03
April 1, 2009
What President Obama and Other Leaders Should Focus On at the G20
President Obama and other G20 leaders shouldn’t ignore climate change, sustainable security, and preventing protectionism at this week's summit, write Sabina Dewan and Will Straw.
March 31, 2009
The Next Likely Step for Terror Networks Is More Attacks in the Heart of Pakistan
Terrorist attacks in Pakistan are likely to escalate, and stopping them will require intelligence, police work, and government's efforts, write Brian Katulis and Peter Juul.
March 31, 2009
Innovation Is in the Details
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has the potential to transform the Workforce Development System, writes Louis Soares.
March 31, 2009
Big Oil Misers
Big oil companies profited mightily during the Bush years but still refuse to make investments in clean-energy technologies and fuels, write Daniel J. Weiss and Alexandra Kougentakis.
March 31, 2009
The Case for Leadership
Report from Will Straw, Matt Browne, Sabina Dewan, and Nina Hachigian outlines how to strengthen the group of 20 to tackle key global crises.
March 30, 2009
What to Expect from the G20 Summit
Next week, President Obama will join eight prime ministers, 11 presidents, one chancellor, one king, and a smattering of international organization leaders in London for the second-ever meeting of G20 leaders.
March 30, 2009
Building the G20 the Right Way
The what of the G20 summit is critical, but so is the how. Along with eight prime ministers, eleven other presidents, one chancellor, one king and a smattering of international organisation leaders, President Barack Obama will travel to London this week. There, we must all hope, this group will overcome its differences and agree to coordinated stimulus measures that break the fall of the global economy; beat back the wave of beggar-thy-neighbour trade policies; ensure that low carbon strategies animate the global economic recovery; find a way to assist the developing world; revamp the roles of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank; and hammer out principles - or, even better, a new architecture – for banking and financial regulation so this kind of financial disaster cannot happen again.
March 30, 2009
Don’t Flush an Energy Opportunity
Congress shouldn’t squander the opportunity to help Americans save water and reap energy savings, write Tom Kenworthy and Kari Manlove.
March 30, 2009
A Standoff in Central Baghdad
The violence in Baghdad this weekend is the inevitable result of the shaky foundation built by the “surge” and not an excuse to halt troop withdrawals, writes Brian Katulis.
March 30, 2009
The River Drains Through It
"Here is a land where life is written in water." That first line of a poem written by Colorado poet laureate Thomas Hornsby Ferril, enshrined in the rotunda of the state capitol building in Denver, pretty well sums up how things work in Colorado and much of the American West.
March 30, 2009
The Week in Congress: March 30 - April 3, 2009
This week Congress works on the budget, looks to expand national service, and holds hearings on health reform.
March 30, 2009
Pakistan Requires a Sustainable Security Strategy
Brian Katulis discusses the current state of affairs in Pakistan and what the Obama administration can do to work politically, diplomatically, and economically in the country.
March 30, 2009
Public Opinion Snapshot: Strong Support for Clean-Energy Economy
The public backs the Obama administration’s goal of transitioning to a clean-energy economy, writes Ruy Teixeira.
March 29, 2009
How to Help the Economy, and Families
Firms in the United States should consider cutting back in this recession by introducing shorter workweeks, flexible schedules and more time off, rather than laying off workers.
March 27, 2009
Interactive Map: More Job Losses in Every State
New data show the recession has led to increases in unemployment in every state, write Heather Boushey and Nayla Kazzi.
March 27, 2009
Weekly Round Up: March 23 -27, 2009
This week the Center continued its focus on Afghanistan, looked at ways to improve health care, and analyzed new unemployment numbers.
March 26, 2009
Health Care's Efficiency Dividend
Eliminating inefficiency in the health care system could reduce costs, writes CAP Action's Peter Harbage.
March 26, 2009
Five Ways to Innovate in Education
Melissa Lazarín and Robin Chait detail five innovative initiatives that states and school districts can implement with recovery funds.
March 26, 2009
Think Again: Cable News Blues
Cable news may be the only healthy part of the journalism business, but that's bad news for the rest of us, write Eric Alterman and Danielle Ivory.
