Kate Michael

WASHINGTON — Early advice from the World Health Organization warned against imposing travel or trade restrictions on countries experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks. Now experts fear the decision by most countries to ignore this advice may have unintended consequences for the future of global mobilization and diplomacy. “The... Read More

WASHINGTON -- The growing political divide and increased Constitutional review activity of the Supreme Court have some scholars, policy analysts, and legislators considering whether a convention to rewrite the Constitution could be in the nation’s best interest. Others say it’s a dangerous attempt to undermine democracy. ... Read More

WASHINGTON — Just as the CIA was reportedly evacuating an intelligence officer in Serbia who had injuries consistent with Havana Syndrome, guests of Harvard University’s Intelligence Project were asserting that brain injuries from “a new form of asymmetric deniable warfare” aren’t just tricks of the mind. ... Read More

WASHINGTON — To keep up with technological advancements and provide for enhanced national security, the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence was created. Its purpose was to make recommendations to the president and Congress that would “advance the development of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and associated... Read More

WASHINGTON — When he’s not feeding the world, Chef José Andrés is planning how to feed the world… better. The humanitarian chef recently co-chaired a Food and Nutrition Security Task Force of the Bipartisan Policy Center with the aim of Improving Food and Nutrition Security During... Read More

WASHINGTON — One year ago the United States, UAE, and Bahrain signed a historic agreement and charted a new course in Arab-Israeli relations which recognized the state of Israel and normalized diplomatic relations between the countries. But the desire for a two-state solution recognizing both Israel... Read More

WASHINGTON — After a frantic two weeks of the biggest military evacuations in history, the United States is trying to figure out what to do with tens of thousands of Afghan refugees that will soon be flooding into the country.  “This is not the time for... Read More

WASHINGTON -- Amidst the 9/11 commemorations and the consternation caused by American troop withdrawals from Afghanistan, the Wilson Center invited experts to reflect on how actions of the last 20 years have changed the world in terms of conflict and regional instability, jihadism, politics, and U.S.... Read More

WASHINGTON — America's safety net programs are running out of money, and fast. All four major trust funds — Social Security Old-Age and Survivors Insurance, Social Security Disability Insurance, Medicare Hospital Insurance, and the Highway trust fund —are heading for insolvency in the next 13 years.... Read More

WASHINGTON -- The Senate has passed both the $1.5 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill and the framework of the $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation bill made up largely of potential investments in social programs and climate policy. While these massive budgetary items move through the House, Democrats continue... Read More

WASHINGTON -- Among the unpredicted impacts of COVID-19 was the vulnerability of American dependence on manufacturing and services from China. Everything from consumer products to pharmaceuticals and health and safety equipment experienced delays and shortages as a result of China dominating so many aspects of global... Read More

WASHINGTON -- Several of China’s policies give democratic nations pause, but at least one analyst has singled out its plan for food security as a major cause for concern. In her latest paper published for the Hinrich Foundation, former U.S. Trade Negotiator Andrea Durkin claims that... Read More

WASHINGTON -- Reciting Thomas Paine’s The American Crisis from memory, Majority Whip James Clyburn, D-S.C., philosophized about fair weather patriots in America today during a discussion with Axios. Claiming that some people only “love the country when everything is going well for them,” he warned, “If... Read More

WASHINGTON -- Had President Biden sought Gen. David Petraeus’s advice on the Allied troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, he has made no secret of that fact he would have advised against it, even though the general admits the goals from engaging in 2001 have largely been met. ... Read More

WASHINGTON — Despite our reliance on space technology for things like communication, transportation, food, and health care — not to mention national security — our national space assets aren’t officially designated as critical infrastructure. Humanity is already dependent on space, but neglecting to protect space technology... Read More

WASHINGTON — The pandemic may have changed the way students learn and how educators incorporate tools for remote learning into their classrooms, but the founder of one of the most recognizable online tools to help educate students doesn’t believe that in-person education should be going away,... Read More

WASHINGTON — After shutting down the European Union’s embassy in April 2020, European diplomats had to follow the last months of the Trump administration from afar, stay abreast of a contentious presidential campaign virtually, and develop new relationships while transitioning to a Biden administration without the... Read More

WASHINGTON — After weeks of negotiations, a bipartisan infrastructure deal may have been reached, but even Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg knows not to count Washington chickens before they are hatched. “It’s not a small thing to turn the outlines of an agreement, no matter how hard-fought,... Read More

WASHINGTON — If it seems like prices are going up for things like gas, groceries, vehicles, and houses, they are. The Consumer Price Index has risen by an average of 0.7% per month over the last three months, is now 5% higher than a year ago,... Read More

WASHINGTON — At the one-year anniversary of the USMCA trade agreement coming into force, trade representatives from the United States, Mexico, and Canada are patting themselves on the back for a job well done. They have good reason, as the treaty happened during a challenging time... Read More

