California Variant More Contagious

A variant first discovered in California in December is more contagious than earlier forms of the coronavirus, two new studies have shown, fueling concerns that emerging mutants like this one could hamper the sharp decline in cases over all in the state and perhaps elsewhere, as the NYT reports.

Biden Admin to Sanction Russia

The Biden administration is preparing sanctions and other measures to punish Moscow for actions that go beyond the sprawling SolarWinds cyber espionage campaign to include a range of malign cyber activity and the near-fatal poisoning of a Russian opposition leader, as the Washington Post reports.

Powell Sees Easy-Money Policies Staying in Place

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell reaffirmed the central bank’s commitment to maintaining easy-money policies until the economy has recovered further from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, as the WSJ reports.

Executive Education

Navigating U.S. Foreign Assistance features a hands-on study of the latest trends and techniques today’s international development and humanitarian leaders need to successfully maximize their impact. Through interactive seminars, expert-led case studies, and a culminating crisis simulation, participants will join a diverse network of industry professionals and pair their own unique experience with CSIS’s rich array of coaching resources. Register here.

Global Forecast 2021

Global Forecast is an annual collection of essays by CSIS experts focused on the critical issues facing the United States and the world in the year ahead. The latest papers examine President Biden's international economic policy and U.S.-China engagement on climate change.

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

44.5 million

44.5 million people in the U.S. have been vaccinated covering 36.6% of the prioritized population and 13.4% of the total population.

Source: Washington Post.

Critical Quote

“The economic recovery remains uneven and far from complete, and the path ahead is highly uncertain.”

— Jerome H. Powell, Federal Reserve Chair

iDeas Lab

As part of CSIS's Urban Legends series, experts look at how the growth of cities is reshaping everything from food systems and humanitarian interests to political movements and migration.

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: Erin Scott-Pool/Getty Images.) Former U.S. Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund listens as the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and Senate Rules and Administration committees hear testimony about the law enforcement preparation response to the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.

This Town Tomorrow

Tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., join CSIS's Jon Alterman and Eric Brewer for a discussion on the Biden administration's re-engagement with Iran over its nuclear program.

Later, at 3:00 p.m., the CSIS Global Food Security Program hosts Robert Paarlberg to discuss his newest publication,
Resetting the Table: Real Talk About the Food We Grow and Eat.

Also, at 12:00 p.m., the Wilson Center examines opportunities for the Biden administration to build peace through cooperation in areas such as shared resources, climate action, or disaster prevention.

Video

Today, the CSIS Missile Defense Project hosted General John Hyten, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to address the interrelation of active missile defense, non-nuclear missile defeat, and deterrence. Watch here.

Podcasts

In this crossover episode with the newest CSIS podcast, Mexico Matters, host Mariana Campero speaks with Ken Smith, Mexico’s Chief USMCA negotiator and with the CSIS Trade Guys about the new USMCA.

Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

Smiles

“Television made me what I am.”

In 1985-86, I listened obsessively to the Talking Heads’ incredible record “Little Creatures.” It was both popular and subversive at the same time. Songs like “And She Was” and “Stay Up Late” blasted from the radio in June ’85, but it was tracks like “Television Man” and “Road to Nowhere” that took hold of me. Maybe it was David Byrne’s poetic nihilism or Chris Franz and Tina Weymouth’s wicked funk that was so infectious.

I’ve been thinking about the Heads lately—especially with our television and image obsessed culture, concepts the band explored. It was really Jonathan Demme’s seminal 1984 concert film “Stop Making Sense” that locked me into the Talking Heads and fueled my obsession with their music. I wouldn’t have understood “Little Creatures” which dropped in ’85 had I not first seen this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGofoH9RDEA.

I’ve been studying “Stop Making Sense” ever since it hit theaters and pondering their music now for decades and I remain in awe. Same as it ever was?

I invite you to email me at [email protected] and follow me on Twitter @handrewschwartz

The Evening is my daily guide to key insights CSIS brings to the events of the day. It is composed with the External Relations team: Emma Colbran, Caleb Diamond, and Kendal Gee.