2026 CAP IDEAS Conference Past EventMay 19, 2026 2026 CAP IDEAS Conference The Center for American Progress’ signature event, now celebrating its 15th year, where CAP convenes the big thinkers and doers on the center-left for a day of not only identifying the problems facing Americans, but also sharing solutions to improve the lives of all Americans. Online via Zoom May 19, 2026
Orbán Is Gone, But Europe’s Divisions Remain ArticleApril 30, 2026 Orbán Is Gone, But Europe’s Divisions Remain Viktor Orbán’s political demise in Hungary is forcing the European Union to confront its internal divisions more directly than it has in years. Apr 30, 2026 Luke Zahner
An EU-China bridge is designed to crumble In the NewsApril 20, 2026 An EU-China bridge is designed to crumble In an op-ed published by Euractiv, Robert Benson explains why Europe should not let its prosperity be contingent on Beijing’s tolerance. Apr 20, 2026 Euractiv Robert Benson
Exporting MAGA Ideology: Why Orbán’s Loss Doesn’t End the Threat Posed by the Extreme Right ArticleApril 14, 2026 Exporting MAGA Ideology: Why Orbán’s Loss Doesn’t End the Threat Posed by the Extreme Right Viktor Orbán’s defeat in Hungary dealt a real blow to MAGA’s international project, but it will not stop the Trump administration from using American power to promote far-right allies abroad. Apr 14, 2026 Damian Murphy, Robert Benson
Orbán’s Defeat in the Hungarian Election Signals a Blow to the Global Authoritarian Movement ArticleApril 14, 2026 Orbán’s Defeat in the Hungarian Election Signals a Blow to the Global Authoritarian Movement Viktor Orbán’s defeat in Hungary signals a repudiation of corrupt governance and a blow for the global authoritarian movement—including Trump. Apr 14, 2026 Robert Benson, Gréta Bedekovics
Trading Offshore Wind for LNG: A Lose-Lose for Americans ArticleMarch 31, 2026 Trading Offshore Wind for LNG: A Lose-Lose for Americans The Interior Department’s unprecedented deal with TotalEnergies redirects nearly $1 billion in taxpayer dollars away from reliable domestic electricity production and into volatile fossil fuels destined for export, signaling a new, corrupt approach to depriving the nation’s grid of new sources of clean energy. Mar 31, 2026 Jasia Smith, Mike Williams
Defeating Iranian drones means listening to Ukraine In the NewsMarch 12, 2026 Defeating Iranian drones means listening to Ukraine Luke Zahner and Robert Benson write in Stars and Stripes about how Iranian-designed drones are changing modern warfare and what Ukraine has learned about combating them. Mar 12, 2026 Stars and Stripes Luke Zahner, Robert Benson
Iran Spotlights How Trump Is Fracturing the Transatlantic Alliance ArticleMarch 12, 2026 Iran Spotlights How Trump Is Fracturing the Transatlantic Alliance President Trump’s war with Iran is exposing how Europe has grown too divided and too dependent to resist an increasingly coercive transatlantic alliance. Mar 12, 2026 Robert Benson
The Trump Administration’s Trade Deals Are the Epitome of Corporate-Style ‘Short-Termism’ in Foreign Policy, and the American People Will Pay the Price for Years To Come ArticleMarch 3, 2026 The Trump Administration’s Trade Deals Are the Epitome of Corporate-Style ‘Short-Termism’ in Foreign Policy, and the American People Will Pay the Price for Years To Come The lasting consequences of the Trump administration’s trade policy demonstrate the cost of headline-chasing leadership. Mar 3, 2026 Ryan Mulholland
10 Policy Recommendations To Address Cellphone Use in Schools ReportFebruary 4, 2026 10 Policy Recommendations To Address Cellphone Use in Schools As school leaders raise concerns about student cellphone use in schools, policymakers can look to domestic and international examples to create student-centered policies. Feb 4, 2026 Weadé James, Paige Shoemaker DeMio
How Donald Trump’s Trade Folly Is Costing Americans In the NewsFebruary 3, 2026 How Donald Trump’s Trade Folly Is Costing Americans In an op-ed published by The National Interest, Ryan Mulholland describes Trump administration’s strong-arm approach to international trade policy and how his tariffs are costing the American people. Feb 3, 2026 The National Interest Ryan Mulholland
The Trump Administration’s Fixation on Greenland Reinforces That Climate Change Is a Threat to Americans ArticleFebruary 2, 2026 The Trump Administration’s Fixation on Greenland Reinforces That Climate Change Is a Threat to Americans Climate change is causing the Arctic to warm at an alarming rate, threatening to heighten geopolitical tensions in the region; yet instead of combating this threat, President Trump has halted all U.S. international climate action, putting Americans’ security at risk. Feb 2, 2026 Courtney Federico
