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 News
What Is Antisemitism? (interview with Omer Bartov)
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.
Harvard's $2M Funding Freeze Spillover Effect (interview with Wendy Schiller)
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.
Omer Bartov on Gaza: “It’s a Misnomer to Call It a War” (interview with Omer Bartov)
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.
Trump Has Added Risk to the Surest Bet in Global Finance (comments by Mark Blyth)
Mark Blyth comments for The New York Times, “The whole world has decided that the U.S. government has no idea what it’s doing."
Donald Trump Gets a “Spanking” from the Bond Market (interview with Mark Blyth)
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 Barron’s, Mark Blyth discussed the economic impact of Trump’s tariffs.
New research backs standardized tests as predictor of ‘college success—without bias’ (comments by John Friedman)
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.”
Why Trump probably can’t pull off a ‘reverse Nixon’ (written by Lyle Goldstein)
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.
Late Day Stock Drop; Auto Industry On Edge From Trump Tariffs (interview with Wendy Schiller)
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.
Why do some parts of government work better than others? (interview with Marc Dunkelman)
In a podcast interview, Marc Dunkelman explains why some parts of government face intense scrutiny while others operate quietly in the background.
Trump’s third term trial balloon: how extremist ideas become mainstream (comments by Wendy Schiller)
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.”
Trump, Tariffs, and the Fate of the Dollar (written by Mark Blyth)
In Project Syndicate, Mark Blyth says both U.S. parties have ditched free trade to reindustrialize, reflecting a deeper shift driven by global imbalances.
Big Government Now (interview with Marc Dunkelman)
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.
AAP Announces 2025 Hawkins, PROSE Award Winners (Ieva Jusionyte’s book cited)
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.
The Question Progressives Refuse to Answer (written by Marc Dunkelman)
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.
More journalists have been killed in Gaza than in six major U.S. wars combined, according to a Costs of War report cited by The Boston Globe.
Soulmates: Xi and Putin (interview with Lyle Goldstein)
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.
Walls, Warnings, and the War on Fentanyl: Peter Andreas on Trump’s Border Politics (interview with Peter Andreas)
In this podcast, Peter Andreas discusses myths and realities of border control, illicit trade and tariffs in the era of Trump.
Prerna Singh on the Comparative Politics of Vaccination in China and India (interview with Prerna Singh)
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.
'Spin-off effect' could occur if Trump's auto tariffs stick (Commentary by Wendy Schiller)
Wendy Schiller discusses the latest round of tariffs and the economic uncertainty under the Trump administration.
Market fears grow after President Trump's auto tariffs (Commentary by Wendy Schiller)
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.
Trump’s auto tariffs, threats on allies intensify trade war (Commentary by Wendy Schiller)
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.
Senior Fellow in International and Public Affairs Stephanie Savell, who directs the Costs of War project at Brown, provided commentary in this article.
How bad would a recession be right now? (interview with Mark Blyth)
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."
Bombardments making Ukraine, Gaza toxic for generations (Costs of War research cited)
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.
Ashutosh Varshney comments on Satya Mohanty's new book, "Unpolitically Correct."
Ashutosh Varshney, director of the Saxena Center for Contemporary South Asia, offered commentary on the impact on India of the United States' China tariff policies.
What poisoned al-Faluja can tell us about toxic risks in Gaza and Lebanon (Costs of War research cited)
This article about how the toxic remnants of war adversely affect the health of not just those immediately exposed but also future generations cites research by The Costs of War project.
The US and China must avert a nuclear standoff (written by Lyle Goldstein)
In this article, Lyle Goldstein asserts that the U.S. and China should agree to an annual three-day bilateral summit to defuse tensions and avoid a nuclear confrontation between the two nations.
The challenging but compelling political case for USAID (written by J. Brian Atwood)
In this opinion piece, J. Brian Atwood makes the affirmative case for USAID based on the challenges he experienced running the agency in the 1990s.
Pentagon efficiency cuts are less than meets the eye (Costs of War research cited)
This article cites research from the Costs of War project, which estimates that the U.S. has spent $8 trillion on its post-9/11 wars.
The Long Shadow of Robert Moses (Marc Dunkelman’s research cited)
A review of Marc Dunkleman's book "Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress — And How to Bring it Back."
How U.S. guns fuel violence south of the border (interview with Ieva Jusionyte)
In an interview with High Country News, Ieva Jusionyte discusses the changing narrative on the role of American guns in violence in Mexico and the stakes of the Supreme Court case against U.S. gun companies.
Schumer's "Weak Leadership" Could Hurt Democrats, Help Trump (interview with Wendy Schiller)
In an interview with Bloomberg, Wendy Schiller explains why Schumer's decision not to block the bill could hurt his party's base.
Trump’s On-and-Off-Again Tariffs, and Decoding ‘Make America Healthy Again’ (interview with Mark Blyth)
In an interview with On the Media, Mark Blyth explains the rhetoric of short-term pain for long-term gain and what to make of the economy right now.
Why Can’t We Have Nice Things? (interview with Marc Dunkelman)
In an interview on the Politics War Room podcast, Marc Dunkelman discussed the costly burden of the administrative state and how it creates obstacles to progress, undermining faith in the government’s ability to get things done.
Half a Million US Jobs on the Line as DOGE Fallout Spreads (interview with Wendy Schiller)
In an interview with Bloomberg, Wendy Schiller discusses whether Congress will be able to impede Musk and President Trump's cost-cutting initiatives.
I ran USAID when it was last under attack. Here’s how we saved it. (written by J. Brian Atwood)
J. Brian Atwood wrote a column for U.S. News & World Report about the impact of the U.S. Agency for International Development, which he led in the 1990s.
Trump’s Pick for Key Pentagon Role Faces Off With GOP Hawks (comments by Lyle Goldstein)
Lyle Goldstein comments for Foreign Policy, “Things are changing, and there’s an earnest debate in the Republican Party.”
Why Nothing Works with Matthew Yglesias and Marc Dunkelman (interview with Marc Dunkelman)
In an interview with 92nd Street Y, Marc Dunkelman discusses the deep-seated challenges facing America’s infrastructure and institutional systems.
Austerity Is Back – and More Dangerous Than Ever (written by Mark Blyth)
In an article for Business a.m., Mark Blyth argues that austerity has returned as a political weapon, promoted for economic and ideological purposes despite its historical failures and potential to deepen inequality.
Do Democrats Need to Learn How to Build? (Marc Dunkelman's book cited)
A recent New Yorker article reviews Marc Dunkelman's latest book, "Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress―and How to Bring It Back."
Report: Solar permitting in Colorado is still inefficient (Climate Solutions Lab research cited)
A recent Solar Builder article cites a report from researchers at the Climate Solutions Lab analyzing the cost of permitting red tape for residential solar systems in Colorado.
Fox News cites data from the Costs of War Project at the Watson Institute on contractor deaths during the Iraq War.
Dr. Ieva Jusionyte on Beyond Borders: Gun Culture & Gun Violence (interview with Ieva Jusionyte)
In an interview with the Guns Unpacked podcast, Ieva Jusionyte discusses the cultural and historical context of guns in Mexico, the connections between gun politics and immigration, and how the availability of U.S. guns shapes migration.
Hey Elon: We found a place to cut more than $2 trillion in wasteful spending (comments by Stephanie Savell)
Stephanie Savell comments for The Intercept, "Cuts to the astronomical Pentagon budget have been urgent for a long time."
The new world order moves from unipolar moment to multipolar reality (Costs of War research cited)
The Express Tribune cites data from the Costs of War Project on the number of military and civilian deaths in U.S.-led post-9/11 wars.