The hottest International Security Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top U.S. Politics Topics

The shape of the multipolar world is a little clearer

Noahpinion • 27412 implied HN points • 01 Mar 26
🌍 World Politics International Security
  1. The end of Pax Americana removed many rules that used to restrain U.S. power, so a more multipolar world now lets leaders act more unilaterally and aggressively — something advocates of multipolarity may regret.
  2. Trump’s recent strikes, including the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, are a major escalation and show the president can launch a war of choice without Congress; that’s dangerous for American democracy even if Iran’s regime was brutal.
  3. This conflict has materially weakened the China–Russia–Iran axis but hasn’t ended the multipolar era, and Western leftists’ strong public support for Iran shows a troubling loss of coherent moral or strategic judgment.

Neck Deep In The Big Muddy

John’s Substack • 7 implied HN points • 24 Mar 26
🌍 World Politics International Security
  1. The decision not to bomb Iran’s energy infrastructure averted an immediate and dangerous escalation.
  2. Despite avoiding strikes, the situation remains grim because the US still has no viable exit strategy.
  3. Further escalation would be a recipe for disaster since Iran currently holds the stronger hand in this confrontation.

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 International Security
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. After long waits, there are signs Canadians are finally getting access to family doctors, ending years on waiting lists for some patients.

Top Links 978 Charting Trump's tariffs. The world's wealthiest people. India building in the Himalayas & bombing Somalia.

Chartbook • 500 implied HN points • 10 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics International Security
  1. Trump’s 2025 tariffs have complex effects that can’t be captured by a single measure; you need a three‑dimensional view to understand their full impact.
  2. There’s a feature on the world’s wealthiest people, highlighting top fortunes and who holds the most wealth.
  3. India is both building in the Himalayas and carrying out bombings in Somalia, combining major construction projects with overseas military action.

Well Europe, Do You Get It Finally? Standing Up To Trump Works Better Than Prostrating Yourself

Phillips’s Newsletter • 211 implied HN points • 22 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics International Security
  1. When European states pushed back over Greenland, Trump dropped his threats and shifted toward negotiation.
  2. Concrete, coordinated European actions replaced kowtowing and gave them more leverage with the U.S.
  3. Europe should use the same assertive approach to influence U.S. policy on Ukraine and secure more reliable military support instead of appeasing the president.
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How Bibi Boosts Antisemitism

Nonzero Newsletter • 361 implied HN points • 20 Dec 25
🌍 World Politics International Security
  1. Netanyahu’s rhetoric and prolonged military strategy blur the line between Israel and world Jewry, which can make Jews abroad more vulnerable to violent antisemitism. Public discussion often avoids linking Israeli policy to such attacks, which makes the danger harder to confront.
  2. Tech leaders like Eric Schmidt are urging faster, state-style adoption of AI and even praising China’s approach, a push that risks prioritizing rapid deployment over regulation and eroding public trust. Americans may resist adoption when they don’t see protections against AI’s harms.
  3. New experiments show people are intentionally ‘drugging’ chatbots to change their behavior, revealing creative but risky uses of AI, while high-profile, rushed online sleuthing illustrates how tribal threat inflation can spread false leads and deepen polarization.

Operation Epic Fury

Who is Robert Malone • 23 implied HN points • 28 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics International Security
  1. A joint US–Israeli military campaign reportedly began with airstrikes on Iran that hit senior regime leaders, and the U.S. president publicly urged Iranians to seize the moment.
  2. Iran launched widespread retaliatory missile and drone strikes against Israel and several Gulf and regional states, causing civilian casualties and prompting strong condemnations.
  3. Deep divisions between Iran’s IRGC and its regular military, plus Saudi Arabia’s pledge to back attacked countries, make responsibility for strikes unclear and raise the risk the conflict could escalate beyond the original actors.

The Logic of Catastrophe

The Cosmopolitan Globalist • 12 implied HN points • 21 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics International Security
  1. More nuclear-armed states sharply increase the chance of nuclear war because each new actor creates many more risky bilateral relationships, and new, small arsenals tend toward hair‑trigger postures and weak command‑and‑control.
  2. Keeping launch‑on‑warning postures and letting AI drive early‑warning and decision systems compresses decision time, breeds automation bias, and makes false alarms far more likely to trigger an irreversible nuclear launch.
  3. Democracies and their citizens must demand seriousness: restore credible, durable security guarantees, pursue de‑alerting and arms‑control measures, strengthen command‑and‑control and leader fitness standards, and reward restraint over spectacle.

WHAT IS TRUMP’S GAMBIT IN VENEZUELA?

Seymour Hersh • 41 implied HN points • 08 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics International Security
  1. The Venezuela operation wasn’t just about ousting Maduro — it aimed to cut China off from cheap Venezuelan oil and weaken rivals’ access to energy.
  2. Top U.S. officials framed the action as a superpower prerogative, saying the U.S. can set the rules in its hemisphere and enforce embargoes to control resources.
  3. This approach traces back to a Cheney-era energy strategy, showing the move is driven by long-standing energy geopolitics and could be used next against other suppliers like Iran.

A Deep Dive on Iran

John’s Substack • 11 implied HN points • 14 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics International Security
  1. A recent Netanyahu–Trump meeting disappointed Israeli expectations and revealed tensions between allies.
  2. There is no clear or credible military strategy to win a war against Iran, making any such plan highly risky and uncertain.
  3. Many experts are overconfident, claiming the US can easily solve the Iran problem by force and that Ukraine has the upper hand against Russia, despite evidence to the contrary.

Talking Great Power Politics in Moscow

John’s Substack • 6 implied HN points • 30 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics International Security
  1. A recent Cross Talk podcast episode explored how great power politics is returning after the unipolar era.
  2. The conversation focused especially on the motivations behind President Trump's foreign policy choices.
  3. The episode continued a long-running dialogue about US–Russia relations and realist perspectives, linking current debates to discussions from about a decade ago.

Experience Davos From Your Own Living Room

Phillips’s Newsletter • 69 implied HN points • 23 Jan 25
🌍 World Politics International Security
  1. The World Economic Forum at Davos was not just for the elite this year; diverse voices, including those from less powerful backgrounds, were invited to participate.
  2. The current conflicts and political changes show that the old international order is struggling, and while it may not collapse immediately, it is failing to address pressing global issues, like the war in Ukraine.
  3. Future security for Ukraine may depend more on European institutions like the EU rather than NATO, which poses challenges for Ukraine's integration and support in these complex times.

Biden Blinks

Diane Francis • 359 implied HN points • 08 Jul 21
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics International Security
  1. Biden's decision to waive sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline has been criticized as a major mistake, as it benefits Russia and threatens Ukraine's security.
  2. Putin has taken aggressive actions against Ukraine and the U.S. in response to perceived weakness from Biden, which has raised concerns in both countries.
  3. There are discussions about how to prevent Russia from using energy as a tool for coercion, but many believe these measures won't be effective against a determined Putin.