Abe Newman
@abenewman.bsky.social
W/Henry Farrell, Underground Empire: How America Weaponized the World Economy (Holt 2023/Penguin); Georgetown; This is a private account.
Reposted by Abe Newman
Fascinating paper. Like it or not, we live in Yarvin’s fantasy now.
1/This week has seen a blitz of what looks like corruption sandals: Saudi development deals for US military tech, Pakistani payments to Trump insiders for tariff relief, Swiss gold bars for a trade deal. Far from a payoff, this is a reordering of internat'l system.
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/mxthh...
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/mxthh...
www.dropbox.com
November 30, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Fascinating paper. Like it or not, we live in Yarvin’s fantasy now.
Reposted by Abe Newman
A bleak and interesting thread on the dawn of neo-royalism, rule by elite families
1/This week has seen a blitz of what looks like corruption sandals: Saudi development deals for US military tech, Pakistani payments to Trump insiders for tariff relief, Swiss gold bars for a trade deal. Far from a payoff, this is a reordering of internat'l system.
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/mxthh...
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/mxthh...
www.dropbox.com
November 30, 2025 at 2:55 PM
A bleak and interesting thread on the dawn of neo-royalism, rule by elite families
Reposted by Abe Newman
🧵
1/This week has seen a blitz of what looks like corruption sandals: Saudi development deals for US military tech, Pakistani payments to Trump insiders for tariff relief, Swiss gold bars for a trade deal. Far from a payoff, this is a reordering of internat'l system.
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/mxthh...
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/mxthh...
www.dropbox.com
November 30, 2025 at 3:08 PM
🧵
Witcoff/Russia deal less commercial peace and more neo-royalism. The deals are for the cliques not the nations. @dandrezner.bsky.social does a fantastic job breaking it down.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
November 30, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Witcoff/Russia deal less commercial peace and more neo-royalism. The deals are for the cliques not the nations. @dandrezner.bsky.social does a fantastic job breaking it down.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Reposted by Abe Newman
Five foreign policy thoughts/questions after reading the WSJ story about Russia and Witkoff. danieldrezner.substack.com/p/five-quest...
Five Questions About American Foreign Policy
A few thoughts inspired by the WSJ exclusive regarding Steve Wtikoff
danieldrezner.substack.com
November 30, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Five foreign policy thoughts/questions after reading the WSJ story about Russia and Witkoff. danieldrezner.substack.com/p/five-quest...
Reposted by Abe Newman
There's not much to argue against in this really good, but chilling, thread.
My only thought is: all of these 'neo-royals' are beyond 75 years old. What happens to their new global empire(s) when the first one of them dies?
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
My only thought is: all of these 'neo-royals' are beyond 75 years old. What happens to their new global empire(s) when the first one of them dies?
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
1/Senior US official caught coaching Russia on how to massage Trump on Ukraine deal. Why? Because we are entering a new international order based not in state interests but clique interests. Welcome to neo-royalism.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Witkoff Advised Russia on How to Pitch Ukraine Plan to Trump
US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff, fresh from the triumph of the Gaza peace deal, held a phone call last month with a senior Kremlin official to suggest they work together on a similar plan for Ukra...
www.bloomberg.com
November 29, 2025 at 6:20 PM
There's not much to argue against in this really good, but chilling, thread.
My only thought is: all of these 'neo-royals' are beyond 75 years old. What happens to their new global empire(s) when the first one of them dies?
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
My only thought is: all of these 'neo-royals' are beyond 75 years old. What happens to their new global empire(s) when the first one of them dies?
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
Reposted by Abe Newman
“Career officials in the office overseeing sanctions at the Treasury Department have at times learned details of Witkoff’s meetings with Moscow from their British counterparts.”
This is one of the most important exposés published in WSJ in several years, and it derives from intercepts and analyses by foreign intelligence services studying the conduct of Trump and his inner team. It's first and foremost a wake up call to the people of the United States.
Make Money Not War: Trump’s Real Plan for Peace in Ukraine
The Kremlin pitched the White House on peace through business. To Europe’s dismay, the president and his envoy are on board.
www.wsj.com
November 29, 2025 at 4:58 PM
“Career officials in the office overseeing sanctions at the Treasury Department have at times learned details of Witkoff’s meetings with Moscow from their British counterparts.”
