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Rishi Iyengar

@iyengarish.bsky.social
2.2K followers 302 following 331 posts

Staff Writer at Foreign Policy magazine covering (mostly) technology, via CNN, TIME, SFO-DEL-HKG-NYC-PNQ. Alliteration aficionado. Em dash enthusiast. New(ish) here.

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Reposted by Rishi Iyengar
Rishi Iyengar @iyengarish.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
For the past year, Slovenia’s official web domain registrar recorded ~1,000 registrations a month. Then Trump talked up "super intelligence" in his UNGA speech. Slovenia got 6,000 ".si" registrations in the next two days. My latest @foreignpolicy.com foreignpolicy.com/2026/09/28/t...
foreignpolicy.com
How Trump Is Sparking a Slovenian Website Boom
The president’s call to rebrand AI as “super intelligence” has led to a surge of interest in Slovenia’s “.si” web domain.
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Rishi Iyengar @iyengarish.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
For the past year, Slovenia’s official web domain registrar recorded ~1,000 registrations a month. Then Trump talked up "super intelligence" in his UNGA speech. Slovenia got 6,000 ".si" registrations in the next two days. My latest @foreignpolicy.com foreignpolicy.com/2026/09/28/t...
foreignpolicy.com
How Trump Is Sparking a Slovenian Website Boom
The president’s call to rebrand AI as “super intelligence” has led to a surge of interest in Slovenia’s “.si” web domain.
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Rishi Iyengar @iyengarish.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
NEW: Iranian Foreign Minister Syed Abbas Araghchi told a small group of reporters that Iran has given the U.S. a seven-day plan to open the Strait of Hormuz "if certain conditions are met." That and more in our final SitRep UNGA dispatch @foreignpolicy.com foreignpolicy.com/2026/09/24/n...
foreignpolicy.com
Netanyahu Faces an UNGA Walkout (Again)
The Israeli prime minister defended his country’s actions in Gaza and Iran—and lashed out at Mamdani.
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Rishi Iyengar @iyengarish.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
NEW: For @foreignpolicy.com, I tried to unpack the incredibly packed past week in AI-will-kill-us-all discourse, including the complicated geopolitics of slowing down the technology's development as Donald Trump and Xi Jinping meet in Washington next week. foreignpolicy.com/2026/09/16/a...
foreignpolicy.com
Why Existential AI Fears Have Hit a Crescendo
And the complicated geopolitics of slowing down the technology’s development.
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Reposted by Rishi Iyengar
Foreign Policy @foreignpolicy.com · 16/09/2026
The debate around existential risk to humanity from AI obfuscates the many real-world harms that the technology is already causing, writes FP’s @iyengarish.bsky.social. foreignpolicy.com/2026/09/16/a...
foreignpolicy.com
Why Existential AI Fears Have Hit a Crescendo
And the complicated geopolitics of slowing down the technology’s development.
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Rishi Iyengar @iyengarish.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
NEW: For @foreignpolicy.com, I tried to unpack the incredibly packed past week in AI-will-kill-us-all discourse, including the complicated geopolitics of slowing down the technology's development as Donald Trump and Xi Jinping meet in Washington next week. foreignpolicy.com/2026/09/16/a...
foreignpolicy.com
Why Existential AI Fears Have Hit a Crescendo
And the complicated geopolitics of slowing down the technology’s development.
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Reposted by Rishi Iyengar
Foreign Policy @foreignpolicy.com · 05/09/2026
FP’s @iyengarish.bsky.social explores what José Mourinho’s life, career, and relentless self-aggrandizement can tell us about geopolitics and the world we live in today. foreignpolicy.com/2026/09/04/m...
foreignpolicy.com
Soccer’s Favorite Strongman
José Mourinho’s lessons on how to influence people (and not win friends).
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Reposted by Rishi Iyengar
Rishi Iyengar @iyengarish.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
This is the most fun I've had writing this year, I hope you'll enjoy it! My essay on the geopolitics of Jose Mourinho, for @foreignpolicy.com [GIFT LINK] foreignpolicy.com/2026/09/04/m...
foreignpolicy.com
Soccer’s Favorite Strongman
José Mourinho’s lessons on how to influence people (and not win friends).
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Rishi Iyengar @iyengarish.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
This is the most fun I've had writing this year, I hope you'll enjoy it! My essay on the geopolitics of Jose Mourinho, for @foreignpolicy.com [GIFT LINK] foreignpolicy.com/2026/09/04/m...
foreignpolicy.com
Soccer’s Favorite Strongman
José Mourinho’s lessons on how to influence people (and not win friends).
