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Protecting American Innovation in the Age of Geopolitical Competition. Diya Kumar (GWU ‘26)

At SEMAFOR’s “Navigating Regulatory Waves: Pathways Toward Policy Innovation” event on October 28, policymakers and industry leaders spoke on how the U.S. can adapt to new economic and technological obstacles in an era of renewed geopolitical rivalry. The common question they answered was How can the U.S. stay innovative and competitive in this fast-changing world? Out of all the conversations that day, the one with Rep. Deborah Ross (D-NC) stood out to me—she spoke with conviction, humor, and a sense of urgency that cut through the usual talking points. Her first message: innovation shouldn’t come with a price tag. Rep. Ross didn’t mince words about President Donald Trump’s idea to impose new fees on patents. She called it a threat to first-time inventors and minority business enterprises (MBEs)—the people who most need access, not more disadvantages. “We need to support first-time patent holders to uphold the values this country was founded on,” she said. She emphasized that we need ...
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Undoing North America’s Integrated Economies and its Grave Consequences. Diya Kumar (26) and Shea Carlberg (25), George Washington University

North America’s triad has always relied on each other for shared prosperity. The US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), inaugurated in 2020, was built for mutual growth and stability. But now, President Donald Trump’s tariff approach on goods from nations neighboring the US has inflicted damage on Canada and Mexico. By the same coin, it has opened the door for China to become a dominant trade partner—especially with Mexico.  The upcoming 2026 review is no routine check-up. It’s shaping into a renegotiation that will determine the future of North American cooperation.  The U.S.’ greatest strength has always been its alliances,” said Jean Charest, former premier of Quebec.  Three experts, one from each member country, met at the Brookings Institution to discuss the high stakes of the formal review, scheduled for June or July 2026. This economic partnership underpins one-third of global GDP and supports around 17 million jobs. The implications of the renegotiation reach far pas...
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What the Federal Reserve’s Latest Rate Cut Means for Black and Minority Firms

The Federal Reserve cut interest rates for the second consecutive time on Wednesday, lowering the benchmark federal funds rate by 25 basis points to a range of 3.75 %–4.00 % . This move follows September’s initial rate reduction to 4.00 %–4.25 %. Together, the cuts signal growing concern about slowing job growth, weakening consumer confidence, and a still-uneven recovery that has left many Black and minority businesses struggling to access affordable credit. A Softer Economy, Not Yet an Easier One The Fed’s policy statement underscored “elevated uncertainty about the economic outlook.” With unemployment edging higher and inflation “still running hot” ( see our analysis ), policymakers are threading a fine line between supporting growth and maintaining credibility on prices. For Black- and minority-owned firms, this caution matters: many operate in sectors tied closely to consumer spending or local service demand. Our September 2025 Unemployment Forecast already showed that job loss...
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MacKenzie Scott’s $42M Gift and the Power of Purposeful Capital

At a time when DEI initiatives are under attack, MacKenzie Scott continues to prove that targeted, equity-driven philanthropy can be both bold and transformative. As reported by Black Enterprise ( https://www.blackenterprise.com/mackenzie-scotts-42m-gift-shows-her-tenacity-to-supporting-black-students-despite-anti-dei-efforts/ ) , Scott’s $42 million donation to 10,000 Degrees, a nonprofit helping low-income and minority students attend college, is the largest in the organization’s history. It arrives amid a nationwide rollback of diversity programs—making her gift a powerful counterstatement. Scott’s approach—unrestricted, trust-based giving focused on racial equity—mirrors the Creative Investment Research principles of impact investing. It channels capital in a counter-cyclical manner to places where traditional markets and policies have failed: in this case, toward high social return investing....by expanding educational opportunity for Black and Latino students. In a climate of ret...
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Closing the Gap in Breast Cancer Care: The Fight for the ABCD Act. Isabela Butler, Gonzaga University.

On October 22, policymakers, advocates, and healthcare leaders came together for a powerful conversation on one clear message: breast cancer screening saves lives. Despite major advancements in detection and treatment, deep disparities remain, especially for Black and Hispanic women and those with lower incomes. The event centered on the Access to Breast Cancer Diagnosis (ABCD) Act, a bipartisan bill designed to make diagnostic imaging more affordable and accessible for all women. By addressing financial barriers and insurance gaps, the act aims to ensure that no one delays or skips critical follow-up testing simply because of cost. Black women face the highest breast cancer mortality rates of any racial group in the U.S. They are 40% more likely to die from the disease and often receive diagnoses at younger ages and later stages. Similarly, Hispanic women and those with annual incomes below $35,000 are more likely to miss follow-up screenings because of cost barriers. Representative D...
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Inflation Still Running Hot: What the Delayed CPI Means for Black and Minority Businesses

The delayed release of September’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) — now scheduled for Friday,  October 24, 2025 — comes at a crucial moment. With Federal Reserve officials weighing whether to cut the benchmark Federal Funds Rate to ease short-term borrowing costs, this data release will heavily influence the next policy move. Forecast: Inflation Running Hot Our forecast projects that headline CPI rose 3.2% year-over-year in September , slightly above expectations, while Core CPI (excluding food and energy) likely came in at 3.3% . On a month-to-month basis, prices probably increased 0.5% , reflecting continuing upward pressure from goods and housing costs. While energy prices eased modestly, tariff-related price pressures and supply-chain re-shoring costs have kept inflation “sticky.” Durable goods categories such as furniture, appliances, and home fixtures — many of which depend on imported materials — remain notably affected by tariffs . These categories alone may have contri...
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New Majority Ventures (NMV) Town Hall. Shea Carlberg, George Washington University (25).

New Majority Ventures (NMV) hosted a town hall at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in downtown D.C. providing a space for minority entrepreneurs and business-owners to learn from seven-figure-earning DMV success stories. NMV provides feedback and technical training for growing companies that can provide marketing prioritization skills and hiring skills. They also announced the launch of their app that leverages their training modules for mobilized use. The most remarkable aspect of hearing directly from these founders was seeing how humble they were about their rising stardom. Not due to the cameras on them, rather, it was clear they learned the importance of trust between workers and executives. Invest in your team. You can’t grow your product if people don’t believe in the purpose you have set out, and therefore you must also convince people you’d like to hire why your company is different from the white noise in a vast pool of apps and other existing user platforms.  Busi...
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