Mona Charen

As I said the other day: It’s only a war if it comes from the war region of France. Otherwise it’s just sparkling military conflict

@monacharen.bsky.social was kind enough to invite @cooleyoneurasia.bsky.social and me onto her podcast.

She argued Trump likely wants 'his place in history' as the U.S. president who finally brought down the Iranian government.

I think that, plus his endless need to dominate, is probably 👍.

Trump Is Considering More Iran Strikes. No One Knows Precisely Why. As has become a pattern, the use of force isn’t part of a coherent plan.

They haven't thought this through. Of course! Trump Is Considering More Iran Strikes. No One Knows Precisely Why. open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...

Why We Changed Our Minds About Politics Podcast Episode · The David Frum Show · 02/18/2026 · 56m

Just an extraordinary conversation. What integrity means @monacharen.bsky.social @davidfrum.bsky.social

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

This Is How a Child Dies of Measles When your family becomes a data point in an outbreak

Life is full of unavoidable tragedies. Yet many Americans are subjecting their children to completely avoidable ones. Hard to fathom the idiocy. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...

How Democrats Can Crush the Midterms Trump has offered up the issues on a silver platter.

"By all means, get angry about the savagery; stress that law and order means . . . the state cannot be the lawbreaker. But also add that borders are not notional and chaos cannot be permitted to prevail along the Rio Grande." How Democrats Can Crush the Midterms open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...

Look at this flagrant typo in WaPo. That’s what happens when you fire 1/3 of staff.

100%

Democrats Mess With Winning in Texas Once again, the party’s statewide candidates seem to have grander ambitions than victory.

Democrats' own goal. Please get smart. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...

How Big Is MAGA, Really? Trump is governing like he has a huge mandate. The numbers disagree.

It's not half the country! How Big Is MAGA, Really? open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...

It's actually not a co-equal branch. It's the first among equals --the premier branch given the most authority in the Constitution.

How Niall Ferguson Learned to Love Trump … and snagged a pundit slot at CBS News in the Bari Weiss makeover.

How Niall Ferguson went from a respected historian and Trump critic to a Trump booster—he even now chalks up January 6th to pandemic craziness and believes Trump genuinely believes he won in 2020—handpicked by Bari Weiss for a CBS pundit gig.
www.thebulwark.com/p/how-niall-...

Trump Can’t Stop Backing Down Where the bully encounters strength, he withdraws. Constantly.

"The people of Minneapolis have reminded us that this country is still planted thick with inspiring, selfless, heroic people who will put their very lives on the line rather than submit to MAGA’s naked barbarism." Trump Can’t Stop Backing Down open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...

Trump Can’t Stop Backing Down Where the bully encounters strength, he withdraws. Constantly.

When you stand up to the bully, he backs down.

Trump Can’t Stop Backing Down
open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...

Lest we forget:

On Sat night, as Minnesotans braved Arctic cold to honor Alex Pretti and demand that ICE/CBP leave their state...

...Tim Cook was at the White House for "friends and family" premiere of payola-based 'Melania' movie. Also Andy Jassy, Amazon CEO.

Bezos was at fashion show in Paris.

MAGA’s ‘Omelet’ Excuse for DHS Thuggishness They admit that mass deportation is impossible without egregious abuses—but want it to go ahead anyway.

MAGA’s ‘Omelet’ Excuse for DHS Thuggishness
open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...

Amen.

For Some, Trump’s Mask Is Finally Slipping European leaders have given up pretending the president is someone he’s not. Maybe some American voters will, too.

"It’s entirely possible that those swing voters care only about the cost of living and not about the collapse of American decency . . ." For Some, Trump’s Mask Is Finally Slipping open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...

Video Analysis of ICE Shooting Sheds Light on Contested Moments

This is a second by second analysis of available video that is must watching. Video Analysis of ICE Shooting Sheds Light on Contested Moments www.nytimes.com/2026/01/15/v...

ICE Is a Law-Breaking ‘Law Enforcement’ Agency A Trump-appointed judge took the agency to task for its flagrant contempt.

This is thugocracy. ICE Is a Law-Breaking ‘Law Enforcement’ Agency www.thebulwark.com/p/ice-is-a-l...

So glad you're feeling better. You have an awful disease. Social media is full of worms. Ignore them.

We’re the Bad Guys Now America has become the kind of country it used to oppose.

This is not a "freedom agenda." This is plunder. We’re the Bad Guys Now www.thebulwark.com/p/we-are-the...

Marco Rubio is reportedly saying Maduro will stand trial in US courts.

Which means it’s now the US administration’s position that US courts can hold foreign presidents, but not the US president, accountable for crimes.

Somebody Needs to Tell Trump Everybody Is Laughing at Him His worst fear has already come true.

New from me. www.thebulwark.com/p/somebody-n...

Rob Reiner, 1947–2025 One of the best and most versatile directors of his era.

Sonny Bunch on what made Rob Reiner such a giant of filmmaking. open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...

That's unfortunate but maybe not a good idea to get medical advice from actors.

Quite a moment.

Trump’s Deportations Are Ripping Mothers from Their Babies The president’s immigration policy is “beyond inhumane.”

Trump’s Deportations Are Ripping Mothers from Their Babies
open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...

@thebulwark.com @monacharen.bsky.social @davidfrenchjag.bsky.social @timmiller.bsky.social

For Trump, Even the National Guard Shooting Is About Immigration And he won’t let the facts get in the way of his agenda.

Serious doubt that this was a jihadist attack. For Trump, Even the National Guard Shooting Is About Immigration open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...