Reposted by Abe Newman
Trump has entered the US into a new international order—neoroyalism.
"The purpose of neo-royalist orders is to develop rules that allow a small clique to maintain dominance in both material and symbolic goods"
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
bsky.app/profile/aben...
"The purpose of neo-royalist orders is to develop rules that allow a small clique to maintain dominance in both material and symbolic goods"
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
bsky.app/profile/aben...
November 29, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Trump has entered the US into a new international order—neoroyalism.
"The purpose of neo-royalist orders is to develop rules that allow a small clique to maintain dominance in both material and symbolic goods"
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
bsky.app/profile/aben...
"The purpose of neo-royalist orders is to develop rules that allow a small clique to maintain dominance in both material and symbolic goods"
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
bsky.app/profile/aben...
Reposted by Abe Newman
"US" doesn't mean "the US" for Trump or Witkoff. It means themselves and themselves only.
1/Senior US official caught coaching Russia on how to massage Trump on Ukraine deal. Why? Because we are entering a new international order based not in state interests but clique interests. Welcome to neo-royalism.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Witkoff Advised Russia on How to Pitch Ukraine Plan to Trump
US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff, fresh from the triumph of the Gaza peace deal, held a phone call last month with a senior Kremlin official to suggest they work together on a similar plan for Ukra...
www.bloomberg.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:36 PM
"US" doesn't mean "the US" for Trump or Witkoff. It means themselves and themselves only.
Reposted by Abe Newman
1/Senior US official caught coaching Russia on how to massage Trump on Ukraine deal. Why? Because we are entering a new international order based not in state interests but clique interests. Welcome to neo-royalism.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Witkoff Advised Russia on How to Pitch Ukraine Plan to Trump
US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff, fresh from the triumph of the Gaza peace deal, held a phone call last month with a senior Kremlin official to suggest they work together on a similar plan for Ukra...
www.bloomberg.com
November 27, 2025 at 12:10 PM
1/Senior US official caught coaching Russia on how to massage Trump on Ukraine deal. Why? Because we are entering a new international order based not in state interests but clique interests. Welcome to neo-royalism.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Watched Miss Congeniality with the family last night. It is still amazing. But now it appears to have been a documentary!
m.imdb.com/title/tt0212...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
m.imdb.com/title/tt0212...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Arrest warrants issued for Miss Universe co-owners in latest twist in pageant saga
Raúl Rocha Cantú is under investigation for drug, gun and fuel trafficking while Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip is accused of fraud
www.theguardian.com
November 27, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Watched Miss Congeniality with the family last night. It is still amazing. But now it appears to have been a documentary!
m.imdb.com/title/tt0212...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
m.imdb.com/title/tt0212...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Reposted by Abe Newman
"a lens focused on states and sovereignty may generate intellectual blinders that misreads the emerging international order. we propose an alternative account, which we label neo-royalism. it centers on an international system structured by a small group of hyper elites, which we term cliques. "
1/Senior US official caught coaching Russia on how to massage Trump on Ukraine deal. Why? Because we are entering a new international order based not in state interests but clique interests. Welcome to neo-royalism.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Witkoff Advised Russia on How to Pitch Ukraine Plan to Trump
US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff, fresh from the triumph of the Gaza peace deal, held a phone call last month with a senior Kremlin official to suggest they work together on a similar plan for Ukra...
www.bloomberg.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:18 PM
"a lens focused on states and sovereignty may generate intellectual blinders that misreads the emerging international order. we propose an alternative account, which we label neo-royalism. it centers on an international system structured by a small group of hyper elites, which we term cliques. "
1/ Cory Doctorow lays out the dangers of relying on US-centric systems — the dollar/tech platforms — and the need for radical projects of interoperability and strategic autonomy.
doctorow.medium.com/https-plural...
doctorow.medium.com/https-plural...
