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.
Reposted by Ambassador (ret.) Janet Sanderson
Marco Rubio, you own this shameful POS. You will forever be known as an enabler of murder and someone who punishes the victim.
Here is my read of the "peace plan" and how Kirill Dmitriev played the American media to force this thing into being -- with an incompetent White House scrambling to make it seem like this was somehow coordinated and well-planned. open.substack.com/pub/macspaun...
“He Must Have Got This From K.”
How a Russian operative used the American media to force a risible “peace deal” into existence
open.substack.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Marco Rubio, you own this shameful POS. You will forever be known as an enabler of murder and someone who punishes the victim.
Definitely this.
November 21, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Definitely this.
Proud to have signed this with many of my former colleagues.
Foreign students and scholars offer new perspectives and experiences to our universities, our students, and ultimately our society. Attacking and shutting our doors to them ultimately makes our nation poorer.
Foreign students and scholars offer new perspectives and experiences to our universities, our students, and ultimately our society. Attacking and shutting our doors to them ultimately makes our nation poorer.
Former ambassadors and senior State Department officials — including Steady State members — warn that the U.S. is targeting foreign students and scholars for their lawful speech, undermining free-expression principles and harming America’s global standing.
drive.google.com/file/d/1GIq2...
drive.google.com/file/d/1GIq2...
November 21, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Proud to have signed this with many of my former colleagues.
Foreign students and scholars offer new perspectives and experiences to our universities, our students, and ultimately our society. Attacking and shutting our doors to them ultimately makes our nation poorer.
Foreign students and scholars offer new perspectives and experiences to our universities, our students, and ultimately our society. Attacking and shutting our doors to them ultimately makes our nation poorer.
Reposted by Ambassador (ret.) Janet Sanderson
Everyone needs to put this on blast.
'People forget what Khashoggi was investigating when he was murdered. He was writing about Kushner turning over classified info to MBS, who used it to hunt down, arrest and murder his opponents.'
h/t @cocacolakid
h/t @cocacolakid
November 20, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Everyone needs to put this on blast.
Reposted by Ambassador (ret.) Janet Sanderson
I came in under George Shultz, which makes me all the more proud to have signed this letter.
Former ambassadors and senior State Department officials — including Steady State members — warn that the U.S. is targeting foreign students and scholars for their lawful speech, undermining free-expression principles and harming America’s global standing.
drive.google.com/file/d/1GIq2...
drive.google.com/file/d/1GIq2...
November 20, 2025 at 7:59 PM
I came in under George Shultz, which makes me all the more proud to have signed this letter.
Reposted by Ambassador (ret.) Janet Sanderson
Zelenskyy has made his choice. He will not bow down to Trump and Russia. He will go down as Europe’s greatest statesman and leader since Winston Churchill. Time to circle the wagon. #SlavaUkraini
November 21, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Zelenskyy has made his choice. He will not bow down to Trump and Russia. He will go down as Europe’s greatest statesman and leader since Winston Churchill. Time to circle the wagon. #SlavaUkraini
This.
Kelly: "My family has suffered from political violence. My wife, Gabby, was nearly assassinated, shot in the head at a political event. Even the president -- 2 assassination attempts -- he should understand his words have significant weight and people react to things that he says."
November 21, 2025 at 4:07 PM
This.
History will never forgive us if we abandon Ukraine.
Nor should anyone else.
Nor should anyone else.
NEW: Brutal to watch Zelensky address his nation just now. On the brink of being abandoned by the US.
"Right now is one of the most difficult moments in our history. At this moment, Ukraine may face a very hard choice: either the loss of dignity, or the risk of losing a key partner."
"Right now is one of the most difficult moments in our history. At this moment, Ukraine may face a very hard choice: either the loss of dignity, or the risk of losing a key partner."
November 21, 2025 at 3:22 PM
History will never forgive us if we abandon Ukraine.
Nor should anyone else.
Nor should anyone else.
