My Birthday Week: Writing About Murders, Talking About Guns and Iran

My Birthday Week: Writing About Murders, Talking About Guns and Iran Wrote this with Anna Nemtsova: HOMICIDAL The CAR Murders: A Critical Cold Case in the New Cold War Evidence mounts that shows three Russian journalists investigating the mysterious Wagner mercenaries in Africa were set up by some of the same people who attacked U.S. elections. ANNA NEMTSOVA,  CHRISTOPHER DICKEY Plus - My appearance Sunday morning on Joy Reid's MSNBC show talking with her and Lawrence Wilkerson about the way the world views the epidemic of mass shootings in the United States. I noted that Europeans have been appalled at the peculiar American culture of gun violence since slavery times, and in the present day are dumbfounded by the delusional idea that putting more guns on the streets makes anyone safer. Here's a link: https://www.msnbc.com/am-joy/watch/rampant-shootings-make-countries-issue-u-s-tourism-warnings-67974725700 On Saturday, I was on MSNBC speaking with Jo Ling Kent about Iran and the context for any negotiations between Trump and the mullahs going forward. This is a Dropbox link, which I hope will work: https://www.dropbox.com/s/nvlyzv0p04wn9of/Christopher%20Dickey%20831.mp4?dl=0 If not, you can find it on my Facebook page. Among the stories I edited were these very informative ones about the situation in Hong Kong:    COUNTERREVOLUTION Inside Beijing's Toolbox to Crush Hong Kong The Chinese Communist Party is betting it won't have to send tanks to end the revolt. It's got the cops, surveillance, and even a replacement "international city" in the works. BRENDON HONG   FIRE AND WATER Hong Kong Protests Rage, Defying Beijing Crackdown Beijing's playbook might work within mainland China, but in Hong Kong every move by the government to suppress the uprising has backfired. BRENDON HONG   Copyright © 2019 Christopher Dickey, All rights reserved. You are receiving this because you were on my personal mailing list, and this is in fact a personal account. But please do feel free to "unsubscribe." Our mailing address is: Christopher Dickey 555 W 18 Street The Daily Beast New York, New York 10011 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

My Recent Articles, Columns, and Appearances

I began the week in Paris writing about Berthe Morisot, and ended it in New York talking and writing about Trump and the G7.

My Recent Articles and TV Appearances: From Impressionists to Trump and the G7 It's been a busy few days, and I walked by Trump Tower several times on my way from 30 Rock to my pied-à-terre. At one point a stopped for a selfie there with the heavily armed NYPD. Ten years ago, when I wrote Securing the City, I never imagined so many resources would have to be deployed to protect a character like Donald Trump. *** Whenever possible I like to break away from the news cycle to explore some corner of history—especially the history of France in the middle of the 19th century. TRAILBLAZER Searching in Paris for the Woman Who Launched Impressionism Captivated by Morisot after an exhibition at the Orsay, I set about trying to find traces of her that remain in Paris today. CHRISTOPHER DICKEY But most of the last few days was taken up by the G7, with several appearances on MSNBC. This was one of the first: https://www.facebook.com/christopher.dickey/videos/10157585457571810/ Then there was the unexpected visit to Biarritz, site of the summit, by Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif: SURPRISE! Donald Trump Upstaged at G7 By Foreign Minister of Iran The previously unannounced visit of Javad Zarif may help calm the escalating dangers of war between the U.S. and Iran, but not for long. CHRISTOPHER DICKEY I had to explain several times why Russia never belonged in the G8. Here with Chris Matthews and Bret Stephens on "Hardball":  https://t.co/93mPPP0yja Wrapping up on "The 11th Hour," I suggested Trump knows the G7 club would blackball him if it could: https://www.msnbc.com/11th-hour/watch/dickey-trump-treated-g7-like-a-club-he-knows-he-should-be-blackballed-from-67514949629 And published this column, which covers some of the same ground: BLACKBALL With Trump as a Member, What's the Point of the G7 Club? Members of the Group of Seven are supposed to be democracies committed to human rights. Trump and his dictator envy make a mockery of that. CHRISTOPHER DICKEY Copyright © 2019 Christopher Dickey, All rights reserved. You are receiving this because you were on my personal mailing list, and this is in fact a personal account. But please do feel free to "unsubscribe." Our mailing address is: Christopher Dickey 555 W 18 Street The Daily Beast New York, New York 10011 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Commentary on MSNBC: Trump Should Be Blackballed From the G7 Club—And Knows It.

