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.
In an interview with On the Media, Mark Blyth explains the rhetoric of short-term pain for long-term gain and what to make of the economy right now.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Wendy Schiller discusses whether Congress will be able to impede Musk and President Trump's cost-cutting initiatives.
U.S. News and World Report
I ran USAID when it was last under attack. Here’s how we saved it. (written by J. Brian Atwood)
J. Brian Atwood wrote a column for U.S. News & World Report about the impact of the U.S. Agency for International Development, which he led in the 1990s.
Politics War Room Podcast
Why Can’t We Have Nice Things? (interview with Marc Dunkelman)
In an interview on the Politics War Room podcast, Marc Dunkelman discussed the costly burden of the administrative state and how it creates obstacles to progress, undermining faith in the government’s ability to get things done.
Lyle Goldstein comments for Foreign Policy, “Things are changing, and there’s an earnest debate in the Republican Party.”
In an article for Business a.m., Mark Blyth argues that austerity has returned as a political weapon, promoted for economic and ideological purposes despite its historical failures and potential to deepen inequality.
In an interview with 92nd Street Y, Marc Dunkelman discusses the deep-seated challenges facing America’s infrastructure and institutional systems.
A recent Solar Builder article cites a report from researchers at the Climate Solutions Lab analyzing the cost of permitting red tape for residential solar systems in Colorado.
A recent New Yorker article reviews Marc Dunkelman's latest book, "Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress―and How to Bring It Back."
Fox News cites data from the Costs of War Project at the Watson Institute on contractor deaths during the Iraq War.
In an interview with the Guns Unpacked podcast, Ieva Jusionyte discusses the cultural and historical context of guns in Mexico, the connections between gun politics and immigration, and how the availability of U.S. guns shapes migration.
Stephanie Savell comments for The Intercept, "Cuts to the astronomical Pentagon budget have been urgent for a long time."
In a Bloomberg interview, Wendy Schiller discussed the latest D.C. headlines and Trump's recent statements on tariffs.
The New York Times
We Can Achieve Great Things (Mark Dunkelman's book cited)
A recent New York Times article cites Marc J. Dunkelman's "Why Nothing Works," highlighting its analysis of how shifting values have shaped activism and hindered government action on housing, infrastructure, and clean energy.
The Express Tribune cites data from the Costs of War Project on the number of military and civilian deaths in U.S.-led post-9/11 wars.
A recent Wall Street Journal article reviews Marc Dunkelman's latest book, "Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress―and How to Bring It Back."
Mark Blyth writes for Market Watch, "Austerity is back, but this time it is not just a bad idea. It is also a political weapon and a dangerous economic redistributive tool."
The Boston Globe
How Europe can go it alone (written by Stephen Kinzer)
In The Boston Globe, Stephen Kinzer argues that the U.S. is abandoning its long-standing security role in Europe, forcing an unprepared continent to rethink its defense strategy and future alliances.
In an interview with The Gist, Marc J. Dunkelman, author of Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress―and How to Bring It Back,discusses why modern institutions fail at delivering progress and what can be done to fix them.
A recent Politico article is adapted from an excerpt on climate change from Marc J. Dunkelman's book, "Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress — and How to Bring It Back."
A recent Semafor article references Marc Dunkelman's latest book, "Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress―and How to Bring It Back."
A recent Bloomberg article references Marc Dunkelman's latest book, "Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress―and How to Bring It Back."
In an interview with CNN, Marc Dunkelman, author of "Why Nothing Works," explains why Democrats have struggled to achieve sweeping changes while in power.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Wendy Schiller discussed this week’s political headlines and the uncertainty surrounding U.S. policy on Ukraine.
In an interview with MSNBC, Marc J. Dunkelman discussed his new book "Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress―and How to Bring It Back," about how progressivism’s own fear of “the establishment” has stifled America’s ability to solve big problems through government.
In a Slate podcast interview, Marc Dunkelman discussed his new book, "Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress―and How to Bring It Back."
In The Boston Globe, Marc Dunkelman discusses his book Why Nothing Works and the challenges facing U.S. infrastructure.
The New York Times
Cutting Red Tape (Marc Dunkelman's book cited)
A recent New York Times article references Marc Dunkelman's latest book, "Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress―and How to Bring It Back."
Ashutosh Varshney writes for Indian Express, "India will lower tariffs to accommodate Trump's power, not decrease them across the board for the sake of economic efficiency."
The Good Fight Podcast
Marc Dunkelman on Why Nothing Works (interview with Marc Dunkelman)
In an interview with the Good Fight podcast, Marc Dunkelman explores the challenges facing big projects in the United States, the origins of progressivism, and how Donald Trump fits into this story.
In Yahoo Finance, Wendy Schiller explains that while Trump's tariff policies have yet to impact voters directly, they will significantly affect farmers and serve as a strategic tool for political and geopolitical leverage.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Wendy Schiller discusses Trump's strategy and possible motives when it comes to ending the nearly three-year old conflict.
Ieva Jusionyte comments for El País, "In the United States, there’s huge demand for drugs and a large supply of weapons and, in Mexico, it works the other way around."
