The President’s Inbox
A rising China. War in Europe. A warming planet. The United States faces a complex and rapidly changing world. With more than four million downloads, The President’s Inbox goes beyond the headlines as host James M. Lindsay speaks with leading experts about how the United States should respond to global challenges and opportunities that are shaping the future.
Episodes
Will There Be Meddling in the Midterms?
This episode unpacks the ongoing threat of influence and interference operations posed by Russia, China, and Iran as the 2026 U.S. midterm elections approach.
Host:
James M. Lindsay, Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy, CFR
Guest:
Jessica Brandt, Senior Fellow for Technology and National Security, CFR, and former director of the Foreign Malign Influence Cen
The Seven Questions Every Military Strategist Must Ask
This episode unpacks what strategy really is, the seven questions every strategist must ask themselves before initiating a military operation, and why war stays so stubbornly unpredictable.
Host:
James M. Lindsay, Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy, CFR
Guest:
Eliot A. Cohen, Arleigh A. Burke Chair in Strategy at the Center for Strategic and International S
Trump Rolls Out the Red Carpet for Xi
This episode unpacks Xi Jinping’s high-stakes Washington visit, discussions of “constructive stability,” and tensions over Taiwan, AI, and Iran.
Host:
James M. Lindsay, Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy, CFR
Guests:
Julian Gewirtz, Senior Research Scholar, Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs
Bonny Lin, Director of the China Pow
Elbows Up: How Canada Is Fighting Trump’s Tariffs
This episode unpacks the deepening U.S.-Canada trade war, the collapse of a potential deal to end it, and whether decades of economic integration are rupturing.
Host:
James M. Lindsay, Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy, CFR
Guest:
Rohinton Medhora, Professor of Practice at McGill University and Distinguished Fellow at the Center for International Governanc
What the U.S. Got Wrong in the War on Terrorism
This episode unpacks how the September 11 attacks reshaped the U.S. approach to global threats and internal security.
Host:
James M. Lindsay, Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy, CFR
Guest:
Walter Russell Mead, Ravenel B. Curry III Distinguished Fellow in Strategy and Statesmanship, Hudson Institute
We Discuss:
Why the September 11 attacks were such a piv
The CIA Director’s Not-So-Secret Trip to Moscow
This episode unpacks the potential purposes and implications of CIA Director John Ratcliffe’s recent surprise trip to Moscow.
Host:
James M. Lindsay, Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy, CFR
Guest:
Stephen Sestanovich, George F. Kennan Senior Fellow for Russian and Eurasian Studies, CFR
We Discuss:
What is actually known about CIA Director John Ratcliffe'
Six Months of War With Iran, With Steven Cook
This episode unpacks the current state of the U.S.-Iran conflict, broader dynamics in the Middle East, and the shifting U.S. role in the region.
Host:
James M. Lindsay, Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy, CFR
Guest:
Steven A. Cook, Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies, CFR
We Discuss:
Who, if anyone, is winning the six-month
Washington’s Missile Shortage, With Michael Horowitz
This episode unpacks reporting that U.S. munitions stockpiles are dangerously low and lays out the consequences of the shortage both for Washington’s ongoing war with Iran, and for its deterrence of adversaries.
Host:
James M. Lindsay, Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy, CFR
Guest:
Michael C. Horowitz, Senior Fellow for Technology and Innovation and Directo
Maximum Pressure on Cuba, With Will Freeman
This episode unpacks how the Trump administration's maximum pressure campaign is accelerating Cuba's economic collapse and what a firsthand trip to the country reveals about life amidst the crisis.
Host:
James M. Lindsay, Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy, CFR
Guest:
Will Freeman, Fellow for Latin America Studies, CFR
We Discuss:
What the Trump administ
U.S.-India Relations Under Stress, With Sadanand Dhume
U.S.-India relations have struggled despite U.S. President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s close personal relationship. This episode unpacks why tariffs, security concerns, and a détente with China has reframed the importance of the relationship, and what it could take to put it back on track.
Host:
James M. Lindsay, Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S
The Myth of the AI Race, With Alvin Wang Graylin
This episode unpacks U.S. and Chinese AI strategies, regulation approaches, and the future implications for society and security.
Host:
James M. Lindsay, Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy, CFR
Guest:
Alvin Wang Graylin, Senior Fellow for Technology, Asia Society; Digital Fellow, Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence; Professor of AI
Lessons From 250 Years of U.S. Foreign Policy, With Robert Kagan
This episode unpacks the history of 250 years of U.S. foreign policy and examines patterns of the United States’ engagement with the world.
