The hottest Foreign Policy Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways

Let's Make a Happy New Year

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 6487 implied HN points • 01 Jan 26

🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy

2025 was a wildly turbulent year: political movements splintered at home and the post‑1945 international security order grew shaky.
Many core beliefs and institutions no longer command consensus — people are openly questioning nation‑states, majority rule, markets, borders, education, and other basic systems.
We need to get serious and work together now; communities and small institutions will have to try new ideas and support each other to make 2026 better.

How the Iranian Regime Blew It

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 496 implied HN points • 04 Mar 26

🌍 World Politics Foreign Policy

The Islamic Republic set out in 1979 to remake the Middle East by defeating Zionism, pushing out the United States, and establishing Tehran’s hegemony.
The post–October 7, 2023 wars produced outcomes largely opposite to those aims, weakening rather than eliminating Israeli and U.S. influence.
Iran’s decisions and actions since those wars have further damaged its regional standing, reducing Tehran’s influence instead of expanding it.

War isn't what it once was

Silver Bulletin • 605 implied HN points • 02 Mar 26

🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy

Wars today are different — more airpower, fewer U.S. casualties, and no draft — so the old rally-then-quagmire model is less predictive and many voters are often indifferent unless there are big casualties or attacks at home.
The Iran conflict is higher-stakes politically because it can push up oil prices, is being conducted with Israel (which creates partisan tensions), and reminds voters of Iraq/Afghanistan in a way that could alienate swing voters.
It might fade from public attention like recent interventions, but there are real downside risks for the president if the war escalates or creates economic pain, so the likely political effect is uncertain and tilted toward harm.

The Ends and Means of Tucker Carlson

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 932 implied HN points • 23 Feb 26

🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy

He reframes ethnic grievance as a defense of American sovereignty, arguing that U.S. policy serves a transnational elite—particularly Jewish interests—instead of ordinary citizens.
He stages interviews as political theater, using one-sided grilling and cross-examination to portray guests as part of a corrupt establishment while casting himself as the angry, polite citizen.
His rhetoric masks ethnic grievance as patriotism, recycling anti‑Semitic tropes while recasting questions about foreign influence, espionage, and accountability as proof that the government isn’t serving its people.

Niall Ferguson: How Trump Won Davos

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 3408 implied HN points • 23 Jan 26

🌍 World Politics Foreign Policy

Donald Trump completely dominated Davos, drawing most of the attention and overshadowing other participants.
The forum’s theme of dialogue clashed with his one-way, monologue-style approach, making interactions feel one-sided.
Many in Europe portrayed the event as a win after persuading him to de-escalate his demand that the U.S. acquire Greenland.

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"Why Don't You Criticize Iran??"

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 2686 implied HN points • 31 Jan 26

🌍 World Politics Foreign Policy

Focus criticism on the western empire because that is the power structure people actually live under and can influence. It is often the main source of militarism and global abuse.
Mainstream media push an "Official Bad Guy" narrative to manufacture consent for aggression, which trains people to criticize foreign regimes instead of questioning their own leaders.
Refusing to criticize a foreign government can be a principled choice when such criticism would feed imperial war propaganda; opposing warmongering agendas is a legitimate moral stance.

In the Time of the Mad King.

Breaking the News • 3719 implied HN points • 12 Jan 26

🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy

A president who can’t tell fact from fiction is proposing reckless, unnecessary actions—like trying to seize Greenland—that would offend allies and add burdens the country doesn’t need.
Powerful aides and politicians are keeping him in place by lying, manipulating, or becoming true believers, which lets destructive and self-serving policies spread.
This mix of a disintegrating leader and enabling henchmen raises the real risk of institutional breakdown, including split loyalties in the military and harsher enforcement at home, with dangerous consequences for everyone.

How Hubris Created an 'Invincible' Military

God's Spies by Thomas Neuburger • 100 implied HN points • 20 Mar 26

🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy

The U.S. military’s procurement is driven by contractors and profit, producing costly systems that can be ineffective in real asymmetric conflicts.
Millennium Challenge 2002 showed that low-tech, unconventional tactics can overwhelm a high-tech, networked force, but the exercise was manipulated to avoid confronting that truth.
Hubris and corruption among leaders have left the armed forces ill-prepared for wars like those with Iran, creating real danger for service members.

