Lyle Goldstein tells the South China Morning Post that China’s growing shipbuilding lead would give it a strong advantage in a conflict near Taiwan.
2026 In the News
In the Middle East, a shocking attack on an American ally (written by Stephen Kinzer)
Stephen Kinzer writes in The Boston Globe that Saudi Arabia faces its greatest threat since its founding after Houthi missile strikes, while President Trump appears unwilling to defend a longtime U.S. ally.
What’s driving persistent inflation? (written by Şebnem Kalemli-Özcan)
Şebnem Kalemli-Özcan writes in Financial Advisor that investors focused on AI valuations, bond yields and public debt are overlooking persistent inflation from tariffs and the Hormuz energy shock, which she says points to higher interest rates ahead.
Indian Democracy Has Found New Life in the Streets (written by Yamini Aiyar)
Yamini Aiyar wrote a New York Times opinion column about the state of democracy in India.
Young protesters are putting India’s Modi on the defensive (comments by Ashutosh Varshney)
Ashutosh Varshney tells The Wall Street Journal that India’s youth now pose a real electoral threat to Modi.
Tip of the spear, or stranded on beaches? Chinese planners dissect USMC Pacific posture (written by Lyle Goldstein)
Lyle Goldstein writes in Defense News that the Marine Corps’ forward strategy in the Pacific risks provoking a more aggressive Chinese Navy.
Will Xi, Trump, Putin meet at Apec? First, they must agree on an agenda (comments by Lyle Goldstein)
Lyle Goldstein tells the South China Morning Post that a three-way meeting between Xi, Trump and Putin could help ease world tensions.
Ashutosh Varshney told ThePrint that the once-fearless Indian government now appears shaken by young voters, a group once seen as a key source of BJP support.
In India, the Scion of a Political Dynasty Tries to Seize His Moment (comments by Ashutosh Varshney)
Ashutosh Varshney told The New York Times that Gandhi has gained ground against Modi, but whether it will be enough to unseat him remains unclear.
What Trump’s waiver of new Russia sanctions means for Ukraine (comments by Jeff Colgan)
Jeff Colgan tells TIME that the U.S.-Russia diesel deal is like trading Ukrainian democracy for diesel.
Marc Dunkelman discusses his book “Why Nothing Works” and the challenges facing housing on GBH’s The Curiosity Desk.
US turns to low-cost Blackbeard hypersonic missiles to overwhelm Chinese defences (comments by Lyle Goldstein)
Lyle Goldstein says in the South China Morning Post that the Blackbeard could threaten Chinese warships farther out in the Pacific, near Guam.
Jeff Colgan tells TIME he is skeptical Russia will honor the deal Trump described before the November election.
The War in Ukraine Is Spiraling Out of Control (comments by Lyle Goldstein)
Lyle Goldstein tells Jacobin the media has downplayed the risk that a Russia-NATO war could turn nuclear, a danger he believes is growing as European leaders stay committed to the idea of a Ukrainian victory.
Will the next administration prosecute Trump’s top officials? (written by Stephen Kinzer)
Stephen Kinzer writes in The Boston Globe that Washington rarely holds top officials accountable and that new calls to prosecute Trump administration figures and bar Biden officials over Gaza policy could help break that pattern.
Interview with Dr. Lyle Goldstein
In an interview with VOA News, Lyle Goldstein reflects on the summit between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
A recent Bloomberg article cites data from the Iran War Energy Cost Tracker, created by researchers at the Watson School’s Climate Solutions Lab.
Tennessee governor lets farmers use untaxed diesel on roads after Trump defers federal enforcement (comments by Jeff Colgan)
In the Tennessee Lookout, Jeff Colgan suggests that policymakers must balance immediate needs with long-term solutions.
Turkmenistan grows its arsenal of Chinese air defences as Russia’s role shrinks (comments by Lyle Goldstein)
Lyle Goldstein tells the South China Morning Post that Turkmenistan's proximity to the war in Iran and Russia's strained arms industry are pushing the country toward Chinese air defenses.
In Time magazine, Jeff Colgan discusses how the G7's release of oil and fuel products could affect American consumers.
Think Trump’s $1.5 trillion Pentagon request is outrageous? This’ll blow your mind (comments by Heidi Peltier)
In Mother Jones, Heidi Peltier of the Costs of War Project says the true scale of the military budget is much larger than reported.
In an interview with CNBC, Suresh Venkatasubramanian discussed the need for regulation and independent oversight of AI.
The cycle of hate: How Canada and the U.S. entered a cycle of hostility and how they can break it (coauthored by Prerna Singh)
Prerna Singh co-authored an opinion piece for The Conversation on how a "10-year cycle of hate" explains deteriorating relations between the U.S. and Canada.
Record high diesel prices are driving R.I. public bus system into the red (Climate Solutions Lab research cited)
The Boston Globe cites the Climate Solutions Lab's energy tracker, which shows diesel prices surging to record highs since the war involving Iran began, with Rhode Island's average reaching $6.33 per gallon.
Trump, China and the question of selling arms to Beijing (comments by Lyle Goldstein)
Lyle Goldstein tells The Hill that if war between the U.S. and China is unlikely, trade in lower-end weapons between the two countries becomes conceivable.
