Today, the GoodFellows discuss the war in Iran and how it is likely to impact international affairs; Peter Berkowitz defends the aims of the war while emphasizing the need for greater planning for “the day after”; and Hoover’s Center for Revitalizing American Institutions launches a new interactive civic profile tool, allowing citizens to gauge their civic knowledge, values, and engagement.
War in Iran
A week into US and Israeli military operations against Iran, where does the conflict stand, and what’s the right historical comparison for it? On the latest episode of GoodFellows, Senior Fellows Niall Ferguson, John Cochrane, and H.R. McMaster discuss the odds of hostilities expanding within the Middle East and beyond the region. The show also covers what the aftermath of “regime alteration” might resemble; the possible economic and political backlash should energy prices spike; and how this geopolitical shock felt to leaders in Beijing and Moscow. Watch or listen to this half-hour episode for a timely and serious appraisal of the Iran conflict and its implications for US foreign policy and international affairs. Watch or listen here.
In just over a week, the joint US and Israeli military campaign in Iran “has already severely weakened and may topple the brutal Islamist theocracy,” writes Senior Fellow Peter Berkowitz at RealClearPolitics. “Yet the Trump administration has given little evidence of gaming out the consequences for the post-war governance of Iran,” the former senior State Department official notes. Berkowitz emphasizes that “the United States did not initiate a war but rather undertook an operation to end the war that Iran’s Islamist revolutionaries have waged for 47 years against the United States and Middle East friends and partners.” He also cautions that “difficult days lie ahead.” Berkowitz concludes that “American planning for the day after the termination of major military operations should proceed expeditiously . . . preparing both for a greatly weakened regime and for regime collapse.” Read more here.
Hoover Institution News
The Hoover Institution’s Center for Revitalizing American Institutions (RAI) has launched a new online civics self-assessment tool called Civic Profile to help Americans reflect on a core question: What kind of citizen am I? Under the leadership of Senior Fellow Chester E. Finn Jr., the new online tool will enable users to test their knowledge and perceptions about civics and find their place within our vibrant democracy. “In this anniversary year of the Declaration of Independence,” Finn noted, “as Hoover and other organizations deepen their commitment to advancing civic understanding and citizenship, this versatile new public-facing tool affords a unique opportunity for individuals to understand themselves as citizens; for educators to stimulate understanding and constructive interaction among their students; and for scholars, journalists, and analysts to access a great new source of data on the state of citizenship in today’s America.” Read more here.
USA @ 250
The Hoover Institution invites you to this special live taping of Firing Line with Margaret Hoover on Wednesday, March 18, 4:30–7:00 pm PDT. As part of Hoover’s The Ideas That Made US: Dialogues on Freedom series, Margaret Hoover will moderate a conversation with Distinguished Fellow General Jim Mattis, former US Secretary of Defense, and Ryan Holiday, bestselling author and modern interpreter of Stoic philosophy, on the character that sustains a republic. Drawing on experience in military command, classical philosophy, and the enduring example of America’s founding generation, including Mattis’s and Holiday’s shared admiration for George Washington, the discussion will explore the virtues that have defined American leadership at its best: discipline, moral courage, humility in the exercise of power, and a profound sense of duty. This live episode of Firing Line will consider how those principles continue to define the American idea, and what they require of leaders and citizens alike in the decades ahead. Learn more and register here.
US Foreign Policy
The Hoover Institution’s annual India survey returns with a host of insights and policy prescriptions on offer for leaders working to navigate a unique period in US-India relations. The Hoover Institution’s Annual Survey of India 2026 provides a detailed examination of the country's current landscape, focusing on political, economic, social, and environmental challenges. It addresses key themes such as governance, economic growth, foreign relations, defense policy, education quality, healthcare accessibility, and sustainability. This comprehensive analysis aims to inform readers about critical developments and emerging trends that are shaping India’s future. The report was edited by Senior Fellow Šumit Ganguly. Chapters are written by leading specialists in each field and include historical context, the state of current policy choices, and possible future developments that could include enhanced cooperation with the US. Read more here.
National Security and Education
A new Hoover news story relates how an inspiring internship experience at Hoover led one student to travel to Ukraine to learn about the ongoing war there. High school senior Ahvish Roy helped prepare research for H.R. McMaster’s new book, expected to be published sometime in 2027. Roy produced evidence sheets and background memos on how military themes have shaped wars across history. McMaster had Roy focus on one theme in particular: initiative. After developing a deep interest in the ongoing Ukraine war and its human costs, Roy traveled to Ukraine in September 2025 and stayed in Kyiv for one week. There, he interviewed 10 Ukrainian soldiers, including helicopter pilots, drone pilots, battalion commanders, and officers from the Ukrainian Territorial Defense Forces. Read more here.
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