Host:
James M. Lindsay, Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy, CFR
Guest:
Robert Kagan, Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution; Author, Dangerous Nation: America’s Place in the World From Its Earliest Days to the Dawn of the
Women in Power, With Linda Robinson
This episode unpacks the unique challenges faced by women leaders, their contributions to democracy, and the critical lessons they offer in the fight against authoritarianism.
Enter the CFR book giveaway by July 8, 2026, for the chance to win one of ten free copies of Women in Power by Linda Robinson. You can read the terms and conditions of the offer here.
Host:
James M. Lindsay, Mary and Dav
Ukraine Turns the Tide, With Liana Fix
This episode unpacks whether Ukraine has turned the tide against Russia on the battlefield and assesses the new security relationship between Ukraine and Europe.
Host:
James M. Lindsay, Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy, CFR
Guest:
Liana Fix, Senior Fellow for Europe, CFR
We Discuss:
The state of the battlefield in Ukraine after four and a half years of
America’s Ebola Preparedness, With Thomas Bollyky
This episode unpacks how a major Ebola outbreak in Central Africa exposed critical gaps in global health surveillance and assesses U.S. preparedness for future biological threats.
Host:
James M. Lindsay, Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy, CFR
Guest:
Thomas J. Bollyky, Bloomberg Chair in Global Health; Senior Fellow for International Economics, Law, and Dev
America at 250: The Marshall Plan, With Benn Steil
This episode unpacks how the Marshall Plan transformed postwar Western Europe and why security, allied cooperation, and forward thinking were the real keys to its enduring success.
To mark the 250th anniversary of the U.S. declaration of independence, CFR is dedicating a yearlong series of articles, videos, podcasts, events, and special projects that will reflect on two and a half centuries of U
Why the U.S. Needs an Africa Strategy, With Michelle Gavin
This episode unpacks how Africa's demographic surge, critical mineral wealth, and expanding security threats are reshaping its relevance to U.S. foreign policy in the twenty-first century.
Host:
James M. Lindsay, Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy, CFR
Guest:
Michelle Gavin, Ralph Bunche Senior Fellow for Africa Policy Studies, CFR
We Discuss:
Why U.S. p
What Trump and Xi Didn't Settle in Beijing, With Nicholas Burns
This episode unpacks the key discussion points from the U.S.-China summit, including Taiwan, the Iran war, AI regulation, and the future of U.S.-China relations.
Host:
James M. Lindsay, Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy, CFR
Guest:
Nicholas Burns, Roy and Barbara Goodman Family Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy and International Relations, Harvard Uni
Trump and Xi in Beijing, With Rush Doshi
This episode unpacks President Donald Trump’s upcoming summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, the first by a sitting U.S. President in nearly a decade, as the United States and China work through a tense period of détente.
Host:
James M. Lindsay, Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy, CFR
Guest:
Rush Doshi, C.V. Starr Senior Fellow for Asia Studi
The Spillover: Are Prediction Markets Forecasting Tools or Virtual Casinos?
Prediction markets have grown into a multibillion-dollar industry. This episode asks whether they are powerful forecasting tools or gambling platforms in disguise—and what their rise means for how risk and information are priced.
Hosts:
Rebecca Patterson, Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations (CFR)
Sebastian Mallaby, Paul A. Volcker Senior Fellow for International Economics, Council
How to Build an American Foreign Policy, With Michael Mandelbaum
This episode unpacks three enduring pillars that have defined U.S. foreign policy from the nation’s founding to today: ideology, economic statecraft, and democratic accountability.
Host:
James M. Lindsay, Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy, CFR
Guest:
Michael Mandelbaum, Professor Emeritus of American Foreign Policy at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced I
America at 250: The Spanish-American War, With H.W. Brands
This episode unpacks the causes, key events, and consequences of the Spanish-American War, highlighting how it shaped U.S. foreign policy into the modern era.
To mark the 250th anniversary of the U.S. declaration of independence, CFR is dedicating a year-long series of articles, videos, podcasts, events, and special projects that will reflect on two and a half centuries of U.S. foreign policy.
