Weekly Round Up: July 20 - July 24

Energy and Environment

CAP Launches Clean-Energy Resource Center

The Center launched The Hub, a resource center for information on a clean-energy economy. The Hub’s first five issue briefs covered how clean-energy investments create jobs; how a clean-energy economy will save consumers money; why the costs of inaction exceed those of action; how we can regain clean-energy leadership; and how private investment fuels clean-energy industries.

This week’s It’s Easy Being Green explained how some music festivals are making sustainability part of the event.

National Security

Pakistan's Militant Leaders

Pakistan remained to be at center of CAP national security work as it released a map displaying the leaders of Pakistan’s militant groups and their locations. For more on those leaders, see the in-depth profiles of those commanders by Caroline Wadhams and Colin Cookman. Also, Brian Katulis and Peter Juul discussed the details the Pakistan Counterinsurgency Fund that is part of the 2010 defense authorization bill.

Samuel Charap explained how Vice President Joe Biden tried to alleviate fears of a “grand bargain” between the United States and Russia when he travelled to Europe this week.

Katulis and Emily Hogin discussed the importance of follow-up mechanisms for this week’s talks between President Obama and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Also, CAP underscored the importance of applying human rights standards in the United States, and Dr. Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite gave an inside look at sustainable security in action in Afghanistan.

Economy

Women Still Bring Home the Bacon

The employment situation over the past 19 months has dramatically changed for millions of Americans, according to Heather Boushey, who explained that the Great Recession is increasingly hurting families who must rely more and more on wives’ incomes because their husbands are unemployed. Also, Ann O’Leary discussed the federal government’s role as employer and contractor in improving family-friendly policies.

Domestic

New Health Care Cost Estimates Show Skyrocketing Premiums

As debate over health care continued on Capitol Hill, the Center continued its work on providing health care for every American. David Cutler argued that premiums are out of control and will nearly double by 2019. Eric Alterman explained why the U.S. health care system isn’t as good as conservatives claim it is. Also, Karen Davenport explained how we can get more value out of our health care system in an Ask the Expert video.

Finally, Reece Rushing argued for a new way forward on reproductive health, which he said is headed in the wrong direction. And Marguerite Roza and Raegan Miller gave a state-by-state analysis of teacher compensation for master’s degrees.