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
In return for lower tariffs than those that Trump imposed or threatened, some Asian countries are accepting a surprising number and scope of Washington’s demands, writes columnist @agathedemarais.bsky.social.
Why Did Asian Countries Give Trump So Much on Trade?
The new deals contain unusual concessions that could change the flow of goods in Asia.
foreignpolicy.com
November 15, 2025 at 2:30 AM
In return for lower tariffs than those that Trump imposed or threatened, some Asian countries are accepting a surprising number and scope of Washington’s demands, writes columnist @agathedemarais.bsky.social.
In some ways, the Swiss story is even more concerning than the Saudi deal. These are the states that should be defending liberal norms. As they cave to neo-royalist tactics, they only embolden a new order that will undermine their interests.
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/mxthh...
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/mxthh...
November 15, 2025 at 2:43 PM
In some ways, the Swiss story is even more concerning than the Saudi deal. These are the states that should be defending liberal norms. As they cave to neo-royalist tactics, they only embolden a new order that will undermine their interests.
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/mxthh...
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/mxthh...
1/How to make sense of Saudi-US expose -- golf course licenses and real estate deals for a defense agreement and nuke tech? Enter the world of neo-royalism (www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/mxthh...)
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/15/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/15/w...
Trump Organization Is Said to Be in Talks on a Saudi Government Real Estate Deal
www.nytimes.com
November 15, 2025 at 2:19 PM
1/How to make sense of Saudi-US expose -- golf course licenses and real estate deals for a defense agreement and nuke tech? Enter the world of neo-royalism (www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/mxthh...)
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/15/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/15/w...
Reposted by Abe Newman
Kate McNamara, Professor & author of The Politics of Everyday Europe, treats writing as a way of thinking clearly about power, markets & the ideas that connect them.
For her, writing isn’t easy, it’s a struggle, but one worth having!
🪶 New: catherineeunicedevries.substack.com/p/etched-in-...
🧵
For her, writing isn’t easy, it’s a struggle, but one worth having!
🪶 New: catherineeunicedevries.substack.com/p/etched-in-...
🧵
Etched in Marble: Kate McNamara on Imagination, Compassion, and the Struggle Worth Having
Writers on the Forces That Shape Us and the Writing That Endures
catherineeunicedevries.substack.com
November 13, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Kate McNamara, Professor & author of The Politics of Everyday Europe, treats writing as a way of thinking clearly about power, markets & the ideas that connect them.
For her, writing isn’t easy, it’s a struggle, but one worth having!
🪶 New: catherineeunicedevries.substack.com/p/etched-in-...
🧵
For her, writing isn’t easy, it’s a struggle, but one worth having!
🪶 New: catherineeunicedevries.substack.com/p/etched-in-...
🧵
As Russia continues to threaten the eastern flank of NATO with drone flights and bombings in Ukrainian cities, the US...reduces troops from Romania. The "political symbolism is a bit weird to have right now”. Ya think?
thehill.com/policy/defen...
thehill.com/policy/defen...
thehill.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:17 PM
As Russia continues to threaten the eastern flank of NATO with drone flights and bombings in Ukrainian cities, the US...reduces troops from Romania. The "political symbolism is a bit weird to have right now”. Ya think?
thehill.com/policy/defen...
thehill.com/policy/defen...
Reposted by Abe Newman
👇👇
As Trump Admin uses mob-like tactics to threaten diplomats at international climate talks, important to reengage conversation on what is legitimate use of the economic weapon. New open access piece in JIEL w/Elena Chachko. (academic.oup.com/jiel/article...)
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/c...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/c...
Trump Officials Accused of Bullying Tactics to Kill a Climate Measure
www.nytimes.com
November 10, 2025 at 12:10 PM
👇👇
As Trump Admin uses mob-like tactics to threaten diplomats at international climate talks, important to reengage conversation on what is legitimate use of the economic weapon. New open access piece in JIEL w/Elena Chachko. (academic.oup.com/jiel/article...)
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/c...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/c...