WASHINGTON — “With the flick of a pen, Biden could get it done,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., about student loan forgiveness. From a campaign promise to a potential policy, student loan forgiveness is being touted not only as financial assistance, but also as... Read More

WASHINGTON — In our increasingly wired life, semiconductors power much of what we do, but only recently did these technical wonders — called chips — start receiving broad interest.  All of a sudden, worries persist not only about whether there will be enough semiconductors available, but... Read More

WASHINGTON — While much good came from the COVID relief funds doled out by the Small Business Administration as the pandemic ran its course time has shown that certain businesses -- particularly those owned by women and minorities -- went underserved in the earlier aid rounds.... Read More

WASHINGTON — On the site of what was once a rental car facility, Los Angeles made progress toward a car-reduced future on Monday. Mayor Eric Garcetti joined with other California policymakers and regional collaborators to break ground on the Airport Metro Connector Project, a long-awaited $900... Read More

WASHINGTON — The recent summit between U.S. President Biden and Russian President Putin has been hailed by both countries as an opportunity to reevaluate the nations' relationship. While the three-hour conversation may not have inspired confidence toward ensuring stability, the meeting did reflect Russia’s ongoing importance... Read More

WASHINGTON --  Three years ago, the World Economic Forum estimated the global cost of corruption to be at least $2.6 trillion, or 5% of the global gross domestic product.  From illicit finance to bribery and graft, financial crimes have generally been viewed as regulatory issues, but... Read More

WASHINGTON — NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg outlined his vision for a renewed trans-Atlantic Alliance before the Brooking Institution earlier this month, declaring that the alliance will “seize the opportunity to keep our people safe in a more contested world.” NATO’s 30-nation strategic international partnership has,... Read More

WASHINGTON — The rise in profit-driven cyberattacks has prompted Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Mark Warner, D-Va., to contemplate a mandatory reporting bill so law enforcement can promptly take action on urgent threats. Warner told Axios recently that he anticipates broad support for such upcoming... Read More

WASHINGTON — Competing claims and diplomatic disputes over Antarctica resulted in 12 countries coming together to create an Antarctic Treaty that came into force in 1961. Now 60 years later, 54 countries are involved, and policies and management of the southern pole are as complicated as... Read More

WASHINGTON — Her Royal Highness Princess Reema bint Bandar remembers DC’s cicadas. In fact, she says she lived through the “cicada invasion” twice during her “non-diplomatic, but highly socially-connected” childhood in Northern Virginia while her father served as Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the United States from... Read More

WASHINGTON — Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage month may be wrapping up, but the APPI community is pledging to come together to speak up, speak out, and be heard as perhaps never before.  There has been recognition of APPI heritage and accomplishments, including a record number... Read More

WASHINGTON — From counterfeiting to talent acquisitions and even forced technology transfers, the United States has long struggled with the idea that China is facilitating or condoning the theft of American intellectual property. In fact, China is often cited as the world’s principal IP infringer. But... Read More

WASHINGTON — Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has been a vocal monitor of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, even sometimes criticizing the process in the U.K., which in many respects led the global vaccination effort earlier this year. Through his Institute for Global Change, Blair’s team... Read More

WASHINGTON — Recent studies conducted by Pfizer-BioNTech and results of a follow-up to Phase III trials confirmed that protection against COVID-19 stays high — over 91% — for at least six months after receiving two doses of the Pfizer vaccine. Strong results like these from Pfizer... Read More

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration’s push to tackle several crises at once has reenergized the push for green jobs or those jobs which contribute to preserving or restoring the environment, including those in traditional sectors, like manufacturing.  His American Jobs Plan, an infrastructure investment proposal that... Read More

WASHINGTON — Student loan forgiveness has been a topic of conversation as the Biden administration continues to consider proposals for alleviating student loan debt, but in the absence of any news on that front, borrowers are starting to get worried as federal student loan repayment is... Read More

WASHINGTON — While cryptocurrencies have dominated the news, another type of digital currency is being considered by the central banks of dozens of countries including the United States. Starkly different from crypto, these electronic currencies would have the full backing of their national governments, but opponents... Read More

WASHINGTON — While much has been studied about President Biden’s first 100 days in office, most of that analysis has focused on how the administration’s actions impact American citizens or relationships with the world’s other great powers, but many wonder about how early actions will affect... Read More

WASHINGTON — Following its recent withdrawal from the European Union, the United Kingdom published an Integrated Review setting out a vision for a renewed role in the world. This comprehensive document also underlines that the U.K. and the U.S. take a different approach to global development... Read More

WASHINGTON — First used in 1993, HUD’s Community Development Block Grant Recovery Program enhances the agency’s already flexible grants that help cities, counties, and states recover from presidentially declared disasters. These special recovery grants supplement disaster programs of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Small Business... Read More

