The Evening: U.S. Economy Growth, College Vaccines, Healing Chant and More
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** Good Evening,
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It's Thursday, April 29th.


** Robust Growth of U.S. Economy
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A burst of growth put the U.S. economy just below its pre-pandemic size in the first quarter, extending what is shaping up to be a rapid, consumer-driven recovery this year. Gross domestic product, the broadest measure of goods and services made in the United States, grew at a 6.4 percent seasonally adjusted annual rate in January through March, the Commerce Department said today. That left the world’s largest economy within 1 percent of its peak, reached in late 2019, just before the coronavirus pandemic reached the United States, as the
WSJ reports ([link removed]) .


** More Than 100 Colleges Will Require Students to Receive Vaccines
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More than 100 colleges across the country have said they will require students to receive coronavirus vaccines in order to attend in-person classes in the fall, according to a
New York Times survey ([link removed]) .


** Palestinians Postpone Elections
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Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas indicated today that he will postpone the first Palestinian elections in almost a generation amid a dispute with Israel over voting in East Jerusalem and sagging poll numbers for Abbas's own ruling faction, as the
Washington Post reports ([link removed]) .


** Executive Education
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Join ([link removed]) an accomplished cadre of defense and security experts for an inside look at the U.S. defense enterprise. Gain a competitive advantage in analyzing the defense domain’s strategy, technology, and policy issues and prepare for future challenges and opportunities in the industry.


** Mexico Matters
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The Mexico Matters podcast series highlights key developments in Mexico and their impact on the United States. Hosted by Mariana Campero, each episode brings in-depth analysis, commentary, and conversations on an array of subjects ranging from economics, trade, and energy to national security, foreign policy, and business. Listen on Apple Podcasts ([link removed]) & Spotify ([link removed]) .


** Video Shorts
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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 ([link removed]) !


** In That Number
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** 1.6%
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The Commerce Department reported today that the economy expanded 1.6 percent in the first three months of 2021, compared with 1.1 percent in the final quarter last year.

Source: NYT ([link removed])


** Critical Quote
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** “We have to prove democracy still works.’’
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— President Joe Biden


** iDeas Lab
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[link removed]
Strategic competition has arrived in the Arctic. A new tracker ([link removed]) from the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program provides an up-to-date repository of military incidents in the Arctic region.

The Andreas C. Dracopoulos iDeas Lab at CSIS enhances our research with the latest in cutting-edge web technologies, design, and multimedia.


** Optics
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CSIS
(Photo credit: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images.) President Joe Biden addresses a joint session of Congress as Vice President Kamala Harris and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi look on.


** Recommended Reading
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“Creating Fiscal Space in the Covid-19 Era ([link removed]) ,” by CSIS’s Stephanie Segal.


** This Town Tomorrow
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Tomorrow, at 10:00 a.m. ([link removed]) , the CSIS Africa Program and the CSIS Aerospace Security Project hold a webinar discussion on opportunities to advance commercial space systems in Africa.

And, at 9:00 a.m. ([link removed]) , the Economic Policy Institute host Senator Bob Casey (D-CA) for an event promoting new approaches with China on national security, rebalancing trade, rebuilding manufacturing, and supporting workers both domestically and abroad.

Later, at 10:00 a.m. ([link removed]) , the American Enterprise Institute hosts a panel of experts for a conversation about Russian hybrid warfare in Europe and the impact of President Vladimir Putin’s influence operations.


** Video
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U.S.-India security ties are off to a strong start in the first months of the Biden administration. However, the potential application of sanctions against India for the continued purchases of Russian-made defense equipment looms ever larger on the horizon. CSIS's Heather Conley and Rick Rossow analyze the future of the bilateral defense relationship in a new original video ([link removed]) .


** Podcasts
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Die Welt
On the latest episode of 35 West, Margarita R. Seminario sat down with Florida International University's Jose Miguel Cruz to discuss the results of two USAID-funded studies prepared with Democracy International on gang disengagement in Guatemala and Honduras.

Listen on Spotify ([link removed]) , Google Play ([link removed]) , & Apple Podcasts ([link removed]) .


** Smiles
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The closing set of Jazz Fest every year used to go to the Neville Brothers, New Orleans’ “First Family of Funk.” In early May of 1990, the Brothers were at the very peak of their powers having recorded and released “Yellow Moon” in ’89 with the incredible production skills of Daniel Lanois at the control board. The album is a masterpiece and every track stands out. But it is the final two cuts on the record that floor me, “Healing Chant,” which won the Grammy award for best pop instrumental, and “Wild Injuns,” a Mardi Gras tune the Nevilles added to the cannon.

This 1990 performance ([link removed]) was probably the second most memorable set (behind the Stevie Ray set I showed yesterday) that I saw in person at Jazz Fest. It was mesmerizing.
I invite you to email me at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) and follow me on Twitter @handrewschwartz ([link removed])

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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.

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Connect w/ H. Andrew Schwartz

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