playMel Kiper Jr.'s top players to watch for the 2026 NFL draft (1:45)Mel Kiper Jr breaks down his top prospects to watch for the 2026 NFL draft including Penn State quarterback Drew Allar One week after agreeing to a deal to lure the Washington Commanders back into the city the District of Columbia received more good news -- it will host the 2027 NFL draft President Donald Trump made the announcement Monday at the White House in a news conference attended by Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Commanders owner Josh Harris Goodell said he expects more than one million visitors to attend the three-day draft which is expected to be held on the National Mall which will be held in Pittsburgh next year Green Bay attracted more than 600,000 fans for the three-day event last month Detroit established a record attendance with 750,000 in 2024 Washington hosting the draft for the first time continues the momentum for the city and franchise floundering under previous owner Dan Snyder have transformed themselves under majority owner Josh Harris He bought the team in July 2023 and watched the franchise go from 4-13 in his first year to 12-5 and the NFC Championship Game this past season under first-year general manager Adam Peters and coach Dan Quinn Also, quarterback Jayden Daniels became one of the league's most dynamic players as a rookie Washington announced a deal April 28 that would bring the organization back to the stadium site it called home from 1961 to 1996 The nearly $4 billion deal for a new stadium -- with the Commanders footing $2.7 billion -- still must be approved by the D.C Multiple sources familiar with the situation have expressed optimism that the deal will be approved but some have said it will take more work to get the seven votes necessary NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said a new stadium would "dramatically" increase the district's odds of eventually hosting a Super Bowl "I really do think this community could be a great host for a Super Bowl," Goodell said "The [new] stadium is always the missing piece." The ultimate reality show is heading to a city that Axios.com reports that the 2027 will be hosted by Washington, D.C. The current plan is to conduct the event on the National Mall The official announcement will be made on Monday by President Trump and Commanders owner Josh Harris The development comes on the heels of the announcement of an agreement between the team mayor Muriel Bowser to build a new facility at the site of RFK Stadium the people) will have to decide whether to approve the deal A Division of NBCUniversal. DISCLAIMER: This site and the products offered are for entertainment purposes only, and there is no gambling offered on this site. This service is intended for adult audiences. No guarantees are made for any specific outcome. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please call 1-800-GAMBLER. Sedrick T. Stevenson, 28, broke free from agents and escaped on a light rail train Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. broke free from agents and escaped on a light rail train I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A manhunt is underway for an inmate who escaped custody at Seattle–Tacoma International Airport on Sunday Sedrick T. Stevenson, 28, was being transported to Bowling Green, Kentucky when he broke free from the contracted agent Stevenson and the agent were in the middle of the check-in process at the airport around 11 a.m when the inmate fled the ticket counter and boarded a northbound light rail train Sound Transit security footage reviewed by police confirmed that Stevenson had boarded the light rail train which departed the Capitol Hill station heading north A photo provided by the Port of Seattle Police shows Stevenson's hands cuffed in front of him which was captured on security footage after his escape Court records reveal Stevenson has a lengthy criminal history, including convictions in Tennessee for facilitating armed robberies He is wanted on warrants in Kentucky including second-degree escape. The Seattle Times reports that in 2022 Stevenson led police on a 100mph car chase when he was facing charges including driving on a suspended license and illegally possessing a firearm. Authorities urge anyone who sees him to call 911. govt and politics"},{"score":0.739348,"label":"/law Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker 2025 — The NFL today announced that the 2027 NFL Draft presented by Bud Light will take place in Washington uniting fans from around the world to celebrate one of the most- anticipated events in sports Hosted in partnership with Washington Commanders and the local organizing committee the 2027 NFL Draft will take place across the District's most iconic landmarks including the National Mall and Pennsylvania Avenue placing the capital at the center of America's most celebrated sport The announcement was made today in the Oval Office with President Donald J uniting fans across the country and around the world," said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell "We are excited to bring the 2027 Draft to Washington and Mayor Bowser we're looking forward to delivering an unforgettable experience as we celebrate the next generation of NFL stars." the Draft Concert Series and the NFL Draft Experience – the ultimate free fan festival that invites fans to participate in immersive exhibits challenge their skills in interactive games take photos with the Vince Lombardi Trophy; enjoy the youth-focused Play 60 Zone; shop exclusive NFL merchandise; and score autographs from current players and Legends "The NFL Draft is one of the biggest moments in sports—and we're incredibly proud to help bring it to Washington "It will bring hundreds of thousands of visitors and meaningful economic impact across the city The Draft is a powerful reminder of how sports bring people together – and we're honored to play a role in that Since we started this journey less than two years ago Thank you to President Trump for your leadership and to Commissioner Roger Goodell for your support in bringing the Draft back to the nation's capital We look forward to welcoming the football world to Washington in 2027 and I can't wait to see what the future brings." "This is a historic occasion for Washington and we are absolutely honored to host the 2027 NFL Draft," said Events DC President and CEO Angie M "The NFL Draft will provide football fans with an unforgettable experience while showcasing all that makes Washington DC a world-class destination and the Sports Capital We look forward to working with our partners and community to deliver a world-class event that reflects the dynamic spirit of our city." the NFL Draft has continued to grow as one of the most-watched events in sports with over 3.5 million fans attending festivities in person The 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit attracted a record-breaking 775,000 fans more than 600,000 fans attended the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay matching Nashville's record in 2019 for the second-highest attendance in Draft history Robinson's rushing earned him spots in the Alabama record books A morning roundup of content from the Washington Commanders on Monday The Washington Commanders' roster is full of new faces for the upcoming 2025 season which means it's time