Excerpt
List of Excerpt articles
How Globalization Rose and Fell With Nord Stream
The pipeline bringing Russian gas to Europe was once seen as a triumph for borderless business—but Putin’s invasion of Ukraine put an end to that fantasy.
Xi’s Imperial Ambitions Are Rooted in China’s History
Myths of peacefulness belie a record as expansionist as any other power.
How ‘Made in China’ Became American Gospel
The canny marketing of imports from vodka to basketballs transformed the U.S.-China trade relationship.
China’s Secret to Controlling the Internet
The CCP uses manpower, not just technology, to limit speech.
The Man Who Conned the World
How one of the greatest scam artists of all time used Ghana’s colonial past to get rich.
Confusion and Ambition Caused the My Lai Atrocities
A rare combination of failures led to an infamous massacre.
The Song and Dance of American Secrecy
Espionage law hasn’t changed much since William Howard Taft—yet recent presidents have wielded it as a cudgel more than ever before.
How the U.S. Created Its Own Reality
Historian Heather Cox Richardson charts the roots of 21st-century disinformation—and how American democracy began to falter.
How to Get Chinese Elites to Support Democracy
It may be in their own self-interest.
North Korean Talks Collapsed but Didn’t Fail
I helped negotiate the Trump-Kim meeting. Real peace is still possible.
How China Trolls Flooded Twitter
Beijing has learned to use Russian-style disinformation.
The Bomb Was Horrifying. The Alternatives Would Have Been Worse.
Historical records show that dropping atomic bombs was the least bad option.
Russia’s Frighteningly Fascist Youth
A new generation of Russians glorifies war, death, and Vladimir Putin.
Mao’s Legacy Is a Dangerous Topic in China
Discussing the Cultural Revolution has become increasingly risky.
How American Journalists Watched China’s COVID-19 Crisis Unfold
The pandemic’s outbreak brought rare reporting freedoms.
