Jim Banks (R., Ind.). His contention is a popular talking point among Republicans who say the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan illustrates the weakness of the U.S. in the eyes of the world.

The GfK consumer confidence index does cover April and does show a deterioration, though how impactful that will be on retail sales remains to be seen. The team at Pantheon noted that the major ...

Michael R. Gordon is a national security correspondent for The Wall Street Journal. He is the author of “Degrade and Destroy: the Inside Story of the War Against the Islamic State, from Barack ...