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Deep Dish on Global Affairs

Deep Dish on Global Affairs

The Chicago Council on Global Affairs 401 episodes Latest May 28, 2026

Deep Dish on Global Affairs helps you make sense of our rapidly changing world. Host Leslie Vinjamuri, President and CEO of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, speaks with thought leaders, journalists, and experts shaping foreign policy and global events. They go beyond the headlines to explain how events unfolded, why they matter, and what to watch for. Topics include global trade, AI dominance, and more. New episodes every Thursday.

Episodes

Can the G7 Deliver on Economic Security? Jun 11, 2026 25:14 Economic security has become a major focus ahead of next week's G7 summit in France. A rare call between G7 leaders and China, convened by President Macron, underscores just how central the issue is. Governments are looking for ways to strengthen supply chains, secure access to critical minerals, and reduce economic risks. But at a time of growing geopolitical tensions, can they make meaningful pr
Rise of Middle Powers: 'A New Order Is Gradually Being Born' Jun 4, 2026 28:24 The world's great powers still dominate the headlines, but they may not be the only countries shaping what comes next within the international order. Anne-Marie Slaughter joins Deep Dish to discuss the rise of middle powers, the future of global cooperation, and why she believes a new order may already be taking shape.z
Is the US Entering a New Era of Global Power? May 28, 2026 32:59 Can America's allies still count on the United States? As the Trump administration pulls troops from Europe and reshapes America's defense strategy, former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Michèle Flournoy explains what's changing and what's at stake. From China and Taiwan to NATO, AI warfare, and the ongoing Iran conflict, she breaks down how America's shifting priorities could reshape globa
Why Trump Took America's Top Tech CEOs to China May 21, 2026 31:03 President Trump brought some of America's biggest tech leaders—including Elon Musk, Tim Cook, and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang—to Beijing for a high-stakes summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Council on Foreign Relations' Chris McGuire explains what the talks revealed about AI, export controls, and why the fight over advanced AI chips is becoming one of the most important national security issues fa
What China Really Thinks About America Right Now May 14, 2026 31:48 As Trump and Xi meet for a high-stakes summit amid rising tensions over trade, technology, and Taiwan, the US-China relationship is entering another uncertain phase. Stanford University's Oriana Skylar Mastro explains what China ultimately wants, why Beijing may view the United States as increasingly distracted, and what the summit could mean for the future balance of power.
Is the Quad Fracturing as US Priorities Shift? May 7, 2026 25:40 The Quad was meant to anchor stability in the Indo-Pacific—a way for the United States, India, Japan, and Australia to stay aligned in a rapidly changing region. But shifting US priorities under the second Trump administration are putting it to the test. Derek Grossman of the Center for a New American Security explains how countries across Asia are adapting, what it means for the Quad, and where U
The Most Surprising Success Stories Around the World Right Now Apr 30, 2026 32:04 There seems to be no shortage of global challenges, from aging populations to political gridlocks to immigration. But solutions are emerging in unexpected places. John Kampfner, author of Braver New World, shares what he discovered traveling to 10 countries, including Japan, Estonia, and India, in search of ideas that are actually working. A self-described former "professional pessimist," he explo
Is China Quietly Winning the Iran War? Apr 23, 2026 25:41 The war with Iran isn't just a Middle East story anymore.  As attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz disrupt global energy markets, the economic impacts are being felt by Europe, the United States, and especially the Indo-Pacific.  Does the ongoing conflict provide a strategic opening for China? And how is India navigating this new era of complicated alliances? James Crabtree, distinguished fell
Is International Law Built for Today's Wars? Apr 16, 2026 28:30 As the US-Israel war on Iran continues, the international rules, laws, and norms meant to govern it are collapsing and being rewritten. Does international law still matter? And how are modern conflicts reshaping accountability and impunity? Former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour breaks down what's changing, whether laws and norms are eroding, and if these don't hold—what comes
The Cost of Trump's Pressure Campaign on Cuba Apr 9, 2026 24:29 As the United States tightens sanctions and cuts off oil to Cuba, the island is facing deepening economic and humanitarian strain. President Trump has signaled he wants regime change, but what would that actually mean for Cuba, its people, and the region? María de los Angeles Torres of the University of Illinois Chicago unpacks the real impact of US pressure, why sanctions may be backfiring, and w
Is the Middle East Heading Toward a Much Bigger War? Apr 2, 2026 27:08 "This is no longer an Iran war. This is a region-wide war." Fawaz Gerges, of the London School of Economics and Political Science, explains why he believes the conflict has expanded far beyond Iran, what Israel is trying to achieve in Lebanon, and why the search for security may be driving the Middle East toward deeper instability.
From Oil to Food: How the Iran War Could Disrupt Global Stability Mar 26, 2026 31:38 Gas prices may be the first way Americans feel the war in Iran, but Catherine Bertini, former executive director of the United Nations World Food Programme, and Michael Werz of the Council on Foreign Relations explain why the deeper impact could unfold across global food systems—where rising energy costs and supply chain disruptions could drive prices higher, worsen hunger, intensify humanitarian

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