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Jamestown Foundation Issues Commentary: Armenia's 'Assets-for-Debt' Hinders Economic Decoupling From Russia (Part One)
WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 -- The Jamestown Foundation issued the following commentary on Oct. 14, 2026, in the foundation's Eurasia Daily Monitor:
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Armenia's 'Assets-for-Debt' Hinders Economic Decoupling from Russia (Part One)
Vali Kaleji
Executive Summary:
* The 2002 "Assets-for-Debt" agreement, concluded in exchange for settling approximately $93 million of Armenia's external debt, marked the start of a gradual transfer of control of a significant portion of the country's strategic infrastructure to Russia.
* The deal gradually expanded to include sectors such as natural gas, electricity,
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 -- The Jamestown Foundation issued the following commentary on Oct. 14, 2026, in the foundation's Eurasia Daily Monitor:
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Armenia's 'Assets-for-Debt' Hinders Economic Decoupling from Russia (Part One)
Vali Kaleji
Executive Summary:
* The 2002 "Assets-for-Debt" agreement, concluded in exchange for settling approximately $93 million of Armenia's external debt, marked the start of a gradual transfer of control of a significant portion of the country's strategic infrastructure to Russia.
* The deal gradually expanded to include sectors such as natural gas, electricity,railways, telecommunications, and nuclear energy, laying the foundation for Russia's economic influence in Armenia over the past two decades.
* This high level of Russian dependence, dominance, and monopoly over Armenia's economic infrastructure has made Armenia's exit from Russia's economic orbit--including a potential withdrawal from the Eurasian Economic Union and expanded relations with the European Union--extremely difficult and complex.
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Since Armenia's independence in 1991, no government has made a greater effort than Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's administration to reduce Russia's geopolitical influence. On October 12, Radio France International published an interview with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, in which he says Armenia's relations with Russia will not be the same as before, especially as it moves forward with its peace process with Azerbaijan and seeks stronger ties with the European Union (Facebook/nikol.pashinyan; RFI, October 12). Over the past few years, Armenia has distanced itself from Russia's security and political umbrella--including the suspension of, and possible withdrawal from, the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)--and sphere of economic influence. Withdrawing from the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) could lead it to pursue deeper relations and even membership with the European Union. This transition, however, is also influenced by the 2002 Assets-for-Debt Agreement--an arrangement under which, in exchange for settling approximately $93 million of Armenia's external debt, ownership of a substantial portion of the country's strategic assets and infrastructure in the energy, industrial, and technology sectors was transferred to Russia (Eurasianet, May 7, 2003; see EDM, June 4, 2006).
A large portion of this debt consisted of Armenia's obligations to Russia, arising mainly from imports of nuclear fuel, natural gas, and other energy resources, as well as debts inherited from post-independence economic cooperation. Rather than repaying the debt in cash, Yerevan accepted Moscow's proposal to transfer state-owned assets in exchange for debt settlement--a model Russia was pursuing in several other former Soviet republics to convert financial claims into strategic influence.
The final agreement was signed in November 2002 during the visit of then Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov to Yerevan (Armen Press, October 7, 2002). Under the agreement, ownership of five major Armenian state assets was transferred to Russia, including the Hrazdan Thermal Power Plant (particularly its fifth generating unit, which was considered one of the country's most important electricity-producing facilities), the Mars electronics factory, the Institute for Mathematical Machines Research, the Institute of Automated Control Systems, and the Institute of Materials Research (Press TV am, August 4, 2025).
At the time, then-President Robert Kocharyan's government presented the agreement as an economic necessity and a practical solution to reduce debt pressures, stabilize the energy sector, and attract Russian investment and technology. Critics, both within Armenia and among external observers, warned that the agreement was not merely a financial transaction but the start of transferring control of a substantial portion of Armenia's critical infrastructure to Russia (see EDM, April 6, 2006). The Assets-for-Debt Agreement is not simply a short-term solution to Armenia's debt crisis. Rather, it marked the start of a broader process that gradually expanded to other vital sectors and strategic infrastructure, including telecommunications, railways, natural gas, electricity, and nuclear energy.
