News + Media

	In the News April 23, 2020 The rumors of Kim Jong Un’s “grave” illness, explained Alex WardVox Vipin Narang quoted: “What if he is technically ‘alive’ or there is litigation amongst potential successors as for whether he is alive or dead? Who can legally issue orders? What if there are contravening orders?” said Vipin Narang, an expert on North Korea’s nuclear program.
	In the News April 21, 2020 Why the confusion about Kim Jong Un's health actually makes sense Joshua BerlingerCNN Vipin Narang quoted: "States want the public and others to know just enough. They want to be transparent about the capability, but kind of opaque about the procedures and the actual line of deployment to enhance deterrence," he said.
	Analysis + Opinion April 21, 2020 The Middle East in an era of great power competition Barry Posen and Stephen WaltMiddle East Institute How does or should the Middle East fit in America’s new grand strategy? Does the great power competition require a new approach toward the Middle East? Which approach best serves Washington’s new global plans? To answer these questions and more, the Middle East Institute (MEI) hosted a conversation with Barry Posen (MIT) and Stephen Walt (Harvard). Find the video and transcript here.
	Analysis + Opinion April 15, 2020 How digital contact tracing slowed Covid-19 in East Asia Yasheng Huang, Meicen Sun, Yuze SuiHarvard Business Review For Western democracies the time has come to either rethink our values around the tradeoff between personal privacy and public safety in a pandemic or to accelerate technology innovation and policy development that can preserve both.
	Analysis + Opinion April 15, 2020 Insights from the After iGEM biosecurity policy conference Ronit Langer The parallels between the findings of the IGEM biosecurity policy conference last November and the actions of scientists and policy makers across the world in responding to the Covid-19 pandemic today are striking: Scope, containment, and communication.
	Analysis + Opinion April 8, 2020 The inspector general’s badge of honor Joel Brenner The president’s power to remove Senate confirmed officials is not stated in the constitution. That power is grounded in the president’s constitutional duty to “take care that the laws be faithfully executed.” In this case, ironically, Trump removed Atkinson for having faithfully executed the law, explains Joel Brenner in a recent opinion piece.
	In the News April 6, 2020 A forum for female voices in international security Leda ZimmermanDepartment of Political Science The Future Strategy Forum emerged from the efforts of Sara Plana and Rachel Tecott as co-chairs of a Boston-based organization of graduate students, Women in International Politics and Security. This group was funded by the MIT Center for International Studies and Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.
	Analysis + Opinion April 3, 2020 It’s high time we fought this virus the American way James E BakerNew York Times The administration has all the authority it needs to produce medical supplies and prepare for a potential vaccine, argues James E Baker in a recent New York Times opinion piece. Judge Baker was a former CIS Robert E Wilhelm fellow.
	In the News April 2, 2020 3 Questions: Fotini Christia on new deal-making in Afghanistan Michelle EnglishMIT News It is unclear what a negotiated settlement could look like between the Afghan government and the Taliban given the latter’s clear desire to head the state. Whether the Taliban can commit to power sharing is a highly doubtful proposition as many expect it to get militarily emboldened as soon as the US withdraws and to become the de facto ruling power.
	Analysis + Opinion March 29, 2020 Deal-making during the coronavirus pandemic Fotini Christia It is unclear what a negotiated settlement could look like between the Afghan government and the Taliban given the latter’s clear desire to head the state. Whether the Taliban can commit to power sharing is a highly doubtful proposition as many expect it to get militarily emboldened as soon as the US withdraws and to become the de facto ruling power.