WASHINGTON — President Biden recently outlined a spend of $174 billion in his American Jobs Plan to boost electric vehicle development, proliferation, and purchasing. His administration touts this as an investment in the future of safe transportation that has potential for social good. But for some,... Read More

WASHINGTON — Some temporary tax changes are in effect as a result of President Biden’s ‘American Rescue Plan.’ The Earned Income Tax Credit is a tax benefit aimed at helping low- and moderate-income earners, but ARPA expands both the eligibility and the amount of potential EITC... Read More

WASHINGTON — West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, is used to being an energy advocate. Sure, he represents coal country, but he has fashioned himself as an “all of the above” energy proponent who encourages clean and renewable... Read More

WASHINGTON — The Protecting the Right to Organize Act is a landmark labor rights bill that could transform the way the United States classifies workers. The PRO Act is intended to modernize the National Labor Relations Act but is controversial, especially in the freelance community, for... Read More

WASHINGTON — When America Hernandez first took her job as an energy policy correspondent just over a year ago, hydrogen was considered a futuristic, but somewhat niche subject. “Boy did that change quickly!” she told participants at the Wilson Center’s Earth Optimism event focused on Hydrogen... Read More

WASHINGTON — On March 17, 2021, Ambassador Katherine Tai was confirmed as U.S Trade Representative by unanimous vote in the Senate. Just a month later, in her first speech as USTR, Tai explained how the benefits of global trade could work as a powerful incentive for... Read More

WASHINGTON DC — For Michigan State Sen. Stephanie Chang it has been hard to find words to explain the violence and senseless killings of the last several months to her mixed-race six-year-old daughter.  “She’s Asian and Black and I want her to be proud of every... Read More

WASHINGTON — We all remember last year’s short-term stampede for toilet paper. But while stores were able to eventually restock personal products and cleaning supplies, will we be able to do the same with a shortage of semiconductors and other strategic priority goods essential to the... Read More

WASHINGTON — Senator Ed Markey remembers growing up and playing in his neighborhood about four blocks from the Malden River in Massachusetts. He would get near, but never in the river; he was taught not to swim in it from an early age.  “Company after company... Read More

WASHINGTON — Online education had been on the rise for several years prior to COVID-19, but the pandemic fast-tracked a sudden pivot to emergency remote instruction. Over the past year, more students and faculty experienced and gained confidence in online modes of instruction, but at the... Read More

WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump started a diplomatic dialogue with North Korea, but he framed it as a personal connection with dictator Kim Jong Un. This method showed some early promise for a bilateral relationship but broke down at denuclearization.  The Biden administration has only... Read More

WASHINGTON — Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance are three central factors that shareholders are increasingly using to measure the sustainability and societal impact of their investments in companies or businesses. But there continues to be a range of opinions on how to define ESG and how... Read More

WASHINGTON — The polling industry required an audit after the 2020 election. Poll results overstated Joe Biden’s lead over Donald Trump in the national vote for president by so much that analysts suggested: “the polling industry is a wreck, and should be blown up." Yet in... Read More

WASHINGTON — National Health Care Expenditures in the United States continue to grow at rates outpacing the broader economy. But there isn’t just broad agreement among the public and policymakers that healthcare is unaffordable. Many argue that patients aren’t even getting sufficient value for what they... Read More

WASHINGTON — Dhondup Wangchen is having déjà vu, and it isn’t pleasant for him. The Tibetan filmmaker, imprisoned by the Chinese government in 2008 on charges related to his documentary, Leaving Fear Behind, is once again protesting Beijing hosting the Olympics. Though this year, he’s thankful... Read More

WASHINGTON — Democrats want to pass a massive multi-trillion dollar infrastructure bill, but there will be problems on the Republican side with the scope and cost of Democratic priorities. In the end, a bill without bipartisan support could be passed through the Senate’s budget reconciliation process,... Read More

WASHINGTON — Women may be the fastest-growing cohort of the U.S. armed forces, but this critical part of our modern military may also be the most overlooked. Not only do female veterans have unique needs regarding their military to civilian transition, access to care, mental health... Read More

WASHINGTON — COVID-19 has caused colossal damage to the U.S. travel industry, grounding airlines, emptying hotels, and stopping almost all business and leisure travel for months. The State Department isn’t suggesting this will change any time soon. In a discussion with travel professionals, including booking agents,... Read More

WASHINGTON —Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen grew up surrounded by hardships endured during the Great Depression. Her father’s medical practice was located inside the family home, so she not only heard stories from the patients but also saw firsthand the result of multitudes falling on hard times.... Read More

WASHINGTON — Just over a week after he was confirmed as head of the United States Department of Agriculture for the second time, Tom Vilsack doubled down on his efforts to solve both food and nutrition insecurity around the nation.  “We need to change the discussion... Read More

WASHINGTON — Immigration, an often controversial political topic, has played an important role in American history and continues to shape the nation today. While the United States actually has one of the most open immigration policies in the world, accepting more immigrants and asylum-seekers than any... Read More