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Rishi Iyengar @iyengarish.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
The Trump administration's new national security tech strategy deems "deeper cooperation with allies and partners" as "essential" to maintaining U.S. leadership. That's difficult when you're alienating most of them. New SitRep w @jchaltiwanger.bsky.social foreignpolicy.com/2026/08/20/t...
foreignpolicy.com
Trump’s Tech Tensions
The administration’s latest strategy document tries to balance technological competition with cooperation.
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Reposted by Rishi Iyengar
Foreign Policy for America @fp4america.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
In today’s #MustRead, @iyengarish.bsky.social and @christinalu.bsky.social explain why U.S. water systems are becoming an easy target for hackers linked to Iran, with utilities in at least seven states targeted in recent attacks. ⬇️ foreignpolicy.com/2026/08/13/c...
foreignpolicy.com
Why Hackers Keep Going After U.S. Water Supplies
A spate of new attacks believed to be linked to Iran has highlighted the water sector’s vulnerability.
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Rishi Iyengar @iyengarish.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
After a spate of hacks on water infrastructure across the United States (suspected of being carried out by Iran, we looked at why the U.S. water sector in particular is so vulnerable to cyberattacks: foreignpolicy.com/2026/08/13/c... with @christinalu.bsky.social via @foreignpolicy.com
foreignpolicy.com
Why Hackers Keep Going After U.S. Water Supplies
A spate of new attacks believed to be linked to Iran has highlighted the water sector’s vulnerability.
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Rishi Iyengar @iyengarish.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
#HouseOfTheDragon manages something few television shows can, which is to feel slower than the book that makes up its source material.
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Reposted by Rishi Iyengar
Rishi Iyengar @iyengarish.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
“Social media made the protest feel like a conversation, not a lecture.” My deep dive for @foreignpolicy.com, on how India's Gen Z and the @cockroachjparty.bsky.social took the fight to Modi online, is in front of our paywall and free to read: foreignpolicy.com/2026/07/30/c...
foreignpolicy.com
How Gen Z ‘Cockroaches’ Beat Modi at His Own Game
India’s prime minister is famous for his savvy use of social media. Now he’s getting a wake-up call.
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Rishi Iyengar @iyengarish.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
“Social media made the protest feel like a conversation, not a lecture.” My deep dive for @foreignpolicy.com, on how India's Gen Z and the @cockroachjparty.bsky.social took the fight to Modi online, is in front of our paywall and free to read: foreignpolicy.com/2026/07/30/c...
foreignpolicy.com
How Gen Z ‘Cockroaches’ Beat Modi at His Own Game
India’s prime minister is famous for his savvy use of social media. Now he’s getting a wake-up call.
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Reposted by Rishi Iyengar
Alexandra Sharp @alexandrassharp.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
From strategic fortresses to economic powerhouses, here are the nine most consequential islands in Iran’s arsenal—and what a U.S. military campaign could conceivably achieve. An @foreignpolicy.com explainer! foreignpolicy.com/2026/07/27/i...
foreignpolicy.com
Iran’s Arsenal Starts With Its Islands
From strategic fortresses to economic powerhouses, Iran’s islands may be the key to any full-scale invasion. Here’s a guide to Tehran’s nine most consequential territories.
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Rishi Iyengar @iyengarish.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
China is AI-maxxing. My latest @foreignpolicy.com on what new models and big speeches out of Beijing mean for U.S.-China tech competition. foreignpolicy.com/2026/07/23/c...
foreignpolicy.com
China Is AI-Maxxing
Beijing may be closing the gap with Washington in the AI race.
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Rishi Iyengar @iyengarish.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
My best friend and I sneaking out of the house as teenagers to get McDonald's at 3 a.m.
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Rishi Iyengar @iyengarish.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
Re-upping this for no particular reason
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Rishi Iyengar @iyengarish.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Ukraine isn't waiting around for Patriots. My latest @foreignpolicy.com foreignpolicy.com/2026/07/15/u...
foreignpolicy.com
Ukraine Isn’t Waiting Around for Patriots
A new European coalition is looking to build quicker and cheaper anti-ballistic missile systems—off Ukrainian technology.
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Rishi Iyengar @iyengarish.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Spotted inside the Ankara Castle, the day after the NATO Summit.
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Rishi Iyengar @iyengarish.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
NATO managed to give Trump a happy summit sendoff for the second straight year—though protecting his ego wasn't as high priority this year and Europe is ready for self-reliance. Now what? Final @foreignpolicy.com Ankara dispatch with @jchaltiwanger.bsky.social: foreignpolicy.com/2026/07/09/n...
foreignpolicy.com
NATO’s Waiting Game
Less Trump. More Europe. What’s next?
