The hottest Foreign Policy Substack posts right now

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Top World Politics Topics

Debating Israel Supporters Is Pointless, Because They Don't Care About Facts Or Morality

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 2989 implied HN points • 10 Aug 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy
  1. Engaging with people who support Israel can be pointless because they often don't care about facts or moral discussions. It's usually better to focus your energy elsewhere.
  2. While debating Israel supporters may feel frustrating, you can use your thoughts to create content that helps others understand the situation better.
  3. It's important to talk to people who are open-minded and unsure about the conflict instead of arguing with those who have already formed strong beliefs against any logical reasoning.

You Listen to Israel, You Lose

John’s Substack • 18 implied HN points • 12 Mar 26
🌍 World Politics Foreign Policy
  1. The US and Israel appear to have no clear strategy or exit plan for the war with Iran, which makes winning unlikely and escalation more dangerous.
  2. The US president made a serious mistake by following Israeli leadership instead of heeding military and intelligence warnings.
  3. Pro-Israel lobbying and Israeli influence steered US policy toward war rather than listening to the National Intelligence Council and other officials.

The Shadow Army Edition

Why is this interesting? • 723 implied HN points • 02 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy
  1. The U.S. has a history of using local paramilitary groups to do secretive and dangerous tasks during conflicts. These groups often operate without public acknowledgment.
  2. When conflicts end, the fighters from these groups don't just disappear; they need support and integration into society. However, many have not received this help and struggle with their new lives.
  3. The consequences of using paramilitary forces can last long after the fighting stops. Great powers often overlook what happens to these fighters, leading to unforeseen issues in the future.

On Strategists and Strategies

Comment is Freed • 73 implied HN points • 23 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics Foreign Policy
  1. A taste for strategy came from political engagement and the desire to champion a side, especially the challenge of persuading people who are indifferent or hostile.
  2. The 1960s generation felt it could drive big social change, with civil rights, anti‑war and student movements creating a strong belief in transformative politics.
  3. Studying the social sciences gave tools to understand society and government, and reading about rebels showed that many idealistic movements fail, stressing the importance of practical, realistic strategy.

Who Is Detaching Whom?

Phillips’s Newsletter • 119 implied HN points • 17 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics Foreign Policy
  1. The biggest mistake in US foreign policy is treating American military power as proof of overall competence or wisdom.
  2. Decades of US military dominance led allies, especially in Europe, to defer intellectually and stop thinking for themselves.
  3. Military strength gave the US undeserved credibility in non-military areas, producing bad judgments and a gap between perceived and actual competence.
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No, The Guardrails Are Not Holding

Phillips’s Newsletter • 211 implied HN points • 03 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy
  1. The Constitution includes an emoluments clause and makes bribery an impeachable offense to prevent foreign influence on US officials.
  2. Recent behavior by the administration shows it is accepting gifts and payments from foreign actors and changing policy in ways that suggest pay-for-play influence.
  3. The legal and bureaucratic checks meant to stop this corruption are failing, so those constitutional guardrails are not doing their job.

New Issue Of JOHNSTONE: Secretary Of Perpetual War

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 754 implied HN points • 07 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy
  1. The US military is portrayed as a Department of Perpetual War that rarely defends the country and instead uses pretexts like “narco terrorists” to justify aggressive interventions and alleged extrajudicial killings, with a recent scandal and mocking meme exposing that hypocrisy.
  2. The newsletter attacks institutions like the empire, mainstream media, AI companies, and capitalism for making things worse and eroding truth. It also criticizes Israeli policies and warns that people’s mental sovereignty is under threat.
  3. Readers are urged not to wait for leaders to save humanity but to resist imperialism and take responsibility for change. The publication is reader-funded, freely shareable, and collects many essays on geopolitics, AI, and social critique.

Lock Him Up!

Slack Tide by Matt Labash • 317 implied HN points • 21 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy
  1. People casually talk about Trump’s latest antics, showing how his behavior dominates everyday conversation and the news.
  2. He floated the idea of taking Greenland and then backed off, demonstrating a pattern of making alarming claims and then denying them.
  3. That unpredictability and grandstanding risks undermining international alliances and invites ridicule from other countries.

