The hottest Foreign Policy Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top World Politics Topics

Regime Change The US Empire

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 2570 implied HN points • 18 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy
  1. The most urgent regime change needed is at home: dismantle the US empire’s real power structures and replace them with genuine democracy that gives people real control.
  2. It’s inconsistent to demand violent overthrow of other countries while ignoring or defending the US and its allies, since they are the largest and most destructive global power.
  3. Before loudly condemning other governments, people should first challenge and reform their own imperial institutions, otherwise they just help empire propaganda.

Top Links 1018 The geography of US inflation. Crushing Cuba. A third industrial divide. Cornel West on Hegel.

Chartbook • 529 implied HN points • 19 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics Foreign Policy
  1. US inflation is uneven: different states and regions are facing very different price pressures, and those geographic patterns matter for policy and everyday life.
  2. There are signs Texas could drift toward deflation, which would mean falling prices locally and unusual challenges for the state economy.
  3. The conversation links politics, industry, and ideas — from harsh developments in Cuba and a possible 'third industrial divide' reshaping manufacturing to intellectual debates like Cornel West's reading of Hegel.

Operation Epic Fury: Iran Campaign Is a nightmare for China's Taiwan ambitions

The Dossier • 248 implied HN points • 01 Mar 26
🌍 World Politics Foreign Policy
  1. The U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran not only target its nuclear program but also undercut China’s cheap oil supply from Iran, removing a key energy hedge Beijing relied on if sea lanes to Taiwan were contested.
  2. Breaking Iran’s regime and its proxy network would make the Middle East easier for the U.S. and Israel to manage, freeing ships, aircraft, munitions, and attention for the Indo‑Pacific.
  3. The operation demonstrates American willingness to use decisive force and could push Gulf producers to align more with Washington during a Taiwan crisis, narrowing Beijing’s strategic options.

The Justifications For War With Iran Keep Changing

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 1802 implied HN points • 29 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics Foreign Policy
  1. The public reasons for attacking Iran keep shifting — first nukes, then missiles, then protesters — which makes it look like war is the goal and excuses are being invented.
  2. Military buildups and threats are being used to pressure Iran to give up key defenses, which would leave it weakened and more subject to US and Israeli demands rather than actually solve humanitarian or nuclear problems.
  3. This pattern, similar to how the US has justified action against other oil-rich countries, shows that changing pretexts are used to manufacture consent for intervention, and rising tensions often come with more deception.

How America Surrendered Its Weapons in the Information War

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 264 implied HN points • 05 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy
  1. There is a second front — an information war — against Iran and other rivals, and many experts worry the U.S. is ill-equipped to win it.
  2. Rousing public calls for Iranians to rise may not work if U.S. messages can't reliably reach or influence people inside Iran.
  3. The agencies meant to project American information power are in disarray, weakening that capability — for example, USAGM failed an audit because it couldn’t provide proper financial documentation.
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The War in Iran Is Illegal. Here’s Why That Matters.

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 106 implied HN points • 12 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy
  1. The U.S. strikes on Iran lack a clear public legal justification and may be illegal because the administration hasn’t produced evidence of an imminent threat.
  2. Officials gave vague, conflicting explanations—such as preempting attacks tied to Israeli actions—which sparked political backlash and undermined the administration’s credibility.
  3. Launching military action without Congress breaks constitutional norms and is especially dangerous now when public trust in the Constitution is eroding.

The Suicidal Folly of a War with Iran

The Chris Hedges Report • 567 implied HN points • 20 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics Foreign Policy
  1. U.S. leaders are making unrealistic demands on Iran and sidelining experienced diplomats. This raises the risk that bluster and force will replace negotiation.
  2. Iran is unlikely to give up its nuclear or missile programs under those terms, and a military strike would likely provoke a swift, hard retaliation that could escalate quickly.
  3. A war would be catastrophic: many U.S. troops could die, the Strait of Hormuz could be shut, oil prices would spike, and the global economy and region would face long-term damage.

