More Progress on Coronavirus Vaccines

A Food and Drug Administration review released today of the single-shot coronavirus vaccine made by pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson found it was safe and effective and completely prevented hospitalizations and deaths in a large clinical trial, as the Washington Post reports.

And, Moderna has become the first vaccine maker to produce a shot targeted at the virus variant discovered in South Africa and is shipping the doses to the National Institutes of Health to prepare for a clinical trial, as the FT reports.

Biden Readies Executive Order to Bolster Critical Supply Chains

President Biden today will formally order a 100-day government review of potential vulnerabilities in U.S. supply chains for critical items, including computer chips, medical gear, electric-vehicle batteries and specialized minerals, as the Washington Post’s David Lynch reports.

Syrian Ex-Officer Is Convicted in First Trial of Assad Regime Torture

A German court secured the world’s first conviction of a former Syrian official in relation to state-sanctioned torture in what lawyers and human-rights groups hailed as a breakthrough in the effort to bring the regime to account, as the WSJ’s Raja Abdulrahim and Ruth Bender report.

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.

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

25 Million

The Biden administration plans to send more than 25 million masks to food banks and community health centers in low-income neighborhoods across the country next month as part of its push to deliver equitable care during the pandemic.

Source: NYT

Critical Quote

“Not all Americans are wearing masks regularly. Not all Americans have access, and not all masks are equal.”

— Jeffrey D. Zients, White House coronavirus response coordinator

iDeas Lab

New satellite imagery from Beyond Parallel indicates that North Korea's Yusang-ni missile base is operational and that minor development has continued since our last report on May 9, 2019.

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: Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images.) Vice President Kamala Harris swears in Linda Thomas-Greenfield as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

This Town Tomorrow

Tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., the CSIS Energy Security and Climate Change Program and BloombergNEF will launch a new report on the intersection of industrial policy, trade barriers and the development of clean energy supply chains.

Later, at 2:00 p.m., the CSIS Scholl Chair in International Business hosts a conversation on how the United States can strengthen its medical supply chains in light of the weaknesses exposed by the pandemic.

And, at 4:00 p.m., CSIS welcomes President Iván Duque of Colombia to discuss the country's recent decision to grant temporary legal protection to Venezuelan migrants.

Video

CSIS experts Caitlin Welsh, Judd Devermont, Erol Yayboke, and Jacob Kurtzer discussed the impact of urbanization on food systems, political movements, migration, and humanitarian needs in a new short video released yesterday. Watch it here.

Podcasts

On today's episode of The Truth of the Matter, I spoke with star Washington Post reporter Josh Dawsey. We discussed former President Trump’s upcoming speech at CPAC, his efforts to remain the leader of the GOP, the 2022 midterm elections, and the Biden administration’s early days.

Listen on Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts.

Smiles

I received notes from some of the smartest people on the planet yesterday about the Talking Heads. Not a surprise. Talk about a band that makes you think…

I’ve been studying “Stop Making Sense” ever since I saw it’s ’83 movie theater opening. There’s much going on in this film musically and visually. What’s surprising to me is that is has the same urgency decades later—every time I watch it.

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.