What Caught My Eye (no. 13)
Some interesting articles and podcasts that caught my eye this week
Here’s this week’s edition of articles that I thought worth reading and sharing. Don’t hesitate to recommend your own reads; I may include some as well.
Jonathan Foreman, The Untold Story of How Israel Failed on October 7, Commentary, May 2025. A penetrating and exhaustive examination of Israel’s multiple failures on October 7 to prevent and deal with the Hamas attack on its territory.
James Shotter, What will an emboldened Netanyahu do next? Financial Times, April 20, 2025. A look at how Benjamin Netanyahu, who had been seen as all but dead politically after the October 7 attack, is now back in firm control of Israeli politics and has resumed his effort to remake those politics.
Adrienne LaFrance, A Ticking Clock on American Freedom, The Atlantic, April 22, 2025. Drawing on the example of the erosion of democracy in the Philippines under Duterte, the magazine’s executive editor issues an urgent warning on the need to defend democracy before it is too late.
Ana Swanson, The Trade Adviser Who Hates Trade, New York Times, April 20, 2025. The Times’s trade reporter profiles President Trump’s closest adviser on trade.
Isaac Chotiner, The Biden Official Who Doesn’t Oppose Trump’s Student Deportation, The New Yorker, April 22, 2025. A disturbing interview with Holocaust scholar Deborah Lipstadt whose deep and rightful concern about antisemitism ignores the way the Trump administration has weaponized the fight against antisemitism for its own, illiberal ends.
W.J. Hennigan, A Beleaguered Hegseth Wanders Into His Forever War, New York Times, April 24, 2025. The Times Opinion writer examines how Trump’s war against the Houthis is unlikely to succeed and contradicts his administration’s stated commitments to avoid forever wars and pivot to Asia.
Finally, in case you missed it here are links to articles I wrote, interviews I did, panels I joined, and a synopsis of my weekly podcast on world news.
Trump may get a nuclear deal — on Iran’s terms, Politico Europe, April 21, 2025.
Why Trump Failed in Ukraine, America Abroad, April 24, 2025.
'Not going to work': Why Fmr. Amb. says Trump can't just 'declare' an end to Russia's war, MSNBC José DÃaz-Balart Reports, April 24, 2025.
To Trump, 'loyalty is more important than the security of the United States': ex-NATO ambassador, France 24, April 22, 2024.
Ukraine: From Battlefield to Bargaining Table? A Panel discussion with Samuel Charap, Elina Beketova, Jen Stout, and Ivo Daalder, Chicago Council on Global Affairs, April 24, 2025.
The Empty Throne? Delphi Economic Forum, April 12, 2025.
Countering Chinese and Russian Influence in Southeast Europe, Delphi Economic Forum, April 12, 2025.
World Review: Ukraine Plan, Kashmir Crisis, Pentagon Chaos, April 25, 2025.
Happy reading, watching, and listening!