March 26, 2009
Keeping Americans Safe from Faulty Medical Devices
A panel of experts joins CAP to discuss the short documentary “Hit and Run” and the issue of preemption in protecting consumers from unsafe drugs and medical devices.
March 26, 2009
Obama's European Listening Tour
At the 45th Munich conference on security policy in February, vice-president Joe Biden reminded America's European allies that the United States is ready to listen again. Referring to President Barack Obama's strategic review of US policy in Afghanistan and Pakistan in advance of Nato's 60th anniversary summit, Biden noted: "We seek ideas and input from you and all of our partners."
March 26, 2009
Steps Toward Equality
John Berry's confirmation for director of the Office of Personnel Management could lead to a more open and tolerant federal workplace, write Winnie Stachelberg and Josh Rosenthal.
March 26, 2009
Seven Reasons Why We Need to Engage in Afghanistan
A sustained effort in Afghanistan is crucial to keeping the United States and its allies safe and to restoring stability to the entire region.
March 26, 2009
Who Borrows From Payday Lenders?
Analysis from Amanda Logan and Christian E. Weller of newly available data gives insight into who turns to payday lenders for help and why.
March 25, 2009
It’s Easy Being Green: Wine Goes Organic
Retailers and winemakers are promoting organic and sustainably made wines that have caught the attention of the First Family, among others.
March 25, 2009
The Role of Long-Term Care in Health Reform
CAP Action's Judy Feder and Professor Harriet L. Komisar testify on the need for public action to improve long-term care services and supports.
March 25, 2009
Competitive Health Care
CAP Action's Peter Harbage and Karen Davenport outline Public Plan Choice, a public health insurance plan that would deliver market discipline.
March 24, 2009
Ask the Expert: What Is Cap and Trade?
Kari Manlove explains the basics of cap and trade, including how a program would work, how it figures into Obamas budget, and how it will affect the economy.
March 24, 2009
Sustainable Security in Afghanistan
Report from Lawrence Korb, Caroline Wadhams, Colin Cookman, and Sean Duggan provides recommendations for a lasting security in Afghanistan.
March 23, 2009
Treasury Tries Again
The Obama administration’s latest effort to clear the financial system of toxic assets boasts promise and pitfalls, write Michael Ettlinger and David Min.
March 23, 2009
Prospects for A Two-State Solution
Israeli Brigadier General Ilan Paz and Ghaith al-Omari, former advisor to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, join CAP to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
March 23, 2009
Public Opinion Snapshot: Government: There Is No Alternative
Public support for government oversight of the economy is growing, and it’s not helping the conservative cause, writes Ruy Teixeira.
March 23, 2009
The Cost Shift from the Uninsured
CAP Action report finds that American family health care premiums cost $1,100 more because our system doesn’t provide continuous coverage for all.
March 23, 2009
The Week in Congress: March 23 - 27, 2009
This week Congress and the administration continue working on the president's proposed budget, consider the GIVE Act, and hold several health care hearings.
March 23, 2009
Retiring Old Cars, Creating New Jobs
Incentives to get old cars off the road and energy-efficient cars off the lot would stimulate the economy, argue Bracken Hendricks and Benjamin Goldstein.
March 23, 2009
The Inefficient Individual Health Insurance Market
CAP Action's Peter Harbage finds that higher administrative costs on the individual market will mean $3.0 billion in extra expenses for American families in 2009.
March 23, 2009
A Chance to Make America Better
The Serve America Act would give us a chance to fix many of our problems in the United States, but some amendments could gut its benefits, writes Shirley Sagawa.
March 22, 2009
Obama Must Halt Starvation in Darfur
Between 1991 and 1993, I traveled extensively as a human rights monitor in what became known as the “starvation triangle” in southeastern Sudan. A third of a million southern Sudanese civilians perished in those swamps and savannas, primarily due to the extended periods when the Sudanese government would cut off all access to humanitarian aid to the areas it was trying to pacify militarily.
