Take Off the Ray Bans Joe 😎

On Benjamin Netanyahu, Andrew Cuomo, and the toxic masculine rule we run towards during crises and fear.

LGM!!!

Yom Kippur begins tonight, easy fast this weekend.

Happy Thanksgiving Canadians!

And honoring and remembering Indigenous peoples in what is today the US as well as elsewhere.

The October 7 anniversary dominated headlines this week, along with questions of a wider war in the Middle East between Israel, Hezbollah (and, thereby, Lebanon), and Iran. The US, particularly Biden’s foreign policy, featured prominently in these reflections. None of it came off well. The Biden foreign policy in the Middle East has failed. 

In the many perspectives that draw that same conclusion, the underlying premise is Biden’s failure to stop Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from, what Janine Di Giovanni describes this week, conducting “a war….largely against civilians, a war seemingly without end.” 

It is a failure that many have attributed to Biden’s unwavering commitment to Israel. Yet, as I worked through the multitude of pieces for the newsletter this week, including a few pieces that are unrelated to the Middle East, what came into sharp focus for me was that it comes down to the fact that Biden either does not see Netanyahu clearly or cannot see the Israeli prime minister clearly because of how we exalt and perceive men in power. 

Benjamin Netanyahu has been described as ruthless, opportunistic, cunning, corrupt, and brutal. He has been at Israel’s helm for almost two decades and has never been more eager to hold on to power — not lead Israelis. In 2020, the Israeli prime minister faced charges of bribery and fraud, with a trial that started in May of that year. That trial is set to resume on December 2. Let’s see if it does. The war in Gaza and, now, possibly in southern Lebanon, give Netanyahu cover, diverting attention away from his failings. There’s a crisis, I am the man to fix it You need me. Classic strongman move. 

Andrew Kirtzman reminded me of that this week. He wrote a piece entitled, “Is New York ready to forgive Andrew Cuomo?” Cuomo, the disgraced former NY governor, who resigned in 2021 following allegations of sexual harassment is “weighing a run for mayor” of New York. 

Kirtzman writes, 

“Mr. Cuomo would be running not just to restore his honor but also his family name.…. He will surely position himself as a man who can bring control to a city facing disorder in the streets and other public spaces and an administration awash in investigations and resignations…. While the race may well become a referendum on Mr. Cuomo, part of that calculus would be what kind of leader the city needs. And that’s where I think his candidacy would have value.” 

Spare me. 

The kind of leader NYC or any place needs is one that can surely get things done. But that is not what Cuomo, much like Netanyahu and, I’ll throw in Donald Trump, would do. There is a great misperception about leadership, one perpetuated by the likes of Cuomo, Netanyahu, and Trump that have brainwashed us to believe that dominance is strength and effective leadership — and is what a people and place need in a time of crisis. In reality, that dominance leads to abuse, of one kind or another, that seeps into and infects the rest of society. You cannot dominate without subjugating. It is the opposite of leadership and a direct counter to freedom and justice. It’s precisely why we criticize Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, and the Taliban. All are combative, projecting militancy not out of strength, but weakness.

Back in 2021, Rebecca Traister wrote a piece entitled, “How is Andrew Cuomo still here?” (An enduring headline) 

She writes about Cuomo’s “dishonesty” and “top-down” rule. “Cuomo lies because that is part of how he construes his authority: that having power means getting to control the story and how it is told,” she says, noting that “his power is based on theatrics over substance, press conferences over policy.” 

She concludes: 

This is the question in front of Andrew Cuomo and New York: Will the old paths to maintaining power — dishonesty, threat, performed dominance — continue to serve the powerful? Or are we able to imagine an end to their utility? 

It is time that we see the Netanyahus and Cuomos of the world for the bullies that they are and withdraw support and stop the excuses. None of them lead to serve anyone but themselves; none are interested in peace, security, or progress.

