Jonathan Masters

CFR Staff

Jonathan Masters

Deputy Managing Editor

Jonathan Masters leads writers and editors who produce wide-ranging content for CFR.org, including Backgrounders, visual stories, and events. He also writes on foreign policy and national security and his work has appeared in Foreign Affairs, the Atlantic, and Bloomberg. Masters has a BA in political science from Emory University and an MA in social theory from the New School. He is a term member of CFR and a member of the Overseas Press Club.

Donald Trump

Trump’s Executive Orders: What to Expect

President-elect Trump has promised to commence his new term with an expansive array of executive actions, some of which could have immediate effects on U.S. foreign policy.

In Brief by Jonathan Masters and Diana Roy January 17, 2025
Lebanon

Lebanon: How Israel, Hezbollah, and Regional Powers Are Shaping Its Future

An array of domestic and foreign powers are vying for influence in Lebanon, including the Lebanese Armed Forces, Hezbollah, Israel, Iran, Syria, and the United States.

Backgrounder by Jonathan Masters January 27, 2025
Iran

What Are Iran’s Nuclear and Missile Capabilities?

Iran’s nuclear program and missile arsenal have garnered increased international scrutiny amid its flaring conflict with Israel.

Article by Jonathan Masters and Will Merrow November 26, 2024
Taiwan

U.S. Military Support for Taiwan in Five Charts

Taiwan has been a top buyer of U.S. military equipment for decades, but the island is waiting on a significant backlog of weapon deliveries that defense experts say are urgently needed to deter China.

Article by Jonathan Masters and Will Merrow September 25, 2024
Politics and Government

The Changing Role of Foreign Policy at the U.S. National Conventions

The quadrennial U.S. presidential nominating conventions often focus on domestic themes. But they have at times been flavored by global economic concerns and national security threats, offering competing Democratic and Republican visions about the United States’ role in the world. In the 2024 race, Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump, and his challenger, Vice President Kamala Harris, are projecting starkly different worldviews.

Timeline by Jonathan Masters, Kevin Lizarazo and Jeremy Sherlick August 26, 2024
Middle East and North Africa

U.S. Troops in the Middle East: Mapping the Military Presence

The U.S. military has an extensive footprint in the Middle East, including a collection of permanent bases and various naval assets, such as aircraft carriers and destroyers.

Article by Jonathan Masters and Will Merrow October 1, 2024
Defense and Security

The Security Challenge at the 2024 Paris Olympics

French authorities are particularly vigilant of the terrorist threat to the games posed by Islamist extremists, a danger the country has endured for decades.

In Brief by Jonathan Masters July 25, 2024
Israel

U.S. Aid to Israel in Four Charts

Israel has long been the leading recipient of U.S. foreign aid, including military assistance. That aid has come under heightened scrutiny amid Israel’s conflicts with Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran.

Article by Jonathan Masters and Will Merrow November 13, 2024
Belarus

The Belarus-Russia Alliance: An Axis of Autocracy in Eastern Europe

Russia has renewed its long-stalled push for unification with Belarus, using the country as a launchpad for its war against Ukraine and a hardening bulwark against NATO rivals to the west.

Backgrounder by Jonathan Masters September 27, 2023
Russia

How Frozen Russian Assets Could Pay for Rebuilding in Ukraine

Will Ukraine’s international backers use billions of dollars in seized Russian assets to support rebuilding the war-ravaged country?

In Brief by Jonathan Masters July 24, 2023
Russia

Nuclear Weapons in Europe: Mapping U.S. and Russian Deployments

Russia’s threat to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus has raised the specter of a new nuclear standoff with the United States and its allies in Europe. It also draws new attention to how such arms are deployed in NATO states.

In Brief by Jonathan Masters and Will Merrow March 30, 2023
Ukraine

How Much U.S. Aid Is Going to Ukraine?

Nine charts illustrate the extraordinary level of support the United States has provided Ukraine in its war against Russian invaders.

Article by Jonathan Masters and Will Merrow September 27, 2024
NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

How NATO Will Change if Finland and Sweden Become Members

NATO leaders are gathering in Madrid for their annual summit, and two Nordic states are making their case for membership as Russia’s war in Ukraine grinds on. Here’s what alliance enlargement would mean.

In Brief by Jonathan Masters June 29, 2022
United States

U.S.-Russia Nuclear Arms Control

The nuclear arms race was perhaps the most alarming feature of the Cold War competition between the United States and Soviet Union. Over the decades, the two sides signed various arms control agreements as a means to manage their rivalry and limit the risk of nuclear war. However, deep fissures have reemerged in the U.S.-Russia relationship in recent years, raising once again the specter of a nuclear arms race.

Timeline by Jonathan Masters and Sabine Baumgartner May 10, 2022
Somalia

Al-Shabaab in East Africa

With brazen terrorist attacks at home and abroad, the Somalia-based Islamist insurgent group has proved resilient despite strategic setbacks in recent years.

Timeline by Claire Klobucista, Jonathan Masters, Kevin Lizarazo and Jeremy Sherlick March 31, 2022
Ukraine

How Do the Militaries of Russia and Ukraine Stack Up?

Russia’s extraordinary show of force in and around Ukraine underscores the military imbalance between the two countries.

In Brief by Jonathan Masters and Will Merrow February 4, 2022
NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

Why NATO Has Become a Flash Point With Russia in Ukraine

Russian leaders have watched with mounting resentment as the transatlantic alliance has nearly doubled its membership since the end of the Cold War. President Vladimir Putin has drawn a red line in Ukraine.

Backgrounder by Jonathan Masters January 20, 2022
Terrorism and Counterterrorism

Guantanamo Bay: Twenty Years of Counterterrorism and Controversy

The U.S. military detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, has generated intense debate for two decades, raising enduring questions about national security, human rights, and justice.

Article by Jonathan Masters September 9, 2022
Transition 2021

The Biden-Harris Inauguration: A Tense Tableau

The inauguration of President Joe Biden was unlike any U.S. power transition in modern times, providing stark imagery of a country at a crossroads.

In Brief by Jonathan Masters January 21, 2021
NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

How Is the U.S. Military Pivoting in Europe?

The U.S. military is considering some major shifts to its posture in Europe, including a large withdrawal from bases in Germany, that are raising security concerns on the continent.

In Brief by Jonathan Masters and Will Merrow September 23, 2020
United States

Trump’s Threat to Use the Military Against Protesters: What to Know

Amid protests against racial injustice, can President Trump deploy the military to bring “law and order” to American streets?

In Brief by Jonathan Masters June 5, 2020
Treaties and Agreements

Open Skies: Another Dying Arms Control Agreement?

A pending U.S. withdrawal from the Treaty on Open Skies has alarmed some allies in Europe, who fear losing a valuable means of monitoring Russia.

