The Brookings Current

In his first week in office, President Joe Biden has issued two executive orders emphasizing racial equity as a core policy at the Department of Housing and Urban Development and across the federal government writ large. Senior Fellow Andre Perry explains the significance of both orders, and more ways for the Biden administration to proactively pursue inclusive policies in its first 100 days and b...

The attack by Trump supporters on the U.S. Capitol "was America at its darkest," says John Hudak, and raised "legitimate serious concerns for not just the operation of the Congress to count electoral votes, but for the continuity of government itself." Hudak examines whether Congress will seek to remove President Trump from power in his final 13 days, how successful it will be if it tries, and whe...

Bruce Riedel explains why the departure of President Trump may have led the Saudis and their Gulf allies to rethink their rift with Qatar, and what reconciliation among the Gulf states will mean for the Biden administration's goals for restoring a working relationship with Iran. Show notes and transcript: https://brook.gs/3s1U4bQ   Subscribe to Brookings podcasts on Apple or Google podcasts, or on...

After months of inaction and halting negotiations, Congress's $900 billion COVID economic relief package is "too little, too late." William Gale argues that while the bill makes a good start at getting relief to the American people, it still leaves a lot for the next Congress and Biden administration to address. Show notes and transcript: https://brook.gs/2Je5ZSD Subscribe to Brookings podcasts on...

Hackers gained access to U.S. government systems in a months-long act of cyberespionage. While the full extent of the security breach is still being determined, Tarah Wheeler explains the third-party software vulnerability that enabled the hack, and what the incoming Biden administration's priorities should be to meet a higher bar for U.S. cybersecurity. Show notes and transcript: https://brook.gs...

The Trump administration's delay in acknowledging the results of the 2020 election have left President-elect Joe Biden's transition team with even less than the usual 11 weeks to fill thousands of positions and be read in on the procedures and priorities of every government agency and department. Kathryn Dunn Tenpas looks at how the delayed start may affect the incoming Biden administration and th...

In its final weeks, the Trump administration has sought to lock in its foreign policy priorities against the efforts of the incoming Biden administration as much as possible. Tom Wright examines what the Biden team will be facing following the Trump administration's unprecedented handling of the transition process, firing of key national security personnel, and significant withdrawal of U.S. troop...

President Trump fired Secretary of Defense Mark Esper via tweet on Monday, raising questions about the motives and risks of shaking up leadership at the Pentagon so close to a presidential transition. Michael O'Hanlon looks at Esper's track record as secretary and the stability of civilian military leadership at the end of Trump's term.  Full show notes and transcript: https://brook.gs/2JVLQRn   S...

Less than two weeks before Election Day, President Trump issued an executive order which will strip job protections from civil service employees that prevent them from being fired at will, undermining the procedures supporting a merit-based civil service. Scott Anderson delves into the complex legal background and history of these civil service protections and—depending on the outcome of the elect...

With less than a week before voting in the 2020 election concludes, Elaine Kamarck takes a look at early voting trends--who is voting early, how many votes have already come in, and whether voter turnout will break historic records. Kamarck also explains how states are wrangling with legal challenges to expanded voting access, including this week's Supreme Court decision on Wisconsin absentee ball...

On Friday, the Trump administration announced it reached a new deal for normalization of relations between Sudan and Israel, a follow-up to the similar Abraham Accord deals with the UAE and Bahrain. Zach Vertin explains the role the U.S. played in agreeing to remove Sudan from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list, a step crucial to Sudan's vulnerable transitional government as it navigates a pivot...

The U.S. government's antitrust case against Google will take a long time to come to trial, says Brookings Visiting Fellow Bill Baer, but what remains to be seen is how Google will defend the actions it took securing its market dominance, and whether it will amend its practices even as the lawsuit goes forward. Baer also explores the role of Congress in addressing concerns about consumer data priv...

To mark the UN International Day of the Girl Child, Christina Kwauk examines the state of progress on girls' education and gender equity over the last 20 years, the dangers and setbacks caused by pandemic shutdowns, and what it would mean for the U.S. to have a feminist foreign policy. Full show notes: https://brook.gs/2IhT6WV   Subscribe to Brookings podcasts on Apple or Google podcasts, or on Sp...

