Sign in

Nassim Assefi

@nassefi.bsky.social
378 followers 173 following 237 posts

women's health/global health/human rights physician, novelist, creative content catalyst, TED(+MED)ster, single mama, Iranian-American, global nomad, feminist, thrillionaire; www.nassimassefi.com

PostsRepliesMedia
Nassim Assefi @nassefi.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
An excellent piece--Look Me in the AI-- on how AI has intruded into writing and yet we can't ignore it, making writing professor and Pakistani Novelist, Bina Shah, feel like she has become a policewoman when she reads. www.dawn.com/news/2003865...
dawn.com
020
Nassim Assefi @nassefi.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
I can't wait to hold this book in my hands. It's been 20 years in the making. My love letter to Afghanistan. www.zeytinpress.co.uk/product/the-...
zeytinpress.co.uk
Say I Am You - Zeytin Press
In the fragile optimism of post-Taliban Kabul in 2006, Iranian-American doctor Behnaz Mazdak has built the life she always imagined. Meaningful work, an unlikely community of friends, a city that need...
030
Nassim Assefi @nassefi.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
Another outstanding @thisamericanlife.org episode, this one on the saga of transpeople in the US military under T-rump. www.thisamericanlife.org/887/two-is-o... But the short story by Rachel Khong (Act 3) is truly extraordinary. I just ordered her book, My Dear You.
thisamericanlife.org
Two Is One, One Is None! - This American Life
One family faces the Trump administration’s ban on trans people serving in the military, and responds with a surprising secret weapon.
0116
Nassim Assefi @nassefi.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
I loved this reflection on the life + legacy of remarkable "accidental theologist" Lesley Hazleton, who left us (on her own terms) 2 years ago. I am proud to have curated her TED talks and miss her dearly. Thank you, Gayle Karen Young, for this beautiful piece: missgayle.substack.com/p/c868e010-9...
missgayle.substack.com
Minding the Invisible
My inklings on organizational culture, Zen chaplaincy, leadership and complexity, travel and encounters, prose and poetry that has helped me make sense of the world, and life in general having just tu...
000
Nassim Assefi @nassefi.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
Fantastic @thisamericanlife.org episode on the daily realities of Iranian life (and diversity of opinion) during this horrific war. Thank you for humanizing the Iranian people. This captures well the reality my family has shared with me between blackouts. www.thisamericanlife.org/886/blackout
thisamericanlife.org
Blackout - This American Life
Iran has been under a total internet blackout since the war began. We found a way to get voice memos out of the country. It was dangerous — but people wanted to be heard.
052
Nassim Assefi @nassefi.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
An artist and TEDFellow I admire, who plays with humor and technology: @gabebc.bsky.social. Interview by an amazing creative agency that makes art to improve the world: creativeplaybook.org/blog/nothing...
creativeplaybook.org
Nothing is usual anymore: Gabriel Barcia Colombo in conversation with Fine Acts — Creative Playbook — Creative Playbook
”Business as Usual” is a solo exhibition by Gabriel Barcia-Colombo , created with the support of Fine Acts , currently on view at C24 Gallery in New York City. Exploring di...
010
Reposted by Nassim Assefi
Hillary Rodham Clinton @hillaryclinton.bsky.social · 11/04/2026
I love this photo of astronaut Christina Koch looking back at Earth from Artemis II. She's the first woman to see the full sphere of our beautiful planet. Welcome home to the crew, and thank you for reminding us of all we can discover together.
322259603720
Reposted by Nassim Assefi
Philip Gourevitch @pgourevitch.bsky.social · 11/04/2026
Trump sending JD to surrender to Iran is sort of a more blatant version of Biden putting Kamala Harris in charge of immigration.