What Comes Next After Failed U.S.-Iran Talks, With Elliott Abrams
This episode unpacks the U.S.-Iran ceasefire talks in Islamabad and the prospect of a U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
Host:
James M. Lindsay, Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy, CFR
Guest:
Elliott Abrams, Senior Fellow for Middle Eastern Studies, CFR
We Discuss:
What transpired during the U.S.-Iran talks in Islamabad.
Whether both sides abandoned
Russia’s Stakes in the Iran War, With Thomas Graham
This episode unpacks the opportunities and risks Moscow is facing amid the U.S. and Israeli war with Iran.
Host:
James M. Lindsay, Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy, CFR
Guest:
Thomas Graham, Distinguished Fellow, CFR
We Discuss:
Whether Russia and Iran are true allies, or simply friends of convenience.
How decades of rivalry and recent convergence shap
Gulf States Under Fire, With Mina Al-Oraibi
This episode unpacks how the war with Iran will affect the future of the Gulf countries’ security and economic prosperity.
Host:
James M. Lindsay, Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy, CFR
Guest:
Mina Al-Oraibi, Editor-in-Chief, The National
We Discuss:
Whether Gulf states supported or opposed the war with Iran and their role in the intensive diplomatic ef
Why Allies Aren’t Following on Iran, With Kristi Govella and Constanze Stelzenmüller
We discuss:
Why U.S. allies are refusing to join the Iran war, and what that signals about weakening alliance cohesion and growing strategic independence.
How the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20% of global oil flows, is already reshaping the global economy and raising the stakes for every U.S. partner.
Europe’s balancing act, publicly rejecting the war while quietly e
The Strategy Gap in Iran, With Max Boot
Max Boot, Jeane J. Kirkpatrick senior fellow for national security studies at the Council, sits down with James M. Lindsay to analyze what tactical and strategic lessons can be drawn from the U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iran.
Mentioned on the Episode:
Alexander Ward, Lara Seligman, Alex Leary, and Vera Bergengruen, "Trump Knew the Risk of Iran Blocking the Strait of Hormuz. He
America at 250: The Lend-Lease Act, With Lynne Olson
Lynne Olson, acclaimed historian and author of Those Angry Days: Roosevelt, Lindbergh, and America’s Fight Over World War II, 1939–1941, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the history of the Lend-Lease Act of 1941 and the domestic political struggles that shaped the United States’ entry into the Second World War.
To mark the 250th anniversary of the U.S. declaration of independence, CFR
SPECIAL EPISODE | Trump Chooses War With Iran, With Dalia Dassa Kaye
Dalia Dassa Kaye, senior fellow at the University of California, Los Angeles Burkle Center for International Relations, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss President Donald Trump's decision to launch a war against Iran, the prospects for regime change, and the consequences for the region.
Mentioned on the Episode:
Michael Birnbaum, John Hudson, Karen DeYoung, Natalie Allison, and Souad
Cuba on the Brink, With Michael Bustamante
Michael Bustamante, Chair in Cuban and Cuban-American Studies at the University of Miami, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the Trump administration’s maximum pressure campaign against Cuba.
Mentioned on the Episode:
Marc Caputo, “Exclusive: Rubio's Secret Squeeze on Raul Castro's Cuba,” Axios
For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at: https://www.cfr.
America at 250: Nixon Goes to China, With Jeremi Suri
Jeremi Suri, Mack Brown Distinguished Chair for Leadership in Global Affairs and Professor of Public Affairs and History at the University of Texas at Austin, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss President Richard Nixon's historic 1972 visit to China, which ushered in a new era of U.S.-Sino relations and altered the course of world politics.
To mark the 250th anniversary of the U.S. declar
The New Saudi Strategy, With F. Gregory Gause III
F. Gregory Gause III, a leading scholar on Saudi Arabia and an associate fellow at the Middle East Institute, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the evolution of U.S.-Saudi relations as Saudi Arabia navigates its role in a Middle East with a more assertive Israel, a weaker Iran, and a less predictable United States.
For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at
Canada Hedges Against the United States, With Jonathan Berkshire Miller
Jonathan Berkshire Miller, senior fellow at the Macdonald Laurier Institute, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss Canada's effort to diminish its vulnerability to U.S. economic threats and just how much middle powers like Canada can successfully hedge in a world of great power competition.
Mentioned on the Episode:
“Live From Davos: Exclusive Interview With Secretary of the Treasury Scot
Trump’s Greenland Ambitions, With Heather Conley and Rebecca Pincus
Heather Conley, nonresident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, and Rebecca Pincus, senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, sit down with James M. Lindsay to discuss how President Trump's desire to acquire Greenland has thrown the transatlantic relationship into its latest crisis.
