Geopolitics
International affairs, defense, intelligence, and regional conflicts
#2614: Who Gets to Vote from Abroad?
How the U.S. and Israel handle military and diplomatic ballots — and whether expats should vote at all.
#2613: What Makes an Election Actually Free and Fair?
From ballot secrecy to phantom voters — the real checklist election monitors use to separate genuine contests from theater.
#2611: Saturday Drums vs Quiet Homes: Protest Rights in Residential Areas
When weekly protests become a permanent neighborhood soundscape, how do democracies balance assembly rights with residents' quiet enjoyment?
#2610: Can Opposition Be Constructive in a Democracy?
When does protesting the government become protesting democracy itself? A look at loyal opposition vs. blanket obstruction.
#2588: The Golden Crust Ceasefire
A ceasefire is declared, but threats, strikes, and secret deployments suggest the conflict is far from over.
#2581: Did Ancient Jews Have Leisure?
Did ancient Jews ever relax, or was every moment supposed to be Torah study? The surprising history of leisure in Jewish tradition.
#2552: The IAEA's Only Weapon: Credibility
The IAEA has fewer inspectors, less access, and more enrichment to verify in Iran than ever before.
#2532: When the Internet Goes Dark: Censorship's Unseen Consequences
From Iran’s historic blackout to UK age verification laws — the global picture on pornography regulation is more complex than you think.
#2523: The OECD’s Quiet Power Over Environmental Data
How a “rich country club” became the world’s most reliable source for environmental data—and why that matters.
#2522: How Science Bridges Hostile Borders
Ireland, Slovenia, and Spain push to exclude Israel from Horizon Europe—while history shows science cooperation works across enemy lines.
#2520: When a Cartel Loses Its Third-Largest Member
The UAE is leaving OPEC. What that means for oil prices, food costs, and global stability.
#2519: Who Really Blinks in the Iran-U.S. Standoff?
Iran offers to reopen the Strait of Hormuz—but only if the U.S. ends its blockade. Is either side ready to blink?
#2504: Fiber-Optic Drones: The Jam-Proof Threat Changing Warfare
How a $1,200 wire-guided drone evades electronic warfare and why the IDF is scrambling for countermeasures.
#2502: Who Enforces the Law, Who Defies It
From immigration politics to ICE raids, Jan 6 prosecutions, and the legal line on private militias in the US.
#2490: How to Read Trade Statistics Like a Skeptic
Why Ireland’s $87B US trade deficit is a tax fiction — and how to actually read balance of trade data.
#2489: When Trust Moves Markets: The Euro-Shekel Story
How the euro-shekel exchange rate impacts Israeli exports, imports, and the broader EU trade relationship.
#2488: Hybrid Pipelines for Entity Resolution
Classic NLP pipelines vs. lightweight LLMs for handling Hezbollah’s half-dozen spellings.
#2455: How Protection Details Spot the Threat Before It Happens
The Marines developed a system for noticing what doesn't belong. Now it's the core of executive protection training.
#2454: Ireland's Neutrality: Myth or Reality?
Ireland claims military neutrality but pursues aggressive diplomatic actions. Can a nearly defenseless country truly stay neutral?
#2451: Why Old Fighter Jets Still Train New Pilots
Why air forces still train pilots on 50-year-old aircraft instead of simulators or frontline fighters.