Hudson Institute Events Podcast
Hudson Institute 600 episodes Nov 3, 2026
The Hudson Institute Events Podcast features talks, conferences, and policy briefings from the Hudson Institute, a think tank founded in 1961 by Herman Kahn. It covers interdisciplinary topics including defense, international relations, economics, energy, technology, culture, and law. The show is aimed at policymakers, business leaders, and global leaders seeking strategic analysis and recommendations. Episodes likely include public events and discussions with researchers and guest speakers.
Episodes
AI Power and National Security Conference: Open Models, Governance, and US-China Military Competition
Artificial intelligence is a vital source of economic strength, national security, and geopolitical influence. The United States needs to determine how to develop more capable AI systems, deploy them responsibly, manage their risks without stifling innovation, and translate AI development into lasting military advantages for itself and its allies.Join Hudson Institute for a conference with leaders
Chemistry of Combat: Rebuilding America’s Energetics Base
The United States has an opportunity to build a new energetics enterprise that can support the scale and adaptability modern warfare demands. Rising munitions requirements, advances in manufacturing and chemistry, and a growing number of innovative new entrants have created new possibilities to expand production capacity, modernize aging facilities, and move promising energetic materials more rapi
Mecca Pact vs. IMEC: Competing Visions for the New Middle East
In August, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan signed the Mecca Pact, a mutual defense agreement stretching from Anatolia to South Asia. Meanwhile, the India–Middle East–Europe Corridor (IMEC) will link Indian and Gulf markets to Europe through Israel. These are two new competing visions for the Middle East’s future. Each offers a different answer to the question, Who will shape the region’s secur
A Special Address by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
As Ukrainians prepare for another challenging winter, discussions across the West have reached a new intensity over how Ukraine can adequately secure the front line, defend its civilian population, and ensure a just and lasting peace at the negotiating table.Please join Hudson Institute for a special address on the current state-of-play by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who will join rem
The Annual Czech and Slovak Freedom Lecture
Hudson Institute is pleased to host the next iteration of the Czech and Slovak Freedom Lecture, a longstanding forum for examining the challenges facing freedom and democratic security in Europe. Established in 2000 as a joint initiative of the American Friends of the Czech Republic and Friends of Slovakia to commemorate the Velvet Revolution, the lecture alternates between Czech and Slovak speake
Decision Time in Jerusalem: Inside Israel’s Election
On October 27, Israelis will vote in their first national election since the October 7, 2023, massacre and the subsequent multifront war. The vote is becoming a referendum on security as the public debate focuses on accountability for October 7, the Israel Defense Forces’ strategy in Gaza, and military service for ultra-Orthodox men. Both the right and the left have been critical of the nation’s l
A Moral Case for Zionism: A Book Launch with Casey Babb
Casey Babb’s first book, The Moral Case for Zionism, will be published on October 22. Babb argues that Zionism offers something meaningful not just to the Jewish community but to all people. He explores the moral principles at the heart of the Zionist spirit and examines the dangers posed by the rise of anti-Zionism and antisemitism across the West.Join Hudson Institute for a conversation with the
Dragon in the Americas: China’s Power, Presence, and Regional Influence
In his new book, Dragon in the Americas: China’s Power, Presence, and Regional Influence, Leland Lazarus traces the evolution of Beijing’s footprint across the Western Hemisphere, from strategic ports and critical minerals to transnational crime and the ongoing contest with Taiwan for diplomatic recognition. As China’s engagement with Latin America and the Caribbean shifts from being primarily eco
Landmines, Nuclear Weapons, Deterrence, and Stability on the Korean Peninsula
Though Washington and Seoul are interested in engaging with North Korea diplomatically, Pyongyang continues to advance its nuclear and missile capabilities and insists that its status as a nuclear-armed state is irreversible. President Donald Trump has expressed interest in renewing diplomacy with Kim Jong Un, raising the possibility of another Trump–Kim meeting.Managing North Korea, though, remai
Trilateral US-Japan-Taiwan Cooperation on Physical AI
Physical artificial intelligence is at the forefront of AI development and could revolutionize industry and security. Secure supply chains and technological leadership in physical AI are a strategic imperative for many countries. The United States, Japan, and Taiwan are uniquely equipped with complementary skills to achieve technological superiority in this field.Join Hudson Institute for remarks
Anticompetitive and Deceptive Conduct in Healthcare with FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson
Join Hudson Institute for a discussion with Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson and Senior Fellow Harold Furchtgott-Roth. The event will explore how the FTC’s antitrust and consumer protection authorities can police anticompetitive and deceptive conduct in healthcare. Chairman Ferguson will focus on the agency’s recent efforts to promote price transparency in hospitals and pharmaceut
Director of the Office of Management and Budget Russell Vought on Revitalizing the Shipbuilding Industrial Base
On August 13, 2026, President Donald Trump signed a national security presidential memorandum that directs the Department of War to pursue a set of critical initiatives to restore United States Navy shipbuilding capacity and competition within the maritime industrial base.The memorandum allows foreign shipbuilders to build ships for the US Navy, provided they also invest in new American shipyards.