Empires Fall

Slack Tide by Matt Labash • 239 implied HN points • 14 Mar 26

🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy

Our leaders are leaning on meme-speak and spectacle instead of serious strategy, turning big decisions into performative shows. That makes policy shallow, erratic, and hard to trust.
The current campaign has poorly defined objectives and shaky competence, which makes it likely to become a costly, unresolved conflict; asymmetric tactics and disruptions (like hits on shipping and higher oil prices) already show the damage.
Empires decline when they grow decadent, overextend, and believe their own hype, and America may be following that pattern; if so, the world could lose a once-reliable stabilizing power and face an uncertain rearrangement.

What Is a Zionism For the Palestinians?

Gideon's Substack • 88 implied HN points • 17 Mar 26

🌍 World Politics Foreign Policy

Treating Zionism as a universal model for national revival ignores that modern nationalism often leads to violence, empire-building, and exclusion, so Israel’s example isn’t a simple blueprint.
If Zionism is a “technology” anyone can use, Palestinians would legitimately claim their own national project on the same land, making “Zionism for everyone” politically inconsistent unless it reckons with how to share or divide sovereignty.
Nationalist ideologies need limits set from outside themselves; promoting more nationalism without those limits is mainly an emotional appeal that risks real human costs like displacement and ongoing violence.

Only Idiots Believe The War Propaganda About Iran

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 2659 implied HN points • 30 Jan 26

🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy

The push to overthrow Iran is about power and control, not bringing freedom or democracy, so official claims and media narratives about Iran should be treated with deep skepticism.
Forcibly toppling Iran would likely result in puppet governments, balkanization, chaos, or a devastating war, all of which would harm ordinary Iranians and the region.
Given what happened in Iraq, Libya, and Gaza, it's unacceptable to fall for war propaganda or support regime-change campaigns; people should reject calls to manufacture consent for such wars.

The Western Press Are Trying To Spin Epstein As A RUSSIAN Agent

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 2221 implied HN points • 03 Feb 26

🌍 World Politics Foreign Policy

Big Western media outlets are running stories that Epstein was a Russian spy, pointing to alleged meetings with Putin and KGB connections.
Other investigations and leaked documents suggest Epstein had ties to Israeli intelligence and figures like Ehud Barak, with some released DOJ files cited as supporting that link.
Some commentators argue the Russia angle is a deliberate media spin to protect Western and oligarchic interests by distracting from possible Israeli or Western intelligence involvement.

Midweek Update #1: What Are The US And Israel Trying To Accomplish? (It May Be Different).

Phillips’s Newsletter • 297 implied HN points • 11 Mar 26

🌍 World Politics Foreign Policy

The US and Israel are pursuing different objectives: the US is focused on degrading Iran's military command-and-control, air defenses, and naval capabilities, while Israel is also striking energy and fuel infrastructure to more deeply weaken Iran's resilience.
American public support for the war is low and sharply partisan, with Republicans mostly backing the president, Democrats largely opposed, and independents generally unconvinced.
How long the war lasts will be driven by US political pressures and oil market effects; rising oil prices and the 2026 midterms create strong incentives for a quick end, and Washington can largely determine the campaign's duration.

The Case Against the War

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 500 implied HN points • 02 Mar 26

🌐 International Foreign Policy

Even if a war looks like it could succeed, it’s very easy to imagine it spiraling out of control and causing huge, unintended harm.
Opponents shape the course of a war, so plans can be derailed and you can’t assume events will go as intended.
Firsthand combat experience highlights the deep human cost and lasting reminders of loss that come with military action.

The US Keeps Openly Admitting It Deliberately Caused The Iran Protests

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 1899 implied HN points • 06 Feb 26

🌍 World Politics Foreign Policy

US officials have openly admitted to using sanctions and financial measures to create a dollar shortage and collapse Iran’s economy in order to spark mass protests.
That approach is described as "economic statecraft" meant to pressure or topple the government without shooting, but it produces severe human suffering through inflation, shortages, and poverty.
The same tactics and rhetoric have been applied or suggested toward other countries, and leaders have publicly encouraged protesters, indicating a broader pattern of using economic pressure to try to force regime change.

How Far Can Trump Go in Iran? Here’s What the Law Says.

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 510 implied HN points • 01 Mar 26

🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy

The Constitution gives Congress the sole power to declare war, so a president cannot unilaterally start a war without congressional authorization.
Even though the president is commander in chief, the scope of presidential war-making power has been disputed for over 200 years and remains unsettled.
A large military strike described as "war" can be argued to cross a constitutional red line under precedents like the Prize Cases and therefore may be unconstitutional.

War Hits Hard for Families of Soldiers Sent Off to Fight

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 185 implied HN points • 11 Mar 26

🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy

Deployment causes intense worry that shows up as physical symptoms like cold sweats and heart palpitations, creating a constant, underlying dread.
Loved ones often don’t know where soldiers actually are or what dangers they face, leaving them feeling helpless and uncertain.
Everyday life and caregiving continue, and people use small routines and distractions to cope, but those strategies don’t remove the ongoing fear and stress.

