AFP Washington desk chief. Formerly White House. Formerly formerly: Moscow, Chechnya, NYC, Rio de Janeiro, US #localnews. You say Thor, I say thaw.
Washington, DC
Joined November 2010
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Sebastian Smith retweeted
This is the first time in the history of the U.S.-Israel relations that a U.S. president explicitly and publicly endorses a candidate in the Israeli elections
🇺🇸🇮🇱Trump endorses Netanyahu 9 days before Israel election. My report on @axios
axios.com/2026/10/18/trump-e…
Sebastian Smith retweeted
in the united states, opposition to ai isn’t fear of technology. americans haven’t suddenly become a nation of luddites.
it’s a well founded belief that those with power are not going to use ai in ways that benefit the average american.
this is not a comms problem.
it’s a trust problem.
Sebastian Smith retweeted
Meta has suddenly suspended the No Kings Instagram account in the middle of the No Kings' national day of action.
This shocking censorship comes just weeks before the midterm election.
Sebastian Smith retweeted
“I like people that like me. I just like it, I can't help. It's a character flaw. I mean, I've had a couple of people-really horrible human beings, horrible, horrible, terrible people-but I heard through the grapevine they really liked me a lot, so I like them too,” Trump said.
Sebastian Smith retweeted
Are we sleepwalking into World War III? ft.trib.al/uniZyFL
Sebastian Smith retweeted
How does democracy function when one person can donate $150 million for 1 Senate race? In a state where one of his companies has major facilities?
Sebastian Smith retweeted
The Pentagon’s suspected actions endangered the lives of US personnel, the Senators say.
“We are particularly alarmed by incidents in which U.S. diplomatic, military, and security personnel were unable to reach designated bunkers during Russian air raids, amid reported disruptions to intelligence-sharing and early-warning capabilities.”
🚨 JUST IN: @SenatorShaheen and a group of bipartisan senators sent a letter to @DoW_IG calling for an investigation into the disruption of @SpaceX Starlink and Starshield systems in Ukraine.
Read the full letter ⬇️
foreign.senate.gov/press/dem…
Sebastian Smith retweeted
‘The block [on attacking refineries] is out. We’re done,’ the Ukrainian president said in an interview with the FT in which he expressed anger at the ‘dangerous’ withdrawal of US intelligence sharing and weakening of Starlink satellite internet service ft.trib.al/eWpSVAA
ALT Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Text on image reads: (FT Interview) Ukraine to resume strikes on Russian refineries, Zelenskyy says (Credit: Charlie Bibby/FT)
Sebastian Smith retweeted
In a defiant interview with the FT, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Donald Trump had an instinctive affinity for autocrats and the super-wealthy. The Ukrainian president explained his views on the relationship between the US and Russian heads of state ft.trib.al/u7fXLMI
Sebastian Smith retweeted
Billions of dollars’ worth of contracts predicting oil would fall and the S&P 500 would rise were placed about 15 minutes before Trump announced a U-turn on Iran in a post on Truth Social. CFTC staff began to investigate-- then were told to lay off. bloomberg.com/news/features/…
Sebastian Smith retweeted
Two hours after Donald Trump announced Russia and Ukraine had agreed to a mutual energy ceasefire, Russia launched a cruise missile attack on Kharkiv’s CHP-5 thermal power plant.
Sebastian Smith retweeted
🇺🇸 US civil rights and pro-democracy groups have begun sending out trained volunteers to counter the possible deployment of armed federal agents to polling locations ahead of next month's midterm elections.
➡️ u.afp.com/SCwy
Sebastian Smith retweeted
WASHINGTON (AP) - Pentagon says the firing squad execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan will be livestreamed in December.
Sebastian Smith retweeted
In 2019, Trump was forced to cancel plans to hold the G7 at his own golf club amid GOP objections to self dealing. In 2026, he will hold the G20 at his own golf club and the critics have gone silent. How Trump has moved the ethical line in his second term. nytimes.com/2026/10/04/us/po…
Sebastian Smith retweeted
A CNN investigation has found that while Jared Kushner acted as a key Middle East peace negotiator, his private equity firm held the largest stake in an Israeli company backing businesses tied to Israel's military campaign in Gaza, including its largest arms manufacturer. cnn.it/4y0xe5x
Sebastian Smith retweeted
Jack Smith: "Our investigation developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt that President Trump engaged in serious crimes against our nation ... rather than accept his defeat in the 2020 presidential election, President Trump engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the results and prevent the lawful transfer of power"
Sebastian Smith retweeted
Xi witnessed not merely a president descending into cartoonishness, but the growing signs of a nation that has lost its way, writes columnist @hofrench. foreignpolicy.com/2026/09/28…
Sebastian Smith retweeted
BREAKING WaPo:
The White House has blocked CNN from traveling with Trump on Air Force One for a Saturday trip to Knoxville, according to two people familiar with the decision, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to share sensitive details. washingtonpost.com/business/…
Sebastian Smith retweeted
I had goosebumps the first time I walked into the Hall of Flags at Main State. It was an inspiration for this newly minted FSO. Reaffirmed my commitment for all the subsequent years. Now those flags are gone. Just U.S. flags, we're not America First, we are America alone. Tragic.
A hall once lined with the flags of countries world-wide, representing US diplomatic reach and respect, is now lined only with US flags. What a message. We are soon to be alone in this world.
Read more from Charles Ray, member of The Steady State, here: zurl.co/9WVYD
Sebastian Smith retweeted
A hall once lined with the flags of countries world-wide, representing US diplomatic reach and respect, is now lined only with US flags. What a message. We are soon to be alone in this world.
Read more from Charles Ray, member of The Steady State, here: zurl.co/9WVYD