Getting Past the US-Canada Impasse
Relations between the United States and Canada are at their worst in generations. Following President Donald Trump’s invocation of tariffs and other comments about Canada, Prime Minister Mark Carney mobilized Canadian nationalism to “stand up to Trump,” intensified efforts to diversify trade away from the US and toward communist China, and took steps to lead a bloc of middle powers to challen
Regional Reactions to the US-China Summit
On September 24, President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet in Washington, following the Beijing summit in May and ahead of two more potential meetings in 2026. Join Hudson Institute for remarks and a panel discussion featuring Professor Takahiro Tsuchiya of Kyoto University of Foreign Studies, Japan Chair Kenneth R. Weinstein, and Asia-Pacific Security Chair Patrick M.
Rebuilding Venezuela: Progress and Challenges
Venezuela’s political landscape shifted decisively on January 3, 2026, when American forces captured Nicolás Maduro, ending nearly 13 years of his rule and leaving his vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, as acting president. A veteran of the Chavista establishment, Rodríguez is governing under Washington’s three-phase plan of stabilization, recovery, and transition. Under her interim rule, Venezuela
A Conversation with Alain Berset, Secretary General of the Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is the oldest intergovernmental organization devoted to human rights in Europe. With 46 member states and nearly 700 million citizens, it has built a vast legal framework on human rights and democracy and has developed hundreds of conventions, treaties, and agreements since its founding in 1949.In the aftermath of the Cold War, for example, the council supported Eastern Europ
Inertial Confinement Fusion Bolsters Strategic Deterrence
The United States’ highest national security priority is deterring major-power conflict with nuclear-armed adversaries. Investing in inertial confinement fusion is crucial to counter China, which is rapidly building fusion facilities and high-energy-density physics infrastructure to develop its arsenal.Join Hudson Institute’s Keystone Defense Initiative for a discussion of “Inertial Confinement Fu
Colombia Recalibrates: Security, Stability, and the US Alliance
Colombia’s political landscape shifted decisively on August 7, 2026, when Abelardo de la Espriella was sworn in as president, ending the tenure of its first leftist government under Gustavo Petro. A former criminal defense lawyer running as a political outsider, de la Espriella campaigned on a sharp break from Petro’s “Total Peace” framework. He promised closer alignment with Washington, including
The Transatlantic Watchtower: Iceland’s Role in Great Power Competition
A founding member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Iceland has been a vital ally and partner to the United States for nearly 80 years. Positioned at the crossroads of the North Atlantic and the Arctic, its strategic importance to transatlantic security far exceeds its geographic size. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte recently described Iceland as the alliance’s “eyes and ears” for its c
Fixing Shipping and Shipbuilding: Plotting the Course Ahead
In April 2025, toward the beginning of the 119th Congress, Senators Todd Young (R-IN) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) announced at Hudson Institute the introduction of the SHIPS For America Act, a comprehensive proposal to revitalize America’s commercial maritime industries. The bill is aligned with the Trump administration’s aggressive maritime agenda and enjoys strong bipartisan, bicameral support.Join Se
Senator Pete Ricketts on the Next Phase of Competition with China
Chinese leader Xi Jinping is set to arrive in Washington this fall amid a tenuous bilateral relationship. Since the May summit between President Donald Trump and Xi in Beijing, artificial intelligence has solidified as a central axis of competition, Chinese support for Iran’s wartime economy continues, and major military and trade questions remain unresolved. What is the status of the relati
