Schar School of Policy and Government

The American Legion is more than a familiar name. In our latest podcast, David Ramadan talks with Captain Len Wales and Colonel Glenn Yarborough about supporting youth, families, communities, and aging veterans. Listen: schar.gmu.edu/podcast

Announcing the launch of CONTRA, the Corruption, Networks, and Transnational Crime Research Center led by @gcorreacabrera.bsky.social, Naoru Koizumi, and Janine Wedel Learn more: schar.gmu.edu/news/2026-03...

Far-Left's N.J. Triumph Could Send Shockwaves Nationwide With near-final results in from the special primary in New Jersey's 11th District, far-left Democrat organizer Analilia Mejia clung to a roughly 500-vote lead (29.75%) over 12 opponents as of Saturday.

National political developments often carry ripple effects beyond state lines. Mark J. Rozell discusses the broader political implications of recent events in New Jersey in Newsmax. https://www.newsmax.com/john-gizzi/mejia-nj-11-malinowski/2026/02/08/id/1245349/

México Solicita en Extradición a Contrabandistas de Combustible Detenidos por EEUU - Diario Cambio 22 - Península Libre ¿Extraditará EE. UU. a presuntos contrabandistas de combustible a México?   En un hecho inédito el gobierno mexicano solicitó la extradición de varios ciudadanos…

Fuel smuggling across international borders is a growing concern for security officials. Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera analyzes the policy and security implications https://diariocambio22.mx/mexico-solicita-en-extradicion-a-contrabandistas-de-combustible-detenidos-por-eeuu/

Virginia Democrats go all in on tax hikes after campaigning on affordability Virginia Republicans are questioning whether their Democratic counterparts have a case of political amnesia after rolling out a long list of proposed tax increases that threaten to undercut Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s affordability message.

Virginia’s debate over taxes and affordability is heating up. Schar School Dean Mark J. Rozell discusses how tax policy proposals are shaping the state’s political landscape. Read the story: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/feb/5/virginia-democrats-go-tax-hikes-campaigning-affordability/

Budget holdup could cost deals - Taipei Times Bringing Taiwan to the World and the World to Taiwan

U.S.–Taiwan security policy remains central to regional stability. Writing in the Taipei Times, Schar School professor Michael Hunzeker examines the broader strategic considerations shaping Washington’s relationship with Taipei. https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2026/02/09/2003852026

Calling all future policy leaders! Apply by April 1 the summer 2026 cohort of the NEW Leadership Virginia program at the Schar School. Build leadership skills, gain policy exposure, and connect with women leaders and mentors. For more info: https://genderandpolicy.gmu.edu/new-leadership/

How does a city actually run? Fairfax City Mayor Catherine Read joins David Ramadan on the Policy and Governance Perspectives podcast to discuss how municipal government works and the key issues facing Fairfax City. Listen: https://schar.gmu.edu/about/policy-and-governance-perspectives

How are generational divides shaping Hungary’s political future? Visiting Researcher Levente Székely explores growing tensions between younger and older generations https://www.hungarianconservative.com/articles/culture_society/intergenerational-conflict-study-youth-research-institute-politics/

Schar School sophomore Jonathan Dubois has been elected Undergraduate Student Body President at George Mason, representing more than 30,000 students: https://schar.gmu.edu/news/2026-02/south-africa-student-body-president-meet-schar-school-sophomore-jonathan-dubois

A Decidedly Un-Federalist Thing To Do: SALT In Review - Law360 Tax Authority From a congressional effort to override the District of Columbia to a Michigan proposal aimed at cellphone use by youths, RSM's David Brunori offers his thoughts on noteworthy state and local tax news.

What role should the federal government play in local tax decisions? In Law360, Schar School tax policy expert David Brunori examines federal involvement in D.C.’s tax policy https://www.law360.com/tax-authority/state-local/articles/2437907/a-decidedly-un-federalist-thing-to-do-salt-in-review

Yesterday, a full room joined the Center for Security Policy Studies at the Schar School for European Security: The Changing Landscape—featuring Ambassador of Hungary to the U.S. Szabolcs Takács with Schar School faculty Ellen Laipson and Desmond Dinan

Happening today at the Schar School! European Security: The Changing Landscape: Hungarian ambassador to the U.S. joins Desmond Dinan to discuss how Europe is rethinking security and its relationship with the United States. Noon to 1 p.m., FUSE 1324, Mason Square

Hey students in DC, DE, MD, WV & VA (including @scharschool.bsky.social) the deadline to apply is approaching.

Note that MA students are also elegible, see:
government.georgetown.edu/ps-psi

The Problem With Making Every Election an Existential Threat The next election is not an existential event for the United States. Neither is the one after that — or the one after that. But that won’t stop American politicians from claiming otherwise, nor anxiety-ridden voters from believing them.

What happens when every election is framed as a crisis? Schar School’s Jack Goldstone discusses the long-term risks of heightened political rhetoric in Bloomberg.
https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2026-02-04/the-2026-election-is-not-existential-neither-is-2028

Beyond Smart: How AI Is Developing Emotional Intelligence As artificial intelligence learns emotional intelligence, governments must weigh benefits, risks and ethics.

How emotionally intelligent should AI become? Schar School’s Alan Shark explores the governance risks as artificial intelligence evolves in StateTech Magazine.
https://statetechmagazine.com/article/2026/02/beyond-smart-how-ai-developing-emotional-intelligence

Virginia Democrats: That was one hasty, flawed remap bid | Guest commentary When one party so thoroughly pushes its rival out of power, there is an understandable — almost irresistible — temptation to move quickly and show voters that their fresh mandate for change is being taken seriously. Often, they overshoot that mandate, as perhaps the Democrats did with their mid-decade reapportionment constitutional amendment gambit, especially when they fail to think through complex circumstances and plan carefully.

