National Security

President Donald Trump signs an executive order renaming the Department of Defense as the Department of War as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (C) and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. Dan Caine shake hands, in the Oval Office of the White House on September 5, 2025, in Washington, DC.

Rebranding to the “Department of War” Will Surely Fix Everything Rebranding to the “Department of War” Will Surely Fix Everything

Quick: Name one clear triumph in a meaningful war for the United States since 1945.

Sep 23, 2025 / William Astore

FBI agents carry boxes as they arrive at the home of John Bolton, Donald Trump's former national security advisor, during a court-authorized search on August 22, 2025, in Bethesda, Maryland.

Trump’s Raid on John Bolton’s Home Is Different From What I Experienced—It’s Revenge Trump’s Raid on John Bolton’s Home Is Different From What I Experienced—It’s Revenge

The raids on my home and Bolton's marks a chilling evolution from George W. Bush to Trump 2.0.

Aug 26, 2025 / Thomas Drake

US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin leave at the conclusion of a press conference at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on August 15, 2025, in Anchorage, Alaska.

Trump Won’t Deliver Peace to Ukraine—or Anywhere Else Trump Won’t Deliver Peace to Ukraine—or Anywhere Else

No one can trust the United States when a fickle man-child controls its foreign policy.

Aug 18, 2025 / Jeet Heer

President Donald Trump arrives for a NATO Summit dinner at Huis ten Bosch Palace in The Hague, Netherlands, on June 24, 2025.

NATO Rolls Out the Red Carpet for Trump, the President Who Would Be King NATO Rolls Out the Red Carpet for Trump, the President Who Would Be King

The NATO secretary general had one mission: Keep Trump happy. And to keep Trump happy, you sacrifice your dignity and play the vassal.

Jun 27, 2025 / Carol Schaeffer

One time never-Trumper Bill Kristol—pictured here at a panel on

Those Sometimes-Trump Neocons Are Returning to the Fold Over Iran Those Sometimes-Trump Neocons Are Returning to the Fold Over Iran

As the president backs Israel’s long-awaited war with Iran, his neoconservative critics find themselves in an awkward position.

Jun 20, 2025 / Column / David Klion

People march in Times Square during a rally calling for the Trump administration not to go to war with Iran, on June 18, 2025, in New York City.

The Time to Stop Donald Trump’s Iran War Is Now! The Time to Stop Donald Trump’s Iran War Is Now!

America’s TACO president needs to fear popular backlash as much as he does hawks.

Jun 20, 2025 / Jeet Heer

Smoke rises from the area where Israeli forces struck the Iranian state television building in Tehran, Iran, on June 16, 2025. The Iranian Radio and Television Broadcasting Corporation reported in a statement that its building in the capital Tehran was targeted by Israel.

The Iranian People—Abandoned at Home and Abroad The Iranian People—Abandoned at Home and Abroad

“We now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran,” Donald Trump just boasted on Truth Social. The key word here being “We”—meaning Netanyahu and Trump.

Jun 18, 2025 / Tara Kangarlou

An excavator removes debris from a residential building that was destroyed in an attack by Israel in Tehran, on June 13, 2025.

Donald Trump Is Hurtling America Into a Catastrophic Middle Eastern War Donald Trump Is Hurtling America Into a Catastrophic Middle Eastern War

The president is fickle, feckless, and easily swayed—which makes him an easy mark for militarists.

Jun 16, 2025 / Jeet Heer

Atlantic editor in chief Jeffrey Goldberg speaks during the opening night of the New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane University on March 27, 2025.

How Jeffrey Goldberg and “The Atlantic” Blew “the Biggest Story of the Year” How Jeffrey Goldberg and “The Atlantic” Blew “the Biggest Story of the Year”

Given advance warning of an impending war crime, the former cheerleader for the Iraq war decided his priority was to protect his scoop.

Jun 13, 2025 / JoAnn Wypijewski

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller speaks on the Iranian missile attacks on Israel at the State Department on October 1, 2024, in Washington, DC. Iran launched hundreds of ballistic missiles at Israel in retaliation for their attacks on Hezbollah leadership last week.

Biden Administration Liars Need to be Punished Biden Administration Liars Need to be Punished

Elite impunity shouldn’t protect those who covered up war crimes.

Jun 6, 2025 / Jeet Heer

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