Contested Lebanon Israel, Iran, and US Strategy in a Fractured State
On June 26, Israel and Lebanon signed a framework agreement brokered by the United States, the first bilateral understanding between Jerusalem and Beirut since the May 17 Agreement of 1983. The two governments committed to implement security measures under which the Israel Defense Forces would withdraw from southern Lebanon and be replaced by units of the Lebanese Armed Forces, which would oversee
Somaliland as a Strategic Partner in the Horn of Africa
Following the establishment of diplomatic ties between Somaliland and Taiwan in 2020, Somaliland returned to international news last year when Israel became the first country to recognize the self-governing state’s independence since Somaliland re-declared independence in 1991. Since then, the Iran war, the Houthis’ continued provocations in Yemen, China’s ongoing influence throughout Africa, as w
Strengthening the US-Japan Alliance Through Semiconductor and AI Partnerships
Cooperation in semiconductors and artificial intelligence is vital to the United States–Japan alliance. Two developments demonstrate the potential of this partnership: the Rapidus-IBM effort to produce advanced two-nanometer chips in Hokkaido, and Japan’s decision to be the first foreign partner in the Trump administration’s Genesis Mission for AI-powered research and development.Join Hudson Insti
Alliance at an Inflection Point: The US-ROK Partnership and Korea’s Future
President Donald Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung issued an ambitious alliance fact sheet last November. It codified security and economic priorities, including increased South Korean defense spending and investment in United States shipbuilding, US support for Seoul’s pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines, and preparations for the eventual transfer of wartime operational control.Bot
Transferring Spectrum from the Federal to the Non-federal Domain: The View from NTIA
Tricia Paoletta, senior advisor for spectrum at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, will join Hudson Institute’s Center for the Economics of the Internet to provide a keynote address on the Trump administration’s progress in managing and reallocating the electromagnetic radio frequency spectrum from the federal domain.Following the keynote address, a panel of experts wi
How Nuclear Energy Is Ensuring Europe’s Secure, Low-Carbon Future
Amid continued geopolitical volatility, price instability, and rising demand driven by electrification and artificial intelligence, nuclear energy is a strategic pillar of Europe’s economic and technological security. Beyond providing secure, affordable, and clean electricity, nuclear power underpins the infrastructure needed for the AI economy while reducing dependence on volatile fossil fuel imp
Updating US Trade Policy: A Discussion on the Strategic and Economic Importance of Central Asia
The Hudson Institute Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East was honored to host Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) for a conversation with Senior Fellow Ken Moriyasu on the strategic and economic importance of Central Asia.Central Asia is rapidly becoming one of the most important centers of global geopolitics. From August 30 to September 1, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, hosted an extraordinary
Nigeria’s Crisis: Islamist Terrorists, Violent Nomadic Herders, “Bandit” Gangs, and the US Foreign Policy Response
More Christians are killed for their faith in Nigeria than in any other country in the world. On October 31, 2025, President Donald Trump designated Nigeria a country of particular concern under the International Religious Freedom Act for having “engaged in or tolerated particularly severe violations of religious freedom.”
