The hottest National Security Substack posts right now

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Top U.S. Politics Topics

The age of assassins

Wrong Side of History • 384 implied HN points • 09 Jul 25
🌍 World Politics National Security
  1. The rise of homegrown terrorism in Britain became evident after the suicide bombings in London, which highlighted the alienation of some young Muslim men.
  2. Mohammad Sidique Khan and his associates became radicalized despite being involved in community activities, showing how easily individuals can be influenced by extremist ideologies.
  3. The bombings marked a shift in public awareness about domestic threats, as people began to fear that suicide attacks might be a regular occurrence in Britain.

January 17, 2026

Letters from an American • 33 implied HN points • 18 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics National Security
  1. The president announced tariffs on countries protecting Greenland to force a sale, using economic coercion rather than economic rationale and risking a trade war with U.S. allies.
  2. European leaders and citizens pushed back hard, with emergency EU meetings, threats of countermeasures, and large protests in Copenhagen and Nuuk, while other countries like Canada are moving ahead with independent trade ties.
  3. The administration’s broader authoritarian tactics — proposing a U.S.-led "Board of Peace," launching politicized investigations, and deploying agents against protesters — are drawing legal limits and eroding public support.

OSD 359: The next vibe shift

Open Source Defense • 38 implied HN points • 08 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics National Security
  1. When the government adopts a cultural trend or meme, it drains that trend’s energy and makes it feel co-opted and uncool.
  2. There’s a real difference between tech that makes the government competent and tech that empowers the state, and without structural limits competence tech often becomes empowerment tech that increases central power.
  3. Centralized state power is inherently risky for civilian defense, so supporters of individual arms and liberty should be wary of government control, and reactions to scandals or attacks could quickly change how far the state expands.

My Ancestors Fled Ukraine. It Was America That Allowed Me to Return.

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 834 implied HN points • 23 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics National Security
  1. America's support for Ukraine is fading, as leaders are discussing withdrawing help and making unfair demands. This shift worries many who believe it sends a bad message to the world about U.S. commitments.
  2. The new U.S. administration has made sudden moves to negotiate peace in Ukraine without involving Ukrainian leaders, which seems like a betrayal. This has raised concerns about Ukraine's sovereignty and security.
  3. Some U.S. officials are suggesting that Ukraine may need to give up land and will not be allowed to join NATO, which plays into Russia's hands and goes against the interests of Ukraine.

Memo to Trump: Beware the ‘Reverse Teddy’

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 908 implied HN points • 29 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics National Security
  1. Trump's recent actions have shown strength in dealing with issues in Latin America, but it may come at the cost of ignoring global concerns.
  2. In his first term, Trump managed to maintain a strong presence in Europe and Asia, avoiding new conflicts and making significant deals.
  3. There are worries that in his second term, Trump might focus too much on the Western Hemisphere and neglect vital international relationships.
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Trump Just Handed China the Tools to Beat America in AI

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 292 implied HN points • 11 Aug 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics National Security
  1. Lifting the ban on exporting advanced AI chips to China could allow them to catch up in technology and military power. This is a concern for America's global standing.
  2. The U.S. government may profit from the sale of these chips by taking a percentage of the revenue, contradicting the original purpose of the export ban aimed at national security.
  3. Access to advanced AI chips has been crucial for China's AI development, and easing restrictions will likely help them close the gap with the U.S. in artificial intelligence.

WHAT CHAOS WILL TRUMP UNLEASH IN 2026?

Seymour Hersh • 44 implied HN points • 02 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics National Security
  1. The president is unpredictable, swinging between reckless impulses and boredom, which makes his decisions likely to be chaotic.
  2. He is surrounded by eager sycophants and a Republican-led Congress that shows little willingness to check him, so risky actions are less likely to be restrained.
  3. He avoids detailed policy briefings and prefers gossip and spectacle over sober preparation, raising the chance of poorly informed or dangerous choices.

