The President’s $1.5 Trillion Pentagon Budget Will Not Make the Country Safer ArticleJune 1, 2026 The President’s $1.5 Trillion Pentagon Budget Will Not Make the Country Safer To protect national security, the United States needs a strategic and disciplined approach to defense spending—not the Trump administration’s $1.5 trillion budget, which fails to match resources to strategy, needlessly inviting waste and increasing the deficit. Jun 1, 2026 Allison McManus, Michael Schiffer, Steven Kosiak
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
How Trump’s $500 Million UAE Crypto Deal Trades U.S. National Security for Family Profit ArticleMay 8, 2026 How Trump’s $500 Million UAE Crypto Deal Trades U.S. National Security for Family Profit Days before Trump’s second inauguration, the United Arab Emirates’ “Spy Sheikh” secretly bought 49 percent of the Trump family’s crypto firm. Months later, the administration handed over America’s most sensitive AI chips technology to the United Arab Emirates despite national security concerns. This isn’t just profiteering; it’s a betrayal of U.S. national security. May 8, 2026 Allison McManus, Andrew Miller, Dan Herman
India’s Elections and Global Implications Past EventMay 7, 2026 India’s Elections and Global Implications Please join the Center for American Progress and Hindus for Human Rights for a panel of democracy and foreign policy experts shedding light on the recent elections, the significance for India's global ambitions, and implications for future U.S.-India relations. Online only May 7, 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
State-by-State Increases in Gas Prices Since Trump’s War on Iran ArticleApril 23, 2026 State-by-State Increases in Gas Prices Since Trump’s War on Iran Gasoline prices have risen sharply since before the war, costing drivers across the United States about $38 more per month. Apr 23, 2026 Emily Gee
Trump’s War of Choice With Iran Threatens a Global Hunger and Health Crisis ArticleApril 22, 2026 Trump’s War of Choice With Iran Threatens a Global Hunger and Health Crisis President Trump’s war of choice is generating a devastating food and health crisis, made far worse by his administration’s gutting of the global humanitarian system. Apr 22, 2026 Jessica Keller, Ryan Mulholland
The Human and Environmental Costs of the War in Iran ReportApril 20, 2026 The Human and Environmental Costs of the War in Iran Civilians have suffered devastating health and environmental costs as a result of the U.S. and Israeli war with Iran, from mass displacement and polluted air and water to long-term health risks for future generations. Apr 20, 2026 Kalina Gibson, Dawn Le, Ariana Sharghi
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
The U.S.-Israeli War: Destabilizing Lebanon and the Broader Region Past EventApril 8, 2026 The U.S.-Israeli War: Destabilizing Lebanon and the Broader Region Please join the Center for American Progress for a virtual conversation with expert panelists based in the region who will explore the regional political, security, and humanitarian dynamics of the U.S.-Israeli war, with a particular focus on Lebanon. Online via Zoom Apr 8, 2026
The Dangers of Hegseth’s “Warfighter” Ethos In the NewsApril 7, 2026 The Dangers of Hegseth’s “Warfighter” Ethos In an op-ed for Just Security, Allison McManus outlines the dangers of Pete Hegseth's approach to foreign policy, arguing its "maximum lethality" ethos fails to leverage the real strengths of the U.S. armed forces. Apr 7, 2026 Just Security Allison McManus
Trump’s ‘God Squad’ Is Killing Whales Under the Guise of National Security ArticleApril 7, 2026 Trump’s ‘God Squad’ Is Killing Whales Under the Guise of National Security Under the pretense of national security, and amid a self-inflicted energy crisis of President Trump’s own making, the administration’s “God Squad” has exempted all Gulf of Mexico oil and gas activities from the Endangered Species Act, risking the extinction of critically endangered species such as the Rice’s whale. Apr 7, 2026 Angelo Villagomez, Margaret Cooney
By the End of the Week, the Trump Administration’s War in Iran Will Likely Have Cost $25 Billion ArticleMarch 24, 2026 By the End of the Week, the Trump Administration’s War in Iran Will Likely Have Cost $25 Billion The administration reportedly plans to request another $200 billion to fund the war in Iran. What could that much money buy instead? Mar 24, 2026 Bobby Kogan
Loss of Innocents: The U.S. Strike on an Iranian School and Implications for America at War Past EventMarch 18, 2026 Loss of Innocents: The U.S. Strike on an Iranian School and Implications for America at War Please join CAP for an online discussion on this tragedy and its implications for the U.S. military and the future of warfare. Online via Zoom Mar 18, 2026
Diplomatic Malpractice: The Trump Administration’s Failure To Protect and Evacuate U.S. Embassies and Citizens in the Middle East Past EventMarch 12, 2026 Diplomatic Malpractice: The Trump Administration’s Failure To Protect and Evacuate U.S. Embassies and Citizens in the Middle East Please join the Center for American Progress for a virtual event on Thursday, March 12 at 2:30 p.m. EDT discussing this dereliction of duty. Online only via Zoom Mar 12, 2026
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
Congress Must Stop Prediction Market Corruption ArticleMarch 11, 2026 Congress Must Stop Prediction Market Corruption Recent reports of prediction market bets made ahead of surprise government actions point to potentially corrupt use of insider information for personal profit. Congress must put an end to this practice. Mar 11, 2026 Alexandra Thornton
