NEWS WRAP

Carrying forward a father's legacy

• Ambassador Kennedy to arrive in Australia | On the eve of Caroline Kennedy’s arrival in Canberra on Friday, the new US Ambassador shared her excitement about the new role in a video released today. “My father wanted to be the first sitting president to visit Australia so honoured to carry his legacy forward in my own small way.” WATCH MORE HERE
   

• Manchin targeted for healthcare-only bill | Democrat Senator Joe Manchin dealt the Biden administration a blow by refusing climate and tax measures on the reconciliation bill supposed to deliver on many of the President's election promises. Many Democrats say they are ready to cut their losses and accept his likely approval for a healthcare-only bill. READ MORE HERE
   

• Panel investigates 187 minutes of silence | Thursday's House January 6 committee will focus on what former President Donald Trump was doing for the 187 minutes between when rioters descended on the Capitol and when Trump issued a public response. The US Secret Service provided an "initial set of documents" but did not include any of the potentially missing texts from 5-6 January 2021. READ MORE HERE
   

• Biden’s fist-bump with ‘pariah’ Mohammed bin Salman | President Biden’s fist-bump with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman went viral for signalling camaraderie with the man he vowed to make a ‘pariah’. The image may have helped boost the Saudi government’s tarnished reputation, however for Biden, the trip did not produce any immediate announcements on increased oil production. READ MORE HERE
   

• Review into Uvalde school shooting | The Texas Department of Public Safety will hold a review into the slow response of state police to the Uvalde school shooting following a new report revealing major failures to the hour-long delay in intercepting the gunman although 376 law enforcement officers were on the scene. READ MORE HERE

ANALYSIS

Magic of Camelot comes to Australia

Stephen Loosley
Senior Fellow, United States Studies Centre

The gifted and personable incoming US Ambassador to Australia, Caroline Kennedy, is the living link to a period in American public life that is now the lost legend of Camelot: 'Don’t let it be forgot, that once there was a spot, for one brief shining moment, that was known as Camelot.' The myth of Camelot endures and still has power in both American and Australian politics to move people.

Sir Robert Menzies was the only Australian prime minister to meet the ambassador’s father, President John F. Kennedy. It was Sir Robert who told President Lyndon Johnson that there was only one qualification for a US ambassador to Australia to meet.

This was simply having the capacity to pick up the phone and call Washington and speak directly to the president. Caroline Kennedy has this capacity and is recognised for it. As US ambassadors represent the president of the republic, this is of critical significance in being able to achieve goals of both a bilateral and multilateral nature.

This article was first published in The Australian

EVENT

The crisis of American democracy - a discussion with Professor Stephen Macedo

The January 6 Select Committee hearings highlight points of crisis in American democracy, yet the roots of these challenges undeniably precede the Capitol riots given US economic, social and cultural trends. Princeton University professor and political scientist Stephen Macedo's authoritative work on immigration, liberalism, populism, and democratic theory explores such trends. 

Please join us for an in-person event featuring Professor Macedo in conversation with USSC Director of Research, Jared Mondschein, and Director of Engagement and Impact, Mari Koeck.

When and where: 6pm-7pm, Thursday, 18 August 2022 at the USSC, Institute Building, City Road, Darlington.

Note this is an in-person event. Please follow the NSW Government public health advice in relation to Covid-19. We kindly request that you do not attend the event if you are unwell or develop any Covid-19 symptoms.

BY THE NUMBERS

Record-high fuel costs across all 50 states 

The average price for a gallon of petrol in the United States reached an all-time high in June at US$5.058 not only on a national level but in all 50 states. As of 19 July 2022, the average price has fallen to US$4.495, according to the American Automobile Association.

US fuel prices doubled between 1979 and 1980 during the turmoil that followed Iran’s revolution and the beginning of Iran’s decade-long war with Iraq. In 1981, the price peaked at US$1.42, which adjusted for inflation, is US$4.63 today.     

VIDEO

Is Russia's economy recovering? Commentary from Dr Gorana Grgic

After McDonald's closed its operations in Russia, a local company rebranded the fast-food giant's stores with the simple name "Tasty and that's it" reflecting how the country is trying to revive its economy within.

USSC's Dr Gorana Grgic tells ABC TV: "For eight years ... Russia has been trying to substitute those goods they would normally import with domestically produced ones."

However Dr Grgic said Russia still faces tough economic challenges following the attack on Ukraine. "We have seen blanket sanctions imposed on Russia's critical exports and we will see them kick in later in the year."

Catch more analysis on the United States on the USSC YouTube channel.

THE WEEK IN TWEETS

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