American Diplomat
American Diplomat goes behind the scenes to hear real stories from diplomats who lived newsworthy events overseas. Experience the Cuban revolution, Central American insurgencies, the end of apartheid and more through the eyes of those who were there. A project of Arizona State University.
Episodes
Civil Servant Dons Body Armor
In the second of our short series on Afghanistan five years after the US exit, Ken Handelman, former senior civil servant in the Department of Defense, reflects on the beauty, the weirdness and the tragedy of our 20 years in that country. What three institutions' failings led him to believe that it was time to leave? Listen and find out.
Bill Burns on Public Service (Encore)
Bill Burns says it best: "This is exactly the moment when you need to attract the best in our society to lives in public service, whether it's in the State Department, the US military or elsewhere. I am a passionate believer in that." We are, too! Uncle Sam needs you. (This is a repost from 2019, with a message that has never mattered more than it does today.)
High School Reunion in Kabul
How did Soviet-era bureaucratic stamps and a personal relationship between highly placed Afghan frenemies impact the outcome of US involvement in Afghanistan? Amb. John Bass shares the part of the story you have never heard before as we reflect on our exit five years later.
AI Diplomacy: Dueling Banjos?
Its economic potential is huge, but AI also brings serious national security threats. How exactly do diplomats work to create global standards that promote innovation but also protect us? Knowledge is power in uncertain times so pull up a chair for an in-depth chat with Daniel Remler, bona fide AI diplomat.
And in Other News…The Western Sahara
Ever wonder what it's really like to move policy along as a diplomat? Join Ed Gabriel and Bob Holley as they chronicle the progress of policy in the Western Sahara. Kings die, Texans retire and administrations come and go – but in the end, the people's voices may yet be heard.
My Romance With Romania
Why is Romania so important for US interests? Hint: The Black Sea, and a very long border with Ukraine. Amb. Kathy Kavalec shares insights on this often overlooked but strategically powerful US alliance.
Diplomacy is Empathy
How does empathy help create a more peaceful world, whether we are a first-year diplomat or Secretary of State? Amb. Kathy Kavalec (one of Dan's besties from way back) shares the diplomatic impacts of personal experience. Part one of two.
Crisis Du Jour
Public Diplomacy – Journalists have tough questions. What if you just don't have the answers? How do you prepare? Get inside the machinery with former State Department spokesperson Amb. Mark Toner and learn the policy impacts of the words we use.
What They Don't Want You to Know
Gotcha, right? Or, "Click before it's too late!" Or even, "Hey, kid. You're pretty good at this. Want a real gun?" Career public diplomacy officer Karl Stoltz tells the truth about "FIMI" – deep fakes, false personas, trolls, bots – lies that aim to provoke fear and anger and destabilize target populations.
Y2K to H1B?
When did the US first warm to India and why? Why did Pakistan nominate Trump for a Nobel? And what does the Y2K bug have to do with US-India relations today? Former ambassador Don Lu shares stories and insight on person-to person diplomacy and his personal connection to Disney's Splash Mountain.
Politics by Other Means?
Why can't we just bomb our way to victory in Iran? Listen to Lt. General Karen Gibson, former Director of Intelligence for U.S. Central Command, tell tales of the three-legged stool of military, intel and diplomacy in Iran, Afghanistan, and Iraq – when things go well and when they do not.
Persona No Deseada
Former Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Todd Robinson spent much of his career under fire, of one kind or another. Listen to his candid views on corruption in Guatemala, blowing up ships without due process, and how to stop fentanyl from killing Americans.
"This Golden Land"
Is it Burma, or is it Myanmar? Did its former leader Aung San Suu Kyi bring democratic reform or did she commit genocide? Both? Chris Milligan, former Agency Counselor for USAID, highlights breathtaking human resilience and the strategic value of foreign assistance.
