AUKUS, Biden, COVID-19 | Global Political Intelligence Daily

Global Political Intelligence Daily

Demystifying global politics, power, and policies

September 21, 2021

AUKUS, Biden, COVID-19

TOP FIVE

1. What explains Xi’s pivot to the state?

2. How Johnson’s Global Britain went rogue

3. US spat with France shows challenge of keeping Allies unified

4. Is this the beginning of the end for Bolsonaro?

5. Scots don’t back Sturgeon’s push for 2023 independence vote

ASIA

Why AUKUS is welcome in the Indo-Pacific: America’s efforts to strengthen deterrence of China are gathering momentum.
Gideon Rachman

UNGA: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will attend in person.

COP26: Xi Jinping is being non-committal about attending.

Xi Jinping aims to rein in Chinese capitalism, hew to Mao’s socialist vision: Going beyond curbing tech giants, he wants the Communist Party to steer flows of money and set tighter limits on profit-making.
WSJ

What explains Xi’s pivot to the state? He’s wagering it will help him achieve his goal of a record third term as paramount leader.
Kevin Rudd

Evergrande is hostage to Beijing’s property pain threshold: China wants to signal it is serious about cooling the sector but not at the cost of an economic engine.
James Kynge

China defends tech crackdown in meeting with Wall Street chiefs
Bloomberg

The vanishing allure of doing business in China: Who will be next?
Economist

China throws a wrench into a transpacific trade pact: Its application to join the CPTPP may not prosper, but it creates mischief.
Economist

Analysis: China's CPTPP bid is curveball aimed at splitting US and Japan: Beijing bets some members will embrace entry by Asian heavyweight.
Nikkei

SCMP: Beijing’s bid to join CPTPP may fail yet also succeed, experts say

+ Differences with members of the 11-nation trade pact, notably Australia and Japan, may prevent China from winning the backing needed

+ CPTPP’s commitments would be difficult for China to meet – but applying may have diplomatic or economic benefits

Bloomberg: China targets 'effeminate' men in Xi’s mounting push for conformity

Reuters: North Korea warns US risks 'dangerous nuclear arms race' over Australia subs

WP: North Korea says Australia’s submarine deal could trigger ‘nuclear arms race’

South Korea's balancing act amid US-China Indo-Pacific rivalry: DW reports Washington's alliance building in the Indo-Pacific is increasing pressure on South Korea, which finds itself caught between an economic behemoth and a long-standing security relationship.

Japan takes step toward first female premier as two women run
Bloomberg

Japan PM hopeful Takaichi speaks with Taiwan's Tsai Ing-wen: Nikkei reports Abe protegee seeks to burnish conservative credentials ahead of LDP election.

Japan urges Europe to speak out against China’s military expansion: In the first piece in a new Guardian series on China and tensions in the Indo-Pacific, Japan’s defense minister says the international community must bolster deterrence efforts against Beijing’s military.
Guardian

SCMP: AUKUS fallout: For years, US told India it couldn’t share nuclear submarine technology. ‘And now this ...’

+ Deal between Australia, the US, and Britain to share nuclear-powered submarine technology has some in India asking why it hasn’t been granted similar access to US technology

+ But some point out that India, which leases nuclear subs from Russia, stands to benefit from Aukus as it appears aimed at countering China in the region

EUROPE

Why France is apoplectic with rage at Australia's betrayal: Act of duplicity shatters Paris' Anglo-American partnership in Asia.
Louis Raymond

EU-Australia trade deal runs aground over submarine furor: France says pursuing negotiations is now ‘unthinkable.’
Politico

UK-France defense summit canceled in AUKUS row: Paris furious at scrapping of Australian submarine contract and new three-way technology pact.
Guardian

French officials dismiss UK as bit player in submarine spat: ‘We know their constant opportunism,’ said French Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian.
Politico

Macron takes on US, a big gamble even for a bold risk-taker: For President Emmanuel Macron of France, a debacle over a lost submarine deal with Australia suggests that the NATO alliance is debilitated through lack of trust.
NYT

To counter China, the US, and EU need to get back on the same page — fast: If the two sides don’t resolve their disagreement over the proposed Digital Markets Act, the only winners will be China and Russia.
Evelyn N. Farkas

UNGA: Emmanuel Macron was slated to speak via pre-recorded video on Sept. 21, but he’s dropped out and Foreign Minister Le Drian will speak on Sept. 27.

