In The News

Paul Schemm and Eli Rosenberg January 12, 2018
The United States is a country of immigrants. Ancestors of many citizens arrived destitute – from Europe, Asia and Africa – in search of opportunity and thrived. In a meeting, Donald Trump was reported to have rejected a legislative deal on immigration and asked, “Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?” before suggesting that immigration policies focus on places...
Raphael Ahren January 3, 2018
Showing no reticence on commenting about volatile regions or upending longstanding US policies, President Donald Trump started the year relaying a string of opinions over Twitter. “In under 100 words, he questioned America’s longstanding financial support for the Palestinian Authority, contradicted his own position on Jerusalem, and indicated that Israel would have to ‘pay’ in future peace...
Jesselyn Cook December 29, 2017
North Korea fired another intercontinental ballistic missile in late November, and US President Donald Trump continues calls for China and President Xi Jinping “to crack down on its defiant trading partner with tougher sanctions.” North Korea does not appear to lean toward denuclearization despite Trump’s ongoing promises for “major sanctions.” While Trump counts on Xi and China’s economic...
Akbar Shahid Ahmed December 22, 2017
Reports suggest that Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman spent $450.3 million on a Leonardo da Vinci painting, “Salvator Mundi,” for the Louvre Abu Dhabi. As Akbar Shahid Ahmed reports for the Huffington, the purchase is the highest for an art auction and damages claims by the prince “that he will impose more transparency on the money accumulated by various members of the sprawling...
Peter Beaumont December 20, 2017
The United Nations is an organization where small and less powerful nations can speak out against the powerful. A letter by Nikki Haley, US ambassador to the United States, could be regarded as patronizing at best and bullying at worst. She warned UN members that she would be “taking names” of countries rejecting Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel. Jerusalem, controlled...
David M. Lampton December 14, 2017
Global institutions and alliances supported by the United States since 1945 have added to economic growth, lifting emerging economies and deterring conflicts, explains David M. Lampton for Caixin of Johns Hopkins University. He urges three priorities: addressing the North Korea nuclear program, trade reciprocity and economic balance of power in Asia. The United States should not ignore the One...
December 13, 2017
US elections have big implications for the rest of the world, and all eyes were on the special election in Alabama for a single US Senate seat. Turnout was heavy and voters elected Democrat Doug Jones over the Republican candidate who expressed opposition to immigration and rejected scientific consensus around climate change. Roy Moore also supported increased military spending and described...