The Israeli Government Put My Name At The Top Of An 'Antisemite' List

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 3893 implied HN points • 30 Dec 25
🌍 World Politics Foreign Policy
  1. An Israeli government report publicly listed Australian influencers and highlighted social media posts, labeling them as promoters of antisemitism and “delegitimization” of Israel.
  2. The report implied online criticism helped inspire the Bondi Beach attack, a claim many see as weak and misleading, and its narrative is being used to push for tougher limits on speech and assembly.
  3. Those named view the dossier as both an intimidation tactic and proof their criticism has impact, while critics warn that equating opposition to Israeli policies with hatred of Jews silences legitimate dissent.

Trump's weak justifications for attacking Iran

Can We Still Govern? • 314 implied HN points • 01 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy
  1. The stated reasons for attacking Iran are inconsistent and often exaggerated, with claims about imminent nuclear or missile threats and election meddling not clearly backed by public intelligence.
  2. The administration bypassed a clear congressional case and offered multiple conflicting rationales—regime change, protecting Americans, and ending a decades‑long rivalry—which weakens legal and political legitimacy.
  3. Because the justifications are weak, public support is low and the action risks becoming a costly, prolonged conflict that may not bring democracy or stability to Iranians or the region.

They Kidnapped Maduro Because The World Is Ruled By Unaccountable Tyrants

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 3413 implied HN points • 04 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics Foreign Policy
  1. The U.S. carried out a military operation in Venezuela that abducted President Maduro, and its leaders openly framed the action as a move to seize and profit from Venezuela’s oil and to run the country.
  2. This episode shows a pattern where powerful states pursue regime change and resource grabs with little accountability, while official stories about drugs or democracy are used to mask true motives.
  3. Unchecked use of force backed by compliant media undermines global stability and harms the future of people and the planet, so citizens should learn these patterns and be skeptical of official justifications for intervention.

TGIF: Bored of Peace

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 2007 implied HN points • 23 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy
  1. President Trump has launched a U.S.-led “Board of Peace” pitched as an alternative to the United Nations, but its purpose, powers, and structure remain vague.
  2. Headlines that a permanent seat would cost $1 billion sparked outrage, and the White House’s reply reframed it as a vague “demonstration of commitment,” making the setup look like pay-to-play membership.
  3. Many see the move as more spectacle and branding than a serious diplomatic institution, with skepticism about replacing established bodies like the UN or NATO.

They're Trying To Sneak Israel's President Into Australia Without Anti-Genocide Protests

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 2030 implied HN points • 23 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics Foreign Policy
  1. The Australian government is trying to quietly bring Israel's president into the country to avoid large anti‑genocide protests, which suggests they are prioritizing protecting the visit over allowing visible public dissent.
  2. Western governments are escalating repression by labeling pro‑Palestine activists as terrorists and arresting supporters, a dangerous move that risks silencing dissent and curbing free speech.
  3. The Israel lobby in Australia wields real political influence to push laws that threaten pro‑Palestine speech, and lawmakers often use emergencies to fast‑track authoritarian measures, so safeguards like a cooling‑off period are needed.

Will the Iran War Turn Trump’s Base Against Him?

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 315 implied HN points • 02 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy
  1. The MAGA movement is split between anti-war non‑interventionists and interventionists who are fighting over the GOP’s future.
  2. Many of Trump’s dovish supporters feel torn between their anti‑war principles and loyalty to him, so they often grumble but stick with him after limited or successful strikes.
  3. GOP voters and lawmakers have largely rallied behind Trump while the Iran campaign is going well, even though some in his base see the strikes as a betrayal.

The problem with Tucker

Michael Tracey • 152 implied HN points • 13 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy
  1. Urging prayer instead of concrete political or civic action encourages passivity and weakens efforts to address real crises.
  2. Publicly allying with a powerful politician erodes independent scrutiny, leading to blame-shifting onto others rather than holding that leader accountable.
  3. Spreading conspiratorial, evidence-light theories degrades public reasoning and diverts attention from practical responses, which is especially dangerous during an active war.

