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Trump vs. the Climate Movement, US Arms to Israel, Greece’s Hard Borders, and More
The latest at Inkstick Media.
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Hello, everyone.
In the 1980s, a neo-Nazi group known as the Order unleashed a brief but intense wave of terror in the United States. Now, a new film starring Jude Law — also titled The Order — depicts that group’s violent rise, but as Joseph Stabile argues in a new review, it ultimately fails to offer a meaningful analysis of the white nationalist outfit’s long-term impact.
After two decades of ruling Syria with a suffocating grip, Bashar al-Assad’s regime has collapsed, and the longtime strongman has fled the country. As opposition groups step up to build a new Syria, much of the country remains in ruins. Wesam Sabaaneh breaks down what the transition could mean for Palestinian armed groups in Syria — especially at a time when Israel is escalating attacks across the map.
Here in Greece, I recently traveled to Chios, one of a handful of islands where refugees and migrants wait in cramped and often decrepit camps while authorities process their asylum applications. It was my fourth visit to the island since 2016. As I report in a new long read, hard borders and violent deterrence are now making the journey even more dangerous for the displaced people risking it all to reach Europe.
And by way of update: Inkstick will be on hiatus from now until Jan. 5. We’re wishing you all a joyful and safe holiday season, and if you are feeling the spirit of giving, please consider supporting our work as we head into 2025. (While you’re at it, give us a follow at Bluesky and help us get our reporting and analysis out to a broader audience.)
That’s not all we’ve got at Inkstick. And if you’re not already, please follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Threads, Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, and YouTube.
“What Will Trump’s Return Mean for the Climate Movement?” by Tyler Hicks (Dec. 16)
Facing inaction at the federal level, cities, counties, and their residents will likely need even more help to survive life on a warming planet. As Donald Trump enters his second term, climate action — at least for those on the ground — will be all about stopping the bleeding wherever they can.
“The Warhorse Sessions: One Step from Nuclear War, and I Didn’t Even Know It” by Things That Go Boom (Dec. 16)
One night in 1968, Ed Meagher was finishing his last shift at Clark Airways, which included authenticating and repeating messages for the nuclear-armed B-52 fleet in Southeast Asia. Then his phone lines started dinging, with signal after signal — and he couldn’t figure out why none were a match.
“Assad’s Departure Raises Questions for Palestinian Armed Groups in Syria” by Wesam Sabaaneh (Dec. 17)
Syria’s longtime ruler, Bashar al-Assad, is now gone, and rebel groups have taken control of the country. Palestinian armed groups have always had a complicated relationship with Syrian rulers. Will a post-Assad Syria change that?
“What Will the Green Transition Mean for a Divided World?” by Adults in a Room (Dec. 17)
As climate change accelerates, its impacts are becoming increasingly widespread, including in the realm of global politics. Meanwhile, green technology has emerged as a critical component of the energy transition but also an issue in US-China competition — a fact that could slow down urgent efforts to combat climate change, especially in the Global South.
“The Fight to Stop US Arms to Israel is Gaining Momentum” by Odeliya Matter (Dec. 18)
US senators recently voted on three Joint Resolutions of Disapproval Bernie Sanders had introduced to prevent the sale of specific offensive weapons used in well-documented Gaza human rights violations. Congressional support for arming Israel was once unshakeable. That's changing.
“The Order and the Long Arc of White Supremacist Extremism” by Joseph Stabile (Dec. 18)
The recently released film The Order tells the story of an infamous neo-Nazi group’s rise in the 1980s. While the film’s intense pacing and standout performances are memorable, it ultimately undersells the white nationalist terror group’s enduring legacy.
“Assad’s Gone, but it’s Dangerous to Return Syrian Refugees” by Alexander Langlois (Dec. 19)
Over the years, as Syria’s crisis appeared to freeze with no end in sight, many countries began engaging the former Assad regime. The goal was to return Syrian refugees. Yet even with the regime toppled, ongoing fighting and displacement remain a reality in the country.
“After Greece’s Refugee Crisis: The Rise of Hard Borders” by Patrick Strickland (Dec. 19)
When hundreds of thousands of refugees and migrants made the dangerous journey across the Aegean Sea in 2015, the crisis made international headlines. Greece has since said the refugee crisis has ended, but on the island of Chios, refugees and advocates say it only disappeared from public attention.
“Deep Dive: 100 Years of Anti-Communism” by Emily Tamkin (Dec. 20)
In a new article in the Journal of Contemporary Central and Eastern Europe, Adrian Grama asks what role anti-communism played in distributional struggles between capital and labor in Romania in the 20th century.
“The War Horse Sessions: The Reason Why Soldiers’ Christmas Care Packages Wind Up in the Trash” by Things That Go Boom (Dec. 23)
When former US Navy Intelligence Officer Andrew McCormick spent the holiday season in Kandahar in 2013, attempts at holiday cheer were everywhere. But few were more out-of-touch than the generic care packages sent from civilians who knew nothing about him — or the war he was fighting.
From the desk of Patrick Strickland, managing editor of Inkstick Media
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