HeyJaredVery Former Diplomat
International and domestic politics, Europe and the US, from a radical centrist perspective.
- Indexed issues, last 90 days
- 11
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- Sep 22, 2026
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- Jul 12, 2026
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The “horseshoe theory of politics” (opens the original)
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Though international attention understandably is riveted on the November 3 US legislative elections, it’s worth thinking further ahead. Four of Europe’s largest states – France, Italy, Poland, and Spain – will hold parliamentary elections in 2027, with France holding its crucial presidential election as well. All are EU and NATO member countries, so the implications will stretch far beyond national borders.The stunning success of extreme-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) in recent state (L
Burdens of leadership in politics (opens the original)
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In his 1902 novella Typhoon, Joseph Conrad wrote: “Jukes was uncritically glad to have his captain at hand. It relieved him as though that man had, by simply coming on deck, taken most of the gale’s weight upon his shoulders. Such is the prestige, the privilege, and the burden of command.” It is the responsibility and obligation of ship’s captains to be on deck at the most challenging moments. That burden of command extends to other leaders as well.I was surprised, therefore, to receive an email
Failure of “IndyCar diplomacy” (opens the original)
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It’s sometimes hard to resist an “I told you so.” Not long after the presidential inauguration, I warned that chief of protocol nominee Monica Crowley was woefully unqualified for what was in fact a highly significant role. We got a good demonstration of that with the President’s IndyCar spectacular in Washington.In diplomacy, both substance and form matter. As U.S. chief of diplomatic protocol, Monica Crowley is supposed to avoid actions that damage our country’s reputation and make it more dif
No international observers for the November elections (opens the original)
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In 2024, observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), of which the US was a founding member, reported that November elections in the US had demonstrated “the resilience of the country’s democratic institutions.” The campaign, however, had been “marked by deep polarization and harsh and confrontational rhetoric, while public trust was undermined by disinformation campaigns and political violence.”Sounds fair enough. Unfortunately, this year the OSCE will not be
Magical thinking versus experience and pragmatism (opens the original)
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I’ve spent a lot of my life trying to explain United States politics and policies to European audiences. Questions often have to do with the roles and powers of U.S. states. The Electoral College is a particular head-scratcher, and conversations generally end up with the question: “Why do you still do that?” Primary season, all six and a half months of it, is always challenging, since not many Europeans, quite understandably, have a detailed grasp of the political peculiarities of the states.Tha
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