US sanctions Turkey over purchase of Russian S-400 missile system, December 14, 2020

“The details will matter a lot. This could turn out to be a softball. If the sanctions are to be meaningful, they can’t be mere token." Carnegie Mellon University Washington Semester Program Fellow Thomas Karako spoke to CNBC about the US placing sanctions on Turkey after Turkey purchased a Russian missile system.

'Cancellation pushback': If authorities keep ruling out the holidays, people will stop listening, October 30, 2020

Howard Heinz University Professor Baruch Fischhoff spoke to The National Post about the risks and decisions involved in holiday gatherings during a pandemic. 

Election, COVID-19 anxiety spark new run on grocery stores, October 30, 2020

“I think that there are plenty of reasons for legitimate concern about disruptions." Howard Heinz University Professor Baruch Fischhoff spoke to The Hill about how the perceived threat of election violence, on top of the COVID-19 pandemic, has people stocking their shelves.

ST Asian Insider video: High risk of election-related violence in the US, October 30, 2020

IPS Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke spoke to The Straits Times about the threat of election violence.

National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien Joins CMU Community to Discuss Foreign Policy Priorities, October 29, 2020

CMU’s Director of the Institute of Politics and Strategy Dr. Kiron Skinner and IPS Senior Fellow Richard Grenell were honored to host a webinar seven days before the presidential election entitled “Foreign Policy Priorities from National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien,” an on-the-record, virtual presentation and Q&A session that took place Tuesday, October 27, 2020.

Teaneck native's anthology recalls horror, resilience of Pittsburgh synagogue massacre, October 29, 2020

"Abby Schachter, a research fellow at Carnegie Mellon University's Institute of Politics and Strategy, discovered a deeper Sabbath observance" and wrote about it in her contribution to "Bound in the Bond of Life: Pittsburgh Writers Reflect on the Tree of Life Tragedy" (University of Pittsburgh Press).

Election Violence in the United States Is a Clear and Present Danger, October 29, 2020

IPS Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke, along with co-author Daniel Byman, analyzed the threats of unrest and violence on election day for Foreign Policy.

Legal, Political Science, and Economics Approaches to Measuring Malapportionment: The US House, Senate, and Electoral College 1790–2010, October 29, 2020

IPS Postdoctoral Fellow Jonathan Cervas co-authored an article for Social Science Quarterly that examined the history of malapportionment.

Hunter Biden questions are too important for the media to dismiss, October 29, 2020

In a piece for The Hill, IPS Senior Fellow Richard Grenell called upon the media to do a better job of following up on the New York Post's reporting on Hunter Biden. 

Why the risk of election violence is high, October 27, 2020

In a piece for the Brookings Institution, IPS Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke and co-author Daniel L. Byman analyzed the threat of violence as the presidential election approaches, a threat exacerbated by the pandemic. 

Pittsburgh Writers Look Back On Tree Of Life Shooting In New Book, October 27, 2020

IPS Research Fellow Abby Schachter contributed an essay to the book “Bound in the Bond of Life: Pittsburgh Writers Reflect on the Tree of Life Tragedy,” (University of Pittsburgh Press) about the Tree of Life shooting.

In race between Conor Lamb and Sean Parnell, a referendum on a moderate Democrat in Trump's Washington, October 25, 2020

IPS Director and Taube Professor Kiron Skinner and IPS Postdoctoral Fellow Jonathan Cervas spoke with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about the race for the Pennsylvania 17th Congressional district.

Once a COVID-19 vaccine is here, there will be a new challenge: Convincing people it's safe, October 24, 2020

Howard Heinz University Professor Baruch Fischhoff spoke to the Philadelphia Inquirer about how to communicate with the public regarding the performance of the vaccines in trials. 

What Worries CMU Experts About This Year's Election, October 22, 2020

IPS Postdoctoral Fellow Jonathan Cervas contributed to a piece along with Carnegie Mellon faculty in the Institute for Software Research, the School of Computer Science, and Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy discussing their fears as the presidential election looms. 

Poland moves closer to the US, another Trump foreign policy success, October 20, 2020

One year after the Trump administration invited Poland into the Visa Waiver Program, IPS Senior Fellow Richard Grenell put the benefits of the move in context in The Hill.

Pittsburgh Medical Experts Concerned About Coronavirus Vaccine Hesitancy, October 20, 2020

"We are losing this battle already." Howard Heinz University Professor Baruch Fischhoff discussed lack of trust and misinformation regarding potential COVID-19 vaccines with KDKA.

Pitt experts talk about how to convince people to get COVID-19 vaccine, October 20, 2020

Howard Heinz University Professor Baruch Fischhoff spoke to the Pittsburgh Business Times about convincing people to get vaccinated if and when a vaccine is approved.

US condemns apparent Turkish test of Russian missile system, October 16, 2020

Carnegie Mellon University Washington Semester Program Fellow Thomas Karako spoke to CNBC about Turkey's recent test of a Russian missile system. 

Baruch Fischhoff Recruited to Help Devise COVID Vaccine Distribution Plan, October 16, 2020

"Together, we had the pieces to this puzzle," said Fischhoff, the Howard Heinz University Professor in Carnegie Mellon’s Institute for Politics and Strategy and Department of Engineering and Public Policy. "Our challenge was to pull them together in usable form."

Fischhoff was one of eighteen members of the Committee on Equitable Allocation of Vaccine for the Novel Coronavirus, which began work in July and released its recommendations earlier this month. Those recommendations included a four-phase distribution plan that prioritized first responders, healthcare workers, people with underlying conditions, and essential workers before expanding to include the rest of the population.

Here’s How To Stop Receiving Political Text Messages On Your Phone, October 13, 2020

IPS Postdoctoral Fellow Jonathan Cervas spoke with KDKA about the increase in text messages from political campaigns.

Should US Foreign Policy Focus on Great-Power Competition? Foreign Affairs Asks the Experts, October 13, 2020

IPS Director and Taube Professor Kiron Skinner participated in a Foreign Affairs magazine survey of experts, who were asked to agree or disagree, and rate their confidence in their answer, with the following statement: "Great-power competition should be the central organizing principle of US foreign policy."

National Committee Recommends Who Should Be First In Line For A Coronavirus Vaccine, October 12, 2020

Howard Heinz University Professor Baruch Fischhoff spoke to WESA, Pittsburgh's NPR news station, about his participation in a National Academies committee on the equitable distribution of a potential future COVID-19 vaccine. 

(Re)search for Solutions, Episode 5: Security Studies and Guns, October 9, 2020

IPS Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke joined the (Re)search for Solutions podcast to discuss white supremacist extremism.

Assessing 'America First,' October 8, 2020

IPS Senior Fellow Richard Grenell spoke with The Washington Examiner about American foreign policy, his time as US Ambassador to Germany, and his contributions to the effort to decriminalize homosexuality worldwide.

Face masks: what the data say, October 6, 2020

“People looking at the evidence are understanding it differently. It's legitimately confusing." Howard Heinz University Professor Baruch Fischhoff spoke with Nature about the data behind mask use during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Antifa violence escalates as movement goes mainstream, October 6, 2020

“I think our notion of Antifa is evolving as we speak,” IPS Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke told The Washington Times. “In three to six months, it may look very different than it does now.”

Chinese media: Trump, first lady have 'paid the price' for virus gamble, October 3, 2020

IPS Director and Taube Professor Kiron Skinner spoke to Fox News about remarks from Chinese state media about President Trump contracting COVID-19.

National Academies Release Framework for Equitable Allocation of a COVID-19 Vaccine for Adoption by HHS, State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Authorities, October 2, 2020

Howard Heinz University Professor Baruch Fischhoff served on a committee, convened at the request of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute of Health, to develop a recommendation for the equitable distribution of a potential COVID-19 vaccine. Read the committee's full report.

Trump team on watch for adversaries seeking to exploit the president's illness, October 2, 2020

“The biggest question mark now is adversaries’ perception of how vulnerable they think the president is,” IPS Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke told Politico.

Should next presidential debate moderator be able to mute candidates? October 1, 2020

"I think the candidates have to remember that these debates are not really about them. They’re about how they’re projecting themselves to the voters, and the voters need the opportunity to assess them in real time; their demeanor, but more significantly, their arguments." IPS Director and Taube Professor Kiron Skinner joined Fox Business to discuss whether debate moderators should be able to mute the candidates. 

CIRP Research Coordinator John Chin joins Swedish Public Radio to Talk Coups, September 30, 2020

Chin, the Center for International Relations and Politics Research Coordinator, is introduced at the eleven-minute mark. Has written extensively on the subject, including on the chances of a coup in the US.

What's Biden's real China policy? Unlike Trump, he's done a 180, September 25, 2020

"No candidate wants to run against his own record, but President Trump’s China policy is forcing Democratic challenger Joe Biden to do just that," IPS Senior Fellow Richard Grenell wrote in an op-ed in The Hill.

