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 News
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.
New Books Network Podcast
Postscript: calibrating the outrage-democratic erosion, legality and politics (interview with Rob Blair)
In an interview with the New Books Network podcast, Robert Blair discusses the Democratic Erosion Consortium, which he co-founded and co-directs.
Night Owls Podcast
Night Owls Episode 66 (interview with Marc Dunkelman)
In a recent Night Owls podcast episode, Marc Dunkelman discussed his book Why Nothing Works, arguing that shifts between centralized and decentralized progressivism have stalled Democratic Party-led governance.
In an interview with NPR, Mark Blyth discusses the economic impact of Trump's tariffs.
In a TIME article, co-author Lyle Goldstein argues the U.S.-China tariff pause offers a key chance for Trump and Xi to ease tensions and avoid a new Cold War through bold diplomacy.
The New York Times
Who is Pope Leo XIV? (comments by David Kertzer)
David Kertzer explained papal names and the history of Pope Leo XIII in the New York Times.
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.
Radio Open Source
Trade, Trumped (interview with Mark Blyth)
In an interview with Radio Open Source, Mark Blyth explains the looming global trade war, offering insights from his hometown pub in Dundee, Scotland.
The David McWilliams Podcast
Inflation for Losers with Mark Blyth (interview with Mark Blyth)
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.
Michael Kennedy comments for Tygodnik Powszechny, “Many Catholics are now beginning to see more nationalism than God in Vance’s views.”
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.”
According to a report from the Costs of War Project, suicide claimed more lives among post-9/11 veterans than combat.
A recent Task & Purpose article cited a Costs of War Project report on sexual assault in the military.
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.
In the Guardian, Mark Blyth argues that tariffs will raise prices, but the climate crisis is the deeper inflation driver that central banks can't fix.
Providence Business News
Friedman named Brown University Watson School’s inaugural dean (comments by John N. Friedman)
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 an interview with NBC 10, Marc Dunkelman discussed government progress — and the lack of it — in Southern New England and across the country.
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.
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.
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.
History as it Happens Podcast
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.
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.
Pitchfork Economics Podcast
Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress—and How to Bring It Back (interview with Marc Dunkelman)
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.
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."
The Political Scene Podcast
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.
The Liberal Patriot Podcast
How to Make Government Work Again (interview with Marc Dunkelman)
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 Barron’s, Mark Blyth discussed the economic impact of Trump’s tariffs.
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.”
Responsible Statecraft
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.
Bloomberg Businessweek Podcast
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.
Scratch and Win Podcast
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.
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.”
Project Syndicate
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.
The Remnant Podcast
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.
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 The Atlantic, Marc J. Dunkelman argues that Democrats defended executive power under Biden but oppose it under Trump, leaving them stuck on bureaucratic inefficiency.