The Physiocratic Platform: Tariffs

Contemplations on the Tree of Woe • 1153 implied HN points • 19 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics National Security
  1. Tariffs can help raise money for government services, especially for defense and border security. By applying a uniform tariff on imported goods, it aims to make the tax system fairer for everyone involved.
  2. Historically, high tariffs were essential for the growth of the U.S. economy and protecting local industries. Examples from the past show that many countries successfully used tariffs to develop their manufacturing sectors.
  3. While tariffs might increase the cost of living, they can also boost domestic production and potentially lead to higher wages. The idea is that by protecting local jobs, the overall economy can become stronger.

January 16, 2026

Letters from an American • 28 implied HN points • 17 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics National Security
  1. He has accepted and displayed symbolic honors, like a Nobel medal and team gifts, to promote his personal achievements. He repeatedly claims credit for ending wars and uses these moments to bolster his image.
  2. He is pushing to "own" Greenland, saying ownership is psychologically important and suggesting that treaties or international law need not constrain him. His rhetoric treats territorial control like a real-estate deal rather than allied diplomacy.
  3. His Greenland demands have provoked strong bipartisan and allied pushback, with NATO partners increasing forces in the region and U.S. lawmakers moving to block any attack. Critics warn that trying to seize a NATO territory could collapse the alliance and risk wider conflict.

J6 Pipe Bomber Skepticism: Justified?

The Reactionary • 40 implied HN points • 03 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics National Security
  1. Video and gait comparisons are weak evidence because posture, arm movement, stress, and camera angles can change how someone walks or uses a phone.
  2. Inferring mental incapacity from casual observations is unreliable. A mild autism diagnosis can cause awkward social behavior while also giving traits like focus and planning that could enable the alleged actions.
  3. The strongest case elements are a detailed confession plus corroborating records, like verified purchases and location data that place the person in the area, even if cell-tower data isn’t perfectly precise.

Time to talk about the Panama Canal

Material World • 886 implied HN points • 03 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics National Security
  1. There are long-standing historical tensions regarding control of the Panama Canal. Many believe the U.S. should still control it because of its significant contributions to building it.
  2. The original treaties around the canal were heavily influenced by American power dynamics, resulting in Panama losing much of its sovereignty at the time.
  3. There's ongoing discussion about building a canal in Nicaragua instead. This could solve some current issues with the Panama Canal, like water shortages and size restrictions for ships.

January 12, 2026

Letters from an American • 30 implied HN points • 13 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics National Security
  1. Mark Kelly sued Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the Defense and Navy departments, arguing that the censure and threats to reduce his retirement rank illegally retaliate against protected congressional speech and violate the Constitution and federal law. He asked the court to block those actions to preserve congressional oversight and an apolitical military.
  2. Hegseth, a politically appointed defense secretary with limited command experience, formally censured Kelly after Kelly and other veteran lawmakers urged service members to refuse illegal orders. The president and allies amplified calls to punish the lawmakers, including violent rhetoric and threats.
  3. Reporters say U.S. forces used an aircraft disguised to look like a civilian plane in attacks on boats, which may constitute perfidy and violate the law of war. The law of war explicitly forbids feigning civilian status to carry out attacks, raising serious legal and ethical concerns about those strikes.

January 11, 2026

Letters from an American • 29 implied HN points • 12 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics National Security
  1. The Justice Department has not released the Jeffrey Epstein FBI files even though a law required their release by December 19, and lawmakers are seeking a special master to compel disclosure.
  2. The administration has taken aggressive unilateral actions abroad—seizing Venezuela’s leader, declaring a national emergency to control Venezuelan oil revenue, and threatening Greenland—which alarmed allies, confused oil companies, and prompted Congress to push back.
  3. Critics warn the administration is weaponizing federal institutions, from pressing criminal probes into Fed Chair Jerome Powell to deploying thousands of federal agents and labeling victims as terrorists, and bipartisan lawmakers are moving to defend institutional independence.

