Good Evening,
It's Wednesday, April 23rd.
Note: The Evening will be “gone fishin’” on Thursday, April 24, and will return next Monday. |
White House Considers Slashing China Tariffs
The Trump administration is considering slashing its steep tariffs on Chinese imports—in some cases by more than half—in a bid to de-escalate tensions with Beijing that have roiled global trade and investment, as the WSJ reports. |
Trump Attacks Zelensky for Rejecting U.S. Terms
President Trump lashed out at President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine on social media on Wednesday after he rejected U.S. terms to end the war with Russia, as the NYT reports. |
84 Percent of World’s Coral Reefs Harmed
Coral reefs around the world are losing their color at an unprecedented scale as a result of rising sea temperatures, federal marine scientists announced this week, with 84 percent of reefs exposed to bleaching levels of heat since 2023. The massive blow to marine habitats reported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are the highest share ever recorded, as The Washington Post reports. |
Executive Education
Volatile trade relations are disrupting markets, shaking industry, and challenging alliances. Navigating a shifting global economy requires a strong understanding of the political and legal foundations of trade. Crash Course: Trade Policy with the Trade Guys explores the nuances of U.S. trade policy and examines the challenges and opportunities facing global trade. Register by May 2. |
Audio Briefs
CSIS experts give short, spoken-word summaries on the biggest takeaways from their latest reports, white papers, and commentaries—in their own words.
Listen here: "Unlocking Financial Inclusion" with CSIS's Romina Bandura. |
In That Number
117 percent
Vítor Gaspar, the director of the IMF’s fiscal affairs department, warned global government debt could reach 117% of output by 2027 or worse if trade tensions intensify.
Source: FT |
Critical Quote
“I don’t think either side believes that the current tariff levels are sustainable. This is the equivalent of an embargo and a break between the two countries on trade does not suit anyone’s interest.”
—Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent |
iDeas Lab
The Trump administration has yet to submit its FY 2026 budget request to Congress that will detail its spending plans for the forthcoming fiscal year, with further delays threatening to slow congressional consideration and the appropriations process.
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: Gavriil Grigorov/AFP/Getty Images.) Scott Bessent, U.S. Treasury Secretary during a roundtable at the IIF Global Outlook Forum during the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Spring meetings in Washington, DC, on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. |
Recommended Reading
“U.S.-ROK Negotiations: An Opportunity to Reset on Trade, Investment, and Technology” by CSIS's Philip Luck and Erin L. Murphy. |
This Town Upcoming
Tomorrow, at 4:30 p.m., the CSIS Global Food and Water Security Program welcomes Alvaro Lario, President at International Fund for Agricultural Development, to explore small-scale agriculture and development projects.
On Friday, at 9:00 a.m., the CSIS Project on Nuclear Issues launches its new report on the future of Euro-Atlantic strategic stability and arms control.
Also on Friday, at 2:00 p.m., the CSIS Aerospace Security Project hosts the Secure World Foundation for a discussion on the latest counterspace weapons trends. |
Video
Today, CSIS hosted numerous former government officials for a discussion on reforming U.S. foreign assistance in part of CSIS's Global Development Forum. Watch the full video here. |
Podcasts
Mayor Tyler Moore of Kokomo, Indiana joins Navin Girishankar on Betting on America to discuss how the city of Kokomo attracted Korean investment to establish components of the EV battery value chain. Tune into this episode for a fascinating conversation on how public investments, public-private partnerships, and cultural outreach have allowed this partnership to thrive.
Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts. |
Smiles
In case you didn’t know, Warren Haynes, who serves as lead singer for The Brothers, also has a vibrant solo career and performs with the Warren Haynes Band as well as Gov’t Mule. His latest solo record posted late last November, “Million Voices Whisper,” features collaborations with Derek Trucks and Lukas Nelson.
Here’s one of the tunes with Trucks, “Real Real Love.” As Haynes tells it, this song was written, but unfinished, by Gregg Allman before he died. Haynes completed it and brought in Derek Trucks to record it. Trucks says it reminds him of Gregg and brother Duane Allman’s Allman Brothers classic, “Please Call Home.” Trucks, of course, is nephew of the late Butch Trucks, a founding member and drummer of the Allman Brothers Band. |
| I invite you to email me at [email protected] and follow me on Twitter @handrewschwartz |
