Explainer
List of Explainer articles
Why the Salt Typhoon Hack Is Freaking Everyone Out
Officials say hackers linked to China have unprecedented access to U.S. telecommunication networks.
How South Koreans Rejected Martial Law
A self-coup attempt by President Yoon Suk-yeol has dramatically flopped.
Everything You Wanted to Know About Trump’s Tariffs but Were Afraid to Ask
“Tariff man” can levy them all right. The real questions are how and why.
Why North Korea’s Deployment of Troops to Russia Really Matters
Questions abound about the combat quality of Pyongyang’s troops, but they could bail out Moscow and end up alarming Seoul.
Is It Too Late to Replace a Presidential Candidate?
Not according to other democracies around the world.
Why Diego Garcia Matters
A dispute over a tiny island in the Indian Ocean presents complications for U.S. goals in the Indo-Pacific.
Mexico’s Historic Elections, Explained
The country is all but guaranteed its first woman president.
South Africa’s Uncertain Election, Explained
The African National Congress risks losing its majority for the first time since 1994.
Can the ICC Actually Arrest Netanyahu?
A former ICC president answers questions about the top court's jurisdiction in the Israel-Hamas war.
Europe’s Farmer Protests Are Part of a Bigger Problem
The unrest exposes the trade-offs that governments must confront on climate policy.
What Does Latin America Think About the Israel-Hamas War?
Many countries are spurning Israel. But the region’s Middle East stance has always been nuanced.
How the Gaza War Could Shape Global Politics in 2024
From India to Germany to the United States, debate over the war could have real electoral consequences.
The Red Sea Crisis, Explained
A wave of Houthi missile attacks has spooked shipping companies and energy markets.
The Contentious Surveillance Law Making Waves in Washington
Why a regulation created to help U.S. intelligence agencies fight terror has become a political football.
Why Is Venezuela Threatening a Land-Grab War in Latin America?
Caracas has its sights set on Guyana’s vast oil deposits, and President Nicolás Maduro isn’t willing to let a little thing like international law get in his way.