How to strengthen the western alliance: Embracing France: Boris Johnson should propose to Joe Biden that the French be included in the new AUKUS defense pact.
The Times - Editorial

Making waves in the Pacific: How Boris Johnson’s Global Britain went rogue: Defense pact with Australia and the US increases the chance of confrontation with China and spurs nuclear proliferation.
Simon Tisdall

Biden has bigger priorities than UK trade deal, Johnson says
Bloomberg

Liz Truss should hug France and empower women: The new foreign secretary can reshape Britain’s role in the world but first needs to shake up her misfiring department.
William Hague

Poll: Scots don’t back Nicola Sturgeon’s push for 2023 independence vote: Polling conducted for Politico also found a narrow majority in favor of Scotland staying in the UK.
Politico

Scots agree that Westminster has final say on new independence vote
The Times

The next German chancellor must prioritize ties with Africa: As Angela Merkel leaves the stage, it seems the curtains are being drawn on an era when German political objectives had a strong emphasis on Africa. Mimi Mefo Takambou says ignoring Africa would be a strategic mistake.
DW

After Merkel: Angela Merkel’s departure will leave a big hole in Germany—and much for her successor to do, says Tom Nuttall.
Economist

The Merkel era in charts: What changed in Germany? Germans are richer, women have more jobs, but the country failed to prepare for a greener, digital future.
FT

NORTH AMERICA

UNGA: Today Biden delivers remarks before the 76th Session.

Axios: Biden to stress US does not seek new Cold War in UN speech

WP: Biden seeks a phone call with France’s Macron to calm the waters

Spat with France highlights Biden’s struggle to satisfy promises of a diplomatic restoration
WP

US spat with France shows challenge of keeping Allies unified: Diplomatic dust-up over security pact among the US, Australia, and the UK comes as Biden administration struggles to maintain unity among its closest friends.
WSJ

Biden deals Europe a tough lesson in realpolitik: Why protect France and Germany as they seek opportunity in China heedless of the danger?
Gerard Baker

Biden’s Australian submarine deal is a big win in the strategic competition with China
Max Boot

US to lift air travel restrictions for fully vaccinated foreigners: Politico reports foreign nationals must show proof of vaccination and proof of a negative Covid-19 test taken three days prior to boarding an airplane.

US to relax COVID-19 travel restrictions as tensions mount with allies: WSJ reports new rules requiring foreign travelers to show proof of vaccination follows pressure on President Biden from Europe, major airlines to lift bans.

Bloomberg: COVID-19 toll in US surpasses 1918 pandemic deaths

CNN: Pence preps for potential 2024 presidential run amid rocky headlines about relationship with Trump

Elon Musk’s push to expand Tesla’s driver assistance to cities rankles a top safety authority: Tesla plans to expand access to the Full Self-Driving system and defends its tech; safety official says more work is needed.
WSJ

REST OF THE WORLD

Why World Bank is under fire over set of rankings
AP

AP: As leaders reconvene at UN, climate and COVID top the list

Things to watch at the UN General Assembly meeting this week
AP

AFP: Unvaccinated Bolsonaro eats pizza on New York sidewalk

Bolsonaro worked to shake Brazil’s faith in vaccines. But even his supporters are racing to get their shots.
WP

Is this the beginning of the end for Jair Bolsonaro? The Brazilian president wanted a popular uprising against the supreme court, but the underwhelming response was telling.
Andre Pagliarini

Enjoy the ride + plan accordingly.

-Marc

Curation and commentary by Marc A. Ross | Founder @ Caracal

Australia, Boris Johnson, California | Global Political Intelligence Daily

Global Political Intelligence Daily

Demystifying global politics, power, and policies

September 16, 2021

Australia, Boris Johnson, California

TOP FIVE

1. Australia to acquire nuclear submarines in historic security pact with US, UK

2. North Korea fired 2 ballistic missiles off its east coast

3. Boris Johnson recasts government with big cabinet shake-up

4. How Newsom defeated the recall

5. It’s now Larry Elder’s California GOP. What’s his next move?

ASIA

Australia to acquire nuclear submarines in historic security pact with US, UK: Axios reports the partnership, known as AUKUS, is a major strategic pact that will bind the US and UK to Australia's security for generations — and a warning to China as the Biden administration continues to lay the groundwork for countering Beijing in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

Australia is getting nuclear subs, with American and British help: The new AUKUS alliance reflects a shared fear of China.
Economist

Reuters: Australia to get US nuclear submarine technology as China looms large

Axios: North Korea fired 2 ballistic missiles off its east coast

North Korea's missiles landed in Japan's EEZ: Defense minister: Nikkei reports the move follows South's sub-launched missile test, escalating arms race on the peninsula.

