Trump Nominates Robert Wilkie As Next Veterans Affairs Secretary

After the Ronny Jackson disaster, President Trump has made a new selection for Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

Gina Haspel Confirmed As C.I.A Director

As expected, Gina Haspel was confirmed as C.I.A. Director yesterday despite her controversial record when it comes to torture.

Senate Intelligence Committee Finds Russia Sought To Aid Trump In 2016 Election

Backing up the nation’s intelligence agencies, the Senate Intelligence Committee said in a preliminary statement that it had concluded that Russia sought to aid Donald Trump’s campaign in the 2016 Presidential election.

North Korea Moves Goalposts, Threatens To Cancel Trump-Kim Summit

Not surprisingly, the North Koreans are pushing back against American efforts to force them into a corner on denuclearization.

Red State Democrat Doug Jones To Vote Against Haspel Nomination

At least one red state Democrat will be voting against Gina Haspel.

Gina Haspel Nomination To Be C.I.A. Director Has A Clear Path To Confirmation

With a third Democrat crossing the aisle to support her, Gina Haspel now has the votes she needs to become the next C.I.A. Director.

U.S. Opens Embassy In Jerusalem Amid Massive Deadly Protests In Gaza

Celebrations and a deadly day in the Middle East.

Donald Trump Shrugging Donald Trump Shrugging

It’s Not ‘Misleading,’ It’s A Lie

When a President lies with the ease and regularity of Donald Trump, it’s the responsibility of all of us to call it what it is and not hide behind weasel words like “misleading.”

Oliver North: N.R.A. Being Treated Worse Than African-Americans During Jim Crow

Oliver North is fitting right in at the N.R.A.

Return to the Axis of Evil: The Legend of Curly’s Gold

Does the administration know what it is doing?

Merkel: Europe Can No Longer Count On The United States

President Trump’s decision to violate the terms of the nuclear deal with Iran could be a turning point in relations between the United States and its most important allies, and not in a good way.

Bolton Dismantles White House Global Health Security Team

The National Security Advisor has broken up the team that manages global epidemics for no apparent reason.

McInerney: Torture ‘Worked’ on John McCain

Another data point demonstrating that a distinguished military career doesn’t preclude being an awful human being or a crackpot.

Trump Summit With Kim Jung Un Set For June 12th In Singapore

The date and location of the meeting between President Trump and Kim Jong Un has been set, but there’s as much chance of failure as their is hope for success.

Haspel Faces Questions About Torture, But Her Confirmation Seems Assured

Gina Haspel faced some tough questions from Democrats regarding her role in the C.I.A.’s post-9/11 torture programs, but she’s likely to be confirmed anyway.

Three Americans Held In North Korea Released

Some good news from North Korea.

Trump Announces U.S. Withdrawal From The Iran Nuclear Deal

As expected, President Trump has withdrawn the United States from the nuclear deal with Iran. There was no rational basis for doing so.

Majority Of Americans Say U.S. Should Stay In The Iran Nuclear Deal

A majority of Americans want the President to stay in the nuclear deal with Iran. That’s unlikely to matter to him.

On Eve Of Confirmation Hearing, Haspel Suggested Withdrawing CIA Nomination

With the start of her confirmation hearings just days away, Gina Haspel’s nomination to be C.I.A. Director is by no means secure.

U.S. Navy Reviving Atlantic Fleet

Seven years after deactivation, the U.S. Second Fleet will be patrolling the North Atlantic again.

Trump Team Conducted Dirty Ops Against Iran Deal Officials

They hired Israeli Private Investigators to dig up dirt on former Obama officials, including Ben Rhodes and Colin Kahl.

Netanyahu’s New Claims Against Iran Prove To Be Much Ado About Nothing

Israeli Prime Minister gave a speech yesterday designed to undermine the nuclear deal with Iran. The evidence was unconvincing, but the speech was really only aimed at an audience of one.

Bolton Sees Libya As Model, North Korea Likely Sees It As a Warning

The United States is apparently looking to Libya as a guide for upcoming talks with North Korea. The DPRK most likely sees the fate of that nation and its leader as a warning.

In One-Sided Report, House Intelligence Committee Finds No Trump-Russia Collusion

The House Intelligence Committee’s report is being touted as vindication by the Trump Administration and its supporters. It’s not.

Russian Lawyer In Trump Tower Meeting Admits She’s A Russian Informant

The lawyer who met with President Trump’s oldest son and other top Trump campaign officials is now admitting that she is a Russian informant.