WASHINGTON — As Beijing accelerates its plan to dominate in key information technology industries, U.S. policy experts are making the case for a new global governance body to curb the influence of techno-autocracies and create a like-minded alliance of techno-democracies instead. Much as the G-7 guides... Read More

WASHINGTON — COVID has taken a toll on student learning and wellbeing, but a coalition of community schools advocates believes they have the answer to correcting academic learning loss and supporting the holistic development of young people. They say their next-generation community schooling lays the foundation... Read More

WASHINGTON — According to experts convened by the political advocacy group The Concord Coalition, the nation’s long standing fiscal, monetary, and economic challenges were made more difficult by the pandemic, but they are not insurmountable.  Leaders from the Congressional Budget Office, the Federal Reserve Bank of... Read More

WASHINGTON — With proposals by both the Biden Administration and Sen. Mitt Romney coming to the table in early 2021, prospects for an American child allowance have their strongest-ever chance of coming to fruition. Both plans create a new child benefit that would provide hundreds of... Read More

WASHINGTON — Attitudes toward American colleges and universities may have started evolving before the pandemic set in, but COVID-19 truly upended the higher ed system in ways that are sure to have an impact for years to come.  Through a series of mid-pandemic public opinion research... Read More

WASHINGTON — Since the earliest days of the pandemic, the CDC has said COVID appeared to have a disproportionate impact on those negatively affected by social determinants of health. These conditions in the environments in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age... Read More

WASHINGTON — The work environment during COVID has demonstrated an increased need for technical expertise in the workforce. A report from the World Economic Forum offers that by 2022 — just next year — half of employees will require significant re-skilling in order to perform their... Read More

WASHINGTON — When it comes to COVID restrictions along America’s northern border, the United States and Canada are treating travelers rather differently. While this may not be as concerning for most general discretionary travel, bi-national families are increasingly frustrated with U.S. policies barring Canadian citizens from... Read More

WASHINGTON — Each year the Energy Information Administration, a statistical and analytical agency within the Department of Energy, releases its annual Energy Outlook which provides updated projections of U.S. energy markets. Releasing its 2021 report with a virtual discussion at the non-profit Bipartisan Policy Center last... Read More

WASHINGTON — Dramatic changes in the workforce and service delivery have posed unique security challenges over the last year. Evolving technologies are accommodating training and remote work, but new cybersecurity threats continue to emerge.  In the last few years, directives have required federal agencies to take... Read More

WASHINGTON — The Biden Administration’s priorities for clean energy, climate, and infrastructure will necessitate some ambitious legislation which may be problematic in the closely divided 117th Congress. One Democratic Senator will undoubtedly be the linchpin playing a decisive role in shaping the administration’s climate policies. Incoming... Read More

WASHINGTON — While the nation continues to grapple with challenges from the pandemic, a bipartisan group of former policymakers and analysts have come together at the Bipartisan Policy Center, a D.C.-based think tank, to suggest urgent federal actions to accelerate the American response.  Their recently released... Read More

WASHINGTON — Over the last four years, every day seemed to bring a new story of White House infighting. But will the Biden Administration be any different? And was the dynamic of the Trump White House really that unprecedented?  Tevi Troy, a best-selling presidential historian and... Read More

WASHINGTON — President Biden’s early agenda shows sustainability enjoying the highest priority it has ever received. Yet analysts wonder how this focus on the environment will affect America’s economy. Take, for example, the automobile industry. The manufacture and sale of automobiles is a significant component of... Read More

WASHINGTON — On Nov. 3, 2020, Puerto Rico held its sixth referendum on the status of the island’s sovereignty. And while the majority, 52%, of voters opted for statehood, Puerto Rico’s current relationship to the United States remains as complicated as ever. Not only do some... Read More

WASHINGTON — Days after rioters breached the U.S. Capitol building, interrupted the Constitutionally-required Electoral College vote tallying process, and forced the evacuation of Congress on January 6, 2021, there is a growing call for consequences for all of those involved, including the public, members of Congress,... Read More

WASHINGTON — Labor law is constantly evolving. Early 2020 alone saw changes to federal overtime rules, 21 states increasing their minimum wage provisions, and the Department of Labor finally allowing H-2B job opportunities to be posted to its website. And then COVID-19 hit, and these reforms... Read More

WASHINGTON — Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are man-made chemicals known to have a toxic effect on the immune system. PFAS like PFOA, PFOS, GenX, and others are manufactured and used in a variety of industries worldwide, including products for personal care and household uses, like... Read More

WASHINGTON — The 2020 national election saw a dramatic increase in turnout for the entire electorate. What surprised many is that a higher-than-ever percentage of that increase came from young people.  Young people turned out to vote in near-record numbers, their engagement played a significant role... Read More

