush Or Fool’s Gold? How To Evaluate Security Tools’ Generative AI Claims
Generative AI features and products for security are gaining significant traction in the market. Knowing how to evaluate them, however, remains a mystery. What makes a good AI feature? How do we know ...
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Allie Mellen @hackerxbella.bsky.social · 23/09/2025
There are big differences between invoking AI in an application, building an AI agent, and building an agentic system. These terms are being conflated, and it’s confusing the market at a time when we ALL need to understand this stuff. Read our explainer: www.forrester.com/blogs/your-t...
forrester.com
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Allie Mellen @hackerxbella.bsky.social · 25/08/2025
💥 SURVEY REMINDER: If you have not filled out our research survey on how generative AI is and will be used in security tools, PLEASE DO SO!! 💥 Deadline is THIS FRIDAY!! forrester.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
forrester.co1.qualtrics.com
Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management
The most powerful, simple and trusted way to gather experience data. Start your journey to experience management and try a free account today.
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Reposted by Allie Mellen
Zack Whittaker @zackwhittaker.com · 18/08/2025
New: Workday disclosed a data breach affecting a third-party customer database, likely Salesforce. Workday hasn't explicitly ruled out a breach of customer info, but says the data includes contact information. (FYI, Workday has hidden its breach notice from search engines using "noindex" code.)
techcrunch.com
HR giant Workday says hackers stole personal data in recent breach | TechCrunch
The HR tech giant said it had no indication of any unauthorized access to customer systems, but has not ruled out a breach affecting customers' personal information.
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Allie Mellen @hackerxbella.bsky.social · 18/08/2025
🚨HELP our latest Generative AI in security tools research! 🚨 VENDORS, complete this survey! PRACTITIONERS, if you are building genAI tools for your team or using them and want to tell us about it, message me! forrester.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bQ…
forrester.co1.qualtrics.com
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Allie Mellen @hackerxbella.bsky.social · 07/08/2025
Just had another great conversation with @cloudsecuritypod.bsky.social !! Stay tuned for when it drops
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Allie Mellen @hackerxbella.bsky.social · 23/07/2025
@microsoft.com announced two new features in Sentinel today. 1) Data Lake for low-cost, long-term storage to help manage Sentinel costs 2) MDTI will be included in Sentinel and Defender XDR at no additional cost later this year Read more - www.forrester.com/blogs/drowni...
forrester.com
Drowning In Security Data Costs? You Get A Data Lake
Get tips on how data lakes can help manage growing data costs in the security information and event management (SIEM) system.
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Allie Mellen @hackerxbella.bsky.social · 24/06/2025
I'm very excited to announce that the Forrester Wave: Security Analytics Platforms 2025 is now LIVE! 💥 💥 💥 Read the blog (and the full report!) here: www.forrester.com/blogs/announ...
forrester.com
Announcing The Forrester Wave™: Security Analytics Platforms, 2025 – The SIEM Vs XDR Fight Intensifies
The Forrester Wave™: Security Analytics Platforms, Q2 2025 published today and illustrates the dramatic changes this market is undergoing as legacy SIEM vendors are locked in heated competition with s...
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Reposted by Allie Mellen
tines.com @tines.com · 22/05/2025
Is the SOC of the future autonomous? That’s the question we tackled with Tines CEO Eoin Hinchy and guest speaker Forrester’s @hackerxbella.bsky.social in a recent webinar - and the discussion didn’t stop there. Read our follow-up Q&A: www.tines.com/blog/autonom...
tines.com
Is the future of the SOC autonomous? A Q&A with Forrester's Allie Mellen | Tines
Allie Mellen, Principal Analyst at Forrester Research, answers follow-up questions on the future of SOC automation and the role of genAI.
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Allie Mellen @hackerxbella.bsky.social · 20/05/2025
Today on the latest breach: the Florida bill failed to pass, but encryption is still under attack. Here's why we need to protect it (for your own privacy!): open.substack.com/pub/hackerxb...
open.substack.com
Protecting your privacy goes hand in hand with protecting encryption
Don't willingly take the locks off your house.
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Reposted by Allie Mellen
Jess Burn @jessburn.bsky.social · 23/04/2025
@hackerxbella.bsky.social and I just published a new decision tool designed for security leaders and their teams to aid in the perpetual fight against ransomware. Check out our latest blog for more! www.forrester.com/blogs/dont-c...
forrester.com
Don’t Call It A Comeback: Stay Ready For Ransomware
According to Forrester’s 2024 Security Survey, 25% of CISOs cite preventing and protecting against ransomware as a top strategic priority for their organization. To do this, security leaders, their te...