Trump Officials Accused of Bullying Tactics to Kill a Climate Measure
www.nytimes.com
November 10, 2025 at 12:06 PM
As Trump Admin uses mob-like tactics to threaten diplomats at international climate talks, important to reengage conversation on what is legitimate use of the economic weapon. New open access piece in JIEL w/Elena Chachko. (academic.oup.com/jiel/article...)
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/c...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/c...
Reposted by Abe Newman
NEW: I’m calling on Trump to cancel private jet flights instead of commercial airlines.
Private jet flights often take a single billionaire passenger, but still put real strain on our air traffic control system.
Private jet flights often take a single billionaire passenger, but still put real strain on our air traffic control system.
November 7, 2025 at 8:04 PM
NEW: I’m calling on Trump to cancel private jet flights instead of commercial airlines.
Private jet flights often take a single billionaire passenger, but still put real strain on our air traffic control system.
Private jet flights often take a single billionaire passenger, but still put real strain on our air traffic control system.
Reposted by Abe Newman
The conclusion of a great 🧵
6/In the short term, this can amass quite a lot of power through rents, polarization, and salami tactics. But it also stokes resentment. The key is to challenge those that are focused on loss aversion and offer a win-win future.
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Affordability, affordability, affordability: Democrats’ new winning formula
From a democratic socialist in New York to moderates in Virginia and New Jersey, Democrats found success by focusing on the cost of living — not culture wars.
www.politico.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:52 PM
The conclusion of a great 🧵
1/Forget abundance. Welcome to the politics of scarcity.
The Trump Administration is saying Americans will need to live with less -- fewer flights, less food aid, smaller universities, shrunken federal workforce. Why? Its not about prosperity but power.
apnews.com/article/gove...
The Trump Administration is saying Americans will need to live with less -- fewer flights, less food aid, smaller universities, shrunken federal workforce. Why? Its not about prosperity but power.
apnews.com/article/gove...
FAA reducing air traffic by 10% across 40 'high-volume' markets during government shutdown
The Federal Aviation Administration says it plans to reduce air traffic by 10% across 40 “high-volume” markets beginning Friday morning to maintain safety during the ongoing government shutdown.
apnews.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:05 PM
1/Forget abundance. Welcome to the politics of scarcity.
The Trump Administration is saying Americans will need to live with less -- fewer flights, less food aid, smaller universities, shrunken federal workforce. Why? Its not about prosperity but power.
apnews.com/article/gove...
The Trump Administration is saying Americans will need to live with less -- fewer flights, less food aid, smaller universities, shrunken federal workforce. Why? Its not about prosperity but power.
apnews.com/article/gove...
We will now address affordability by cutting supply of airline flights right before the holidays. Pain is the point, not governing.
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/11...
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/11...
Trump Administration Live Updates: U.S. to Cut 10% of Air Traffic at 40 Airports Over Government Shutdown
www.nytimes.com
November 6, 2025 at 2:03 AM
We will now address affordability by cutting supply of airline flights right before the holidays. Pain is the point, not governing.
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/11...
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/11...
Trump policies may fulfill the demographics is destiny arguments made by the democrats in the 2000s. Turns out policy not demographics matter for destiny.
Between 2020 and 2024, no New Jersey county moved further right than Passaic County (11pts). At 43% it's also the most the most-Latino county in the state, and is among the least-white overall.
Last night, it moved 18pts to the left, surpassed only by Hudson County (the second-most Latino county)
Last night, it moved 18pts to the left, surpassed only by Hudson County (the second-most Latino county)
November 5, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Trump policies may fulfill the demographics is destiny arguments made by the democrats in the 2000s. Turns out policy not demographics matter for destiny.
@himself.bsky.social nails it. People have so much pent up energy to be organized/to help. So enough with the text messages for $ and let’s get the Party started doing stuff for everyday people.
November 5, 2025 at 3:40 PM
@himself.bsky.social nails it. People have so much pent up energy to be organized/to help. So enough with the text messages for $ and let’s get the Party started doing stuff for everyday people.
Reposted by Abe Newman
One of the least remarked parts of Mamdani's speech yesterday was its strong implication that he wants his army of 100k volunteers to stick around and do stuff.
November 5, 2025 at 1:32 PM
One of the least remarked parts of Mamdani's speech yesterday was its strong implication that he wants his army of 100k volunteers to stick around and do stuff.
