A Unique Military Force: The U.S. National Guard
The National Guard is a special part of the U.S. military that answers to both state governors and the president. In some instances, how leaders have used the Guard has generated controversy, particu…
Backgrounder by Anshu Siripurapu
How COVID-19 Is Harming State and City Budgets
The coronavirus pandemic is placing enormous budget pressure on state and local governments, threatening deep and potentially lasting cuts to education, infrastructure, and other important investment…
Backgrounder by Anshu Siripurapu and Jonathan Masters
What Is U.S. Policy on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict?
The United States has long tried to negotiate a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but several factors, including deep divisions between and within the parties and declining U.S. interes…
Backgrounder by Kali Robinson
What Does the CDC Do?
The federal agency has a broad mandate to protect Americans' health and an expansive global reach. But the COVID-19 pandemic has emerged as one of its most daunting challenges.
Backgrounder by Claire Felter
What Is the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)?
Though President Trump withdrew from the TPP, the remaining members of the trade pact have forged ahead with a new version, leaving the U.S. role in the Asia-Pacific in question.
Backgrounder by James McBride, Andrew Chatzky, and Anshu Siripurapu
Puerto Rico: A U.S. Territory in Crisis
The Caribbean island, which shares a close yet fraught relationship with the rest of the United States, faces a multilayered economic and social crisis, rooted in long-standing policy and compounded …
Backgrounder by Amelia Cheatham
What Is ASEAN?
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is a regional organization that brings together disparate neighbors to address economic, security, and political issues, but the group's impact remains limited.
Backgrounder by Lindsay Maizland and Eleanor Albert
Space Exploration and U.S. Competitiveness
U.S. space exploration inspired a generation of students and innovators, but NASA's role has diminished, and the number of global space competitors is growing.
Backgrounder by Steven J. Markovich, Andrew Chatzky, and Anshu Siripurapu Renewing America
North Korea's Military Capabilities
Kim Jong-un has accelerated North Korea's buildup of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction, while also modernizing its large conventional force.
What's Next for the WTO?
President Trump's decision to levy tariffs on China highlights concern about the ongoing role of the WTO and the future of global trade rules.
Backgrounder by James McBride and Andrew Chatzky