
100 episodes

The Current The Brookings Institution
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- News
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4.7 • 281 Ratings
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The Current brings you smart, timely, and quick analysis from Brookings experts on breaking news and changing policies. In under ten minutes, learn not only what happened, but why, and how to make sense of it.
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What's happening with the debt ceiling (again)?
After the U.S. reached its debt limit last week, Secretary Janet Yellen announced that the Treasury will engage in extraordinary measure to prevent the U.S. from defaulting on its debt, but it remains to be seen how and when Congress will take action. Brookings experts David Wessel, Bill Gale, Molly Reynolds, Wendy Edelberg explain the debt ceiling, the economic ramifications of default, and the politics of finding a solution.
Transcript and show notes: https://www.brookings.edu/podcast-episode/whats-happening-with-the-debt-ceiling-again/ -
60 years later, can France and Germany fulfill the ambitions of the Treaty of Élysée?
On the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Élysée, Constanze Stelzenmüller and Tara Varma examine the French-German cooperative framework, and France and Germany's role as a driver for European partnership, leadership, and answering the challenge of Russia's war in Ukraine.
Transcript and show notes: https://www.brookings.edu/podcast-episode/60-years-later-can-france-and-germany-fulfill-the-ambitions-of-the-treaty-of-elysee/
Follow The Current and all Brookings podcasts on Apple or Google podcasts, or on Spotify. Send feedback email to podcasts@brookings.edu.
The Current is part of the Brookings Podcast Network. -
Moore v. Harper: Who has the power to set state election rules?
In Moore v. Harper, the U.S. Supreme Court considers a case from North Carolina about whether state legislatures have unrestricted powers in how they administer federal elections, including the drawing of congressional district maps. Russell Wheeler explains the independent state legislature theory at the heart of the case, and what the Court's ruling could mean for partisan gerrymandering and the future of how states run elections.
Show notes and transcript: https://www.brookings.edu/podcast-episode/moore-v-harper-who-has-the-power-to-set-state-election-rules/
Follow Brookings podcasts on Apple or Google podcasts, or on Spotify. Send feedback email to podcasts@brookings.edu and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter.
The Current is part of the Brookings Podcast Network. -
What does Xi Jinping's power move mean for China?
China's 20th Party Congress demonstrated that none of Beijing's recent troubles, from public anger over COVID lockdowns to economic slowdowns and rising international tensions, have dented President Xi Jinping's grip on power, says Patricia Kim. In this episode, Kim examines what leadership personnel changes and Xi's domestic focus on national security mean for China's near-term trajectory.
Show notes: https://brook.gs/3Tw0ttk
Follow Brookings podcasts on Apple or Google podcasts, or on Spotify. Send feedback email to podcasts@brookings.edu and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter.
The Current is part of the Brookings Podcast Network. -
What’s on the agenda at the UN General Assembly?
Amid a host of challenges, the three major priorities of this year's United Nations General Assembly will be Russia's war against Ukraine, climate change, and food shortages. Bruce Jones explains the sideline diplomacy happening in New York, and the rising tension between Western countries' focus on geopolitics and the global South's need for progress on climate change.
Show notes and transcript: https://brook.gs/3QKpJdj
Follow Brookings podcasts on Apple or Google podcasts, or on Spotify. Send feedback email to podcasts@brookings.edu and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter.
The Current is part of the Brookings Podcast Network. -
What’s happening in Afghanistan one year after the U.S. withdrawal?
One year after the U.S. troop withdrawal, Afghanistan faces a collapsed economy, humanitarian crisis, and a Taliban regime essentially unchanged from that of 1996-2001. Madiha Afzal discusses the Taliban's restrictions on civil society, the segregation of women and girls from public life, and the need for more creative policies to alleviate Afghan people's suffering without helping the Taliban.
Show notes and transcript: https://brook.gs/3TuLZug
Follow Brookings podcasts on Apple or Google podcasts, or on Spotify. Send feedback email to podcasts@brookings.edu and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter.
The Current is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.
Customer Reviews
Very Good
Exceptional, but far too infrequent. As an aside, the host has enviable diction and is just top notch.
Great stuff
I really enjoy the Brookings podcasts. The quality of the events and interviews are superior both in production and content to ... other think tanks podcasts.
Jan 13 voting
Commentary fails to address the state judicial voting violations in the 2020 election. Also fails to note specifics of state legislation being put in place to correct the 2020 state overreach. One sided presentation - not helpful or enlightening,
Biden’s speech was inflammatory, divisive, & disingenuous. Failed to provide any common ground for a bipartisan resolution.