U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Hillery Anderson is bridging service and scholarship as a Watson Military Fellow, studying how AI is transforming education — and what it means for the future of Air Force recruits. Learn more about her work: ow.ly/YrbZ50XnPkc

WATCH LIVE: The Future of International NGOs — Watson faculty member @jenniferhadden.bsky.social and co-author Sarah Bush discuss their new book Crowded Out, exploring how competition, specialization, and global crackdowns are reshaping the international NGO sector.

Losing a Taiwan War? — In a #podcast interview w/ Security Dilemma, Lyle Goldstein discussed his “Target Taiwan” paper series, which argues that a US-China conflict over Taiwan could be costlier and less winnable for the United States than commonly believed.

Will Trump actually test nuclear weapons? Experts are 'disturbed' and urge clarification — Lyle Goldstein told ABC News that Trump’s remarks reflect a new Cold War, warning nuclear testing could fuel arms races, endanger the planet, and weaken US security.

Last week, the Watson School and @brownpublichealth.bsky.social hosted @davidcicilline.bsky.social ’83 for a conversation on “Civic Health,” moderated by Dean John Friedman and Francesca Boudoin as part of the Resilience in Public Health Series. Learn more: ow.ly/y30E50XlabF

Watch the full event featuring our contributors on the human and financial costs of the post-10/7 wars: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRXf...

Come work with me and the great climate community at Brown University, incl @jenniferhadden.bsky.social @timmonsroberts.bsky.social Please share widely! Deadline Jan 9, 2026.

If you care about geopolitics, decarbonization, and why Europe seems lost, you can do a lot worse than subscribing to this blog. It's brilliant: substack.com/inbox/post/1...

Here’s What We Know—& What We Don’t—About Trump’s Call to Restart US Nuclear Testing @reidpauly.bsky.social told TIME that renewed US nuclear testing could spur global follow-ons, though Trump’s comments likely referred to testing delivery systems, not detonations. ow.ly/w6h350XkYFo

Target Taiwan: One China and cross-strait stability — In @defpriorities.bsky.social, Lyle Goldstein says the Trump-Xi meeting in South Korea could ease U.S.-China tensions if Washington recommits to the One China policy and pursues restraint on Taiwan.

Mamdani spoke of his aunt’s fear after 9/11. Backlash revealed how Islamophobia persists — A recent @salon.com article cites a report from the @costsofwar.bsky.social project that found hate crimes against Muslims increased between 2000 and 2009.

Bihar beyond Buddha & Mandal—why the 2025 polls are critical for Indian democracy In The Print, @profvarshney.bsky.social writes that Bihar’s elections, grounded in its democratic history, will test whether India’s democracy resists or deepens backsliding.

Fmr. Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman assesses domestic, global orders at Watson launch — Gen. Mark Milley urged students to defend American values and strengthen both the domestic and international orders amid rising global and political challenges.

Mussolini decides: Determining racial identity under Italy’s racial laws — A new paper co-authored by David Kertzer examines how Italy’s Fascist regime enforced its 1938 racial laws and the contradictions within its own ideology.

Recently, Rep. Kathy Manning met with Watson students for the first session of her study group, How Does Congress Really Work. They explored what it takes to get elected—from campaign costs and gerrymandering to voter protection challenges. Learn more: ow.ly/uRSF50X3MCB

The U.S. Must Beware of Taiwan’s Reckless Leader — In TIME, Lyle Goldstein warns that Taiwan’s push toward independence under President William Lai is escalating tensions with China and urges the U.S. to avoid risking war over the island.

At Watson School launch event, Gen. Mark Milley stresses importance of upholding American values — Christina Paxson and John Friedman joined Gen. Mark Milley to celebrate @brown.edu’s new policy school and its interdisciplinary focus.

New Trending Globally #podcast: Inequality and democracy in India, the US, and beyond — Poulami Roychowdhury and @pheller.bsky.social discuss the global rise of democratic erosion and what it reveals about democracy’s strengths and limits.

Is the internet too dependent on AWS? Experts weigh in — @timothy-edgar.bsky.social told ABC News that relying on only a few major big tech cloud providers creates significant infrastructure vulnerabilities.

In an interview with A Book with Legs #podcast, @mkblyth.bsky.social and @nfraccaroli.bsky.social discussed their book Inflation: A Guide for Users and Losers and how today’s inflation stems from deeper economic forces beyond rising prices. (VIDEO)

#AlumniSpotlight: Nate Blouin ’19 MPA From Utah’s mountains to @brown.edu’s MPA program, Nate turned his passion for public lands into purpose. Today, he’s shaping policy and driving change in public service. Learn more about Nate: ow.ly/tfBB50XcIlb

Brown professor probes US-Mexico extradition challenges with help of ‘genius’ grant — @ievajusionyte.bsky.social told @bostonglobe.com she’ll use her @macfound.org “genius” grant to study how extraditing Latin American cartel leaders to the U.S. impacts justice.

Why Trump's vision of the U.S. as a great shipbuilder faces challenges — Lyle Goldstein told @npr.org China is producing naval architects about 100 times faster than the U.S., giving it a major shipbuilding edge—though the U.S. still leads in submarines.

The Watson School was proud to co-sponsor Saturday’s @brown.edu football game! Dean John Friedman took the field to receive the game ball as fans showed their Watson School spirit in the stands. Thank you to all who joined us for this special celebration!

