The Economist
Adrian Wooldridge is a political editor and Bagehot columnist for the Economist magazine. He previously served as its Washington Bureau Chief. Wooldridge is the co-author of God Is Back: How the Global Revival of Faith Is Changing the World.
Trump declines to endorse NATO's Article 5 In deference to President Trump, NATO leaders agreed not to focus on Russia during this week's summit. At today's opening session, they hoped he'd endorse the Alliance's Article 5 -- the principal that "an attack on one member nation is an attack on all.” Instead, he lectured about defense spending and "fairness" to the United States, even though the only time NATO's ever invoked Article 5 was after September 11. What are the consequences for Europe's trust in America as the leader of the free world since World War II? Thanks to Devan Schwartz for production assistance.
Do Brexit and America First mean a new world order? President Donald Trump held a joint press conference today at the White House with Theresa May. The British Prime Minister's visit to Washington today was the first White House meeting between President Trump and a foreign leader. They talked trade and other ways to strengthen the so-called "special relationship." Trump has even referred to May as "my Maggie," a reference to the close ties between President Ronald Reagan and then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. So this visit has been seen as a chance to refresh what the two close allies have called "the special relationship" ever since World War II. Then again, these two new leaders are promising to exit the European Union and put "America First" so what are the real prospects for a new trade deal, and a close alliance in the fight against terrorism?
The Obama Legacy Across the Atlantic Even before he was elected, Barack Obama became a hero in Europe with a vow of internationalism to replace the go-it-alone approach of George W. Bush. Eight years later, Obama was back in Europe this week, trying to overcome the perception that he's become disengaged . The European Union is struggling with trade, the massive influx of refugees and the threat that Britain might withdraw. We hear what could be his last message and what's next for some of America's oldest and most powerful allies.
Donald Trump in the Eyes of the Rest of the World Donald Trump's presidential candidacy has "opened the door to madness." That's according to a business journal in Germany. Spain's leading newspaper is "dumbfounded," and a columnist in London's Financial Times says Trump in the White House would mean "global disaster." Mexico's top diplomat calls him "ignorant" and "racist," and Israelis say they're "bewildered" by how little he appears to know about the Middle East. We talk with observers from other countries who see Trump's success with American voters as democracy gone wrong.
Romney Takes the Presidential Race Across the Pond On his trip to London, Jerusalem and Gdansk, Mitt Romney says he’s touching three “pillars of liberty”—nations which share American values. After infuriating the Brits about Olympic security, he embraced Jerusalem as Israel’s capitol and dismissed Palestinian culture. In Poland, where’s he’s expected to invoke the Cold War, he was greeted by a banner for Ron Paul. But, has Romney revealed any significant foreign policy differences between himself and President Obama? Will his trip change the presidential campaign?
Closing Out the Old Year and Ringing In the New Those end-of-the-year wrap-ups are starting to show up everywhere, and they're not making for cheery reading. 2010 was a rough year for many people who continued to struggle. In the United States, the news was dominated by the economy and big changes on the political landscape as Tea Partiers shook up the status quo. What's ahead on horizon? In 2011, where should we be looking for good news? Who's thinking about new answers to solve ongoing problems and prevent future disasters? How do disasters and downturns affect our cultural psyche? How does the world look beyond our own horizons? Are things brighter for the developing world?
Closing Out the Old Year and Ringing In the New Those end-of-the-year wrap-ups are starting to show up everywhere, and they're not making for cheery reading. 2010 was a rough year for many people who continued to struggle. In the United States, the news was dominated by the economy and big changes on the political landscape as Tea Partiers shook up the status quo. What's ahead on horizon? In 2011, where should we be looking for good news? Who's thinking about new answers to solve ongoing problems and prevent future disasters? How do disasters and downturns affect our cultural psyche? How does the world look beyond our own horizons? Are things brighter for the developing world?
Religion in the 'Modern' World Ever since the Enlightenment, deep thinkers have claimed that modernity would drive out religion, probably by the end of the 20th Century. In April, a Newsweek magazine cover announced " The Decline and Fall of Christian America ," while God Is Back , published that same week, is subtitled How the Global Revival of Faith Is Changing the World. The contrast illustrates the worldwide tension between secularism in modern political life and the growing prevalence of religious belief. Free-market thinking has some people shopping between denominations. Some traditionalists threatened by the secular world go to extremes. This evergreen program, originally aired in April, is especially interesting on Christmas Day. Do religions compete for believers? Which one is likely to win? Why is Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda such a "Modern" phenomenon?
Religion in the 'Modern World' Ever since the Enlightenment, deep thinkers have claimed that modernity would drive out religion, probably by the end of the 20th Century. But since the 1970's, that trend has gone into reverse. Newsweek magazine's current cover announces “ The Decline and Fall of Christian America ,” while a recent book is entitled God Is Back . The contrast illustrates the worldwide tension between secularism in modern political life and the growing prevalence of religious belief. Free-market thinking has some people shopping between denominations. Some traditionalists threatened by the secular world go to extremes. Do religions compete for believers? Which one is likely to win? Why is Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda such a “Modern” phenomenon?
Preview of the Democratic Convention Next week's Democratic convention is going to be an historic event as the party nominates the first African American presidential candidate in US history. In a major departure from tradition, Barack Obama will deliver his acceptance speech before a crowd of 75 thousand at the football stadium in Denver and a worldwide audience of millions. This will happen 45 years to the day after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his "I Have a Dream Speech" in Washington. But the polls are showing a close race between McCain and Obama and the campaigns seem mired in mud, with candidates trading accusations about who is more "elitist." What can we expect from the convention? Will the vice-presidential choice boost Obama's chances? Will Hillary 's supporters get on board? Can those polls really be trusted?
Who's to blame for the opioid crisis? Some of the lawyers who took on Big Tobacco are now going after Big Pharma. It’s all about the deadly epidemic of opioid use. Are the drug companies to blame? What about the users? Later, on today’s Talking Point: making sense of Britain’s upset election.
Terrorism and tweets, hate speech and murder Just days before an election, Britain is coping with a rash of deadly terrorism, and Prime Minister Theresa May is on the defensive. And again today, President Trump has tweeted criticism of the Mayor of London. Later, a double murder in Portland, Oregon has revealed the ugly past of a supposedly “progressive” city. One immediate question: is “hate speech” protected by the First Amendment?
Trump's 'America First' goes missing abroad In the Middle East, President Trump is changing some policies of the Obama Administration—and reversing his own campaign attacks on Islam as a religion that "hates us." We hear about his visit to Saudi Arabia and what's at stake for the rest of his foreign excursion.
Trump plays scolder-in-chief with NATO allies At the opening of NATO’s dramatic new headquarters in Brussels today, President Trump acknowledged that Article 5 — promising that “an attack on one nation is an attack on all” -- has only been invoked one time: in the aftermath of September 11. But the President failed to provide what 27 other Alliance members have been waiting for: a re-commitment by America’s new leader to Article 5. Instead, they got a scolding.