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.
Putin Will Not Yield
English Summary
The analysis concludes that despite significant economic and technological strain, President Putin remains politically impervious and deeply committed to the war in Ukraine. This determination is sustained by the Kremlin's successful use of the conflict to bolster 'Putinism,' suppress dissent, and weave the war into the core narrative of Russian statehood. Because the war has become a foundational element of the regime's self-confidence and identity, the Kremlin is unlikely to make concessions or accept a negotiated settlement in the near term. Policymakers must therefore anticipate continued escalation and an unwillingness to moderate its military objectives, viewing the conflict as essential to Russia's perceived great power status.
中文摘要
分析結論指出，儘管面臨重大的經濟和技術壓力，普丁總統在政治上仍保持著難以動搖的姿態，並對烏克蘭戰爭抱持著堅定的承諾。克里姆林宮透過成功利用這場衝突，來鞏固「普丁主義」、壓制異議，並將戰爭編織成俄羅斯國家敘事的核心敘事。由於戰爭已成為政權自我信心和身份認同的基礎要素，克里姆林宮短期內不太可能做出任何讓步或接受協商解決方案。因此，政策制定者必須預期持續的升級，以及俄羅斯不願緩和其軍事目標的態度，因為他們將這場衝突視為其所謂大國地位的必要組成部分。
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 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.
-
5.
The built environment workforce, comprising 15.3 million workers across 95 occupations, is foundational to modern infrastructure and economic stability. While highly paid, the workforce suffers from significant demographic imbalances, being disproportionately white and male, and often lacking clear career progression pathways. To prevent project delays and cost overruns, policy must mandate that capital asset owners treat labor market forecasting as core to project planning. Strategic interventions are required to strengthen career pipelines through robust apprenticeships, improve retention, and actively recruit younger and more diverse workers.