The Ends and Means of Tucker Carlson. Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 510 implied HN points • 23 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy
  1. Tucker Carlson has been pushing narratives that blame Israel and Jewish people for America’s problems, mixing religious arguments with political attacks and deepening antisemitic divisions on the right.
  2. The Supreme Court struck down part of Trump’s tariff plan, a major legal setback that doesn’t fully end the tariff fight and highlights a larger battle over institutions while causing real harm to farmers and parts of the economy.
  3. Major current stories include debate over possible alien disclosures, Iran’s online propaganda reframing domestic protests, and urgent breaking news like the Mar‑a‑Lago shooting, the killing of a cartel leader, East Coast blizzards, and attacks on Ukraine’s power grid.

Op-ed in Foreign Policy: ‘Made in America’ Should Accept Chinese Investment

Pekingnology • 98 implied HN points • 17 Mar 26
🌍 World Politics Foreign Policy
  1. The U.S. should allow tightly constrained Chinese investment that protects national security through legal ringfencing, governance safeguards, robust audits, and a clear link to American production and jobs.
  2. Broadly excluding Chinese participation is counterproductive and inconsistent with other U.S. economic goals, because it raises costs, slows manufacturing scale-up, and conflicts with efforts that deepen China’s reliance on U.S. supply.
  3. Policy should use a precise risk test focused on control or privileged data access, favor structured partnerships and minority stakes with governance concessions, and press Beijing to make data-security rules legible and enforceable to enable limited cooperation.

America's Lunatic Weekend

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 6152 implied HN points • 01 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy
  1. The White House and political actors are openly labeling and shaming news outlets, turning journalism into a partisan weapon and making public debate more about scoring points than truth.
  2. The administration is stretching old counterterror laws and making blunt, aggressive statements to justify military actions, raising serious legal and moral questions about unchecked executive war powers.
  3. Fast, polarized media coverage and anonymous sourcing turn complex shootings and foreign interventions into blame games, obscuring root causes like prolonged wars and evacuation policies and fueling public fear.

“Winning the AI race” could be bad for the world

Nonzero Newsletter • 722 implied HN points • 21 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics Foreign Policy
  1. Rushing to win an AI arms race to beat other nations is risky and might not make the world safer, because overwhelming AI power could be misused by whoever gets it.
  2. Tech leaders are pushing rapid AI development and bigger energy and infrastructure buildouts even while admitting AI could create new, grave governance problems, which makes that push worrying.
  3. Visual data can mislead — choices like different axis scales or omitting key countries can give a false impression, so graphs about things like nuclear stockpiles need careful, comparable design.

Trump’s Rules of War

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 255 implied HN points • 04 Mar 26
🌐 International Foreign Policy
  1. He set clear rules for using U.S. military power — no ground troops, no nation‑building, and quick “one‑and‑done” strikes.
  2. In the current Iran confrontation he’s breaking those rules, moving away from brief strikes toward a potentially multi‑week campaign.
  3. His approach to war is changeable: in recent days he has broken some rules, kept others, and abandoned a long American taboo, showing his tactics shift with circumstances.

Agreeing with Piers on Iran

John’s Substack • 10 implied HN points • 22 Mar 26
🌍 World Politics Foreign Policy
  1. Two commentators who normally disagree are in close agreement about the current state of the Iran war and where it seems to be heading.
  2. A public discussion highlighted two contrasting voices: a sharp Middle East expert and a government-aligned spokesperson who predicts a decisive victory for Israel and the US.
  3. The exchange underscores a split in perspectives — skeptical observers versus official optimism — leaving the ultimate outcome uncertain.

