Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Top Stories

Joe Biden: The first Cold War president since Ronald Reagan

Joe Biden: The first Cold War president since Ronald Reagan
Getty Images

Richard Davies is a journalist and podcaster. He runs the podcast consultancy, DaviesContent.

By any measure, this has been a momentous week for global politics. President Biden’s surprise trip to Kyiv, his “freedom” speech in Warsaw, the visit of China’s top diplomat to Moscow, and Vladimir Putin’s decision to suspend Russian participation in the last remaining nuclear arms treaty with the U.S. are all signs of deepening big-power tensions.


This coincides with the first anniversary of the bloodiest conflict in Europe since World War Two. In the early hours of February 24 last year, Putin’s tanks rolled across Ukraine’s borders.

To the surprise of many, the past year saw a dramatic strengthening of the NATO military alliance, as Europe and The United States rallied support for Ukraine. At the same time, the world’s two largest autocratic powers— China and Russia— moved ever closer together in a partnership that stirs reminders of the Cold War. Both regimes seek to dominate as much of the world as they can.

In his state-of-the-union style address, Putin blamed the U.S and its allies for a war that he launched himself. “The West,” he claimed, “is using Ukraine as a battering ram against Russia." Despite extremely heavy troop losses, Putin’s ultimate goal of dominating Ukraine and forcing it to become part of his Russian empire remains unchanged.

In Warsaw this week, Biden’s stark rhetoric harkened back to an earlier time, at least four decades ago, when American presidents often spoke of the epic struggle between dictatorships and democracy. “Appetites of the autocrat cannot be appeased. They must be opposed,” he declared. “The work in front of us is not just what we’re against but what we’re for….There is no higher aspiration than freedom.”

Biden promised $550 million in addition to $30 billion in military and humanitarian aid already sent to Ukraine. The Administration has reasserted itself as the dominant player in the security of Europe. Now NATO has a clearer mission statement.

While much has been written about the war, and the political state-of-play, the President’s trip has broader implications for the fundamental values that are a vital part of the growing struggle against autocratic powers.

“You can’t have democracy and freedom if you are not also willing to defend your national sovereignty against an armed invasion,” says Danish human-rights advocate, Jacob Mchangama. “These principles and fundamental values do require something that maybe has been forgotten in Europe: a willingness to defend against invasion.”

I spoke with Mchangama for the latest episode of our podcast, “ How Do We Fix It? ” His recent history of free speech makes him well-qualified to speak of the deeper issues at stake.

One of the biggest surprises of the past year has been the strength of European and American support for President Zelenskyy and Ukraine. “I’m very heartened by it,” says Mchangama. “It’s a good antidote to a decay of the West and complacency of democracies narrative that has been driving some of the authoritarian backlash.”

“Even a year in, there still seems to be solid support in many countries for the Ukrainian cause and for continuing to supply them with the means to defend themselves and hopefully decisively turn the tide.”

Many supporters of Ukraine say they are fighting for us, and the values of freedom of expression and rule of law. What remains unclear is whether the return to cold war rhetoric by President Biden and other leaders will have a positive impact on American democracy and reduce the damage inflicted by the domestic partisan divide.

Read More

Celebrating Congressional Excellence: Democracy Awards 2025
United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.

Celebrating Congressional Excellence: Democracy Awards 2025

In a moment of bipartisan celebration, the Congressional Management Foundation (CMF) will honor the winners of its 2025 Democracy Awards, spotlighting congressional offices that exemplify outstanding public service, operational excellence, and innovation in governance.

The ceremony, scheduled for this Thursday, September 18, 2025, in Washington, D.C., will recognize both Republican and Democratic offices across multiple categories, reinforcing the idea that excellence in Congress transcends party lines.

Keep ReadingShow less
Political Assassinations Are Part of the “Constitutional Rot” That Afflicts America
Gen Z and the Dangerous Allure of Political Violence
Gen Z and the Dangerous Allure of Political Violence

Political Assassinations Are Part of the “Constitutional Rot” That Afflicts America

Americans are learning that democracy is a fragile thing. If it is taken for granted, it can wither almost imperceptibly.

Signs of that withering are everywhere. I won’t rehearse them here.

Keep ReadingShow less
Meacham: Political Violence in America Linked to Deep Questions of Identity and Inclusion

"Who is an American? Who deserves to be included in ‘We the people" - Jon Meacham

AI generated illustration

Meacham: Political Violence in America Linked to Deep Questions of Identity and Inclusion

In a sobering segment aired on CBS Sunday Morning, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Jon Meacham addressed the escalating wave of political violence in the United States and its implications for the future of American democracy. Speaking with journalist Robert Costa, Meacham reflected on the recent assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and a string of violent incidents targeting political figures and institutions.

"We do not want to be in a place where, because you disagree with someone, you pick up a gun. That is not what the country can be. And if it is, then it's something different. It's not the America we want," he said.

Keep ReadingShow less
Two speech bubbles overlapping each other.

Political outrage is rising—but dismissing the other side’s anger deepens division. Learn why taking outrage seriously can bridge America’s partisan divide.

Getty Images, Richard Drury

Taking Outrage Seriously: Understanding the Moral Signals Behind Political Anger

Over the last several weeks, the Trump administration has deployed the National Guard to the nation’s capital to crack down on crime. While those on the right have long been aghast by rioting and disorder in our cities, pressing for greater military intervention to curtail it, progressive residents of D.C. have tirelessly protested the recent militarization of the city.

This recent flashpoint is a microcosm of the reciprocal outrage at the heart of contemporary American public life. From social media posts to street protests to everyday conversations about "the other side," we're witnessing unprecedented levels of political outrage. And as polarization has increased, we’ve stopped even considering the other political party’s concerns, responding instead with amusement and delight. Schadenfreude, or pleasure at someone else’s pain, is now more common than solidarity or empathy across party lines.

Keep ReadingShow less