David Kertzer tells The New York Times that Pope Leo XIII bridged the pre-modern and modern Church by addressing socialism and advocating for workers, making the name Leo XIV a signal of moderation.
In an interview on The David McWilliams Podcast, Mark Blyth discusses how inflation threatens liberal democracy, who it affects most and how it fuels political extremes.
Mark Blyth writes in Barron’s that today’s inflation stems more from supply shocks than overspending, urging a new policy approach beyond 1970s-style monetary fixes.
Wendy Schiller comments for ArcaMax, “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.”
In a Responsible Statecraft article, Stephen Kinzer argues that America’s war in Vietnam illustrates how domestic politics has long shaped U.S. foreign policy.
A recent Common Dreams article cites Costs of War research estimating that sexual assault in the U.S. military has occurred at rates two to four times higher than official Department of Defense figures from 2001 to 2023.
In an interview with The Boston Globe, John N. Friedman discussed his appointment as the inaugural dean of the Thomas J. Watson Jr. School of International and Public Affairs.
In an interview with France 24, J. Brian Atwood warned that President Trump's proposed foreign aid cuts would cause widespread suffering, harm global health and food security and lead to increased migration.
Providence Business News highlights the appointment of John N. Friedman as the inaugural dean of Brown University's Thomas J. Watson Jr. School of International and Public Affairs, recognizing his leadership in economics and public policy.
In a WhoWhatWhy podcast interview, Marc Dunkelman discussed how America’s diminished ability to build and manufacture stems from deep-rooted structural and political challenges.
In The Forward, Dany Bahar argues that Harvard’s ability to defy federal demands under former President Donald Trump stems from its massive endowment — the same financial power some student activists sought to weaken through divestment.
In Asia Times, Lyle Goldstein warns that deepening U.S.-Philippines military ties amid rising tensions over Taiwan and the South China Sea could escalate conflict, urging Washington to adopt a more cautious, diplomacy-focused approach.
Jeff Colgan writes in Maclean’s that despite occasional U.S. threats, Canada has remained independent for over two centuries due largely to American political divisions, public resistance, and Canada’s own strong nationalist identity.
In the History As It Happens podcast, Omer Bartov explores the roots of antisemitism and critiques how allegations of it are being used politically to shield Israel from criticism.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Wendy Schiller discussed her surprise at Harvard's swift response to the White House and its implications for higher education.
In an interview with the Pitchfork Economics podcast, Marc Dunkelman discusses how well-meaning progressive reforms have led to a “vetocracy” that stifles major public projects and undermines effective governance.
In an interview with Jacobin, Omer Bartov discussed the political climate on U.S. campuses, backlash against scholars critical of Israel, and the personal dimensions of his scholarship.
In an interview with The New Yorker’s The Political Scene podcast, Mark Blyth discussed how the bond market forced Donald Trump to retreat on some tariffs and the risks of the president’s escalating trade war with China.
In an interview on the Liberal Patriot podcast, Marc Dunkelman says progressivism has always been torn between centralizing and decentralizing impulses—a divide that has shaped today’s ineffective government.
In Responsible Statecraft, Lyle Goldstein argues that a Trump-led “reverse Nixon” strategy to split Russia and China is unlikely to succeed due to their deepening strategic, economic, and military ties.
In an interview with Bloomberg Businessweek, Wendy Schiller explains the power dynamics within the Republican Party and shares insights on how Republicans are responding to President Donald Trump’s policies.
John Friedman comments for The College Fix, “We’ve looked at grades in later years of college within individual schools, and the broad pattern (test scores are predictive, high school GPA is not) remains.”
Wendy Schiller comments for The Guardian, “The technical hurdle is very high. Given the political configuration now, and the control of state legislatures now, it would be impossible not only to repeal the 22nd amendment but to get him on the ballot in all 50 states.”
In Project Syndicate, Mark Blyth says both U.S. parties have ditched free trade to reindustrialize, reflecting a deeper shift driven by global imbalances.
Ieva Jusionyte’s "Exit Wounds: How America’s Guns Fuel Violence Across the Border" receives 2025 R.R. Hawkins Award and PROSE Award in social sciences from the Association of American Publishers.
In a podcast interview, Marc Dunkelman discussed the origins and transformation of American progressive policy and proclaimed that more institutions are needed to achieve good governance.
In The Atlantic, Marc J. Dunkelman argues that Democrats defended executive power under Biden but oppose it under Trump, leaving them stuck on bureaucratic inefficiency.
In an interview with the Face-Off: The U.S. vs China podcast, Lyle Goldstein discusses the evolving Russia-China relationship and how their alignment challenges the U.S. in a shifting global order.
In a podcast interview, Prerna Singh explores how states generate compliance with public health interventions, grounded in a comparison of India and China's efforts to eradicate smallpox.
Wendy Schiller explains why Trump's trade strategy could change quickly based on past history and why it will not necessarily lead to a material boost in American manufacturing.
Wendy Schiller reacts to President Trump's auto tariffs announcement and how Washington will or will not push back, as well as the Signal text controversy.
Senior Fellow in International and Public Affairs Stephanie Savell, who directs the Costs of War project at Brown, provided commentary in this article.
Mark Blyth discusses what will happen in the short and long term if the U.S. economy goes into recession due to the Trump administration's attempt to produce a "once-in-a-generation shift in how we run the global economy."
This article cites a recent Costs of War study that examines the long-term environmental effects of prolonged conflict in places like Ukraine and Gaza.