According to my sources, the Kremlin has instructed that, starting September 1, school textbooks be updated to include sections highlighting Donald Trump’s positive role in improving U.S.-Russia relations and resolving the conflict in Ukraine.

My new op-ed in The National Interest... History remembers the builders and the destroyers. But more often, it remembers the stories told about them — and it is the public that holds the final word..... nationalinterest.org/blog/energy-wo…

Trump’s comment that Putin’s bombings were “not necessary” and showed “very bad timing” isn’t a real rebuke — it’s reputational servility. He wasn’t condemning aggression itself, only its bad optics. A reminder: in reputational politics, wording is no excuse for submission.

Character Assassination in a Major Key: Ozzy’s Reputational Victory open.substack.com/pub/carplab/p/…

My recent article with Holger Molder in the National Interest nationalinterest.org/feature/decodi…

The Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska cannot become Yalta 2.0. I hope President Trump , Secretary Marco Rubio, and their team are working hard to make this a meaningful summit, and not a moment of capitulation.

The worst thing about the Trump-Putin summit is the confusion it creates. Everybody is discussing territory again. But this war is not about territory. No matter how much Russia gains, it won't bring about peace. For Putin, territory is merely a step in the process, not the goal.

Fiona Hill warns it’s a mistake for Trump to meet Putin alone — says he’ll be vulnerable to manipulation. But who knows? In bare-bones reputational terms, it’s a KGB officer vs. a building contractor. Which one’s really more at risk of being played?

I was asked to predict the Alaska summit. Three possible endings to the Trump–Putin summit — and none of them are pretty. My odds: 50% — a staged “listening session” with smiles and talk of “progress.” 30% — Trump calls Putin a “buddy,” blames “Biden’s war,” and pushes Ukraine to

Putin and Trump said virtually nothing, as expected, except self-congratulating and exchanging pleasantries.

Perhaps the best verdict on the Trump–Putin Summit comes from the immortal wit of The Simpsons: "What’s this? Number 5, Duncan—the horse no one expected to do anything—isn’t doing anything! He hasn’t even left the starting gate. Come on, boy." Putin came off like a weary old man

Folks, if you are confused by where we are with "security guarantees" for Ukraine, I've prepared a very detailed breakdown, and options for future negotiations. It's all in this Substack post: open.substack.com/pub/profradche…

Hard to see any light at the end of this newly dug tunnel.

In our latest CARP video, we spotlight the Roman senator and orator Cicero, showcasing how he wielded the power of words to deliver one of history’s most famous character attacks—his scathing assault on Catiline. This episode brings to life the drama of ancient Rome, where

For more than fifteen years, we at CARP ( communication.gmu.edu/research-and-c… ). For more than fifteen years, we at CARP — a diverse international community of scholars and educators, supported by a dedicated team of students, interns, and research assistants — have committed ourselves to

Ghosting: A Disappearing Act with a Reputational Stain open.substack.com/pub/carplab/p/…

Greetings, CARP associates! Our Webinar on "Attack Politics" link now: uva-live.zoom.us/j/62675749925 Passcode: 204338

Prague welcomed #CARP earlier this month—and the city was as radiant as ever. Three presentations in three days illuminated different facets of our ongoing research. At the Anglo-American University, my talk was: “A Worn-Out Galosh: The Political Psychology of Personal Insults as

The Reputational Ghost of Socialism: carplab.substack.com/publish/post/1…