Recent Posts
Americans View Their Country Very Differently
A new Politico poll, conducted across five countries, “reveals a stark disconnect between how Americans see their country and how several top allies do.” “As the Trump administration’s aggressive posture…
Bonus Quote of the Day
“I’m glad I’m not on the ballot.” — Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), to Politico when asked how he was feeling about the November elections. Save to Favorites
Why Little Was Done to Head Off Strait of Hormuz Problem
New York Times: “The reason there is no true alternative comes down to a combination of geography, political tensions and economic competition among the region’s oil powers. There have been…
Orban’s Election Campaign Turns to Russia for Help
“A surpise guest appeared at a recent campaign rally for Viktor Orban’s party in eastern Hungary: a Ukrainian prisoner of war freed from Moscow’s captivity,” Bloomberg reports. “How he got…
Quote of the Day
“When American service members killed in action are returning to the United States in flagged-draped coffins, and even more Americans have lost limbs or suffered terrible brain injuries or are…
Republicans Portray James Talarico as a Radical
“Fearing a tougher-than-expected race for one of Texas’s two Senate seats, Republicans are trying to cast Democratic candidate James Talarico as a radical leftist out of step with voters,” the…
Homeland Security Has Been Shut Down for a Month
Punchbowl News: “It might be easy to forget that the Department of Homeland Security is shutdown, unless you’ve been watching the Senate floor these recent days.” “That DHS shutdown is…
How the Pentagon Got Hooked on AI War Machines
Bloomberg: “The department’s efforts to build an AI-enabled fleet of drones that can attack by air and sea have been marked by false starts, missed deadlines and strategic incoherence.” Save…
Ruben Gallego Sees an Opening
Playbook: “In the 15 days since President Donald Trump launched Operation Epic Fury on Iran, Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) is approaching nearly a dozen media appearances, offering his often visceral…
Why Trump’s Move to Lower Oil Prices Fell Flat
“If the White House hoped tapping 40% of the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve would quickly push down oil prices, it hasn’t worked,” the Wall Street Journal reports. “News this week…
Russia Shuts Off Internet in Moscow
“Russia is stepping up its tests of systems designed to keep millions of people from accessing information online in times of political unrest, shutting off mobile internet access in the…
Jared Kushner Seeks Investors as He Works for Trump
“Jared Kushner, one of the U.S. government’s chief negotiators in the Middle East, is trying to raise more money for his private equity firm from governments in the region,” the…
Oil Shock Hits An Economy Already Showing Cracks
“Oil shocks are bad for economic growth and bad for inflation. So it can be worrisome when they land when growth is already middling and inflation stubborn,” the Wall Street…
Trump’s War Plan Went Awry Almost Immediately
CNN: “Spurred by fresh intelligence that the country’s 86-year-old supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, was meeting with his top officials on the morning of Feb. 28, the US and Israel had…
The Art of Destroy and Deal
New York Times: “The U.S. president, who promised to end American wars, is now embracing the policies backed by Mr. Rubio and the secretary’s ideological compatriots, dismaying supporters who thought…
What’s Trump’s Phone Number Worth?
The Atlantic: “Washington’s hottest commodity is a 10-digit number that can swing financial markets, drive the news, and shift policy—but only if the timing is right.” “The White House has…
U.S. Offers $10 Million for Info on Iran’s Leaders
“The United States said it was offering up to $10 million, and the potential opportunity to relocate, for information on the whereabouts of 10 senior Islamic Republic leaders,” CBS News…
Israel Says Iran Is Firing Cluster Warheads at Civilians
“Half of the Iranian missiles fired at Israel in this war spray numerous small explosives over their targets, expanding the radius of possible damage and casualties though presenting less of…
For Your Weekend Listening
The latest episode of Trial Balloon is live. How the politics of the upcoming election cycle could constrain Trump’s military ambitions. Join now to continue reading. Members get exclusive analysis,…
Hegseth Says There’s No Need to Worry About Strait
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth brushed aside concerns that the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz because of the Iran war, which has spiked oil prices, would continue being a…
