Jonah Blank (join me at @jonahblank.bsky.social)

Author of "Arrow of the Blue-Skinned God" and "Mullahs on the Mainframe." Any tweets that aren't about Asia or Anthropology are just me sounding off.

[Jonah Blank (join me at @jonahblank.bsky.social) @JonahBlank]

While my website is under repair, some links to publications:
♦️Books:
-Arrow of the Blue-Skinned God: Retracing the Ramayana Through India.
https://t.co/bABo0yXuAs
-Mullahs on the Mainframe: Islam and Modernity Among the Daudi Bohras.
https://t.co/my8jG1eJym

[see🧵for articles]

[The Indian Express @IndianExpress]

#ExpressOpinion | @JonahBlank writes

Brutality isn't coincidental to Trump's programme, it’s central to it. Trump hopes to terrify all other Renee Goods — that is, all the rest of us — into submission
https://t.co/BZxWBijQPi

[Jonah Blank (join me at @jonahblank.bsky.social) @JonahBlank]

He's certainly earned the Nobel Peeve Prize.

As I explain in my latest for the @IndianExpress:
https://t.co/x7SlZMeTAB

[Aaron Rupar @atrupar]

Trump: "The person who actually got the Nobel Prize called today, called me, and said 'I'm accepting this in honor of you, because you really deserved it.' A really nice thing to do. I didn't say 'Then give it to me, though.'"

[Jonah Blank (join me at @jonahblank.bsky.social) @JonahBlank]

Tomorrow, the Nobel committee will announce its Peace Prize.

If there is any justice whatsoever left in the world, it will not be given to Donald Trump. Not tomorrow, not next year, not ever.

My latest, in @IndianExpress:
https://t.co/x7SlZMeTAB

[Jonah Blank (join me at @jonahblank.bsky.social) @JonahBlank]

@DrAyeshaRay Thank you!

[Jonah Blank (join me at @jonahblank.bsky.social) @JonahBlank]

Thank you, @ETNOWlive, for having me on to discuss why Trump should definitely NOT be gifted the #NobelPeacePrize:

[ET NOW @ETNOWlive]

India Tonight | Why does President Trump want the Nobel Peace Prize so badly?

"He has done nothing to deserve it..." Jonah Blank, American journalist, explains his take amid Trump's claims of ending seven wars, the Obama factor and ego

Full segment https://t.co/kt4Qkm2OHB

@SumitaKareer @JonahBlank

[Jonah Blank (join me at @jonahblank.bsky.social) @JonahBlank]

Tomorrow, the Nobel committee will announce its Peace Prize.

If there is any justice whatsoever left in the world, it will not be given to Donald Trump. Not tomorrow, not next year, not ever.

My latest, in @IndianExpress:
https://t.co/x7SlZMeTAB

[Jonah Blank (join me at @jonahblank.bsky.social) @JonahBlank]

Maybe the Nobel Peeve Prize...

My latest for the @IndianExpress:
https://t.co/x7SlZMeTAB

[Jonah Blank (join me at @jonahblank.bsky.social) @JonahBlank]

Thank to @pescami and the crew at @PescaGist for having me on to discuss the #GenZ revolt in #Nepal-- and Next Gen protests throughout #SouthAsia, #SoutheastAsia & the wider world.

Here's the link for Spotify:
https://t.co/nfQbYQouXL

And at YouTube:
https://t.co/3i9BNm0IHA

[The Gist @PescaGist]

The Prime Minister of Nepal is out. How did we get here? @JonahBlank explains the unique power of social media in Nepal.

[Jonah Blank (join me at @jonahblank.bsky.social) @JonahBlank]

Thanks to @pescami and the crew at @thegist for having me on to discuss the #GenZ revolt in #Nepal-- and Next Gen protests throughout #SouthAsia, #SoutheastAsia & the wider world.