For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at: https://w
America at 250: The Best and Worst U.S. Foreign Policy Decisions, With Mary Dudziak and Christopher Nichols
Mary Dudziak, Asa Griggs Candler Professor of Law at Emory University, and Christopher Nichols, Wayne Woodrow Hayes Chair in National Security Studies and Professor of History at the Ohio State University, sit down with James M. Lindsay to unpack a new CFR survey of historians on the best and worst foreign policy decisions in U.S. history.
To mark the 250th anniversary of the U.S. declaration of
Trump Foreign Policy at One Year, With Matthew Kroenig
Matthew Kroenig, Vice President and Senior Director of the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security at the Atlantic Council, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss how President Trump has approached foreign policy since returning to the Oval Office last January.
Mentioned on the Episode:
Matthew Kroenig, “To Get to Peace in Ukraine, Trump Should Play the Nuclear Card,” Foreign Policy
M
Washington’s Venezuela Strategy After Maduro, With Will Freeman
Will Freeman, fellow for Latin America studies at the Council, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the consequences of the U.S. seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Mentioned on the Episode:
Antonio Maria Delgado, ”The U.S. Gamble on Chavismo: How a Once-Unthinkable Pact Could Stabilize Venezuela,” Miami Herald
Will Freeman, “The Shock Waves of Venezuela: How Maduro’s Captu
Listener Mailbag: 2025 in Review, With Carla Anne Robbins and Matthias Matthijs
Carla Anne Robbins, senior fellow at the Council, and Matthias Matthijs, senior fellow for Europe at the Council, sit down with James M. Lindsay to answer listener questions about the major developments, initiatives, and changes in U.S. foreign policy over the course of 2025.
Mentioned on the Episode:
"2025 National Security Strategy of the United States of America," The White House
Ivo H.
Are We Ready? | America’s Crumbling Defense Industrial Base, With Kathleen Hicks
Kathleen Hicks, former Deputy Secretary of Defense and a senior fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center, the Johns Hopkins University’s Kissinger Center for Global Affairs, and the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss how the U.S. defense industrial base has struggled to keep pace with the demands of renewed great power competition.
This is t
Are We Ready? | Trump’s National Security Strategy, With Rebecca Lissner
Rebecca Lissner, senior fellow for U.S. foreign policy at the Council, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the Trump administration's new National Security Strategy and its consequences for U.S. foreign and defense policy.
This is the eighth episode in a special series from The President’s Inbox, bringing you conversations with Washington insiders to assess whether the United States is re
Are We Ready? | The Economic Security Challenge, With Jonathan Hillman
Jonathan Hillman, senior fellow for geoeconomics at the Council, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the steps the U.S. government should take to protect and support American firms developing critical new technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and biotechnology from predatory foreign challenges without stifling its own growth and innovation.
This is the seventh e
Are We Ready? | China's Campaign to Reshape the Global Order, With Hal Brands and Michael Kuiken
Hal Brands, Henry A. Kissinger Distinguished Professor of Global Affairs at the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University, and Mike Kuiken, Distinguished Visiting Fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution, sit down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission's latest annual report to Congress and how China is working t
Are We Ready? | The U.S.-China Chip War, With Chris McGuire
Chris McGuire, senior fellow for China and emerging technologies at the Council, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss whether U.S. efforts to deny China advanced semiconductor chips will sustain the U.S. lead in artificial intelligence or unintentionally accelerate Chinese innovation.
This is the fifth episode in a special series from The President’s Inbox, bringing you conversations with
Are We Ready? | AI, Espionage, and Influence, With Jessica Brandt
Jessica Brandt, senior fellow for technology and national security at the Council, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss how artificial intelligence is reshaping cyber operations, influence campaigns, and intelligence gathering, and what those changes mean for U.S. national security.
This is the fourth episode in a special series from The President’s Inbox, bringing you conversations with W
Are We Ready? | The New Weapons of War, With Michael Horowitz
Michael Horowitz, Richard Perry professor of political science at the University of Pennsylvania and senior fellow for technology and innovation at the Council on Foreign Relations, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss how emerging military technologies are revolutionizing the modern battlefield and how the Pentagon is adapting and incorporating these new technologies.