In the telecommunications sector, Mobile TeleSystems (MTS) OJSC, Russia's largest mobile telecommunications operator and the largest in the Commonwealth of Independent States, acquired an 80 percent stake in International Cell Holding Ltd., which held a monopoly over Armenia's fixed-line telephone and internet services. This company became the indirect owner of 100 percent of K-Telecom, Armenia's largest mobile telecommunications operator operating under the VivaCell brand (Azatutyun, September 14, 2007; ARKA News Agency, September 15, 2007). As a result, Armenia's largest mobile network operator remained under Russian ownership for more than fifteen years (until 2020). For the Kremlin, this development ensured an economic presence in one of the country's most profitable service sectors, including fixed-line telecommunications, internet services, and a substantial segment of mobile communications. It also provided Russia with influence over Armenia's digital communications infrastructure.
On February 13, 2008, Armenia signed an agreement transferring full operational control of the country's state-owned railway system to the South Caucasus Railway company for 30 years, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Russian state-owned company Russian Railways (RZD). (ARKA News Agency, February 10, 2008; Port News, February 13, 2008). Structured as a concession agreement, the contract transferred responsibility for operating, managing, investing in, and developing Armenia's railway network to the Russian side, with the option--by mutual agreement--to extend the concession until 2048. The Armenian government retained legal ownership of the railway infrastructure, but it effectively delegated operational control, investment decisions, tariff setting, and planning for the railway network's development to the Russian operator. As a result, without becoming the formal owner of this strategic infrastructure, Russia gained long-term effective control, consolidating its influence in one of Armenia's most vital transportation sectors.
The most significant expansion of Russia's influence, control, and dominance over Armenia's infrastructure occurred in the energy sector. Gazprom gradually gained full control over natural gas imports, transmission, distribution, and sales in Armenia. This process was completed in 2013, when the remaining 20 percent stake in ArmRosGazprom was transferred to Gazprom and the company was subsequently renamed Gazprom Armenia (Public Radio of Armenia, December 2, 2013). Since then, Gazprom has not only served as Armenia's exclusive supplier of Russian natural gas but has also owned the country's gas transmission network, pipelines, storage facilities, and domestic gas distribution system. In practice, the company controls every segment of Armenia's natural gas value chain. Russia supplies virtually all of Armenia's natural gas needs, exporting about 2.7 billion cubic meters (bcm) in 2025, which accounted for more than 82 percent of Armenia's total gas consumption (Interfax; The Moscow Times, September 14). By contrast, Iran's natural gas exports to Armenia under the "gas-for-electricity" agreement typically amount to around 300-500 million cubic meters (mcm) per year. Russian gas exports to Armenia are about five to seven times higher than Iran's (see EDM, November 20, 2024).
Armenia's electricity sector also gradually became a principal arena of Russian economic influence, though this influence followed a different pattern than in the natural gas sector. This process began with the 2002 Assets-for-Debt Agreement (see EDM, January 4, 2002; Azatutyun, January 30, 2004). In the following years, Russian companies--most notably Inter RAO UES--acquired control over several hydropower plants as well as Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA), the country's electricity distribution network.
During 2000-2015, Russian state-owned companies such as Inter RAO UES dominated Armenia's electricity sector, a period marked by direct Russian influence. In 2015, Electric Networks of Armenia was acquired by Tashir Group. Tashir is private, but it is a Russian-based holding company owned by Samvel Karapetyan, an ethnic Armenian businessman with Russian citizenship (Civil Net, October 1, 2015). Russian influence did not disappear. Instead, control of Armenia's electricity distribution network shifted from a Russian state-owned enterprise to a private actor closely connected to Russia's economy. Tashir Group is a private Russian holding company, not a state-owned enterprise like Gazprom, Rosatom, or RZD. Nevertheless, Tashir Group's extensive ties to the Russian market and financial system have kept Moscow's economic influence over Armenia's electricity sector substantial.
A similar pattern unfolded with the Hrazdan Thermal Power Plant, located in the city of Hrazdan, the administrative center of Kotayk Province, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) north of Yerevan. Built during the Soviet era in the 1960s, the plant is one of Armenia's most important thermal power stations because of its central position in the country's electricity grid. In 2015, Tashir Group acquired ownership of Units 1-4 of the plant from Inter RAO (Tashir, September 3, 2015; Azatutyun, December 6, 2019).
Ownership shifted from a Russian state-owned enterprise to a Russian-based private holding company. Gazprom Armenia still owns Unit 5 of the Hrazdan Thermal Power Plant. As a result, Russian influence over this strategic infrastructure did not disappear entirely. It has continued through a complex combination of a Russian private holding company and the state-owned company Gazprom.
