America, Pitied Again Abroad

Having surrendered its hard-won title as the “leader of the free world” for a transactional “America First” doctrine, the United States has traded its foundational moral authority for a chaotic, self-absorbed leadership that has moved the international community from admiration to a state of muted horror and pity.

Morning Brief: Gaza Ceasefire, ICE Shooting, Ukraine Conflict Continues

A ceasefire in Gaza remains tied to unresolved recovery efforts, a federal shooting in Minneapolis has escalated into a national political confrontation, and the war in Ukraine is settling into a long-term condition rather than a decisive phase. None of the three shows signs of rapid resolution. Together, they reflect a security environment defined less by escalation than by endurance, with governments managing pressure rather than bringing conflicts to clean conclusions.