Podcasts about european affairs

Alison O'Connor, broadcaster and Sunday Times columnist and Dan O'Brien, Chief Economist at the Institute of International and European Affairs, discuss Paschal Donohoe's political and economic legacy.

Denmark's rotating presidency of the EU has been juggling a lot of difficult political balls: the climate negotiations ahead of the COP30 in Brazil, the "simplification" omnibuses that have run into political battles in the European Parliament, and much else. We travel to Copenhagen to talk to Denmark's Minister for European Affairs, Marie Bjerre, about how the presidency is going, and how the small country is dealing with the big geopolitical headwinds blowing into Denmark.

For more than 30 years Nick Kass was guiding intelligence at the highest levels of U.S. government -- from the Department of State to the CIA, and the White House.  Nick's mantra is simple: question everything. Based in Bucharest, this Chicago native is now Senior Fellow for European Affairs at the Center for the National Interest.  Thanks to Nick's life's journey full of questions -- he's in our chat room with a lifetime full of answers for Lissa & Thom.   Nick Kass is an award-winning analyst, reporter, and intelligence expert, and policy manager. Join this fascinating ride through diplomacy,  from the global warnings inside President Eisenhower's farewell address to present-day Ukraine. This episode was originally released in October 2023.

At a jam-packed EU summit in Brussels on 23 October, dominated by the thorny issue of using frozen Russian assets, we caught up with the Deputy Minister for European Affairs of Cyprus, Marilena Raouna. Although Belgium was at the centre of haggling over how to turn the Russian assets into a “reparation loan” to help Ukraine, it is not the only country concerned by the issue. Cyprus has frozen €1.2 billion in Russian assets. Raouna emphasises that Cyprus has “completely turned the page” on Russian money flowing through the country and that supporting Ukraine will be a “top priority” when Cyprus assumes the rotating EU presidency in January 2026.

In this IIEA webinar, the panel takes a deep dive into Finland's Futures Ecosystem — a unique network of public institutions, research bodies, civil society, and private sector actors working together to shape long-term thinking and strategic foresight. This panel provides an overview of the key components, actors, and processes that drive futures work in Finland, offering insights into how collaboration, policy, and innovation come together to anticipate and navigate change. This panel event follows on from an address entitled Finland's Futures Ecosystem in a European Context by Joakim Strand, the Finnish Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering. This webinar will also be followed by a further panel event that focuses on the Irish approach to foresight and what can be learnt from the Finnish experience. This event was organised in conjunction with the UCD Centre for Innovation, Technology and Organisation. Panelists include: Elina Kiiski-Kataja, Senior Lead of Foresight & Insight at Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund that helps Finland anticipate the future; Maria Höyssä, Senior Advisor to the Committee for the Future at the Parliament of Finland & Senior Research Fellow at the Finland's Futures Research Centre; Vera Djakonoff, Senior Expert, Anticipatory Governance at Demos Helsinki, an independent think tank that helps build capacities to instigate and sustain essential transitions; Dr Kevin Deegan, Vice President for Innovation & Insight at Valio, Finland's biggest food exporter

Under the deal, Ukraine would only repay the loan once Russia makes war reparations. It comes as EU countries have formally adopted the 19th package of sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. Minister of State for European Affairs & Defence Thomas Byrne, and Chris Weafer, Chief Executive of Macro-Advisory, discuss.

"From the Frontlines" is an ADL podcast which brings listeners to the frontline in the battle against antisemitism and hate through conversations with ADL staff who are living that battle every day. Today, that frontline extends far beyond American borders to university campuses around the world, where Jewish students are being forced to conceal fundamental aspects of their identity just to navigate campus life. According to a groundbreaking new global survey by ADL and the World Union of Jewish Students (WUJS), more than three-quarters of Jewish university students worldwide are concealing their religious identity. This is the devastating reality revealed by the first comprehensive global study of its kind examining Jewish student experiences worldwide. Dalia Grinfeld joined this podcast to discuss the survey's findings. She is ADL's Associate Director for European Affairs and has been instrumental in developing ADL's international response to campus antisemitism. Dalia has worked closely with WUJS on this unprecedented research engaging Jewish students from over 60 countries across six continents. To read the full survey results, visit: https://www.adl.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/2025-09/ADL-WUJS-Survey-Slide%3DDeck.pdf. You can also view the press release at this link: https://www.adl.org/resources/press-release/78-jewish-students-hide-their-religious-identity-campuses-worldwide-adl This conversation was recorded in September 2025.

