MNI POLITICAL RISK ANALYSIS – US Daily Brief 05-04-22

Executive Summary:

• The US will support a multi-national team of prosecutors to collect and analyse evidence of Russian war crimes. State Department spokesperson Ned Price: ‘We are tracking and documenting atrocities and sharing information with institutions working to hold responsible those accountable.’
• The US will push for Russia’s expulsion from the UN Human Rights Council and raise the issue of atrocities at the UN Security Council today.
• Formal debate will begin in the Senate on Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s SCOTUS nomination today. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) will file cloture to end debate to set up a confirmation vote on either Thursday or Friday. According to YouGov 42 percent of Americans support Jackson’s confirmation. 27 percent say they oppose her confirmation and 31 percent are unsure.
• The bill to boost US semiconductor chip manufacturing and counter the technological rise of China is finally ready for conference between the House and the Senate. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is expected to announce conferees today or tomorrow with a majority coming from Science, Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means and Foreign Affairs committees.
• 09:30 ET 14:30 BST: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley to testify before the House Armed Services Committee on the ‘Fiscal Year 2023 Defence Budget Request.’
• 10:00 ET 15:00 BST: Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chair of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene a full committee hearing titled, 'Ensuring Transparency in Petroleum Markets.'
• A special primary election in California's 22nd district will take place today. The winner of the special election in June will serve a few months in Congress before the seat disappears in November when a new Congressional map is enacted.

MNI POLITICAL RISK ANALYSIS – US Daily Brief 05-04-22 .pdf