One argument I used to make to my students about why it was important to learn history (and historical thinking) is that someone was always going to be trying to tell you things were natural or had always been this way and that you needed to be able to see that as an exercise of power.

So no, I'm not buying it. We didn't have a functioning military, we were no threat to Russia and we did our absolute best to maintain good relations with Putin. We're rearming because we have to, not because we want to. We're out of options and that's Moscow's fault

The easiest way to write a bestseller in Germany pre-2022 was to write a book about Putin's great leadership or the mysterious Russian soul. This wasn't just some elite project, much of German society was convinced that we just need to get along with Russia and all would be fine

Our NYT piece examines Hamm's determined, 15-year campaign to reshape US energy policy. Why? He wanted to extend out the life of fossil fuels to allow his family-controlled company to keep drilling. He argued this is essential to US. energy security. A free link: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/12/b...