Featured

The Tactics and Targets of Domestic Terrorists

With a rise in domestic terrorism, it is increasingly important to analyze trends in terrorist tactics and targets. A new Transnational Threats Program brief finds that, according to CSIS data, firearms were the most common weapon used in fatal attacks over the past five years by far-right, far-left, and Salafi-jihadist terrorists. In addition, the most common targets were individuals based on their ethnicity, race, or religion (such as African Americans, Latinos, Jews, and Muslims) for right-wing extremists; and government, military, and police targets for left-wing extremists and Salafi-jihadists.

Covid-19 Reshapes the Future

The Risk and Foresight Group analyzed the potential lasting impacts of Covid-19 across seven global macrotrends. They found that Covid-19 is highly disruptive in the near term and highly unpredictable in the medium to long terms across all seven macrotrends. Those governments, businesses, institutions, and individuals that are most disciplined, rigorous, and honest in their assessment of the challenges now facing our world will emerge strongest from the crisis.

The Collection Edge: Harnessing Emerging Technologies for Intelligence Collection

A new brief by fellow Brian Katz summarizes the main findings from the first phase of the CSIS Technology and Intelligence Task Force. The brief begins by studying the near-term ways technologies can be integrated into collection, processing, and other intelligence operations and how well the U.S. intelligence community (IC) is utilizing these capabilities. It then assesses the key threats and challenges the IC faces in adapting new technologies into the collection mission. The brief concludes by exploring the implications of technological transformation for the IC and the over-the-horizon technologies likely to impact future missions.

NC3: Challenges Facing the Future System

This brief is the first in the CSIS Project on Nuclear Issues (PONI) Deep Dive Debrief that explores emerging or contentious nuclear challenges. It reflects discussion and insights from a deep dive workshop convened by PONI at U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM). PONI's Rebecca Hersman, Eric Brewer, and Suzanne Claeys focus on the emerging political, informational, and fiscal risks to the U.S. nuclear command, control, and communications (NC3) architecture. Collectively, these non-technical risks pose challenges to the resiliency, durability, and reliability of NC3.

Conduct Is the Key: Improving Civilian Protection in Nigeria

Nigeria’s security forces have confronted armed non-state actors in northeast Nigeria for over a decade, and local civilians are caught in the middle. Violence has intensified in recent months, including multiple terrorist attacks in Felo, Monguno, and Nganzai in June 2020 that killed at least 120 people and targeted a UN humanitarian facility. Moreover, necessary public health restrictions enacted due to Covid-19 have affected humanitarian aid supply chains and the delivery of assistance. A new commentary from ISP deputy director Melissa Dalton discusses the roles and conduct of Nigerian security forces, as well as steps to address civilian harm.

Smart Women, Smart Power Celebrates Five Years

The Smart Women, Smart Power Initiative at CSIS celebrates its fifth anniversary with a short highlight reel of some of the most powerful conversations with women leaders from around the globe. Watch here.

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ISP Spotlight

ISP Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Action Plan

ISP is building on efforts underway across CSIS to effectively integrate diverse perspectives into our work. CSIS’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion drives greater innovation and strengthens its core mission to advance practical ideas to address the world’s greatest challenges.

Additive to these Center-wide efforts, ISP is executing a focused action plan to hold itself accountable for meeting specific diversity, equity, and inclusion benchmarks. The plan will be updated annually, accounting for progress made, failures observed, and other lessons learned.

Visit our page containing the most recent ISP Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Action Plan, associated data, and related information and resources.