Armenia's dependence on Russia in the energy sector is not limited to natural gas or thermal power plants. It also has strategic dimensions in nuclear energy. The Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant, which supplies about 30-40 percent of Armenia's electricity, operates two Soviet-designed VVER-440 reactors (Vodo-vodyanoi energetichesky reactor-440) and remains dependent on Russia's state-owned Rosatom and its subsidiaries for nuclear fuel, engineering services, major maintenance, spare parts, and safety upgrades. In 2014, Yerevan and Moscow signed an agreement to extend the operational lifespan of the plant's Unit 2 until 2026. Under this agreement, Russia provided Armenia with a $270 million state loan and a $30 million grant to implement a modernization and safety enhancement program at the facility (Armen Press, November 1, 2017; Anadolu Agency, June 27, 2019). With the nuclear regulatory authority's approval, the Armenian government extended Unit 2's operational life until 2036 after completing a substantial part of the modernization program. The plant's continued operation remains dependent on Russian supplies of nuclear fuel, technical services, and support.
This high level of Russian dependence, dominance, and monopoly over Armenia's economic infrastructure has made Armenia's exit from Russia's economic orbit--including a potential withdrawal from the EAEU and expanded relations with the European Union--extremely difficult and complex. Without stable, reliable alternatives, reducing or ending Russia's dependence, dominance, and monopoly over Armenia's economic infrastructure could trigger significant consequences, including severe economic shocks, Russian sanctions, and pressure.
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Dr. Vali Kaleji is an expert on Central Asia and Caucasian Studies in Tehran, Iran. His recent publications in Persian include: The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO): Goals, Functions and Perspectives (2010), South Caucasus as a Regional Security Complex, (2014), Political Developments in the Republic of Armenia, 1988- 2013 (2014), Iran, Russia and China in Central Asia, Cooperation and Conflict with US Foreign Policy in Central Asia, (2015), US Foreign Policy in Central Asia: Process and Perspectives (2015) and Iran and the South Caucasus Republics (2017).
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Original text here: https://jamestown.org/armenias-assets-for-debt-hinders-economic-decoupling-from-russia-part-one/
[Category: ThinkTank]
Hudson Institute Issues Commentary: Ukraine Military Situation Report on Oct. 14, 2026
WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 -- Hudson Institute, a research organization that says it promotes leadership for a secure, free and prosperous future, issued the following commentary:
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Ukraine Military Situation Report | October 14
Can Kasapoglu
Executive Summary
* Battlefield assessment. Though the front lines remained largely unchanged, Ukrainian officials said that Russian forces are suffering monthly combat losses of more than 50,000 personnel.
* Missile defense. Russian ballistic missile strikes continued to strain Ukraine's interceptor stocks, and proposed production partnerships with Europe
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 -- Hudson Institute, a research organization that says it promotes leadership for a secure, free and prosperous future, issued the following commentary:
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Ukraine Military Situation Report | October 14
Can Kasapoglu
Executive Summary
* Battlefield assessment. Though the front lines remained largely unchanged, Ukrainian officials said that Russian forces are suffering monthly combat losses of more than 50,000 personnel.
* Missile defense. Russian ballistic missile strikes continued to strain Ukraine's interceptor stocks, and proposed production partnerships with Europeoffer Kyiv no immediate relief.
* Russian data centers under attack. Ukrainian drone strikes hit data centers belonging to the Russian internet company Yandex, disrupting services across Russia and neighboring countries.
* Campaign against Ukrainian bridges. Reports suggested that Russian General Sergei Surovikin may soon lead a coordinated campaign against Ukraine's bridges over the Dnipro River.
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1. Battlefield Assessment
Ukraine has long sought to impose a casualty rate of more than 50,000 personnel per month on Russian forces, an objective Kyiv advanced under former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Ukrainian officials published figures for September that indicate the country has now achieved this goal. According to Ukrainian reports, Russian personnel losses reached the 50,000 mark for the first time last month.
If this claim is confirmed, it would represent a significant milestone in Kyiv's effort to erode Moscow's capacity to sustain offensive operations. The Ukrainian military's Operation Vivaldi, which took back roughly 40 square miles of previously occupied territory, inflicted almost 20 percent of the losses that Russian forces suffered in September. The broader military effects of this dynamic will depend on whether Ukraine can continue to attrit Russian forces at current levels--and on whether Moscow's recruitment and force-regeneration efforts can offset its losses.
