Deep Dish on Global Affairs

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

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 global security for years to come.

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 facing the US.

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.

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 US alliances could be headed next.

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 explores what countries can learn from each other and what's standing in the way.

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 fellow in the Asia program at the European Council on Foreign Relations, breaks it down.

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 next.

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 what could happen if this crisis deepens.

"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.

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 pressures, and destabilize vulnerable regions far beyond Iran.

Trump said he would stop wars, not start them. But as the conflict with Iran widens, that promise is under strain. Matt Duss of the Center for International Policy explores what this moment reveals about presidential war powers, the limits of military force, and what this war could mean for the next chapter of US foreign policy.

Just days after US and Israeli strikes on Iran, global leaders gathered in New Delhi for the Raisina Dialogue. As tensions escalated, conversations quickly shifted to urgent questions about war, energy shocks, and the future of the global order. Harsh Pant of the Observer Research Foundation and Karim Haggag of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute unpack how the world is reading the Iran conflict and where it could be headed next.

US and Israeli strikes on Iran have triggered retaliation across the region, with drones, missiles, grounded flights, and rising oil prices. But what's the actual goal? Is this a short, decisive campaign or the start of something bigger? And if the fighting stops, does the region return to normal or just settle into a tense pause before the next round? From Tel Aviv, former US Ambassador to Israel Daniel Shapiro breaks down what the US and Israel are trying to achieve, the risks involved, and why the outcome is far from clear.

Ukraine, China, and Iran are shaking up the world—but at the Munich Security Conference, the West seemed to be worrying about itself. Amid simmering transatlantic tensions, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio got a standing ovation, but was it real reassurance or just the same talking points, dressed up? The Observer's Giles Whittell and ECFR's Dr. Jana Puglierin break down the conference's most revealing moments and what Europe is really thinking.

Europe is rethinking its security as the US signals it may not always be a reliable partner. Ahead of the Munich Security Conference, countries are scrambling to rearm, diversify partnerships, and protect their interests. Can Europe stand on its own, or will it stay tied to the US? Georgina Wright from the German Marshall Fund and Sophia Besch from the Carnegie Endowment break it down.

As China and India rise, power in the Indo-Pacific is shifting fast, and the world is feeling it. Former Singaporean diplomat Kishore Mahbubani puts it bluntly: "the era of Western domination of world history is over." Along with Avinash Paliwal of SOAS, they unpack how the region views this shift, whether President Trump's second term has sped it up, and what it means for America's place in the world.

The World Economic Forum doesn't always deliver clear answers—but this year, it delivered drama and tension. From President Trump's speech to Europe's pushback and a rare standing ovation, a few moments stood out. What do they tell us about America's relationships with its allies? Leslie Vinjamuri talks it through with Martin Wolf and Sir Robin Niblett, straight from Davos.

One year into US President Donald Trump's second term, the administration has outlined a vision of US preeminence in the Western Hemisphere and sharper competition with China. Ryan Hass of the Brookings Institution and Emma Ashford of the Stimson Center examine Washington's recent strategy and discuss how it is playing out from Europe to China—and what the rest of the world is making of it.

Protests are spreading across Iran, and reports suggest violent crackdowns and a rising death toll. So what's driving this moment, and how does it differ from protests Iran has seen before? Journalist Azadeh Moaveni and Chatham House expert Sanam Vakil break down what's fueling the unrest, how power really works inside Iran, and what might come next.

From US pressure over Greenland to high-stakes peace talks on Ukraine, long-standing assumptions about Europe's security are being tested. The Economist's defense editor Shashank Joshi explains how Europe is recalibrating its approach to defense, what this pivotal moment means, and why there may be no return to the old normal.

The past year has made one thing clear: this version of Trump on the world stage is different. From the Caribbean to Europe to America's own institutions, familiar rules don't feel so fixed anymore. The Guardian's Jonathan Freedland looks back at the moments that defined Trump's year so far and why the next one could be even more dramatic.

Human Rights Day lands as conflict is rising and accountability is fading. Big-power tensions are shaking old norms, and new technologies are changing the rules. So, are human rights in retreat—or is this just a familiar cycle? Kenneth Roth, former head of Human Rights Watch, helps us make sense of it.

Defense is evolving fast—AI, drones, cyber threats, and autonomous weapons. The U.S. has led for decades, but China is closing in. Former Deputy Secretary of Defense Kath Hicks breaks down how the Pentagon is adapting, where it's falling behind, and what's at stake.