The President is Losing his Marbles

The Cosmopolitan Globalist • 46 implied HN points • 18 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics National Security
  1. The president’s speech, behavior, and physical signs increasingly point to cognitive and neurological decline — fragmented, repetitive, and disorganized language, memory lapses, and gait/affect changes that deviate from his earlier baseline.
  2. Prestige media, Congress, and the White House are largely avoiding direct, clinical discussion or independent testing, trading precise reporting for euphemism and allowing a vacuum that fuels misinformation and secrecy.
  3. If serious decline is confirmed, the 25th Amendment may be the only constitutional fix, but invoking it would immediately make J.D. Vance president and trigger intense political upheaval, while failing to act risks national-security disasters in a crisis.

January 7, 2026

Letters from an American • 32 implied HN points • 08 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics National Security
  1. A federal ICE agent shot and killed a volunteer legal observer as she drove away, and multiple videos show the shooting contradicts official claims. Local leaders, witnesses, and elected officials are demanding a full investigation and accountability.
  2. The administration deployed thousands of federal agents to Minneapolis in a high-profile immigration operation that escalated tensions and seemed aimed at spectacle; officials used inflammatory rhetoric and false narratives to defend the operation, prompting strong public and political pushback.
  3. At the same time, the administration moved on major financial and policy fronts: seeking legal fees in Georgia, the Trump family’s crypto firm applied for a U.S. banking license, officials planned to seize Venezuelan oil revenues into offshore accounts, and the president pushed for a dramatic increase in the military budget.

Why the U.S. China Hawks are Hurting the U.S.

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 236 implied HN points • 04 Aug 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics National Security
  1. Banning tech exports to China might seem like a smart move, but it actually helps them push their own technology forward.
  2. China is making big strides in semiconductor technology, like creating graphene-based devices that are much faster and more efficient.
  3. American companies are missing out on huge investment opportunities because of strict policies against collaborating with Chinese firms.

Hallett talks tough on Boris

A Lawyer Writes • 530 implied HN points • 29 May 23
🌍 World Politics National Security
  1. Baroness Hallett demands access to Boris Johnson's diaries and notebooks for Covid-19 inquiry
  2. Johnson argues release of diary entries could breach national security, inquiry lawyers disagree
  3. Inquiry team may take action if Cabinet Office fails to hand over requested materials

Weekend Listening: The Real Team America

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 2026 implied HN points • 03 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics National Security
  1. There is growing concern over potential conflicts involving the U.S., China, Russia, and other nations, which could escalate into a global war.
  2. Many Americans, including influential figures like business leaders and journalists, are investing in innovative defense technologies to strengthen national security.
  3. Innovation in software is seen as crucial for modern defense, enabling the development of advanced weapon systems and vehicles with AI and autonomous capabilities.

John Bolton: Why America Needs Greenland

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 709 implied HN points • 03 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics National Security
  1. The idea of the U.S. buying Greenland isn't new, and Trump has talked about it several times, suggesting it's important for national security.
  2. Greenland has historical ties to U.S. security interests, especially since World War II, when it helped protect against threats in the North Atlantic.
  3. Ambassador John Bolton believes there's a strong case for the U.S. to pursue this acquisition, although he thinks Trump's approach has complicated things.

How to Make A Fortune on Regime Change!

The Corbett Report • 19 implied HN points • 17 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics National Security
  1. Prediction markets let people bet real money on geopolitical events and can sometimes pay out large sums to those who predict correctly.
  2. These markets create strong incentives for insider trading, misinformation, and even for powerful actors to manipulate events to profit.
  3. Because of the moral, legal, and security risks — especially with high-profile backers involved — lawmakers and regulators are moving to restrict or oversee these platforms.

VCs Take Heat for China Deals…Down Rounds Up in 2023…Lightspeed in the VC Directory

Newcomer • 235 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
💼 Business National Security
  1. US VCs face scrutiny for investing in Chinese companies linked to national defense technologies.
  2. There is concern about US venture capital flows aiding China's advancements in chips and AI, posing national security risks.
  3. Some VCs may have overlooked the potential negative impacts of their investments on US interests and security.

