United States
Nobody Says They Want a Regional War. That Does Not Mean the Region Cannot End Up in One.
The war that began in Gaza three months ago is increasingly becoming a regional system of interconnected confrontations. Hamas deputy political leader Saleh al-Arouri was killed in Beirut on Tuesday, in an explosion widely attributed…
The Houthis Cannot Control Global Trade. They Have Discovered They Do Not Need To.
A conflict that began in Gaza is increasingly affecting container ships thousands of kilometres away. Yemen’s Houthi movement has launched missiles and drones towards commercial vessels travelling through the Red Sea and has seized at…
Kevin McCarthy Prevented a Government Shutdown. Three Days Later, His Own Party Helped Remove Him.
The United States House of Representatives removed Kevin McCarthy as Speaker on Tuesday, something that had never happened before in American history. Eight Republicans joined all Democrats who voted to support a motion introduced by…
Modi’s Washington Visit Was Not Really About Friendship. It Was About Who Builds the Technologies That Will Define the Next Twenty Years.
Narendra Modi’s state visit to Washington this week produced all the symbolism expected from one of America’s highest forms of diplomatic recognition. President Joe Biden hosted him at the White House, Modi addressed a joint…
India and America Are Getting Closer. That Does Not Mean India Is Becoming an American Ally.
Narendra Modi will travel to Washington this week for a state visit hosted by President Joe Biden, including a state dinner and an address to a joint meeting of the US Congress. The ceremony will…
America Can Afford to Pay Its Debts. Congress May Still Prevent It From Doing So.
The United States is approaching another debt-ceiling confrontation. On Monday, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned Congress that the federal government could become unable to satisfy all of its obligations as early as 1 June unless…
Tsai Met McCarthy in California Instead of Taipei. China Still Surrounded Taiwan With Military Exercises.
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California on Wednesday. Three days later, China’s People’s Liberation Army began major military exercises around Taiwan involving aircraft, warships and simulated operations against the…
If Banks Know Governments Will Rescue the System, Why Should They Ever Be Careful?
One week ago, Silicon Valley Bank was the sixteenth-largest bank in the United States. Today it no longer exists as an independent functioning bank, American authorities have guaranteed all of its deposits, financial markets are…
Inflation Was Supposed to Decide the Midterms. American Voters Had Other Things on Their Minds.
American voters went to the polls on Tuesday in an election that was widely expected to punish President Joe Biden and the Democratic Party. Inflation remains unusually high, petrol and food prices have placed substantial…
The FBI Searched a Former President’s Home. That Should Be Both Normal and Extraordinary.
On Monday, FBI agents searched Donald Trump’s residence at Mar-a-Lago in Florida. By Friday, a federal judge had unsealed the search warrant and an inventory of material seized from the property, showing that investigators removed…
Pelosi Went to Taiwan. China Responded With Missiles. Was the Visit Worth It?
The Speaker of the US House of Representatives arrived in Taipei on Tuesday despite repeated warnings from Beijing that her visit would provoke a serious response. She met President Tsai Ing-wen, addressed Taiwanese officials and…
America Is Investigating January 6. The Riot May Not Be the Most Important Part.
More than seventeen months after supporters of Donald Trump stormed the United States Capitol, Americans watched the first prime-time public hearing of the House committee investigating January 6 on Thursday night. The images remain extraordinary…
