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Created
Thu, 22/05/2025 - 08:12

In Tehran, bewildered diplomats told me they suspect the Trump administration is exploiting nuclear negotiations as a instrument for generating instability to weaken Iran’s economy and foment social strife Listen to an audio version of this article read by Matthew Alford here. With nuclear negotiations between the Trump administration and Iran’s Reformist government at a standstill, I held two separate, lengthy background conversations in Tehran this past week with a pair of seasoned Iranian diplomats with detailed knowledge of the […]

The post Iranian diplomats suspect Trump using talks as instrument of sabotage first appeared on The Grayzone.

The post Iranian diplomats suspect Trump using talks as instrument of sabotage appeared first on The Grayzone.

Created
Thu, 22/05/2025 - 03:00

“A federal agency has cancelled a $117,000 grant that was set to go to the Emily Dickinson Museum.”MassLive

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Dear Miss Dickinson,

Following a routine audit of publicly funded projects for ideological alignment, your grant for digitizing a newly cataloged collection of your writing has been selected for termination. You will not be receiving the $117,000 allotted by the previous administration.

We understand this may be disappointing. However, voters sent a clear message: budget belt-tightening is a top priority. Anything not reflecting our current values is subject to re-evaluation.

And frankly, we don’t care much for your poetry.

We’re not required to elaborate—but in the interest of transparency, here’s why your work was flagged.

I’m Nobody! Who are you?
Are you – Nobody – too?
Then there’s a pair of us!
Don’t tell! They’d banish us – you know!

Created
Wed, 21/05/2025 - 23:37
Jonung är professor i nationalekonomi och borde vilja få igång hjulen i Sverige. Men istället ägnar han sig åt märklig historieskrivning. I en rad artiklar och föredrag (DN 8/5) menar han att socialdemokratin har förstört landet … 1980-talet, när vi börjar avreglera bankerna, var vi inte liberala, menar han. Liberalismen börjar, passande nog enligt Jonung, […]
Created
Wed, 21/05/2025 - 22:00

Great to see you again. Sorry for the wait. The last procedure went a little long. How are you feeling? Nervous? Ready to get this over with? Wondering about this hat?

We should be ready to go soon; they’re just turning over the OR. I wanted to come out and say a quick hello before the procedure. Answer any last questions if you have them. And for you to see this hat.

The surgery itself should be quick, maybe forty-five minutes. You will be asleep the whole time. This hat will be on my head. When we’re finished, they’ll wheel you to our post-anesthesia care unit while I continue to wear this hat. I’ll come by and check on you again once you’re awake. I will still be wearing this hat.

Some people want to know what the recovery looks like—what kind of pain to expect and when they can return to work. Others want to know more about this hat—why I’m wearing it and if I can take it off. Most patients are back on their feet in a week. The pain should be minimal, but I’ll order you some meds, just in case. The hat is a longer story, I can get into it if you really want, but know that it will not be coming off.