to assign new jersey numbers The Commanders rounded out their draft class by taking Jacory Croskey-Merritt Here are five things to know about the newest member of the backfield Credit: vasa / Alamy.Subscribe“While we remain committed to protecting minors and all vulnerable people from abuse priests cannot comply with this law if the knowledge of abuse is obtained during the Sacrament of Reconciliation,” said Archbishop Paul Etienne of Seattle in a May 4 statement “Catholic clergy may not violate the seal of confession – or they will be excommunicated from the Church,” he stressed “All Catholics must know and be assured that their confessions remain sacred confidential and protected by the law of the Church.” Robert Ferguson signed a law making clergy members mandated reporters who are required to report suspected child abuse The law does not allow for an exemption if knowledge of the suspected abuse arises through the sacrament of confession priests may not divulge anything revealed in the sacrament of confession “The sacramental seal is inviolable; therefore it is a crime for a confessor in any way to betray a penitent by word or in any other manner or for any reason … A confessor who directly violates the seal of confession incurs an automatic (latae sententiae) excommunication reserved to the Apostolic See.” Etienne argued that the new law violates both canon law and First Amendment protections of religious freedom “This new law singles out religion and is clearly both government overreach and a double standard The line between Church and state has been crossed and needs to be walked back,” he said Share The new legislation was approved by a vote of 64-31 in the House and 28-20 in the Senate Several earlier attempts to pass similar legislation had failed in the state of Washington due to concerns over religious freedom regarding the failure to exempt information learned in the confessional noted that he has been to confession himself and that he has an uncle who was a Jesuit priest he said he believes the legislation is important to protect children Etienne stressed that “[t]he Catholic Church agrees with the goal of protecting children and preventing child abuse.” “The Archdiocese of Seattle remains committed to reporting child sexual abuse working with victim survivors toward healing and protecting all minors and vulnerable people Our policies already require priests to be mandatory reporters but not if this information is obtained during confession,” he said The archbishop said the new law should alarm all people “What else may the state now demand the right to know?” he said suggesting the precedent could threaten other forms of privileged communication – such as that between doctors and their patients He also noted that the bishops of Washington had requested a meeting with Ferguson to discuss their concerns but said the governor did not respond to their request Leave a comment Bishop Thomas Daly of Spokane also spoke up in a statement on the new legislation, in which he stressed that Catholic bishops and priests are prepared to face jail rather than violate the sacramental seal. Daly said the diocese has “solid protocols and procedures” on the safety of minors. “The Diocese of Spokane maintains an entire department at the Chancery, the Office of Child and Youth protection, staffed by professional laypeople. We have a zero-tolerance policy regarding child sexual abuse.” At the same time, he said, “The Sacrament of Penance is sacred and will remain that way.” Many U.S. states include clergy members among mandatory reporters, but nearly all other states exempt information revealed in confession. In 2016, the Louisiana Supreme Court ruled that priests could not be forced by law to violate the seal of confession in order to report alleged abuse. ReplyShare30 more comments...LatestNo posts Catholic priests cannot follow a new Washington state law that requires them to violate the seal of confession if abuse of minors is suspected, two bishops in the state reiterated this week. Credit: vasa / Alamy.Subscribe now \u201CWhile we remain committed to protecting minors and all vulnerable people from abuse priests cannot comply with this law if the knowledge of abuse is obtained during the Sacrament of Reconciliation,\u201D said Archbishop Paul Etienne of Seattle in a May 4 statement \u201CCatholic clergy may not violate the seal of confession \u2013 or they will be excommunicated from the Church,\u201D he stressed \u201CAll Catholics must know and be assured that their confessions remain sacred confidential and protected by the law of the Church.\u201D \u201CThe sacramental seal is inviolable; therefore it is a crime for a confessor in any way to betray a penitent by word or in any other manner or for any reason \u2026 A confessor who directly violates the seal of confession incurs an automatic (latae sententiae) excommunication reserved to the Apostolic See.\u201D \u201CThis new law singles out religion and is clearly both government overreach and a double standard The line between Church and state has been crossed and needs to be walked back,\u201D he said Share Etienne stressed that \u201C[t]he Catholic Church agrees with the goal of protecting children and preventing child abuse.\u201D \u201CThe Archdiocese of Seattle remains committed to reporting child sexual abuse but not if this information is obtained during confession,\u201D he said \u201CWhat else may the state now demand the right to know?\u201D he said suggesting the precedent could threaten other forms of privileged communication \u2013 such as that between doctors and their patients Leave a comment Bishop Thomas Daly of Spokane also spoke up in a statement on the new legislation in which he stressed that Catholic bishops and priests are prepared to face jail rather than violate the sacramental seal Daly said the diocese has \u201Csolid protocols and procedures\u201D on the safety of minors \u201CThe Diocese of Spokane maintains an entire department at the Chancery We have a zero-tolerance policy regarding child sexual abuse.\u201D \u201CThe Sacrament of Penance is sacred and will remain that way.\u201D states include clergy members among mandatory reporters but nearly all other states exempt information revealed in confession the Louisiana Supreme Court ruled that priests could not be forced by law to violate the seal of confession in order to report alleged abuse Subscribe now The US appeared ready to expand its support for Ukraine amid signs of growing frustration with Moscow in Washington Signs of a possible pivot came after Washington agreed a minerals deal with Kyiv that a Reuters columnist noted was “heavy on symbolism.” Though the Trump administration has pushed a rapprochement with Moscow since coming into office the president has voiced anger in recent weeks with his Russian counterpart with Ukraine arguing the Kremlin is slow-walking US-mediated peace negotiations Sign up for Semafor .css-w8sqnb{text-transform:capitalize;}flagship and stream on Apple TV+ starting on Friday Highest 2 Lowest will mark Spike Lee’s first feature film since 2020’s Da 5 Bloods. It’s also Lee’s first film to star Denzel Washington since 2006’s Inside Man. With Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Washington President Donald Trump announced Monday that the nation’s capital will host the 2027 NFL Draft