MNI POLITICAL RISK ANALYSIS – US Daily Brief 31-03-22

Executive Summary:

• 13:30 ET 18:30 GMT: President Biden is expected to announce a significant release of oil from the US strategic petroleum reserve.
• US officials continue to maintain that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been a ‘strategic blunder.’ White House communications director Kate Bedingfield presented declassified intelligence related to Russia suggesting that Russian president Vladimir Putin is being misinformed on the war.
• Pentagon press secretary John Kirby agreed that Putin is in not in full control of the realities of the invasion. Kirby: ‘The fact that he may not have all the context, that he may not fully understand the degree to which his forces are failing in Ukraine, that's a little discomforting, to be honest with you.'
• 25 senators have written to US national security adviser Jake Sullivan urging the White House to help Ukraine win the war against Russia. The letter penned by Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) has asked Sullivan to provide Congress with information ‘on the speed, specifics, and supply of lethal aid provided to Ukraine.’
• April 6: Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) has confirmed that executives from Chevron, ExxonMobil, BP, Shell, Devon Energy, and Pioneer Natural Resources will testify to the House Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee on 'price gouging.'
• The Senate is still struggling with the bill to ban oil imports from Russia and revoke the preferred trade status of Russia and Belarus.
• Republican Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) has said she will support the nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, all but assuring her confirmation to the Supreme Court.

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