In Brief by Jonathan Masters May 28, 2020
Economic Crises

How Will Aviation Giants Emerge From the Pandemic?

The coronavirus has cut into few industries more deeply than aviation and aerospace, putting some strategically important companies in dire financial straits.

In Brief by Jonathan Masters May 19, 2020
State and Local Governments (U.S.)

How COVID-19 Is Harming State and City Budgets

The coronavirus pandemic is placing enormous budget pressure on state and local governments, threatening deep and potentially lasting cuts to education, infrastructure, and other important investments.

Backgrounder by Anshu Siripurapu and Jonathan Masters March 19, 2021
COVID-19

Coronavirus: How Are Countries Responding to the Economic Crisis?

The coronavirus pandemic is slowing global commerce to a crawl, but many of the world’s largest economies are taking extraordinary actions to propel them through the crisis.

Backgrounder by Jonathan Masters May 4, 2020
Ukraine

Ukraine: Conflict at the Crossroads of Europe and Russia

Ukraine’s Westward drift since independence has been countered by the sometimes violent tug of Russia, felt most recently with Putin’s 2022 invasion.

Backgrounder by Jonathan Masters February 14, 2023
Military Operations

Sea Power: The U.S. Navy and Foreign Policy

The U.S. Navy’s dominance of the world’s oceans has made it an indispensable foreign policy tool and a guarantor of global trade, but a mix of challenges is raising difficult questions about its future.

Backgrounder by Jonathan Masters June 12, 2024
International Law

What Is Extradition?

The extradition process enables governments to bring fugitives abroad to justice, but it can be fraught with political tension, even when a treaty is in place.

Backgrounder by Jonathan Masters January 8, 2020
Nonproliferation, Arms Control, and Disarmament

The Ailing INF Treaty: What to Know

A collapse of this Cold War–era arms treaty, which many believe has favored the United States, could unleash a new age of nuclear weapons competition.

In Brief by Jonathan Masters January 28, 2019
NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

NATO’s Trident Juncture Exercises: What to Know

The military exercises in and around Norway are a significant test of NATO’s collective defenses at a time of rising geopolitical tensions.

In Brief by Jonathan Masters October 23, 2018
United States

The Debate Over U.S. Security Clearances: What to Know

President Trump’s revocation of a former CIA director's security clearance has stirred up a debate about access to government secrets, free speech, and democratic norms.

In Brief by Jonathan Masters August 23, 2018
Saudi Arabia

Tesla: The Risks of a Foreign Buyout

If Tesla goes private with significant funding from Saudi Arabia or other foreign investors, it would raise national security and ethical questions.

In Brief by Jonathan Masters August 15, 2018
Syria

Legal Questions Loom Over Syria Strikes

In striking Syria without an international law justification, the United States leaves itself open to criticism and may invite similar behavior by other countries.

Interview with Jonathan Masters and John B. Bellinger III April 15, 2018 U.S. Foreign Policy Program
Russia

What’s Next for Russia’s Relations With the West?

The expulsion of Russian diplomats by more than twenty governments is a remarkable show of unity and a deepening of Moscow’s rift with the West.

Interview with Jonathan Masters and Stephen Sestanovich March 27, 2018 U.S. Foreign Policy Program
Russia

Are Cold War Spy-Craft Norms Fading?

A growing list of brazen foreign operations signals that there are few constraints on Russian intelligence under Vladimir Putin’s leadership.

Interview with Jonathan Masters and Jack Devine March 15, 2018
Russia

Russia, Trump, and the 2016 U.S. Election

Charges of foreign power interference in the U.S. presidential election have raised grave national security concerns and touched off multiple federal inquiries that could drag on for months.

Backgrounder by Jonathan Masters February 26, 2018
Defense and Security

Will FBI Sacking Affect National Security?

The dismissal of FBI Director James Comey raises concerns about the government’s ability to investigate Russian meddling in U.S. elections, and the broader national security role of the agency.

Interview with Jonathan Masters and Matthew C. Waxman May 15, 2017 U.S. Foreign Policy Program
Russia

Will FBI Sacking Affect National Security?

The dismissal of FBI Director James Comey raises concerns about the government’s ability to investigate Russian meddling in U.S. elections, and the broader national security role of the agency, says CFR’s Matthew Waxman.

Interview with Matthew C. Waxman and Jonathan Masters May 10, 2017
Arctic

The Arctic Is Integral to U.S. National Security

The Arctic should be a major consideration in discussions of U.S. national security, says Thad Allen, co-chair of CFR’s Independent Task Force on the Arctic.

Interview with Jonathan Masters and Thad W. Allen March 22, 2017
United States

U.S. Foreign Policy Powers: Congress and the President

The separation of powers has spawned a great deal of debate over the roles of the president and Congress in foreign affairs, as well as over the limits on their respective authorities, explains this Backgrounder.

Backgrounder by Jonathan Masters March 2, 2017
France

How Powerful Is France’s President?

The winner of the presidential election this spring will heavily influence how France approaches foreign and domestic issues, including its future with the European Union.

Backgrounder by Jonathan Masters February 1, 2017
Heads of State and Government

Campaign 2016

See where Donald Trump wants to take U.S. foreign policy

Interactive by Jonathan Masters December 2, 2016
United States

The U.S. Vice President and Foreign Policy

Modern vice presidents can trace much of their political influence to the broad reforms that Jimmy Carter and Walter Mondale made to the second-highest elected office in the late 1970s.

Backgrounder by Jonathan Masters September 22, 2016
United States

The U.S. Vice President and Foreign Policy

Modern vice presidents can trace much of their political influence to the broad reforms that Jimmy Carter and Walter Mondale made to the second-highest elected office in the late 1970s.

Backgrounder by Jonathan Masters February 8, 2024
United States

Foiling the Next U.S. Mass Shooting

Stricter gun laws and new civil society programs are needed to prevent the next mass shooting in the United States, says expert Karen Greenberg.

Interview with Karen J. Greenberg and Jonathan Masters June 13, 2016
Immigration and Migration

The U.S. Supreme Court and Obama’s Immigration Actions

The U.S. Supreme Court is set to determine the fate of millions of undocumented immigrants and could influence how future presidents wield power.

Backgrounder by Jonathan Masters June 23, 2016
United States

The U.S. Presidential Nominating Process

Every four years, U.S. presidential candidates compete in a series of state contests to gain their party’s nomination. The political process is one of the most complex and expensive in the world.

Backgrounder by Jonathan Masters and Gopal Ratnam January 13, 2020
United States

Would a Paris Climate Deal Be Legally Binding on the U.S.?

The Obama administration has other methods to pursue a binding international agreement on climate change in Paris that fall short of a treaty, says CFR’s John B. Bellinger III.

