$1 Trillion Pentagon Budget, Trump’s LatAm Team, TikTok Ban, and More
The latest at Inkstick Media.
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Hello, everyone.
The US move to ban the popular video-sharing app TikTok made headlines the world over. Now, whether the Trump administration opens a path for TikTok to make a full return or not, Marissa Conway argues, we have that ban to thank for pulling back the wizard’s curtain on the debate over American national security.
While we’re on the topic of national security, the debate over the role of technology in conflict and warfare is one that goes back a long way. Yet, as Martin Markaryan points out, the advent of Artificial Intelligence into the everyday discourse is breathing fresh life into this conversation.
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“What a Looming $1 Trillion Pentagon Budget Means for Jobs” by Taylor Barnes (Jan. 27)
Despite much-ballyhooed promises to cut government spending, the newly inaugurated Trump administration has given little indication it plans to apply that anti-waste zeal to the largest recipient of the federal discretionary budget: the Pentagon and its contractors.
“Trump’s Return Raises Questions about US Policy in Latin America” by Adam Ratzlaff (Jan. 28)
Trump’s deep bench of Latin Americanists has sparked a flood of articles suggesting that Latin America and the Caribbean will be a focus for the Trump administration. But the question remains whether they can avoid missteps that will undermine their ability to implement an effective regional foreign policy.
“Russia Wants a New World Order” by Kate Johnston & Nicholas Lokker (Jan. 29)
Despite setback in Syria, Russia’s attempts to overturn the international order are still finding success elsewhere, and resisting Moscow’s efforts is no small order for the West. It will have to both safeguard multilateralism and address accusations of double standards.
“Security in the Coming Age of Quantum” by Martin Makaryan (Jan. 30)
Do we fight wars because we have the technology to do so, or do we create technology because we have wars to fight? The complex relationship between technology and warfare has been a puzzle for thinkers, generals, and leaders for centuries. The arrival of AI isn’t making it any easier to pin down an answer, either.
“The TikTok Ban and the Absurdity of the US-China Rivalry” by Marissa Conway (Jan. 31)
In the US, we see the China rivalry framed as a struggle between democracy and freedom versus authoritarianism and control. So, when TikTok, with ties to China, exploded in popularity across the US, it didn’t take long for national security concerns to turn into full blown calls for a ban.
From the desk of Patrick Strickland, managing editor of Inkstick Media.