Juan Cole
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Juan Cole
@jricole.bsky.social
6.7K followers 1.4K following 4.8K posts

Historian, essayist: Middle East, South Asia, Islam, Social History, Foreign Policy, Environment, Culture, Progressive Politics;
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John Ricardo Irfan "Juan" Cole is an American academic and commentator on the modern Middle East and South Asia. He is Richard P. Mitchell Collegiate Professor of History at the University of Michigan. Since 2002, he has written a weblog, Informed Comment (juancole.com). .. more

Political science 68%
Sociology 17%
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jricole.bsky.social
Juan Cole @jricole.bsky.social · Oct 26
Gaza Yet Stands: Juan Cole’s New E-Book
Gaza Yet Stands: Juan Cole’s New E-Book
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Many observers have complained that our understanding of the current Mideast War too often begins with the horrendous Hamas attacks on Israelis on October 7, 2023. Historian, here, hand up. I’ve not only studied the history…
dlvr.it

Reposted by Juan Cole

thenewarab.bsky.social
The New Arab @thenewarab.bsky.social · 6h
Palestinian villager Suleiman Ghunaimat says “there’s nothing left” after Israeli settlers set fire to his property in the occupied West Bank:

Reposted by Kim L. Scheppele, Nicholas A. Christakis, Brigitte Nerlich , and 10 more

bgrueskin.bsky.social
Bill Grueskin @bgrueskin.bsky.social · 6h
Ahmed al Ahmed, the man who tackled one of the Bondi killers, became an Australian citizen 3 years ago.

His deed was "his way of conveying his gratitude for staying in Australia, for being granted citizenship."

He took 5 bullets, and fears he'll lose his left arm.

www.smh.com.au/national/nsw...

Reposted by Juan Cole

foreignpolicy.com
Foreign Policy @foreignpolicy.com · 6h
China’s annual trade surplus now stands at $1 trillion, the largest trade imbalance ever accumulated by any single country. Columnist Adam Tooze explores what that means for the global economy and trade.
What to Make of China’s Trade Surplus
The imbalance raises questions about the global economy and Trump administration policy.
foreignpolicy.com

Reposted by Juan Cole

al-monitor.bsky.social
Al-Monitor @al-monitor.bsky.social · 6h
Ahmed al-Ahmed, Syrian-Australian who fought off Hanukkah attackers, recovering from surgery
www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...
www.al-monitor.com

jricole.bsky.social
Juan Cole @jricole.bsky.social · 6h
Israeli army to demolish 25 residential buildings in West Bank refugee camp: Local authorities flip.it/XYCzDc
Israeli army to demolish 25 residential buildings in West Bank refugee camp: Local authorities
In early 2025, Israel's military launched a wide-ranging, still ongoing operation it says is aimed at rooting out Palestinian armed groups from these camps in the West Bank
flip.it

jricole.bsky.social
Juan Cole @jricole.bsky.social · 6h
Imprisoned Iranian Nobel laureate hospitalised twice after ‘heavy’ blows, family says flip.it/5Myhp9
Imprisoned Iranian Nobel laureate hospitalised twice after ‘heavy’ blows, family says
In a phone call from prison, Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nargis Mohammadi said she endured blows during her incarceration that were so "heavy, forceful and repeated" that she had to be hospital...
flip.it

Reposted by Juan Cole

middleeasteye-rss.bsky.social
Middle East Eye (Unofficial) @middleeasteye-rss.bsky.social · 7h
Will anyone stop Israel and the UAE sowing chaos across the region in 2026? - https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/will-anyone-stop-israel-and-uae-sowing-chaos-region-2026
Will anyone stop Israel and the UAE sowing chaos across the region in 2026?
From Gaza to Sudan and beyond, Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi have been working hard to fragment the Middle East for their own gain
www.middleeasteye.net