Interview with Jonathan Masters November 24, 2015
China

A U.S. Naval Signal in the South China Sea

A U.S. destroyer’s recent operation demonstrates how the United States is protecting its interests in the South China Sea, says Capt. Sean Liedman, CFR’s Navy fellow.

Interview with Sean R. Liedman and Jonathan Masters October 28, 2015
United States

The GOP Debate: Room for Foreign Policy?

The Republican presidential candidates are aligned on most foreign policy issues, but they could quarrel over immigration and the Iran nuclear deal in their first debate, says CFR’s James M. Lindsay.

Interview with James M. Lindsay and Jonathan Masters August 5, 2015 U.S. Foreign Policy Program
United States

The Presidential Candidates: In Their Own Words

This regularly updated guide features transcripts from the Republican and Democratic presidential debates as well as select foreign policy speeches, op-eds, and interviews of the candidates.

Backgrounder by Jonathan Masters July 25, 2016
Iran

Navigating the Iran Sanctions Thicket

The prospect of sanctions relief as part of an Iran nuclear agreement has alarmed some in Congress, but they should see the value of a UN Security Council resolution affirming the deal, says CFR’s John B. Bellinger III.

Interview with Jonathan Masters March 27, 2015
Sanctions

What Are Economic Sanctions?

For many policymakers, economic sanctions have become the tool of choice to respond to major geopolitical challenges such as terrorism and conflict.

Backgrounder by Jonathan Masters June 24, 2024
Global

Will Journalism Suffer After the Paris Attack?

The terrorist attack on Charlie Hebdo could have a chilling effect on the coverage of Islam in certain countries, says expert Karin Karlekar.

Interview with Karin Karlekar and Jonathan Masters January 12, 2015
Russia

The Russian Military

Military power has reemerged as an important component of Russian foreign policy, which some believe aims to reestablish Russian hegemony in the region.

Backgrounder by Jonathan Masters September 28, 2015
Americas

Amid Global Disorder, North America Should Tighten Bonds

It is time for the United States, Canada, and Mexico to take integration to the next level, coordinating more closely on energy, security, and trade policy, says Robert Zoellick, co-chair of a new CFR Independent Task Force Report.

Interview with Robert B. Zoellick and Jonathan Masters October 1, 2014
Syria

New Terror Threats Require New Law

The 2001 law that authorized the U.S. war against al-Qaeda and its affiliates is not an appropriate justification for the offensive against ISIS and other emerging terrorist groups, says CFR’s John Bellinger.

Interview with John B. Bellinger III and Jonathan Masters September 9, 2014
United States

Countering the U.S. Image Problem

Foreign media coverage of the social unrest in Ferguson reinforces damaging global perceptions of the United States, says expert Philip Seib.

Interview with Philip Seib and Jonathan Masters September 2, 2014
Global

Tremors from the BNP Paribas Case

The BNP Paribas case demonstrates the growing rigor of U.S. prosecutions of illicit finance, and will have implications for markets and the global banking industry, says expert Juan C. Zarate.

Interview with Juan Carlos Zarate and Jonathan Masters July 9, 2014
Digital Policy

What Is Internet Governance?

An intense international debate over who manages parts of the internet’s technical infrastructure is likely to feed a broader discussion of internet-related public policy.

Backgrounder by Jonathan Masters April 23, 2014
Ukraine

Punishing Russia Carries Risks

Tighter Western sanctions against Russia for its actions in Ukraine may be necessary but could bring unwelcome consequences, explains CFR’s John Bellinger.

Interview with John B. Bellinger III and Jonathan Masters April 18, 2014
Ukraine

NATO’s Next Moves

NATO’s response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea may require it to bolster eastern European members with both military and non-military actions, says expert Christopher S. Chivvis.

Interview with Christopher S. Chivvis and Jonathan Masters March 20, 2014
Russia

Why the Crimean Referendum Is Illegitimate

The vote by some Crimean citizens to join Russia violates Ukrainian and international law and could come back to haunt Moscow, its primary backer, says CFR’s John Bellinger.

Interview with John B. Bellinger III and Jonathan Masters March 16, 2014
United States

Surveillance After Snowden

President Obama’s announced reforms should help restore public confidence in some controversial U.S. surveillance practices, says expert Andrew Weissmann.

Interview with Andrew Weissmann and Jonathan Masters January 17, 2014
Arctic

The Thawing Arctic: Risks and Opportunities

Nations are reexamining their interests and capabilities in the Arctic, as climate change in the region presents new economic opportunities and security challenges.

Backgrounder by Jonathan Masters December 16, 2013
United States

How Obama Brings Terrorists to Justice

The treatment of terrorism suspect Abu Anas al-Libi, who seems destined for trial in U.S. federal court, fits the Obama administration’s new protocol for such captures, says expert Stephen Vladeck.

Interview with Stephen I. Vladeck and Jonathan Masters October 9, 2013
Trade

Foreign Investment and U.S. National Security

The United States is both the world's largest foreign direct investor and the largest beneficiary of foreign direct investment (FDI). But like every sovereign country, it has sought to temper its emb…

Post by Jonathan Masters September 27, 2013 Renewing America
United States

What Happens When Foreign Investment Becomes a Security Risk?

The United States and other Western countries are reevaluating their foreign investment regulations amid an uptick in Chinese interest in strategic sectors.

Backgrounder by Jonathan Masters, James McBride and Noah Berman January 3, 2023 Renewing America
Corporate Governance

The Renewing America Interview: Bill Bradley on Leadership and U.S. Tax Reform

Months of relative calm on the U.S. fiscal front are set to end this month as Congress returns from summer recess, staring down the barrel of a possible government shutdown on October 1 (start of FY …

Post by Jonathan Masters September 12, 2013 Renewing America
Syria

A Tough Case for Strikes on Syria

The Obama administration’s strongest case for intervening in Syria rests on the global security risks posed by the regime’s suspected use of chemical weapons, says CFR’s John B. Bellinger.

Interview with John B. Bellinger III and Jonathan Masters September 10, 2013 National Security and Defense Program
Infrastructure

Policy Initiative Spotlight: NYC Zoning and Competitiveness

The debate over skyscrapers and their place in the American city has endured for over a century, and New York City has often led the conversation. In 1913, the Equitable Life Assurance Society unveil…

Post by Jonathan Masters July 30, 2013 Renewing America
Homeland Security

Has the FISA Court Gone Too Far?

While the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court has granted U.S. agencies broad legal authority to collect sensitive information, it is hardly a "rubber stamp" for government surveillance requests, says CFR’s Matt Waxman.

Interview with Matthew C. Waxman and Jonathan Masters July 11, 2013
United States

Extraditing Edward Snowden

Whether NSA leaker Edward Snowden is extradited to the United States will hinge more on diplomatic relations than international legal considerations, says expert Stephen Vladeck.

Interview with Stephen I. Vladeck and Jonathan Masters June 28, 2013
United States

Can Government Safeguard the Internet?

