Aamer Madhani, Author at The Rapid City Post

In this image made from video, Police and Military Police secure parts of a damaged object shot down by Polish authorities at a site in Wohyn, Poland, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Rafal Niedzielski)

Trump offers ambiguous initial response to Russian drone incursion into Poland’s airspace

September 10, 2025

President Donald Trump has offered an ambiguous initial response to Russia’s drone incursion into Poland’s airspace. Trump wrote on social media Wednesday: “What’s with Russia violating Poland’s airspace with drones? Here we go!” Russian drones earlier Wednesday entered Poland’s territory over the course of many hours and were shot down with help from NATO allies. It was a provocative act by Moscow that put the United States’ NATO allies in Europe on edge. Trump’s reaction was notably less robust than that of his ambassador to NATO, Matthew Whitaker. It also stood in contrast to the strong condemnation by several European leaders.

President Donald Trump speaks about the relocation of U.S. Space Command headquarters from Colorado to Alabama in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

New Polish president who was endorsed by Trump is making his first White House visit

September 2, 2025

Newly inaugurated Polish President Karol Nawrocki is set to visit the White House just months after President Donald Trump took the unusual step of weighing into Poland’s election and endorsing the nationalist politician. With Wednesday’s visit, Nawrocki is looking to strengthen his relationship with Trump and make the case that the U.S. needs to maintain its strong military presence in his country. Some key advisers in the Republican administration have advocated for shifting U.S. troops and military from Europe to the Indo-Pacific with China’s lock as the United States’ most significant strategic and economic competitor. Roughly 10,000 American troops are stationed in Poland on a rotational basis.

FILE - A Homeland Security vehicle, right, is parked outside the Moakley Federal Courthouse, April 19, 2023, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)

Federal judge issues order blocking Trump effort to expand speedy deportations of migrants

August 30, 2025

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from carrying out speedy deportations of undocumented migrants detained in the interior of the United States. It’s a setback for the Republican administration’s efforts to remove migrants from the country without appearing before a judge first. U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb wrote in a 48-page opinion issued Friday night that the effort is based on the argument “that those who entered the country illegally are entitled to no process under the Fifth Amendment, but instead must accept whatever grace Congress affords them.” The administration says the judge’s ruling ignores federal law and Trump’s power under the Constitution.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe departs a classified briefing for senators at the Capitol on Capitol Hill, Thursday, June 26, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

CIA chief told lawmakers Iran nuclear program set back years with strikes on metal conversion site

June 29, 2025

CIA Director John Ratcliffe has told skeptical U.S. lawmakers that American military strikes destroyed Iran’s lone metal conversion facility and delivered a monumental setback to Tehran’s nuclear program that will take years to overcome. That’s according to a U.S. official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive intelligence. Ratcliffe also told lawmakers at a classified hearing last week that the intelligence community assessed the vast majority of Iran’s amassed enriched uranium likely remains buried at Isfahan and Fordo nuclear facilities. The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency says Iran’s capabilities have been “destroyed to an important degree” but “some is still standing.”

Trump is at a moment of choosing as Israel looks for more US help crushing Iran’s nuclear program

June 16, 2025

President Donald Trump in about eight hours went from suggesting a nuclear deal remained “achievable” to urging Tehran’s 9.5 million residents to flee for their lives. He cut short a visit to the Group of Seven summit in the Canadian Rockies so he could return to Washington for urgent talks with aides about the escalating Israel-Iran conflict. Trump is expected to arrive at the White House early Tuesday. Israel over four days of strikes has done considerable damage to Iran. It believes that it can now deal a permanent blow to Tehran’s nuclear program — particularly with more direct help from Trump. But deepening U.S. involvement comes with enormous political risk.

President Donald Trump, left, escorted by Air Force Col. Angela F. Ochoa, Commander, 89th Airlift Wing, walks from Marine One to board Air Force One, Sunday, June 15, 2025, at Joint Base Andrews, Md., for a trip to Canada to attend the G7 Summit. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Trump directs ICE to expand deportations in Democratic-run cities, undeterred by protests

June 15, 2025

President Donald Trump has directed federal immigration officials to prioritize deportations from Democratic-run cities after large protests have erupted in Los Angeles and other major cities against the Trump administration’s immigration policies. Trump in a social media posting Sunday called on ICE officials “to do all in their power to achieve the very important goal of delivering the single largest Mass Deportation Program in History.” He added that to reach the goal officials ”must expand efforts to detain and deport” people in the country illegally in cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago and New York.

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump walk after greeting guests during the congressional picnic on the South Lawn of the White House, Thursday, June 12, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Israeli strikes on Iran lead to new test of Trump’s ability to deliver on ‘America first’ agenda

June 12, 2025

Just hours before Israel launched strikes on Iran early Friday, President Donald Trump was still holding onto hope that the long-simmering dispute over Tehran’s nuclear program could be resolved without military action. But with the Israeli military operation now underway and likely to continue for some time, Trump will be tested anew on his ability to deliver on a campaign promise to disentangle the U.S. from foreign conflicts. He’s already struggling to find an endgame to the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.

Aamer Madhani.