The Brookings Current

Building on previous visits from high-level Cabinet officials, Vice President Kamala Harris' trip to Singapore and Vietnam adds positive momentum to the Biden administration's efforts to re-engage with key partners in Southeast Asia. Jonathan Stromseth explains why it's important for America to expand its political and economic agenda in the region with an eye to deepening positive, long-term rela...

The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act "is a huge first step to tackle long-range challenges" like climate change, says Adie Tomer. The $1 trillion investment in water and power infrastructure, expanding broadband and rail, and changing how communities are developed will "give us a good chance to go into the laboratory to see what the future of the country might look like, and then...

Although the CDC's eviction moratorium has been temporarily extended, approximately 6 million households are behind on their rent and potentially at risk of eviction, while states and cities have struggled to distribute the billions in emergency rental assistance allocated by Congress last year. Jenny Schuetz examines the challenges in getting aid money to renters and how to better support renters...

The White House meeting between President Biden and Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi was primarily framed around the future of U.S. military forces in Iraq, but in addition to the destabilizing threats of ISIS and Iran-aligned militias, Iraq is also struggling with a deep economic crisis and need for significant political reforms. Ranj Alaaldin details Kadhimi's efforts to address Iraq's in...

As families with children start receiving the first of their monthly checks from the American Rescue Plan's expanded child tax credit, Robert Greenstein calls the benefit transformational in reaching the poorest children, and explains why it's critical the child tax credit and expanded earned income tax credit programs be made permanent to effectively reduce poverty. Show notes and transcript: htt...

The Trump Organization and its CFO, Allen Weisselberg, face felony charges for an alleged 15-year scheme of conspiracy and criminal tax fraud in the state of New York. "When you read through the indictment, through all 15 counts and the 24-page indictment and the stunning level of detail, it really presents a sweeping tax fraud case." Norman Eisen examines the severity of the charges against the T...

The White House's goal for the Geneva meeting of Presidents Biden and Putin was not a reset, but to set guardrails for a more stable and predictable relationship. Angela Stent assesses the basic agreements that came out of Wednesday's summit, potential areas for future cooperation, and where U.S. and Russian priorities will continue to challenge the relationship. Show notes and transcript: https:/...

Attempts to build the the Keystone XL pipeline from Canada's oil sands to the U.S. Gulf Coast have been abandoned after more than a decade of opposition from environmentalists, dropping oil prices, and the Biden administration's drive to decarbonize the U.S. economy. Samantha Gross explains the implications of Keystone's cancelation for other pipeline projects, U.S. emissions, and the future of fo...

A broad coalition is coming together to form a new government in Israel, which means Benjamin Netanyahu's 12-year run as prime minister may be nearing its end. Natan Sachs, director of the Center for Middle East Policy at Brookings, explains how this coalition was created and whether it will represent a major break from the Netanyahu era. Follow Brookings podcasts on Apple or Google podcasts, or o...

When it comes to an investigation of the January 6, 2021 insurrection and assault on the U.S. Capitol, it needs "something beyond what Congress can do itself." Molly Reynolds explains the limitations of current congressional committee investigations, the likelihood of the Senate approving an independent 1/6 commission, and the many challenges facing any attempt to build a cohesive narrative leadin...

Both Hamas and the Israeli government have dramatically escalated tensions that began as spontaneous grassroots protests over the eviction of Palestinian families in East Jerusalem to military violence with a high cost to civilians in both Israel and Gaza. Shibley Telhami weighs in on the confrontations spreading throughout Israel and the Palestinian territories, and whether the Biden administrati...

After jobs growth slowed in April, Stephanie Aaronson cautions that employment is going to be slow to return to pre-pandemic levels as employers and workers try to match their needs and pay expectations. She also addresses the relationship between unemployment benefits, wages, and slowing the spread of the coronavirus, and why there may continue to be lingering negative effects on women's labor fo...

John Hudak examines President Biden's first 100 days and his joint address to Congress, and how those reflect Biden's view of his presidency and the role of government in meeting the challenges of American life. Show notes and transcript: https://brook.gs/2RaLx8y   Follow Brookings podcasts on Apple or Google podcasts, or on Spotify. Send feedback email to  BCP@Brookings.edu , and follow us and tw...