Trump said the draft will happen on the National Mall it’s going to be something that nobody else will ever be able to duplicate,” Trump said in a news conference in the Oval Office The NFL Draft is coming to the nation's capital See you in 2027! pic.twitter.com/C9A17b9OOd — Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 5, 2025 The draft news comes a week after Bowser announced the Commanders’ plan to build a new stadium in the city at the site of the former RFK Stadium That deal still needs approval from the D.C The 65,000-seat facility is expected to cost $260 million Goodell said having Trump announce the draft location was a “special treat.” “We believe we will have well over a million (attendees) when we come to D.C.,” Goodell said The NFL Draft has become big business for host cities. An estimated 600,000 fans attended this year’s three-day event in Green Bay for the second-highest turnout since the draft began rotating locations in 2015 had expected about 250,000 people to attend “We believe in investing in sports because they have helped us transform neighborhoods and the NFL bringing this event to the nation’s capital will help us fill hotel rooms (and) our restaurants,” Bowser said The announcement Monday was the latest sign that Trump’s relationship with the NFL has evolved Harris presented Trump with a football and a Commanders jersey with the number 47 Trump became the first sitting U.S. president to attend the Super Bowl in February, and last week, he hosted the Philadelphia Eagles at the White House to celebrate their win in that game played golf with Trump in late April at the president’s Bedminster It was a sharp contrast with eight years ago when Trump canceled the traditional White House trip after the Eagles won the Super Bowl in 2017 Many Philadelphia players had said before the cancellation that they would not attend the White House gathering regardless of whether it happened Trump drew divided responses from figures across pro football and other sports earlier that year when he denounced athletes for kneeling during the national anthem as a civil rights protest “Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, ‘Get that son of a b— off the field right now. Out! He’s fired. He’s fired!’” Trump said during a 2017 rally in Alabama he made several attempts to buy his way into the NFL He looked into purchasing teams such as the Baltimore Colts the New England Patriots and the Buffalo Bills Trump eventually joined the upstart United States Football League by purchasing the New Jersey Generals in 1984 the USFL initially avoided a head-on conflict with the NFL by playing during its offseason But the USFL moved its 1986 schedule into the fall after its first two seasons soon launched an antitrust lawsuit against the NFL arguing it was trying to block competition The USFL received a $3.76 settlement and shut down before the 1986 season Trump has regularly used sports to raise his public profile His casinos hosted numerous boxing and professional wrestling events throughout the 1980s and 90s Trump promoted a UFC fight when the company was struggling to find large venues Trump has made multiple appearances at UFC events developing a public friendship with CEO Dana White who campaigned for him during both of his presidential runs UFC commentator Joe Rogan interviewed Trump on his podcast ahead of the 2024 election a move analysts said may have bolstered his support among young men Trump also made multiple appearances at collegiate sporting events before and after the 2024 election including a Georgia-Alabama football game in September and the NCAA wrestling championships in March On Monday, he also said he worked “very hard” to bring the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics to the U.S During Monday’s news conference, Goodell thanked Trump for his efforts during his first term to allow Canada to air Canadian ads during Super Bowl broadcasts. Starting in 2017, Super Bowl broadcasts in that country had to include the same ads that ran in the U.S. That policy prevented the sale of additional, more local advertising across the border. The NFL contended the rule made its programming seem less lucrative for Canadian broadcasters, depriving it of additional revenue. Canada’s Supreme Court approved the change in 2019. “Canada does not like me too much,” Trump said with a chuckle. “They gave a great American company a lot of money that you deserved, frankly.” The president also complimented early renderings of the Commanders’ proposed stadium. “It’s going to be top of the line. I know these people very well, and they only know top of the line,” Trump said. “I would say more will be put into this stadium than would be put into an identical stadium of a similar size … because of the importance of the location, I have no doubt they will do a special job.” — The Athletic’s David Aldridge contributed to this report. indispensable guide to what Trump’s second term means for Washington follow the latest on tariffs and executive orders Stay on top of the latest events in US politics with the FT’s trusted and impartial coverage Insight and analysis on US politics from commentators such as Ed Luce and James Politi This subscription does not include access to ft.com or the FT App Essential digital access to quality FT journalism on any device Complete digital access to quality FT journalism with expert analysis from industry leaders Terms & Conditions apply Discover all the plans currently available in your country See why over a million readers pay to read the Financial Times Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy speaks during a news conference at the Department of Transportation in Washington Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Friday that it is “unacceptable” that two commercial aircraft had to abort landings at a Washington airport this week because of an Army Black Hawk helicopter that was flying to the Pentagon In addition to the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration investigating what happened Thursday afternoon at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Duffy said he plans to talk to the Department of Defense to determine why rules were “disregarded.” “Safety must ALWAYS come first,” Duffy said on the social platform X No more helicopter rides for VIPs or unnecessary training in a congested DCA airspace full of civilians Take a taxi or Uber — besides most VIPs have black car service.” Thursday’s incident involved a Delta Air Lines Airbus A319 and a Republic Airways Embraer E170 by air traffic control to “perform go-arounds” because of a “priority air transport” helicopter according to an emailed statement from the FAA The aircraft were not within the restricted mixed traffic area of Reagan National the FAA told members of Congress in a separate memo seen by The Associated Press The agency also said it appeared the helicopter “took a scenic route around the Pentagon” and didn’t fly directly to the heliport Victoria Goldfedib said in a statement that the UH-60 Blackhawk was following published FAA flight routes and air traffic control from Reagan National when it was “directed by Pentagon Air Traffic Control to conduct a ‘go-around,’ overflying the Pentagon helipad in accordance with approved flight procedures.” As a result the other aircraft were given go-around instructions