Category: Timely Commentary & Analysis

Democracy at home is the source of American power abroad

By Peter Engelke, Julian Mueller-Kaler

The United States does have the power to both right its own ship and fully employ its example to good effect around the world, but only if its citizens stay engaged in the hard work of democratic self-governance.

Data gaps, siloed thinking, the Global Food Crisis, and what we can do

By Sahil Shah and Nell Watson

We currently face a complex global food crisis, driven by COVID-19, locusts, natural hazards, and a global recession. However, greater awareness of risks and impacts may attract ESG money from the finance sector, while the agriculture industry can be critical both as a source of data and as a data dissemination network.

US Q3 GDP: Good news, but old news

By Amanda Dickerson

The latest GDP numbers for the US are historic but misleading. Our analysis shows that this growth doesn’t convey the whole story.

#DFRLabCoffeeBreak with Rappler CEO, Maria Ressa

DFRLab's Director and Managing Editor, Graham Brookie catches up with Maria Ressa, CEO, co-founder and, journalist for Rappler to discuss global disinformation, her ongoing legal battle in the Philippines, and the new documentary about her, "A Thousand Cuts."

Transcript: A conversation with First Lady of Afghanistan Rula Ghani and former First Lady of the United States Laura Bush

By Atlantic Council

The South Asia Center and the George W. Bush Institute host a conversation with First Lady Rula Ghani and former First Lady Laura Bush to discuss strategies for ensuring long-term security without compromising on the rights of women and minorities as well as the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Event recap | Data, tech, and geopolitics in 2021 and beyond

By Hannah Biggs

In this episode of the GeoTech Hour, hosted Wednesday, October 28, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. EST panelists examined data, tech, and geopolitics as we approach 2021 and beyond. The discussion considered actions that could uplift societies and populations as a whole. The world will, we hope, be more stable in this upcoming year, and as a result, it is the ideal time for governments to learn lessons from 2020 and adjust course accordingly.

Confidence in Chinese sovereign debt shows decoupling is a long way off

By Hung Tran, Nitya Biyani

International investors have also been attracted to China’s domestic Renminbi (RMB)-denominated bond markets, estimated to raise their holdings to 3 trillion yuan ($448 billion) —a 50 percent increase which is quite impressive during the pandemic crisis. Growing confidence in Chinese sovereign debt shows decoupling is a long way off.

Belarus anti-Lukashenka media falls into confirmation bias traps

By Nika Aleksejeva

Independent media outlets NEXTA Live and TUT.by shared unverified information, including a video apparently recorded to undermine their credibility.