Xi Jinping sends us a virus

Let’s stop this nonsensical admiration for China’s authoritarian model. [View in browser](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgFVU9P4QfAWh0dHBzOi8vbWVzc2FnaW5nLWN1c3RvbS1uZXdzbGV0dGVycy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS90ZW1wbGF0ZS9vYWt2Mj91cmk9bnl0Oi8vbmV3c2xldHRlci9kOGM5MTU3My1iZjNhLTQwN2EtOTgyMC03Y2U4YmYwOGIyOTEmdGU9MSZubD1uaWNob2xhcy1rcmlzdG9mJmVtYz1lZGl0X25rXzIwMjAwMTMwJmNhbXBhaWduX2lkPTQ1Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTE1NTcyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MjA4MDcmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyX25rXzIwMjAwMTMwVwNueXRCCgAiPdAyXidJ-P1SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~)|[nytimes.com](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgFVU9P0S6aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vP3RlPTEmbmw9bmljaG9sYXMta3Jpc3RvZiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ua18yMDIwMDEzMCZjYW1wYWlnbl9pZD00NSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xNTU3MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTIwODA3JnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MjIwMjAwMTMwVwNueXRCCgAiPdAyXidJ-P1SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~)[Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-ad-marquee) ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgFVU9P0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MTYxOTkwJmxpPU5LJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1OS18yMDIwMDEzMFcDbnl0QgoAIj3QMl4nSfj9Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ [NYTimes.com/Kristof](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgFVU9P0TQaHR0cDovL3d3dy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS9jb2x1bW4vbmljaG9sYXMta3Jpc3RvZj90ZT0xJm5sPW5pY2hvbGFzLWtyaXN0b2YmZW1jPWVkaXRfbmtfMjAyMDAxMzAmY2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NDUmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTU1NzImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0yMDgwNyZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTIyMDIwMDEzMFcDbnl0QgoAIj3QMl4nSfj9Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) January 30, 2020 A medical staff member in protective clothing at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital.Hector Retamal/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images [Author Headshot](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgFVU9P0TRaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vY29sdW1uL25pY2hvbGFzLWtyaXN0b2Y_dGU9MSZubD1uaWNob2xhcy1rcmlzdG9mJmVtYz1lZGl0X25rXzIwMjAwMTMwJmNhbXBhaWduX2lkPTQ1Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTE1NTcyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MjA4MDcmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyMjAyMDAxMzBXA255dEIKACI90DJeJ0n4_VIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) By [Nicholas Kristof](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgFVU9P0TRaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vY29sdW1uL25pY2hvbGFzLWtyaXN0b2Y_dGU9MSZubD1uaWNob2xhcy1rcmlzdG9mJmVtYz1lZGl0X25rXzIwMjAwMTMwJmNhbXBhaWduX2lkPTQ1Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTE1NTcyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MjA4MDcmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyMjAyMDAxMzBXA255dEIKACI90DJeJ0n4_VIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) Opinion Columnist When the coronavirus was gaining strength in the city of Wuhan in December, that was the moment for Chinese authorities to act decisively. And they did — not against the virus but against whistle-blowers trying to call attention to it. A doctor who tried to alert the public was reprimanded by the Communist Party and forced to write a self-criticism. The [police detained](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgFVU9P0TdaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wMS8yMi9oZWFsdGgvdmlydXMtY29yb25hLmh0bWw_dGU9MSZubD1uaWNob2xhcy1rcmlzdG9mJmVtYz1lZGl0X25rXzIwMjAwMTMwJmNhbXBhaWduX2lkPTQ1Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTE1NTcyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MjA4MDcmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyMjAyMDAxMzBXA255dEIKACI90DJeJ0n4_VIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) eight “rumormongers” for calling attention to a crisis that the authorities were then trying to cover up. Think about that when you hear people, including President Trump, praise China’s efficiency and hail China’s President, Xi Jinping, for his leadership. This is only the latest instance in which Xi’s authoritarian model hampered a government response to a crisis. In 2018, Xi bungled a swine flu outbreak in much the same way, and almost one-quarter of the world’s pigs have now died as a result. All this is the [topic of my column