The Brookings Current

Fellow Samantha Gross explains why the U.S. reaction to Saudi Arabia's involvement in the Jamal Khashoggi killing and the Saudi's response will most likely not involve oil because that would lead to "mutually assured destruction" for both countries. Listen to Brookings podcasts  here  or on  iTunes , send email feedback to  bcp@brookings.edu , and follow us and tweet us at  @policypodcasts  on Twi...

Senior Fellow Alan Berube discusses the question of whether or not it is constitutional to add a citizenship question to the U.S. census, a case that now sits with Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Berube explains the contents of the case and the importance of having an accurate census. Listen to Brookings podcasts  here  or on  iTunes , send email feedback to  bcp@brookings.edu , and fol...

Senior Fellow E.J. Dionne analyzes the speedy confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court, the controversy that shrouds it, and the likely impact for years to come. Listen to Brookings podcasts  here  or on  iTunes , send email feedback to  bcp@brookings.edu , and follow us and tweet us at  @policypodcasts  on Twitter.

Visiting Fellow Jeffrey Feltman discusses Nikki Haley's resignation as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, analyzes her partnership with U.N. Secretary General Guterres, and looks forward to what might be next for the U.S.-U.N. relationship. Listen to Brookings podcasts  here  or on  iTunes , send email feedback to  bcp@brookings.edu , and follow us and tweet us at  @policypodcasts  on Twitter.

Ryan Nunn , policy director of the Hamilton project, explains that despite a lack of growth in real wages, household income is rising. He also discusses how these numbers are calculated and what they signify about the health of the US economy. Listen to Brookings podcasts  here  or on  iTunes , send email feedback to  bcp@brookings.edu , and follow us and tweet us at  @policypodcasts  on Twitter.

 Fellow Scott Anderson discusses U.S. withdrawal from the 1955 Treaty of Amity with Iran that is the claims brought against the U.S. by Iran to the International Court of Justice. Anderson discusses how this decision aligns with the Trump Administration's disengagement from international institutions and how this actually undermines sovereignty, rather than strengthens it. Subscribe to Brookings p...

Governance Studies Fellow Vanessa Williamson explains what we know about the origins of President Donald Trump's wealth, Americans' views on tax avoidance, and what implications a recent New York Times article on the Trump family's tax history may have on the president's support and legislative agenda.   Listen to Brookings podcasts  here  or on  iTunes , send email feedback to  bcp@brookings.edu...

David M. Rubenstein fellow Landry Signé discusses the focus of First Lady Melania Trump's visit to Africa and the positive implications her actions could have for U.S.-Africa relations.   Listen to Brookings podcasts  here  or on  iTunes , send email feedback to  bcp@brookings.edu , and follow us and tweet us at  @policypodcasts  on Twitter.

Senior Fellow Elaine Kamarck explains the Senate Judiciary Committee's decision to move Brett Kavanaugh forward in the Supreme Court confirmation process, the FBI investigation that will follow, which senators could make or break Kavanaugh's chances of being confirmed, and the role that Mark Judge could play. Listen to Brookings podcasts  here  or on  iTunes , send email feedback to  bcp@brookings...

Senior Fellow Ted Piccone analyzes Trump's speech to the United Nations and discusses how his emphasis on sovereignty could be used by some governments as a shield to avoid being prosecuted for human rights abuses internationally. Listen to Brookings podcasts  here  or on  iTunes , send email feedback to  bcp@brookings.edu , and follow us and tweet us at  @policypodcasts  on Twitter.

Senior Fellow Eswar Prasad analyzes the latest round of escalating tariffs between the U.S. and China and the dangerous miscalculations on both sides which threaten to prolong the economic stalemate. Listen to Brookings podcasts  here  or on  iTunes , send email feedback to  bcp@brookings.edu , and follow us and tweet us at  @policypodcasts  on Twitter.

Senior Fellow Sarah Binder discusses Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination and how the recent sexual misconduct allegations will affect his confirmation. Binder also explains the significance of the hearings' timing as the midterm elections approach. Listen to Brookings podcasts  here  or on  iTunes , send email feedback to  bcp@brookings.edu , and follow us and tweet us at  @policypodcasts  ...