Regional Recalibration After the Iran Strikes ArticleMarch 11, 2026 Regional Recalibration After the Iran Strikes President Donald Trump’s decision to strike Iran has upended a careful balance regional actors have long sought to strike between the United States, Israel, and Iran. Mar 11, 2026 H.A. Hellyer
Trump’s Short-Sighted Africa Strategy ArticleMarch 9, 2026 Trump’s Short-Sighted Africa Strategy The Trump administration views the African continent as “peripheral” to U.S. interests—a gross strategic miscalculation that will set back America’s security, competitiveness, and influence in the years to come. Mar 9, 2026 Melissa Zelikoff
The Case Against Trump’s War of Choice in Iran ArticleMarch 5, 2026 The Case Against Trump’s War of Choice in Iran In starting war with Iran, President Trump and his administration have knowingly put service members in harm’s way, inflicted suffering on innocent civilians, and left the American people to bear the financial burden of this needless conflict. Mar 5, 2026 Damian Murphy, Allison McManus, Andrew Miller
Counterpoint: War With Iran Means Short-Term and Long-Term Damage In the NewsMarch 4, 2026 Counterpoint: War With Iran Means Short-Term and Long-Term Damage In an op-ed for Inside Sources, Damian Murphy and Andrew Miller argue that the longer the war in Iran continues, the greater the long-term repercussions will be. Mar 4, 2026 Inside Sources Damian Murphy, Andrew Miller
The Trump Administration’s Reckless War in Iran Has Already Cost More Than $5 Billion ArticleMarch 3, 2026 The Trump Administration’s Reckless War in Iran Has Already Cost More Than $5 Billion The Trump administration has launched a reckless war of choice in the Middle East, which has already imposed an estimated cost of more than $5 billion on the American taxpayer. Mar 3, 2026 Allison McManus
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
An Update on Military Actions in Iran Past EventMarch 2, 2026 An Update on Military Actions in Iran CAP experts are ready to fill you in on the details and repercussions of military actions in Iran. Online via Zoom Mar 2, 2026
Are the Iran strikes a good idea? In the NewsMarch 1, 2026 Are the Iran strikes a good idea? In a symposium for NOTUS, Damian Murphy argued that the U.S. strikes on Iran were wrong and unlawful, adding that American voters don't support regime change wars. Mar 1, 2026 NOTUS Damian Murphy
What Both Anthropic and the Pentagon Get Wrong In the NewsFebruary 27, 2026 What Both Anthropic and the Pentagon Get Wrong In an op-ed for The New York Times, Frank Kendall writes about the standoff between Anthropic and the Department of Defense, arguing that Congress must pass strong regulations on artificial intelligence to ensure a level playing field and balanced interests. Feb 27, 2026 The New York Times Frank Kendall
Trump Is Potentially Leading the United States Into an Unnecessary War With Iran ArticleFebruary 27, 2026 Trump Is Potentially Leading the United States Into an Unnecessary War With Iran President Donald Trump is poised to carry out military action in Iran, but intervention is unlikely to achieve its objectives and brings grave risks of retaliation and a longer regional entanglement. Feb 27, 2026 Andrew Miller
Our Defense Industrial Base—We Get What We Pay For In the NewsFebruary 19, 2026 Our Defense Industrial Base—We Get What We Pay For Frank Kendall writes for the Center for a New American Security about how to address issues with the defense industrial base. Feb 19, 2026 Center for a New American Security Frank Kendall
How Trump’s Unilateral Foreign Policy Has Eroded American Power ArticleFebruary 19, 2026 How Trump’s Unilateral Foreign Policy Has Eroded American Power In his State of the Union address, President Trump will attempt to project strength. But while his administration’s unilateral foreign policy—from military strikes on Iran to reckless tariffs—expands the bounds of executive power, it has only weakened the United States on the world stage. Feb 19, 2026 Allison McManus, Dawn Le
Reining in DHS and Restoring Accountability Past EventFebruary 4, 2026 Reining in DHS and Restoring Accountability Join a virtual discussion with the authors of five commonsense reforms to rein in DHS. Feb 4, 2026
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
Congress Must Reestablish Its Role in Foreign Policy To Rein In ‘Militarist in Chief’ Donald Trump ArticleFebruary 2, 2026 Congress Must Reestablish Its Role in Foreign Policy To Rein In ‘Militarist in Chief’ Donald Trump From Venezuela to Greenland to Iran, President Trump has carried out a militarized, imperial foreign policy that has sidelined cost-effective diplomatic tools and relied almost solely on force or coercion. Feb 2, 2026 Andrew Miller
Risk, Order, and Power: The Saudi-Emirati Divergence In the NewsJanuary 30, 2026 Risk, Order, and Power: The Saudi-Emirati Divergence H.A. Hellyer writes on the tense relationship between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates and how it could affect the United States. Jan 30, 2026 War on the Rocks H.A. Hellyer
The Trump Administration’s ICE and CBP Have Become a Threat to Americans: Congress Must Ensure That DHS Follows the Law and Adopts Commonsense Reforms ArticleJanuary 28, 2026 The Trump Administration’s ICE and CBP Have Become a Threat to Americans: Congress Must Ensure That DHS Follows the Law and Adopts Commonsense Reforms The Trump administration’s Department of Homeland Security is out of control, endangering the well-being and lives of Americans. DHS must follow the law and fulfill its role to enhance—not compromise—the security of Americans and the homeland. Jan 28, 2026 Dan Herman, Allie Preston, Gréta Bedekovics, 5 More Ben Olinsky, Ben Greenho, Rosa Barrientos-Ferrer, Silva Mathema, Debu Gandhi
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