Nation States with Yates

Nation States: Are We at War? The Constitution, Iran, and Presidential Power

When does a military conflict become a war, and who gets to decide? Steve Yates examines the constitutional, legal, and political debate surrounding U.S. military action,

Nation States: Canada, China, and the Future of North America

A surprising question at a Canadian security conference sparks a bigger conversation about the future of the U.S.-Canada relationship. Steve Yates looks beyond headlines

Nation States: Adoption and the American Idea of Belonging

America adopts more children into permanent families than any other wealthy nation, and Steve Yates argues that fact reveals something deeper about the American idea itse

Nation States: A White House Witness to 9/11, 25 Years Later

Twenty-five years after September 11, 2001, Steve Yates shares a firsthand account from inside the White House complex as America came under attack. Drawing on his experi

Nation States: Trump, Xi, and the Real Stakes of September's Summit

As Xi Jinping prepares to visit Washington for a high-stakes summit with President Trump, Steve Yates looks past the diplomatic theater to focus on what matters for every

Nation States: Economic Outcast and America’s Iran Strategy

A major shift in U.S. strategy toward Iran may redefine how America uses power abroad. Steve Yates breaks down Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s newly announced Operatio

Nation States: Why America’s Political Parties Matter

America’s founders never included political parties in the Constitution, and George Washington warned against them. Yet today, parties organize elections, shape governmen

Nation States: Regime Change from Iran to Iraq and Beyond

Regime change is one of the most controversial ideas in foreign policy, but what does it actually mean, when has it worked, and why has it often failed? Steve Yates exami

Nation States: Data Centers, AI, and America’s Next Buildout

As America races to expand AI infrastructure, a new political fight is emerging around data centers, energy, water use, and local control. Steve Yates examines Texas Gove

Nation States: How the Middle East Playbook Was Rewritten

The assumptions that shaped U.S. Middle East policy for decades are no longer the same. Steve Yates explains how American energy production, the Abraham Accords, the rise

Nation States: Sanctions Done Right and America's Financial Edge

America’s financial power may be one of its most effective tools between diplomacy and war. Steve Yates argues that the Trump administration and Treasury Secretary Scott

Nation States: The Axis of Aggressors and the Multi-Front Threat

A new national security warning argues that China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea are cooperating more closely than many Americans realize. Steve Yates examines the core f

Nation States: Why North Korea Is No Longer a Regional Threat

North Korea has quietly evolved from an isolated regional challenge into a global security player with growing influence far beyond the Korean Peninsula. Steve Yates exam

Nation States: Why the FCC Is Now a National Security Agency

America’s communications networks are now a national security battleground. Steve Yates highlights how FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has expanded the agency’s role beyond tra

Nation States: China's AI Push and the Race for Technological Supremacy

China is aggressively advancing its artificial intelligence capabilities, leveraging open-source models and state backing to challenge American technological leadership.

Nation States: What Recent Iran Escalation Means for Main Street

Steve Yates analyzes the recent US military escalation targeting Iran's Revolutionary Guard, explaining how strikes on energy infrastructure and shipping threats directly

Nation States: Pax Silica and America’s Coalition to Win the AI Century

As artificial intelligence reshapes economies, supply chains, and national security, the real competition may hinge on who controls the technology, minerals, energy, and

Nation States: Pax Silica, America’s Blueprint for Winning the AI Century

America’s race to lead the AI century will depend on far more than faster chips or bigger data centers. Steve Yates examines the State Department’s Pax Silica initiative,

Nation States: America’s Hidden Weakness, Supply Chains

America’s supply chains are more than an economic issue. They are a national security issue. Steve Yates explains how dependence on the People’s Republic of China for cri

Nation States: America Maxing the China Challenge

America’s greatest strategic advantage may not begin with military power, but with national confidence, innovation, and economic resilience. Steve Yates explains the idea