A Year On: The DOGE Disaster

Can We Still Govern? • 311 implied HN points • 16 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy
  1. DOGE acted as a vehicle for tech billionaires to capture state power, pushing deregulation of crypto and AI, securing favorable appointments, and creating business opportunities for allies.
  2. DOGE’s actions hollowed out government capacity through mass layoffs and contract cancellations; cuts like those to USAID weakened services and likely caused hundreds of thousands of deaths while protecting ideologically aligned agencies and donors.
  3. DOGE failed to deliver promised savings or service improvements, routinely exaggerated its achievements, misunderstood how government budgeting and public services work, and operated with little public accountability.

Niall Ferguson: J.D. Vance’s Fighting Words—Against Me and Ukraine

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 7892 implied HN points • 20 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy
  1. Wars can start easily, but they are tough to end. It's important to understand this reality of history.
  2. Negotiating peace is necessary when fighting can't settle the conflict. Excluding one side from talks can hinder progress.
  3. Recent actions by government officials suggest a shift in their approach to the Ukraine conflict, indicating possible challenges ahead.

State Department Defies Congress, Revives Infamous Censorship Office in Absurd Prank

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 9420 implied HN points • 10 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy
  1. The State Department has reopened a controversial office that was previously shut down, which aims to monitor and respond to foreign disinformation efforts. This move has raised concerns about censorship and government overreach.
  2. This new office, named the Counter Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference Hub, is expected to have a similar mission to its predecessor, despite Congressional efforts to stop it. It signals ongoing government attempts to control information.
  3. Critics worry that the revival of this censorship office reflects a lack of accountability and transparency in government actions. Many believe it poses a threat to free speech and independent journalism.

March 4, 2026

Letters from an American • 30 implied HN points • 05 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy
  1. Thousands of Epstein-related files are missing or heavily redacted, fueling worries that officials may be concealing information and leading Congress to subpoena Pam Bondi.
  2. The administration attacked Iran without a clear objective or evacuation plan, worsening munitions shortages and losing public support for the war.
  3. Democratic voters are showing high turnout in recent primaries, while Republican rule changes in places like Texas caused confusion and possible voter disenfranchisement.

Israel Supporters Are Exhausting, Insufferable Narcissists

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 3730 implied HN points • 02 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy
  1. Israel supporters often focus on their feelings instead of the larger issues, like the ongoing violence and suffering in Gaza. It's important to recognize the real human suffering in conflicts.
  2. There's a belief that the push for a war between the US and Iran is being driven by those in power, and people who oppose this need to make their voices heard. Grassroots support for peace is crucial.
  3. The narrative around support for Palestine is growing, but many people still downplay it. It's essential to notice those who speak out and the shift in public opinion.

Israel Is So Evil That It Has A Military Unit Dedicated To Excusing Atrocities

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 2612 implied HN points • 17 Aug 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy
  1. Israel has a special military unit that tries to justify its actions, especially concerning violence against journalists. This suggests they are aware that their actions are questionable.
  2. The author feels very strongly about the moral issues surrounding Gaza and is uncompromising in their stance, rejecting any attempts to see multiple sides on this matter.
  3. Public outcry has forced governments and media to start paying attention to the situation in Gaza, showing that people's voices can create change. It's important to keep speaking up about it.

If You're Still Supporting Israel In 2025, There's Something Wrong With You As A Person

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 3259 implied HN points • 18 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy
  1. People need to be aware of the serious actions happening in Gaza and the impacts these have, including the suffering of civilians and the involvement of various human rights organizations acknowledging these atrocities.
  2. Supporting unjust actions or violence, like those attributed to Israel against Palestinians, shows a lack of empathy and moral understanding. It highlights a troubling mindset about human rights.
  3. It's important to recognize that debates about such serious issues are not just political opinions; they directly relate to human lives and suffering, and therefore deserve serious consideration and response.

Trump’s Plan to Make Gaza Great Again

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 245 implied HN points • 23 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy
  1. He proposed a "Board of Peace" and a plan to rebuild Gaza that includes a luxury "Gaza-Lago" resort city as part of a broader peace effort.
  2. The initiative is driven by a philosophy of positive thinking rooted in Norman Vincent Peale, prioritizing optimism over detailed political or historical solutions.
  3. Many see the vision as wildly optimistic and possibly naive given the deep, complex realities of the Israel–Palestinian conflict.

Behold, A Pale Horse Race

Sarah Kendzior’s Newsletter • 5611 implied HN points • 05 Nov 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy
  1. The Biden administration's lack of accountability for past crimes, continuation of harmful policies, and complicity in various problematic actions is concerning.
  2. Both parties in the U.S. exhibit a form of elite criminal impunity, impacting policies and maintaining grave injustices.
  3. The importance of recognizing and standing against oppression, even in situations where voting or elections may not immediately address the underlying issues.

