Politics today is defined by strain—within alliances, governments, and national identities. Days before a NATO summit in Ankara, Donald Trump is again questioning the value of America’s commitment to the alliance, calling current support levels “ridiculous” and unfair to Washington. He also spoke with Benjamin Netanyahu, with both leaders agreeing to meet soon in the United States as US-Israel coordination after the Iran conflict remains in focus. In Eastern Europe, Moldova has been thrown into fresh uncertainty after Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu resigned amid a corruption scandal, forcing President Maia Sandu to move quickly to preserve her pro-European agenda. Meanwhile in Kyiv, a day of mourning follows one of the deadliest Russian attacks on the capital this year, with at least 30 dead and rescuers still searching rubble. And from the Vatican, Pope Leo offered a pointed counterpoint to hardline politics, praising America’s immigrant legacy as central to its identity.