A Review of 2025
The Substack Posts That Made This a Year to Remember
Dear Readers,
What a year! As 2025 comes to a close I wanted to take a moment and reflect on the past year of posts from Why it Matters. Between long-form deep dives on the challenges facing our country, monthly security briefings covering the challenges seen across the world, and lightning-fast reflections on political crises and conflict, we’ve doubled our readership. Thousands of you have tuned into my streams and joined me and a roster of guests for discussions on current events and Why it Matters. I wanted to thank each and every one of you for joining me on this journey in these uncertain times.
I’m sure you’ve noticed there’s been a bit of silence on my end - don’t worry, all is well, we are just planning some major things in the coming year.
Below is a list of articles published in 2025 that cover a variety of topics and policy areas that may be of interest. Older posts on this substack are archived and accessible to paid members. To read the entries below, be sure to upgrade your membership from free to paid member.
My Speech at the Cooper Union
In March I had the opportunity to speak to an audience at the Cooper Union in NYC on Rebuilding the American Dream. This speech included reflections on the necessity of moral courage in times of crisis, the need to defend and uphold the American Dream, and a call to action for the American electorate to channel their energies towards civic engagement.
Rebuilding the American Dream, Speech at Cooper Union
Tonight, I had the honor of speaking at Cooper Union with my friend Jeff Atwood. I reflected on the American Dream, the challenges facing our democracy, and the necessity of moral courage in the fight for our country’s future. Below is the full transcript of my speech. Thank you for being part of this important conversation.
On AI And National Security Work
The development of Artificial Intelligence has major impacts on work and labor across the United States - including the field of national security. This piece examines how national security professionals must navigate the immense changes brought about by the development of AI technologies as well as how AI may impact counterintelligence and attack surfaces.
A Statement on National Security Staff Firings
In January Trump’s National Security Advisor Mike Waltz announced a mass termination of senior national security staffers serving in apolitical advisory roles. This was reportedly a precaution to prevent any possibility of dissent and dissuade potential whistleblowers from uncovering Trump’s corruption. This has been known as the “Vindman Rule” and signals just how concerned the current administration is with civil servants placing their duty to the constitution over personal loyalty to Trump.
Statement on National Security Staff Firings
Yesterday, President Trump’s National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz, announced a sweeping directive to terminate all national security staffers loaned from other departments and agencies who serve in apolitical, non-partisan senior staff roles. Waltz framed this decision as a means to eliminate Biden-era appointees and enforce absolute alignment with Trump’s policy agenda. Notably, Waltz justified this move by referencing my role in exposing Trump’s abuse of power, which led to his first impeachment. Using my actions as a rationale, Waltz aims to purge scores of professionals from the Department of Defense, Department of State, CIA, and other agencies—not because of their conduct, but due to a demand for blind allegiance to Trump. This approach sends a stark and troubling message: in a second Trump administration, only political loyalists will be permitted to serve on the NSC.
Using a network of delivery trucks, quadcopter UAVs, and months of meticulous planning, the Ukrainian military launched a daring operation to disable Russia’s nuclear bomber fleet. “Unraveling Spider’s Web” examines the scope and scale of this operation and the lasting damage to Russia’s nuclear capabilities in the aftermath of this mission.
The Dark Age of American Intelligence
The second election of Donald Trump saw the appointment of Tulsi Gabbard to Director of National Intelligence. Gabbard has historically repeated narratives presented by America’s adversaries and upheld half-truths and distortions propagated by the regimes of Vladimir Putin and Bashar al-Assad. In February, I examined how her appointment would contribute to a decrease in intelligence sharing between the United States and our allies.
Situation Report: Kursk
The Ukrainian military withdrew its forces from Russia’s Kursk Oblast in March 2025. The decision came after several major developments, ranging from the deployment of the North Korean military to support Russian operations in Kursk to the temporary suspension of intelligence sharing by the United States. This long-read examines the operation in the context of the wider Russo-Ukrainian war and asks the question: “was the juice worth the squeeze”?
Situation Report: Kursk
Earlier this month the Ukrainian military evacuated forces from Kursk Oblast and began to redeploy formations previously stationed in the territory of the Russian Federation. The Ukrainian military currently maintains small holdings in Kursk along the international borders of Russia and Ukraine. However, the salient that once extended into Kursk Oblast and included the city of Sudzha no longer exists.
What is Neoreaction?
“Neoreaction” is a right-wing ideology born in Silicon Valley that has spread through much of the tech ecosystem. This piece examines the ideological foundations of Neoreactionary thought and how this framework explains the MAGA-Tech alliance that has formed under the second Trump administration.
There’s a civil war brewing in the world of MAGA. The Trump-Musk axis that led to the creation of DOGE has quietly come apart, while formerly prominent Republican figures like Vivek Ramaswamy now grapple with the GOP’s nativist politics. This piece examines the divide in the wide coalition that once defined the 2024 Trump campaign and how this factionalism may impact the second Trump administration.
🇨🇦🇨🇦 I always enjoy your thoughtful, informed comments which help to understand the madness around us. Your courage and quiet intelligence will go down in history. I look forward to seeing you in a future that honours you. 🇨🇦🇨🇦
It’s important to have these recaps to remember the year that felt like 10 years. Who was it who said "There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen."___?