Leaders Of North And South Korea Meet, But Many Questions Remain Unanswered

The meeting between Kim Jong-Un and Moon Jae-In was historic, but many questions and caveats remain.

Mike Pompeo Confirmed As America’s 70th Secretary Of State

Not surprisingly, Mike Pompeo was confirmed as America’s 70th Secretary of State today. Now, the hard work begins.

Macron: Trump Will Pull Out Of Iran Deal For “Domestic Reasons”

French President Emmanuel Macron predicts, correctly, that President Trump will pull out of the nuclear deal with Iran for the worst possible reasons. This will be a disaster for America’s national interests.

Supreme Court Appears Skeptical Of Challenge To Trump’s Muslim Travel Ban

The Supreme Court heard oral argument in the challenge to President Trump’s Muslim Travel Ban. It didn’t appear to go well for the challengers.

Mike Pompeo’s Path To Foggy Bottom Becomes Clearer

For better or worse, Mike Pompeo will be confirmed as the 70th Secretary of State by the end of this week.

Macron To Lobby Trump On Iran Nuclear Deal

French President Emmanuel Macron is in the U.S. hoping to lobby President Trump to keep the United States in the nuclear deal with Iran. He’s got his work cut out for him.

VA Nominee Ronny Jackson Under Fire for Workplace Misconduct

The White House physician is accused of excessive drinking on the job and improperly dispensing medication among other offenses.

Trump and Violating the Norms of Political Speech

An essay from earlier in the year by Jacob T. Levy underscores some of the points I recently tried to make about democratic norms in the current era.

North Korea Halts Nuclear And Ballistic Missile Tests

The Kim regime has announced the end, for now, of its nuclear and ballistic missile testing programs. To understand why they made this concession, one needs to read between the lines.

Mike Pompeo Didn’t Serve in Gulf War (or Claim Otherwise)

In response to inquiries about frequent media mentions of the Director’s wartime service, the CIA has confirmed he did not serve in combat.

Mike Pompeo Will Probably Be Confirmed As Secretary Of State, But He Shouldn’t Be

Despite facing headwinds in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Mike Pompeo will probably be confirmed as the next Secretary of State. That’s unfortunate.

Republicans Are Actively Helping Trump Undermine The Russia Investigation

Republicans on Capitol Hill and in positions of power are slavishly backing their President over their country. They should be ashamed.

Comey Memos Of Meetings With President Trump Released

Former F.B.I, Director James Comey’s memos regarding his meeting with Donald Trump early in 2017 have been released, and they corroborate everything Comey has said about those conversations.

Barbara Bush, Wife And Mother Of Presidents, Dies At 92

Barbara Bush, only the second woman in history to be the wife and mother of a U.S. President, has died at the age of 92.

Trump Halts New Sanctions Against Russia Over Syria

President Trump undercut his own Ambassador to the United Nations today by blocking the imposition of new sanctions on Russia.

Comey and Brennan are Right but Should STFU

For intelligence and law enforcement to function, their leaders must remain outside the partisan fray—even in recent retirement.

Federal Judge Blocks New Version Of Trump’s Transgender Military Ban

A Federal Judge has struck down the revised version of the ban on transgender members of the military from serving openly, and the ruling has significance that goes well beyond the issue at hand.

Eighty Percent Of Top State Department Positions Remain Vacant

Top positions in the State Department are vacant, and there’s only one person to blame for that.

US, UK, and France Bomb Syria to Send Some Sort of Message about Chemical Weapons

There is no obvious strategy and even the expressed rationale makes no sense.

Once Again, There Are No Good Options In Syria. So Let’s Not Do Anything At All.

The United States can’t do any good in Syria, but we can do a lot of bad.

Most Americans Support Mueller Probe Of Russia, Trump Campaign, And Trump Businesses

Given a choice between Robert Mueller and Donald Trump, most Americans are siding with Mueller. Unless they’re Republicans that is.

Comey Book Is A Shot Across Trump’s Bow

Hang on, the ride on the Trump Train is about to get a lot bumpier.

Attacking Syria Without Congressional Authorization Would Be Illegal

Without Congressional authorization, any attack on Syria would be illegal, but don’t expect Congress to do anything about it.

Trump’s Twitter “Diplomacy” Is Making A Mess Again

Once again, President Trump’s foreign policy tweeting is causing problems.

Trump Weighs Options In Syria While His Twitter Taunting Foolishly Risks Escalation

President Trump took to Twitter this morning and decided poke a stick in the eye of the Russian bear.