The Harvard Kennedy School denying me a fellowship is not going to stop me from speaking out. But I worry about younger academics who are watching this sorry episode and take away the lesson that if you criticize Israel, your career can be stymied. middleeasteye.net/news/outrage-h…

A few further thoughts on Yoon's nuclear remarks in this short explainer video. And an appearance by my winter beard.

I joined Aaron Stein on the War on the Rocks warcast this week to discuss Germany‘s response to the war in Ukraine - we talk energy, defense spending, and, yes, Leopards - have a listen: warontherocks.com/episode/warcas…

This has always been the problem with arguments in favor of regime change: the two most obvious successful examples are so extreme as to be useless for comparison.

Great piece on state gov't TikTok bans. Largely performative, the bans do create headaches for educators and other officials seeking to engage youth and the public. The bans result from—and contribute to—our frenzied, fact-free discourse on Chinese tech. washingtonpost.com/technology/202…

The logic here: We've been lucky so far, so let's push it. It hasn't happened yet, so clearly there's no danger. It hasn't happened yet BECAUSE Putin has no good way, but if sufficiently desperate, he may try a bad way. And nukes are not the only option for risky escalation. +

If you prefer not to think about the nuclear war (the way we close our eyes in front of something scary), it does not make it less likely. In fact, it makes it more likely b/c warmongers do not have to answer any Qs until it is too late.

Thrilled to launch this new series with Milan Vaishnav Carnegie Endowment on a topic close to my heart- federalism . We hope this will provoke wider debate on the institutional architecture needed for negotiating and deepening federal relations. Centre for Policy Research

THIS! Thank you Max Boot. It’s been embarrassing . The hysteria over China’s spy balloon is dangerous and unwarranted washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/…

Exactly!

🚢💵🛢️ Recent data on 🇷🇺 oil exports contains some unexpected revelations on who/what was really pushing the Urals price down (spoiler: not Western sanctions or boycotts), and who benefitted from it. 🧵 based on analysis of my new Carnegie Endowment colleague Sergey Vakulenko 1/

I remember it well. Staggering performance. Marvin Gaye’s iconic NBA All-Star Game national anthem: ‘He turned that thing into his own’ - The Athletic theathletic.com/4153452/2023/0…

Indeed, excellent work by Carnegie’s Gavin Wilde, Nick Beecroft and Jon Bateman

Important thread

A beautiful and humorous thread by James Acton. Read it and smile

Important idea for the US to internalize: US strategy won't be sustainable if we're seen to be in the business of persuading or forcing others to solve our problems. The trick is to help others address their challenges--and tailor the resulting efforts to serve US interests too

Another compelling thread

“For Russia, China is the major lifeline that keeps the economy afloat.” Good dispatch on the upcoming Wang Yi visit to Moscow by max seddon & Joe Leahy in the Financial Times. ft.com/content/d859f1…

Once again , thank Mike M for setting things straight

Much wisdom here. Bravery too in this political environment. Will pols listen? #The U.S. should deter — not provoke — Beijing over Taiwan. Here’s how. washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/…