Really, actually hard to overstate how much worse off USFP is with Trump compared to the *first term*
May 23, 2026 at 6:45 AM
Really, actually hard to overstate how much worse off USFP is with Trump compared to the *first term*
A few more thoughts. USFP/natsec usually works from bottom up, even for prez-directed policies. Bureaucrats, mid-levels, political appointees work the problem, then top people bless it. Diplomacy (JCPOA) works like this. Military planning can move faster w/ prior plans, but similar. 1/
Quick reactions after learning that no, nobody could stop him. 1/ goodauthority.org/news/trump-m... 1/
Trump might start a war with Iran. Can anyone stop him?
Trump might start a war with Iran. Can anyone stop him? Congress, public opinion, and administration insiders aren’t reliable constraints on Trump’s foreign policy decisions.
goodauthority.org
February 28, 2026 at 2:11 PM
A few more thoughts. USFP/natsec usually works from bottom up, even for prez-directed policies. Bureaucrats, mid-levels, political appointees work the problem, then top people bless it. Diplomacy (JCPOA) works like this. Military planning can move faster w/ prior plans, but similar. 1/
Way too many people think of realism as simply "owning the lib(eral institutionalist)s," who tbh, didn't have *that* much influence on USFP anyways.
According to this piece, Kissinger, Brzezinski and Scowcroft never wielded much influence in US foreign policymaking, Quincy is a realist policy shop and Eldridge Colby is "[o]ne of the most important realist thinkers of this era."
🤷
🤷
Opinion | Trump’s Foreign Policy May Be Crude, But It’s Realist
The president understands that the liberal international order was possible only because of U.S. might, and Americans don’t want to pay the bill anymore.
www.nytimes.com
March 7, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Way too many people think of realism as simply "owning the lib(eral institutionalist)s," who tbh, didn't have *that* much influence on USFP anyways.
If you look at USFP discourse in the late 1950s, it’s striking how much panic there is about US decline.
September 25, 2026 at 6:03 PM
If you look at USFP discourse in the late 1950s, it’s striking how much panic there is about US decline.
My US Foreign Policy class was divided into groups to pick major USFP priorities/problems and then come up with policies. No one brought up Nigeria.
FFS
FFS
Well, I certainly didn't have Nigeria on my bingo sheet for Trump's next use of force.
Peaceful president? Sure.
Peaceful president? Sure.
December 26, 2025 at 2:47 PM
My US Foreign Policy class was divided into groups to pick major USFP priorities/problems and then come up with policies. No one brought up Nigeria.
FFS
FFS
In a different context I was told by a couple of senior political economists that the price of oil was of only policy interest to USFP, not theoretical importance
Predictions that oil would hit $150 or whatever were common (let's not pretend they weren't common), but it took extraordinary state intervention to prevent that from happening. And the war ended specifically out of concern that those interventions were becoming insufficient.
July 3, 2026 at 1:05 PM
In a different context I was told by a couple of senior political economists that the price of oil was of only policy interest to USFP, not theoretical importance
May be too soon to start thinking about courses next fall, but my US foreign policy syllabus is in tatters as it focused on institutions and processes. For the next 4+ years, understanding institutions and processes is not going to help students understand USFP. Any suggested approaches/readings?
May 10, 2025 at 12:34 PM
May be too soon to start thinking about courses next fall, but my US foreign policy syllabus is in tatters as it focused on institutions and processes. For the next 4+ years, understanding institutions and processes is not going to help students understand USFP. Any suggested approaches/readings?
June 27, 2026 at 1:54 PM
It is like USFP 101, too, not Advanced Concepts in International Trade Theory.
In reality, the US was one of the biggest proponents of an EU, and its antecedent the European Coal and Steel Community, because integrating European economies would prevent another war after two big ones killed millions, including hundreds of thousands of Americans.
By that criteria, big success.
By that criteria, big success.
Trump: "The European Union was formed in order to screw the United States, that's the purpose of it. And they've done a good job of it. But now I'm president."
February 26, 2025 at 6:09 PM
It is like USFP 101, too, not Advanced Concepts in International Trade Theory.
Piece with @cooleyoneurasia.bsky.social on Trump 2 FP went to copyeditor today, should be out next month.
Conclusion was angriest I’ve ever written for a traditional outlet. Anyone who pretends USFP is anything other than a fusion of kleptocracy & far-right extremism helps launder their criminality
Conclusion was angriest I’ve ever written for a traditional outlet. Anyone who pretends USFP is anything other than a fusion of kleptocracy & far-right extremism helps launder their criminality
Every one of these deals exceeds the severity of the Clinton Foundation and Hunter Biden controversies by orders of magnitude. And there are already dozens, probably hundreds.
Trump’s Tangled Web of Deal-Making, Policy and Riches
An illustrated guide of the first year of profiteering.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
An illustrated guide of the first year of profiteering.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
January 1, 2026 at 9:22 PM
Piece with @cooleyoneurasia.bsky.social on Trump 2 FP went to copyeditor today, should be out next month.
