The Water's Edge | Council on Foreign Relations

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The south portico of the White House with clouds approaching. Tim Evanson/Reuters

Transition 2025: Donald Trump Builds His National Security Team

by James M. Lindsay November 15, 2024

Each Friday, I examine what is happening with President-elect Donald Trump’s transition to the White House. This week: Trump’s choices for senior positions on his national security team prize loyalty over qualifications and worldview.

Featured

United States

Election 2024: How to Respond to the Axis of Autocracies

Each Friday, I look at what the presidential contenders are saying about foreign policy. This week: Increased cooperation among China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea will present the next president with tough choices.

Blog Post by James M. Lindsay October 25, 2024 The Water's Edge

United States

Election 2024: Is the United States Ready to Confront the Axis of Autocracies?

Each Friday, I look at what the presidential contenders are saying about foreign policy. This week: Rising cooperation among China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea will likely test whoever takes office on Inauguration Day.

Blog Post by James M. Lindsay October 18, 2024 The Water's Edge

Global

The President's Inbox Episodes by Topic

A comprehensive list of each episode of The President's Inbox organized by topic.

Blog Post by James M. Lindsay March 4, 2021 The Water's Edge

U.S. Foreign Policy

TWE Book and Film Recommendations

Looking for something to read or watch? Here is a list of all the books and films recommended on The Water’s Edge.

Blog Post by James M. Lindsay November 10, 2021 The Water's Edge

United States

TWE History-Related Blogs and Videos

A list of all blog posts and videos reflecting on historical events from The Water's Edge.

Blog Post by James M. Lindsay December 1, 2021 The Water's Edge

United States

TWE Remembers: Learning More About the Cuban Missile Crisis

The Cuban missile crisis brought the United States and the Soviet Union closer to nuclear war than any other event during the Cold War. President John F. Kennedy put the odds of war at “somewhere bet…

Blog Post by James M. Lindsay October 16, 2012 The Water's Edge

United States

The History of the Cold War in 40 Quotes

On Monday, I posted my nominees for ten Cold War histories worth reading. But many people don’t have the time or patience to plow through comprehensive histories. So for TWE readers looking to save t…

Blog Post by James M. Lindsay November 7, 2014 The Water's Edge

Vietnam

The Vietnam War in Forty Quotes

Last month, I did a series of posts commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the arrival of U.S. combat troops in Vietnam on March 8, 1965. Today marks another significant date in the Vietnam War: t…

Blog Post by James M. Lindsay April 30, 2015 The Water's Edge

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Regions

United States

TWE Remembers: The Bricker Amendment

In 1954, the Senate nearly passed a constitutional amendment to curtail the president’s authority to make international agreements. President Dwight D. Eisenhower avoided a major foreign policy loss thanks to an unusual ally.

Blog Post by James M. Lindsay February 26, 2022 The Water's Edge

United States

TWE Celebrates Presidents’ Day

TWE’s annual essay about the United States’ commanders-in-chief.

Blog Post by James M. Lindsay February 21, 2022 The Water's Edge

United States

A Presidents’ Day Quiz

The eleventh annual TWE Presidents' Day quiz.

Blog Post by James M. Lindsay February 18, 2022 The Water's Edge

2021 in Review

Five Good Foreign Policy News Stories in 2021

As 2021 comes to a close, here are five positive stories on the foreign policy front that happened in the past year.