Nonrival

May 15, 2026

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

Reform UK's Electoral Success Reflects Britain's Massive Productivity Gap, Not Just Culture Wars

lse

• Reform UK's strong local election performance maps closely onto regions with chronically low productivity and underinvestment, particularly in Northern England and post-industrial areas
• Britain's productivity gap has created systematic economic exclusion, with London at 170% of the UK average while other regions lag 15-20% behind, locking talented working-class people out of good jobs
• While Reform's diagnosis of economic neglect is accurate, their proposed solutions of massive tax cuts won't address the real problem of underinvestment in skills, infrastructure, and local capacity

Taiwan's Energy Crisis Reveals How China Could Strangle the World's Chip Supply

csis

• Taiwan produces 90% of the world's most advanced AI chips but has only 4.2% energy self-sufficiency, making it extremely vulnerable to supply disruptions from conflicts like the Iran war
• China is exploiting this vulnerability by claiming it can guarantee Taiwan's energy security if the island surrenders its sovereignty, while simultaneously spreading disinformation about energy shortages
• Taiwan is scrambling to diversify energy sources away from the Middle East and boost reserves, but faces political polarization over nuclear power and limited options for expanding renewables on its crowded island

Tariffs on Semiconductors Could Add $1.4 Trillion to America's AI Data Center Buildout

csis

• The U.S. plans to invest $2.7 trillion in data center infrastructure by 2030, with semiconductors representing 54 cents of every dollar spent, but the country imports about 80% of the chips it needs.
• While existing tariffs on metals like steel and aluminum have raised construction costs, potential 100% tariffs on all semiconductors and products containing them could add $1.4 trillion to the buildout cost.
• The Trump administration faces a fundamental tension between aggressively building U.S. AI infrastructure and using tariffs to restrict the semiconductor imports that such construction requires.

In the News

Americans increasingly see religion gaining influence in public life, but most still want churches out of politics

pew

• A growing share of Americans (37%, up 19 points in two years) now say religion is gaining influence in American life, the highest level since 2002, with most viewing this positively.
• Despite seeing religion's growing influence, 79% of Americans say churches shouldn't endorse political candidates and two-thirds want them to stay out of day-to-day political matters.
• Awareness of "Christian nationalism" has surged from 45% to 59% in two years, with more Americans holding both favorable and unfavorable views, though negative sentiment still outweighs positive.

Analysis

Artificial Intelligence Helps Scientists Create Solar Cells That Work Efficiently at 100°C

science

• Researchers used AI to design perovskite solar cells that maintain high efficiency even at 100°C, a major breakthrough for solar technology in hot climates
• The AI system guided the selection of materials and cell architecture to overcome heat-related degradation that has long plagued perovskite solar cells
• This advance could make solar power more viable in desert regions and other high-temperature environments where traditional solar cells lose significant efficiency

Also Worth a Look

• Scientists Call for Halt to 'Mirror Life' Research That Could Create Unstoppable Organisms (noema)
• The Real Danger of Military AI Isn't the Technology — It's Human Overconfidence (hoover)
• TikTok's new microdrama app proves social media is becoming the new television (the_conversation)
• The Fed Is Likely to Raise Interest Rates Despite Its Dovish Chair (employ_america)
• Scientists Crack the Code on Making Printed Copper That Doesn't Corrode (science)
• Nearly 4 Million Americans Have Defaulted on Federal Student Loans Since Payments Resumed (ny_fed)
• Russia Is Using Camera-Guided Drones to Hunt Ukrainian Civilians in What Locals Call a 'Human Safari' (atlantic_council)