Ambassador (ret.) Janet Sanderson
@jastucaz.bsky.social
Former U.S. Ambassador, retired career Foreign Service officer, still writing that long-delayed biography of Tudor humanist Mildred Cooke Cecil, helped by the cat. Not as diplomatic as I once was.
“Why does a night that should be Donald Trump’s greatest triumph feel so much like he revived the Honors from the Pet Sematary?”
Such a hoot from Alexandra Petri.
Such a hoot from Alexandra Petri.
Trump’s Very Weird Night at the Kennedy Center Honors
The president and I both got our heart’s desire. But something felt wrong.
www.theatlantic.com
December 9, 2025 at 1:37 AM
“Why does a night that should be Donald Trump’s greatest triumph feel so much like he revived the Honors from the Pet Sematary?”
Such a hoot from Alexandra Petri.
Such a hoot from Alexandra Petri.
Molly realizes it’s still raining crazy out there.
Molly thinks maybe our three day vacation from BlueSky should’ve been longer.
Molly thinks maybe our three day vacation from BlueSky should’ve been longer.
December 9, 2025 at 1:31 AM
Molly realizes it’s still raining crazy out there.
Molly thinks maybe our three day vacation from BlueSky should’ve been longer.
Molly thinks maybe our three day vacation from BlueSky should’ve been longer.
Reposted by Ambassador (ret.) Janet Sanderson
Trump’s National Security Strategy “abandons its allies, ignores clear threats, and treats national security as an extension of a domestic political struggle,” Thomas Wright argues.
A Strategy That Ignores the Real Threats
The administration’s new policy shows less concern for the American homeland than for building an illiberal world order.
bit.ly
December 9, 2025 at 12:45 AM
Trump’s National Security Strategy “abandons its allies, ignores clear threats, and treats national security as an extension of a domestic political struggle,” Thomas Wright argues.
All those folks who assured me in January that it would never happen to American citizens… I haven’t heard much from them lately.
ProPublica reporter @nicolefoy.bsky.social found that more than 170 U.S. citizens had been detained by immigration agents.
“The number became an important, irrefutable fact in the conversation about the immigration crackdown,” our editor-in-chief @sengelberg.bsky.social writes.
“The number became an important, irrefutable fact in the conversation about the immigration crackdown,” our editor-in-chief @sengelberg.bsky.social writes.
The Data Doesn’t Lie: How ProPublica Reports the Truth in an Era of False Claims
As federal data becomes less available, our journalists are doing shoe-leather reporting to provide readers with the precise numbers.
www.propublica.org
December 9, 2025 at 1:22 AM
All those folks who assured me in January that it would never happen to American citizens… I haven’t heard much from them lately.
Their mistake was in assuming that Trump and his boys actually cared.
Two months after President Donald Trump signed an executive order restricting H-1B visas, soaring costs are roiling rural health care facilities that have long struggled to find staff.
Rural America relies on foreign doctors. Trump’s visa fee shuts them out.
The Trump administration’s demand for companies to pay a $100,000 fee to hire an immigrant worker using an H1B visa has created turmoil among rural health providers.
wapo.st
December 9, 2025 at 1:18 AM
Their mistake was in assuming that Trump and his boys actually cared.
Reposted by Ambassador (ret.) Janet Sanderson
Female reporters who are verbally harassed by Trump should file an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint against their employers for not protecting them from the president's abuse as they do their jobs. (h/t @airbagmoments.bsky.social)
Your Rights
The laws enforced by EEOC provide five basic rights for job applicants and employees who work in the United States. The laws apply to applicants, employees and former employees, regardless of their ci...
www.eeoc.gov
December 8, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Female reporters who are verbally harassed by Trump should file an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint against their employers for not protecting them from the president's abuse as they do their jobs. (h/t @airbagmoments.bsky.social)
Hey, Tucson and southern AZ folks. CBD are the guys who, among other good things, track our region’s rare jaguars, monitor impact of the border “wall” on natural habitats, and work for safe wildlife crossings near Arizona highways. Rep. Gosar has always had it out for them. Consider signing on.