The U.S. government needs to marshal its cybersecurity resources in support of the private sector and build alliances with international partners, says former CIA director Michael Hayden, member of a new CFR independent task force on digital policy.

Interview with Michael V. Hayden and Jonathan Masters June 5, 2013
United States

Obama’s Mixed Counterterror Message

President Obama’s counterterrorism speech made strides toward greater transparency but missed opportunities to articulate a vision for moving beyond a perpetual war footing, says CFR’s John Bellinger.

Interview with John B. Bellinger III and Jonathan Masters May 28, 2013
Education

Policy Initiative Spotlight: Employing Post-9/11 Veterans

The Obama administration’s “Joining Forces” initiative hopes to decrease the high rate of unemployment for new (post-9/11) vets.

Post by Jonathan Masters May 24, 2013 Renewing America
United States

Ballistic Missile Defense

U.S. missile defense in the twenty-first century is focused on emerging threats from North Korea and Iran, but critics say these systems are too costly and largely unproven.

Backgrounder by Jonathan Masters August 15, 2014
Intelligence

Domestic Intelligence and the Boston Bombings

The Boston Marathon bombings illustrate the stresses on domestic intelligence gathering and counterterrorism in a democratic system, says CFR’s Richard Falkenrath.

Interview with Richard A. Falkenrath and Jonathan Masters April 25, 2013
United States

Seeking Daylight on U.S. Drone Policy

What is the Obama administration’s legal justification for targeted killings? CFR national security expert John Bellinger explores this question as well as others with significant implications for U.S. counterterrorism.

Interview with John B. Bellinger III and Jonathan Masters March 29, 2013
The Renewing America Interview: San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee on Pension Reform

When he took over as San Francisco's interim mayor in January 2011, Ed Lee seemed like just the reluctant warrior the city needed to tackle its fiscal woes. He hadn't run for office since his bid for…

Post by Jonathan Masters January 17, 2013 Renewing America
United States

U.S. Gun Policy: Global Comparisons

The United States is witnessing another year of record gun violence, raising domestic and international scrutiny of its comparatively loose gun laws and placing pressure on lawmakers to enact meaningful reforms.

Backgrounder by Jonathan Masters June 10, 2022
Infrastructure

Policy Initiative Spotlight: Oklahoma City MAPS Out Revitalization

For communities looking to attract the coveted highly-skilled, highly-paid workforce, there is often little substitute for a locale's livability. Job opportunities, no matter how plum, may fail to lu…

Post by Jonathan Masters December 10, 2012 Renewing America
Playing Fast and Loose With the Debt Limit

It's still uncertain whether the White House and Congress can cobble together a compromise that would avert the "fiscal cliff" at year's end. Indeed, some speculate that Washington's proverbial gridl…

Post by Jonathan Masters December 6, 2012 Renewing America
What Is the Fiscal Cliff?

Without timely action from Congress, the United States faces a drastic set of tax hikes and spending cuts at year’s end that could derail the nation’s fragile recovery and spill over into the global …

Post by Jonathan Masters November 14, 2012 Renewing America
Labor and Employment

Policy Initiative Spotlight: The Israeli R&D Model

The innovations that will drive a knowledge-based economy and employ the next generation of high-skilled workers require a national commitment to research and development, and no nation has made this…

Post by Jonathan Masters November 2, 2012 Renewing America
Education

Policy Initiative Spotlight: Some HOPE for College Tuition

Having yet to take a finance or economics course, most high-school juniors and seniors could be forgiven for an ignorance of the principle of “return-on-investment” (ROI). However, the concept could …

Post by Jonathan Masters October 8, 2012 Renewing America
Infrastructure

Why the Fiscal Health of States and Cities Matters

In the wake of the recent economic crisis, many state and local governments confront significant fiscal stress that could have national ramifications. The flow of federal stimulus funding is drying u…

Post by Jonathan Masters October 4, 2012 Renewing America
United States

Why the Fiscal Health of States and Cities Matters

Many states and cities face significant fiscal stress that could impede the U.S. economic recovery and undermine long-term growth, including cuts to education and infrastructure, explains this CFR Backgrounder.

Backgrounder by Jonathan Masters October 2, 2012 Renewing America
United States

The Post-9/11 Civil Liberties Debate

Post-9/11 U.S. counterterrorism and surrounding civil liberties issues are unlikely to stray far from currently policy no matter who is in the White House in 2013, says CFR’s Matthew Waxman.

Interview with Matthew C. Waxman and Jonathan Masters September 10, 2012
Education

Policy Initiative Spotlight: How to Work Your Way Through College

Before the Class of 2012 stepped off the dais and shed their caps and gowns, their prospects for a seamless transition into the American workforce looked poor. According to the Economic Policy Instit…

Post by Jonathan Masters September 7, 2012 Renewing America
What is the Fiscal Cliff?

Without timely action from Congress, the United States is set to undergo a drastic set of tax hikes and spending cuts at year's end that could derail the nation's fragile economic recovery. The budge…

Post by Jonathan Masters August 1, 2012 Renewing America
Labor and Employment

Policy Initiative Spotlight: Manhattan Micro Apartments

It may come as somewhat of a surprise that in a city of roughly 8 million residents--many of whom are already crammed into shoebox apartments--that there's now a competition to bring the walls in eve…

Post by Jonathan Masters July 27, 2012 Renewing America
Budget, Debt, and Deficits

What Is the Fiscal Cliff?

While congressional action lags, a series of year-end fiscal measures could derail the U.S. recovery.

Backgrounder by Jonathan Masters December 12, 2012 Renewing America
Syria

Challenges for Syria’s Neighbors

A post-Assad Syria will likely create distinct challenges for each of its neighbors, including creating a major loss for Iran, says Michael Young of Lebanon’s Daily Star.

Interview with Michael Young and Jonathan Masters July 25, 2012
Infrastructure

Policy Initiative Spotlight: The Bounty of Bikeshares

In just a matter of days, New York City will officially become the most recent U.S. metropolis—joining the likes of Washington, DC (Capital Bikeshare), Denver (Denver B-cycle), Boston (Hubway), and …

Post by Jonathan Masters June 29, 2012 Renewing America
Corporate Governance

U.S. Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital

In the face of persistently high unemployment, innovation and entrepreneurship have historically been the primary engine of U.S. job growth. But that engine has been slowing in recent years. In this…

Post by Jonathan Masters June 5, 2012 Renewing America
Syria

Syria’s Crisis and the Global Response

An end to Syria’s conflict seems unlikely in the near term, as a number of obstacles on and off the battlefield have stymied international diplomatic efforts, explains this Backgrounder.

