Former US Amb @NATO. Now Senior Fellow @BelferCenter. Host World Review Podcast. Author America Abroad Substack. Policy Wonk. Dog lover. Baseball fan. New Chicagoan. Old Dutchman.https://bsky.app/profile/ivodaalder.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/ivodaalder.bsky.social/post/3mlh3oz5jhs2nThis week, how the Iran War signals the end of America’s empire, the closure of the Strait holds chilling lesson for Taiwan, David Sacks led Big Tech’s capture of the state, and Xi Jinping favors party loyalty to military competence. Enjoy! https://newsletter.ivodaalder.com/p/what-caught-my-eye-no-61?r=9fpoo&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web09 May 2026 20:32 +0000at://did:plc:rhoonjhsmsowu6ieeb2irbex/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlh3oz5jhs2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/ivodaalder.bsky.social/post/3mlekz3j2us2nI joined @stephruhle.bsky.social last night on @11thhourmsnow.bsky.social and explained why I think the US will blink first in the Iran and Hormuz standoff. https://newsletter.ivodaalder.com/p/why-trump-will-likely-blink-first?r=9fpoo08 May 2026 20:28 +0000at://did:plc:rhoonjhsmsowu6ieeb2irbex/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlekz3j2us2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/ivodaalder.bsky.social/post/3mldxhnxgvk22Few people have been better positioned to dominate foreign and national security policy than Marco Rubio, who serves as both secretary of state and national security advisor. But what’s most remarkable about Rubio is his ever shrinking role. My latest https://www.politico.eu/article/marco-rubio-us-diplomacy-foreign-policy-iran-ukraine-israel/08 May 2026 14:38 +0000at://did:plc:rhoonjhsmsowu6ieeb2irbex/app.bsky.feed.post/3mldxhnxgvk22https://bsky.app/profile/ivodaalder.bsky.social/post/3mlcqeclcy22pAbout to join @11thhourmsnow.bsky.social to talk about the latest on Iran08 May 2026 02:59 +0000at://did:plc:rhoonjhsmsowu6ieeb2irbex/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlcqeclcy22phttps://bsky.app/profile/ivodaalder.bsky.social/post/3ml7ekk3un22nIf you missed Ask Ivo, here’s the full video and my three key take-aways: The Iran War was unnecessary. A more European NATO is a stronger NATO—IF/IF the US remains fully engaged. A cornered Putin is a more dangerous Putin. newsletter.ivodaalder.com/p/ask-ivo https://newsletter.ivodaalder.com/p/ask-ivo06 May 2026 18:49 +0000at://did:plc:rhoonjhsmsowu6ieeb2irbex/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml7ekk3un22nhttps://bsky.app/profile/ivodaalder.bsky.social/post/3ml6ux3s4qs2mDon’t forget to join me in two hours, at noon ET, and ask me anything about what’s happening in the 🌍 today. https://open.substack.com/live-stream/180664?06 May 2026 14:10 +0000at://did:plc:rhoonjhsmsowu6ieeb2irbex/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml6ux3s4qs2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/ivodaalder.bsky.social/post/3ml4lnc6eek2nIn Iran, Ukraine, and transatlantic relations, the real danger now is escalation rather than negotiations or compromise. My interview on @cnn.com yesterday. https://newsletter.ivodaalder.com/p/the-dangers-of-escalation05 May 2026 16:18 +0000at://did:plc:rhoonjhsmsowu6ieeb2irbex/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml4lnc6eek2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/ivodaalder.bsky.social/post/3mkxtasfik22oThis week — how Iran has accumulated enough nuclear materials for 100 bombs, AI chatbots can help create deadly pathogens, and how Donald Trump wants to be one of the Great Men in history. https://open.substack.com/pub/ivodaalder/p/what-caught-my-eye-no-60?r=9fpoo&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true03 May 2026 18:51 +0000at://did:plc:rhoonjhsmsowu6ieeb2irbex/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkxtasfik22ohttps://bsky.app/profile/ivodaalder.bsky.social/post/3mkxafgod6227Chloe loves lazy Sunday mornings.03 May 2026 13:14 +0000at://did:plc:rhoonjhsmsowu6ieeb2irbex/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkxafgod6227https://bsky.app/profile/ivodaalder.bsky.social/post/3mkt3qkcmos2nOn World Review this week: The stalemate in the Iran War, King Charles’s surprising diplomatic triumph, and Germany rearms alone. With Anna Sauerbrey, Alex Ward and Giles Whittell. https://newsletter.ivodaalder.com/p/world-review-iran-war-stalemate-the01 May 2026 21:40 +0000at://did:plc:rhoonjhsmsowu6ieeb2irbex/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkt3qkcmos2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/ivodaalder.bsky.social/post/3mkhzqv55b22bFor NATO to survive it needs to become a very different NATO. https://www.politico.eu/article/different-nato-defense-security-us-donald-trump/27 Apr 2026 12:05 +0000at://did:plc:rhoonjhsmsowu6ieeb2irbex/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkhzqv55b22bhttps://bsky.app/profile/ivodaalder.bsky.social/post/3mkgefuhlak2nHere’s what caught my eye this week: The Supreme Court’s “shadow docket,” Gen-Z doesn’t trust government, Ukraine’s drone innovations, and why the Iran War fails the “just war” test. https://newsletter.ivodaalder.com/p/what-caught-my-eye-no-5926 Apr 2026 20:10 +0000at://did:plc:rhoonjhsmsowu6ieeb2irbex/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkgefuhlak2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/ivodaalder.bsky.social/post/3mkdc27xwc22kNATO needs to become more European. That much is clear. But how can that be done? @camillegrand.bsky.social and I explore the answer in this new “Brussels Sprouts” podcast. https://www.cnas.org/publications/podcast/transatlantic-adaptation-a-more-european-nato?x-craft-preview=136ec6a6a2771c946611c22cad3e400fe3cc3d9f6df12478d8ba418d9694eadbthdempwonk&token=pgpuuxrnRi_jvTyJnMm63hhNL4pCdMGg25 Apr 2026 14:50 +0000at://did:plc:rhoonjhsmsowu6ieeb2irbex/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkdc27xwc22khttps://bsky.app/profile/ivodaalder.bsky.social/post/3mkdbovwsns2kThis week on World Review, I talk with @eliselabott.bsky.social, @prashantrao.bsky.social, and @kaminskimk.bsky.social about the long-term consequences of the Strait’s closure, the opportunity in Lebanon, and the new vibe in Ukraine. https://newsletter.ivodaalder.com/p/world-review-iran-war-ceasefire-lebanon25 Apr 2026 14:44 +0000at://did:plc:rhoonjhsmsowu6ieeb2irbex/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkdbovwsns2khttps://bsky.app/profile/ivodaalder.bsky.social/post/3mkcztnrgt227Does Trump realize that comparing his Iran War to the failed Vietnam and Iraq Wars isn’t the most convincing argument to convince the country he’s winning?25 Apr 2026 12:23 +0000at://did:plc:rhoonjhsmsowu6ieeb2irbex/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkcztnrgt227https://bsky.app/profile/ivodaalder.bsky.social/post/3mjzzkqtvfs2nTrump knows he’s lost this war. That’s what an indefinite ceasefire means. He just doesn’t want to say it out loud. https://newsletter.ivodaalder.com/p/trump-knows-he-lost-the-war21 Apr 2026 22:24 +0000at://did:plc:rhoonjhsmsowu6ieeb2irbex/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjzzkqtvfs2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/ivodaalder.bsky.social/post/3mjukatot3s2cThe fundamental problem for Trump in finding an acceptable end to the Iran War is asymmetry—which, except for military power, favors Iran. https://substack.com/@ivodaalder/note/c-245939871?r=9fpoo&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action19 Apr 2026 18:07 +0000at://did:plc:rhoonjhsmsowu6ieeb2irbex/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjukatot3s2chttps://bsky.app/profile/ivodaalder.bsky.social/post/3mjri5jnmt226About to join @theweekendmsnow.bsky.social at the top of the hour to talk about Iran War, Trump and more.18 Apr 2026 12:51 +0000at://did:plc:rhoonjhsmsowu6ieeb2irbex/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjri5jnmt226https://bsky.app/profile/ivodaalder.bsky.social/post/3mjjy2e74vc2tTelling the Pope that “it’s very, very important for the pope to be careful when he talks about matters of theology,” takes some chutzpah. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/14/us/politics/vance-pope-trump-georgia.html?smid=url-share15 Apr 2026 13:14 +0000at://did:plc:rhoonjhsmsowu6ieeb2irbex/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjjy2e74vc2thttps://bsky.app/profile/ivodaalder.bsky.social/post/3mjd5umxis22kA strongman loses an election, after Trump and Vance throw their full support behind him. And then concedes. What a novel idea. https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/12/world/live-news/hungary-election-orban-magyar12 Apr 2026 20:10 +0000at://did:plc:rhoonjhsmsowu6ieeb2irbex/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjd5umxis22khttps://bsky.app/profile/ivodaalder.bsky.social/post/3mjb2tpwkgk2fThe Iran War, of course. But also a tale of bobbing heads with Russia and a must-red profile of Sam Altman. Plus links to a whole bunch of interviews I did this past week. https://open.substack.com/pub/ivodaalder/p/what-caught-my-eye-no-57?r=9fpoo&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true12 Apr 2026 00:10 +0000at://did:plc:rhoonjhsmsowu6ieeb2irbex/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjb2tpwkgk2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/ivodaalder.bsky.social/post/3mj7y4ociek2iThe Iran War was a blunder of historic proportions. As a result we know live in the most dangerous era in our lifetimes. My interview with @shonamurray.bsky.social on @euronews.com https://youtube.com/shorts/Lxman4haP7Y?si=UxqusgexAPRdF79911 Apr 2026 13:49 +0000at://did:plc:rhoonjhsmsowu6ieeb2irbex/app.bsky.feed.post/3mj7y4ociek2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/ivodaalder.bsky.social/post/3mj7wdfnyds23The Iran War has created a rift between the United States and Europe that even Trump’s favorite whisperer won’t be able to bridge. My conversation with @audiecornish.bsky.social https://youtube.com/watch?v=ObxI4RN9nzU11 Apr 2026 13:17 +0000at://did:plc:rhoonjhsmsowu6ieeb2irbex/app.bsky.feed.post/3mj7wdfnyds23https://bsky.app/profile/ivodaalder.bsky.social/post/3mj6bzvgi2s2kOn World Review this week: A fragile ceasefire upsets negotiations. Evaluating the Iran War’s outcomes. And the impact on NATO. With @scribblercat.bsky.social Philp, Michael Birnbaum, and David Luhnow. https://newsletter.ivodaalder.com/p/world-review-iran-war-fragile-ceasefire10 Apr 2026 21:41 +0000at://did:plc:rhoonjhsmsowu6ieeb2irbex/app.bsky.feed.post/3mj6bzvgi2s2khttps://bsky.app/profile/ivodaalder.bsky.social/post/3mj2o6vo3nc2bMy take on the state of NATO before the Rutte-Trump meeting. Nothing much seems to have changed as a result of the meeting. https://open.substack.com/pub/ivodaalder/p/rutte-meets-with-trump-can-nato-be?r=9fpoo&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true09 Apr 2026 11:08 +0000at://did:plc:rhoonjhsmsowu6ieeb2irbex/app.bsky.feed.post/3mj2o6vo3nc2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/ivodaalder.bsky.social/post/3miqzu2lyvs2a“Good Sunday morning! Now, can I please chew my cow hoof!” — Chloe05 Apr 2026 15:10 +0000at://did:plc:rhoonjhsmsowu6ieeb2irbex/app.bsky.feed.post/3miqzu2lyvs2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/ivodaalder.bsky.social/post/3mipcsp6je22kOn NATO’s 77th birthday, I explain why NATO is still vital to US security on Bloomberg This Weekend. https://newsletter.ivodaalder.com/p/nato-is-77-today-as-vital-as-ever04 Apr 2026 22:45 +0000at://did:plc:rhoonjhsmsowu6ieeb2irbex/app.bsky.feed.post/3mipcsp6je22khttps://bsky.app/profile/ivodaalder.bsky.social/post/3mipal6reds2kThis week: Iran (of course). NATO’s fate. Netanyahu’s Greater Israel strategy. Putin throttles the internet. And a lot of links to my interviews, discussions, and writings. https://newsletter.ivodaalder.com/p/what-caught-my-eye-no-5604 Apr 2026 22:05 +0000at://did:plc:rhoonjhsmsowu6ieeb2irbex/app.bsky.feed.post/3mipal6reds2k