The article argues that the Federal Reserve's recent rate hike decision, while justifiable on inflation grounds, highlights a critical lack of an underlying, transparent policy framework. The core problem is that the Fed's decisions appear discretionary, leading to market uncertainty because the committee's judgment, rather than clear data, dictates policy shifts. The author proposes that the Fed adopt a formal monetary policy rule—an algebraic formula linking the target rate to indicators like inflation and unemployment—to replace subjective guidance. Implementing such a rule would provide market predictability, enhance transparency, and shield the Fed from political attacks by making deviations from the standard easily quantifiable.
Ukraine, Iran, and the strains on Russian and American power
English Summary
The article argues that Russia's prolonged war in Ukraine and the U.S.'s 2026 Iran conflict have revealed the limits of superpower dominance, as both Putin and Trump's military miscalculations have trapped them in costly, unwinnable conflicts that are undermining their global credibility. Ukraine and Iran, despite being militarily weaker, have inflicted massive casualties and costs on their attackers, forcing both superpowers to recognize they cannot impose their will and are losing traditional allies seeking independent security arrangements. The simultaneous distraction of both superpowers is accelerating a shift toward decentralized global security, with Europe recognizing Ukraine as a credible military asset and developing independent defense capabilities rather than relying on American guarantees. The article recommends that regional groupings like the Joint Expeditionary Force take a leading role in security coordination and that Europe facilitate an end to the Russia-Ukraine war independent of U.S. involvement.
中文摘要
本文論述，俄羅斯在烏克蘭持續的戰爭以及美國預計於2026年發生的伊朗衝突，已揭示了超級大國主導地位的極限。由於普丁和川普兩人的軍事誤判，他們被困於成本高昂且難以取勝的衝突中，這正在削弱其全球公信力。烏克蘭和伊朗儘管軍事力量較弱，卻對攻擊方造成了巨大的傷亡和經濟損失，迫使兩大超級大國意識到，它們無法強加自己的意志，並且正在失去傳統盟友，這些盟友正尋求獨立的安全安排。兩大超級大國同時分心，正在加速推動全球安全模式向去中心化轉移。歐洲正在將烏克蘭視為一個可信的軍事資產，並發展獨立的國防能力，而非依賴美國的保證。本文建議，像聯合遠征部隊（Joint Expeditionary Force）這樣的區域性集團應在安全協調中發揮主導作用，並且歐洲應促成一場獨立於美國參與的俄烏戰爭終結。
Related Entries
-
1.
-
2.
The ongoing Ebola outbreak in the DRC serves as a critical warning that the global health security system is fundamentally unprepared for future biological threats. The difficulty in containing this outbreak is compounded by the rising risk of emerging pathogens and the growing potential for AI misuse in bioweapon development. Policy must therefore shift from reactive, crisis-driven funding to sustained, proactive investment in resilient public health infrastructure, particularly in conflict zones. Addressing this requires strengthening global surveillance, ensuring consistent international cooperation, and mitigating the intersection of conflict, climate change, and disease spread.
-
3.A Design Lab Pilot to Inform Strategies for Expanding Access to Medications for Opioid Use Disorder in Community Mental Health Centers (RAND)
Despite MOUD being the standard of care for opioid use disorder, access remains severely limited in Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs), which serve the primary population with co-occurring disorders. A Design Lab pilot identified payment limitations and regulatory complexity as the chief barriers to implementation. The most feasible and high-impact strategy identified was establishing a structured learning exchange between CMHC leaders and insurers to improve reimbursement understanding. Policymakers and payers are therefore advised to pilot this learning exchange model to initiate broader payment reform and expand evidence-based care for this vulnerable population.
-
4.
The article argues that modern conflicts are increasingly defined by attrition, driven by three strategic gaps: the difference between nominal military power and usable capacity; the difficulty of achieving breakthroughs in a technologically advanced battlefield; and the detachment of military means from clear political objectives. Evidence from Ukraine and the Middle East demonstrates that sustained logistics, rapid technological adaptation, and proxy networks are now more decisive than sheer military size. For policymakers, this implies a strategic shift away from seeking short, decisive victories toward preparing for prolonged, high-cost engagements, requiring a focus on sustainable supply chains and defining concrete, attainable political end-states.
-
5.
Congress has significantly expanded presidential tariff authority by passing the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, allowing the executive to impose up to 100% tariffs on key buyers of Russian energy and sanctions enablers. The article argues that this legislation represents a dangerous abdication of Congress's Article I authority, as it grants the executive vast, discretionary power without specifying criteria for enforcement. Historically, the executive could claim tariffs were its own doing; however, by writing and passing this new authority, Congress now owns the resulting trade policy and its economic consequences. This shift implies that future tariffs will be viewed by the public as a direct legislative action, potentially undermining the administration's credibility and creating political vulnerability.