Despite the carnage, however, the battlefield geometry saw no changes at the strategic level last week. As in previous weeks, the operational tempo remained elevated, with Russia and Ukraine waging more than 200 tactical engagements per day. Pokrovsk, Kupiansk, Kramatorsk, Sloviansk, and Huliaipole again remained the principal flashpoints once again.
In other news, Ukrainian Defense Intelligence suggested that Russia's defense industry has adapted the Geran-4 jet-powered drone, a derivative of the Iran-designed Shahed, for strikes against bridge infrastructure. Forthcoming technical assessments of Russian strikes, examinations of strike debris, and any intelligence assessments released by Ukraine will determine the operational implications of these reported modifications. If confirmed, Russia's adaptations of its Geran drones would be significant for both Ukraine and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Bridges along NATO's eastern flank are important to move reinforcements, sustain deployed forces, and connect frontline allies with the alliance's wider military capabilities.
In another important development, Russia's sustained ballistic missile campaign placed additional pressure on Ukraine's depleted stocks of interceptors. On October 13, ballistic missiles struck Kyiv for the second time in 24 hours, hitting residential and energy infrastructure and slipping past the city's ballistic-missile attack-warning system. Patriot missile shortages have already been straining Ukrainian defenses. Any disruption in Western intelligence sharing with would leave Kyiv more vulnerable to Russian long-range strikes.
Against this backdrop, Lockheed Martin reportedly announced that it is exploring partnerships with European countries for Patriot PAC-3 interceptors. These ventures include potential cooperation with Germany's Diehl Defense to help meet Ukraine's--and Europe's--growing demand for air- and missile-defense magazine depth. The company is also considering cooperating with Ukraine on the less expensive Adapted Capability Effector interceptor, a weapon designed for less sophisticated threats than those addressed by the high-end PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement variant.
Given the vulnerability of Ukrainian factories to Russian strikes, Lockheed is examining the feasibility of producing these munitions in nearby countries, with a possible subsequent expansion into Ukraine. These options depend on many factors, including United States government approval, industrial capacity, and component availability. As a result, Lockheed's contributions would expand supply rather than provide immediate relief for Ukraine's interceptor shortage.
2. Ukraine Disrupts Russia's Digital Backbone: Drone Strikes Target Data Centers
Between October 8 and 11, Ukraine struck three data centers belonging to the Russian internet company Yandex, disrupting cloud infrastructure, payment systems, transportation applications, and commercial platforms throughout Russia and across Central Asia and the Caucasus. Ukraine's drone campaign against Russian data centers has exposed a vulnerability at the heart of Moscow's digital economy: the concentration of essential services in only a few physical facilities. The consequences of this campaign extend beyond Russia, underscoring the region's dependence on Moscow's technology infrastructure. Russia's digital reach has become a transmission mechanism for disruption beyond its borders.
Ukraine's strikes unfolded in rapid succession. On October 8, a drone attack damaged the Sasovo data center southeast of Moscow, a facility that housed two supercomputers. The following day, Ukraine struck a larger complex in the Kaluga region, southwest of the capital. A third facility near Vladimir, east of Moscow, was hit on October 11.
Yandex acknowledged that operations at Sasovo had stopped entirely and that the strikes had disabled its infrastructure in Kaluga. After Ukraine struck the Vladimir facility, it also went offline. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the campaign as retaliation for Russian attacks on Ukraine's own data centers. In September, Russian strikes on facilities in the Kyiv region interrupted internet access for tens of thousands of households.
Kyiv's strikes introduced a new vulnerability into Russia's economic hinterland. Often referred to as Russia's Google, Yandex occupies a position in the country's economic landscape that extends well beyond internet search functions. The firm provides services that encompass navigation, email, digital payments, ride-hailing, food delivery, and cloud computing. Yandex Go, an application produced by the company, combines functions that Western consumers associate with Uber and DoorDash, while Yandex Cloud supplies computing infrastructure to more than 64,000 customers.
This breadth gives the firm considerable commercial reach--and exposes it to unique vulnerabilities. Yandex's extensive operations create channels through which damage to its infrastructure can propagate across otherwise unrelated sectors. These disruptions reportedly rippled across Russia yesterday, affecting 80 Yandex services, including the Alisa voice assistant, Yandex Music, smart-home applications, and Telemost video conferencing, as well as cloud storage, database platforms, and artificial intelligence tools.
