Policy
Trump Announces Second North Korea Summit in State of the Union
The president stuck to the teleprompter in his 82-minute SOTU speech, the second-longest in history.
Policy
Senior Officials Downplay Trump Plan to Keep Troops In Iraq to ‘Watch Iran’
Some Baghdad watchers say the president’s remarks could imperil the U.S. troop presence in Iraq.
Ideas
The US Needs a Real Plan to Counter China in Africa
The current toothless strategy won’t prevent Beijing from, say, squeezing supply lines to America's biggest African base.
Ideas
The Unpredictable Rise of China
Xi Jinping seeks national rejuvenation, but his nation’s mounting power masks increased instability.
Policy
Trump Administration Downplays Fears of Post-Treaty Arms Race
"Nothing the U.S. is currently looking at is nuclear in character,” a senior administration official says, after announcing INF withdrawal.
Ideas
Trump, Nukes, and No First Use
Two bills aim to enact a long-overdue policy that will make the world less dangerous.
Policy
Trump Renews Attacks on US Intelligence Community for Contradicting Him
“They are wrong!” he wrote in early-morning tweets. “Perhaps Intelligence should go back to school!”
Ideas
A Strategic Disaster Looms at the 2nd Trump-Kim Summit
The Trump administration has declined to rule out withdrawing its troops from South Korea.
Policy
The Cost of Trump’s Insistence on Border Wall: $3B in Economic Damage
The immediate hit to the economy is $11 billion in lost productivity, much of which will be recouped later this year, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
Ideas
Trump Is Destroying His Own Case for a National Emergency
By waiting for Congress to act, the president is undermining the legal basis for any declaration.
Ideas
The White House’s Move on Venezuela Is the Least Trumpian Thing It’s Done
The Trump administration’s concerted diplomatic effort did not originate on Twitter.
Policy
Trump Announces Deal to End Longest-Ever Shutdown — For Now
Congress is expected to quickly pass a new stopgap spending measure to reopen the government through Feb. 15.
Policy
The Government is Spending $90 Million a Day to Pay People Not to Work
The government’s debt to furloughed workers has already surpassed the payroll costs related to the 2013 shutdown.
Policy
Is Trump Setting the Stage for a Military Intervention in Venezuela?
“Everything is on the table, all options,” an administration official said.
Policy
FBI Agents Detail Shutdown's Toll
The FBI Agents Association is documenting the harms that the funding freeze have inflicted on investigations, travel, training, payments to confidential sources and employee benefits.
Ideas
Let’s Make This the Last Shutdown. Please.
Congress can pass a law saying that if no budget is passed as the fiscal year expires, the government proceeds at current funding levels.
Ideas
Trump Tried Partisan Applause Lines Inside the Pentagon. Nobody Applauded.
The president uses a missile-defense policy rollout to bash Democrats before the military’s senior leaders.
Policy
It's Official: Furloughed Feds Will Receive Back Pay Once the Shutdown Ends
Bill signed into law on Wednesday also will ensure retroactive compensation for furloughed feds in future shutdowns.
Ideas
The Shutdown Is Doing Lasting Damage to National Security
With every passing day, America’s defenses are weakening.
Policy