Frederick Deknatel
@freddydeknatel.bsky.social
Journalist, fellow at Century International, editor of Hidden Cities: https://hiddencities.substack.com/
Previously: Founding executive editor, Democracy in Exile @dawnmenaorg.bsky.social; managing editor @wpr.bsky.social; staff editor @foreignaffairs.com
Previously: Founding executive editor, Democracy in Exile @dawnmenaorg.bsky.social; managing editor @wpr.bsky.social; staff editor @foreignaffairs.com
November 27, 2025 at 5:12 PM
"For all their utopian dreams, the megaprojects championed by MBS don’t signal the future, but the trap represented by Saudi Arabia’s political economy."
Megaproject fiascos, an overdrawn sovereign wealth fund and speculative, crony real estate schemes won’t create MBS's “thriving economy.”
Megaproject fiascos, an overdrawn sovereign wealth fund and speculative, crony real estate schemes won’t create MBS's “thriving economy.”
November 25, 2025 at 2:22 PM
"For all their utopian dreams, the megaprojects championed by MBS don’t signal the future, but the trap represented by Saudi Arabia’s political economy."
Megaproject fiascos, an overdrawn sovereign wealth fund and speculative, crony real estate schemes won’t create MBS's “thriving economy.”
Megaproject fiascos, an overdrawn sovereign wealth fund and speculative, crony real estate schemes won’t create MBS's “thriving economy.”
A stark and harrowing new essay in Hidden Cities by Yahya Al Masri:
“This is the story of so many of us in Gaza. We couldn’t rescue our brothers.”
hiddencities.substack.com/p/come-rescu...
“This is the story of so many of us in Gaza. We couldn’t rescue our brothers.”
hiddencities.substack.com/p/come-rescu...
November 24, 2025 at 6:04 PM
A stark and harrowing new essay in Hidden Cities by Yahya Al Masri:
“This is the story of so many of us in Gaza. We couldn’t rescue our brothers.”
hiddencities.substack.com/p/come-rescu...
“This is the story of so many of us in Gaza. We couldn’t rescue our brothers.”
hiddencities.substack.com/p/come-rescu...
The most sinister version of this meme imaginable.
November 24, 2025 at 3:22 PM
The most sinister version of this meme imaginable.
Trump’s “peace plan” for Ukraine was actually a Russian wishlist? Where would you ever get that idea? 🤔 www.axios.com/2025/11/20/t...
November 23, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Trump’s “peace plan” for Ukraine was actually a Russian wishlist? Where would you ever get that idea? 🤔 www.axios.com/2025/11/20/t...
Meanwhile, in Congress:
November 22, 2025 at 2:27 AM
Meanwhile, in Congress:
It sounds like job security at CBS News under Bari Weiss depends on whether or not you personally tell her that you have an "affinity for Israel." www.wsj.com/business/med...
November 20, 2025 at 8:56 PM
It sounds like job security at CBS News under Bari Weiss depends on whether or not you personally tell her that you have an "affinity for Israel." www.wsj.com/business/med...
Live look at the courtroom:
November 19, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Live look at the courtroom:
She's echoing Blinken and Clinton, who blamed social media, where "facts get lost and the emotion, the impact of images dominate" and young people are "brainwashed."
Their claim is that whatever favors Israel is a "fact," unlike images from Gaza—which cannot be "facts" but only distort reality.
Their claim is that whatever favors Israel is a "fact," unlike images from Gaza—which cannot be "facts" but only distort reality.
November 19, 2025 at 6:51 PM
She's echoing Blinken and Clinton, who blamed social media, where "facts get lost and the emotion, the impact of images dominate" and young people are "brainwashed."
Their claim is that whatever favors Israel is a "fact," unlike images from Gaza—which cannot be "facts" but only distort reality.
Their claim is that whatever favors Israel is a "fact," unlike images from Gaza—which cannot be "facts" but only distort reality.
Without a hint of irony, another recent Bret Stephens' column was headlined: "Do Dumb Ideas Ever Die?"