Conclusion was angriest I’ve ever written for a traditional outlet. Anyone who pretends USFP is anything other than a fusion of kleptocracy & far-right extremism helps launder their criminality
Conclusion was angriest I’ve ever written for a traditional outlet. Anyone who pretends USFP is anything other than a fusion of kleptocracy & far-right extremism helps launder their criminality
Per usual, Ross Douthat defends what he wished Trump was doing rather than what he's actually doing.
He argues that Trump is "stripping away pretenses" of USFP when he's actually aligning us with the authoritarians.
This article argues we are "overstretched," even though we can more than/
He argues that Trump is "stripping away pretenses" of USFP when he's actually aligning us with the authoritarians.
This article argues we are "overstretched," even though we can more than/
On the need for “draping power politics in the garments of idealism.” www.nytimes.com/2025/03/01/o...
Opinion | Trump and Vance Are Stripping Away Foreign Policy Illusions
But realism needs more diplomacy to work.
www.nytimes.com
March 1, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Per usual, Ross Douthat defends what he wished Trump was doing rather than what he's actually doing.
He argues that Trump is "stripping away pretenses" of USFP when he's actually aligning us with the authoritarians.
This article argues we are "overstretched," even though we can more than/
He argues that Trump is "stripping away pretenses" of USFP when he's actually aligning us with the authoritarians.
This article argues we are "overstretched," even though we can more than/
Thanks for the reading for my USFP class this fall, @profsaunders.bsky.social
June 16, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Thanks for the reading for my USFP class this fall, @profsaunders.bsky.social
Curious about what makes USAID a non-USFP decision?
February 10, 2026 at 2:35 PM
Curious about what makes USAID a non-USFP decision?
traditionalism
It cares much less about China and Russia than it does about liberalism and institutions like the EU. It can't even bring itself to identify democracy as a goal of USFP, because that's not what MAGA wants for anyone.
It cares much less about China and Russia than it does about liberalism and institutions like the EU. It can't even bring itself to identify democracy as a goal of USFP, because that's not what MAGA wants for anyone.
December 9, 2025 at 4:12 PM
traditionalism
It cares much less about China and Russia than it does about liberalism and institutions like the EU. It can't even bring itself to identify democracy as a goal of USFP, because that's not what MAGA wants for anyone.
It cares much less about China and Russia than it does about liberalism and institutions like the EU. It can't even bring itself to identify democracy as a goal of USFP, because that's not what MAGA wants for anyone.
Point of this thread is not to minimize the colonial nature of the arrangement Rubio presides over or terrible consequences for Venezuela. But those are best analyzed by regional and IPE experts, and those who study colonialism. On top of all that, there are consequences for USFP and the world.
🧵This story is insane in so many ways that others are more qualified to analyze. Can only add that viz US foreign policy, Rubio, the nation's top diplomat, acting as viceroy of Venezuela is derelict, unconscionable, & impeachable. The SecState's time is scarce, valuable, and not outsourcable. 1/
Think. About. This.
The U.S. Treasury receives the revenue from most of Venezuela’s exports, then disburses it gradually to Venezuela through the country’s private banks…. Mr. Rubio and his team set the conditions on what that money can be spent on, and by whom.
www.nytimes.com/2026/07/11/u...
The U.S. Treasury receives the revenue from most of Venezuela’s exports, then disburses it gradually to Venezuela through the country’s private banks…. Mr. Rubio and his team set the conditions on what that money can be spent on, and by whom.
www.nytimes.com/2026/07/11/u...
July 11, 2026 at 7:25 PM
Point of this thread is not to minimize the colonial nature of the arrangement Rubio presides over or terrible consequences for Venezuela. But those are best analyzed by regional and IPE experts, and those who study colonialism. On top of all that, there are consequences for USFP and the world.
figure in this admin who thinks otherwise.
This is getting really close to "tricky Jews control USFP" or "tricky Jews are keeping the truth from the ears of the Czar."
The author writes for American Conservative, which has long seen USFP in that light.
This is getting really close to "tricky Jews control USFP" or "tricky Jews are keeping the truth from the ears of the Czar."
The author writes for American Conservative, which has long seen USFP in that light.
September 25, 2025 at 4:18 PM
figure in this admin who thinks otherwise.
This is getting really close to "tricky Jews control USFP" or "tricky Jews are keeping the truth from the ears of the Czar."
The author writes for American Conservative, which has long seen USFP in that light.
This is getting really close to "tricky Jews control USFP" or "tricky Jews are keeping the truth from the ears of the Czar."
The author writes for American Conservative, which has long seen USFP in that light.
Handy for first day of USFP class: is a social media utterance = policy?
September 6, 2026 at 8:26 PM
Handy for first day of USFP class: is a social media utterance = policy?