WASHINGTON — Elections, in general, can be administratively challenging events, but the 2020 presidential election was a particularly fraught experience that had chief election officials under the microscope like never before. As part of the Bipartisan Policy Center’s 2020 Voting Experience Virtual Conference, the think tank... Read More

WASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission regulates interstate and international communications, including wireless companies, cable and internet providers, and broadcast stations. Of particular note, due to the prevalence of remote work and school in 2020, the agency also guides the nation’s broadband connectivity. The commission is... Read More

WASHINGTON — With Japan’s new Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga taking power last September and a new Biden Administration coming into office at the beginning of next year, these dual transitions of power offer the chance for a U.S.-Japan alliance to set an ambitious agenda, proactively tackling... Read More

WASHINGTON — Since the end of the Cold War, the relationship between the United States and Russia has been complicated, often described more as competitive and conflicting than cooperative. Yet a new administration in the U.S. could bring a fresh opportunity to balance some elements of... Read More

WASHINGTON — While it may seem that the White House’s relationship with the media is in an appalling state, Historian Harold Holzer claims that the president vs. press feud is actually nothing new. In fact, President Trump’s antagonism barely measures up to several past occupiers of... Read More

WASHINGTON — Zero Trust is an approach to the design and implementation of internet technology networks. This security concept developed out of the belief that organizations should not trust anything — either outside or inside — its perimeter. Therefore, everything must be verified before being granted... Read More

WASHINGTON — From the moment Vice President-elect Kamala Harris walked out onto the stage in Delaware for her victory speech, more than just her words were making a political statement. Dressed in a white pantsuit from Carolina Herrera, analysts immediately began to suggest that she was... Read More

WASHINGTON — Political players have long had different ideas about national health care, but coronavirus not only shifted policymakers’ priorities, it has also thrown the future of health care reform into question.  The Bipartisan Policy Center convened leading pollsters and policy experts to share what they... Read More

WASHINGTON — The recent U.S. election left much for both Americans and European allies to process in terms of the shaping of U.S. politics and global affairs.  President-elect Biden, historically a committed trans-Atlanticist, has reaffirmed his commitment to European allies in early statements post-election.  Yet doubts... Read More

WASHINGTON - With over 10.5 million Americans so far infected with COVID-19, the U.S. health care system’s focus has understandably been on strategies for combating the virus. Yet when the nation is finally able to shift back to handling longer-term health care issues, The Concord Coalition... Read More

WASHINGTON — Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of NAACP, was the special guest this week at the Meridian International Center, a non-partisan center for diplomacy and global leadership. He shared his perspective on recent general election results including their impact on the racial justice movement, black... Read More

WASHINGTON — This morning, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on a legal challenge seeking to overturn the Affordable Care Act.  This third major challenge to the ACA heard by the Supreme Court, Texas v. California seeks to decide whether Congress, by eliminating the penalty... Read More

WASHINGTON — Less than 24 hours before news organizations called the election for President-Elect Biden, financier Anthony Scaramucci predicted, “It’s likely to be Pennsylvania that tips this thing… and [Biden’s] election is great for the markets.” Speaking at an Axios News Shapers event, the SkyBridge Capital... Read More

WASHINGTON — Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson was the special guest this week at the Meridian International Center, a non-partisan center for diplomacy and global leadership. While sharing his perspective on the upcoming election and U.S. leadership in 2021, Hutchinson also devoted some time to how COVID... Read More

WASHINGTON — Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and diplomat Richard Haass, president of the Council on Foreign Relations, spoke at a virtual discussion convened by the think tank in the week before the U.S. presidential election about the election’s foreign policy implications and suggested... Read More

WASHINGTON — Americans rely on public infrastructure like buildings, roads, bridges, and power supply lines every day. Some of the groundworks needed to operate society are handled by the federal government, some maintained by states, and a large portion owned and operated by the nation’s 3,141... Read More

WASHINGTON — Dr. Deborah Birx, response coordinator for the White House Coronavirus Task Force, made an appearance at the National Association of Counties’ Virtual Policy Summit to explain her current prioritization of developing a critical understanding of virus spread on a community level.  “It always struck... Read More

WASHINGTON — Likely everyone has a personal opinion on the outcome of the upcoming election, but not many are as in-tune with the ins and outs of the current — and historic — political climate as the analysts brought together by David Rubenstein to discuss the... Read More

WASHINGTON — The term 5G is all over telecommunications these days. It comes with the promise of data speeds up to 100 times faster than current connections and the ability to support devices that will perform functions not yet imaginable. But it also comes with controversy... Read More

WASHINGTON —The pandemic and its accompanying economic downturn have led to unprecedented challenges including unanticipated job loss and difficulty accessing affordable and nutritious foods. In fact, more Americans than ever have needed to make use of food banks and assistance programs. As negotiations on a ‘Phase... Read More

WASHINGTON — Machine learning and artificial intelligence technology are fast-moving, complex technologies businesses and government agencies are increasingly putting to use to develop efficiencies of people and processes. Federal IT practitioners, in particular, are seeing the benefits of this technology today. The Federal News Network convened... Read More