Reposted by Ambassador (ret.) Janet Sanderson
I don’t want to brag but the stupid we’ve seen this week feels next level
November 21, 2025 at 2:04 PM
I don’t want to brag but the stupid we’ve seen this week feels next level
Reposted by Ambassador (ret.) Janet Sanderson
Reposted by Ambassador (ret.) Janet Sanderson
RJ Matson presents: I went to Washington, and all I got was this president
I went to Washington, and all I got was this president
A cartoon by RJ Matson
contrarian.substack.com
November 21, 2025 at 2:45 PM
RJ Matson presents: I went to Washington, and all I got was this president
Obscene.
Here is Trump's full 28 point plan for Ukraine. It would destroy Ukraine as a sovereign state and leave it helpless to face a Russian attack in the future. It would also give Putin full vindication and immunity from prosecution.
www.axios.com/2025/11/20/t...
www.axios.com/2025/11/20/t...
Trump's full 28-point Ukraine-Russia peace plan
The full plan was obtained by Axios and verified by Ukrainian and U.S. officials.
www.axios.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:21 AM
Obscene.
As the administration continues to play politics, many of our neighbors are experiencing great need. If you are in a position to do so, please consider donating to your local food bank. I give to the Community Food Bank of Southern AZ which, like many similar groups, is now badly overstretched.
November 21, 2025 at 7:20 AM
As the administration continues to play politics, many of our neighbors are experiencing great need. If you are in a position to do so, please consider donating to your local food bank. I give to the Community Food Bank of Southern AZ which, like many similar groups, is now badly overstretched.
Reposted by Ambassador (ret.) Janet Sanderson
Elliott Abrams has a long history of supporting regime change and facilitating war crimes. He was convicted of lying to Congress about Iran-Contra. He was special envoy to Venezuela and Iran during Trump’s first term, and Biden appointed him to the US Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy in 2023.
Elliott Abrams says regime change is the only way forward in Venezuela and nothing could go wrong. Just like with Iraq. Do we really have to do this again?
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
How to Topple Maduro
And why regime change is the only way forward in Venezuela.
www.foreignaffairs.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Elliott Abrams has a long history of supporting regime change and facilitating war crimes. He was convicted of lying to Congress about Iran-Contra. He was special envoy to Venezuela and Iran during Trump’s first term, and Biden appointed him to the US Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy in 2023.
Reposted by Ambassador (ret.) Janet Sanderson
In the final hours of his first term in office, Trump pardoned the operative who recruited Jonathan Pollard to spy against the US for Israel.
There’s no way Trump didn’t know about this meeting.
There’s no way Trump didn’t know about this meeting.
Q: "Ambassador Mike Huckabee had a meeting with Jonathan Pollard who was convicted and spent 3 decades in jail for selling state secrets to Israel…Does the administration condone this?"
Leavitt: "The White House was not aware of that meeting but the President stands by our ambassador."
Leavitt: "The White House was not aware of that meeting but the President stands by our ambassador."
November 20, 2025 at 7:35 PM
In the final hours of his first term in office, Trump pardoned the operative who recruited Jonathan Pollard to spy against the US for Israel.
There’s no way Trump didn’t know about this meeting.
There’s no way Trump didn’t know about this meeting.
Reposted by Ambassador (ret.) Janet Sanderson
I've had a missile blow up next to my airplane, been shot at dozens of times by anti-aircraft fire, and launched into orbit — all for my country. I never thought I'd see a President call for my execution.
Trump doesn’t understand the Constitution, and we're all less safe for it.
Trump doesn’t understand the Constitution, and we're all less safe for it.
November 20, 2025 at 8:40 PM
I've had a missile blow up next to my airplane, been shot at dozens of times by anti-aircraft fire, and launched into orbit — all for my country. I never thought I'd see a President call for my execution.
Trump doesn’t understand the Constitution, and we're all less safe for it.
Trump doesn’t understand the Constitution, and we're all less safe for it.
Reposted by Ambassador (ret.) Janet Sanderson
Joint Statement from Goodlander, Slotkin, Kelly, Crow, Deluzio, and Houlahan
November 20, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Joint Statement from Goodlander, Slotkin, Kelly, Crow, Deluzio, and Houlahan
Seriously, who gives a flying fig about Liz Truss? Anyone? Anywhere?
November 20, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Seriously, who gives a flying fig about Liz Truss? Anyone? Anywhere?
