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Articles by Matthew Mai
Crossword 11-5-26
About the Contributor Matthew is a third-year Business Economics student. He is currently very into indoor bouldering. When he’s not on the wall, he enjoys walks through the city, searching for inspiration in the noise and sights. If you look through the window of any Capitol Hill boba shop during the day, there is a non-zero chance you will see him inside.
Mini Crossword 10-22-2026
About the Contributor Matthew is a third-year Business Economics student. He is currently very into indoor bouldering. When he’s not on the wall, he enjoys walks through the city, searching for inspiration in the noise and sights. If you look through the window of any Capitol Hill boba shop during the day, there is a non-zero chance you will see him inside.
Mini Crossword 10-15-26
About the Contributor Matthew is a third-year Business Economics student. He is currently very into indoor bouldering. When he’s not on the wall, he enjoys walks through the city, searching for inspiration in the noise and sights. If you look through the window of any Capitol Hill boba shop during the day, there is a non-zero chance you will see him inside.
Fair Pricing Policy Protects Grocery Store Customers
The closest QFC to Seattle University, located on the corner of Broadway and East Pike a few blocks from campus, uses digital price tags, meaning the store has the ability to change the price of products at any time for anyone. However, because of a new law recently passed in Seattle, this will no longer be the case. Mayor Katie Wilson signed a policy Oct.
Furswap Makes an Impact for Local Furries and Artists
Capitol Hill’s Quality Flea Center housed Furswap May 10, drawing 1,520 people and 65 vendors over the span of five hours, the same weekend as the popular furry event Furry Weekend Atlanta. In this colorful venue, attendees, often with animal masks, fluffy neon-colored ears and a matching tail, browsed local artists’ vendor stands, danced to energetic electronic music and drew collaboratively on large sketchpads.
Why Should I Care About Student Journalism?
Dear readers, it brings me joy that you have spent time reading articles from The Spectator. I have a love for this newspaper because it is a local source for information that is carefully assembled and delivered to you by fellow students. Briefly put, I am a fan of The Spectator and I hope you are or will be, too. I have a feeling that if you are reading this, you are someone who has a similar love or respect for the newspaper.
The real problem with the defense budget
Self-destructive spending habits are more likely to impact Americans’ daily lives than a foreign adversary. Cutting missions abroad is the first step toward restoring fiscal sanity and ensuring the solvency of America’s defense strategy. (Robert H. Reid/Stars and Stripes) The Trump administration is using a novel approach to increase defense spending.
Write Your Opinion Now!
Hi Spectator fans! I’m sure those who are reading this care about the news in some respect, whether that care exists for the availability of information on current events or simply because it’s fun to read about what’s new in sports and pop culture. Speaking as a fellow Spectator fan, it is important for me to speak directly to you all, as the issue I am bringing up directly impacts us Spectator enjoyers.
Why U.S. Arms Control Efforts are Failing
Prospects for arms control among the world’s nuclear-armed great powers are growing worse by the day. Last week, China announced that it was with the United States over the latter’s arms sales to Taiwan. The discussions were unlikely to lead to any substantive results, but it is another sign that U.S. efforts to “compartmentalize” nuclear issues by de-linking it from the geopolitical rivalry driving U.S.-China competition are failing. The same dynamic is at play in U.S.-Russia relations.
Chances for arms-control agreements fading fast
Prospects for arms control among the world’s nuclear-armed great powers are growing worse by the day. Last week, China announced that it was with the United States over the latter’s arms sales to Taiwan. The discussions were unlikely to lead to any substantive results, but it is another sign that U.S. efforts to “compartmentalize” nuclear issues by de-linking it from the geopolitical rivalry driving U.S.-China competition are failing. The same dynamic is at play in U.S.-Russia relations.
Why U.S. Arms Control Efforts are Failing
Why U.S. Arms Control Efforts are Failing Prospects for arms control among the world’s nuclear-armed great powers are growing worse by the day.