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Reposted by Rishi Iyengar
John Haltiwanger @jchaltiwanger.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
A breakdown of what happened at this year's NATO summit in Ankara from me and @iyengarish.bsky.social The alliance wanted to look united. In walked Trump. foreignpolicy.com/2026/07/08/t...
foreignpolicy.com
Trump Hands NATO a Mixed Bag
The alliance wanted to look united. In walked Trump.
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Rishi Iyengar @iyengarish.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
Angsty in Ankara My @foreignpolicy.com preview of next week's NATO Summit, where @jchaltiwanger.bsky.social and I will be on the ground reporting! Let us know if you'd like to grab a coffee or a kebab. foreignpolicy.com/2026/07/02/n...
foreignpolicy.com
Angsty in Ankara
Can NATO move past a need to keep Trump happy?
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Rishi Iyengar @iyengarish.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
Ferran Torres is the Alvaro Morata of Gonzalo Higuains.
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Rishi Iyengar @iyengarish.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
“You can spin it in different ways, but it is because of the changes that we’ve seen in the 18 months of the Trump administration.” My latest @foreignpolicy.com, on Europe's renewed push for tech sovereignty and the impact on/from its relationship with the U.S.: foreignpolicy.com/2026/07/01/t...
foreignpolicy.com
Trump’s Trans-Atlantic Tech Schism
The U.S. president’s policies are driving Europe’s push for technological sovereignty.
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Reposted by Rishi Iyengar
John Haltiwanger @jchaltiwanger.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
“We don’t have a solution,” an Israeli military official said. foreignpolicy.com/2026/06/30/i...
foreignpolicy.com
Israel Has a Hezbollah Drone Problem
“We don’t have a solution,” an Israeli military official said.
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Reposted by Rishi Iyengar
Rishi Iyengar @iyengarish.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
🚨We've dropped @foreignpolicy.com's paywall completely for a week starting today, during which you can read all of our journalism and analysis completely for free (with an email registration)! Including below some of my favorite pieces I've published so far this year 🧵:
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Rishi Iyengar @iyengarish.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
🚨We've dropped @foreignpolicy.com's paywall completely for a week starting today, during which you can read all of our journalism and analysis completely for free (with an email registration)! Including below some of my favorite pieces I've published so far this year 🧵:
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Rishi Iyengar @iyengarish.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
"This administration’s worldview is their worldview. They have their priorities. We have our priorities, we have our national interest." India's ambassador to Washington Vinay Kwatra on technology, trade and the India-U.S. relationship @foreignpolicy.com foreignpolicy.com/2026/06/16/i...
foreignpolicy.com
‘It's Not Competitive in Nature’
India’s ambassador to Washington insists “Make in India” doesn’t conflict with “America First.”
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Rishi Iyengar @iyengarish.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
Ended up at The Kennedy Center right as Trump's name is being taken down (and there's a rainbow)
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Reposted by Rishi Iyengar
M.R. Robinson @mruthrobinson.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
If you have ever emailed a writer to let them know you enjoyed something they wrote, you are among the noblest and best and most saintly in this entire world, and I hope you sleep really well tonight.
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Rishi Iyengar @iyengarish.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
China has finally confirmed that Xi Jinping will be visiting North Korea. For @foreignpolicy.com last month, I wrote about the implications of such a visit and why Xi has chosen Pyongyang for his first overseas trip of 2026. foreignpolicy.com/2026/05/22/x...
foreignpolicy.com
Xi’s Flurry of Post-Trump Diplomacy
The Chinese president may be preparing for a rare and momentous trip to Pyongyang.
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Reposted by Rishi Iyengar
Foreign Policy @foreignpolicy.com · 15/05/2026
Trump and Xi seemed to agree to little of substance, save some minor concessions over trade, writes FP’s @beijingpalmer.bsky.social.
foreignpolicy.com
The Trump-Xi Summit Was Remarkably Banal
A more confident China is happy to downplay presidential visits.
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Rishi Iyengar @iyengarish.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
For @foreignpolicy.com's Situation Report, @jchaltiwanger.bsky.social and I wrote about U.S. weapon sales to Taiwan and how it didn't seem to come up between Trump and Xi in Beijing. But Trump said on Air Force 1 back that they did in fact discuss it at length. foreignpolicy.com/2026/05/14/t...
foreignpolicy.com
Talking (and Not Talking) Taiwan
A tale of two readouts.
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Rishi Iyengar @iyengarish.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
As Trump begins his visit to China—the first by a U.S. president since Trump's 2017 state visit during his first term—I dug into a question that has been on a lot of minds in the past year: Why is he no longer a China hawk? foreignpolicy.com/2026/05/12/t... via @foreignpolicy.com
foreignpolicy.com
What Happened to Trump the China Hawk?
The U.S. president heads to Beijing in detente and dealmaking mode.