DC - A Reflection on Recent Events, September 23, 2020

This series follows softball junior and International Relations and Politics major Audrey Pederson through her 2020 fall semester as she works and studies in Washington, DC in the Carnegie Mellon University Washington Semester Program. Here, Audrey reflects on the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Eight Dietrich Seniors Named Andrew Carnegie Society Scholars, September 22, 2020

Cristina Pullen, an International Relations and Politics additional major and Spring 2020 Carnegie Mellon University Washington Semester Program cohort member, is one of eight Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences seniors to be named a 2021 Andrew Carnegie Scholar.

The US Senate has a ‘responsibility’ to fill SCOTUS seat: Kiron Skinner, September 22, 2020

"The current President of the United States and the current Senate of the United States have a responsibility to fill the position. It's been done before." IPS Director and Taube Professor Kiron Skinner joined Fox Business to discuss the vacancy on the Supreme Court as the election looms.

Why Pennsylvanians Are Still Waiting for Mail-In Ballots to Be Sent, September 22, 2020

IPS Research Fellow Abby Schachter spoke with PBS39 in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, about a recent court ruling on mail-in ballots.  

Supreme Court fight raises stakes, and risks, in Pa. battleground campaigns, September 20, 2020

“We just won’t know until they start floating names, until they test their arguments. There’s no guaranteed outcome, but it means that more strategizing on both sides needs to happen right away.” IPS Director and Taube Professor Kiron Skinner spoke with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about the political battle underway after the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg created a vacancy on the high court.

A judge's Monsanto ruling affects both the law and the economy, September 18, 2020

IPS Senior Fellow Richard Grenell, a survivor of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, wrote about the settlement efforts between Monsanto, Bayer, and thousands of US lawsuits, and the potential impact a judge's ruling in the case could have. 

Assessing China and Russia’s Moves in the Middle East, September 17, 2020

"While the United States is concerned primarily about a resurgent China’s inroads in the Middle East, it is also nervous about the gambits of a revanchist Russia, which is perhaps now the most influential external actor in both Syria and Libya." IPS Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke co-authored a piece for Lawfare. 

Biden quiet on foreign policy amid Trump Middle East peace successes: Kiron Skinner, September 16, 2020

IPS Director and Taube Professor Kiron Skinner appeared on Fox Business to discuss the Trump administrations' recent work in the Middle East.

Restating the Obvious: A review of How to Educate a Citizen, September 15, 2020

IPS Research Fellow Abby Schachter examined E.D. Hirsch's educational research and the public-school system for the Institute for Family Studies.

Cities Were Filled With Mass Protests in the Summer of 2020. They Are Different Now, September 15, 2020

IPS Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke spoke to The Wall Street Journal about mass protests and demonstrations in America's cities.

Arab Unity in the Middle East Can Be a Barrier to Iran’s Regional Goals, September 14, 2020

IPS Director and Taube Professor Kiron Skinner and IPS Postdoctdoral Fellow Alma Keshavarz co-authored an op-ed in The National Interest explaining how recent peace deals between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain could turn the tide against Iran in the Middle East.

Scattered Cities: Why low urban concentration makes civil war a (very) remote possibility in the US, September 14, 2020

IPS Postdoctoral Fellow Dani Nedal co-authored a piece for Political Violence at a Glance analyzing why the United States' urban landscape makes a civil war as the election approaches unlikely.

America’s Extreme Right Wing: How Violent Political Polarisation Threatens a Peaceful Election? September 12, 2020

IPS Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke joined The Wire to discuss security issues and the upcoming presidential election.

Nineteen Years After 9/11, Afghanistan Faces a New Foe: The Islamic State, September 11, 2020

IPS Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke co-authored an analysis of the Afghan terrorist landscape for Newsweek.

Al Qaeda’s Leader Is Old, Bumbling—and a Terrorist Mastermind, September 10, 2020

Nineteen years after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, IPS Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke analyzed the current threat of al Qaeda and its chief, Ayman, Al-Zawahiri -- especially in light of the opportunity it seized during the rise of the Islamic State.

Nobel prize committee's credibility is on the line, September 10, 2020

IPS Senior Fellow Richard Grenell discusses the merits behind President Trump's nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Al Qaeda’s Franchise Reboot: An Aging Jihadi Brand Still Inspires the Next Generation, September 9, 2020

"The United States must trade its rose-tinted glasses for a sober assessment of al Qaeda’s trajectory—and of the organization’s enduring ties to the Taliban." IPS Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke co-authored an op-ed in Foreign Affairs analyzing Al Qaeda's resurgence. 

The Belarus Uprising: A Repeat of Ukraine? September 7, 2020

IPS Director and Taube Professor Kiron Skinner co-authored an op-ed in The National Interest arguing for a robust response from Washington to any potential Russian action in Belarus. "Vladimir Putin should not think that he can occupy Minsk the way Brezhnev occupied Prague — but the United States should be prepared to act if he tries."

Deep cleans and disinfecting mists might not keep us from getting the virus, but they sure make us feel better, September 7, 2020

“It’s very easy to criticize people and psychologize them. But I think most people are doing the best that they can. And they are being woefully let down by both government and industry." Howard Heinz University Professor Baruch Fischhoff spoke to The Washington Post about the concept of sanitization theater.

Serbia-Kosovo agreement results from Trump's different brand of diplomacy, September 4, 2020

IPS Senior Fellow Richard Grenell, the Trump administration's special envoy to Serbia and Kosovo, authored an op-ed in The Hill explaining the economic agreement between the two countries signed on September 4.  

IPS Postdoctoral Fellow Madison Schramm wins an award for her dissertation, September 4, 2020

“This is really great validation of the work itself, but it’s also, I think, a reflection of the type of community I was brought up in in grad school." IPS Postdoctoral Fellow Madison Schramm won the American Political Science Association's Kenneth N. Waltz Award, given to the best dissertation in the field of security studies, for her dissertation, titled "Making Meaning and Making Monsters: Democracies, Personalist Regimes, and International Conflict."

DC and the Semester Ahead: How I Got Here, September 1, 2020

This series follows softball junior and International Relations and Politics major Audrey Pederson through her 2020 fall semester as she works and studies in Washington, DC in the Carnegie Mellon University Washington Semester Program. Each post represents the feelings, thoughts, and motivations in her own words.

'Charlie Hebdo' Is Reprinting Those Inflammatory Cartoons of Prophet Mohammed, September 1, 2020

IPS Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke spoke to Vice News about the French satirical newspaper publishing controversial cartoons of religious imagery.

A Policy Response to Islamic State Extremist Fighter Battlefield Migration, August 31, 2020

IPS Postdoctoral Fellow Alma Keshavarz co-authored a report for the US Army War College regarding the threat posed by Islamic State fighters leaving Syria and Iraq.

Local Democrats, Republicans reflect on this year’s unconventional conventions, August 31, 2020

“I would hope that voters in Pennsylvania paid attention,” IPS Research Fellow Abby Schachter told the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle. “What happens here will be very, very meaningful to the outcome of the election.”

Why Donald Trump Needs a Supportive State Department, August 28, 2020

IPS Director and Taube Professor Kiron Skinner wrote about the value of a strong State Department in The National Interest: "In a future administration, personal, retail statecraft must be matched with government officials figuring out the nuts and bolts of the current policy and undertaking sustained diplomatic engagement with allies and partners of their own."

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo breaks with convention, defends Trump foreign policy at RNC, August 26, 2020

"We have a growing Arab-NATO community, those Gulf states that have partnered with the United States and Israel against the terrorist-supporting regime in Tehran. When you look around the globe, the United States has a set of regional partnerships that were in their infancy or didn’t exist at all when Donald Trump became president." IPS Director and Taube Professor Kiron Skinner discussed US foreign policy on Fox News. 

Should Trump address Wisconsin protests? August 26, 2020

IPS Director and Taube Professor Kiron Skinner answered the question of whether President Trump should address the protests in Wisconsin, and what he might say if he did.

How will racial tensions impact the race for the White House? August 25, 2020

IPS Director and Taube Professor Kiron Skinner joined Fox News to discuss how racial tensions in the aftermath of the police shooting of Jacob Blake could affect the presidential election. 

Is Belarus Destined to Become the Next Crimea?, August 21, 2020

"President Trump can shine here, by making it crystal clear that the problems of Belarus should be resolved by the Belarusians, not by Russia or any other outsiders. The people of the country must be left free to figure out their own future." Read IPS Director and Taube Professor Kiron Skinner's piece in The National Interest.

Why would our allies allow an enemy like Iran to rearm? August 20, 2020

In an op-ed for The Hill, IPS Senior Fellow Richard Grenell pointed out the dangers of the abstention of Britain, Germany, and France in the recent United Nations Security Council vote on the Iranian arms embargo and detailed the possible ramifications. 

