Julia Ioffe

Julia Ioffe

@juliaioffe.bsky.social

Author of MOTHERLAND: A Feminist History of Modern Russia, from Revolution to Autocracy. A finalist for the National Book Award. DC correspondent at Puck. All views my own.

13K followers209 following260 posts

Julia Ioffe
@juliaioffe.bsky.social

I've long thought of Elon Musk as the Henry Ford of our day, and now I keep thinking about Henry Ford and President Charles Lindbergh pointing their fingers at each other over who suspended help for Britain during the Blitz. Or ending Lend-Lease during the Nazi invasion of the USSR.

Julia Ioffe
@juliaioffe.bsky.social

What so many Ukraine supporters in DC think but won't say publicly: Zelensky mishandled Trump's demand that he stop bombing Russian refineries—and then made it worse by going after Trump publicly. My latest. puck.news/how-zelensky...

puck.news“He Played This Badly”: How Zelensky Lost TrumpTrump’s pre-midterm bargain with Moscow has garnered headlines, but Zelensky’s public defiance of the president may have more significant long-term ramifications—largely jeopardizing the American supp...
Julia Ioffe
@juliaioffe.bsky.social

"Zelensky played this badly." Some in Washington are quietly wondering why Zelensky wasn't smarter about handling Trump. Why not appease Trump and strike everything *but* Russian refineries—and then pick right back up again on Nov 4? My latest. puck.news/how-zelensky....

puck.news“He Played This Badly”: How Zelensky Lost TrumpTrump’s pre-midterm bargain with Moscow has garnered headlines, but Zelensky’s public defiance of the president may have more significant long-term ramifications—largely jeopardizing the American supp...

Julia Ioffe reposted

Stine Eckert
@stineeckert.bsky.social

A fantastic book by @juliaioffe.bsky.social to learn about the Soviet Union and Russia through incredible women revolutionaries, women soldiers, women doctors, women activists, everyday women and mothers, including about the current war against Ukraine. #mustread www.nytimes.com/2025/10/22/b...

nytimes.comThe World’s Greatest Feminist Experiment Was Not Where You’d ThinkIn “Motherland,” the journalist Julia Ioffe charts the Russian campaign to emancipate women — and the country’s failure to live up to that promise.

Julia Ioffe reposted

Julia Ioffe
@juliaioffe.bsky.social

How are Witkoff and Kushner's peace efforts going? “Peace is further away than it was a year ago,” said a source close to the Kremlin. “And the occasional trip by Witkoff and Kushner isn’t going to change that.” My latest. puck.news/what-does-th...

puck.newsSteve Witkoff’s Ninth CircleAs the war in Ukraine grows even more hellish, Witkoff has been locked in never-ending diplomatic purgatory with Putin’s apparatchiks—which is starting to drive the Russians crazy, too. “He is a very ...
Julia Ioffe
@juliaioffe.bsky.social

How are Witkoff and Kushner's peace efforts going? “Peace is further away than it was a year ago,” said a source close to the Kremlin. “And the occasional trip by Witkoff and Kushner isn’t going to change that.” My latest. puck.news/what-does-th...

puck.newsSteve Witkoff’s Ninth CircleAs the war in Ukraine grows even more hellish, Witkoff has been locked in never-ending diplomatic purgatory with Putin’s apparatchiks—which is starting to drive the Russians crazy, too. “He is a very ...

Julia Ioffe reposted

Julia Ioffe
@juliaioffe.bsky.social

How are Witkoff and Kushner's peace efforts going? “Peace is further away than it was a year ago,” said a source close to the Kremlin. “And the occasional trip by Witkoff and Kushner isn’t going to change that.” My latest. puck.news/what-does-th...

puck.newsSteve Witkoff’s Ninth CircleAs the war in Ukraine grows even more hellish, Witkoff has been locked in never-ending diplomatic purgatory with Putin’s apparatchiks—which is starting to drive the Russians crazy, too. “He is a very ...
Julia Ioffe
@juliaioffe.bsky.social

How are Witkoff and Kushner's peace efforts going? “Peace is further away than it was a year ago,” said a source close to the Kremlin. “And the occasional trip by Witkoff and Kushner isn’t going to change that.” My latest. puck.news/what-does-th...

puck.newsSteve Witkoff’s Ninth CircleAs the war in Ukraine grows even more hellish, Witkoff has been locked in never-ending diplomatic purgatory with Putin’s apparatchiks—which is starting to drive the Russians crazy, too. “He is a very ...
Julia Ioffe
@juliaioffe.bsky.social

"Kremlev is the 'wallet' of [Putin's chief bodyguard] Alexei Rubezhnoy, the closest person to Putin," @zygaro.bsky.social told me. "Rubezhnoy is the first person who sees Putin in the morning and the last person to wish him good night before bed."