Hudson Institute and the Ben Franklin Fellowship host a two-panel dis
Beyond the Postwar Era: The Japan Innovation Party's Vision
Japan’s politics underwent a historic realignment last year when the Japan Innovation Party (Nippon Ishin no Kai) joined the Liberal Democratic Party in a governing coalition. As Japan confronts an increasingly difficult regional security environment, Ishin is now positioned to play an important role in shaping the country’s defense policy and the future direction of the United States–Japan allian
Twenty Times I Almost Died: Lessons on Life and War
In Twenty Times I Almost Died, available August 18, 2026, John Spencer recounts experiences spanning combat tours in Iraq, research trips through modern war zones, and more. He reveals important information that helps explain the changing character of warfare and its implications for strategists. Beyond providing lessons for the battlefield, Spencer offers guidance on personal growth and leadershi
Six Months After Epic Fury: The State of the Conflict in the Gulf
Six months after the opening salvos of Operation Epic Fury, America and the Islamic Republic of Iran remain at loggerheads over the future of Tehran’s nuclear program and the Strait of Hormuz. Unresolved conflicts linger in Yemen, Lebanon, and Gaza. Meanwhile, a Unites States-brokered deal between Jerusalem and Beirut, as well as Washington’s engagement with leaders in Syria and Iraq, offer glimme
Responding to Global Threats: A Conversation with Senator Rick Scott
In July 2026, President Donald Trump granted Ukraine a license to coproduce Patriot interceptors and declared that the ceasefire in Iran was over as Tehran retaliated against US allies in the Gulf. At the same time, Moscow and Beijing completed joint naval drills off Qingdao, China, home to a major People's Liberation Army naval fleet. And on July 6, China test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic
Taiwan’s National Mobilization Against the China Threat
As the Chinese Communist Party intensifies its campaign of political, economic, and military pressure against Taiwan, the island's government and civil society have moved to strengthen national resilience on multiple fronts.
Please join Hudson Institute’s China Center as Miles Yu hosts a panel with key members of Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan and the Democratic Progressive Party to examine Taiwan’s mo
A Conversation on US Communications Law
A New Look at US Communications Law is a timely book that explores the evolution of communications law in response to new technologies. It analyzes nearly every major topic of contemporary communications law, including the public interest, common carriage, wireless communications, privacy, and the First Amendment.
Join Hudson Institute Senior Fellow Robert McDowell for a discussion of the book and
The US-Israel Economic Partnership: A Farewell Conversation with Minister Noach Hacker
As Minister Noach Hacker concludes his tenure as Israel's Minister of Economic Affairs in Washington, Hudson Institute's Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East invites you to join a farewell fireside chat with Senior Fellow Michael Doran. Minister Hacker has been a key advocate for deepening the US–Israel economic relationship, overseeing landmark cooperation in artificial intelligence,
Takeaways from Ankara: Debriefing the 2026 NATO Summit with Representative Mike Turner
The 2026 North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit in Ankara, Turkey, provided significant deliverables: a €70 billion pledge of military assistance for Ukraine, President Donald Trump's announcement that Kyiv would be licensed to manufacture Patriot air defense systems, and a declaration reaffirming allied commitment to The Hague defense spending targets.
But questions remain over America's evol
The Western Balkans: A View from Vienna with Austrian Minister for Europe, Integration, and Family Claudia Bauer
Few countries in central and eastern Europe have as much influence in the Balkans as Austria.
For centuries, Austria has forged deep personal connections with the region. The imperial legacy of the Austro-Hungarian Empire is visible in the architecture of Zagreb and Sarajevo, and during the Yugoslav Wars of the 1990s, refugees fled into the heart of the Alps. More recently, Vienna has been to the
The Future of US Foreign Policy in the Middle East with Representative Mike Lawler
For years, the Middle East has been one of the most volatile regions in the world. And United States foreign policy toward the region often changes drastically with each administration.
