It’s the Media, Stupid

One thread that runs through most explanations for Tuesday’s result.

[Minnesota Governor Tim Walz on stage before Senator Amy Klobuchar announces her 2020 presidential bid by Lorie Shaull from Washington, United States [Minnesota Governor Tim Walz on stage before Senator Amy Klobuchar announces her 2020 presidential bid by Lorie Shaull from Washington, United States

Tim Walz’ Military Record III

A third (and hopefully final) post on the matter.

The Gender Wars

They’re apparently ongoing. Who knew?

Vice President Kamala Harris delivers remarks to the National Congress of American Indians Annual Conference, Tuesday, October 12, 2021 in the South Court Auditorium of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building at the White House. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson) Vice President Kamala Harris delivers remarks to the National Congress of American Indians Annual Conference, Tuesday, October 12, 2021 in the South Court Auditorium of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building at the White House. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

News Travels Faster

Five minutes is an eternity in the current information environment.

Why the IDF Fights As It Does

A small, conscript-driven military has very different training and doctrine than ours.

China’s Gray Zone Activities

It’s more than competition but less than war.

photo of war, plastic, small, army, green, toy, weapon, military, gun, soldier, combat, tiny, isolated, object, model, troop, miniature, white, figurine, commando, play, man, figure, battle, attack, background, enemy, action, warfare, childhood, army men, grass, action figure photo of war, plastic, small, army, green, toy, weapon, military, gun, soldier, combat, tiny, isolated, object, model, troop, miniature, white, figurine, commando, play, man, figure, battle, attack, background, enemy, action, warfare, childhood, army men, grass, action figure

War, Maturity, and Necessity

Are we avoiding facing hard truths?

The ‘Outside Agitator’ Trope

It’s been around for a very long time.

"Speaker Mike Johnson and I just had a great meeting. We’re committed to meeting our nation’s biggest challenges with strong Republican leadership." - 26 October 2023 "Speaker Mike Johnson and I just had a great meeting. We’re committed to meeting our nation’s biggest challenges with strong Republican leadership." - 26 October 2023

A Return of National Security Republicans?

Several glimmers of hope from the Ukraine funding bill.

Russia’s Continued Cheating in International Sports

The sad joke continues.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Sept. 19, 2023 Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Sept. 19, 2023

The Case of the Missing SECDEF

A truly weird story.

Claudine Gay addresses an audience during commencement ceremonies, Thursday, May 25, 2023, on the Harvard campus, in Cambridge, Mass. Claudine Gay addresses an audience during commencement ceremonies, Thursday, May 25, 2023, on the Harvard campus, in Cambridge, Mass.

Claudine Gay Resigns as Harvard President

Repeated academic integrity violations led to her forced ouster.

A Bad Year For The West?

The BBC’s security correspondent thinks so.

Henry Kissinger, 1923-2023

The most important and controversial American diplomat of the postwar era is gone at 100.

A Foreign Policy Election?

A competent leader versus a lunatic would seem an easy choice. Alas.

President Joe Biden disembarks Air Force One, Tuesday, March 28, 2023, at Raleigh-Durham International Airport in Morrisville, North Carolina. President Joe Biden disembarks Air Force One, Tuesday, March 28, 2023, at Raleigh-Durham International Airport in Morrisville, North Carolina.

President Biden to Visit Israel

A high-stakes move.

One Foreign Policy Crisis at a Time, Please

Our limited attention spans.

McCarthy Won’t Run For Speaker. Now What?

We won’t have Kevin to kick around anymore.

Wayne Maynard, 1948-2023

A longtime friend has passed.

Public Confidence in Military Lowest in Decades

There has been a steady decline the last five years.

Erdogan Conditions Sweden’s NATO Bid on Turkey EU Admission

Finally, a rationale that makes sense.

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The All-Volunteer Force at 50

Is America’s military capable of fighting the next war?

Chotiner Eviscerates Koppel on Kissinger

After giving a softball interview, he apparently expected one in return.

Chinese Attack Critical Infrastructure

The US intelligence community and Silicon Valley are warning of a major threat.

Kick Russia Off the Security Council?

A bad idea backed up by worse reasoning.

Why the Catholic Church Sides with Putin and Orban

The Pope is siding with evil.

Republicans Divided on Foreign Policy

As memory of the Cold War fades, so does support for American primacy.

Most of the World Doesn’t Care About Ukraine

Many in the Global South see the war very differently than we in the West.

What the Hell Are We Shooting Out of the Sky?

It’s probably not strange visitors from outer space but we can’t rule it out.

U. S. Sending Abrams Tanks After All

An object lesson on the challenges of alliance politics.

We’re Doomed! Doomed!

We’re all gonna die, folks.

GOP Behavior

Ezra Klein has some thought on the Republican Party.

Japan’s Shift to Robust Military Ally

A more dangerous world is changing the relationship.

Flag Ukraine Silhouette Ruins Soldier War Flag Ukraine Silhouette Ruins Soldier War

Turkey Sending Banned Munitions to Ukraine

A controversial artillery round is being used effectively against Russian forces.

US Intelligence Fomenting Overseas Protests?

A 34-year CIA officer’s thoughts.

The Depth of US Support to Ukraine

The collaboration has been even more robust than advertised.

Trump Subpoenaed by January 6 Committee

A dramatic if likely symbolic move.

Putin’s Nuclear Gambit

The threat is not idle and the options for responding are not good.

Iran Protests Intensity Highest Since 1979

The ayatollahs face the biggest challenge to their authority in the history of the regime.

Mikhail Gorbachev, 1931-2022

The last Soviet leader is gone at 91.

Dems in Midterms: You’re Saying There’s a Chance?

A 2020 blowout has long been presumed. But maybe it won’t happen.

Russia’s Absurd Demands for Griner and Whalen Release

Moscow is playing a very strange game.

China’s Worrisome Behavior

The competition is slowly ratcheting up.

Biden Continuing Trump Foreign Policy?

Normalcy is not a bad thing.

Flag Ukraine Silhouette Ruins Soldier War Flag Ukraine Silhouette Ruins Soldier War

Doves Split Over Ukraine

Foreign policy makes strange bedfellows.

US and UK Intelligence Leaders Warn of Increasing Chinese Threat

They’re stealing our secrets and working to undermine our elections.

Finland and Sweden Apply to NATO, Turkey an Obstacle

A diplomatic nightmare brewing since last week is now upon us.

Russia’s Diplomatic Isolation

The West continues to close Moscow off.

Madeleine Albright, 1937-2022

A trailblazing diplomat has died at 84.

Zelensky’s Plea for Help

Ukraine’s leader wants more help than he’s going to get.