by air traffic control “to ensure the appropriate deconfliction of airspace,” Goldfedib said “The United States Army remains committed to aviation safety and conducting flight operations within all approved guidelines and procedures,” she added said that the safety of their customers and all people is most important and that they’ll “cooperate with authorities as they investigate.” Republic Airways said in a statement that it is also cooperating with the investigations The closure of the helicopter route near the airport makes permanent the restrictions put in place after the Jan The FAA order includes a few exceptions for helicopter use including presidential flights along with law enforcement and lifesaving missions said on X that Thursday’s incident showcased the danger that can come with Army helicopters flying close to the airport “Thank God there was a decisive response from air traffic controllers and pilots or else these two close calls could have resulted in the loss of hundreds of lives,” he said said the helicopter came from the same Army brigade involved in the January crash and took place less than a week after the brigade resumed flights in the area around the capital “It is far past time” for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the FAA to “give our airspace the security and safety attention it deserves,” she said launches Lowell & Associates with lawyers who quit over Trump orders A prominent lawyer in Washington who defended Hunter Biden against criminal charges has launched a new law firm to represent former government officials and others targeted by the Trump administration which will defend clients including individuals institutions and others that are “facing politicized investigations The new firm also includes two former lawyers at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom who quit over its response to Donald Trump’s executive orders targeting the legal profession. which restricted their business over the president’s claims that they had “weaponized” the legal system against him or his allies said there is a need for attorneys “willing to stand up to the government when it oversteps” Two other lawyers are also joining the new firm from Winston & Strawn Lowell is representing the New York attorney general, Letitia James, after the Trump administration referred her to the justice department for allegedly falsifying real estate records The new firm said it was also representing clients fighting the cancellation of grant funding by the so-called “department of government efficiency” and the federal government Lowell represented Hunter Biden, former president Joe Biden’s son, against criminal gun and tax changes before he was pardoned in December. His clients have also included the former US senator Bob Menendez, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner. The establishment of the new firm comes amid a broader effort to mount and sustain legal challenges to the Trump administration. Read moreThere are more than 200 lawsuits opposing key Trump policy initiatives including efforts to curtail transgender and immigrant rights which has filed more than 50 legal actions since the election a former partner at Mayer Brown and a top attorney in the Biden-era justice department Netter said in a statement that he was joining the organization during “what may be the most consequential moment in the history of the US courts” WASHINGTON ― The 2027 NFL Draft will be held in Washington D.C. on the National Mall, President Donald Trump announced Monday from the Oval Office predicting it will be a draft like no other Trump revealed the news alongside NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris and Washington D.C It's going to be something that nobody else will ever be able to duplicate," Trump said The 2027 draft announcement comes one week after the Commanders revealed intentions to build a new stadium on the old RFK stadium site Plans for the 65,000-seat venue still requires the approval of the District of Columbia city council it will be something that will show the world how far the nation's capital has come and where it's going," Goodell said Since returning to the White House for a second term, Trump has made reducing crime and homelessness in Washington a focus of his administration to showcase the nation's capital is flanked by the the Washington Monument and U.S creating opportunities for dramatic visuals behind the draft stage "Everyone in the world is going to be watching," Trump said "We look forward to welcoming people from across the nation which was held over the course of three days on April 24-26 "Bringing this event to the nation's capital will help us fill hotel rooms and Americans from all 50 states will come to their nation's capital and enjoy our beautiful city and museums," Bowser said Hosting the NFL draft continues the Commanders' momentum after Harris bought the team in 2023 from longtime owner Daniel Snyder Washington made the NFC Championship game last year appears to have found its franchise quarterback in Jayden Daniels and secured a long-coveted stadium deal to return the team from Maryland to the District of Columbia who commended the owner for completing a "good draft" last week and praised the team's "great quarterback." "What a great day for Washington to host the NFL draft in 2027 on the mall," Harris said "I believe we'll get over a million people And it'll showcase what Washington's all about But it will also showcase what our country's all about." All the NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY's 4th and Monday newsletter Dmitri Alperovitch, World on the Brink: How America Can Beat China in the Race for the Twenty-First Century (PublicAffairs Visit the home of any D.C. foreign policy watcher and you will be sure to find bookshelves groaning under the weight of new China tomes. Every issue of Foreign Affairs, the in-house journal of Washington’s foreign policy establishment, is packed with articles about China. We are routinely told that in a city more deeply divided by ideology and party affiliation than at any time since the Civil War China is the one issue that brings the warring tribes together Yet from the outside (the writer is based in Australia) and the apparent political unity on the China question looks like it is built on weak foundations This is not a reference to policy differences among the tribes it is a comment on the gulf separating Washington from the rest of the United States the lack of it — suggests Americans are far less preoccupied with China than those who govern them America’s China debate is largely confined to its policy elites, among them Dmitri Alperovitch, who has written World on the Brink: How America Can Beat China in the Race for the Twenty-First Century. Alperovitch, a Russian émigré, is co-founder of the tech security firm CrowdStrike and now a Washington policy entrepreneur who in 2020 launched the Silverado Policy Accelerator “The only foreign policy goal in the twenty- first century that really should matter,” he writes is avoiding “hot conflict with China while ensuring our country remains dominant on the global stage.” Except as in much of the China commentary emerging from Washington the tension between them is never resolved because confronting this tension would require choices that Washington’s elites prefer