Question

what are washington's ''think tanks''?

Answer 1

Do you mean Washington, D.C. (the U.S. capital) or Washington state?

If you mean Washington, D.C., here are many of the best-known think tanks you’ll hear about, with a one-line summary and their general tilt or focus:

- Brookings Institution — centrist-to-center-left; domestic policy, economics, governance and foreign policy.
- Heritage Foundation — conservative; domestic policy, budget, and national security.
- American Enterprise Institute (AEI) — conservative/libertarian-leaning; economics, foreign policy, governance.
- Cato Institute — libertarian; limited government, civil liberties, economics.
- Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) — center-right/centrist; defense and international security.
- Carnegie Endowment for International Peace — centrist/independent; international affairs and diplomacy.
- Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) — nonpartisan/establishment (headquartered in NYC but very active in DC); foreign policy and global issues.
- RAND Corporation — policy research and analysis across defense, health, education (HQ in Santa Monica with large DC presence).
- Center for American Progress (CAP) — progressive; domestic policy, economic and social programs, climate.
- New America — centrist/progressive-leaning; technology, education, national security, innovation.
- Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE) — independent; international economics and trade.
- Atlantic Council — center-right/centrist; transatlantic relations, security and geo-economics.
- Wilson Center (Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars) — nonpartisan; global affairs, convening scholars and policymakers.
- Hudson Institute — conservative; defense, national security, technology and geopolitics.
- Center for a New American Security (CNAS) — center-left/centrist; national security and defense policy.
- Bipartisan Policy Center — centrist; finds bipartisan policy solutions across many issues.
- Urban Institute — nonpartisan; social and economic policy, poverty, housing, evaluation research.
- Stimson Center — nonpartisan; security and global governance, arms control.
- Niskanen Center — libertarian-to-center-left; market-oriented policy with emphasis on climate and civil liberties.
- Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) — progressive; social justice, anti-war, economic inequality.
- German Marshall Fund (GMF) — transatlantic policy, democracy support and international cooperation.
- Hoover Institution — conservative/center-right (Stanford-based with DC activity); economic policy, national security.

If you want a shorter list tailored to a policy area (foreign policy, economics, climate, domestic policy) or a political leaning (left, right, libertarian, centrist), tell me which and I’ll narrow it down.