Nonrival

June 11, 2026

Human experts + AI summaries - on public policy, economics, and technology.

Meet the 'Left-Out Left': Liberal Americans Who Have Given Up on Politics

pew

• Pew Research identified a new political group called 'Left-Out Left' — liberal Americans who support Democratic policies but feel disconnected from the political system and doubt that voting or political action can improve their lives
• While they favor government programs like universal healthcare and have progressive views on most social issues, they're uniquely pessimistic about politics, with most saying the country can't solve its problems and that politicians don't represent them
• This group stands out for being the least likely to feel that recent elections offered candidates who shared their views, suggesting a significant portion of the liberal coalition feels politically homeless

Iran Has Effectively Closed the World's Most Important Oil Chokepoint, Sending Prices Soaring

brookings

• Iran has used drones, missiles, and attack boats to effectively shut down shipping through the Strait of Hormuz following U.S. and Israeli attacks, cutting off 20% of global oil supply and causing the largest supply disruption in oil market history
• Oil prices have spiked dramatically, with U.S. gasoline jumping $1.50 per gallon above prewar levels, while emergency reserves are being rapidly depleted and may run out by August
• Iran is now charging ships a "toll" for safe passage through the strait, potentially creating a dangerous precedent for other maritime chokepoints and undermining decades of U.S.-protected freedom of navigation

Trump is reshaping US strategy in the Balkans around energy deals, not democracy

atlantic_council

• The Trump administration has abandoned traditional US focus on democracy promotion and EU/NATO expansion in the Western Balkans, instead prioritizing energy infrastructure and economic cooperation.
• The new strategy centers on replacing Russian gas with US liquefied natural gas through major pipeline projects like the Vertical Gas Corridor, using energy deals as leverage for political alignment.
• This approach risks conflicting with EU green energy goals and undermining regional governance through opaque government-to-government deals that benefit local strongmen.

In the News

Why the World Cup Rarely Brings Enemies Together on the Soccer Pitch

csis

• Despite conflicts raging worldwide, adversarial nations almost never face each other at World Cups—only 0.35% of potential pairings in 2026 involve countries in active conflict
• Historical matchups between rivals like East vs. West Germany and Argentina vs. England created memorable moments but failed to produce diplomatic breakthroughs
• Sports diplomacy can only facilitate peace when serious behind-the-scenes negotiations are already underway, as happened with U.S.-China ping-pong diplomacy in the 1970s

Analysis

Meet the 'Pragmatic and Polite Right' — Republicans Who Don't Like Trump's Style

pew

• Pew Research identified a Republican-leaning voter group that combines economic conservatism with moderate-to-liberal views on race, immigration, and foreign policy
• While 54% of this group voted for Trump, only 36% approve of his job performance and most dislike his confrontational political style
• These voters want civility in politics, support NATO and helping Ukraine, and believe America's diversity strengthens the country

Also Worth a Look

• China's massive solar farms on the Tibetan Plateau are disrupting nomadic communities that have grazed animals there for centuries (the_conversation)
• Unions Boost Pay for the Lowest-Paid Workers While Barely Affecting Top Earners (aea)
• EU Merger Guidelines Miss How Domestic Deals Can Lead to Trade Barriers That Crush the Very Import Competition They Rely On (promarket)
• Why AI Regulation Will Be Harder Than Tech Leaders Think (hoover)
• Trump's Rural Support Is Collapsing as Farm Bankruptcies Surge and Manufacturing Jobs Disappear (brookings)
• Washington D.C.'s Housing Market Is Collapsing as Federal Job Cuts Drive Away Residents (brookings)
• Young Voters Are More Ideologically Consistent Than Previous Generations — And It's Helping Democrats (niskanen)