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Delighted to have joined The Beijing Brief podcast from Taipei for a discussion of Taiwan's defense policy and security environment with Ryan Hass and Jon Czin! www.brookings.edu/articles/how...
How secure is Taiwan? The view from Taipei | Brookings
Ryan Hass and Jon Czin are joined by Brookings Nonresident Senior Fellow Caitlin Talmadge for a special episode of The Beijing Brief from on the ground in Taipei. Drawing on conversations with Taiwane...
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Is the U.S. becoming a "petrostate" and China an "electrostate"? Scott M. Moore argues the dichotomy is overstated, but warns China's dominance in EVs and clean tech could still give it a lasting edge as global demand shifts.
Electrostates vs. petrostates: The US, China, and the Hormuz energy shock | Brookings
The U.S. has ramped up oil and gas production, but China has sharply reduced oil imports while surging cleantech exports.
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AI is reaching kids far younger than most policy debates account for. On the latest TechTank episode, Nicol Turner Lee talks with Sweta Shah and Kathy Hirsh-Pasek about what AI-enabled toys and tools mean for toddlers—and what policymakers need to know.
AI and toddlers: The impacts on early development | The TechTank Podcast | Brookings
On this episode of TechTank, Sweta Shah and Kathy Hirsh-Pasek to discuss their research on how AI is reaching toddlers.
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Just 0.88% of U.S. foundation and corporate philanthropic giving goes to Native-serving causes—well below Native Americans' population share. Robert Maxim, Glencora Haskins, and Danika Grieser examine why philanthropic and federal investment continue to fall short in Indian Country.
Underinvestment in Indian Country: How federal and philanthropic funding to Native Americans falls short, and how to fix it | Brookings
Federal and philanthropic funding for Tribal nations and Native-serving organizations continues to fall short of need. This report examines investment gaps in Indian Country and outlines policy soluti...
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The EU has now sanctioned 671 Russian "shadow fleet" oil tankers, up from just 25 in 2024. The UK has sanctioned 621. Robin Brooks and Ben Harris find the U.S. hasn't added any since early 2025—a gap that's limiting the sanctions' overall impact.
An update on Europe’s Russia sanctions | Brookings
An update on how the EU, UK, and U.S. have sanctioned Russia's shadow fleet oil tankers—and why the gap between them still matters.
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German industry is losing roughly 10,000 jobs a month as a new wave of Chinese exports reshapes European markets. Constanze Stelzenmüller and Kari Heerman join Ryan Hass and Jonathan Czin on The Beijing Brief to unpack what's driving "China Shock 2.0"—and what Europe can do about it.
Can Europe survive China Shock 2.0? | Brookings
As China searches for markets to absorb its excess exports, it has increasingly directed much of that manufacturing overcapacity toward Europe, hollowing out the continent’s industrial capacity. On th...
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The federal student loan system is shifting from a sprawling menu of repayment plans to just two: a new tiered standard plan and the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP). Sarah Reber and Sarah Turner trace how we got here and what the transition requires.
Income-driven repayment for federal student loans: From ICR to RAP | Brookings
Sarah Reber and Sarah Turner trace the evolution of income-driven repayment plans for federal student loans, from its origins as a single plan to today's array of options—and the recent legislation se...
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Grid capacity, permitting delays, and local pushback are complicating U.S. efforts to build AI infrastructure at home. A new research series maps out what the push to build overseas means for U.S. security.
The national security implications of building frontier AI data centers overseas | Brookings
As AI infrastructure expands, data centers may increasingly attract attention from adversaries seeking to impose costs on rivals.
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15+ states have weighed data center moratoriums amid AI-driven construction booms. Nicol Turner Lee and Darrell West on why pauses should lead to stronger oversight and community collaboration.
Data center moratoriums are not a substitute for oversight | Brookings
Nicol Turner Lee and Darrell West discuss the rise of moratoriums against data centers and the need to hold companies accountable.
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Governments restricting exports to shield domestic consumers may be trading short-term relief for long-term costs. Kari Heerman and David Wessel explain, drawing on lessons from the 2026 Iran war.
