True leadership in America and Israel would look beyond the management of the current crisis to define and pursue a clearer, more positive outcome through diplomacy, rather than more conflict and war. My latest analysis of Trump 2.0's performance on the Israeli-Palestinian front

Trump's foreign policy at a temporary & fragile limbo in the Middle East My latest weekly analysis on U.S. foreign policy for Middle East Institute:

Thanks to Stephanie Turco Williams for coming on "Taking the Edge Off the Middle East." We discussed her new book, Libya Since Qaddafi: Chaos and the Search for Peace and also talked about her decades of experience as a senior diplomat with the U.S. Department of State and United Nations.

From Tehran to Gaza - former Israeli national security advisor Eyal Hulata of Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) joins me on "Taking the Edge Off the Middle East" podcast Middle East Institute:

My assessment of the U.S. strikes on Iran for my weekly column, "Making Sense," with Middle East Institute:

Check out my last podcast episode with Ambassador Dina Kawar, Jordan’s Ambassador to the United States. This one was a special episode for me - the ambassador is a friend, and I have a personal connection to Jordan, where I lived and studied on a Fulbright scholarship from 1994 to 1995.

America: trouble ahead, trouble behind My latest weekly take on U.S. foreign policy, with a heavier dose on what's happening at home this week:

Check out the latest episode of my podcast with Fahad Nazer! We discuss the evolving US-Saudi relationship amid unprecedented regional volatility, the deepening crisis in Gaza, and broader international engagement to address the humanitarian catastrophe and prevent further regional escalation.

Back in Black by AC/DC at Princeton reunion fireworks

Iran may be the most important test of Trump 2.0's foreign policy template:

My latest "Making Sense" weekly take on U.S. foreign policy with the Middle East Institute -

Remember the Mideast peace process, then one when Palestinians & Israelis actually talked with each other? Tune in to the latest episode of "Taking the Edge Off the Middle East" podcast, where my guest is Frank Lowenstein, a former U.S. peace envoy in the Obama admin. www.mei.edu/multimedia/p...

The wannabe emperor Trump has no clothes. And none of the bobble heads on his team of “yes” men will tell him, ⁦@crampell.bsky.social ⁩ (And yes, nearly all of them are men) www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

Orwellian & ironic: Trump team presents an effort to politicize U.S. intelligence as an effort to combat intel politicization & weaponization www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

“MAGA Jesus” would be an awesome Todd Phillips movie starring Sasha Baron Cohen www.instagram.com/reel/DG8fra2...

My latest analysis on Trump 2.0 for the Middle East Institute:

Episode 9 of Taking the Edge Off the Middle East, featuring Ambassador Daniel B. Shapiro, is available now on all podcast platforms:

My latest analysis for the Middle East Institute: "President Donald Trump’s administration dialed up its use of military power in the Middle East this past week just as it took more steps to dismantle American institutions central to advancing peace and stability through diplomacy."

Trump's foreign policy improv act: If you don’t know where you are going, any road will take you there. My latest weekly analysis on U.S. foreign policy for the Middle East Institute www.mei.edu/publications...

The first phase of a three-phase cease-fire deal is set to begin on January 19. This historic agreement took more than a year to reach and facilitating the full implementation will be difficult. Three key steps ahead in implementation: www.mei.edu/publications...

A key marker of expertise on a topic: when the speaker uses the phrase “and whatnot” in the explication.

President Biden will deliver a final speech on his foreign policy on Monday, January 13th. My assessment of how the Middle East was handled, the 4th in a series of reports by the Middle East Institute in 2023-2024, including a report card with grades. www.mei.edu/publications...

What will Trump’s second administration face in the Middle East in 2025, compared to what he left in 2021? www.mei.edu/blog/four-ye...

New limits on all things global aren’t going away anytime soon www.liberalpatriot.com/p/why-the-ga...

1 - India & China vie for influence in the Maldives: www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/1...

Israel vs. the Houthis theworld.org/segments/202...

That was then, this is now. The Middle East in 2025 looks nothing like the Middle East in 2021 when Donald Trump left office. Check out this @MiddleEastInst analysis by several scholars examining what's different. My take on US policy/politics: www.mei.edu/blog/four-ye...

U.S. administrations & the bloated think tank-media Middle East policy commentary industrial complex often overstate how much credit or blame America should get for events in the region. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

What's next in Syria? Join this Middle East Institute webinar Dec 12 at 9:30AM ET Sign up here: www.mei.edu/events/fall-...

A warm welcome to Amb. Stuart E. Jones as next president & CEO of the Middle East Institute Looking forward to working with an experienced diplomat with a strong track record in the Middle East www.mei.edu/press-releas...

Gettysburg battlefield on a cold December morning, overlooking the area of Pickett’s Charge and the high water mark of the Confederacy. I’ve recently been thinking about that moment in America’s history, a hinge point when so much was at stake for the country’s unity & future.

What to expect from Trump 2.0 on Iran policy: Jackie Northam @npr.org Dana Stroul @washinstitute.bsky.social @suzannemaloney.bsky.social @brookingsinst.bsky.social & me www.npr.org/2024/11/26/n...