Featured Post from Florida Atlantic University

Covering the tensions in the Middle East - our experts are here to help with your stories

Apr 19, 2024

1 min

Robert Rabil, Ph.D.


Photo credit: Timon Studler


With escalating tensions in the Middle East, the situation seems to be changing on a daily basis.


Robert Rabil, Ph.D., is an expert in political Islam, terrorism, U.S. foreign policy, and U.S.-Arab relations at Florida Atlantic University, and can speak about the current climate in the region, as well as offer expertise on its deep history.


Simply click on Rabil’s icon now to arrange a time to speak to him.



Connect with:
Robert Rabil, Ph.D.

Robert Rabil, Ph.D.

Professor

Robert Rabil is an expert in political Islam, terrorism, U.S. foreign policy, and U.S.-Arab relations.

U.S. Foreign PolicyReform in the Arab worldU.S.-Arab RelationsTerrorismPolitical Islam

You might also like...

Check out some other posts from Florida Atlantic University

2 min

The election is over, and Republicans have swept the White House and Congress.

The race for the White House is over, and the Republicans have been swept into power with historic gains in congress and control of the executive branch. What will their policy priorities be, and how will the new political landscape mold the direction of the new Trump administration? What will the democrats, now an minority opposition party, do? Can they adapt to a winning strategy in time for the midterms in two years? If you are covering American politics, how do you make sense of all the changes? How do you know what issues are going to drive decisions in Washington? What can polling tell us about what happened? Where did the polls fall short? What will pollsters be looking at moving forward? We have an expert who can help. Kevin Wagner, Ph.D., is Florida Atlantic University’s renowned political science expert and co- executive director of Florida Atlantic University Political Communication and Public Opinion Research Lab (PolCom Lab) —t he university’s extensive and nationally covered polling operation. View profile View some of Kevin Wagner's recent media here: ABC News Florida Atlantic University professor of political science Kevin Wagner says Florida’s shift started several years ago and it’s due to a variety of factors. "Certainly, there was some pretty good evidence that we had people moving from states like California and New York looking for a more conservative environment, and they brought their politics with them when they came to Florida," Wagner said. "That influx of more conservative voters certainly mattered. It's not the only thing that mattered." WINK Some voters believe the 60% mark is too high to make constitutional changes. For the threshold to change, it has to be put on the ballot for voters to decide and would need at least 60% of the vote. “Getting 60% of the voters to agree on anything is really hard and when it’s something that’s highly contested. It makes it even harder,” Florida Atlantic University Political Science Professor Kevin Wagner said. THE PINNACLE GAZETTE Political analysts point to various factors contributing to Florida’s Republican shift. Kathryn DePalo-Gould, a political scientist from Florida International University, aptly stated, “It’s now so solidly Republican it is crimson.” This sentiment was echoed by Kevin Wagner from Florida Atlantic University, highlighting how previously competitive races have now become predictable Republican wins. Indeed, Trump’s haul of 61 out of 67 counties stands as a testifier to this changing political tide. Looking to connect? He is here to answer all your questions and is available for interviews. Simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.

2 min

Consumers Face Elevated Prices Despite Waning Inflation

The years of high inflation appear to be over as inflation is now in line with the Federal Reserve’s target, though prices will likely remain permanently elevated, according to the Monthly Inflation Report produced by Florida Atlantic University’s College of Business. The Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index (PCEPI), the Federal Reserve’s preferred measure of inflation, grew at a continuously compounding annual rate of 2.1% in September, up from 1.4% the prior month. Overall, PCEPI inflation has averaged 1.8% over the last three months and 2.1% over the last year. “The good news is that the period of high inflation appears to be in the rearview mirror. The bad news is that prices remain permanently elevated,” said William J. Luther, Ph.D., associate professor of economics in FAU’s College of Business. “The PCEPI is about nine percentage points higher today than it would have been had inflation averaged 2% since January 2020. This unexpected burst of inflation transferred wealth from savers and employees to borrowers and employers.” Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, remains elevated. Core PCEPI grew at a continuously compounding annual rate of 3% in September. It has averaged 2.3% over the last three months and 2.6% over the last year. High core inflation is partly due to housing services prices, which grew at a continuously compounding annual rate of 3.8% in September. “If the Fed were committed to price stability, it would have helped bring prices back down to a level consistent with pre-pandemic inflation,” Luther said. Fed officials have projected another 25 basis points worth of rate cuts this year, a much smaller change than is required to return the policy rate to neutral. Since the data shows inflation is back on track, Luther says they should move more quickly. “As it stands, Federal Open Market Committee members intend to take some time reducing the policy rate to neutral, with policy likely to return to neutral sometime in 2026,” Luther said. “They might move more quickly if the economy shows signs of contraction or reduce the pace of rate cuts if they become concerned that inflation will pick back up.” William Luther, Ph.D., an assistant professor in FAU’s Economics Department, has expertise in economic growth, monetary policies, business cycles and cryptocurrencies. Luther’s research has obtained media interest across the nation, including recent coverage by The Wall Street Journal, Politico and Florida Trend. If you're looking to know more - let us help. Simply click on William's icon now to set up an interview today.

1 min

With dockworkers on the picket line - what can consumers expect as shipping dries up?

As port workers strike across the country, the shutdown at ports could have reverberating effects on consumers, the economy, and businesses. With consumers already facing higher prices, the strikes will likely cause more supply chain delays and price increases that will be passed on to consumers. There will be a lot of media attention surrounding the looming shortages, the implications for the economy, and how retailers will recover as workers and companies attempt to reach a negotiation. Steven Carnovale, Ph.D., associate professor of supply chain management and David Menachof, Ph.D., associate professor of supply chains and operations management, have the expertise in supply chain, global sourcing and production networks, logistics, and transportation to help reporters make sense of the various impacts this will have. Both experts are ready to help with your stories and contribute to your coverage. To connect with Steven Carnovale and David Menachof - click on their icons below. Photo credit: New York Times

View all posts
Powered by