Member Briefings

In Search of Optimism

I have spent this week as I often do meeting with senior officials and smart observers in and around Washington. …

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The Financialization of Warfare

This week, the United States and our NATO allies have been undertaking a diplomatic push to prevent Russia from further…

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Was January 6th a Mere Prelude to Much Worse to Come?

David Remnick, editor of the New Yorker, who in my view is one of a handful of American journalists who…

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How Do You Grade America’s Response to Last January 6th?

How do you grade America’s response to the coup attempt that occurred one year ago, on January 6 2020? By…

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How Do You Grade America\’s Response to Last January 6th?

How do you grade America’s response to the coup attempt that occurred one year ago, on January 6 2020? By…

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Overreaction? Taking Stock of the Top Foreign Policy Predictions of 2022

I have a confession to make.  I spend too much time watching sports on TV and reading about them on-line. …

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Sure, Hate Manchin, He Deserves it. But Now Focus on What We Can Do About It.

I feel your contempt and loathing for Manchin. He’s earned it. I’ve been seething all morning. It’s far from the…

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The Damoclean Sword of Distrust that Hangs Over US Foreign Policy

On Friday afternoon, a senior state department official held a roundtable discussion with members of the press in which he…

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THE GARLAND CONUNDRUM

“Merrick Garland is the wrong man for the job.” It’s a view I have heard often on recent trips to…

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A Diplomatic Boycott of the Beijing Olympics Does Not Go Far Enough

On Monday, the Biden Administration announced that it will be boycotting the winter Olympics in Beijing, at least diplomatically.  Functionally,…

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Spoiler Alert: Bad as the Roys are on “Succession,” the Murdochs are much, much worse.

Look, I don’t know what was up with Kendall Roy in that last scene from the last episode of “Succession.” …

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The GOP is No Longer a Legitimate Political Party…and the Media Have Failed to Notice

When Donald Trump or Kevin McCarthy or Lauren Boebert seek to dismiss or deflect a criticism as partisan, they are…

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Notes from the Third Subbasement: Sometimes, in DC, Universal Agreement is Also a Form of Dysfunction

Summer is hot. Winter is cold. Washington is dysfunctional. It has become so obvious to be almost a tautology. I…

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Notes from the Third Sub-basement: Bannon’s Indictment is Overdue and Not Enough

Steven Bannon has been indicted on two counts of Contempt of Congress.  Each carries a possible sentence of up to…

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Notes from the Third Sub-Basement: High Anxiety

It is hard to please Democrats.  President Biden, Speaker Pelosi, Leader Schumer and their teams worked for months to get…

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The Stakes are Too High to Draw the Wrong Conclusions About Tuesday’s Elections

This Times editorial board piece arguing Tuesday showed that Dems don’t want big progressive ideas ignores one small fact: The…

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The Stakes are Too High to Draw the Wrong Conclusions About Tuesday\’s Elections

This Times editorial board piece arguing Tuesday showed that Dems don\’t want big progressive ideas ignores one small fact: The…

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NOTES FROM THE THIRD SUB-BASEMENT: ELECTION HANGOVER EDITION

Post-election analysis is bad enough following a presidential election or a mid-term when there is a ton of data to…

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Letter from the Third Sub-basement: Halloween Edition

So, here we are at the end of another week.  What does it mean?  Well, what does any of it…

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If BBB Passes, Grit Your Teeth and Give Manchin (and Sinema) Some Credit

This begins regular members-only reports on what we are seeing and hearing inside Washington on domestic and international issues currently…

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