The Pechko Perspective

Trump’s Asia Trip: Reinforcing the Hub-and-Spoke While Missing the Quad Opportunity As Trump reinforces traditional bilateral alliances in Asia, the Quad offers a path toward a stronger, multilateral Indo-Pacific security network

Trump’s Asia trip focused on old alliances but missed a chance to strengthen the Quad and build a true multilateral Indo Pacific partnership. The U.S. needs a broader strategy for lasting regional security.

#IndoPacific #Quad #US #ForeignPolicy #Trump #Asia #GOP

Know-Nothings to Trumpism: How Populist Nationalism Shapes America Exploring the Roots of Anti-Immigrant Sentiment and How Progressive Policies Can Build a More Inclusive America

From Know-Nothings to Trumpism, fear and change have fueled anti-immigrant sentiment. Explore how progressive policies can address the root causes and build a more inclusive America.

#Populism #Immigration #GOP #Trump #America #History

Trump’s Aid Cut to Colombia Threatens Regional Stability and U.S. Interests Trump’s aid cut to Colombia threatens regional stability and strengthens authoritarian influence

The U.S. decision to cut aid to Colombia risks unraveling years of progress in the fight against drug trafficking and regional instability. Once one of America’s closest allies in Latin America, Colombia now faces renewed threats from cartels and insurgent groups as U.S. support disappears.

Why Mikie Sherrill Is New Jersey’s Only Choice in a Tight Governor’s Race Why Mikie Sherrill’s experience, policy record, and leadership make her the essential choice to protect New Jersey’s progress in a close 2025 gubernatorial race.

I didn’t back Mikie Sherrill in the primary, but New Jersey needs her now. Her win is key to protecting progress and keeping the state moving forward.

#NJ #Politics #Elections #Democrats

What Past Presidents Would Say About Trump’s Domestic National Guard Deployments A historical analysis of how former U.S. Presidents might assess Trump’s use of the National Guard, comparing constitutional authority, civil rights, and emergency powers across eras

What would past presidents think of Trump’s use of the National Guard in U.S. cities? A look at history offers some clues.

#US #Politics #History #Trump #NationalGuard #Presidents

No Kings: What Andrew Jackson and Henry Clay Teach Modern America About Populism Exploring the echoes of 19th-century political battles in today’s fight against authoritarianism and the rise of populist leaders

America’s fight against unchecked power is nothing new. This piece connects the rivalry between Andrew Jackson and Henry Clay to today’s “No Kings” movement, showing how the struggle to protect democracy continues.

#NoKings #Democracy #History #Politics #Populism #Trump

Milei, Trump, and Argentina: What Americans Need to Know About the $20 Billion Bailout A closer look at how U.S. taxpayer funds are being used to back a controversial Argentine leader and why Americans should understand the political and economic stakes.

Milei blasts the UN as a “Leviathan” while taking a Trump-backed bailout. His talk of sovereignty hides a deeper hypocrisy.

#Argentina #Milei #Trump #UN

A Blueprint for Renewal: The Green New Deal and the Future of American Progress The Broader Benefits of a Green Economy

Wildfires, floods, and record heat are reshaping America. The Green New Deal could change our future with clean energy, new jobs, and a stronger economy. Can we rise to the challenge?

#Climate #Action #GreenNewDeal #Clean #Energy #Sustainability #Jobs

Javier Milei Calls the UN a Leviathan—but Bows to Trump’s Power A self-proclaimed defender of sovereignty, Milei rails against the UN’s “Leviathan” while quietly binding Argentina’s future to Trump’s political ambitions.

Milei blasts the UN as a “Leviathan” while taking a Trump-backed bailout. His talk of sovereignty hides a deeper hypocrisy.

#Argentina #Milei #Trump #UN #GOP #politics

When ICE Keeps Working but Oversight Stops: Why the ODO Matters More Than Ever While ICE keeps making arrests, the watchdog meant to keep detainees safe has been sidelined.

ICE is still arresting people, but the watchdogs who inspect detention centers are furloughed. This episode looks at what happens when oversight stops and people are left behind.