not to make since they know they have yet to recruit the American people to their cause Politics is another big point of difference between the two cold wars: U.S. President Harry Truman attempted to recruit his people to the cause of anti-communism from the start, in a nationally broadcast speech to Congress in 1947 in which he declared that containing Soviet-led communism would henceforth be the nation’s defining mission President Joe Biden made an early attempt to frame America’s China relationship as part of a larger ideological contest between democracies and autocracies Neither Biden nor any of his contemporaries have spoken to Americans about China as Truman did about Soviet containment even though the economic challenge this time is already much larger this is because China poses no ideological threat since it has no evident ambition to spread Marxism globally Only by pushing outward can China secure its frontiers and break the bonds a punishing environment imposes.” While World on the Brink is commendably focused on avoiding a calamitous war between the United States and China it gives equal weight to maintaining American dominance over China and doesn’t allow that those objectives might be incompatible it’s not enough for the United States to maintain peace with China — it also has to win That’s a familiar framing for those of us who lived through the Global War on Terror. It even has echoes of a quote attributed to Ronald Reagan: “Here’s my strategy on the Cold War: we win they lose.” It doesn’t escape Alperovitch that China is not al-Qaeda or even that the Cold War with the Soviet Union is the wrong comparison the massive scale of the China challenge doesn’t deter Alperovitch and that can only be secured through dominance That doesn’t mean seeking regime change in Beijing, but it does mean that China needs to be convinced to work “within the existing global order, respecting territorial sovereignty, engaging fairly in global trade, and putting an end to the practice of economic and military coercion of other nations.” Needless to say, the United States routinely exempts itself from such standards and not one afforded to subordinates in the system One suspects Alperovitch would prefer China as a supersized post-World War II Japan or West Germany: an economic giant and a strategic minnow No nation of China’s size will be content to remain indefinitely subordinate to another great power in its own region what America has: a regional sphere of influence The question Americans must ask is whether it is vitally important for their country to deny China this ambition. Must China remain subordinate in a system led by an unrivaled United States? Or can Americans live in a world that sees China and the United States as equals, as envisaged by Singaporean statesman Lee Kuan Yew American leaders will need to be much more open with their citizens about what is required to achieve dominance over China — a truly national effort over generations involving most arms of government and broader society That’s what was needed to win the Cold War what marked American commitment to fighting the Soviet Union was a willingness to make sacrifices and risk a potentially massive human cost to prevent Soviet world domination That resolve is what convinced Moscow that a military assault on Western Europe would ultimately be met by an American nuclear response even if that meant the United States would face retaliation against its own cities Taiwan is the epicenter of the U.S.-Chinese contest — the Berlin of the new cold war Alperovitch lists various reasons why Taiwan’s security is vital for the United States But another long section of the book is devoted to the many reasons why America underestimates its own strength It’s the kind of argument (entirely persuasive to my mind) that is always best made by an immigrant who more clearly sees the greatness in his adopted homeland But it leaves the reader wondering how a country so young and so innovative could be threatened by the loss of a distant island with a population of 23 million people Such a loss would be a tragedy for the Taiwanese people not a big enough loss to consider fighting World War III to prevent it It leaves one wondering if Americans are once again prepared to make the kinds of sacrifices asked of them in the Cold War The gulf between the American public and its elites on the China question and the unwillingness of those elites to try to bridge it suggests that the national resolve needed to fight another cold war is absent this time around Sam Roggeveen is director of the International Security Program at the Lowy Institute, Sydney. He is the author of The Echidna Strategy: Australia’s Search for Power and Peace Image: U.S. Department of State via Wikimedia Commons Signing up for this newsletter means you agree to our data policy Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article Denzel Washington is an American actor known for his engaging and powerful performances. Throughout his career he has been regularly praised by critics, and his consistent success at the box office has helped to dispel the perception that African American actors cannot draw mainstream white audiences Denzel Washington’s feature-film debut was the 1981 comedy Carbon Copy, in which he plays the illegitimate African American son of a white business executive played by George Segal Denzel Washington was born in Mount Vernon, New York, in 1954 and grew up there until age 14, when he was sent to a boarding school by his parents. He later graduated from Fordham University and starred in the first film adaptation of the play Denzel Washington’s acclaimed portrayals of historical figures included his performances as civil rights activist Malcolm X in Malcolm X (1992), anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko in Cry Freedom (1987) drug trafficker Frank Lucas in American Gangster (2007) and Coach Herman Boone in Remember the Titans (2000) Denzel Washington (born December 28, 1954, Mount Vernon, New York U.S.) is an American actor celebrated for his engaging and powerful performances Throughout his career he has been regularly praised by critics and his consistent success at the box office helped to dispel the outdated perception that African American actors could not draw mainstream white audiences Washington won Academy Awards for his work in Glory (1989) and Training Day (2001) He had several successful stage performances in these years for which he shared an Obie Award for distinguished ensemble performance in 1982 Scott writing that Washington is “beyond category: a screen titan who is also a subtle and sensitive craftsman with serious old-school stage training and blazing movie-star presence.” In 2024 Washington portrayed a ruthless weapons dealer and gladiator owner loosely based on the historical figure Macrinus in Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II and he did not officially receive the medal until 2025 Washington married Pauletta Pearson in 1983, and the couple have four children. Their eldest child, John David Washington, is an acclaimed actor who notably starred in BlacKkKlansman (2018) Silicon Valley titans concluded they need to lobby like Lockheed Today, there are only three global naval powers: the United States, China, and Russia able occasionally to deploy further afield If Donald Trump