NEW: US intelligence analysts assess that Xi Jinping has a remarkable level of paranoia. This could help explain his persecution of China's top general, Zhang Youxia, and other purges. Some experts say Xi could be moving to extend his rule for a 4th term. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/02/03/u...

The Washington Post is my hometown newspaper. I grew up reading it. The work of its foreign correspondents was a big inspiration for my own career as one for The New York Times. The Washington Post and its reporters are an American treasure.

NEW: US intelligence analysts assess that Xi Jinping has a remarkable level of paranoia. This could help explain his persecution of China's top general, Zhang Youxia, and other purges. Some experts say Xi could be moving to extend his rule for a 4th term. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/02/03/u...

UCLA law professor Alex Wang has been studying one of the critical ways China has been making inroads around the world. The US has been ceding this ground.

Judge Biery signed the order with a photo of Liam and two bible verses: The first is "But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." The second is simply "Jesus wept." Astonishing thing for a judge to do.

The Trump administration is bypassing a Congressional review process to send $6.5 billion of weapons aid to Israel. The package includes Apache attack helicopters and combat vehicles. It's the third time the Trump administration has done this. Gift link to story: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/u...

The Trump administration is bypassing a Congressional review process to send $6.5 billion of weapons aid to Israel. The package includes Apache attack helicopters and combat vehicles. It's the third time the Trump administration has done this. Gift link to story: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/u...

Pen America @penamerica.bsky.social has issued this statement on the arrest by federal agents of journalist Don Lemon. "Journalism is not a crime." pen.org/press-releas...

Trump is now mobilizing the power of the federal government to relitigate the 2020 election that he lost by again advancing lies and distortions already debunked by Republicans and judges. Here is what really happened @reidepstein.bsky.social @nytnickc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2026/01/29/u...

Here’s a new frame-by-frame video analysis of the killing in Minneapolis by ICE of Alex Pettri, a nurse for the Veterans Administration. @nytimes.com assesses that two ICE agents shot 10 rounds into him even though he didn’t post a threat. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/video/us/100...

Xi Jinping just purged Gen. Zhang Youxia, once his closest ally in the Chinese military. The move is significant. What does it mean? @nytimes.com story: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/26/w...

The Washington Post is my hometown newspaper. I grew up reading it. The work of its foreign correspondents was a big inspiration for my own career as one for The New York Times. The Washington Post and its reporters are an American treasure.

NEW: Trump reality check — China and Russia aren't threatening Greenland. US and European officials say there's no intelligence on any such dangers. Sen. Mark Warner says the only immediate threat to Greenland is Trump asserting claims to it. Gift link to my story: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/24/u...

NEW: Trump reality check — China and Russia aren't threatening Greenland. US and European officials say there's no intelligence on any such dangers. Sen. Mark Warner says the only immediate threat to Greenland is Trump asserting claims to it. Gift link to my story: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/24/u...

Newly unsealed evidence makes it even clearer that Rubio and Noem knew they were targeting students based solely on their political speech and that they knew this policy was unconstitutional. They just didn’t care. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/u...

Fallout from Trump’s recent statements on Greenland

UPDATE from @nytimes.com: Trump is building up forces near Iran. The aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln and escort ships are heading there from the South China Sea — a two-week trip. And the Pentagon is sending more warplanes, many from Europe. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/15/u...

NEW: Denmark's foreign minister, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, told The New York Times that a US takeover of Greenland was a red line. He said Vance and Rubio agree to a working group. But the White House said the group will discuss a US acquisition of Greenland. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/15/u...

NEW: Denmark's foreign minister, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, told The New York Times that a US takeover of Greenland was a red line. He said Vance and Rubio agree to a working group. But the White House said the group will discuss a US acquisition of Greenland. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/15/u...

UPDATE from @nytimes.com: Trump is building up forces near Iran. The aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln and escort ships are heading there from the South China Sea — a two-week trip. And the Pentagon is sending more warplanes, many from Europe. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/15/u...

NEW: Netanyahu called Trump yesterday and asked him to hold off on attacking Iran. During the June war, Iran hit Israel with many missiles, killing some civilians. Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Egypt have also asked the US not to attack Iran. Gift link to our story: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/15/u...

Trump said Iran had stopped killing protesters, citing "sources on the other side." But he didn't rule out military action, and a US official told The New York Times late Wednesday that what Trump did next depended on the Iranian security agencies. Story: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/14/u...

Venezuela’s ambassador to the UK, Félix Plasencia, is flying to DC on Thursday to try to meet with US officials. It’ll be the first visit by a Venezuelan envoy in years. Also on Thursday, Trump plans to meet Machado, the opposition leader. Story from @nytimes.com: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/14/w...

NEW: Venezuela has released several American citizens, the first such detainees to be freed since US troops attacked Venezuela on Jan. 3 on Trump's orders and seized Maduro. At least 3 Americans have been freed as of Tuesday night, one person said. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/13/w...

NEW: Venezuela has released several American citizens, the first such detainees to be freed since US troops attacked Venezuela on Jan. 3 on Trump's orders and seized Maduro. At least 3 Americans have been freed as of Tuesday night, one person said. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/13/w...

Breaking NYT: The Pentagon used a secret aircraft painted to look like a civilian plane in its first boat attack, according to officials briefed on the matter. The laws of armed conflict forbid combatants from feigning civilian status. That is a war crime called "perfidy."

