Trump’s Arms Deals, Turkey Protests, US Nuclear Follies, and More
The latest at Inkstick Media.
Hello, everyone.
When it comes to nuclear weapons, US President Donald Trump has routinely spoken out of both sides of his mouth. Still, as the United States pushes forward with modernizing its nuclear arsenal, countries like Russia and China have followed suit. In the latest installment of the Adults in a Room column, experts debate the future of arms control.
Here’s a grim historical fact: Turkey has a long history of coups. After the recent arrest of the Istanbul mayor, a high-profile opponent of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Inkstick contributor Alexander Langlois warns that the Turkish president may be repeating the mistakes of the very forces that once tried to keep him out of Turkish politics.
And if you missed it, Inkstick recently announced the launch of The Dotted Line, a newsletter that will publish news rundowns, reading recommendations, and occasional dispatches about borders and the global far right.
That’s not all we’ve got at Inkstick. And if you’re not already, please follow us on LinkedIn, Threads, Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, and YouTube.
“How Turkey is Seeking to Obliterate Any Sign of Resistance” by Alexander Langlois (April 28)
Protests rattled Turkey in the wake of the March 19 arrest of leading opposition figure, Istanbul mayor, and presidential candidate Ekrem Imamoglu. Critics say the arrest is Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s blatant attack on the last vestiges of Turkish democracy.
“US Nuclear Policy is Now Facing an Uncertain Future” by Adults in a Room (April 29)
Many US allies, concerned about Washington’s reliability as a security guarantor, are more openly discussing developing their own nuclear weapons. These developments raise the risk of a new nuclear arms race.
“How Trump Became the Arms Dealer in Chief” by William D. Hartung (April 30)
Donald Trump’s record on arms transfer policy in second term’s first 100 days looks a lot like his approach in his first term — he styles himself as the ultimate dealmaker who can push billions of dollars of US weaponry out the door to the benefit of major weapons contractors and the people who work for them.
“The US Has a Long History of Politically Motivated Deportations” by Rick Baldoz (May 1)
Recent deportation orders targeting foreign students in the US have prompted a heated debate about the legality of these actions. The Trump administration made no secret that many individuals were facing removal because of their pro-Palestinian advocacy. (Originally published at The Conversation.)
“Deep Dive: Border Walls and Fences Are Destroying Wildlife” by Inkstick (May 2)
Walls, fences, razor wire, and other physical barriers all make crossing a border a much more dangerous undertaking. Yet, a new study at the Biological Conservation journal digs deep into the dangers border walls, fences, and other barriers impose on wildlife.