Have you heard the latest Trending Globally #podcast? “Small Barriers, Big Impact” — Bryce Steinberg reexamines how small barriers can limit access to education, health care, and training in low-income countries. Listen now:

Event: Join Costs of War contributors on their new research on two years of the post-10/7 wars on Wednesday, Oct. 22 at 2pm ET. Moderated by @tparsi.bsky.social of the @quincyinst.bsky.social. events.brown.edu/event/320525...

The NIMBY in Chief — Marc Dunkelman writes in @theatlantic.com that by blocking key New York infrastructure projects, Donald Trump has become the nation’s “NIMBY in chief,” stalling the progress he once vowed to speed up.

Join us tomorrow to celebrate Family Weekend at the Watson School! Hear from Dean John Friedman and Senior Fellow Laurel Rapp ’06 on her journey from @brown.edu to the State Dept — & discover ways students can get involved at the new school. ow.ly/6Wi550X9WAP

Congrats to Senior Fellow J. Brian Atwood, recipient of the American Academy of Diplomacy’s 2025 Henrietta Fore Development Award recognizing his leadership and lifelong contributions to global development. Learn more: ow.ly/jy5950XcyLn

Students joined Senior Fellow Laurel Rapp ’06 for the first session of her study group, exploring the key actors and institutions shaping U.S. foreign policy. Catch her Saturday during Family Weekend as she discusses her path from Brown to the State Dept. ow.ly/iq3A50Xcz7B

MacArthur 'genius' grant awarded to cultural anthropologist Ieva Jusionyte — @ievajusionyte.bsky.social spoke with @npr.org’s Here & Now about her research on border regions and her plans after receiving a 2025 @macfound.org MacArthur Fellowship.

WATCH LIVE: Keisha Blain Book Talk - “Without Fear: Black Women and the Making of Human Rights” — Brown CHRHS hosts historian and @brown.edu professor Keisha Blain to discuss her new book, moderated by former Boston Mayor Kim Janey. (VIDEO)

As a ceasefire begins, NPR cites Costs of War and @quincyinst.bsky.social research on U.S. aid to Israel since October 7, 2023: $21.7 billion. www.npr.org/2025/10/13/g...

As the ceasefire begins, a look at the Gaza war by the numbers — As a cease-fire begins, @npr.org cites new research from @costsofwar.bsky.social showing the U.S. has provided $21.7 billion in aid to Israel since Oct. 7, 2023.

Delighted and proud to share CSL affiliate @kathrynchelminski.bsky.social has a new book out! Available on open access climate.watson.brown.edu/news/2025-10...

In my book Partial Hegemony, I wrote about the Oil-For-Security deals that the USA has extended to petrostates in the Persian Gulf for decades. Any state threatening those petrostates, even Israel, risks American ire.

A rare treasure of a conversation with Robin Young on NPR’s Here & Now about my work on borders and about anthropology www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2...

America under Trump — more than democratic backsliding, less than a right-wing revolution In The Print, @profvarshney.bsky.social argues the U.S. faces more than backsliding—but less than revolution, as federalism, courts, and diversity limit Trump’s power.

Join us this weekend to celebrate Family Weekend at the Watson School! Hear from Dean John Friedman and Senior Fellow Laurel Rapp ’06 on her journey from Brown to the State Department — and discover ways students can get involved in public service. ow.ly/Iuy750X9KaP

Xi Jinping's Successor and the Future of China — Tyler Jost joined the @foreignaffairs.com Interview #podcast to discuss Xi Jinping’s grip on power, the risks of succession in China, and how Xi’s legacy could shape the nation’s future and global role.

Congrats to @ievajusionyte.bsky.social, Director of the Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Studies and @brown.edu professor, on being named a 2025 @macfound MacArthur Fellow — recipient of the $800K “genius grant” supporting her impactful work. Learn more: ow.ly/559L50X9e7Y

The Human Toll of the Gaza War — New research from @costsofwar.bsky.social finds that U.S. spending in Gaza has surpassed $31 billion, more than 10% of the population has been killed or injured, and displacement across the region has exceeded 5.27 million people. ow.ly/YPIZ50X8Gpv

After Xi — In a piece co-authored for @foreignaffairs.com, Tyler Jost warns that China’s looming post–Xi Jinping succession could trigger internal power struggles, destabilize the regime, and reshape the country’s foreign and domestic policies.

A nontraditional student and community advocate, driven to uplift the unseen — Paige Censale, @brown.edu IAPA concentrator, uses her studies to drive advocacy and documentary projects, from supporting young caregivers to documenting asylum seekers. ow.ly/y8S250X6gzW

Trump’s Opportunity To Re-Engage Kim Jong Un — Lyle Goldstein writes in Real Clear Defense that while a Beijing parade with Xi, Putin, and Kim Jong-un raises concern, China’s ties with Russia and North Korea remain complex.

Prerna Singh awarded prestigious Max Planck-Humboldt Research Award for research on vaccine hesitancy — Political scientist Prerna Singh awarded one of Germany's highest scientific honors for her ongoing research on vaccine hesitancy in India and China. ow.ly/zhHF50X5hop

Anti-war veterans are saying no to Pete Hegseth’s destructive vision — A recent @salon.com article cites a report on the impact of post-9/11 wars from the @costsofwar.bsky.social project.

Start the week with Part Two of of my chat with Leah Downey on her book, Our Money: Monetary Policy As If Democracy Matters, and all the stuff that has gone on since the summer... player.captivate.fm/episode/7654...