CFR Staff

Arielle Geismar

Research Associate, Digital and Cyberspace Policy

Iran

The Islamic Republic’s Power Centers
Who calls the shots in Iran on economic policy, security, and domestic calls for reform? A look at the government’s organization chart indicates how complicated the answer is.

by CFR Editors January 9, 2026

Climate Change

Paris to Kyoto: The History of UN Climate Agreements
International efforts, such as the Paris Agreement, aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. But experts say countries aren’t doing enough to limit dangerous global warming.

by Lindsay Maizland and Clara Fong January 9, 2026 Renewing America

Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s Freedoms: What China Promised and How It’s Cracking Down
Beijing has tightened its grip on Hong Kong in recent years, dimming hopes that the financial center will ever become a full democracy.

by Lindsay Maizland and Clara Fong December 15, 2025

Top Stories on CFR

Immigration and Migration

A Guide to the Countries on Trump’s Travel Ban List
The White House’s growing travel ban is now shutting down immigrant visa processing indefinitely for seventy-five countries, including Brazil, Iran, Russia, and Somalia, among several others.  

by Mariel Ferragamo January 14, 2026

 

The 10 Best and 10 Worst U.S. Foreign Policy Decisions Link

with James M. Lindsay via CFR January 13, 2026

United States

Venezuela and Beyond: Trump’s ‘America First’ Rhetoric Masks a Neo-Imperialist Streak
Trump returned to office propelled by a seemingly isolationist promise, but the U.S. capture of Maduro illustrates the White House’s growing fondness for military intervention—revealing a striking strategic incoherence.

by Charles A. Kupchan January 7, 2026