2026 Spring Fellow

Evan Kung

Evan Kung is a student at Granite Bay High School, interested in retirement policy. He's spoken about his views at various conferences and speech tournaments, urging change and structural reform in a system where millions of Americans are unable to retire. He is currently working with Congressman Kevin Kiley to address the rising cost of living and its impact on financial vulnerability of future retirees.

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Retirement Insecurity: Why Retirement Feels Impossible and What We Can Do

Capstone Project

RetIrement insecurity in the United States is an escalating crisis that has gone ignored for far too long, threatening to undermine the financial stability fo American workers. Driven by decades of stagnant wages compared to productivity, inflation, and a structural shift to individual-risk 401(k) plans, nearly half of all US households currently possess zero retirement savings. This is something policy needs to immediately address.

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Policy Briefs by the author

Southern Spain's Deadly Wildfire: At Least 12 Killed as Extreme Heat Fuels Fire Crisis

Rapid Response

July 17, 2026

The following brief examines the deadly wildfire that swept through Southern Spain’s Andalusia region, analyzing its humanitarian, environmental, and economic impact alongside the broader governmental issues it has exposed. The wildfire, one of Spain’s deadliest in decades, claimed at least 13 lives and destroyed thousands of hectares of forests and farmland. The brief evaluates the role of extreme weather and emergency preparedness in worsening the disaster while assessing Spain’s response through national/regional firefighting efforts.

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Northern Venezuela’s Double Earthquake

Rapid Response

July 16, 2026

The following brief examines the catastrophic impacts of the devastating doublet in Northern Venezuela, analyzing how the disaster has intensified Venezuela's existing economic crisis and political instability. The earthquakes have resulted in tremendous loss of life and bodily harm, amounting to more than 3,500 deaths and over 16,700 injuries. Disillusioned Venezuelans point severe criticism at the national government and interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez for slow relief responses as opposition leader, María Corina Machado, seeks a political comeback, pointing to heightening the risk of prolonged political instability. The brief also reviews previous, failed attempts at preventing damages by instituting the COVENIN codes, and recommends policy to mitigate the effects of the natural disaster through humanitarian aid alongside military and technological assistance.

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The UK Prime Minister’s Resignation: Leadership Change in Westminster

Rapid Response

July 7, 2026

This brief examines the governance implications of Keri Starmer’s resignation as UK Prime Minister, focusing less on the sequence of events than on their structural significance. It analyzes how Labour’s internal succession process, rather than a general election, will determine the next PM, and what this means for democratic accountability. The brief also assesses the practical risks an extended caretaker period poses to policy continuity in security, economics, and foreign affairs, alongside the deeper political forces, chiefly Reform UK’s rise, driving the UK’s broader pattern of leadership instability. It concludes by considering what the succession outcome signals for Labour’s direction ahead of the next general election.

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The U.S.-Iran Conflict and the Strait of Hormuz Crisis

Rapid Response

July 1, 2026

In February 2026, U.S. and Israeli operations against Iran triggered a conflict in which Iran moved to close the Strait of Hormuz (a chokepoint for roughly 20% of global oil exports) using naval threats, drone swarms, and sea mines. This brief examines the standoff between U.S. demands for open, toll-free navigation under maritime law and Iran's claim to control the Strait and levy transit fees. It traces the conflict's roots to the 1979 Revolution, defines the core policy problem, and evaluates options ranging from military confrontation to diplomacy and a return to the status quo.

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