NEWS WRAP

Trump VP race in the spotlight

• No more Noem? | Republican South Dakota Governor and Trump running mate hopeful Kristi Noem ignited a political firestorm by admitting she once shot and killed her 14-month-old puppy. Republicans and Democrats alike have condemned the revelations, which could end her vice presidential chances. READ MORE HERE 
   
• House in order | House Democrat leadership vowed to support Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson if Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene brings a threatened motion to vacate to a vote. The declaration follows months of speculation since Democrats first suggested they were open to helping Speaker Johnson if he allowed Ukraine aid to pass the House. READ MORE HERE 
   
• Protests escalate I Pro-Palestine protests at Columbia University in New York and across the United States have continued to escalate, with hundreds of students arrested. Republican Speaker Johnson called on Biden to observe the protests after visiting Columbia to denounce the demonstrations. READ MORE HERE 
   
• Court cartography | Federal judges struck down a new Louisiana congressional map which would have created a second majority Black district in the state, finding that it constituted “impermissible” racial gerrymandering. The proposed map sought to address a previous federal court ruling that the existing map likely illegally discriminates against Black voters. READ MORE HERE
   
• Restrictions eased | The Biden administration will seek to ease federal restrictions on cannabis, downgrading its restriction classification. The decision opens the way for research and study of the drug to identify medical benefits. READ MORE HERE 

EVENT

Climate transition heating up: The race for the clean energy transition in the Indo-Pacific

The Albanese and Biden governments are united in positing that climate change poses an existential threat and are modernising their alliance relationship to tackle it. Major efforts are underway to boost renewable technology innovation, harness critical minerals and bolster domestic manufacturing to accelerate the clean energy transition. Yet significant hurdles remain to realising bilateral climate ambitions.

Australia and the United States must navigate the simultaneous challenges of decarbonising, building their domestic industrial bases, supporting the energy transition across their region, and competing with China for new sectors.

Are Australia and the United States competing when it comes to the clean energy transition? What has Australia-US climate cooperation promised and can it deliver? How can Australia and the United States balance their international climate efforts with boosts to manufacturing at home?

To answer these questions, please join us for a live event with Australia’s Ambassador for Climate Change Kristin Tilley, USSC Women in the Alliance Visiting Fellow Jane Nakano, and USSC Non-Resident Senior Fellow Meg McDonald in conversation with USSC Director of Economic Security Hayley Channer.

This event is hosted by the United States Studies Centre’s Women in the Alliance initiative.

WHEN
21 May 2024. 6.00pm-7.30pm AEST

WHERE
Level 5 Function Room, The Michael Spence Building (F23) at the Corner of Eastern Avenue and City Road, The University of Sydney

COST
Free but registration is essential

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Did you USSC?

• REPORT | Operationalising Japan’s security role in Asia: A survey of experts in Japan, the United States and Australia
  A new survey by the United States Studies Centre (USSC) at the University of Sydney, in conjunction with the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) canvassed the views of 51 leading Australian experts, 65 leading Japanese experts and 59 leading US experts on the progress and priorities of Japan’s 2022 National Security Strategy, National Defense Strategy and Defense Build-up program. READ MORE HERE
   

• PODCAST | USSC BRIEFING ROOM: What can jazz teach us about democracy?
  In honour of International Jazz Day, the USSC released a special episode of the Briefing Room with the Founder and Director of The Jazz and Democracy Project® Dr Wesley Watkins, in conversation with USSC Director of Engagement and Impact Mari Koeck. LISTEN TO THE EPISODE 
   

• BRIEF | European Security Cooperation with the Indo-Pacific
  USSC Senior Lecturer Gorana Grgić published a brief with the Center for Security Studies at ETH Zürich that examines the evolving landscape of European security cooperation with Indo-Pacific partners, including a discussion of the key drivers of cooperation and the different types of relations between actors. READ MORE HERE 
   

• INTERVIEW | Trump’s immunity argument before the US Supreme Court
  USSC Non-Resident Senior Fellow Bruce Wolpe talks to ABC PM about Donald Trump’s argument in the US Supreme Court that former presidents have sweeping immunity from criminal prosecution at a federal level. Wolpe describes the case as “the most important ruling on presidential power since Richard Nixon and the Watergate tapes.” LISTEN HERE 

BY THE NUMBERS

More than half of Japanese and American experts agree that there should be a joint and combined command arrangement between Japan and the United States

A new survey by the United States Studies Centre (USSC) at the University of Sydney, in conjunction with the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) canvassed the views of 51 leading Australian experts, 65 leading Japanese experts and 59 leading US experts on the progress and priorities of Japan’s 2022 National Security Strategy, National Defense Strategy and Defense Build-up program.

“Japanese and Americans agree on the need to strengthen command and control architecture, but not how. A majority of Japanese (68 per cent) and American (61 per cent) experts think the United States should establish a new permanent joint command in Japan to work with Japan’s new Joint Operational Command. In contrast, less than half of Australian experts were in favour of it (41 per cent). More than half of Japanese (54 per cent) and American (66 per cent) experts agree that there should be a joint and combined command arrangement between Japan and the United States.” 

This is an excerpt from a new USSC report: Operationalising Japan’s security role in Asia: A survey of experts in Japan, the United States and Australia 

THE WEEK IN TWEETS

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