Good Evening,
It's Monday, April 8th. |
Israel’s Troop Drawdown in South Leaves Gaza With No Active Battles
The Israeli military’s departure from southern Gaza over the weekend has left the territory without a major battlefield for the first time since a brief truce with Hamas in November, raising hopes that the two sides might reach another cease-fire, as the NYT reports. |
Hamas Says Hostage Talks ‘On Hold,’ Calls Latest Proposal a ‘Setback’
A senior Hamas official said Monday that hostage negotiations with Israel are “on hold” after the group received a proposal from mediators during talks in Cairo, and, as The Washington Post reports, called the proposal a “setback.” |
China Push
The Biden administration will push China to change an industrial policy that poses a threat to U.S. jobs, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Monday after wrapping up four days of talks with Chinese officials, as the AP reports. |
Executive Education
Rethink innovation. Examine the opportunities and challenges facing the world of science, technology, and industry through the lens of global competition in Renewing the U.S. Innovation System, held at CSIS on April 18. Register here by April 11. |
Audio Briefs
CSIS experts give short, spoken-word summaries on the biggest takeaways from their latest reports, white papers, and commentaries—in their own words.
Listen here: "Eroding Trust in Government: What Games, Surveys, and Scenarios Reveal about Alternative Cyber Futures" with CSIS's Yasir Atalan. |
In That Number
3
Drone strikes hit three containment structures at the Zaporizhzhia plant in southeastern Ukraine, Europe’s largest nuclear power station, significantly increasing the risk of a major nuclear accident.
Source: The Washington Post |
Critical Quote
“When the global market is flooded by artificially cheap Chinese products, the viability of American and other foreign firms is put into question.”
—Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen |
iDeas Lab
Based on a public survey by the CSIS Futures Lab, researchers observed that both experts and the public view Russia and China as the predominant authoritarian states interested in undermining U.S. federal agencies and critical infrastructure. Read the latest edition of the On Future War series.
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: CSIS.) United States Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel and Japanese Ambassador to the United States Yamada Shigeo at CSIS on April 8, 2024, as they discuss Prime Minister Kishida's upcoming official visit to Washington, DC. |
Recommended Reading
“Evaluating Chip Overcapacity and the Transatlantic Trade Tool Kit” by CSIS's Emily Benson, Catharine Mouradian, and Pau Alvarez-Aragones. |
This Town Tomorrow
Starting at 9:00 a.m., CSIS hosts the 2024 LeadershIP conference, where experts, policymakers, and industry leaders will discuss the pressing topics in IP, innovation, and national security policy.
Then, at 1:30 p.m., the CSIS Asia Program discusses the role of transatlantic cooperation in shaping future stability and prosperity across the Indo-Pacific region.
Earlier, at 9:30 a.m., the Wilson Center welcomes former President of Colombia Ivan Duque to analyze the role of the private sector in foreign affairs. |
Video
Today, the CSIS Japan Chair welcomed United States Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel and Japanese Ambassador to the United States Yamada Shigeo to preview Prime Minister Kishida's upcoming visit to Washington, DC. Watch the full video here. |
Podcasts
In the latest episode, the Trade Guys discuss the 2024 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers, President Biden and President Xi's meeting, and falling Chinese foreign direct investment.
Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts. |
Smiles
The difference in the way we listen to music today as compared to late last century and in the early aughts is night and day. In the “old days,” we used to wait with anticipation for when our favorite artists’ new records would be released. And, upon release, we would likely listen to the album start to finish with great wonder for what each new track would bring. We discussed song sequencing routinely.
With the exception of Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Zach Bryan, or Kendrick Lamar, I don’t think many people today (especially young people) are waiting for full albums to hit stores. Heck, there are no record stores! And, artists release singles frequently in an attempt to keep content flowing. Why make you wait for our magnum opus when we can keep you satiated song by song with strategic drops of content?
Back in the day, waiting for record releases was a hyped up affair. Do you recall when U2 put our “Joshua Tree” and “Achtung Baby” in the late '80s-early '90s? I sure do. As I was dipping into the R.E.M. catalogue over the weekend, I started to think about how almost every R.E.M. record opens with a track that gives listeners something to be excited about, a song that induces you to keep on listening!
When R.E.M.’s album “Life’s Rich Pageant” came out in late summer of '86, the first track on the record, “Begin the Begin,” blasted out of my speakers and I’ve been listening to it ever since. |
| I invite you to email me at [email protected] and follow me on Twitter @handrewschwartz |