China’s next carrier could be its longest – what are Beijing’s plans? (comments by Lyle Goldstein)
Lyle Goldstein told the South China Morning Post that China's next aircraft carrier could be larger and nuclear-powered, but would still depend on a growing fleet of supply ships.
Silicon Valley AI academy seeks ‘main character’ students (comments by John Friedman)
John Friedman told Inside Higher Ed that traditional campuses give students classroom tools and ambitious peers that an industry-taught academy may struggle to replicate at scale.
In ThePrint, Ashutosh Varshney writes that AI's rapid rise carries both promise and peril, and that political choices, not just technology, will determine how nations like India manage its benefits and disruptions.
The tech elite is funding an alternative to college (comments by John Friedman)
John Friedman told The Wall Street Journal that while access to top industry leaders is a benefit of alternative programs, traditional colleges offer proven track records, experienced faculty and exposure to students with diverging career paths.
What OpenAI’s unruly models foreshadow (comments by Suresh Venkatasubramanian)
In Politico, Suresh Venkatasubramanian offered commentary on the implications of AI models going rogue.
AI, Trade, Taiwan—Here’s What To Expect From The Trump-Xi D.C. Summit (interview with Lyle Goldstein)
Lyle Goldstein discussed what to expect from this week's summit between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in an interview with Forbes Newsroom.
Could mystery Shanghai vessel be a mothership for China’s underwater drones? (comments by Lyle Goldstein)
In South China Morning Post, Lyle Goldstein said analyst H.I. Sutton's theory that the Shanghai vessel is a submarine-drone mothership is "quite plausible."
The Surprising Issue Dividing Senate Dems Right Now (comments by Jeff Colgan)
The New Republic reports that Jeff Colgan estimates American households have paid an average of $826 more on gas since the start of Trump's war on Iran than they would have without the conflict.
In Webull, Şebnem Kalemli-Özcan said the Federal Reserve must eventually raise rates, warning that delay will only make inflation more stubborn and harder to fix.
Trump was ‘shocked’ that Iran fought back. He shouldn’t have been. (written by Stephen Kinzer)
Stephen Kinzer writes in the Boston Globe that Iran's historical resilience, religious traditions, and fraught relationship with the U.S. make it far better equipped to withstand American pressure than the Trump administration expected.
What an AI slowdown would mean (comments by Suresh Venkatasubramanian)
Suresh Venkatasubramanian told Politico that few would disagree AI systems should be developed carefully, but "the devil is in the details."
Suresh Venkatasubramanian, a professor of data science and computer science, offered commentary in this HuffPost article.
US Marine Stand-In Forces in the Pacific worry China, report details (comments by Lyle Goldstein)
Lyle Goldstein tells Military Times a Chinese military article shows Beijing's concern that U.S. drone and small-unit strategies could threaten its submarines and undersea operations near its home waters.
California prison towns grasp for new jobs after closures: ‘No one is coming to save us’ (comments by John Eason)
John Eason tells the Los Angeles Times that a prison town's economic fortune hinges more on when the facility was built than where, with early gains in income and home values fading within about a decade.
How President Donald Trump’s summit with China’s Xi Jinping can yield dividends (written by Lyle Goldstein)
In the Chicago Tribune, Lyle Goldstein writes that Trump should build on the "constructive stability" framework established with China at their prior summit.
President Trump's Visit (interview with Mark Blyth)
Mark Blyth joined RTE's "The Business" podcast to discuss President Donald Trump's visit to Ireland.
Seeking a New Normal on the Korean Peninsula (written by Lyle Goldstein)
Lyle Goldstein wrote in RealClearDefense that the U.S. should reduce troop levels in South Korea while maintaining a narrower alliance focused on deterring North Korean nuclear first use.
US coastguard sails into troubled waters with mission to counter China in Pacific (comments by Lyle Goldstein)
Lyle Goldstein told the South China Morning Post the US Navy is overstretched, particularly its surface forces, straining resources amid the US-Iran war and prompting the Pentagon to offload some missions to the Coast Guard.
US Navy plans compact Silent Anvil torpedo as China’s submarine fleet surges (comments by Lyle Goldstein)
Lyle Goldstein told the South China Morning Post that spreading the anti-submarine mission across more platforms could be valuable, given the limited number of specialized aircraft like the P-8.
Trump’s Venezuela Deal Helps His Rich Friends—And That’s It (comments by Jeff Colgan)
In Mother Jones, Jeff Colgan called the US-Venezuela oil deal "petro-imperialism," a direct seizure of another country's resources under threat of force.
Rhode Island’s ‘Taylor Swift tax’ on vacation homes aims to boost affordable housing (comments by John Friedman)
In the Christian Science Monitor, John Friedman said the new tax is unlikely to solve the state's housing crisis and that low-income housing tax credits "do not substantially increase the supply of low-income housing."
Chinese Ship Takes Arctic Shortcut: Smart Business? Or a Political Flex? (comments by Lyle Goldstein)
Lyle Goldstein told The New York Times that expanded use of the Northern Sea Route will strengthen ties between China and Russia.
A recent CNN article cites research from the Climate Solutions Lab finding the Iran war has cost U.S. consumers an extra $100.9 billion in gasoline and diesel expenses since late February, or about $770 per household.
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