Non-State Actress: The Iceberg #7
May 7, 2025 - Togo's Nepo Baby, Socially Engineered Signal Chats, Champagne Supernovas with a side of Lemon and Librarians to Save the Day
This Week So Far
BLUF
In today's global recess yard, limits only exist when someone enforces them. We're witnessing widespread boundary-testing—from familiar rivalries (India-Pakistan, China-Philippines) to novel provocations (Iran's "Lemon Sandstorm" hackers, which are really mostly interesting because of the name). This heightened tension underscores the critical value of recognized authority figures willing to enforce rules. The pressing question: who will blow the whistle, and for which violations, in our current geopolitical school year? Let’s look at this week’s Playground Politics.
Press Play
"The Pretender" by Foo Fighters
"Spy" by Carly Simon
"Every Breath You Take" by The Police
“I think about it all the time” by Charli XCX ft. Bon Iver
“Librarian” by My Morning Jacket
Togo's political plot twist has all the hallmarks of a democratic horror story, with President Faure Gnassingbé snagging himself a sparkly new "Head of State" title that comes without those pesky term limits cramping his autocratic style. This constitutional costume change effectively extends his family's 57-year power dynasty, continuing the political inheritance from his father who ruled for a marathon 38 years—and finally people are starting to give him the title he deserves: NepoBaby. Opposition leaders are calling "coup" faster than you can say "democratic backsliding," while neighboring West African nations watch nervously like suburbanites eyeing a spreading wildfire. The region's democratic dominoes continue to topple with alarming flair, following similar authoritarian makeovers in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger that have international observers clutching their pearls. Well, international observers except Putin’s Russia, who is right up in there.
Why It Matters: This development threatens regional stability in an area where the U.S. has strategic interests and security partnerships. The pattern of constitutional manipulation to extend power challenges American foreign policy goals promoting democratic governance—a sobering reminder that democracy requires constant vigilance, at home and abroad.
Ukraine-Targeted Cyber Campaign
Russian hackers are playing digital dress-up as European officials in a cyber masquerade ball targeting Ukraine and human rights groups with more precision than a Moscow ballet company. These threat actors—code-named UTA0352 and UTA0355—have been sliding into Microsoft 365 accounts since March 2025 with phishing emails starting with some Signal and WhatsApp messages so convincingly crafted they'd make a counterfeit Gucci blush. Honesty, they probably *do* make counterfeit Gucci blush. Their attack toolkit features OAuth token manipulation and reverse proxy techniques that sashay right past multi-factor authentication with the confidence of Andre 3000 with a piano on his back at the Met Gala. Security researchers have connected these digital divas to previous espionage spectaculars supporting Russia's geopolitical drama in Eastern Europe, confirming that in this theater, Moscow remains both director and producer. The cyber-social engineering combo is both a good reminder of the efficacy of a solid liberal arts education and to screen both your calls and texts with the diligence of a true millennial woman.
Why It Matters: The digital battlefield knows no borders. These sophisticated phishing campaigns demonstrate Russia's ongoing cyber warfare strategy that could easily pivot toward American institutions. U.S. organizations working on Ukrainian humanitarian aid or policy must heighten security protocols immediately. This cyber campaign reminds us of Moscow's continued commitment to information warfare despite international condemnation—a stark warning for American cybersecurity professionals. Did I mention that under the current administration the US’ National Security Agency (NSA) and other similarly focused organizations supposedly no longer take active steps against Russia. Looks like Moscow didn’t get the same memo.
I Always Feel Like, Somebody’s Watching Me
London's Hottest Club is… St. James' Park. Okay, not exactly, but it has become the hottest eavesdropping spot for foreign agents who prefer their government secrets served with afternoon tea and duck-watching. British security agencies have issued a clutch-your-pearls warning that Chinese intelligence operatives are bugging public spaces near government buildings with more enthusiasm than royal wedding souvenir manufacturers. The surveillance soirée reportedly features state-of-the-art audio equipment hidden throughout lunch spots where government employees spill classified tea during their breaks, which they *really* should not be doing. This espionage extravaganza has prompted British intelligence to sweep public spaces more frequently than London chimney sweeps and probably with less flair. Rumor has it the intelligence agencies are also reminding people “State Secrets Stay Inside Secure Spaces!”
