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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!