The State of Trump’s Presidency. Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 449 implied HN points • 24 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy
  1. The State of the Union is being treated as a high-stakes moment, but its actual impact on Trump’s standing may be limited and will likely try to win back Republicans who have cooled on him, especially over immigration.
  2. The newsletter spotlights heated cultural debates, from a provocative defense of fraternity hazing to worries about screen-driven anxiety and how to handle stress after unplugging.
  3. Major policy and legal developments are unfolding: a U.S. lawsuit over payments tied to Palestinian terror, military warnings about striking Iran, and a Supreme Court case that could reshape climate litigation.

The US/Israeli Bombing Of Iran: Means and Ways Without Ends

Phillips’s Newsletter • 388 implied HN points • 02 Mar 26
🌍 World Politics Foreign Policy
  1. The bombing campaign looks driven by one leader's personal and political needs rather than a clear national interest, showing how much leadership choices can override state rationality.
  2. There is no stable strategic 'end' guiding the action, so the claimed 'ways' and 'means' keep changing as leaders flail for a victory they can sell, making traditional Ends‑Ways‑Means analysis misleading here.
  3. Treating the military and Iranian people as tools is dangerous—public support is low and the unpredictability of these decisions raises the risk of costly, unintended consequences.

You Know They're Lying About Iran

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 2300 implied HN points • 14 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics Foreign Policy
  1. A familiar propaganda script is being used to push for intervention in Iran, repeating the same claims about oppression and the need for military 'help'.
  2. Media and empire apologists often use human-rights rhetoric, nuance-policing, and false both-sides arguments to steer public opinion toward war.
  3. Trust your own judgment, resist being shouted down by loud voices, and be skeptical of narrative distortion and recycled talking points.

Niall Ferguson: The Arrogance of Trump’s Foreign-Policy Critics

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1609 implied HN points • 25 Jan 26
🌐 International Foreign Policy
  1. Many critics act as if the president can never be right, rushing to condemn him without considering that he might sometimes make good decisions.
  2. His showing at a major international forum surprised many and suggests he can win over skeptical audiences, challenging conventional wisdom.
  3. Observers would do better to be humble and accept that any administration can get some things right and some things wrong.

America is being sold out by its leaders

Noahpinion • 53471 implied HN points • 21 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy
  1. There is a concern that America's leaders are making choices that could weaken the country, particularly in foreign relations. If the U.S. were to focus on itself and ignore global involvement, some believe it could hurt its standing in the world.
  2. Some political figures think their vision aligns better with countries like China and Russia than with traditional allies. This shift could lead to a more isolationist approach, where the U.S. limits its international influence.
  3. People worry that the U.S. might reduce military strength and abandon industrial policies, which could harm the economy. Cutting defense spending and focusing on raw materials rather than manufacturing could make the country rely more on other nations.

Encouraging News: Lindsey Graham Looks HEARTBROKEN About Iran

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 2132 implied HN points • 16 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy
  1. Lindsey Graham’s facial expressions are presented as a shorthand indicator of how eager US leaders are for military action.
  2. Reports that airstrikes on Iran are unlikely are viewed skeptically because past misleading statements have sometimes preceded real attacks.
  3. Many find it hopeful when hawkish politicians look discouraged, and satire (like a joking "Graham-o-Meter") is suggested to track and mock warmongering.

I Tried To Tell You: Matt Yglesias Is a Shameless Liar

JoeWrote • 180 implied HN points • 10 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy
  1. Matt Yglesias and other Democratic establishment figures often flip or lie to protect their money, status, and access, then shift blame onto the left instead of owning failed policies. They prioritize defending the political status quo over consistent principles or admitting mistakes.
  2. Yglesias reversed his long-standing opposition to online gambling after accepting a Polymarket sponsorship, claiming prediction markets are different even though they function like unregulated sportsbooks. That flip normalizes risky gambling behavior and benefits sponsors at the expense of readers.
  3. Centrist groups like Third Way are investing big in a top-down, behind-the-scenes campaign to block left candidates in the 2028 primary using skewed polls, donor convenings, and covert influence. This approach favors preserving elite power over persuading the public and undermines democratic accountability.

