The Evening: Trump Gaza Proposal, China Strikes Back, Nirvana Reunion, and More
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Good Evening,
It's Tuesday, February 4th.
Trump Proposes Permanent Displacement of Gazans
President Donald Trump on Tuesday proposed moving Gazans to a “good, fresh, beautiful piece of land” in another country, offering a vision of mass displacement that would likely inflame sentiments in the Arab world as he prepared to welcome Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House today, as The Washington Post reports
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China Strikes Back
China struck back against U.S. tariffs with levies on certain American goods, an antitrust probe into Google and restrictions on Chinese exports of key minerals. The moves escalated a new trade war between the world's two largest economies, as the WSJ reports
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Moves to Put USAID DC Staff on Leave
The Trump administration is making moves to place nearly all of the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Washington-based staff on leave, according to two people familiar with the steps being taken, as Politico reports
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New Intel on Iran
New intelligence about Iran’s nuclear program has convinced American officials that a secret team of the country’s scientists is exploring a faster, if cruder, approach to developing an atomic weapon if Tehran’s leadership decides to race for a bomb, according to current and former American officials, as the NYT reports
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Executive Education
As the Trump administration pushes forward its policy agenda, Washington is experiencing significant shifts in power structures and bureaucratic processes. Join Decoding D.C.: Policy, Power, and People
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from March 24-27, 2025 for a guide to navigating the city's distinctive culture, policy dynamics, and political constructs. Register here
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by March 12.
Audio Briefs
CSIS now offers audio versions of our latest analysis. Listen to the latest Commentary by CSIS's Philip Luck, "How U.S. Tariffs on Allies Undermine Economic Statecraft
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In That Number
15 percent
China said it would implement a 15% tariff on coal and liquefied natural gas products, as well as additional tariffs on crude oil, agricultural machinery and large-engine cars imported from the United States, in retaliation for the new U.S. tariffs that took effect Tuesday.
Source: AP
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Critical Quote
“They can’t have a nuclear weapon.”
—President Donald Trump
iDeas Lab
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The use of emergency economic powers to impose tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China
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risks undermining U.S. economic security by disrupting supply chains, increasing costs for consumers and businesses, and straining critical partnerships.
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: Jason C. Andrew/Bloomberg/Getty Images.) Demonstrators protest outside the U.S. Agency for International Development headquarters in Washington, DC, on February 3, 2025.
Recommended Reading
"Trump’s USAID Purge and Foreign Aid Turmoil Spark Global Security Concerns
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" by CSIS's Noam Unger.
This Town Tomorrow
At 9:30 a.m.
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, the CSIS Korea Chair discusses ways to enhance U.S.-ROK-Japan trilateral energy cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
Also at 9:30 a.m.
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, the Atlantic Council examines the future of transatlantic trade and the ongoing case for closer cooperation on regulation and economic statecraft.
Also at 9:30 a.m.
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, the Wilson Center unpacks the major changes to U.S. migration policy in the Americas.
Video
Yesterday, the CSIS Economic Security and Technology Department discussed the Trump administration's tariffs against China, Canada, and Mexico to address drug and immigration concerns at the U.S. northern and southern borders. Watch the full video here.
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Podcasts
CSIS's Michael Green leads a discussion with Michèle Flournoy on deterrence and developments in the Indo-Pacific.
Listen on Spotify
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& Apple Podcasts
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Smiles
I need to dip back into the Fire Aid LA benefit. Yesterday, I mentioned that the concerts included a Nirvana reunion. I have to admit that I was skeptical. Dave Grohl has been in exile for a bit, we never hear from bassist Krist Novoselic, and, of course, Kurt is sadly, tragically gone. Pat Smear became the fourth member of the band and he’s always excellent, but he’s not the frontman. So, who would sing homage to Cobain?
I sure was way off on this one. The reunion was incendiary! In Foo Fighters, Grohl is the lead singer and guitarist with Smear backing him up. In Nirvana, he was the drummer and in my mind is one of the best rock drummers of all time. In the following clip you will see why. It turns out that Novoselic still has chops, and Smear was great as ever. But it was the singers that made this so special. The band picked four women to handle Kurt’s vocals and guitar, and they simply blew everyone away. St. Vincent, Kim Gordon, Joan Jett, and Dave’s daughter Violet Grohl delivered performances for the ages. I’m just hoping they take this reunion on tour.
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I invite you to email me at
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and follow me on Twitter @handrewschwartz
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The Evening is my daily guide to key insights CSIS brings to the events of the day. It is composed by Lauren Adler, Ava Rose, and the External Relations team.
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