Backgrounder by Zachary Laub and Jonathan Masters September 11, 2013
Labor and Employment

Policy Initiative Spotlight: Gambling Your Way out of Debt

Thirty U.S. states projected budget shortfalls for FY 2013, and the options for bridging these gaps without major cuts to services such as education or transportation are dwindling. Dollars from the …

Post by Jonathan Masters May 18, 2012 Renewing America
NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

What Is NATO?

The alliance is bolstering its military deterrent in Europe amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and has expanded to include Finland and Sweden.

Backgrounder by Jonathan Masters March 18, 2024
United States

Obama and the Laws of War

Targeted killings are up in Yemen and military trials have resumed in Guantanamo. CFR’s Matthew Waxman assesses the White House’s evolving legal basis for its war on al-Qaeda.

Interview with Matthew C. Waxman and Jonathan Masters May 10, 2012
Corporate Governance

Policy Initiative Spotlight: Checking the Innovation Box

In the competition to attract and retain global corporate investment, tax policy is often seen as one of the most immediate and potent levers that legislators can pull. This is especially true given …

Post by Jonathan Masters May 4, 2012 Renewing America
Education

Interview: Parsing U.S. Immigration Reform

The Supreme Court is preparing to hear arguments on Arizona's controversial immigration law, which will have a significant impact on the national debate. Meanwhile, the Obama administration has been …

Post by Jonathan Masters April 19, 2012 Renewing America
International Organizations

The World Bank Group’s Role in Global Development

Since its founding in 1944, the World Bank has evolved from a lender focused on European reconstruction to the preeminent international institution for economic development and poverty reduction.

Backgrounder by Jonathan Masters, Noah Berman and Andrew Chatzky October 12, 2023
Labor and Employment

Policy Initiative Spotlight: Michigan's 'Fiscal Accountability Act'

As dozens of towns and cities across the country—from Stockton, CA, to Providence, RI—stare down the precipice of insolvency, some states are taking bold action to protect their prized bond-ratings a…

Post by Jonathan Masters April 6, 2012 Renewing America
Corporate Governance

A Time for Corporate Tax Reform?

The United States has not had a comprehensive overhaul of its tax code since the 1986 Tax Reform Act signed into law by President Reagan. Nearly twenty-six years and over 15,000 special tax provision…

Post by Jonathan Masters April 5, 2012 Renewing America
United States

A Global Test For U.S. Schools

Declining academic performance at K-12 levels poses a threat to U.S. competitiveness and national security. Greater school choice and support for core national standards should be central to reform, says Joel Klein, co-chair of a new CFR independent task force.

Interview with Joel I. Klein and Jonathan Masters March 19, 2012
Trade

Morning Brief: Apple Announces Plans for Mountain of Cash

This morning Apple announced the company would pay a dividend to shareholders and buy back up to $10 billion in stock, revealing the plan for its $97.6 billion cash hoard (WSJ). As iPads and iPhones …

Post by Jonathan Masters March 19, 2012 Renewing America
Trade

Morning Brief: Percentage of U.S. Debt Held By Foreigners Rose for Sixth Straight Month

For the sixth consecutive month, the percentage of U.S. debt held by foreigners rose (Washington Post). While the United States faces short and long term budgetary challenges, uncertainty in Europe h…

Post by Jonathan Masters March 16, 2012 Renewing America
Trade

Morning Brief: Senate Passes Highway Bill; Focus Turns to House

By a 74-22 vote, the U.S. Senate approved a two year, $109 billion transportation bill (TheHill). With unanimous support among Democrats and half of Republicans voting in favor, the bipartisan bill’s…

Post by Jonathan Masters March 15, 2012 Renewing America
Trade

Morning Brief: China’s Rare Earth Policy Challenged at WTO

The United States, Europe, and Japan challenged China’s export restrictions of rare earth elements at the WTO (WSJ). The complaint alleges that the restrictions give Chinese manufacturers an unfair a…

Post by Jonathan Masters March 14, 2012 Renewing America
Trade

Morning Brief: HBR Proposes Strategy for U.S. Clean Technology

The Harvard Business Review proposes a 4-part strategy to shape the U.S. government’s role in promoting the cleantech industry. Recommendations include acting as an angel investor by making small inv…

Post by Jonathan Masters March 13, 2012 Renewing America
Trade

Morning Brief: Rising Chinese Costs Unlikely to Shift Supply Chains

The Economist argues that rising manufacturing costs in China—more expensive labor, new environmental and safety regulations, and higher land prices—will not be sufficient to drive manufacturing away…

Post by Jonathan Masters March 12, 2012 Renewing America
Trade

Morning Brief: California Freeway is Test Case for Public-Private Infrastructure Development

A group of European investors is financing, designing, building, and maintaining a freeway leading to the Golden Gate Bridge (NYT). California will pay the developers a set amount upon completion and…

Post by Jonathan Masters March 9, 2012 Renewing America
Infrastructure

The Future of U.S. Rail Infrastructure

Rail infrastructure is a critical component of a transportation network capable of helping the United States compete in global markets. Efforts to expand and modernize U.S. rail, particularly investm…

Post by Jonathan Masters March 8, 2012 Renewing America
Trade

Morning Brief: Bonuses for Top Execs Fall in Finance, Rise at Ford

Wall Street’s bonuses fell nearly 25 percent last year, according to a New York City watchdog agency (Reuters). Though the decrease was smaller than expected, the report predicted it is likely to dea…

Post by Jonathan Masters March 8, 2012 Renewing America
Trade

Morning Brief: Tech Leaders Assist Undocumented College Students

The Wall Street Journal reports that Silicon Valley leaders recently donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to Educators for Fair Consideration (E4FC). E4FC provides scholarships, career advice, an…

Post by Jonathan Masters March 7, 2012 Renewing America
Trade

Morning Brief: Surging Chinese Investment in North American Energy

Chinese investment into North American energy is surging (WSJ), with over $17 billion invested since the start of 2010, yet political opposition is quiet even though China's state-owned China Nationa…

Post by Jonathan Masters March 6, 2012 Renewing America
Trade

Morning Brief: Deepwater Oil Drilling Approvals Near Pre-Oil Spill Levels

In the past twelve months, the Obama administration issued sixty-one approvals (NYT) for drilling in depths beyond five-hundred feet, compared with sixty-seven in the twelve months before the Deepwat…

Post by Jonathan Masters March 5, 2012 Renewing America
Trade

Morning Brief: Volcker Rule Will Miss Congressional Deadline

In his testimony to Congress, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke indicated the Volcker rule (FT) will not be in effect by the July deadline. A signature part of 2010’s Dodd-Frank Wall Street Refor…

Post by Jonathan Masters March 2, 2012 Renewing America
Trade

Morning Brief: More States Seek NCLB Waivers

Twenty-six more states, and the District of Columbia, are seeking waivers under the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), adding to the eleven that have already won this status. States granted a waiver do…

