Trump
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US Launches Tariff Refund System as Thousands of Importers Line Up
The Transition from Protectionism to Economic Mitigation By late April 2026, the United States trade policy has transitioned from a period of aggressive tariff enforcement to a phase of urgent…
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Pope Leo says not seeking ‘new debate’ with Trump on trip to Angola
The Transition from Domestic Critique to Global Moral Leadership By mid-April 2026, Pope Leo XIV—the first U.S.-born pontiff—has transitioned from being a “national curiosity” in America to the world’s most…
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How Trump’s Advisers Felt About Going to War With Iran
The New York Times – Youtube short Video This short video by The New York Times, featuring reporting from Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, examines how Donald Trump decided to…
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Understanding the Risks to Economic Statistics
Published on April 7, 2026, this commentary by a cross-institutional team of economists introduces the Economic Indicators Initiative (EII), a Brookings-led effort to strengthen the U.S. federal statistical system (FSS).…
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The “Bridge Day” Ultimatum: Diplomacy at the Brink
The Transition from Gradualism to “Terminal” Coercion By April 2026, the U.S. administration has transitioned from a policy of “incremental pressure” to an absolute ultimatum known as the “Bridge Day”…
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The FCC and the Politicization of Public Trust
The Transition from Independent Oversight to Executive Instrument By early 2026, the FCC has transitioned from its historical role as a non-partisan technical regulator to a central tool for executive…
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The Terminal Ultimatum: GZERO Analysis of the April 7 Deadline
The Transition from Deterrence to “Imminent Destruction” By April 2026, the U.S. strategy has transitioned from “Containment” to a policy of Forced Surrender. The GZERO report highlights that the current…
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Strategic Pause in the Iran War
The Transition from Imminent Strike to Coercive Diplomacy 2.0 In the final hours before the “Bridge Day” deadline (Article #87), the U.S. administration has transitioned from an active bombing posture…
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Automatic Enrollment: The Modernization of the U.S. Military Draft
The Transition from Manual Registration to Algorithmic Duty By late 2026, the United States has transitioned from a system of “proactive registration”—where young men had to manually sign up for…
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The NATO Ultimatum: Strategic Withdrawal as a Post-War Doctrine
The Transition from Collective Defense to “Transactional Security” By April 2026, the U.S. administration has transitioned from traditional leadership within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to a posture of…
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Trump fires Pam Bondi as US attorney general
The Sudden Collapse of the Justice Department Leadership On April 2, 2026, President Donald Trump fired U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, according to multiple news outlets. This dismissal marks the…
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US reiterates Trump open to diplomacy with Iran
The Pivot from Kinetic Dominance to Diplomatic Pressure On April 2, 2026, following his first formal national address on the Iran war, President Donald Trump reiterated that while the U.S.…
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The Toll of Protectionism: A One-Year Review of the 2025 Tariff Doctrine
The Shift from Globalized Integration to “Fortress America” A year after the implementation of the comprehensive 2025 tariff schedule, often referred to by the administration as “Economic Liberation Day,” CFR…
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World anxious to open Hormuz Strait while Trump and Iran trade threats
The Surge in Brent Crude and the Failure of De-escalation Signals On April 2, 2026, global oil prices surged by over 4%, with Brent crude reaching $118 per barrel, following…
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The Trump Exit Strategy: Kinetic Withdrawal and the NATO Ultimatum
The Transition from Full-Scale War to “Spot Hit” Operations On April 1, 2026, President Donald Trump told Reuters that the United States military will be “out of Iran pretty quickly,”…
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Trump administration set to receive $10 billion fee for brokering TikTok deal, WSJ reports
President Donald Trump’s administration is poised to receive an estimated “$10 billion” fee from investors involved in the deal that transferred control of TikTok’s U.S. operations from Chinese parent company…
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Trump’s Iran climbdown wasn’t an offramp
Trump’s decision to step back from immediate escalation with Iran has been presented as a form of restraint, but it does not represent a real exit from the conflict. Rather…
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Late-breaking shocks and shifting goalposts: Takaichi’s highwire Washington visit
Sanae Takaichi’s visit to Washington unfolds in a moment where international politics feels unstable and constantly shifting. Global crises, changing U.S. priorities and unexpected developments shape the context of the…
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Trump, Xi, and the Case for Strategic Calm
Introduction First, U.S. – China relations have shifted from confrontation toward a more restrained phase, where both sides test limits while avoiding escalation. From Escalation to Recalibration Initially, tariff wars…
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The World After Trump
A New World Disorder First, global order enters a turbulent phase as U.S. leadership shifts direction. Consequently, alliances weaken, trade becomes zero-sum, and strategic uncertainty expands across regions. Competing Futures…
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Trump’s Cyber Strategy Falls Short on China, Iran, and the Threats That Matter Most
Strategic Framing Initially, the cyber strategy presents an aggressive posture, emphasizing offensive operations to deter adversaries and signal strength in cyberspace. Lack of Strategic Depth However, the document remains brief…
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The Second Trump Administration Turns a Blind Eye to Afghanistan
Historical Context of U.S. Involvement First, Afghanistan dominated U.S. foreign policy debates during the earlier presidency of Donald Trump. The administration negotiated a 2020 agreement with the Taliban to withdraw…
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A Guide to Trump’s Second-Term Military Strikes and Actions
Expanding Use of Military Force Since returning to power in 2025, the U.S. president Donald Trump has increasingly relied on military strikes and operations across several regions. Continuity With Past…
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Trump Should Aim to Neutralize the Iran Regime, Not Destroy It
Strategic Dilemma in the Iran War Initially, the United States joined Israel in a broad military campaign against Iran, raising questions about the war’s objectives and long-term political outcomes. …
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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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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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Endangerment Finding Repeal
En: Think TanksTrump is dismantling climate rules. Industry is worried. The Endangerment Finding repeal announced by the Trump administration marks one of the most consequential rollbacks of federal climate authority in U.S.…
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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…