Edward Wong

Why Diplomacy Was Doomed: Trump’s Issue Was Iran’s Leadership Itself

NEW: US diplomacy with Iran was doomed to fail. Trump & his aides made broad demands, and their priority wasn't the crippled nuclear program. Trump and Rubio signaled the need for regime change, and Israel pushed them to decimate Iran's ballistic missiles. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/03/01/u...

Taiwan Arms Sale Approved by Congress Is Delayed as Trump Plans Visit to Beijing

NEW: The Trump administration has delayed arms sales to Taiwan valued at $13 billion that had been approved by lawmakers. US officials say Trump wants to ensure a smooth summit in April with Xi. And the Iran war will cut into US military resources for Asia. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/02/27/u...

There are strange elements around Rubio’s announced trip to Israel. If he actually makes a trip, not taking reporters undermines transparency and breaks norms. And the US embassy in Jerusalem says some employees and family members should leave Israel, a sign of a potential war.

Trump’s Foreign Policy: Resurrecting Empire

NEW: Trump's foreign policy is about resurrecting empire. He seeks to seize the territory and resources of sovereign peoples through force and threats. Rubio lamented the fall of the "great Western empires" in Munich. A new war with Iran looms. Gift link to my story: www.nytimes.com/2026/02/27/u...

In Trump’s Case for War, a Series of False or Unproven Claims

NEW: The Trump administration's 3 key claims about Iran's nuclear & missile programs are false or unproven — including Iran "soon" making a missile that can hit the US. Intel analysts are concerned about aides exaggerating threats and misusing intelligence. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/02/26/u...

Judge says government may not search devices seized from Washington Post reporter, via Perry Stein www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

We need more people to tell these accounts on-the-record. Karen Newton, a British grandmother who worked at a primary school and had a valid visa for the US, was detained for 6 weeks by ICE. At one point, she was shackled and left on the floor of a cell. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

A packed house at Politics and Prose last night for a moving tribute to the Washington Post Book World, closed by the paper’s executives. I grew up reading it. Bob Woodward and Rita Dove were among the speakers. “Awful and tragic” — Woodward on the changes to the Post.

Rubio Stresses Trump’s Support for Leader of Hungary Before Tight Elections

Reporting from Budapest: Rubio visited Orban to try to boost the authoritarian Hungarian leader ahead of elections. Orban faces a tough challenge from Peter Magyar, another conservative politician. Rubio said Trump is "deeply committed" to Orban's success. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/02/16/w...

Rubio Stresses Shared History to Europeans but Warns of ‘Civilizational Erasure’ in Munich

Rubio's speech in Munich warned of the "civilizational erasure" of Europe and the ills of "mass migration." He said the US aims to save European culture. And he pushed for more defense spending. Rubio hit these themes in a friendlier tone than Vance. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/02/14/w...

Ruptures in China’s Leadership Could Be Due to Paranoia and Power Plays

NEW: US intelligence analysts assess that Xi Jinping has a remarkable level of paranoia. This could help explain his persecution of China's top general, Zhang Youxia, and other purges. Some experts say Xi could be moving to extend his rule for a 4th term. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/02/03/u...

The Washington Post is my hometown newspaper. I grew up reading it. The work of its foreign correspondents was a big inspiration for my own career as one for The New York Times. The Washington Post and its reporters are an American treasure.

Ruptures in China’s Leadership Could Be Due to Paranoia and Power Plays

NEW: US intelligence analysts assess that Xi Jinping has a remarkable level of paranoia. This could help explain his persecution of China's top general, Zhang Youxia, and other purges. Some experts say Xi could be moving to extend his rule for a 4th term. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/02/03/u...

UCLA law professor Alex Wang has been studying one of the critical ways China has been making inroads around the world. The US has been ceding this ground.

Judge Biery signed the order with a photo of Liam and two bible verses: The first is "But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." The second is simply "Jesus wept."

Astonishing thing for a judge to do.

Trump Officials Bypass Congress to Push Billions in Weapons Aid to Israel

The Trump administration is bypassing a Congressional review process to send $6.5 billion of weapons aid to Israel. The package includes Apache attack helicopters and combat vehicles. It's the third time the Trump administration has done this. Gift link to story: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/u...

Trump Officials Bypass Congress to Push Billions in Weapons Aid to Israel

The Trump administration is bypassing a Congressional review process to send $6.5 billion of weapons aid to Israel. The package includes Apache attack helicopters and combat vehicles. It's the third time the Trump administration has done this. Gift link to story: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/u...

Pen America @penamerica.bsky.social has issued this statement on the arrest by federal agents of journalist Don Lemon. "Journalism is not a crime." pen.org/press-releas...

How Trump’s 2020 Election Claims Have Been Debunked Again and Again

Trump is now mobilizing the power of the federal government to relitigate the 2020 election that he lost by again advancing lies and distortions already debunked by Republicans and judges. Here is what really happened @reidepstein.bsky.social @nytnickc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2026/01/29/u...

Video: New Video Analysis Reveals Flawed and Fatal Decisions in Shooting of Pretti A frame-by-frame assessment of actions by Alex Pretti and the two officers who fired 10 times shows how lethal force came to be used against a target who didn’t pose a threat.

Here’s a new frame-by-frame video analysis of the killing in Minneapolis by ICE of Alex Pettri, a nurse for the Veterans Administration. @nytimes.com assesses that two ICE agents shot 10 rounds into him even though he didn’t post a threat. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/video/us/100...

In Xi’s China, Even the Mightiest General Can Fall

Xi Jinping just purged Gen. Zhang Youxia, once his closest ally in the Chinese military. The move is significant. What does it mean? @nytimes.com story: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/26/w...

The Washington Post is my hometown newspaper. I grew up reading it. The work of its foreign correspondents was a big inspiration for my own career as one for The New York Times. The Washington Post and its reporters are an American treasure.

Despite Trump’s Words, China and Russia Are Not Threatening Greenland

NEW: Trump reality check — China and Russia aren't threatening Greenland. US and European officials say there's no intelligence on any such dangers. Sen. Mark Warner says the only immediate threat to Greenland is Trump asserting claims to it. Gift link to my story: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/24/u...

Despite Trump’s Words, China and Russia Are Not Threatening Greenland

NEW: Trump reality check — China and Russia aren't threatening Greenland. US and European officials say there's no intelligence on any such dangers. Sen. Mark Warner says the only immediate threat to Greenland is Trump asserting claims to it. Gift link to my story: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/24/u...

Newly unsealed evidence makes it even clearer that Rubio and Noem knew they were targeting students based solely on their political speech and that they knew this policy was unconstitutional. They just didn’t care. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/u...

Fallout from Trump’s recent statements on Greenland

UPDATE from @nytimes.com: Trump is building up forces near Iran. The aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln and escort ships are heading there from the South China Sea — a two-week trip. And the Pentagon is sending more warplanes, many from Europe. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/15/u...

What Did the White House and Denmark Agree to on Greenland? Depends Whom You Ask.

NEW: Denmark's foreign minister, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, told The New York Times that a US takeover of Greenland was a red line. He said Vance and Rubio agree to a working group. But the White House said the group will discuss a US acquisition of Greenland. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/15/u...

What Did the White House and Denmark Agree to on Greenland? Depends Whom You Ask.

NEW: Denmark's foreign minister, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, told The New York Times that a US takeover of Greenland was a red line. He said Vance and Rubio agree to a working group. But the White House said the group will discuss a US acquisition of Greenland. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/15/u...