Why U.S. Arms Control Efforts are Failing
Prospects for arms control among the world’s nuclear-armed great powers are growing worse by the day. Last week, China announced that it was with the United States over the latter’s arms sales to Taiwan. The discussions were unlikely to lead to any substantive results, but it is another sign that U.S. efforts to “compartmentalize” nuclear issues by de-linking it from the geopolitical rivalry driving U.S.-China competition are failing. The same dynamic is at play in U.S.-Russia relations.
NATO Must Make a Nuclear Deal With Russia
Foreign Affairs NATO Must Make a Nuclear Deal With Russia The specter of nuclear war is closer than ever in the Ukraine conflict. NATO’s 75th anniversary might seem to some like a good opportunity for the alliance to double down on its core mission: deterring and, if necessary, defending member states from Russian aggression. But increasing defense capabilities alone isn’t enough to reduce the risk of conflict with Russia.
The US military has a readiness problem
A Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II performs aerial maneuvers Aug. 21, 2023, during an airs how practice at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C. Since its inception two decades ago, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program has become known more for its performance mishaps than as the world’s premier fifth-generation fighter. (Kyle Baskin/U.S. Marine Corps) In an interview with “60 Minutes” this month, President Joe Biden was asked about how many crises the United States can “take on” at once.
What Happens if China Gives Russia Weapons to Fight in Ukraine?
What if China were to arm Russia? How would Ukraine would respond? What would NATO Do? The China Challenge in Ukraine Months back, China released a position paper on the Russo-Ukrainian War that, although short on details, called for a “comprehensive ceasefire,” to “help parties to the conflict open the door to a political settlement as soon as possible,” and opposed the threat or use of nuclear weapons.
Erdogan's future is in doubt, but Turkey's ties to Russia and tensions with the US aren't going anywhere Original
Turkey is heading to an election that may unseat its longtime leader, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Western observers dislike Erdogan's foreign policy, but a different leader is unlikely to change course. Matthew C. Mai is a research associate at Defense Priorities. Loading Something is loading. Thanks for signing up! Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. On May 14, Turkish voters will head to the ballot box to elect their next president.
The wrong kind of security guarantee for Ukraine Original
One of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s core demands for a political settlement is that his country receive internationally backed security guarantees to resist future Russian aggression. For the most part, this vision largely aligns with the emerging consensus in Western capitals: Ukraine’s partners will support Kyiv’s self-defense capabilities over the long-term without providing a security commitment similar to Article V of the North Atlantic Treaty.
What Happens if China Gives Russia Weapons to Fight in Ukraine?
Last week, China released a position paper on the Russo-Ukrainian War that, although short on details, called for a “comprehensive ceasefire,” to “help parties to the conflict open the door to a political settlement as soon as possible,” and opposed the threat or use of nuclear weapons. However, the Biden administration also warned that China is considering sending artillery and drones to backfill Russian supplies.
Negotiations With Russia Must Go Beyond the Ukraine War
According to U.S. officials, the Russo-Ukrainian War appears to be headed toward an attritional stalemate in which neither side will be able to achieve outright victory. When negotiations with Russia begin, U.S. policymakers will likely prioritize supporting a ceasefire before addressing difficult questions related to occupied Ukrainian territory.
History Won't Be Kind: Putin’s Tragic Military Disaster in Ukraine
“The invasion of Ukraine was the brainchild of Putin and a tiny group of highly paranoid men around him who became convinced that a pre-emptive blow against Western aggression was necessary for Russia’s survival.” This is the argument that Owen Matthews, previously a Russia-based correspondent for Newsweek and now writing for the Spectator, offers to explain Vladimir Putin’s decision to go to war in Overreach: The Inside Story of Putin and Russia’s War Against Ukraine.
The U.S. Should Support the Ukrainian Grain Deal
Foreign Affairs The U.S. Should Support the Ukrainian Grain Deal A renewal of this deal could expedite an end to the conflict. A Ukrainian serviceman searches for land mines in a wheat field in Donetsk region on October 7, 2022. (Photo by ANATOLII STEPANOV/AFP via Getty Images) On October 29, Russia announced the indefinite suspension of its Black Sea Grain Initiative, an agreement that allows agricultural shipments to leave Ukrainian ports.
