iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Jonathan Cristol @jonathancristol.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Here I go again, watching all of #UNGA80 General Debate... starting as it does every year with Brazil. Lula has done a decent job of going after the US without even saying "United States" let alone "Trump."

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Jonathan Cristol @jonathancristol.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

If I’m Denmark, allowing Trump to take credit for Truman and Eisenhower’s achievements in exchange for the status quo is a pretty good deal. Unfortunate that it’s necessary, of course.

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Jonathan Cristol @jonathancristol.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

All politics and social ills aside, the absolute most shocking thing about Sheerangate is that in the year 2026 Mac*klemore was opening a stadium tour for Sheeran.

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Jonathan Cristol @jonathancristol.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

One of the more brazen talkers in the quiet car right now— alas I can’t transcribe the conversation because it’s in Italian. On the plus side, Italian tourist unlikely to shoot me if I point to the multiple quiet car signs.

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Jonathan Cristol @jonathancristol.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

And how would that not disturb me exactly?

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Jonathan Cristol @jonathancristol.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

If you’re going to have a continuous conversation in the quiet car, rest assured I’ll live Bluesky it if it gets interesting.

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Jonathan Cristol @jonathancristol.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Trump’s proposed global shipping extortion scheme is impressive in the breadth of its stupidity. It manages to be stupid at every point along a continuum from grand strategic to sub-tactical.

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Jonathan Cristol @jonathancristol.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

Unlike all but a handful of you, I have met and spoke with Ahmadinejad on three separate occasions… … and this is the most (and sorry for the polisci jargon) coo-coo bananas thing I have ever read.

nytimes.com

Early War Goal Was to Install Hard Line Former President as Iran’s Leader

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Jonathan Cristol @jonathancristol.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

It makes sense for them to continue the dinner. If they didn’t, any evidence in the lobby and surrounding area would be contaminated. Moreover, they can interview people one by one; and people can decompress without sitting in silence waiting to leave.

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Jonathan Cristol @jonathancristol.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

This is the ‘presidential’ equivalent of “Don’t move! Get out of the car!”

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Jonathan Cristol @jonathancristol.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

So he’s saying “The Fed should consider that if things were better that they would be better.” Cripes. “The Fed should consider the power of prayer,” would be a genuinely better answer.

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Jonathan Cristol @jonathancristol.bsky.social · 12/04/2026

I don’t think I’ve ever disagreed with anybody more than I disagree with Mr. Jones.

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Jonathan Cristol @jonathancristol.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

Actually my thread misses what is so dangerous about Trump 2.0 in general— tomorrow he could say that there is no ‘ceasefire,’ or he could again threaten to wipe out an entire civilization, or he could just decide to take St Pierre & Miquelon, or rename all the moon craters ‘Trump 1, 2,3… etc.’

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Jonathan Cristol @jonathancristol.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

Let me see if I understand things correctly. Trump declares what is *essentially* a unilateral ceasefire — and that is generous because in point of fact it reads like a capitulation to IRI demands.

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Jonathan Cristol @jonathancristol.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

In case you’re interested in what some shmoe with a decade focused on the IRI’s foreign and defense policies has to say, here is an interview from yesterday, which may already be totally out of date… americareport.us/iran-warning...

americareport.us

Iran Warning Issued by Expert: "Ultimatum May Backfire!"

Analysis of Expert Jonathan Cristol’s Iran Warning regarding Trump’s latest ultimatum, the risk of a premature victory, and the nuclear threat.

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Reposted by Jonathan Cristol

Caroline Baxter @convergingriskslab.bsky.social · 15/03/2026

I served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Force Education and Training for three years before the office was disestablished last year. I owned the policy on professional military education for all five services. I have listened to Secretary Hegseth's announcement. I have thoughts. 🧵

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Jonathan Cristol @jonathancristol.bsky.social · 08/03/2026

Just in case you speak Serbo-Croatian; and also want to hear what I have to say about the war, you should check out this link. m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZWF...

m.youtube.com

SVET I MI - CELA EMISIJA - 06. mart 2026.

YouTube video by Insajder Video

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Jonathan Cristol @jonathancristol.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

Barak Ravid on @cnn.com just now reporting that IDF hit Assembly of Experts, while they were voting on new SL. Not sure how I feel about this strike from many perspectives, including strategic. But that ‘not sure’ is genuine, not a no-courage-of-convictions ‘no.’

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Jonathan Cristol @jonathancristol.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

It seems like many commentators are assuming the goal is regime change and thus it will be a long war; but Trump keeps implying it’s leadership decapitation, even referring to ‘new leaders’ when they’re not new at all.