Regime Change in Venezuela Is a Good Calculated Risk

Richard Hanania's Newsletter • 6022 implied HN points • 03 Jan 26

🌍 World Politics Foreign Policy

Overthrowing Maduro was a calculated risk because his socialist rule devastated Venezuela’s economy and institutions, and replacing him could produce meaningful improvement.
Fears about unintended consequences, civil war, or breaches of international law are real but don’t automatically justify keeping a destructive dictator in power; doing nothing also has severe costs.
The taboo against foreign regime change is weak already, so this single operation is unlikely to upend international norms, and sometimes taking risks is necessary to create hope for better outcomes.

No war for pedos?

Michael Tracey • 86 implied HN points • 19 Mar 26

🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy

A viral "War for Epstein" narrative claims Trump attacked Iran to hide or protect Jeffrey Epstein-related crimes, and that idea has spread widely across social media, pundits, politicians, and foreign propagandists.
Those Epstein-based theories are largely unproven and distract from sober anti-war arguments, fueling moral panic, eroding journalistic standards and civil liberties, and functioning as propaganda rather than evidence-based analysis.
A more plausible explanation points to Trump’s documented appetite for resource seizure and territorial control (the "take the oil" ethos) and to geopolitical motives, while many actors exploit Epstein mythology for partisan or strategic gain.

This Week in Canada: War Fires Up Carney’s Allegiance to America

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 412 implied HN points • 03 Mar 26

🌍 World Politics Foreign Policy

Canada publicly aligned with the United States and Israel after the recent attacks on Iran, backing steps to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and affirming Israel’s right to self-defense.
That stance effectively pauses Canada’s recent pivot toward China and sets aside prior tensions with the U.S., including disputes over tariffs and trade.
After long waits, there are signs Canadians are finally getting access to family doctors, ending years on waiting lists for some patients.

Weekend Update #175: The Week In Which Ukraine Stood Up To Help The USA And The USA Stood Up To Help Russia

Phillips’s Newsletter • 363 implied HN points • 08 Mar 26

🌍 World Politics Foreign Policy

Ukraine has developed cheap, effective ways to shoot down attack drones and quickly stepped in to help the US and other allies who lacked that capability.
Recent US decisions around the Iran conflict — defending Russian actions, easing oil restrictions, and expending large amounts of advanced air-defense missiles — have effectively aided Russia politically and economically while depleting US and allied stocks.
On the ground, Ukraine made net territorial gains in February and is inflicting high Russian personnel losses, suggesting their drone-heavy, lower-manpower strategy is producing results.

Intellectual narcissism or political relevance

Global Inequality and More 3.0 • 1464 implied HN points • 01 Feb 26

🌍 World Politics Foreign Policy

The left's past support or tolerance of oppressive regimes was a serious mistake, but many of those choices were made within limited options and intense international pressure. Governments and movements often picked the lesser evil available at the time rather than an ideal outcome.
Political decisions should be grounded in historical context and a lesser-evil calculus instead of strict moral purity, because insisting on perfect consistency can make ideas politically irrelevant. Real-world tradeoffs matter more than intellectual self-righteousness.
What looks like a sudden return of imperialism is actually part of a long historical pattern; US, Russian, and Chinese behaviors fit into older traditions of empire, and empires were active even during the neoliberal era. Recognizing continuity helps make better strategic choices today.

THE SHOW NOTES: Israel's Next Move, Iran's Big Problem, & The Case Against Trump

Erick Erickson's Confessions of a Political Junkie • 819 implied HN points • 03 Oct 24

🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy

Israel has launched airstrikes against Hezbollah, indicating a possible escalation in their ongoing conflict. This suggests that Israel is taking a more aggressive stance during the current tensions.
Iran faces challenges in defending itself as it lacks a strong air force. The situation suggests that Iran may be more vulnerable than it has been in many years.
Democrats are struggling to keep support from Hispanic voters, which could impact future elections. The shift in voting trends among this group is seen as significant and may change the political landscape.

The Rhetoric of Leaders: Meeting the Moment.

Breaking the News • 2578 implied HN points • 17 Jan 26

🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy

The country is facing an unusually severe threat to democracy and the rule of law as political power is being used to subvert institutions and intimidate opponents.
A wide range of leaders—religious figures, foreign heads of state, judges, governors, university presidents, and prosecutors—have publicly and boldly spoken out against those abuses.
Those public stands and institutional defenses matter because they set examples, protect vulnerable people, and enable legal and political pushback that others can join.

