China’s Rapid Military Build-Up Highlighted in New Report
The United States is facing an ever-more sophisticated Chinese military. On December 23, the Department of Defense released its annual report on the state of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). The report...
Policy Briefs
China Launches New Drills Around Taiwan, Regional Tensions Rise
China is targeting Taiwan with a short but intense series of military exercises around the island. On December 29, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) launched the two-day “Justice Mission 2025,”...
Policy Briefs
Washington’s Willingness to Sell New Chips Shows China’s Growing Strength
Washington’s shift in its chip export controls shows how fear of trade disruption is reshaping US strategy—while Beijing gains strategic leverage without wanting the technology.
Op-eds
X’s Location Feature Exposes a Real Problem, but Does Not Fix It
A new location transparency feature on X is revealing foreign influence on American discourse just as federal agencies designed to deal with such threats are being dismantled. Toward the end...
Op-eds
Congressional Investigation Reveals Federal Research Funding Underwrote China’s Expanding Nuclear Program
The United States unknowingly funneled research funding into China’s nuclear industry. On December 17, the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the House Committee on Education...
Policy Briefs
Florida Follows Texas, Brands Muslim Brotherhood as Terrorist Organization
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed an executive order on December 9 designating the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as terrorist organizations. In doing so, DeSantis...
Policy Briefs
Hybrid Warfare in Europe Against U.S. Interests
Moscow and Beijing’s Playbook
Congressional Testimonies
Syria investigates deadly attack on US forces, US names 2 National Guard soldiers as victims
On December 15, the Iowa National Guard released the names of two US soldiers who were killed in a terrorist attack in Syria on December 13. “Our entire National Guard family mourns...
Op-eds
Iran’s Workers Want To Unite for Better Conditions, but Need Outside Help
Iran’s workers are standing up for themselves and, increasingly, looking to join with others. Nearly 5,000 oil workers marched on December 9 in the South Pars natural gas field, the largest labor mobilization...
Policy Briefs
8 Reasons Why the U.S. Must Maintain a Ban on Iran’s Uranium Enrichment and Plutonium Reprocessing
The United States and the international community have spent decades trying to restrict Iran’s uranium enrichment and plutonium reprocessing capabilities given the regime’s threats against the West...
Insights
Chinese Jets Target Japanese Fighters, Escalating Tensions Between Beijing and Tokyo
Chinese fighter pilots have upped the ante in the East China Sea. On December 6, The Wall Street Journal reported that two Chinese J-15 fighters from the aircraft carrier Liaoning twice trained their fire-control...
Policy Briefs
Rolling Back Export Controls, U.S. Offers China Powerful AI Chips
The United States has instituted a pay-to-play scheme for artificial intelligence (AI) exports. On December 8, President Donald Trump announced that the Commerce Department would allow American AI semiconductor...
Policy Briefs
Top Hamas Officials Contradict Each Other Over Disarmament
Hamas officials are sending mixed messages over disarmament. On December 7, a day after Hamas leader Khaled Mashal rejected aspects of President Trump’s 20-point ceasefire plan for Gaza, including disarmament,...
Policy Briefs
Putin’s New Nationalities Strategy Seeks To Erase Ukrainian Identity
While he accuses Kyiv of repressing Russian identity and language in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin is working to erase Ukrainian identity in Ukrainian territories he has illegally annexed....
Policy Briefs
Eyeing Russia, Germany Fields First Israeli Arrow 3 Missile Defense System
The renewed Russian threat to Europe led Germany to field its first Israeli Arrow 3 ballistic missile defense system on Wednesday. Europe is working to improve its air and missile defenses in the face...
Policy Briefs
Washington Finally Takes on the Muslim Brotherhood
After weeks of hinting that a major policy shift was imminent, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order (EO) on November 24 directing the State and Treasury Departments to begin the process of...
Insights
South Africa Gets a Pass on Rampant Corruption
Why is a leading global watchdog turning a blind eye?
Op-eds
U.S., Mexico Step Up Cooperation on Cartel Money Laundering
Drug traffickers cannot spend their piles of cash unless other criminals are willing to launder their money for them. Without access to clean cash, cartels can’t invest in luxury properties, buy businesses,...