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Reposted by Jonathan Cristol

Steve Herman @newsguy.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

"The Supreme Leader of the Revolution was martyred." - Fars News Agency confirming the death of Ayatollah Khamenei

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Jonathan Cristol @jonathancristol.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

Among many things driving me crazy in the reporting on Iran is referring to the SL as “the Ayatollah” as if there is but one and as if that is a purely political title. It’s a religious title, there are many Ayatollahs, and the SL’s elevation to that title was not actually earned.

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Jonathan Cristol @jonathancristol.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

There is an actual process to replace the SL; though it is unlikely to happen while under fire. Moreover, Mojtaba (his son) was never going to be the successor; and I am deeply deeply skeptical that there would be an IRGC takeover (although absent the ability of AoE to meet, that is possible).

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Jonathan Cristol @jonathancristol.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

I have (mostly rhetorical) questions. Is ‘regime change’ being used as a synonym for ‘leadership decapitation’? They are not the same. 1/x

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Jonathan Cristol @jonathancristol.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

Tempted though I am to live sky this thing; I have to save my energy for the fourth or fifth hour of it.

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Jonathan Cristol @jonathancristol.bsky.social · 14/02/2026

The only thing good about this headline is that the plural implies that they’re at least not preparing for an invasion.

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Jonathan Cristol @jonathancristol.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

I don’t see how anyone with any sense of decency — or patriotism — can work for ICE (before or) after this latest atrocity.

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Jonathan Cristol @jonathancristol.bsky.social · 03/01/2026

I find removing Maduro far more defensible than summarily executing people on boats. But — “we’re running Venezuela” and maybe taking the oil— is ludicrous in the first instance, and criminal in the second instance.

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Jonathan Cristol @jonathancristol.bsky.social · 18/12/2025

And this is the speech when he truly became presidential… Hahahahahahahahaha. But seriously it’s a nightmare.

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Jonathan Cristol @jonathancristol.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

I guess it’s time to read the new National Security Strategy. I’ll live-sky it in this thread. Here we go…

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Jonathan Cristol @jonathancristol.bsky.social · 04/11/2025

Friends, I read the headlines this morning, opened my end table drawer, and when I tell you this was among the contents, I am 100% serious. (And my students already took the test that lies beneath it.)

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Jonathan Cristol @jonathancristol.bsky.social · 13/10/2025

Ok. I am a huge fan of @lastweektonight.com; but I’m watching right now and two minor quibbles. He takes issue with the “University of Austin” using the Chatham House rule in its classes. But 1) he conflates CHR with “off the record” but they are not the same…

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Jonathan Cristol @jonathancristol.bsky.social · 12/10/2025

Looking forward to seeing my fellow moderates @thebulwark.com live tonight… and close enough to home that I can walk!

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Jonathan Cristol @jonathancristol.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

It was a pleasure to talk to Straight Arrow News for this article!

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Jonathan Cristol @jonathancristol.bsky.social · 26/09/2025

At #UNGA80 China decries "might makes right mentality," as it assists Russia's imperial ambitions.

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Jonathan Cristol @jonathancristol.bsky.social · 26/09/2025

Well, this Netanyahu speech will be the 73rd I've watched at #UNGA80. I'm mostly been holding my commentary so that I can make some macro-observations, but I may lightly live-sky this one.

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Jonathan Cristol @jonathancristol.bsky.social · 24/09/2025

I’m on the quiet car on Amtrak and the woman next to me is on her fourth call and the conductors seem nonplussed and the other passengers are looking at each other. I’ll do my part by posting anything she says of interest verbatim. And since she’s on FT now, maybe I’ll snap a pick.

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Jonathan Cristol @jonathancristol.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

Trump spoke at length about UN teleprompters not working; and now the PGA says “as we are receiving inquiries, I want to reassure you— The teleprompters are working perfectly.”#UNGA80

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Jonathan Cristol @jonathancristol.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

Trump claims that the “world was prosperous and at peace” until Biden took over. This oughtta be good. #unga80

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Jonathan Cristol @jonathancristol.bsky.social · 21/09/2025

#UNGA80 high level week is upon us and it’s time to hit the reception circuit. Hopefully I’ll see some of you around!

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Jonathan Cristol @jonathancristol.bsky.social · 20/09/2025

So highly paid tech people will be offered large paycuts; and professors will have their visas revoked, which not only will impact the profs and their families, but will leave countless (American, if that matters) students high and dry.

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