NEW: As Trump weighs diplomacy, the Pentagon is presenting a wider range of strike options for Iran than previously reported. Possible targets: Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile sites. But a cyberattack or striking a domestic security group is likelier. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/12/u...

Last weekend, people across the Americas woke up to news of Trump ordering US forces to attack Venezuela and seize Maduro and his wife. That was followed by Greenland, an ICE agent’s lethal shooting of Renee Good, and Trump considering a new strike on Iran. Now we have this.

NEW from @nytimes.com: Trump has been briefed on options for US strikes against Iran, whose leaders have overseen the killings of dozens of protesters. Possible targets include non-military ones in Tehran. Rubio spoke to Netanyahu today about Iran. Our story: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/10/u...

NEW from @nytimes.com: Trump has been briefed on options for US strikes against Iran, whose leaders have overseen the killings of dozens of protesters. Possible targets include non-military ones in Tehran. Rubio spoke to Netanyahu today about Iran. Our story: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/10/u...

Rubio told lawmakers that Trump wants to buy Greenland. How? @nytimes.com reported in April that the US could offer $10,000 annually to each resident. Or Trump could make an offer to Denmark, as Truman did in 1946. Earlier story: www.nytimes.com/2025/04/10/u...

This sharp essay by @polgreen.bsky.social examines Trump’s “imperial boomerang.” It’s been clear to me many of his voters were angry about a post-9/11 “imperial boomerang” of other leaders — embodied by the toll of troop deaths and deployments, and wars leading to waves of refugees to the US.

NEW: Rubio told lawmakers that Trump plans to buy Greenland rather than invade it. Trump quietly asked aides on Monday for an updated plan to acquire Greenland, which is part of Denmark, a NATO ally. European leaders today rejected recent Trump remarks. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/06/u...

NEW: In an Oct. 2 Oval Office meeting, Rubio helped Trump steer discussions with Hegseth, Caine and Grenell to military planning on Venezuela — and ending diplomacy. Now Rubio has a harder job: running Venezuela as a "viceroy," and getting oil. Gift link to our story: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/06/u...

Since ousting Maduro, Trump has focused on getting "total access" to Venezuela's oil. That has been key to his thinking on Venezuela all along. Here's a gift link to the @nytimes.com story that @julianbarnes.bsky.social and I did last month on how it drove him: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/16/u...

UPDATE: Trump just said on Air Force One that the U.S. is "in charge" of Venezuela, despite Rubio veering away from any suggestion of direct control earlier. Trump also said the post-Maduro leaders must give him "total access" to the oil. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/04/u...

Rubio said the US Navy will keep up a "quarantine" of some Venezuelan oil to coerce Maduro's allies to open up the oil industry. A White House official said that's what Trump meant when he said the US will "run" Venezuela. It's the new gunboat diplomacy. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/04/u...

It was always about regime change. Here's our @nytimes story from September breaking the news that Rubio was leading an effort in the Trump administration to oust Maduro, with the support of Miller and Ratcliffe. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2025/09/29/u...

Our @nytimes.com story from last week broke the news that US officials had discussed a “Phase Two” land operation against Maduro that would involve Delta Force. It’s the definitive story on how Trump, Rubio and Miller converged on the actions today. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/27/u...

NEW: Venezuela has detained 5 Americans since Trump's military escalation against Maduro. One is James Luckey-Lange, 28, who entered Venezuela from Guyana. US officials have discussed whether he and another detainee should be labeled unlawful detainees. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/w...

NEW: Rubio and Miller drove the US to a militarized clash with Venezuela and Maduro. They started with deportations to CECOT. Then talks with Trump on oil and drugs led to boat strikes. Officials have discussed using Delta Force in "Phase Two." Gift link to our story: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/27/u...

Has the US carried out an attack in Venezuela? Trump said in a podcast interview on 12/26 that the US had hit a “facility” where supposed drug-running boats come from. The US has killed Venezuelans in boats from 9/2 to now in a military campaign. Story: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/28/u...

NEW: Rubio and Miller drove the US to a militarized clash with Venezuela and Maduro. They started with deportations to CECOT. Then talks with Trump on oil and drugs led to boat strikes. Officials have discussed using Delta Force in "Phase Two." Gift link to our story: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/27/u...

The Trump administration is recalling nearly 30 ambassadors, all of whom are career diplomats. A union says there has never been such a mass recall in the history of the foreign service. Morale has been plummeting in the State Department all year. Story: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/22/u...

NEW: US gunboat diplomacy — Trump's order to do a blockade of some oil tankers by Venezuela surprised the Pentagon. Maduro orders the navy to escort ships, risking a conflict on the high seas. Trump says he aims to seize the country's oil and other assets. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/17/u...

Trump orders US forces to stop oil tankers going to and from Venezuela that have been sanctioned by the US. This could cut into Venezuela's oil revenues. It's an escalation of Trump's military operations and pressure campaign against Maduro. Our story: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/16/u...

NEW: Trump covets Venezuela's oil. He has talked about seizing it. His envoy secretly pushed Maduro on it. Machado, the opposition leader, tells Trump's allies that she'll open up the industry to US companies. And US officials talk about pushing out China. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/16/u...

I watched “Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair” in a cinema over the weekend, which I recommend doing. I can’t help but wonder: Who would win in a fight — The Bride or John Wick?

How many Americans know the US has National Guard troops in Syria? They’re being killed. A US civilian interpreter was also killed in this attack by a single Islamic State fighter, US officials said. Trump promised to bring US troops home from conflict zones and not start wars.