World Leaders

Giorgia Meloni speaks during a rally on September 22, 2022, in Rome.

Giorgia Meloni’s Government Declares War on Same-Sex Parents Giorgia Meloni’s Government Declares War on Same-Sex Parents

In the Italian far right’s version of identity politics LGBTQ families, migrants, and women are all targets.

Apr 12, 2023 / David Broder

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and President of the Central African Republic Faustin Archange Touadera

Why Russia Can Circumvent Sanctions Using the Central African Republic Why Russia Can Circumvent Sanctions Using the Central African Republic

Seeking distance from the West and its colonial past, the CAR has partnered with Russia and made itself instrumental to Russia’s ability to continue its war.

Apr 12, 2023 / Anjan Sundaram

Emmanuel Macron sits at a table during a live address

Macron Fails to Persuade, So Opts for Coercion Macron Fails to Persuade, So Opts for Coercion

President Emmanuel Macron’s unpopular pension reform, forced through undemocratically, will fuel support for the far right and further weaken voters’ faith in politics.

Apr 6, 2023 / Benoît Bréville

woman holds anti-Trump sign

Trump’s Indictment Will Dominate the 2024 Election Trump’s Indictment Will Dominate the 2024 Election

The GOP’s defense of the former president means the election will be a referendum on the rule of law.

Mar 31, 2023 / Jeet Heer

Former Defense Secretary General James Mattis speaks with Richard Haass (right), president of The Council on Foreign Relations, in 2019.

After the Iraq Debacle, Why Does the National Security Establishment Remain Unshaken? After the Iraq Debacle, Why Does the National Security Establishment Remain Unshaken?

Mission unaccomplished—and lessons unlearned.

Mar 30, 2023 / Katrina vanden Heuvel

Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin

Putin’s Nuremberg Moment Putin’s Nuremberg Moment

The ICC’s arrest warrant against the Russian president was historic. But where will it lead?

Mar 28, 2023 / Reed Brody

Protests against pension reform in France

What Will Macron Do When Arbitrary Arrests and Police Violence Fail? What Will Macron Do When Arbitrary Arrests and Police Violence Fail?

Bypassing the National Assembly to force through his unpopular pension reform looked like a clever move—until it brought the French people back onto the streets.

Mar 27, 2023 / Harrison Stetler

Former US vice president Mike Pence

Pious Pence and Sanctimonious Ron Take a Pounding Pious Pence and Sanctimonious Ron Take a Pounding

The recent poor showing by both of Trump’s leading rivals show he’s a hard act to imitate.

Mar 24, 2023 / Jeet Heer

Protesters dressed with cutout faces of Biden and Putin prepare to throw nuclear weapons in the garbage

Is the US Flirting With Nuclear War? Is the US Flirting With Nuclear War?

A proxy war pitting the United States against a paranoid adversary with a massive nuclear arsenal at his command: What could possibly go wrong?

Mar 23, 2023 / Andrew J. Bacevich

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping, right, in April 2019 in Beijing, China.

Biden Doesn’t Need to Keep Pushing Xi and Putin Closer Biden Doesn’t Need to Keep Pushing Xi and Putin Closer

A path away from great power conflict.

Mar 22, 2023 / Jake Werner

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