In the News
News media from around the world rely on the expertise of Watson Institute faculty and researchers to help make sense of current world affairs and public policy issues. On this page, you will find articles that cite research done at Watson, opinion pieces by our faculty, interviews, podcasts and more.
In the News
News media from around the world rely on the expertise of Watson Institute faculty and researchers to help make sense of current world affairs and public policy issues. On this page, you will find articles that cite research done at Watson, opinion pieces by our faculty, interviews, podcasts and more.
A recent New York Times article referenced a piece on the psychology of revenge and deterrence co-authored by Rose McDermott.
Timothy Edgar explained to CBS News what TikTok users might expect if a potential ban on the app is enacted.
In an opinion essay for The Boston Globe, Marc Dunkelman asserts, “What voters really want is more of what the establishment once provided and is now in such short supply: the ability of government to deliver.”
In the Providence Journal, Wendy Schiller commented on the political nuances and complications that come with House speakers trying to run for statewide office.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Wendy Schiller discussed the confirmation hearings for Donald Trump’s leadership picks.
In The Telegraph, Lyle Goldstein suggests China has studied WWII's Normandy invasion tactics and has the shipbuilding capacity to deploy the necessary barges for a Taiwan assault despite expected losses.
In his Boston Globe column, Stephen Kinzer critiques President Biden's foreign policy legacy as marked by limited achievements.
Timothy Edgar explained the potential impacts of a TikTok ban on users for ABC News.
Timothy Edgar comments for Yahoo News, "If we consider that there are 170 million active monthly users of TikTok in the United States, the volume of free speech at risk is the largest of any Supreme Court case in American history."
In an interview with Bloomberg, Wendy Schiller discussed the legacy of Jimmy Carter.
In El País, Ieva Jusionyte says Trump’s tough rhetoric on Mexico targets migrants and fentanyl but may escalate violence and exploitation by organized crime under stricter immigration policies.
The Atlantic
The anti-social century (comments by Marc Dunkelman)
In The Atlantic, Marc Dunkelman discusses how "chosen solitude" warps social attitudes, even in an age of constant connection.
In Reuters, Timothy Edgar discusses the looming action over the future of TikTok.
Wendy Schiller comments for Al Día News, "Political parties, like social networks, thrive on divisiveness, so it's not very surprising (that a company) like Meta would stop fact-checking."
The Indian Express
The Hindutva-Ambedkar puzzle (written by Ashutosh Varshney)
In his column for The Indian Express, Ashutosh Varshney examines the contradictions in Hindutva's relationship with B.R. Ambedkar, contrasting Ambedkar's call for caste annihilation with V.D. Savarkar's instrumental critique of caste to forge Hindu unity against Muslims.
In The Hill, Lyle Goldstein commented on U.S.-China relations.
In an interview with PBS, J. Brian Atwood discussed critiques of U.S. foreign aid, highlighting concerns about its effectiveness and the influence of the so-called "aid industrial complex."
In The Hill, Lyle Goldstein warned that a U.S.-China conflict over Taiwan would be catastrophic and unnecessary, urging annual summits and a reassessment of U.S. policy to prevent escalation.
In Barron's, Wendy Schiller said social media companies like Meta are stepping back from fact-checking because division benefits both political parties and platforms, though the variety of outlets helps prevent any single entity from controlling information flow.
In an interview with Yahoo Finance, Wendy Schiller discussed the dynamics between Trump and Musk that she will be watching during Trump's second term in office.
In a piece for The Hill, J. Brian Atwood highlighted the historical significance of the Panama Canal treaties, warning that Trump's threats over shipping fees risk reigniting divisive issues resolved through Carter's pragmatic diplomacy.
In The Hill, J. Brian Atwood warns of the risks in Donald Trump’s Panama Canal rhetoric, stressing the treaties’ significance and value of pragmatic diplomacy.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Wendy Schiller breaks down the challenges facing the Republican-led US Congress ahead of Friday's House speakership vote and on the heels of deadly incidents in New Orleans and Las Vegas.
Wendy Schiller breaks down the challenges facing the Republican-led U.S. Congress ahead of the House speakership vote and on the heels of deadly incidents in New Orleans and Las Vegas.
In an interview with Yahoo Finance, Wendy Schiller discusses how Republican infighting in Congress could impact Trump's second-term policies, including the national deficit and fiscal legislation.
Wendy Schiller comments for Yahoo News, "All presidents use their power to pardon or commute sentences at the end of their presidencies."
Stephen Kinzer writes for The Boston Globe, "Carter refused to become a bland elder statesman and did not shy away from controversy."
Lyle Goldstein comments for Business Insider, "From my observation, they train hard; they are well equipped and disciplined, and they're given stringent ideological training for the reason that they are probably, in my view, the primary reserve force for section invasion."
In an interview with PBS, Wendy Schiller discussed Rhode Island's political highlights of 2024 and shared predictions for the year ahead.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Wendy Schiller explains why President-elect Donald Trump will look to take advantage of his executive powers and bypass Congress to the extent possible when his new term begins next month.
Omer Bartov comments for The Guardian, “People are suddenly, in America, avoiding speaking about it, or being advised not to speak, being threatened somewhat.”
Responsible Statecraft
Trump can leverage the Arctic to end Ukraine War (written by Lyle Goldstein)
In Responsible Statecraft, Lyle Goldstein argues that including Arctic development incentives in peace negotiations could entice Russia to end the Ukraine war and promote broader geopolitical and economic benefits.
In a PBS interview, Wendy Schiller discussed concerns over the state’s response to the cyberattack on Rhode Island's public benefits system and the warnings that preceded the breach.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Wendy Schiller discusses the latest on the potential for a government shutdown.
