In the News
News media from around the world rely on the expertise of Watson Institute faculty and researchers to help make sense of current world affairs and public policy issues. On this page, you will find articles that cite research done at Watson, opinion pieces by our faculty, interviews, podcasts and more.
In the News
News media from around the world rely on the expertise of Watson Institute faculty and researchers to help make sense of current world affairs and public policy issues. On this page, you will find articles that cite research done at Watson, opinion pieces by our faculty, interviews, podcasts and more.
In an article for Indian Express, Ashutosh Varshney discusses how false claims about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, allegedly killing pets for food were propagated by Donald Trump and JD Vance during a presidential debate, despite bipartisan evidence disproving the narrative.
Wendy Schiller comments on the vice presidential debate for Newsweek.
Dany Bahar said in The Washington Post, “These people are not competing for the same households as middle-class Americans.”
William Allen comments for the Portland Press Herald, "Given all the angst we have in politics today, someone so genuine and truthful is really someone we ought to honor."
In Responsible Statecraft, Lyle Goldstein discusses the U.S. Navy's logistical challenges and the need for a strategic reevaluation to match its ambitions.
Stephen Kinzer offered commentary in a recent New York Times article.
A recent Audacy article references a study on suicide among military veterans led by the Costs of War Project.
Wendy Schiller comments for The Guardian, "The problem for the Democrats is that inflation eroded the power of that income up until, you could argue, the late spring of 2024."
The New York Times
The true cost of America's gun obsession (comments by Ieva Jusionyte)
In a recent New York Times article, Ieva Jusionyte discusses the role that American guns have on violence in other countries.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Wendy Schiller discusses the state of the Republican party and the ideological nuances that have emerged with former President and current nominee Donald Trump as its figurehead.
In an interview on "On The Line" with Samira Mohyeddin, Omer Bartov discusses his shift from skepticism about Israel committing genocide to analyzing the movement of genocidal rhetoric becoming a reality.
The Boston Globe
Time for the US to admit defeat in Syria (written by Stephen Kinzer)
Stephen Kinzer writes for The Boston Globe, "More than a decade after we started a program of regime change, Bashar al-Assad is still in power."
In an interview with FOX 11, Timothy Edgar discusses a lawsuit filed by TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, against a law forcing the company to sell the platform or face a ban in the U.S.
A recent Rhode Island Monthly article featured "The Power of Faces," an art exhibit hosted by Watson's Art at Watson Committee and the Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Studies, which showcases portraits of refugees.
In an article in The Economist, Lyle Goldstein discusses how China is studying the performance of Western military technology, including HIMARS, landmines, and drones in the Ukraine war, to prepare for potential conflicts, particularly over Taiwan.
This CounterPunch opinion piece cites data from the Costs of War project estimating the Bush administration’s decision to oust Saddam Hussein resulted in a $2.9 trillion cost.
In a Bloomberg interview, Wendy Schiller explains why Vice President Kamala Harris tapped talk-show legend Oprah Winfrey and a group of Hollywood stars to take part in a virtual town hall as she seeks to maintain her campaign’s momentum against former President Donald Trump.
In Business Insider, Mark Blyth discusses how Harris faces a challenging political situation with the Federal Reserve's rate cut, as she must balance taking credit for the economic news without fueling partisan narratives pushed by Trump.
In an interview with Rumble, Omer Bartov discusses Israel's actions in Gaza, arguing that they amount to genocide, explores the lack of empathy in Israeli society, and addresses the role of Western countries in supplying arms, raising questions of complicity in war crimes.
A recent New York Times article cites research from the Costs of War project, highlighting the "memory-holing" of the War on Terror.
Ieva Jusionyte appeared on Good Morning America to discuss her new book, "Exit Wounds: How America's Guns Fuel Violence Across The Border."
In an interview with Rumble, Omer Bartov discusses his view that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza and the implications of Israel's actions for the region and international complicity.
International Business Times
Harris, Trump Target Swing States After Fierce Debate (comments by Wendy Schiller)
Wendy Schiller commented on the recent presidential debate in an International Business Times article.
In a recent Chicago Tribune article, Lyle Goldstein analyzed National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's visit to Beijing.
Wendy Schiller comments for Newsweek, "Harris was effective in presenting herself as the calmer and more stable presidential choice, and may have further solidified the Democratic Party base."
A recent Washington Post article cites research from the Costs of War project that Vice President Kamala Harris mentioned during the presidential debate.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Wendy Schiller offers her takeaways from the presidential debate and explains what Vice President Kamala Harris must do to defeat former President Donald Trump in November.
A recent USA Today article refutes Vice President Kamala Harris's debate claim that there are no active-duty U.S. service members in combat zones, citing research from the Costs of War project.
C-SPAN's Washington Journal cites the Costs of War a resource on the costs of the post-9/11 wars.
In an article for The Boston Globe, Stephen Kinzer argues that Tulsi Gabbard’s portrayal of Donald Trump as a peacemaker is contradicted by his record of militaristic actions, making it unrealistic to view him as a candidate for peace.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Wendy Schiller looks ahead to next week's debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump and breaks down the keys to success for each candidate.