This is the third ep
Are We Ready? | America's Next Battlefield, With Thomas Shugart
Thomas Shugart, founder of Archer Strategic Consulting and adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss how the tools and tactics of warfare have changed in the past decade and whether the U.S. military is adapting fast enough to deter a great power war.
This is the second episode in a special series from The President’s Inbox, bring
Are We Ready? | The China Reckoning, With Rush Doshi
Rush Doshi, the C.V. Starr senior fellow for Asia Studies and director of the China Strategy Initiative at the Council, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss how the United States is reckoning with the rise of China and a world of renewed geopolitical competition.
This is the first episode in a special series from The President’s Inbox, bringing you conversations with Washington insiders to
Civil-Military Relations Under Trump, With Kori Schake
Kori Schake, Senior Fellow and Director of Foreign and Defense Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the state of civil-military relations as President Donald Trump remakes the senior leadership of the U.S. military and deploys the National Guard to U.S. cities.
Mentioned on the Episode:
William Manchester, American Ceasar: Douglas McA
Two Years Since October 7, With Elliott Abrams and Ed Husain
Elliott Abrams, senior fellow for Middle East studies and the Council, and Ed Husain, senior fellow at the Council, sit down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the state of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the second anniversary of the October 7 attacks and whether President Donald Trump's twenty-point peace plan will produce a lasting ceasefire.
Mentioned on the Episode:
Elliott Abrams, "The
The Legality of Trump's Drug-Boat Strikes, With Matthew Waxman
Matt Waxman, adjunct senior fellow for law and foreign policy and Liviu Librescu Professor of Law at Columbia University sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the legality of the Trump administration's military strikes against drug traffickers and the implications for U.S. foreign policy.
Mentioned on the Episode:
James Madison, “Federalist No. 51,” The Federalist Papers
For an episode
Russia Violates NATO Airspace, With Liana Fix
Liana Fix, senior fellow for Europe at the Council, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss Russia’s recent drone incursions into Polish airspace, and whether the move signals an expansion of the war in Ukraine.
Mentioned on the Episode:
Liana Fix and Erin D. Dumbacher, “Russia Tests NATO With Poland Drone Breach,” CFR.org
For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s In
The Golden Dome Missile Defense System, With Todd Harrison
Todd Harrison, Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the feasibility of a multi-layer missile defense system for the United States.
Mentioned on the Episode:
Phillip L. Swagel, “Effects of Lower Launch Costs on Previous Estimates for Space-Based, Boost-Phase Missile Defense,” Congressional Budget Office
Todd Harrison, “How Much Would a
Africa’s Urban Youth Revolution, With Michelle Gavin
Michelle Gavin, Ralph Bunche senior fellow for Africa policy studies at the Council, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss what urbanization, a youth-heavy population, and social media mean for politics across the African continent.
Enter the CFR book giveaway by September 23, 2025, for the chance to win one of ten free copies of Age of Change by Michelle Gavin. You can read the terms and c
Brewing Troubles in Colombia, With Roxanna Vigil
Roxanna Vigil, International Affairs Fellow in National Security at the Council, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss rising political violence in Colombia and its consequences for the Andean region and beyond.
Mentioned on the Episode:
Paul J. Angelo, From Peril to Partnership: U.S. Security Assistance and the Bid to Stabilize Colombia and Mexico, Oxford University Press
For an episod
A New U.S. Grand Strategy: The Case for a Realist Foreign Policy, With Stephen Walt
Stephen Walt, Robert and Renée Belfer Professor of International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss what a realist U.S. foreign policy would look like.
Mentioned on the Episode:
John Ikenberry, “A New U.S. Grand Strategy: The Case for Liberal Internationalism, With G. John Ikenberry," The President's Inbox
John J. Mearsheimer and Stephen M. Walt
The Trump-Putin Summit, With Michael Kimmage
Michael Kimmage, professor of history at the Catholic University of America, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the results of the meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on the war in Ukraine.
Mentioned on the Episode:
Michael Kimmage, Collisions: The War in Ukraine and the Origins of the New Global Instability
Michael Kimmage and M
TPI Replay: The Eurasia Challenge, With Hal Brands
Hal Brands, Henry A. Kissinger distinguished professor of Global Affairs at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and author of The Eurasian Century: Hot Wars, Cold Wars, and the Making of the Modern World, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss how and why control of Eurasia affects U.S. national security. This episode is the fifth in a continuing TPI series on U.S. grand str
The Thai-Cambodian Border Clash, With Joshua Kurlantzick
Joshua Kurlantzick, senior fellow for Southeast Asia and South Asia at the Council on Foreign Relations, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the ongoing border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia and if the current ceasefire will hold up.