WASHINGTON -- The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, an independent non-profit organization, released its anticipated report on the estimated costs of both Trump’s and Biden’s campaign plans last week. Not surprisingly, they are very expensive plans.  Both candidates have ambitious proposals and policy priorities if... Read More

WASHINGTON — With just weeks until Election Day, the Bipartisan Policy Center wanted to be sure that Americans had access to all the facts about voting in the 2020 election. The think tank recognized misinformation perpetuating — specifically surrounding the vote by mail process — and... Read More

WASHINGTON — The issue of immigration can be polarizing, but the Bipartisan Policy Center has decided to tackle the topic with a series of discussions on immigration policies around the world. The think tank’s latest dialogue coincides with the launch of its new report examining how... Read More

WASHINGTON — The Congressional Budget Office recently released two new outlook reports. These projections are an update of the U.S. deficit, debt, spending, and revenue over the next decade and beyond, given current laws in place. The pair of reports highlight the nation’s unsustainable budget trajectory. ... Read More

WASHINGTON — Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser has garnered more attention than ever as a result of the city’s ongoing COVID crisis response and reopening efforts as well as widespread demonstrations against police violence in 2020.  To be sure, as mayor of the city which is... Read More

WASHINGTON -- Along with the rapid creation of data comes the complications of capitalizing on new capabilities for storing, computing, analyzing and visualizing the information. The Federal News Network convened a panel of top government data officials to discuss how agencies are addressing the challenges and... Read More

WASHINGTON — Emergency expansions to Unemployment Insurance provided critical support to workers across the country during the early months of the pandemic. But the major component of these expansions, an additional $600 in weekly benefits, expired at the end of July. With lawmakers continuing to be... Read More

WASHINGTON -- A panel of experts, recently convened by The Concord Coalition, a bipartisan political advocacy group, contend that near-term economic and fiscal damage caused by the current health crisis will make living standards more important than ever. They contend that nothing is likely to do... Read More

PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland officials voted on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020, in favor of the nation’s first-ever ban on private entities using facial recognition technology in its city public spaces. In a second ordinance approved on the same day, the City Council voted to ban local... Read More

WASHINGTON — According to the American Conservation Society, conservatives are using the First Amendment to challenge progressive legislation. They assert that the Free Speech Clause is being used by corporate and right-wing interests to undermine progressive efforts in areas such as campaign finance reform, reproductive rights,... Read More

WASHINGTON — Terrorism hasn’t disappeared just because a pandemic is happening. In fact, calamitous world conditions embolden those who want to do others harm, and police budget cuts, virus-related conspiracy theories, and other vulnerabilities are exacerbated during the COVID-19 crisis. To better understand the impact of... Read More

WASHINGTON - Even as the White House was bedecked in gold and purple to commemorate the Centennial of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, activists and scholars continued to contemplate the ongoing fight for women’s equality. On August 26, designated National Women’s Equality Day, the 50th... Read More

WASHINGTON — News website Axios convened a panel of local and national policymakers to discuss the future of transportation in the wake of COVID-19 including how decision-makers are retooling public transit to be safe and sustainable. “When I think about the top five issues the country... Read More

WASHINGTON - In the aftermath of a bizarre earthquake and the above average number of named storms this season, officials are examining how natural disaster response should continue while overlapping with the nation’s ongoing efforts to combat the coronavirus. State and federal officials have seen federal... Read More

WASHINGTON — As American students head back to school, parents, teachers, and administrators are securing resources to offer safe school environments or transition to online classrooms while maintaining rigorous curriculums. Everyone is striving to keep students’ minds sharp and bodies safe while capturing their attention and... Read More

WASHINGTON - While the Constitution does not expressly grant lifetime appointment for Supreme Court justices, it has, since the nation’s founding, been inferred from Article III, Section I, that “The Judges… shall hold their Offices during good Behavior” has meant career tenure. Today, due to advances... Read More

WASHINGTON - Canada is not usually at the center of debate on U.S. immigration, but policy changes due to COVID-19 have atypically limited travel to Canada and affected the United States’ and Canada’s control of the movement of people and goods across their shared border in... Read More

WASHINGTON - Even as students across the United States are beginning to head back to class, the reopening of schools remains a topic of intense debate. While no one can predict what is ahead for the Fall of 2020, there can be no doubt that COVID-19... Read More

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Well before the pandemic, migrants at the northern Mexican border were vulnerable to poor health outcomes. Mexican and U.S. policies put in place before COVID-19 affected migrants' quality of life, and policies added during the health crisis may have put asylum seekers and... Read More

WASHINGTON - While many businesses across the country have shuttered doors and furloughed employees, some essential businesses, like those that provide health care, food, utilities, and other critical services, have continued to operate throughout the pandemic. They are now joined by a variety of new businesses... Read More