Europe Can Defend Itself
For American proponents of European strategic autonomy, any hope that U.S. policymakers would draw long-overdue conclusions, and promote and encourage the development of independent and self-sufficient European defense capabilities, seems to have been quashed for now.
Why Finland and Sweden Don’t Belong in NATO
Why Finland and Sweden Don’t Belong in NATO Despite the shift in Finnish and Swedish attitudes towards NATO membership, U.S. policymakers should be opposed to expanding security responsibilities that would cement a neo-Cold War stand-off in Europe. Read Full Article »
Why Finland and Sweden Don’t Belong in NATO
One unintended consequence of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is the dramatic impact on Finnish and Swedish threat perceptions. Although both countries are strong and capable NATO partners who have contributed to alliance missions in the Balkans, Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq, Helsinki and Stockholm have maintained a policy of military non-alignment in foreign affairs. Until the war in Ukraine, a majority of public opinion in both countries supported this posture.
Burden Shifting Will Make Germany a Stronger Ally
Given its tremendous economic and political clout, Germany’s risk-averse, buck-passing foreign policy makes it an easy target for criticism from Americans frustrated that Europe’s economic powerhouse has one of the most underfunded armed forces in the Western world.
Support European Strategic Autonomy
The U.S. could minimize the risks of overstretch and cultivate limited resources without compromising on core strategic objectives.
Support European Strategic Autonomy
Realism & Restraint Support European Strategic Autonomy The U.S. could minimize the risks of overstretch and cultivate limited resources without compromising on core strategic objectives.
Why Joe Biden Should Keep the One China Policy
Last week marked the of the international community’s formal recognition of the People’s Republic of China and the expulsion of Taiwan from the United Nations.
Why China Will Not Talk to U.S.
U.S. President Joe Biden was reportedly rebuffed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in September when Biden offered to hold a summit meeting with the Chinese leader. While the administration has been relatively successful at engaging regional allies and partners—the landmark deal to equip treaty ally Australia with nuclear-powered submarines being a good example—it has had far less success with Beijing. This trend should not be regarded lightly.
Ukraine's president is visiting the White House. Biden can't afford to play nice anymore. Original
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet with President Joe Biden at the White House on Wednesday. US interests in Ukraine are principally about avoiding conflict with Russia, and Biden won't do himself or Zelenskyy any favors if he continues to back up Ukraine's maximalist positions. Matthew Mai is an intern at Defense Priorities. Loading Something is loading.
Why Ukraine can't join NATO
Two developments this month have underscored the perilous nature of Ukraine’s geopolitical position and why joining NATO would be a poor remedy. First, the Biden administration struck a deal with Germany over the controversial Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline. It's an energy project often described by Eastern Europeans as a threat to their security.
Why Strategic Ambiguity over Taiwan Stabilizes East Asia
Japan, America’s closest ally in Asia, has been raising the alarm over Taiwan in recent days. Last week, a new white paper from the Defense Ministry called for “stabilizing the situation surrounding Taiwan” given that the geopolitical climate has “a sense of crisis more than ever before”. This echoes comments made by the Japanese Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso last week who noted that a “major incident” over Taiwan would be viewed as a direct threat to his country’s security.
Can Europe Improve Relations with Russia?
Last week, in an Ostpolitik redux, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emanuel Macron attempted to capitalize on the G-7 and NATO summits by advocating for a separate diplomatic track with Russia. At a meeting of E.U. leaders, Merkel tabled a French-supported proposal that sought to create a format for “direct contact” with Putin to help resolve Europe and Russia’s differences. Poland and the Baltic states would have none of it.
U.S.-Russia Relations Are As Bad As They Can Get. Can the Geneva Summit Help?
Relations between the United States and Russia are at their lowest point since the end of the Cold War. In March, President Biden called President Putin a “killer”, a springtime Russian troop build-up on the Ukrainian border nearly set off another geopolitical crisis, and Moscow recently announced that it would join the United States in withdrawing from the Open Skies Treaty.