In an interview with TVP World, Michael Kennedy discussed the growing divide between the European Union and the U.S. and shared his insights on the potential impact of a Trump or Harris election.
In his column for the Indian Express, Ashutosh Varshney argues that Bangladesh’s economic growth without job creation and its authoritarian repression of dissent undermine political legitimacy, offering a lesson for the Global South.
Centrum Stosunków Międzynarodowych
Zoom the World: American elections (interview with Michael Kennedy)
In an interview with Centrum Stosunków Międzynarodowych, Michael Kennedy discussed the implications of Kamala Harris's nomination, the dynamics of the U.S. election, contrasting visions of the state, and the influence of regional, gender, and Palestinian American politics.
In an interview on PBS, Wendy Schiller discusses the state’s three-year extension of the Providence schools takeover and local reactions to Kamala Harris’ first interview as the presidential nominee.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Wendy Schiller explains what Vice President Kamala Harris must do to perform well in her first nationally televised interview as the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee.
In an interview with CGTN, Omer Bartov discusses the U.S. House of Representatives' recent passage of the Antisemitism Awareness Act amid widespread Pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses.
In an interview on FRDH Podcast, Omer Bartov discusses Israeli politics and society.
In The Boston Globe, Stephen Kinzer argues that while Trump and Harris lack deep foreign policy expertise, their running mates, JD Vance and Tim Walz, hold unconventional views that could significantly influence U.S. foreign policy, particularly on Ukraine, China, and Russia.
In an interview with NPR, Ashutosh Varshney argues that Kamala Harris' Black identity outweighs her Indian roots and suggests her presidency wouldn’t drastically shift U.S. policy toward India.
Boston Business Journal
Talent Behind the Wall (comments by John Eason)
In Boston Business Journal, John Eason emphasizes that prison education programs not only provide knowledge but also aim to build self-worth and foster opportunities for prisoners to organize and uplift themselves.
South China Morning Post
Joe Biden approved secret nuclear strategy focusing on ‘Chinese threat’ (comments by Lyle Goldstein)
In South China Morning Post, Lyle Goldstein argues that despite U.S. nuclear strategy adjustments for multiple adversaries, there is little evidence of serious nuclear coordination among Russia, China, and North Korea.
In a recent piece for Yeni Şafak, Omer Bartov argues that Israel's military actions in Gaza constitute genocide due to systematic destruction and displacement of civilians.
A Costs of War study, cited by Military Times, found that the number of sexual assaults in the U.S. military is likely significantly higher than official government estimates.
In TIME, Nadje Al-Ali discussed the history of Iraq's 1959 Personal Status law, which prohibits marriage for individuals under the age of 18.
In Newsweek, Wendy Schiller discussed the differences in how presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump view tariffs.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Wendy Schiller discussed the economic platforms of both Trump and Harris and what might resonate with party base voters and independents.
The Boston Globe
It’s time to retire the word ‘genocide’ (written by Stephen Kinzer)
Stephen Kinzer argues in a Boston Globe column that the term "genocide" has lost its meaning due to overuse.
Lyle Goldstein contributed to a Responsible Statecraft article gathering expert opinions on Ukraine’s surprise cross-border offensive against Russia in the eastern Kursk region.
A new study from the Costs of War project, cited by The Hill, found that the number of sexual assaults in the U.S. military is likely significantly higher than official government estimates.
NBC News cites a Costs of War report that blames the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan for prioritizing military readiness over addressing long-standing issues of sexual assault.
A Costs of War study cited by Reuters reveals that sexual assault cases in the U.S. military during the Afghanistan war were likely more than double official estimates.
In an article for The Guardian, Omer Bartov expressed alarm at the similarities between far-right student rhetoric in Israel and the darkest periods of 20th-century history.
Lyle Goldstein comments for Politico, "I favor a ‘clean sweep’ — we badly need some new thinking in U.S. foreign policy."
In a piece for Asia Times, Lyle Goldstein discusses the South China Sea situation.
In the Washington Post, Omer Bartov comments on the typical warning signs of an impending genocide.
In an interview with The Visible Voices podcast, Wendy Schiller discusses her latest book, Inequality Across State Lines, and highlights of the 2024 presidential election.
Michael Kennedy joined WPRI’s Dan Yorke Show to discuss the political landscape following Kamala Harris's selection of Tim Walz as her vice-presidential running mate.
Lyle Goldstein comments for Business Insider, "Schools and hospitals and high-speed rails and all the things that we'd like to have in our country. We don't have them. One reason is because we're spending trillions on nuclear weapons."
In an interview with Bloomberg, Wendy Schiller shared her thoughts on Tim Walz as the Democratic vice-presidential pick.
Bloomberg Surveillance Podcast
The Market Rout and Kamala Harris' VP Pick (interview with Wendy Schiller)
In an interview on Bloomberg Surveillance podcast, Wendy Schiller discusses Tim Walz, Kamala Harris's vice presidential pick.