November 17, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Without a hint of irony, another recent Bret Stephens' column was headlined: "Do Dumb Ideas Ever Die?"
You don’t need to parrot the lie of an “apparent end” to Trump and Epstein’s friendship anymore, and definitely not in a lede.
November 13, 2025 at 3:39 AM
You don’t need to parrot the lie of an “apparent end” to Trump and Epstein’s friendship anymore, and definitely not in a lede.
Trump and Epstein had such a “falling out” that they spent Thanksgiving together at Mar-a-Lago in 2017, Trump’s first as president. www.msnbc.com/msnbc/news/e...
November 13, 2025 at 3:36 AM
Trump and Epstein had such a “falling out” that they spent Thanksgiving together at Mar-a-Lago in 2017, Trump’s first as president. www.msnbc.com/msnbc/news/e...
It would be scandalous enough for any other president to use the Situation Room like this.
Billed as the most secure facility on earth, where presidents could manage national security crises, the Situation Room is now where the AG and FBI Director scheme with Trump about the Epstein files.
Billed as the most secure facility on earth, where presidents could manage national security crises, the Situation Room is now where the AG and FBI Director scheme with Trump about the Epstein files.
November 12, 2025 at 8:30 PM
It would be scandalous enough for any other president to use the Situation Room like this.
Billed as the most secure facility on earth, where presidents could manage national security crises, the Situation Room is now where the AG and FBI Director scheme with Trump about the Epstein files.
Billed as the most secure facility on earth, where presidents could manage national security crises, the Situation Room is now where the AG and FBI Director scheme with Trump about the Epstein files.
Beyond the economy, I think it’s pretty clear now why Marjorie Taylor Greene suddenly pivoted away from being a Trump disciple.
November 12, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Beyond the economy, I think it’s pretty clear now why Marjorie Taylor Greene suddenly pivoted away from being a Trump disciple.
“We Are Still Here,” a new poem in Hidden Cities by Vaheed Ramazani.
hiddencities.substack.com/p/we-are-sti...
hiddencities.substack.com/p/we-are-sti...
November 8, 2025 at 3:43 PM
“We Are Still Here,” a new poem in Hidden Cities by Vaheed Ramazani.
hiddencities.substack.com/p/we-are-sti...
hiddencities.substack.com/p/we-are-sti...
Is your home still a home
when your house has been demolished?
Is your neighborhood still a neighborhood
when your neighbors are dead or gone?
“We Are Still Here,” a new poem in Hidden Cities by Vaheed Ramazani
hiddencities.substack.com/p/we-are-sti...
when your house has been demolished?
Is your neighborhood still a neighborhood
when your neighbors are dead or gone?
“We Are Still Here,” a new poem in Hidden Cities by Vaheed Ramazani
hiddencities.substack.com/p/we-are-sti...
November 7, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Is your home still a home
when your house has been demolished?
Is your neighborhood still a neighborhood
when your neighbors are dead or gone?
“We Are Still Here,” a new poem in Hidden Cities by Vaheed Ramazani
hiddencities.substack.com/p/we-are-sti...
when your house has been demolished?
Is your neighborhood still a neighborhood
when your neighbors are dead or gone?
“We Are Still Here,” a new poem in Hidden Cities by Vaheed Ramazani
hiddencities.substack.com/p/we-are-sti...
The incoming mayor should do the reasonable and “conciliatory” thing and jet off to Bermuda every weekend unannounced, or spend his nights in a fancy private club where he can solicit bribes and kickbacks.
November 6, 2025 at 12:39 AM
The incoming mayor should do the reasonable and “conciliatory” thing and jet off to Bermuda every weekend unannounced, or spend his nights in a fancy private club where he can solicit bribes and kickbacks.
It was, in fact, just about a sandwich. www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...
November 5, 2025 at 10:16 PM
It was, in fact, just about a sandwich. www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...
I wonder now long the Times will keep banging the Andrew Cuomo drum.
November 5, 2025 at 1:06 PM
I wonder now long the Times will keep banging the Andrew Cuomo drum.