Reposted by Juan Cole

theintercept.com
The Intercept @theintercept.com · 7h
This is the first major analysis of how U.S. donors are fueling the pro-Israel machine in Europe, exporting the same tactics that have for years helped AIPAC crush concern for Palestinians in the halls of power and advance unchecked support for Israel.
Meet the U.S. Donors Funding ELNET, the AIPAC of Europe
These U.S. funders are exporting the same tactics that help AIPAC crush support for Palestinians to Europe.
interc.pt

Reposted by Juan Cole

mississippifreepress.org
Mississippi Free Press @mississippifreepress.org · 7h
Seven decades after Rosa Parks was thrust indelibly into American history for refusing to give up her bus seat in Montgomery, Alabama, new photos of the Civil Rights Movement icon have been made public for the first time, and they illustrate aspects of her legacy that are often overlooked.
Mississippi Photographer’s Unseen Civil Rights Photos Revealed
Seven decades after Rosa Parks was thrust indelibly into American history, new photos of the Civil Rights Movement icon have been released.
buff.ly

Reposted by Juan Cole

thenewarab.bsky.social
The New Arab @thenewarab.bsky.social · 7h
Washington’s shifting priorities and limits on allied weapons access raise doubts over Gulf security and reliance, writes Khalid bin Rashid Al-Khater ⬇️
Gulf states reconsider their reliance on US’ security umbrella
Washington’s shifting priorities and limits on allied weapons access raise doubts over Gulf security and reliance, writes Khalid bin Rashid Al-Khater.
www.newarab.com

Reposted by Juan Cole

samuelhayimbrody.bsky.social
Sam Brody @samuelhayimbrody.bsky.social · 8h
David Frum and the Atlantic couldn’t let the blood dry before getting this take out.

The actual evidence we have (imagine considering that!) suggests an ISIS connection for the shooters.

But no, we have to find a way to blame Palestinians and American college students as fast as possible.

Scum.
The Atlantic: “The Intifada Comes to Bondi Beach” by David Frum

Reposted by Juan Cole

karlbode.com
Karl Bode @karlbode.com · 8h
Verizon's lobbying the Trump FCC to eliminate phone unlocking rules in a bid to make it harder and more expensive to switch wireless carriers.

This guy fought back in small claims court, and won. Refused a Verizon settlement so he could talk about it openly. Not all heroes wear capes, etc.
Verizon refused to unlock man’s iPhone, so he sued the carrier and won
Verizon changed policy after he bought the phone, wouldn’t unlock it despite FCC rule.
arstechnica.com

Reposted by Juan Cole

middleeasteye-rss.bsky.social
Middle East Eye (Unofficial) @middleeasteye-rss.bsky.social · 8h
ICC rejects Israel's appeal that sought to invalidate Netanyahu arrest warrant - https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/icc-rejects-israels-appeal-sought-invalidate-netanyahu-arrest-warrant
ICC rejects Israel's appeal that sought to invalidate Netanyahu arrest warrant
In major development, appeals chamber dismisses Israel's arguments that opening an investigation after 7 October was contrary to Rome Statute
www.middleeasteye.net

Reposted by Brendan Nyhan, Juan Cole, Stephen D. Murphy , and 2 more

maxtani.bsky.social
max tani @maxtani.bsky.social · 8h
New: When the Washington Post ran tests on its AI personalized podcasts, the paper found that between 68% and 84% (!!) of the pods had potential issues.

Still, the paper decided to release the product anyway, saying it would “iterate through the remaining issues”

www.semafor.com/article/12/1...

