You're reading the free version of Political Wire
Upgrade to a paid membership to unlock full access. The process is quick and easy. You can even use Apple Pay.
- ✔ Become a member to get many great benefits -- exclusive analysis, trending news, a private podcast, no ads and more!
- ✔ If you're already a member, log in for the full experience.
Recent Posts
Motivations for War
President Trump claims he has two reasons for launching military attacks on Iran. But as with most things in Trumpworld, the stated rationale and the underlying incentives may not line…
Trump Was Told Attack Was High Risk, High Reward
Ahead of the U.S. attack on Iran, President Trump received briefings that not only delivered blunt assessments about the risk of major U.S. casualties but also touted the prospect of…
The Paradox of Trump’s Iran Attack
David Frum: “You don’t go bankrupt as often as Trump has gone bankrupt if you’re good at assessing risk. Trump tells ridiculous fantasies presumably because he believes ridiculous fantasies. In…
Trump’s Enormous Gamble on Regime Change in Iran
Tom Nichols: “This is not a preemptive war. It is a war of choice, a discretionary war. It is a war for regime change. Many of Iran’s 92 million people…
Kristi Noem Burning Deportation Cash on Luxury Jets
“Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s plan to use border funds for an almost $300 million luxury jet fleet has horrified top Trump officials,” Axios reports. “Until last year, DHS owned…
Trump and Khamenei’s War of Choice
Karim Sadjadpour: “The U.S.-Iran war—or, to be accurate, its latest, and most dramatic iteration—grew from a high-stakes exchange of miscalculations between two men. Donald Trump and Ali Khamenei have little…
For Your Weekend Listening
The latest episode of Trial Balloon is live. Fresh off an unexpected, medically induced news blackout, we survey the political wreckage that piled up while I was out. We start…
Trump Says the Goal Is ‘Freedom’ for Iran
President Trump told the Washington Post early Saturday that his main concern is “freedom” for the Iranian people as the U.S. launched military strikes in the country. Said Trump: “All…
A Few Thoughts on War with Iran
President Trump launched a military strike against Iran overnight — not from the Situation Room, but from his Mar-a-Lago resort — framing it as the kind of decisive action no…
Trump Officials Attended a Summit of Election Deniers
“Several high-ranking federal election officials attended a summit last week at which prominent figures who worked to overturn Donald Trump’s loss in the 2020 election pressed the president to declare…
Trump’s Call for Regime Change in Iran Carries Risks
“President Trump on Saturday outlined a set of far-reaching aims for the current U.S. military operation against Iran. He called on Iranians to topple the regime and take over their…
Trump’s Questionable Case for Attacking Iran
New York Times: “As they made their public case for another American military campaign against Iran, President Trump and his aides asserted that Iran had restarted its nuclear program, had…
U.S. and Israel Attack Iran
“The United States and Israel on Saturday launched a major attack on Iran, with President Trump vowing to devastate the country’s military, eliminate its nuclear program and bring about a…
Trump Accused Iran of Trying to Interfere with Election
“President Trump posted a news story early Saturday on social media accusing Iran of trying to interfere to stop him winning the 2020 and 2024 U.S. presidential elections,” the Wall…
Kristi Noem Created Security Vulnerabilities at Airports
“Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for months failed to appropriately respond to the findings of an internal watchdog that one of her biggest changes to airport security—allowing passengers…
Pentagon Cuts Ties with Elite Universities
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Friday that the Pentagon would be canceling troops’ attendance at graduate programs at some of the nation’s top universities, calling them “woke breeding grounds of…
Trump Was Upset with Kash Patel
“President Donald Trump was disappointed in FBI Director Kash Patel’s behavior at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics and conveyed his displeasure in a conversation with him,“ NBC News reports. “Patel went…
Trump Orders Government to Stop Using Anthropic AI
President Trump said Friday that he was ordering every U.S. government agency to “immediately cease” using technology from the artificial intelligence company Anthropic, CNBC reports. Save to Favorites
Kamala Harris Records Robocall for Jasmine Crockett
Former Vice President Kamala Harris has recorded a robocall for Rep. Jasmine Crockett to turn out voters for the Dallas congresswoman in Tuesday’s hard-fought Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, the…
Trump Floats ‘Friendly Takeover’ of Cuba
President Trump suggested the U.S. could carry out a “friendly takeover” of Cuba, as the president has used a fuel blockade to increase the pressure on the communist regime in…


