The article argues that Donald Trump's unique and prolonged lame-duck period, coupled with domestic political pressures, makes him dangerously prone to international instability. Having exhausted major diplomatic gambits, Trump is expected to channel his energy into high-stakes, unilateral actions, primarily targeting adversaries such as Iran and Cuba. These potential actions—ranging from fresh strikes in the Persian Gulf to attempts at regime change—carry a significant risk of destabilizing regional security and triggering a global economic crisis. Policymakers must anticipate this pivot to high-risk foreign policy to mitigate potential international flare-ups.
CBO report on the Navy’s New Battleship Program
English Summary
The CBO report estimates that the Navy's new nuclear-powered battleship program would cost approximately $275 billion over three decades, significantly increasing overall defense spending. The plan necessitates a substantial shift in naval procurement, requiring an increase of 60% in large surface combatant tonnage by 2035. While this expansion strengthens the fleet, it poses significant structural challenges to the existing shipbuilding industrial base. Policymakers must weigh the strategic benefits of these advanced platforms against the massive financial burden and potential strain on domestic defense industry capacity.
中文摘要
根據國會預算辦公室（CBO）的報告估計，海軍的新核動力戰艦計畫在三十年內將耗資約2,750億美元，大幅提高整體國防開支。此項計畫要求海軍採購進行重大轉型，目標是在2035年前將大型水面戰鬥艦噸位增加60%。儘管此擴編能強化艦隊實力，但它對現有的造船工業基礎設施構成了重大的結構性挑戰。政策制定者必須權衡這些先進平台所帶來的戰略效益，與其巨大的財政負擔以及對國內國防產業產能可能造成的壓力。
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The article argues that antitrust enforcement in strategically vital technology markets must expand beyond traditional consumer welfare analysis. Current remedies, such as divestiture or behavioral restrictions, can have profound national security consequences by weakening U.S. firms' global competitive standing and ability to invest in foundational technologies. This vulnerability could create durable market advantages for PRC competitors, making it difficult for U.S. companies to maintain global scale. Therefore, the federal government must mandate a separate, proactive national security assessment to inform antitrust decisions involving foundational technologies, ensuring that U.S. technological leadership is protected from the outset.