The Evening: Mounting Toll, Iran Waivers, Crowes Tiny Desk and More
March 30, 2020
Mounting Toll
As the toll of the coronavirus continued to mount federal lawmakers and Trump administration officials turned their attention Monday to new measures to try to contain the fallout, as the NYT reports.
The WSJ reports , Americans prepared for a prolonged lockdown as a continuing surge of confirmed new coronavirus cases brought the U.S. total to over 150,000.
And, as the Washington Post reports , the Food and Drug Administration has given emergency approval to a Trump administration plan to distribute millions of doses of anti-malarial drugs to U.S. hospitals, saying it is worth the risk of trying unproven treatments to slow the disease in seriously ill patients.
Meanwhile, as the FT reports, two U.S. healthcare companies have brought new hope in the fight against coronavirus, with Johnson & Johnson announcing a potential vaccine that could be available early next year and Abbott Laboratories launching a rapid test kit.
U.S. Expected to Renew Sanctions Waivers Allowing Iran Nonproliferation Work
The United States is expected to allow Russian, Chinese and European companies to continue their work at Iranian nuclear sites to make it harder for Tehran to develop nuclear weapons, as Reuters reports.
Space Threat Assessment 2020
“Space Threat Assessment 2020,” by CSIS’s Todd Harrison, Kaitlyn Johnson, Thomas Roberts, and Makena Young, released today, reviews the open-source information available on the counterspace capabilities that can threaten U.S. space systems and which countries are developing such systems.
On the Horizon
In The End of OPEC or a New Beginning?, the first commentary of our new series, Sarah Ladislaw examines how oil markets face unprecedented headwinds that will reshape oil market geopolitics even beyond the current crisis. Will this bring about the end of OPEC or a new beginning?
CSIS’s “On the Horizon” series offers insights into the more fundamental changes we might anticipate for our future social and economic world as a consequence to the COVID-19 pandemic.
CSIS Executive Education
We invite you to apply to The Dynamics and Implications of China's Rise, a three-day course on China's domestic and elite politics, its growing international influence, and its economic development trajectory.
Video Shorts
Check out CSIS’s new series of video shorts: “Testify,” "What's Happening," "Preview," and “High Resolution.” And don’t forget to subscribe to the CSIS YouTube Channel!
In That Number
18
U.S. crude-oil futures dropped more than 6% to the lowest level in more than 18 years as analysts forecast that quarantine measures are leading to the biggest decline in oil demand in history.
Source: WSJ
Critical Quote
“New York is really in trouble…But I think it’s going to end up being fine.”
— President Trump
iDeas Lab
It took 6 days for South Korea to decide to organize a national public-private sector massive response to COVID-19. CSIS's Korea Chair developed a timeline showing how South Korea has slowed the spread of COVID-19.
The Andreas C. Dracopoulos iDeas Lab at CSIS enhances our research with the latest in cutting-edge web technologies, design, and video.
Optics
(Photo credit: Bryan Smith/AFP/Getty Images). The USNS Comfort medical ship moves up the Hudson River past the Statue of Liberty as it arrives in New York City.
Recommended Reading
“The Coronavirus Crisis is Stripping Bare Europe’s Deep Fractures,” by CSIS’s Heather Conley and John Kornblum.
Video
The Middle East is on the verge of an even greater set of disruptions — ones that are likely to shake the region to its core. CSIS Middle East director Jon Alterman explains how Middle Eastern governments are likely to deal with the expanding COVID-19 crisis. Watch the full video here .
Podcast
Katherine Bliss, senior fellow with CSIS's Global Health Policy Center, discusses her coronavirus quarantine, her work on GAVI, and lessons learned that may be useful as the world grapples with COVID-19.
Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.
The “Asia Chessboard” features in-depth conversations with the most prominent strategic thinkers on Asia. On the latest episode, CSIS Japan Chair Mike Green discusses what the coronavirus portends for the U.S.-China relationship, America's allies in the Indo-Pacific, and the future U.S. role of Asia.
Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.
Smiles
The people at NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts never disappoint—today they broke out a performance that was taped on February 20 with Chris and Rich Robinson of the Black Crowes who were at the time on their reunion tour. This is a great set: “She Talks To Angels,” “Jealous Again,” and “Wiser Time” acoustic. Don’t miss the closing number “Wiser Time,” trust me. And not just because it’s one of my favorite songs. Enjoy !