Japan's LDP race throws wrench into post-Kuroda BOJ preparations: Markets wait for an indication from next administration on monetary policy stance.
Nikkei

China’s economy weakens on delta outbreak and wary consumers
Bloomberg

Evergrande: Why the Chinese property giant is close to collapse: China Evergrande, once the country's second-largest real estate developer, is drowning in debt. Some 1.5 million people have put deposits on new homes that have yet to be built. A collapse could be catastrophic.
DW

China takes on Delta and its property developers at the same time: New activity figures reveal the economic cost of recent covid outbreaks.
Economist

Didi loses 30% of daily users after Beijing crackdown following IPO: FT reports promotions and discounts help ride-hailing rivals increase customer numbers.

What is China doing to the Uighurs in Xinjiang?
Jonah Shepp

Analysis: Wolf warriors fall silent as Xi ponders US strategy: Biden wants summit but Chinese leader remains reluctant to leave Beijing.
Nikkei

EUROPE

Today: President Macron and Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, to meet for a working dinner, with Afghanistan high on the agenda for their talks.

AFP: French troops ‘neutralize’ leader of Islamic State group in Sahel, Macron says

Reuters: Macron says French forces killed Islamic State leader in Sahara

Hidalgo has trashed Paris. Can she do the same for France?
Jonathan Miller

UK Cabinet reshuffle: Dominic Raab removed as foreign secretary: DW reports after months of public criticism directed at different members of his Cabinet, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is sacking and repositioning top ministers. Raab has been reappointed as justice secretary.

Boris Johnson recasts government with big cabinet shake-up: FT reports Truss replaces Raab at Foreign Office and Gove handed job of tackling 'leveling-up' as PM sacks four senior colleagues.

Boris Johnson wields axe in cabinet reshuffle: Gavin Williamson sacked and Dominic Raab demoted while Liz Truss, Nadhim Zahawi, and Michael Gove are among big winners.
The Times

All the key changes as Boris Johnson reshuffles UK Cabinet: UK prime minister is reshaping his top team.
Politico

Liz Truss’s promotion makes a rare piece of cabinet history
The Times

Everything you need to know about Liz Truss: UK trade secretary promoted to the foreign secretary as Boris Johnson reshuffles his top team.
Politico

So Dom, how does it feel to be the new Nick Clegg?
Quentin Letts

China's ambassador Zheng Zeguang banned from UK Parliament: BBC reports China's ambassador to the UK has been told he cannot come to Parliament while sanctions remain in place against a number of MPs and peers. Zheng Zeguang was due to attend a House of Commons reception on Wednesday, hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on China. But after protests, Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle and Lord Speaker Lord McFall ruled this out. The decision may provoke a diplomatic row between London and Beijing.

Happier Scottish National Party still no closer to independence goal: First Minister Nicola Sturgeon restarted a more outward-facing push toward independence.
Politico

COP26: A showcase for Scottish independence: The governments in Edinburgh and London will use the climate change conference to advocate for competing visions of Scotland’s future.
Politico

Sturgeon is indulging her conspiratorial supporters
Stephen Daisley

Let’s not politicize Emma Raducanu’s triumph
Patrick O'Flynn

As Germany's general elections near, things are going wrong for the right
AFP

How do the German elections work? The German electoral system is complicated. Really complicated. But there are good reasons for that. Whether it's the location where Germans cast their vote, their love for paper trails or how they prevent election fraud — we explain everything about the German election.
DW

Catalan independence talks are back — and the stakes are high for PM Sánchez: Opponents of the parties set to restart talks take aim after a coronavirus-enforced break.
Politico

EU moves to ban sale of forced labor products in pointed nod to Xinjiang: SCMP reports Ursula von der Leyen’s state-of-the-union address comes as European Parliament politicians recommend changes in the EU’s relationship with Beijing.

NORTH AMERICA

AP: Biden announces Indo-Pacific alliance with UK, Australia

US builds bulwark against China with UK-Australia security pact: FT reports allies send a signal to Beijing with nuclear-powered submarine boost for Canberra’s navy.

US adds new Indo-Pacific grouping to face off with China: Nikkei reports Australia to obtain nuclear-powered submarines in trilateral cooperation with UK.