Please sign and share as needed.
Republicans in Congress just launched a sham investigation into the Center for Biological Diversity. But the real corruption they should be investigating is Twin Metals and its Chilean parent company. Take Action > act.biologicaldiversity.org/o5VEUgY5pk6p...
Republicans in Congress just launched a sham investigation into the Center for Biological Diversity. But the real corruption they should be investigating is Twin Metals and its Chilean parent company. Take Action > act.biologicaldiversity.org/o5VEUgY5pk6p...
The Center for Biological Diversity is Under Attack
This “investigation” doesn’t name a single unlawful act, because there are none. The real corruption they should be investigating is Twin Metals and its Chilean parent company, Antofagasta plc.
act.biologicaldiversity.org
December 9, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Hey, Tucson and southern AZ folks. CBD are the guys who, among other good things, track our region’s rare jaguars, monitor impact of the border “wall” on natural habitats, and work for safe wildlife crossings near Arizona highways. Rep. Gosar has always had it out for them. Consider signing on.
Steady State’s Adam Wasserman spot-on assessment of Trump’s NSS:
“[which] makes selfishness a virtue and willfully ignores the long-term consequences for global stability, the American economy, and the well-being of the planet…It is, simply un-American.”
Trump’s only expertise is selfishness.
“[which] makes selfishness a virtue and willfully ignores the long-term consequences for global stability, the American economy, and the well-being of the planet…It is, simply un-American.”
Trump’s only expertise is selfishness.
Trump’s Un-American National Security Strategy open.substack.com/pub/steadyst... The Trump NSS attempts to draw a close to an era of American multilateralism and openness to the world that made the United States the strongest, wealthiest, and most respected nation on earth.
Trump’s Un-American National Security Strategy
The Steady State | by Adam Wasserman
open.substack.com
December 9, 2025 at 12:34 AM
Steady State’s Adam Wasserman spot-on assessment of Trump’s NSS:
“[which] makes selfishness a virtue and willfully ignores the long-term consequences for global stability, the American economy, and the well-being of the planet…It is, simply un-American.”
Trump’s only expertise is selfishness.
“[which] makes selfishness a virtue and willfully ignores the long-term consequences for global stability, the American economy, and the well-being of the planet…It is, simply un-American.”
Trump’s only expertise is selfishness.
Reposted by Ambassador (ret.) Janet Sanderson
It is really, really hard to get your head around the raw hubris of the majority. They really will be destabilizing the operating structure of the entire U.S. government. Why? Because they believe they have a better idea about how the past century should've been done.
Justice Gorsuch: Is it possible--"just maybe"--that we're setting our sights far too low and we should be blowing up many more structures of modern government?
December 8, 2025 at 3:50 PM
It is really, really hard to get your head around the raw hubris of the majority. They really will be destabilizing the operating structure of the entire U.S. government. Why? Because they believe they have a better idea about how the past century should've been done.
Reposted by Ambassador (ret.) Janet Sanderson
⚡️ Update: Trump has 'his own vision' on resolving the war, different from Ukraine's perspective, Zelensky says.
President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated that Ukraine is not considering the possibility of ceding territory to Russia.
President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated that Ukraine is not considering the possibility of ceding territory to Russia.
No agreement on Donbas yet, Zelensky says as he visits London to discuss US-led peace efforts with European leaders
"There are visions of the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine — and we don't have a unified view on Donbas," Zelensky told Bloomberg regarding the latest discussions on the peace plan for Ukraine.
kyivindependent.com
December 8, 2025 at 6:32 PM
⚡️ Update: Trump has 'his own vision' on resolving the war, different from Ukraine's perspective, Zelensky says.
President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated that Ukraine is not considering the possibility of ceding territory to Russia.
