Is Ukraine Helping Al Qaeda Conquer West Africa?
The proliferation of drones to Malian rebels is a bizarre, unexpected form of blowback.
Military
Allowing Censorship of Military Retirees Like Sen. Mark Kelly Would Set a Chilling and Dangerous Precedent
To justify punishing a legislator for his speech, a FIRE brief notes, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth relies on a Supreme Court precedent that is clearly inapposite.
'Shoot and Kill'
Plus: California fails to unmask ICE agents, the illogic of medical-only marijuana rescheduling, driverless cars in D.C., and more...
This Big Tech Firm Wants To Reinstate the Draft
A look at Palantir’s bootlicking new manifesto.
Pete Hegseth Wants the D.C. Circuit To Let Him Punish a Senator for Criticizing Him
The defense secretary's asserted authority to control the speech of retired military officers "would chill public participation by veterans," a brief supporting Mark Kelly warns.
Trump's Iran Deal Looks a Lot Like the Previous Ones He Hated
What exactly was the point of killing thousands of people and destroying the world economy?
The U.S. Military Has Finally Left Syria
After considering a permanent U.S. presence, the Trump administration instead evacuated American troops once and for all.
Another Drug Boat Bombing
Plus: The U.S. blockade widens, Los Angeles teachers get a pay bump, the sunny side of a treeless national mall, and more...
Trump Responds to Iranian Blockade of Strait of Hormuz By Blockading It
After walking out of peace talks in Pakistan, the U.S. and Iran are now playing a game of chicken.
FBI Goes After Whistleblower Who Helped Unmask the 'Fort Bragg Cartel'
The feds have arrested an Army staffer who spoke to a journalist for a book about special operations. The journalist says it's retaliation for exposing corruption.
Active Military Spouse Faces Removal Proceedings
The newlywed couple thought they were doing “everything the right way” by reporting to the base to start their lives together.
Trump Is Openly Targeting Innocent Civilians
He's using tools that were advertised as humane, but he isn't hiding the cruelty involved.
'I Am Blowing Up Everything'
Plus: There is no exit strategy in Iran, Artemis II approaches the Moon, federal taxpayers get to beautify D.C., and more...
Trump's Call for a $1.5 Trillion Military Budget Is Irresponsible, Wasteful, and Unrealistic
The proposal is "an enormous waste of taxpayer dollars and would make Americans less, not more, safe." Thankfully, Congress is unlikely to adopt it.
War and/or Peace
Plus: back to the moon, one year since "Liberation Day," birthright citizenship at the Supreme Court, Jonathan lives, and more...
The Islanders Expelled To Build the West's Middle East Fortress
The British Empire evacuated the Chagos Islands to build a military base, which the U.S. is using in the Iran War. Now, a court ruling is giving the original owners hope of going home.
Inside the U.S. Military Buildup in Israel
Iran has reportedly made U.S. bases in Arab countries “uninhabitable.” Israel is pitching itself as an alternative.
Trump's 'Military Operation' Wordplay Can't Hide Iran War
A war by any other name must still be authorized by Congress.
Government Actions Against Anthropic Are 'Classic First Amendment Retaliation'
Plus: the Facebook verdicts, porn star chatbots, facial recognition gone awry, drag queen regulation, and more…
Trump's War in Iran Risks Ruining His Entire Foreign Policy
The president’s attempt to manage the consequences of the war is adding wrinkles to his diplomatic goals in Ukraine, China, and other countries.
10 Boats, 10,000 Troops
Plus: a pause on power plant bombing, an executive order to fund the TSA, a tentative plan to end the DHS shutdown, and more…
'What Are the Goals?' Some Republicans Questioning $200 Billion for Iran War.
With the Pentagon's track record, lawmakers are right to be skeptical.
Same Lies, New War: Trump and the Iraq Playbook
Unfortunately, Trump's war in Iran is every bit as shortsighted—and illegal—as the one in Iraq that he once called "a big, fat mistake."
$200 Billion War?
Plus: boots on the ground, The Bachelorette cancels season, Meta reverses itself on virtual reality, and more...
Department of Homeland Security
Markwayne Mullin's History of Condoning Murder and Resisting Transparency Makes Him Ill-Suited To Run DHS
The Oklahoma senator, nominated to replace Kristi Noem, is blasé about the use of deadly force.
FCC Chair Threatens Media Outlets That Don't Report Good Iran War News
Brendan Carr, who relishes his role as Trump's "media pit bull," sent a threatening X post while visiting the president at Mar-a-Lago.
Trump Wants To Cover Up Bad News About the Iran War
And Middle Eastern dictatorships are helping him do it.
Strait Outta Commission
Plus: Tucker Carlson says the CIA is after him, and Reason mourns the loss of longtime staffer Brian Doherty.
Elizabeth Warren Ruins Housing Again; Iran War Endgame?
Robby Soave and Christian Britschgi return to discuss yet another bad idea from Elizabeth Warren and if the war in Iran will end sooner rather than later.
Trump and Vance Promised 'No New Wars.' What Happened To That?
Some MAGA peaceniks have seemingly transformed into neocons.
U.S. Vows More Military Action in Latin America While Bombing Iran
The Trump administration’s plan to end drug cartels in Latin America is another interventionist boondoggle.
War Rations
Plus: Pete Hegseth spends millions on lobster tail and rib-eye steak, oil prices go for another roller-coaster ride, no inflation increase, and more...
What Is Life Like Beneath the Bombs of the Iran War?
Reason speaks with civilians about wartime life in Iran, Israel, Kuwait, and Bahrain.
Trump Bragged About Lower Gas Prices. Then He Bombed Iran.
You can have low gas prices or war in the Middle East, but not both.
Senate Punts on Iran War Powers as Ground War Grows More Likely
Lawmakers are refusing to acknowledge what is increasingly looking like a big, long war.
Yes, the Iran War Is a 'War of Choice,' and a Bad One
Supporters of Trump's actions want to create an aura of necessity to shield the president from urgent criticism.
My New Dispatch Article on "Why Donald Trump's Iran War is Unconstitutional"
The article explains why the war requires congressional authorization,and why this requirement is important.
Trade Wars, Meet Actual Wars
Plus: Congress shrugs, a cat cafe unionizes, and Liz Wolfe checks in, and more...
The Iran War Is Unconstitutional
The president has no lawful authority to launch a war absent a congressional declaration of war.
Trump's War With Iran Is Unjustified and Unpopular
Plus: Congress is reluctant to assert its war powers, the Pentagon brands Anthropic a national security threat, and a listener asks whether regime change is ever morally defensible.
The Goalposts of the Iran War Keep Shifting
Trump and his team can’t get their story straight on why they started this war, how long they plan to fight it, and whether they'll put boots on the ground.
Bombed Iran
Plus: 3 Americans killed in retaliation, former President Bill Clinton testifies about Jeffrey Epstein, and more...
Trump Should Have Made His Case for War to Congress and the American People
The administration was wrong to unilaterally and unconstitutionally commit the U.S. to war.
Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Is Reported Dead
Khamenei's rule was marked by a combination of cruelty and incompetence. His death may have unfolded much the same way.
"Law Is Irrelevant to the U.S. Attack on Iran," by Prof. Jack Goldsmith (Harvard)
"And Congress is on the hook as much as the president."
An Unconstitutional War
Trump's attack on Iran is obviously unconstitutional. The moral and policy issues are a closer call.
