Will America Make the Same Mistakes as Britain in the Middle East?
The Suez Crisis demonstrated how "peace through strength" can go terribly wrong.
National Security
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.
Trump's Reported National Security Advisor Supports Bombing Russia and Afghanistan
Mike Waltz has called for a “credible military option” against Iran, wants to “take the handcuffs off” Ukraine, and regrets ending the "multi-generational war" in Afghanistan.
In Michigan, the CIA Beat the FBI
Michiganders had to choose between a hawkish Democrat with an intelligence background and a hawkish Republican with an intelligence background for Senate.
Who Are Langley's Favorite Candidates?
Campaign finance records reveal what the community at the heart of U.S. national security policy thinks about outside politics.
Can the U.S. Government Tell Chinese People Apart?
Drone maker DJI claims the Pentagon has unfairly smeared it as an arm of the Chinese military based on a mix-up of Chinese names.
A Year of War in the Middle East Cost Americans Nearly $23 Billion
U.S. taxpayers are underwriting wars in Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, and Iraq.
U.S.-Funded Armies Fight Each Other In Lebanon
American taxpayers underwrite both the Israeli and Lebanese armies. Now they’re shooting at each other.
Walz and Vance Dodge the Question on Bombing Iran
The first debate question was a pitch for war with Iran. Tim Walz and J.D. Vance both dodged it.
Commerce Department Bans Chinese Car Components
Commerce Secretary Raimondo insists the rule "is a strictly national security action."
Harris and Trump Say They Want Peace. But Neither Has a Plan.
Kamala Harris couldn’t realistically say how she would end the war in Gaza, and Donald Trump couldn’t realistically say how he would end the war in Ukraine.
The War on 'Foreign Influence' Has Become a War on the First Amendment
Go after bribes and espionage, but leave mere speech alone.
Iran Hawks Are Falling for the 'Evil Wizard' Theory of Geopolitics
Assassinating enemy leaders isn’t a silver bullet for solving international conflict.
Court Rules That the Government Can Hide Its Own Report on CIA Torture
The executive branch and the Senate have played hot potato with an infamous torture report, allowing the CIA to evade the Freedom of Information Act.
Tim Walz Is Against Unaccountable Wars—but He Voted To Fund Them Anyways
While the former congressman cares a lot about war powers, he has often flip-flopped on actually enforcing Congress’ red lines.
Will Biden Sleepwalk Into a War With Iran?
Israeli leaders have been betting on a U.S.-Iranian war for a while. After this week, it might be at their doorstep.
Martin Indyk Got Us Knee-Deep Into the Middle East—and Then Tried To Get Us Out
The late U.S. diplomat helped form America’s policies towards Iran, Iraq, and Israel. By the end of his life, he'd had enough.
The 'Pro-Worker' GOP Is Anti-Worker
The New Right talks a big populist game, but their policies hurt the people they're supposed to help.
Pompeo Is Selling a New Iran War to Republicans
Despite the party’s alleged turn against regime change wars, Pompeo’s stab-in-the-back myth has Republicans convinced that the same policy will work this time.
Trump Wishes Americans Stayed in Afghanistan To Fight China
The president who helped end America’s longest war now regrets leaving behind U.S. bases.
At the Republican National Convention, War Is Peace
Trump’s supporters tried to sell “peace through strength”—and war for “generations to come.”
Trump and Vance's Foreign Policy Is More War Disguised As Anti-War
Despite flirting with “America First” realism and restraint, the Republican ticket is all-in on the forever wars.
A Law Professor's Beef With a First Amendment 'Spinning Out of Control': Too Much Speech of the Wrong Sort
Even as he praises judicial decisions that made room for "dissenters" and protected "robust political debate," Tim Wu pushes sweeping rationales for censorship.
Julian Assange's Freedom Came at a Steep Price
Assange's plea deal sets a threatening precedent for free speech and journalism.
He Faced a Terrorism Probe, Went to Jail on a Gun Charge, and Now Is Charged With Drug Possession
Although the FBI never produced evidence that Ali Hemani was a threat to national security, it seems determined to imprison him by any means necessary.
When a North Carolina Colonel Shot This Utility Worker, Journalists Suggested His Victim Was a Spy
The reaction to Ramzan Daraev’s death is an extreme example of anti-immigrant panic and national security paranoia.
Glenn Greenwald: Defund Israel and Free Assange
The free speech absolutist and co-founder of The Intercept dives deep into Israel, Latin America, and the necessity of decentralized media in the age of U.S. security state overreach.
World War War III May Already Have Started—in the Shadows
Cyber intrusions, arson, bombings, and other mayhem feature in the conflict between West and East.
Campaigns Can't Get Worse, Can They?
Plus: A listener asks the editors about President Joe Biden holding up arms shipments to Israel.
Is Chinese Garlic a Threat to National Security?
Plus, an AI-generated recipe for garlic lovers' shrimp scampi
Is America's Blank Check for Israel Ending?
President Biden is holding up a shipment of 3,500 bombs to Israel, after months of resisting any conditions on U.S. aid to Israel.
Does Uncle Sam Consider Your Backyard Restricted Airspace?
The areas where you need FAA approval to fly a model plane or drone are surprisingly large.
They Said They Didn't Want War With Iran. Now They're Cheering on War With Iran.
Many of the Washington hawks calling for war with Iran had sworn up and down that more pressure was not a path to war.
Congress Does Not Come Back With a Warrant
Plus: A listener asks the editors for examples of tasks the government does well (yikes).
U.S. Defense Spending Continues To Spiral Out of Control
Increased spending does not automatically equate to higher quality—something that is often lost in this debate.
Democrats Tank FISA Warrant Requirement
The measure would have required federal agents to get a warrant before searching American communications collected as part of foreign intelligence.
Come Back With a Warrant
Plus: A fight over Section 702 spying reforms, Iran threatens Israel and the U.S., Trump's proposed tariff is even worse than we thought, and more...
America's Drone Industry Is Trying To Ban the Competition
Chinese camera drones are the most popular worldwide. American drone manufacturers argue that's a national security threat.
Biden Wants To Avoid a First Amendment Showdown Over WikiLeaks
U.S. prosecutors are looking to wriggle out of an espionage trial for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
Opposition to U.S. Steel Sale Shows How Similar Biden and Trump Are on Trade
Economic nationalists are claiming the deal endangers "national security" to convince Americans that a good deal for investors, employees, and the U.S. economy will somehow make America less secure. That's nonsense.
Hong Kong Falls, Again
Plus: DEI at the DOE, NYC subway culture, the pandemic's effect on student behavior, and more...
America's $280 Million Military Mission in Niger Ends in Failure
The new Nigerien military government has ordered U.S. forces out of their expensive air base.
TikTok's Opponents Want Chinese-style Censorship in America
Instead of freeing Americans from censorship, the TikTok bill would tighten the U.S. government's control over social media.
Interview Transcripts Support Robert Hur's Description of Biden's 'Poor Memory'
During a congressional hearing, the former special counsel caught flak from Democrats outraged by his legally mitigating but politically damaging portrayal of the president.
Biden Touts More Forever Wars, Breaking His 2021 Promises
In his State of the Union address, Biden promised indefinite U.S. involvement in Ukraine, Gaza, Yemen, and beyond.
Dear Government: Stop Trying To Make TikTok Bans Happen
A new bill would ban TikTok and give the president power to declare other social media apps off limits.
