Rapid Response Analyst

Vance Fulton

Vance is an undergraduate student studying philosophy, government, and computer science. He serves as a Rapid Response Analyst and is interested in foreign policy and emerging technology.

Vance is an undergraduate student studying philosophy, government, and computer science. He is interested in technology, foreign policy, and European policy with a focus on Ukraine. At YIP, Vance contributes to rapid-turnaround policy analyses and briefs on a wide array of issues. He enjoys building things and walking his dogs.

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Policy Briefs by the author

Canada’s Recent Wildfires: Effects on the United States

Rapid Response

August 6, 2026

Since late June 2026, large-scale wildfires across Canada have sent hazardous smoke plumes into the United States, exposing over 120 million Americans to dangerous air quality levels. This brief examines the scope of the crisis, its public health consequences, and the structural governance gaps it has exposed between the U.S. and Canada.

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The Supreme Court’s Recent Ruling on Birthright Citizenship

Rapid Response

July 12, 2026

On June 30, 2026, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in Trump v. Barbara, reaffirming the Fourteenth Amendment guarantees birthright citizenship to all individuals born on U.S soil. This ruling struck down President Trump’s January 2025 executive order seeking to deny citizenship to children born on U.S. soil whose parents are unlawfully present in the country. This brief examines the constitutional history of the Fourteenth Amendment, the constitutional and policy implications of the ruling, and the legislative options now available to Congress.

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June Periodical

Rapid Response

July 10, 2026

This periodical examines three developments that shaped June across Europe and the transatlantic policy landscape. We open with the record-breaking heatwaves that swept Europe from late May to late June, and the adaptation and air-conditioning debate they reignited. We then turn to the U.S. House's passage of a major Ukraine aid and Russia sanctions package, and what its uncertain path through the Senate reveals about the current foreign-policy divide. We close with the resignation of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the leadership contest now reshaping UK politics.

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Judicial Limits on Immigration Enforcement: The Nationwide Ban on Courthouse Arrests

Rapid Response

June 30, 2026

The following brief discusses the nationwide judicial injunction against courthouse arrests imposed by Judge P. Casey Pitts of the Northern District of California, which nullified the 2025 ICE courthouse-arrest policy after finding it arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedure Act. This brief will look at the legal issues considered by Judge Pitts in making the decision, including the failure of ICE and the Executive Office for Immigration Review to give valid reasoning for rescinding the restrictions on courthouse civil immigration arrest. Also, this brief will explore the consequences of this decision, the Trump administration’s response, and the related litigations in other jurisdictions.

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Ukrainian War Persists: Strikes and Drones Exchange, Negotiations Pending, Tides Turn

Rapid Response

June 21, 2026

This brief examines the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War, with particular focus on the escalating exchange of drone and missile strikes between Russia and Ukraine, the fragile state of ceasefire negotiations brokered in part by the United States, and the shifting momentum on the battlefield as of mid-2026. The persistence of the conflict despite repeated short-term truces underscores the deep mistrust between the two parties and the complexity of achieving a lasting peace settlement. The brief analyzes current military dynamics, the role of drone warfare in shaping frontline outcomes, diplomatic efforts by the Trump administration and European powers, and the political stakes heading into potential long-term negotiations.

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U.S. and Iran Ceasefire Consistently Fragmented as Strikes Exchange

Rapid Response

June 16, 2026

This brief examines the ongoing ceasefire negotiations between the United States and Iran following continued military exchanges throughout May and June 2026. It analyzes ceasefire violations, diplomatic efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, regional security concerns, and the economic and geopolitical implications of prolonged instability. This brief also evaluates current policy discussion surrounding Iran’s nuclear program sanctions relief, and international mediation efforts aimed at preventing a return to full-scale conflict.

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2026 Ebola Virus outbreak in Central Africa

Rapid Response

May 30, 2026

Dating from May 2026, the Ebola virus resurfaces throughout the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, sparking a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. From the origins of Ebola towards the recent 2026 outbreak, this brief will examine policy impact, political stances, and potential options moving forward.

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