So, take off the Ray Bans Joe. Look at the world as it is and then take action to make it the democratic idyll that you believe it can be. — Elmira

---

I’m opening up my column to others. Please pitch me your op-ed idea/perspective. Let’s get more female perspectives. Email me on endeavoringe@gmail.com or respond to this post.

---

Our friends at Semafor have recently rolled out Semafor Gulf. Want to know and understand what’s happening in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar? Three times a week, the Semafor Gulf newsroom will bring you original reporting that examines how the region's financial, business, and geopolitical decisions shape the world — from culture and investment to infrastructure, climate, and technology. Navigate the region's capital, influence, and power with Semafor Gulf —subscribe for free here.

---

Elsewhere in the World.....

On our radar...

Israel-Gaza-Hezbollah 

• Listen: Will Netanyahu continue his war in Gaza? Will Israel go to war with Hezbollah? How does Iran factor in? Interruptrr fellow Amy Hawthorne shared her insights on this podcast that looks at the current crisis in the Middle East. (The President’s Inbox) 

• Lisa Goldman traveled to Israel and the West Bank this past spring, six months after October 7 and into the Gaza war. She found trauma and fear everywhere, reflecting on what happened and where this conflict goes. “It will get worse before — if — it gets better,” she writes. (New Lines) 

• 18-year veteran war correspondent Janine Di Giovanni reflects on the war in Gaza and the failure of leadership. (Vanity Fair) 

• Watch: From Beirut, Kim Ghattas talked to Fareed Zakaria about Israel’s bombardment and explained why Hezbollah is unlikely to be defeated without a real political alternative. (CNN)

• This is interesting: Palestinians have not voted for a while. The bitter divisions within their leadership, between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority have made unified governance problematic. If there is to be a “day after” the war, who will govern the Palestinians? Maha Nassar notes that Palestinians want to choose their own leaders, but a year of war has made that impossible. (The Conversation) 

At the UN…

The UN Human Rights Council, set up in 2006, elected 18 new countries to the 47 member body for the 2025-2027 term. They include Benin, Bolivia, Colombia, Cyprus, Czechia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Gambia, Iceland, Kenya, Marshall Islands, Mexico, North Macedonia, Qatar, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, and Thailand. Saudi Arabia lost its bid for membership, much to the relief of many rights groups, writes Sondos Asem. (Middle East Eye) 

Is the UN actually doing a good job? Charli Carpenter thinks so, as she reflects on this year’s UNGA in New York a few weeks ago. (WPR)

International Day of the Girl 

October 11 is the UN International Day of the Girl. Kaimyn Paszko and Isabelle Schwartz underscore the importance of getting girls involved in politics early and unveil the DistruptHER, a political leadership module for girls and young women. (NDI)

US 

The CHIPS and Science Act has high hopes of revitalizing the semiconductor industry in the US. Diana Roy breaks down why the US is investing in chips and the potential economic impact of this act. (CFR)

Africa 

Mozambique held elections Wednesday. Mariama Diallo notes that the ruling Frelimo party, which has been in power since the country’s independence from Portugal in 1975, is poised to win. That would extend the party’s rule to over 50 years next year, with enormous challenges facing the country. (AP) 

Ethiopia’s first female president has stepped down to become the UN Special Representative to the African Union, though there are reports that she fell out with the controversial prime minister, Abiy Ahmed. Taye Atske Selassie, the country’s foreign minister, succeeded her. (Africa News)

Sudan faces a crisis from every angle — which is exacerbated by war. Though it’ll be a long fight to change things for the Sudanese, Thank Maalla says that there is one essential that needs to lead the way: the restoration of internet service to the nation. It is as vital as food or medicine, she writes. (Africa is a Country)

Asia

On Taiwan’s national day, on October 10, the country’s president, Lai Ching-te, said that China has “no right to represent” Taipei. 👀 Katrina Northrop has more. (Washington Post) 

