Given the sheer number of potential candidates, the U.S. Democratic party is approaching what could be its most wide-open presidential primary season in decades, there is the distinct possibility a dark horse could emerge and upend established expectations. And no, the person in question is not (yet) a household name, not a former Vice President, California Governor, or former Biden cabinet member. A year ago, Senator Jon Ossoff seemed like he might be relegated to the politi

Has there ever been more confusion about what a U.S. president is up to? In the days since Donald Trump launched his February 28th assault on Iran, it’s been virtually impossible to get a straight answer out of him or his team about what the U.S.’s ultimate goal is. Given the flurry of contradictory statements from government representatives and even the commander-in-chief himself it’s fair for all to ask if the President even has one. In fact, evidence exists that Trump does

As the Republican party approaches the 2026 congressional and 2028 presidential elections it faces a fundamental challenge. Considered to be the party of the Right (broadly classified as those who believe in conservative principles) it won the 2024 election by successfully assembling a coalition capable of competing nationally. Whether it can consolidate that power into a lasting majority is far less certain. The coalition that returned Donald Trump to the White House is begi

The 90th anniversary of Václav Havel's birth (October 5, 1936 – December 18, 2011) will be celebrated throughout 2026, featuring international exhibitions, essay competitions, and archival projects honoring his legacy as a dissident playwright, the last president of Czechoslovakia, and the first president of the Czech Republic. When he passed away, we lost a hero of our times, a friend of freedom, who lived his life with integrity and sent forward ripples of hope into the wor

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, firms shifted from a “just in time” model to a “just in case” approach that sought to strengthen resilience. With oil and gas infrastructure becoming a primary military target, energy systems must now undergo a similar transition. It is too soon to know when or how the war with Iran will end, or what its medium to long term geopolitical or economic consequences will be. But one thing is already more than obvious: what is meant by ‘en

As far as announcements go, this one was pretty earth shattering, but to observers of Middle Eastern politics, it was not entirely unexpected. After all, Israel had a tradition of decapitation attacks. “After a lifetime of struggle,” a state newsreader declared, “Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei drank the sweet, pure draft of martyrdom and joined the Supreme Heavenly Kingdom.” The broadcaster praised Khamenei for being “unceasing and untiring” and for his “lofty and celest

Like a proverbial sword of Damocles the specter of conflict once more hangs over the Middle East. The Trump administration is closer to a major war in the perpetually volatile region than most Americans (and for that matter most everyone else) realize. In fact, it could begin very soon. Why should anyone care? A U.S. military operation in Iran would likely be a massive, weeks-long campaign that would look more like full-fledged war than last month's pinpoint operation in Vene

In the year after Trump began his second term with an inaugural address assertion that he was “saved by God to make America great again,” one way to measure his influence is to cast the mind forward two years from now. In January 2028, Democrats will be in the thick of their contest not simply to be the presidential nominee but to carry out what they believe is an assignment from history: ending the Trump Moment. It’s been a long journey. Assuming he serves out his full term

Many Americans (and perhaps even more citizens of other countries) find themselves yearning for November 7th, 2028, the scheduled date of the next presidential election. That’s the day the Trump era effectively ends (the definitive date would be January 20th, 2027 – inauguration day for whomever the next president will be). Probably. That’s the day the Democrats will atone for Kamala Harris’s electoral 2024 failure. Possibly. That’s the day US democracy returns to greater pre

The contours of Donald Trump’s second term are now starkly clear. We are indeed seeing Trump Unleashed, but not for the democracy-threatening, dictatorial reasons Kamala Harris and the Democrats were trying to warn the American electorate about in last year’s presidential contest. Trump is moving fast, breaking things if he has to and making aggressive moves because he is trying to outrun the constitutional clock. Under the provisions of the 22 nd Amendment he cannot run aga

It isn't much of a stretch to regard Mark Carney as a lucky man. He may indeed be one of the luckiest figures in recent political history. When Carney first started kicking the Liberal Party’s tires in late 2024, smart money was still on Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre to win the next election. After all Poilievre had held an expansive double-digit lead in the polls for months, and Ottawa was bracing for the coming Tory revolution. Then came Donald Trump 2.0 with his threa

Richard Bruce Cheney was arguably the most consequential vice president in American history. He was also one of the most successful defense secretaries, a respected congressional leader, a congressman for twelve years, the youngest-ever White House chief of staff, a corporate leader and a champion of conservative principles. In the wake of 9/11, when many feared and no one knew what might befall the U.S., he helped lead a shell-shocked nation through those dark days, harden t

After the euphoria and relief of Monday’s prisoner exchange and ceasefire, Tuesday has brought some ominous signs for the future of the Gaza peace deal wrought by president Donald Trump. Despite the ringing words of the leaders gathered at Sharm El-Sheikh the shooting didn’t entirely stop. Five Palestinians were killed in an Israeli drone strike on Tuesday morning in Gaza’s Shejaiya neighborhood. According to the (IDF) Israel Defense Forces, they had crossed the “yellow line”

A defeated Democratic incumbent. A charismatic Republican outsider. An election roiled by economic turmoil and violence somewhere in the...

The assassination of Charlie Kirk has sparked a cacophony of condemnations and grief from leaders across the political spectrum within...

For more than a decade, Chinese politics has been defined by Xi Jinping. Since assuming leadership of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)...

There has never been any doubt that Donald Trump is a thundering paradox of a man whose mercurial nature and often contradictory policies...

Ok he’s managed to outlast both Liz Truss and the lettuce. Embattled British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer swept into office on a...

“I’m supposed to be dead,” Donald Trump said, the day after a would-be assassin's bullet clipped his right ear at his 2024 rally in...

For decades before and after the Cold War a collective defense pact in Asia between the U.S. was neither possible or necessary. Yet,...