Ideas
Trump Should Teach Erdogan a Lesson in Law, Not Corruption
The president offered to help Turkey’s strongman beat U.S. courts, John Bolton has revealed. It only helps Iran.
Policy
Trump Eases Restrictions On Armed Drone Sales Abroad
US says changes needed to compete with China, but critics say it may only alienate allies.
Ideas
Trump’s All-Stick, No-Carrot Approach Has Brought Two US Adversaries Together
The blooming China-Iran bilateral relationship serve as a warning to U.S. policymakers.
Policy
Trump Sending ‘Surge’ of Federal Forces Into Chicago; More Cities to Come
Attorney General Barr said Operation Legend would be different than last week’s crackdown on protesters in Oregon.
Threats
No Orders To Reduce Troops in South Korea Yet, Esper Says
With traditional U.S. deployments still under review, the defense secretary announced he hopes to visit China by year’s end.
Ideas
Tomorrow's Presidential Daily Briefing, By a Former PDB Writer
What must the president's morning threat assessments look like these days?
Ideas
Force Won’t Much Slow Iranian Nuclear Progress, But Something Else Can
The historical record shows that diplomacy can do what force alone has not.
Ideas
Congress Needs a Veto, Not a Notification, on Arms Sales
The Trump administration’s efforts to evade oversight show why more is needed.
Ideas
Happy Birthday to the Bomb
If we want to avoid nuclear destruction for the next 75 years, we must take the president’s finger off the button.
Policy
To Block Trump’s Troop Withdrawals, Congress Turns An Old Tactic Upside Down
Congress historically has tried to force presidents to bring troops home. But in the last three years, lawmakers have repeatedly tried to make laws to do the opposite.
Science & Tech
Peter Thiel’s New Man In The Defense Department
The new head of defense research and engineering comes from the White House with a relatively light resume.
Ideas
Ep. 72: What “China” means in 2020
An exploration of what we mean when we talk about China today.
Ideas
The US Needs a Global Coalition to Defeat COVID
Only a multinational effort can meet this unprecedented threat, say the authors, who led U.S. troops and international coalitions in the Middle East and Asia.
Policy
Army Was Reviewing More Than Confederate Base Names, Officials Reveal
Among the potential friction points eyed were Army National Guard units with nicknames honoring Confederate leaders.
Threats
In Russian Bounties, Former Diplomats See Effort To Mess With US — But Not Much More
Moscow’s strategic calculus is much harder to parse.
Business
'How Much and How Fast': Biden Watchers Anticipate Defense Spending Crunch
Part 4: From the size of the US military to outdated 'legacy' weapons, experts say something has to give.
Science & Tech
How Biden Would Wage Great Power Competition
Part 3: While Trump chooses go-it-alone, Biden wants allies and partners “at the forefront” of U.S. foreign policy. But his options to renew old agreements are limited.
Policy
Political Fight Over Russian Bounty on US Troops Appears to Warp Intel Debate
Democrats suspect the White House is trying to paint the assessment as less solid than it is.
Policy
Biden’s China Policy Starts With Building a Stronger America
Part 2: The candidate’s surrogates are outlining a plan to beat China’s leaders, not change them.
Ideas