The sudden death of Chad's President Idriss Déby after 30 years in power has created a governance vacuum that will likely lead to years of instability, says John Mukum Mbaku, unless the military hands power over to the National Assembly, as called for in Chad's constitution. Show notes and transcript: https://brook.gs/3dIfoxW Follow Brookings podcasts on Apple or Google podcasts, or on Spotify. Se...

Will the guilty verdict for Derek Chauvin's murder of George Floyd be just a single blip of accountability in the longer history of police violence, or will it be a real inflection point to galvanize change? Rashawn Ray speaks to the significance of Chauvin's trial, the fractured state of police-community relations, and what the Department of Justice needs to ensure real accountability. Show notes...

Both Iran and the U.S. have incentive to continue negotiations in Vienna toward restoring the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), says Robert Einhorn, in spite of this weekend's attack on  Iran's Natanz nuclear facility and Iran's subsequent move to step up its uranium enrichment process. Show notes and transcript: https://brook.gs/3ab4oad   Follow Brookings podcasts on Apple or Google pod...

Although workers' efforts to form a union at the Amazon warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama ultimately failed, the David versus Goliath attempt "is a reflection of how broken our labor laws are." Molly Kinder looks at growing public support for unions and says it's critical for policymakers to act to make it easier for workers to organize for their rights.  Show notes and transcript: https://brook.gs/3...

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's political and legal fate remains in question after a fourth round of elections in two years has yielded no clear winner.  As the country remains stuck in limbo, Natan Sachs weighs in on how this election has shaken up traditional right vs. left alliances, the Islamic Ra'am party's potential kingmaker role, and what the election of extreme far-right Kness...

This past week, leaders of the "Quad" - U.S., India, Japan, and Australia - met for the first time as a group to put forward a positive agenda and address Chinese behavior in the Indo-Pacific region. Tanvi Madan evaluates what the Quad summit signals about the Biden administration's regional strategy, and the significance newly announced COVID-19 vaccine initiative. Show notes and transcript: http...

Lauren Bauer explains how unemployment insurance (UI) benefits - now extended to September via the American Rescue Plan - have affected household finances and worker behavior, and why Congress should add automatic triggers to UI before the next recession. Show notes and transcript: https://brook.gs/2Ord8l1   Follow Brookings podcasts on Apple or Google podcasts, or on Spotify. Send feedback email...

As the American Rescue Plan makes its final way through Congress, Wendy Edelberg examines how the key elements will provide much-needed economic relief to states and families, and make significant cuts in child poverty. Looking ahead, Edelberg recommends that Democrats and Republicans should next put together an infrastructure package to help build a robust, long-term economic recovery. Show notes...

Although a U.S. intelligence report conclusively found that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018, the Biden administration has not yet directly penalized the crown prince himself. Bruce Riedel explains why the White House may be hesitating to act more directly and why Mohammed bin Salman's position in Saudi Arabia may be less secure...

President Biden's authorization of a U.S. retaliatory strike against Iranian-backed militias in Syria raises questions about his administration's policies toward Iraq, Syria, and the broader region. Michael O'Hanlon addresses the scale of the airstrikes, whether congressional authorization should have been sought, and how he expects the Biden administration to streamline the U.S. military presence...

On Thursday, the Biden administration announced its willingness to rejoin talks with Iran over the future of its nuclear program. However, the administration's goal isn't to simply revert to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, explains Suzanne Maloney, and when it comes to Iran policy, "getting it right is more important than getting it fast." Show notes and transcript: https://brook.gs/3...

The protests in Russia in support of jailed anti-corruption leader Alexei Navalny are fueled by a combination of frustrations with Vladimir Putin's repressive government, Russia's stagnant economy, and the impacts of COVID, says Angela Stent. Whether demonstrations will grow into a larger, sustained movement remains to be seen, and what influence the U.S. and Europe can wield may be limited. Show...