USAID: Into The Wood Chipper
What was USAID? How did DOGE destroy it, and with what impacts to global health and stability? Nick Enrich's book "Into the Wood Chipper" details the demolition of the agency that for less than 1% of the US budget saved 92 million lives globally. Listen to him tell the tale.
The Case of the Powdered Orange Drink
What is "dumping"? How does it hurt us? Who comes to the rescue? The Foreign Commercial Service! Judy Reinke, after leading the FCS, became Ambassador to Montenegro. Listen to her tales of service near and far.
Loose Nukes
How to get bomb-ready uranium out of the wrong hands? It's the mid-90s. The Soviet Union just fell. Andrew Weber, former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical & Biological Defense Programs, tells of moose hunts, wild turkey, black ice and convoys under cover of night. How does past diplomacy help us understand the nuclear situation in Iran today?
Diplomat Lounge: Iran, A Way Out of the Mess
Can the US get out of its own way and turn this into a win? Ambassador Gary Grappo tells us how to do that, in a conversation with Pete and ASU Barrett Honors students. And yes, the solution involves diplomacy with a touch of humility. The Diplomat Lounge is a spinoff project of American Diplomat. This is its third of its three pilot episodes.
Remember the Old Days (Say, 2020)?
By what dirty tricks exactly did Orban seize control of his country? And how then did his rival Magyar beat him? And between those bookends, we offer a look at what it was like to run the embassy in Budapest under Trump I. Could it be any more different than Trump now? Dave Kostelancik, former Chargé d'Affaires, regales us.
The Rise and Demise of The House of Orban
AMB Kurt Volker, who has known Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban for 30 years, helps us understand the man, his early vision for Hungary, how his quest to "never lose another election" led him to become the model for would-be authoritarians everywhere — and also led to his downfall in last Sunday's election. Things are never quite as simple as they may appear!
"That Devil Feltman"
After a long and successful career as a U.S. diplomat, AMB Jeff Feltman went on to places where no US official has ever gone before, as the UN's Under Secretary General for Political Affairs. What was it like to meet with Ayatollah Khamenei or Iranian President Ahmadinejad? Or to visit Pyongyang and relay messages from the US president to the North Korean leadership? When is the UN at its most eff
Diplomat Lounge: How To Fix Fear and Loathing in a Post Trump World
It's not too early to start thinking about the recovery of US influence in a post-Trump world. Gen Z has some answers that align with their (our) values. The kids are alright. The Diplomat Lounge is a spinoff project of American Diplomat. This is its second episode.
Saudi and Israel – It's Complicated
In Saudi Arabia women now drive, work and travel as they please, and the country has moved toward normalizing relations with Israel. Amb. Michael Ratney tells of change in Saudi and shares stories of Israel, where the only way forward is for all of us – Israelis, Palestinians and everyone – to humanize each other. Does the present war boil down to Iran against everybody in this intensely multiface
Sampling Shawarma on the Champs-Elysees in Za'atari Refugee Camp
For many of us, the Middle East is a place of intractable conflict and endless complexity. Ambassador Stuart Jones lived those complications for much of his diplomatic career. Whether studying maps with Iran-backed militia leaders in Iraq, arguing troop withdrawals at the salad bar with John McCain, or sneaking food for hungry refugeess over the Syrian border, Stu Jones was there when it mattered.
Is "Soft Power" Really So Soft?
US Ambassador to Zambia Mark Storella helps us understand why support for democracy and public health achieves the same objectives as "hard power": using our influence to advance US objectives overseas. For the cost of one aircraft on one aircraft carrier, we can save hundreds of thousands of lives. And what is the benefit to us? And who is Kennedy Mweene, anyway?
