Policy
How the Nunes Memo Harms Intelligence Oversight
The document’s lasting effect will be undermining the ability of Congress to prevent political abuses of surveillance powers.
Ideas
How Trump Just Might Close Guantanamo Prison
The president asked SecDef and Congress to ensure that detention policies support warfighting aims. That should mean shutting Gitmo down.
Threats
Pentagon Confirms It’s Developing Nuclear Cruise Missile to Counter a Similar Russian One
The new Nuclear Posture Review nods to North Korea, China, and Iran but devotes most of its time to Russian threats and U.S. deterrence.
Ideas
Americans Are Rising to This Historic Moment
The commitment of ordinary citizens to democratic ideals is being tested each day—and its enduring strength is containing the damage of Trump’s presidency.
Threats
US-Backed Syrian Force Holding ‘Hundreds’ of ISIS Foreign Fighters
A day after CENTCOM'S leader says they should face prosecution at home, Trump hints at Gitmo option.
Ideas
Trump’s National-Security Strategy Is Focused on Great Powers. He Isn’t.
On Tuesday, the president rushed past Russia and China to talk about immigrants, terrorism, and North Korea.
Ideas
Is Trump Preparing for War With North Korea?
The omissions in the State of the Union, and the fate of Victor Cha, all point in the same direction.
Threats
DHS’s New Plan for Refugee Screening Looks a Lot Like TSA PreCheck
Forget bans. Risk-based screening is the new way to vet refugees, and it could be useful for visa applicants as well.
Ideas
America's Longest War—and the Ally That Fuels It
How Pakistan has perpetuated the Afghan conflict.
Threats
Shrugging Toward Doomsday
Experts warn that the world is now as dangerous as it was at the height of the Cold War. Many Americans already know it.
Threats
Trump's Red Line on North Korea Gets Fuzzier
Mike Pompeo adds a few caveats to America's strategy.
Ideas
How Should the Pentagon Reshape Its Mideast Posture? Four Indicators to Watch
A tour of possible scenarios reveals what U.S. policymakers ought to be focused on as they chart the future of regional force posture.
Ideas
We Don't Need a Bigger Nuclear Button
The plan outlined in a draft of the Nuclear Posture Review would cost trillions of dollars — and make Americans no safer.
Policy
UPDATED: See Who Gets Sent Home in a Shutdown
Some agencies would furlough virtually everyone, while others would remain completely open if there is a lapse in appropriations.
Ideas
What if H.R. McMaster Is Right About North Korea?
It’s reassuring to think the country wants only a defensive capability. It could very easily be wrong.
Threats
The Misleading Math in the Trump Administration’s ‘Foreign Terrorists’ Report
The Jan. 16 report counts people extradited to the U.S. and doesn’t count American white supremacists.
Policy
Just One in Six Feds Say They’re Excited to Implement Trump's Agenda
Most federal employees report feeling disrespected by the president; many say they will leave federal service soon.
Ideas
Look to Norway? Yes.
Norwegian resistance once held off the Nazis. Today, Norway is resisting Russia’s meddling better than Trump, say some senators. Here's how.
Policy
Shutdown, Surveillance Deadlines Loom Over Congress
A pair of lawmakers also proposed a pay raise for federal employees.
Ideas