Today, a fundamentally new regional order is emerging. A weakened Iran has attempted to exercise strategic leverage over one of the world’s most critical waterways. Russian influence continues to recede, underscore
Taiwan’s Institutional Defense: Countering CCP Infiltration and Transnational Repression
The Chinese Communist Party’s infiltration, transnational repression, and legal warfare are no longer security challenges limited to Taiwan or the Indo-Pacific. They now increasingly threaten the United States’ national security and the resilience of democratic institutions. Taiwan stands on the front line of authoritarian influence operations and has seen firsthand how they can gradually erode de
Japan’s Role in the Indo-Pacific: A Conversation with Shigeru Kitamura, Former National Security Adviser of Japan
Japan has emerged as a central pillar of Indo-Pacific security, playing an increasingly important role in strengthening deterrence, supporting regional stability, and deepening cooperation with the United States and other democratic partners.
Join Hudson Institute Senior Fellow Jason Hsu for a conversation with the Hon. Shigeru Kitamura, former secretary general of Japan's National Security Secret
America’s Competitive Edge: Why Antitrust, Standards, and Intellectual Property Matter
Join us for an exclusive luncheon conversation with Dina Kallay, Deputy Assistant Attorney General for International, Policy, and Appellate at the United States Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division.
Moderated by Hudson Senior Fellow Urska Petrovcic, the discussion will explore how antitrust, technology standards, and intellectual property shape innovation and competition in critical sectors.
The Eurasian Heartland Arrives: Kyrgyzstan’s Seat on the UN Security Council
For the first time in its history, Kyrgyzstan will serve on the United Nations Security Council—winning a non-permanent seat for the 2027–28 term in a vote at the UN General Assembly. It is only the second time a Central Asian nation has held this position, after Kazakhstan in 2017–18.
The election reflects a broader shift in how the international community understands Central Asia’s place in glob
Securing American Data: A Conversation with Congressman Nathaniel Moran
From surveillance-capable applications to data-harvesting platforms, foreign adversaries—particularly the Chinese Communist Party—are exploiting technology to access American data at an unprecedented scale. This information can give adversaries decisive strategic advantages and give foreign competitors an unfair footing over American businesses in global markets.
Ensuring that American businesses
Securing America’s AI Advantage: A Discussion on US Export Control Policy with Senator Jim Banks and Chairman Brian Mast
Advancing American Interests through Trade, Investment, and Commercial Diplomacy: A Conversation with Under Secretary of Commerce William Kimmitt
As technology, supply chain resilience, and economic security become increasingly central to United States foreign policy and national security, trade and investment policy has taken on a leading role in advancing American interests abroad. Critical minerals, energy, artificial intelligence, and other strategic sectors have emerged as key areas for collaboration with allies and partners as Washing
Deterring Russia and China: Securing America’s Nuclear Future
For the first time, the United States is preparing to deter two nuclear adversaries, Russia and China. In today's post-New START environment, US adversaries remain committed to weakening American resolve and undermining Washington’s commitment to its allies.
China is engaging in a historic expansion of its nuclear forces and has diversified its delivery systems across land, sea, and air. Accor
The Annual Czech and Slovak Freedom Lecture
Hudson Institute is pleased to host the 2026 annual Czech and Slovak Freedom Lecture. Established in 2000 as a joint activity of the Czech and Slovak Embassies, the American Friends of the Czech Republic, and Friends of Slovakia to commemorate the Velvet Revolution, the choice of speaker and topic alternates annually between the Czech and Slovak groups. Click here for a list of all previous lectu
The Code as Witness: COVID Origins, Scientific Accountability, and Preventing the Next Pandemic
In The Code as Witness, which was published on June 9, Dr. Steven Quay shows how the genetic material of SARS-CoV-2 points directly to human engineering. He warns that irresponsible and unregulated gain-of-function research is accelerating, and that future pandemics may be far deadlier than COVID-19. The book also lays out policy recommendations that could prevent such outbreaks while still allowi
Winning the Innovation Competition
Today’s wars in Ukraine and the Middle East show how adaptation is becoming the central military competition. The side that can field new tactical or technical innovations faster gains an advantage and can impose compounding costs on enemy forces. To win this competition, the United States Department of War implemented a new strategy to accelerate new capabilities by better leveraging the private
How to Transform the Japan Self-Defense Force for Twenty-First-Century Deterrence
Please join Hudson Institute’s Center for Defense Concepts and Technology for the launch of a new report, Strengthening the Front Line: Transforming the Japan Self-Defense Force for Twenty-First-Century Deterrence.
