Good Morning DC,
The US has launched the first moon mission since Appollo.
Our inaugural edition of The Balkan Voice newsletter was released yesterday. Every Sunday, The Pavlovic Today will deliver the insider’s guide to US policy on the Western Balkans—an increasingly geopolitically important region for the United States.
If you haven’t signed up yet, you can do so here to receive it. The first edition focused on how Kosovo and Albania sought access to former President Trump.
Let’s get you caught up with the news of the day.
THE WHITE HOUSE
President Biden is on a marathon trip today.
He will leave New Castle, Delaware, for Charleston, South Carolina, and then proceed to Texas before returning to Washington, DC.
While in South Carolina, Biden is scheduled to hold a rally for his reelection campaign at Mother Emanuel AME Church, the site of a tragic mass shooting in 2015.
In Dallas, Texas, President Biden will attend the memorial service for the late former Rep. Eddie Johnson.
2024 ELECTION
One of the new policy developments associated with the Donald Trump election campaign is his intention to leverage the crypto card in a bid to return to the White House.
Although Trump has not traditionally been a supporter of digital assets, it is evident that President Biden has incurred dissatisfaction among many Democratic donors due to perceived shortcomings in pro-crypto regulations.
Within the GOP primary, candidates Vivek Ramaswamy and Ron DeSantis have been actively discussing pro-crypto policies and Melania had her own NFT, the first-ever FLOTUS to engage with metaverse.
From a strategic standpoint, Trump may be vying for the votes of individuals who might not typically support him but have investments in the crypto space and recognize the potential within this emerging industry.
Crypto presents an opportunity for the Republicans to reclaim 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
ON THE HILL
Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer have reached an agreement on FY2024 spending.
In line with bipartisan traditions during such moments, both sides have claimed victory. But the Freedom Caucus is not happy. “Don’t believe the spin,” they say. “Once you break through typical Washington math, the true total programmatic spending level is $1.658 trillion — not $1.59 trillion. This is total failure.”
This week promises to be eventful and politically charged. House Republicans are set to advance impeachment hearings against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
Hunter Biden will also be in the spotlight as House Republicans plan to vote on holding him in contempt for failing to comply with a congressional subpoena, refusing to appear for a closed-door deposition to address questions about his business activities.
GLOBAL AFFAIRS
Antony Blinken is currently engaged in meetings with officials in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Israel for additional discussions on the conflict in Gaza.
Today, Blinken held discussions in Abu Dhabi with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. He emphasized the critical need to promptly address humanitarian concerns in Gaza and expressed gratitude to the UAE for its substantial contributions in providing humanitarian aid to civilians.
In a separate development, reports indicate that the Israeli military conducted a drone strike in Lebanon, resulting in the death of a high-ranking commander of the Iran-backed Hezbollah group.
THE BALKAN VOICE NEWSLETTER
We are excited to introduce The Balkan Voice, our essential newsletter covering US-Western Balkans relations. This newsletter will provide an insider’s perspective on US policy toward the Western Balkans, featuring weekly coverage, State Department briefings, exclusive interviews, and more.
And that’s a wrap for this Monday January 8, 2024. Good Morning DC will be back tomorrow to provide you with a front-row seat to the ever-evolving landscape of American politics under President Joe Biden.
Thank you for reading GMDC!
Get in touch
Share your thoughts on GMDC by emailing us directly at goodmorningdc@thepavlovictoday.com, we would love to hear from you!