Reposted by Abe Newman
The Stacie Goddard @abenewman.bsky.social synthesis
"A plausible emerging order, which we label neo-royalism... centers on ruling cliques, networks of political, capital, and military elites" www.dropbox.com/preview/Neo-...
Meet Rockbridge, the secretive donor circle that lifted JD Vance is now re-writing MAGA’s future.
It roots its action in a “controversial theory — an ‘aristocracy’ is needed to move the country forward.”
It’s method: a venture capital approach to politics.
gift link:
wapo.st/3Jsvgrl
It roots its action in a “controversial theory — an ‘aristocracy’ is needed to move the country forward.”
It’s method: a venture capital approach to politics.
gift link:
wapo.st/3Jsvgrl
November 4, 2025 at 7:15 PM
The Stacie Goddard @abenewman.bsky.social synthesis
Reposted by Abe Newman
"A plausible emerging order, which we label neo-royalism... centers on ruling cliques, networks of political, capital, and military elites" www.dropbox.com/preview/Neo-...
Meet Rockbridge, the secretive donor circle that lifted JD Vance is now re-writing MAGA’s future.
It roots its action in a “controversial theory — an ‘aristocracy’ is needed to move the country forward.”
It’s method: a venture capital approach to politics.
gift link:
wapo.st/3Jsvgrl
It roots its action in a “controversial theory — an ‘aristocracy’ is needed to move the country forward.”
It’s method: a venture capital approach to politics.
gift link:
wapo.st/3Jsvgrl
The secretive donor circle that lifted JD Vance is now re-writing MAGA’s future
Chris Buskirk put tech elites in power in Trump’s Washington. His efforts are grounded in a controversial theory: An “aristocracy” is needed to move the country forward.
wapo.st
November 4, 2025 at 7:11 PM
"A plausible emerging order, which we label neo-royalism... centers on ruling cliques, networks of political, capital, and military elites" www.dropbox.com/preview/Neo-...
Reposted by Abe Newman
"What Is the future of diplomacy when going to a sleepy UN meeting on shipping puts you and your family in the cross hairs of the full force of US coercion? As platforms of cooperation become the site of coercion the international system will quickly break down."
1/When @himself.bsky.social and I wrote about the future of US economic coercion we hoped that the tools could be used for global collective goods like climate. Now US “evaluating sanctions on officials sponsoring activist-driven climate policies”’
on.ft.com/4qJF3Ko
on.ft.com/4qJF3Ko
US accused of ‘bully-boy’ tactics to sink climate deal
Officials say ‘threats’ used to derail net zero deal for shipping industry ripped up rules of global diplomacy
on.ft.com
November 3, 2025 at 7:58 PM
"What Is the future of diplomacy when going to a sleepy UN meeting on shipping puts you and your family in the cross hairs of the full force of US coercion? As platforms of cooperation become the site of coercion the international system will quickly break down."
Reposted by Abe Newman
Sounds awesome.
2. Stacie Goddard and I have a new piece in International organization laying out a future world order based on hyper elites tied to absolute sovereigns. We call it neo-royalism.
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/mxthh...
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/mxthh...
www.dropbox.com
November 3, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Sounds awesome.
Reposted by Abe Newman
Ooh…can’t wait to read. Have been thinking about this a lot in the context of solar geoengineering.
2. Stacie Goddard and I have a new piece in International organization laying out a future world order based on hyper elites tied to absolute sovereigns. We call it neo-royalism.
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/mxthh...
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/mxthh...
www.dropbox.com
November 3, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Ooh…can’t wait to read. Have been thinking about this a lot in the context of solar geoengineering.
Reposted by Abe Newman
I hope Mark Carney is following this closely. Bessent’s comments re Canada gave off similar vibes (not the childish Blue Jays jab).
1/When @himself.bsky.social and I wrote about the future of US economic coercion we hoped that the tools could be used for global collective goods like climate. Now US “evaluating sanctions on officials sponsoring activist-driven climate policies”’
on.ft.com/4qJF3Ko
on.ft.com/4qJF3Ko
US accused of ‘bully-boy’ tactics to sink climate deal
Officials say ‘threats’ used to derail net zero deal for shipping industry ripped up rules of global diplomacy
on.ft.com
November 3, 2025 at 6:31 PM
I hope Mark Carney is following this closely. Bessent’s comments re Canada gave off similar vibes (not the childish Blue Jays jab).
