Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Philip A. Luck @philuck.bsky.social · 15h

We’re now in the heart of harvest season — but for many U.S. farmers, the outlook is grim. China hasn’t purchased U.S. soybeans since May and total U.S. agriculteral export to China are down 73% since January. Unless sales rebound soon, American producers face devastating revenue losses. @csis.org

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Reposted by Philip A. Luck

Kai Ryssdal @kairyssdal.bsky.social · 1d

👇

Adam Weinstein @adamweinstein.bsky.social · 1d

And... what would you say... *constitutes* this tradition he's bucking? What exactly is it *constituted* of?

NPR @npr.org · 1d

President Trump is bucking tradition and legal precedent in pushing to deploy the National Guard to Democratic-led cities like Portland, Oregon, and Chicago due to what he says is rampant crime and to support his crackdown on illegal immigration.

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Reposted by Philip A. Luck

CSIS | Center for Strategic & International Studies @csis.org · 8d

In a new episode of The Trade Guys, CSIS's @philuck.bsky.social, Scott Miller, and William Alan Reinsch examine why tariffs haven't had as significant impact on the economy as expected.

Listen here: www.csis.org/podcasts/tra...

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Reposted by Philip A. Luck

United Farm Workers @ufw.bsky.social · 10d

"Julia" shares, "I've been working in the strawberries for 12 years in Santa Maria, CA. It is very hard work. I get very tired because I have to walk bent over all day long and it hurts my back. But it is how I earn money to feed my family." #WeFeedYou

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Reposted by Philip A. Luck

Silky @silkyweineck.bsky.social · 18d

The 100K fee for H-1B visas (yearly!) is reported as a hit on tech -- but it is a hit on universities. It will make it impossible for us to hire foreign visitors, or foreign scholars into tenure track positions--I think almost 40% of H-1Bs go to universities and university hospitals.

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Philip A. Luck @philuck.bsky.social · 18d

Rule OF law boosts prosperity by applying equally to all, creating a level playing field where resources flow to their best use. Rule BY law lets the powerful twist the state for enrichment, leaving everyone else to pay the price.

Justin Wolfers @justinwolfers.bsky.social · 18d

Critical part of the President's new $100,000 charge for H1-B visas: The Administration can also offer a $100,000 discount to any person, company, or industry that it wants. Replacing rules with arbitrary discretion.

Want visas? You know who to call and who to flatter.

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Reposted by Philip A. Luck

Elizabeth Jacobs, PhD @elizabethjacobs.bsky.social · Aug 17

Watching this video 10 times has significantly improved my mood.

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Philip A. Luck @philuck.bsky.social · Aug 8

Commentary discussing same issue: www.csis.org/analysis/how...

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Philip A. Luck @philuck.bsky.social · Aug 8

The new proposed tariff on semiconductors could raise the cost of AI servers by as much as 75 percent, disrupting data center economics and pricing smaller firms out of frontier AI development. www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0qT...

How Tariffs Could Derail America’s AI Buildout

YouTube video by Center for Strategic & International Studies

www.youtube.com

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Philip A. Luck @philuck.bsky.social · Aug 6

Watch me awkwardly explain how the U.S. is racing to build the infrastructure for AI dominance, spending over $70 billion each quarter, but new tariffs on semiconductors could make this much more expensive. www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0qT... @csis.org

How Tariffs Could Derail America’s AI Buildout

YouTube video by Center for Strategic & International Studies

www.youtube.com

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Philip A. Luck @philuck.bsky.social · Aug 3

Today's "strategic" trade tools become tomorrow's immovable fiscal fixtures. I saw this firsthand in last admin. Despite knowing they were poorly designed, we were unable to eliminate *ANY* 301 tariffs Trump 1.0. Once tariffs become industry protection, they develop their own political constituency.

Trump’s Tariffs Are Making Money. That May Make Them Hard to Quit.

The tariffs are a substantial new source of revenue for the federal government. The budget may start to depend on it.

tinyurl.com

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Philip A. Luck @philuck.bsky.social · Aug 3

Trying something new. Is US trade policy driving partners to the PRC? youtu.be/Jhs4w_OJn8c?...

Is U.S. Trade Policy Driving Partners Closer to China?

YouTube video by Center for Strategic & International Studies

youtu.be

Philip A. Luck @philuck.bsky.social · Jul 28

Trump’s trade strategy is taking shape— EU deal adds to a flurry of new frameworks. New analysis w/ Ina Simonovska. Uniform tariffs could raise U.S. GDP by 2.2%. Retaliation could cut it by 5.3%. The admin must design policy carefully to avoid self-harm: www.csis.org/analysis/tru...

Trump’s Trade Strategy Takes Shape with Latest EU Trade Deal

A new commentary from the CSIS Economics Program and the Scholl Chair in International Business offers an economic analysis of the impact of tariffs and presents recommendations for policymakers to mi...

www.csis.org

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Philip A. Luck @philuck.bsky.social · Jul 14

🚨 We're hiring! The @CSIS Economics Program is looking for a paid Fall 2025 intern in DC.

