Executive Summary Introduction “Dark shipping”—the practice of evading international maritime laws—has become an increasingly important tool for sanctioned countries seeking to weaken the effectiveness of economic sanctions and gives rise to the “shadow fleet.” By operating outside Western maritime regulations, these vessels allow sanctioned countries to preserve billions of dollars in export revenue by rerouting … Continue reading
Tag Archives: Politics
The ACA Premium Tax Credit Expiration: A Return to Baseline Policy
Executive Summary: Introduction: Recent KFF data has shown out-of-pocket premiums surging following the expiration of the enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits. While many analysts claim that premiums have resulted in widespread disenrollment from ACA plans, the Trump administration and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) continue to offer a different narrative. … Continue reading
The State of Social Security
The State of Social Security Introduction Social Security has paid out more in benefits than it collects in payroll taxes every year since 2010. It covers the difference by drawing on its trust fund. That is not supposed to be a crisis. The program spent a quarter century building that reserve for exactly this, and it still holds trillions. … Continue reading
UNCLOS and Arctic Seabed Competition: Does U.S. Non-Ratification Strengthen or Weaken Its Position Relative to Russia?
Executive Summary: Introduction: The Arctic seabed is emerging as a strategic frontier for resource competition as climate change expands access to previously inaccessible offshore reserves. As this shift accelerates, Arctic governance is increasingly structured by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which governs continental shelf claims and seabed resource jurisdiction. … Continue reading
The Medicaid Work Requirement Debate Isn’t Just About Work
Executive Summary Introduction Reforms to Medicaid made under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed on July 4, 2025, have reignited longstanding debates over whether public health insurance for low-income adults should be conditioned on work or work-related activity. The policy’s implementation through a requisite 2026 CMS rule requiring 80 hours per month of … Continue reading
Why Are Most Nicotine Pouches on Sale Illegal?
Executive Summary Introduction At U.S. gas stations, the nicotine pouch shelf runs dozens of brands deep, at every strength. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared about two dozen of them, all at the lower-strength end. Almost everything else on that shelf is, under federal law, illegal to sell. The word suggests that the government examined these … Continue reading
Hedging Their Bets, BRIC by BRIC: How Trump’s Tariffs Have Incentivized Diversification
Executive Summary Introduction Trump’s tariffs were intended to reduce U.S. dependence on strategic competitors and redirect trade flows back toward the United States. In practice, they have also encouraged many emerging economies to diversify their economic relationships. As tariffs increase the cost and uncertainty of relying on U.S. markets, countries have expanded trade with alternative … Continue reading
Why Young Americans Must Turn from Government Intervention and Reform Entitlements
Executive Summary Introduction The national debt is fundamentally a generational issue. Running large budget deficits to finance tax cuts or spending increases today places an undue burden on younger and future generations. By borrowing more today, policymakers are effectively promising higher taxes and lower spending on future taxpayers and government beneficiaries. At the very least, younger and future generations will see interest … Continue reading
Wishing To Overhaul: American-Led WTO Reform Post-MC14
Executive Summary Introduction On Monday, March 30th, the MC14 meeting of WTO members in Yaoundé, Cameroon, came to an end. Occurring every two years, MCs allow member states to voice their concerns, negotiate new agreements under the WTO, and guide the organization’s priorities until the next MC. Contextualized by a broken dispute settlement mechanism and inflamed international protectionism, MC14 was … Continue reading
Mercosur: An Integration Problem
Executive Summary Introduction On January 17th, 2026, Mercosur—a South American customs union comprising Argentina, Bolivia (partial-member), Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay—signed a landmark free trade agreement with the European Union. The deal is slated to remove around $4.8 billion in tariffs between the two economic blocs, leading to an estimated 39 percent annual growth in EU exports to Mercosur (from $72 billion in 2024 goods export) and the elimination of EU duties … Continue reading
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