The Current

The attack by Trump supporters on the U.S. Capitol "was America at its darkest," says John Hudak, and raised "legitimate serious concerns for not just the operation of the Congress to count electoral votes, but for the continuity of government itself." Hudak examines whether Congress will seek to remove President Trump from power in his final 13 days, how successful it will be if it tries, and whether the Republican Party will reassess where it stands post-Trump.

Show notes and transcript: https://brook.gs/398TtN7

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The Current is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

The U.S. has recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic's economic disruption with a strong economy, but a strong economy alone doesn't address all the challenges Americans face. As part of the Brookings Election '24 initiative, Wendy Edelberg talks about where the economy is doing better - increasing wages, decreasing inflation - and other areas where social policies can step in to fill the gaps on housing, child poverty, and more.

Show notes and transcript: https://www.brookings.edu/articles/what-a-strong-economy-can-and-cant-fix

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After months of inaction and halting negotiations, Congress's $900 billion COVID economic relief package is "too little, too late." William Gale argues that while the bill makes a good start at getting relief to the American people, it still leaves a lot for the next Congress and Biden administration to address.

Show notes and transcript: https://brook.gs/2Je5ZSD

Subscribe to Brookings podcasts on Apple or Google podcasts, or on Spotify. Send feedback email to [email protected], and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter.

The Current is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

Hackers gained access to U.S. government systems in a months-long act of cyberespionage. While the full extent of the security breach is still being determined, Tarah Wheeler explains the third-party software vulnerability that enabled the hack, and what the incoming Biden administration's priorities should be to meet a higher bar for U.S. cybersecurity.

Show notes and transcript: https://brook.gs/2WsRJrT

Subscribe to Brookings podcasts on Apple or Google podcasts, or on Spotify. Send feedback email to [email protected], and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter.

The Current is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

The recent collapse of the Francis Scott Key bridge in Baltimore after being struck by a container ship is both a human tragedy and an economic disaster. Six construction workers doing repair work on the bridge lost their lives when it plunged into the cold Patapsco River. The wreckage of the bridge now sits in the channel that connects Baltimore Harbor to the Chesapeake Bay, effectively closing the Port of Baltimore. Joe Kane, a fellow in Brookings Metro, talks about the economic impacts of the disaster and prospects for rebuilding the bridge.