My MSNBC Commentary on Rashida Tlaib and Israel, and more

There were significant back stories to the flap over Tlaib and Omar.

My MSNBC Take on Bibi, Rashida, Ilhan, The Donald, and background Good morning, I now appear almost every Saturday morning on MSNBC, usually around 6:45 EDT (set your Tivo, Donald Trump). When I am in the States and able to go to 30 Rock, I also appear frequently on David Gura's Sunday show, which runs from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. And of course there's breaking news commentary. I expect there will be a fair amount to talk about with the G7 coming up in Biarritz at the end of the month. This was my take on the Trump/Bibi/Rashida Tlaib fiasco: https://christopherdickey.blogspot.com/2019/08/my-msnbc-take-on-winners-and-losers-in.html The Daily Beast ran several excellent, relevant pieces out of Jerusalem and Washington:   BURNING QUESTIONS Trump and Congress Endanger Israel, Not Omar and Tlaib PM Netanyahu may bar two members of the House critical of Israel. But a disaster on the horizon was created by Trump and members of Congress who call themselves Israel's friends. NERI ZILBER   BETWEEN THE LINES Why Did Netanyahu Flip-Flop on Tlaib and Omar? NOGA TARNOPOLSKY Published 08.15.19  Israel has never before denied entry to Members of Congress. Why did Netanyahu mention a racial supremacist political ally when explaining his decision on Tlaib and Omar? BACKUP SQUAD Democrats Unite After Bibi Blocks Squad Members Democrats on the Hill and the campaign trail blasted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Trump, while Republicans made themselves scarce. HANNA TRUDO, SAM BRODEY   BACKFIRE Israel's Snub of Omar and Tlaib Is a Gift for BDS Movement Supporters and critics of Israel alike are concerned that raising the profile of BDS will add more fuel to the controversy's fire. SAM BRODEY If we actually know each other and you want to receive email updates on columns and coverage, feel free to sign up here.  Copyright © 2019 Christopher Dickey, All rights reserved. You are receiving this because you were on my personal mailing list, and this is in fact a personal account. But please do feel free to "unsubscribe." Our mailing address is: Christopher Dickey 555 W 18 Street The Daily Beast New York, New York 10011 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

My MSNBC Take on Winners and Losers in the Bibi, Rashida, Ilhan, and The Donald Flap

My appearance on MSNBC Saturday morning talking about winners and losers in the Rashida Tlaib / Trump / Netanyahu flap:

In These Perilous Times of Mass Protest, Can Democracy Triumph? That Goes for America, Too.