Japan’s government has committed to historic increases in defense spending—and is preparing to revise its National Defense Strategy and Defense Buildup Program before the end of 2026. B
Saving Ukrainian Children: A Conversation with Maksym Maksymov
One of the most horrific consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been Moscow’s illegal abduction of Ukrainian children. These children have not only been taken from their homeland and dispersed across the Russian Federation, but they are also being raised to forget their Ukrainian identity and, in some cases, taught to hate their native land.
Bring Kids Back UA is a Ukrainian humanitarian
Helping Ukraine Defend Europe’s Skies: The Urgent Need for PAC-3 Interceptors
This month, Russia launched the largest wave of airstrikes in its war against Ukraine, using hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles to strike targets, including civilian infrastructure.
Russia first enacted this savage way of war against the people of Grozny in the 1990s and later refined it through its atrocities in Bucha.
While Ukraine has shown remarkable innovation and creativity in counte
Growing the DIB: A Conversation with Deputy Assistant Secretary of War James Mismash
Revitalizing and expanding the US defense industrial base (DIB) is a top priority for the Trump administration. The need for a robust domestic manufacturing base is critical to warfighting readiness, supply chain resilience, and the nation’s ability to rapidly scale defense production in response to emerging global threats.
To advance these efforts, the Department of War’s Office of Industrial Bas
Spain’s Latin American Reckoning
Spain was once one of Latin America’s most consequential external partners. It served as a democratic model for the region’s transitions from authoritarianism, a major investor in its economies, and a self-styled bridge between the Americas and Europe. That era of influence has given way to strategic retreat and deepening contradictions.
Under Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Spain has aligned itsel
Authoritarian Persistence in Latin America: What Should the US Do?
The regimes of Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua have proven to be more durable than expected. The Daniel Ortega–Rosario Murillo regime in Nicaragua has intensified repression and destroyed the institutions that might constrain it, and the Cuban regime is so far not making even modest concessions, even as its economy collapses. In Venezuela, the Maduro regime has reconstituted itself under Delcy Rodr
The Western Hemisphere’s Energy Moment
Latin America is experiencing a historic energy boom. Brazil, Guyana, and Argentina are collectively positioned to supply nearly half of global crude production growth through 2030, Venezuela is reentering world markets following the fall of the Maduro regime, and Argentina’s Vaca Muerta shale formation is on the verge of transforming the country into a major liquid natural gas exporter. The disru
Georgia at a Geopolitical Crossroads: Iranian Influence and Strategic Competition
Not too long ago, Georgia was one of the United States’ most dependable strategic partners in the Black Sea region. Its commitment to Euro-Atlantic integration, substantial contributions to US-led missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, and cooperation on counterterrorism and energy transit made Georgia central to Washington’s regional strategy.
Today, however, Georgia is moving in a different direction
A Conversation with Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy of the United States Sarah B. Rogers
As US adversaries escalate their investment in information warfare, the global contest for ideas has become a primary theater of great-power competition. Countering this challenge demands a public diplomacy strategy built for the speed, scale, and sophistication of the modern information environment.
Please join the Hudson Institute for a conversation with Under Secretary of State for Public Diplo
Adapting to the Modern Media Landscape: A Conversation with Hugh Hewitt
The American media landscape is undergoing rapid change. New technologies, shifting audience habits, and growing political polarization are reshaping how information is delivered, consumed, debated, and trusted. Journalists and commentators continually face renewed pressure to adapt to an increasingly fragmented environment.