wants European states to look after their own collective security Britain might be better off keeping its handful of ships in the Atlantic although still able to inflict severe damage on Ukraine few people talk about the real Russian naval capacity to challenge Western dominance how this will increasingly come up against U.S That is an incredible message to our adversaries It is an incredible show of unity to our allies and our commitment to NATO.” almost half of Britain’s fighting ships embarked from Portsmouth and Devonport to much fanfare “the world’s most advanced air defense destroyer,” has been in the dry dock since 2017 I’ve just finished reading “The Royal and Russian Navies, Cooperation, Competition and Confrontation,”written by Britain’s former Naval Attache to Moscow retired Principal Lecturer at the Defence Centre for Languages & Culture at the UK’s Defence Academy The authors argue that while we have focused most of our attention on Russia’s army in Ukraine And thinking about Russia as a relic of its Cold War self is a huge mistake laboring under sanctions and the tight fiscal constraints of the war in Ukraine Russia’s naval yards have built new vessels non-stop for the past decade Russia has taken delivery of 27 submarines Many more are under construction and will arrive by the end of this decade The Royal Navy, on the other hand, has continued to shrink in the teeth of defense cuts, and each new efficiency drive makes it smaller. The two Albion-class landing vessels and negotiations about their sale to Brazil are at an advanced stage The increase in defense spending to 2.5% of GDP will mostly be swallowed by the MoD’s bloated procurement programs that are typically delayed and always over budget It will not produce a rapid conveyor belt of ship-building that has seen Russia overtake Britain at a rapid pace since the Ukraine crisis started The book also underlines the importance of dialogue as a key component of deterrence and reminds the reader of the significant naval cooperation that took place between the two navies after the Cold War When HMS Battleaxe sailed into Baltiysk in 1992 the first Royal Navy ship visit to modern-day Russia it discovered the remnants of the Soviet Navy The Russian Navy had become the main beneficiary of Russia’s state armament program and a Russian admiral was saying the UK’s decision to give up the Nimrod Maritime Patrol Aircraft in 2010 made his “life easier.” practically all direct engagement between the Royal and Russian navies was cut at the instigation of the UK government the UK and Russia have no serving military attachés in their respective embassies in London and Moscow for the first time since 1941 Our modern generation of seafarers are now only able to view Russians through binoculars Britain has literally watched a modernizing Russian navy sail off into a distant horizon as we’ve criticized Russia from an ivory conning tower From his ridiculous photo op on the deck of HMS The Prince of Wales, it’s not clear that Keir Starmer has understood that the world now contains just three global naval powers: the United States of America Russian naval ambitions have now grown in the High North (Arctic) and in the Pacific While Britain’s modest Carrier Strike Group steams east, Russia has already been active in joint naval exercises with China and Iran as well as ship visits to Myanmar and other locations Britain has practically no scope to control Russia’s increasingly assertive naval posture in Asia This decade-long lack of engagement — not just by Britain but by America pre-Trump — has left us sailing blind on how Russian doctrine and tactics have shifted in the forge of war in Ukraine It's clear to me that in this new world order of military burden sharing between America and Europe Britain would be better placed keeping its handful of ships in the Atlantic while America increasingly comes into contact with the Russian Navy in the Pacific In President Donald Trump’s first 100 days his administration has arrested and detained visa holders and other non-citizens in the U.S for speaking out against Israel’s military actions in Gaza That’s not how the administration frames it but that is the connective tissue in each of the cases “We’re either a free society governed by the Constitution Paul was specifically addressing the Antisemitism Awareness Act which would codify a Trump-era executive order declaring that antisemitism is a prohibited form of discrimination in schools and universities and would use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism in assessing cases of antisemitic discrimination through the Department of Education Critics say that it would allow the government to conflate criticism of Zionism and the Israeli government with antisemitism and serve as a dangerous tool to shut down free speech Paul wondered aloud if campus police would be used in enforcing new speech rules As The Jewish Chronicle reported after the vote was postponed Paul was part of “a testy hearing on Wednesday that covered objections to the bill ranging from whether a Christian would be barred from saying that Jews killed Jesus to the acceptability of making contemporary political allusions to Nazi Germany and even the comedy of Jerry Seinfeld and Joan Rivers.” Paul cited the landmark 1969 Brandenburg v. Ohio case in which Ku Klux Klan member Clarence Brandenburg was convicted under two Ohio laws of allegedly inciting violence against Jews and African-Americans with his speech Brandenburg claimed that his punishment violated the First Amendment “Brandenburg was a Nazi and an antisemite and he said horrible things,” Paul said the Supreme Court ruled that you can say terrible things.” The senator compared the American concept of free speech with Europe’s recent crackdowns on speech “That’s unique about our country,” Paul said. “In Europe if you call a boy who thinks he’s a girl a boy If you say something about the Holocaust in Europe Do we want to replicate Europe’s speech laws in the U.S. “We’re codifying what Europe did to speech The Congressional debate is taking place as non-citizen students have been snatched away ostensibly for what they said or wrote about Israel the former co-president of Columbia University’s Palestinian Student Union of using “threatening rhetoric and intimidation” against Jewish students during a protest on campus in 2024 A 34-year-old permanent resident of the U.S who was born and raised in a Palestinian refugee camp in the West Bank before moving to the U.S Mahdawi was detained by ICE agents while at his naturalization hearing in Vermont on April 14 He was never formally charged with a crime We don't know if the other non-citizen students detained by immigration authorities in the last month have actually been involved in threats or intimidation because the administration has been deliberately vague about its reasons for detaining them Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the administration has the right to deport non-citizens when their "presence and activities in the United States would have serious adverse foreign policy consequences and would compromise a compelling U.S He is invoking a little-used clause in the Immigration and Nationality Act which stipulates that the Secretary of State can determine what kind of activity rises to the level of having “potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences” for the country Others are still in detention awaiting hearings Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil claims he was arrested on March 8 for a speech he gave during campus protests, though he too was never charged with anything. A judge has said the administration’s attempt to deport him will be decided in court He has been accused by Department of Homeland Security officials of spreading Hamas propaganda something his family and supporters vehemently deny the detainees’ support for the Palestinians’ plight and criticism of Israel’s war in Gaza appear to be the primary reasons behind their arrests But if America did ignore the First Amendment and allowed rigid UK-style speech laws instead Do the purveyors of the new antisemitism speech legislation on Capitol Hill know that this could boomerang on them when their ideological opponents someday get back into power As journalist Glenn Greenwald observed about the antisemitism legislation “this is not a hate speech code applying to foreign nationals It's a hate speech code that applies to American citizens where people can be punished for the expression of ideas on college campuses cheered for by the right wing faction that has long claimed there's nothing worse than hate speech codes and other forms of suppression of ideas on college campuses.” Carving out one country in the world and making it forbidden to criticize its government is the complete antithesis of the Constitution’s protections and a betrayal of the American tradition The First Amendment allows anyone on American soil to critique the U.S but now condemning a foreign government could land you in jail or deported to another country One would think that putting America first might include putting its First Amendment first The U.S.-Ukraine minerals agreement is not a diplomatic breakthrough and will not end the war but it is a significant success for Ukraine both in the short term and — if it is ever in fact implemented — in the longer term It reportedly does not get Ukraine the security “guarantees” that Kyiv has been asking for. It does not commit the U.S. to fight for Ukraine, or to back up a European “reassurance force” for Ukraine. And NATO membership remains off the table. Given its basic positions, there is no chance of the Trump administration shifting on these points But since the Ukraine peace process appeared to run out of steam and Trump threatened to “walk away” from the talks Kyiv and Moscow have been engaged in an elaborate diplomatic dance of semi-proposals and hints to try to ensure that if Trump does walk away he will blame the other side for the talks’ failure This agreement makes it far more likely that he will blame Russia, and therefore that he will continue military and intelligence aid to Ukraine. He may also, as threatened, try to impose additional sanctions on Russia — though given the resistance of most of the world to these sanctions, and tensions over tariffs between the U.S. and Europe it is not at all clear how effective new sanctions would be military and intelligence aid will not win the war for Ukraine nor allow it to drive the Russians from occupied territory It will however help the Ukrainian army to slow down Russia’s advance on the ground and impose heavy casualties on the Russian army This should not be taken by the Ukrainians or their European supporters as an excuse to maintain impossible conditions for peace that will make a settlement impossible; because the military and economic odds are still strongly against Ukraine and a collapse of Ukraine’s exhausted troops is a real possibility it will make it more likely that Russia will abandon or heavily qualify its impossible demands for example for Ukrainian disarmament and withdrawal from additional territory it is clearly far more favorable for Ukraine than Trump’s original — and grotesque — proposal that Ukraine should essentially hand its entire reserves of minerals to the U.S the profits of mineral extraction will be equally shared As Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said: “This agreement signals clearly to Russia that the Trump administration is committed to a peace process centered on a free … President Trump envisioned this partnership between the American people and the Ukrainian people to show both sides’ commitment to lasting peace and prosperity in Ukraine no state or person who financed or supplied the Russian war machine will be allowed to benefit from the reconstruction of Ukraine.” money go to develop mineral extraction in the Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine keep a lot of bad actors out of the country or certainly out of the area where we’re doing the digging." absolute Western security guarantees for Ukraine after a peace settlement have never really been on offer because the Biden administration and almost every other NATO government stated repeatedly that they would not fight to defend Ukraine will however ensure a strong continued U.S It greatly reduces the risk that in the event of future Russian aggression would simply look away and not respond as it has in this war with military supplies and extreme sanctions But the deal won’t be implemented until the war comes to an end. Thereafter, it will depend on the willingness of U.S private companies to invest in this sector — and that will depend on their assessment of both the risks and the profits involved For it is vital to note that this agreement does not commit the U.S government to invest in Ukraine; and to judge by the present profitability of minerals extraction in the world it is not certain that private investors will see major benefits from doing so China has developed its rare-earth sector on such a scale mainly through huge state-directed investment; and no-one has so far done a thorough analysis of the actual profitability and scale of most of these Ukrainian resources. So, only a tactical success for Ukraine and one over which there hang many questions; but nonetheless one that hopefully will lead Moscow to respond with some serious and acceptable peace proposals of its own. About UsPrivacy PolicyPitchRS@quincyinst.org©2025 Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft ©2025 Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft Subscribe now to our weekly round-up and don't miss a beat with your favorite RS contributors and reporters There are lots of reasons to be excited about Spike Lee’s upcoming movie. Lee’s new film Highest 2 Lowest reunites Lee with his old collaborator Denzel Washington, and it’s a remake of the Akira Kurosawa classic High & Low. Also, Highest 2 Lowest promises to be a fascinating test for the acting careers of two New York rappers who will evidently share scenes with Hollywood heavyweights like Washington and Jeffrey Wright The new Highest 2 Lowest teaser trailer doesn’t say too much about the movie It mostly seeks to remind you of how good it feels to see Spike Lee filming Denzel Washington and it’s set to James Brown’s “The Big Payback.” I’m sold Highest 2 Lowest is in theaters 8/22 and on Apple TV+ 9/5 Rocky is one of the chairs of tonight’s Met Gala alongside Pharrell Williams The theme is Superfine: Tailoring Black Style The most important stories and least important memes This issue is preventing our website from loading properly. 