Hudson Institute
Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute; author of Necessary Secrets: National Security, the Media, and the Rule of Law and A Bad Day on the Romney Campaign: An Insider's Account; former Senior Editor of Commentary magazine; senior adviser to Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential campaign
Donald Trump Divides the Republican Party Surrogates for Donald Trump claim he's no racist, but his attack on a federal judge with Mexican ancestors was the last straw for many Republicans. Some GOP Senators are refusing to back him, and one is calling for the convention in Cleveland to choose somebody else. Other party leaders are gritting their teeth and supporting the presumptive nominee, even House Speaker Paul Ryan, who called Trump's attack "racist." We hear more about the case against Trump — and the case for Party unity.
Does Government Secrecy Really Keep Americans Safer? The Obama Administration has cracked down on leakers of classified information, and on reporters who refuse to reveal their sources. Now an open-government group is fighting back by advertising for whistleblowers in Washington. The first of 11 planned billboards has gone up near the State Department. Edward Snowden and Chelsey Manning are accused of treason, but open-government advocates say whistleblowing should be part of American culture. Is secrecy used more to keep the public in the dark than to make Americans safer?
Bush Defends Past Stance on Nuclear Threat from Iran In October President Bush talked about Iran's nuclear program in terms of "World War III" . But the latest National Intelligence Estimate says Iran stopped trying to build a bomb four years ago. Today, the President reiterated that Iran remains a threat to the world, one whose nuclear program, if restarted, could have "the ability to enrich uranium, the knowledge of which could be passed on to a hidden program." He called the latest NIE not an argument for change, but for more international pressure to make sure the program is not resumed and to "convince the Iranians that there is a better way forward." Will this reduce the possibility of military action? Will the US still have credibility with crucial allies? We hear from Europe and Israel.
Bush Defends Past Stance on Nuclear Threat from Iran In October President Bush talked about Iran's nuclear program in terms of " World War III ." But the latest National Intelligence Estimate says Iran stopped trying to build a bomb four years ago. Today, the President reiterated that Iran remains a threat to the world, one whose nuclear program, if restarted, could have "the ability to enrich uranium, the knowledge of which could be passed on to a hidden program." He called the latest NIE not an argument for change, but for more international pressure to make sure the program is not resumed and to "convince the Iranians that there is a better way forward." Will this reduce the possibility of military action? Will the US still have credibility with crucial allies? We hear from Europe and Israel.
The longest US war: Will Trump send more troops to Afghanistan? The Trump White House is divided over the Pentagon's request for more troops in Afghanistan—where the US has been fighting for the past 16 years. Is there a formula -- either for "victory" or a political settlement? Is there an end in sight for America's longest war?
Venezuela spirals into economic and political chaos Venezuela, a country whose potential for prosperity is unmatched, finds itself on the verge of civil war. What sustains the repressive government? With time running out, guest host León Krauze looks at what the international community can do to pull the country from the edge of collapse.
Will the Senate write a healthcare bill in secret? While Democrats and Republicans argue White House relations with Russia, another question is being decided behind closed doors: who gets help buying health insurance and who doesn't? We hear how the pros and cons are being shrouded in secrecy.
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.