Join Hudson Institute Distinguished Fellow Mike Gallagher for a firesid
Environmental Agendas, Geopolitical Ends: Climate Policy and Great Power Competition
Many formal climate change organizations operating in Western countries spend significant resources and policy time promoting broader anti-West narratives. While proclaiming themselves as champions of the environment, many function in practice as tools for America’s adversaries — above all the Chinese Communist Party. By coopting the climate agenda, Beijing works to weaken energy security in the W
Defending Taiwan: A Strategy to Prevent War with China
Taiwan stands at the center of intensifying strategic competition between the United States and China—a flashpoint where uneasy peace could give way to global crisis. Xi Jinping has made “reunification” a defining goal, while longstanding deterrence strategies are being tested by rapid shifts in military, economic, and technological capabilities. Beijing is increasingly pursuing methods of coercio
China’s Persecution: Assault on All Faiths
China is waging genocide against the Uyghur and other Turkic Muslims. It subjugates Falun Gong practitioners and Tibetan Buddhists and continues its decades-long campaign to suppress and control Christians, turning their churches into state propaganda organs under the Chinese Communist Party’s United Front Work Department. The CCP views religion as the last and greatest impediment to its total dom
Cuba: Prospects for Transition
Six decades after the Cuban revolution, despite a generational leadership transition, Cuba remains one of the most enduring challenges for US foreign policy. In a country where one of the few things that work is the state’s repressive machinery, the regime is keeping the Cuban people impoverished and deprived of basic freedoms.
The Trump administration has been turning up the pressure on Cuba, pre
A Conversation with Former METI Minister Nishimura on Prime Minister Takaichi’s Policy Outlook and Solutions
After a landslide electoral victory in February and a successful trip to Washington in March, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is poised to introduce an energetic economic and security policy agenda. Recent developments, such as the conflict with Iran, have created new energy and security challenges, yet the strong US-Japan relationship remains constant.
On May 6, Hudson Japan Chair Kenneth
Building the Future in Romania and Southeast Europe: A Conversation with Minister Dragoș Pîslaru Past Event Hudson Institute April 17, 2026
Romania is intimately connected to the major infrastructure corridors shaping Southeast Europe and the Black Sea region, including the Three Seas Initiative, Vertical Gas Corridor, Middle Corridor, and Neptun Deep. These initiatives are indicative of the scale of investment underway as countries in this critical region build their future in the shadow of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Join Senior
The Future of the Gulf: Commerce and Security in the Middle East After Operation Epic Fury
The conflict between the United States, Israel, and the Islamic Republic of Iran is not over, but it is already shaping a new future for the Middle East. From commercial flows and energy exports to shifting diplomacy, the region is adjusting to Operation Epic Fury in ways that will open up new diplomatic and economic relations, enable alternative trade routes, and shuffle political relationships.
New Evidence of China’s Forced Organ Harvesting and a Proposed US Response
In 2020, then Secretary of State Mike Pompeo officially determined that China was committing genocide against the Uyghur and other Turkic Muslim communities. A new book, The Xinjiang Procedure, reports that, in addition to torture, gang rape, and involuntary sterilization and abortion, forced organ harvesting on an industrial scale is a heinous feature of this genocide. For these reports about fo
Protecting US Communications: Strengthening Supply Chains and Countering Foreign Risk
Foreign-controlled telecommunications infrastructure and vulnerable global supply chains pose growing risks to the integrity and security of US communications networks. The Federal Communications Commission has taken steps to address these challenges over the past year. Efforts have focused on rooting out non-compliant overseas “bad labs” from the FCC’s equipment authorization program, acceleratin
The US Economic Outlook: A Conversation with Pierre Yared
Policymakers and business leaders are looking for signals about where the broader economy is headed as the US economy navigates rapid technological change, geopolitical risks, and a monetary outlook shaped by tensions between inflation and a cooling labor market. From the Trump administration’s efforts to reindustrialize key sectors of the American economy and reshape trade relationships to persis
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on the Future of Trade Policy
“The year 2025 will be remembered as the year of the tariff,” wrote Ambassador Jamieson Greer, the United States trade representative, in a Financial Times op-ed at the end of last year.