NOTE: I had to switch from Gmail to MailChimp because Google blocked the list

A moment of tranquility in Saint-Jean Cap Ferrat LOOKING BACK AT THE WEEK: Around the world we have entered a new era of mass protests that represent a huge test for nonviolent movements. In many places they have appeared successful, but in Russia and Hong Kong, I think we can expect to see increasingly violent responses by the threatened regimes. My latest column asked a question that's been on many minds as we've watched huge and incredibly courageous demonstrations from Hong Kong to Khartoum, Algiers to San Juan, Puerto Rico. Why have we seen so few mass protests against the Trump administration, which is working relentlessly to weaken American democracy? And why did those that took place — some of the biggest in history — prove so ineffectual? THE PHYSICS OF DISSENT OPINION To Take Down Trump, Take to the Streets CHRISTOPHER DICKEY Published 08.11.19  The formula p=mv might just be the E=mc2 of protest. A new study shows it's not how many turn out for a demonstration that counts, it's also how often. I had been inspired by this article written by Brendon Hong in Hong Kong ... ENTER THE DRAGON Hong Kong Protesters, Inspired by Bruce Lee, Stun Beijing BRENDON HONG Published 08.06.19  Groups of "front line" protesters have adopted tactics and strategies of their own to express their dissent in ways that resemble guerrilla warfare rather than planned rallies. ... and this research by Erica Chenoweth and Margherita Belgioioso on "The Physics of Dissent": https://socialsciences.nature.com/users/269200-erica-chenoweth/posts/51786-the-physics-of-dissent?utm_medium=socialmedia&utm_source=hksfacebook&fbclid=IwAR0YOMj4jnskmxAotOJVfDWi5gjoQtjfTp2UknD4Iq2uT8XIGAxNA4myRCc But perilous times lie ahead, as suggested by this update from Brendon Hong: RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE Hong Kong Protesters Capture Infiltrators in Airport Chaos BRENDON HONG And this article by Amy Knight: SILOVIKI Street Protests Might Make Putin More Dangerous to U.S. AMY KNIGHT By coincidence, the day my column appeared organizers in the U.S. announced a huge #WeThePeopleMarch being planned for September 21 in D.C. But even if that is the biggest demonstration in Washington's history, it needs to be followed by more concerted and continuous action if protestors really want to try to bring Trump down, and that is a high-risk proposition. https://wethepeoplemarch.org In the meantime, I am happy to say that David Crosby, who is one of the people on this list, took a look at the related matter of Russian influence on Trump and America and explained it in terms anyone can understand: OPINION David Crosby: Trump Is 'Under the Control of Russia' DAVID CROSBY Published 08.10.19  The iconic singer-songwriter behind the Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash writes about President Trump's curious relationship with Russia—and why he must be defeated in 2020.

This week... White Supremacists, and more

Dear Friends (you few, you happy few),

I was gratified to get so many warm responses to the revived e-mail list. I think this will be a much better way to keep in touch. For those close friends who are not receiving the mails, there is now a "landing page" — here — where you can sign up.

At the suggestion of Rosental Alves (my friend from Central America days, now at UT Austin), I am going to try to pull together a more or less weekly email including whatever it is I am writing, and perhaps a story or two by my colleagues at The Daily Beast, with flashbacks when they seem appropriate. 

And even thought this list is an antidote to social media, do feel free to share these stories all over the place!

So, here goes:

The shootings in El Paso and Dayton over the weekend were powerful reminders of the threat posed by white nationalist terrorism, a subject we have written about extensively at The Beast, and several of our past articles may be of particular interest:

There's this investigative piece of mine from May 2017:

Inside the Head of Dylann Roof, Jihadist for White Hate

Never-before-reported documents about Roof's psychological exams give us a look deep inside the 'logic' of this murderous white supremacist—and terrorists everywhere.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/inside-the-head-of-dylann-roof-a-terrorist-paradigm

This column of mine from March 2019 (after Christchurch):

It's Time to Attack White Nationalism for the Terror Group It Is

Nobody can claim, as George W. Bush did, that 'we're going to fight them over there so we don't have to fight them here,' because they're already 'here' with a vengeance.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/new-zealand-shooting-its-time-to-attack-white-nationalism-for-the-terror-group-it-is

And Kelly Weill's terrific, granular reporting from April this year:

America Under Attack by White Supremacists Acting Like ISIS

A widespread digital network is calling for people to carry out more terrorist attacks after Poway and Christchurch.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/poway-synagogue-shooting-america-under-attack-by-white-supremacists-acting-like-isis

And from this weekend:

From El Paso to Christchurch, a Racist Lie Is Fueling Terrorist Attacks

By leaving manifestos, white supremacists are trying to add to a long and growing library of terror, and get others to follow their examples.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/el-paso-shooting-racist-lie-great-replacement-fuels-terrorist-attacks?ref=author

Also, some background to breaking news elsewhere in the world:

On the the Kashmir Crisis read Matthew Clayfield's epic from early this year:

When They Want War, India and Pakistan Always Have Kashmir

For a few days in February two nuclear powers stood at the brink of war.  This will happen again and if, or when, there is a South Asian Armageddon you'll find the reasons here.

