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Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and U.S. President Donald Trump appear during an executive order signing in the Oval Office at the White House on Feb. 11
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and U.S. President Donald Trump appear during an executive order signing in the Oval Office at the White House on Feb. 11

Trump vs. South Africa

U.S. government escalates feud with Pretoria by cutting aid and offering refugee status to Afrikaners.

Africa Brief
Nosmot Gbadamosi
A security guard stands at the entrance to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) headquarters on Feb. 3.
A security guard stands at the entrance to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) headquarters on Feb. 3.

DOGE Is Hacking America

The U.S. government has experienced what may be the most consequential security breach in its history.

Argument
Bruce Schneier, Davi Ottenheimer
U.S. President Donald Trump (right) meets with Jordanian King Abdullah II at the White House.
U.S. President Donald Trump (right) meets with Jordanian King Abdullah II at the White House.

Jordan’s King Abdullah Talks Gaza With Trump

The king reiterated his opposition to the U.S. president’s proposal but offered vague answers on how best to help Palestinians in the territory.

World Brief
Alexandra Sharp
A group of about two dozen people, mostly women in long dresses and headscarves and their children, stand in front of a hut constructed from logs and a roof of dried grass. Banners affixed to the side of the building label it as a "USAID Integrated Life-Saving VASH and Nutrtition Support" clinic. Several of the women have their hands on their hips as they wait, and one woman crouches on the ground, holding her face in her hands with an expression of despair or frustration.
A group of about two dozen people, mostly women in long dresses and headscarves and their children, stand in front of a hut constructed from logs and a roof of dried grass. Banners affixed to the side of the building label it as a "USAID Integrated Life-Saving VASH and Nutrtition Support" clinic. Several of the women have their hands on their hips as they wait, and one woman crouches on the ground, holding her face in her hands with an expression of despair or frustration.

U.S.-Africa Policy Should Be Driven by Trade, Not Aid

Washington’s focus on development assistance and democracy promotion has failed. Relationships based on commercial engagement are the answer.

Argument
Joshua Meservey
A man in a black T-shirt, black joggers, and an orange construction hat in the middle of a warehouse aisle between rows of a stainless steel sheets rolled up and packaged in bright blue plastic. The claw of a machine lifts one of the rolls overhead as he lifts his head to watch.
A man in a black T-shirt, black joggers, and an orange construction hat in the middle of a warehouse aisle between rows of a stainless steel sheets rolled up and packaged in bright blue plastic. The claw of a machine lifts one of the rolls overhead as he lifts his head to watch.

What Trump’s Steel Tariffs Mean for China

Beijing stands to lose indirect access to the U.S. market, but it will be hard to dent its heavy industry.

China Brief
James Palmer
A visitor is observing a piece made of a map of Ukraine by the artist Dobrinya Ivanov during the exhibition "The Artist as Prophet" at the Weisser Elefant gallery on July 29, 2023 in Berlin.
A visitor is observing a piece made of a map of Ukraine by the artist Dobrinya Ivanov during the exhibition "The Artist as Prophet" at the Weisser Elefant gallery on July 29, 2023 in Berlin.

Ukraine Needs a Peace of Inches, Not Miles

The only path forward is a series of small-scale, gradual agreements with Russia.

Argument
Michael Kimmage, Maxim Trudolubov
Garment packages sit piled at a textile factory that supplies clothes to fast-fashion company Shein in Guangzhou, China.
Garment packages sit piled at a textile factory that supplies clothes to fast-fashion company Shein in Guangzhou, China.

Trump Accidentally Sowed Chaos at the Post Office

Closing the littlest loophole proved to have big consequences.

Argument
Elisabeth Braw
A crowd of dozens of people march down a paved city street lined on either side by midrise buildings. Many of the people hold signs or wave Iranian flags, and six women leading the procession hold a large banner covered in the words "woman," "life," and "freedom" written in English, German, and Persian.
A crowd of dozens of people march down a paved city street lined on either side by midrise buildings. Many of the people hold signs or wave Iranian flags, and six women leading the procession hold a large banner covered in the words "woman," "life," and "freedom" written in English, German, and Persian.

Trump’s Grand Bargain With Iran Shouldn’t Abandon Its People

Trump has significant leverage to negotiate a new nuclear deal with Tehran that also protects protesters.

Argument
Michael Eisner
Cars wait in line to enter the United States at a border crossing at the Canada-U.S. border.
Cars wait in line to enter the United States at a border crossing at the Canada-U.S. border.

Trump to Impose Sweeping Tariffs on Steel, Aluminum Imports

Further reciprocal tariffs are expected later this week.

World Brief
Alexandra Sharp
A photo of the pope seated in an ornate chair wearing a white and gold hat and robe. Red hats are seen in the foreground.
A photo of the pope seated in an ornate chair wearing a white and gold hat and robe. Red hats are seen in the foreground.

Pope Francis Is Ready to Take on MAGA

Trump’s assault on immigrants and charity has no friend in the Vatican.

Argument
Theo Zenou
A man carries a wooden cross about a meter tall as he walks at the front of a funeral procession of people carrying a white casket on their shoulders. The procession walks down a brick-paved road between low buildings on either side. A man rides a motorcycle alongside the procession.
A man carries a wooden cross about a meter tall as he walks at the front of a funeral procession of people carrying a white casket on their shoulders. The procession walks down a brick-paved road between low buildings on either side. A man rides a motorcycle alongside the procession.

Rwanda Keeps Getting Away With Sowing Chaos in Congo

Western powers are unwilling to hold Kigali accountable.

Argument
Milain Fayulu, Jeffrey Smith
A view of the entrance of the Sao Paulo Stock Exchange (B3) in downtown Sao Paulo, Brazil, on December 17, 2024.
A view of the entrance of the Sao Paulo Stock Exchange (B3) in downtown Sao Paulo, Brazil, on December 17, 2024.

Brazil’s Slow-Burning Economic Crisis Might Be the U.S. Future

Fiscal discipline is easy to promise and hard to stick to.

Argument
Stan Veuger, Mikkel Davies
A pile of building letters removed from the sign on the headquarters of the U.S. Agency for International Development in Washington on Feb. 7.
A pile of building letters removed from the sign on the headquarters of the U.S. Agency for International Development in Washington on Feb. 7.

Attacking Government Workers Has Long Been a Presidential Pastime

Donald Trump’s attempt to dismantle the federal bureaucracy is the latest in a string of efforts by both parties.

Analysis
Julian E. Zelizer
A woman with a rolling bag poses in front of a train with a panda mural on it as another woman takes her photo with a cell phone.
A woman with a rolling bag poses in front of a train with a panda mural on it as another woman takes her photo with a cell phone.

South Korea Has More Leverage Over China Than You Think

The middle power has found a way to survive without bending the knee to Beijing.

Argument
Ramon Pacheco Pardo
Soldiers stand in rows with their fists raised in salute.
Soldiers stand in rows with their fists raised in salute.

What History Teaches Us About Today’s Foreign-Policy Woes

Wisdom from decades past for a world of permanent crisis.

The Reading List
Chloe Hadavas
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