New IPS Postdoctoral Fellow, Dr. Madison Schramm, has won the American Political Science Association's Kenneth N. Waltz Prize in Security Studies for Outstanding Dissertation.

Her dissertation project builds on work in political science, psychology, and sociology using archival research, survey experiments, and statistical analysis to explore the dynamics that intensify conflict between democracies and personalist regimes.

Domestic Terrorism in the US, Disinformation and the Impact of COVID19, August 19, 2020

IPS Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke detailed the current status of domestic terror groups and how COVID-19 has granted them an opportunity to espouse their worldviews.

Eclectic Boogaloo: The anti-government extremist movement’s loose structure and adaptability is the key to its growth, August 19, 2020

"This nascent and decentralized movement, which mythologizes firearms as the solution to perceived tyranny, has become an attractive proposition for a surprising number of Americans." IPS Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke wrote about the Boogaloo Bois for Slate.

The failed UN Security Council vote on Iran proves why diplomatic engagement matters, August 18, 2020

IPS Postdoctoral Fellow Alma Keshavarz authored an analysis of the recent Security Council vote and what it means for the future of the arms embargo against Iran.

Israel-UAE peace deal may cripple Iran's influence over region, August 14, 2020

"The decision and the signing of an agreement between Israel and UAE is an important foundation in this very big goal," IPS Director and Taube Professor Kiron Skinner said on Fox News regarding the peace agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. "The goal is so big, and so clear and straightforward, that many thought it would be impossible. But another foundational building block was put in place today."

What to Watch to Understand the Sino-Iranian Relationship, August 13, 2020

IPS Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke co-authored a piece for Lawfare discussing the ramifications of a closer relationship between China and Iran.

Islamic State Holding on in Philippines, Despite Millions in US Spending, August 12, 2020

“We've pretty much kind of rolled out the whole kitchen sink in an attempt to make progress,” Colin Clarke told Voice of America regarding US efforts to combat the Islamic State in the Philippines. “Through every step forward, there's been two steps back because we haven't had the ability to conduct the kind of sustained nationwide CVE [countering violent extremism] program. 

IPS Class of 2020 graduates share the next step in their journeys, August 7, 2020

Four IPS Class of 2020 graduates discuss their entries into the workforce or their plans for continued education.

Baruch Fischhoff: the importance of testing messages, August 2020

Howard Heinz University Professor Baruch Fischhoff participated in a Q & A in the August issue of the World Health Organization bulletin.

US reveals key Daesh money provider based in Turkey, July 31, 2020

The financial networks of ISIS remain active in Turkey, IPS Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke told Arab News.

Can America Do Anything About the Russia-Iran Axis? July 30, 2020

"Although Russian-Iranian cooperation is not new, U.S. policy shows the risks of narrowly conceived policy choices to harm other American interests." IPS Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke co-authored an opinion piece for Newsweek.

‘Caution fatigue’ and the stress behind living through a pandemic, July 29, 2020

“If you think about the decisions people are making in their lives, much of our population has become intuitive epidemiologists." Howard Heinz University Professor Baruch Fischhoff spoke to PBS NewsHour about COVID-19.

"This is super valuable information. Nobody else has it": How Ignacio Arana's PhD research influenced his latest paper, July 27, 2020

Arana and two co-authors – Melanie M. Hughes, a sociology professor at the University of Pittsburgh, and Aníbal Pérez-Liñán, Arana’s advisor and mentor when Arana was a PhD student at the University of Pittsburgh and now a political science and global affairs professor at the University of Notre Dame – published a paper entitled “Judicial Reshuffles and Women Justices in Latin America” in the American Journal of Political Science. The AJPS is the top publication in the field, ranked first in Political Science and tenth in Social Science by Google Scholar.

Friedman Fellows embrace virtual "DC" experience, July 27, 2020

Though this summer's Friedman Fellows undertook their internships virtually, they still had the opportunity to do meaningful policy-related work. 

America’s global standing is at a low point. The pandemic made it worse, July 26, 2020

"I think there’s a way that they’re discounting that there could be an argument underneath the rhetoric.” IPS Director and Taube Professor Kiron Skinner spoke to The Washington Post for its Political Reckoning series.

The US has finally acknowledged the threat of violent white supremacy: What took so long? July 24, 2020

"Even though it was clearly terrorism, it was dismissed, overlooked, and explained away because it wasn’t considered the real threat that Osama bin Laden had so ingrained on the psyche of the nation." IPS Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke wrote about the rise of white supremacy in the US for the Observer Research Foundation.

Can Sudan Escape Its History as a Transit Hub for Violent Extremist Organizations? July 23, 2020

IPS Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke co-authored an analysis piece for the Foreign Policy Research Institute. 

National Academies Launch Study on Equitable Allocation of a COVID-19 Vaccine – First Meeting July 24, July 21, 2020

Howard Heinz University Professor Baruch Fischhoff is serving on a committee formed by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, at the request of the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to develop a framework for the equitable distribution of a potential COVID-19 vaccine. 

COVID-19 Risk Calculation: 3 Questions to Ask Before Going Out, July 16, 2020

Howard Heinz University Professor Baruch Fischhoff discussed the necessity of good information during the COVID-19 pandemic with Inverse.

Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) Trafficking, Smuggling, and Use for Criminality by Terrorists and Insurgents: A Brief Historical Overview, July 15, 2020

IPS Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke wrote a report for the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism about the proliferation of small-arms trafficking by terrorists and insurgent groups.

What Iran Wants in Afghanistan, July 8, 2020

"A reduced American presence could provide Iran with an opening to expand its influence in Afghanistan." Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke co-authored a piece for Foreign Affairs discussing Iran's options as the US withdraws troops from Afghanistan.

The Next American Terrorist, July 2, 2020

“The law should remain agnostic to the ideologies that fuel political violence while focusing on the actions themselves.”

Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke, along with Council on Foreign Relations senior fellow Bruce Hoffman, describe the modern terrorist for The Cipher Brief.

Former Venezuelan National Assembly Member Adel El Zabayar Indicted on Charges of Narcoterrorism and Links to Hezbollah, July 1, 2020

The US Department of Justice has found connections between a member of the Venezuelan National Assembly, Hezbollah, and Syria. Postdoctoral Fellow Alma Keshavarz explained the connections in Small Wars Journal. 

'Not Your Old-School Aryan Nation Guy': Army Case Highlights Evolving Threat, July 1, 2020

As more groups turn to violence, ideology begins to blend together. Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke explained the difficulty in sorting it out in an interview with NPR affiliate WXXI.

Russia is Eyeing the Mediterranean. The U.S. and NATO Must Be Prepared, June 30, 2020

"To address this rising challenge [of Russia] the United States and NATO could develop a more robust southern strategy with a reinforced air and naval presence, respectively." IPS Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke co-authored an opinion piece for Newsweek about Russia's military expansion into the Mediterranean.

The United States needs an Iran strategy, not a ‘campaign,' June 23, 2020

In an article for The Atlantic Council, incoming IPS Postdoctoral Fellow Alma Keshavarz argued for diplomatic engagement with Iran rather than continued reliance on sanctions. 

Klobuchar withdraws name from Biden VP consideration, says woman of color should be on ticket, June 22, 2020

"It would be an amazing feat for the Democrats, but it’ll only work in terms of electoral victory if it helps Biden solidify his base and expand his reach."

IPS Director and Taube Professor Kiron Skinner joined Fox News’ The Daily Briefing with Dana Perino to discuss Amy Klobuchar removing her name from consideration for the Vice-Presidential nomination, and her advice to Joe Biden on whom to select.

John Bolton hit from both sides of aisle over tell-all book, June 18, 2020

"John Bolton wants to get his story out before the election to make the case for the foreign policy he wanted, but wasn’t able to implement."

IPS Director and Taube Professor Kiron Skinner joined Fox News' Outnumbered Overtime with Harris Faulkner to discuss John Bolton's new book.

Disrupted research provides Dan Silverman's students with important lessons in adaptation, June 18, 2020

IPS Postdoctoral Fellow Dan Silverman's students had to reconfigure their research projects, studying political participation on college campuses, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In doing so, they learned how to navigate unforeseen circumstances. 

Too Late to Apologize? Collateral Damage, Post-Harm Compensation, and Insurgent Violence in Iraq, June 18, 2020

Do condolence payments work? This question is important not only for policymakers but also for deeper theoretical debates about how civilians respond to combatant signals in war. IPS Postdoctoral Fellow Dan Silverman examines this issue, including whether or not it reduces insurgent violence in places like Iraq, in his latest article for International Organization.

