Matthew Yglesias@mattyglesias
The idea that Biden could have pre-announced an expected August collapse and then have a weeks-long orderly pre-collapse evacuation without accelerating the collapse does not make a lot of sense to me. https://t.co/dOlvbhWklg
Natasha Bertrand @NatashaBertrand
Multiple sources told CNN US officials overestimated the Afghan security forces' will to fight and the risk of a full psychological collapse once US troops withdrew. And that psychological element is difficult for the IC to measure in advance, said one. https://t.co/XRkeBwXvEf https://t.co/koOJTIE43w
4:02 PM · Aug 17, 2021
748 Reposts · 4.09K Likes
Matthew Yglesias@mattyglesias
People would be saying “of course they surrendered without a fight, the president all but told them to do it.”
The bet that the ANA would hold out if encouraged to do so did not pay off, but of the two options it seems like the more reasonable one by far.
4:07 PM · Aug 17, 2021
56 Reposts · 585 Likes
Matthew Yglesias@mattyglesias
I’d been thinking of doing a piece arguing that the old, less competitive media landscape wasn’t better just so uncompetitive that nobody could see its flaws.
But @Bernstein says it here way better than I could have.
harpers.org/archive/2021/0…
4:45 PM · Aug 17, 2021
18 Reposts · 190 Likes
Richard Hanania@RichardHanania
Journalist while masked suggesting new countries the US needs to threaten, helpfully suggests troops Tajikistan to pick fights with China and Iran.
Biden administration: No, it’s ok.
This is what they’re dealing with daily.
7:15 PM · Aug 17, 2021
140 Reposts · 757 Likes
Matthew Yglesias@mattyglesias
The distinguishing characteristic of the Blob is not the presence of dumb stuff, but the absence of debate.
Cable hosts on all three networks just ignoring contrary voices, straight news reporters firing-off takes rather than quoting a range of views.
Justin Logan @JustinTLogan
You hear the phrase "the Blob" often. If you want to define it, just reflect on the amount of eye-wateringly dumb stuff that has been said over the past week by people paid to analyze US foreign policy. That's the Blob.
7:34 PM · Aug 17, 2021
53 Reposts · 475 Likes
Noah Smith 🐇@Noahpinion
In keeping with my pro-appropriation stance, I demand that Purim become a cheesy national holiday in which gentile twentysomethings put on yarmulkes and get drunk in the streets of every major city and frat house, singing in fake Hebrew
8:48 PM · Aug 17, 2021
13 Reposts · 269 Likes
ah* 🌁🇨🇦🇹🇼🚀✈️ PhD Engineering@accidentalflyer
Interestingly Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, who lived and traveled in the US extensively, considered diversity an American strength and thought that if war really broke out Japan surely would lose.
Christian Vanderbrouk @UrbanAchievr
Why would you use an interracial marriage to illustrate an article about how "diversity is not our strength"?
Actually, don't answer that. https://t.co/h3QwLY6uHv
9:08 PM · Aug 17, 2021
13 Reposts · 113 Likes
Matthew Yglesias@mattyglesias
See this I don't get, if I were president I'd be in multiple World Leaders Group Texts constantly shooting the shit.
Josh Rogin @joshrogin
President Biden has spoken to ZERO other world leaders since Kabul fell to the Taliban, Jake Sullivan says.
9:41 PM · Aug 17, 2021
17 Reposts · 483 Likes
Patrick Anderson@pimlius
@mattyglesias TFW you accidentally send the hilarious Putin gif to the UN Security Council group text instead of the NATO group text
9:47 PM · Aug 17, 2021
2 Reposts · 131 Likes
Matthew Yglesias@mattyglesias
Too much Biden shilling today?
I can’t believe they haven’t appointed someone to run the FDA! That’s botched.
9:57 PM · Aug 17, 2021
8 Reposts · 267 Likes
Jordan Grimes 🚰@cafedujord
Imagine bragging about taking space away from people and giving it to pollution spewing machines while wildfires borne of climate change rage just a few hours away
openthegreathighway @openthegreathwy
It was so awesome seeing people in cars, people on bikes, walkers, runners, dogs, etc all using the Great Highway at the same time.
Truly a beautiful day! Wouldn't you agree?
@D4GordonMar @LondonBreed @conniechansf https://t.co/LPVEQg6f9f
11:26 PM · Aug 17, 2021
15 Reposts · 253 Likes
The OmniZaddy 🐵@TheOmniZaddy
Testify
12:26 AM · Aug 18, 2021
18 Reposts · 224 Likes