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.
Lyle Goldstein argues in Stars and Stripes that despite flaws and risks, the U.S. should stay in AUKUS to strengthen undersea warfare and share Pacific defense burdens against China.
Converging Dialogues Podcast
All About Inflation: A Dialogue with Mark Blyth and Nicolò Fraccaroli (interview with Mark Blyth)
On Converging Dialogues, Mark Blyth explains the politics and history of inflation, from Fed policy to global cases like Turkey and Argentina.
John Friedman comments for The Boston Globe, “When you have innovators and entrepreneurs and leaders coming from a broader range of potential backgrounds, you get more innovation.”
Omer Bartov comments for The Guardian, "What the IDF is doing in Gaza is demolishing it. Hundreds of buildings are being bulldozed every week. This is not a secret, but mainstream media coverage has been insufficient.”
The Guardian reports that a new Costs of War study finds the Pentagon gave $2.4 trillion to private arms firms from 2020 to 2024, fueling war and weapons manufacturing.
Stephanie Savell comments for Common Dreams, "This is not an arsenal of democracy—it's an arsenal of profiteering."
The New York Times
You Don’t Have to Be a Doctor to Understand This (written by Craig Spencer)
Craig Spencer writes in The New York Times that there is a moral imperative to expand access to global health care.
Lyle Goldstein writes in The National Interest that Trump’s new foreign policy embraces spheres of influence over interventionism, which could reduce great power conflict if managed carefully.
Lyle Goldstein comments for Associated Press, “President Lai’s series of recent speeches appear almost designed to set up a new cross-strait crisis, perhaps in the hopes of building more support in Washington and elsewhere around the Pacific."
The Washington Post recently cited “Why Nothing Works,” a new book by Marc Dunkelman.
In an interview with The Print podcast, Ashutosh Varshney discusses Zohran Mamdani's win in the New York mayoral Democratic primary race.
Foreign Affairs
The End of the Age of NGOs? (co-authored by Jennifer Hadden)
Jennifer Hadden writes in Foreign Affairs that the post–Cold War boom in NGOs has ended as rising repression, public skepticism, and shrinking funding push power back to states.
In Real Clear Defense, Lyle Goldstein writes that Asia-Pacific allies skipping the NATO summit signals a rational shift away from U.S. defense demands and may help rebalance regional security.
In The Hill, J. Brian Atwood writes that Trump’s strike on Iran exceeded his constitutional authority and shows how Congress has abdicated its war powers.
In The Print, Ashutosh Varshney writes that Zohran Mamdani’s upset win over Andrew Cuomo signals a rise of Left populism in New York with possible national and global implications.
Macro Musings Podcast
Mark Blyth on the Winners and Losers from Inflation (interview with Mark Blyth)
In an interview with the Macro Musings podcast, Mark Blyth discusses his new book, Inflation: A Guide for Users and Losers, the concept of angrynomics, and new ways to look at price controls and demographic decline.
In The New York Times, Marc Dunkelman explains why connecting with voters who have lost faith in the political system is important.
In The Atlantic, Mark Blyth argues that the world economy is undergoing a major reboot like the 1930s, and that the future of capitalism depends on which new governing ideas societies choose to adopt.
Lyle Goldstein comments for Asia Times, "I am more concerned that this further erodes norms both with respect to attacking nuclear infrastructure as well as encouraging the dangerous practice of preventive war in general."
In Asia Times, Lyle Goldstein writes that while China may benefit geopolitically from U.S. entanglement in the Middle East, Beijing continues to exercise military restraint and prioritize diplomacy in the region.
Ideas Podcast
Why do people hate? (interview with Prerna Singh)
In an interview on the Ideas Podcast, Prerna Singh discussed the roots of group-based hatred and ways to break cycles of division.
A recent Al Jazeera article cites a report from the Costs of War Project on U.S. aid to Israel.
Making Peace Visible Podcast
Unmasking American myths about war and the military (interview with Stephanie Savell)
In an interview on the Making Peace Visible podcast, Stephanie Savell discussed whether massive U.S. defense spending is actually making the country safer.
In a column for Bucks County Beacon, Stephen Kinzer argues that Trump’s bombing of Iran, driven by Israeli influence, will further destabilize the Middle East and increase the likelihood of Iran pursuing nuclear weapons.
Marc Dunkelman comments for Rhode Island PBS, “The remarkable thing looking at the Washington Bridge project is that here we are, a few years out, and it’s still unclear who is ultimately responsible for this debacle."
In an interview with Rhode Island PBS, Marc Dunkelman discussed his book Why Nothing Works, examining how government lost the capacity to tackle major infrastructure projects.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Wendy Schiller discussed rising trade tensions with China and other key priorities of the Trump administration.
In a piece for The Hill, J. Brian Atwood writes that Trump’s cuts to aid, trade, and remittances risk destabilizing Africa and harming U.S. interests.
Stephanie Savell comments for The Intercept, “Israel’s military capacity is dependent on the high levels of military aid it has received from the United States for the last five decades – including $17.9 billion in support since October 2023.”
National Interest
Don’t get dragged into a war with Iran (Costs of War research cited)
A recent article in the National Interest cites a Costs of War Project report estimating that military attacks on Gaza have caused tens of thousands of direct deaths and that more than 62,000 people have died of starvation.