today](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgFVU9P0TuaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wMS8yOS9vcGluaW9uL2Nvcm9uYXZpcnVzLWNoaW5hLWdvdmVybm1lbnQuaHRtbD90ZT0xJm5sPW5pY2hvbGFzLWtyaXN0b2YmZW1jPWVkaXRfbmtfMjAyMDAxMzAmY2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NDUmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTU1NzImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0yMDgwNyZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTIyMDIwMDEzMFcDbnl0QgoAIj3QMl4nSfj9Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). I note that the United States isn’t in a position to lecture other countries on health care: We do much worse than other advanced countries, and China has been much more effective than America in tackling the virus that causes measles. So we should approach these issues with some humility — but that shouldn’t impede our willingness to point out how China’s broad crackdown on civil society has created threats for his own people and the world’s. Xi has also mishandled relations with Hong Kong, with Taiwan and the United States. The Chinese economy is growing more slowly than it has in three decades. I don’t know if Xi is in political trouble for his misrule, but he should be. He’s just another dictator trying to drag his country in the wrong direction, and the anger visible on Chinese social media suggests that many ordinary Chinese understand this. [Here’s my column](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgFVU9P0TuaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wMS8yOS9vcGluaW9uL2Nvcm9uYXZpcnVzLWNoaW5hLWdvdmVybm1lbnQuaHRtbD90ZT0xJm5sPW5pY2hvbGFzLWtyaXN0b2YmZW1jPWVkaXRfbmtfMjAyMDAxMzAmY2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NDUmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTU1NzImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0yMDgwNyZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTIyMDIwMDEzMFcDbnl0QgoAIj3QMl4nSfj9Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). 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I’m particularly worried that Netanyahu says that on Sunday he will seek Israeli cabinet approval to take the next step and in effect annex almost a third of the West Bank. Trump and Netanyahu are making a two-state solution ever less likely. Palestinians deserve political and civil rights. If neither the U.S. nor Israel is prepared to give them a meaningful state, then Israel should give all Palestinians the vote and full rights within Israel. Otherwise, the apartheid analogies that Israel so hates will become more and more common. In short, Israel must choose whether it wants a one-state solution or a two-state solution. It can’t settle indefinitely on a super state for Israel and a not-quite-a-state for Palestinians. It can’t be allowed to have its cake and eat it too. Israel feels no urgency about the troubles of Palestinians, and I think calls for giving Palestinians the vote are one way to inject that sense of urgency. 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If you have friends who might enjoy this newsletter, please forward this email or tell them they can [sign up here](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgFVU9P4RHAmh0dHBzOi8vbmwubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vZi9hL2c0MjZ1NUZRNDRlRWJDY2N2NXc4ckF-fi9BQUFBQVFBfi9SZ1JmS0daYlAwVFFhSFIwY0RvdkwzZDNkeTV1ZVhScGJXVnpMbU52YlM5dVpYZHpiR1YwZEdWeWN5OXVhV05vYjJ4aGN5MXJjbWx6ZEc5bVAzUmxQVEVtYm13OWJtbGphMnR5YVhOMGIyWW1aVzFqUFdWa2FYUmZibXRmTWpBeE56QXlNVFlfWTJGdGNHRnBaMjVmYVdROU5EVW1hVzV6ZEdGdVkyVmZhV1E5TVRFek9UWW1jMlZuYldWdWRGOXBaRDB4TlRnMU5DWjFjMlZ5WDJsa1BUWXhaR1U0WldNNE56WTJORFpqT0RsaU16ZGtNV1kwTlRJMFpqVXpZVFZtSm5KbFoybGZhV1E5TnpjNU9ERXlNVGN5TURFM01ESXhObGNEYm5sMFFnb0FKbHZoUlYyNGhKc1dVaHRoYkdWNFlXNWtjbUV1YlM1dFlYSmphRUJuYldGcGJDNWpiMjFZQkFBQUFBQX4_dGU9MSZubD1uaWNob2xhcy1rcmlzdG9mJmVtYz1lZGl0X25rXzIwMjAwMTMwJmNhbXBhaWduX2lkPTQ1Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTE1NTcyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MjA4MDcmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyMjAyMDAxMzBXA255dEIKACI90DJeJ0n4_VIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA). If you’re looking for more, check out our next [book here](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgFVU9P4QEAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnBlbmd1aW5yYW5kb21ob3VzZS5jb20vYm9va3MvNTg4OTk5L3RpZ2h0cm9wZS1ieS1uaWNob2xhcy1kLWtyaXN0b2YtYW5kLXNoZXJ5bC13dWR1bm4vP3RlPTEmbmw9bmljaG9sYXMta3Jpc3RvZiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ua18yMDIwMDEzMCZjYW1wYWlnbl9pZD00NSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xNTU3MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTIwODA3JnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MjIwMjAwMTMwVwNueXRCCgAiPdAyXidJ-P1SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). Feedback and suggestions welcome at kristof-newsletter@nytimes.com. Tales from a Book Tour I’m on the road with my wife, Sheryl WuDunn, talking about our new