Fernanda López
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Iran and Terrorism: What the U.S. Strikes Could Mean for Homeland Security
Rising Security Concerns First, U.S. and Israel strikes against Iran increased concerns about retaliation inside the United States. Authorities warned about possible lone-wolf attacks, cyberattacks and other retaliatory actions. Consequently,…
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What Are Iran’s Nuclear and Missile Capabilities?
Current Status of Iran’s Nuclear Program First, Iran does not currently possess a nuclear weapon, although it maintains extensive nuclear infrastructure and technical knowledge that could allow weapons development if…
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The Strait of Hormuz: A U.S. – Iran Maritime Flash Point
En: Think TanksStrategic Waterway in the Middle East First, the Strait of Hormuz is a narrow maritime passage connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman, located between Iran and the…
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What the Texas primaries revealed about the divides within our divides
En: Think TanksPolarization in Contemporary American Politics First, American politics have become increasingly polarized across ideological, cultural, and emotional dimensions. These divisions have deepened over time and continue shaping political competition. However,…
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Is college becoming less affordable? An update
En: Think TanksRising Concern About College Costs First, college affordability has become a major political and economic concern in the United States. Many Americans believe essential middle-class opportunities, including higher education, are…
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Vibe teaming for collective sensemaking: Exploring human flourishing in the age of AI at Education House
En: Think TanksThe Rise of Human-AI Collaboration First, generative artificial intelligence is expected to transform knowledge work and organizational collaboration. However, the central challenge is determining how teams can use AI while…
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Helping low-income families access WIC and free early childhood education
En: Think TanksWhat the WIC Program Is WIC, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, provides nutritious food, nutrition education, and health referrals to low-income pregnant women, infants, and…
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Navigating uncertainty in US – ROK economic ties
En: Think TanksStrategic Context First, intensifying strategic competition between the United States and China reshapes the economic environment in East Asia. Consequently, middle powers such as South Korea must manage economic ties…
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Do policymakers underappreciate public employment?
En: Think TanksFiscal Pressures and Policy Choices When governments face fiscal deficits, policymakers often consider cutting the public-sector wage bill. However, such reductions may create long-term consequences for service delivery and state…
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Intervention to address democratic frailties in Zimbabwe
En: Think TanksHistorical Context of Zimbabwe’s Political System Initially, Zimbabwe’s democracy developed after independence in 1980, when majority rule replaced colonial governance that had restricted political and economic rights for Black citizens. …
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Sovereign credit ratings and external debt in Africa
En: Think TanksExpanding Access to Global Capital At the beginning of the 2000s, most African countries lacked sovereign credit ratings, limiting their access to international financial markets and constraining investment in infrastructure…
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Helping low-income families access WIC and free early childhood education
En: Think TanksAdministrative Burdens and Programs Access Administrative burdens can block families from needed support, leading to frustration and limiting access to food assistance and early education. These burdens fall hardest on…
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Learning what matters in India
En: Think TanksIntroduction and Purpose Firstly, the report examines how transforming education in India requires both structural reform and shifts in stakeholder mindsets. Moreover, it situates this inquiry within the vision of…
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Challenges and opportunities for the North American auto industry in the 2026 USMCA renegotiation
En: Think TanksHistorical Context and Recent Shifts North American auto integration evolved over decades through agreements such as the Auto Pact, NAFTA and now USMCA. In 2025, policy swings, from EV subsidies…
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The USMCA must strengthen cooperation between the public and private sectors
En: Think TanksImportance of Continued USMCA Cooperation Extending the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement is vital for economic growth, competitiveness, and North America’s security, and many workers depend on its certainty. Improvement Over NAFTA…
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The local implications of data centers for rural communities in the US
En: Think TanksIntroduction to Data Center Growth in Rural U.S. Rapid demand for computing capacity tied to AI is driving large data center proposals into rural regions of the United States, creating…
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USMCA has strengthened economic integration in North America
En: Think TanksIntroduction The USMCA agreement became more central to North American trade and manufacturing after recent shifts in policy. Rising Compliance and Trade By 2052, compliance with USMCA rules on Mexican…
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The weaponization of education rhetoric: A response to Melania Trump’s “Peace Through Education” address at the UN Security Council
En: Think TanksContext and Timing A girl’s school in Iran was struck by a missile, killing many children and adults two days before a major UN speech on education and peace. Subsequently…
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United States – Mexico – Canada Agreement 2026: Review and déjà vu
En: Think TanksHistorical Echoes North America faced uncertainty during NAFTA’s renegotiation, and now a similar sense of unpredictability surrounds the first joint review of USMCA. Review Framework The six-year review process replaces…
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Why MAGA Fears Europe
Transatlantic Tensions Resurface At the 2026 Munich Security Conference, American officials softened their tone but not their substance toward Europe. Whereas rhetoric sounded conciliatory, the strategic message signaled a widening…
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America’s Latest Middle-East Fiasco
Escalation in the Middle East After joint US-Israeli strikes killed Ali Khamenei, Iran retaliated across the region, raising fears of a prolonged and destabilizing conflict. Meanwhile, Washington signaled operations could…
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After the strike: The danger of war in Iran
Context and Immediate Aftermath The joint U.S.-Israel strike killed Iran’s supreme leader and shocked global politics, sparking widespread protests and retaliatory attacks. Despite this blow, Iran’s entrenched power structures remain…
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What to look out for at this year’s meeting of China’s legislature
Introduction and Context China’s legislature, the National People’s Congress (NPC), will meet in early March for its annual session that shapes national priorities and policy direction. Strategic Setting This session…
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Is the US dollar’s reserve currency status eroding?
En: Think TanksContext of Recent Dollar Weakness Since early in President Trump’s second term, the U.S. dollar has dropped sharply on a trade-weighted basis, with steep moves in April 2025 and January…
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Towards a new era for US – Africa trade
En: Think TanksIntroduction to US – Africa Trade Engagement The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) was created in 2000 to shift U.S. – Africa relations toward trade and investment instead of…
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If superintelligence isn’t imminent, the Trump administration may be right to loosen advanced chip export controls
En: Think TanksContext and Initial Reaction President Trump approved export licenses for certain advanced chips in December 2025, provoking strong criticism from former administration officials. Critics worried that exporting high-end chips to…
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A patchwork republican: Polarization and the laboratories of democracy
En: Think TanksResurgence of Federalism First, American states are breaking from centralized policy as they adopt divergent laws on abortion, voting, vaccines, immigration, and regulatory oversight. Moreover, this shift stems from political…
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Assessing Xi’s Unprecedented Purges of China’s Military: Key Developments and Potential Implications
En: Think TanksIntroduction and Scope China’s military has seen an extraordinary purge of senior officers since 2022, including top generals and commanders. This purge leaves only one senior general on the Central…
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Leadership Transition in Iran
En: Think TanksHistoric Context Iran faces a rare leadership change as its long-serving supreme leader’s advanced age and mounting pressures make transition likely. Such a shift would be only the second major…
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Brooking experts on the Supreme Court’s tariff decision
En: Think TanksOverview of the Supreme Court Decision On February 20, 2026, the Supreme Court ruled that IEEPA does not authorize sweeping presidential tariffs. This removes a key executive trade tool. Consequently,…