No images? Click here 1 May 2024"Stormy" weather ahead for Trump in courtFormer president Donald Trump's legal dramas in multiple arenas continue to take centre stage. On Tuesday, Judge Juan Merchan fined the former president US$9,000 for nine breaches of a gag order to not criticise witnesses or participants in Trump’s hush money trial, and threatened to "impose an incarceratory punishment" for further infringements. In the trial, which has now entered its third week, Trump is charged with falsifying business records for electoral gain — one of four criminal trials he faces. President Joe Biden has become increasingly vocal in his public attacks against Trump and joked about Trump’s legal woes during this week’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner, saying "Donald has had a tough few days lately. You might call it 'stormy' weather." The Supreme Court is also currently considering Trump’s argument that he has immunity from prosecution for acts taken while he was in office. Several justices seem open to at least some form of presidential protection from prosecution for official acts they undertake. Regardless of what the court decides, the ruling will have long-lasting ramifications for the future of executive power in the United States. For more on Trump's legal troubles, stay tuned for an upcoming episode of the USSC Briefing Room podcast with ABC Planet America host Chas Licciardello that discusses Trump’s historic Supreme Court case, and more. NEWS WRAPTrump VP race in the spotlight
“Age is an issue. I'm a grown man running against a six-year-old.” President Biden's remarks at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner | 27 April 2024 EVENT Climate transition heating up: The race for the clean energy transition in the Indo-PacificThe 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. WHEN COST IN CASE YOU MISSED IT Did you USSC?
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 StatesA 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 Manage your email preferences | Forward this email to a friend United States Studies Centre |