Sudan is now the world's largest humanitarian crisis—bigger than Gaza and Ukraine combined—yet it remains one of the least covered and least funded. Martin Griffiths, former UN Under‑Secretary‑General for Humanitarian Affairs, explains why a ceasefire has remained out of reach and whether global pressure can still make a difference.

President Trump's second-term national security strategy is coming, and it could reshape U.S. foreign policy from China to Europe to the Middle East. Nadia Schadlow, former Deputy National Security Advisor and architect of Trump's original Strategy, breaks down what's changed, what's stayed the same, and what it all means for allies and rivals under Trump 2.0.

East Asia's biggest powers are getting older — and smaller. China, Japan, and South Korea are seeing shrinking workforces and aging populations, with fewer young people to fill their armies or their factories. Andrew Oros, author of Asia's Aging Security, and public opinion expert Craig Kafura discuss how population decline is changing East Asia and whether technology could help fill the gap.

The Arctic's heating up—literally and politically. Melting ice is turning a once-remote region into a stage for global power. Experts Kenneth Rosen and Anna Wieslander unpack how Russia, China, NATO, and the US are all racing for influence, and why what happens up there could shape the rest of the world.

Tensions between Canada and the US are back in the headlines after new tariffs followed a controversial Ottawa ad. Experts Roland Paris and Robert Howse break down how Canada's new Prime Minister, Mark Carney, is navigating this turbulent moment and what it means for Canada's economy, identity, and role on the world stage.

After months of diplomatic outreach, President Trump has abruptly shifted course on Venezuela—from covert CIA operations and expanded military activity in the Caribbean, to publicly backing Venezuela's opposition leader. Is this a crackdown on drugs and migration, or part of a broader strategy reshaping US policy in South America? Economist Francisco Rodríguez explains the political, economic, and human stakes of Washington's evolving approach.

China's next move could reshape the global balance of power. As tensions spike over trade, tech, and alliances, the world is watching closely. Georgetown professor Evan Medeiros explains what's coming next and why it matters.

Russian drones are crossing European skies, testing NATO while US focus shifts elsewhere. Charles Kupchan and Constanze Stelzenmüller unpack Russia's strategy, the risks for Ukraine, and what it means for the future of the transatlantic alliance.

Deep Dish often takes a strategic or policy-oriented view toward conflicts around the world. In this episode, we pause to consider the real human lives impacted by the headlines we read. Becky Carroll, who is in direct contact with people on the ground in Eastern Ghouta, co-founded the #StandWithAleppo social media campaign in 2016 and serves on the Ambassador Board for MedGlobal. Dr. Wendy Pearlman, whose new book, "We Crossed a Bridge and it Trembled: Voices from Syria," reports first-hand testimonials of those affected by political violence in Syria. Dr. Pearlman is a political science professor at Northwestern University.

Social media, the internet of things, and the dark web are the latest battlegrounds in a new era of asymmetrical warfare. Premier cyberterrorism expert Gabriel Weimann joins Deep Dish to discuss how terrorists and bad actors use cyber networks to recruit members, spread propaganda, and cause physical harm.

Ambassador Barbara Stephenson, president of the American Foreign Service Association, joins Deep Dish to give voice to the members of the US Foreign Service. She talks State Department cuts, political appointees, military partners, and how members of the US Foreign Service cope with the challenge of forming and implementing US foreign policy.

President Donald Trump has accepted North Korea's invitation for direct talks with Kim Jong-un. North Korea expert Karl Friedhoff and national security expert Commander Thomas Bodine discuss what brought us here, what China, North Korea, South Korea, and the United States want out of these talks, and what to watch for next.

After five months of uncertainty, Germany has formed a new government. Meanwhile in Italy, right-wing populists triumphed electorally but left no clear path toward a governing coalition. Italian expert Nathalie Tocci and German expert Constanze Stelzenmüller analyze the results and what it could mean for stability in Europe.

Stav Shaffir, the youngest-ever woman elected to Israel's parliament, joins Deep Dish to discuss corruption charges against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as her own Labor party's failure to pull ahead in polling, despite what she says is a broad base of support for its progressive agenda.

Each year, international security and defense chiefs meet at the Munich Security Conference for intense debate about global security challenges. The Washington Post's Josh Rogin and Julie Smith from Foreign Policy and the Center for a New American Security help us understand what happened, and, more importantly, what didn't happen at this year's premier security summit.

NATO Ambassador Ivo Daalder and POLITICO's Susan Glasser react to the Pentagon's new nuclear posture review, the rumored "bloody nose" strategy for deterring North Korea, mismatches between the State Department and the White House, Russia's upcoming election, and the destabilization of US institutions.