Mentioned on the Episode:
Joshua Kurlantzick, Beijing’s Global Media Offensive
Joshua Kurlantzick, “Thailand and Cambodia’s Ceasefire: Will It St
Donald Trump’s Russia Ultimatum, With Liana Fix
Liana Fix, Fellow for Europe at the Council, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the current status of the fighting in Ukraine and the significance of President Trump’s recent ultimatum to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Mentioned on the Episode:
Liana Fix, “Can NATO Keep It Together?” Foreign Policy
Liana Fix, “How the Berlin Bubble Failed in the Ukraine War,” Internationale Polit
Brazil and the BRICS, With Oliver Stuenkel
Oliver Stuenkel, associate professor at the School of International Relations at Fundação Getulio Vargas in São Paulo, Brazil, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the recent BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro and what Brazil sees as the group’s purpose.
Mentioned on the Episode:
Oliver Stuenkel, BRICS and the Future of Global Order
Oliver Stuenkel, IBSA: Rise of the Global South
Oliver
The Future of U.S. Foreign Aid, With William Henagan
William Henagan, a research fellow at the Council, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the current state of U.S. foreign aid programs after President Donald Trump’s reforms.
Mentioned on the Episode:
William Henagan, “Reauthorizing DFC: A Primer for Policymakers,” CFR.org
William Henagan, “Sovereign Funds and American Investment Strategy: How to Responsibly Create a U.S. Strategic Inv
The Elusive Ceasefire in Gaza, With Elliott Abrams
Elliott Abrams, senior fellow for Middle Eastern studies at the Council, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss ongoing efforts to bring about a ceasefire in Gaza and the war’s ripple effects across the Middle East.
Mentioned on the Episode:
Elliott Abrams, If You Will It: Rebuilding Jewish Peoplehood for the Twenty-First Century
Elliott Abrams, "Meanwhile, Hamas Is Killing Civilians Who
TPI Replay: The Fourth of July, With Jack Rakove
Jack Rakove, the William Robertson Coe professor of history and American studies and professor emeritus of political science and law at Stanford University, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss why the United States declared independence in 1776 and its meaning for the country today.
Mentioned on the Episode:
Bernard Bailyn, The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution
Henry Wad
SPECIAL EPISODE | Answering Your Questions on the U.S. Airstrikes on Iran, With Erin Dumbacher
Erin Dumbacher, Stanton Nuclear Security Senior Fellow at the Council, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the U.S. attack on three Iranian nuclear facilities, what the strikes accomplished, and how the conflict might evolve.
For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/tpi/answering-your-questions-us-airstrikes-iran-erin-dumbacher
A New U.S. Grand Strategy: A Return to Spheres of Influence, With Sarang Shidore
Sarang Shidore, director of the Global South Program at the Quincy Institute, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss whether a return to great power spheres of influence is practical in the twenty-first century.
Mentioned on the Episode:
Sarang Shidore, “Spheres of Influence Are Not the Answer,” Foreign Policy
Sarang Shidore, “The Quiet Development Shaking America’s Power,” New York Time
Israel Strikes Iran, With Steven Cook
Steven Cook, Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at the Council, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss Operation Rising Lion, Israel’s attacks on Iran’s senior military leadership and on its nuclear infrastructure.
Mentioned on the Episode:
Steven A. Cook, “Israel Is Going for the Death Blow on Iran,” Foreign Policy
Steven A. Cook, The End of Ambition: Ame
Zbigniew Brzezinski, With Edward Luce
Edward Luce, U.S. national editor and a columnist for the Financial Times, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss what we can learn from the life, career, and writings of Zbigniew Brzezinski, national security advisor to President Jimmy Carter.
Mentioned on the Episode:
Edward Luce, In Spite of the Gods: The Strange Rise of Modern India
Edward Luce, Time to Start Thinking: America in the
The China-Philippines Standoff, With Derek Grossman
Derek Grossman, senior defense analyst at RAND and professor of policy analysis at the RAND School of Public Policy, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the confrontations between China and the Philippines over their competing claims in the South China Sea and the consequences for the United States.