Greenland, sine ira et studio

eugyppius: a plague chronicle • 145 implied HN points • 09 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics Foreign Policy
  1. Trump's push for Greenland is rooted in real strategic concerns about the Arctic and in his doubts about NATO; when he questions the alliance he leans toward seeking more direct U.S. control over key territory.
  2. Denmark and other European states are effectively unable to sell Greenland because of constitutional limits and post‑colonial political commitments, so the idea of an easy transfer of sovereignty is unrealistic.
  3. The U.S. presence in Europe functions like an informal empire that gives Washington influence and economic benefits, and Trump's strategy mixes pressure on NATO with efforts to cultivate friendly populist parties to sideline the EU — a move that risks political blowback in Europe.

Red Dawn in the desert

Lucian Truscott Newsletter • 3184 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy
  1. The film 'Red Dawn' reflects the current guerrilla warfare being fought against the US in regions like Syria, Iraq, and Jordan.
  2. The attacks on US bases in Iraq and Syria are linked to tensions in the Middle East, especially the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
  3. US military presence in Iraq and Syria is facing backlash from locals and even the countries they aim to defend, leading to calls for better protection for troops.

Is this the End of the Pax Americana? Niall Ferguson Is Live from Davos.

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 250 implied HN points • 21 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics Foreign Policy
  1. People are openly questioning whether the United States still leads the global order, which suggests American dominance may be weakening.
  2. Public disputes among Western allies reveal real fractures in their relationships, not just routine policy differences.
  3. This feels like a rupture rather than a smooth power shift, leaving the future of Western unity and the rules-based world order uncertain.

How America Lost Its Voice Overseas

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 120 implied HN points • 11 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy
  1. American international broadcasters like Voice of America and Radio Free Europe, which for decades spread U.S. values, have been mothballed and America has lost a key voice overseas.
  2. The administration has used military force and bold actions abroad while avoiding U.S. casualties, but those moves haven’t produced the intended long-term results, such as stopping Iran’s programs or securing peace in Gaza.
  3. Without traditional broadcasting and consistent diplomatic follow-through, the U.S. can demonstrate strength but lacks the sustained influence and outreach needed to achieve its foreign-policy goals.

March 2, 2026

Letters from an American • 34 implied HN points • 03 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy
  1. The decision to strike Iran looks improvised and driven more by media praise and pressure from allies than by a clear strategic plan. It appears the president is testing justifications and taking cues from trusted broadcasters rather than presenting a coherent goal.
  2. A growing ideology of violent dominance is replacing the post–World War II reliance on diplomacy and international rules, privileging unilateral shows of force over institutions like the U.N. and the Geneva Conventions. This mindset treats dominance itself as the objective rather than a defined endgame.
  3. The strikes have real, damaging consequences: U.S. service members have died, Americans abroad are stranded, and officials’ claims are under increasing scrutiny. People are rightly asking why the country is fighting, whether the effort is legal or planned, and who will bear the costs.

Killing Narco Speedboat Survivors Is a War Crime

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 755 implied HN points • 30 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy
  1. Two men reportedly survived an initial strike on a narco speedboat but were then killed in a follow-up attack, and killing survivors at sea would be unlawful and could amount to a war crime.
  2. The story moved from a smaller outlet to a major paper with fuller details, and the Defense Department called it fabricated but did not specifically deny the reported particulars, leaving the account contested.
  3. This raises urgent legal and ethical questions about the use of force and accountability; claims that lawyers approved the strikes do not resolve the need for a transparent investigation.

The 51 biggest American political moments of the 21st century

Silver Bulletin • 479 implied HN points • 26 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy
  1. Donald Trump’s rise and the Obama era reshaped American politics. Trump's 2016 and 2024 victories were watershed moments that changed party dynamics and political norms.
  2. Major crises — 9/11, the Iraq War, the 2008 financial crash, COVID, and mass protests — drove big policy shifts and altered public priorities. These events had lasting human and political consequences that shaped elections and legislation.
  3. Institutional and cultural shifts — contested elections, Supreme Court rulings like Dobbs, the January 6 attack, and changes in media — weakened norms and intensified polarization. Together they changed how power is contested and how Americans engage with politics.