book, [“Tightrope,”](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgFVU9P4QEAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnBlbmd1aW5yYW5kb21ob3VzZS5jb20vYm9va3MvNTg4OTk5L3RpZ2h0cm9wZS1ieS1uaWNob2xhcy1kLWtyaXN0b2YtYW5kLXNoZXJ5bC13dWR1bm4vP3RlPTEmbmw9bmljaG9sYXMta3Jpc3RvZiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ua18yMDIwMDEzMCZjYW1wYWlnbl9pZD00NSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xNTU3MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTIwODA3JnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MjIwMjAwMTMwVwNueXRCCgAiPdAyXidJ-P1SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) and our travels offer a reminder of how much pain there is in so many parts of the country. In New York I tend to be surrounded by people who have done well and are living pretty good lives: That insulation from need is one of the reasons America hasn’t responded more aggressively to a social crisis in which more Americans die every two weeks from drugs, alcohol and suicide than in 18 years of war in Afghanistan and Iraq. Yet at our book talks I hear constantly from families who live in the Other America. On a talk radio show at WHYY in Philadelphia, a woman called in and, in tears, recounted how she had lost four of her five children to drugs. The show’s host and I found ourselves tearing up as well. And people constantly come up to us and say that their hometowns — in Maine, Texas, Tennessee, Ohio — are struggling just like my own beloved hometown in Oregon. You can see some of that pain as well in [these letters to the editor](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgFVU9P0TwaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wMS8yNS9vcGluaW9uL2xldHRlcnMvd29ya2luZy1jbGFzcy1mYW1pbGllcy5odG1sP3RlPTEmbmw9bmljaG9sYXMta3Jpc3RvZiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ua18yMDIwMDEzMCZjYW1wYWlnbl9pZD00NSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xNTU3MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTIwODA3JnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MjIwMjAwMTMwVwNueXRCCgAiPdAyXidJ-P1SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) that the Times published after our book excerpt. [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-2) ADVERTISEMENT ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgFVU9P0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NzI4Njk1JmxpPU5LJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1OS18yMDIwMDEzMFcDbnl0QgoAIj3QMl4nSfj9Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgFVU9P0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NzI4Njk2JmxpPU5LJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1OS18yMDIwMDEzMFcDbnl0QgoAIj3QMl4nSfj9Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgFVU9P0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NzI4Njk4JmxpPU5LJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1OS18yMDIwMDEzMFcDbnl0QgoAIj3QMl4nSfj9Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ As I write this, I’m in Chicago, traveling to Traverse City, Mich., on Friday, and then next week I’ll be in San Francisco, Seattle, Portland and McMinnville, Ore. If I’m coming to your city, come out and say hello. Here’s [a list of our book tour destinations](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgFVU9P0TsaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cucGVuZ3VpbnJhbmRvbWhvdXNlLmNvbS9hdXRob3JzLzE2MjkzL25pY2hvbGFzLWQta3Jpc3RvZiNldmVudHM_dGU9MSZubD1uaWNob2xhcy1rcmlzdG9mJmVtYz1lZGl0X25rXzIwMjAwMTMwJmNhbXBhaWduX2lkPTQ1Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTE1NTcyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MjA4MDcmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyMjAyMDAxMzBXA255dEIKACI90DJeJ0n4_VIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) (the link is imperfect, but if you hit “see more” you should see destinations). And [here’s my column about China](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgFVU9P0TuaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wMS8yOS9vcGluaW9uL2Nvcm9uYXZpcnVzLWNoaW5hLWdvdmVybm1lbnQuaHRtbD90ZT0xJm5sPW5pY2hvbGFzLWtyaXN0b2YmZW1jPWVkaXRfbmtfMjAyMDAxMzAmY2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NDUmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTU1NzImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0yMDgwNyZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTIyMDIwMDEzMFcDbnl0QgoAIj3QMl4nSfj9Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) and how its authoritarian model shows its flaws in the coronavirus outbreak, and poses a threat to everyone. [Check it out!](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgFVU9P0TuaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wMS8yOS9vcGluaW9uL2Nvcm9uYXZpcnVzLWNoaW5hLWdvdmVybm1lbnQuaHRtbD90ZT0xJm5sPW5pY2hvbGFzLWtyaXN0b2YmZW1jPWVkaXRfbmtfMjAyMDAxMzAmY2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NDUmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTU1NzImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0yMDgwNyZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTIyMDIwMDEzMFcDbnl0QgoAIj3QMl4nSfj9Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) RECENT COLUMNS [What if It Were Obama on Trial? Consider Trump’s impeachment from some other angles. by nicholas