Update 5-18-2025

I do not have time to write commentaries. Just recommend good references. 

1. Two weeks ago Australia had an election. Timothy Lynch relates Australia, Canada, and England election with Trump.  Rowan Callick studies whether CCP pressure and other methods had impact on Australia election. (both can find in the shared folder) 

   • Timothy Lynch | Did Trump really help Albanese defeat Libs - 5-16, 2025 - p11

   • Rowan Callick | China uses defence of its diaspora to silence - 5-15, 2025 - p11

2. There are two long interviews. The first one is highly recommended. 

   • *Niall Ferguson | Full Episode 5.16.25 | Firing Line with Margaret Hoover | PBS 

   • Statecraft In An Age of Strongmen | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution (5-17) 

3. The Middle East 

   1. *Trump has left ‘all options’ on the table with Iran: Middle East special envoy (5-17) 

   2. *‘SQUEEZING IRAN’: KT McFarland on Trump’s Middle East playbook (5-17)  

   3. Is There a Split Between Netanyahu and Trump? (5-17) BOR 

   4. Fareed Zakaria explains Trump’s ‘natural affinity’ toward Middle East leaders (5-17)  

   5. *Playing Chicken With China, Trump Goes Gulf-ing, Tensions In South Asia (5-16)

   6. *What Douglas Murray Saw When He Actually Went to Gaza (5-15) 

   7. 'FRESH START': Trump to lift sanctions on Syria (5-15) 

   8. This is 'game changer' for the Arab countries in the Middle East': Retired four-star general (5-14)

4. Ukraine War

   • ‘Stage is set’ for Trump-Putin meeting, says national security analyst (5-18)  

   • Robert Gates says he isn't sure you can judge Putin's intentions in face-to-face meeting (5-17) 

   • Whitaker highlights this ‘huge step’ towards peace between Ukraine, Russia (5-15) 

   • Fareed Zakaria explains Trump’s ‘natural affinity’ toward Middle East leaders (5-17)  

   • Trump indicates he’s meeting with Putin as soon as it can be set up (5-17) Victoria Coates

5. WSJ 5-14 How Chronic Disease Became the Biggest Scourge in American Health (in the shared folder)