51268
Reposted by Nassim Assefi
DAWN @dawnmenaorg.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
“It is obvious from Israel’s latest round of strikes that Iran’s civilian infrastructure and domestic capabilities are now under attack. From its research and development facilities to universities to pharmaceutical labs. Israel wants a servile Iran.” — @smohyeddin.bsky.social
048
Nassim Assefi @nassefi.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
Another excellent radio/podcast interview about the Iran war. This time with my dear @kaminmohammadi.bsky.social. I endorse everything she says. She's an excellent journalist and nonfiction author who loves Iran and sees it clearly. Highly recommended. kaminm.substack.com/p/my-intervi...
kaminm.substack.com
My interview with WBAI radio in US about the illegal war on Iran, broadcast on 25 March
So grateful to have had all this time to unpack some aspects of US and Israel's illegal war on Iran, please listen/watch/share
010
Nassim Assefi @nassefi.bsky.social · 15/03/2026
Excellent interview about Iran war--what both sides misunderstand about each other. @alivaez.bsky.social--nuclear expert (with technical chops), head of International Crisis Group's Iran desk, and progressive Iranian-American--on the @ezrakleinbot.bsky.social show. www.nytimes.com/2026/03/14/o...
nytimes.com
Opinion | What Trump Didn’t Know About Iran
010
Nassim Assefi @nassefi.bsky.social · 15/03/2026
More wisdom from @nargesbajoghli.bsky.social on why it's so hard to make sense of this latest Iran war: www.instagram.com/p/DV4U0LIiJr...
instagram.com
Instagram
Create an account or log in to Instagram - Share what you're into with the people who get you.
001
Nassim Assefi @nassefi.bsky.social · 15/03/2026
Favorite read of last week on the Iran war. Author, journalist, and Iran expert, @kaminmohammadi.bsky.social shares her feelings about the conspicuous holes in media reporting on the Israel/US-led Iran war. www.truthdig.com/articles/as-...
truthdig.com
As Hell Rains Down on Iran, Western Media Turns Its Head
Mainstream English-language outlets refer to the war as the “conflict in the Middle East,” as if the region just got up one morning and decided to set itself on fire.
000
Nassim Assefi @nassefi.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
Reza Aslan and Hooman Majd beautifully summarize how I feel about this war: www.nytimes.com/2026/03/06/o... and lareviewofbooks.org/article/iran... None of us are regime apologists, but we doubt air strikes will bring democracy or diaspora communities should dictate Iran's future
nytimes.com
Opinion | The Mistake That Iranians Make About America
031
Reposted by Nassim Assefi
Matthew Downhour @matthewdownhour.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
Pedro Sanchez continues his run as the only world leader convincingly acting like he cares to defend a rules based world order
12656153
Nassim Assefi @nassefi.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
We are all watching/dreading unfolding Iran events. The people are trapped between a horrific regime and a terrible prospect of war. Meanwhile, see this chilling @nytimes.com reporting by @roxanasaberi.bsky.social + colleague on Iran's health providers' experiences: www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
nytimes.com
Opinion | The Iranian Regime Has Committed a Massacre (Gift Article)
We surveyed medical workers across 14 cities and 11 provinces in Iran about their experiences treating wounded protesters.
000
Reposted by Nassim Assefi
Trita Parsi @tparsi.bsky.social · 17/02/2026
As the US intensifies the blockade on Cuba to include food, it is important to understand the link to Gaza. Israel's forced starvation of Gaza served to destroy the norms & laws around collective punishment and normalize the punishment of civilians. The US is now replicating this in Cuba.
32819
Nassim Assefi @nassefi.bsky.social · 14/02/2026
US siege on Cuba, a 60 year embargo now blocking food + fuel, a war that has little of world's attention. I'm ashamed of the US (+ very worried what it will do to Iran): www.weareceda.org/en/us-cuba-n... Democracy + human rights were always just a ruse; Marco Rubio has wanted to do this for ages
weareceda.org
What Is the Plan for Cuba and Who Pays the Price? — CEDA
000
Reposted by Nassim Assefi
Philip Gourevitch @pgourevitch.bsky.social · 14/02/2026
no foreign foe has ever dreamed of being able to sack and pillaging this country the way Trump admin and its congressional and scotus enablers do every day.
