The U.S. is not positioned to deter conflict with China, much less do so while holding other persistent threats like Iran, Russia, and North Korea at bay. A dramatic change in course is necessary. Read it here.

Will Moscow be more willing to work with the Taliban as a counterterrorism partner? Read it here.

Moderate Israelis must understand that the U.S. cannot force Israel to accept a two-state solution. Read it here.

Putin’s long-standing opposition to U.S. natural gas highlights its strategic value. Read it here.

Last week's devastating terrorist attack in Moscow—which left 140 dead and reportedly implicates the ISIS-K terror group—poses a significant challenge for Russia’s freshly reelected president Vladimir Putin. In a bid to manage the fallout from his government’s intelligence failure, Putin's subsequent remarks have hinted at Ukrainian complicity, signaling a clear strategy to shift blame. What are the implications for Russian politics as well as Putin’s war in Ukraine?

In this special episode, Jacob Heilbrunn speaks with Paul Saunders, a noted Russia expert and the president of the Center for the National Interest. Saunders served in the Bush Administration from 2003 to 2005 as Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs. Listen now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.