Here's the link for Spotify:
https://t.co/nfQbYQouXL

And at YouTube:
https://t.co/3i9BNm0IHA

[Jonah Blank (join me at @jonahblank.bsky.social) @JonahBlank]

At the UN General Assembly in less than two weeks, six of the last hold-outs will recognize statehood for #Palestine.

Soon, the only two nations denying this basic human right for #Palestinians will be Israel & the US.

My latest in the @IndianExpress:
https://t.co/kebcRcMwlC

[ET NOW @ETNOWlive]

India Tonight | Tariff Tan'Trump': "India is doing the right thing by standing up to Trump," says Jonah Blank, American author and journalist

Full segment - https://t.co/vqxj1nKUSY

@SumitaKareer @NivedhanaPrabhu @JonahBlank #TrumpTariffs

[Jonah Blank (join me at @jonahblank.bsky.social) @JonahBlank]

The good news from the #AlaskaSummit is that it didn't result in a complete capitulation of Ukraine's interests. But Trump had preemptively surrendered to Putin’s key demands long before reaching Anchorage.

My latest in the @IndianExpress:
https://t.co/mGeedrPIGt

[Jonah Blank (join me at @jonahblank.bsky.social) @JonahBlank]

In trying to understand why Trump smacked them with huge #tariffs, citizens of #India should remember two pieces of advice given to the lovelorn.
♦️It’s not you, it’s him.
♦️He’s not capable of a relationship with ANYONE.

My latest in The @IndianExpress:
https://t.co/JdP6Nllm9h

[ET NOW @ETNOWlive]

India Tonight | "Donald Trump’s shamelessness is his superpower, credibility isn’t in his toolkit — and trade talks have nothing to do with Russian oil!"

Tune in for this power-packed chat with Jonah Blank: https://t.co/0lCwDKWIlI

@SumitaKareer @jonahblank

[NDTV @ndtv]

Trump-Putin Alaska Summit Countdown Begins: Peace Talks or Power Play?

On panel with @GaurieD: Fred Weir, @ScottLucas_EA and @JonahBlank

[Jonah Blank (join me at @jonahblank.bsky.social) @JonahBlank]

Trump slapped #India with punitive #tariffs of 50%-- the highest in Asia, perhaps in the world.

It's not due to purchases of Russian oil.

It's just a fit of pique, due to India's unwillingness to accept humiliation.

♦️My latest in the @IndianExpress:
https://t.co/JdP6NllTYP

[The Indian Express @IndianExpress]

#ExpressOpinion | “ The best long-term option is a return to the JCPOA: A status quo that contained Iran’s nuclear programme, without forcing Tehran into precisely the sort of choice it faces today. After seeing what happens when one doesn’t possess a nuclear deterrent, why would any sane Iranian leader not race full-out for a bomb?”
@JonahBlank on how Trump and Netanyahu’s decisions will make Iran’s nuclearisation less immediate, but eventually more certain

https://t.co/6vFEf0XbZN

[Jonah Blank (join me at @jonahblank.bsky.social) @JonahBlank]

@razibkhan @ZohranKMamdani I look forward to reading it-- I haven't seen much reporting about @ZohranKMamdani 's community, and as someone quite interested in Gujarati bania communities I'd be quite interested to learn about it.

[Jonah Blank (join me at @jonahblank.bsky.social) @JonahBlank]

The Khojas are a Gujarati bania community-- the one from which Jinnah descended.

The Daudi Bohras are a different group, also Gujarati banias. For others who wish to learn more about them, I can recommend a fine book on them (Disclosure: I wrote it):
https://t.co/CAhOb0mO3p

[Jonah Blank (join me at @jonahblank.bsky.social) @JonahBlank]

Thank you-- I can wholeheartedly recommend "Mullahs on the Mainframe." (Disclosure: I wrote it).
https://t.co/CAhOb0mO3p

The two strands of Ismaili Shi'a Islam diverged late in the Fatimid Caliphate:
💠The Bohras are Musta'lis.
💠The followers of the Aga Khan are Nizaris.