WASHINGTON - Among other factors, COVID-19 has emphasized how nutrition research and development affects Americans in terms of disease susceptibility, food system challenges, and nutritional disparities. The pandemic’s health and economic setbacks have highlighted America’s need to invest in better nutrition both to fight food insecurity... Read More

WASHINGTON - Whether due to office closures, fear of seeking medical assistance during the pandemic, or simply for convenience, the nation has seen a rise in telemedicine over the last four months. While telemedicine isn’t new, barriers to adoption, such as security concerns or a lack... Read More

WASHINGTON - A summer series partnership between the District of Columbia’s Heurich House Museum and the Bipartisan Policy Center is exploring the immigrant experience in America.  Last week’s discussion, the second in the series, focused specifically on immigrants’ arrivals and included details on how the process,... Read More

WASHINGTON - In a few days, the U.S. Justice Department is set to resume federal executions after what has essentially been a 17-year moratorium. The men scheduled to die by lethal injection starting next week at a prison in Terre Haute, Ind., will be part of... Read More

WASHINGTON - Little gestures can mean a lot, according to Capricia Marshall, ambassador-in-residence at the nonpartisan Atlantic Council in Washington, D.C..  The one-time presidential social secretary and chief of protocol of the United States shared her views on the role of protocol and diplomacy in light... Read More

WASHINGTON - The Latino voter may well determine the outcome of ballot races across the country this year, however, it’s a mistake to consider this population a single-issue constituency election strategists said at a recent virtual forum hosted by Third Way, the Washington, D.C. think tank.... Read More

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Supreme Court heard a number of cases this term that could have major implications for reproductive rights. While each case heard by the Supreme Court is significant, the collective decisions on multiple health care-related cases could be much more consequential.  The non-profit... Read More

WASHINGTON - The year 2020 will no doubt be remembered as the year when crisis and turmoil took center stage not just in the U.S., but around the world. From a global pandemic, to upheavals in the economy to social unrest in the wake of the... Read More

Novel technologies are being used around the globe to combat COVID-19. Practical applications of new technologies are poised to make a significant impact in the fight against the virus. Among those is a batch of innovations coming out of Israel, which is now seeing a low... Read More

WASHINGTON - Long-term care is a topic that hits close to home for many. Nursing homes and facilities providing care for people 65 and older are often crowded and understaffed, and care for seniors is even more complicated in the COVID-19 era. More than a third... Read More

WASHINGTON - The economy is in crisis, but not everyone is feeling it the same way. One of the hardest-hit sectors is America’s small businesses. Over 99% of the nation’s 28.7 million firms are small and medium-sized businesses which contribute to local economies by bringing job... Read More

WASHINGTON - At a time when experts instruct at-risk persons to avoid large crowds and to social distance to protect their health, the United States’ electoral process is getting more attention than ever.  Senator Jon Tester, D-Mont., Senator Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., and Representative Jason Crow, D-Colo.,... Read More

The National Defense Authorization Act of 2020 approved a new, independent Space Force within the Department of the Air Force. As this new military branch takes shape, Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett and Chief of Space Operations General Jay Raymond shared updates and details... Read More

On the same day that the Center for American Progress and the League of Conservation Voters released an issue brief detailing how states have stepped up where the federal government has neglected to lead on climate change, CAP convened representatives from a growing wave of state... Read More

WASHINGTON‌ ‌–‌ ‌Ron‌ ‌Klain,‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌Ebola‌ ‌response‌ ‌coordinator‌ ‌from‌ ‌2014‌ ‌to‌ ‌2015,‌ ‌recently spoke‌ ‌to‌ ‌diplomats‌ ‌convened‌ ‌virtually‌ ‌by‌ ‌the‌ ‌Meridian‌ ‌International‌ ‌Center‌ ‌to‌ ‌share‌ ‌his‌ ‌lessons learned‌ ‌about‌ ‌pandemic‌ ‌management‌ ‌from‌ ‌the‌ ‌ongoing‌ ‌Ebola‌ ‌crisis.‌ ‌ Klain,‌ ‌informally‌ ‌dubbed‌ ‌the‌ ‌‘Ebola‌ ‌czar’‌ ‌in‌ ‌early‌ ‌2014,‌... Read More

WASHINGTON - While COVID-19 is amplifying conundrums in many policy areas, perhaps nowhere has this been more manifest than in the area of immigrants and the U.S. immigration system.  President Donald Trump claimed Wednesday that he had signed an executive order “temporarily suspending immigration into the... Read More

WASHINGTON — Despite continued uncertainty over how the Coronavirus pandemic will end, its economic impact will surely cast a shadow over the November election, according to a pair of former governors. Govs. John Kasich, a Republican of Ohio, and Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat of Virginia, spoke... Read More