Banking applications, retailers, and ride-hailing services also experienced connectivity problems. Reported bot traffic from the Yandex network fell to approximately 57 percent of its recent peak after the Sasovo strike and to 0.4 percent after the subsequent attacks. This figure suggests a sharp contraction of the company's automated network activity, although it does not measure the overall proportion of computing capacity that Ukraine's strikes disabled.
The practical consequences of these disruptions were immediate. Yandex Pay users reported difficulty transferring or withdrawing funds, while taxi drivers and couriers struggled to access their earnings. Some Yandex customers could not obtain refunds for failed purchases because verification messages could not reach their Yandex Mail accounts. Drivers using Yandex reported being advised to use Google Maps or Waze while the Russian company repaired its servers.
The disruptions also affected businesses throughout Central Asia and the Caucasus that depend on the company's cloud infrastructure. The strikes disrupted the grocery retailer Magnit, the fast-food chain Vkusno i Tochka, and the electronics retailer M.Video. Users in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan reported difficulties accessing services, while outages in Yerevan, Armenia, pushed customers toward a competing taxi platform, straining its capacity.
As of October 12, Yandex Cloud remained in a state of emergency operations. Company engineers worked around the clock to restore capabilities, as customer service representatives directed customers to alternative hosting and backup locations and technical support operations faced delays. Some of the company's applications had recovered by press time, but restoration remained uneven.
Rebuilding the firm's damaged infrastructure could prove far more onerous than restoring its individual services. In reporting on the company's difficulties, information-technology market participants estimated that replacing the equipment destroyed by Ukrainian strikes could take Yandex at least six months. Large server procurements are unlikely to be completed before the end of 2026.
Ukraine's attacks on Russian data centers demonstrate how one drone strike can produce effects far beyond a damaged building by interrupting transactions, transportation, and business operations across a dispersed customer base. The Ukrainian strike campaign illustrates how deeply the digital economy depends on fixed infrastructure--and how quickly that dependence can become a wartime liability. Moscow now faces a race to restore capacity and build sufficient redundancy before further Ukrainian strikes turn temporary disruptions into a persistent economic burden.
3. What to Look For in the Coming Weeks
On October 8, the Telegraph indicated that Russian President Vladimir Putin has called upon General Sergei Surovikin, removed from his position as commander of the Russian Aerospace Forces in August 2023, to direct attacks on Kyiv's bridges across the Dnipro River. Known as "General Armageddon," Surovikin also previously commanded Russian forces in Syria and led Russia's war effort in Ukraine, where he oversaw a sustained campaign against Ukrainian energy infrastructure. His reported return and assignment to target Ukraine's bridges remain unconfirmed but warrant scrutiny.
The October 7 edition of this report detailed deliberate Russian attacks on Ukrainian bridge infrastructure. If confirmed, Surovikin's return to lead a coordinated campaign against these crossings would carry significant military and logistical implications, and could threaten troop movements, resupply efforts, and connectivity across the river. In the coming weeks, this series will monitor evidence of Surovikin's operational role, the frequency and geographic spread of Russia's bridge strikes, and whether these attacks caused sustained transport disruptions.
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Can Kasapoglu is a nonresident senior fellow at Hudson Institute. His work at Hudson focuses on political-military affairs in the Middle East, North Africa, and former Soviet regions.
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Original text here: https://www.hudson.org/national-security-defense/ukraine-military-situation-report-october-14-can-kasapoglu
[Category: ThinkTank]
Coaching America Back to Greatness: AFPI Launches The Bruce Pearl Show
WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 -- The America First Policy Institute issued the following news release:
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Coaching America Back to Greatness: AFPI Launches The Bruce Pearl Show
October 14, 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the America First Policy Institute is proud to announce the launch of The Bruce Pearl Show, featuring championship-winning basketball Coach Bruce Pearl. Coach Pearl brings his energy and candor beyond the court and into conversations in his brand-new show, which will air biweekly. Coach Pearl will Coach America Back to Greatness through conversations with leaders shaping sports, culture,
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 -- The America First Policy Institute issued the following news release:
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Coaching America Back to Greatness: AFPI Launches The Bruce Pearl Show
October 14, 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the America First Policy Institute is proud to announce the launch of The Bruce Pearl Show, featuring championship-winning basketball Coach Bruce Pearl. Coach Pearl brings his energy and candor beyond the court and into conversations in his brand-new show, which will air biweekly. Coach Pearl will Coach America Back to Greatness through conversations with leaders shaping sports, culture,faith, and the country.
