Today, Eyck Freymann and coauthors explain how the United States and its allies can prevail in the emerging quantum technology race; H.R. McMaster argues that sustained economic pressure will be critical to weakening Iran’s ability to threaten its neighbors and compel negotiations; Keith Whittington and Benjamin Keener examine the Supreme Court’s closely divided birthright citizenship ruling and the competing interpretations of the 14th Amendment; and Keith Rockwell explains why mounting tensions over trade, sovereignty, and industrial policy have left the World Trade Organization in need of fundamental reform.
Winning Future Tech
In a year full of talk about revolutions past (1776) and present (AI), there’s yet another upheaval to ponder: an emerging “quantum revolution” that will change the boundaries of science and industry as it deeply impacts global commerce and geopolitics—with the US, China, and European nations all making advancements in the field. In a new episode of Matters of Policy & Politics, Hoover fellow Eyck Freymann and three coauthors discuss their recent Hoover Institution paper detailing how America and its global friends and allies can win the “quantum race.” Among the topics visited: quantum’s promise in terms of improving current living conditions (for example, studying climate change) and its myriad challenges (most notably, data privacy and international espionage). Also discussed: the need for considerable investments in research, an emphasis on diplomacy and greater international cooperation, plus lessons learned from the semiconductor industry regarding supply chains, intellectual property, and geopolitical vulnerability. Listen here.
National Security
In an interview with CBS News, Senior Fellow H.R. McMaster argues that renewed US strikes are aimed at “degrading Iran’s ability to project power outside of its borders,” while economic pressure may prove even more consequential. McMaster says re-installing a blockade on Iranian traffic in the Strait of Hormuz could deprive the regime of roughly $450 million per day. McMaster also cautions against interpreting Iran’s release of a dual US-Iranian citizen as a genuine diplomatic opening. Pointing to Tehran’s long history of hostage-taking, he argues that the move is “probably a sign . . . they’re feeling a lot of pressure again.” Turning to Cuba, McMaster says the regime has “destroyed that country” and is no longer sustainable, commenting that Washington will increasingly combine diplomatic, economic, and potential military pressure to force change. Watch here.
Trade Policy
Serious negotiations for adapting World Trade Organization rules for new realities have yet to begin. At Freedom Frequency’s Commons Dispatch channel, Keith Rockwell, a former director and chief spokesperson of the WTO, contends that long-enshrined principles of multilateralism—consensus, nondiscrimination, preference for markets over government support, special concessions for developing countries—need to be hashed out during a time when the WTO is under great pressure. Widespread adoption of industrial policy, for instance, is unlikely to be reversed, especially during the Trump administration. At the same time, many countries are making use of smaller-group negotiations to work around trade rules they see as rigid and anachronistic. Data show that 72% of world trade still takes place under WTO auspices, and flexibility and pragmatism can preserve that system if nations do the work of updating it. Read more here.
Constitutional Law
In a closely divided decision, the Supreme Court struck down President Trump’s executive order restricting birthright citizenship, holding that it violated the 14th Amendment’s Citizenship Clause. The ruling exposed deep disagreements among the justices over constitutional history, originalism, and the meaning of the phrase “subject to the jurisdiction,” ensuring that the scope of birthright citizenship will remain a central legal and political debate. Writing in The Regulatory Review, Hoover Visiting Fellow Keith Whittington and coauthor Benjamin Keener maintain that the Court reached the correct decision in Trump v. Barbara. At the same time, they contend that the case tested the limits of both history and originalism, revealing the competing interpretive approaches reflected across the justices' six opinions. Read more here.
The Environment
As smoke from Canadian wildfires blankets parts of the United States, affecting the health and quality of life of millions, Hoover senior fellow Matthew Kahn argues that policymakers should pair wildfire prevention with practical adaptation strategies. Writing on his Substack, Kahn contends that the US can help reduce future smoke by investing in Canadian wildfire detection, forest management, and fire suppression while using data-driven experiments to identify the most cost-effective interventions. Kahn also emphasizes that Americans are not powerless in the face of worsening wildfire smoke. He points to increasingly affordable air filtration, spending more time indoors, and greater use of remote work as ways to reduce exposure to dangerous PM2.5 pollution. Together, he argues, improved prevention at the source and local adaptations can lessen the economic and health costs of increasingly frequent wildfire smoke events. Read more here.
Related Commentary