Lyle Goldstein comments for South China Morning Post, "While it will have some flashy elements, including heavy armor and attack helicopters, these elements are actually not associated with the future development of the force."
Wendy Schiller comments for Bankrate, “While the strategy in the short term seems to be that Trump will disrupt and blame the Fed, lowering rates creates inflation, and the consumer is going to see that everything is more expensive.”
The History of Ideas Podcast
The History of Bad Ideas: Austerity (interview with Mark Blyth)
On the History of Ideas podcast, Mark Blyth discussed how the harmful idea of austerity persists across decades and continues to shape politics in the UK, Argentina and the U.S.
In The New York Times, Stephen Kinzer writes that Violeta Chamorro, who became Central America's first elected female president, led Nicaragua through postwar reconciliation with moral authority and maternal strength, becoming a unifying symbol in a deeply divided nation.
In an interview with the South China Morning Post, Lyle Goldstein said China’s dual-carrier drills in the western Pacific serve both as preparation for a potential conflict over Taiwan and as a show of force aimed at deterring U.S. and Japanese intervention.
In an interview with Arte, Omer Bartov argued that describing the conflict in Gaza as a traditional war is misleading and emphasized the need for historical empathy to understand its human cost and implications.
In a TLS article, Omer Bartov reflects on the unraveling post-WWII international order, linking today’s global conflicts to lessons unlearned from the ways democracies and the Soviet Union won the war.
In an interview with Brown University, David Kertzer reflected on the significance of an American pope.
In an interview on Slate’s "Death, Sex & Money" podcast, Mark Blyth discussed tariffs and market fluctuations.
In an interview with Yahoo Finance, Wendy Schiller explains how corporate influence could affect tariff negotiations and political pressure at home.
In an interview with The Philadelphia Inquirer, Marc Dunkelman explores why progressives made it impossible to build in America.
A City Journal book review features "Why Nothing Works," the latest book by Marc Dunkelman.
In an interview with Close Up, Mark Dunkelman discussed his book Why Nothing Works, examining how decades of reforms and checks on power have hampered government's ability to accomplish major projects and what might be needed to restore effective public action.
An Honorable Profession
Marc Dunkelman on Why Nothing Works (interview with Marc Dunkelman)
In an interview on the An Honorable Profession podcast, Marc Dunkelman discussed the barriers that prevent the government from solving problems and achieving broadly shared goals.
Fast Politics Podcast
Dana Milbank & Marc Dunkelman (interview with Marc Dunkelman)
In an interview with the Fast Politics podcast, Marc Dunkelman discusses his new book, “Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress—and How to Bring It Back.”
Someone Talked Podcast
The Pope at War Part 1 with David Kertzer (interview with David Kertzer)
On the Someone Talked podcast, David Kertzer discusses new revelations about what Pope Pius XII did and did not do during World War II, based on newly opened Vatican archives.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Wendy Schiller discussed the latest trade tensions with China and other priorities of the U.S. presidential administration.
Wendy Schiller comments for The Public's Radio, “The longer that Rhode Island commuters, drivers, voters see the crumbled Washington Bridge and are stuck in traffic, I think the more cemented dissatisfaction is with Gov. McKee."
In a piece for UnHerd, Lyle Goldstein writes that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue may escalate tensions with China by downplaying diplomacy and overstating U.S. military deterrence in East Asia.
Lyle Goldstein tells USA Today that while military parades can honor sacrifice and boost national pride, they also often signal insecurity and are more typical of authoritarian regimes seeking to showcase power.
Wendy Schiller told Bloomberg a court ruling blocking Trump’s tariffs could undermine his presidency and reshape his legacy.
Omer Bartov told Reuters that while Germany’s more diverse population is driving a rhetorical shift on Israel, its concrete support remains unchanged, leaving little pressure on Netanyahu.
In Nikkei Asia, Lyle Goldstein argues the U.S. must make tough national security choices as it remains globally overextended despite pledges to prioritize the Indo-Pacific.
In The Hill, Dany Bahar argues that ending Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelans ignores their plight as refugees fleeing dictatorship, not economic migrants, and urges Congress to pass bipartisan legislation to restore their protections.
In New York Times, Mark Blyth said Trump’s tariff threats reflect internal White House power struggles and could cause major economic damage in Europe, especially to Ireland.
The National Interest
Reverse Kissinger? No, Double Kissinger (written by Lyle Goldstein)
In The National Interest, Lyle Goldstein argues the U.S. should pursue a "double Kissinger" strategy by easing tensions with both China and Russia, rather than prioritizing deterrence of one over the other.
In The Guardian, Wendy Schiller said Trump used Elon Musk as a test case to gauge support for cutting federal workers, discarding him when the backlash made him a liability.
In a Boston Globe column, Stephen Kinzer warns that Mexico’s plan to elect all judges under the guise of reform could undermine judicial independence, empower corrupt elites, and weaken democracy.
Lyle Goldstein told the South China Morning Post that China’s PLA is rapidly developing anti-AI tactics while integrating traditional and modern combat methods, spurred by lessons from the Ukraine war and U.S. warnings over Taiwan.