Turkey’s New Missile Is a Symbol of Global Chaos
Turkey displayed a prototype intercontinental ballistic missile, the Yıldırımhan, at the SAHA 2026 defense expo. The missile is advertised with a claimed 6,000 km range and a 6,600‑lb conventional warhead, but it remains untested and uses a single‑stage liquid‑fuel design that limits its prompt‑strike capability. Analysts note Turkey lacks a suitable test corridor, forcing it to rely on steep, short‑range trajectories similar to North Korea. The unveiling underscores Ankara’s ambition to expand its defense exports and hedge against perceived gaps in U.S. security guarantees.
The Last Time We Reduced Troops in Europe, a War Broke Out
The U.S. Department of Defense announced a reduction of 5,000 troops from Germany, echoing a 2004‑2012 drawdown that preceded Russia’s 2014 aggression. The author, a former commander of U.S. Army Europe, argues that the latest cut threatens NATO deterrence, degrades...
Tit-for-Tatting Democracy to Death
The Supreme Court’s Louisiana v. Callais ruling dismantles the legal requirement for majority‑minority districts, opening the South to aggressive Republican redistricting. Analysts estimate GOP map‑makers could capture up to 19 previously Democratic House seats. Democrats are scrambling, proposing counter‑gerrymandering pushes...
When Joe Rogan Is in Charge of Health Care
President Donald Trump signed an executive order that accelerates research funding and fast‑track FDA review for psychedelic therapies after podcaster Joe Rogan texted the president about their potential. The order directs the Department of Health and Human Services to boost...
RECEIPTS: Why the Hell Does Trump Want to Buy Spirit Airlines?
In this episode of Receipts, JVL and Catherine Rampell dissect the political showdown over the Federal Reserve, focusing on Judge Jeanine Pirro’s halted investigation into Fed Chair Jerome Powell and the Senate’s blockage of a new Fed chair nomination. They...
The Anti-Prestige Prestige Show: Why ‘The Pitt’ Is the Cure for What Ails TV
The Pitt, HBO Max’s low‑budget medical drama, just wrapped its second 15‑episode season, delivering each hour for $4‑5 million—a stark contrast to the $7 million‑plus per‑episode costs of legacy prestige shows. By filming on a single Warner Bros. soundstage with handheld cameras and...
Our Idiot President “Can’t Even Surrender Right”
The Bulwark announced a members‑only video mailbag, inviting questions ahead of its next Triad newsletter. The post also revisits Donald Trump’s recent Iran ceasefire, labeling it a "shit sandwich"—the least‑bad outcome of a flawed war decision. The author argues the...
Triad Video Mailbag for April 25
The Bulwark’s Triad channel will release a video Q&A on Friday, April 25, after recording Thursday night. Host JVL invites readers to submit any questions in the post’s comment section, with an up‑vote system to surface the most popular topics....
Will Wins Wars. We’re Forgetting That.
The piece argues that military outcomes hinge on the dynamic interaction of national will and material resources, not merely on troop counts or budgets. Using Ukraine’s resistance to Russia as a primary example, it shows how high morale, leadership legitimacy,...
Bill Kristol: The Tough Guy Really, Really Means It This Time
In this episode, host Tim Miller chats with editor‑at‑large Bill Kristol about three main topics: the upcoming Virginia redistricting referendum and its implications for fair representation, the escalating diplomatic crisis between the United States and Iran amid the ongoing conflict,...
Eliot's Return & Schrodinger's Strait | Shield of the Republic
In this episode of Shield of the Republic, Eric Edelman and strategy veteran Elliot Cohen dissect the unfolding Iran‑U.S. conflict, focusing on President Trump’s decision to impose a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and the strategic missteps that...
‘Lee Cronin’s The Mummy’ Review
Lee Cronin’s reimagining of *The Mummy* blends Egyptian myth with modern horror, following a family’s nightmare after their daughter Katie is abducted and returned disfigured. The film, clocking in at over 130 minutes, leans heavily into graphic child‑centred violence, positioning...
Trump Keeps Trying to Pressure Ukraine. Zelensky Doesn’t Care.
President Donald Trump continues to push a personal peace agenda for the Russia‑Ukraine war, but his leverage with Kyiv has eroded after halting new U.S. military and financial aid. While Ukraine maintains aggressive strikes on Russian oil terminals, the Trump...
A Bittersweet 20th Birthday for Romneycare
Mitt Romney marked the 20th anniversary of Massachusetts’ 2006 health‑care reform, known as Chapter 58 or “Romneycare,” highlighting its dramatic impact on coverage and its bipartisan origins. The law cut the state’s non‑elderly uninsured rate from 13.4% to 5.8% in the...
What a ‘Blockade’ in the Strait of Hormuz Really Means
President Trump announced a limited "blockade" of the Strait of Hormuz, prompting the U.S. Navy to deploy the Arleigh‑Burke destroyers USS Michael Murphy and USS Frank E. Petersen for mine‑clearance operations. The effort relies heavily on allied mine‑countermeasure forces from...