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LOGIN Downloadable PDFs are a benefit of an FP subscription This article is an Insider exclusive Contact us at [email protected] to learn about upgrade options unlocking the ability to gift this article here’s what’s on tap for the day: Washington’s options to manage an India-Pakistan military crisis fears about a dwindling two-state solution in the Middle East and Russia’s foot-dragging on a Ukraine peace deal One big question right now is what role Washington might play as a key partner to both countries has a keen interest in ensuring that the saber-rattling between the two nuclear-armed South Asian countries does not escalate into an all-out war But Washington may have more levers than most to curb such an escalation The U.S.-India relationship, particularly in the area of defense, has deepened in recent years and flourished under the Biden administration, with deals for the joint production of fighter jet engines and the sale of U.S drones to India signed during Modi’s 2022 visit to Washington But Washington’s military relationship with Islamabad dates back much further, with U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets and weapons making up the backbone of Pakistan’s arsenal—though U.S. concerns about Pakistani support for terrorism have caused more than a few hiccups in the past The Pentagon declined to comment to SitRep on details about the monitoring of Pakistan’s F-16s The State Department did not offer a comment and doing so again could jeopardize future upgrade and sustainment packages International Military Education and Training Program which Pakistan is the largest beneficiary of may benefit from a bit more latitude in Washington in its response—albeit with limits “I think we have to acknowledge that India has a right to defend itself and it will expect the same acknowledgment of that fact as the United States and other partners gave to Israel when Israel was attacked,” Ford said there will also be a strong concern among partner nations [about] what the response looks like.” speaking on condition of anonymity to speak candidly about intergovernmental discussions but let’s also not go down a path that blows this thing up in a way that becomes a long-term drag on everything that we’re trying to achieve in the Indo-Pacific.” It’s widely agreed that a two-state solution is virtually impossible as things stand with the war in Gaza ongoing and the current Israeli government opposed to Palestinian statehood The second Trump administration has also broken from decades of U.S policy by not backing a two-state solution Trump’s push for the United States to take over Gaza is fundamentally at odds with this goal also has a long record of opposing a two-state solution Guterres warned on Tuesday that “the promise of a two-state solution is at risk of dwindling to the point of disappearance.” As Trump continues to push for a rapid end to the Russia-Ukraine war Moscow is effectively telling the White House to pump the brakes The Kremlin said on Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin is open to a peace deal but added that it’s not going to happen as quickly as Trump wants because the conflict is too complicated There are reasons to be skeptical that Putin genuinely desires an end to the war despite Russia unilaterally announcing a three-day cease-fire for early May Russia continues to pummel Ukraine with devastating strikes and reject Kyiv’s calls for an unconditional cease-fire Trump appears to be growing impatient with Russia as the fighting rages on recently stating that Putin might be “tapping” him along and raising the possibility of new economic penalties on Russia The Trump administration has also signaled that it could soon abandon its efforts to achieve a peace deal if there’s not more progress ASAP That said, the United States and Ukraine signed a minerals deal on Wednesday which is seen as a positive sign in Kyiv in terms of shoring up future support from Washington which Trump pushed for as a way to recoup the billions in assistance that Washington has given to Kyiv grants Washington preferential access to Ukraine’s mineral resources and establishes a joint investment fund for the country’s reconstruction military assistance to Ukraine will be treated as a contribution to the fund Though the deal does not contain explicit security guarantees and comes with tougher rhetoric toward Moscow from the White House after months of rocky relations between the new administration and Kyiv Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the agreement sends a clear signal to Russia that the Trump administration is “committed to a peace process centered on a free The U.K. joins in on U.S. bombing of Houthis. The U.K. military launched airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen on Tuesday as part of a joint operation with the United States This marked the first time that British forces have conducted strikes against the Iran-backed group since Trump returned to the White House The Houthis have been targeting merchant vessels in the Red Sea since the Israel-Hamas war began in late 2023 prompting a military response from Washington and its allies that the Trump administration dramatically escalated last month there are growing questions over the effectiveness of the intensive bombing campaign that the Trump administration launched in March Lawmakers in Washington have also raised concerns about civilian casualties A drone view of detainees forming the letters “SOS” with their bodies in the courtyard at the Bluebonnet Detention Facility May 3: Australia is set to hold federal elections Singapore is poised to hold early parliamentary elections May 4: Romanians are set to head to the polls in the first round of a presidential election rerun 52: The percentage of Americans who agree with the statement that “President Trump is a dangerous dictator whose power should be limited before he destroys American democracy,” according to a new survey from the nonpartisan Public Religion Research Institute 44 percent agree with the statement that “President Trump is a strong leader who should be given the power he needs to restore America’s greatness.” — Mohsen Mahdawi in a message to Trump after his release from detention in Vermont on Wednesday a Columbia University student and pro-Palestinian activist citizenship interview on April 14 as part of a Trump administration crackdown on immigration and support for Palestine on college campuses adding that the service members moved out of the way in time and only one sailor sustained minor injuries Rishi Iyengar is a reporter at Foreign Policy. X: @Iyengarish John Haltiwanger is a reporter at Foreign Policy. X: @jchaltiwanger Commenting on this and other recent articles is just one benefit of a Foreign Policy subscription Join the conversation on this and other recent Foreign Policy articles when you subscribe now Please follow our comment guidelines The default username below has been generated using the first name and last initial on your FP subscriber account Usernames may be updated at any time and must not contain inappropriate or offensive language FP’s flagship evening newsletter guiding you through the most important world stories of the day Specialty rates for students and faculty. Lock in your rates for longer. Unlock powerful intelligence for your team.