9652241872
Reposted by Nassim Assefi
David M. Perry @lollardfish.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
I really feel like: Donald Trump is building a prison camp system on the scale of Hitler, Stalin, and Mao … would be a good and true headline to run every day. Advertisements across media. Speeches on the Senate. Everywhere.
12610243
Nassim Assefi @nassefi.bsky.social · 07/02/2026
Inspiring short podcast. TEDFellow, global health eye surgeon and kind, evolved human Dr. Andrew Bastawrous talks about his vision (ha!) for outstanding health care at scale. With TED Fellow director Lily James Olds. Slow down and soak it in. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
podcasts.apple.com
A different way to measure success in health care | Andrew Bastawrous
Podcast Episode · TED Talks Daily · 02/06/2026 · 34m
000
Nassim Assefi @nassefi.bsky.social · 06/02/2026
Afghan women have so many barriers to education (secondary school and beyond currently banned in Afghanistan). This beautiful Go Fund Me helps them to apply to university in the US: www.gofundme.com/f/help-afgha...
gofundme.com
Donate to Help Afghan Students Have Access to Higher Education, organized by Fatima Daryabi
The Afghan Student Alliance (ASA) at Columbia University is a stud… Fatima Daryabi needs your support for Help Afghan Students Have Access to Higher Education
011
Reposted by Nassim Assefi
Elizabeth Cronise McLaughlin @ecmclaughlin.bsky.social · 04/02/2026
This is another effort that has taken a HUGE amount of local activism, led by community folks who care. It CAN be done. Get involved where you live and push back. www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/i...
elpasotimes.com
New Mexico Senate approves bill to ban ICE detention centers
The New Mexico Legislature approved the Immigration Safety Act. House bill 9 bars the state from allowing ICE detention centers.
2933431097
Nassim Assefi @nassefi.bsky.social · 01/02/2026
The importance and difficulty of confirming the Iran death toll: www.aljazeera.com/opinions/202...
aljazeera.com
Appropriating the death count: Manufacturing consent for an attack on Iran
Protest death toll speculations are used to rally support for an attack on Iran and downplay the genocide in Gaza.
100
Nassim Assefi @nassefi.bsky.social · 31/01/2026
Yikes. Our crumbling geopolitical structure…people thought I was overreacting when I became a Trump refugee
000
Nassim Assefi @nassefi.bsky.social · 30/01/2026
Excellent article by @janehu.bsky.social of @slate.com, exploring the tricky terrain of double-blinded, placebo controlled randomized controlled trials of psychedelics. slate.com/technology/2... We in Western medicine undervalue the very real placebo effect (ask me about my NIH-funded RCT of Reiki).
slate.com
It Could Be the Next Blockbuster Drug. There’s Just One Part No One Wants to Talk About.
No one knows how psychedelics work. The answer may be strange.
011
Nassim Assefi @nassefi.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
100% this on false choices and imposed binaries benefitting those in power. There is another way for Iran if we are a bit slower and steadier in political and economic pressure. Another must read by SAIS’s @nargesbajoghli.bsky.social www.facebook.com/share/p/1Cp5...
facebook.com
Redirecting...
010
Nassim Assefi @nassefi.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
Run to see Jafar Panahi's latest film "It was just an accident" or Simple Accident. Secretly filmed in Iran. Such poignant themes today about the human desire for revenge and reconciliation, the complexity of human emotions, the reverberations of torture/PTSD, and the resilience of ordinary people.
111
Nassim Assefi @nassefi.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
Everything is connected. From Gaza to MPLS. We are in the days of transnational empire--networked, distributed, enabled by big tech/corporations. Trenchant analysis by the ever wonderful Dr. Narges Bajoghli of SAIS: www.facebook.com/share/p/18H4...
facebook.com
Redirecting...
000
Reposted by Nassim Assefi
Yashar Ali 🐘 @yasharali.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
Latest numbers out of Iran.
