MNI POLITICAL RISK ANALYSIS – US Daily Brief 26-05-22

Executive Summary:

• 10:00 ET 15:00 BST: Secretary of State Antony Blinken will deliver a speech outlining the Biden Administration’s China strategy. The speech comes as the US fortifies it Asian alliances and China conducts drills near Taiwan as a ‘solemn warning to the recent US-Taiwan collusion activities.’
• US Special Envoy to Iran Robert Malley, chief negotiator at the JCPOA talks in Vienna, received a grilling from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on US Iran policy yesterday.
• Malley told the committee that the US was prepared for a scenario where no deal is struck with Tehran, and confirmed that President Biden has ‘taken no action off the table,’ suggesting that military action against Iranian nuclear facilities may be considered if JCPOA talks collapse.
• The Texas primary runoff for the 28^th House district has precipitated a bitter fight between the progressive and moderate Democrat lawmakers.
• Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA): ‘We don't need a member of Congress with a top-rating by the NRA [Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX)] to block any gun safety legislation, or someone who votes against Roe v. Wade. We need someone like Jessica.’
• White House insiders are puzzled by the marginalisation of Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen during a period of economic uncertainty. A White House official: ‘Janet Yellen seems like this not-so-secret weapon. If we haven’t used her yet, are we ever going to utilize her?’
• Poll of the Day: An Axios report has shown that the tech industry has suffered significant reputation loss since 2015.

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MNI POLITICAL RISK ANALYSIS – US Daily Brief 26-05-22 .pdf