Julia Ioffe@juliaioffe.bsky.social

Who is Umar Kremlev, who paid for part of Donald Trump Jr's wedding? Turns out, he's the business front of Vladimir Putin's chief body guard, one of the most powerful men in Russia. That's about as close as it gets. My latest. puck.news/who-is-umar-....

puck.newsDon Jr.’s “Dear Friend” in MoscowKremlev bankrolled Trump’s Bahamas wedding afterparty. He’s also a former Kremlin biker gang member and reputed proxy for Putin’s bodyguard.
Julia Ioffe
@juliaioffe.bsky.social

“It looks strange,” said one person close to the Kremlin. “If they don’t really know each other, it looks strange,” he said. “If they’re close friends—okay, it still looks strange, but maybe just a little less.”

Julia Ioffe
@juliaioffe.bsky.social

NEW: The State Department is not allowing in France's new ambassador over a French government tweet. The US demanded France take down the tweet, France said no. The US demanded a public apology. France said no. Now the two are trying to hammer out language on a new tweet. puck.news/frances-new-....

puck.newsA Very French Diplomatic ScandalWith the State Department blocking the succession of French ambassador Aurélien Lechevallier in retaliation for an errant tweet, veteran diplomat Laurent Bili is stuck in a bizarre farewell party he c...

Julia Ioffe reposted

Alt USAID/ USAID Forever
@altusaid.altgov.info

"Trump’s State Department . . . discovered that many of the people it eliminated were, unfortunately, pretty important all along—and desperately trying to refill their roles. “State is shopping for the expertise it threw away,” said one former officer."

Julia Ioffe@juliaioffe.bsky.social

Foggy Bottom is quietly hiring again—including for the very roles that thousands of career diplomats lost last year. My latest. puck.news/the-state-de...

puck.newsThe ReplacementsTrump’s State Department gutted its diplomatic workforce in 2025. Now it’s scrambling to refill the very roles it eliminated.
Julia Ioffe
@juliaioffe.bsky.social

As Dan Driscoll prepares to leave his job as Army Secretary, I'm told acting chief of staff Gen. Chris LaNeve has stopped reporting to him and goes right to Sec. Hegseth instead. My latest. puck.news/inside-dan-d...

puck.newsThe Dan Driscoll Farewell TourThe Pentagon’s bitterest rivalry is ending with Pete Hegseth firmly in control and the Army’s would-be disruptor heading for the exits. Dan Driscoll’s upcoming departure, said a former Pentagon offici...
Julia Ioffe
@juliaioffe.bsky.social

“When is Pete Hegseth leaving?” said a source familiar with the situation. “What makes you think he’s ever going to leave? That’s the only conclusion I can come to.” My latest. puck.news/inside-dan-d...

puck.newsThe Dan Driscoll Farewell TourThe Pentagon’s bitterest rivalry is ending with Pete Hegseth firmly in control and the Army’s would-be disruptor heading for the exits. Dan Driscoll’s upcoming departure, said a former Pentagon offici...
Julia Ioffe
@juliaioffe.bsky.social

I am so excited to show you the cover of the forthcoming Russian translation of MOTHERLAND, which is being published by Yulia Navalnaya's One Book Publishing with a cover designed by artist Anna Samoylova.

Julia Ioffe
@juliaioffe.bsky.social

I had always hoped to share this book with Russian readers, but after the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russian publishers told me that a book with "feminist" in the subtitle was a non-starter. I'm so grateful to Yulia for making this dream a reality.

Julia Ioffe reposted

Julia Ioffe
@juliaioffe.bsky.social

When Trump was first elected in 2016, the Gulf states were, as one former Trump admin official told me, "like kids in a candy store." These days, they just want him to get out of the way. My latest. puck.news/the-gulf-sta...

puck.newsThe Gulf of TrumpAs the Iran war continues with no end in sight, the emirs and princes who got into business with Trump are now experiencing some buyers’ remorse. “They thought they spoke his language,” said one longt...
Julia Ioffe
@juliaioffe.bsky.social

When Trump was first elected in 2016, the Gulf states were, as one former Trump admin official told me, "like kids in a candy store." These days, they just want him to get out of the way. My latest. puck.news/the-gulf-sta...

puck.newsThe Gulf of TrumpAs the Iran war continues with no end in sight, the emirs and princes who got into business with Trump are now experiencing some buyers’ remorse. “They thought they spoke his language,” said one longt...