The Pakistani government has increased its crackdown on protests in recent weeks. Patricia Gossman weighs in on the violence that supporters of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf party are facing for dissent. (HRW)

Women in Afghanistan are fighting to hold the Taliban accountable for gender apartheid. Annie Kelly dives deep on the oppression women and girls are facing under Taliban rule. (Guardian)

The Americas

Sanctions have ruled the US relationship with Venezuela for a majority of the recent past. Juanita Goebertus Estrada, Maria Puerta Riera, Francisco Rodriguez, and Alejandro Velasco think through the future of those sanctions. (The Dialogue)

Under Nayib Bukele, organized crime in El Salvador continues to threaten public safety. Tamara Taraciuk Broner looks to other Latin American countries for alternatives to Bukele’s crime policies that don’t compromise rights. (Americas Quarterly)

In Brazil, X will come back online, after Elon Musk backed down from a legal fight. Cybele Mayes-Osterman reports. (USA Today) 

Europe

Courageous and heroic are just a few of the words used to describe Gisèle Pélicot. Julie Bindel dives into the rape case in France that has made headlines over the past few weeks. As she puts it, Pélicot is a symbol of women’s resistance to male violence. 👊 (Al Jazeera)

The new French government under PM Michel Barnier survived a vote of no-confidence this week. Sophia Khatsenkova says this will likely be the first of many no-confidence votes in the coming months. (EuroNews)

Who says Europeans don’t have a sense of humor…. Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán has been known to take swipes at the European Union (EU). This week, the EU struck back, as members of the European Parliament taunted Orbán by singing  “Bella Ciao,” an Italian anti-fascist resistance song popular in WWII. “This is not Eurovision,” scolded the European Parliament president. Nope, it was better. Jenny Gross has the details. (NYT)

Middle East

Frenemies: As the Middle East braces for a wider war that could possibly draw in Iran, Iran’s foreign minister headed to Saudi Arabia, which has long been the country’s nemesis, to discuss how to “stop Israel.” Aveen Karim has more. (The National) 

In Tunisia, Kais Saied may have won the presidency this past Sunday, but critics have doubts about the legitimacy of his win and his supposed popularity. Years of dismantling democratic institutions may have made it easy to breeze through the elections with an unearned win, writes Yusra Ghannouchi. (Middle East Institute)

Science and Climate Change

Listen: In the US, Hurricane Helene has ripped through the southern states, and Hurricane Milton follows close behind. Climate change is unfortunately the monster behind this one, explain Sarah Kaplan and Keith Campbell. (Slate)

When the Arctic melts, what will that mean for the rest of Earth? Elizabeth Kolbert on the fate of Greenland. (New Yorker)

Technology

In 2013, Sheryl Sandberg published Lean In. Caitlin Dewey notes that it has aged poorly, especially since Silicon Valley, dominated by  “anti-woke” tech bros, has “never looked more macho.” (Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends) 

Did you know that AI can make podcasts? Melissa Heikkilä thinks they’re weird and amazing. (MIT Technology Review) 

---

Opportunities

Exclusive to Interruptrr readers: Our friends at Foreign Affairs have opened up a few spots for an upcoming webinar on Wednesday, October 23 at 12:30pm ET, What Are the Real Rules of International Relations? Sign up here.

Also next Wednesday, October 23, at 6pm ET, if you’re in DC join Black Women in Foreign Policy for a Master Class with Mi’Jan Celie Tho-Biaz, on winning fellowships and global residences. Register here (space is limited!)

Project Starling, which we mentioned during our UNGA edition, is hiring for a Deputy Director and a Policy Analyst.

Chobani is hiring for a Head of Impact.

The Carnegie Council on Ethics is taking applications for its Fellowship program. If you’re between 25-35, apply by October 15.

---

Editorial Team

Elmira Bayrasli - Editor-in-Chief

Editors:

• Catherine Lovizio

• Emily Smith