The United States faces a new era of great power conflict, according to the Trump administration's new National Security Strategy and National Defense Strategy. Naval Commander Thomas Bodine joins this week's podcast to help make sense of the strategic shift away from terrorism and toward peer on peer state competition.

The World Economic Forum's annual meeting of economic and political elites opened Tuesday in Davos, Switzerland. As the vanguard of globalization met, senior economist Phil Levy joined this week's Deep Dish podcast for a tour of hot spots in the global economy.

The Trump administration will not renew the temporary protected status of more than 200,000 El Salvadorian nationals living in the United States. This episode of Deep Dish features Latin America experts from the Atlantic Council and Migration Policy Institute talk about the impact of this decision from the lenses of social policy, economics, and diplomacy. Guests: Jason Marczak, director of the Atlantic Council's Latin America Center, and Kevin Appleby, senior policy director on international migration at the Center for Migration Studies. Guest host: Phil Levy, senior fellow for the global economy at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

What began as Iranian protests about high food prices and inflation has turned into the largest anti-government outcry in nearly a decade. Iran experts Saeid Golkar and Nicola Pedde join guest host Stephen Anderson to unpack what this uprising could mean for the Islamic Republic.

Making Russia great again has long been a domestic and foreign policy goal of Vladimir Putin and his Russian base of support. This week's Deep Dish explores Russian politics, foreign and domestic, that are geared toward making that wish a reality.

Bitcoin may be the most famous application of blockchain technology, but its potential extends well beyond cryptocurrency. On this week's Deep Dish podcast, two tech experts explore the promise of this revolutionary technology in the global economy.

President Trump has recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital – a move he says "acknowledges the obvious." But officials and religious leaders across the Middle East condemn the decision for stoking violence and defying UN resolutions on Jerusalem's status. This week's Deep Dish podcast welcomes Carnegie's Maha Yahya, POLITICO's Susan Glasser, and the Council's Cécile Shea to discuss.

ISIS has been decimated and Bashar al-Assad sits secure atop the bloody streets of Syria. With Russia leading diplomatic efforts to close the books on the Syrian Civil War, this week's Deep Dish examines the state of play in Syria, how we get there, and the competing interests of those who hope to influence what happens next. Brian Hanson is joined by U.S. Ambassador (ret.) to Syria Robert S. Ford, senior fellow for global security and diplomacy Cecile Shea, and nonresident senior fellow for Iran policy Saeid Golkar.

Now that President Trump has passed the Iran deal to Congress, debates about the deal's merits have resurfaced. To help explain the arguments for and against the deal, we asked two experts with extensive experience in the area to present their perspectives on this week's episode of Deep Dish. Listen as Brian Hanson moderates a debate between Jessica Mathews, Distinguished Fellow and past President at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and Michael Singh, the Lane-Swig senior fellow and managing director at The Washington Institute and a former senior director for Middle East affairs at the National Security Council.

Ma Jun is China's leading environmental activist. In this week's Deep Dish, he joins host Brian Hanson during a rare visit to the United States to talk about how he's using big data to hold corporations in China accountable to the environmental damage they're causing in his country.

Saudi Arabia says Lebanon and Iran have declared war on it. Meanwhile, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman has initiated the arrest of dozens of royal family members, officials, and business executives in an anti-corruption sweep. This week's Deep Dish looks at what's going on and explains it within the larger context of geopolitical trends in the region.

President Trump is preparing to visit China, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Hawaii from Nov. 3 - 13. In the latest Deep Dish, we gathered a group of Asia experts to dissect the potential pitfalls and opportunities that await in each leg of his journey, as well as what to watch for during the trip.

The Spanish government's violent treatment of Catalonian voters thrust its national political crises into worldwide headlines. On this week's Deep Dish, CSIS's Daniel Runde brings context and clarity to the unsettled scene in Catalonia and the international reaction to the independence referendum.

The odds of NAFTA renegotiations successfully concluding on time are vanishingly small, says the Council's trade expert Phil Levy. In this episode of Deep Dish, he explains the economic, political, and legal difficulties associated with completing the deal—and why it might be just as complicated to back out.

The United States and Britain enjoy a special relationship, but can it hold against the winds of change? UK Minister of State Alan Duncan joined us to talk about President Trump, Brexit, North Korea, Russia, and Iran, explaining how his government sees the US-UK relationship in light of the many challenges it now faces.

The International Rescue Committee deemed today's hunger crisis "the least reported but most important issue of our time." The Council's Roger Thurow, author of The First 1,000 Days: A Crucial Time for Mothers and Children—and the World, outrages and inspires as he explains the injustices of stunting and tells inspirational stories of overcoming hunger on this week's episode of Deep Dish.