The China-Russia partnership is a highly consequential geopolitical alignment driven by a shared goal of countering U.S. hegemony and reshaping the international order into a multipolar system. While not a formal alliance, this relationship is strengthened by Russia's increasing economic reliance on China following Western sanctions, which allows Beijing to leverage its influence. Policymakers should note that while the partnership projects deep solidarity (as seen in high-level summits), it remains complex and limited by mutual mistrust and competing strategic interests. This enduring alignment poses a significant challenge to U.S. interests and requires continued diplomatic vigilance.
The FCC’s Public Interest Notice Is a House of Cards
English Summary
CATO argues that the FCC's public-interest doctrine, which treats broadcasters as public trustees with diminished First Amendment rights, rests on an outdated spectrum-scarcity rationale that has been rendered obsolete by cable, streaming, and the internet. The article traces how successive administrations—from Kennedy and Nixon to Trump—have weaponized FCC licensing power to coerce and punish broadcasters over their editorial choices, citing recent actions against CBS, ABC/Disney, and others. CATO calls for courts to extend full First Amendment protections to broadcasters, for Congress to repeal tools like the equal-time and news-distortion rules, and ultimately for a property-rights approach to spectrum governance that would eliminate the FCC's leverage over editorial content.
中文摘要
CATO 主張,FCC 的公共利益原則將廣播業者視為公共受託人,並削弱其第一修正案權利,其所依據的頻譜稀缺性理論已因有線電視、串流媒體及網際網路的普及而過時。文章追溯歷屆政府——從乃迪與尼克森到川普——如何將 FCC 的執照核發權力武器化,藉此脅迫並懲罰廣播業者的編輯決策,並列舉近期針對 CBS、ABC/迪士尼等業者的行動。CATO 呼籲法院將完整的第一修正案保障延伸至廣播業者,敦促國會廢除平等時間規則與新聞扭曲規則等工具,並最終採取頻譜治理的財產權途徑,以消除 FCC 對編輯內容的干預槓桿。
Related Entries
-
1.
-
2.
The Chatham House analysis concludes that the UK's Defence Investment Plan (DIP) will be viewed by NATO allies as a mixed bag, primarily due to its failure to commit to higher GDP spending targets. However, the plan signals critical strategic improvements by emphasizing novel technologies—such as autonomous systems and digital infrastructure—and enhancing readiness. Crucially, the DIP adopts an international focus through major collaborative programs (e.g., AUKUS, GCAP) and establishes a new National Armaments Director Group (NADG). This structural shift toward flexible, portfolio-based collaboration is strategically valuable for NATO allies seeking reliable partners as US conventional forces reduce their European presence.
-
3.
The article argues that the U.S., through recent policy signals—such as questioning NATO's value or sympathizing with great-power territorial claims—is inadvertently adopting the core tenets of non-alignment, prioritizing transactional national interests over binding alliances. Historically, while non-alignment allowed developing nations to gain benefits without commitment, the analysis notes that this approach lacks the deep trust and shared obligations necessary for robust security structures. The implication is critical: by undermining established alliances, the U.S. risks losing its greatest strategic asset—the network of mutual commitments—as allies actively seek alternative bilateral or regional defense pacts.
-
4.
The roundtable established that implementing generational bans represents a powerful, long-term strategy for tackling deeply entrenched public health crises like tobacco use. Using the UK’s permanent ban on selling cigarettes to those born after 2009 as key evidence, experts analyzed how such policies fundamentally alter market dynamics and consumer behavior over time. These lessons suggest that other nations facing persistent addiction challenges should consider adopting similar age-gating or generational restrictions to accelerate decline and set a precedent for future public health policy interventions.
-
5.
The CSIS analysis finds that the U.S. grid's regulatory framework for connecting large loads is severely fragmented and unprepared for the massive electricity demands posed by AI data centers. FERC has mandated significant reforms across six regional operators, requiring them to modernize interconnection studies, prevent cost-shifting, and establish clear tariffs for co-located generation. Evidence shows that most operators fall far short of these new standards, necessitating complex, multi-year policy adjustments rather than simple compliance. Policymakers must coordinate federal regulation (FERC) with state utilities to accelerate grid modernization, ensuring energy affordability while maintaining technological competitiveness.