Trump’s Greenland Threats Reveal the Costs of Overt Aggression ArticleJanuary 22, 2026 Trump’s Greenland Threats Reveal the Costs of Overt Aggression By normalizing coercion over cooperation, the United States forfeits trust, fractures alliances, and invites a more dangerous world. Jan 22, 2026 Damian Murphy, Robert Benson
Illiberal International: The Transatlantic Right’s Challenge to Democracy In the NewsJanuary 20, 2026 Illiberal International: The Transatlantic Right’s Challenge to Democracy In a chapter published in the European Center for Populism Studies’ report “Populism and the Future of Transatlantic Relations: Challenges and Policy Options,” Robert Benson investigates the transatlantic dimensions of far-right political mobilization, tracing the networks linking populist and authoritarian actors across Europe and the United States. Jan 20, 2026 European Center for Populism Studies Robert Benson
Why Ukraine Matters to the United States ArticleJanuary 14, 2026 Why Ukraine Matters to the United States This is not charity—America’s prosperity and security are at stake. Jan 14, 2026 Luke Zahner
Trump’s 28-Point Peace Plan Will Invite the Next War ArticleNovember 21, 2025 Trump’s 28-Point Peace Plan Will Invite the Next War The Trump administration’s leaked “peace plan” hands Moscow strategic victories, forces Ukraine to swallow unilateral concessions, and sets the stage for a deadlier future war. Nov 21, 2025 Robert Benson, Damian Murphy
What will the situation in Russia and Ukraine look like five years from now? In the NewsNovember 21, 2025 What will the situation in Russia and Ukraine look like five years from now? Robert Benson joined a symposium for NOTUS, in which he describes how the Russia-Ukraine conflict may look five years from now. Nov 21, 2025 NOTUS Robert Benson
Video Explainer: Trump’s Attacks on Multilateralism Make America Weaker, Not Stronger VideoNovember 20, 2025 Video Explainer: Trump’s Attacks on Multilateralism Make America Weaker, Not Stronger Multilateralism does not restrain the United States on the world stage; it provides a means to support the peace, security, and prosperity of the American people. Nov 20, 2025 Ryan Mulholland, Damian Murphy, Hai-Lam Phan, 1 More Olivia Mowry
Trump’s Sanctions on Russia Are Serious—Enforcement Will Decide Whether They Work ArticleNovember 18, 2025 Trump’s Sanctions on Russia Are Serious—Enforcement Will Decide Whether They Work President Trump’s new sanctions finally target the heart of Russia’s war machine, but only aggressive, disciplined enforcement will decide whether they actually bite. Nov 18, 2025 Robert Benson
Trump’s Attacks on Multilateralism Make America Weaker, Not Stronger ArticleNovember 13, 2025 Trump’s Attacks on Multilateralism Make America Weaker, Not Stronger Multilateral organizations like the United Nations and World Health Organization and international forums like the G20 and G7 do not restrain the United States on the world stage; they provide a means to support the peace, security, and prosperity of the American people. Nov 13, 2025 Ryan Mulholland, Damian Murphy
Beyond participation trophies: The EU’s credibility crisis in the Western Balkans In the NewsOctober 6, 2025 Beyond participation trophies: The EU’s credibility crisis in the Western Balkans In an op-ed published by Euractiv, Robert Benson argues that the EU cannot credibly preach democracy abroad while tolerating stagnation in its own neighborhood. Oct 6, 2025 Euractiv Robert Benson
The Transatlantic Rift: The Trump Administration’s Unilateralism Undermines a Coordinated China Strategy and Weakens America ArticleSeptember 16, 2025 The Transatlantic Rift: The Trump Administration’s Unilateralism Undermines a Coordinated China Strategy and Weakens America The Trump administration has shattered the transatlantic alliance, squandering a key edge over China and leaving America weaker, poorer, and more isolated. Sep 16, 2025 Michael Clark
The Turnberry trap: Trump, Europe and global reordering In the NewsSeptember 3, 2025 The Turnberry trap: Trump, Europe and global reordering In an op-ed published by Politico Europe, Robert Benson argues that President Trump's recent trade deal with the European Union represents an alarming global reordering—one that empowers bullying, sows division, and destabilizes international norms. Sep 3, 2025 Politico Europe Robert Benson
The Trump-Putin Alaska Meeting: Preventing a Surrender Summit ArticleAugust 12, 2025 The Trump-Putin Alaska Meeting: Preventing a Surrender Summit Trump’s planned Alaska meeting with Putin risks becoming a “surrender summit” that pressures Ukraine into abandoning NATO aspirations and accepting imposed neutrality, rewarding Russian aggression. Aug 12, 2025 Robert Benson, Damian Murphy