#ICE #Immigration #Accountability #HumanRights #Podcast #shutdown

Inside Serbia’s Shadow State: How Parallel Institutions Undermine Kosovo's Sovereignty Thanks for reading Kiel Pechko!

Kosovo’s crackdown exposed Serbia’s hidden web of influence. Behind local offices lies a fight for power that could shape the Balkans’ future.

#Kosovo #Serbia #Balkans #EU #Politics

Republican Governors Deploy National Guard in 2025: Political Theater or Public Safety? As Republican governors rush to show loyalty to Trump, National Guard deployments raise questions about political ambition, public safety, and the limits of executive power.

Republican governors are using the National Guard to prove loyalty to Trump, blurring the line between safety and politics.

#NationalGuard #Politics #Trump #Governors #Democracy #GOP #Trump

Sudan’s War Uncovered: Atrocities, Siege Cities, and a Stalled Democracy Explore the human toll of Sudan’s civil war, where millions are displaced, families are trapped under siege, and civilians bear the brunt of a deadly power struggle between rival forces

Sudan’s people are paying the price of a brutal power struggle. Millions displaced, cities under siege, and aid blocked. The world can’t look away.

#Sudan #HumanRights #War

Caretaker: From Castillo’s Fall to Jerí’s Rise — Peru’s Impeachment and the Rolexgate Moment A sweeping look at Peru’s turmoil, from Castillo’s fall to Boluarte’s Rolexgate downfall, ending with caretaker José Jerí at the helm.

Peru’s impeachment of Dina Boluarte shows deeper issues behind the country’s unrest. Real change means tackling corruption, weak institutions, and lack of opportunity.

#Peru #Politics #Reform #Corruption

The UN’s Dilemma: Balancing Humanitarian Aid and Democratic Values Behind every shipment of UN food or medicine lies a harder question: who really benefits when relief meets repression?

The UN’s mission to save lives can clash with its promise to defend democracy, as aid meant to help sometimes strengthens the regimes that oppress.

#UN #HumanRights #Democracy #HumanitarianAid

When Force Meets Politics: Guard Deployments, Coalition Collapse, and the Impeachment Wave Exploring the limits of power and democracy from U.S. cities to Japan’s parliament and Peru’s streets

My first podcast is out!

I break down the stories shaping our world, including the National Guard in US cities, Japan’s first female LDP leader, and Peru’s presidential impeachment.

#Podcast #GlobalPolitics #USA #Politics #Japan #Peru

Crimea’s Silent Resistance: The Tatars Putin Couldn’t Break Russia conquered their land. Then it tried to erase their memory

The Crimean Tatars have faced conquest, exile, and repression for centuries. From czars to Putin, their struggle to survive empire continues today.

#Crimea #Ukraine #CrimeanTatars #History #Russia #Putin

One People, One Lie: How Putin Turned History into a Weapon Against Ukraine History still burns beneath the soil of Eastern Europe

Putin’s 2021 essay claimed Russians and Ukrainians were “one people.” A year later, he invaded. This piece uncovers how that idea shaped his war and what it reveals about Russia’s identity and power.

#Ukraine #Russia #Putin #Geopolitics #History

Trump, Schmitt, and the State of Exception: Understanding Executive Power in Crisis In the first week of October 2025, the roar of military transport trucks and the sight of camouflaged troops on the outskirts of Chicago became a public punctuation mark to a broader argument about po...

Trump’s 2025 deployment of Texas troops to Chicago echoes Carl Schmitt’s authoritarian ideas and tests the limits of presidential power.

#Politics #Democracy #Power #GOP #Trump #Chicago

How an Italian Passenger Ship Became One of World War I’s Deadliest Maritime Tragedies The Principe Umberto was born into a world that prized steam and steel, a ship built to carry people and produce across the Mediterranean and beyond.

The Principe Umberto began as a proud passenger ship before war turned her into a troop transport. In June 1916, she was torpedoed in the Adriatic, taking nearly 2,000 lives. A century later, her wreck was finally found, silent but not forgotten.

