Pfizer Says Booster Protects Against Omicron

Pfizer and BioNTech said Wednesday that laboratory tests suggest that three doses of their coronavirus vaccine offer significant protection against the fast-spreading Omicron variant of the virus, as the NYT reports.

Biden Rules Out Unilateral Force if Russia Invades Ukraine

President Biden ruled out a unilateral use of U.S. force if Russia invades Ukraine, and said he hoped to convene meetings between Russia and NATO allies soon, as the WSJ reports.

World Unprepared for Next Pandemic

Nearly two years into a coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 5 million people, every country, including the United States, remains dangerously unprepared to respond to future epidemic and pandemic threats, according to a report by the Global Health Security Index released Wednesday assessing the efforts of 195 countries, as the Washington Post reports.

Executive Education

Apply for the AILA International Fellowship at CSIS to gain a deeper understanding of the complex global dynamics that global leaders face, as well as the tools and mindset needed to be an effective, ethical changemaker.

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

157

The CSIS Strategic Technologies Program compiled a list of cybersecurity legislation from the 117th Congress and found a combined total of 157 pieces in the House of Representatives and Senate—with risk assessment being the most popular category for both chambers.

Source: CSIS

Critical Quote

“Despite important steps taken by countries to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, all countries—across all income levels—remain dangerously unprepared to meet future epidemic and pandemic threats.”

— Global Health Security Index

iDeas Lab

Today, the CSIS Project on Nuclear Issues (PONI) launched Deterrence 101, a collection of three thirty-minute videos that explore core deterrence theory.

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 Hoffman/Getty Images.) Ukrainian soldiers walk past destroyed buildings on the front line on December 8, 2021 in Marinka, Ukraine, as a build-up of Russian troops along the border with Ukraine has heightened worries that Russia intends to invade the Donbas region.

This Town Tomorrow

At 9:30 a.m., join the CSIS Korea Chair for a discussion on the Korean peninsula and Asia with Michael Morell, who most recently served as Deputy Director of the CIA.

Then, at 4:00 p.m., the CSIS Americas Program hosts a conversation on the future of political leadership in the Americas.

And, at 2:00 p.m., the Atlantic Council hosts a discussion of the Vienna talks and whether there is a ‘Plan B’ for Iran.

Video

This afternoon, CSIS Trustee Bob Schieffer moderated a discussion between Senator Sam Nunn and Secretary Ernest Moniz on the omnipresent and growing risk of nuclear weapons.

Podcasts

Yesterday, Keith Martin joined Katherine on Pandemic Planet to talk about the outcomes of the recent UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow and why it’s important to integrate a focus on health into discussions about climate.
Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

Smiles

November 8, 2021 marked the 50-year anniversary of Led Zeppelin’s fourth studio album, often referred to as “Led Zeppelin IV.” It is widely regarded as one of the best rock albums ever produced. To celebrate the milestone, Led Zep has been releasing a set of videos called “The History of Led Zeppelin IV” and additional associated content. A few days ago, this archival live clip of “Going to California” hit YouTube. For those of us who remember physical vinyl records, “Going to California” sat as the third track on side two of Zep IV. Side one ends with “Stairway to Heaven,” side two ends with “When the Levee Breaks.” Every track in between those two is meaningful—the sequencing of songs on albums used to be meaningful. It’s been said that Led Zeppelin’s music was all about “light and shade.” On Zep IV, “Going to California” proved to be the “light” followed by the thunderous shade of “When the Levee Breaks.” A perfect end to a perfect record.

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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: Kendal Gee, Paige Montfort, and Christopher Healey.