March 21, 2009
How to Get Trillions in Lost Wealth Back
The fact that wealth is rapidly declining deserves public policy attention. Wealth serves critical functions in the U.S. economy that relies heavily on individual initiative. It is primarily an insurance against a range of economic risks. The more such insurance exists for the typical family, the less a family has to worry about their basic necessities and the more they can focus on longer-term economic growth. A family that has the basics covered can take more chances by sending their kids to college and letting them choose a degree that suits their abilities. Also, family members can more easily switch jobs to match their particular skills. And, a family with enough wealth is in a better position to let their creative side take hold and start a business. The entire economy wins from letting people gain more skills and apply those skills most effectively in their job or by starting a business.
March 20, 2009
Using Foreign Assistance for Success
At a CAP event, Reuben Brigety, Director of the Sustainable Security Program, discussed his new report on why we need to overhaul U.S. policy in Afghanistan and other war-torn regions.
March 20, 2009
Weekly Round Up March 16 - 20, 2009
CAP focused this week on the sixth anniversary of the Iraq war, a growing crisis in Afghanistan, and turning the economy around.
March 20, 2009
Assessing the Debates: Development, Diplomacy, and Defense as a Policy Framework
Lawrence J. Korb speaks on development, diplomacy, and defense as a policy framework at the AFRICOM Conference at the University of Pittsburgh.
March 20, 2009
Reverse Bush-Era Pillage of the West
In January, The New York Times greeted the Obama administration's nomination of Colorado Sen. Ken Salazar as secretary of the Interior with an editorial headlined: "Is Ken Salazar Too Nice?" So far, the answer is no. But some heavy lifts lie ahead that will determine if he's tough enough to repair much of the damage the Bush administration inflicted on the West.
March 20, 2009
Reforming Weapon Systems Acquisition
The Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act could rein in Defense Department spending, writes Krisila Benson.
March 20, 2009
Stay the Course
The Congressional Budget Office’s new budget projections show the need for action, writes Michael Ettlinger.
March 19, 2009
Lessons from Six Years in Iraq
Six years after the start of the Iraq war, Lawrence Korb, Sean Duggan, and Laura Conley reflect on its consequences at home and abroad.
March 19, 2009
Examining the Making Home Affordable Program
CAP Action's Andrew Jakabovics testifies before the House Financial Services Committee on President Obama's Making Home Affordable Program.
March 19, 2009
Warning: Credit Card Practices Can Be Detrimental to Your (and Their) Health
Here is another example from the list of “things that we saw coming, but nobody cared.” Credit card companies are suffering from record default rates. In the fourth quarter of 2008, credit card companies charged off—declared as uncollectible—a whopping 6.3 percent of their debt. Aside from a fluke spike in the data in the first quarter of 2002, this was the largest charge-off rate since the Federal Reserve began collecting these data in 1980.
March 19, 2009
Think Again: Remember Real Journalism
Journalists risk their lives for democracy every day. It’s time we pause to remember their sacrifices, write Eric Alterman and Danielle Ivory.
March 19, 2009
Swords and Ploughshares
A report by Reuben Brigety presents the results of a simulation exercise to assess the impact of U.S. foreign assistance in Afghanistan.
March 19, 2009
Gulf States Essential for an Integrated Regional Strategy
Brian Katulis in Middle East Progress: "[T]he Arab Gulf countries have an important role in helping address one of the thorniest global security challenges today—Iran’s nuclear program."
March 18, 2009
New Stem Cell Policy Founded on Ethics and Expertise
Predictably, President Obama has run into some political pushback on last week’s executive order. The complaints have arisen primarily over two issues, neither of which is substantial and both of which deserve to be countered.
March 18, 2009
Infographic: Swift and Responsible Recovery
Graphic from Will Straw and Julie Baewer shows most of the recovery funds will be spent by fiscal year 2011.
March 18, 2009
It's Easy Being Green: Social Networking: A New Frontier in Climate Change Research
Scientists are asking the public to record data about annual climate events in their local areas to build crucial databases for further climate change research.
March 18, 2009
Striking the Appropriate Balance
CAP Action's Reuben Brigety testifies before the U.S House Committee on Foreign Affairs on the Department of Defense's expanding role in foreign assistance.
