Ambassadors at Large - Joe Geni

Mark McNamee of Frontier Strategy Group rejoins the podcast to talk about the rise of populism and nationalism, Trump's foreign policy, spheres of influence, what happens when nationalists from different countries collide, whether Russian meddling in foreign elections might come back to haunt them, the possible "reverse Trump effect" boomeranging against right wing populists in Europe, the French elections, Theresa May's decision to call snap elections in Britain, and more. Recorded literally as the polls were closing in France, so we didn't know who won yet, but our analysis totally holds up anyway.

It's been a terrible few days for PR, whether it's Pepsi's ill-conceived ad, United's "re-accommodation," or Sean Spicer's accidental Holocaust denial, and much more! Ethan Cheng joins to discuss who was the absolute worst. There's not a lot of international affairs on this episode, but it was quite fun to record.

Hunter Marston and Colin Lawrence join to talk about American foreign policy in the age of Trump towards the Philippines, North Korea, China, and more.Read Hunter's latest in The National Interest here.

Michael Davies returns to discuss American foreign policy under Trump.

Chiara Monti guests once again to talk about migration in Europe.

Joe, Roni, and Ethan prepare for Inauguration Day.

Daesh/ISIS/ISIL/Islamic State/the self-described Islamic State/whatever you want to call them (and it matters what you call them!) is losing territory, but the loss of a territorial foothold in Iraq and Syria might not mean the end of the group, or its ideology. Part 1 examines the current dynamics facing the group and what might happen in the coming months. (Part 2 will focus more on the group's ideology and why it has endured.) David Millar guests.

Christy Dehus joins the podcast to discuss the upcoming elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo; whether and when they will happen; who the candidates are; and the consequences of Dodd-Frank on DRC's mining sector.

Joel Wing of Musings on Iraq guests to talk about the 100th anniversary of Sykes-Picot; the spring bombing offensive; the future of Islamic State; whether the Kurds will get independence; and whether the Surge could have ever achieved its political objectives.

Why victory is so hard to achieve, Part 2. Michael Davies guests again.

The United States has been in Afghanistan for a decade and a half. Syria and Iraq are beset by conflict. Whatever happened to victory? Part of it is about them, part of it is about us, and part of it is what you mean by victory. Researcher Michael Davies, author of "What we need to do is admit that we are unable to win our wars," guests and explains.

Fashion has a huge environmental impact. In this episode, Fiona Fung guests and talks about ways to make the industry more sustainable.

The Rwanda genocide is over, but the conflict isn't... it's just moved next door. The spillover takes down Zaire, and much of the continent becomes embroiled in the resulting war. What to take away from all of this? Here's an hour-long stream-of-consciousness history of the Second Congo War.

When the price of oil tanks, Russia's economy suffers... and that affects every other country in Russia's neighborhood. Mark McNamee returns to discuss.

Is it acceptable to find humor in a despotic regime? Julia Gronnevet and Daniel Hernandez return to talk it over.

As a frozen conflict settles in in Ukraine, Kiev no longer controls all its own territory. But Mark McNamee, analyst with the Frontier Strategy Group, suggests that it's Russia's weakness that has been exposed. Military power is Russia's only remaining means of influence, McNamee argues, while the Donbass uprising was largely economic, not ethnic, in nature. So what's next for both countries? Listen to find out.

The thing they call the Arab Spring started so promisingly, but today multiple countries are in chaos or under iron-fisted dictatorial rule. What happened? Why? Are revolutions good? Are they worth it? Maybe it's too soon to tell. Julia Gronnevet and Daniel Hernandez were both journalists at United Nations Headquarters in New York at the time, and they join the podcast to recall their memories.

The Rwanda Genocide is often seen as a clarion call for international intervention in the face of evil. In fact, before, during, and after the genocide, there was extensive international intervention and much of it did more harm than good. Where the international community failed, Paul Kagame succeeded. This show considers the unique factors that made Rwanda unfold the way it did.

Namibia could have been a basket case, but isn't. Why?

Today, the liberal international order of sovereign states faces challenges: from above, with transnational issues like terrorism, climate change, organized crime networks, and migration; from below, with internal state collapse; and from revisionism from Russia, China, and others. How fundamental are these challenges? Laura Daniels, who works for a Washington, DC think tank, joins to discuss. Merry Christmas!For more of Laura's work, read her recent piece on the United States, Russia, and Syria.

Ted Cruz calls them "purple unicorns," but in this episode, Dr. Daniel Serwer argues that there is a moderate opposition in Syria and they're worthy of support.

Republicans are usually favored on national security in American opinion polls, often by large margins. Why? Jim Arkedis is here to explain.

The major combatants in Syria are all deliberately displacing civilians as a tactic of war. How is this shaping the conflict, and what does it mean for the future of Syria? Dr. Benedetta Berti, who studies internal conflicts and the integration of armed groups, guests.

Nora Sturm and Laura Senneett join the podcast to talk from Abidjan about the Ivorian elections, refugees, development, and more.

Vegas-based freelance journalist Daniel Hernandez joins to discuss racial and ethnic politics in a demographically changing America.

Sarah Labowitz, co-founder and co-director of the NYU Stern Center for Business and Human Rights, guests to talk about fair labor practices.

Burkina Faso had a coup. It suppressed the coup. But the rest of the country is so much more interesting. Francis Tapon guests.

Why is the price of oil so low? China, Saudi Arabia, and the United States each have one piece of the answer.

Joe Geni and Chiara Monti discuss the EU migration crisis, what's changed, and whether Schengen can survive.

In this episode, Joe Geni, Ethan Cheng, and Roni Weiss wonder how one can get different identity groups to get along, whether it's race relations in America or the Syrian civil war.