In my book Autocrats vs. Democrats: China, Russia, America, and the New Global Disorder, I argue against “might makes right” thinking. Instead, I make the case that meeting today’s challenges from Russia and China requires renewed alliances, diplomacy, and democratic leadership.

The Cold War wasn’t just an arms race, it was a race of ideas. We invested in international development agencies & soft power tools to compete. Dismantling them as China expands its Belt and Road Initiative, and Russia expands its own global influence operations, is unilateral disarmament.

I don’t remember Trump talking about military action against Iran on the campaign trail. Or Venezuela. Or Greenland.

This week Trump urged Republicans to “nationalize” elections. It may be one of the most anti-democratic ideas he’s floated and follows a well-worn authoritarian playbook, slowly chipping away at free & fair elections. Our democratic institutions are strong—but this is deeply disturbing

Only weeks ago, Trump spoke in support of Iranians bravely risking their lives in the fight for freedom. Now, his team are negotiating with the same regime that has brutally suppressed these protests. Should they be?

Conventional military superiority doesn’t always guarantee success (think Vietnam, Afghanistan). Russia is learning that in Ukraine, where cheap tech, political will, and innovation are undermining its advantages in scale and firepower. Will the same be true for Iran?

Today, the last major US-Russia nuclear arms control treaty expires. It allowed inspectors on both sides to examine each other’s systems, reducing uncertainty. Without facts, worst-case thinking takes over—and that’s dangerous for nuclear powers.

Trump’s impatience and erratic threats are undercutting his own team’s ability to negotiate effectively with the Iranians

By disrupting the global economic order, we are making Beijing look like the rational, prudent alternative. Impressions matter. Right now, our global reputation is tanking while Beijing reaps the rewards. Watch in full: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZy3...

As peace talks with Iran hit a dead end, our president and secretary of state—the country's top diplomat—were ringside at a UFC fight. The Trump administration is doing lasting damage to our reputation on the world stage.

Fix Earth or explore space? Why not both? Leenk In Byo for the full podkast and for the "Spacebound" song download (not available on streeming platferms). #spaceexploration #savetheplanet #podcast #spacebound #mightyonemanband

May the fourth be with you, may you never forget! 🇺🇸

POV: You fed breakfast to all 5 of your rescue dogs. You got coffee and a fresh-baked cinnamon bagel, and 2 of them won’t leave you alone! 😂 #dogs #dogsofbluesky #sad #mybagel

Rep. Melanie Stansbury : The Epstein cover-up by the White House and DOJ continues now,Trump is targeting members of his own party who have supported survivors and the release of the files Clearly, they don’t want whatever they’re hiding to come out—and they’re going after those who get in the way

First part of day 1. Sorry that I don't have Gen Z skills and was slow to start on the crosswalk vid but I slowed the first part down so you can hear the crossing guard whistle and see the car run the lights.

Mark Proksch is MAGA? 😳 #OfficeHoursLive

This is from a few years ago. This is a couple of real reptilian fossils talking with each other in a conversation excerpt from about 50 years ago. Yeah, these two are both a couple of evil racist lizards or were. They have both passed on from the earth realm now?.. lol #reagan #nixon

Memorial Day Vibes: Good Morning ☀️ - “Remember those who served. All gave some, some gave all” #MemorialWeekend #memorial #mondayvibes #olympiakos #memorialday #MondayBlog #MondayMorningRush #AuthorCommunity #AuthorsOfX #AMERICAISBACK #omg #pearlharbor Author Page: www.amazon.com/author/paul-...

Trump saluting with his thumb for some reason.

Great to see that he was outed. Not so friendly neighbourhood Bobby 👮‍♂️ 👏👏👏

I will make California more affordable — to the detriment of the corporations who like it this way. That's why Big Oil, PG&E, and corporate developers are spending $25 million against me.

Dayum even Ice creme. These people are only concerned about money. You dont matter its just one vicious cycle of destruction for profit

AMH-Wert zu niedrig nach Fehlgeburt: was er wirklich bedeutet AMH niedrig. Und dann? Du bist die Frau die nicht bei einer Zahl stehen bleibt. Du willst wissen was dieser Wert wirklich bedeutet. Und was er dir nicht sagt. AMH misst Quantität. Nicht Qualität. Ein niedriger Wert bedeutet nicht dass

It’s #Friday folks! Have the best #weekend you can. You know the drill: Be #kind Be #gentle Be #true Be like #bees Speaking of noxious stimulation… Turn off 24hr News?? Stop shite-scrolling. Mute presidential pronouncements. Practice some self-protection. Have a beer/chat with your neighbour!

🇺🇦 Drones from the 34th Separate Marine Brigade struck russian infantry during an attempted landing on one of the islands of the #Dnieper River. 💥 As reported by censor net.

🚨 Cúilín Media - Podcast Clip! 🚨 The lads discuss Westmeath’s historic Leinster Title win yesterday in Croke Park 🏆 Cúilín Media Championship Coverage 2026 is partnered by ATAK Sports 🤝 Full Pod available on YouTube & Spotify 🎧

ID [ Fraud ], is highly wide spread across the board, within every conceivable way of endeavor . Banks are satisfied w a code, that's changeable by the depositor . A code sent electronically in verification ? Gaming Jesters, are costing an arm & leg ! 🎬 "Mission Impossible," w new ID regulations

"Our answer to America First must be Europe united" said German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.