In its first year back in office, the Trump administration wielded tariffs to strike new trade deals at negotiating tables around the world. Representatives from the White House made stops in Geneva, Madrid, Londo
After Maduro: Venezuela Three Months On
Nearly three months after Nicolás Maduro's capture, Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodríguez is consolidating her grip on power. In a sweeping shakeup, she replaced nearly half of her cabinet and all senior military commanders, including replacing defense minister Vladimir Padrino López with Gustavo González López, who has been sanctioned by the US for his past role in repression. Of Maduro's
China’s Economic Slowdown: Risks, Realities, and Strategic Implications
After years of subsidized, debt-driven growth and centrally directed economic policy, China is now mired in a slowing economy relying on massive exports to sustain stability. The nation faces growing debt problems, a faltering social safety net, failing productivity growth, and increasing foreign resistance to its heavily subsidized mercantilist model.
Will China lapse into a Japan-like spiral of
The Three Seas Initiative: Ambassador Romana Vlahutin on Europe’s New Geography of Power
For decades, Europe developed along an east-west axis while the north-south spine of the continent remained underleveraged, its energy networks fragmented and its transit corridors incomplete. Russia's invasion of Ukraine changed the calculus. In the aftermath, Europe can no longer treat connectivity as a secondary concern. The Three Seas Initiative, linking twelve European Union member states fro
Congressman Michael Baumgartner on Operation Epic Fury and US Strategy
Congressman Michael Baumgartner (R-WA) will join Michael Doran, Director of Hudson’s Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East, for a timely discussion about the evolving situation in Iran. Congressman Baumgartner brings a distinctive perspective shaped by his professional experience in the Middle East, where he worked on economic development and governance initiatives in complex and often
Operation Epic Fury and the Future of Warfare: A Conversation with Senator Joni Ernst
The United States and Israel’s campaign against the Islamic Republic of Iran marks a pivotal moment for the Middle East, with consequences that will shape the region’s future security landscape. As Washington counters Iran’s asymmetric missile and drone capabilities, Senator Joni Ernst (R‑IA)—Chairwoman of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities and Co‑Chair of
Zimbabwe’s Land Seizures and the Road to Resolution
The United States–Zimbabwe relationship has been strained for decades, in part due to the government’s violent farm invasion campaign that began in earnest in 2000. Harare’s refusal to compensate most of the farmers whose land was taken is still a significant barrier to improving the bilateral relationship.
Join Senior Fellow Joshua Meservey as he hosts a panel of experts to discuss the history of
Europe and the Iran War: A Conversation with Tomáš Pojar
Since the onset of Operation Epic Fury, Europe’s response has been cautious and divided, revealing real strain within the transatlantic alliance. While leaders in the United Kingdom, Germany, and Southern Europe have ruled out direct military participation—insisting this is “not our war”—others, including Spain and Greece, have declined to support U.S. operations altogether. The result is a Europe
Moldova’s Economic Future: Reform, Resilience, and Regional Connectivity
For over a year, the Republic of Moldova has advanced economic reforms to improve the country’s business environment and attract investment. The government prioritized deregulation and digitalized public services, while also helping businesses access finance. Key sectors, such as electrical equipment manufacturing and agriculture, received government support, and service exports, particularly in i
Prioritizing Political Prisoner Advocacy Across China
As President Donald Trump and Xi Jinping prepare to meet in April, striking a favorable trade deal is top of mind. But trade shouldn’t be the only priority. China currently imprisons several political prisoners who are important to the United States government—including Chinese Christian Pastor Ezra Jin, Uyghur doctor Gulshan Abbas, Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai, and many others. Several of these
Recommended
Learn English B1 with Daily News | English Listening Practice
Learn English A2 with Daily News | Simple English Listening Practice
Bad Friends
Learn 50 English Phrases While You Sleep | Everyday English Phrases & Vocabulary
Dateline NBC
True Crime Classics
Yours Truly Johnny Dollar Collection
Suspense OTR
پلی لیست | PlayList
Crime Stories with Nancy Grace
Conspiracy Files with Paige Carter
Bible Tea
