Conservative Research Group

World

NATO's Burden-Sharing Reckoning: From 2% Promise to 5% Reality

For decades, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization has operated under an implicit arrangement: the United States provides the lion's share of defense capabilities while European allies enjoy security guarantees at bargain prices. NATO's evolution from a 2% GDP defense spending guideline to a staged 5% ambition by 2035 represents a fundamental reckoning with the alliance's sustainability and fairness.

China's Djibouti Expansion: A Strategic Challenge to American Interests in the Middle East

World

China's Djibouti Expansion: A Strategic Challenge to American Interests in the Middle East

Recent satellite imagery analyzed by the Center for Strategic and International Studies reveals a significant expansion of China's military footprint in Djibouti, raising important questions about Beijing's growing intelligence-gathering capabilities across the Middle East and Africa.

Curriculum Transparency and the Case for Informed Parental Consent in Education

Politics

Curriculum Transparency and the Case for Informed Parental Consent in Education

The relationship between public schools and parents has become one of the defining governance questions in American education. At the heart of this debate lies a fundamental principle: whether parents possess the authority to know what their children are being taught and to participate meaningfully in educational decisions.

Senate Republicans Explore Reconciliation Path for Shutdown Prevention Reforms

As Congress grapples with the aftermath of an extended Department of Homeland Security funding lapse, Senate Republicans are considering an unconventional approach to preventing future government shutdowns: embedding structural reforms into their budget reconciliation package.

World

China's Djibouti Expansion Signals Strategic Ambitions in the Middle East and Horn of Africa

Recent satellite imagery reveals China's quiet but significant expansion of its military infrastructure in Djibouti, a development that underscores Beijing's growing strategic footprint in one of the world's most critical maritime regions. The upgrades represent a calculated step in China's long-term competition with the United States.

World

Ukraine Peace Talks Resume: Assessing Trump Administration Diplomatic Efforts

The Trump administration's Ukraine peace initiative entered a critical new phase in September as special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner completed their first visit to Kyiv. The diplomatic shuttle represents Washington's most sustained effort yet to broker an end to the conflict.

Politics

House Anti-Socialism Resolution Exposes Democratic Party Divisions

A symbolic yet revealing vote on the House floor has laid bare the deepening ideological rifts within the Democratic Party, as 192 House Democrats rejected a resolution condemning socialism in all its forms. The vote exposes fundamental tensions about the party's identity ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Politics

The Challenge of a Second Reconciliation Bill: Republicans Navigate Fiscal Policy and Political Reality

As Republicans contemplate pursuing a second budget reconciliation bill, they face a complex calculus that tests both their legislative strategy and political discipline. Slim margins, intraparty disagreements, and looming midterm elections present formidable obstacles.