 - IRAN UPDATE
HRANA's latest numbers.
The total number of fatalities - confirmed and under review - has now surpassed 23,000.
Reminder: HRANA death confirmations take time, as they go through multiple layers of verification.
Very limited internet access continues to make the collection and processing of data difficult. We still do not know the full extent of the Islamic Republic's carnage.
Confirmed fatalities: 6,126
Protesters: 5,777
Children (under 18): 86
Forces affiliated with the regime: 214
Non-protesters: 49
Fatalities under investigation: 17,091
TOTAL: 23,217
Severely injured individuals: 11,009
Total arrests: 41,880
Broadcast of forced confessions: 245
Summoned to intelligence/security agencies: 11,024
1719261
Nassim Assefi @nassefi.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
Incredibly powerful, beautiful, and heartbreaking letter from a young man in Iran in the midst of his military service writing about the days following the protests, the "suspended agency" quieter than despair. www.equator.org/articles/teh...
equator.org
A Society Exhausted by Repetition • EQUATOR
A young Iranian weighs the protests in his country, and traces the line between hope and despair, in an essay delivered through a frail WhatsApp connection
011
Nassim Assefi @nassefi.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
This is too good. Greenlanders talk about Trump deserving the Nobel Peace Prize...with a twist: www.facebook.com/share/p/1DQ5...
facebook.com
Redirecting...
000
Nassim Assefi @nassefi.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
Disheartened by in-fighting (not new) in Iranian diaspora. Those on the "right" supporting Reza Pahlavi cyber-bully (+ much worse) those who don't agree with them. I've received online hate + kicked out of a supposedly apolitical med humanitarian group 4 questioning their support of foreign bombing.
000
Nassim Assefi @nassefi.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
The most helpful, concise analysis on the Iran-USA-Israel access and next steps I'm reading lately come from @citrinowicz.bsky.social on Twitter (lamentably). He's an Israeli, a political Iran, peace and security expert, and Atlantic Council Fellow. Balanced views. Follow him: x.com/citrinowicz
x.com
000
Nassim Assefi @nassefi.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
Meticulously researched (including by friends of mine), horrific, brutal account by @nytimes.com about what happened in Iran: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/25/w...
nytimes.com
How Iran Crushed a Citizen Uprising With Lethal Force
000
Reposted by Nassim Assefi
Susan Elia MacNeal @susaneliamacneal.bsky.social · 25/01/2026
084
Reposted by Nassim Assefi
David Corn @davidcorn.bsky.social · 25/01/2026
This is cold-blooded state murder of an US citizen. Stephen Miller called Alex Pretti a "domestic terrorist" & claimed he was trying to "assassinate" federal officers. A total lie. Only a cretin would hurl this falsehood & stick with it. This a fascistic and reckless disregard of life & the truth.
25551182
Reposted by Nassim Assefi
Ryan Goodman @rgoodlaw.bsky.social · 25/01/2026
WOW on Pretti's denial of medical treatment "I informed the ICE agents that I am a physician, and I asked to assess the victim. At first, the ICE agents wouldn't let me through. ... But none of the ICE agents who were near the victim were performing CPR, ... None of the agents were helping him."
489137326280
Reposted by Nassim Assefi
Sean T. Collins @seantcollins.com · 25/01/2026
"I am a children's entertainer who specializes in face painting," writes a woman now in hiding from the federal government for witnessing a state-sanctioned street execution
2553631830
Reposted by Nassim Assefi
Yashar Ali 🐘 @yasharali.bsky.social · 25/01/2026
BREAKING - Iran update As some Iranians have been able to use messaging apps, confirmed fatalities, arrests, etc have skyrocketed. Currently 22,490 fatalities have been confirmed and are under investigation.
Yashar Ali m @yashar
x.com
BREAKING - IRAN UPDATE
HRANA's latest numbers.
The total number of fatalities - confirmed and under review - has now surpassed 22,000.