In the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Schar School Dean Mark J. Rozell offers guest commentary on Virginia’s redistricting debate. https://richmond.com/opinion/column/article_fcfbda09-23f7-4a44-98bd-c24814d0ed66.html

Trump’s failure of the will - Stabroek News By J. P. Singh WASHINGTON, DC – US President Donald Trump has just announced that the Kennedy Center, Washington’s premier performing arts venue, will

Schar School’s JP Singh examines how spectacle and shock shape political strategy and why their impact may fade over time in Project Syndicate.
https://www.stabroeknews.com/2026/02/10/features/project-syndicate/trumps-failure-of-the-will/#google_vignette

House Democrats losing an opportunity on immigration While stoking outrage over the Trump administration's deportation efforts, Democrats could be missing an opportunity to lead on immigration reform.

New Roll Call op-ed: Schar School's Steven Pearlstein writes that Democrats face a pivotal moment on immigration reform and may be squandering it https://rollcall.com/2026/02/03/house-democrats-losing-an-opportunity-on-immigration/

Can Virginia’s grid keep up? On our latest podcast ep David Ramadan talks with Paul Bubbosh and Amb. Richard Kauzlarich about surging demand (data centers, AI, electrification) and the new Virginia Energy Report roadmap. Listen now: https://schar.gmu.edu/about/policy-and-governance-perspectives

Graduate Admissions Events We invite you to join us to learn more about the Schar School of Policy and Government and our academic programs.

Virtual information session about the MS in Biodefense degree at @scharschool.bsky.social @georgemasonu.bsky.social tomorrow at 12 PM ET
Register here:
schar.gmu.edu/admissions/m...

Fairfax County sees low voter turnout in special elections In recent elections, Fairfax County has experienced low voter turnout, with fewer than 20% of registered voters casting a ballot in the most recent special elections. Turnout for recent elections

Low turnout in recent Fairfax County special elections raises important questions about civic engagement. The Schar School’s Jeremy Mayer sheds light on these trends & what they mean for local democracy. https://ow.ly/vWck50Y9i3R

Podcast: Behind the scenes of "A House of Dynamite" Director of George Mason University's Michael V. Hayden Center for Intelligence, Policy, and International Security Larry Pfeiffer joins to talk about his role in the Netflix film “A House of Dynamite”

How do you bring real-world national security decision-making to the screen? Larry Pfeiffer, director of the Hayden Center, shares how he helped add realism to Netflix’s A House of Dynamite in the Access to Excellence podcast: https://www.gmu.edu/news/2026-01/podcast-behind-scenes-house-dynamite

Virginia Solar Advocates Rally Against Proposed Metering Rule Change | Williamsburg Yorktown Daily HomeLatest News Latest NewsRegional/National Virginia Solar Advocates Rally Against Proposed Metering Rule Change By Chris Six January 26, 2026 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsApp Around 45,000 Virginia households have a residential solar installation. (Adobe Stock) RICHMOND — Clean-energy advocates…

Virginia solar advocates are standing up against proposed metering changes that could undermine solar’s value. Research co-authored by the Schar School's Paul Bobbosh is cited. Read more: https://ow.ly/OCsy50Y9hzR

Proud to have been a member of the working group and endorsed the final report. Even prouder that one of my former Biodefefense @scharschool.bsky.social students, Sophia Hirshfield, helped write it.

Protecting Americans from Biological Threats As the risks of biological threats rise, Congress and the administration can bolster biodefenses by modernizing biosurveillance, ensuring biosafety and biosecurity, rebuilding the U.S. biodefense ente...

New report from the Bipartisan Alliance for Global Health Security Working Group on Biodefense, Protecting Americans from Biological Threats, provides a prioritized set of practical, near-term recommendations to strengthen biodefense and public health.
@csis.org
www.csis.org/analysis/pro...

'Right-to-work' repeal bill is a big early test for Spanberger | Guest column Abigail Spanberger hasn’t said whether she would accept forcing nonunion workers to pay a sum in place of dues to the bargaining unit in their workplace while preserving those workers’ right not to join an organization whose ideals they might not accept. But given the stakes and potentially worse alternatives, such a middle path might do the least political harm to the governor.

How will the “right-to-work” repeal bill shape early momentum for Governor Spanberger? Read a recent op-ed by Mark J. Rozell in the Richmond Times-Dispatch (subscription maybe required) https://richmond.com/opinion/column/article_868c16a7-d204-475c-b32c-8a34889b1ec0.html

The Schar School's Mahmut Cengiz contributes insights to annual 2026 Homeland Security Threat Forecast https://www.hstoday.us/featured/2026-homeland-security-threat-forecast-part-i-terrorism

AI writing tools aren't as neutral as they may seem. New research from the Schar School's Thema Monroe-White reveals hidden bias shaping who leads, who serves, and who disappears. In Earth.com https://www.earth.com/news/ai-writing-tools-have-hidden-bias-in-character-creation

Timely Study Abroad: Students Explore the Future of NATO and U.S.–EU Relations in Brussels With NATO and U.S. relations in the headlines—and, apparently, on the rocks—this Schar School study-abroad trip to Europe’s international security landmarks was well timed.

Schar School students spent a week on the ground in Belgium examining the future of NATO and U.S.–EU relations at a time of growing uncertainty for the transatlantic alliance https://schar.gmu.edu/news/2026-01/timely-study-abroad-students-explore-future-nato-and-us-eu-relations-brussels