Read this. Global Corruption, Local Hypocrisy: The Promises and Pitfalls of the U.S. Combating Global Corruption Act at www.justsecurity.org/126467/globa...

Huge fan of the EPPO, which is a serious anticorruption organization. You want to restore faith in institutions? Police them in transparent, fair, impartial ways.

For U.S. sanctions against Russia to be effective, Washington must also “stem the pipeline of energy-fueled cash from Beijing to Moscow,” write Erica Downs and @richardmnephew.bsky.social.

Latest from me with Erica Downs on Russia-China and oil sanctions. October was a start but the USG has to do more if it wants to be serious about pressure on Russia and demonstrate to China that it means what it says about other issues to boot. www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...

Dan's point about the world having passed us by is a reason why that book I was thinking about writing -- the value the U.S. received from expanding good governance as an international operating principle and how to do it more -- has been permanently shelved. Felt like a eulogy.

Absolutely appalling. "Accept this prejudicial peace or we will abandon you to the wolves" is disgraceful, dishonorable, and an unnecessary capitulation to Russia. www.reuters.com/world/europe...

It does get worse as you read it. My "favorite" part is the gracious concession that "European NATO forces will be stationed in Poland." You know, that European country that also happens to be in NATO.

Pretty disgusting surrender ter...I mean "proposal" being offered here. www.axios.com/2025/11/19/t...

Fighting corruption remains essential for Ukraine to defeat Russia's war of aggression; NABU/SAPO merit praise for their courage in investigating and prosecuting these cases, consistent with the rule of law. www.wsj.com/world/europe...

Oh, come on. How to lobby Trump with Swiss precision: gifts, gold and gab www.axios.com/2025/11/14/t...

👇 Unless Congress affirmatively voted to authorize Trump admin strikes against suspected drug cartel affiliates (which are already illegal under domestic and international law), another law kicks in on Monday that requires the President to withdraw the U.S. military:

In my job as US anti-corruption coordinator, I spent a lot of time talking to partners about the importance of accountability. A lot of people couldn't hold their leaders accountable; they asked us to do what we could via sanctions. Thinking of those people right now, amid another betrayal.

Try reading this without your jaw dropping. Yes, even now, my jaw dropped. Trump Said to Demand Justice Dept. Pay Him $230 Million for Past Cases www.nytimes.com/2025/10/21/u...

This is interesting but my main thought in reading is: yeah, maybe? I don't know, the reality is that inertia is real, as the US has found with its financial sanctions, OPEC found with oil, etc, etc. Cheap/accessible will always find clients. www.reuters.com/markets/comm...

New from @richardmnephew.bsky.social: "The United States and its partners should look carefully at the UN Security Council resolutions and identify similar ways to harness their measures toward preventing Iran from reconstituting its nuclear and missile programs."

The elimination of USAID is a moral atrocity and all involved made a choice to enable, and then lie about, ending the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in the world.

Treasury removed sanctions on former president of Paraguay Cartes yesterday without an explanation. I guess I can say that I'm not surprised, just disappointed. Cartes was corrupt and is a corrupting influence in Paraguay. Removal of these sanctions doesn't change that.

Worth noting: the modality may be a little baroque, but the sanctionability of all of this is absolutely clear under US law and has been for over a decade.

Important story: U.S. sanctions make it nearly impossible to pay Iran for its oil. China has figured out how to do it anyway, in an arrangement that has largely been secret. www.wsj.com/world/middle...

A very interesting experience. Thanks for folks who participated. Hope you found it interesting too.

It's a vital moment for the challenge presented by Iran's nuclear program -- so I'm trying something new. Swing by and ask me anything on @Reddit today at 3:30PM ET. Thanks to the @Reddit team & moderators at r/IAmA for helping to organize. www.reddit.com/r/AMA/commen...

Don't sleep on the issues of corruption...corruption is an enabler of crime that debilitates government and poisons society. And people HATE corruption so it may also have some potency in public messaging.

Re-upping this too: www.wsj.com/opinion/snap...

Re-upping in light of snapback www.energypolicy.columbia.edu/back-to-basi...

Vote on UNSCR 2231 extension: 4 in favor 9 against 2 abstentions Snapback is happening. All pre-JCPOA UN sanctions on Iran will be reinstated at 00:00 GMT tomorrow.

I know a little something about military spending. I'd be shocked if this stunt didn't cost the taxpayer millions of dollars. So much for "government efficiency."

No deal. First of all, this isn't the only access required. Second, the CSA attaches to all safeguarded material, not just Natanz. Third, accepting the conditioning of CSA obligations generally is a mistake. Iran signed the safeguards agreement. It should fulfill it. amwaj.media/en/article/i...

Fellow American citizens and public workers, pursuing a "noble calling" -- www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3by... -- treated like this. Despicable and unforgivable.

These are all good questions but I'll add two more: 1) If he's convinced Ukraine can win (as I am), then will he put his back into supporting Ukraine? This sounds like not. 2) Is he aware that we are part of NATO?

[Goes back in time to say to wife, "dear, you need to tough it out a little" when pregnant with three children. Returns to this timeline with, somehow, three black eyes.] Yeah, maybe let's listen to the doctors instead on this one.

Don't believe people when they say there aren't ideas that we can try to put more pressure on Moscow and Putin. fsi9-prod.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/...

Pleasure doing this with Matt and thanks to @francoisdm.bsky.social and @thebulletin.org for putting it out.

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This @washingtonpost.com editorial doesn’t make it past the second paragraph without a glaring (and telling) factual error. President Washington didn’t create the War Department in 1789; *Congress* did: www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/...

I will give credit when due: this is a good idea. It probably won't stop such detentions from happening, but it can/should/ought be part of the package. Strengthening Efforts to Protect U.S. Nationals from Wrongful Detention Abroad www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...

An honor and a pleasure to join Perry World House as a 2025-26 Distinguished Visiting Fellow perryworldhouse.upenn.edu/news-and-ins...

Iran’s leaders have four primary paths to restoring or reconfiguring their nuclear program. @richardmnephew.bsky.social examines the different scenarios: 1/5

As @richardmnephew.bsky.social notes, Washington and its partners should be guided by four essential priorities: 🔹Detection 🔹Prevention 🔹Education 🔹Diplomacy 2/2

Iran has four primary options for restoring or reconfiguring its nuclear program, so Washington and its partners should focus on trying to shape Tehran’s choice rather than discounting the possibility altogether, writes @richardmnephew.bsky.social. 1/2 www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analy...

"It’s back to the future on Iran policy," write @richardmnephew.bsky.social and Michael Singh in @wsj.com. Here's why enforcing snapback sanctions on Iran will require hard work by Western diplomats and experts in the face of opposition from Tehran, Beijing, and Moscow:

New from @richardmnephew.bsky.social and Michael Singh in @WSJopinion: Last week, the U.K., France, and Germany initiated the process to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran. Enforcing these will require hard work in the face of opposition from Tehran, Beijing, and Moscow.

Pros: we need to sort out our approach to drone warfare, how many ships we need, and managing theater missile defense. Admin: Let's rename DoD the Dept of War, give MacArthur a sixth star, and offer to settle the issue of Taiwan as a push-up contest between DefMins.