
Biden to Tap Seasoned Former Diplomat to Oversee Southern Border Policy
Roberta Jacobson, a former U.S. ambassador to Mexico, will join the NSC and help oversee an anticipated U-turn in U.S. policy on migration and asylum.

Trump Mounts Last-Minute Attempt to Starve Funding for Foreign Aid, Global Vaccine Efforts
But congressional sources say it’s highly unlikely lawmakers will cut billions of dollars of already appropriated funding.

‘Stop F—ing Lying’: Congress, Trump Officials in Heated Exchange Over Terrorism Designations
Congressional overseers are livid that the administration made major policy changes without prior formal consultations.

Group of State Department Officials Call for Consultations on Trump’s Removal
Second dissent cable directed at Pompeo also rebukes the secretary of state for not forcefully condemning the president.

Our Top Weekend Reads
An opportunity for Biden, populism’s online fires, and the need for transitional justice.

U.S. Diplomats Draft Dissent Cable Following Storming of Capitol by Pro-Trump Mob
State Department officials expressed anger at the department’s gag order on messaging as violence wracked Washington, saying the incident has caused untold damage to U.S. efforts to promote democratic values abroad.

State Department Office Sees Last-Minute Surge of New Evangelical Appointees
Graduates of a Christian college swell the ranks of State’s global criminal justice office, shifting the focus from war crimes to religious persecution.

New House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Vows Pompeo Investigations Will Continue
Rep. Gregory Meeks, who took the gavel this week, also urged the State Department to reverse its decision to close the last two U.S. consulates in Russia.

At State Department, Some Concerned That Political Appointees Are Jumping the Line to Get COVID-19 Vaccine
Lack of communication over surplus doses has prompted suspicion and anger.

Foreign Policy News Stories That Packed a Punch in 2020
From the tragedy of whistleblowers to imperiled nuclear talks to the State Department's struggle with diversity, here are some of our articles that had an outsized impact this year.

Pompeo Weighs Genocide Designation for China
The outgoing U.S. secretary of state orders a review to determine if China’s repression of Uighurs constitutes genocide.

An Unprecedented Presidential Transition
U.S. President-elect Joe Biden swiftly named his cabinet despite continued resistance from the defeated Donald Trump. Where he’ll go from here is another question.

The Trump State Department’s Swan Song? A Strange, Flawed China Paper.
The U.S.-China conflict may be the defining 21st-century challenge, but the recommendations stand out by what they fail to address.

Our Top Weekend Reads
EU member states find commonality in crisis, Afghans accuse donor countries of hypocrisy on corruption, and how Biden’s climate plans could shape energy markets.

Will Biden’s National Security Team Include Members of the Democratic Party’s Progressive Wing?
The president-elect’s picks have deep experience in the Washington establishment. It’s unclear whether the party’s left can make its voice heard in the new administration.

Pompeo Plans Parties Flouting COVID-19 Guidelines as Death Toll Mounts
The U.S. secretary of state plans massive holiday gatherings, while department catering and event staff mostly lack employer health insurance.

In Break From Trump, Biden Opts for Experience, Expertise for Top National Security Jobs
The U.S. president-elect laid out most of his national security team even as more Republicans abandoned Trump and his legal battles over the election results.