How the Sausage is Made: 25YA
First, we welcome the wonderful Ambassador Dan Rosenblum as new co-host for the show. And we at American Diplomat still believe that the world will return to diplomacy! To help our youngest listeners prepare for that moment, our guest, Henry Haggard, has created a resource: The 25 Year Apprenticeship. So get in the room, listen and learn! As Henry likes to quote his mentors, "This is your apprenti
Gen Z And Their Take on America's Future
Is the Gen Z drive for authenticity exactly what the country needs now? Our guests ASU Barrett Honors Students Kate Kelley and Sophia Agelastos elucidate how they parse fact from fiction. Join Pete Romero, Ambassador Deborah McCarthy and our student guests to hear what really matters to the Zs.
Special Envoys: Cleanup on Aisle Seven
At a time when Trump wages war against expertise, with scores of career ambassadors being recalled and a thinning of officers in the field, Undersecretary of State John Bass holds forth on why real estate and business experience, as well as AI, cannot substitute for diplomatic tradecraft.
Now That's Incredible! (Yes, it is.)
You probably thought that an ambassador's job was to help Americans and work with local governments. And so did Ambassador Dan Rosenblum! But to his amazement he discovered that he was in charge of bioweapons campaigns designed to infect populations and plots to overthrow governments and destabilize society overseas! Not true, of course, but the disinformation machinery is hard at work. At what co
Where Intelligence Meets Diplomacy
Have you ever heard of the teeny tiny Bureau of Intelligence and Research within the State Department? Pull up a chair, because we have Phil Goldberg and Dan Smith here – both career ambassadors (highest rank in the Senior Foreign Service), and both Assistant Secretaries of State for this small but mighty intelligence service. Have a look under the hood at what may be the coolest job in the world.
PoliticsUS/Israel: Does the Tail Wag the Dog?
Israeli security has been the third rail of public discourse. Support all that Israel does or Hamas owns you. The result: waning support. Joel Rubin is back to unpack how Trump is changing the script.
What Explains The Global Rise of Anti-Semitism?
Jewish-American political analyst Joel Rubin unpacks the reasons for the increase in hate crimes and why Jewish-American groups did not expect a rise in anti-Semitism.
Strategic Patience: Can We Return to Diplomacy?
Must our foreign policy be based on ego, resources and might-makes-right? Can we effectively meet future challenges with policies based on American values? Ambassador Mike Polt hopes so, and ASU is developing a plan for the long game.
Venezuela: Gunboat Diplomacy Redux
Why hasn't Trump decided to keep US boots on the ground? Let us count the reasons. Hint, it's not because it would be a bad look.
Bottoms Up! In Vodka Veritas Once More!
An oldie but a goodie and one of our very favorites, our annual New Year's special: In Vodka Veritas with Dick Hoagland. Ambassador Dick Hoagland, having served many years in Russia and former Soviet republics, has had ample opportunity to consider the high-stakes drinking game of vodka diplomacy. Break a bottle over the bow of 2026 and Happy New Year!
A Diplomatic Holiday To You!
For the holidays, we asked diplomats to share their tales. We have Ken Quinn whose young kids' Christmas in Austria was saved by a team including the Chattanooga Choo Choo, a muslim Santa and a temporary North Korean "daugther". We have Peter Pham who, on his way home for the holidays from his post in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was diverted to Paris due to the US government shutdown, whi
Clown Car or Security Strategy?
The Administration's new National Security Strategy document contains exaggerations, contradictions, insults, racism, posturing and slamming, which is to say nothing of the important topics it does not address. Amb. Charlie Ray takes the ideological manifesto apart for us, with discussion of the existential consequences for America and for our species.
Venezuela: Be Careful What You Wish For
Imagine a free and prosperous Venezuela. What would it take? We take you to a simulated White House Situation Room with diplomat and Venezuela expert Brian Naranjo. Are you ready for some ground truth?
Milei: Man or Maniac?
The chainsaw was one thing. But the dog economists? Either way, $20billion is a nice bailout package for Argentina. Senior State Department economist Rich Sanders unpacks life in Argentina today, for their eccentric-in-chief and for the Argentine populace.