US, UK, and Australia forge military alliance to counter China: AUKUS partnership will enable Australia to have nuclear-powered submarines for the first time.
Guardian

US will share nuclear submarine technology with Australia as part of new alliance, a direct challenge to China
WP

A new US alliance responds to the Chinese threat — and US military complacency
David Ignatius

Reuters: US move to dislodge France from Australia submarine deal is incoherent - French ministers

Bloomberg: Biden floated meeting with Xi that Chinese leader declined

US needs to revamp its defense co-operation with Taiwan: Washington keeps scolding Taipei over its supposed lack of preparation
against an ever mightier Beijing.
Kathrin Hille

Axios: Biden to host Boris Johnson at the White House next week

AP: US working on new COVID-19 rules for international visitors

AP: California Gov. Gavin Newsom beats back GOP-led recall

Democrats see a midterm map in California recall success: AP reports few Democrats were surprised to see Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom swat down a Republican-driven recall campaign in bright-blue California. But they were pleased with how he did it. By making the race into a referendum on former President Donald Trump and his supporters’ “extreme” resistance to coronavirus precautions, Newsom offered a formula for survival that could translate to dozens of races in next year’s midterm elections, Democrats said. A healthy turnout, spurred by some late anxiety, showed Democrats remain eager to vote against the former president, even when he’s not on the ballot.

How Newsom defeated the recall: Early leads in suburbs, overwhelming margins in big cities
LAT

Vaccines and Trump: Will Newsom’s formula for beating the recall work for Democrats in 2022?
LAT

5 takeaways from Newsom’s big win in California’s recall election
LAT

It’s now Larry Elder’s California GOP. What’s his next move?
LAT

Canadians rush to early polls in election, mail-in ballots underwhelm
Reuters

Enjoy the ride + plan accordingly.

-Marc

Curation and commentary by Marc A. Ross | Founder @ Caracal

‘Mr. Nice Guys’ | Global Political Intelligence Daily

Global Political Intelligence Daily
September 14, 2021

‘Mr. Nice Guys’

TOP FIVE

1. North Korea says it tested long-range cruise missiles

2. Norway’s pro-oil labor party set to oust conservative government

3. Biden to host "Quad" summit

4. Today: California Recall Election

5. OECD seeks global plan for carbon prices to avoid trade wars

ASIA

North Korea says it tested long-range cruise missiles: Politico reports it was North Korea’s first known testing activity in months.

Why North Korea's missile launch is timed to antagonize regime's rivals: DW reports experts say that the timing of the latest launch is important. But they are unsure if more sanctions are the key to successfully restraining North Korea's aggression.

North Korea cruise missile adds new threat as Biden envoy visits Japan: Nikkei reports the US remains ready to meet 'anywhere, anytime without preconditions,' White House says.

SCMP: China calls for restraint as North Korea tests cruise missile able to reach Japan

+ Pyongyang breaks lull in testing with ‘strategic weapon of great significance’, KCNA says, but some experts see moderate military gains

+ Move ahead of Korean denuclearisation talks in Tokyo makes one analyst call for ‘serious pressure’, as concessions only seem to inspire more bad behavior

China’s Xi urges Communist Party ‘Mr. Nice Guys’ to take action
Bloomberg

China seeks stability in Afghanistan: DW reports Beijing seems to have adopted a wait-and-see approach toward Afghanistan. While eyeing potential resource deposits there, China has offered millions in humanitarian aid. But border security seems its utmost concern.

China is becoming more assertive in international legal disputes: Party leaders are using such cases to reshape legal and regulatory norms.
Economist

SCMP: Beijing warns Washington not to allow Taiwan to rename de facto embassy

+ Reported request to the US to change ‘Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office’ to ‘Taiwan Representative Office’ draws a rebuke from Beijing

+ Observers say Washington is trying to test the water with Beijing, which would view a name change as weakening the one-China principle

Huawei ‘infiltrates’ Cambridge University research center: Call for inquiry as Chinese tech giant’s close ties are exposed.
The Times

China’s poor regions worry about climate justice in net-zero push: Polluted coal-reliant provinces made China’s megacities rich. Now Xi Jinping’s green ambitions to curb carbon emissions risk leaving them behind.
Bloomberg

China and India send coal prices soaring amid green-energy push: Squeeze driven by short-term supply disruption and lack of long-term investment.
Nikkei

