Buckle up for "a trip through Washington’s rollicking 21st-century influence bazaar, in which elite credibility and social media followings developed around one cause can be rented for any other" @ebazail.bsky.social @adamwren.bsky.social @politico.com www.politico.com/news/2026/06...

The back-channel bid to go soft on Maduro

A web of oil interests, a fallen congressmember, a special envoy and a fleet of social-media influencers tried to pull the Trump administration toward a more accommodating posture on Venezuela. It alm...

politico.com

EXCLUSIVE: A web of oil interests, a fallen congress member, a special envoy and a fleet of social-media influencers tried to pull the Trump administration toward a more accommodating posture on Venezuela. It almost worked. W/ @ebazail.bsky.social www.politico.com/news/2026/06...

The back-channel bid to go soft on Maduro

A web of oil interests, a fallen congressmember, a special envoy and a fleet of social-media influencers tried to pull the Trump administration toward a more accommodating posture on Venezuela. It alm...

politico.com

EXCLUSIVE: Aaron Schock traded congressional disgrace for what he said was his shot at a Venezuelan gold mine — and the chance to remake himself in Trump's Washington. W/ @ebazail.bsky.social www.politico.com/news/2026/06...

All that glitters

Aaron Schock traded congressional disgrace for what he said was his shot at a Venezuelan gold mine — and the chance to remake himself in Trump's Washington.

politico.com

NEW COLUMN … and a quick first foray into video: www.politico.com/news/magazin...

NEW: Plaintiffs' attorneys obtained Signal messages between Homeland Security & FEMA officials that corroborate allegations that an outside contractor served as the 'shadow administrator' of FEMA for months. w @ebazail.bsky.social www.politico.com/news/2026/04...

Court filing backs up claims of ‘shadow administrator’ at FEMA

Republicans have raised specific questions about the role Kara Voorhies played at DHS.

politico.com

SCOOP: The Trump admin is implementing a detailed strategy to push Western Hemisphere countries to stop using Cuba’s (lucrative) medical missions program, according to a State Dept memo: w/ @ebazail.bsky.social www.politico.com/news/2026/03...

Memo lays out Trump’s squeeze on Cuban doctor program

“Honestly, there’s a lot of fear” as Washington pressures other countries to ditch Cuba, a senior Caribbean official said.

politico.com

"Thucydides would be so happy with Stephen Miller," says @ebazail.bsky.social.

Michael Kruse@michaelkruse.bsky.social · 7mo ago

This week's @politico.com Friday Read.

Marco Rubio is taking some serious political risks in pushing the military campaign against Venezeula's Nicolas Maduro. A deep-ish dive by @ebazail.bsky.social and myself: www.politico.com/news/2025/11...

How Rubio’s political fate is entangled with Maduro’s

The U.S. move against Venezuela’s dictator is resonating in Florida, home to a key political constituency of the secretary of State.

politico.com

Why “intends to”*? Why not do it & announce you already have? That’s the standard process. Unless you’re trying to pressure Nicolas Maduro to negotiate something before then? *In his full statement, Rubio says it takes effect Nov. 24.

It's on: The Trump administration is gunning for Maduro's Venezuela via @ebazail.bsky.social www.politico.com/news/2025/10...

Trump’s boat strikes unite regime change advocates and immigration hardliners

Deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are “on the same page” about the U.S. government approaching the South American petrostate as a transnational criminal group.

politico.com

Federal court blocks ICE from detaining unaccompanied minors once they turn 18 The ruling comes a day after ICE confirmed it would offer unaccompanied minors money to self-deport to their home countries From @ebazail.bsky.social www.politico.com/news/2025/10...

Federal court blocks ICE from detaining unaccompanied minors once they turn 18

The ruling comes a day after ICE confirmed it would offer unaccompanied minors money to self-deport to their home countries.

politico.com

“Either through a singular, exceptional penetration or through cumulative penetrations, the Chinese may have a major intelligence advantage in the event of a war with Taiwan and, by extension, with the United States" w/ @ebazail.bsky.social www.politico.com/newsletters/...

Chinese spies threaten Taiwan’s war readiness

Chinese spies have been found lurking in the upper ranks of President Lai Ching-Te's government.

politico.com

EXCLUSIVE: US diplomats have officially been directed to screen the social media and online presence of all student visa applicants.

State Department unveils social media screening rules for all student visa applicants

Applicants will be vetted for “any indications of hostility towards the citizens, culture, government, institutions or founding principles of the United States.”

politico.com

The story has been updated with a bunch more details, including how the department is defining what counts as "onlne presence." Major thanks to @ebazail.bsky.social for crucial help on this. www.politico.com/news/2025/06...

State Department unveils social media screening rules for all student visa applicants

Applicants will be vetted for “any indications of hostility towards the citizens, culture, government, institutions or founding principles of the United States.”

politico.com

Exclusive: The State Department has told U.S. consulates and embassies to start reviewing the social media accounts of Harvard's student visa applicants for antisemitism.

State begins rolling out expanded student visa vetting — starting with Harvard

The State Department issued instructions to consulates and embassies late Thursday telling them to start the vetting immediately.

politico.com

Here’s the free version. FYI — we will update with this info soon — but this also affects visiting faculty, scholars & more, not just students. And if you set your social media to private or don’t do much social media, the visa officer may hold that against you: www.politico.com/news/2025/05...