What Will Trump Do About Iran?

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 681 implied HN points • 01 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics National Security
  1. Iran's position has changed significantly, with its chances of becoming a nuclear state reduced greatly over the past year.
  2. Groups like Hezbollah and Hamas, which once seemed strong, are now facing pressure and even agreeing to ceasefires.
  3. The new president has a chance to take action against Iran and its allies, but it's uncertain if he will seize this opportunity.

January 4, 2026

Letters from an American • 28 implied HN points • 05 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics National Security
  1. The administration launched strikes in Venezuela, captured Nicolás Maduro according to officials, and signaled an intent to control the country and its oil resources.
  2. The operation proceeded without clear congressional authorization or proper briefings to the Gang of Eight, raising serious legal and constitutional questions while officials called it a law-enforcement action despite many civilian and security-force deaths.
  3. There is broad public and bipartisan political backlash: most Americans oppose military intervention, lawmakers say they were misled, and critics warn the intervention will likely backfire and strengthen Maduro while showing the administration ignoring oversight.

“Smoking Gun” Documents Point to CIA Machinations in JFK Assassination

Public • 236 implied HN points • 09 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics National Security
  1. The newly released documents about George Joannides show that the CIA had more knowledge about Lee Harvey Oswald than previously admitted. This changes the narrative about the JFK assassination and the 'lone gunman' theory.
  2. The evidence suggests that the CIA monitored Oswald closely, contradicting earlier claims that they had minimal information about him before the assassination. This calls into question the integrity of past investigations.
  3. Investigative journalist Gerald Posner, who argued for the lone gunman theory, now faces challenges to his claims as new information emerges that complicates the official story of JFK's assassination.

The Credibility Crux of COVID Origins

A Biologist's Guide to Life • 29 implied HN points • 01 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics National Security
  1. A credibility crisis around COVID origins arose because powerful institutions and some academics suppressed or discredited evidence pointing to a lab origin, poisoning public trust and academic debate.
  2. Forensic bioattribution is hard and underdeveloped, so governments must fund new methods, data sources, and standards to reliably determine whether a virus came from a lab.
  3. A new, insulated national security science institution is needed to recruit top scientists, avoid foreign influence, integrate intelligence and scientific rigor, and restore credible investigation into high‑consequence biological events.

Tulsi Gabbard Holds the Knife

Thinking about... • 641 implied HN points • 07 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics National Security
  1. Tulsi Gabbard is seen as unqualified to lead U.S. intelligence due to her past support for controversial regimes and spreading false information.
  2. Her actions, including justifying violence against civilians and promoting propaganda, raise concerns about her intentions and reliability.
  3. If she were to lead national intelligence, it could put U.S. safety at risk and harm relationships with allies.

January 3, 2026

Letters from an American • 26 implied HN points • 04 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics National Security
  1. Newly released Epstein files keep revealing troubling connections and suggest the Justice Department considered charging co‑conspirators, but the DOJ has missed legal deadlines to fully disclose or justify redactions.
  2. Former special counsel Jack Smith told Congress under oath that his team found proof beyond a reasonable doubt that Trump worked to overturn the 2020 election and willfully kept classified documents, and much of the evidence came from Republicans who had worked for him.
  3. The administration launched a unilateral military operation to seize Venezuela’s president and wife—framed as law enforcement but aimed at regime change and control of oil—acting without clear congressional or international legal authority, causing civilian deaths and leaving U.S. officials scrambling to plan what comes next.

From CIA station chief to AI chatbots to Trump-adjacent lobbying

All-Source Intelligence Fusion • 529 implied HN points • 20 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics National Security
  1. Enrique de la Torre, a former CIA station chief, has now joined a lobbying firm with ties to the Trump administration. This shows a trend of government officials moving to private sector roles.
  2. De la Torre criticized the CIA's new AI system for profiling world leaders, calling it inadequate compared to his ideas. This highlights ongoing discussions about the effectiveness of technology in government work.
  3. His views on U.S. foreign policy, especially in Latin America, suggest he will push for strong stances against countries like Cuba and Venezuela in his new role. This aligns with certain hawkish perspectives in U.S. politics.

