Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Abe Newman @abenewman.bsky.social · 3h

Do you have a student that would be a great candidate for a MA in European Studies at Georgetown? Nominate them for a Flynn Scholarship to come and study with us at the BMW Center for German and European Studies.
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Georgetown University M.A. in European Studies Flynn Memorial Scholarship Nomination

This form should be used to submit your nomination for the Flynn Memorial Scholarship at the BMW Center for German and European Studies. This scholarship will cover tuition for the top applicant for t...

docs.google.com

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Reposted by Abe Newman

cornelban.bsky.social @cornelban.bsky.social · 13h

Washington thought coercion would keep China down. But as @yelingtan.bsky.social @Mark Dallas @himself.bsky.social & @abenewman.bsky.social show, it did the opposite. Dependence became danger — and China learned to turn US pressure into its own power. geoeconomic.substack.com/p/america-th...

America, the Bumerang Master

How Washington Built Chinese Leverage Over...Washington (on Tan, Dallas, Farrell, Newman)

geoeconomic.substack.com

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Reposted by Abe Newman

Garvan Walshe @garvanwalshe.org · 13h

Delian-league era Athens wants royalties for this

Abe Newman @abenewman.bsky.social · 1d

7/ For a longer analysis of how this has played out and the ways in which the nationalist international is now seeking to drive their agenda through weaponized interdependence check out this piece w/ @himself.bsky.social.
legrandcontinent.eu/fr/2025/09/2...

«Enshittification» : la nouvelle doctrine de l'Empire américain | Le Grand Continent

Le plan de l’administration Trump pour faire du reste du monde un vassal d’extrême droite — et les moyens pour le déjouer. Une pièce de doctrine signée Henry Farrell et Abraham Newman.

legrandcontinent.eu

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Reposted by Abe Newman

pickwick @pickwick.bsky.social · 1d

This is actually really good reporting on Farage

Unpaywalled:

web.archive.org/web/20251013...

Abe Newman @abenewman.bsky.social · 1d

1/ Who are the globalists? Right wing, Christian group from US seeks to transform UK politics. The latest in a string of transnational moves by the far right to shift the global political debate. Welcome to the nationalist international.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/13/w...

They Helped Topple Roe v. Wade. Now Their Sights Are Set on Britain.

www.nytimes.com

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Abe Newman @abenewman.bsky.social · 1d

7/ For a longer analysis of how this has played out and the ways in which the nationalist international is now seeking to drive their agenda through weaponized interdependence check out this piece w/ @himself.bsky.social.
legrandcontinent.eu/fr/2025/09/2...

«Enshittification» : la nouvelle doctrine de l'Empire américain | Le Grand Continent

Le plan de l’administration Trump pour faire du reste du monde un vassal d’extrême droite — et les moyens pour le déjouer. Une pièce de doctrine signée Henry Farrell et Abraham Newman.

legrandcontinent.eu

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Abe Newman @abenewman.bsky.social · 1d

6/These transnational moves are linked to weaponized interdependence. Right wing factions are looking to the US state to enforce their interests -- threatening sanctions/tariffs to put pressure on other governments to increase political space for their interests.
direct.mit.edu/isec/article...

Weaponized Interdependence: How Global Economic Networks Shape State Coercion

Abstract. Liberals claim that globalization has led to fragmentation and decentralized networks of power relations. This does not explain how states increasingly “weaponize interdependence” by leverag...

direct.mit.edu

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Abe Newman @abenewman.bsky.social · 1d

5/More generally, this is part of a confluence of two phenomena that @himself.bsky.social and I have worked on. First, it is the use of transnational politics by political factions to transform politics in other countries. We called it the New Interdependence Approach.
www.jstor.org/stable/26153...

The new interdependence approach: theoretical development and empirical demonstration on JSTOR

Henry Farrell, Abraham Newman, The new interdependence approach: theoretical development and empirical demonstration, Review of International Political Economy, Vol. 23, No. 5, Special Section: The Ne...

www.jstor.org

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Abe Newman @abenewman.bsky.social · 1d

4/The is part of what the US State Department has laid out as a civilizational challenge to Europe. And now seems to be pulled from talking points from the US NGO -- Alliance Defending Freedom.
statedept.substack.com/p/the-need-f...

The Need for Civilizational Allies in Europe

Author: Samuel Samson

statedept.substack.com

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Abe Newman @abenewman.bsky.social · 1d

3/And here is UK Reform candidate Farage lobbying the US to intervene in UK politics.
www.bbc.com/news/article...

Nigel Farage urges US to oppose UK on free speech laws

The Reform UK leader gives evidence to US lawmakers but gets a rough reception from some Democrats.

www.bbc.com

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Abe Newman @abenewman.bsky.social · 1d

2/A few months ago, we saw the opposite direction -- The Bolsonaro family lobbying the US to sanction Brazil to protect the Bolsonaro agenda.
www.reuters.com/world/americ...

Bolsonaro's son working with White House to sanction Brazilian judge, Washington Post reports

A son of Brazil's former president Jair Bolsonaro is working closely with the White House to impose sanctions on the Brazilian Supreme Court judge set to preside over Bolsonaro's upcoming trial, the Washington Post reported on Thursday, citing four people familiar with the situation.

www.reuters.com

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Abe Newman @abenewman.bsky.social · 1d

1/ Who are the globalists? Right wing, Christian group from US seeks to transform UK politics. The latest in a string of transnational moves by the far right to shift the global political debate. Welcome to the nationalist international.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/13/w...

They Helped Topple Roe v. Wade. Now Their Sights Are Set on Britain.

