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, a trending news page, no advertising and more!
- ✔ If you're already a member, log in for the full experience.
Recent Posts
U.S. Has No Single Voice on Trade
Countries trying to negotiate trade deals with the U.S. have struggled to balance Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and USTR Jamieson Greer, who are often perceived as…
Bonus Quote of the Day
“The enrichment of nuclear material — and, now we can say it outright, the future production of nuclear weapons — will continue. A number of countries are ready to directly…
GOP’s Food Stamp Plan Violates Senate Rules
“In another blow to the Republicans’ tax and spending cut bill, the Senate parliamentarian has advised that a proposal to shift some food stamps costs from the federal government to…
U.S. Troops May Face Retaliation
Haaretz: “The Iranian Revolutionary Guards said on Sunday that the large number of U.S. military bases in the region will make it hard for the American forces to entirely evade…
Iran Could Become a New North Korea
New York Times: “Iran could slowly recover, its surviving nuclear scientists could take their skills underground and the country could follow the pathway lit by North Korea, with a race…
The Unknown Unknowns Lurk in Iran
Playbook: “In the run-up to the war in Iraq, then-Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was asked in 2002 whether there was any evidence that Saddam Hussein’s government was actually attempting to…
U.S. Strike on Iran Began With a Ruse
“Saturday morning, flight trackers picked up a host of stealthy U.S. B-2 bombers that took off from their Air Force base in Missouri and headed west over the Pacific. It…
Trump Takes a Huge Gamble His Predecessors Avoided
David Sanger: “For Mr. Trump, the decision to attack the nuclear infrastructure of a hostile nation represents the biggest — and potentially most dangerous — gamble of his second term.”…
Some Early Thoughts on War with Iran
President Trump said the objective of the airstrikes in Iran last night was the “destruction of Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity.” He claimed success, saying in a televised address that the…
Iran Strike Tests Trump’s Propensity to Play to Both Sides
New York Times: “Since his first campaign for president 10 years ago, Mr. Trump has excelled at appearing to favor both sides of the same issue, allowing supporters to hear…
Harvard Gets Reprieve from Trump Foreign Student Ban
“A federal judge issued a new order that allows Harvard University to continue enrolling foreign students while the school fights the Trump administration’s efforts to prevent it from doing so,”…
One Big, Ugly Bill
Aaron Blake: “President Donald Trump isn’t asking Congress to do much these days. In fact, it often seems like he’d rather he didn’t have to bother with the legislative branch…
Justices Won’t Fast Track Tariff Challenge
“The Supreme Court said on Friday that it would not fast-track a petition from two toy manufacturers challenging a major piece of President Trump’s tariffs program,” the New York Times…
Bill Clinton Endorses Andrew Cuomo for Mayor
“Former President Bill Clinton will offer a last-minute boost of support for former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo by endorsing him in the New York City mayor’s race on Sunday, the…
Trump Gambles His Presidency on War
“President Donald Trump’s decision Saturday to strike Iran’s nuclear enrichment facilities was an extraordinary bet that he could eliminate a nuclear program that has bedeviled multiple presidents while avoiding another…
U.S. Used Bunker Busters in Warfare for the First Time
“The U.S. bombers that attacked Iran’s nuclear sites dropped GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators, bunker-busting bombs designed to destroy hardened underground targets, for the first time in warfare,” the Wall Street…
GOP Lawmakers Push Legislation Honoring Trump
Washington Post: “House Republicans have proposed at least eight bills since January to honor the president or burnish his image. They would, among other things, put Trump’s portrait on U.S….
Quote of the Day
“Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier.” — President Trump, in a…
U.S. Enters War Against Iran
President Trump announced that the United States has completed a “very successful attack” on nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, CNN reports. Said Trump: “We have completed…
Israel Doesn’t Want to Wait Two Weeks for Trump
“Israeli officials have told the Trump administration they do not want to wait two weeks for Iran to reach a deal to dismantle key parts of its nuclear program and…