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Reposted by Rishi Iyengar
Rishi Iyengar @iyengarish.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
Journalist friends: Crowdsourcing for a talk I'm giving--what is the one thing you wish non-journalists knew/realized about our profession?
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Rishi Iyengar @iyengarish.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
Journalist friends: Crowdsourcing for a talk I'm giving--what is the one thing you wish non-journalists knew/realized about our profession?
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Reposted by Rishi Iyengar
Foreign Policy @foreignpolicy.com · 02/05/2026
Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken spoke to FP’s @iyengarish.bsky.social about his recent meeting with Hegseth, the strain Trump has imposed on NATO, and Belgium’s potential role in helping to clear the Strait of Hormuz.
foreignpolicy.com
‘Everything Depends on Our Attitudes’
Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken on Hegseth, Hormuz, and NATO’s future.
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Rishi Iyengar @iyengarish.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
This week's SitRep with @jchaltiwanger.bsky.social: Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken said his meeting with Pete Hegseth in Washington this week was "very positive" and "there was no hostility." Belgium's defense spending went up by 59% last year. foreignpolicy.com/2026/04/30/h...
foreignpolicy.com
The View From Europe
Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken on Hegseth, Hormuz, and NATO.
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Rishi Iyengar @iyengarish.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
Qatar produces a third of the world's helium—more than any country except the United States. Iran's recent strike on its largest gas field threatens to cause a domino effect on global semiconductor supplies. With @christinalu.bsky.social for @foreignpolicy.com foreignpolicy.com/2026/04/27/i...
foreignpolicy.com
The Hormuz Hit to Helium
The Iran war is choking off a critical input for chipmaking and AI infrastructure.
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Rishi Iyengar @iyengarish.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
Qatar produces a third of the world's helium—more than any country except the United States. Iran's recent strike on its largest gas field threatens to cause a domino effect on global semiconductor supplies. With @christinalu.bsky.social for @foreignpolicy.com foreignpolicy.com/2026/04/27/i...
foreignpolicy.com
The Hormuz Hit to Helium
The Iran war is choking off a critical input for chipmaking and AI infrastructure.
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Rishi Iyengar @iyengarish.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
One of the things I still cannot understand after years in this country is the inability of so many Americans to correctly pronounce the word "nuclear." It is "new clear" not "new kewler."
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Rishi Iyengar @iyengarish.bsky.social · 20/04/2026
Anthropic blocking Claude Mythos Preview from full public release has sparked a cyber debate across a spectrum from clever marketing to paradigm shift. I spoke to experts and former officials for @foreignpolicy.com who say the reality is somewhere in between. foreignpolicy.com/2026/04/20/c...
foreignpolicy.com
How Big of a Threat Is Mythos?
Anthropic’s latest AI model has kick-started a new debate.
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Reposted by Rishi Iyengar
Anne Cronin @annecronin.bsky.social · 20/04/2026
FREE LINK > In a lovely, sympathetic piece, @jessicanix.bsky.social talked to anti-vaxxers who changed their minds about the measles shot as the disease closed in on their families. www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
bloomberg.com
As Measles Takes Toll on Kids, Anti-Vaxxers Have Change of Heart
Enough parents are quietly embracing the MMR that it’s helping to slow the outbreaks.
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Reposted by Rishi Iyengar
Committee to Protect Journalists @pressfreedom.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
✍️ Sign the petition: Kuwaiti-American journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin is detained in Kuwait under new security and fake news laws. Demand Kuwaiti authorities immediately and unconditionally release him. ⤵️ cpj.movements.mov/pet/kuwait-r... #freeahmed #FreeAhmedEldin
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Rishi Iyengar @iyengarish.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
Trump's Friday Truth Social posting has been highly erratic even by his usual chaotic standards—capping off a terrible week for the U.S. president in which he fought with the pope and lost some of his closest European allies. foreignpolicy.com/2026/04/16/t... with @jchaltiwanger.bsky.social
foreignpolicy.com
Trump’s Awful Week
The U.S. president is picking fights in every direction, alienating key supporters and allies.
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Rishi Iyengar @iyengarish.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
There's no shortage of news in the world, but taking a quick break for a Very Important Pupdate: Meet Luka!* *named after Doncic or Modric, depending on your preferred sport.
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Rishi Iyengar @iyengarish.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
I wrote about the memes for @foreignpolicy.com [GIFT LINK] foreignpolicy.com/2026/04/10/i...
foreignpolicy.com
Meme Wars
Trump has decimated the norms of diplomatic communication, and other countries have followed suit.
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Rishi Iyengar @iyengarish.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
I wrote about the memes for @foreignpolicy.com [GIFT LINK] foreignpolicy.com/2026/04/10/i...
foreignpolicy.com
Meme Wars
Trump has decimated the norms of diplomatic communication, and other countries have followed suit.
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