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Abe Newman

Alondra Nelson @alondra.bsky.social · 2d

Great explanatory 🧵

Abe Newman @abenewman.bsky.social · 4d

1/ New rare earth restrictions mark escalation in China’s weaponization of interdependence — adopting US extraterritorial permission structures. This is not just an export ban but regulated how global firms use Chinese equipment and material.
www.reuters.com/world/china/...

China expands rare earth restrictions, targets defence, semiconductor users

China tightened its rare earth export controls on Thursday, saying it planned to limit exports to overseas defence firms and semiconductor users and adding five rare earth elements to its list.

www.reuters.com

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Reposted by Abe Newman

Simon Frankel Pratt @simonpratt.bsky.social · 3d

Good thread

Abe Newman @abenewman.bsky.social · 4d

1/ New rare earth restrictions mark escalation in China’s weaponization of interdependence — adopting US extraterritorial permission structures. This is not just an export ban but regulated how global firms use Chinese equipment and material.
www.reuters.com/world/china/...

China expands rare earth restrictions, targets defence, semiconductor users

China tightened its rare earth export controls on Thursday, saying it planned to limit exports to overseas defence firms and semiconductor users and adding five rare earth elements to its list.

www.reuters.com

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Reposted by Abe Newman

Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 3d

A rare admission from the administration that policy choices have knock-off effects.

In this case: immigration crackdowns raise your grocery bill.

@washingtonpost.com
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

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Abe Newman @abenewman.bsky.social · 3d

Thanks Kori!

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Reposted by Abe Newman

Kori Schake @kschake.bsky.social · 3d

The whole thread’s a great education about how China is using permission structures the US pioneered.

Abe Newman @abenewman.bsky.social · 4d

4/China has learned from US playbook. It doesn’t just limit bilateral dependence but network dependence. any firm using Chinese machines (which is almost all) have to get licenses. It is a Chinese version of US foreign direct product rule in semiconductors.
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...

The Weaponized World Economy

When Washington announced a “framework deal” with China in June, it marked a silent shifting of gears in the global political economy. This was not the beginning of U.S. President Donald Trump’s imagi...

www.foreignaffairs.com

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Abe Newman @abenewman.bsky.social · 4d

Thanks and yes a bit scary…here is the original piece where @himself.bsky.social and I identify the shift and try to warn against over use….
direct.mit.edu/isec/article...

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Reposted by Abe Newman

Katiesaurus @katiesaurusseven.bsky.social · 4d

🧵

Abe Newman @abenewman.bsky.social · 4d

1/ New rare earth restrictions mark escalation in China’s weaponization of interdependence — adopting US extraterritorial permission structures. This is not just an export ban but regulated how global firms use Chinese equipment and material.
www.reuters.com/world/china/...

China expands rare earth restrictions, targets defence, semiconductor users

China tightened its rare earth export controls on Thursday, saying it planned to limit exports to overseas defence firms and semiconductor users and adding five rare earth elements to its list.

www.reuters.com

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Abe Newman @abenewman.bsky.social · 4d

8/Like clockwork…Trump injects massive retaliation threat into US/China rare earth debate. Very little evidence that this has been wargamed/clear US strategy. Instead, world economy faces the latest in unprecedented uncertainty.
www.cnbc.com/amp/2025/10/...

Trump threatens 'massive' tariff hike on China over rare earths dispute

Stock markets dropped on Trump's bellicose Truth Social post that said China is "becoming very hostile" in seeking tough export controls on rare earths.

www.cnbc.com

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Reposted by Abe Newman

Albert Pinto @70sbachchan.bsky.social · 4d

inevitable denouement of the game of pain tolerance US and China have been playing for last decade. From chip controls, green tech to rare earths.
Congrats to everyone in US-China policy circles involved! You won the race to the bottom!
www.politico.com/news/magazin...
bsky.app/profile/did:...

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Reposted by Abe Newman

Json Momoa @jotatx.bsky.social · 4d

I highly recommend this book, is a terrific summary account on how the US uses the Swift system and the dollarization of the global economy is used as a weapon unilaterally the US.
which is why tools like Braz. PIX and other digital payments systems reduce their monitoring and control.

Abe Newman @abenewman.bsky.social · 4d

6/ The bigger story is that the US now faces a world where weaponized interdependence is proliferating. It is unclear how it will respond. The failure to develop a strategy will only amplify the risk of miscalculation and undermine our national security.
www.amazon.com/Underground-...

Underground Empire

Underground Empire [Farrell, Henry] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Underground Empire

www.amazon.com

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Abe Newman @abenewman.bsky.social · 4d

7/And this is not just a concern for US as third countries (read Europe) will get caught up in the crossfire. Which is in part China strategy ie get US allies to feel the pressure of US tech controls on China.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Germany Calls New China Rare Earth Curbs a ‘Great Concern’

China’s expansion of export controls to production facilities outside of China is a concern being discussed in Germany and at the EU level, a spokesperson for the German Economic Ministry said in an e...

www.bloomberg.com

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Reposted by Abe Newman

Sara Mitchell @sbmitche.bsky.social · 4d

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Abe Newman @abenewman.bsky.social · 4d

6/ The bigger story is that the US now faces a world where weaponized interdependence is proliferating. It is unclear how it will respond. The failure to develop a strategy will only amplify the risk of miscalculation and undermine our national security.
www.amazon.com/Underground-...

Underground Empire

Underground Empire [Farrell, Henry] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Underground Empire

www.amazon.com

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Abe Newman @abenewman.bsky.social · 4d

5/Why now? Looks like Xi is at least in part seeking leverage in the upcoming Trump summit.
www.wsj.com/economy/trad...

China Tightens Grip on Rare Earths Ahead of Expected Trump-Xi Meeting

Beijing tightened its control over sectors crucial to making high-tech products including electric vehicles and jet fighters, threatening to reignite trade tensions with the U.S.

www.wsj.com

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