Compass Points

Leading experts analyze prominent international affairs topics and their impact on America today.

Apr 10

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Can the U.S. and Iran turn the temporary ceasefire into long-term peace?

President Trump finds an off-ramp to the five-week war in Iran, but at what cost? He began the week threatening Iran's “whole civilization." But when Pakistan presented a plan to temporarily halt hostilities, Trump embraced it. Can the U.S. and…

Apr 03

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Pope Leo's political voice and how much influence he holds

Pope Leo XIV is the first American to lead the Catholic Church, and after nearly a year of advocating for the poor and cautiously opposing controversial U.S. policies, Leo is offering a more public contrast with Trump. Compass Points moderator…

Mar 27

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Inside the U.S.-Israel alliance and how it led to war with Iran

The war against Iran is a fight that Israel has wanted for decades. How did Netanyahu convince President Trump to act? Can a war launched together be ended together? And is there a limit to the U.S.-Israeli partnership? Compass Points…

Mar 20

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What's next for Iran war as energy disruptions escalate and regime digs in

The day after the U.S. and Israel began the war with Iran, President Trump said the strikes would last four to five weeks. Now, as the war begins its fourth week, Iran's regime is severely weakened, but is still retaliating.

Mar 13

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What war in Iran has revealed and what remains unknown

The Iran war has spiked oil prices, triggered retaliatory strikes against Gulf neighbors and elevated a younger supreme leader. But will the regime survive? How will the war end? And were there military mistakes in the rush to launch the…

Mar 06

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The risks and rewards of war with Iran

The U.S. and Israel unleashed the region’s largest conflict in more than two decades. As the Iran war expands, there are questions about how long the U.S. can sustain the war and what Trump’s endgame could be. Compass Points moderator…

Feb 20

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What's next for the U.S. and China in a new era of confrontation

The U.S.-China relationship affects national security and our pocketbooks. They are the world’s most advanced militaries and largest economies. Now, China’s increasingly authoritarian leadership is purging officials while portraying itself as more reliable than the U.S. Compass Points moderator Nick…

Feb 13

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In Munich, NATO leaders assess America's reliability as an ally

The Munich Security Conference is one of the world’s key diplomatic gatherings. This year, a serious and almost shocking question hangs over the event: Is the United States still a reliable ally? Compass Points moderator Nick Schifrin is in Munich…