Great chance to work on trade, tech, and economic security issues at the heart of U.S. strategy.

Apply by Aug 9 👉 careers.csis.org/opportunitie...

#EconTwitter #PolicyJobs #Internship

Careers | Center for Strategic and International Studies

CSIS is a bipartisan, nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. The Center’s 220 full-time staff and large network of affiliated scholars conduct research and analysis and develop polic...

careers.csis.org

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Philip A. Luck @philuck.bsky.social · Jul 3

Honored to join #LesRencontresEconomiques to discuss immigration—its economic realities and the enduring political appeal of denying them. Durable myths fuel polarization and stall the policies we need for broad-based growth.

My essay for the event: www.lesrencontreseconomiques.fr/en/debats-id...

America’s Immigration Paradox

America’s economic strength has long depended on immigration. Yet current restrictions—and the political narratives driving them—are undermining that foundation. To sustain long-term growth, innovatio...

www.lesrencontreseconomiques.fr

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Philip A. Luck @philuck.bsky.social · Jul 2

Undoctored. Glad they changed it, but amazing to me it went out like that.

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Philip A. Luck @philuck.bsky.social · Jul 2

LFG!

The Athletic @theathletic.com · Jul 2

■ Pogacar or Vingegaard for the overall win?
■ A nervous first week in northern France?
■ A summit finish on Mont Ventoux for only the 11th time

The 2025 Tour de France begins in Lille on Saturday — here's The Athletic's complete guide to the next three weeks.

🔗 bit.ly/4eAkmea

Philip A. Luck @philuck.bsky.social · Jul 2

Surprised I can still be surprised, but seriously WTF…

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Philip A. Luck @philuck.bsky.social · Jun 28

This is the news I need.

Matthew Hay Brown @matthewhaybrown.bsky.social · Jun 28

Viktor Orban tried to ban the Budapest Pride parade. He got the biggest one yet. Steve Hendrix reports from the Hungarian capital

www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...

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Philip A. Luck @philuck.bsky.social · Jun 10

The ethane export controls reveal a troubling pattern: assumption-based policymaking without rigorous analysis. Before weaponizing trade, the US must do cost-benefit analysis. Economic statecraft requires forethought, not improvisation. 🧵👇
My latest @CSIS analysis: www.csis.org/analysis/eth...

https://www.csis.org/analysis/ethane-export-control-fiasco-what-london-trade-talks-cannot-fix"

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Philip A. Luck @philuck.bsky.social · May 29

🛑 Who really writes U.S. trade rules—the president or Congress?
CSIS breaks down a pivotal court ruling that may reshape the balance of power in U.S. trade policy.
A must-read question piece: www.csis.org/analysis/wha...

What the Court’s Ruling on Trump’s Tariffs Means for U.S. Trade Policy and the Economy

A new Critical Questions piece from Phil Luck explores the Court of International Trade's decision to strike down President Trump's IEEPA tariffs.

www.csis.org

Philip A. Luck @philuck.bsky.social · May 23

Random Friday Thought: New socks are amazing and highly underrated. If socially acceptable, I would make socks a one and done clothing item.

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Philip A. Luck @philuck.bsky.social · May 20

Worried about seemingly ever growing tensions between the US and PRC? You should be.

Lawfare @lawfaremedia.org · May 18

The U.S. and China are both expanding their efforts to influence international politics through trade regulation, but U.S. policy is undermining its goals, write @csis.org's @philuck.bsky.social and Richard Gray. www.lawfaremedia.org/article/the-...

The Shifting Landscape of U.S.-China Economic Relations

Both countries are expanding their efforts to influence politics through trade regulation.

www.lawfaremedia.org

Philip A. Luck @philuck.bsky.social · May 20

The U.S. faces a credibility test as its debt challenges mount.

Moody’s downgrade is more than symbolic. Today, the US spends about the same amount on defence as on interest payments on its debt.

Dive into the CSIS analysis: www.csis.org/analysis/moo... @csis.org

Moody’s Downgrade Signals Deeper Risk: Is U.S. Debt Undermining Global Leadership?

A new commentary from the Economics Program examines the dangers in the growing U.S. national debt in light of Moody's downgrading of the U.S. credit rating.

www.csis.org

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Philip A. Luck @philuck.bsky.social · May 18

See my first piece in @lawfaremedia.org 👇

Lawfare @lawfaremedia.org · May 18

The U.S. and China are both expanding their efforts to influence international politics through trade regulation, but U.S. policy is undermining its goals, write @csis.org's @philuck.bsky.social and Richard Gray. www.lawfaremedia.org/article/the-...

The Shifting Landscape of U.S.-China Economic Relations

Both countries are expanding their efforts to influence politics through trade regulation.

www.lawfaremedia.org