The Power of Early Primary States, Iraq's Protest Movement, and More

February 1, 2020

Democratic presidential candidate former South Bend, Indiana mayor Pete Buttigieg attends a campaign event in Iowa

Just how demographically skewed are the early Democratic primary states?

"The first four February states will have a disproportionate influence on the money, press attention, and polling that will come to determine the outcome." A new analysis from William Frey shows how the early Democratic primary states, which are hardly representative of the rest of the nation, could shape the 2020 presidential race.

The irresistible resiliency of Iraq's protesters

Iraq's ruling class crudely assumed the threat of terrorism, the war on ISIS, and sectarian strife could deflect focus from their governance failures, but the Iraqi people have taken to the streets time and time again to prove them wrong. Ranj Alaaldin explains the grievances of the Iraqi people and how the protest movement may play out.

How a VAT could tax the rich and pay for universal basic income

Spending reductions and economic growth alone won’t be enough to narrow the U.S. deficit. William Gale offers a proposal that would raise substantial revenue in a more progressive way: a 10% Value-Added Tax (VAT) combined with a universal basic income for citizens.

For more on progressive tax reform in the United States, listen to a conversation with former treasury secretary Lawrence Summers on the Brookings Cafeteria podcast.

Brookings experts on Capitol Hill

Confronting anti-Semitic domestic terrorism. Earlier this month, in testimony before the Subcommittee on Intelligence and Counterterrorism of the House Committee on Homeland Security, Brookings President John R. Allen spoke about the increasing violence against faith-based communities and outlined a series of strategies to help counter it.

Is cash still king? Building on his recent testimony before the U.S. House Financial Services Committee Task Force on Financial Technology, Aaron Klein discusses the enduring popularity of cash in American society and highlights how mobile payment methods have exacerbated the country's digital divide.

Enhancing patent diversity. David M. Rubenstein Fellow Rashawn Ray testified before the House of Representatives Committee on Small Business in a hearing on patent diversity for America's innovators. Ray briefed lawmakers on the importance of collecting demographic data for entrepreneurs, inventors, and people who apply for patents.

The conclusions and recommendations of any Brookings publication are solely those of its author(s), and do not reflect the views of the Institution, its management, or its other scholars.

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