The Bruce Pearl Show marks another step forward for AFPI in hosting conversations that build on America First principles for new audiences. The themes that Coach Pearl will touch on with his guests bring these principles to life, through stories and real-life experiences of athletes, fellow coaches, and leaders from around the country. The spirit of America First is integral to Coach Pearl's life and his approach to the candid conversations that will take shape on his show.
"I've spent my career coaching basketball, but the lessons that build winning teams don't stop at the edge of the court. Hard work, faith, and accountability matter, and being a part of something bigger than yourself is a worthy endeavor. That's what this show is about--sitting down with people who have something to say about where we are as a country, what made America great in the first place, and what each of us can do to keep it that way through the lens of sports, opportunity, and the impact of strong leadership. In sports, in life, and in our country, we can disagree, we can learn from each other, and we can still come together for something bigger than ourselves. That's how we start Coaching America Back to Greatness," said Coach Bruce Pearl.
The launch episode of The Bruce Pearl Show features basketball Hall of Famer Charles Barkley. Pearl and Barkley touch on their shared Auburn experiences, faith, family, friendships, and the American dream.
AFPI is grateful for Coach Pearl's leadership and candor in driving important conversations and his efforts to Coach America Back to Greatness. Watch the launch episode here (https://americafirstpolicy.com/podcasts/the-bruce-pearl-show/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=24346487169&gbraid=0AAAAAqMuaIrQiJVrIW_HM2VFRs73pwJW9&gclid=CjwKCAjw0LzWBhBOEiwAKQd0cNoCyoe5E38rtDCrZSvHd1X7kfZU7VtnPHb5b3fbM5lx53YwpAdyzBoCJAIQAvD_BwE).
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Original text here: https://americafirstpolicy.com/issues/coaching-america-back-to-greatness-afpi-launches-the-bruce-pearl-show/
[Category: ThinkTank]
Center of the American Experiment Issues Commentary: Rejecting Retreat as a Public Safety Strategy
MINNETONKA, Minnesota, Oct. 15 -- The Center of the American Experiment, a civic and educational organization that says it creates and advocates policies, issued the following commentary:
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Rejecting retreat as a public safety strategy
Written by David Zimmer | October 13, 2026
For years many conservatives have taken the position that our larger cities, such as Minneapolis, are "lost causes" and that the residents deserve to "reap what they have sown."
While taking that position is tempting at times, conservatives must recognize that giving up the fight and retreating from cities like
... Show Full Article
MINNETONKA, Minnesota, Oct. 15 -- The Center of the American Experiment, a civic and educational organization that says it creates and advocates policies, issued the following commentary:
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Rejecting retreat as a public safety strategy
Written by David Zimmer | October 13, 2026
For years many conservatives have taken the position that our larger cities, such as Minneapolis, are "lost causes" and that the residents deserve to "reap what they have sown."
While taking that position is tempting at times, conservatives must recognize that giving up the fight and retreating from cities likeMinneapolis doesn't contain the dysfunction, it hastens it's spread. Conservatives must ask themselves how far they plan to retreat and whether anything will be left when they finally stand their ground?
If the developments of the past several years didn't convince conservatives that retreating was a flawed strategy, the developments of the past several weeks sure should have.
For years we have watched our first ring suburbs move from red to purple to blue. The same conservative retreat that hastened the downfall in Minneapolis has impacted many of those areas as well. Now, coming off multiple shootings in Edina, Bloomington and Eden Prairie involving Somali youth, people are waking up to the reality of their peace and security being threatened in second and third ring suburbs.
While it's too early to be certain, the frustrations voiced by many residents at recent community meetings point to two encouraging developments: 1) Conservative suburbanites have been hit between the eyes with the reality that crime and violence are no longer confined to Minneapolis, and 2) Conservatives appear to be abandoning the tactic of retreat in favor of standing ground as they identify and reject the social justice approach that has enabled violent crime to reach their streets, parks, and schools.
In response, law enforcement and political leadership have been united in a strong front committed to ensuring the violence ends. And after four years of experiencing a soft on crime county attorney in Hennepin County, even the center-left can see the mistake that was made there - a mistake that cannot be allowed to happen again.
