Chicago’s Mayoral Race, China’s Role in the Fentanyl Crisis, and More

April 6, 2023

Supporters celebrate after it was reported that Brandon Johnson had taken a lead against Paul Vallas in the Chicago mayoral runoff election

What we learned from the Chicago mayoral results

Early signs in Chicago’s mayoral race pointed to a narrow victory for Paul Vallas, the former head of the city’s public school system, over Brandon Johnson, an organizer for the Chicago Teachers Union. What tipped the scales in Johnson’s favor? William Galston discusses.

Plastic bags of fentanyl are displayed on a table at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection area in Chicago

China’s role in the fentanyl crisis

In testimony before the House Subcommittee on National Security, Illicit Finance, and International Financial Institutions, Vanda Felbab-Brown details how China views its counternarcotics efforts, the links between Chinese criminal actors and Mexican cartels, and policy implications for the United States.

Making Pittsburgh’s innovation economy more inclusive

As Pittsburgh positions itself to be the next Silicon Valley, how can it avoid the inequities of other tech hubs? Tonantzin Carmona and Peter Rezk offer several ideas for local leaders to set the region apart by centering and prioritizing racial equity and inclusion.