While the ladies of Bombshell will talk with just about anyone, should the U.S. government? Bombshell dives into President Trump's proclivity for theatrical political summits with adversaries, following up on current efforts in Afghanistan, North Korea, and Iran.  Radha introduces a new segment on trade: It's Aghast!  And the National Defense Authorization Act is a 2500 page gold mine of wonky policy fun. 

 

Keeping up Foreign Relations

North Korea

• "North Korea continuing nuclear programme - UN report," BBC News
• Ellen Nakashima and Joby Warrick, "U.S. spy agencies: North Korea is working on new missiles," Washington Post
• Uri Friedman, "Two Ways to Read the Newest Intelligence on North Korea," Atlantic

Pakistan Elections

• Colin Cookman, "A Tilted Playing Field: What Pakistan's Electoral Shifts Could Mean for Imran Khan's Government," War on the Rocks
• Alyssa Ayres, "Election 2018: So Far, No Cause for Celebration," Council on Foreign Relations

Afghanistan Strategy

• Thomas Gibbons-Neff and Helene Cooper, "Newest U.S. Strategy in Afghanistan Mirrors Past Plans for Retreat," New York Times
• Spencer Ackerman, "Inside the Secret Taliban Talks to End America's Longest War," Daily Beast
• Idrees Ali, "Exclusive: After discouraging year, U.S. officials expect review of Afghan Strategy," Reuters

It's Aghast

• Jack Ewing, "Europe Feels the Squeeze of the Trump Trade Tariffs," New York Times
• Shawn Donnan, "Trump's hopes for EU trade deal hampered by agriculture," Financial Times
• Doug Palmer, "US sides with Russia in WTO national security case against Ukraine," Politico

White House Mayhem

NDAA

• Mark Cancian, "What Really Matters In The Defense Authorization Act & What Didn't Get Done," Breaking Defense
• Aaron Mehta and Joe Gould, "Senate moves to empower Pentagon's policy chief as enforcer," Defense News
• Office of Management and Budget, "Follow-on to Statement of Administration Policy," Executive Office of the President
• Leo Shane III and Tara Copp, "Pentagon braces for massive change to officer promotions," Military Times
• Tom Vanden Brook, "Generals and admirals caught in sex scandals could lose clearances under defense funding bill," USA Today

Space Force

• Marcus Weisgerber, "Exclusive: Pentagon To Start Creating Space Force -- Even Before Congress Approves It," Defense One
• Paul Scharre, "The US Military Should Not Be Doubling Down on Space," Defense One