Transcript- America This Week, Dec 5, 2025: "Murder, War, or What? The Venezuela Conundrum"

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 684 implied HN points • 06 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy
  1. Allegations have emerged that US forces fired on survivors of Venezuelan maritime strikes, and if true that would be a clear violation of the laws of war.
  2. Senior officials are publicly defending the strikes as necessary deterrence, which normalizes aggressive tactics and makes it harder to tell when orders cross legal lines.
  3. The dispute has triggered a heated debate over refusing illegal orders and has already caused political and security disruptions; legal experts say shooting wounded or shipwrecked survivors is explicitly prohibited.

Is Iran War discourse as stupid as Iraq War discourse?

Read Max • 3714 implied HN points • 20 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy
  1. The complexity of pricing in many industries, like airlines, is getting more confusing and often makes consumers feel frustrated. People are expected to know many tricks to get the best deals, but that can feel like a lot of work.
  2. When it comes to discussions about war, especially about Iran and Iraq, the quality of the debate can often feel low. Nowadays, social media drives a lot of the conversation, which can be less informative and more chaotic.
  3. Unlike the run-up to the Iraq War, many Americans today seem to oppose direct involvement in a potential war with Iran. There’s more public awareness and discussions around keeping decisions in check, but it’s still uncertain how much impact that will have.

“Human Rights NGOs” and the Corruption of Civil Society

Glenn’s Substack • 859 implied HN points • 10 Jun 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy
  1. Some human rights NGOs are seen as tools that promote government agendas rather than genuinely protecting civil rights. They can suppress certain voices while promoting others.
  2. These NGOs often have ties to government funding and influence, which makes their claims of being independent questionable. This situation can lead to the misrepresentation of public opinion.
  3. The relationship between government, corporations, and NGOs can complicate the role of civil society. This can limit independent thought and discussion in places like universities.

CROSSPOST: STEVE SCHMIDT: Bari Weiss killed CBS News in 76 days

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 422 implied HN points • 26 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy
  1. A powerful media executive blocked a 60 Minutes story about the Salvadoran supermax CECOT, putting political and billionaire interests ahead of investigative journalism.
  2. Long-standing journalistic standards and public trust have been eroded by corporate choices and partisan leadership, turning serious reporting into propaganda.
  3. Modern MAGA-style politics openly celebrates cruelty and uses media and algorithms to amplify it, creating conditions compared to concentration camps and threatening democracy and human dignity.

Is the 'New World Order' Really New? (w/ Yanis Varoufakis) | The Chris Hedges Report

The Chris Hedges Report • 185 implied HN points • 28 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics Foreign Policy
  1. The "Board of Peace" is a private, imperial-style project that sidelines the United Nations and hands reconstruction and security to wealthy actors, which can enable continued displacement and suppression of the local population.
  2. The approach splits up multilateral unity by negotiating with countries one-by-one, forcing allies into silence or uneasy autonomy so they can’t jointly challenge abuses.
  3. This is less a brand-new system than a revival of corporate-colonial tactics that weakens international law and institutions while empowering authoritarian tools and financial tricks, risking long-term instability.

CROSSPOST: MARCY WHEELER: Annals of Sanewashing: NYT Labels Trump’s Confession of Psychological Unfitness as Leadership

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 269 implied HN points • 13 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy
  1. Major media outlets often sanitize or reframe a leader's incoherent or dangerous remarks as normal leadership, which makes them seem less alarming to the public.
  2. Some leaders' policy talk can be driven by personal psychological needs, like a desire to 'own' territory, and that ego-driven approach can harm alliances and national security.
  3. Access journalism trades critical scrutiny for access, letting narcissistic or reckless behavior be presented as respectable policy instead of holding leaders accountable, which weakens democratic oversight.

Stopping The Gaza Holocaust Is The First Step Toward A Healthy World

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 2491 implied HN points • 12 Aug 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy
  1. The situation in Palestine highlights many deeper issues in society, such as racism and government corruption. It's seen as a crucial moral issue that reflects the state of the world.
  2. Opposing violence and injustice in Gaza is essential for any healthy society. If people ignore such serious issues, it shows a lack of empathy and awareness.
  3. To create positive change in the world, focusing on groups and individuals who stand against oppression in Gaza is key. They are likely to have better ideas and actions moving forward.