LSE European Institute Podcasts
Burning down the house: carbon politics, American power, and the almighty Dollar (interview with Mark Blyth)
In a podcast, Mark Blyth discusses how the U.S. dollar's global role has fueled economic dominance and says a shift toward carbon-driven reindustrialization under Trump could weaken U.S. influence as the world moves toward green energy.
In The Washington Post, Marc J. Dunkelman writes that progressives have weakened the administrative state, limiting the U.S. government's ability to regulate corporations and expand public works.
J. Brian Atwood writes in The Hill that efforts to abolish USAID would undermine U.S. national security, arguing that the agency is highly regulated, combats poverty, and strengthens global stability in ways that serve American interests.
J. Brian Atwood told Reuters that mass layoffs at USAID would effectively dismantle the agency and endanger millions of lives worldwide.
Ieva Jusionyte told The Wall Street Journal that both the U.S. and Mexico must take action to curb gun trafficking, with Mexico strengthening its justice system and the U.S. tightening firearm purchase regulations.
Marc J. Dunkelman told NPR that progressives’ distrust of power has led to burdensome regulations that stall infrastructure but says reform is possible.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Wendy Schiller examines how public sentiment could impact the president's willingness to allow Musk to continue with his cost-cutting mandate.
Lyle Goldstein writes in The Diplomat that the downfall of South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has triggered a reassessment of his foreign policy, with Seoul likely shifting toward moderation to ease regional tensions.
Omer Bartov told The New York Times that President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza echoes past forced displacements of Palestinians and amounts to “ethnic cleansing” disguised as a humanitarian act.
Discourse Magazine
Progressives Against Progress (Marc Dunkelman's book cited)
A recent Discourse Magazine article references Marc Dunkelman's latest book, "Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress―and How to Bring It Back."
A recent Forbes article references Marc Dunkelman's latest book, "Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress―and How to Bring It Back."
In an interview with Bloomberg, Wendy Schiller shares her thoughts on possible presidential overreach on the heels of the DOGE team's actions.
Stephen Kinzer writes in The Boston Globe that despite Donald Trump’s admiration for William McKinley, the two presidents were fundamentally different—McKinley was cautious and consensus-driven, while Trump is impulsive and confrontational.
Robert Blair co-authored a new study that found “reciprocal group reflection” — an intervention inspired by marriage counseling — helped reduce affective polarization among opposing political parties.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Wendy Schiller discusses the implications of President Trump's sweeping orders for Congress and the Republican party.
Mark Blyth comments for the Financial Times, "If you really thought this guy was going to do something about the price of eggs, then you are probably going to be brutally disappointed."
The New York Times
Let’s Get to the Marrow of What Trump Just Did (Marc Dunkelman's book cited)
A recent New York Times interview references Marc Dunkelman's latest book, "Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress―and How to Bring It Back."
A recent NBC News article, references a report by the Costs of War project on record U.S. military aid to Israel since the war in Gaza began.
Wendy Schiller discusses the potential impact of President Donald Trump's targeted government spending cuts in the United States and abroad in an interview with Bloomberg.
In the Financial Times, Mark Blyth warns that if Trump’s policies drive inflation, the Federal Reserve may raise interest rates despite potential backlash from the administration.
Lyle Goldstein told NK News that Trump-Kim engagement 2.0 could help deescalate tensions on the Korean Peninsula following Trump’s inauguration.
In a Bloomberg interview, Wendy Schiller discusses the nation's first week under the new Trump administration.
In Indian Express, Ashutosh Varshney examines Trump’s second presidency, noting its focus on expanding power, prioritizing popular will over law, and pursuing controversial tariffs and immigration policies.
In a Bloomberg interview, Wendy Schiller analyzes President Trump’s early second-term actions, including his legislative strategy, executive orders, and major policy announcements.
The Boston Globe
The secretary of state is irrelevant now (written by Stephen Kinzer)
Stephen Kinzer writes for The Boston Globe, "Marco Rubio will be one of Trump’s least influential Cabinet members. It’s not his fault."
In ABC News, Timothy Edgar highlights TikTok's $850 billion liability risk under U.S. law and notes potential app degradation over time without updates.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Wendy Schiller discusses the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 47th president of the United States.
In an interview with Yahoo Finance, Wendy Schiller analyzes what Donald Trump said — and didn’t say — in his inauguration speech.
Wendy Schiller comments for The Guardian, “The Hunter Biden pardon will be the biggest black mark on his presidency because he promised and he gave his word that he wouldn’t do it and then he did it."
In an interview with Bloomberg, Wendy Schiller discussed the potential challenges and priorities of President-elect Donald Trump's upcoming term.
In The Hill, J. Brian Atwood warns that reforms aimed at empowering the president at the expense of career civil servants risk undermining effective governance and demonizing dedicated public servants.
In The Hill, Marc Dunkelman discussed his new book, "Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress―and How to Bring It Back."
Timothy Edgar comments for CBS News, "This generation may be in for a very rude awakening if the law goes into effect and they find a major social media platform that they came to rely on as creators, or just users, is suddenly not available."
A piece in Medium cites data from the Costs of War Project on the number of casualties in the Afghan war.
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.”
Harvard Gazette
Is TikTok’s time nearly up? (interview with Timothy Edgar)
In an interview with Harvard Gazette, Timothy Edgar discussed national security and First Amendment issues as the popular platform TikTok faces a legal deadline.
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.