NEW: China pushes to expand in Asia, including by deploying its Coast Guard against the Philippines, a US treaty ally. But Asian nations are asking whether the US can do anything to deter China, given the fact Trump is mired in the US-Israeli war on Iran. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/08/15/u...

NEW: China pushes to expand in Asia, including by deploying its Coast Guard against the Philippines, a US treaty ally. But Asian nations are asking whether the US can do anything to deter China, given the fact Trump is mired in the US-Israeli war on Iran. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/08/15/u...

NEW: Don't call it World War III — yet. But Ukraine's strike on an Iranian ship shows how the two wars could merge into one dire conflict across Eurasia and the Middle East. Zelensky talks about common elements of both wars, and he met with Trump this week. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/07/31/u...

Ukraine’s Strike on Iranian Ship Shows How Two Wars Could Spiral (Gift Article)

Iran sent military aid to Russia for its war against Ukraine. Now the question is whether that conflict and the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran are converging.

nytimes.com

NEW: Don't call it World War III — yet. But Ukraine's strike on an Iranian ship shows how the two wars could merge into one dire conflict across Eurasia and the Middle East. Zelensky talks about common elements of both wars, and he met with Trump this week. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/07/31/u...

Ukraine’s Strike on Iranian Ship Shows How Two Wars Could Spiral (Gift Article)

Iran sent military aid to Russia for its war against Ukraine. Now the question is whether that conflict and the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran are converging.

nytimes.com

NEW: Marco Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, pushes Uruguay to take Cuban deportees from the US. Uruguay is small but has a sizable Cuban population. Meanwhile, Rubio and Trump are hammering the Cuban economy with an oil blockade, igniting more migration. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/07/29/u...

As Trump Squeezes Cuba, He Plans to Send Cuban Deportees to Uruguay (Gift Article)

The State Department under Secretary of State Marco Rubio has deported Cubans to Africa. Now it’s negotiating with a South American country.

nytimes.com

NEW: Marco Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, pushes Uruguay to take Cuban deportees from the US. Uruguay is small but has a sizable Cuban population. Meanwhile, Rubio and Trump are hammering the Cuban economy with an oil blockade, igniting more migration. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/07/29/u...

As Trump Squeezes Cuba, He Plans to Send Cuban Deportees to Uruguay (Gift Article)

The State Department under Secretary of State Marco Rubio has deported Cubans to Africa. Now it’s negotiating with a South American country.

nytimes.com

Q: You argue that Iran violated the MOU. But isn't the MOU flawed since it explicitly acknowledges Iran has power in the Strait of Hormuz? MARCO RUBIO: That's certainly not the way we interpreted it

Trump has reached a deal with Crown Prince MBS of Saudi Arabia on U.S.-Saudi civil nuclear cooperation. Some US lawmakers and Israeli officials oppose it because they fear the prince will make nuclear weapons. He has vowed to do that if Iran does so. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/07/21/u...

Saudis Reach Deal With U.S. That Could Let Them Enrich Nuclear Fuel (Gift Article)

U.S. lawmakers and Israeli officials have expressed opposition to such a plan, to be announced Wednesday, fearing that the kingdom could use a civilian nuclear project to develop nuclear weapons.

nytimes.com

NEW: Trump accused China of election interference. But he is still pursuing a deeper bond with Xi Jinping, the autocrat he calls a "good friend." The White House plans to host Xi in Sept. Rubio expects to discuss that with top diplomat Wang Yi in Manila. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/07/17/u...

Trump Pursues a Deeper Bond With China’s Leader, Despite Hostile Speech (Gift Article)

Chinese officials appear to think that President Trump’s accusations that China interfered in the 2020 U.S. elections were driven by domestic politics, not foreign policy.

nytimes.com

NEW: Trump accused China of election interference. But he is still pursuing a deeper bond with Xi Jinping, the autocrat he calls a "good friend." The White House plans to host Xi in Sept. Rubio expects to discuss that with top diplomat Wang Yi in Manila. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/07/17/u...

Trump Pursues a Deeper Bond With China’s Leader, Despite Hostile Speech (Gift Article)

Chinese officials appear to think that President Trump’s accusations that China interfered in the 2020 U.S. elections were driven by domestic politics, not foreign policy.

nytimes.com

Our story on how Trump failed to secure the Strait of Hormuz is the lead article on the NYT print front page. Trump conceded power in the strait to Iran in his June agreement. Now Iran is attacking ships on a route that the US military tried to establish. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/07/12/u...

NEW: Trump's flawed diplomacy failed to secure the Strait of Hormuz. For 2 months, the US Navy was quietly guiding tankers in the strait. But the June agreement signed by Trump has helped end that — it formalizes Iran's power, and Tehran is attacking ships. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/07/12/u...

How Trump Failed to Secure the Strait of Hormuz in His Iran Deal (Gift Article)

President Trump signed an agreement that Iran said gave it control of the waterway — and global energy supplies. Now, Iran’s military is violently asserting authority.

nytimes.com

MS NOW: Two Atlanta-based FBI intelligence analysts were fired last week after refusing to participate in the Trump admin's investigation of Georgia's 2020 election. The analysts told colleagues they did not believe the investigation was justified under FBI and DOJ policies.