Fellow Jessica Brandt discusses the State Department's announcement to cut the number of refugees admitted to the United States, including the negative impact it will have on our allies and the lives of those seeking asylum. Listen to Brookings podcasts  here  or on  iTunes , send email feedback to  bcp@brookings.edu , and follow us and tweet us at  @policypodcasts  on Twitter.

Ahead of the anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, Senior Fellow Daniel L. Byman reflects on what has gone well and what has gone poorly in US counterterrorism efforts in the seventeen years since the attacks. Listen to Brookings podcasts  here  or on  iTunes , send email feedback to  bcp@brookings.edu , and follow us and tweet us at  @policypodcasts  on Twitter. Editor's note: This c...

Senior Fellow John Hudak explains how the Constitution's 25th Amendment allows the vice president, Cabinet, and Congress to remove the president from office, and why that it is unlikely to be invoked against President Trump. Listen to Brookings podcasts  here  or on  iTunes , send email feedback to bcp@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at  @policypodcasts  on Twitter.

Fellow Molly Reynolds describes how Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee are challenging Judge Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearings, including their focus on transparency, objections over the lack of available documents from Kavanaugh's previous positions, and how this approach protects more vulnerable Democratic senators up for re-election in the fall. Listen to Brookings podcasts  here...

Fellow  Geoffrey Gertz  discusses the recent NAFTA announcement by the United States and Mexico, and predicts how Canada is likely to respond. Listen to Brookings podcasts  here  or on  iTunes , send email feedback to bcp@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at  @policypodcasts  on Twitter.

After news broke this week that Education Secretary Betsy DeVos was considering letting states use federal grant funding to buy guns for schools, Senior Fellow and Brown Center on Education Policy Director Michael Hansen discusses the problematic proposal to use taxpayer money to arm teachers and faculty, and offers recommendations for less risky policies to make schools safer. Listen to Brookings...

 Senior Fellow George Ingram discusses the Trump administration's attempts to cut foreign assistance funding without congressional approval and how it hurts US international interests. Listen to Brookings podcasts  here  or on  iTunes , send email feedback to bcp@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at  @policypodcasts  on Twitter.

Senior Fellow  David Dollar  discusses the latest exchange of retaliatory tariffs between China and the U.S. and the risks of further escalating the trade war between the two countries. Listen to Brookings podcasts  here  or on  iTunes , send email feedback to bcp@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at  @policypodcasts  on Twitter.

Senior Fellow  Norm Eisen  explains the recent events in the Manafort and Cohen trials, and how they affect President Trump and his likelihood of being convicted of criminal charges. Listen to Brookings podcasts  here  or on  iTunes , send email feedback to  bcp@brookings.edu , and follow us and tweet us at  @policypodcasts  on Twitter.

Senior Fellow John Hudak analyzes how the Manafort and Cohen guilty pleas and conviction will affect voting and candidate behavior in the 2018 midterm elections. He also explains why Trump is unlikely to be removed from office, even if he is impeached. Listen to Brookings podcasts  here  or on  iTunes , send email feedback to  bcp@brookings.edu , and follow us and tweet us at  @policypodcasts  on...

Senior Fellow Norm Eisen discusses President Trump's decision to revoke former CIA Director John Brennan's security clearance, the constitutional issues the action raises, and whether the courts will respond. Subscribe to Brookings podcasts  here  or on  iTunes , send email feedback to  bcp@brookings.edu , and follow us and tweet us at  @policypodcasts  on Twitter.

Senior Fellow Elaine Kamarck discusses the results from the special election in Ohio's 12th Congressional District and analyzes why Republicans should worry as both parties head into the midterm elections. Kamarck also explains various ways to use political trends to predict election outcomes.  Listen to Brookings podcasts  here  or on  iTunes , send email feedback to  bcp@brookings.edu , and foll...

Fellow Molly Reynolds discusses the Senate's "minibus" appropriations strategy—packaging spending legislation in a few small bills rather than one larger "omnibus" bill. Reynolds analyzes whether or not this tactic will successfully keep the government funded and avoid a government shutdown. Listen to Brookings podcasts  here  or on  iTunes , send email feedback to  bcp@brookings.edu , and follow...