In an interview with CNN, Omer Bartov discussed the Israeli army's operations in Gaza.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Wendy Schiller reacts to President-elect Donald Trump's move to undermine a deal that would have averted a government shutdown.
Eric Patashnik comments during Yale conference, “In a democracy, political incentives must exist for problem solving to occur. And such incentives are often missing.”
Peter Andreas comments for Christian Science Monitor, “Nothing would actually put more pressure on the border and stimulate migration more than if Mexico’s economy went south."
Stephen Kinzer writes in The Boston Globe that the Islamist overthrow of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad marks a significant shift in Middle Eastern geopolitics.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Wendy Schiller reacted to a CBS report that President-elect Donald Trump has invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend his inauguration next month.
Lyle Goldstein comments for South China Morning Post, “Operating helicopters on the eastern side could say a lot, both with respect to the naval campaign [and] to a landing campaign.”
Open Source Podcast
"There’s only so much people will take.” (interview with Mark Blyth)
On Open Source podcast, Mark Blyth discusses the "Biden paradox," where efforts to rebuild the industrial base are overshadowed by inflation and rising living costs, impacting everyday Americans and Biden's political legacy.
In South China Morning Post, Lyle Goldstein notes that the PLA's military drills near Taiwan increasingly simulate real conflict scenarios.
Due Diligence Podcast
Inflation — History, Causes & Case Studies with Mark Blyth (interview with Mark Blyth)
In a Due Diligence podcast interview, Mark Blyth discussed the formation of economic consensus, the complexities of inflation, the evolution of capitalism, and how structural economic changes and technological progress shape political and social outcomes.
The American Conservative
The Hidden Logic of Trump’s National Security Picks (written by Lyle Goldstein)
In The American Conservative, Lyle Goldstein examines Trump's unconventional national security picks, highlighting a mix of hawks and anti-interventionists, and their role in shaping U.S. foreign policy decisions.
In a Boston Globe article, Stephen Kinzer explores the possibility of President-elect Trump pursuing a deal with Iran, examining regional dynamics, potential concessions, and Trump's history as an unconventional dealmaker.
In an NBC News article, the Costs of War Project reports that the Biden administration allocated nearly $18 billion in military aid to Israel in the year following the Oct. 7 attack.
Bloomberg Surveillance Podcast
Bloomberg Surveillance: Markets and Political Turmoil (interview with Wendy Schiller)
In an interview with Bloomberg, Wendy Schiller discusses the latest on Trump's cabinet picks and other DC headlines.
In The Irish Times, Mark Blyth explains that Ireland faces minimal risk from U.S. trade policies under a potential Trump administration, with greater concern stemming from general economic uncertainty and instability.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Wendy Schiller discusses Sen. Joni Ernst's role in Pete Hegseth's defense secretary nomination and President-elect Donald Trump's ties to the Justice Department amid Kash Patel's potential FBI appointment.
History as it Happens Podcast
Is It Genocide? (interview with Omer Bartov)
In this podcast episode, Omer Bartov argues that Israel's actions reflect an "intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group."
In an Al Jazeera interview, Omer Bartov discussed Israel's dismissal of ICC arrest warrants as anti-Semitic and its crackdown on critics, including the media, amid escalating scrutiny of Prime Minister Netanyahu's actions.
Vanity Fair reports allegations against former President Donald Trump’s Defense Secretary nominee, citing research from the Costs of War Project, which indicates military sexual assault rates may be two to four times higher than Department of Defense estimates.
In Business Insider, Mark Blyth explained Trump's use of tariffs as "leverage" to renegotiate NAFTA and highlighted the uncertainty of Trump's future actions until his administration is fully formed.
In an interview with The Dispatch podcast, Lyle Goldstein argues against American engagement in Taiwan.
In a Bloomberg interview, Wendy Schiller discussed President-elect Donald Trump's efforts to expand his influence on the US Congress and why they could cause a rift within the Republican party.
Wendy Schiller comments for The Guardian, “The singular thing that Joe Biden can do is expedite the flow of federal dollars in all the programmes."
A recent Politico article cites research from the Costs of War Project highlighting how sexual assault allegations against the nominee to lead the Department of Defense underscore longstanding issues with the Pentagon's handling of such abuses in the military.
In an interview with Here & Now, Omer Bartov argues Israel’s actions in Gaza amount to genocide, a shift from his earlier stance, as ICC warrants target leaders on both sides.
In the New York Times, Mark Blyth comments on the impact of the Trump presidency on Britain’s European relations.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Wendy Schiller discussed former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley's criticism of President-Elect Donald Trump's cabinet nominees and whether the GOP-led Senate may block any of his appointees.
Bloomberg Surveillance Podcast
Bloomberg Surveillance: Market Risks & Nvidia (interview with Wendy Schiller)
In an interview with Bloomberg Surveillance Podcast, Wendy Schiller discusses the latest DC headlines, the Trump transition, and the war in Ukraine.
Recall this Book podcast
An Existential Fight between Green and Carbon Assets (interview with Mark Blyth)
In an interview on the Recall this Book podcast, Mark Blyth argues the 2008-2009 financial crisis was a key turning point fueling inequality and political polarization, with implications for U.S. innovation and policy.
John Eason comments for WTTW News, “We build them all over the country because it is a public works project. It’s a way for rural communities to repair their reputation, not just economic, but political and social decline."
In an MSN article, Lyle Goldstein argued that China’s military is prepared to enforce unification with Taiwan, warning that U.S. intervention could escalate tensions into a broader conflict.
Ariana Palomo, a senior at Brown University concentrating in international and public affairs and Latin American and Caribbean studies, was elected to the Rhodes Scholar Class of 2025.