Reposted by Abe Newman
Looking forward to reading this new work by Abe and Elana. In recent work, I likewise concluded that States could improve their assessment of supply and influence, and build out crisper norms for tools directed to the detriment of other states versus improving domestic/club objectives.
7/Now more than ever we need to develop a set of norms Around the use of economic coercion so that we can buy up guardrails against illegitimate uses of the economic weapon.
academic.oup.com/jiel/advance...
academic.oup.com/jiel/advance...
Building norms of economic coercion
Abstract. Across most of the world’s major geopolitical struggles, states have increasingly turned to tools of economic coercion. Despite growing criticism
academic.oup.com
November 3, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Looking forward to reading this new work by Abe and Elana. In recent work, I likewise concluded that States could improve their assessment of supply and influence, and build out crisper norms for tools directed to the detriment of other states versus improving domestic/club objectives.
1/UAE Chip deal offers textbook case in neo-royalism. Elite ties rather than national security drive dealmaking. The winner is not national security but Trump inner circile.
www.reuters.com/world/china/...
www.reuters.com/world/china/...
Microsoft to invest over $15 billion in UAE, secures US export licenses for Nvidia chips
Microsoft will invest over $15 billion in the United Arab Emirates in the seven years to the end of 2029 and has the Trump administration's approval to export Nvidia chips for its data centres there, a senior executive told Reuters on Monday.
www.reuters.com
November 3, 2025 at 2:09 PM
1/UAE Chip deal offers textbook case in neo-royalism. Elite ties rather than national security drive dealmaking. The winner is not national security but Trump inner circile.
www.reuters.com/world/china/...
www.reuters.com/world/china/...
Reposted by Abe Newman
Not surprising, but still stunning. Great thread.
1/When @himself.bsky.social and I wrote about the future of US economic coercion we hoped that the tools could be used for global collective goods like climate. Now US “evaluating sanctions on officials sponsoring activist-driven climate policies”’
on.ft.com/4qJF3Ko
on.ft.com/4qJF3Ko
US accused of ‘bully-boy’ tactics to sink climate deal
Officials say ‘threats’ used to derail net zero deal for shipping industry ripped up rules of global diplomacy
on.ft.com
November 3, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Not surprising, but still stunning. Great thread.
Reposted by Abe Newman
European negotiators were personally targeted by their American counterparts during a brutal negotiation over green shipping rules, European Commission officials told POLITICO.
This highly unusual gambit left diplomats shaken after the meeting.
This highly unusual gambit left diplomats shaken after the meeting.
US accused of threatening EU diplomats during bid to kill green shipping rules
Negotiators at shipping talks in London were told both they and their countries could be punished unless they voted with the U.S.
www.politico.eu
November 3, 2025 at 8:11 AM
European negotiators were personally targeted by their American counterparts during a brutal negotiation over green shipping rules, European Commission officials told POLITICO.
This highly unusual gambit left diplomats shaken after the meeting.
This highly unusual gambit left diplomats shaken after the meeting.
Reposted by Abe Newman
Piercing analysis from @tompepinsky.com on the US in the Asia Pacific: "They must prepare for a future in which the United States cannot lead, regardless of who is in power." In a forthcoming @iojournal.bsky.social piece, @sdhyde.bsky.social & I conclude the same for US global leadership generally.
Want to read what I really think about the Trump administration and the Asia Pacific? Here you go. It’s a goddamn catastrophe for U.S. national interests and for the regional economic and diplomatic order.
A United States that is disintegrating and no longer a leader in Asia
As Trump 2.0 hollows out US state capacity, the Asia Pacific must prepare for a world without US leadership
eastasiaforum.org
November 3, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Piercing analysis from @tompepinsky.com on the US in the Asia Pacific: "They must prepare for a future in which the United States cannot lead, regardless of who is in power." In a forthcoming @iojournal.bsky.social piece, @sdhyde.bsky.social & I conclude the same for US global leadership generally.