Engineering Inc. - November/December 2019 - 22

WASHINGTON POST'S COSTA SAYS
CAPITOL HILL IN 'ALL-OUT POLITICAL WAR'

obert Costa, a national political reporter for the Washington
Post, told Conference attendees the nation is witnessing
history regarding the ongoing impeachment investigation
of President Donald Trump and the potential impact on the
upcoming presidential election.
"With the House controlled by Democrats, it means the president will almost certainly be impeached," Costa said. "Then there
will be the matter of a trial in the Senate, and everyone is wondering what will the GOP do?
"The GOP is fragile but very much willing to stick with him,"
he said. "However, there are
about 30 senators that could
be flipped depending on further findings from ongoing
investigations."
Costa noted that because
of the impeachment cloud,
any potential legislation by
the Trump administration has
been effectively stopped. He
added the administration now
regrets not prioritizing infrastructure earlier.
"Both parties are grappling
with how to connect with a
new electorate," he said, adding that voters want radical
change after having lost faith
in the government after the
2008 recession.
"In the meantime, it is allWashington Post Reporter Robert
out
political war on Capitol
Costa tells Conference attendees that
the nation is witnessing history.
Hill."

RINAUDO PRESENTS
PIONEERING
AUTONOMOUS DRONE
MEDICAL SUPPLY
DELIVERY SYSTEM

ipline CEO Keller
Rinaudo thrilled the
audience with how his
company has developed
cutting-edge drone
technology to instantly
deliver medical supplies to
underserved populations in
Africa.
"Our goal is to turn every
health clinic in the world
Keller Rinaudo's company, Zipline
International, uses drones to deliver
into the Mayo Clinic,"
medical products in Ghana, India, and
he said.
Australia.
Zipline
started four years ago in Rwanda and today can
deliver blood and medical supplies to anywhere in
the country within 30 minutes. The firm designed
and built its own autonomous fixed-wing drones
and has created an air-traffic control system using
primarily iPhone and iPad technology.
The firm also has contracts to deliver medical products in Ghana, India, and Australia.
"Currently, we can reach about 20 million people," said Rinaudo. "Our target is
to reach 2 billion people within five years."
Zipline also has signed a contract to
start operations in North Carolina in
2020 and is working with the Federal
Aviation Administration to develop a
nationwide instant delivery system.

ECONOMIST BASU PREDICTS RECESSION DUE TO 2020 ELECTION UNCERTAINTY

conomist Anirban Basu told attendees that
even though the U.S. economy is strong, he is
forecasting a recession by the third or fourth
quarter of 2020.
Basu, CEO of the Sage Policy Group, said that
almost all important parts of the economy continue to do well, including strong GDP growth,
low inflation, low unemployment, and strong
wage growth. At the same time, certain fissures
are widening, such as the inverted yield curve,
rising income inequality, and low workforce
participation.
According to Basu, however, the biggest danger
to the economy in 2020 will be the upcoming
presidential election. President Trump and the
Democratic candidates have such polar opposite
policy agendas that many businesses and individual
investors may pull their money out of the market in
2020 while they wait for the election outcome.

ENGINEERING INC.

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2019

Economist Anirban Basu believes opposite U.S. political
agendas may reduce market investments paving a path
toward recession.

Sekou Andrews
provides a blueprint
for do-it-yourself
innovation during
his speech.

Engineering Inc. - November/December 2019

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