Global affairs
Stories that reach beyond the United States: Ukraine, Russia, Iran, the Gulf, Europe and Canada.
Money and Conflicts of Interest 3
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Money and Conflicts of Interest
Trump's oil stocks, the Iran war and $7 billion of well-timed bets: what is known and what is not
JEC Democratic staff estimate Trump's oil stocks gained $4.6 million to $15.5 million in 2026; Reuters traced about $7 billion in oil bets placed before his Iran announcements; the CFTC confirmed an open probe on October 22, 2026.
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Money and Conflicts of Interest
The Qatari 747: a gift to the government, a cost to the public
The Pentagon accepted a Qatari Boeing 747 in May 2025; Trump began flying on it July 1, 2026. The Air Force says conversion costs under $400 million (estimate); the library plan is now uncertain.
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Money and Conflicts of Interest
Trump's crypto money: $1.4 billion reported income, a UAE stake, and a lawsuit that is only a filing
Trump's 2025 disclosure reported over $1.4 billion in crypto income; Reuters estimates about $2.3 billion in family gains; a $500 million UAE-linked stake drew a CFIUS request and, in October 2026, an unproven lawsuit.
Government and Oversight 1
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Government and Oversight
The $489 million warning: what the USAID watchdog said was at risk, what was actually lost, and who was in charge
USAID's inspector general warned in February 2025 that $489 million in food aid was at risk and was fired the next day; most warehoused food later shipped, $2.9 million spoiled in Djibouti, 500 tons destroyed in Dubai.
Defense and Security 2
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Defense and Security
What the Iran war has cost so far, and what the Pentagon is asking for next: $45 billion, $87 billion, $1.5 trillion
The Pentagon reported $45.1 billion in Iran war costs through early September 2026 (CBO: $38 billion through August 1); an $87.6 billion supplemental is pending and the 2027 request seeks $1.5 trillion for defense.
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Defense and Security
Trump's sons bet on defense tech while their father's Pentagon spends: what the records show
A Washington Post analysis found companies backed by Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump won at least $3.2 billion in direct federal business and $3.1 billion in options after they invested; officials and firms deny favoritism.
Foreign Policy 2
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Foreign Policy
Russian oil sanctions, one year on: repeated waivers, a Hungary carve-out and a $22 billion sale that has not closed
Since sanctioning Rosneft and Lukoil in October 2025, the administration waived them three times during the Iran war, gave Hungary a one-year exemption now up for renewal, and Lukoil's $22 billion foreign portfolio is still unsold.
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Foreign Policy
Starlink and Ukraine: the 2022 shutdown report, the October 2026 slowdown, and who had the switch
Reuters reported Musk ordered Starlink cut over parts of Ukraine in 2022 (SpaceX disputes it); in October 2026 Ukraine's Starlink and Starshield links were throttled for over a week until service returned October 24.