Trump
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Trump administration set to receive $10 billion fee for brokering TikTok deal, WSJ reports
President Donald Trump’s administration is poised to receive an estimated “$10 billion” fee from investors involved in the deal that transferred control of TikTok’s U.S. operations from Chinese parent company…
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Trump’s Iran climbdown wasn’t an offramp
Trump’s decision to step back from immediate escalation with Iran has been presented as a form of restraint, but it does not represent a real exit from the conflict. Rather…
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Late-breaking shocks and shifting goalposts: Takaichi’s highwire Washington visit
Sanae Takaichi’s visit to Washington unfolds in a moment where international politics feels unstable and constantly shifting. Global crises, changing U.S. priorities and unexpected developments shape the context of the…
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Trump, Xi, and the Case for Strategic Calm
Introduction First, U.S. – China relations have shifted from confrontation toward a more restrained phase, where both sides test limits while avoiding escalation. From Escalation to Recalibration Initially, tariff wars…
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The World After Trump
A New World Disorder First, global order enters a turbulent phase as U.S. leadership shifts direction. Consequently, alliances weaken, trade becomes zero-sum, and strategic uncertainty expands across regions. Competing Futures…
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Trump’s Cyber Strategy Falls Short on China, Iran, and the Threats That Matter Most
Strategic Framing Initially, the cyber strategy presents an aggressive posture, emphasizing offensive operations to deter adversaries and signal strength in cyberspace. Lack of Strategic Depth However, the document remains brief…
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The Second Trump Administration Turns a Blind Eye to Afghanistan
Historical Context of U.S. Involvement First, Afghanistan dominated U.S. foreign policy debates during the earlier presidency of Donald Trump. The administration negotiated a 2020 agreement with the Taliban to withdraw…
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A Guide to Trump’s Second-Term Military Strikes and Actions
Expanding Use of Military Force Since returning to power in 2025, the U.S. president Donald Trump has increasingly relied on military strikes and operations across several regions. Continuity With Past…
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Trump Should Aim to Neutralize the Iran Regime, Not Destroy It
Strategic Dilemma in the Iran War Initially, the United States joined Israel in a broad military campaign against Iran, raising questions about the war’s objectives and long-term political outcomes. …
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Navigating uncertainty in US – ROK economic ties
En: Think TanksStrategic Context First, intensifying strategic competition between the United States and China reshapes the economic environment in East Asia. Consequently, middle powers such as South Korea must manage economic ties…
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Why MAGA Fears Europe
Transatlantic Tensions Resurface At the 2026 Munich Security Conference, American officials softened their tone but not their substance toward Europe. Whereas rhetoric sounded conciliatory, the strategic message signaled a widening…
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America’s Latest Middle-East Fiasco
Escalation in the Middle East After joint US-Israeli strikes killed Ali Khamenei, Iran retaliated across the region, raising fears of a prolonged and destabilizing conflict. Meanwhile, Washington signaled operations could…
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After the strike: The danger of war in Iran
Context and Immediate Aftermath The joint U.S.-Israel strike killed Iran’s supreme leader and shocked global politics, sparking widespread protests and retaliatory attacks. Despite this blow, Iran’s entrenched power structures remain…
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Endangerment Finding Repeal
En: Think TanksTrump is dismantling climate rules. Industry is worried. The Endangerment Finding repeal announced by the Trump administration marks one of the most consequential rollbacks of federal climate authority in U.S.…
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Is the US dollar’s reserve currency status eroding?
En: Think TanksContext of Recent Dollar Weakness Since early in President Trump’s second term, the U.S. dollar has dropped sharply on a trade-weighted basis, with steep moves in April 2025 and January…
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If superintelligence isn’t imminent, the Trump administration may be right to loosen advanced chip export controls
En: Think TanksContext and Initial Reaction President Trump approved export licenses for certain advanced chips in December 2025, provoking strong criticism from former administration officials. Critics worried that exporting high-end chips to…
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A patchwork republican: Polarization and the laboratories of democracy
En: Think TanksResurgence of Federalism First, American states are breaking from centralized policy as they adopt divergent laws on abortion, voting, vaccines, immigration, and regulatory oversight. Moreover, this shift stems from political…
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US-Israeli Strikes on Iran: Trump’s Rhetoric of Annihilation
En: Medio OrienteA Decisive Escalation in the Middle East On February 28, 2026, the global geopolitical landscape shifted violently as President Donald Trump utilized a high-level televised address to describe the ongoing…
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Industrial Backlash to Climate Deregulation in the United States
The Paradox of Deregulation and Market Stability In a detailed 2025 analysis, the Brookings Institution examines the Trump administration’s aggressive efforts to dismantle established climate and environmental regulations. While traditional…
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Brooking experts on the Supreme Court’s tariff decision
En: Think TanksOverview of the Supreme Court Decision On February 20, 2026, the Supreme Court ruled that IEEPA does not authorize sweeping presidential tariffs. This removes a key executive trade tool. Consequently,…
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Trump relies on showmanship and base appeal in State of the Union address
En: Think TanksEconomic Claims and Public Reception President Trump began by citing lower inflation, falling prices, rising stock markets, and more construction jobs, yet many Americans feel unaffordable basics still bite household…
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How Europe Lost
Can the Continent Escape Its Trump Trap? Matthias Matthijs & Nathalie Tocci | Foreign Affairs, January/February 2026 The concept of the Europe Trump trap captures the continent’s growing dependence on…
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The Predatory Hegemon
En: Think TanksHow Trump Wields American Power Stephen M. Walt | Foreign Affairs, March/April 2026 Predatory Hegemon and American Power In The Predatory Hegemon, Stephen M. Walt argues that Donald Trump’s approach…
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How Nigeria turned Trump’s threats to military partnership
A Shift in Transatlantic Diplomacy The diplomatic relationship between Nigeria and the United States has undergone a significant transformation following a series of high-level security dialogues held this February 2026.…
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Latin America’s Revolution of the Right
The Forces Remaking the Region in the Age of Trump Brian Winter | Foreign Affairs, January/February 2026 The rise of the Latin America right reflects a broader political transformation unfolding…
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How the Big Beautiful Bill hurts the care economy
The Care Economy’s Importance The U.S. care economy includes paid and unpaid labor supporting children, elderly adults, and people with disabilities. It grows as the population ages. Moreover, immigrant workers…
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Foreign Affairs – January/February 2026
En: Think TanksVolume 105, Number 1 The January/February 2026 issue of Foreign Affairs examines a world shaped by democratic strain, authoritarian cooperation, and strategic uncertainty. Across regions, the essays explore whether the…
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Paths Forward After Trump Repeals EPA Greenhouse Gas Protection
Context: EPA and the Endangerment Finding In 2009, a key U.S. environmental rule concluded that greenhouse gases harm public health and welfare, giving the government authority to regulate those emissions.…
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The House Votes to Rein in Trump’s Canada Tariffs
Vote to Reverse Canada Tariffs The House of Representatives voted 219 – 211 to revoke tariffs tied to a national emergency declaration on Canada. Consequently, six Republicans joined nearly all…
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Tracking Trump’s Trade Deals
Redefining U.S. Trade Policy Since early 2025, sweeping tariff threats sparked a global rush to negotiate new trade arrangements with the United States. Instead of implementing high tariffs, baseline rates…