Coronavirus is testing election systems like never before. Voting has traditionally been a private, yet social affair, with citizens turning out to public polling places to make their voices heard and show the receipt of their civic duty with the coveted ‘I voted’ sticker. But coronavirus... Read More

WASHINGTON - H.E. Emily Haber, Ambassador of Germany to the U.S. claimed the German response to confronting the coronavirus epidemic on the health front was not that different from other European Union countries, but that Germany was able to better prepare because they were not the... Read More

Billionaire Investor Mark Cuban headlined a virtual discussion hosted by Axios Friday afternoon focused on leading in a crisis, sharing his thoughts on specifically how to lead and work together for social good in the midst of a global pandemic.  “When you deal with imperfect information,... Read More

Schools and activities are closed, parents are trying to work from home, and everyone feels cooped up and a little crazy. Parenting during a pandemic puts additional stress on a family, but there are strategies that can help you to get through it and even experience... Read More

WASHINGTON - Fear. Anxiety. Grief. Helplessness. Depression. There are many ways Americans are feeling about the health and economic crisis that surrounds us as the coronavirus pandemic sweeps through the nation.  Many are turning to friends and family for comfort. Others are seeking the advice of... Read More

WASHINGTON - Ambassadors from two of the European countries hardest hit by COVID-19 gave details on the rapidly unfolding situation in a virtual briefing Thursday morning hosted by the Meridian International Center. H.E. Armando Varricchio, Ambassador of Italy, and H.E. Santiago Cabanas, Ambassador of Spain, shared... Read More

WASHINGTON - The United States’ former chief technology officer and a top regulatory policy official from Johnson & Johnson spoke at a Bipartisan Policy Center virtual briefing Tuesday morning about how artificial intelligence (AI) could be used to predict or mitigate pandemics.  Given proper guidelines, panelists... Read More

WASHINGTON - Federal Communications Commissioners spoke about the nation’s race to 5G at a New America Open Technology Institute discussion held virtually on Tuesday afternoon. Panelists offered thoughts on heading off a 5G digital divide with affordable connectivity for all. “5G wireless networks are coming,” said... Read More

WASHINGTON - William McGee, an aviation consultant had a simple, overarching message for the members of the House Aviation subcommittee on Tuesday. “If you’re not in premium class or an Elite Frequent Flier, watch out,” he said. McGee was one of three witnesses to appear before... Read More

WASHINGTON – A new report released by D.C.-based think tank Bipartisan Policy Center hopes to strengthen transparency at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by suggesting options for growing a culture of data and evidence.  On the cusp of the EPA’s 50th anniversary, BPC has published the... Read More

WASHINGTON — Environmental activist Greta Thunberg was a recurring topic of conversation at Axios’ first Washington, D.C. event of the year, held this week. The event consisted of a series of conversations dedicated to the future of science education and digital learning.   Educators and other industry... Read More

WASHINGTON — The Earth Day Network and Yale Program on Climate Change Communication released a new research report last week on “Climate Change and the American Diet.” The report claims that Americans are more open than ever to plant-based foods. In advance of this year’s 50th... Read More

WASHINGTON — News around Capitol Hill last week was that actor Patrick Dempsey would be starring in a new political drama.   The CBS pilot plot, originally named “The Whip” has since had a title change to “Ways & Means,” but is believed to have little to... Read More

WASHINGTON - National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien told a gathering of world ambassadors this week that China has engaged in a "massive theft" of Intellectual property from the U.S., complicating diplomatic relations and making events like the recent trade dispute between the two countries more difficult... Read More

WASHINGTON — Americans are working more and longer than ever, yet age discrimination worries often give older workers a lack of confidence in being able to keep their jobs or find new ones.  That’s why the House threw its bipartisan support behind H.R. 1230, the Protecting... Read More

WASHINGTON — Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., believes veteran firefighters should receive fair retirement and health care benefits that better accord to their service to their country. Toward that end, she’s introduced H.R. 5637, the Michael Lecik Military Firefighters Protection Act. The bill is named for Michael... Read More

WASHINGTON - A new report released by D.C.-based think tank,  Bipartisan Policy Center, hopes to create a “bipartisan blueprint” for higher education reform.  Attaining a post-secondary degree is believed to be vital for success in today’s workforce, lauded for long-term financial gain, job stability, career satisfaction,... Read More

WASHINGTON — A House bill generally supported by congressional Republicans and manufacturers to phase out hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) nevertheless raised a few red flags when it came up before a House subcommittee last week. HFCs are a class of chemicals primarily used as refrigerants that gained widespread... Read More

WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declined to attend a hearing on Tuesday to examine the Administration’s policy on Iran, including its recent decision to assassinate Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. Pompeo had been invited to attend the House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing, “From Sanctions to... Read More

WASHINGTON - A Facebook official told a House panel on Wednesday that the social media giant is “working proactively to remove harmful content,” but critics maintained the company has a “trust problem” that warrants greater government scrutiny. The showdown between advocates of freedom of speech and... Read More