On the Hong Kong Crisis read the ongoing coverage by Brendon Hong and Gordon G. Chang: https://www.thedailybeast.com/keyword/hong-kong

And for the multiple Korean crises, check out the coverage by Donald Kirk: 

https://www.thedailybeast.com/author/donald-kirk

All the best, Chris

PS - You should be among the first to know. I will be publishing my next book with Random House, due out in 2021. But more about that later.

PPS - In case you missed it, this historical essay about John Steinbeck, Paris, and the CIA has gotten quite a bit of attention: https://www.thedailybeast.com/john-steinbeck-did-nobel-prize-winning-novelist-spy-for-the-cia-in-paris

And finally, my photo of the week: a restaurant revived by the Costes brothers that is now one of my favorite bistros:

Christopher Dickey

World News Editor - The Daily Beast

Contributor - NBC/MSNBC News

Twitter and Instagram @csdickey

Re-activating this list with some of my latest articles ...

Apologies to anyone who has written me on this address lately. I had deactivated this account because I thought social media were enough and I used another address for most of my business, but I realize now I prefer the interaction on this very limited mailing list. 

To get things going again, here are a collections of some of my recent articles:

My Latest Cloak & Dagger essays, All In One Place

U.S. v Iran, Then and Now

All the best, Chris

Christopher Dickey

World News Editor - The Daily Beast

Contributor - NBC/MSNBC News

Twitter and Instagram @csdickey

My Latest Cloak & Dagger essays, All In One Place

My latest Cloak and Dagger essays, all in one place:

DUBIOUS BATTLE

Did Novelist John Steinbeck Spy for the CIA in Paris?

During the same summer that he wrote “The Amiable Fleas,” now published in English for the first time, the American author also appears to have been gathering intel for the Agency.

Steinbeck's residence in 1954

Previously:

CLOAK AND DAGGER

The Spy Who Started the Cold War

Igor Gouzenko was a lowly Soviet cipher clerk when he turned the world order upside down in 1945. Nobody could have predicted the espionage hysteria his defection would unleash.

CHRISTOPHER DICKEY

CLOAK & DAGGER

The Great Russia Witch Hunt (of 1949)

Was a top State Department aide truly a Soviet spy? Or did Richard Nixon and the right find a convenient victim?

CHRISTOPHER DICKEY

ENDSPELL

The Codebreakers Who Exposed Soviet Spies–and Fed Paranoia

Schoolteachers, archeologists, linguists and mathematicians worked on the Venona project breaking unbreakable Soviet code from WWII. They were heroes. But some had deep regrets.

CHRISTOPHER DICKEY

BEHIND ENEMY LINES

The Allied Spies Who Paved the Way for D-Day

Secret agents—women and men—died making it possible for the Allies to storm through France. It's time to remember them.

CHRISTOPHER DICKEY

‘WORSE THAN MURDER’

Could Secret Cables Have Saved Ethel Rosenberg?

Even as Ethel Rosenberg was strapped into the electric chair for spying for Moscow in 1953, decrypted cables might have spared her. But they were released only decades later.

CHRISTOPHER DICKEY

УМНИЦА

The ‘Red Spy Queen’ Who Shocked America—and the Soviets

Elizabeth Bentley died in 1963 a “frumpy New Englander.” But in the 1940s she had managed to manipulate the most feared secret police agency in the world—and intimidate the FBI.

CHRISTOPHER DICKEY