On Monday, the Washington Post cited “current and former U.S. officials” as sources in an explosive story alleging President Donald Trump shared highly classified information with Russian visitors to the Oval Office. What would motivate intelligence professionals to whisper secrets? One key reason, writes Frederic Lemieux of Georgetown University, is “political interference in intelligence activities.”

The intelligence Trump shared is reportedly what prompted the U.S. in March to ban laptops and other devices on some flights from the Middle East – and why the administration is pondering whether to extend the policy to Europe. Case Western’s Cassandra Burke Robertson and Hofstra’s Irina D. Manta explain why banning laptops, like most security measures, can’t withstand the scrutiny of a cost-benefit analysis.

And, Robert Jervis of Columbia University, the author of a landmark work on psychology in politics, explains how the Trump administration got the firing of James Comey very, very wrong.

Meanwhile in the world of education, Penn State professor Scott Alan Metzger looks at the learning potential of history movies. Should teachers use Hollywood blockbusters in social studies classes? Or do the pitfalls outweigh the benefits?