What More Do the Iran Hawks Want?
Those who pushed for Trump to attack Iran are now moving the goalposts for success.
Diplomacy
Trump Takes the Off-Ramp From the Israeli-Iranian War
War with Iran was a risky, destructive gamble. But the worst outcome has been avoided, for now.
Trump Shreds the Constitution by Bombing Iran
The attack on Iranian nuclear sites is a risky gamble. And it was completely by choice.
Trump's Iran War Would Not Be a One-Off Deal
Neither American hawks nor Israeli planners intend on allowing for a simple, quick U.S. intervention in Iran.
Israel Attacks Iran—and Burns Down the Off-Ramp With America
The Trump administration, which was ready to negotiate on Sunday, is now gambling on an all-out war.
The Latest Escalation Between Russia and Ukraine Isn't Changing the Course of the War
Neither Russia nor Ukraine has a clear path to victory. The Ukrainian drone attack last week and the Russian air raids on Friday don't change that.
Schumer Attacks Trump for Repeating Obama's Iran Diplomacy
Democrats keep trying to out-hawk Republicans, even though the mood in America has shifted toward diplomacy.
Trump's Syrian Outreach Turns an Enemy Into a Friend
Hawks in Washington often make it sound hard to end conflicts with other countries, but the United States and Syria are fixing relations overnight.
Trump's Team Discovers That Diplomacy Is Hard
Diplomacy is better than war in Ukraine, Gaza, and Iran. But that doesn't mean it's easy.
RFK Jr. Plays the Hits
Plus: NYC can't build a damn park, violence against diplomats, worrying news from Anthropic, and more...
Trump Declares the 'Neocon' Era Over
The president’s speech in Saudi Arabia promised a new course for U.S. policy in the Middle East. Can he deliver?
The Indian-Pakistani Ceasefire Is What U.S. Diplomacy Should Look Like
Sitting on the sidelines let America play neutral mediator and talk down both sides.
Trump Gets Bored With the War in Yemen
The pendulum within Trump’s Middle East policy has swung back toward deal making, for now.
Did Mike Waltz Just Go Down John Bolton's Path?
Trump has hired a notorious hawk as his national security adviser—and fired that adviser after getting in the way of delicate diplomatic talks—in each of his two terms.
Ksenia Karelina, Imprisoned in Russia for Donating $51 to a Pro-Ukraine Charity, Is Freed
The American citizen had been sentenced to 12 years in a penal colony for treason.
Will the U.S. Bomb Iran Over a Nuclear Weapons Program That Doesn't Exist?
Iran isn’t building a nuclear weapon, the Trump administration says. But this hasn’t stopped the march toward war.
Why Economic Sanctions Against Iran Are Backfiring
How Sanctions Work argues the consequences of economic warfare don't always serve American interests.
Trump Owns the Middle East Wars Now
The president is quickly wiping out his own accomplishments.
Has Trump Cut a Deal To Get U.S. Troops Out of Syria?
Syrian Kurdish rebels and the new Syrian government have agreed to reunite peacefully. The U.S. military may have helped broker the agreement.
Are Democrats Regretting Trying To Out-Hawk Trump?
Rep. Adam Smith (D–Wash.) thinks Democrats should return to their antiwar roots—and be open to negotiating with Russia.
Is Trump Borrowing Biden's 'Bear Hug' Approach to Israel?
The president is publicly taking a tough line on the Middle East—while privately supporting diplomacy.
Meet Trump's Incredibly Confusing New National Security Cabinet
Establishment hawks will be running the State Department and National Security Council, but Trump has peppered in some antiestablishment mavericks too.
Biden and Graham Reportedly Schemed on How 'To Go to War For Saudi Arabia'
The Republican senator said it would “take a Democratic president” to commit American troops to defend the Saudi kingdom, according to a new book.
Did the Abraham Accords Pave the Way for Total War?
Many conservatives saw the Abraham Accords as a way to get U.S. forces out of the Middle East. Now the architect of the agreement is pushing for a regime change campaign in Lebanon—and maybe Iran.
