I never thought I'd become an e-reader fan. It feels almost sacrilegious, but I've become quite attached to my Kobo reader. It doesn't require me to be locked into an ecosystem like Amazon, the UI is simple and uncluttered, and the notes function works well.

Reading this deeply reported article by Adam Entous on the US approach to Ukraine and Russia was painful for me as an American. I will provide some of my thoughts later on here. This is probably the most important piece of journalism in 2025 on foreign policy.

Occam's Razor points toward a clear conclusion: Putin's claim of an attempted Ukrainian drone attack on one of his homes is a fabrication. Why do I come to this conclusion

Perhaps worth revisiting as Trump and Zelensky convene today

What are your favorite short stories or novellas about war? (Please don't name your own)

This article by Justin Bronk is very important www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...

Amanda Bresler names names in this cutting take down of systematic abuse of the Small Business Innovation Research program and tells legislators how they can save it warontherocks.com/2025/12/deca...

Re-upping my article on what a more sensible and effective approach to bringing #Ukraine and #Russia to the table would look like (Ukrainian language version also available) warontherocks.com/2025/11/a-15...

With #BlackFriday comes the War on the Rocks holiday reading list Watch this space @warontherocks.bsky.social

I have a new article today in @warontherocks.bsky.social that attempts to lead Washington to a different approach to negotiations to end the war between Ukraine and Russia. I offer 15 principles the belligerents should agree to before negotiations can begin warontherocks.com/2025/11/a-15...

Were you let go in the recent RAND cuts? I’m connected with organizations that are hiring. Add your info to this Google Form and I will do my best to help forms.gle/gTaQgBLpT3HA...

Former chairman, Gen (ret) CQ Brown in @warontherocks.bsky.social today with an important article warontherocks.com/2025/11/raci...

JP McGee is one of the best officers of his generation. I am grateful for his service to our Army and our country

Part 2 is coming out soon. Catch up on part 1

My running list of fellowships and other opportunities has been updated, including a veteran fellowship recently highlighted by Jason Galui - the Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program at the Bush Presidential Center. nathankfinney.com/fellowships-...

When Putin feels weak, he often resorts to nuclear sabre-rattling. The prospect of nuclear war is of course terrifying, but this is just a tired and non-credible maneuver from Putin. Here's why:

I was pleased to have Congressman Himes on the show. We talked for half the episode about Venezuela and Latin America but we also covered the rest of the world. I'm sure this episode will only deepen the confusion of my more imaginative critics on this website pod.link/682478916/ep...

A tale of two social media platforms

War on the Rocks has only raised $300k from investors in its 12 year history. We haven't raised a dollar from investors for over six years. None of it was from venture capital or private equity. You people have no clue what you're talking about but I'm enjoying the fanfic

Any theories for why the Trump administration is formally celebrating the USMC birthday three weeks early?

Morgan Plummer's new piece in Cogs of War is one of the smartest takes yet on the choices shaping national security #AI. Early policy decisions are setting trajectories that will be hard to undo warontherocks.com/2025/10/four...

If you were organizing a candid panel on the performance of Western defense tech in Ukraine, who would you invite?

If you were organizing a candid panel on the performance of Western defense tech in Ukraine, who would you invite?

Witkoff has taken very hard lines in talks with Tehran. Iran has been weakened but is not so weak that it can or will accept these terms. For many in the Trump admin and close to it, the point is to *not* arrive at an agreement and thereby create an untenable situation that leads to regime change

War on the Rocks brings together the best minds in strategy and defense. Join us in shaping the conversation.

To say Alaska didn't go well, I think, is an understatement

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The Marine Corps’ edge will come from being inside the fight early, not floating miles from shore on vulnerable big deck amphibs warontherocks.com/20...

After years of learning from some of the smartest people I know over coffees, drinks, and through editing their articles, I decided it was time to weigh in on the Marine force design debate. warontherocks.com/2025/08/the-...

Should the United States go all in on AI — or pace itself for a long, grinding competition? warontherocks.com/20...

Check out the latest episode of Marine Pulse for @warontherocks.bsky.social members—I talk with CDR Aaron Kleinman about the role of the chaplain in the 21st century: warontherocks.com/episode/mari...

Three sharp minds. One messy world. In the latest @warontherocks.bsky.social episode, I am joined by @spettyjohn.bsky.social, Justin Logan & Wess Mitchell to talk about hard choices in the sequencing of American strategy. We have some pretty sharp disagreements too pod.link/682478916/ep...

Significant increase. Bravo

Podcast: Iran, the war, and nonproliferation with @nktpnd.bsky.social and @jamiekwong.bsky.social. @warontherocks.bsky.social warontherocks.com/episode/thin...

Remarkable article

Latest WOTR podcast is out. I join @ryanevans.bsky.social to talk about the state of the front, manpower, drones, and the recent disruption of aid from the United States. Open to all. @WarOnTheRocks open.spotify.com/episode/11Cb...

This is our most read article so far this year. So I had the author on The Insider to chat more about it

If you have something to say about defense technology and industry, we want your voice. Contribute to @Cogs0fWar and shape the debate. warontherocks.com/jo...

Thanks to @ryanevans.bsky.social at @warontherocks.bsky.social for asking me to write a summary version of this paper, which came out today. If you've only got 10 minutes but are still interested in the comparison, we've got you covered! warontherocks.com/2025/06/a-st...

Our new show The Iran Reckoning is out. Get access with a War on the Rocks membership, just $99 for the year if you sign up today. Access this exclusive offer: warontherocks.member... Listen to the first episode: open.spotify.com/epi...

Gen. James Rainey sits down with Ryan to discuss the Army’s vision for the future fight — and the tech and methods behind it. Listen here: warontherocks.com/20...

This week, we are launching a new members-only show: "The Iran Contingency with Afshon Ostovar (@AOstovar)." For a limited time, become a WOTR Platinum member for $99/year, down from $150. warontherocks.member...

Thanks to those who contributed to this summer's fiction reading list @warontherocks.bsky.social warontherocks.com/2025/06/the-...

New show alert: "The Iran Contingency with Afshon Ostovar" dives deep into the challenges posed by Iran and the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war against Tehran. To mark the launch of this new show, the annual membership is for sale for $99/year (regularly $150). ow.ly/IWBy50WeUUl

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We’re doing a thing

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Agile minds win future wars — Lt. Gen. Tullos on Air University’s mission to educate and equip Airmen. Listen here: warontherocks.com/20...

Latest RC is out. I join @justin-br0nk.bsky.social and Guy Plopsky to talk about the Israeli vs Russian air campaign. Why one succeed and the other failed. How can these different wars be usefully compared? What are observations or lessons learned. @WarOnTheRocks warontherocks.com/episode/ther...