President Joe Biden's decision to withdraw from Afghanistan may hold the public's support for now, but Gary Schmitt warns this is unlikely to last. When the Taliban imposes its extreme version of Islam on women and schools, when thousands of Afghan refugees begin begging Europe and the US for asylum, and when al Qaeda returns with the Taliban's implicit blessing, American interests will invariably suffer — and the public may not remain behind the president's decision.

For those expecting future historians to look back on the 21st century as "the Chinese century," however, James Pethokoukis explains why this is unlikely to be the case. China is set to report its first population decline since Mao Zedong's disastrous Great Leap Forward, and its loss may be our gain. Given China's reticence toward immigration and its lagging productivity growth, the 21st century remains America's to lead — if our leaders can take advantage.

Congress hopes ending its decade-long ban on earmarks will help in this effort. By facilitating compromise, supporters of the practice believe allowing earmarks to return can help the House and Senate function more effectively. According to James Capretta, this theory has some merit. Since banning earmarks in 2011, he writes, Congress' performance has only gotten worse.

Finally, Peter Wallison suggests a shift in thinking may be underway in the judicial branch as well. Justice Clarence Thomas frequently uses concurring opinions to prompt the court to consider theories that have not yet gained full acceptance, Wallison explains. The justice's latest example: suggesting common carrier regulations may limit the tech giants' authority to restrict speech on their platforms. Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube have been put on notice.