The triumph of environmental activism in China: A planned dam in China's Red River Valley would have destroyed the habitat of an endangered bird. But a 31-year-old biology student stood up to the authorities and managed to block the project. How did he do it?
Spiegel

Knocking down Chinese tech walls: ‘Kimchi coins’ crackdown, Irish data duds, Maverick’s hands-free jetpack.
FT

Meituan squeezed by Xi's tech crackdown and prosperity drive: Regulatory pressure on food delivery leader has echoes of Alibaba's humbling.
Nikkei

Beijing to break up Ant’s Alipay and force creation of separate loans app: Chinese fintech will turn over user data to new joint venture partly owned by state.
FT

Lacking a better game plan, Beijing will pick off more industries: Need for action on wealth gap underlies squeeze on internet platforms.
Dexter Roberts

Jeep venture takeover push kicks off Stellantis’s China reboot
Bloomberg

China vows to consolidate the bloated electric vehicle industry
Bloomberg

Walmart rethinks its China ‘hypermarket’ strategy amid Alibaba gains
Bloomberg

US and China will both be 'Middle Kingdoms' in future: Bill Emmott: Former Economist editor foresees a bipolar world operating separately.
Nikkei

Poll shows 27% favor Kono as Japan's next ruling party leader: Nikkei reports Ishiba, Kishida next most popular in the runup to election to decide Suga's replacement.

Vietnamese love the US, and China cannot change that: Attempts to turn the Afghanistan withdrawal to Beijing's advantage have failed.
Dien Luong

Reuters: Sydney Airport sale a step closer after improved $17.4 bln offer

EUROPE

Reuters: Analysis: Expensive winter ahead as Europe's power prices surge

Russia holds the largest military exercise in Europe for 40 years: The Zapad-21 drills point to deepening ties between Russia and Belarus.
Economist

Norway’s center-left gains after vote; climate is key issue: AP reports the center-left bloc in Norway appears to have won Monday’s general election, according to the first official projection, which shows the ruling Conservatives would lose power after a campaign dominated by climate change and the future of the country’s oil and gas exploration industry.

Norway’s pro-oil labor party set to oust conservative government
Bloomberg

Norway's leftist opposition set for landslide win, complex talks
Reuters

Another debate win for Scholz puts German chancellery in reach: Social Democrat emerged clear winner, according to viewers.
Politico

German election demographics: Facts and figures: Germany's electorate is aging and shrinking. What will that mean for the German parliament in the post-Merkel era?
DW

The odd couple: How Germany’s Greens embraced business: If, as expected, the party forms part of any coalition government, it will demand companies set net-zero targets.
FT

The rise of Eastern Europe is a forgotten economic success story: While the west focuses on political backsliding, manufacturing prowess is propelling the region forward.
Ruchir Sharma

Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo to run for French president: Socialist says she’ll campaign to build ‘a fairer France.’
Politico

France presidential election: Far-right's Le Pen, Paris mayor Hidalgo kick off campaigns
AFP

When smaller is better: Italian health care goes local after pandemic: The government is ramping up investment in community care and shifting the focus away from big hospitals.
Politico

COVID hospitalizations moving in ‘alarming’ direction, experts and NHS officials say: Independent reports that admissions are once again rising among older age groups, and come at a time of ‘exceptional demand for urgent and emergency care’ within hospitals.

The Times: Covid vaccine passports can still help defeat winter wave, No 10 insists

Boris Johnson hopes to meet Biden for talks at White House: The Times reports Boris Johnson will attempt to patch up Britain’s frayed relationship with the Biden administration at a White House summit between the two leaders penciled in for this month. The prime minister is expected to hold bilateral talks with the president during a four-day trip to the US for the UN general assembly, which starts in New York on September 21.

The gospel according to Keir Starmer: Labour leader prepares mission statement
The Times

Ministers plan more mayoralties to reboot stalled devolution agenda: Local government secretary keen to increase regional powers despite fears Boris Johnson has cooled on idea.
FT

Indyref2 legal battle ‘spoilt by recent embarrassments’
The Times

Time to take destiny in our hands is approaching, says Sturgeon: May’s election victory ‘is an unarguable mandate to implement the SNP manifesto.’
The Times

UK mulls rule change to let banks trade with depositors’ money: Politico reports the so-called ring-fencing regime is stirring up debate in the UK ahead of a key report in October.

