The article argues that recent executive overreach and politicization have severely undermined established norms of U.S. civil-military relations. To restore professional standards, the incoming Congress must actively exercise its oversight powers, moving beyond mere criticism to demanding transparency in defense policy and personnel decisions. Key reforms include enforcing meritocratic promotion processes, requiring documented justification for senior officer removals, and preventing the partisan use of the military. These actions are crucial for bolstering public trust and ensuring the military remains a nonpartisan instrument of civilian control.
The USMCA and the road to shared prosperity in an era of transformation
English Summary
The USMCA serves as a vital strategic anchor for North American economic integration and regional security as it approaches its first mandated joint review in 2026. Mexico highlights its role as the primary U.S. trading partner and its implementation of domestic reforms, such as "Plan México" and labor improvements, to demonstrate a commitment to increasing regional value-added and purchasing power. The upcoming review provides a critical opportunity to strengthen supply chain resilience and shared prosperity by aligning the agreement with evolving industrial policies and geopolitical realities. Policy success will depend on maintaining a diplomatic balance that addresses security and migration while respecting national sovereignty across the three member nations.
中文摘要
《美墨加協定》（USMCA）在 2026 年首度法定聯合審核即將到來之際，已成為北美經濟一體化與區域安全的至關重要戰略支柱。墨西哥強調其作為美國首要貿易夥伴的角色，並透過實施「墨西哥計畫」（Plan México）與勞工改善等國內改革，展現其致力於提升區域附加價值與購買力的承諾。即將舉行的審核為加強供應鏈韌性與共同繁榮提供了關鍵契機，使協定能與不斷演進的產業政策及地緣政治現實相契合。政策的成功將取決於維持外交平衡，在處理安全與移民問題的同時，亦尊重三個成員國的國家主權。
Related Entries
-
1.
-
2.
The article argues that Donald Trump's unique and prolonged lame-duck period, coupled with domestic political pressures, makes him dangerously prone to international instability. Having exhausted major diplomatic gambits, Trump is expected to channel his energy into high-stakes, unilateral actions, primarily targeting adversaries such as Iran and Cuba. These potential actions—ranging from fresh strikes in the Persian Gulf to attempts at regime change—carry a significant risk of destabilizing regional security and triggering a global economic crisis. Policymakers must anticipate this pivot to high-risk foreign policy to mitigate potential international flare-ups.
-
3.
China's economic strategy is characterized by a persistent 'economics of denial,' prioritizing massive state-directed investment in advanced technology over addressing weak domestic consumption. This approach is rooted in a flawed belief that controlling physical capital will automatically generate productivity and wage growth, ignoring the structural imbalance where domestic demand consistently falls short of supply. This overinvestment and underconsumption model is unsustainable. Consequently, Beijing's policies will continue to generate global deflationary pressures and escalating trade friction, necessitating a fundamental pivot toward consumption-led growth for long-term stability.
-
4.
The publication argues that current efforts to improve the well-being of men and boys of color are too fragmented, failing to account for the structural linkages between systems like education, employment, and criminal justice. It proposes a new, holistic framework that traces how structural conditions flow through multiple domains to measurable outcomes, such as longevity. Key reasoning emphasizes the need to treat 'place' as a fundamental actor and to identify successful communities where these populations are already thriving. Policy implications require shifting away from individual-focused interventions toward developing structural, place-based agendas that address systemic inequities.
-
5.
The Blue Wave signals significant voter frustration with cost of living and inflation, giving Congress a mandate to prioritize affordability and cost-reduction measures. Economically, the rapid build-out of AI data centers is creating localized stress, driving up skilled labor wages and straining resources, while also facing constraints from power grids and potential local regulatory backlash. Policymakers must manage this 'sequencing issue'—addressing rising costs before full productivity gains from AI can materialize—and anticipate shifts in global data center infrastructure as the market matures.