American Military Investigation Into Civilian Deaths in Afghanistan Clears American Military of Fault
Another propaganda victory for the Taliban, and another awful reminder that America's longest war is still an aimless disaster.
Foreign Policy
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.
Trump Signs $82 Billion Spending Boost for Pentagon
"It was not very hard" to get the spending bill through Congress, Trump said. And he's definitely right about that.
American Aluminum Manufacturer Seeks Relief From Tariffs Meant to Help American Aluminum Manufacturers
Alcoa says it needs protection from protectionism. That should be a lesson for the administration.
Trump Administration Presses Ahead With Space Force His Own Defense Advisers Say Is a Terrible Idea
A new military service focused on space would be a burden on both taxpayers and the private space industry.
Pentagon Moves Forward With Space Force, Though Congress Hasn't Approved It Yet
The Pentagon can't create an entirely new branch of the military on its own. But it's moving forward where it can.
Don't Blame Bitcoin for Russian Hacking
Cybercurrencies are not as anonymous as you might think.
Neil deGrasse Tyson: We Need a Space Force to Protect the Earth From Asteroids
The famed astrophysicist thinks a lot of people are only against the Space Force because it was Trump's idea.
What Do You Get if You Cross Red Dawn with a Cooking Show?
Friday A/V Club: The wild world of low-budget survivalist videos
'Peaceful' Montenegro Says It's 'Too Small' To Start World War III
President Trump suggested earlier this week that the "aggressive" Montenegrins could spark a global conflict.
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.
Germany Just Agreed To Essentially Close Its Borders. How Did We Get Here?
Rigid work restrictions forced hundreds of thousands of people to sit in camps, in limbo, living on taxpayer money. Nothing good can come from that.
Hernando de Soto Knows How To Make the Third World Richer than the First
The Peruvian economist says blockchain technologies and social media will transform the planet by securing property rights.
Don't Give Foreign Hackers Immunity in U.S. Courts
If foreign hackers are immune from American civil suits under current law, don't be surprised to see Congress step in to try to close the loophole.
Trump's Trade War Targets Second-Most-American Pie Filling
Cherry growers get hit with steep tariffs right in the middle of their harvest season.
Trump Ignores Critics, Claims 'Everyone Is Very Excited' About Space Force
In Trump's world, "everyone" is absolutely thrilled about his widely criticized plans to establish an entirely new branch of the U.S. military.
United Gates of America: The Trump Administration's Relentless Assault on Legal Immigration
It is systematically jamming every legal channel with red tape.
American-Backed Saudi Coalition Responsible for a Majority of Child Casualties in Yemen Conflict
If there wasn't enough reason to stop selling arms to the Saudis, a new report found that they were responsible for most of the child casualties in Yemen.
Senators Demand an Explanation After the F-35 Savings Estimate Is Off By $600 Million
The Senate asks the Pentagon's F-35 program to explain its sizable discrepancy in savings estimates.
When the Supreme Court Blessed the Imperial Presidency
The story of how classical liberal Justice George Sutherland enabled executive overreach abroad.
Rep. Justin Amash Calls Out House Republicans for Passing 'Massively Wasteful' $675 Billion Defense Bill
Amash was one of just three House Republicans to vote against the spending bill.
'Only One Person' Wants This Insane, Budgetless Military Parade
Pentagon officials are dragging their feet as they begin planning the military parade ordered by President Trump.
The President Shouldn't Act as an Arms Dealer to the Saudis
"The business of buying weapons that takes place in the Pentagon is a corrupt business."
Travel Shows Were Boring as Fuck. Then Came Anthony Bourdain.
The late travel host changed television—and my life.
Civilians Around the World Become Better Armed
Will widespread private arms rebalance power between individuals and the state? It looks like we're going to find out.
Before Drug Prohibition, There Was the War on Calico
In 18th century France, wearing the wrong fabric could get you in big trouble.
We Are Most Likely Alone in the Universe
No pesky Romulans, Klingons, Ferengis or Vulcans to get in way of Terran colonization of the galaxy
Bloody Libyan Conflict Still Claiming Victims, Raising Questions About America's Role
At least 242 civilians have been killed and at least 324 wounded by over 2,000 airstrikes, some of which were carried out by the American military.
The Senate Just Gave the Pentagon an $82 Billion Boost. That's More Money Than Russia's Entire Military Budget.
Democrats will oppose anything Trump wants, unless it's more money for the Pentagon.
A New Draft: "Adjudication Outside Article III"
A new draft article on so-called "non-Article III courts" with implications for the pending case of Dalmazzi v. United States.
Worldwide Refugee Population Hits All-Time High, U.S. Intake Reaches All-Time Low
Mike Pompeo celebrates World Refugee Day by bragging about America's "leadership" on the issue, but the numbers tell a different story
Encryption Wars Ramp Up As Apple Improves Phone Security
Law enforcement is upset, but data security is vital to prevent crimes.
Jeff Sessions' Ruling Denying Asylum to Victims of Domestic Violence Highlights Arbitrary Cruelty of Our Immigration Policy - a Problem that Goes Well Beyond the Current Administration
The decision is legally dubious. But it also highlights the arbitrariness of rules that exclude victims of horrible injustices just as severe as those luck enough to qualify.
Surviving the Death of the West: Podcast
Trump disrupts the status quo on trade, diplomacy, North Korea, and pot.
Syria Shows Not Much Has Changed Under Trump's Foreign Policy
The cautious prudence the U.S. desperately needed after a decade and a half of shoot-from-the-hip interventionism has been relegated to a talking point.
The U.S. Military Says It Killed About 500 Civilians Last Year. Outside Groups Put the Count Far Higher.
A lot of people are dying in unauthorized wars.
Why a Small New York Town Is Banning New Restaurants
Protectionism takes many forms, but it always leads to the same end: fewer choices for consumers
The Americans Was a Show About Marriage, the Cold War, And Why Politics Is the Worst Way to Engage With Another Human Being
In this brilliant spy thriller, the personal and the political are always intertwined-but they are not always inseparable.
How To Understand The Americans Finale: Q&A with Show Creators Joe Weisberg, Joel Fields
One of the best, most-political and most-personal TV shows ever just ended. What did it all mean?
Is the FBI Trying to Bolster Its War on Cryptography?
Was their miscount of unlockable phones truly a mistake or part of an agenda?
PBS Lets Vets Themselves Describe Life Inside the War Machine
Documentaries for Memorial Day focus on the troops' experiences.
Will Iran and North Korea Capitulate to Trump?
Trump's tough talk is likely to backfire.
Trump's New Secretary of State Is Pushing America Closer to War with Iran
Mike Pompeo's "plan B" is reckless and dangerous.
Trump's Turn on Iran Turns Off America's Allies
New sanctions on Iran will sour America's relationship with Europe.
HBO's Dishonest Obama Documentary Is Fantasy Foreign Policy Puffery
Lots of administration official log-rolling in The Final Year, but little actual analysis
John McCain: It 'Wasn't Incorrect' to Say Rand Paul Was 'Working for Vladimir Putin'
The Arizona senator goes out shooting against the Paul family, even as he and the Kentucky senator make common cause on Gina Haspel.
John McCain: Iraq War 'Can't Be Judged as Anything Other Than a Mistake'
"I have to accept my share of the blame for it," the ailing senator writes in a new book, even while defending several other interventions and surges.