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Allie Mellen @hackerxbella.bsky.social · 16/04/2025
We just released our latest research: Top Cybersecurity Threats for 2025! Read the blog and full report for more info on these threats and what to do about it: www.forrester.com/blogs/forres...
forrester.com
Forrester’s Top Threats For 2025
2025 started with a bang! Technology and geopolitics are changing faster than many can keep track. There’s an announcement of a new, benchmark-shattering generative AI seemingly every week. Planned jo...
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Allie Mellen @hackerxbella.bsky.social · 15/04/2025
On The Latest Breach: stand up for other Americans. @thekrebscycle.bsky.social is not a bad faith actor, he's a patriot. hackerxbella.substack.com/p/chris-kreb...
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Allie Mellen @hackerxbella.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
Last week, I spoke at the C2 conf on genAI in security tools. 🤖 The themes of the event were timely and provoked interesting discussion: artificial intelligence, supply chain security, and cyber hygiene. Read my thoughts on each in my latest blog - www.forrester.com/blogs/genera...
forrester.com
Generative AI Innovation In Security Tools Is Finally Getting Interesting
Last week, I spoke at the C2 conference in London. The C2 conference is an invite-only threat intelligence conference run by the team at SE Labs. The core themes of the event were timely and provoked ...
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Allie Mellen @hackerxbella.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
Here's why the TikTok ban is a mistake. hackerxbella.substack.com/p/tiktok-is-...
hackerxbella.substack.com
TikTok is about to get banned...again?
Plus, elected representatives sloppily risk American lives in SignalGate
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Allie Mellen @hackerxbella.bsky.social · 18/03/2025
new latest breach is out! this week on attribution hackerxbella.substack.com/p/attributin...
hackerxbella.substack.com
Attributing cyberattacks to a specific actor is harder than it looks
Patience is a virtue and can prevent an international incident
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Reposted by Allie Mellen
Sean Martin, CISSP @seanmartin.com · 17/03/2025
Security tools claim high detection rates, but what’s the real cost? Let's unpack the latest @attack.mitre.org Evaluations, why alert volume matters, and how detection engineering improves security outcomes. 🎧 youtu.be/tE1SFwo_jEw #Cybersecurity #MITREATTACK #SecurityOps @hackerxbella.bsky.social
youtu.be
Teaser: The Cybersecurity Exodus Problem
YouTube video by ITSPmagazine
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Allie Mellen @hackerxbella.bsky.social · 12/03/2025
The Blob strikes again! The latest cybersecurity buzzword? Agentic AI 🤖 Read how @forrester defines agentic AI and how it will apply to security teams here: www.forrester.com/blogs/cybers...
forrester.com
Cybersecurity’s Latest Buzzword Has Arrived: What Agentic AI Is And Isn’t
Cybersecurity vendors have come out of the woodwork in the past few months to announce their “agentic AI” innovations. These include vendors like Swimlane, ReliaQuest, Dropzone AI, Intezer, and others...
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Allie Mellen @hackerxbella.bsky.social · 11/03/2025
A new The Latest Breach is live, and today we tackle the changes at the VA and its impact on cybersecurity hackerxbella.substack.com/p/veterans-a...
hackerxbella.substack.com
Veterans are some of the most valuable cybersecurity talent
and that pipeline is going to dwindle more than it ever has
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Reposted by Allie Mellen
Allie Mellen @hackerxbella.bsky.social · 05/03/2025
📣 💥 📣 CALLING SOC ANALYSTS, INCIDENT RESPONDERS, DETECTION ENGINEERS! 📣 💥 📣 We want to hear from YOU! We are researching Analyst Experience to see what is working and not working in the SOC. PLEASE take 10 min to fill out the survey so we can improve it! forrester.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
forrester.co1.qualtrics.com
Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management
The most powerful, simple and trusted way to gather experience data. Start your journey to experience management and try a free account today.
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Allie Mellen @hackerxbella.bsky.social · 05/03/2025
📣 💥 📣 CALLING SOC ANALYSTS, INCIDENT RESPONDERS, DETECTION ENGINEERS! 📣 💥 📣 We want to hear from YOU! We are researching Analyst Experience to see what is working and not working in the SOC. PLEASE take 10 min to fill out the survey so we can improve it! forrester.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
forrester.co1.qualtrics.com
Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management
The most powerful, simple and trusted way to gather experience data. Start your journey to experience management and try a free account today.