President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated that Ukraine is not considering the possibility of ceding territory to Russia.
Reposted by Ambassador (ret.) Janet Sanderson
It was only a matter of time…
December 8, 2025 at 9:53 AM
It was only a matter of time…
Reposted by Ambassador (ret.) Janet Sanderson
"At which point we're going to blow them out of the fucking skies."
Melania Trump: "Santa's reindeer -- Rudolph, Dasher, Comet, all of them -- they're resting in the North Pole. They need to save all of their energy for their great flight around the world on Christmas Eve. Santa told me they're snuggling beneath warm, fluffy blankets."
December 8, 2025 at 6:35 PM
"At which point we're going to blow them out of the fucking skies."
Bastards.
To go after a family for no other reason than that their daughter sparked sympathy is appalling. Absolutely appalling. Beyond cruelty into outright sadism.
They are going after that college students' family now. JFC www.nytimes.com/2025/12/07/u...
December 8, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Bastards.
This, from my colleague at Steady State.
Remember: NATO is one of the great accomplishments of the post-war era, and as we have protected and supported it, it has done the same for us. Destroying NATO or undermining it puts our security-and our future-at risk. And it’s just what Putin wants.
Remember: NATO is one of the great accomplishments of the post-war era, and as we have protected and supported it, it has done the same for us. Destroying NATO or undermining it puts our security-and our future-at risk. And it’s just what Putin wants.
A Dangerous Strategy that Distances NATO and Puts Our Security at Risk open.substack.com/pub/steadyst... NATO is an Alliance of Democracies based on shared values and interests. Sadly, Trump has undermined many of those values, including the rule of law, free elections, and free speech."
A Dangerous Strategy that Distances NATO and Puts Our Security at Risk
The Steady State | by Gregory L. Schulte
open.substack.com
December 8, 2025 at 7:23 PM
This, from my colleague at Steady State.
Remember: NATO is one of the great accomplishments of the post-war era, and as we have protected and supported it, it has done the same for us. Destroying NATO or undermining it puts our security-and our future-at risk. And it’s just what Putin wants.
Remember: NATO is one of the great accomplishments of the post-war era, and as we have protected and supported it, it has done the same for us. Destroying NATO or undermining it puts our security-and our future-at risk. And it’s just what Putin wants.
Reposted by Ambassador (ret.) Janet Sanderson
When I finished writing this a couple of weeks ago, I didn't expect that the US would set out in its National Security Strategy how it could help Putin achieve his goals.
#Russia has made two failed attempts to get the West to accept a Russian sphere of influence in Eastern Europe by diplomatic means. Now #Putin is intent on creating a sphere of influence by force. 🇪🇺 🇺🇦
New @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social paper by @cerianbond.bsky.social
Read here: buff.ly/gzMAkk4
New @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social paper by @cerianbond.bsky.social
Read here: buff.ly/gzMAkk4
December 7, 2025 at 3:16 PM
When I finished writing this a couple of weeks ago, I didn't expect that the US would set out in its National Security Strategy how it could help Putin achieve his goals.
This is what we’ve come to: children and their teddy bears in court.
Those DHS folks must be so goddamn proud of themselves.
Those DHS folks must be so goddamn proud of themselves.
"After her hearing ended, three-year-old Lucy cuddled her teddy bear as she walked back from the lawyer’s table and took a seat.
Moments later, the next child was called up to face the judge..."
coppercourier.com/2025/12/05/c...
Moments later, the next child was called up to face the judge..."
coppercourier.com/2025/12/05/c...
December 8, 2025 at 7:09 PM
This is what we’ve come to: children and their teddy bears in court.
Those DHS folks must be so goddamn proud of themselves.
Those DHS folks must be so goddamn proud of themselves.
Reposted by Ambassador (ret.) Janet Sanderson
Trump can despicably hide the facts, but we can all feel the consequences of his failed economic action and inaction.