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Publications

Death To OCO: What Would Dem Sweep Mean For War Funding? by Mark Cancian

Can China's Military Win the Tech War? by Dr. Kathleen Hicks and Anja Manuel

U.S. Aid Should Help Syrians without Helping Assad by Daphne McCurdy

Covid-19 Response Update: July 17-July 24 by Mark Cancian, Adam Saxton, and Nidal Morrison

Focus DoD On Its Warfighting Mission by Mark Cancian

The U.S. Is Out of Position in the Indo-Pacific Region by John Schaus

An Army Transformed: USINDOPACOM Hypercompetition and U.S. Army Theater Design by John Schaus

Covid-19 Response Update: July 10–July 17 by Mark Cancian, Adam Saxton, and Nidal Morrison

Eyes on the Prize: The Strategic Implications of Cislunar Space and the Moon by Spencer Kaplan

Wormhole Escalation in the New Nuclear Age by Rebecca Hersman

Making the Most of the Air Force’s Investment in Joint All Domain Command and Control by Dr. Morgan Dwyer

Covid-19 Response Update: July 3-July 10 by Mark Cancian, Adam Saxton, and Nidal Morrison

The False Promise of Peace in Afghanistan by Dr. Seth G. Jones

U.S. Army’s Future Vertical Lift Program Will Transform Industry, So We Must Get it Right by Andrew Hunter and Rhys McCormick

Offense–Defense Integration for Missile Defeat by Brian R. Green

Covid-19 Response Update: June 26-July 2 by Mark Cancian, Adam Saxton, and Nidal Morrison

Verbatim: Mercenary Mourning by Mark Cancian

A Failed Afghan Peace Deal by Dr. Seth G. Jones

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Multimedia

Seamus Daniels joined Government Matters to talk about the House and Senate versions of the National Defense Authorization Act and speculated about how a potential Biden administration would think about the National Defense Strategy. Watch now.


Dr. Tom Karako joined a Hudson Institute panel to discuss the trajectory of U.S.-Japan defense cooperation and how the Japanese government is utilizing the suspension of its Aegis Ashore deployment plan as an opportunity for a comprehensive review of the country’s national security strategy. Watch now.


Kaitlyn Johnson joined Government Matters to break down the debate over which organization or agency should have the authority to regulate satellites and space debris. Watch now.

In a new episode of Cyber Report, a Defense & Aerospace Report podcast, Suzanne Spaulding discusses preventing and responding to adversary misinformation. Listen on Soundcloud.


CQ Roll Call sat down with Todd Harrison to ask about the obstacles to establishing norms of behavior in space. Watch now.

Hijab Shah joined Bombshell, a War on the Rocks podcast, to discuss foreign policy issues with big generational shifts. Listen on Apple and TuneIn.

On July 17, 2020, Suzanne Spaulding testified before the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Innovation on the findings and recommendations of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, H.R. 7331, the National Cyber Director Act, and how the U.S. can build resiliency before the 2020 election. Watch her short recap in the CSIS Testify series.

Rebecca Hersman joined Horns of a Dilemma, a War on the Rocks podcast, to discuss her recent article, "Wormhole Escalation in the New Nuclear Age." Listen on Apple and TuneIn.

On the inaugural episode of The Engine Room of Democracy, host Dr. John Hamre , CSIS president and CEO spoke with Suzanne Spaulding to examine how established institutions and procedures keep government agencies accountable to its citizens, offering a powerful tutorial on one of the foundation stones of our democracy. Listen on Apple and Spotify.


Dr. Kathleen Hicks joined the EU Defense Washington Forum for a panel discussion on the opportunities for further strengthening EU-NATO-U.S. cooperation. Watch now.


Andrew Hunter joined Government Matters to discuss the Army’s modernization priority of Future Vertical Lift as part of a new approach to defense acquisition and opportunities and challenges it presents. Watch now.

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ISP Podcasts

Smart Women, Smart Power
Hosted by Beverly Kirk

Women in Leadership in British Defense
Featuring: Angela Owen
Listen on Apple and Spotify.

Benghazi and Turkey: Lessons in Government Crisis Management
Featuring: Dr. Alice Hunt Friend and Shannon Culbertson
Listen on Apple and Spotify.