Right-wing terrorism, like the recent plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and overthrow the state government, has been the deadliest form of terrorism in the United States in recent years—and is likely to continue, says Vanda Felbab-Brown. She draws on the history of antigovernment movements in the U.S. and explains how these extremist groups have capitalized on public discontentment wit...

What does President Trump's COVID-19 diagnosis mean for the functioning of the presidency, the White House, and the 2020 election? John Hudak describes how the executive branch can continue to operate with the president in quarantine, how continuity of government is ensured if the president becomes incapacitated, and how Trump can–and should–campaign over the next few weeks. Full show notes: https...

New reporting on leaked suspicious activity reports from the U.S. Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network ("FinCen") has revealed significant flaws in U.S. and global anti-money laundering efforts. Matthew Collin explains why financial systems still host so much dirty money, despite a huge regulatory push over the last 20 years to stamp down on money laundering, and what reforms would help...

Brookings Vice President Suzanne Maloney explains how the US attempt to trigger a "snapback" of UN sanctions against Iran as part of the JCPOA agreement "exposes the utter lack of efficacy of the Trump administration's policy." She also looks ahead to how a Biden administration might seek to reestablish negotiations toward a broader agreement. Full show notes: https://brook.gs/303LGfF   Subscribe...

Following the White House signing ceremony for the Abraham Accords, which normalize peaceful relations between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain, Natan Sachs examines the driving factors behind the rapprochement. He also warns that while the peace deal is a net positive for regional relations, the Palestinians, though shunted aside, cannot be ignored.  Full show notes: https://brook.gs...

Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party has elected Yoshihide Suga to succeed Shinzo Abe as prime minister, following a parliamentary vote on Wednesday. Brookings Senior Fellow Mireya Solís describes Suga's humble beginnings and political career, and the numerous domestic and foreign policy challenges awaiting him as he steps into office. Full show notes: https://brook.gs/3iAzfiG   Subscribe to Br...

Steve Pifer explains how President Lukashenko's response to COVID-19 and a blatantly stolen election in August prompted the wide-spread demonstrations in Belarus, and warns how Russia could alienate another border country by supporting Lukashenko over the Belarusian people. Full show notes: https://brook.gs/2GziqXg   Subscribe to Brookings podcasts on Apple or Google podcasts, or on Spotify. Send...

On Monday, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the House Judiciary Committee cannot compel former White House counsel Donald McGahn to comply with a congressional subpoena. Scott Anderson weighs in on the judicial panel's reasoning for this decision, how subpoena fights between the White House and Congress have usually been resolved, and whether this decision has broader repercussions for...

The resignation of Shinzo Abe, Japan's longest-serving prime minister, comes at a time of profound uncertainty and geopolitical tension, from the coronavirus pandemic and economic recession to an assertive China and an inward-turning America. Mireya Solís assesses Abe's domestic and international record, his institutional changes to Japanese leadership, and the challenges awaiting his successor. S...

Joe Biden's selection of Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) as his vice presidential running mate "gives the Democratic Party an opportunity to seize the future and seize it in a way where voters see themselves reflected." Senior Fellow Camille Busette examines Harris' significance as a biracial Black woman VP candidate, her personal appeal and policy credentials, and momentum in politics for progress...

President Trump announced that he is relocating 12,000 U.S. troops from Germany, a third of U.S. forces there. What's behind this decision? Does it make strategic sense? Will it help or harm NATO's deterrence capabilities? And while President Trump has criticized Germany (and other NATO allies) for not yet meeting the agreed-upon 2% of GDP spending target for the alliance, should we broaden the de...

The size and scope of Joe Biden's $2 trillion climate plan is "unprecedented historically," Brookings Associate Fellow Joe Kane argues. While the full details, including funding, of many of the proposals are still forthcoming, Kane lays out the expansive range of priorities in the plan, from physical and digital infrastructure, agriculture and land conservation, worker training and unionization, t...