Export restrictions don’t solve scarcity; they redistribute it | Brookings
The immediate consequence of imposing export restrictions is greater scarcity, which is especially impactful for import-dependent countries.
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The AI race is no longer just a competition between companies and startups; it’s a contest between nations over global power and influence, says Kyle Chan. Hear him break down the ongoing AI battle between Chinese open-source models and American companies like Anthropic and OpenAI.
Why Washington fears China's open-source AI | Brookings
What does the invention of Chinese AI model Kimi K3 mean for Washington and Silicon Valley? In a new explainer for The Beijing Brief podcast, Kyle Chan breaks down the ongoing AI battle between Chines...
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Morocco's run to the 2026 World Cup quarterfinals reflects two decades of investment in youth football and infrastructure. For Foresight Africa, Landry Signé talks with Morocco's U.S. ambassador about what's next as the country co-hosts 2030.
After the men’s World Cup: How African countries can leverage sports for development and diplomacy | Brookings
Host Landry Signé meets with H.E. Youssef Amrani, the Kingdom of Morocco’s ambassador to the U.S., on the heels of the men’s 2026 World Cup to discuss his country’s investment in sports for developmen...
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State audits keep finding the same thing: noncitizen voting is vanishingly rare. Elaine Kamarck breaks down the data—and what added documentation requirements under the SAVE Act could mean for eligible voters.
Why do so few noncitizens try to vote? | Brookings
State audits show noncitizen voting is rare, while the SAVE Act could add new hurdles for eligible voters.
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Non-citizens use public benefits at lower rates than citizens—despite being more concentrated at the bottom of the income distribution, where these programs are targeted, according to new estimates from Sasha Snyder and Tara Watson.
Immigrant public benefit participation: Our estimates | Brookings
Despite being disproportionately low-income, Brookings researchers find that non-citizens use public benefits at lower rates than citizens. Their estimates show why measurement choices shape this conc...
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Why does the U.S. struggle to shape how its security partners fight—and end—their wars? New research from Dafna Rand draws on 30+ interviews with senior officials to explain why American leverage fades once a partnered conflict begins.
Why can't the United States end allies' wars?
Dafna H. Rand examines why influencing a partner’s warfighting decisions has become so difficult for the U.S. over the past decade.
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The space economy is accelerating fast—tourism, mining, exploration, communications, defense. Darrell West talks with Bridgit Mendler and Mariel Borowitz about why more infrastructure investment is needed to support that growth, and where government can lead.
The importance of investing in space infrastructure with Bridgit Mendler and Mariel Borowitz | The TechTank Podcast | Brookings
On this episode of TechTank, Darrell West is joined by Bridgit Mendler and Mariel Borowitz to discuss the importance of investing in space infrastructure.
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Following Iran's attack on a U.S. air base in Jordan that killed American soldiers, Bruce Riedel explains the recent history of U.S.-Jordan relations—and why the attack is likely to reinforce, not weaken, the partnership.
Why Jordan remains a critical US partner | Brookings
The loss of several American servicemen in Jordan this week underscores the centrality of the Hashemite Kingdom to U.S. policy in the region.
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The federal government may soon create a new body to oversee powerful AI models, inspired by brokerage-industry regulation. Elham Tabassi and coauthors outline what it must get right—from industry-independent funding to real access to test AI systems—before release.
The U.S. Is About to Design an AI Regulator. Here’s How to Get It Right. | Council on Foreign Relations
The AI industry and the administration could soon converge on a FINRA-style regulator for frontier AI. Its ultimate viability and effectiveness will be decided by design choices being made right now.
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As Congress debates FEMA's future, new analysis from Tony Pipa and Julia Davatzes finds rural counties bore a disproportionate share of major disasters over the past decade—often with fewer resources to recover.
How do rural communities fit into FEMA’s disaster response and recovery? | Brookings
Pipa and Davatzes examines rural disaster recovery challenges and show why reform must reflect rural needs and constraints.
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The U.S. declined to renew USMCA on July 1—but it didn't collapse either. Kari Heerman talks with Christopher Sands and Duncan Wood about what "failure to renew" actually means and why negotiations continue.