For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at: https://www.cfr.o
The United States and South Africa, With Reuben Brigety
Reuben Brigety, President of Busara Advisors and U.S. Ambassador to South Africa from 2022 to 2025, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss relations between Washington and Pretoria in the wake of last week’s meeting between President Donald Trump and President Cyril Ramaphosa.
For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/tpi/united-sta
The India-Pakistan Crisis, With Šumit Ganguly
Šumit Ganguly, senior fellow and director of the U.S.-India Program at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the origins and consequences of the recent military clash between nuclear powers India and Pakistan.
Mentioned on the Episode:
Šumit Ganguly, “What Is the Risk of a Conflict Spiral Between India and Pakistan?” Foreign Policy
For an ep
The Iran Nuclear Talks, With Karim Sadjadpour
Karim Sadjadpour, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the ongoing talks between the United States and Iran over Iran’s nuclear program.
Mentioned on the Episode:
Karim Sadjadpour, “Iran Wants to Avoid Both Peace and War With the United States. Trump Isn’t Having It," Emissary
For an episode transcript and show notes, visi
The U.S.-China Trade War, With Zoe Liu
Zongyuan Zoe Liu, Maurice R. Greenberg senior fellow for China studies at the Council, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss China’s response to President Donald Trump’s tariff hikes and what it means for the future of U.S.-China relations.
Mentioned on the Episode:
Zoe Liu, “How China Armed Itself for the Trade War,” Foreign Affairs
For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The Pr
Trump's First 100 Days, With Carla Anne Robbins and Matthias Matthijs
Carla Anne Robbins, senior fellow at the Council, and Matthias Matthijs, senior fellow for Europe at the Council, sit down with James M. Lindsay to answer questions from CFR’s audience about President Donald Trump’s foreign policy during his first one hundred days in office.
For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/tpi/trumps-first-1
Climate Change Realism on Earth Day 2025, With Varun Sivaram
Varun Sivaram, senior fellow for energy and climate and Director of the Climate Realism Initiative at the Council, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the state of the global environment and U.S. climate policies on the occasion of Earth Day 2025.
Mentioned on the Episode:
Varun Sivaram, Taming the Sun
Varun Sivaram, “We Need a Fresh Approach to Climate Policy. It’s Time for Climate R
Trump’s Plan for the Panama Canal, With Will Freeman
Will Freeman, fellow for Latin America studies at CFR, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss President Donald Trump’s calls for the United States to retake control of the Panama Canal.
Mentioned on the Episode:
Will Freeman, “A New Monroe Doctrine Is Unlikely to Work for the US in South America,” Financial Times
Will Freeman, “Securing the Panama Canal Requires Diplomacy,” Americas Quar
Confronting the China Challenge, With Dmitri Alperovitch
Dmitri Alperovitch, co-founder and chairman of Silverado Policy Accelerator, co-founder and former chief technology officer of cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, and author of World on the Brink: How America Can Beat China in the Race for the Twenty-First Century, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the geopolitical rivalry between China and the United States, its impact on U.S. interests, and
Germany's Rearmament, With Sophia Besch
Sophia Besch, a senior fellow in the Europe Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss Germany’s ambitious rearmament plans amidst deepening concerns about the U.S. commitment to European security.
Mentioned on the Episode:
Sophia Besch, "A Zeitenwende for Germany's Defense Industry," U.S. Army War College Strategic Studies Institute
The New Era of Economic Warfare, With Edward Fishman
Edward Fishman, senior research scholar and adjunct professor at Columbia University and author of Chokepoints: American Power in an Age of Economic Warfare, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the United States’ expanded use of financial and trade sanctions in recent years and whether they have enabled Washington to accomplish its foreign policy objectives.
Mentioned on the Episode:
E
Conflict in Eastern Congo, With Mvemba Dizolele
Mvemba Dizolele, senior fellow and director of the Africa Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the renewed fighting in the Eastern Congo that pits the M23 rebel group backed by Rwanda against the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Mentioned on the Episode:
Mvemba Dizolele, Into Africa, Center for Strategic a
U.S. Space Policy, With Nina Armagno and Jane Harman
Nina Armagno, retired United States Space Force lieutenant general, and Jane Harman, former congresswoman and president emerita of the Wilson Center, sit down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the increasing importance of space as a commercial opportunity and strategic vulnerability for the United States.
Mentioned on the Episode:
Council on Foreign Relations, Securing Space: A Plan for U.S.
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