From Harlem Hellfighters to The Jazz Ambassadors - A Tale of Hope
State Department lawyer Mike Peay traces how, during a time of deep racial conflict, black American jazz artists went overseas to promote the American experiment, winning the hearts of millions with their music and personas, but would it improve race relations at home? We share this episode once more to lift our hearts on Thanksgiving day.
Space: Catching Up to the 21st Century
There are no embassies in space, so why diplomacy? Space is everywhere on earth – in financial transactions, food supplies, GPS – and it is key to hybrid warfare, particularly in US competition with China. Space demands agreements before conflicts get hot. Major General Brook Leonard is back to help us understand the facts and the strategic implications.
The Discord Rebellion - Nepal
Nepalese democracy is strong but its economy is not. Social platforms gave voice to the aggrieved. When the government threatened access, young folks got down to business, and they got it done. How? Amb. Peter Bodde unpacks.
We'll Be Back
Senator/Ambassador Jeff Flake, one of POTUS' first targets, tells us why he believes that inclusiveness will win in the US and beyond.
The Insurrection Act: Can the Courts Stop Trump?
POTUS has wide discretion in sending the standing military into American streets. Public and international law expert John Bellinger examines what our courts will do if he tries to deploy them.
POTUS Attacks Venezuelan Soil…So what?
Ex-National Security Council lawyer John Bellinger takes us into a hypothetical White House Situation Room to advise on the shaky legal grounds for any future attacks on Venezuela. Does Trump care?
The Gaza Peace Plan: What Could Go Wrong?
Amb. Patrick Theros is back to parse just how the Gaza Peace Plan will likely unfold and why Trump will have to marshal his inner Tony Soprano to get it done.
The Most Dangerous Place to be in DC?
Between Trump and the Nobel Peace Prize. Israel's Bibi crossed a redline with his attack on Qatar. The fabulously knowledgeable Amb. Patrick Theros parses this moment and its significance.
Venezuela: The President's Flotilla
Blowing up small boats to stop drug trafficking? Or is it like swatting flies with a blowtorch? And what about those drug-laden planes still flying north? Ambassador James Story sets the record straight.
Mexico's Steel Magnolia
Polar opposites: Mexican President Sheinbaum – a fact-based scientist, an introvert, methodical, with high standards…and then there is Trump. Mexico expert Brian Naranjo explains how she manages to tame the beast.
Estonia: Punching Above Its Weight
After repeated Russian invasions and/or occupations and with a population only 0.89% the size of Russia, how do you defend yourself, particularly in the age of hybrid warfare? Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur breaks it down. And, most importantly, how best to create tolerance for others' views, when the goal is for us all to remain alive under the same sun?
Trump: Bread and Circus
Use entertainment as political discourse, distort reality, mock adversaries, distract the public from the real issues. The Romans started it and Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi put it on full throttle. Italy expert Steve Scherer shows us how elected populists gain and keep power.
Human Rights, Twisted and Bent
What happens when our president operates from his own alternative reality? A growing Axis of Upheaval against us? Elizabeth Shackelford is back to clarify the moment.
Reality Show: Canada
We fought, died, celebrated victories and became prosperous together. Canadians could count on us, until now. Journalist Steve Scherer walks us through the US boycotts and yes, the profound sense of betrayal.
The Jihadi Whisperer
What prompts someone to become a violent Muslim extremist? Even more, what would get them to turn against their comrades? Counter-terrorism guru Brig Barker demystifies this dark world.
The Hole in Putin's Imperial Designs
Why is Kazakhstan safe from Russia? It juts into the heart of Russia and shares the longest continuous land border in the world. What is their secret? Ambassador Dan Rosenblum's analogy: walking a tightrope.
Ukraine: Does Moral Truth Still Exist?
What happens when you are instructed to treat the aggressor as an innocent? Former Ambassador Bridget Brink's career reaches a fork in the road. What to do? Hint: Who's running in the Michigan Seventh Congressional District? And most importantly, why?
