North America
The US abdicates a key role at UN Human Rights Council
In another sign of its abdication of global leadership, the US has decided to withdraw from the UN human rights council, citing the latter’s hostility to Israel and favorable treatment to regimes with unsavory human rights records. What are the consequences for the world – and the Council’s future?
The U.S has neglected an imperative consequence of withdrawing from the Iran Nuclear Deal: Cyberattacks
Following the U.S. decision to withdraw from the Iran Nuclear Deal, retaliation in the form of cyberattacks could have potentially devastating results.
Is coal economically viable?
While the Trump Administration is pushing for growth of the American coal industry, market forces are heading toward renewable energy. But is coal still economically viable in the United States?
US seeks to weaken China’s high-tech global ambitions
In the midst of trade war threats between the US and China, Trump’s latest trade tariffs emerge as the new American strategy to weaken Xi Jinping’s plans to transform China into a major high-tech player.
Assessing the Trump doctrine of “energy dominance”
If the US is to wield energy as a weapon, it will be perceived as an unreliable supplier, and risk moving at cross-purposes with the system of free and open energy markets that it has promoted for decades.
The firing of Rex Tillerson and the future of US diplomacy
After Rex Tillerson was abruptly fired last week, all eyes are on new appointee Mike Pompeo. Trump and Pompeo are aligned on many issues, and the Iran deal in particular is at risk under the new Secretary of State. But there is still scope for Pompeo to assert himself on North Korea and Trump’s unconventional diplomacy.
Book Review: “Janesville” holds lessons for both parties going into midterms
“Janesville: An American Story” is a captivating account of the impact of the economic crisis and local auto plant closure on a whole community. Despite Trump’s promises, these are problems the current administration is nowhere near addressing – but do the Democrats know what needs to be done either?
OZY+GRI: The bull market’s still built on borrowed money… What could cause the crash?
A nightmarish flashback to the previous economic meltdown may be warranted, especially when it comes to investors using their portfolios as collateral to buy more stocks and bonds on borrowed money.
OZY+GRI: Could this interest rate cliff-edge cripple the US economy?
Out-of-control inflation in the US is a gray rhino — a high-impact, negative occurrence that is rationalized until it is too late. The government’s response, though, could lead to a true black swan: a low-frequency, high-impact event that no one sees coming.
Keeping Guantanamo open is a long-term strategic error
Trump’s decision to maintain the Guantanamo Bay facility risks further worsening relations with key Arab and European allies while providing a recruitment incentive for lone-wolf terrorists and other non-state actors.
