This week has driven a wedge between Israel and its Arab neighbors, a win for Iran and Hamas. It also puts Ukraine and Taiwan on back burners, which advances the foreign policy of Russia and China.
As Hezbollah threatens to open a second front in the Israel-Hamas war, Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Benny Gantz formed a war cabinet Wednesday that includes the two men and Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
The RESTRICT Act (S. 686) is a proposed bill in Congress described as a TikTok ban, but it goes way beyond that. The bill would grant the White House, through the Commerce Department, the power to censor any social media platform.
Liberals in Israel celebrated China brokering the restoration of relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, seeing it as a setback for Benjamin Netanyahu. But cooperation between the world’s main Sunni and Shia powers is nothing to cheer.Continue Reading
The $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill signed by President Biden prohibits using Border Patrol funding to improve border security, but gives $410 million to Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Tunisia, and Oman—for border security.Continue Reading
The important 12-mile-long bridge connecting Russia to the Crimean peninsula was damaged by a large explosion Friday. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin blames Ukraine; the question is what comes next.Continue Reading
The opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England featured a 30-foot mechanical bull. Does it represent more than just the industrial history of Birmingham?Continue Reading
The Department of Justice filed suit Tuesday against Idaho, seeking to overturn what it calls the state’s “near-total ban” on abortion. Attorney General Merrick Garland claims, however, the lawsuit has “nothing to do with going around” the Supreme Court.Continue Reading
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and several other Democratic representatives arrived in Taiwan Tuesday night, contrary to the wishes of the Chinese government and the Biden administration. Meanwhile, China’s military launched live-fire exercises in the waters around Taiwan.Continue Reading
A jury acquitted Michael Sussman of lying to the FBI Tuesday in a case stemming from the Clinton campaign’s involvement in promoting the Trump-Russia collusion hoax. The question is what special counsel John Durham does next.Continue Reading