March 18, 2009
Madland on Making the Economy Work
March 18, 2009
Principles to Guide Development and Regulation of a Renewed Mortgage Finance System
CAP and the Mortgage Finance Working Group offer ways to improve the mortgage financing system.
March 18, 2009
Mortgage Finance: Progressive Solutions
CAP hosts a discussion with Michael Barr and a panel of experts to explore progressive solutions to the current mortgage finance crisis.
March 17, 2009
Rebuilding the Retirement Dream
Ahh, retirement—so many possibilities, so little time! Turns out that for millions of Americans the dream of a secure retirement was just a dream. From 2007 to 2008, total retirement wealth in private and public sector pension plans and retirement savings plans dropped by $2.8 trillion (in 2008 dollars).
March 17, 2009
Economic Snapshot for March 2009
It’s hard to find any good news in economic news these days. The only thing that can turn the economy around now, writes Christian Weller, is the federal government.
March 17, 2009
Exiting Iraq Responsibly
An international effort is needed to address enduring economic and political challenges ahead, write Katie White and Steve Bowden.
March 17, 2009
The Importance of Assuring Affordable Health Care for All
CAP Action Senior Fellow Judy Feder testifies on the importance of assuring affordable health care for all Americans.
March 16, 2009
Blogging a Trip to the Arab Gulf
Brian Katulis blogs about his trip to the Arab Gulf at Foreign Policy magazine.
March 16, 2009
Public Opinion Snapshot: It's a New Progressive America
CAP reports show a majority of Americans agree with progressive principles, and want the government to take a stronger role in the economy, writes Ruy Teixeira.
March 16, 2009
Our House in the Middle of Our Street is No Longer Our House
Here’s a news flash: The housing market is bad. Actually, it is really bad, historically, woefully bad. And, the bad news won’t stop coming. Housing wealth is dropping precipitously, families own ever smaller shares of their own homes, and home owners are falling behind in their mortgages in record numbers.
March 16, 2009
Sustainable Mortgage Modifications
Report from Andrew Jakabovics recommends setting clear benchmarks to measure progress and identifies possible next steps to contain the foreclosure crisis.
March 16, 2009
Live Nation Ticketmaster Merger Is Too Good To Be True
This merger appears to be a deal that is too good to be true. That’s because it is.
March 16, 2009
Analysis from a Trip to the Arab Gulf
I'm currently on a short visit to the Arab Gulf, organized by the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. It's the sort of study tour that DC think tank analysts, national newspaper columnists, and media pundits of all sorts engage in on a regular basis
March 16, 2009
Ask the Expert: President Obama's Education Priorities
Melissa Lazarín on what the budget blueprint reveals about what types of initiatives we should expect to see in the next year and how the budget will affect the No Child Left Behind Act.
March 15, 2009
Gone in 1.8 Seconds
A trillion here, a trillion there and all of a sudden you are talking real money. We are getting used to the “T” word. Over the past year and half—from the middle of 2007 through the end of 2008, when the crisis unfolded—the crisis in the housing market and in the stock market has cost American families a total of $15 trillion in 2008 dollars.
March 14, 2009
'Enemy combatants' no more
Late Friday, the Obama administration took another step toward following through on its intention to significantly change US detention policy by dropping the Bush administration's favoured description of the Guantánamo detainees as "enemy combatants". What follows in a filing in US district court, however, is disappointingly similar to the Bush administration's assertion of detention authority.
March 13, 2009
Matters of Conscience
Obama moves to reinstate the balance of conscience among doctors and patients rather than favor only one set of beliefs, observes Sally Steenland.
March 13, 2009
An Emerging Progressive Majority
Two CAP reports studying shifting trends in the electorate were released and discussed at an event Wednesday along with the launch of the CAP Progressive Studies Program.
March 13, 2009
Moving the Movement
Was Roe vs. Wade, once seen as a great victory for reproductive freedom, actually the beginning of the end for the women's movement?
March 13, 2009
Weekly Round Up: March 9 - 13, 2009
This week CAP looked at the emerging progressive majority in America, stem cells, rising unemployment, and partnerships and rivalry between the United States and Brazil.
March 12, 2009
Video: Sustainable Security in Action
Video documents a simulation where experts apply the sustainable security approach to foreign affairs to operations in Afghanistan.