012
Allie Mellen @hackerxbella.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
Hobbling US Cyber Command unduly sacrifices national security. Read more from The Latest Breach here: open.substack.com/pub/hackerxb...
open.substack.com
Pausing offensive cyber operations against Russia endangers American lives
Much of the US military operates under joint operations, which integrate personnel from multiple branches for various goals to make sure the military apparatus is maximally aligned, coordinated, and e...
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Allie Mellen @hackerxbella.bsky.social · 03/03/2025
Last month I attended the AV-Comparatives conference and spoke on how I leverage 3rd party lab tests as part of my role as an industry analyst. See the blog for an overview of the event and how I use tests like these: www.forrester.com/blogs/how-i-...
forrester.com
How I Apply Third-Party Lab Results In My Security Operations Research
Last week, I attended the AV Comparatives conference in Innsbruck, Austria. This conference brought together many cybersecurity vendors, particularly those with a European focus, as well as a few non-...
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Allie Mellen @hackerxbella.bsky.social · 25/02/2025
Apple is removing its Advanced Data Encryption Feature in the UK. Here's what it means: hackerxbella.substack.com/p/your-quest...
hackerxbella.substack.com
Your questions answered on Apple removing its advanced data encryption feature in the UK
Plus, almost $1.5 B in cryptocurrency losses, DOGE posting data not meant for release, and Ukraine
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Allie Mellen @hackerxbella.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
We are stuck in a loop of tech companies protecting our privacy from governments, and it’s a genuinely bad place to be open.substack.com/pub/hackerxb...
open.substack.com
We keep having to rely on tech companies to protect our freedom of speech. It's a bad spot to be in.
Plus, information operations and economic espionage
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Allie Mellen @hackerxbella.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
We go way deeper than this into the full reports, but this graphic alone demonstrates the number of high and critical alerts vendors generated in the @attack.mitre.org evaluations for just THREE attacks. Read more here: www.forrester.com/blogs/go-bey...
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Allie Mellen @hackerxbella.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
The number of alerts some vendors generated in the latest MITRE ATT&CK Engenuity evaluation is ridiculous. I’m talking in the MILLIONS of alerts. For just 3 attacks. Targeting a handful of endpoints. Read more - www.forrester.com/blogs/go-bey...
forrester.com
Go Beyond The MITRE ATT&CK Evaluation To The True Cost Of Alert Volumes
MITRE released its latest Enterprise MITRE ATT&CK Evaluations in December of 2024. At that time, we published a blog with a quick overview of the results. Today, we’re excited to announce that we have...
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Allie Mellen @hackerxbella.bsky.social · 11/02/2025
Here's why you should care that DOGE breached your data... and more on ransomware payments and DeepSeek - hackerxbella.substack.com/p/heres-why-...
hackerxbella.substack.com
Here's why you should care that DOGE breached your data
DOGE as an insider threat, ransomware payments go down 🎉 , and the DeepSeek saga continues
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Allie Mellen @hackerxbella.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
This week on The Latest Breach: the DeepSeek bans, attackers using generative AI, and cybercrime forum takedowns hackerxbella.substack.com/p/respect-ci...
hackerxbella.substack.com
Respect citizens' data or get out
DeepSeek bans, attackers using generative AI, and cybercrime forum takedowns
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Allie Mellen @hackerxbella.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
The US gov playing slow-mo whack-a-mole with popular Chinese software is not a long-term strategy
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Allie Mellen @hackerxbella.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
Latest Breach for the week is live - the implications of @deepseek.bsky.social for geopolitics and infosec, EU and US sanctions and indictments, and CISA, DHS cyber safety review board updates — open.substack.com/pub/hackerxb...
open.substack.com
Maintaining an open Internet requires trust, a belief in short supply
Plus, new sanctions and indictments roll out from the US and EU
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Allie Mellen @hackerxbella.bsky.social · 21/01/2025
A weekend of whiplash from TikTok to the new US administration. Check out The Latest Breach on the most important cyber activity in the context of last week's big global events hackerxbella.substack.com/p/a-weekend-...
hackerxbella.substack.com
A weekend of whiplash: TikTok and a new US administration
With the latest on attacks by Russia and China
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