Reposted by Steve Peers, Juan Cole

josephcox.bsky.social
Joseph Cox @josephcox.bsky.social · 8h
Here's interview with US citizen scanned by ICE's facial recognition tech. Walking home from gym, authorities come over. He says he's a citizen. Put him in car. Only release after scanning his face

“Flagrant violation of rights and incompatible with a free society”

www.404media.co/how-a-us-cit...
How a US Citizen Was Scanned With ICE's Facial Recognition Tech
Jesus Gutiérrez told immigration agents he was a U.S. citizen. Only after they scanned his face, did the agents let him go.
www.404media.co

Reposted by Juan Cole

chinagsproject.bsky.social
The China-Global South Project @chinagsproject.bsky.social · 9h
China forcefully backs South Africa’s G20 membership, countering U.S. efforts to exclude Pretoria and underscoring Beijing’s push for multilateralism.
China Issues Forceful Defense of South Africa’s Membership in G20
The Chinese government issued a forceful endorsement of South Africa's membership in the G20, a move that will likely thwart the U.S. efforts to exclude the group's only African member state from next...
tinyurl.com

Reposted by Juan Cole

middleeasteye-rss.bsky.social
Middle East Eye (Unofficial) @middleeasteye-rss.bsky.social · 9h
Palestinian prisoner Barghouti loses 43 kg in Israeli jail, lawyer says - https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/palestinian-prisoner-barghouti-has-lost-43-kg-israeli-jail-lawyer-says
Palestinian prisoner Barghouti loses 43 kg in Israeli jail, lawyer says
<article data-history-node-id="432692" about="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/palestinian-prisoner-barghouti-has-lost-43-kg-israeli-jail-lawyer-says" class="live-blog-update default clearfix"> <h2> <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/palestinian-prisoner-barghouti-has-lost-43-kg-israeli-jail-lawyer-says" rel="bookmark"> <span class="field field-title">Palestinian prisoner Barghouti loses 43 kg in Israeli jail, lawyer says</span> </a> </h2> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-field-text"><p>Imprisoned Palestinian prisoner Abdullah Barghouti, who is serving 67 life sentences in Israeli prisons, has lost 43 kilograms and his right hand was broken due to abuse in prison, Quds News Network reported, citing&nbsp;his lawyer Hassan Abbadi.</p> <p>Barghouti is also being held in an extremely cold cell without blankets or winter clothing, with cold air sometimes deliberately turned on, the report said.</p> </div> </div> </article>
www.middleeasteye.net

Reposted by Steve Peers, Rosemary A. Joyce, Fabián Muniesa , and 5 more

gregsargent.bsky.social
Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · 10h
Stephen Miller is employing state terror in service of the open goal of shifting the ethnic mix of the country. In numerous ways he's doing this at the expense of public safety.

We spent weeks reporting on Miller's real aims. Here's the result. We hope you'll read:
newrepublic.com/article/2041...
Inside Stephen Miller’s Dark Plot to Build a MAGA Terror State
He is descended from Russian Jews—you know, the kind of people who were once denounced as alien and unassimilable. Today, his project is to unleash government persecution of those he deems alien and u...
newrepublic.com

Reposted by Yezid Sayigh

jricole.bsky.social
Juan Cole @jricole.bsky.social · 17h
Benjamin Netanyahu’s Lethal Legacy: Revisionism, Neoconservatism, big Money and Corruption
Benjamin Netanyahu’s Lethal Legacy: Revisionism, Neoconservatism, big Money and Corruption
Hundreds of thousands of Israelis have demonstrated against Netanyahu and his cabinet, due to its proposed judicial reforms
dlvr.it

jricole.bsky.social
Juan Cole @jricole.bsky.social · 17h
Sudan’s Agony: Surprising Lessons for the US Resistance to Trump
Sudan’s Agony: Surprising Lessons for the US Resistance to Trump
About 45% of Sudanese, 21.2 million of them, are facing the highest levels of acute food insecurity
dlvr.it

jricole.bsky.social
Juan Cole @jricole.bsky.social · 17h
Three Things that might Trigger massive Ice Sheet Collapse
Three Things that might Trigger massive Ice Sheet Collapse
Misi occurs when the seafloor beneath the ice sheet slopes downwards toward the interior of the ice sheet.
dlvr.it

Reposted by Anne Applebaum, Kim L. Scheppele, Richard S.J. Tol , and 15 more

justinwolfers.bsky.social
Justin Wolfers @justinwolfers.bsky.social · 18h
Just want to share with my American friends how the Australians respond to a shooting tragedy. Action, rather than thoughts and prayers.