Virtual discussion of Fight House: Rivalries in the White House, From Truman to Trump, June 18, 2020

IPS Director and Taube Professor Kiron Skinner appeared with Tevi Troy, a former White House aide, in a virtual chat to discuss Troy's new book, "Fight House: Rivalries in the White House from Truman to Trump." The Bipartisan Policy Center hosted the discussion, which BPC Director of Governmental Studies John Fortier moderated. 

Statement from IPS Director and Taube Professor Kiron Skinner on Ambassador Richard Grenell, June 14, 2020

Richard Grenell joins IPS as a Senior Fellow, June 9, 2020

“The offices of the Institute for Politics and Strategy in Pittsburgh and Washington, DC have a proven track record for convening leaders throughout the world for research, teaching, and discussion on some of the most pressing global problems."

Richard Grenell, the former United States Ambassador to Germany and former acting director of national intelligence, joined the Institute for Politics and Strategy as a Senior Fellow.

Demand to defund nation's police departments grows in wake of George Floyd's death, June 5, 2020

"I understand, as an African American, the fear that we feel from police in our country, from law enforcement, from all kinds of officers, no matter where we go. But this is the time to take racial sentiments that we feel, and that really exist in our society, and focus on research and reason as we make proposals. But immediately defunding the police, and that’s the argument of many in the various movements, would lead to anarchy."

IPS Director and Taube Professor Kiron Skinner joined Fox News' Trace Gallagher to discuss the notion of defunding police departments as a response to police brutality.

Former Presidents Bush, Obama and Carter comment on nation's unrest, June 5, 2020

"All of them have agreed that we’re better than what we have experienced around racism, and this idea of power and privilege … They’re saying those with power, with money, with influence, need to move to the front row of responsibility for race and rights in America."

IPS Director and Taube Professor Kiron Skinner joined Fox News' Trace Gallagher to discuss statements from former presidents on protests, rioting, and unrest in the country following the death of George Floyd.

Making Decisions in a COVID-19 World, June 4, 2020

When is it safe enough to visit a physician’s office, get a dental check-up, shop for clothing, ride the bus, visit an aging or incarcerated relative, or go to the gym? What does it mean that some places are open, but not others, and in one state, but not in a bordering one? How do individuals make sense of conflicting advice about face masks, fomites, and foodstuffs?

These are the questions with which we grapple during the COVID-19 pandemic. In his latest work for the Journal of the American Medical Association, “Making Decisions in a COVID-19 World,” Howard Heinz University Professor Baruch Fischhoff details a path toward synthesizing and distributing the latest information to help the public make informed choices.

Colin Clarke on Bloomberg's 'What'd You Miss?' June 3, 2020

“Why do we feel the need to go over and win hearts and minds in Afghanistan, but not in Detroit? Shouldn’t we apply the same mentality? And frankly, shouldn’t it be easier to operate on our own soil where we don’t have language barriers or culture barriers? We know how to fix the problems here. We need the political will to do it.”

IPS Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke has spent his career studying insurgencies and counterinsurgencies. In his “Terrorism and Insurgency” course, his students learn how insurgencies evolved over time and how effective nations have been, both historically and recently, in neutralizing them. In an appearance on Bloomberg News to discuss the riots following the death of George Floyd, Professor Clarke discussed the need to de-escalate, “not … with overwhelming force, but to actually listen, to seek to assuage grievances.”

Rioters using Floyd's death to destroy democracy: Kiron Skinner, June 3, 2020

"There’s an attempt to really figure out the pathway forward. We can’t get there if we have mayhem and destruction and further death of African Americans at the hands of those that are just pure agitators." 

IPS Director and Taube Professor Kiron Skinner joined Fox Business' Evening Edit with Elizabeth MacDonald to discuss the recent rioting and looting.

COULD A COUP D’ETAT HAPPEN IN THE UNITED STATES IN 2020? June 2, 2020

Democracies usually die in one of two ways: a military coup or an executive self-coup, where a country’s leader aborts the constitutional order, dissolves the national legislature and/or dismisses other regime elites, and assumes extraordinary (dictatorial) powers, IPS Postdoctoral Fellow John Chin wrote in Political Violence at a Glance. The United States has no experience with either.

Is the Conflict in Libya a Preview of the Future of Warfare? June 2, 2020

IPS Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke teaches a course called "The Future of Warfare." In this piece that he co-authored for Defense One, he discussed how the conflict in Libya could serve as a blueprint for the future of armed conflict.

Dr. Kiron Skinner: Trump needs to become 'the race president,' June 2, 2020

"We can’t address the race problem with those who would seek to take our attention away from the fundamental problems of our country." IPS Director and Taube Professor Kiron Skinner joined Fox News' Trace Gallagher to discuss riots and race relations.

Dr. Kiron Skinner: We need President Trump to help heal the nation, June 1, 2020

IPS Director and Taube Professor Kiron Skinner, a Fox News contributor, joined Fox's Rick Leventhal to discuss rioting and protests in the US.

Why Trump Can’t Designate Antifa as a Terrorist Organization, June 1, 2020

Antifa is decentralized to the point of having no identifiable leadership, no specific funding streams, training camps, or strategy for recruitment. IPS Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke co-authored a piece for Slate discussing the group.

Will Trump be able to bring US troops home from Afghanistan by election day? May 28, 2020

“The US cannot stay in Afghanistan forever." IPS Director and Taube Professor Kiron Skinner appeared on Fox News' Fox & Friends First to discuss US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Al Qaeda and ISIS Had a Truce in Africa—Until They Didn’t, May 26, 2020 

As the world’s attention focused on the coronavirus pandemic, recent developments in West Africa reveal new forms of unrest between the Sahel’s terrorist and insurgent groups, IPS Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke wrote in Foreign Policy. 

The Threat of Jihadist Terrorism in Germany, May 22, 2020

Institute for Politics and Strategy Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke co-authored a piece for the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism -- The Hague.

For All Its Success Propping Up Assad, Russia Can't Stabilize Syria Alone. It Needs the West, May 20, 2020

"Russia cannot have its cake in Syria and eat it too. The Kremlin ought not to expect Western aid while Russian aircraft pound targets in Syria with impunity and fortify air and naval bases aimed against NATO's presence in the eastern Mediterranean region."

IPS Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke co-authored a piece on Russia and Syria for Newsweek.

Threat of ‘incel’ terrorism continues to grow, attract younger followers: experts, May 19, 2020

IPS Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke discussed incels and far-right extremism with Global News.

Deadly attack at Toronto erotic spa was incel terrorism, police allege, May 19, 2020

America’s far right is energized by COVID-19 lockdowns, May 17, 2020

IPS Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke discussed the intersection between the pandemic and the far right in The Economist.

Former Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz joins IPS class via Zoom, May 15, 2020

Paul Wolfowitz, the former Ambassador to Indonesia and Deputy Secretary of Defense, joined IPS Director and Taube Professor Kiron Skinner's "America and the World" class via Zoom.

Nationalism, Threat, and Support for External Intervention: Evidence from Iraq, May 13, 2020

What drives citizens’ attitudes toward external military intervention in a society experiencing armed conflict? IPS Postdoctoral Fellow Daniel Silverman discusses this in his latest article for Security Studies.

Five myths about coups, May 8, 2020

Many myths and ambiguities surround coups — an illegal seizure of executive power by civilian elites or military actors. IPS Postdoctoral Fellow John Chin discusses five of them.

Remember Us? Islamic State Stays Active During Coronavirus Pandemic, May 8, 2020

Few terrorist and insurgent groups have been more successful in taking advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic than the Islamic State, which has ramped up attacks across Iraq, targeting security forces with impunity, IPS Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke writes in an article for the Foreign Policy Research Institute.

Under what circumstances can the government curtail civil liberties? IPS Taube Professor Kiron Skinner's students set to find out, May 6, 2020

Under what circumstances can the government curtail civil liberties?

Students in IPS Director and Taube Professor Kiron Skinner's "America and the World" class addressed this topic after watching and discussing an episode of the CNN documentary series "The Cold War." The discussion compared the beginning of the Cold War to the current fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, and with help from IPS Research Fellow Abby Schachter, the students turned their thoughts and opinions into blog posts. The students used pseudonyms to freely express their thoughts.

Maduro says 2 US 'mercenaries' were captured in raid attempt in Venezuela, May 6, 2020

"You could not write a political thriller that would match the reality of what’s happening in Venezuela. It’s more than a failed state."

IPS Director and Taube Professor Kiron Skinner, a Fox News contributor, appeared on Fox & Friends First to discuss Venezuela and Nicolas Maduro.

“You need to talk to people that have been there": James Mattis makes virtual class visit, May 1, 2020

Former Secretary of Defense James Mattis visited with IPS Director and Taube Professor Kiron Skinner's "America and the World" class via Zoom. 

