Outside the Beltway

President Donald J. Trump attends Game 3 of the NBA finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs, Monday, June 8, 2026, at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

President Donald J. Trump attends Game 3 of the NBA finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs, Monday, June 8, 2026, at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Tired of All the Winning

James Joyner · Thursday, June 18, 2026 · 11 comments

Not everyone is happy with Trump’s huge Iran War victory.

President Donald Trump hosts a bilateral dinner for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Monday, July 7, 2025, in the Blue Room.

President Donald Trump hosts a bilateral dinner for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Monday, July 7, 2025, in the Blue Room.

Netanyahu Faces Uphill Battle To Keep His Job

James Joyner · Wednesday, June 17, 2026 · 11 comments

The wildly unpopular premier is running again in October.

President Donald Trump speaks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office after a joint press conference announcing the U.S. peace plan for Gaza, Monday, September 29, 2025.

President Donald Trump speaks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office after a joint press conference announcing the U.S. peace plan for Gaza, Monday, September 29, 2025.

Everyone’s A Critic

James Joyner · Tuesday, June 16, 2026 · 6 comments

President Trump shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

I’ll Have What Friedman is Smoking…

Steven L. Taylor · Monday, March 2, 2026 · 21 comments

Are our columnists learning? (I think you know the answer).

Iran War Roundup

James Joyner · Saturday, February 28, 2026 · 15 comments

Preliminary thoughts from several columnists.

President Donald Trump participates in the Board of Peace Charter Announcement and Signing ceremony during the World Economic Forum, Thursday, January 22, 2026, at the Davos Congress Center in Davos, Switzerland.

President Donald Trump participates in the Board of Peace Charter Announcement and Signing ceremony during the World Economic Forum, Thursday, January 22, 2026, at the Davos Congress Center in Davos, Switzerland.

Trump Preparing For War With Iran

James Joyner · Friday, February 20, 2026 · 27 comments

You’re going to be finding out over the next, maybe, 10 days. 10 to 15 days, pretty much, maximum.

Pentagon Cutting Ties With Harvard

James Joyner · Saturday, February 7, 2026 · 18 comments

Other schools are likely to follow.

President Donald Trump delivers remarks to the Knesset in Jerusalem, Israel, Monday, October 13, 2025, celebrating the U.S.-brokered ceasefire and hostage release agreement between Israel and Hamas.

President Donald Trump delivers remarks to the Knesset in Jerusalem, Israel, Monday, October 13, 2025, celebrating the U.S.-brokered ceasefire and hostage release agreement between Israel and Hamas.

Trump’s Peace Deal May Prove Short-Lived

James Joyner · Tuesday, October 21, 2025 · 17 comments

The hostages have been released, but the war appears back on.

The Largest One-Day Protest In American History

James Joyner · Sunday, October 19, 2025 · 19 comments

Millions turned out in support of basic ideals.

A No Kings Field Report

Steven L. Taylor · Saturday, October 18, 2025 · 10 comments

Thoughts and photos from downtown Montgomery, AL.

Trump Administration Clearly Doesn’t Like the “No Kings” Rallies

Steven L. Taylor · Monday, October 13, 2025 · 11 comments

President Donald Trump delivers remarks to the Knesset in Jerusalem, Israel, Monday, October 13, 2025, celebrating the U.S.-brokered ceasefire and hostage release agreement between Israel and Hamas.

President Donald Trump delivers remarks to the Knesset in Jerusalem, Israel, Monday, October 13, 2025, celebrating the U.S.-brokered ceasefire and hostage release agreement between Israel and Hamas.

Trump Takes Victory Lap as Israeli Hostages Freed

James Joyner · Monday, October 13, 2025 · 13 comments

All 20 living hostages have been released and the bodies of others are slowly being returned.

Trump’s Nobel Bid

James Joyner · Thursday, October 9, 2025 · 36 comments

Peace Prize in our time!

President Donald Trump speaks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office after a joint press conference announcing the U.S. peace plan for Gaza, Monday, September 29, 2025.

President Donald Trump speaks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office after a joint press conference announcing the U.S. peace plan for Gaza, Monday, September 29, 2025.

Trump Peace Plan to Be Implemented as Negotiations Continue

James Joyner · Thursday, October 9, 2025 · No comments

A pause in fighting, release of hostages, and then . . . ?

President Donald Trump speaks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office after a joint press conference announcing the U.S. peace plan for Gaza, Monday, September 29, 2025.

President Donald Trump speaks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office after a joint press conference announcing the U.S. peace plan for Gaza, Monday, September 29, 2025.

Hamas Agrees To Release Hostages But Wants Further Negotiations

James Joyner · Saturday, October 4, 2025 · 11 comments

A No masquerading as a Yes to Trump’s peace deal.

President Donald Trump speaks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office after a joint press conference announcing the U.S. peace plan for Gaza, Monday, September 29, 2025.

President Donald Trump speaks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office after a joint press conference announcing the U.S. peace plan for Gaza, Monday, September 29, 2025.

Trump Offers Hamas Take It Or Leave It Peace Deal

James Joyner · Tuesday, September 30, 2025 · 11 comments

Netanyahu will take it.

Israel Orders Gaza City Evacuated

James Joyner · Tuesday, September 9, 2025 · 35 comments

The inevitable has finally arrived.

Israel Bombs Hamas Leaders in Quatar

James Joyner · Tuesday, September 9, 2025 · 14 comments

BREAKING NEWS

Genocide, War Crimes, and Gaza

James Joyner · Wednesday, August 13, 2025 · 45 comments

There are no satisfying answers.

President Donald Trump hosts a bilateral dinner for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Monday, July 7, 2025, in the Blue Room.

President Donald Trump hosts a bilateral dinner for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Monday, July 7, 2025, in the Blue Room.

Israel To Retake Gaza City

James Joyner · Friday, August 8, 2025 · 12 comments

The seemingly inevitable next step.

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France Recognizes Palestine

James Joyner · Friday, July 25, 2025 · 42 comments

Responding to tragedy with farce.

President Donald Trump hosts a bilateral dinner for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Monday, July 7, 2025, in the Blue Room.

President Donald Trump hosts a bilateral dinner for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Monday, July 7, 2025, in the Blue Room.

Did Netanyahu Prolong the Gaza War To Save Himself?

James Joyner · Friday, July 11, 2025 · 26 comments

A long exposé misses the mark.

Why Might Iran Want a Nuke?

Steven L. Taylor · Saturday, June 21, 2025 · 34 comments

Is dropping it on Israel the most likely reason?

The free high-resolution photo of wood, play, monument, statue, product, sad, sculpture, art, thinker, bronze, carving, patience, holzfigur, consider, bronze sculpture, question mark, at a loss , taken with an unknown camera 02/07 2017 The picture taken with The image is released free of copyrights under Creative Commons CC0. You may download, modify, distribute, and use them royalty free for anything you like, even in commercial applications. Attribution is not required.

The free high-resolution photo of wood, play, monument, statue, product, sad, sculpture, art, thinker, bronze, carving, patience, holzfigur, consider, bronze sculpture, question mark, at a loss , taken with an unknown camera 02/07 2017 The picture taken with The image is released free of copyrights under Creative Commons CC0. You may download, modify, distribute, and use them royalty free for anything you like, even in commercial applications. Attribution is not required.

A Couple of Observations Relevant to Iran

Steven L. Taylor · Tuesday, June 17, 2025 · 75 comments

Not really posts, but hey, here they are anyway.

Israel May Attack Iran Soon

James Joyner · Thursday, June 12, 2025 · 28 comments

A major escalation in Middle East tensions is forecast.