In The News

Sanctions or Saving Lives? Foreign Policy

Colum Lynch March 25, 2019
Since the start of this year, the Trump administration has gradually lifted key sanctions placed on North Korea after its maximum-pressure campaign received criticism from relief agencies and international organizations for denying life-saving supplies for the impoverished nation. These lifted restrictions include a freeze on the inflow of medical supplies and relief workers into Pyongyang. Many...

Summary of Mueller Findings: New York Times

Mark Mazzetti and Katie Benner March 24, 2019
The investigation by a team led by Robert Mueller has concluded with the US attorney general releasing a four-page summary. The investigators found no evidence that the US president or his aides conspired or coordinated with the Russian government’s interference into the 2016 election. “Barr also said that Mr. Mueller’s team drew no conclusions about whether Mr. Trump illegally obstructed justice...

Mueller Report Completed: Washington Post

Matt Zapotosky and Rosalind S. Helderman March 22, 2019
A team under Special Counsel Robert Mueller submitted a final report to the US Attorney General William Barr who will review the findings and determine which details can be shared with Congress and the public at large. Barr informed Congress that the department did not block investigators from pursing leads. The team was responsible for investigating interference in the 2016 presidential campaign...

Cheat, Bribe, Lie – US College Admissions Scam: CNN

Eric Levenson March 14, 2019
A college admissions operation involving fraud, conspiracy and racketeering thrived on the allure of American cultural icons –sports, charitable giving, shortcuts and elite universities as the starting point to a life of success. The ringleader pled guilty, and US federal prosecutors have charged 50 defendants associated with the organization known as the Key – including high-profile parents,...

Venezuela’s Blackout: New York Times

Anatoly Kurmanaev and Isayen Herrera March 12, 2019
Venezuela, with the world’s largest oil reserves, struggles to deliver power to most of its citizens. The four-day blackout combined with political divisions has triggered protests, looting, economic hardship and anger in the country of 32 million people. “The blackout is the latest crisis to befall a country in seemingly perpetual crisis,” reports the New York Times. “Venezuela has been...

Massage Parlor Owner and Trump Access: Mother Jones

Daniel Schulman, David Corn and Dan Friedman March 11, 2019
Embarrassing sexual behavior can compromise an individual’s ability to handle classified government information, and foreign intelligence agencies strive to identify individual weaknesses in order to obtain sensitive information or disrupt government operations. Police raided a Florida massage parlor in February after the facility was reported to be providing sexual services with women...

Trump’s Overreach on Trade: Project Syndicate

Daniel Gros March 10, 2019
The US trade strategy may be to isolate China until the nation enforces property rights and allows foreign investment without technology-sharing requirements. In negotiating post-Brexit trade agreements with the United Kingdom or the European Union, the United States expects to prevent trade partners from making deals with non-market economies, specifically China, explains Daniel Gros, writing...