Post by Jonathan Masters March 1, 2012 Renewing America
Trade

Morning Brief: Obama Establishes Trade Enforcement Agency

The Obama administration signed an executive order creating a new agency to monitor and protect U.S. interests in international trade. The newly-minted Interagency Trade Enforcement Center will be ho…

Post by Jonathan Masters February 29, 2012 Renewing America
Trade

Morning Brief: Restructuring the Chinese Economy

A new report from the World Bank says China will have to make structural changes to its economy and society in order to prolong growth for the next two decades, writes Keith B. Richburg for the Washi…

Post by Jonathan Masters February 28, 2012 Renewing America
Trade

Morning Brief: Remaking the U.S. Tax Code

In the Financial Times, former U.S. Treasury Secretary and Director of the National Economic Council Lawrence Summers writes that 2013 is the year the U.S. tax code should undergo a major overhaul. "…

Post by Jonathan Masters February 27, 2012 Renewing America
Trade

Morning Brief: Public Perspectives of Regulation

A new report from the Pew Research Center finds an increase in those who believe government regulation of business "does more harm than good," climbing from 45 percent in March 2011 to 52 percent tod…

Post by Jonathan Masters February 24, 2012 Renewing America
Trade

Morning Brief: Romney Presents Rival Tax Reform Plan

Republican candidate for president Mitt Romney announced his plans for tax reform (The Hill), including a 20 percent across-the-board reduction in individual rates and an end to capital gains taxes f…

Post by Jonathan Masters February 23, 2012 Renewing America
Trade

Morning Brief: White House to Propose Corporate Tax Reforms

The Obama administration is expected to release its proposal for corporate tax reform today (NYT), including measures that would cut the top statutory rate from 35 to 28 percent, close a host of loop…

Post by Jonathan Masters February 22, 2012 Renewing America
Trade

Morning Brief: White House Announces Trade & Business Initiatives

The Obama administration elaborated on its plans for consolidating several government agencies, including the Department of Commerce and the office of the U.S. Trade Representative, stipulating that …

Post by Jonathan Masters February 21, 2012 Renewing America
Bridging the Divide over Deficit Reduction

The Obama administration's 2013 budget "blueprint" has revived debate over the sustainability of U.S. spending and the risks associated with a rising national debt. Long-term budget projections, part…

Post by Jonathan Masters February 20, 2012 Renewing America
Budget, Debt, and Deficits

U.S. Deficits and the National Debt

The Obama administration’s 2013 budget plan has revived debate over the sustainability of U.S. spending. As the United States emerges from a deep recession, it must maintain a tricky policy balance.

Backgrounder by Jonathan Masters March 2, 2012 Renewing America
Trade

Morning Brief: Systemic Approach Needed to Solve Competitiveness Problem

The United States faces a multi-faceted competitiveness problem, writes Harvard Business School dean Nitin Nohria in the Harvard Business Review (HBR), and while one-off reforms in taxation, educatio…

Post by Jonathan Masters February 17, 2012 Renewing America
Trade

Morning Brief: Romney's China Policy

In the Wall Street Journal, Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney writes that China's embrace of state-capitalism and political repression should not become …

Post by Jonathan Masters February 16, 2012 Renewing America
Trade

Morning Brief: Deal Reached on Payroll Tax Cut

Washington lawmakers reached a tentative deal to extend the payroll tax cut (NYT) currently set to expire at the end of the month. The negotiated settlement would also extend unemployment benefits an…

Post by Jonathan Masters February 15, 2012 Renewing America
Trade

Morning Brief: Dissecting the White House Budget

The president's 2013 budget, while unlikely to advance legislatively, indicates the Obama administration's priorities and issues they are keen to work on if elected for a second term, writes the Broo…

Post by Jonathan Masters February 14, 2012 Renewing America
Trade

Morning Brief: Obama Sends Budget to Congress

U.S. President Barack Obama is sending a new budget to Congress this morning, one that looks to capture some $4 trillion in deficit reduction over the next ten years through a combination of both spe…

Post by Jonathan Masters February 13, 2012 Renewing America
Trade

Morning Brief: U.S. Pressured to Adopt Int'l Accounting Standards

The United States faces renewed calls from other G20 countries to adopt international accounting standards (Reuters), with the intention of providing uniformity and improved transparency for both glo…

Post by Jonathan Masters February 10, 2012 Renewing America
Trade

Morning Brief: Deal Reached for U.S. Homeowner Relief

U.S. government officials along with five of the country's largest banks have reached an agreement to help American homeowners (NYT) stricken by falling home values. The deal earmarks some $26 billi…

Post by Jonathan Masters February 9, 2012 Renewing America
Trade

Morning Brief: Strategy Needed for U.S. Manufacturing

U.S. manufacturing doesn't need "special treatment," but a coherent set of policies comparable to what U.S. competitors are providing for their economies, writes Stephen Ezell for the Innovation Poli…

Post by Jonathan Masters February 8, 2012 Renewing America
United States

Debt, Deficits, and the Defense Budget

As the Pentagon attempts to refocus the U.S. military strategy toward Asia, the department is facing major budget constraints. Experts disagree on how to balance the fiscal challenge with the country’s national security priorities.

Backgrounder by Jonathan Masters February 22, 2013 Renewing America
Trade

New U.S. Trade Winds?

Trade accounts for a growing percentage of U.S. economic output, but as a percentage of GDP it is still lower than that of almost every other developed country in the world. While the Obama administr…

Post by Jonathan Masters February 7, 2012 Renewing America
Trade

Morning Brief: Obama Likely to Sign FAA Funding Bill

President Obama is expected to sign legislation that will support federal aviation programs (NYT) through 2015, ending five years of stopgap financing. The bill includes about $16 billion a year for …

Post by Jonathan Masters February 7, 2012 Renewing America
Trade

Morning Brief: Congress Poised for Stimulus Debate

Lawmakers are set to negotiate extensions of the payroll tax cut and unemployment benefits in an effort to keep the fragile economic recovery from a self-inflicted stall. The primary bone of contenti…

Post by Jonathan Masters February 6, 2012 Renewing America
Trade

Morning Brief: U.S. Job Growth Feeds Recovery Optimism

The U.S. economy added 243,000 jobs in January, beating expectations for a second consecutive month and bringing the unemployment rate down to 8.3 percent. Analysts say the news might be a promising …

Post by Jonathan Masters February 3, 2012 Renewing America
Trade

Morning Brief: Small Business Job Creation Remains Weak

Small business job creation has continued to be weak throughout 2011, though a slight increase in December has sparked some hope. In congressional testimony, Martin Baily of the Brookings Institute o…

Post by Jonathan Masters February 2, 2012 Renewing America
Trade

Morning Brief: Obama To Propose Mortgage Relief

President Obama is expected to propose a mortgage relief program (WSJ) that would allow homeowners who are current on their payments to refinance into federally backed loans with lower interest rates…