The Trump administration just announced they will refuse to release the October inflation report.
December 8, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Trump can despicably hide the facts, but we can all feel the consequences of his failed economic action and inaction.
Setting aside everything else (and God knows it’s hard), the possibility that the military deliberately murdered unarmed noncombatants at the direction of our political leadership may make US allies think twice about fighting alongside us in the future.
Allies matter. And they’re watching this.
Allies matter. And they’re watching this.
December 5, 2025 at 1:20 AM
Setting aside everything else (and God knows it’s hard), the possibility that the military deliberately murdered unarmed noncombatants at the direction of our political leadership may make US allies think twice about fighting alongside us in the future.
Allies matter. And they’re watching this.
Allies matter. And they’re watching this.
Reposted by Ambassador (ret.) Janet Sanderson
Their drug mission? To where? With what? When did allegedly smuggling drugs from one foreign country to another begin to carry with it the death penalty from the US? When did the military’s mission become imposing that illegal penalty?
December 5, 2025 at 12:17 AM
Their drug mission? To where? With what? When did allegedly smuggling drugs from one foreign country to another begin to carry with it the death penalty from the US? When did the military’s mission become imposing that illegal penalty?
This.
Parts of the federal gov't that most people never think about -- research orgs, safety regs, low-income programs, etc. -- are being degraded & destroyed, with no one to notice or mourn them. But every bit of it erodes the foundations of US power & prosperity, carefully laid over decades.
December 4, 2025 at 7:53 PM
This.
Yes.
Sadly.
Sadly.
Macron risks row with Trump after saying US will ‘betray Ukraine’ in leaked call
Macron risks row with Trump after saying US will ‘betray Ukraine’ in leaked call
Macron risks row with Trump after saying US will ‘betray Ukraine’ in leaked call
www.independent.co.uk
December 4, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Yes.
Sadly.
Sadly.
Reposted by Ambassador (ret.) Janet Sanderson
RJ Matson presents: A Sinking Ship
A Sinking Ship
A cartoon by RJ Matson
contrarian.substack.com
December 4, 2025 at 7:41 PM
RJ Matson presents: A Sinking Ship
Looking forward to his next visit to the White House.
Patel on J6 arrest: "When you attack American citizens, when you attack our institutions of legislation, when you attack our nation's Capitol, you attack the very being of our way of life."
December 4, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Looking forward to his next visit to the White House.
I can’t even imagine the degree of stupidity doing something like this entails.
Or what would’ve rightly happened to any of us working in a sane government after doing such a thing.
Or what would’ve rightly happened to any of us working in a sane government after doing such a thing.
DoD IG confirms the Secretary copied operational details from a SECRET//NOFORN CENTCOM brief into a 19-person Signal chat that included a journalist. This occurred 2–4 hours before U.S. strikes in Yemen.
December 4, 2025 at 5:17 PM
I can’t even imagine the degree of stupidity doing something like this entails.
Or what would’ve rightly happened to any of us working in a sane government after doing such a thing.
Or what would’ve rightly happened to any of us working in a sane government after doing such a thing.
Reposted by Ambassador (ret.) Janet Sanderson
Dear corporate media: here is your simple explainer for the IG report on Signalgate.
The information was properly classified. It was copied from a classified written document. It was sent over a non-classified system, namely Signal. Hegseth took no steps to declassify any of it.
End of article.
The information was properly classified. It was copied from a classified written document. It was sent over a non-classified system, namely Signal. Hegseth took no steps to declassify any of it.
End of article.
December 4, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Dear corporate media: here is your simple explainer for the IG report on Signalgate.
The information was properly classified. It was copied from a classified written document. It was sent over a non-classified system, namely Signal. Hegseth took no steps to declassify any of it.
End of article.
The information was properly classified. It was copied from a classified written document. It was sent over a non-classified system, namely Signal. Hegseth took no steps to declassify any of it.
End of article.