MNI POLITICAL RISK ANALYSIS - US Daily Brief 12-05-23

Executive Summary:

• The White House and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) agreed yesterday to punt a key meeting into next week as the US edges closer to the Treasury Department’s worst-case-scenario June 1 ‘X-Date.’
• Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told a Senate committee yesterday that a default would significantly undermine the US globally.
• Jared Bernstein has moved a step closer to becoming Chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers.
• New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu (R-NH), a prominent critic of former President Donald Trump, says he is “strongly thinking about” running for president.
• The US "remains committed" to the bilateral relationship with South Africa despite allegations that Pretoria covertly supplied Russia with weapons.
• A meeting between President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping may be on the cards after “candid, substantive, and constructive” talks between two top US and Chinese officials.
• Spanish President Pedro Sanchez is expected to tell President Biden to give greater weight to the views of non-NATO nations in a White House meeting focused on Ukraine today.
• Poll of the Day: Betting markets have downgraded Trump’s chances of winning the 2024 Presidential election following his CNN 'town hall."

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MNI POLITICAL RISK ANALYSIS - US Daily Brief 12-05-23 .pdf