Future Strategy Forum: Covid-19 and Democracy and Governance
Hosted by Suzanne Spaulding
Featuring: Camille Stewart Esq., Dr. Lainie Rutkow, and Dr. Susanna Campbell
Listen on Apple and Spotify.

Defense 2020
Hosted by Dr. Kathleen Hicks

Civil-Military Relations, Part 2: What Lies Ahead?
Featuring: Dr. Alice Hunt Friend, Philip Carter and Major General (Ret.) Charles Dunlap
Listen on Apple and Spotify.

Civil-Military Relations, Part 1: The 2020 Legacy

Featuring: Dr. Alice Hunt Friend, Philip Carter and Major General (Ret.) Charles Dunlap
Listen on Apple and Spotify.

Thank You For Your Service
Hosted by Dr. Alice Hunt Friend and Jim Golby

Under Control
Featuring: Dr. Pauline Shanks Kaurin and Admiral (Ret.) Michael Mullen
Listen on Apple and Spotify.

The Civ-Mil of Hamilton
Featuring: Shannon Culbertson and Simone Williams
Listen on Apple and Spotify.

What is a Legacy?
Featuring: Elliot Ackerman, Olivia Garard and Dr. Mara Karlin
Listen on Apple and Spotify.

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Online Events: August 2020

Building Diversity and Combating Prejudice in our Armed Forces, a Conversation with Rep. Anthony Brown (D-MD)
Hosted by Dr. Kathleen Hicks

Friday, July 31, 2020
10:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. ET

The Indo-Pacific and the U.S. Army: A Conversation with the Chief of Staff
Hosted by Dr. Kathleen Hicks

Friday, July 31, 2020
11:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. ET

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Online Events: JULY 2020

The 19th Amendment 100 Years Later: A Conversation with Valerie Jarrett
Hosted by Beverly Kirk
Tuesday, July 28, 2020
Watch here.


State of the Space Industrial Base Report 2020
Hosted by Todd Harrison and Kaitlyn Johnson
Tuesday, July 28, 2020
Watch here.


How to Lose the Information War: A Conversation with Nina Jankowicz
Hosted by Suzanne Spaulding
Tuesday July 14, 2020
Watch here.

Civics as a National Security Imperative: Addressing Racial Injustice (Part 1 of 2)
Opening remarks by former DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson
Hosted by Beverly Kirk
Wednesday, July 1, 2020
Watch here.

Civics as a National Security Imperative: Addressing Racial Injustice (Part 2 of 2)
Hosted by Suzanne Spaulding
Thursday, July 2, 2020
Watch here.


Main Street Defense Series - Bringing Innovation and Adaptability to the Fight with General Atomics’ David Alexander
Hosted by Andrew Hunter
Wednesday, July 1, 2020
Watch here.

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Media Highlights

Experts, medical workers and elected officials are reviving their call for the Trump administration to ramp up its use of the Defense Production Act to secure critical medical supplies. “The reluctance to use this tool has simply led to chaos,” said Andrew Hunter to The New York Times on July 22, 2020

Her promotion to lieutenant general confirmed, Jody Daniels has been cleared to take command of the Army Reserve, the first woman to do so in its 112-year history. "This is a reflection of women continuing to rise through the ranks and attain the highest level of the pyramid," Mark Cancian said to USA Today on July 22, 2020.

U.S. election and security officials say they are more concerned about potential influence operations by adversaries like Russia, much of it aimed at eroding the confidence of U.S. voters. “They want Americans to despair at the prospect of bringing about change, to despair at the prospect of being able to determine fact from fiction,” Suzanne Spaulding said to lawmakers, quoted in Voice of America News on July 17, 2020.

On July 10, 2020, Dr. Morgan Dwyer told Federal Computer Weekly that research and tech development are the crux of the National Defense Strategy, and that losing the department’s top advocates could signal a decline in research funding. She stated, “The National Defense Strategy emphasizes cutting-edge technology. And at least initially, we saw that priority reflected in DoD’s budget requests.”