Trump just rug-pulled the China hawks on TikTok

Noahpinion • 21470 implied HN points • 11 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy
  1. Trump's recent actions regarding TikTok have stunned many conservative China hawks, revealing potential ulterior motives and alliances.
  2. The debate on forcing ByteDance to sell TikTok involves concerns about data privacy, propaganda dissemination, and national security, highlighting the app's significant influence.
  3. The situation with TikTok exemplifies broader international conflicts, potential financial influences, and political interplays that impact policymaking and national security strategies.

March 3, 2026

Letters from an American • 29 implied HN points • 04 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy
  1. The U.S. has launched a large-scale military offensive against Iran called Operation Epic Fury, involving tens of thousands of troops, aircraft carriers and jets, and has suffered casualties while military leaders warned the strike is risky because of depleted missile defenses and limited allied support.
  2. The fighting has triggered a scramble to evacuate hundreds of thousands of foreign nationals as airports and airspace are disrupted, and the operation has already cost U.S. taxpayers over $1 billion with more emergency funding likely to be requested.
  3. The president invoked the War Powers Act without citing an urgent threat, sidestepping the Constitution’s design that Congress debate and authorize wars and the necessary military spending, which removes a layer of public accountability.

This Week in American History: Venezuela, Then and Now

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 282 implied HN points • 14 Jan 26
đź’ľ History Foreign Policy
  1. The Roosevelt Corollary said that if European powers threatened intervention in Latin America, the United States would sometimes step in itself to prevent it.
  2. In 1902–03 Britain and Germany blockaded Venezuela to collect debts, and Americans feared the Europeans might seize territory, which would have broken the Monroe Doctrine.
  3. Roosevelt’s response reshaped U.S. policy toward the hemisphere and still echoes in modern arguments for American intervention, sometimes referred to as the "Donroe Doctrine".

Starmer rewards Israel’s genocide with a veto on Palestinian statehood

Jonathan Cook • 3026 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Foreign Policy
  1. Keir Starmer's shift in Labour's policy on Palestinian statehood is seen as rewarding Israel's actions and hindering peace talks.
  2. Starmer's treatment of Israel and Palestine and his abandonment of support for Palestinian statehood has caused significant controversy.
  3. The support for a two-state solution and lack of action against arms sales to Israel is viewed as a stalling tactic that does not address the ongoing conflict.

Neither Law Nor Order

Gideon's Substack • 38 implied HN points • 02 Mar 26
🌍 World Politics Foreign Policy
  1. The US attack on Iran could set off many unpredictable regional and global consequences, and America has limited ability to control what happens next.
  2. The Pentagon’s blacklisting of Anthropic shows the government is asserting near-total control over frontier AI, threatening tech independence and creating a precedent that firms under US law may be treated like arms of the state.
  3. Together these actions signal a broader shift from rule-of-law and mutual trust to raw power and fear, eroding domestic and international trust and making the new path hard to reverse.

China Waits

Diane Francis • 1638 implied HN points • 08 Apr 24
🌍 World Politics Foreign Policy
  1. China is benefiting from Russia's war by getting cheap energy while avoiding direct involvement. It is using this situation to increase its influence while waiting for the right moment to act.
  2. If Russia's power weakens, China may try to take back areas like Manchuria, which holds many resources. This territory has been historically important to China.
  3. While Russia struggles in the war, China is carefully repositioning itself to strengthen its economy and global influence, especially as it faces challenges from the West.

Israel Apologists Think "No No, We're Starving SICK Kids!" Is A Winning Argument

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 2505 implied HN points • 31 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy
  1. Some people defending Israel argue that starving sick children is somehow better than starving healthy ones. It's a strange argument because it suggests that harming sick kids makes the situation look better.
  2. Reports showed that a sick child from Gaza became worse due to a lack of food, and some claim that Israel's actions are causing this suffering. The child's mother stated he was healthy at birth but became malnourished over time.
  3. People are upset that the media backed down on a story about starving children, leading some to accuse the media of spreading lies. This shows how complicated and emotional discussions around this issue can be.

Dear Israel Apologist

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 3189 implied HN points • 26 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy
  1. The person will keep opposing Israel's actions, no matter what others say. They believe that truth and morality are on their side.
  2. Words and arguments used to justify violence and suffering do not hold power anymore. The individual feels empowered by facts and a strong sense of confidence.
  3. There's a commitment to fight against the systems and ideologies that support violence and oppression. They feel that many people share this passion and won't be silenced.