Post by Jonathan Masters February 1, 2012 Renewing America
Trade

Morning Brief: GOP Govs to Target State Income Taxes

Some tax experts expect a wave of GOP governors to submit budgets that aim to curtail or abolish state income taxes (AP). Nine states already forgo a state income tax and rely on alternative revenues…

Post by Jonathan Masters January 31, 2012 Renewing America
Trade

Morning Brief: Pushing Free Trade Policy

U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk said that it has become increasingly difficult to sell Americans on the merits of free trade in the current economic climate. "Frankly, more and more Americans of a…

Post by Jonathan Masters January 30, 2012 Renewing America
Trade

Morning Brief: Heavy Industry Predicts U.S. Growth

Major North American industrial firms Caterpillar and Eaton (FT) have strong expectations for market growth in the United States despite recent warnings from the IMF of a global economic slowdown. Ca…

Post by Jonathan Masters January 27, 2012 Renewing America
Trade

Morning Brief: Protecting the Global Supply Chain

The White House announced a new strategy to protect the global supply chain of goods that are critical to U.S. national security and economic welfare. Among other things, the plan calls for improving…

Post by Jonathan Masters January 26, 2012 Renewing America
Trade

Morning Brief: Washington Responsible for U.S. Worker Competitiveness

Former Clinton Administration official and public policy expert Robert Reich contends that government, as protector of the public good (CSM), has a responsibility to help the American worker compete …

Post by Jonathan Masters January 25, 2012 Renewing America
Trade

Morning Brief: Obama's SOTU To-Do List

As President Obama prepares for his State of the Union tonight, eight budget and public policy experts discuss the most important objectives the president must accomplish with his address (Fiscal Tim…

Post by Jonathan Masters January 24, 2012 Renewing America
Trade

Morning Brief: Obama SOTU to Focus on Rebuilding Economy

Obama SOTU to Focus on Rebuilding Economy President Obama is expected to use his State of the Union speech (FT), the last before the November presidential election, to push for what he called in a w…

Post by Jonathan Masters January 23, 2012 Renewing America
Trade

Morning Brief: Progress in U.S. Household Deleveraging

Debt and Deficits Progress in U.S. Household Deleveraging A report from the McKinsey Global Institute examined the deleveraging progress in the United States, the UK, and Spain, and offers a comp…

Post by Jonathan Masters January 20, 2012 Renewing America
Trade

Morning Brief: U.S. Competitiveness Report Cites Business Fears

U.S. Competitiveness Report Cites Business Fears The Harvard Business School's U.S. Competitiveness Project released a major new report that revealed deep concerns among business leaders about the…

Post by Jonathan Masters January 19, 2012 Renewing America
Trade

The Bid to Bundle U.S. Trade Agencies

President Obama requested Congressional approval last Friday to reorganize the federal government, a plan that includes consolidation of six trade and commerce agencies into a single, streamlined dep…

Post by Jonathan Masters January 18, 2012 Renewing America
Trade

Morning Brief: Hopes for U.S. Manufacturing Resurgence

U.S. manufacturing employment has risen faster than in any other leading developed economy since the start of the recovery, feeding hopes the country is beginning a sustained manufacturing resurgence…

Post by Jonathan Masters January 18, 2012 Renewing America
Trade

Morning Brief: House GOP to Vote on Debt Ceiling Hike

Debt and Deficits House GOP to Vote on Debt Ceiling Hike House Republicans are set to open the second session of Congress this week by voting on a resolution disapproving of the president's propose…

Post by Jonathan Masters January 17, 2012 Renewing America
Middle East and North Africa

A Reform Agenda for Arab Economies

Arab states in the throes of political change must embrace economic policies that combat cronyism, spur private sector growth, and ensure safeguards for the poor, says the World Bank’s Manuela Ferro.

Interview with Manuela V. Ferro and Jonathan Masters December 21, 2011
United States

Walking the U.S. Budget Tightrope

Despite the failure of a supercommittee deficit deal, budget expert Peter Orszag says there will still be opportunity for policies, such as more economic stimulus and cutting healthcare costs, to avert a U.S. fiscal crisis.

Interview with Peter R. Orszag and Jonathan Masters November 18, 2011
United States

Defense Spending and the Deficit Debate

Lawmakers are considering sharp cuts to defense spending as part of mandated deficit-reduction efforts. This Backgrounder discusses the effects of such major cuts and implications for U.S. military strategy.

Backgrounder by Jonathan Masters November 7, 2011 Renewing America
Middle East and North Africa

The Arab League

Founded as a loose confederation of states in 1945, the Arab League has struggled to overcome dysfunction and disunity among its members.

Backgrounder by Jonathan Masters and Mohammed Aly Sergie May 25, 2023
International Organizations

Palestinian Statehood at the UN

The quest by Palestinian officials for statehood recognition could have major repercussions for the Mideast peace process. This Backgrounder outlines the potential impact of the UN vote.

Backgrounder by Robert McMahon and Jonathan Masters November 30, 2012
Homeland Security

Revisiting a Stale Counterterrorism Law

Within days of the 9/11 attacks, Congress authorized U.S. military and intelligence agencies to kill and detain terrorists. It is time to revise that authority on matters like detentions and drone attacks, says CFR’s John B. Bellinger III.

Interview with John B. Bellinger III and Jonathan Masters September 1, 2011
United States

Cybertheft and the U.S. Economy

The steady theft of U.S. intellectual property by foreign cyberattackers could mean decreased economic growth, reduced competitiveness, and loss of jobs, says McAfee cybersecurity expert Dmitri Alperovitch.

Interview with Dmitri Alperovitch and Jonathan Masters August 11, 2011
United Kingdom

Britain’s Scandal, Private Media and Public Interest

Britain’s phone-hacking scandal is raising questions about the power and reach of Rupert Murdoch’s media empire. For Columbia University’s Nicholas Lemann, the episode proves the value of expanding public media.

Interview with Nicholas Lemann and Jonathan Masters July 28, 2011
Budget, Debt, and Deficits

Tightening the Pentagon’s Belt

Defense-spending cuts should be a big part of a deficit reduction deal, says CFR’s Richard Betts, with the Pentagon pursuing a budget that reflects a reduced threat environment and limits the production of expensive, state-of-the-art equipment.

Interview with Richard K. Betts and Jonathan Masters July 28, 2011 Renewing America
Cybersecurity

The Pentagon’s Cyberstrategy

The Pentagon’s new strategy for operating in cyberspace breaks little ground and offers few specifics, says CFR’s Adam Segal. While the last six months have been busy for U.S. cybersecurity policy, he cautions that "speed is not a measure of efficacy."

