The Filibuster’s Racial History, Shifting US Attitudes on China, and More

A threat to trans-Atlantic relations, how the filibuster has suppressed civil rights, and what Americans think about China.

View in browser March 25, 2021   Join us for an Instagram Live conversation at 8:00 PM EDT (@BrookingsInst) with Andrea Risotto and Tim Higashi on how communications has evolved during the pandemic, what Brookings is doing to adapt, and what the future of communications may look like.    A momentous shift in US public attitudes toward China   Americans are starting to see China differently. William Galston discusses recent survey data on American perceptions of China and predicts that the Biden administration will enjoy substantial public support if it places competition with China at the center of its foreign policy.   Read more Mitch McConnell is wrong. Here's the filibuster's 'racial history.'   "To be sure, not every filibuster today — let alone historically — touches on racially charged issues. But it is impossible to recount the history of the filibuster without recognizing its profoundly racial history." In her latest op-ed, Sarah Binder outlines how the filibuster has been used to suppress civil rights.    Read in the Washington Post   To learn more about the filibuster, check out Molly Reynolds' helpful explainer and register to watch our April 6 webinar for a primer on the Senate rule. Nord Stream 2 impasse threatens trans-Atlantic ties   Berlin's inflexibility on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline could alienate the most Europe-friendly U.S. administration it is likely to see in a generation, and Washington risks humiliating Germany ahead of a potentially game-changing national election in September. Given what's at stake, Constanze Stelzenmüller writes that the incentives for a muscular compromise are compelling.   Read more Help support Brookings with a donation   Brookings is committed to making its high-quality, independent policy research free to the public. Please consider making a contribution today to our Annual Fund to support our experts' work. The conclusions and recommendations of any Brookings publication are solely those of its author(s), and do not reflect the views of the Institution, its management, or its other scholars. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Brookings Institution campus in Washington, D.C. is currently closed and all events are virtual only. For more information on the Institution's response, read our full guidance here. The Brookings Institution, 1775 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036 Unsubscribe Manage your newsletter preferences | Receive the Brookings Brief less often