Trump and the Putinization of the US Government

Phillips’s Newsletter • 200 implied HN points • 13 Mar 26

🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy

A single, odd image of a top official in comically oversized shoes can be deeply unsettling and symbolically damaging.
It's striking and alarming that someone serving as Secretary of State and National Security Adviser can appear pitiable or unprofessional, which undercuts the seriousness of their office.
The fact the shoes are cheaply made in China and worn by a wealthy, powerful figure highlights a jarring disconnect between appearance and the dignity expected of high office.

NZNet Digest: Iran war updates, AI takes, China win-wins, and more...

Nonzero Newsletter • 463 implied HN points • 05 Mar 26

🌍 World Politics Foreign Policy

The U.S. and Israel seem to be pursuing options that could intentionally weaken or collapse Iran’s government, and the likely succession of Mojtaba Khamenei would signal deeper IRGC control and raise the risk of internal fragmentation or civil conflict.
Voluntary AI safety commitments are fraying — moves like Anthropic’s policy changes and government pushback suggest self-regulation won’t reliably prevent dangerous outcomes, so stronger, enforceable rules are needed.
China is pulling ahead on technologies like drones, batteries, and EV platforms, but those gains don’t automatically mean an American loss because deep commercial and engineering ties can create mutually beneficial cooperation.

Cooking Cowgirl Kristi

Slack Tide by Matt Labash • 395 implied HN points • 07 Mar 26

🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy

Kristi Noem was an unusually flashy and controversial DHS secretary whose self-promotion and ethical missteps made her an easy target and led to her firing.
MAGA supporters and leaders often turn on their own underlings, using them as scapegoats while avoiding direct criticism of the top leadership.
The real problem is the leader’s corruption setting the tone for the movement, which fuels policy failures, internal infighting, and ongoing chaos.

The Four Paths for a Post-Khamenei Iran

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 282 implied HN points • 06 Mar 26

🌍 World Politics Foreign Policy

The death of Iran's Supreme Leader has left the regime at a critical inflection point, creating real uncertainty about its political future.
Despite that loss, the regime remains militarily aggressive, launching missiles and drones at U.S. bases, Israeli cities, and neighboring states.
The main question now is which direction Iran will take and how the U.S. will respond — whether the Islamic Republic collapses, reforms, hardens, or endures.

The Iceberg Ahead

John’s Substack • 16 implied HN points • 21 Mar 26

🌍 World Politics Foreign Policy

The conflict with Iran is getting worse every day and risks spiraling into a much larger war.
The president allowed Israel to push him toward war with Iran, which was a serious mistake, and he seems to have no clear plan to fix it.
A major crisis is looming like an iceberg ahead, so urgent steps are needed now to steer away from catastrophe.

The Lies Get So Tedious

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 2225 implied HN points • 27 Jan 26

🌍 World Politics Foreign Policy

Society is propped up by nonstop lies about politics, economics, morality, and success that keep power structures in place.
Those lies are taught from childhood and normalize suffering, making people miserable, confused, and complicit instead of critical.
Gaining mental sovereignty means actively unlearning indoctrination and learning to see reality clearly. It's difficult but necessary for truth and meaningful change.

Dissecting The Belief That The US Should Forcibly Remove Tyrannical Governments

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 1830 implied HN points • 02 Feb 26

🌍 World Politics Foreign Policy

Just because a government commits abuses doesn't automatically justify the United States using military force to overthrow it. Those are two separate claims and forcing regime change needs its own independent moral and legal justification.
The United States has a long record of harmful interventions and often makes situations worse, so it's one of the least qualified actors to claim humanitarian motives. US foreign policy frequently serves geopolitical hegemony rather than genuinely stopping abuses.
Media and political narratives often conflate 'government X is bad' with 'the US should intervene,' so it's important to question assumptions and propaganda. Look at who benefits and whether the motive is truly humanitarian or about power and influence.

March 17, 2026

Letters from an American • 30 implied HN points • 18 Mar 26

🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy

A U.S. military campaign has helped close the Strait of Hormuz and driven oil prices sharply higher, disrupting global supplies of oil, gas, fertilizer, helium, and aluminum; meanwhile Russia is aiding Iran and the U.S. appears poorly prepared after cutting energy-diplomacy staff and decommissioning minesweeper capabilities.
The war is fracturing the president’s coalition, with allies and officials resigning or distancing themselves and warning that the administration may no longer control how or when the conflict ends.
The president is using the crisis to push domestic political goals—attacking the Supreme Court and pushing a voter ID/proof-of-citizenship law that could remove millions from the rolls while urging filibuster changes—just as rising gas prices threaten his working-class support.