Hafiz; Ervand Abrahamian; Eskandar Sadeghi-Boroujerdi

Unpopular Front • 35 implied HN points • 08 Mar 26
🌍 World Politics Foreign Policy
  1. A classic poet casts spiritual and romantic struggle as a kind of holy war, urging tenderness and a questioning of rigid ideas about God.
  2. Sanctions have devastated Iran’s salaried middle class and driven many into deep poverty, creating widespread economic resentment, yet the regime still rests on a lower-middle-class base tied to the Revolutionary Guards and will likely fight to stay in power.
  3. Western focus on Iran’s missiles and proxies may overstate their practical threat, and calls for regime change ignore how deeply the IRGC is embedded; pressing too hard risks prolonged conflict or efforts to break the country apart like in other cases.

The U.S.-China competition is on pause

Noahpinion • 17235 implied HN points • 18 Aug 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy
  1. The U.S. and China seem to have paused their rivalry to deal with their own internal issues. Both countries are currently focused on what’s happening at home rather than competing with each other.
  2. In the U.S., there's a mix of public tiredness and political distractions that are shifting attention away from international competition. It seems like the officials aren't really pushing the competition right now.
  3. China is also struggling with its own economic problems, which may be why it’s not as focused on competing with the U.S. at this moment.

that's all, folks!

alice maz • 114 implied HN points • 07 Mar 26
🌍 World Politics Foreign Policy
  1. The current international order is a symbolic system kept alive by rituals and a hegemon’s willingness to enforce it, and its survival depends largely on American choices rather than inevitable decline.
  2. Law and political legitimacy rest on the hard fact of violence turned into institutions and internal beliefs; when people stop believing in those abstractions, order weakens because enforcement can be weaponized or abandoned.
  3. There are competing futures — pooled multilateral resistance by smaller states, a tightened Western sphere, or fragmented great-power rivalry — and new ideas and communities (a modern “Hundred Schools”) will arise to rebuild meaning and governance if politics doesn’t slide into prolonged conflict.

Donald Trump’s Iran Trap

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 542 implied HN points • 19 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics Foreign Policy
  1. Trump campaigned against endless Middle East wars but has shifted toward a more interventionist posture as talks with Iran falter.
  2. Recent strikes like Operation Midnight Hammer and Israel's campaign severely degraded Iran's nuclear, air-defense, and missile capabilities and have brought U.S. forces closer to confrontation.
  3. The episode shows a recurring pattern in American power: leaders who promise change often revert to established interventionist strategies when faced with security threats.

TGIF: ICE on Ice

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1956 implied HN points • 16 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy
  1. Most politicians are unpopular right now, and Democrats are struggling to find an effective response to a performative, transactional Trump who dominates the news cycle.
  2. American diplomacy is being disrupted by presidential priorities, illustrated by the G7 being delayed because of a planned MMA birthday event.
  3. The news roundup mixes alarming and surreal moments—incendiary political claims, extremist-inspired crimes, and odd tech stories like an app that asks “Are you dead?”—showing a blend of outrage, spectacle, and weirdness in public life.

In This Dystopia You Can't Vote Against Wars But You Can Gamble On When They'll Start

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 1769 implied HN points • 20 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy
  1. People are allowed to gamble on if and when military attacks will happen, even though they aren't given a real political way to vote against wars.
  2. The system legally rewards profiting from war—through prediction markets, arms companies, investments, and lobbying—while efforts to reduce violence are sidelined or blocked.
  3. The relentless pursuit of profit drives ongoing war, environmental destruction, inequality, and corruption, and meaningful change will only come if people collectively force new systems.

Top Links 1013 No manufacturing renaissance. Chinese fx. Interviewing a Myanmar rebel. MacIntyre & Geuss.