Why It Matters: Espionage isn't just for the movies, as recent public updates to the US’ CIA reminds us. As the US digs in on human intelligence like a bunch of well-trained middle school girls (this isn’t a shot, and anyone who knows or has known a 7th grade girl knows that), this British surveillance scandal highlights the aggressive intelligence gathering by China that similarly targets American government facilities and personnel. It wouldn’t be the worst thing for U.S. officials to reassess security protocols in public spaces near sensitive government locations.
Middle East Infrastructure Cyberattacks
Iranian hackers code-named "Lemon Sandstorm" threw a two-year digital house party inside critical Middle Eastern infrastructure with all the subtlety of a neon flamingo lawn ornament from May 2023 to February 2025. These cyber squatters have targeted energy organizations, water facilities, and telecom providers across Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar with custom backdoors more persistent than a desperate ex with your phone number. Their operational security approaches feature evasion techniques so clever they'd make Houdini slow-clap with admiration, allowing them to extract industrial control data while remaining more invisible than that gym membership you keep meaning to use (Shout Out to Pure Barre, who despite my REPEATED ATTEMPTS will *not* cancel my membership). Security experts note this campaign marks a dramatic costume change for Iranian cyber operations, shifting from mere data theft to positioning for potentially disruptive attacks. Not the direction we were aiming for.
Why It Matters: These digital daggers aim at the heart of modern society. American critical infrastructure faces similar sophisticated threats requiring urgent security upgrades. Energy security in the Middle East directly impacts global markets and U.S. economic interests. This persistent access demonstrates Iran's growing cyber capabilities—a concerning development as geopolitical tensions with America continue to simmer.
While Earth-bound diplomats trade frosty statements, NASA astronaut Jonny Kim and two Russian cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritskyare having the ultimate international slumber party aboard the International Space Station after arriving via Russian spacecraft. The Soyuz MS-25 mission docked with more precision than a perfectly executed social media dance routine after launching from Kazakhstan's Baikonur Cosmodrome, delivering supplies and scientific gadgets for space experiments. This cosmic collaboration marks the fifth joint U.S.-Russian mission since 2022, proving that space partnership has more staying power than most celebrity marriages, surviving multiple rounds of diplomatic dumpster fires between the nations. Mission controllers in Houston and Moscow coordinated the operation the harmony of a barbershop quartet, underscoring both agencies' commitment to keeping scientific collaboration in a separate orbit from political squabbles.
Why It Matters: Even when earthly relations freeze, the stars still beckon us together. This mission shows how scientific collaboration can transcend political differences—a crucial model for addressing global challenges like climate change. American-Russian space cooperation represents one of the few remaining areas of positive engagement between the nations. The successful mission highlights how interdependence in space exploration creates diplomatic opportunities that benefit scientific advancement and international stability.
A growing number of libraries and librarians are being featured in popular culture across anime, films, webcomics, and manga, reflecting increased interest in these institutions as cultural touchstones. This trend spans diverse media, with notable examples including anime series focusing on magical libraries and graphic novels centering librarian protagonists who solve mysteries using research skills. Libraries are increasingly portrayed as spaces of both wonder and practical knowledge, moving beyond stereotypical depictions of stern, shushing librarians. The popularity of these portrayals coincides with renewed public discourse about the importance of libraries as democratic institutions in an era of information challenges.
Why It Matters: This literary love affair shows Americans aren't just doom-scrolling their brains into oblivion, and is inline with several years of data from the American Library Association. Libraries represent safe havens of democratic access to knowledge in our increasingly chaotic information landscape. The trend signals renewed appreciation for these vital community spaces that bridge digital divides and foster intellectual freedom—something we could all use a little more of, honestly.(Pop Culture Library Review, May 2, 2025)