USMCA fails to renew—but it’s not over yet | Brookings
On July 1, the U.S. government declined to renew the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)—but that’s not the end for the region’s free trade agreement. Kari Heerman spoke with Christopher Sands and Du...
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USPS carried roughly 99 million ballots in 2024—nearly a third of American votes. Elena Patel explains what the Postal Service does, and doesn't, control in elections.
Delivering the vote: How 4 pressures are testing the Postal Service’s role in American elections | Brookings
The U.S. Postal Service plays a critical role in mail voting. Learn how election law, postmarks, financial pressures, and new federal policies are reshaping USPS's role in American elections.
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How close are China and Russia, really? For The Beijing Brief, Fiona Hill and Patricia M. Kim sit down with Jonathan A. Czin to unpack the surprisingly complicated relationship between Beijing and Moscow.
No limits? Testing the China-Russia relationship | Brookings
The Ukraine war, shifting American foreign policy priorities under President Trump, and increased global instability have shifted the balance in the China-Russia relationship, one of the world’s most ...
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David M. Klaus and Mark MacCarthy discuss the federal, state, and regulatory actions needed to translate a "Ratepayer Protection Pledge" into enforceable protections.
The pledge to protect ratepayers from AI data center costs needs enforcement | Brookings
David Klaus and Mark MacCarthy outline what needs to happen next to translate words of commitment around data centers into action.
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"The Fed’s nearly 50% decline in enforcement actions since COVID leads one to wonder whether the banks they regulate are that much more compliant or whether the Fed is choosing not to issue formal enforcement actions."
Why is bank enforcement declining? | Brookings
Aaron Klein and Cameron Connell assess the serious decrease in formal bank enforcement actions, particularly at the Federal Reserve
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Debates over USPS often center on its finances—but who actually relies on the mail, and for what? New research from Elena Patel, drawing on four decades of USPS data, finds mail remains critical for medications, voting, tax filing, and rural service access.
Beyond the Balance Sheet: What American Households Still Use the Mail ForBeyond the balance sheet: What American households still use the mail for | Brookings
New analysis of USPS Household Diary Study data shows how Americans still rely on the mail, from paper bills to package delivery, and which households depend on it most.
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More than 4 million U.S. families with young children are pushed into financial instability by childcare costs alone. Glencora Haskins examines what's driving the crisis—and what states can do about it.
As childcare costs skyrocket, states need a new approach to help working families | Brookings
As childcare costs continue to rise, states have an opportunity to help working families. New research shows how affordable childcare policies can improve financial stability and increase labor force ...
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SCOTUS ruled in Trump v. Barbara that birth on U.S. soil confers citizenship, striking down the 2025 executive order narrowing that principle. William Galston on the ruling, the dissent, and why only a constitutional amendment could change it now.
Supreme Court upholds birthright citizenship, rejects Trump order | Brookings
The Supreme Court's birthright citizenship decision underscores the enduring significance of the 14th Amendment.
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Canada and Mexico agreed to extend USMCA for 16 more years—the U.S. did not. The agreement stays in force, but now enters a cycle of annual reviews under Article 34.7. Maricarmen Barron Esper and Christopher Sands assess what the first-ever review revealed.
USMCA review reviewed: Lessons from the first use of USMCA's review mechanism | Brookings
Maricarmen Barron Esper and Christopher Sands review the performance of the first USMCA review and offer lessons for future negotiations.
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The Declaration of Independence remains an unfinished promise. On the season finale of Democracy in Question, host Katie Dunn Tenpas talks with historian Heather Cox Richardson about what the Declaration means today, and how its ideals depend on Americans to defend, expand, and reinvent them.
Heather Cox Richardson on defending the Declaration’s democratic ideals | Brookings
On the final episode of Democracy in Question’s third season, host Katie Dunn Tenpas speaks with historian Heather Cox Richardson about the Declaration of Independence as a whole and its relevance tod...
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New research from Mayu Takeuchi and Joseph Parilla offers a playbook for governors and state legislators: five structural "plays" to modernize economic development and connect more workers to good jobs.
States enable, regions thrive | Brookings
A state playbook for growing good jobs in the next economy
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