State implements reviews of Harvard visa applicants’ social media accounts

The State Department issued instructions to consulates and embassies late Thursday telling them to start the vetting immediately.

politico.com

SCOOP: The State Dept has begun rolling out its enhanced social media vetting plan. It’s starting with Harvard. We have the cable. Free version of story will post soon, and we will update with details: subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...

POLITICO Pro: State implements reviews of Harvard visa applicants’ social media accounts

The State Department issued instructions to consulates and embassies late Thursday telling them to start the vetting immediately.

subscriber.politicopro.com

As we gear up for #GUReunion 2025, we're spotlighting SFS alums @ldelevingne.bsky.social, @megkinnardap.bsky.social, @ebazail.bsky.social & Annabelle Timsit who've turned a passion for global affairs into journalism careers. 🗞️🌍 Read more: bit.ly/4dKT4Bl

SFS journalist alumni tell the world's stories - SFS - School of Foreign Service - Georgetown University

Many SFS alumni become journalists, driven by a shared call to inform. We spoke with several about their paths, lessons and lasting SFS impact.

bit.ly

NEW COLUMN: It's absurd for President Trump and his team to act like they cannot easily free Kilmar Abrego Garcia from El Salvador's prisons. But what if we were to play along with this performance? What are Trump's options? My latest: www.politico.com/news/magazin...

Trump Is Pretending to Be Weak When It Comes to El Salvador

Does the president remember he’s already freed many people wrongfully detained overseas?

politico.com

NEW: I wrote for POLITICO's Nightly Newsletter about Pope Francis, and the uncertain future facing the Catholic Church in the wake of his passing today. www.politico.com/newsletters/...

An uncertain next act for the Catholic Church

politico.com

1/Hi all. Yes, I’ve seen the document that may be a draft executive order reorganizing the State Department. No, I’m not certain it’s what will reach the president’s desk — if he even chooses to do this through an EO.

A must-read (again) from @nahaltoosi.bsky.social "While the Trump administration is retrenching globally and imposing tariffs all over, no region appears to matter less to the White House than Africa." www.politico.com/news/magazin...

Trump is Actually Doing what Many Presidents Have Promised on Africa

Administration officials say countries can’t just invoke “China” and get aid.

politico.com

Thanks to my colleagues Robbie Gramer and @ebazail.bsky.social for letting me helm NatSec Daily today and take a look at the massive upheaval for our nation’s cyber defense and intelligence agencies: www.politico.com/newsletters/...

National Security Daily

The timing for the nation’s keyboard warriors couldn’t be worse.

politico.com

"Japanese and Philippine officials will likely want more information about Musk’s role at the Pentagon given his massive Tesla investments in China and history of pro-Beijing positions on Taiwan’s status" w/ @ebazail.bsky.social www.politico.com/newsletters/...

Musk’s Pentagon briefing may haunt Hegseth in Asia

Some of the concern abroad is that the briefing is just the latest example of the chaotic nature of President Donald Trump’s approach to the world.

politico.com

SCOOP: The Trump team is taking a hatchet to the State Department's annual — and world-renowned — human rights report. www.politico.com/news/2025/03...

Trump drastically cutting back annual human rights report

Sections on women’s rights and the security of LGBTQ+ people are among those being axed.

politico.com

SCOOP: USAID's watchdog has yet to release two scathing reports on the consequences of Trump’s dismantling of USAID amid fears of retaliation from the White House, per interviews and documents, my colleagues John Hudson & Lisa Rein report. wapo.st/4h3WxLc

Harsh findings on Trump’s aid freeze kept secret by USAID watchdog

Two reports showing dire impacts on Africa and Gaza have not been released in fear of Trump’s wrath, official says.

wapo.st

Senior State Department officials are compiling a list of additional exemptions to the aid pause for Ukraine that could give the country access to some frozen economic and security-related assistance. w @nahaltoosi.bsky.social Robbie Gramer and Joe Gould www.politico.com/news/2025/02...

State Department officials pushing to release more frozen Ukraine funds

The efforts highlight internal discord inside the Trump administration over how to treat Kyiv.

politico.com

“Half of Europe is asleep, paralyzed into shock and another part is taking security seriously and mobilizing like the Nordic and Baltic countries. But will that be enough?” @apolyakova.bsky.social explains to Robbie Gramer @paulmcleary.bsky.social y & @ebazail.bsky.social at #MSC2025

National Security Daily

From the SitRoom to the E-Ring, the inside scoop on defense, national security and foreign policy.

politico.com

1/NEW: Trump appointees at State/USAID announce today they’ve set up a Coordination Support Team to help USAID staff overseas get back to the U.S. I’ve seen the cable that lays it out.

New from my colleague @ebazail.bsky.social: Secretary of State Rubio signed a waiver turning the funding back on for US cyber support to Costa Rica during his trip to the country last week, according to Costa Rican Foreign Minister Arnoldo André: subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...

POLITICO Pro: Costa Rica says US State Department issued waiver to unfreeze funding toward its cyber programs

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had pledged to continue support for the country’s cybersecurity efforts.

subscriber.politicopro.com