Schar School in the News: December 8th to 12th, 2025

Airmail News: Louise Shelley tells the international media outlet that pardoning drug lords is tied to crypto schemes.

Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: Gregory Koblentz writes about possible chemical weapons in post-Assad Syria.

The Conversation: PhD student Loveline Phillips and University Professor Faye Taxman write about discovering a program in Florida that reduces pre-term birth rates—and how others should copy it.

ISPI: Mark N. Katz tells the Italian political studies institute that the Gulf governments may not have liked Syria’s Assad but they respected Putin for protecting him.

Kyiv Post: Richard Kauzlarich comments on the arrest and detention of a political opponent of Azerbaijani president Aliyev.

Virginia Business: James Finkelstein says Gov.-elect Spanberger’s opportunity to appoint a majority of members of university boards of visitors is unprecedented.

Roll Call: Why a deal isn’t coming together on health care (Op-ed by Steven Pearlstein).

Government Technology: Alan R. Shark makes 10 rather bold predictions about AI, data centers, and workplace issues in the coming year.

The New York Times (audio option): Must the military disobey unlawful orders? Pam Bondi has said yes (Comments from 2016 by Michael V. Hayden cited). Also in GV Wire, QWER (Romania), and other media outlets.

Domino Theory: Michael Hunzeker says a stockpile of drones might not be sufficient for Taiwan’s defense. Also mentioned in SCMP, Minutové Zprávy, Naval News, and others.

Argus Leader (South Dakota): Judith Wilde and James Finkelstein weigh in on South Dakota university foundations purchasing millions of dollars’ worth of property.

Law360: David Brunori writes about state tax rankings, plastic bag taxes, and changes in SALT.

Taipei Times: Gerrit van der Wees takes exception to China leader Xi’s comment that Taiwan has always been part of China.

Orlando Sentinel (Tampa Bay Times pickup; subscription may be required): UF’s presidential salary has exploded in the last 20 years (Judith Wilde quoted). Also in The South Florida Sun Sentinel.

ExBulletin: Strengthening our footprint in South Asia: Trkiye and Pakistan explore new energy ties (Umud Shokri quoted).

Politico (subscription may be required): Norway deploys ‘thirst trap diplomacy’ (The Hayden Center mentioned).

RFE/RL: Richard Kaularich is quoted regarding the arrest of an Azerbaijan political opponent.

House Beautiful: Will living near a data center decrease your property value? Real estate experts weigh in (A 2025 study by the Center for Regional Analysis cited).

The Richmond Times-Dispatch (audio option): Four issues that will challenge Democrats as they take the reins in Virginia: Guest column (Op-ed by Mark J. Rozell).

Route Fifty: AI as a thought processor: Implications for learning and understanding (Op-ed by Alan R. Shark).

CNN (video): Ex-FBI Director: Rioters drunk on lies and propaganda (Andrew McCabe interviewed). Also in The Latest Nigerian News.

Austin American-Statesman (subscription required; Austin, TX): UT provost taps months-old firm to lead dean search as faculty demand transparency (Judith Wilde quoted).

WVTF (Virginia’s Public Radio; audio option): George Mason University students tried to increase turnout there … and it worked (Students, and government and international politics majors Rithvik Hari, Jerusalem Mekonnen, and Skylar Ringo, quoted, and their research cited).

CNN (video): Law enforcement names suspect in DC pipe bomb case (Andrew McCabe interviewed).

The Daily Progress (The Richmond Times-Dispatch pickup; subscription may be required; audio option): Judith Wilde: UVA should delay naming its next president; why patience beats political urgency (Op-ed by Judith Wilde).

Raw Story (audio): ‘Terrifying’: DOJ sparks alarm as terrorism surveillance scheme takes big leap forward (Comments on X by Larry Pfeiffer cited). Also in DNYUZ.

The Maine Monitor: Homeschooling is growing in Maine. Here’s what that looks like (A 2023 Washington Post-Schar School poll cited).

Just the News: Pentagon rushes to fix challenges in deterring China, including shortage of ships and missiles (A study by Eric Gomez, Taiwan Security Monitor, cited).

World Today News: Why Latin Americans are embracing Mano dura security policy (Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera quoted).

Memesita: U.S.-Mexico Relations: Navigating Trump, Sheinbaum & a tense future (Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera quoted).

The Daily Progress (The Richmond Times-Dispatch pickup; subscription may be required; Charlottesville, VA): Four issues that will challenge Democrats as they take the reins in Virginia (Op-ed by Mark J. Rozell).

The Hindu Business Line (subscription may be required; India): Decoding Putin’s assertion on oil (Op-ed in which Umud Shokri is quoted).