Edward Wong

NEW: The board of the Fulbright Program has just resigned after accusing Trump aides of political interference. They say a State Dept. office under Rubio and Darren Beattie has cancelled scholarships to nearly 200 US professors and researchers. Story: www.nytimes.com/2025/06/11/u...

A State Dept. cable says the Trump administration might add up to 36 countries — most in Africa — to a list of 21 countries on which it imposed a full or partial travel ban this month. Citizens can't get visas to the US. Our @nytimes.com story: www.nytimes.com/2025/06/16/u...

BREAKING: Rubio announces major cuts to the State Department in a war on "ideology." He is eliminating the office that advances American values of democracy and human rights. He aims to cut 15% of US-based employees. Our @nytimes.com story: www.nytimes.com/2025/04/22/u...

NEW: Rubio spent years in the Senate criticizing China for human rights abuses and security activities. But he now emphasizes "cooperation" with China — changing his tone to align with Trump. In Beijing, he marveled inside a hall of Communist leaders. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/05/16/u...

NEW: Trump's summit with Xi is the latest in a half-century of leadership meetings that built on a gamble by Nixon: trade and diplomacy with China were good for the US, and would push Beijing to change. Now, some Chinese officials see an America in decline. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/05/13/u...

The mission: “Open up” China to more commerce with the US. It’s the language of 1990s-style engagement.

NEW: Astronomy crashes into earthly politics. As Trump prepares to meet Xi, the US-China rivalry unfolds in the stars. Argentina quietly halts a radio telescope project with China after US pressure. US officials also pushed Chile on a similar telescope. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/05/10/w...

NEW: The US is selling thousands of Patriot interceptor missiles worth $17 billion to UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain — despite a US stockpile depleted by the Iran war. It said last week it was selling $4 billion of the missiles to Qatar. This takes years to make. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/05/07/u...

NEW: Democratic lawmakers sent Rubio a letter asking about the sway of a conservative group, the Ben Franklin Fellows, inside the State Dept. The group boosts career diplomats with Trumpian ideas — despite the non-partisan culture of the foreign service. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/05/06/u...

NEW: China is trying to shaping an outcome to the Iran war that it will benefit from. It's pushing Iran to talk with the US. But it's also allowing companies to export material that the Iranian military can use. The war could overshadow the Trump-Xi summit. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/05/03/u...

NEW: Trump aides declared an emergency to bypass Congress to sell arms valued at $8.6 billion to Israel and Arab nations. That means less weapons for the US since munitions take years to make. Pentagon officials are alarmed at low supplies and war risks. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/05/02/w...

Join me and Jonathan Cheng, Beijing bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal, as we talk about his new book on North Korea tonight at Politics and Prose at the Wharf in DC. In "Korean Messiah," Cheng documents the Christian roots of the Kim dynasty and probes the cult of personality.

NEW: The Trump administration turns up the pressure on Iraq to crack down on militias supported by Iran. It has halted security cooperation with Iraq, including training, financial backing and other support. It also demands a pro-US prime minister. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/04/21/w...