Ukraine Is Safer If It Stays Out of NATO
Ukraine’s strategic advantage lies in its autonomy rather than playing into Putin's ploy.
Sanctions Are for Losers
While sanctions fail to change Iran's policies, they inflict severe hardships on civilians and rally support for the regime.
No Malarkey: Even Democrats Think Biden Is Too Old
Plus: A listener asks the editors about requiring gun buyers to pass a psychological assessment.
Sweden Learns That NATO Has Strings Attached
Turkey takes advantage of its new leverage.
What Would It Mean for Taiwan's President To Visit the White House?
It may be a good idea in theory, but it's probably an impractical pipe dream.
Modi's Rotten Human Rights Record Didn't Keep Biden From Hosting Him
"During the visit, Biden could have refrained from deep public embraces of Modi or from emphasizing India's democracy. He chose to do neither," says Michael Kugelman.
Deirdre McCloskey: 'What We Want Is a Nonslave Society'
The economic historian and Magatte Wade, Alex Gladstein, Mohamad Machine-Chian, Tony Woodlief, and Tom Palmer are challenging authoritarians everywhere.
Nothing About the Chinese Balloon Saga Makes Sense
Plus: The French face "le wokisme," a Tennessee "eyelash specialist license" would require 300 hours education, and more...
Today's Iran-U.S. World Cup Match Is Even More Politically Fraught Than Famous 1998 Meeting
Both teams are better than they were in 1998, but the political situation between the two countries has not improved.
The U.S. Is Entangled in Ukraine for the Long Haul
Accountability, diplomacy, and planning are essential for preventing a forever proxy war.
Ukraine Fights On as Western Allies Waver
Ukrainians aren't giving up, but some international supporters are growing pessimistic.
A Classic Biden Gaffe Complicates U.S. Role in Taiwan
Will Xi Jinping just chalk up Biden's latest remarks as an accidental straying from "strategic ambiguity"?
RIP Madeleine Albright, Who Escaped Both Fascism and Communism as a Child
The former secretary of state died today at the age of 84 after a long and complicated career in U.S. foreign policy.
Olympics Remind Us That Sports Build Bridges Where Governments Can't
Engaging peacefully with someone who history says you should hate is no small task, but sports make it possible.
Move Over, Russia: Impeachment Talk Now Turns on Trump Dealings With Ukraine
Plus: Juul under criminal investigation, states pay millions to abortion providers, and more...
China Escalates Hong Kong Conflict By Detaining Consulate Staffer
Simon Cheng Man-kit, a staffer at the British Consulate in Hong Kong, hasn't returned from a trip he took to mainland China nearly two weeks ago.
Trump Wants Israel to Bar Reps. Omar and Tlaib. He Says Allowing a Visit Would Be 'Weakness.' He's Wrong.
Strong liberal democracies can handle criticism.
Does Middle East Peace Require a Two-State Solution or a Palestinian Defeat? A Debate
Should Israel negotiate with Hamas and Fatah, or are they unwavering enemies in a protracted struggle?
State Department Demands Spouses of Gay Diplomats, U.N. Staff Get Legally Married to Visit—Even if They Can't
An absurdly petty intersection of anti-gay and anti-foreigner policies.
Sen. Rand Paul Stresses Nuclear Weapon Negotiations as Key Reason for His Russia Trip
"Diplomatic isolationists" who want to quash any dialog with Russia for partisan reasons are missing out on chances for progress on nuclear weapons and terrorism, the Senator believes.
Rand Paul Blames Criticisms of Diplomacy on 'Trump Derangement Syndrome'
Paul defends Trump's conversation with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in the name of diplomacy.
Surviving the Death of the West: Podcast
Trump disrupts the status quo on trade, diplomacy, North Korea, and pot.
The Logan Act Is Awful, and No, It's Not Going to Take Down Trump's Administration
This federal law is about punishing the speech of political enemies, not protecting sensitive international negotiations.