The ‘Incel’ Ideology Continues to Build a Strong Following in the Online ‘Manosphere,' April 22, 2020

After college, Lili Turner wants to be an intelligence analyst, and she’ll begin that effort with a head start: For the past few years, she has tracked various groups within the “manosphere,” a network of websites, gaming platforms, and chatrooms dedicated to misogyny in all its forms. Recently Turner, a junior Linguistics and Mandarin Chinese double major who is minoring in the Institute for Politics and Strategy’s Cybersecurity and International Conflict program, reaped the benefits of that work: She co-authored an article with IPS Professor Colin Clarke, for whom she is a teaching assistant in his Terrorism and Insurgency course, for the Global Network on Extremism & Technology.

The article, titled “The ‘Incel’ Ideology Continues to Build a Strong Following in the Online ‘Manosphere,’ examines the incel (short for involuntary celibates) movement, the dark corners of the Internet that allow the movement to thrive, and the terror threats – and acts – the movement has produced.

“We settled on this topic because, as of late, there has been a relatively high amount of buzz surrounding incels and other groups within the manosphere,” Turner said. “The perpetrator of the recent racially-motivated terrorist attack in Hanau, Germany was found to have connections with some of these groups, which is vital to our understanding of how violent white supremacy and extreme misogyny can intermingle.” 

For Turner, the study of the incel movement will continue: She plans to propose an honors thesis examining the linguistic mechanisms behind the manosphere in China.

‘There Was An Assumption We Would Be Prepared’: CMU Professor Says U.S. Didn’t Have Public Health Infrastructure In Place To Mitigate Pandemic Fallout, April 23, 2020

In one of the courses that Professor Colin Clarke teaches at CMU’s Institute for Politics and Strategy, he routinely asks students to rank the following threats: terrorism, climate change, nuclear proliferation, global pandemics and trade protectionism.

“And I ask them to vote, one to five, one being most threatening and five being the least, where they see these threats stack up,” Clarke told KDKA.

“And every year without fail, global pandemics comes in at number five.”

Clarke says students normally rank nuclear proliferation number one, followed by terrorism or climate change. But he says now, because of what we’ve learned about our vulnerability, he would put pandemics behind only nuclear threats.

“There was an assumption we would be prepared, as a global community but moreover as the United States, that there would be the public health infrastructure in place to mitigate the fallout from a global pandemic.”

America's adversaries emboldened to flex their muscles amid coronavirus, April 22, 2020

IPS Professor Colin Clarke discusses the intersection of terrorism and the COVID-19 pandemic with USA Today.

"Clarke added that one of the things the coronavirus outbreak has highlighted is that perhaps too much of America's military and security preoccupations have revolved around terrorism and more conventional military threats from well-known enemies.

During physical distancing, MS IRP-AMP students present theses via Zoom, April 21, 2020

The symposium marked the completion of the final project for students in the MS IRP-AMP program, which allows Carnegie Mellon students to earn both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in five years by beginning graduate coursework during their senior (fourth) year. The students had ten minutes to present their findings, sharing their slideshows with the rest of the attendees on Zoom, followed by five minutes for questions.

Alumni Spotlight: Cate Yu, April 21, 2020

Cate Yu, who earned a BS in International Relations and Politics and an additional major in French and Francophone Studies in 2013, works as an executive AI recruiter for Amazon’s Market Intelligence team. Her career as a recruiter for two of the world’s biggest and most influential companies taught her the value of adaptability and a wide range of experience.

“Having exposure to broad majors and programs at Carnegie Mellon helped me with that,” Yu said.

The Growing Threat Posed by Accelerationism and Accelerationist Groups Worldwide, April 20, 2020

The domestic terrorism threats that existed before the pandemic will not cease, argues an article for the Foreign Policy Research Institute co-authored by IPS Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke. Indeed, they may very well be exacerbated by individuals and groups intent on wreaking havoc at a time when first responders, law enforcement, and other emergency personnel are preoccupied.

Private military contractors’ financial experiences and incentives, April 17, 2020

IPS Professor Molly Dunigan co-authored an article in Defense & Security Analysis titled "Private military contractors' financial experiences and incentives," which analyzes the findings of an original survey of 187 private military contractors on their incentives for working in the industry.

Meghan Mattern brings USAID experience to the Institute for Politics and Strategy, April 16, 2020

Coronavirus impact on US and China relations, April 12, 2020

Former State Department policy planning director, Fox News contributor, and IPS Director and Taube Professor Kiron Skinner joined Fox News' Fox Report Weekend with Jon Scott to discuss the coronavirus' impact on US-China relations.

IPS gathers, remotely, to foster community during COVID-19 pandemic, April 9, 2020

Through strong student and alumni relations, some creativity, and the wonders of Zoom, IPS created a month of virtual programming after the coronavirus pandemic forced the cancellation of the CIRP Policy Forum lecture series.

Yesterday’s Terrorists Are Today’s Public-Health Providers, April 8, 2020

By failing miserably in the response to the coronavirus pandemic, governments throughout the world—local, state, and federal—have provided openings and opportunities for violent nonstate actors to fill the void.  IPS professor Colin Clarke describes how terrorists, insurgents and criminal organizations are attempting to gain legitimacy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

How is the US military helping fight the coronavirus pandemic? April 6, 2020

IPS Director and Taube Professor Kiron Skinner joined Fox and Friends First to discuss US troop deployments to New York City to bolster the coronavirus response.

Will the public believe misinformation about the coronavirus? (Maybe not), April 2, 2020

IPS postdoctoral fellow Dan Silverman analyzes studies of misinformation during war to determine its effects on the public in the coronavirus pandemic.

Seven thousand miles away from campus, CMU Qatar students experience Washington, DC, March 30, 2020

This school year, four students became the first from Carnegie Mellon’s Qatar campus to participate in the Washington Semester Program, which allows students from any course of study to live, work and learn in Washington, DC. Each semester, a cohort of roughly 20 students lives together in the Senate Square Building; interns with Congressmen, think tanks and nonprofits; and takes courses in policy, media, intelligence and lobbying at night.

Baruch Fischhoff

As COVID-19 continues to spread, IPS professor Baruch Fischhoff -- who has a bachelor's degree in psychology from Wayne State University and a PhD in the subject from Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and has studied extensively in risk and decision sciences -- has spoken to many media outlets about the virus and its fallout. Here is some of his latest work.

As Stores And Restaurants Reopen, Is It Hard To Decide What You Dare To Do? It's Not You, June 9, 2020

Seven findings that can help people deal with COVID-19, June 1, 2020

How to make good enough decisions during the coronavirus pandemic, since making risk-free decisions is impossible, May 24, 2020

States Begin to Reopen During COVID Crisis, but Not Everyone Feels Ready, May 14, 2020

Dewitt and Fischhoff: The about-face on face masks – or, making recommendations fit the evidence, April 29, 2020

Fear is the most serious virus that can affect humans, April 28, 2020

Are homemade face masks effective in protecting against COVID-19? April 24, 2020

Beach Access Becomes A Hot Issue, April 24, 2020

Expert Roundup: Mental Health Support, Isolation Coping Tips, Working from Home, April 21, 2020

After the pandemic, an epidemic of agoraphobia? April 20, 2020

What Is 'Decision Fatigue' and How Does It Affect You? April 14, 2020

Popular coronavirus models offer hope and despair of when to expect the peak, April 10, 2020

Rapid Expert Consultation on the Effectiveness of Fabric Masks for the COVID-19 Pandemic, April 8, 2020

Effectiveness of homemade masks is inconclusive, scientific committee tells White House, April 9, 2020

Professor Fischhoff, a member of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's Standing Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases and 21st-Century Health Threats, co-authored a letter regarding the effectiveness of homemade masks.

A quarter million Americans could die from the coronavirus. Maybe more. How do we absorb that much death? April 3, 2020

Speaking of Psychology podcast: Coronavirus Anxiety (Part 2)

Can the Public be Trusted in a Pandemic? March 27, 2020

Hoarding Toilet Paper? Shrinks Say It's Anxiety and Vulnerability, March 20, 2020

Douglas Todd: Keeping calm in an anxious, COVID-19 era, March 19, 2020

FREE Course: Making Sense of the Pandemic: Psychological Impact on Clients and Communities, March 18, 2020

Using the Psychological Science of Crisis Leadership and Communications to Navigate COVID 19, March 23, 2020

US fight with Iran reignites, March 13, 2020

IPS Director and Taube Professor Kiron Skinner appeared on Fox Business' Evening Edit with Elizabeth MacDonald to discuss rising tensions between the US and Iran.

Why you should stop obsessing about coronavirus news, and how to do it, March 11, 2020

Baruch Fischhoff, a professor at the Institute for Politics and Strategy, talked to the LA Times about the responsible consumption of news about the coronavirus. “Remember that the expertise of TV and radio is to keep you listening and to engage you,” he said.

CMU expert: In times of crisis, people want facts, not spin, March 8, 2020

“It’s important for people to realize that in emergency situations that people band together, they help one another.” Baruch Fischhoff, a professor at the Institute for Politics and Strategy, spoke to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about how people make decisions during a crisis -- and how they might act more responsibly than officials would imagine.

