A close read of the new NSS reveals a radical reordering of U.S. priorities, sweeping culture-war language, and peace claims that look far less decisive under scrutiny.

Rachel Thomas-Bonnet is the author of Escape the Crazy: How I Help Smart People Flee the Stupid, a witty, honest memoir about leaving chaos behind and choosing a life that makes sense.

A leaked transcript reveals Trump special envoy Steve Witkoff advising Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov on how to manipulate Donald Trump, praising Vladimir Putin, and proposing territorial concessions for Ukraine. U.S. lawmakers demand Witkoff’s removal as Moscow denies the leaks — while admitting the calls were made over WhatsApp. The scandal exposes how Russia shaped a pro-Kremlin narrative inside the White House and why the “peace plan” pushed on Ukraine was never real.