The CIA Reject | AJ | Substack

Geopolitical doppelgängers goes West...

Like manifest destiny, but less shitty

Oct 23, 2025 • AJ

The time I looked for Green Berets and found 10k instead

Desperation becomes fortuitous

Oct 14, 2025 • AJ

1:11:53

Episode 3: Surviving and thriving as a woman in Afghanistan

In Kabul, survival itself becomes a quiet act of defiance

Sep 25, 2025 • AJ

7 [more!] geopolitical doppelgängers

Can't stop, won't stop

Sep 19, 2025 • AJ

Syrian President al-Sharaa dazzles in Armani, makes bigly deal with Trump

Ahmed al-Sharaa sat on a solid gold bench at the end of a solid gold California king bed wearing a pair of Joe Boxers and a Rolex. He had landed in…

Jul 2, 2025 • AJ

Recent posts

Osama bin Laden is mentally in Bora Bora

As the sun rose over the eastern ridges of the White Mountains, known as Spin Ghar to Pashto-speaking locals, Osama bin Laden sipped his morning tea…

May 10, 2025 • AJ

On grief, genocide, and gratitude

Aug 10, 2025 • AJ

8 geopolitical figures of the Middle East & their doppelgangers

One for each night of Hanukkah, how festive

Dec 27, 2024 • AJ

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Podcasts

The CIA Reject Podcast

Episode 3: Surviving and thriving as a woman in Afghanistan

Rejects Gone Wild

Geopolitical doppelgängers goes West...

Like manifest destiny, but less shitty

Oct 23, 2025 • AJ

7 [more!] geopolitical doppelgängers

Can't stop, won't stop

Sep 19, 2025 • AJ

The Ayatollah just wants to paint DnD miniatures

Buckle up, this one's long, but if you make it to the end I'll write you a haiku

Aug 24, 2025 • AJ

World's 3 Jewish heads of state kvetch via Zoom, 'secret cabal' scandal hits media

“привет?

Jul 14, 2025 • AJ

Syrian President al-Sharaa dazzles in Armani, makes bigly deal with Trump

Ahmed al-Sharaa sat on a solid gold bench at the end of a solid gold California king bed wearing a pair of Joe Boxers and a Rolex. He had landed in…

Jul 2, 2025 • AJ

Jew musings

Ceasefire & silence

Oct 11, 2025 • AJ

About that Sieg Heil

“He did not just do that.”

Jan 21, 2025 • AJ

The fragility of fear

Reflecting on the micro-moments that shattered my prejudices and yes, Daddy Yankee makes an appearance

Jan 14, 2025 • AJ

On hotdogs, ketchup, and anti-Semitism

The unholy trinity for a Jewish Chicagoan

Dec 19, 2024 • AJ

Using dialectical behavior therapy to navigate conflict in the Middle East

Let's get down with some DBT

Aug 21, 2024 • AJ

The TEA: 11 FAQs about Jews (I did a rhyme!)

A series for those who are Too Embarrassed [to] Ask

Aug 16, 2024 • AJ

An ode to October 6, 2023

This blog post is more personal than others, as I want to share my feelings, experiences, and concerns as an American Jew since October 7.

May 24, 2024 • AJ

What to do with the bad apples

You know the bad apples: the ones creating 'liberated zones' on college campuses, announcing that ‘Zionists have entered the camp,’ or calling for…

Apr 24, 2024 • AJ

Afghanistan 101

The time I looked for Green Berets and found 10k instead

Desperation becomes fortuitous

Oct 14, 2025 • AJ

Episode 3: Surviving and thriving as a woman in Afghanistan

In Kabul, survival itself becomes a quiet act of defiance

Sep 25, 2025 • AJ

1:11:53

Episode 2: A homeland left behind

Listen now | An Afghan's perspective on 9/11, the War in Afghanistan, and fleeing Kabul in 2021

Mar 28, 2025 • AJ

32:45

Remembering the first victim of 9/11

And the importance of listening to those who know their country best

Sep 9, 2024 • AJ

Taliban close calls and black market violins

A day in the life of a woman in Kabul

Sep 3, 2024 • AJ

I'm American, OK?

When our levees break

Don't it make you feel bad

Sep 14, 2025 • AJ

I'm American, OK? (Part 3)

Jun 15, 2025 • AJ

I'm American, OK? (Part 2)

And I'm not necessarily ashamed, but definitely angry as shit.

Feb 7, 2025 • AJ

I'm American, OK? (Part 1)

And I'm not ashamed, damnit!

Jul 30, 2024 • AJ

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