In the News
News media from around the world rely on the expertise of Watson School 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 the Watson School, opinion pieces by our faculty, interviews, podcasts and more.
In the News
News media from around the world rely on the expertise of Watson School 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 the Watson School, opinion pieces by our faculty, interviews, podcasts and more.
In The Print, Ashutosh Varshney analyzes the Trump administration’s National Security Strategy, highlighting its focus on cultural identity, skepticism of globalization, a tough stance on China, and a limited view of India’s role.
In an interview with NPR’s GBH, Ieva Jusionyte discusses the research that led to her receiving a MacArthur Fellowship — often called the “genius grant” — and what she plans to do with the funding.
In the Boston Globe, Stephen Kinzer writes that Donald Trump undermined his antidrug stance by pardoning former Honduran president and convicted drug kingpin Juan Orlando Hernández, contradicting his tough-on-trafficking rhetoric.
Marc Dunkelman argues in the New York Times that Trump’s assertive use of executive power exposes progressives’ conflicting views on government authority and should push them to rethink how public power is exercised.
The Nation recently reviewed “Inflation: A Guide for Users and Losers,” a new book by Mark Blyth.
How to Fix It with John Avlon
America’s New Crisis: We Can’t Build (interview with Marc Dunkelman)
In an interview with How to Fix It, Marc Dunkelman tells John Avlon that America’s inability to build—from EV chargers to rail projects—stems from a fragmented, veto-heavy system that stalls progress and must be reformed to work again.
Cost of Living Podcast
When it comes to inflation, it's personal (interview with Mark Blyth)
Mark Blyth explained in a podcast interview how varying personal inflation experiences contribute to political polarization, while also discussing why Canadians are keeping their cars longer.
Stephen Kinzer argues in The Boston Globe that the Trump-backed Ukraine peace plan, despite criticism, is a realistic path to ending the war and should be embraced as a necessary compromise.
In an interview with Economic Times, Mark Blyth says climate change is a far bigger inflation risk than tariffs, as extreme heat, fossil-fuel influence and shifts in renewable tech disrupt economies worldwide.
Lyle Goldstein writes in Real Clear World that Japan’s new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, may intensify U.S.-China tensions, particularly over Taiwan, due to her hawkish stance and push for a stronger Japanese military.
In a recent Newsweek article, Şebnem Kalemli-Özcan discussed the “K-shaped” recovery of the U.S. economy.
Lyle Goldstein told The Washington Post that China’s new 80,000-ton supercarrier marks “a new era” in Beijing’s naval power, further narrowing its capability gap with the United States.
Lyle Goldstein writes in Asia Times that a U.S. military intervention in Venezuela would likely backfire by boosting China’s influence in Latin America and deepening great-power tensions.
The New York Times
Why Can’t New York Fix Penn Station? (comments by Marc Dunkelman)
Marc Dunkelman comments for The New York Times, “We’ve got a system that doesn’t have anyone who can actually make the decision."
Han Zhang contributed to a new study that found fans, not celebrities, are driving online nationalism in China’s social media sphere, according to Phys.org.
Ashutosh Varshney writes in The Print that New York Mayor Adhan Mamdani’s 2024 victory marks a rare rebuke of President Trump and signals a rise in Democratic power balancing progressive and moderate wings ahead of crucial midterm elections.
Mark Blyth co-authored a Project Syndicate article arguing that affordable technologies like drones, smartphones, and solar power are reshaping global power dynamics by enabling smaller countries to challenge traditional military and economic dominance.
In The Boston Globe, Stephen Kinzer writes that U.S. threats against Venezuela are driven more by a strategy to weaken Cuba than by concerns about Venezuela itself.
Security Dilemma Podcast
Losing a Taiwan War? (interview with Lyle Goldstein)
On the Security Dilemma podcast, Lyle Goldstein discussed his “Target Taiwan” paper series, which argues that a U.S.-China conflict over Taiwan could be costlier and less winnable for the United States than commonly believed.
In Stars and Stripes, Lyle Goldstein writes that while China’s new Fujian aircraft carrier marks major technological progress, it does not threaten U.S. national security or shift the overall military balance in the Asia-Pacific.
Reid Pauly told TIME that if the U.S. resumed nuclear weapons testing, it would make the world more dangerous by prompting other countries to follow suit, though Trump’s remarks likely referred to testing delivery systems rather than detonations.
Lyle Goldstein wrote in UnHerd that while the Trump-Xi meeting eased trade tensions and benefited U.S. businesses, it missed a crucial chance to address major security risks like Taiwan, North Korea, and nuclear rivalry.
Lyle Goldstein told ABC News that Trump’s comments reflect a new Cold War dynamic, warning that renewed nuclear testing would fuel global arms races, endanger the planet, and ultimately weaken U.S. security.
In The Print, Ashutosh Varshney writes that Bihar’s upcoming elections, rooted in the state’s long democratic history, will test whether India’s democracy resists or deepens its current backsliding.
A recent Salon article cites a report from the Costs of War project that found hate crimes against Muslims increased between 2000 and 2009.
In TIME, Lyle Goldstein warns that Taiwan’s push toward independence under President William Lai is escalating tensions with China and urges the U.S. to avoid risking war over the island.
Timothy Edgar told ABC News that relying on only a few major big tech cloud providers creates significant infrastructure vulnerabilities.
Ieva Jusionyte told The Boston Globe she will use her MacArthur “genius” grant to research how extraditing organized crime leaders from Latin America to the U.S. affects justice, calling it her most challenging project yet.
A Book with Legs Podcast
Mark Blyth and Nicolò Fraccaroli - Inflation (interview with Mark Blyth)
Mark Blyth told the A Book with Legs podcast that inflation reflects broad economic shifts driven by modern forces beyond rising prices, as discussed in his new book Inflation: A Guide for Users and Losers.
The Atlantic
The NIMBY in Chief (written by Marc Dunkelman)
Marc Dunkelman writes in The Atlantic that by blocking major New York infrastructure projects through burdensome regulations, Donald Trump has become the nation’s “NIMBY in chief,” undermining the development he once promised to accelerate.
In an article for Defense Priorities, Lyle Goldstein argues that the upcoming Trump-Xi meeting in South Korea offers a chance to ease U.S.-China tensions, urging Washington to return to the One China policy and pursue diplomatic restraint to prevent war over Taiwan.
In The Print, Ashutosh Varshney writes that the United States under Donald Trump represents more than democratic backsliding but less than a full revolution, as rapid institutional changes face limits from federalism, the judiciary, and a diverse civil society.
As a cease-fire begins, NPR cites new research from the Costs of War Project showing the U.S. has provided $21.7 billion in aid to Israel since Oct. 7, 2023.
Ieva Jusionyte spoke with NPR’s Here & Now about her research on border regions and her plans after receiving a 2025 MacArthur Fellowship.