Julia Ioffe reposted

Julia Ioffe
@juliaioffe.bsky.social

The right-wing Ben Franklin Fellowship is now handing out awards—and cash prizes—with the State Dept to its diplomats, including the MLK Jr prize for "meritocracy" & Dwight Eisenhower award for "creative diplomacy" in deporting the undocumented. My latest. puck.news/the-state-de...

puck.newsThe State Department’s New B.F.F.The conservative Ben Franklin Fellowship appears to have formalized its relation with the State Department, raising a series of questions around Washington.
Julia Ioffe
@juliaioffe.bsky.social

The right-wing Ben Franklin Fellowship is now handing out awards—and cash prizes—with the State Dept to its diplomats, including the MLK Jr prize for "meritocracy" & Dwight Eisenhower award for "creative diplomacy" in deporting the undocumented. My latest. puck.news/the-state-de...

puck.newsThe State Department’s New B.F.F.The conservative Ben Franklin Fellowship appears to have formalized its relation with the State Department, raising a series of questions around Washington.

Julia Ioffe reposted

Julia Ioffe
@juliaioffe.bsky.social

NEW: The Treasury Dept. will be going after leftie NGOs to make them disclose all the smaller NGOs they fiscally sponsor. “It will have an asymmetrical impact on the left, just because the right is organized differently,” a source familiar told me. My latest. puck.news/inside-trump...

puck.newsMarco Rubio’s Enemies WithinThe Trump administration is building a counterterrorism framework to target left-wing groups at home and abroad, raising concerns that it could be used against political opponents, nonprofits, activis...
Julia Ioffe
@juliaioffe.bsky.social

NEW: The Treasury Dept. will be going after leftie NGOs to make them disclose all the smaller NGOs they fiscally sponsor. “It will have an asymmetrical impact on the left, just because the right is organized differently,” a source familiar told me. My latest. puck.news/inside-trump...

puck.newsMarco Rubio’s Enemies WithinThe Trump administration is building a counterterrorism framework to target left-wing groups at home and abroad, raising concerns that it could be used against political opponents, nonprofits, activis...
Julia Ioffe
@juliaioffe.bsky.social

I talked to Laura Loomer about her trip to Ukraine. Among other things, I asked her who paid for her trip. “Obviously, I have donors and whatnot,” she said. “The government of Ukraine did not pay for me to go, if that’s what you’re asking.” My latest. puck.news/laura-loomer...

puck.newsThe Miseducation of Laura LoomerFrom a hotel in Ukraine, Loomer explains her startling embrace of Zelensky and a widening MAGA split over Russia, Israel, and the U.S.’s role in the world.

Julia Ioffe reposted

Julia Ioffe
@juliaioffe.bsky.social

"Do you really think anybody in the Kremlin ever cared about your comfort? Because all of this is material for Putin’s power. The only reason he may care about the gas lines is because there might be some sort of revolution about it." Nina Khrushcheva tells me from Moscow. puck.news/nina-khrusch...

puck.newsBehind Russian LinesIn a conversation from Moscow, Nikita Khrushchev’s granddaughter describes a society adjusting to shortages, tighter government surveillance, blocked cellphone service, and the realization that Putin’...
Julia Ioffe
@juliaioffe.bsky.social

"Do you really think anybody in the Kremlin ever cared about your comfort? Because all of this is material for Putin’s power. The only reason he may care about the gas lines is because there might be some sort of revolution about it." Nina Khrushcheva tells me from Moscow. puck.news/nina-khrusch...

puck.newsBehind Russian LinesIn a conversation from Moscow, Nikita Khrushchev’s granddaughter describes a society adjusting to shortages, tighter government surveillance, blocked cellphone service, and the realization that Putin’...

Julia Ioffe reposted

marc book
@marcbook.bsky.social

I've read dozens of books about Russia. This is one of the rare books where the historic perspective can make you repeatedly rethink a subject you thought you knew well. My favorite kind of book. At times funny, terrifying, and hopeful. #booksky #bookreview ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Julia Ioffe@juliaioffe.bsky.social

MOTHERLAND is finally out today! And she's a finalist for the National Book Award. Get your copy today! bookshop.org/p/books/moth...

Julia Ioffe
@juliaioffe.bsky.social

What is life like in wartime Moscow, especially now that Ukraine has finally brought the war home to Russians? I called my friend Nina Khrushcheva (Nikita's granddaughter) for a surreal report. My latest. puck.news/nina-khrusch...

puck.newsBehind Russian LinesIn a conversation from Moscow, Nikita Khrushchev’s granddaughter describes a society adjusting to shortages, tighter government surveillance, blocked cellphone service, and the realization that Putin’...
Julia Ioffe
@juliaioffe.bsky.social

"It’s a very Western idea that if things are going horribly, you’re going to go and express your disillusionment publicly. Russians don’t protest this way. Russians protest with a middle finger hidden in their pocket." The great Nina Khrushcheva on life in Moscow. puck.news/nina-khrusch...

puck.newsBehind Russian LinesIn a conversation from Moscow, Nikita Khrushchev’s granddaughter describes a society adjusting to shortages, tighter government surveillance, blocked cellphone service, and the realization that Putin’...

