Policy

Trump Has Considerable Authority to Revamp the Intelligence Community

But the the 2004 law that created the Office of the Director of National Intelligence creates some hurdles as well.

Ideas

Still Fighting, US Troops from Syria to Afghanistan Await Trump Orders

Special operators move ahead with plans for the press to Raqqa, but uncertainty clouds US war plans.

Policy

How Putin is Using Populist Movements Against the West

It’s time to decide what goals should guide American foreign policy in the 21st century, and what allies are needed to advance them.

Policy

Intelligence Chief Sets High Expectations For Next Week’s Hacking Report

James Clapper promises more details of Russian influence operations aimed at U.S. election.

Ideas

As Trump's Foreign Policy Emerges, Watch His Temperament in Washington

By what Trump has shown, even where there's policy continuity the world will see Washington as more erratic and less reliable.

Science & Tech

Is This the Accidental Mastermind in the DNC Hack?

The White House’s new list of sanctioned Russians includes a young Moscow-based hacker, much to her professed surprise.

Policy

Tracking Trump’s National-Security Conflicts of Interest

A global business empire raises the question: is the president’s foreign policy serving America’s interests or his own?

Ideas

Trump, Taiwan, and The Fantasy of a Phone Call

China will fight back. Taiwan’s backers should never forget that.

Policy

The Senate Will Investigate Russian Interference in the US Election

With Mitch McConnell’s backing, a bipartisan inquiry could bring the first confrontation between Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress.

Policy

Trump Republicans See Putin's Russia As a New Front Line Against Islam

Conservatives are divided on whether Putin’s Russia is a totalitarian enemy or a defender of the Christian West.

Policy

Five Questions to Help You Understand That Russians Hacked the US Election

As the culpability of Putin’s government becomes more clear, a host of related issues remain unresolved.

Policy

Trump May Be on Collision Course with Congress over Russian Hacking

Lawmakers call Russian meddling in the election a threat to democracy; Trump says it never happened.

Policy

What You Don’t Know About Gen. John Kelly

The four-star boy from Boston brings to DHS the grief of losing friends to America’s drug epidemic and a son to the war on terrorism.

Policy

Rand Paul Is Already Planning to Disrupt Trump’s Foreign Policy

Some see the president-elect’s inexperience as an open door for the Kentucky senator and oth­er mem­bers of Con­gress to re­as­sert them­selves against more intervention abroad.

Policy

Littoral Combat Ship, at a Crossroads

With the ship’s purchase plans in doubt, detractors exchange fire with Navy supporters at contentious Senate hearing.

Ideas

How Trump Can Heal US-Gulf Rifts

The president-elect has an opportunity, and an obligation, to reengage with Gulf Cooperation Council members.

Policy

The NSA-Cyber Command Divorce Is Inching Closer to Reality

Even if the spending-bill provision becomes law, the split may not happen until 2018.

Ideas

As Trump Waits, So Do US War Fighters, Planners

The truth is nobody from the Pentagon to Baghdad knows yet if Trump will escalate or withdraw from America's ongoing fights around the world.

Policy

The Other Michael Flynn

Donald Trump’s national security advisor sounded very different when he was running counterinsurgency campaigns in Kabul.