Merle Weidt

Feb 22, 2024 | newamerica.org | Ben Dalton |Candace Rondeaux |Merle Weidt

The Wagner Group and other irregular Russian paramilitaries have generated billions for Russian corporations and state entities by creating a smokescreen that shields the Kremlin’s military-industrial complex from scrutiny and accountability. Misguided assumptions about the underlying structures and intermediaries that support Russian paramilitary operations have led U.S. sanctions to fall short of their goals and fail to disrupt illicit criminal networks effectively.

Nov 21, 2023 | newamerica.org | Merle Weidt

In August of 2023, Hurricane Idalia wreaked havoc, plunging 300,000 homes in Florida, Georgia, and Louisiana into darkness. This sudden blackout not only disrupted daily economic and social life for over a week but also put thousands of lives at risk. It is during emergencies that the need for reliable electricity is greatest, whether to power hospitals and homes for the elderly, to provide clean water, or to enable communications for emergency workers.

Sep 13, 2023 | newamerica.org | Merle Weidt

Imagine getting up when the sun rises and going to sleep when it goes down because you do not have lamps. Envision being a young girl, forced to embark on perilous journeys spanning dozens of miles just to gather firewood, all because your family lacks access to electricity. This life is the stark reality for a staggering 770 million people globally.