The “Liberation Day” tariffs that US President Donald Trump announced on April 2 did not resurrect economic statecraft. It never went away. The new US approach, however, signaled a decisive shift. Until then, the European Union had preferred to convince itself that each episode of economic statecraft could be managed without asking hard questions regarding… Continue reading The Return of Economic Statecraft
Tag: Intel
AI Is About to Change Our Lives Forever. Luckily We Have a User Manual for That.
You probably haven’t thought about philosophers John Locke or Thomas Hobbes since high school, or that required college class. They died centuries before personal computing was invented, let alone the artificial intelligence technologies that now infuse many parts of our daily life. What could they possibly teach Americans about living in a world with AI?… Continue reading AI Is About to Change Our Lives Forever. Luckily We Have a User Manual for That.
AI Won’t Outrun Bad Procurement
Artificial intelligence is widely recognized as a linchpin of modernization. Yet, as federal agencies increasingly look to integrate AI into their operations, the stumbling blocks are not technological. It’s failures in procurement practices that, if not avoided, undermine the potential of AI. Two high-profile government automation projects offer cautionary tales. Each reveal how even well-funded… Continue reading AI Won’t Outrun Bad Procurement
Requiem for a Visa
U.S. government data (PDF) show that in 2023 a newly approved H-1B visa worker with the most common qualification—a bachelor’s degree in computer science or engineering—earned a median salary of $99,000. By contrast, the cost of securing that visa was already high. The application fees in 2024 were between $3,500 and $6,000, and once lawyers… Continue reading Requiem for a Visa
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia Mutual Defense Pact: Important to Whom?
The mutual defense pact signed this month between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia has largely been interpreted as Riyadh’s attempt to secure access to nuclear deterrence, hedging against the possibility of an Israeli strike. But who else is it important to? Western media attention has focused on Israel and the United States as involuntary stakeholders. For… Continue reading Pakistan and Saudi Arabia Mutual Defense Pact: Important to Whom?
Cracks in the Ice: Why Engaging China Can Check Russian Power in the Arctic
The Arctic is no longer a frozen frontier of scientific research and melting ice. Once viewed as a geostrategic backwater, the region has become central to the ambitions of the world’s most powerful states. From the United States’ push for dominance through icebreaker fleets and military outposts, to Russia’s aggressive remilitarisation and China’s quiet economic… Continue reading Cracks in the Ice: Why Engaging China Can Check Russian Power in the Arctic
Teens Are Using Chatbots as Therapists. That’s Alarming
On any given night, countless teenagers confide in artificial intelligence chatbots—sharing their loneliness, anxiety, and despair with a digital companion who is always there and never judgmental. A survey by Common Sense Media published in July found that 72 percent (PDF) of American teenagers said they had used A.I. chatbots as companions. Nearly one-eighth had… Continue reading Teens Are Using Chatbots as Therapists. That’s Alarming
Five Questions: Melanie Zaber on Making It in the Middle Class
Melanie Zaber studies everything from the rise of artificial intelligence to apprenticeship programs in rural Appalachia. Her goal is straightforward: to help more Americans find meaningful work and a path to the middle class. Her latest projects have taken her to West Virginia. She’s working with state leaders there to shape new training programs, new… Continue reading Five Questions: Melanie Zaber on Making It in the Middle Class
To Meet AI Energy Demands, Start with Maximizing the Power Grid
This commentary was originally published by The National Interest on September 17, 2025. As the United States races to expand its artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities and accelerate electrification, the nation faces a significant challenge: ensuring its aging power grid can keep pace with rapidly escalating energy demands. To respond to this challenge, incentives are needed… Continue reading To Meet AI Energy Demands, Start with Maximizing the Power Grid
The Missing Piece: Minerals Processing and Deep Sea Mining
This commentary was originally published by Modern Diplomacy on September 18, 2025. The world’s oceans have long been a source of riches that help sustain human civilization. Since antiquity, fishing has played an essential role in global food security, and over 3 billion individuals today derive a significant amount of their animal protein intake from… Continue reading The Missing Piece: Minerals Processing and Deep Sea Mining