Reposted by Juan Cole

ryankatzrosene.bsky.social
Ryan Katz-Rosene, PhD @ryankatzrosene.bsky.social · 19h
Interesting schematic showing various discourses of delay, from a new paper "Countering the Climate Change Counter Movement: Six lessons from Canada's climate delays" by Samuel Lloyd and Ekaterina Rhodes (link in next bleet).

Reposted by Juan Cole

nazita.bsky.social
Nazita Lajevardi @nazita.bsky.social · 23h
what it feels like to be gaslit by bezos et al
kevinmkruse.bsky.social Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 1d
The Washington Post, everyone

Reposted by Paul Glasziou, David Lazer, Scott L. Greer , and 4 more

adambonica.bsky.social
Adam Bonica @adambonica.bsky.social · 23h
For the second year in a row, the wealth gains for the 100 richest Americans exceeded what ALL American households spent on groceries combined.

~$995B for billionaires vs ~$775B in total grocery spending.

We have an oligarchy and inequality problem masquerading as an affordability crisis.
Infographic titled “2025 Billionaire Gains vs. Grocery Spending.” On the left, a large gold square shows that the top 100 richest Americans gained $995 billion in wealth in 2025, about $7,595 per U.S. household, representing wealth gains for just 100 individuals. On the right, a slightly smaller green square shows total U.S. grocery spending of $775 billion, about $5,916 per household, covering roughly 131 million households. A callout at the bottom reads “The Scale of Inequality,” noting that billionaire wealth gains exceeded national grocery spending by $220 billion. Sources listed: Bloomberg Billionaire Index and Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Reposted by Juan Cole

ecothought.bsky.social
Evan Berry @ecothought.bsky.social · 1d
Condemning antisemitism is incumbent on anyone who studies religion. There is no ambiguity about the fact that violence against people based on their religion is always and everywhere morally reprehensible.

Reposted by Juan Cole

andyjabbour.bsky.social
andy jabbour @andyjabbour.bsky.social · 1d
From blocking laws he has not authority to block, to pardoning people he has no authority to pardon, the President continues to dream of absolute power. @mmasnick.bsky.social rmeinds us, 'Executive orders aren’t laws. They’re memos. Fancy, official memos...' www.techdirt.com/2025/12/12/t...
Trump Pretends To Block State AI Laws; Media Pretends That’s Legal
The mainstream media just failed a basic civics test so badly that you’d think their brains have been pickled by the kinds of folks who spend all their time on X (oh, wait…). Headlines across…
www.techdirt.com

Reposted by Michael E. Mann, Juan Cole

Reposted by Juan Cole, Paolo Crosetto

drwildlife.bsky.social
Dr. Wildlife @drwildlife.bsky.social · 1d
Bluesky has genuinely revived my love for science communication online. After watching the same posts go nowhere on Twitter, seeing them resonate here has been such a good reminder of why I do this. Thanks for being here 🖤

Reposted by Juan Cole

michaelemann.bsky.social
Michael E. Mann @michaelemann.bsky.social · 1d
Remember, Trump is just a mindless mouthpiece for every special interest that owns the right. In this case the NRA. They write the talking points, he clumsily and mindlessly regurgitates them.
willbunch.bsky.social Will Bunch @willbunch.bsky.social · 1d
A mass shooting at my alma mater Brown University hit hard, proving no community is safe from senseless violence in a land with more guns than people

Trump added insult to injury by claiming there is "nothing you can do." We can do a lot about guns

My new column www.inquirer.com/opinion/brow...
Mass shooting at Brown U.: When gun heartbreak comes home | Will Bunch
A mass shooting at my alma mater is a gutting reminder that no one is safe until we tackle America's gun crisis.
www.inquirer.com