Every political coalition likes to talk about how its opponents are more organized, more ruthless, and better funded. As progressives plot their response to Donald Trump’s mostly successful project to remake the federal courts, they are reviewing the times they’ve been outworked, outfought, and outsmarted on judicial nominations. One not-so-familiar name jumps out: Before Merrick Garland’s stint in purgatory, before Brett Kavanaugh’s furious denial of assault allegations, before Amy Coney Barrett’s eleventh-hour confirmation, there was Goodwin Liu. In 2010, Democrats comfortably controlled both chambers of Congress and the White House. Liu—the son of Taiwanese immigrants, a celebrated academic, the same kind…

Joe Biden is president and the world appears to love America again. At least, that’s what the residents of 16 nations recently polled told us. It’s been a long four years. Donald Trump’s awful reputation dragged down America’s image throughout most of the world. There were exceptions, of course, but most people in most countries disliked and distrusted America’s 45th president. Both his behavior and policies offended. The election of almost anyone else ensured a popularity rebound, bringing the U.S. back up as well. Reported the Pew Research Center: "The election of Joe Biden as president has led to a dramatic shift…

The Taliban’s lightning-fast takeover of Afghanistan in the wake of the US’ full military withdrawal by September 11th presents certain security concerns for India, but the South Asian state only has very limited options for ensuring its relevant interests, none of which credibly involve any conventional military involvement contrary to widespread speculation about this scenario. India is struggling to ensure its security interests in Afghanistan after the Taliban’s lightning-fast takeover of broad swaths of the country in the wake of the US’ full military withdrawal by September 11th. The South Asian state is concerned that the war-torn nation might become a training…

The public disagreement between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia this week in the OPEC+ group has shaken international markets given the high stakes involved for a deal supporting a global economic recovery. The UAE opposed the extension and expansion of a supply deal without first increasing its baseline production. Closer to home, the dispute has been touted as another crack in the Saudi-UAE strategic partnership after the 2011 Arab uprisings, especially since 2015 and the ascension of Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and his son Mohammed bin Salman. However, the unfolding events represent more than a bilateral relationship gone awry. The…

During an appearance on FNC’s “Hannity” on Tuesday, Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX) said President Joe Biden wasn’t inspiring confidence domestically or abroad as president. The freshman lawmaker told host Sean Hannity he thought America’s adversaries were taking advantage of the president’s perceived weaknesses. “Fifty-seven percent, Doctor, think that somebody else is in charge in the White House, including 58% of independents and a third of Democrats think that he’s not making the decisions,” Hannity said. “How does a — how does a country function if the president’s incapable of performing his duties? That’s what the poll says. My personal poll…