#History #Shipwreck #WWI #Maritime

Irish Catholic in the White House: Al Smith's Groundbreaking Bid & Biden's Legacy Breaking Barriers: How Al Smith, the First Irish‑Catholic Major‑Party Nominee, Took on Prohibition, Prejudice, and Urban Power in America’s Farm‑Heartland Campaign

Explore the journey of Irish Catholics in American politics, culminating in the presidency of one of their own. This piece explores the cultural and political significance of their rise to the Presidency.

#Irish #Catholic #WhiteHouse #Politics #History #President

Luna Park: The Lost Wonderland That Once Lit Up Coney Island The first time Luna Park turned on its lights, thousands of people held their breath.

Step back into the night when Coney Island first shimmered with electric light. This article revisits the birth, brilliance, and eventual fall of Luna Park, the dazzling dreamscape that turned darkness into wonder and made ordinary people part of the spectacle.

#NYC #Themepark #NewYork #Coney

Putting Through the Ages: A Nostalgic Spin on America's Miniature Golf Obsession / Culture and Sports | The Pechko Perspective In the soft glow of a summer evening, the gentle tap of a putter meeting a brightly colored golf ball evokes a whimsical and deeply nostalgic feeling. Miniature golf feels like a distinctly American i...

Mini golf is more than a game. It’s a nostalgic look at America’s love for creativity, fun, and friendly competition.

#MiniGolf #History #Fun #America #game #sports #golf

Big Tech’s Silent Takeover: Why Democracy Can’t Let Algorithms Rule Alone / Political Commentary | The Pechko Perspective In 1961, President Dwight D. Eisenhower warned of a looming threat to American democracy. In his farewell address, he coined the term “military-industrial complex,” cautioning that the entwining of mi...

Big Tech quietly shapes what we see and think online. This piece explains why democracy can’t let algorithms take control.

#Tech #Democracy #Algorithms #Politics

First day at the beach for him

#dog #pet

Swing Myth: Why the Home Run Derby Doesn’t Ruin Hitters / Culture and Sports | The Pechko Perspective On a balmy July evening in Atlanta, the resounding crack of the bat reverberated through Truist Park as Cal Raleigh sent baseballs soaring into the sultry summer air. Each swing was a testament to his...

The so-called Home Run Derby curse is a myth. The numbers tell a different story about why hitters don’t actually fall off after the derby.

#Baseball #HomeRunDerby #MLB #Sports

The Pechko Perspective | Substack Kiel Pechko is a geopolitical analyst and writer with an M.A. in Diplomacy from Seton Hall. He writes The Pechko Perspective and has been published by The Arctic Institute.

Hey folks, just a heads up that I’ve got a Substack where I share extra content, deeper dives, and stuff I don’t always post here. If you’re curious or want more of my writing, feel free to check it out. I’d love to have you along!

The Mysterious Disappearance of the Corte-Real Brothers: Portugal’s Lost Explorers of North America / Culture and Sports | The Pechko Perspective Gaspar Corte-Real

The Corte-Real brothers embarked on daring voyages to North America in the early 1500s, only to disappear without a trace. Their story remains one of the enduring mysteries of early exploration.

#CorteReal #Exploration #History #Mystery #Maritime

How Washington’s Closest Latin Ally Slipped Away: The Cooling of U.S.–Colombia Ties / Political Commentary | The Pechko Perspective For decades, the United States and Colombia have fostered one of the warmest and most cooperative relationships in the Western Hemisphere. Their alliance, a rare model of consistency in a region where...

The United States and Colombia once shared a close alliance, but President Gustavo Petro’s independent policies are changing that relationship. The shift carries risks for both nations.

#USA #Colombia #Politics #LatinAmerica #Allies #foreignaffairs

Ashes on the Boardwalk: A Century of Flame and Resilience at the Jersey Shore / Culture and Sports | The Pechko Perspective There is a distinct rhythm to life along the Jersey Shore, one shaped not only by the tidal pull of the Atlantic but by the countless families who return each summer to its boardwalks, drawn back by t...

A century of flame and resilience on the Jersey Shore. Discover how the boardwalk rose from ashes time and again.

#Jersey #Shore #History #Resilience #NJ #NewJersey