Professor Hilary Appel joined “The Morning” where she discussed what can be expected from peace talks in Saudi Arabia as the U.S. believes Ukraine is looking forward to ending its conflict with Russia. She commented that even as European powers have established new spending plans to support Ukraine, their intelligence capabilities and artillery are subpar to those which U.S. powers have withdrawn.

Professor Hilary Appel and CMC student Madeline Dornfeld ’25 published a policy memo about Ukraine’s recently improved prospects of joining the European Union. 

Professor Minxin Pei was featured in a podcast interview with Chris Gilson on U.S.-China relations under the new Trump administration. Professor Pei spoke about China’s advanced surveillance system as it is supplemented by China’s technological advances, preventative repression, and ways China might respond to U.S. escalation on trade.

Professor Jack Pitney commented in a story on navigating the dynamic relationship between President Donald Trump and Governor Gavin Newsom in light of the California wildfires. Pitney stated that Newsom is in a difficult spot, as he is under pressure to attack Trump as a political figure, while he must also appeal to Trump for federal aid to relieve California.

Professor Minxin Pei published an article on the significant decisions Chinese President Xi Jinping must make, which will direct China’s trajectory the decade to come. He wrote about Sino-American tensions, rising tariffs on Chinese imports by Trump, the forecasted tightening of U.S. controls on advanced technology, and the state of China’s fragile economy. He argued that Xi must reshape China’s growth model, shifting to a reliance on exports in household consumption.

Professor Minxin Pei published an article on Chinese President Xi Jinping’s move to partner with dictator Bashar al-Assad last year, which soon collapsed. Professor Pei considers the low level of success Xi has met with in aligning China with other autocratic regimes such as Syria, Iran, and Venezuela, which share in opposition to a U.S.-led world order. He wrote that China’s fondness for autocracy blinds it to the “common flaws” of dictatorships, and should avoid “wishful thinking” when choosing its autocratic partners.

Professor Minxin Pei wrote about the corruption that continues to plague the Chinese military, due to a promotion system that prizes loyalty above competence. 

Professor Jack Pitney was quoted in an article noting the crucial role California played in setting the U.S. House of Representative’s political balance. He noted that Democrats need to pay attention to issues around crime and cost of living, even in states where Democrats hold a majority, because where they had hoped their stronghold in California would carry them into a house majority, their gains were evidently not strong enough. 

Professor Minxin Pei wrote an article on the opportunity China must take the place of the United States in the world as a global leader. As President-elect Trump is bound to apply unilateralist policies, weakening global allies, Professor Pei argued that this will leave a vacuum in global leadership. However, like last time, China will fail to present itself as a “reasonable and convincing alternative.” He attributed this to China’s inability and unwillingness to sustain momentum behind multilateral efforts to combat climate change, promote free trade, protect public health, and more.

In this article, Professor Minxin Pei cautioned President-elect Trump and Elon Musk against the consequences of fulfilling the role of a governmental revolutionary, undermining a “deep state” and challenging bureaucratic pillars. To illustrate the potential destruction this could bring, Professor Pei recalled the dictatorship of Mao Zedong, which resulted in 1966-1976 Cultural Revolution.