What Happened to the Man of My Dreams?
He's charismatic, he's exciting, he's strong. How do elected autocrats woo their publics and then destroy the very countries they promised to elevate? What happens to the populace? Kristie Kenney, ambassador to Ecuador, Thailand and the Philippines has a thing or two to say about these folks and the reasons that people elect them. Repost from 2020, with oddly entertaining postscript from Pete.
Encore: Who Lost China?
It is the 1950s. Senator Joseph McCarthy and his henchman Roy Cohn target and humiliate our diplomats for accurately reporting an eventual Mao victory in China. Jack Service and his family are at the center of the storm. Is history repeating itself before our eyes? Enjoy this snapshot of diplomacy that is more relevant today than it was when we first posted it in 2020.
America Alone?
Secretary Rubio's stated goal is to reduce our diplomatic corps by 15%. Does it stop there? After four years of whim and chaos will the world ever trust us to lead again? Will we have the expertise and talent? Ambassador Eric Rubin lays it all out for us.
The Incredible Shrinking Trade Partner
What happens when tariff policy becomes a whim? Career commercial officer Dan Crocker peers into the chaos and breaks down the stakes for businesses and national security.
The Last of the Cold Warriors is Gone - Now What?
The old approach to national security is breaking apart. Americans demand change. Young diplomats and global service professionals today have a once in a century opportunity to reshape how the US engages in the world. Amb. Tom Shannon is back to inspire and share his awesome insights. In his words, Liberate the Future. (FSJ Jan-Feb 2025)
Attacks on Iran: Salvation or Quagmire
Will diplomacy come next? Will Trump and Netanyahu give the Ayatollah an off-ramp? Acting Secretary of State and Undersecretary in the first Trump administration Tom Shannon lists both sides' options and their likelihood of taking place. Will there be Iranian "retribution" and if so, what will it look like?
Colombia: Snatching Defeat from the Jaws of Victory
For decades Plan Colombia was the gold standard for tackling counter-insurgency. With the current spike in cartel/gang violence, are Colombians losing faith in their conciliatory, populist leader Petro? Is the current violence due to a legacy of armed groups? Does it just boil down to testosterone? Ambassador Kevin Whitaker breaks it all down for us.
Are the Chinese Coming for You?
The Federal Government has a long-standing entity which reviews possible threats posed by foreign actors, investing inside the US. What happens when a small town decides to wreck a Chinese investment…prudence or a resurgence of the Red Scare? Security expert Nova Daly unpacks these questions and updates us on the impending deadline for TikTok…yes, the clock is ticking!
Lebanon: Finally, A Ray of Hope, or Just a Flash Bang?
With Assad overthrown in Syria and the new regime freeing themselves of decades long sanctions will they be able to stop the flow of financing and weapons to Hezbollah in Lebanon? Is this an opening to permit reform and true democracy in Lebanon or will it be another missed opportunity? Ambassador Ed Gabriel sets forth what is at stake in the region and for US interests.
Have You No Sense of Decency, Mr. Secretary?
With so much disinformation flying around, Senator Chris Van Hollen sets the record straight and takes down Secretary Rubio at the same time.
The Pastry Chef, the Hand Grenade, the OSS and Vietnam
From wartime to prosperity, Ambassador Ted Osius shares his personal experience of change in US/Vietnam relations since the end of the war 50 years ago. Best question: Why is Amb. Osius optimistic, even in today's trade climate? Hint: Nothing is Impossible, the title of both Amb. Osius's book and his previous episode with us. For bonus fun, enjoy the video of Vietnamese female rap artist Suboi!
Politics of Retribution
How did a utopian vision for society lead to one of the bloodiest regimes in history, Cambodia's Khmer Rouge? Why does it matter today? Was it mediocrity? Arrogance? Or is it just easier to seize power than it is to govern? Prof. Andrew Mertha of Johns Hopkins' School of International Studies, whose new book Bad Lieutenants – out today, lays it out for us.