Alumni Spotlight: Emily Feenstra

From community programs in Nicaragua to education in Latin America to the mental health of black men, Emily Feenstra, a 2013 Carnegie Mellon alum and IRP major, has spent her career helping those in need.

An Undiplomatic Diplomat Wins Power in Trump’s Washington, March 6, 2020

Richard Grenell, prone to pique and caustic tweets, is running the intelligence agencies in an acting capacity. He could be there for a while. IPS Director and Taube Professor Kiron Skinner spoke with The New York Times about Grenell's appointment.

Iran May Be Eyeing the United States’ Soft Underbelly, March 6, 2020

Colin Clarke, an IPS Assistant Teaching Professor, co-authored a piece in Foreign Policy examining the historical precedent of Iranian retaliation.

How to deal with fear of novel coronavirus in the face of the unknown, March 5, 2020

"From a risk analysis perspective, some fear and some worry is legitimate, since the virus is still poorly understood and we don't exactly know what the health effects are or what the social effects are going to be," Baruch Fischhoff, Howard Heinz University Professor at the Institute for Politics and Strategy, told ABC.

President Xi enabled coronavirus to have global impact: Kiron Skinner, March 2, 2020

IPS Director and Taube Professor Kiron Skinner, a Fox News contributor, joined Fox Business' Evening Edit with Elizabeth MacDonald to discuss President Xi's reaction to the coronavirus: Had he been more transparent initially, she says, the outbreak might not have spread as far.

The Pensacola Terrorist Attack: The Enduring Influence of al-Qa`ida and its Affiliates, March 2020

IPS Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke wrote a piece about the Pensacola terrorist attack for the Combating Terrorism Center.

Coronavirus and its global sweep stokes fear over facts. Experts say it's unlikely to produce 'apocalyptic scenario,' February 28, 2020

Baruch Fischhoff, Howard Heinz University Professor at the Institute for Politics and Strategy, stresses the importance of clear communication during a global health crisis in an interview with USA Today.

Should you travel during the coronavirus outbreak? February 27, 2020

"Find a very small number of sources of information that you trust, and you trust them both because they're competent and because you think they're working on your behalf. Baruch Fischhoff, Howard Heinz University Professor at the Institute for Politics and Strategy, talks to CNN about how to decide whether or not to travel as the coronavirus spreads across the globe.

Separating signal from noise: IPS students participate in an NCTC intelligence simulation, February 27, 2020

During a visit from a National Counterterrorism Center campus recruiter, IPS students not only learned how intelligence analysts try to prevent the next attack before it happens. They walked in those analysts' shoes with a fictional exercise.

New Jersey declared white supremacists a major threat. Here's why that's groundbreaking. February 25, 2020

“When I think of New Jersey, I certainly don’t think of white supremacy. That’s what’s so bedeviling about the threat from white supremacy. The younger generation getting involved with white supremacist extremism looks just like your next-door neighbor.” IPS assistant teaching professor Colin P. Clarke discussed New Jersey's designation of white supremacy as a major terror threat and its ramifications for marshaling resources to combat it.

Trump understands US needs to engage with 'unsavory actors' such as Taliban, February 21, 2020

Far-Right Terror Rocks Germany, February 21, 2020

The Death of Soleimani Will Lead to More Terrorism in the Middle East and Beyond, February 11, 2020 

IPS Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke authored an article for the European Eye on Radicalization (EER) about the US killing of Iranian General Soleimani and the impact this will have on Iran's proxy strategy.

The Science of Science Communication, February 10, 2020

Dr. Baruch Fischhoff, PhD, IPS professor, spoke with the podcast "Science Session" from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences about effective science communication.

Speaking of Psychology: Coronavirus Anxiety, February 10, 2020

Dr. Baruch Fischhoff, PhD, IPS professor and an expert on public perception of risk and human judgment and decision-making, spoke with the podcast "Speaking of Psychology" from the American Psychological Association about new risks versus familiar ones, how to calm our anxiety, and the psychological effects of being quarantined.

The Enduring Legacy of French and Belgian Islamic State Foreign Fighters, February 5, 2020

IPS Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke co-authored an article for the Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI) providing analysis on Islamic State foreign fighters in Europe.

Terrorists and Technological Innovation, February 2, 2020

IPS Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke co-authored an article in Lawfare about how terrorists use technology and how governments respond.

Trump signs executive order combating human trafficking, January 31, 2020

Dr. Kiron Skinner joined Fox News to discuss the Trump administration's executive order on human trafficking.

Greece Is the Weak Spot in Post-Caliphate European Counterterrorism, January 31, 2020

IPS Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke co-authored an article in The National Interest about Greece's place in Europe's counterterrorism efforts.

Iran ‘crying for help’ from President Trump’s policies, January 26, 2020

Dr. Kiron Skinner joined Eric Shawn on Fox News to discuss Iran and the Trump administration's policies.

Brexit Could Spark a Return to Violence in Northern Ireland, January 22, 2020

IPS Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke co-authored an article in Foreign Policy about implications of Brexit for the new IRA.

Pro-gun rally at Virginia capital draws thousands of armed protesters, January 21, 2020

IPS Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke joined ABC Nightline to discuss a Virginia protest against the state's proposed gun control laws, including threats from armed militias and white supremacist groups.

China’s Rights Abuses in Xinjiang Could Provoke a Global Terrorist Backlash, January 16, 2020

IPS Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke co-authored an article in Foreign Affairs advocating for the US government to help Beijing counter extremism without resorting to repression.

A Century of Ideas: The Crucible of Citizenship, January 14, 2020

Dr. Kiron Skinner joined Hoover Institution Fellows Jim Mattis, Michael McConnell, and Josiah Ober to discuss American citizenship in a panel at the Hoover Institution.

Kiron Skinner: "Very Silly" To Demand Pres. Trump Notify Congress Before Suleimani Strike, January 10, 2020

Dr. Kiron Skinner joined Fox News, Friday, January 10, to talk about the latest on Iran, the House's political stunt voting on a War Powers Act resolution, and why Pres. Trump was fully justified taking out Qassem Suleimani without notifying Congress.

Kiron Skinner on fallout from US drone strike that killed Iranian Gen. Soleimani, January 6, 2020

Insight from Fox News contributor Kiron Skinner, visiting fellow at the Heritage Foundation and former senior adviser to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

US allies on high alert as Iran vows revenge for death of top general, January 6, 2020

Former State Department policy planning director and Fox News contributor Kiron Skinner weighs in on if the United States can cultivate allies in the ongoing conflict with Iran.

Former State Department official on Iran: We need our allies, 'we can't do this alone,' January 4, 2020

Former State Department official and Fox News foreign policy contributor Kiron Skinner discusses US strategy toward Iran and how they may respond.

ZOA open letter on the rising scourge of anti-Semitism, January 3, 2020

Dr. Kiron Skinner and Morton A. Klein, president of ZOA (Zionist Organization of America), wrote an open letter about the recent anti-Semitic attacks in America.

Using the McKinsey 7S Framework to Assess Al-Qaeda Over Three Decades: Lessons for the Future, December 30, 2019

IPS Assistant Teaching Professor Dr. Colin Clarke examines the longevity of al-Qaeda and implications for the future.

US conducts airstrike against Iran-backed militia, December 30, 2019

Fox News contributor Kiron Skinner comments on the violence in the Middle East and what the Trump administration is doing to combat it.

North Korea fails to deliver ‘Christmas surprise,' December 26, 2019

Former State Department Director of Office Policy Planning Kiron Skinner shares her insights on US-North Korea relations.

President Trump Must Focus on Bringing Allies Together to Confront North Korea, December 22, 2019

Dr. Kiron Skinner joined Fox News, Sunday, December 22, to talk about the latest from North Korea, the need for a comprehensive strategy against the regime, and the strength of the Trump administration's Asia strategy.

To Impeach or Not to Impeach: Lessons from Latin America, December, 13, 2019

IPS assistant teaching professor Dr. Ignacio Arana discusses the current impeachment process ongoing in the United States and similar instances throughout Latin America.

Achievement in Athletics and Academics, December 11, 2019

Sixth annual ceremony recognizes student athletes with highest GPAs, including IRP major Joshua Pinckney. 

Carnegie Mellon Offers New Master's Degree in International Relations and Politics, December 9, 2019

Program combines coursework in Pittsburgh with experiential learning, networking in Washington, D.C.

Hong Kong’s Escalating Protests: Three Questions, December 9, 2019

IPS postdoctoral fellow Dr. Chin discusses the Hong Kong protests and prospects for the future.

Protests in Hong Kong and Iran present challenges for Trump administration, November 23, 2019

Analysis from Dr. Kiron Skinner, Fox News foreign policy contributor and former director of the Office of Policy Planning at the State Department.