Pentagon confirms erasure of Project Maven-related contract records

All-Source Intelligence Fusion • 712 implied HN points • 05 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics National Security
  1. The Pentagon deleted public records of a $200 million AI surveillance contract called Project Maven, raising concerns about transparency.
  2. They justified this erasure by citing national security rules that allow withholding information from public databases.
  3. Some agencies, like the CIA, are exempt from certain federal procurement regulations, making it unclear how broadly these rules are applied.

OSD 358: Our favorite OSD essays from 2025

Open Source Defense • 24 implied HN points • 02 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics National Security
  1. Building tech for government can improve legitimate public services, but it often ends up empowering surveillance and coercive powers instead of the right functions.
  2. There’s clear room for civilian-defense innovation, from better home‑defense solutions to alternatives that could replace or improve on guns, and startups should pursue those gaps.
  3. With the NFA tax stamp effectively eliminated, suppressors, short‑barreled rifles, and AOWs will likely become much more common, quickly reshaping markets and how people equip themselves.

Violent Rioters at Berkeley. In Defense of Self-Driving Cars. Richard Lewis, RIP

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1456 implied HN points • 29 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics National Security
  1. Maintaining the distinction between speech and violence is crucial in civil society.
  2. Self-driving cars are safer than those driven by humans and can help reduce the high number of road deaths.
  3. Texas A&M decided to shut down its Qatar campus due to national security concerns related to the school's relationship with Qatar and its ties to groups like Hamas and Iran.

The Logic of the Chips Escalation

Policy Tensor • 393 implied HN points • 23 Jul 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics National Security
  1. The concentration of authority in the national security advisor's office is vital for the security state's functioning.
  2. The chips escalation is driven by concerns over the cyber security of US nuclear command and control.
  3. Maintaining US primacy in the cyber realm is crucial to ensure the credibility of US nuclear deterrence.

Hope For A Deal between Nippon Steel and the Steelworkers Union Before Election Day

Japan Economy Watch • 159 implied HN points • 27 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics National Security
  1. There is hope for a deal between Nippon Steel and the Steelworkers Union before Election Day to avoid national security issues and ease political tensions.
  2. Election year politics heavily influence decisions, with implications for US-Japan relations and national security.
  3. Challenges exist in making the deal, including union concerns about potential job losses and the need for guarantees, but both sides are working towards a resolution.

Why Trump Is Obsessed with the Panama Canal

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 463 implied HN points • 03 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics National Security
  1. Trump has a strong belief that China is gaining control over the Panama Canal, which he thinks is a serious issue for the U.S.
  2. He often reminds people that the U.S. built and owned the canal before it was handed over to Panama.
  3. Some political figures are starting to take Trump's concerns seriously, discussing actions that could be taken regarding the canal's operations.

NSA FOIA Submitted

FOIA Around And Find Out • 373 implied HN points • 23 Jul 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics National Security
  1. Research suggests more transparency is needed regarding activities at the NSA, including possible Russian involvement from 2015-2016.
  2. Exploration of the involvement of individuals like Rodney Joffe in government data programs is an intriguing avenue of inquiry.
  3. FOIA requests have been resubmitted for records related to various entities that appear to have connections to US Intelligence and potential data collection activities.

Trump and WWIII

ChinaTalk • 681 implied HN points • 22 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics National Security
  1. Trump's foreign policy could increase the risk of conflict. Instead of promoting peace, his approach may lead to war by weakening alliances.
  2. His plans for Ukraine and Taiwan involve risky deals that could encourage aggression from Russia and China. This could make the U.S. less trusted by its allies and more likely to be dragged into a war.
  3. Maintaining a strong military and solid international relationships is key to avoiding World War III. A weak approach to foreign policy might upset the balance of power and lead to catastrophic outcomes.