March 12, 2009
Ask the Expert: Building a National Clean-Energy Smart Grid
Bracken Hendricks explains what the national clean-energy smart grid is, why we need it, and how we can implement it.
March 12, 2009
Think Again: Whose News Is It, Anyway?
Business news is increasingly aimed at investors, not citizens, a problem the industry must address to provide high-quality coverage, write Eric Alterman and Danielle Ivory.
March 12, 2009
The United States and Brazil: Two Perspectives on Dealing with Partnership and Rivalry
A report from Kellie Meiman and David Rothkopf presents two perspectives on dealing with partnership and rivalry between the United States and Brazil.
March 11, 2009
The Mirage Of Hispanic Job Growth
The recession of 2008 reveals the financial vulnerabilities Hispanic families face. Loan defaults, home foreclosures, and personal bankruptcies are rising for everyone, but are likely to be much higher for Hispanics than others. The reason: Economic distress is quickly materializing for many Hispanics due to sharply higher unemployment rates. By the end of 2008, one year after the recession began, the unemployment rate for Hispanics hit 9.2 percent, compared to 6.6 percent for whites.
March 11, 2009
Interactive Map: Unemployment Rising in Every State
New data show 12.5 million workers unemployed nationwide, and unemployment higher in every state than it was a year ago, write Heather Boushey and Nayla Kazzi.
March 11, 2009
Interactive Quiz: How Progressive Are You?
Take the poll based on one the Center for American Progress employed to gauge the political leanings of our nation.
March 11, 2009
New Progressive America
Report by Ruy Teixeira examines twenty years of demographic, geographic, and attitudinal changes in America that herald a new progressive majority.
March 11, 2009
State of American Political Ideology, 2009
Report by John Halpin and Karl Agne surveys political values and beliefs across the country.
March 11, 2009
Salvando los hogares estadounidenses: Lección No. 1
La Ley de Ayuda Familiar para Salvar la Vivienda del 2009 establece medidas clave para disminuir las ejecuciones hipotecarias y restaurar el mercado inmobiliario.
March 11, 2009
It’s Easy Being Green: The Solar Surge in Colorado
The outlook for solar power is bright in Colorado, writes CAP Senior Fellow Tom Kenworthy.
March 10, 2009
Students Can Improve National Service
Visiting Fellow Shirley Sagawa testifies before U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on college students and national service.
March 10, 2009
A Long-Term Vision for Homeland Security
The Obama administration should focus on long-term sustainability for the Department of Homeland Security, write P.J. Crowley and Lindsey Ross.
March 10, 2009
Harvesting Low-Hanging Energy Savings
New legislation proposed in Congress would establish a national energy efficiency resource standard, write Daniel J. Weiss and Kalen Pruss.
March 10, 2009
A Progressive Agenda for Antitrust Enforcement at the Antitrust Division
CAP Action Senior Fellow David Balto testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee on promoting a progressive agenda for antitrust enforcement.
March 9, 2009
More than Words for Women's Rights
On International Women’s Day, governments must recommit to protecting reproductive rights as human rights, writes Jacqueline Nolley Echegaray.
March 9, 2009
Lifting Restrictions on Stem Cell Research
Jonathan Moreno explains the significance of Barack Obama's lifting of restrictions on funding, and what the future might hold for stem cell research.
March 9, 2009
Eight Reasons to Applaud Action on Stem Cells
President Obama took an important step today by issuing an executive order that lifts the existing restriction on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.
March 9, 2009
Obama Lifts Stem Cell Restrictions
President Obama’s executive order undoing his predecessor’s ban on stem cell funding ensures the United States will live up to its potential in the field of regenerative medicine.
March 9, 2009
Building Democracy in Afghanistan
At a CAP event on February 26, Afghan Foreign Minister Dr. Rangin Dadfar Spanta focused on strategies to build democracy in Afghanistan.
March 9, 2009
President Obama's Priorities for the Economy
Michael Ettlinger discusses what President Obama's budget blueprint says about his priorities and how it will affect the economy.