Conservatives appear to be taking a stand and demanding the rejection of the soft on crime strategies that have hastened the spread of violence throughout the Twin Cities. We must not be satisfied with simply stopping the public safety pendulum's swing to the left. Rather we must stay in the fight to ensure it swings back solidly in the direction of law and order - and we need not apologize for doing so.
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David Zimmer is a Public Safety Policy Fellow at Center of the American Experiment.
David.Zimmer@americanexperiment.org
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Original text here: https://www.americanexperiment.org/rejecting-retreat-as-a-public-safety-strategy/
[Category: ThinkTank]
Center for American Progress: Trump Would Have No Legal Grounds To Deploy Armed Federal Forces at Polling Sites
WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 (TNSbrep) -- The Center for American Progress issued the following news release:
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Oct 14, 2026
Trump Would Have No Legal Grounds To Deploy Armed Federal Forces at Polling Sites
Washington, D.C. -- There are growing concerns that President Donald Trump might deploy armed federal forces to polling sites in a ploy to intimidate voters or limit access during the upcoming midterm election.
A new analysis from the Center for American Progress examines long-standing federal law that expressly prohibits the deployment armed federal forces to the polls unless there is a need
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 (TNSbrep) -- The Center for American Progress issued the following news release:
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Oct 14, 2026
Trump Would Have No Legal Grounds To Deploy Armed Federal Forces at Polling Sites
Washington, D.C. -- There are growing concerns that President Donald Trump might deploy armed federal forces to polling sites in a ploy to intimidate voters or limit access during the upcoming midterm election.
A new analysis from the Center for American Progress examines long-standing federal law that expressly prohibits the deployment armed federal forces to the polls unless there is a needto "repel armed enemies of the United States."
No president in history has ever invoked this exception. But CAP's analysis considers some of the ways President Trump might try to get around the law and explains how they are all legally dubious.
The administration could try, for example, to claim that "armed enemies" include immigrants, gang members, or so-called antifa members that are physically threatening polling places. But courts considering similar language under other statutes have ruled that an "invasion" must be considered only in a military sense of the term, and that state law enforcement remains capable of protecting election sites.
The president might also claim that polling sites are under cyberattack by a foreign government, perhaps Iran, with whom the United States is in an armed conflict. The template for this type of attempt already exists in the form of a draft executive order considered during the first Trump administration. But CAP's analysis shows how courts would almost certainly reject such a contrived pretext that distorts the specific language and intent of the law.
Read the analysis: "Presidents Cannot Distort Laws To Justify Deploying Federal Forces To "Repel Armed Enemies" in Elections" (https://www.americanprogress.org/article/presidents-cannot-distort-laws-to-justify-deploying-federal-forces-to-repel-armed-enemies-in-elections) by Michael Sozan and Emma Hulbert
For more information, or to speak with an expert, please contact Sam Hananel at shananel@americanprogress.org.
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Original text here: https://www.americanprogress.org/press/release-trump-would-have-no-legal-grounds-to-deploy-armed-federal-forces-at-polling-sites/
[Category: ThinkTank]
AFPI and 17 Attorneys Urge SCOTUS to Put an End to Political 'Barfare'
WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 -- The America First Policy Institute issued the following news release:
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AFPI and 17 Attorneys Urge SCOTUS to Put an End to Political "Barfare"
October 14, 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The America First Policy Institute (AFPI) and 17 America First attorneys filed an amicus brief in support of Dr. John Eastman's cert petition to the U.S. Supreme Court to review his disbarment by the California State Bar. In addition to supporting Dr. Eastman's case, AFPI's Brief highlights the concerning use of "barfare"- the political weaponization of professional ethics complaints against
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 -- The America First Policy Institute issued the following news release:
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AFPI and 17 Attorneys Urge SCOTUS to Put an End to Political "Barfare"
October 14, 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The America First Policy Institute (AFPI) and 17 America First attorneys filed an amicus brief in support of Dr. John Eastman's cert petition to the U.S. Supreme Court to review his disbarment by the California State Bar. In addition to supporting Dr. Eastman's case, AFPI's Brief highlights the concerning use of "barfare"- the political weaponization of professional ethics complaints againstlawyers by their political opponents.