Who Will Govern Iran After the War?

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 287 implied HN points • 05 Mar 26

🌍 World Politics Foreign Policy

Military strikes that are degrading Iran’s regime and killing its leaders have created an urgent power vacuum and a pressing question about who will lead after the war.
The expatriate opposition is deeply fractured and has long argued over leadership, so organizing a united transition is more urgent than choosing a formal president.
Reza Pahlavi is the most visible figure claiming leadership, promoting a policy platform and saying many Iranians are calling for him to lead the post‑regime transition.

Against All Enemies

Unpopular Front • 150 implied HN points • 02 Mar 26

🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy

The current military action lacks a clear strategy or legal rationale, and leadership looks impulsive and unfocused, making outcomes unpredictable.
Domestic failures and a turn toward neocon influence are pushing risky foreign adventures as a way to distract from problems at home, but there’s no real effort to win public support.
The campaign appears materially unsustainable — interceptors and munitions are being depleted and even friendly forces have been lost to errors — raising a serious risk of prolonged escalation.

The US Is Pushing So Many Regime Change Agendas It's Hard To Keep Up

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 1862 implied HN points • 30 Jan 26

🌍 World Politics Foreign Policy

The US is actively trying to force regime change in Cuba right now, using new executive orders and efforts to pressure or replace the government.
Washington is using economic warfare—cutting off oil supplies and punishing countries that help Cuba—to make populations suffer and provoke unrest that could topple regimes.
This approach repeats across many countries and reflects a broader strategy of imperial control that prioritizes geopolitical domination over other nations' sovereignty and civilian wellbeing.

How We’re Covering the War. Plus: Our Newest Columnist and Podcast

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 268 implied HN points • 05 Mar 26

🌍 World Politics Foreign Policy

They’re devoting intensive, around-the-clock reporting and expert analysis to the unfolding Iran war to help readers understand what’s happening and why it matters.
Former Marine Aaron MacLean is joining as a columnist and host of the School of War podcast and will host a live discussion at noon ET with retired General Frank McKenzie.
Full coverage is behind a paid subscription, and new subscribers can get seven days free to access all reporting and livestreams.

Iran: We're Ending Taxpayer-Funded Appeasement

OpenTheBooks Substack • 263 implied HN points • 03 Mar 26

🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy

Taxpayer-funded policies sent large financial benefits to Iran that helped fund its proxies, and that practice must end.
Foreign aid has been disjointed and sometimes funded wasteful or ideologically driven projects, so aid should be more strategic and focused on effective priorities.
Any country receiving U.S. security or economic assistance should publish a real-time, searchable database of government spending so taxpayers can verify use and demand accountability.

MAGA is an ‘identity-centred’ political form - take it seriously

Brain Pizza • 331 implied HN points • 26 Feb 26

🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy

MAGA is best seen as an identity-centred political form rather than a single coherent ideology, and it now dominates large parts of the US government and a significant portion of the population.
MAGA treats many other countries and groups as an out-group, which shows up in policies like tariffs on allies, threats to NATO partners, and outreach to hostile actors.
Its strength comes from deep human cognitive, affective, and social dynamics, making it emotionally powerful, resilient, and a major influence on national security and international relations.

Everyone Hates Israel Now Because Our Own Institutions Made It Personal

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 2482 implied HN points • 20 Jan 26

🌍 World Politics Foreign Policy

Western governments, the media, and social platforms often denied or justified what people saw in Gaza, and that felt like being gaslighted. That sense of being lied to pushed many people to turn against Israel.
If leaders and news outlets had simply acknowledged and condemned the harm instead of defending or deflecting, criticism of Israel probably wouldn't have become such a huge mainstream phenomenon. A clear admission of wrongdoing would have kept the issue less personal for many.
The real shock for people was seeing their own institutions protect violence and silence dissent, which revealed systemic moral corruption. That betrayal made the conflict feel personal and fueled widespread outrage.

Zionist Billionaires Openly Acknowledge Manipulating The US Government

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 2496 implied HN points • 19 Jan 26

🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy

Two wealthy pro-Israel donors openly suggested they use large donations and undisclosed tactics to influence U.S. politicians, while refusing to explain the details.
They framed political contributions as a way to buy access and shape policy, making clear that those who give more get more influence over decisions affecting Israel.
The situation is presented as an example of how powerful moneyed interests can undermine democratic control, leaving ordinary voters with little real influence over government actions.