Chartbook • 515 implied HN points • 14 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics Foreign Policy
  1. There is no manufacturing renaissance in Trump’s America; claims of a broad industrial comeback are overstated and any gains look limited and uneven.
  2. China’s foreign-exchange situation and yuan movements are highlighted as a major issue with important effects for global trade and financial stability.
  3. The links mix sharp current-affairs reporting — including an interview with a Myanmar rebel — with intellectual pieces on thinkers like MacIntyre and Geuss, combining on-the-ground perspective and political theory.

American Conservatives Are Disgusting Frauds

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 2347 implied HN points • 08 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy
  1. Multiple videos show an ICE officer shooting a mother of three in a way that looks clearly unjustified and contradicts claims he was run over.
  2. Many American conservatives defended that killing while also cheering aggressive actions abroad, highlighting a pattern of hypocrisy where they claim to oppose tyranny but support state violence and warmongering.
  3. The argument is that conservatives craft moral narratives about faith, free speech, and the rule of law, yet in practice they prioritize power, militarism, and repression over those professed values.

The Father Battling Palestinian Terror in Court

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 384 implied HN points • 24 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy
  1. The Palestinian Authority’s “Martyrs Fund” pays money to people who carried out or were imprisoned for attacks on Israel, amounting to hundreds of millions a year and reportedly reflected in a proposed constitution despite claims it would end.
  2. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the PA and PLO can be held civilly liable for sponsoring terrorism, opening a new legal path for American victims to sue.
  3. Taylor Force’s father has filed a lawsuit in New York alleging the PA’s payment program induced the 2016 stabbing, making his case one of the first to test the new ruling.

New Issue Of JOHNSTONE: The System Is Working Exactly As Intended

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 973 implied HN points • 05 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy
  1. People split into two camps over the Epstein revelations: reformers who think the system is broken and can be fixed, and revolutionaries who believe the system is working exactly as intended and must be dismantled.
  2. The abuses tied to Epstein are presented as products of a capitalist, imperial system that protects elites, so real accountability or high-level prosecutions are unlikely under the current institutions.
  3. Genuine change requires popular radical politics and pressure, not mainstream parties, and growing awareness of elite corruption may push more people from wanting reform to demanding systemic overthrow.

The Final Showdown With Tehran?

Fisted by Foucault • 174 implied HN points • 05 Mar 26
🌍 World Politics Foreign Policy
  1. Iran is unusually vulnerable right now—internal protests, recent strikes, and waning support from Russia and China make it a tempting moment to try to decisively weaken or topple the regime.
  2. Removing or altering Iran’s government would eliminate the region’s main state challenger to U.S. influence and could significantly blunt Iran-backed groups like Hezbollah and the Houthis.
  3. U.S. strategy in the Middle East has long focused on securing oil supplies, using energy as geopolitical leverage, and protecting Israel, and ousting Iran would be seen as completing that long-running project.

Israel And Its Supporters Deliberately Foment Hate And Division In Our Society

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 2570 implied HN points • 03 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics Foreign Policy
  1. Israel and its supporters deliberately stoke fear of “radical Islam” to divert criticism and boost support in Western countries.
  2. This strategy increases racism and social division, drowning out legitimate criticism by shifting attention and hatred onto Muslims.
  3. Instead of changing course, Israel leans on propaganda, censorship, and threats of violence to maintain support, implying its current form depends on ongoing abuse.

Natan Sharansky: Jimmy Lai’s Sentence Tests the Free World

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 792 implied HN points • 09 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics Foreign Policy
  1. Jimmy Lai, a longtime pro-democracy leader in Hong Kong, was sentenced to 20 years in prison. At 78, that effectively amounts to a life sentence for his activism.
  2. He refused to flee and stayed to stand with his people, showing personal sacrifice and steadfast commitment to Hong Kong’s democratic movement.
  3. The harsh sentence reflects Beijing’s tightening control over Hong Kong and poses a test for whether the free world will step up to defend democratic rights and support dissidents.