March 9, 2009
Public Opinion Snapshot: Public to Conservatives: Get with the Program
Conservatives’ opposition to Obama’s spending plan is not in line with the public’s approval of broad spending plans, writes Ruy Teixeira.
March 6, 2009
Weekly Round Up: March 2 - 6, 2009
CAP provided analysis of equal rights events this week, produced an interactive map of air strikes in Pakistan, and continued its analysis of the recession.
March 6, 2009
Carbon Capture and Sequestration 101
The recovery package and budget blueprint have primed the debate on carbon capture and storage. Find out what it is and how it would be implemented.
March 6, 2009
For Workers, The Grim News Just Keeps Coming
There were 12.5 million workers unemployed in February, more than at any time since the BLS began tabulating this data just after World War II, writes Heather Boushey. writes Heather Boushey.
March 5, 2009
Think Again: The Other Meltdown: Conservatives
Conservatives gathered last week at CPAC to rediscover their ideological heart, but the result was more identity crisis than true direction, write Eric Alterman and Danielle Ivory.
March 5, 2009
Threats, Options, and Risks in Pakistan
U.S. Predator missile strikes in Pakistan have risen in the past year, writes Colin Cookman. But the question remains, how effective are they?
March 5, 2009
Interactive Map: U.S. Airstrikes in Pakistan on the Rise
Interactive map shows an increase in U.S. airstrikes in Pakistan, many of which have been targeted at key members of Al Qaeda.
March 4, 2009
Health Reform in an Aging America
CAPAF Senior Fellow Judy Feder testifies before the Senate Special Committee on Aging on the need to improve long-care services and supports.
March 4, 2009
It’s Easy Being Green: A New Military Mission: Clean Energy
The U.S. military is making a name for itself as an innovator in energy-saving initiatives and increased use of alternative fuels.
March 4, 2009
Ask the Expert: Getting the United States Out of Iraq
Lawrence J. Korb responds to President Obama's Iraq plan, whether it is likely to spur political action in Iraq, and whether we will be ready to leave in August 2010.
March 4, 2009
Helping Those Most in Need
President Obama's budget blueprint for 2010 ensures the fight against poverty in our country becomes a top priority, observes Joy Moses.
March 3, 2009
Expressing Faith Through Marriage Equality
Progressive religious leaders should be a strong voice in the fight for marriage equality, writes Sarah Dreier. Opportunities to do so abound this week.
March 3, 2009
Saving American Homes 101
The Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009 boasts key measures to slow foreclosures and help the housing market recover. We unpack the legislation for you.
March 3, 2009
Encouraging Family-Friendly Workplace Policies
CAPAF Senior Economist Heather Boushey testifies before the House Committee on Education and Labor on how workplaces can help families.
March 3, 2009
Benefits Denied
After paying into the system their whole lives, married same-sex couples will be denied thousands of dollars in Social Security benefits, write Ben Furnas and Josh Rosenthal.
March 2, 2009
Renewing Education's Promise
Improving alternate teacher certification programs can help attract young, motivated college graduates into tough schools around the country.
March 2, 2009
Public Opinion Snapshot: Public Backs Obama on the Economy
Polls show the public is optimistic about the next four years and Obama’s economic plan, especially in the wake of Tuesday’s speech, writes Ruy Teixeira.
March 2, 2009
The Costs of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell
The military’s outdated policy excludes qualified service members and cost taxpayers millions of dollars, while public opinion now supports repealing the policy.
March 2, 2009
The Week in Congress: March 2 - 6, 2009
This week Congress and the administration work on housing and hold hearings on health care and labor, plus voting rights and more work on the budget.
March 1, 2009
Conservatives, Stop Trashing Hard Working Americans
It's getting a little tiresome constantly hearing the voices of conservative America insulting hard working Americans. To listen to Rush Limbaugh, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich and their fellow travelers, we should believe that high earning Americans will go on strike if tax rates merely revert to 2000 levels.
February 27, 2009
Recovery and Reinvestment 102
A basic guide to all your questions about the economic downturn and the recovery and reinvestment plan passed by Congress.
February 4, 2009
Why the Fair Pay Act Isn't Enough
Pay discrimination is only a part of the problem.
March 1, 2007