The Evening: U.S. Strikes ISIS, U.S. Economy Grows, Unbroken Chain, and More

Newsletter - October 30, 2024

U.S. Military Says It Killed Up to 35 Islamic State Militants in Syria

U.S. airstrikes hit several Islamic State camps in the Syrian desert on Monday, killing up to 35 of the group's operatives, the United States Central Command said in a statement on Wednesday, as the NYT reports.

U.S. Economic Growth Extends Solid Streak

The U.S. economy continued its recent strong stretch this summer, bolstered by hefty consumer and government spending.

Gross domestic product increased at a 2.8% annual rate in the third quarter, adjusted for seasonality and inflation, the Commerce Department said Wednesday, as the WSJ reports.

EU Should Spend 20% of Budget on Security and Climate Disasters

The EU should spend a fifth of its common budget on security and crisis preparedness as it enters a period of increased risk from geopolitical tensions and climate change, Finland's former president warned in a landmark report on the bloc's defense, as the FT reports.

Executive Education

Step into the unfolding story of superpower strategy as U.S.-China relations continue to redefine the global order. Flashpoints and Future of the U.S.-China Relationshipexplores the complex dynamics driving this critical relationship through expert insights and simulated futures. Registerby November 6.

Audio Briefs

CSIS now offers full audio versions of our latest analysis. Listen to the latest commentary from CSIS's Barath Harithas, "From Reaction to Strategy: A New Framework for U.S. Export Control Enforcement."

In That Number

70

More than 70 people have died after devastating flash floods in southeastern Spain, as emergency responders and dog teams searched thick mud and landslides for survivors.
Source: WSJ

Critical Quote

The defining task today is to make sure that we are able to provide security to Europeans by being prepared for all risks, and that scale of risk is huge.

iDeas Lab

The economic security trilemma means that policymakers will be able to pursue any two sets of measures, such as promoting domestic industries and protecting dual-use technologies, but not without sacrificing the third, like deep integration with supply chain partners. Read the full analysis here.

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

Optics

Photo: David Ramos/Getty Images

Cars are piled in the street with other debris after heavy flash floods on October 30, 2024 in Valencia, Spain.

Recommended Reading

"Mismatch of Strategy and Budgets in AI Chip Export Controls" by CSIS's Gregory C. Allen.

This Town Tomorrow

At 9:30 a.m., the CSIS Southeast Asia Program presents findings from its latest report, "U.S. Investment in the Philippines - More than Meets the Eye."

Later, at 2:00 p.m., the CSIS Economic Security and Technology Department discusses its inaugural report, "Staying Ahead in the Global Technology Race: A Roadmap for Economic Security."

And, at 11:00 a.m., the Brookings Institution explores the pivotal role of Black voters in the 2024 presidential election.

Video

CSIS's Christopher Hernandez-Roy and Rubi Bledsoe described the impact of remittances on Mexico's economy and laid a path forward for tighter security around these financial flows. Watch the full video here.

Podcasts

As a part of the tenth anniversary celebration of Smart Women, Smart Power, CSIS's Kathleen McInnis hosted a panel discussion to explore women's leadership during Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine and how women are leading the charge in both prosecuting the war and planning for peace.

Listen on Spotify& Apple Podcasts.

Smiles

"Listening for the secret, searching for the sound"

"Unbroken Chain," sung and penned by Phil Lesh with the poet Bobby Petersen for the 1974 studio record "From the Mars Hotel," is one of the Grateful Dead's more musically complex and spiritually mystical tunes. The version on "Mars Hotel" combined studio manufactured original sound effects that mimicked a plane taking off. The effects proved difficult to replicate live. In fact, the Dead didn't perform "Unbroken Chain" live until March 19, 1995 in Philadelphia. If you listen to a recording of the concert, the crowd explodes in instant recognition and excitement, and drowns out the sound for the first minute of the song. The band would go on to perform "Unbroken Chain" nine more times in '95 before Jerry Garcia's death in August.

Following Garcia's untimely passing, the Grateful Dead disbanded and reformed in several iterations. Phil Lesh formed "Phil and Friends" in 1994 as a side project but the new band took off in '98 and performed with various members until Phil's death last week. "Unbroken Chain" became a Phil and Friends live staple. This live versionwas one of their best, and for me captures the essence of this great track.

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