Reposted by Ambassador (ret.) Janet Sanderson
Trump is telling Americans that decades of data from NASA, NOAA, and the U.S. scientific community are a “scam.” Discrediting independent expertise is a clear indicator of democratic decline. And so is threatening to investigate scientists whose conclusions you don’t like.
Trump on climate change: "The world was gonna burn up, but it actually got much cooler. It's a little conspiracy. We have to investigate them immediately. They probably are being investigated."
November 20, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Trump is telling Americans that decades of data from NASA, NOAA, and the U.S. scientific community are a “scam.” Discrediting independent expertise is a clear indicator of democratic decline. And so is threatening to investigate scientists whose conclusions you don’t like.
Reposted by Ambassador (ret.) Janet Sanderson
Trump is calling for members of Congress to be arrested and/or hanged for reminding our military and IC that they have an obligation to refuse illegal orders.
November 20, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Trump is calling for members of Congress to be arrested and/or hanged for reminding our military and IC that they have an obligation to refuse illegal orders.
Reposted by Ambassador (ret.) Janet Sanderson
Before the midterms of 1866, President Andrew Johnson called his congressional opponents traitors and said they should be hanged.
Voters were so profoundly moved by his words... that they gave his opponents a supermajority in Congress, and the nation got the Fourteenth Amendment.
Voters were so profoundly moved by his words... that they gave his opponents a supermajority in Congress, and the nation got the Fourteenth Amendment.
November 20, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Before the midterms of 1866, President Andrew Johnson called his congressional opponents traitors and said they should be hanged.
Voters were so profoundly moved by his words... that they gave his opponents a supermajority in Congress, and the nation got the Fourteenth Amendment.
Voters were so profoundly moved by his words... that they gave his opponents a supermajority in Congress, and the nation got the Fourteenth Amendment.
A cautionary tale.
The British Library is a wondrous place. The heinous cyber attack on it two years ago should concern anyone, regardless of where they live, who is interested in the past—or the future.
The British Library is a wondrous place. The heinous cyber attack on it two years ago should concern anyone, regardless of where they live, who is interested in the past—or the future.
I’ve written a piece on the curious lack of media and political interest in the issues faced by our national @britishlibrary.bsky.social. This is strange given we live in a world where ideas, knowledge and research are a long-term source of innovation and insight
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
The British library is in crisis: why does nobody care?
The widespread indifference to the British Library's crippling cyberattack demonstrates a perilous failure to value the knowledge infrastructure vital for national prosperity
www.cityam.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:19 AM
A cautionary tale.
The British Library is a wondrous place. The heinous cyber attack on it two years ago should concern anyone, regardless of where they live, who is interested in the past—or the future.
The British Library is a wondrous place. The heinous cyber attack on it two years ago should concern anyone, regardless of where they live, who is interested in the past—or the future.
Reposted by Ambassador (ret.) Janet Sanderson
Yes, if only we had an agency that could provide "food, doctors, and everything else that are desperately needed" in Sudan.
Trump is now turning his attention to Sudan. We’ll see if the warring factions there want to play his games.
November 19, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Yes, if only we had an agency that could provide "food, doctors, and everything else that are desperately needed" in Sudan.
Imagine my surprise.
“the Trump family’s real estate and other business interests in Saudi Arabia have flourished during his second term.”
Nothing to see here
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/w...
Nothing to see here
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/w...
Trump Family’s Business Ties to Saudi Arabia Raise Ethics Worries
www.nytimes.com
November 19, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Imagine my surprise.
Reposted by Ambassador (ret.) Janet Sanderson
"He's increasing the likelihood of an intelligence failure"
Ex-MI6 chief Sir Alex Younger discusses President Trump's comments when questioned about the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi while hosting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House
#Newsnight
Ex-MI6 chief Sir Alex Younger discusses President Trump's comments when questioned about the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi while hosting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House
#Newsnight
November 19, 2025 at 12:29 PM
"He's increasing the likelihood of an intelligence failure"
Ex-MI6 chief Sir Alex Younger discusses President Trump's comments when questioned about the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi while hosting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House
#Newsnight
Ex-MI6 chief Sir Alex Younger discusses President Trump's comments when questioned about the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi while hosting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House
#Newsnight