Literally me right now

Dozens of ships anchor outside Iran's ports as US tensions rise Dozens of commercial ships have dropped anchor at a distance outside Iran's port limits in recent days, according to data and shipping sources, as tensions with the United States grow.

Dozens of ships anchor outside Iran's ports as US tensions rise reut.rs/3YFlSEF

Trump fumes after Cuellar pardon doesn't bring party switch Still no sign of a deal on health insurance subsidies

"The final version of the NDAA for 2026 does not change the official name for the Pentagon. If you go through the bill text, there are zero mentions of the ‘Department of War.’ There are 597 mentions in the bill of the ‘Department of Defense.’" jamiedupree.substack.com/p/trump-fume...

US backs Japan in dispute with China over radar incident The United States has for the first time criticised China for aiming radars at Japanese military aircraft during a training exercise last week, an incident over which the Asian neighbours have given d...

Over a month after this all began, a State Dept spokesperson issues a boilerplate statement

www.reuters.com/world/china/...

This book has me in a chokehold! I can’t imagine the time @jeffpearlman.bsky.social
took to research this masterpiece, this has me wishing we had a Tupac in this moment this a timely important necessary read thank you!
@jeffpearlman.bsky.social #tupac #goodreads

Excited to be back in Seoul next week! I will be providing some commentary on panels for these two conferences ….also hoping to catch up with friends while I am there !

James Watson, co-discoverer of the double-helix shape of DNA, has died at age 97 Scientist James Watson, who shared a Nobel prize for helping discover the double-helix shape of the DNA molecule, has died. He was 97.

Watson was a racist who, "near the end of his life, faced condemnation and professional censure for offensive remarks, including saying Black people are less intelligent than white people"

🔴TOMORROW │ The Capital Cable #124

President Trump’s first Asia trip featured meetings with Xi, new trade & peace deals, and renewed alliances with Japan’s PM Takaichi and South Korea’s President Lee.

Watch live: www.csis.org/events/trumps-deals-asia-china-korea-japan-capital-cable-124

Groping of Mexico's president highlights violence against women Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Wednesday that she filed a complaint against a man who groped and tried to kiss her as she greeted members of the public, a day after a video of the incident went viral.

Groping of Mexico's president highlights violence against women reut.rs/4nJcqdF

I am in 🇰🇷 for a few weeks attending/speaking at events, & conducting PhD research. I’m excited to kick off my time with this discussion on MRO and the ROK-US alliance under a second Trump Admin”, next I’ll head to the 🇵🇭 and 🇯🇵looking forward to catching up w/folks at each stop!

Statesmen's Forum: His Excellency Lee Jae Myung, President of the Republic of Korea The CSIS Korea Chair welcomed South Korean President Lee Jae Myung for an address on U.S.-Korea relations following his White House meeting with President Donald J. Trump, marking President Lee's…

"When a path for denuclearization, peace, and coexistence is finally open on the Korean Peninsula, the ROK-U.S. alliance will be upgraded in a global context," said President Lee Jae Myung at the @csis.org Statemen's Forum.

Read more:

China's top trade negotiator to head to US for talks, WSJ reports Senior Chinese negotiator Li Chenggang is heading to Washington this week for trade talks with the United States, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.

China's top trade negotiator to head to US for talks, WSJ reports reut.rs/4lHaIbH

Thanks to a @CSISKoreaChair invite I attended 🇰🇷 Pres Lee’s foreign policy address,some key takeaways for me-🇰🇷will ⬆️ defense spending & take more of a lead in the alliance amid ⬆️🇰🇵 nuclear threats; & amid concerns the ROK will seek nukes Lee reaffirmed the ROK NPT commitment #Korea

LIVE: Japan marks 80th anniversary of World War Two surrender | REUTERS YouTube video by Reuters

LIVE: Japan marks 80th anniversary of World War Two surrender

Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speak at a ceremony at Tokyo’s Nippon Budokan arena to mark the 80th anniversary of Japan's World War Two surrender.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFGT...

South Korea's Lee to restore pact halting military activity on North Korean border South Korea intends to restore a pact to suspend military activity along its border with North Korea, President Lee Jae Myung said on Friday, as his government seeks to improve ties between the neighbouring countries still technically at war.

www.reuters.com/world/asia-p...

8/18 9:30 AM ET | SAVE THE DATE: Join us for a special Impossible State podcast hosted by @victordcha.bsky.social with @sydseiler.bsky.social and William Reinsch, previewing the upcoming U.S.–Korea summit.

What’s on the agenda for Lee and Trump? Register: www.csis.org/events/impos...