Elon is publicly known to communicate with Putin and he doesn’t even have business interests in Russia. You think he doesn’t have a line w/ Xi or an intermediary? The USFP apparatus is being gutted in ways that the PRC or RU could never achieve on their own.
February 13, 2025 at 3:58 AM
Elon is publicly known to communicate with Putin and he doesn’t even have business interests in Russia. You think he doesn’t have a line w/ Xi or an intermediary? The USFP apparatus is being gutted in ways that the PRC or RU could never achieve on their own.
The US Institute of Peace has produced research for many USFP goals, and DC policy makers have long relied on it. Note that they are going after foreign policy departments, then independent congressionally funded orgs, to see if people care. Then they'll come for you.
even if you’ve never heard of USIP before, this is worth noting, I think: a random group of Musk’s staffers, working on behalf of the executive branch, apparently breaking into an independent organization and shutting it down for no stated cause
if the executive branch of the government can force USIP to close this way, what’s to stop it from doing the same to any organization?
March 18, 2025 at 12:00 AM
The US Institute of Peace has produced research for many USFP goals, and DC policy makers have long relied on it. Note that they are going after foreign policy departments, then independent congressionally funded orgs, to see if people care. Then they'll come for you.
And maybe Trump is a thin-skinned snowflake whose fragile ego can't take any contradictions.
Rule #1 of USFP under this personalist autocracy: resentment and greed drive damn near everything.
Rule #1 of USFP under this personalist autocracy: resentment and greed drive damn near everything.
And maybe he really likes to bully Canada.
A few weeks ago, he was dangling tariffs because of Canada‘s Middle East policy. Before it was fentanyl. And migration. And now it’s a TV ad. Maybe… stay with me here but…
Maybe… he just really likes tariffs.
Maybe… he just really likes tariffs.
October 25, 2025 at 12:11 PM
And maybe Trump is a thin-skinned snowflake whose fragile ego can't take any contradictions.
Rule #1 of USFP under this personalist autocracy: resentment and greed drive damn near everything.
Rule #1 of USFP under this personalist autocracy: resentment and greed drive damn near everything.
Tyros on vacation, this Can Only go Well (for the local resteraunts)
He really needs the strict excersize routine and diet of usfp.. moment you take it away. His thighs start rubbin together and his belly ballons outward..:
(My side of a Trade with @stupidgamer2o1.bsky.social)
He really needs the strict excersize routine and diet of usfp.. moment you take it away. His thighs start rubbin together and his belly ballons outward..:
(My side of a Trade with @stupidgamer2o1.bsky.social)
October 25, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Tyros on vacation, this Can Only go Well (for the local resteraunts)
He really needs the strict excersize routine and diet of usfp.. moment you take it away. His thighs start rubbin together and his belly ballons outward..:
(My side of a Trade with @stupidgamer2o1.bsky.social)
He really needs the strict excersize routine and diet of usfp.. moment you take it away. His thighs start rubbin together and his belly ballons outward..:
(My side of a Trade with @stupidgamer2o1.bsky.social)
Then the shoe looks at least in the right size range.
The "twist" here is that Trump's foreign policy views are also authoritarian and patrimonial in outlook—hence the emphasis on interpersonal ties to foreign leaders, especially autocrats, and the subordination of USFP...
The "twist" here is that Trump's foreign policy views are also authoritarian and patrimonial in outlook—hence the emphasis on interpersonal ties to foreign leaders, especially autocrats, and the subordination of USFP...
February 25, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Then the shoe looks at least in the right size range.
The "twist" here is that Trump's foreign policy views are also authoritarian and patrimonial in outlook—hence the emphasis on interpersonal ties to foreign leaders, especially autocrats, and the subordination of USFP...
The "twist" here is that Trump's foreign policy views are also authoritarian and patrimonial in outlook—hence the emphasis on interpersonal ties to foreign leaders, especially autocrats, and the subordination of USFP...
every once in a while, Tyro has to head out to an USFP-sponsored event
y'know, for morale & to get out of the house
y'know, for morale & to get out of the house
February 29, 2024 at 10:59 PM
every once in a while, Tyro has to head out to an USFP-sponsored event
y'know, for morale & to get out of the house
y'know, for morale & to get out of the house
All of Trump's letter is bullshit. There is no fetanyl coming from Canada, the barriers to dairy are stuff that he agreed to in the previous admin, the trade deficits are not an emergency.
Just bad faith protection racket bullshit.
My USFP class this fall is going to be full of expletives
Just bad faith protection racket bullshit.
My USFP class this fall is going to be full of expletives
July 11, 2025 at 5:25 AM
All of Trump's letter is bullshit. There is no fetanyl coming from Canada, the barriers to dairy are stuff that he agreed to in the previous admin, the trade deficits are not an emergency.
Just bad faith protection racket bullshit.
My USFP class this fall is going to be full of expletives
Just bad faith protection racket bullshit.
My USFP class this fall is going to be full of expletives