Reminder: HRANA death confirmations take time, as they go through multiple layers of verification.
The spike in cases is due to the fact that some Iranians can now communicate via messaging apps. But full internet access is still not available, so we do not yet know the extent of the carnage at the hands of the Islamic Republic.
Confirmed fatalities: 5,459
Protesters: 5,149
Children (under 18): 60
Government-affiliated forces: 208
Non-protesters/civilians: 42
Fatalities under investigation: 17,031
TOTAL: 22,490
Severely injured: 7,403
Total arrests: 40,887
Arrests of individuals under 18: 325
Broadcast forced confessions: 205 cases
Summonses to security agencies: 11,023 cases
18474233
Reposted by Nassim Assefi
kenofseattle @kenofseattle.bsky.social · 25/01/2026
291929642
Reposted by Nassim Assefi
Christy Quirk @cequirk.bsky.social · 25/01/2026
“There is a logic, and this logic has a name. It’s called state terror.” www.nytimes.com/2026/01/24/o...
nytimes.com
Opinion | State Terror Has Arrived
022
Reposted by Nassim Assefi
Kai Kupferschmidt @kakape.bsky.social · 25/01/2026
This is such an important point and here in Europe we should be building the skills and connections now to make sure that the truth continues to matter and powerful people can be held to account. The alternative is going down and down the spiral of democratic disenchantment and erosion…
39835
Nassim Assefi @nassefi.bsky.social · 24/01/2026
This is brilliant re-framing. The best scientists ask the right question (which is often refocused), they don't necessarily arrive at the right answer. Wonderful perspective published in Genome Biology in 2019 thanks to discovery in Tim Ferriss' 5 bullet Friday link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com
What is the question? - Genome Biology
Genome Biology -
010
Reposted by Nassim Assefi
Helen Branswell 🇨🇦 @helenbranswell.bsky.social · 22/01/2026
The US withdrawal from #WHO became official today, leaving the world less prepared for dangerous disease outbreaks. “When that will bite us in the ass, it’s impossible to predict. But there is a 100% certainty that it will bite us in the ass,” one expert told me. www.statnews.com/2026/01/22/u...
statnews.com
U.S. makes exit from the WHO complete
The U.S. withdrawal from the WHO became official Thursday, formalizing a fissure between the Trump administration and the Geneva-based global health agency.
4390253
Nassim Assefi @nassefi.bsky.social · 22/01/2026
This kind of evidence made me run to get my Shingles vax. One down, one to go.
020
Reposted by Nassim Assefi
Yashar Ali 🐘 @yasharali.bsky.social · 22/01/2026
Two weeks without internet in Iran. What we already know is bad enough — just imagine what we’re going to find out in the coming weeks and months. The Islamic Republic is a criminal regime.
NetBlocks ® @netblocks
X.com
, Update: Two weeks ago today, #Iran was cut off from the world by an extremist regime as the people went out on the streets to call for change.
With the digital blackout silencing Iranians' voices, authorities perpetrated one of the deadliest crackdowns in modern history.
Network Connectivity - Iran: 2026-01-02 to 2026-01-22
728765
Nassim Assefi @nassefi.bsky.social · 22/01/2026
I want to know if Trump will sue or if he appreciates the Putin meme
000
Reposted by Nassim Assefi
Yashar Ali 🐘 @yasharali.bsky.social · 22/01/2026
Excellent, must-read piece by Siamak Namazi, a former political prisoner in Iran.
bit.ly
Iran’s coming reckoning: Regime collapse is likely — democracy is not - Middle East Institute
610233
Nassim Assefi @nassefi.bsky.social · 22/01/2026
I wish @citrinowicz.bsky.social were actually using Bluesky. He's posting excellent political analysis on Iran on Twitter. eg. x.com/citrinowicz/...; x.com/citrinowicz/...; x.com/citrinowicz/... I much rather engage on this site but alas, most I follow on Iran are not here.
x.com
000