🤣🤣🤣

#ThriveThursday ~ Success doesn’t rest because your greatness is in motion. Keep going! #WomensHistoryMonth #WomensHistory #CelebratingWomen #keepthriving #nevergiveup

IAC/InterActiveCorp Oct 2004 Archived Web Page 🧩 #usainteractive #2004

El estudio realizado por centros de investigación españoles e internacionales ha analizado 800 especies del Paleártico 📊 72 especies de aves de montaña se consideran raras por combinar alta singularidad funcional y áreas de distribución reducidas. Un tercio de ellas está amenazado a escala global.

Some pirates chase treasure...I chase the last sip #captainjacksparrow #PirateLife #PirateHumor #ComedySkit #ThailandLife

Tintin is proud to show off her family’s farm! 🐔 ✨ With a new chicken coop and support from Save the Children, Tintin’s family is raising healthier chickens, earning extra income and putting more nutritious meals on the table! ❤️

Wake and bakeeee good morning!

Alice Coachman became the first Black woman from any country to win Olympic gold in 1948 after growing up training barefoot because Black athletes were denied access to many facilities. She was also the only American woman to win gold that year. She soared past every barrier. #SheShed

Thin crispy crepe with Nutella, bananas, strawberries, blueberries and crunchy cornflakes, topped with ice cream and whipped cream. Get this at the Tia Crepe (티아 크레페) stall at the Bupyeong Market in Incheon, South Korea. Prices for crepes generally range from US$2.50 to $3.30 each. #streetfood

On Earth Day I spoke at a rally for climate justice organized by Fridays For Future, Cape Cod (WCAI story: https://twp.ai/E59vSB). This is an excerpt from it. (Watch the whole speech: https://twp.ai/4hpR43)

Did you know the answer? If you enjoyed this trivia, please follow for more. Also, please check out our games at strangebrothersgames.com #gaming #gamer #videogames #trivia #videogametrivia #gamequiz #mariokart #indiegames #gamenight #quiztime #retrogaming #mobilegames #ios #android

Why Russia Will Never Be A Democracy Russia will never be a democracy. The cause is cultural, set centuries before Putin was born. #CulturalPerspective #Russia #Hofstede #CulturalTheory #Authoritarianism

Walking Into September: Here's What's Ahead for Markets | #WallStreetGameNotes $AVGO $CRM $FIG $KLAR #CPI #TripleWitching #JobsData #JobsReport #Inflation #StockMarket #Investing #WallStreet #MarketUpdate

🇫🇷 Paris is being set ablaze tonight — not by conflict, but by celebration.

AmplifyCreations made this fake interior shader with their tool Amplify Shader Editor, using parallax and baked textures to create the illusion of depth. 🏙️ See more: www.reddit.com/r/Unity3D/co... #unity3d #indiedev

#rowdyroddypiper #wrestling #wwe #friends #volunteering 🤝🫂

Goddamn how much did that shit cost + the ice sculptures??

Oh boy weird shaped dihs

#summer #maine #climate #folkpunk #songwriter

Big Ben Bishop gets kicked out of the ringside area!🤣🤣🤣 #ACWReckoning

Power prices in PA and NJ are about to go up by as much as 20% on June 1st. Protesters gathered outside PJM’s headquarters, calling for more investment in green energy they believe could bring down prices. Catch my story on @wfmz.com at 6

I’m warning y’all…#rfkjr is gonna make me lose it…Truly…#stopmisinformation #omg #imgonnaloseit

STEAL & SLAM COURTESY OF SPENCER Original post

the Tiny Toon Adventures episode "Washingtoon" was poking fun at parents complaining about how there's too much violence in cartoons, but this episode also in a way kinda foreshadowed Discovery running Warner Bros when the head of the A.C.A.F.C wants to replace the zaniness of cartoons with reality

Mayor fires entire police force after wife’s complaint, sparking outrage. Small-town Georgia faces security crisis, legal backlash, and questions about abuse of power. #GeorgiaMayor #PoliceFired #AbuseOfPower #SmallTownCrisis #ViralNews www.hypefresh.com/georgia-mayo...

An unintended Ai outtake! Ai generated the dialog all on its own. Had to share!! Comment on your reaction to two characters -ad-libbing their lines⚡️Ai inprov! ⚡️ #mystery #psychologicalthriller #suspense #WritingCommunity 💙📚 #Booksky sound on?

❌ #Trümp's 250th anniversary celebration is completely collapsing ‼️ After celebrities backed out to avoid his toxic brand, he is desperately trying to cancel the event and turn it into a #MAGAally. The #Trümp administration is facing a massive cultural backlash.

We’re excited to finally share the very first Golf 5 MAX #Devlog with all of you! Learn about: 🎯 The vision behind the game 🎮 Arcade gameplay mixed with realistic golf physics 🚀 Future features, multiplayer ambitions, & more Read here: store.steampowered.com/news/app/392... #golf #indiegame

May 18 is HIV Vaccine Awareness Day. While there’s no vaccine yet, testing, PrEP & treatment save lives. Radiant Health Centers offers inclusive HIV care for all in OC. Get tested, stay informed & take action. #EndHIV #RadiantHealth40

The New York Knicks are facing the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA finals in a matchup that has the internet on fire. Vox’s @benjysarlin.bsky.social breaks down what you need to know even if you’re not a basketball fan — and gives a nod to his pick.

Kelani Jordan is ready for her SHOT! 🤩 @kelani_wwe

In the grey… where the real fight is never obvious. 🔥 It’s harder to deal with a mouse in the house than a gorilla in the villa — because the biggest threat isn’t always the loudest one. 🎵 New song inspired by In the Grey #InTheGrey #MouseInTheHouse #GorillaInTheVilla #FightTheGrey