Explainer: How much is North Korea making from Russia? One of the most significant geopolitical changes that we have seen in Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula as a result of Russia's war in Ukraine has been the burgeoning relationship between North Korea and Russia. CSIS Victor Cha explains what North Korean leader Kim Jong-un may be giving to Vladimir Putin and Russia, and why the North Korea-Russia relationship has become a threat like no other. 전략국제문제연구소 (CSIS) 빅터 차 한국석좌는 북한 김정은 국무위원장이 푸틴 대통령 그리고 러시아에게 무엇을 제공하고 있는지 설명하고, 북러관계가 그 어떤 위협과도 다른 심각한 문제로 부상한 이유에 대해 분석합니다. Visit our Beyond Parallel website for the North Korea-Russia timeline: https://beyondparallel.csis.org/timeline-of-north-korea-russia-cooperation-since-2022/ Note: Our estimates of what North Korea may have earned from giving ammunitions, artillery, missiles, soldiers and workers is based on high estimates of 9 to 12 million rounds of ammunitions, 15,000 to 30,000 soldiers, 15,000 to 21,000 workers, and hundreds of artillery and missiles. #kimjongun #korea #vladimirputin #northkorea #russia #russiaukrainewar #ukraine #ukrainewar #владимирпутин #КімЧенИн #金正恩 #朝鮮 #普丁 #북한 #조선 #김정은 --------------------------------------------- A nonpartisan institution, CSIS is the top national security think tank in the world. Visit www.csis.org to find more of our work as we bring bipartisan solutions to the world's greatest challenges. Want to see more videos and virtual events? Subscribe to this channel and turn on notifications: https://cs.is/2dCfTve Follow CSIS on: • Twitter: www.twitter.com/csis • Facebook: www.facebook.com/CSIS.org • Instagram: www.instagram.com/csis/

What is Kim Jong-un giving to Russia?

In less than 10 mins, @csis.org @victordcha.bsky.social explains what North Korea might be providing to Putin, how much money they might be earning, and what this means for Asia.

Why is this a threat like no other?

North Korean man crosses into South in second defection of the summer A North Korean man swam across the maritime border near South Korea’s Gyodong Island late last month, marking the second apparent defection under President Lee Jae-myung’s administration, according to Seoul’s defense ministry on Thursday. Seoul’s Ministry of National Defense told NK News it identified a North Korean individual around the neutral zone of the Han […]

ICYMI:

China wants US to relax AI chip-export controls for trade deal, FT reports China wants the United States to ease export controls on chips critical for artificial intelligence as part of a trade deal before a possible summit between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, the Financial Times reported on Sunday.

China wants US to relax AI chip-export controls for trade deal, FT reports reut.rs/4my58sG

USFK chief says alliance strength lies in capability, not numbers as troop-cuts talk looms PYEONGTAEK, Gyeonggi Province — The highest-ranking military officer of United States forces stationed in South Korea emphasized the capability of the South Ko

Agreed - m.koreaherald.com/article/1055...

Iran to hold nuclear talks with European powers on Friday Iran, Britain, France and Germany will hold nuclear talks in Istanbul on Friday, an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said early on Monday, following warnings by the three European countries that failure to resume negotiations would lead to international sanctions being reimposed on Iran.

Iran to hold nuclear talks with European powers on Friday reut.rs/46kIZtb

Japan’s ruling party projected to lose majority in upper house of parliament The LDP’s election loss would be another blow to Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who has been struggling to close a trade deal with the Trump administration.

Japan’s ruling coalition was projected Sunday to lose its majority in the upper house of parliament, a potentially devastating defeat that could threaten the prime minister’s political future. We’re still watching the results and will update when it’s called.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...

Spencer Ackerman’s New York State of Mind: Peace, Populism, and Zohran Mamdani | Ep. 250 Award-winning journalist, author, and lifelong New Yorker Spencer Ackerman joins the show to talk about the world from a New York point of view:

Great listen this morning on Un-Diplomatic Pod with @vanjackson.bsky.social and @attackerman.bsky.social talking Mamdani, Trump, and what it all means for U.S. foreign policy.

www.un-diplomatic.com/p/spencer-ac...

I had the most wonderful flight home from Denver. I met the nicest young man who sat next to me. He offered to put my bag in the overhead compartment and helped me with my tray. He was always polite, saying "yes ma’am" or "no ma’am." Anyone would be proud to have him as a son or grandson—so polite. People walking by were saying congratulations, great job, or even taking pictures. I turned and asked him, “Who am I sitting next to?” I looked at his Jaguar pants, smiled, and asked, “Are you an athlete?” He smiled and said, “I’m Travis. Yes, I was drafted by the Jags.” I already told my sons I want his jersey. He’s so humble and down-to-earth—I would have never guessed he was a professional athlete. JACKSONVILLE JAGS, you did good! I will be buying tickets. United Airlines, thank you for my seat assignment!

This is too wholesome

South Koreans’ support for liberal Lee Jae-myung rises ahead of election The latest Gallup Poll released Friday showed that the left-leaning Lee’s support has risen to 37%, up 3 percentage points from last week’s survey.

Support for South Korea’s presidential race front-runner Lee Jae-myung has risen to a three-month high as he extends his lead over conservative rival — a sign his Democratic Party could grab power in elections on June 3. www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/04...

As the impeachment case against Yoon Suk Yeol is coming to a close, protests are becoming bigger— on both sides. People have flocked to Gyeongbokgung after work to call for Yoon’s removal.

Having a hard time keeping track of what’s happened in South Korea since Yoon declared martial law on December 3rd? Here’s my timeline, which highlights key events ⬇️

South Korean President Yoon indicted for insurrection, report says The decision came after anti-corruption investigators last week recommended Yoon be formally charged over his short-lived imposition of martial law on Dec. 3.

South Korea's prosecutors indicted suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol on Sunday on charges of leading an insurrection with his short-lived imposition of martial law on Dec. 3, a report said.

Yoon Suk Yeol is now the first ever sitting President in South Korea to have been 1) arrested, 2) detained and now 3) indicted for leading an insurrection with his short-lived martial law on Dec. 3.