FBI analysts fired after refusing to join Georgia 2020 election probe

The analysts, a husband and wife, told colleagues they did not believe the Trump administration’s investigation was justified, sources told MS NOW.

ms.now

NEW: Trump's flawed diplomacy failed to secure the Strait of Hormuz. For 2 months, the US Navy was quietly guiding tankers in the strait. But the June agreement signed by Trump has helped end that — it formalizes Iran's power, and Tehran is attacking ships. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/07/12/u...

How Trump Failed to Secure the Strait of Hormuz in His Iran Deal (Gift Article)

President Trump signed an agreement that Iran said gave it control of the waterway — and global energy supplies. Now, Iran’s military is violently asserting authority.

nytimes.com

Iran struck Saudi and Qatari ships in the Strait of Hormuz, and the US retaliated by attacking Iran. Here’s my recent NY Times story on the Saudis in the war — and how the strait is the critical issue for them, not Iran’s nuclear program. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/07/01/u...

How the Iran War Ignited a Clash Between Trump and the Saudi Crown Prince

nytimes.com

From Rubio’s perspective, Belgium’s victory over USMNT was as legit as it gets

NEW: An outraged Trump ordered top aides to press MBS to allow the US to use Saudi airspace for Trump's effort to force open the Strait of Hormuz. Vance, Rubio, Witkoff and Kushner made separate calls. MBS didn't back down — he had lost confidence in Trump. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/07/01/u...

How the Iran War Ignited a Clash Between Trump and the Saudi Crown Prince

nytimes.com

NEW: An outraged Trump ordered top aides to press MBS to allow the US to use Saudi airspace for Trump's effort to force open the Strait of Hormuz. Vance, Rubio, Witkoff and Kushner made separate calls. MBS didn't back down — he had lost confidence in Trump. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/07/01/u...

How the Iran War Ignited a Clash Between Trump and the Saudi Crown Prince

nytimes.com

Jeremy Carl had to withdraw his nomination to be a top State Dept. official under Trump after senators pressed him on his remarks on challenges to “white culture” in a multi-racial America.

NEW: The State Dept. has promised $100 million in new funds to aid groups since the Venezuela quake. It has deployed 3 search-and-rescue teams. Trump's legacy is tied to Venezuela, and the aid efforts so far are on-par with ones from prior US presidents. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/06/30/u...

U.S. Mobilizes for Venezuela Despite Trump’s Disdain for Foreign Aid

nytimes.com

NEW: The quake in Venezuela will test its ties with the US. Venezuelans are grappling with a dire economy. Some see Trump as pillaging the country and its oil. But the US has sent rescue teams and committed funding for aid. Will that change perceptions? Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/06/26/u...

Earthquake Tests Growing Ties Between U.S. and Venezuela

nytimes.com

Trump's son-in-law, Michael Boulos, sits next to Rubio in this meeting in UAE with Sheikh MBZ, the country's leader. Boulos is a businessman who has no official post (his father has one). He visited UAE in May 2025 with Trump and his wife Tiffany for a business event: www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/...

NEW: What did the Iran war that the US and Israel started cost Americans, Iranians and many others? More than 7,000 people have been killed in Iran and Lebanon, along with 13 US military members. The cost to the US is at least $132 billion, Moody's said. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/06/19/u...

The Costs of the Iran War: Thousands of Lives and Billions of Dollars

nytimes.com

NEW: What did the Iran war that the US and Israel started cost Americans, Iranians and many others? More than 7,000 people have been killed in Iran and Lebanon, along with 13 US military members. The cost to the US is at least $132 billion, Moody's said. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/06/19/u...

The Costs of the Iran War: Thousands of Lives and Billions of Dollars

nytimes.com

NEW: A US official read out the text of the US-Iran memorandum of understanding to journalists on a conference call. Here is a gift link to the full text from the NY Times. Let the analysis begin. www.nytimes.com/2026/06/17/u...

A Look at the Text of the Agreement Between the United States and Iran

nytimes.com

NEW: Trump praised Xi and Putin in an NYT interview for helping get the US and Iran to an agreement. What he didn't mention: the State Dept. has imposed sanctions on companies for sending Chinese arms to Iran. And Russia has given intelligence aid to Iran. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/06/15/u...

Trump Thanks China and Russia, Partners of Iran, for Diplomatic Help

nytimes.com

NEW: Trump praised Xi and Putin in an NYT interview for helping get the US and Iran to an agreement. What he didn't mention: the State Dept. has imposed sanctions on companies for sending Chinese arms to Iran. And Russia has given intelligence aid to Iran. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/06/15/u...

Trump Thanks China and Russia, Partners of Iran, for Diplomatic Help

nytimes.com

NEW: China arrested a US citizen after Trump met with Xi in Beijing and accused him of endangering national security — a rare charge against an American. The detainee, U Min Zin, is a graduate student at UC Berkeley who researches Myanmar. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/06/11/u...

China Has Arrested U.S. Scholar Who Studies Myanmar Politics

nytimes.com

So much for Rubio’s attempt to mend ties with India on his recent trip there. The Trump administration continues to take actions that infuriate India — notably a recent military strike on a commercial ship near Oman that killed three Indian sailors. Now Rubio delivers a warning to India.

USA vs. Paraguay in Mt. Pleasant, DC