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 News
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."
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.
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.
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 on Slate’s "Death, Sex & Money" podcast, Mark Blyth discussed tariffs and market fluctuations.
In an interview with Brown University, David Kertzer reflected on the significance of an American pope.
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.
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.
A City Journal book review features "Why Nothing Works," the latest book by Marc Dunkelman.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
Wendy Schiller told Bloomberg a court ruling blocking Trump’s tariffs could undermine his presidency and reshape his legacy.
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.
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.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Wendy Schiller said political uncertainty in Washington is fueling market volatility and raising concerns about U.S. fiscal stability.