Interview with Adam Segal and Jonathan Masters July 21, 2011
Europe and Eurasia

IMF’s Crisis-Management Challenge

The arrest of IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn on charges of sexual assault could hamper the fund’s short-term ability to help manage the eurozone crisis but is not likely to harm the IMF over the long term, says CFR’s Steven Dunaway.

Interview with Steven Dunaway and Jonathan Masters May 16, 2011
United States

New Spotlight on Guantanamo’s Flaws

Classified military documents leaked by Wikileaks suggest the Obama administration’s changes to Guantanamo policy can’t improve a system that was flawed from the beginning, says international law expert Karen Greenberg, who argues better risk assessments of prisoners are needed.

Interview with Karen J. Greenberg and Jonathan Masters April 27, 2011
Democracy

Democracy Promotion and the Obama Doctrine

President Obama is right to balance U.S. national interests with democracy promotion in dealing with the Middle East, intervening in select cases and standing behind democracy advocates in others, says expert Larry Diamond.

Interview with Larry Diamond and Jonathan Masters April 8, 2011 Civil Society, Markets, and Democracy Program
United States

Disaster Relief in a Dangerous World

The U.S. Navy’s maritime strategy, in which humanitarian missions play a prominent role, is based on a debatable assumption that credible enemies have largely disappeared and that competition of the seas is something of the past, says defense expert Seth Cropsey.

Interview with Seth Cropsey and Jonathan Masters March 22, 2011
United States

Radicalization and U.S. Muslims

The Muslim community has played an integral role in U.S. counterterrorism efforts, and congressional hearings on radicalization of Muslims risk polarizing a considerable asset for law enforcement, says expert Mark Fallon.

Interview with Mark Fallon and Jonathan Masters March 11, 2011 Civil Society, Markets, and Democracy Program
United States

Obama’s Guantanamo Shift

With his new executive order on Guantanamo, President Obama acknowledges that the controversial detention center will remain open for some time, says CFR’s Matthew Waxman, but provides improved protections and review processes.

Interview with Matthew C. Waxman and Jonathan Masters March 10, 2011
Homeland Security

Extending Patriot Act Powers

Congress passed a short-term extension for three surveillance provisions of the Patriot Act to allow for more debate, which CFR’s Matthew Waxman says will likely focus on tightening restrictions and oversight.

Interview with Matthew C. Waxman and Jonathan Masters February 22, 2011
Somalia

Al-Shabaab

Al-Shabaab remains capable of carrying out massive attacks in Somalia and nearby countries despite a long-running African Union offensive against the Islamist terrorist group.

Backgrounder by Claire Klobucista, Jonathan Masters and Mohammed Aly Sergie December 6, 2022
Terrorism and Counterterrorism

Closing Guantanamo?

President Obama vowed in January 2009 to close the prison camp at Guantanamo Bay. Two years later, the White House continues to face challenges to that promise, leaving critics to suggest the facility will remain open for the foreseeable future.

Backgrounder by Jonathan Masters November 9, 2011
United States

Confronting the Cyber Threat

Foreign governments, non-state actors, and criminal networks are targeting the digital networks of the United States with increasing frequency and sophistication. U.S. cybersecurity has made progress, but relies heavily on the private sector to secure infrastructure critical to national security.

Backgrounder by Jonathan Masters May 23, 2011
Al-Qaeda

Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb

Algerian and Western counterterrorism efforts, along with an African-led peacekeeping force in Mali, have shifted the North African al-Qaeda franchise’s criminal and terrorist activities to remote areas of the Sahara and Sahel.

Backgrounder by Zachary Laub and Jonathan Masters March 27, 2015
Yemen

Targeted Killings

Targeted killings, especially those conducted by drone strikes, have become a central component of U.S. counterterrorism operations around the globe.

Backgrounder by Jonathan Masters May 23, 2013
United States

Militant Extremists in the United States

Violent acts by homegrown militant extremists in the U.S. have declined, but "lone wolf" attacks are on the rise. The post-9/11 legal and political landscape poses new challenges to law enforcement authorities seeking to prevent such attacks.

Backgrounder by Jonathan Masters February 7, 2011
Iran

Mujahadeen-e-Khalq (MEK)

The Mujahedeen-e-Khalq, an exiled Iranian resistance group, continues to stir controversy despite its removal from a U.S. terrorism list.

Backgrounder by Jonathan Masters July 28, 2014
Debt, Deficits, and the Defense Budget

While many analysts believe some defense cuts should be part of a comprehensive deficit reduction accord, they fear that the "meat axe" austerity scheduled to hit the Pentagon on Friday would needles…

Post by Jonathan Masters February 25, 2013 Renewing America
Middle East and North Africa

Islamist Extremism After the Arab Spring

The Arab Spring severely weakened the narrative of Islamist extremists but they are now stirring anti-U.S. sentiments in fragile new democracies, says Mideast expert Ali Soufan.

Interview with Jonathan Masters and Ali Soufan September 14, 2012
Labor and Employment

Policy Initiative Spotlight: The Global Squeeze on Tax Cheats

Midnight. A fishing trawler lurches violently in a squall off the coast of Marseille. A seemingly lifeless body is spotted adrift off the bow, and fished out of the roiling sea. No identification. No…

Post by Jonathan Masters February 27, 2013 Renewing America
Education

Policy Initiative Spotlight: Germany Lends a Hand to U.S. Workforce Development

Perhaps the most prized real estate at the annual State of the Union address is the first lady's box, where, for over thirty years, persons of great distinction have been invited to sit and be recogn…

Post by Jonathan Masters January 30, 2013 Renewing America
Trade

The Renewing America Interview: Jon Huntsman on the Wisdom of Boosting U.S.-China Economic Ties

Later this week the U.S. Department of Commerce will host its inaugural SelectUSA Summit, an annual convention intended to promote overseas investment in the United States. The sold-out, two-day foru…

Post by Jonathan Masters October 29, 2013 Renewing America
The Renewing America Interview: Robert Reischauer on Fiscal Reform

This week, for the first time in more than ninety years, both houses of Congress put out their annual budget proposals before the White House, an anomaly that reflects the topsy-turvy world of fiscal…

Post by Jonathan Masters March 13, 2013 Renewing America

Mexico

Mexico’s Long War: Drugs, Crime, and the Cartels

Violence continues to rage some two decades after the Mexican government launched a war against drug cartels.

Backgrounder by CFR.org Editors February 21, 2025

United States

How the U.S. Asylum Process Works

Asylum has become a central part of the U.S. immigration debate in recent years after border crossings reached a record high in fiscal year 2023. Here’s how the asylum process works.

Backgrounder by Diana Roy February 19, 2025

China

China’s Environmental Crisis

China’s mounting environmental crisis is endangering the pace of its economic growth and threatening the legitimacy of the ruling party.

Backgrounder by Eleanor Albert and Beina Xu February 12, 2025

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