The Morning Dispatch: Shrinking GDP Sparks Recession Fears

Plus: A new book highlights tensions within the Democratic Party.

Apr 29, 2022

Happy Friday! We almost took today off in observance of Arbor Day, but we ultimately decided the weekend is for rest, not Friday.

Get it? For rest? Forest? Arbor Day?

The Bureau of Economic Analysis reported Thursday that real gross domestic product (GDP) decreased at an annual rate of 1.4 percent in the first quarter of 2022, a steep decline from the annual 6.9 percent growth of Q4 2021 and the weakest growth figure since early 2020.
President Joe Biden on Thursday formally requested from Congress an additional $33 billion in security, economic, and humanitarian aid for Ukraine, telling reporters his administration has “almost exhausted” the drawdown authority Congress provided for Ukraine last month. The administration believes the aid as requested would be enough to support Ukraine for five months, and demonstrate to Russian President Vladimir Putin American support for Ukraine is not waning. Democrats and Republicans signaled an openness to some form of the package yesterday, but had questions about specific provisions and language that will likely be hashed out in the coming weeks.

This content is available exclusively to Dispatch members

Try a membership for full access to every newsletter and all of The Dispatch. Support quality, fact-based journalism.

Already a paid member? Sign In