The Brookings Institution

Earlier this week, Manann Donoghoe, Samantha Gross, and Adie Tomer joined policymakers on Capitol Hill to examine how rising fuel costs are straining household budgets across the country—and what Congress can do about it. The discussion covered how surge-driven gas prices, accelerated by instability in the Middle East, are forcing lower-income families to make difficult trade-offs between transportation and other basic needs—and why the policy window to respond is narrow. Read more Brookings research on energy and security: https://brook.gs/42SiubF

The Strait of Hormuz closure has triggered one of the largest energy disruptions the world has seen in decades—and the effects are already reaching American households. Adie Tomer and Samantha Gross examine why global oil prices haven't spiked as sharply as feared, why that relief is temporary, and how higher costs are beginning to ripple through the U.S. economy—from gas prices to food and plastics. Listen to the full conversation: https://brook.gs/4nxcsXt

How should the United States approach one of the world’s most consequential security flashpoints? After President Trump's Beijing visit, Ryan Hass argues that treating arms sales as leverage with China is "not just a policy shift. It is a shift from deterrence to dealmaking in a domain where there is no deal to be made." The path forward requires reinforcing deterrence, not concessions, he argues.

Kevin Warsh is stepping into a new job at the Federal Reserve at a moment of heightened scrutiny—and a new survey of Fed watchers shows just how much is on his plate. Academic and private-sector observers give current Fed communications a median grade of B+, but three-quarters rate the threat to Fed independence as a 4 or 5 on a 5-point scale. The most common challenge cited for Warsh: keeping monetary policy free from White House influence. Sarah Ahmad and David Wessel break down which communication tools Fed watchers value most, where confidence is slipping, and what the new Chair will need to navigate.

AI competition between the U.S. and China is intense—but both countries face the same threat from terrorist groups and criminal networks that could use AI to launch cyberattacks or develop biological weapons. With the Trump-Xi summit underway, Kyle Chan and Ryan Hass examine whether the two countries can find common ground on AI safety without compromising their strategic interests. Their answer: yes—and here's how: https://brook.gs/42kiNMb

The Trump-Xi summit is here. What's really driving this meeting—and what should we expect from it? Ryan Hass, Jonathan Czin, Patricia M Kim, and Kyle Chan tackle those questions in The Beijing Brief, a new podcast dedicated to making sense of the U.S.-China relationship. From trade pressures to global instability, they break down the forces pulling Washington and Beijing together right now. Listen: https://brook.gs/4bvsnRH

With President Trump set to meet President Xi Jinping in Beijing on May 14-15, nine Brookings experts assess what the summit could—and realistically won't—achieve. From AI safety dialogue and Taiwan's uncertain status, to fentanyl cooperation, energy markets, and the prospects for a durable trade truce, the issues on the table are consequential and complex. Ryan Hass, Kyle Chan, Vanda Felbab-Brown, Jonathan Czin, Richard C. Bush, Yingyi Ma, Scott M. Moore, Susan A. Thornton, and Michael O'Hanlon break it down: https://brook.gs/4uyat7D

What should guide America's approach to the next phase of U.S.-China strategic competition? On May 11, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and Sen. Thom Tillis join Ryan Hass at Brookings to discuss the evolving congressional approach to this challenge—and share key takeaways from their recent congressional delegation to Asia. The conversation is part of a new initiative developing bold, practical policy recommendations to strengthen U.S. strategic advantages across technological, military, and diplomatic domains. Register to attend in person or watch online: https://brook.gs/4wfwpG0

About a fifth of college students receive state financial aid, including promise programs that cover tuition and fees for low-income students in a specific area. But not all of these programs deliver equal results. In new research on state higher education spending, Katharine Meyer and Isabel McMullen examine how "free college" programs affect student outcomes, identify the design and support features associated with stronger impacts, and offer policy considerations for updating state promise programs to meet a changing higher education landscape: https://brook.gs/49feEgc