The Evening: Close Contact Definition, Nigeria Erupting, Keith Richards and More

October 21, 2020

CDC Expands Definition of “Close Contact”

Federal health officials issued new guidance on Wednesday that greatly expands the pool of people considered at risk of contracting the novel coronavirus by changing the definition of who is a “close contact” of an infected individual, as the Washington Post reports.

Stimulus Vote Could Come After Election

White House officials and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday opened the door to passing a coronavirus relief package after the election, a signal that time and political will has likely run out to enact legislation before then, as the WSJ reports.

Nigeria Erupting

Tens of thousands of Nigerians have been demonstrating for weeks against a notoriously brutal and corrupt police agency, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad — a show of popular anger, fueled by longstanding grievances over corruption and lack of accountability, that posed the biggest challenge to the government in years, as the NYT reports.

CSIS Executive Education

Apply today to Understanding Washington, a virtual course designed to give business leaders, embassy officials, and nonprofit professionals the tools to master Washington’s complex policy ecosystem. Led by top CSIS experts and veteran Washington insiders, participants will hone their ability to engage key players, navigate crises, and assess breaking developments.

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

25

Approximately 25 people have reportedly been shot dead or wounded at an End SARS protest against police brutality in Nigeria's biggest city, Lagos.

Source: BBC

Critical Quote

“The PRC used cyber-enabled espionage to target companies developing Covid vaccines and treatments in Europe, the UK and the United States all the while touting the need for international cooperation.”

— Robert O’Brien, National Security Adviser

iDeas Lab

New interactive maps illustrate Guyanese populations in countries around the world in order to encourage a deeper and more mutually advantageous relationship between Guyana and the diaspora.

The Andreas C. Dracopoulos iDeas Lab at CSIS enhances our research with the latest in cutting-edge web technologies, design, and multimedia.

Optics

(Photo credit: KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI/AFP/Getty Images.) A woman casts her ballot at the Frank P. Zeidler Municipal Building on the first day of in-person early voting for the November 3, 2020 elections in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on October 20, 2020.

Recommended Reading

“Toward a Stronger U.S.-Taiwan Relationship,” by CSIS’s Bonnie S. Glaser and Michael J. Green and Brookings’ Richard C. Bush.

This Town Tomorrow

Tomorrow, at 9:00 a.m., John C. Demers, Assistant Attorney General for National Security at the U.S. Department of Justice, will join the Capital Cable to discuss sanctions and national security issues concerning North Korea, South Korea and the Northeast Asia region.

Then, at 12:00 p.m., CSIS and the China Power Project is launching Toward a Stronger U.S. Taiwan Relationship and providing recommendations for the coming four years and beyond.

Later, at 3:00 p.m., join CSIS expert James A. Lewis for a conversation with Jeff Richards of GGV Capital and Asahi Pompey of Goldman Sachs about how small and medium business can learn and adapt from Covid-19.

Video

A virtual armchair discussion with Luis Arreaga, former U.S. Ambassador to Guatemala, addresses how the nation is confronting challenges to rule of law and anti-corruption, and what role the U.S. can play in ensuring the success of democratic institutions in Guatemala. You can find the full video here.

Podcasts

Smart Women Smart Power sits down with Vice Admiral Linda Fagan, Pacific Area Commander of the U.S. Coast Guard, to discuss Arctic security, the threat of illegal fishing to maritime security, and Coast Guard operations.

Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

Smiles

Whenever Keith Richards puts out anything new, I’m all ears, and in this case, eyes. Today, Richards dropped a new video directed by his son-in-law Jacques Naudé for the song “Hate It When You Leave,” a ballad from the 1992 “Main Offender” album with the X-Pensive Winos. It’s a really interesting video, it reminds me of William Eggleston’s photography
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGpwhos1v3k.