Former high State Department official: There is a Trump Doctrine, November 21, 2019

According to officials in the Trump administration, there is in fact a Trump doctrine, contrary to criticisms that US foreign policy is in disarray.

Time to rekindle the tradition of mutual support, November 21, 2019

Dr. Kiron Skinner and Paul Packer, a Trump administration official, recently co-wrote an article for the Jerusalem Post  advocating for a revived relationship between African American and Jewish communities.

Dr. Kiron Skinner Rejoins Fox News As a Contributor, October 31, 2019

Kiron K. Skinner joined FOX News Channel as a contributor in October 2019 and provides commentary on national and international issues across FOX News Media platforms.

Baghdadi’s Death Will Make Global Affiliates More Independent, October 28, 2019

I study terrorism. A white supremacist attack in my neighborhood woke me up to dangers at home, October 27, 2019 

Iran’s Proxies Are More Powerful Than Ever, October 16, 2019

IPS Assistant Teaching Professor Colin Clarke and past CIRP Policy Forum visitor Ariane Tabatabai assert in a Foreign Policy article that the Trump administration has failed at its broader goal of changing Iranian foreign policy, specifically regarding its proxies.

No, the Trump impeachment inquiry is not a coup, October 15, 2019

Dr. John Chin, IPS postdoctoral fellow, coauthored an article for the Monkey Cage of the Washington Post on the impeachment inquiry of President Trump and how it relates to his research on coups d'etat.

Dr. Kiron Skinner denies impropriety at previous State Department job, September 15, 2019

Professor Skinner, IPS Director, recently spoke with The Tartan about her time at the State Department.

CMU Expert Discusses Post-9/11 Al Qaeda, Security Issues, September 11, 2019

Despite Al Qaeda’s weakened state from post-9/11 counterterrorism efforts, the fight isn’t over.

Global Security Expert Kiron Skinner Joins the Heritage Foundation as Visiting Fellow, September 10, 2019

Kiron Skinner this week joined The Heritage Foundation as a visiting fellow at the Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy.

Dietrich Welcomes 15 New Faculty, August 26, 2019

From research to pedagogy, new frontiers are constantly met by professors and postdoctoral researchers in Carnegie Mellon University’s Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

A Lesson in Openness: Student Orientation Keynote Speaker Shares Advice with First-Year Students, August 22, 2019

Jamie Slomka, a senior in the Social and Decision Sciences Department, delivered this year’s student keynote to first-year students and their families during Orientation on Sunday, Aug. 18. 

Oh, the Places They're Going, July 10, 2019

Orchi Banerjee, a 2019 graduate of CMU's Department of Social and Decision Sciences and Institute for Politics and Strategy, is profiled in this article about Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences alumni and their plans after graduation. 

2019-2020 Wimmer Faculty Fellows Announced, June 24, 2019

Dr. Dani Nedal, IPS Postdoctoral Fellow, has been named as a 2019-2020 Wimmer Faculty Fellow by CMU's Eberly Center.  These fellowships are made possible by a grant from the Wimmer Family Foundation and are designed for junior faculty members interested in enhancing their teaching through concentrated work designing or re-designing a course, innovating new materials, or exploring a new pedagogical approach.

Fighting and Winning the Undeclared Cyber War, June 23, 2019

Dr. Isaac Porche, IPS adjunct instructor and RAND Corporation senior engineer, recently wrote an article on nation-state cyberwarfare. “'War is no longer declared' says Austrian poet Ingeborg Bachmann: cyber warfare is transforming this line of poetry into reality."

The Post-Caliphate Caliph, April 29, 2019

Dr. Colin Clarke, IPS Assistant Teaching Professor, recently wrote an article in Foreign Policy on the re-emergence of ISIS's reclusive leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

Extending Russia: Competing from Advantageous Ground, April 24, 2019

Dr. Forrest Morgan, IPS Adjunct Instructor and Senior Political Scientist at RAND, recently co-authored a report on the ways in which the United States could compete with Russia.

Want to serve your country? Consider diplomacy. April 15, 2019

IPS's Dr. Kiron Skinner wrote an article for the Houston Chronicle detailing the important work that our State Department diplomats do around the world.

CMU Washington Semester Program Celebrates Fifth Anniversary,    March 26, 2019

For Carnegie Mellon University students interested in a future in public policy or public service, the Carnegie Mellon University Washington Semester Program (CMU/WSP) was built to provide comprehensive exploration directly to students.

Carnegie Mellon University Launches New Undergraduate Degree Program in Economics and Politics, March 6, 2019

Carnegie Mellon University has introduced a new bachelor of science program in economics and politics, launching spring 2019. A joint effort between the Institute for Politics and Strategy and the Undergraduate Economics Program, the degree program involves interdisciplinary study emphasizing a data-driven approach to understanding economic and political decision-making.

'Moral Machine' experiment is no basis for policymaking, March 5, 2019

Dr. Baruch Fischhoff co-wrote a counter-argument to an article published in Nature focused on moral dilemmas faced by autonomous vehicles, stating that the experiment is "not a sound starting place for incorporating public concerns into policymaking."

Anarchy and Authority: International Structure, the Balance of Power, and Hierarchy, February 8, 2019

Dr. Dani Nedal, Postdoctoral Fellow at IPS, co-wrote an article published in the Journal of Global Security Studies. 

Institute for Politics and Strategy Graduate Students Explore Career Opportunities in Nation’s Capital, February 8, 2019

Following last year’s trip to Silicon Valley, this year’s cohort of students in the International Relations and Politics Accelerated Master’s Program (MS IRP-AMP) traveled to Washington, D.C., in December to receive a first-hand glimpse in international relations career pathways. 

Trump Defends the International Order, December 11, 2018

Dr. Kiron K. Skinner recently published an article in the Wall Street Journal discussing how the current administration is reasserting the nation-state’s role in a free and open multilateral system.

Evaluating Science Communication, November 26, 2018

Professor Baruch Fischhoff, Interim Director of IPS, wrote an article published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on effectively communicating scientific findings.

Institute for Politics and Strategy Launches New Minor in Cybersecurity and International Conflict, November 9, 2018

Carnegie Mellon University’s Institute for Politics and Strategy (IPS) launched an undergraduate minor in cybersecurity and international conflict in fall 2018. The cybersecurity and international conflict minor tackles the social-scientific dimensions of cybersecurity with a focus on the implications of the cyber age for modern statecraft, warfare, elections (local, state and national), and politics, more generally.

Alexander Hamilton Society debate on Singapore Summit brings more agreement than debate, October 28, 2018

A group of fifteen students gathered in the Simmons Auditorium in the Tepper Quad last Monday for a moderated debate about the Singapore Summit of U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un. The audience watched moderator Dan Silverman of the Institute for Politics and Strategy (IPS) prompt his colleague Dani Nedal and visiting professor Aaron Friedberg to share their thoughts on the diplomatic effort.

Does U.S. drone warfare in countries like Pakistan really cause ‘blowback’?, October 26, 2018

Prof. Daniel Silverman published a piece for the Washington Post. In the article, he discusses some of his research about "blowback" caused by U.S. drone warfare in countries like Pakistan.

Seven Dietrich College Seniors Named Andrew Carnegie Society Scholars, October 15, 2018

The Andrew Carnegie Society (ACS) Scholars Class of 2019 has been announced, and seven seniors from the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences have been selected. ACS Scholars are Carnegie Mellon University undergraduate students who combine high academic standards with extracurricular activities, such as volunteering, playing sports, taking on leadership roles and participating in student organizations and the arts.

Former Congressmen come to CIRP's Policy forum to talk bipartisanship in the modern era, September 30, 2018

The former congressmen gave a lecture titled “Closing our Political Divide: A Bipartisan Approach to Legislation” on Sept. 27 and sat down for an interview with The Tartan. In the interview, they discussed the value of bipartisanship in politics, the importance of public service and voting, their opinions on the president’s conduct, and their take on the single headline that has dominated political news for days — the hearings for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

Reagan rides again in new bid to put his conservative stamp on policy, September 12, 2018

Dr. Kiron Skinner was recently featured in a Washington Examiner article regarding her role as Director of Policy Planning and Senior Policy Adviser in the State Department.

In Key Post at State, Kiron Skinner Will Advance Trump Security Strategy, August 30, 2018

Prof. Kiron Skinner was featured in an article on The Daily Signal.  She was sworn in Director of Policy Planning and Senior Policy Adviser in the State Department on Tuesday, September 4, 2018 by Secretary Pompeo.

State Department Selects Skinner as Senior Policy Adviser, August 30, 2018

Kiron Skinner, the Taube Professor of International Relations and Politics at Carnegie Mellon University, has been named senior policy adviser to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Skinner also will serve as director of policy planning, one of the State Department’s most influential positions. Skinner is the founding director of Carnegie Mellon’s Institute for Politics and Strategy (IPS). The center for research, undergraduate and graduate education focuses on university-wide initiatives in the fields of political science, international relations, national security policy and grand strategy.

