Brookings Institution
Suzanne Maloney is Deputy Director of Foreign Policy at the Brookings Institution and the author of Iran's Long Reach: Iran as a Pivotal State in the Muslim World. She has formerly served on the Secretary of State's policy planning staff, and as Middle East advisor for ExxonMobil Corporation.
Has Donald Trump nominated a team of dissenters? Donald Trump's picks to lead two major national-security agencies are contradicting positions taken by the President-Elect. In testimony before a Senate committee today, CIA chief-designate Mike Pompeo said he would not use "enhanced interrogation," even if Trump told him to. At another hearing, Trump's choice for Defense Secretary, General James Mattis , said Russia's Vladimir Putin is trying to break up the NATO alliance. When his nominees differ with him in such important ways, what are we learning about Trump's national security policy — and who will shape it?
Arab Upheaval: Can Iran Take Advantage? Now that major rivals are deposed or worried about their own futures, has Iran gained new influence in the region, without doing a thing?
Iranian President Ahmadinejad Begins Second Term Mahmoud Ahmadinejad starts his second four-year term as President of Iran. In today's inaugural address, Ahmadinejad called for "a national will" and "national resolve." He told his audience, "We need to join forces." As if to dramatize the moment, major reformers, including a faction of parliament, boycotted the ceremony. Outside on the streets of Tehran, opposition protesters were vastly outnumbered by riot police.
LRC Live: Taxes, tech and Taylor Swift It’s a special live Left, Right & Center from San Francisco!
Crossing borders, in mind and in the flesh The U.S. border with Mexico has become a linchpin in American politics under the administration of Donald Trump.
Inside the company helping LA County change its elections Big changes are coming to L.A. County elections starting in the year 2020. You’ll see 11 days of voting, not just one, ballots on high-tech touch screen terminals instead of paper and all new election software. Los Angeles County isn’t making the changes by itself. It has a partner in the effort, a private company that’s headquartered abroad and was once the focus of federal investigators. Is it a company that voters can trust with improving its elections?