Is the Chaos at State Over?
Acting Undersecretary for Management, Ambassador Tibor Nagy, had a front row seat to the twenty-something DOGE Musketeers and their slash and burn approach to "re-organizing" venerable national security infrastructure. Tibor reflects on that and opines on whether the worst is over.
Squeezing Blood From a Stone
Overseas, mugged, sick, arrested, who are you going to call and will there be anyone to answer? Tom Yazdgerdi, the President of AFSA, the State Department labor union, fears what budget cuts will mean for traveling Americans.
What's Behind the Trump-Bukele Bromance?
Is it simply mutual self-interest or is it Bukele's head start on the authoritarian's handbook? Both? AmDip's own Pete Romero breaks it down, with feeling!
Democracy Prevails!
Former US Ambassador to South Korea Kathleen Stephens answers the question: How was martial law defeated within hours and the would-be dictator impeached? Hint: The citizens, and the soldiers(!) said no. Putting up barricades with sofas and chairs, and grabbing a gun from a soldier, one woman asked, "Aren't you ashamed of yourself?" Even the president accepted the rules set forth in the constit
Universities in the Trump Crosshairs
US colleges and universities are a battleground for First Amendment rights. Each side of the political spectrum wants to limit these rights for the other side. Now the Trump Administration has weaponized these issues by cutting grants and detaining students. Is there a neutral path forward? ASU honors student Sami Al-Asady breaks it down for us.
DEI: Enemy of the People?
Trump has led a relentless attack on Diversity Equity and Inclusion, saying it undermines a meritocracy. Former State DEI chief Ambassador Gina Abercrombie Winstanley asserts that equity and inclusion are simply effective management tools for molding smart teams. You be the judge.
South Africans Don't Like to be Bullied
And why does it matter how regular South Africans feel about US behavior toward their country? Ambassador Charlie Ray untangles the powerful dynamics within South Africa domestically and vis-a-vis the United States, and helps us understand what this means for our present and future. Plus: It's up to us to create our world and it all starts with voting. Always vote!
We are Americans and we stand for something.
What happens when the US washes its hands of its international obligations? Ambassador Mike Polt, Co-Founder of ASU's Leadership, Diplomacy and National Security Lab, views our president as our chief diplomat and calls the Zelensky-Trump Oval Office meeting a pivotal moment. We have humiliated the rest of the world, including our friends. Now what?
How is Trump 2.0 Like An Onion?
A foreign policy grandmaster strategist? Or is our president guided simply by whim and spite, without a cohesive plan? Pete and Laura break it down. You be the judge.
Tariff Wars
Tony Wayne, former Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs and US Ambassador to Mexico, pulls apart the strands. First, what is an import? How many times would you guess a raw material or auto part crosses a Canadian or Mexican border in the process of making and assembling a car? 4? 5? Each crossing carries a 25% tariff. That's a lot of crossings! And a whole lot of t
When Economists Wage War
Diplomat and Author Edward Fishman reveals how globalization is giving way to zero-sum self-interest. Can we win the emerging economic warfare? Listen, and read his new book Chokepoints: American Power in the Age of Economic Warfare.
USAID and the Fate of Gazans
Peace in the Middle East starts in Gaza and the West Bank. But beautiful parks and fountains and casinos…the Riviera of the Middle East, a beautiful vacation spot in what is now rubble? And somehow the US would own it. But what about all those Gazans, walking home along a highway, carrying all of their belongings, some with donkeys, on their way back to rubble. Enter USAID. In asymmetric warf
Mar-A-Panama?
How many "Mar-a-" conquests will there be? US Ambassador (ret) to Panama John Feeley breaks it all down, with a quick review of the relevant past, and substantive, yet richly candid view of Trump's foray into the Canal Zone today. Get smart on what is true and what is not true at all.
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