Meet the Newest Dietrich College Faculty Members, August 29, 2018

Each new academic year brings new faces. This fall, almost 30 new faculty members are joining Carnegie Mellon University’s Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences, bringing expertise in the fields of creative writing, cognitive science, behavioral economics and more.

Baruch Fischhoff named 2018 Ryan Award Recipient

IPS Professor Baruch Fischhoff has been awarded the William H. and Frances S. Ryan Award for Meritorious Teaching.

Time-Sharing Experiments for the Social Sciences, August 21, 2018

Dan Silverman has been awarded a grant from Time-Sharing Experiments for the Social Sciences (TESS), an NSF-funded initiative which conducts high-quality nationally representative survey experiments in the U.S. for free for selected proposals. His project is called “Can Factual Misperceptions be Corrected? An Experiment on American Public Fears of Terrorism.” The project looks at the American public’s inflated fear of terrorism relative to other types of risks we face, and examines whether this fear can be mitigated by presenting people with accurate information about the threat. With trillions of dollars spent on the "War on Terror" since 9/11, this question is not just theoretically but practically important.

FPRI Names Seven New Fellows and Expands Its Board of Advisors, June 7, 12018

Dr. Colin Clarke was appointed as a Senior Fellow in the National Security Program for the FPRI. 

Nine Juniors Named Dietrich College Honors Fellows, May 17, 2018

Nine distinguished Carnegie Mellon University juniors will spend the summer working on research and creative projects that span across the college’s various disciplines, including psychology, international relations, creative writing and more. The students’ work is funded through the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences Honors Fellowship, an extension of the college’s Senior Honors Program, and gives the fellows a head start on their thesis development. 

Baruch Fischhoff Named 2018 Andrew Carnegie Fellow, April 25, 2018

IPS Executive Committee and Core Faculty member, Baruch Fischhoff, was named the 2018 Andrew Carnegie Fellow. Professor Fischhoff will use the award from the Carnegie Corporation of New York Andrew Carnegie Fellowship to write a book called "Decisions."

Newt Gingrich visits campus to talk to researchers, April 1, 2018

Newt Gingrich, Fox News contributor and former Speaker of the House, made a little-publicized visit to Carnegie Mellon University this week. He was invited by Director Kiron Skinner, the director of the Washington Semester Program, the Institute for Politics and Strategy, and the Institute for Strategic Analysis at Carnegie Mellon. Director Skinner worked with Gingrich on his 2012 presidential campaign and, in Dec. 2017, began working as a foreign policy contributor for Fox News.

CMU Students Place as Finalists at D3P Information Operations Technical and Policy Hackathon hosted by Harvard Kennedy School, March 29, 2018

Carnegie Mellon students Kellen Carleton and Arya Hezarkhani placed third in the policy category and concept category of the Defending Digital Democracy Project (D3P) Hackathon hosted by Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. Following submission reviews, Carleton and Hezarkhani were selected to attend the conference as finalists in Cambridge, Massachusetts on March 29, 2018. They won $1000 in prizes for each category they placed in. 

Newt Gingrich: The future is amazing -- Here's an incredible glimpse of what awaits us, March 25, 2018

Dr. Kiron Skinner hosted former Speaker of the US House of Representatives and Republican Congressman Newt Gingrich at CMU on March 21, 2017. He was briefed by a lineup of distinguished faculty on artificial intelligence and reflected in his article, "...in Pittsburgh, I saw another powerful glimmering of technologies that will change our world." Read more about his insights on artificial intelligence and how they will shape the future of American society in the article linked above. 

Short Feature with Volleyball Senior Eliza Donohue, March 23, 2018

Senior Eliza Donohue, a policy and management and social and political history double major from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, answers a few questions about student life at Carnegie Mellon, talks about her internships, what she's excited for during spring semester, how she decided on her major, and what she's enjoyed about Pittsburgh.

CMU Surpasses MIT to Secure Rank as #1 University for Artificial Intelligence, March 2018

In a recent study from the U.S. World News & World Report, Carnegie Mellon University was ranked as the best graduate school for artificial intelligence, securing first place over the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University. The rankings were created based on "a combination of statistical data that reflects the quality of each program, and surveys asking experts and academics to evaluate programs."

Institute for Politics and Strategy Elevated to University-Wide Status, February 19, 2018

The Institute for Politics and Strategy is now officially a university-wide initiative at CMU. 

Students See How Security, Policy, Strategy Align in Silicon Valley, February 9, 2018

Students in the International Relations and Politics Accelerated Master's Program recently received the opportunity to take a trip to Silicon Valley to explore the various intersections between technology and policy. This story was featured in the CMU News. 

Joint CyLab Security and Privacy Institute, Institute for Software Research, Institute for Politics and Strategy Distinguished Lecture and Panel, January 18, 2018

Judge Reggie B. Walton of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia will be giving a lecture titled, "The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court: Myth Versus Reality." The panelists will be Lorrie Cranor, Jay D. Aronson, and David J. Hickton. The event will take place on Thursday, January 18 from 4:30-5:30pm in Rashid Auditorium (GHC 4401).

 DoD Appoints Kiron Skinner to Defense Policy Board, December 2, 2017

Director of the Institute for Politics and Strategy, Dr. Kiron Skinner, was appointed to the Defense Policy Board to provide senior DoD officials with advice on defense policy. Read the official Department of Defense announcement here. 

Elizabeth Erin Walsh- "Innovation and Exporting: Creating Jobs through Free and Fair Trade", November 13, 2017

Anthony Foxx- "Smart and Connected Cities", November 10, 2017

17th United States Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx gave a lecture at Carnegie Mellon on November 10 as a part of the 50th Anniversary Weekend celebrations. 

Laura Chinchilla shares her hopes for Latin America's future, November 5, 2017

During her lecture on November 1, President Laura Chinchilla shared her hopes for the future of Latin America in the face of what she sees as the encroaching threat of populism.

Laura Chinchilla- "Latin America: Hope in Times of Populism?", November 1, 2017

Former president of Costa Rica, Laura Chinchilla, delivered a lecture at Carnegie Mellon on November 1.   

CMU Student Charters Plane, Delivers Aid to Puerto Rico, October 18, 2017

International Relations and Politics Accelerated Masters Program student José López Sánchez volunteered as a part of a team that chartered planes to transport supplies Puerto Rico and evacuate hurricane victims to the US. 

Polarization for Controversial Scientific Issues Increases With More Education, August 21, 2017

IPS Executive Committee and Core Faculty member, Baruch Fischhoff, and Caitlin Drummond's (SDS) work was recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences.

How Do You Fix Someone Else's Election, August 20, 2017

Dov Levin, Institute for Politics and Strategy Postdcotoral fellow, was interviewed by BBC to discuss election meddling. 

The Islamic State May be Failing, but it's Strategic Communications Legacy is Here to Stay, August 17, 2017

Colin Clarke, Institute for Politics and Strategy lecturer, recently co-authored a paper for War on the Rocks, where he discusses ISIS strategic communications.

Improving Security Science Through Collaboration, August 2, 2017

Carnegie Mellon University’s Baruch Fischhoff co-chaired the Committee on Future Research Goals and Directions for Foundational Science in Cybersecurity, along with Peter Weinberger from Google.

Mindfulness Meditation May Help Students Combat High Levels of Stress, Depression, May 16, 2017

When Rob Stephens, a 22-year-old senior, walks into the Mindfulness Room at Carnegie Mellon University, he leaves his homework and stress at the door.

Baruch Fischhoff Elected to National Academy of Sciences, May 2, 2017

Carnegie Mellon University's Baruch Fischhoff, a renowned expert in decision science and risk analysis, has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences. NAS membership is one of the highest honors a scientist can receive and recognizes distinguished and continuing achievements in original research.

CMWA Supports Students' Commitment to Advancement of Women, May 1, 2017

Seven women graduating this month received an early gift from the Carnegie Mellon Women’s Association (CMWA). Each student was presented with a $1,000 scholarship for their commitment to the advancement of women in their academic disciplines. IPS student, Alexandra Pasch was awarded one of the scholarships.

Program Takes Students Behind the Scenes in D.C., April 27, 2017

Students in Carnegie Mellon University’s Washington Semester Program (WSP) get to explore the United States capital while completing coursework and internships with D.C.-based organizations.

Understanding Decisions: The Power of Combining Psychology and Economics, April 18, 2017

In two series of studies that focused on individuals’ expectations for major life events, Wandi Bruine de Bruin and CMU’s Baruch Fischhoff worked with economists to design survey questions that were simple enough for laypeople to answer but precise enough to inform economic models.