Ideas

Milley Is Trump's Latest Reluctant Enabler

Maintaining the balance between serving the president and protecting the Constitution is impossible over time.

Ideas

Trump Is Attacking the Final Safeguard Against Executive Abuses

The president has defied Congress, and gummed up cases in court. Now he’s firing the inspectors general.

Ideas

Donald Trump Has No Plan

Thousands are dying each week, the economy is cratering, and the president is at a total loss.

Ideas

Why Michael Flynn Is Walking Free

The former national security adviser figured out that loyalty to Trump is now a better bet than loyalty to the rule of law.

Ideas

Trump’s Fixation on the Hostage Crisis Is Driving His Iran Policy

The president’s approach to the Islamic Republic appears stuck in 1979.

Ideas

Everyone Knew We Were Losing in Afghanistan

And everyone in charge insisted we were winning.

Ideas

It Was a Corrupt Quid Pro Quo

Not only did the president hold up aid to Ukraine; he made its release contingent on a statement advancing his own political interests.

Ideas

Trump’s Incriminating Conversation With the Ukrainian President

The White House said a transcript of the call would be exculpatory—but the summary it released only adds to the problems facing Trump.

Ideas

The White House’s Impossible Job

The problem is not that Trump failed to get along with John Bolton—it’s that he doesn’t want a national security adviser in the first place.

Ideas

Trump’s Unpardonable Admission About His Border Wall

The president wants to spend billions of taxpayer dollars for a project that he acknowledges is largely symbolic—even if it breaks the law.

Ideas

Trump's Thin Skin Is Hurting US National Security

The president’s aides are reluctant even to broach the dangers of white racist violence and electoral interference with him.

Ideas

Not Even Trump Has Any Idea What His Iran Policy Is

The president canceled a strike because it was “not proportionate,” and then vowed “obliteration.”

Ideas

Trump’s Efforts at Election Tampering Are Growing Bolder

Having exploited foreign assistance in 2016 and gotten away with it, the president is already trying it again in the 2020 race.

Ideas

Border Disorder: Trump Can’t Figure Out How to Keep His Biggest Promise

The president insisted that preventing illegal immigration would be simple and easy. Through a series of increasingly desperate attempts, he’s discovering that isn’t true.

Ideas

Trump Pushes Army Corps of Engineers to Hire a Favored Firm

The president should not be pressing military leaders to award a contract to a company controlled by a political ally that has failed to meet standards.

Ideas

Once Again, Trump Fails to Press Putin on Electoral Interference

No one in government other than Trump denies the Russian attack. That makes his May 3 phone call even more surreal.

Ideas

Trump's Approach to National Security: Whatever Benefits Me

This president stands apart from his government, but from Russia to DHS, his selective silence on security matters has policy effects.

Policy

Mueller’s Damning Portrait of Trump

The special counsel’s report shows a president who lies, acts rashly, and is routinely ignored by his own staff.

Ideas

Trump’s Border Obsession Is Courting Disaster

The president’s single-minded focus on immigration is shortchanging Homeland Security’s other crucial functions, from election security to emergency response.

Ideas

How Seriously Should the World Take Trump’s Venezuela Threat?

This isn’t the first time the president has threatened military force against the country, but now he is surrounded by regime-change advocates.