The Times: Boris Johnson to support more North Sea drilling despite climate pledge

Ireland fails to enforce EU law against Big Tech: Irish regulator has not resolved 98% of 164 significant data protection complaints.
FT

NORTH AMERICA

Blinken defends US military’s chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal: Secretary of state grilled by Congress over tumultuous end to the 20-year conflict.
FT

Biden, leaders of Australia, India, Japan to meet in person: AP reports President Joe Biden is set to host the leaders of Australia, India, and Japan for a four-way meeting later this month to strategize about COVID-19, climate change, and other issues. Spokesperson Jen Psaki announced Monday that Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga will travel to Washington to meet with Biden at the White House on Sept. 24.

Axios: Biden to host "Quad" summit with leaders of Australia, India, and Japan

Biden to host Indo-Pacific leaders for first White House summit
Bloomberg

Joe Biden calls Xi Jinping in bid to reset strained US-China relations: US and Chinese presidents speak for first time since February after unproductive talks between lower-level officials.
FT

Washington risks Beijing ire over proposal to rename Taiwan’s US office: China says it ‘firmly opposes’ any American official interaction with Taipei.
FT

White House officials consider probe into China’s industrial subsidies: Discussions could lead to a new round of punitive tariffs.
FT

Today: California Recall Election

What to know about California Gov. Newsom’s recall
WP

California recall puts governor’s pandemic leadership to the test: Voters decide Tuesday whether to oust Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom; opponents say his COVID-19 policies were too restrictive.
WSJ

CNN: Republicans need a historic polling miss to win the California recall

False election claims in California reveal a new normal for GOP: In an echo of 2020, Republicans are pushing baseless allegations of cheating in the state’s recall race even before Election Day.
NYT

GOP 2024 hopefuls tread carefully around Trump: Politico reports top Republicans are trapped in political limbo, always aware they are operating under Trump’s watchful eye.

DeSantis milks out-of-state travel to lay possible 2024 foundation: Politico reports the governor's trip to Nebraska is part of his ongoing split-screen effort.

Trump’s White House chief of staff is target of Capitol attack records request: House select committee investigating 6 January wants telecom and social media companies to preserve records on Mark Meadows.
Guardian

‘We will have a really long, long memory’: Greens calling businesses’ bluff on climate change: Activists want the companies that have called for federal climate action to get behind the $3.5 trillion package: "We will have a really long, long memory."
Politico

Can a green-economy boom town be built to last? The race to make electric vehicles is turning some places into winners. Normal, Ill., is one of them. But it has seen good times go sour in the past.
NYT

Toyota says US EV bill gives 'exorbitant tax breaks' to wealthy
Reuters

Texas wanted to be the tech haven of the US. Its new abortion bill and other measures are causing workers to rethink their move. WP reports tech workers are marking Texas off the list of places they’d consider working after the state passed the nation’s most restrictive abortion law.

Texans find themselves on the frontline of US culture wars: Restrictive abortion and voting laws introduced as state’s cities become increasingly liberal and diverse.
FT

Salesforce offers to help employees leave in wake of Texas' restrictive abortion law: NBC News reports the law, which bans abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, has unique enforcement provisions allowing private citizens, rather than state officials, to sue abortion providers.

Dems hurtle toward a new fiscal cliff: Politico reports Congress is approaching hard deadlines on the debt ceiling and funding the government, at the same time Democrats are focused on passing spending bills.

Stablecoins face crackdown as US discusses risk council review
Bloomberg

Gary Gensler on Crypto, SPACs, and Robinhood: Wall Street’s top cop wants to police new finance with old rules.
Jen Wieczner

Facebook says its rules apply to all. Company documents reveal a secret elite that’s exempt. A program known as XCheck has given millions of celebrities, politicians, and other high-profile users special treatment, a privilege many abuse.
WSJ

REST OF THE WORLD

Over 100 world leaders to attend UN gathering in person: AP reports more than 100 heads of state and government are planning to attend the UN General Assembly’s annual gathering of world leaders in person next week, including US President Joe Biden, King Abdullah II of Jordan and the presidents of Brazil and Venezuela, according to the latest speakers list.

OECD seeks global plan for carbon prices to avoid trade wars: FT reports the Paris-based group calls on the EU to back proposals that recognize countries have different green policies.

Cuban scientists reject 'Havana Syndrome' claims
AFP

Argentina’s ruling Peronists suffer heavy defeat in midterm primaries: FT reports President Alberto Fernández could lose senate majority if results are repeated in November.

Enjoy the ride + plan accordingly.

-Marc

Curation and commentary by Marc A. Ross | Founder @ Caracal