Global Power Plays
The War Trump Can’t Control
Trump said the war with Iran would end fast. But the strikes, the Strait of Hormuz, and a weak deal make it harder to leave.
All Coverage
Browse the full stream of Noligarchy coverage. Page 2 of 51.
Global Power Plays
US and Iran trade strikes over Hormuz, and the shipping risk grows
The US and Iran are trading fire near the Strait of Hormuz, where a fight over sea lanes can quickly raise oil prices and squeeze world trade.
Public Impact
Teen killer may get resentencing shot after Supreme Court shifted juvenile life terms
A New Hampshire judge is weighing whether Robert Tulloch, who was 17 when he helped kill two Dartmouth professors, can be resentenced after Supreme Court rulings limited mandatory life-without-parole terms for juveniles. The case shows how a constitutional shift can reopen old sentences even when lawmakers have left the statute in place.
Power Games
Communities are turning racist landmarks into places of repair
Cities and nonprofits are not just preserving ugly history. They are changing who gets to control it, and what it says now.
Global Power Plays
Lindsey Graham reportedly mapped a push for Israel-Saudi ties after Israel’s election
Lindsey Graham reportedly lined up a fast push for Israel-Saudi normalization after Israel’s election, timing the effort around U.S. politics and regional pressure on Iran. The plan faced major hurdles, including Palestinian demands and Israeli red lines.
Power Games
McConnell’s silence showed how much Senate power can hinge on one body
McConnell finally said a fall put him in the hospital and rehab. The bigger story is how one senator’s health can change the math in the Senate, slow votes, and shift leverage over war money, nominees, and Trump’s agenda.
Power Games
Spectre of the “deep state”: Planned capture of the Judiciary by the Executive
Sri Lanka’s planned judge-retirement change is not just about age. It gives the government a way to decide which sitting judges stay longer, and who does not.
Power Games
McConnell’s health silence shows how power can outlast the facts
Mitch McConnell finally said a fall sent him to the hospital. The long pause left voters, staff, and other senators guessing about one of the chamber’s most powerful people.
Power Games
Shapiro wants a Dem fight in 2028 — without leading it
Josh Shapiro argues Democrats need a serious fight over the party’s future, but he is not eager to lead it. The strategy keeps him broadly acceptable while leaving progressives more room to set the pace inside the party.
Power Games
McConnell’s health note shows how little voters get before power shifts
Mitch McConnell finally explained his hospital stay after weeks of silence. The delay left voters guessing about his health and his grip on the job.
Follow the Money
Keystone spill deal shows how cleanup costs get turned into a legal bill
Federal officials want South Bow to pay $26.9 million over a 2022 Kansas Keystone spill, plus about $40 million in safety upgrades. The case shows how clean-water enforcement can turn environmental damage into a public penalty and cleanup bill.
Public Impact
Keystone operator cuts a deal after Kansas oil spill, but the pipe trouble runs deeper
South Bow will pay nearly $27 million after the Kansas Keystone spill, with additional funds for cleanup and future fixes. The case also highlights how pipeline failures can build over time when construction, soil conditions, and oversight fall short.
Public Impact
Protesters push OpenAI and DeepMind to slow the AI race
More than 200 protesters marched to AI company offices in San Francisco to demand tougher rules and a pause on larger model training. The campaign aims to speed up oversight before advanced AI systems spread faster than regulators can respond.
Public Impact
Trump’s D.C. makeover puts power, history, and public money in one fight
Trump is pushing major changes in Washington, D.C., including an arch near Arlington National Cemetery and work on White House grounds and other landmarks. The dispute centers on public review, public money, and who gets to shape the capital.
Global Power Plays
Ankara NATO summit shows Europe still waiting on U.S. retreat
The Ankara summit made some real deals on weapons and industry. But it also showed how much of Europe’s security still depends on Washington’s mood.
Global Power Plays
Iran war: UAE warns public of incoming missile attack as explosions heard in Qatar
The Gulf is getting pulled into a wider fight fast. U.S. strikes, Iranian replies, and closed shipping lanes are turning a military clash into a regional risk for civilians, trade, and U.S. bases.
Power Games
Trump DOJ subpoenas New York Times reporters after Air Force One security story
The Justice Department has subpoenaed several New York Times reporters to testify before a federal grand jury after the paper reported on security gaps in the president’s Qatari-gifted Air Force One. The move raises alarms about legal pressure on journalists and the chilling effect on newsroom reporting.
Global Power Plays
Iran says it closed the Strait of Hormuz as US strikes escalate
Iran said it closed the Strait of Hormuz after a ship was hit for taking an unapproved route. The US then said it carried out new strikes. The move raises the cost of shipping, energy, and everyday goods far beyond the gulf.
Global Power Plays
Zelensky shifts diplomats as Ukraine’s air shields run thin
Ukraine’s president says he will reshape parts of his diplomatic team to push faster weapons deliveries from allies after Patriot interceptors ran low and Russian strikes kept hitting cities. The move is meant to turn staffing and foreign-pressure channels into quicker air-defense support.
Narrative Warfare
Reading the Sino-U.S. rivalry: how books quietly shaped views of China
Books have done more than entertain readers: they have helped shape how many Americans see China, even as U.S.-China ties cool. The article argues that private reading remains a form of soft power that can outlast headlines and shape public memory.
Narrative Warfare
A Mississippi death case is now a battle over facts and trust
Nolan Wells’s death has become a fight over what can be trusted, with the sheriff’s investigation, witness accounts, and social media pressure all shaping the public story. His family is pressing for answers about the phone, the timeline, and the people who were with him.
Global Power Plays
A Vague Strait Deal Leaves Global Trade Exposed
A reported gap in U.S.-Iran peace terms left responsibility for security in the Strait of Hormuz unclear. Renewed hostilities could disrupt shipping, raise insurance costs, and increase fuel prices worldwide.
Global Power Plays
US and China Sanctions Put African Businesses in a Bind
U.S. sanctions and China’s pushback laws can pull African companies in opposite directions. Big powers set the rules. Local businesses carry the risk.
Global Power Plays
Trump Puts Iran Strike Threat at the Center of a Personal Security Warning
Trump said the United States is prepared to strike Iran if Iranian authorities carry out or attempt an attack against him, raising the prospect that a personal-security threat could escalate into a broader military crisis. The warning also raises questions about deterrence, congressional oversight, and the public costs of a possible conflict.