Robust Growth of U.S. Economy

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.

More Than 100 Colleges Will Require Students to Receive Vaccines

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.

Palestinians Postpone Elections

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.

Executive Education

Join 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

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 & 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

1.6%

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

Critical Quote

“We have to prove democracy still works.’’

— President Joe Biden

iDeas Lab

Strategic competition has arrived in the Arctic. A new tracker 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

(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.

This Town Tomorrow

Tomorrow, at 10:00 a.m., 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., 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., 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

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.

Podcasts

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, Google Play, & Apple Podcasts.

Smiles

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 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] 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.