The late, great Gloria Steinem did a stint with the CIA.
Markos Kounalakis
Kounalakis, the Monthly's publisher and president emeritus, is California’s Second Gentleman and a Hoover Institution visiting fellow researching democracy and geopolitics. Follow him on Instagram, @markoskounalakis.
Posted inPolitics
What Mark Twain Could Teach Pete Hegseth About Holy War
Whether a “jihad” or “crusade,” language can serve to sanctify war. Mark Twain skewered such jingoism over a century ago.
Posted inBooks
The Price of a Lost Russia: A Correspondent’s Eulogy
More than three decades after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the promise of a democratic Russia has given way to something much darker—and far more durable.
Posted inUncategorized
Melania Speaks: The Eloquence of Hypocrisy
A rare speech that underscored a familiar contradiction.
Posted inPolitics
As Iran War Rages, Trump’s Gutting of Voice of America Undermines U.S. Influence
The president gutted public diplomacy tools like VOA’s Persian Service, then raced to repair them—kind of like alienating our allies, then begging them to help.
Posted inForeign Policy
Cuba Libre: Rubio’s Big Bet on Regime Change in Havana
Without charismatic Castro and Russian/Venezuelan support, and with sky-high oil prices, the communist regime is brittle. But as the secretary of state discovers in Iran, breaking things is the easy part.
Posted inEconomy
Geothermal: Clean Energy for People Who Like to Drill
With AI creating insatiable demand for electricity, an old but clean source is getting a second look thanks to favorable politics and new extraction technology. It’s Landman for environmentalists.
Posted inForeign Policy
Trump’s Iran Strike: What It Says About Russia—and Us
If Moscow were stronger, this never would have happened. If Trump weren’t so authoritarian, he might not have risked it.
Posted inFeatured
Lai and Bezos: A Tale of Two Publishers
The Hong Kong freedom fighter is condemned to prison darkness while the billionaire soaks in the sun and darkens The Washington Post.
Posted inEconomy
Trump’s Catastrophic War on Global Talent
By discouraging and blocking international student enrollment, the administration harms the U.S. economy and benefits American rivals, including China.
