The Evening: Biden Willing to Compromise, Aung San Suu Kyi Charged, EC and More

February 3, 2021

Biden Willing to Compromise

President Joe Biden said he's open to refining key elements of his nearly $2 trillion coronavirus package during a call with House Democrats today, but stressed the urgency of delivering the massive relief bill quickly and remained firm on the size of the $1,400 check, as Politico reports.

Oxford-AstraZeneca Coronavirus Vaccine May Help Prevent Transmission

The developers of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine report that it may help prevent people from spreading the virus, offering a hopeful but only preliminary answer to one of the great remaining questions of the pandemic, as the Washington Post reports.

Myanmar Charges Aung San Suu Kyi With Obscure Infraction

Three days after Myanmar’s military seized power in a coup, a court charged the country’s civilian leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, with an obscure infraction that could land her in prison for up to three years: illegally importing at least 10 walkie-talkies, as the NYT reports.

Executive Education

CSIS is now accepting applications for the Spring 2021 Belt and Road Executive Course. Drawing insights from leading experts and the CSIS Reconnecting Asia Project, this course reveals how China's $1 trillion foreign policy effort is impacting commercial and strategic realities on the ground.

Global Forecast 2021

"Ultimately, the United States’ standing as a leading democracy stems not from verbal assertions or the mass of the economy or the strength of the military. It derives from our ability to solve internal domestic problems in a transparent and effective manner," writes CSIS president and CEO John J. Hamre in his essay on renewing American values.

Coronavirus Crisis Update

The Coronavirus Crisis Update podcast brings you the latest updates and analysis from CSIS experts and the leaders directing the global response. Past guests include NIAID Director Dr. Anthony Fauci, White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain, IHME Director Dr. Chris Murray, Covid-19 Advisory Group members Dr. Luciana Borio and Dr. Celine Gounder, chef Jose Andres, and more. Listen on Apple Podcasts & Spotify.

Video Shorts

Check out CSIS’s new series of video shorts: “Data Unpacked,” Testify,” “What's Happening,” “Preview,” and “High Resolution.” And don’t forget to subscribe to the CSIS YouTube Channel!

In That Number

300 Million

COVAX, the international program to supply Covid-19 vaccines at low or no cost to countries around the world, plans to deliver more than 300 million doses by June 30.

Source: NYT

Critical Quote

“I am not going to start by breaking a promise to the American people.”

— President Joseph Biden on the size of the stimulus checks.

iDeas Lab

CSIS's Trade Commission on Affirming American Leadership outlines recommendations for how to revitalize the global rules-based trading system and advance U.S. interests. Watch this short video to learn how the United States can establish a trade policy for the twenty-first century.

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: Anna Moneymaker - Pool/Getty Images.) A Capitol police officer pays her respects before a ceremony memorializing Officer Brian D. Sicknick as he lies in honor in the Capitol rotunda.

Recommended Reading

“Addressing Forced Labor in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region,” by CSIS’s Amy Lehr.

This Town Tomorrow

Tomorrow, at 9:00 a.m., the CSIS Europe Program hosts the first discussion in a three-part series on Chancellor Angela Merkel's legacy, and what to expect for her Christian Democratic Union party, German politics, and the U.S.-German relationship after she steps down.

Later, at noon, the CSIS Humanitarian Agenda will host a virtual conversation on the humanitarian priorities of the Biden administration and the internal and external roadblocks they must navigate as they seek to improve humanitarian outcomes.

And, at 1:00 p.m., the Atlantic Council will celebrate the launch of its Europe Center by hosting a conversation on Europe and transatlantic relations with President Emmanuel Macron of France.

Video

The CSIS Trade Commission on Affirming American Leadership yesterday hosted a discussion exploring its newly released report on revitalizing U.S. trade leadership for the twenty-first century. Watch the full video here.

Podcasts

On today's episode of Coronavirus Crisis Update, Steve and I spoke with Scott Kirby, CEO of United Airlines. We discussed the devastating impacts of Covid-19 on the airline industry and how bipartisan broad-based support has preserved its critical infrastructure.

Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

Smiles

One more from EC. This time Clapton’s got a few friends to jam with …