Julia Ioffe reposted

Julia Ioffe
@juliaioffe.bsky.social

NATO didn't always have an annual summit, not even during the Cold War. Now, in the age of Trump, NATO insiders are wondering if these annual summits are doing more harm than good—and if it's time to stop having them so often. My latest. puck.news/nato-summit-...

puck.newsIs It Time to Cancel the Annual NATO Summit?The alliance’s summer meeting, which became a yearly event after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, has since devolved into an annual display of Trump-induced disunity. “It’s not productive. It risks being...
Julia Ioffe
@juliaioffe.bsky.social

Once again, Trump went to NATO and humiliated NATO allies. Which is why NATO insiders are asking, why do we keep doing this to ourselves? Is it time to cancel the annual summit? puck.news/nato-summit-...

puck.newsIs It Time to Cancel the Annual NATO Summit?The alliance’s summer meeting, which became a yearly event after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, has since devolved into an annual display of Trump-induced disunity. “It’s not productive. It risks being...
Julia Ioffe
@juliaioffe.bsky.social

They found the voter fraud!

ProPublica@propublica.org

NEW: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton appears to have used an address where he did not live while voting in six elections in the past two years — despite warning voters that “it is illegal to misrepresent your residence on election records.” with @texastribune.org

propublica.orgKen Paxton Vowed to Crack Down on “Illegal Voting.” He May Have Violated Texas Election Law.The Texas attorney general appears to have used an address where he did not live while voting in six elections in the past two years — despite his warning voters that “it is illegal to misrepresent yo...
Julia Ioffe
@juliaioffe.bsky.social

The irony of Trump calling FIFA to overturn a red card for Balogun because he knows the U.S. can’t win without Balogun, who only qualifies for the U.S. team because of birthright citizenship, which Trump just tried to overturn.

Julia Ioffe
@juliaioffe.bsky.social

NATO didn't always have an annual summit, not even during the Cold War. Now, in the age of Trump, NATO insiders are wondering if these annual summits are doing more harm than good—and if it's time to stop having them so often. My latest. puck.news/nato-summit-...

puck.newsIs It Time to Cancel the Annual NATO Summit?The alliance’s summer meeting, which became a yearly event after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, has since devolved into an annual display of Trump-induced disunity. “It’s not productive. It risks being...
Julia Ioffe
@juliaioffe.bsky.social

Is it time to cancel the annual NATO summit? “Why would you torture yourself?” one former NATO ambassador wondered this week. “NATO didn’t always have an annual summit. Why are we putting ourselves through this?” My latest. puck.news/nato-summit-...

puck.newsIs It Time to Cancel the Annual NATO Summit?The alliance’s summer meeting, which became a yearly event after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, has since devolved into an annual display of Trump-induced disunity. “It’s not productive. It risks being...

Julia Ioffe reposted

Julia Ioffe
@juliaioffe.bsky.social

“He sees the writing on the wall that an increasing fraction of America hates Israel,” one Trump administration official told me. “J.D. very clearly knows that being anti-Israel is the most politically profitable thing to be right now.” My latest. puck.news/how-jd-vance...

puck.newsVance’s New Promised LandAs the Republican base sours on the Iran war and Netanyahu’s adventurism in the Middle East, the vice president has changed his rhetoric on Israel—positioning himself as the voice of a new MAGA foreig...
Julia Ioffe
@juliaioffe.bsky.social

When I asked him if he speaks to JD Vance, Trita Parsi told me he didn’t want to get into all that, but did say that “we’ve been talking to the administration since they first came into office, on a variety of different issues, including this one.” puck.news/how-jd-vance...

puck.newsVance’s New Promised LandAs the Republican base sours on the Iran war and Netanyahu’s adventurism in the Middle East, the vice president has changed his rhetoric on Israel—positioning himself as the voice of a new MAGA foreig...
Julia Ioffe
@juliaioffe.bsky.social

“He sees the writing on the wall that an increasing fraction of America hates Israel,” one Trump administration official told me. “J.D. very clearly knows that being anti-Israel is the most politically profitable thing to be right now.” My latest. puck.news/how-jd-vance...

puck.newsVance’s New Promised LandAs the Republican base sours on the Iran war and Netanyahu’s adventurism in the Middle East, the vice president has changed his rhetoric on Israel—positioning himself as the voice of a new MAGA foreig...