kristof](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgFVU9P0TxaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wMS8yNS9vcGluaW9uL3N1bmRheS9vYmFtYS10cnVtcC1zZW5hdGUtdHJpYWwuaHRtbD90ZT0xJm5sPW5pY2hvbGFzLWtyaXN0b2YmZW1jPWVkaXRfbmtfMjAyMDAxMzAmY2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NDUmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTU1NzImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0yMDgwNyZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTIyMDIwMDEzMFcDbnl0QgoAIj3QMl4nSfj9Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [Article Thumbnail](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgFVU9P0TxaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wMS8yNS9vcGluaW9uL3N1bmRheS9vYmFtYS10cnVtcC1zZW5hdGUtdHJpYWwuaHRtbD90ZT0xJm5sPW5pY2hvbGFzLWtyaXN0b2YmZW1jPWVkaXRfbmtfMjAyMDAxMzAmY2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NDUmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTU1NzImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0yMDgwNyZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTIyMDIwMDEzMFcDbnl0QgoAIj3QMl4nSfj9Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [What if Trump Gave Alaska to Putin? Republicans seem to think no president’s misbehavior could ever be bad enough to warrant removal. by nicholas kristof](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgFVU9P0TpaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wMS8yMi9vcGluaW9uL3RydW1wLXRyaWFsLWltcGVhY2htZW50Lmh0bWw_dGU9MSZubD1uaWNob2xhcy1rcmlzdG9mJmVtYz1lZGl0X25rXzIwMjAwMTMwJmNhbXBhaWduX2lkPTQ1Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTE1NTcyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MjA4MDcmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyMjAyMDAxMzBXA255dEIKACI90DJeJ0n4_VIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [Article Thumbnail](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgFVU9P0TpaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wMS8yMi9vcGluaW9uL3RydW1wLXRyaWFsLWltcGVhY2htZW50Lmh0bWw_dGU9MSZubD1uaWNob2xhcy1rcmlzdG9mJmVtYz1lZGl0X25rXzIwMjAwMTMwJmNhbXBhaWduX2lkPTQ1Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTE1NTcyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MjA4MDcmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyMjAyMDAxMzBXA255dEIKACI90DJeJ0n4_VIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) WHAT I’M READING IN THE TIMES [Pompeo Called Me a ‘Liar.’ That’s Not What Bothers Me. Journalists are supposed to ask tough questions, then share the answers — or lack thereof — with the world. by mary louise kelly](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgFVU9P0TtaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wMS8yOC9vcGluaW9uL21pa2UtcG9tcGVvLWtlbGx5LWludGVydmlldy5odG1sP3RlPTEmbmw9bmljaG9sYXMta3Jpc3RvZiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ua18yMDIwMDEzMCZjYW1wYWlnbl9pZD00NSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xNTU3MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTIwODA3JnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MjIwMjAwMTMwVwNueXRCCgAiPdAyXidJ-P1SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Article Thumbnail](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgFVU9P0TtaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wMS8yOC9vcGluaW9uL21pa2UtcG9tcGVvLWtlbGx5LWludGVydmlldy5odG1sP3RlPTEmbmw9bmljaG9sYXMta3Jpc3RvZiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ua18yMDIwMDEzMCZjYW1wYWlnbl9pZD00NSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xNTU3MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTIwODA3JnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MjIwMjAwMTMwVwNueXRCCgAiPdAyXidJ-P1SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Trump’s Middle East Peace Plan Exposes the Ugly Truth This isn’t a break with the status quo. It’s the natural culmination of decades of American policy. by nathan thrall](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgFVU9P0TiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wMS8yOS9vcGluaW9uL3RydW1wLXBlYWNlLXBsYW4uaHRtbD90ZT0xJm5sPW5pY2hvbGFzLWtyaXN0b2YmZW1jPWVkaXRfbmtfMjAyMDAxMzAmY2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NDUmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTU1NzImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0yMDgwNyZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTIyMDIwMDEzMFcDbnl0QgoAIj3QMl4nSfj9Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [Article Thumbnail](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgFVU9P0TiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wMS8yOS9vcGluaW9uL3RydW1wLXBlYWNlLXBsYW4uaHRtbD90ZT0xJm5sPW5pY2hvbGFzLWtyaXN0b2YmZW1jPWVkaXRfbmtfMjAyMDAxMzAmY2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NDUmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTU1NzImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0yMDgwNyZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTIyMDIwMDEzMFcDbnl0QgoAIj3QMl4nSfj9Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-3) Need help? 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