O(N²) nationalism
Trumpism can only be defeated throuh international nationalism.
doctorow.medium.com
November 27, 2025 at 12:41 PM
1/ Cory Doctorow lays out the dangers of relying on US-centric systems — the dollar/tech platforms — and the need for radical projects of interoperability and strategic autonomy.
doctorow.medium.com/https-plural...
doctorow.medium.com/https-plural...
Reposted by Abe Newman
Europe’s antitrust chief Teresa Ribera has unleashed a blistering attack on Trump administration, accusing Washington of using “blackmail” to strong-arm the EU into watering down its tech rules
“It is blackmail,” the Spanish commissioner told POLITICO
“It is blackmail,” the Spanish commissioner told POLITICO
Top EU official accuses US of ‘blackmail’ in trade talks
Renewed U.S. pressure for the EU to recalibrate its digital rules is unacceptable, says Teresa Ribera.
www.politico.eu
November 27, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Europe’s antitrust chief Teresa Ribera has unleashed a blistering attack on Trump administration, accusing Washington of using “blackmail” to strong-arm the EU into watering down its tech rules
“It is blackmail,” the Spanish commissioner told POLITICO
“It is blackmail,” the Spanish commissioner told POLITICO
1/Senior US official caught coaching Russia on how to massage Trump on Ukraine deal. Why? Because we are entering a new international order based not in state interests but clique interests. Welcome to neo-royalism.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Witkoff Advised Russia on How to Pitch Ukraine Plan to Trump
US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff, fresh from the triumph of the Gaza peace deal, held a phone call last month with a senior Kremlin official to suggest they work together on a similar plan for Ukra...
www.bloomberg.com
November 27, 2025 at 12:10 PM
1/Senior US official caught coaching Russia on how to massage Trump on Ukraine deal. Why? Because we are entering a new international order based not in state interests but clique interests. Welcome to neo-royalism.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Unfortunately, this is a feature not a bug of the emerging international order. Welcome to neo-royalism.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
November 26, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Unfortunately, this is a feature not a bug of the emerging international order. Welcome to neo-royalism.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Reposted by Abe Newman
People scratching their heads about Thiel and Greenland but that is because stuck in an old model of international politics. This is neoroyalism rather than westphalia.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
November 26, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Reposted by Abe Newman
The US-Russia plan includes a $300bn signing bonus for the US in the form of Russia's central bank frozen assets - for @foreignpolicy.com I outline how the EU could curb Trump’s interest in the deal if the bloc rushes to seize these assets before America grabs them
foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/24/t...
foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/24/t...
The U.S.-Russia Plan Gives Trump a $300 Billion Signing Bonus
If Europe moves fast to seize Russian assets, it may be able to sink this bad deal.
foreignpolicy.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:40 PM
The US-Russia plan includes a $300bn signing bonus for the US in the form of Russia's central bank frozen assets - for @foreignpolicy.com I outline how the EU could curb Trump’s interest in the deal if the bloc rushes to seize these assets before America grabs them
foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/24/t...
foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/24/t...
Nothing says Black Friday like Underground Empire and Autocracy Inc! @himself.bsky.social
a.co/d/4ikbiwP
a.co/d/4ikbiwP
November 25, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Nothing says Black Friday like Underground Empire and Autocracy Inc! @himself.bsky.social
a.co/d/4ikbiwP
a.co/d/4ikbiwP
Reposted by Abe Newman
🚨New Shepherd.com article by James Pattison article out now! 🚨
Exploring 'The best books to understand how the global order is changing' w/ Anne Applebaum, Lucia Rafanelli Henry Farrell Abe Newman and more! 🌟
Read more about his book and his picks here 👉 https://ow.ly/MMMW50XxyAS
Exploring 'The best books to understand how the global order is changing' w/ Anne Applebaum, Lucia Rafanelli Henry Farrell Abe Newman and more! 🌟
Read more about his book and his picks here 👉 https://ow.ly/MMMW50XxyAS
The best books to understand how the global order is changing
James Pattison gives us his best books to understand how the global order is changing.