Time To Stop Calling U.S.-China Competition a "New Cold War"
In recent interviews with 60 Minutes and the Financial Times, Secretary of State Antony Blinken outlined the Biden administration’s approach to U.S.-China relations. Contrary to the boilerplate many members of Congress, the press, and think tank professionals have taken up, Blinken rejected the Cold War paradigm to describe the current geopolitical environment.
America’s Dangerous Ukraine Delusion
While America’s military leadership is once again calling attention to the potential for Chinese aggression against Taiwan, a new crisis may be forming on the other side of the world. In recent days, increased Russian military activity on the Ukrainian border has captured the attention of American and European officials.
Sharing the President’s (Nuclear) War Powers?
Suggestions that Congress use Article I Section VIII to restrict the president’s power to engage in war, nuclear or otherwise, are both unconstitutional and imprudent. Last week, 30 Congressional Democrats sent a letter to President Biden asking him to “review the ways in which you can end the sole authority you have to launch a nuclear attack.”[1] One of their suggestions was that the president first seek a declaration of war from Congress before launching a nuclear first strike.
A Post-Trump Foreign Policy Should Keep America First. Here's How
After trailing Joe Biden by double digits in state polls leading up to the 2020 election, President Donald Trump far exceeded the expectations set by the media and pundit class, indicating that Trumpism will continue to hold sway in our politics. Allowing holdovers from the pre-Trump GOP to turn the clock back to the pre-2016 consensus would be a mistake. Instead, Republicans should devote themselves to fleshing out elements of the Trump agenda that went unfulfilled.
Why I Still Fly An American Flag With Pride
There was once a time when people who sought political change made sure to include Old Glory in their gatherings, marches, and protests to show their dissent was not only in good faith but patriotic. In a rejection of this tradition and what the flag represents, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio this month authorized the painting of “Black Lives Matter” on the street in front of Trump Tower, in solidarity with the protests that have ignited episodes of civil strife not seen since the 1960s.
MAI: Climate activism’s core consists of economic radicalism
Column: Beneath the Surface The annual gathering of business leaders, heads of state and cultural elites in the Swiss Alps for the World Economic Forum (WEF) last week showcased two starkly different approaches for thinking about climate change — one defined by hysteria and destructive radicalism, and the other focused on harnessing human ingenuity by promoting free enterprise.
MAI: Directly restricting military action not among Congress’ powers
Column: Beneath the Surface In the aftermath of the strike that killed Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, a debate struck up over the constitutionality of President Donald J. Trump’s use of force. Senators from both political parties questioned whether existing congressional authorizations for the use of military force (AUMF) applied to the strike. In response, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) put forth a resolution demanding the removal of American forces from hostilities against Iran.
MAI: Recent Islamic State death maintains United States as force for good in world
Column: Beneath the Surface On Sunday, President Donald J. Trump announced that U.S. special forces had conducted an operation to kill the leader of the Islamic State (ISIS), Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. As American boots closed in, al-Baghdadi retreated into a dead-end tunnel, taking three children with him, where he detonated a suicide vest.
MAI: Brexit will test Great Britain’s allegiance to democracy
Column: Beneath the Surface In 2013, while giving a speech advocating for a new treaty with the European Union (EU), former British Prime Minister David Cameron offered the British a chance to determine the future of their country when he said, “And when we have negotiated that new settlement, we will give the British people a referendum with a very simple in or out choice. To stay in the EU on these new terms, or come out altogether. It will be an in-out referendum”.
MAI: Religion often used hypocritically by elected officials, others in government
Column: Beneath the Surface On Dec. 5, after announcing impeachment proceedings against President Donald J. Trump, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) scolded a reporter who asked her if she hates the president. “This is about the Constitution of the United States and the facts that lead to the president’s violation of the oath of office. And as a Catholic, I resent your using the word hate in a sentence that addresses me," Pelosi said.
MAI: Students must march for fiscal sense, not climate change
Column: Beneath the Surface The Democratic Party has decided to make universal, single-payer healthcare a key component of its 2020 platform. Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (D-Vt.) “Medicare for All” plan, which is projected to cost $30 trillion over the next 10 years and abolish private health insurance, has become the defunct proposal for candidates such as Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and former United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julián Castro.
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