This case is ultimately about the inherent fairness of state systems regulating attorney conduct and to the extent those systems can be influenced by partisan organizations. Dr. Eastman represented President Trump in election integrity litigation challenging aspects of the 2020 presidential election. As a result, he was targeted by leftist advocacy organizations seeking to strip him of his license to practice law simply because they opposed his political viewpoint and his client, President Donald J. Trump.
The outcome of this case will have far-reaching consequences for public trust in the legal profession and attorneys' ability to represent controversial clients and advance challenging legal arguments without fear of losing their licenses or livelihoods over political or ideological disagreements.
Should the Supreme Court agree to hear this case, its decision could mark a critical step toward ending the political weaponization of the legal profession and restoring fairness and independence to attorney disciplinary proceedings. AFPI's brief reveals similar instances of weaponization against the 17 attorneys (amici), underscoring the need for the court to intervene, and put a stop to this dangerous practice infecting the legal profession. Over the past few years, leftist organizations have publicly stated that it is their mission to "kill the pool of available legal talent [to represent President Trump and his supporters] going forward." Harnessing the attorney disciplinary system to attack political opponents is antithetical to basic principles of justice in America and fairness in our legal system.
AFPI is pleased to represent the below named amici in urging the Supreme Court to protect the fairness and independence of state bar disciplinary proceedings from outside groups. These amici have faced similar partisan bar complaints after representing or supporting President Trump, underscoring the systemic nature of the problem and need for the Court to hear Dr. Eastman's case.
* Cleta Mitchell (OK)
* Christina Bobb (AZ)
* Jenna Ellis (CO)
* Kurt Hilbert (GA)
* Alex Kaufman (GA)
* Hon. James R. Troupis (WI)
* Kevin Koons (IN)
* Brandon Johnson (DC)
* Stefan Passantino (DC)
* Jesse Binnall (NV)
* Sidney Powell (TX)
* William Bradley Carver (GA)
* Ed Martin (DC)
* Bruce Marks (PA)
* Erick Kaardal (MN)
* Dan Eastman (WI)
* Michael Dean (WI)
Read AFPI's full amicus brief here (https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/26/26-336/429408/20261013174652901_26-336%20Amicus%20Brief.pdf).
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Original text here: https://americafirstpolicy.com/issues/afpi-and-17-attorneys-urge-scotus-to-put-an-end-to-political-barfare/
[Category: ThinkTank]
AFPI Announces the Launch of The Bruce Pearl Show
WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 -- The America First Policy Institute issued the following news release:
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AFPI Announces the Launch of The Bruce Pearl Show
October 14, 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) announced the launch of The Bruce Pearl Show, a new series exploring themes of leadership, athletics, culture, and the values that define the spirit of America First. The show carries the torch from The Lou Holtz Show, bringing a new perspective to the lessons that sports can teach us about teamwork, perseverance, and what it takes to win.
"Coach Bruce Pearl has
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 -- The America First Policy Institute issued the following news release:
* * *
AFPI Announces the Launch of The Bruce Pearl Show
October 14, 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) announced the launch of The Bruce Pearl Show, a new series exploring themes of leadership, athletics, culture, and the values that define the spirit of America First. The show carries the torch from The Lou Holtz Show, bringing a new perspective to the lessons that sports can teach us about teamwork, perseverance, and what it takes to win.
"Coach Bruce Pearl hasspent his career building winning teams, developing generations of leaders, and showing what can be accomplished through hard work, discipline, and an unwavering commitment to excellence," said Greg Sindelar, President and Chief Executive Officer at AFPI.
"Coach Lou Holtz showed us how lessons learned through sports extend far beyond the field, and we're proud to have Coach Pearl carry these important conversations forward. He brings his own energy, experience, and perspective to this new show and we are excited to welcome him to the AFPI family."
Sindelar applauds Coach Pearl's leadership in taking the helm:
"The launch of The Bruce Pearl Pearl marks a new chapter in AFPI programming, bringing together athletics, culture, and the American dream. Coach Pearlis the perfect kind of leader who can connect on what greatness requires, a man who can discuss both timelyand timeless issues with high profile guests from a range of backgrounds. We are grateful for Bruce's energyand candor, as he asks his guests: 'How do we coach America back to Greatness?'"
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Original text here: https://americafirstpolicy.com/issues/afpi-announces-the-launch-of-the-bruce-pearl-show/
[Category: ThinkTank]
