Watch Matt Welch on HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher Tonight at 10 p.m. ET
Discussing Trump, Afghanistan, identity politics and more with Jesse Jackson, Paul Begala, Frank Bruni, and Nayyera Haq
Foreign Policy
Were Anti-War Libertarians Gullible for Believing Trump Would Take on the War Party?
Matt Welch talks with MilLiberty about foreign policy, post-communist Europe, collectivist antipathies, and the apocalyptic style within libertarianism
Trump Out of Touch With Reality on Afghanistan
The president's proclamations about Afghanistan are not a plan; they're a letter to Santa Claus.
Remember That Time Trump Said 'Get Out of Afghanistan'? Neither Does He.
The president's latest flip-flop is total and appalling. Will it finally alienate his base?
Contrary To Nationalist Myths, Protectionism Is an Economic Disaster
American protectionism has repeatedly failed as an economic strategy.
Anti-Interventionists in Congress Respond to Trump's Afghanistan Strategy
Amid efforts to get Congress to vote on a new Authorization for Use of Military Force
Classical Liberalism Is Incompatible With Imperialism
Imperialism is not the highest stage of capitalism, as Karl Marx claimed.
Venezuela: At the Edge of a Deeper Chasm
Nicolas Maduro's brand of socialism has brought poverty, hunger, and death.
Trump's 'Fire and Fury' Wouldn't Be the First for North Korea
The Truman war council discussed using atomic bombs just two weeks after the Korean War started.
Don't Be Fooled. Airstrikes Are War.
Despite evidence they may make things worse, airstrikes are mistakenly seen as a perfectly reasonable response.
The Apocalyptic Faithlessness of Trump/Bannon Conservatism
What does it mean when a president is constantly worried that we 'won't have a country' anymore?
Groups Sue Over Trump's Plan—If He Actually Has One—to Boot Transgender People Out of Military
Five members of the military disclosed their status. Now they're worried they'll get kicked out.
Americans Increasingly Open to War With North Korea, Even As Distrust of Trump Hits Record Highs
Lessons about U.S. interventionism fast forgotten.
There Aren't 'Tremendous Medical Costs' for Trans Soldiers
President Trump's new ban didn't just "blindside" military brass and disrespect equality under the law, it's founded on a lie.
The Party of Trump Is Trying to Gut America's Asylum Process
A GOP bill would set up impossible obstacles for fleeing foreigners
Trump Tweets Return to Ban on Transgender Military Service 'In Any Capacity'
Who will be ejected under this abrupt reversal of Pentagon policy?
Congress Wants to Make It Harder for Trump to Pursue Peace, Easy as Ever for Trump to Pursue War
Congress limiting president's power to loosen sanctions, but not to pursue military adventurism.
Why Trump's 'Buy American, Hire American' Is Un-American
How flag-waving nationalism provides cover for a destructive economic policy.
Trump to Cut CIA Program That Arms Syrian Rebels. Good—Now Cut the Pentagon's Program, Too.
Don't let Russia hysteria torpedo a better foreign policy.
John McCain's Flawed, Important Example in the Age of Trump
The cancer-stricken senator's eternal pursuit of honor and integrity are a welcome tonic in a tawdry age, even while his policy misjudgments helped pave the way for the new Republican politics he abhors.
Australian Leader's Stupid Quote About Laws Trumping Math Is Encryption Fight in a Nutshell
Government authorities refuse to consider uncontrollable, dangerous consequences of breaking data privacy.
McCain and the Trump-Russia Dossier: What Did He Know, and When?
A British spy. An Arizona senator. And one inflammatory dossier on Donald Trump. The connection between them is starting to unravel...
Bassem Youssef Was 'Egypt's Jon Stewart.' Then He Was Forced To Flee.
How the Arab world's top satirist was censored, persecuted, and driven out.
On Trump, Jr., Governments Lying, and A World in Disarray: The New Fifth Column
Big foreign policy heave, featuring Bloomberg's Eli Lake
Trump's Narrow View of 'Civilization'
The president's Warsaw speech takes a paranoid view of internal threats while downplaying the central role that international exchange has played in the rise of the West.
Food Trucks Sue Louisville Because Law Allows Nearby Restaurants to Shut Them Down
Truck operator: "I feel like this city is about nepotism, cronyism and favoritism."
Regime Change in Iran Is Neither Necessary Nor Prudent
Despite threat inflation by Iran hawks, the country has limited capabilities.
The Foolishness of Pursuing Regime Change in Iran
A certain amount of danger is unavoidable in a multinational world. And the dangers of trying to achieve total security are the worst dangers of all.
Are Terrible State Alcohol Laws on the Way Out?
A South Carolina Supreme Court decision rejects rules based on economic protectionism.
As World Refugee Population Hits All-Time High, U.S. on Pace to Welcome Third-Lowest Percentage in Recorded History
Global refugee population from 2012-2016 spikes from 10.5 million to 17.2 million; Trump so far admitting fewer than 3,500 per month
Interventionism and Domestic Russia Hysteria Ratchet Up Syria Tensions
The U.S. shoots down a Syrian fighter jet; Russia responds by warning US planes could be considered air targets.
Senate Vote on Saudi Arms Deal Fails, But Momentum Against Saudi Alliance Growing
By a closer margin than the last time Sens. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Chris Murphy (D-Ct.), and Al Franken (D-Minn.) tried to block a Saudi arms deal.
Trump's First Leak Arrest: An Old War on Leakers, Not a New War on the Press
Imprisoning people who reveal top-secret reports has become business as usual. Should it be?
Trump's Wrong on Trade With Germany and a Liability to the Anti-NATO Argument
Both Trump and his mainstream critics are wrong about NATO.
George Clooney Leaves Free Market Solutions Out of Proposals to Fight World Poverty
Private enterprise helps global economic development in ways besides simple charity.
Paris Agreement Climate Change
Can Trump Unilaterally Withdraw from International Climate Agreements?
Here's what the law says.
Jared Kushner's Russian Escapade
It raises the perennial question about Trump: What's worse-if he doesn't know what he's doing or if he does?
Fewer People Exposed to Horrors of War
In general, the world is becoming a more peaceful place as the percentage of the total labor force represented by armed forces personnel declines.
That Old-Time Civil Religion
Faith, dogma, and the constant reinvention of U.S. foreign policy
The Fifth Column Branches Out to Sirius XM POTUS!
Channel 124 on Saturday and Sunday. But you can still listen to the latest episode right here!
Trump Tries to Make NATO Spending Demand Stick
But he's diminished the strength of that demand since taking office.
Cory Doctorow on Cyber Warfare, Lawbreaking, and His New Novel 'Walkaway'
The novelist, activist, and BoingBoing founder on cyber warfare, Uber-style reputation economics, and what he's likely to get arrested for someday.
Trump: Uniquely Qualified for an Israeli-Palestinian Peace Deal?
Trump isn't very engaged with the issue. Maybe that's a good thing.