ow.ly
November 25, 2025 at 4:02 PM
🚨New Shepherd.com article by James Pattison article out now! 🚨
Exploring 'The best books to understand how the global order is changing' w/ Anne Applebaum, Lucia Rafanelli Henry Farrell Abe Newman and more! 🌟
Read more about his book and his picks here 👉 https://ow.ly/MMMW50XxyAS
Exploring 'The best books to understand how the global order is changing' w/ Anne Applebaum, Lucia Rafanelli Henry Farrell Abe Newman and more! 🌟
Read more about his book and his picks here 👉 https://ow.ly/MMMW50XxyAS
Reposted by Abe Newman
On Russia’s frozen assets, Europeans have a clear choice: use their biggest leverage to back Ukraine and shape the U.S.–Russia plan, or let Washington seize the money for the benefit of both the U.S. and Russia, argues @agathedemarais.bsky.social
foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/24/t...
foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/24/t...
The U.S.-Russia Plan Gives Trump a $300 Billion Signing Bonus
If Europe moves fast to seize Russian assets, it may be able to sink this bad deal.
foreignpolicy.com
November 25, 2025 at 11:35 AM
On Russia’s frozen assets, Europeans have a clear choice: use their biggest leverage to back Ukraine and shape the U.S.–Russia plan, or let Washington seize the money for the benefit of both the U.S. and Russia, argues @agathedemarais.bsky.social
foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/24/t...
foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/24/t...
Reposted by Abe Newman
Very compelling frame. I typically think of Trump as mob boss or warlord, which is similar to the royal personalist clique. The absolute sovereign distinction seems to work well though. We’ll have to wait til one of these sovereigns falters or passes, to see if anyone else can capture a clique.
November 25, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Very compelling frame. I typically think of Trump as mob boss or warlord, which is similar to the royal personalist clique. The absolute sovereign distinction seems to work well though. We’ll have to wait til one of these sovereigns falters or passes, to see if anyone else can capture a clique.
Reposted by Abe Newman
Respecting the marble means respecting the grain.
Writing is the same. Feeling stuck isn’t a verdict. It’s a sign that you need a skeleton.
Link: catherineeunicedevries.substack.com/p/feeling-st...
Big thanks to @simonkuper.bsky.social & @abenewman.bsky.social for sharing their thoughts
/end
Writing is the same. Feeling stuck isn’t a verdict. It’s a sign that you need a skeleton.
Link: catherineeunicedevries.substack.com/p/feeling-st...
Big thanks to @simonkuper.bsky.social & @abenewman.bsky.social for sharing their thoughts
/end
Feeling Stuck? Start With the Skeleton
Why the Hardest Part of Writing Happens Before the First Sentence
catherineeunicedevries.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Respecting the marble means respecting the grain.
Writing is the same. Feeling stuck isn’t a verdict. It’s a sign that you need a skeleton.
Link: catherineeunicedevries.substack.com/p/feeling-st...
Big thanks to @simonkuper.bsky.social & @abenewman.bsky.social for sharing their thoughts
/end
Writing is the same. Feeling stuck isn’t a verdict. It’s a sign that you need a skeleton.
Link: catherineeunicedevries.substack.com/p/feeling-st...
Big thanks to @simonkuper.bsky.social & @abenewman.bsky.social for sharing their thoughts
/end
Reposted by Abe Newman
This is a pretty compelling analysis. Even if neo-royalism turns out not to be exactly the right way to think about things, the fundamental nature of the order is changing.
People scratching their heads about Thiel and Greenland but that is because stuck in an old model of international politics. This is neoroyalism rather than westphalia.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
November 25, 2025 at 11:10 AM
This is a pretty compelling analysis. Even if neo-royalism turns out not to be exactly the right way to think about things, the fundamental nature of the order is changing.
Reposted by Abe Newman
The EU's approach to Trumpism so far is like a mashup of its greatest failures in trying to counter Orbanism and Putinism, equal parts denial and wishful thinking.
Europe in dangerous territory. Putting democratic protections on the chopping blocks for trade concessions invites a slippery slope. Increasingly tariff negotiations cuts at the heart of European national security.
www.ft.com/content/5820...
www.ft.com/content/5820...
November 24, 2025 at 6:26 PM
The EU's approach to Trumpism so far is like a mashup of its greatest failures in trying to counter Orbanism and Putinism, equal parts denial and wishful thinking.