The European energy system is undergoing profound change, driven by the urgent need to combat climate change and secure a sustainable energy future. Underneath initiatives such as the European Green Deal this transition, opens up enormous opportunities but also brings with it considerable complexities. One Key to Smart grids is central to effectively managing this change, and smart grids - modernised electricity infrastructures that integrate digital technologies. So what is the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI (GenAI) in the context of European smart grids? What can AI achieve? How AI also improve collaboration with humans in this area? And where are the dangers? We talk about this with Luís Vale Cunha. About Luís Vale Cunha He chairs the European Technology & Innovation Platforms (ETIPs) for Smart Networks for Energy Transition (SNET). Additionally, he is the Head of DSO Portugal and heads European Affairs. He is also a Member of the Board representing DSOs at the European level. In addition, he is the author of the interesting book "The Neo-Synthesis Age: Redefining Human Potential Through AI Collaboration".

Dan O'Brien, Chief Economist, Institute of International and European Affairs

Thomas Byrne, Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, speaks about the Presidential election and the upcoming budget.

Joining Dearbhail to discuss the Sunday papers are: Kevin Doyle, Group Head of News at Mediahuis Ireland; Lucinda Creighton, Founder and CEO of Vulcan Consulting and former Minister of state for European Affairs; Dr. Barra Roantree, Economist at Trinity College Dublin and Bobby MacDonagh, Former Irish Ambassador to the UK, the EU and Italy.

The Rod and Greg Show Rundown – Tuesday, September 23, 20254:20 pm: Senator Dan McCay joins the show to discuss his push to create a memorial for Charlie Kirk on the campus of Utah Valley University and the pushback the idea is receiving from some of the school's students.4:38 pm: George Fishman, Senior Legal Fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies, joins the show to discuss a largely ignored 1996 law that prevents migrants from receiving welfare.6:05 pm: Senator Brady Brammer joins Rod and Greg to discuss his proposal to create new congressional maps for the state using “partisan symmetry,” a plan that has frustrated the state's Democrats.6:38 pm: Paul McCarthy, Senior Research fellow for European Affairs at the Heritage Foundation's Center for Freedom, joins the program to discuss his piece for RealClearWorld on how Europe's recognition of Palestine is a slap to the face of the United States.

Joining Brendan to discuss the Sunday papers are: Siobhán Fenton, writer and former deputy head of press for Sinn Féin; Dan O'Brien, Chief Economist at the Institute of International and European Affairs and columnist with The Currency; Louise Burne, Political Correspondent at the Irish Examiner, Prof Gary Murphy, Professor of Politics at DCU

Developing a Life Sciences Vision for Ireland: The EU Agenda examines how Ireland can position its national life sciences strategy in the context of the European Commission's 2025 Strategy for European Life Sciences and other new EU initiatives. Drawing on national and EU-level experience, panellists discuss key developments in EU life sciences policy and what Europe is doing to strengthen its competitiveness, research capacity, and innovation ecosystem. The event will also explore how Ireland can secure and strengthen its own role as a key player in Europe's life sciences landscape by aligning its policy ambitions with emerging European trends. This event is organised by the Institute of International and European Affairs in partnership with Johnson & Johnson. Panellists: Pilar Aguar Fernandez, Director at People: Health and Society at DG Research and Innovation, European Commission Anouk de Vroey, Head of Government Affairs & Policy at Johnson & Johnson EMEA Muiris O'Connor, Assistant Secretary at Department of Health, Head of Research & Development and Health Analytics Darrin Morrissey, CEO of NIBRT National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training Frances Fitzgerald, Former MEP and Tánaiste (Moderator) Ireland is home to a high-performing life sciences industry, offering major opportunities for both economic development and public health. Unlike other European countries, however, Ireland does not have a holistic vision for the future of the sector. This is set to change, as the Government has promised to develop a national life sciences strategy. Other European countries have already adopted ambitious strategies to secure the future of the industry and unleash its benefits, coordinating policy across a range of areas from enterprise and investment to research and healthcare. Across the European Union, Member States are aligning national policy with broader EU ambitions for health innovation, research, and industrial resilience. Under initiatives such as Horizon Europe, the European Health Union, and EU4Health, the EU is already providing an increasingly integrated vision. In addition to this, this summer, the EU Life Sciences Strategy has been adopted by the Commission, while a new Critical Medicines Act and Biotech Act are expected soon. What will these new policies mean for Europe? And how should they be reflected in Ireland's national strategy?

In his address to the IIEA on Finland's Futures Ecosystem in a European context, Minister Joakim Strand draws on tools of strategic foresight to elicit Finland's vision for future-proofing Europe and increasing its presence in the EU Institutions. He highlights Finland's EU strategic policy objectives of strengthening Europe's democracy; boosting its resilience to malign foreign influence by strengthening media literacy; and improving comprehensive security. About the speaker: Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering of Finland Joakim Strand is responsible for matters related to the European Union within the Prime Minister's Office that are not covered by the Prime Minister, including representing Finland in the EU General Affairs Council. He is also responsible for state ownership steering policy. Minister Strand is serving his third term as a Member of Parliament from the Vaasa constituency, where he was first elected in 2015. He has served as the Chair of the Committee for the Future and the Intelligence Oversight Committee, and as a member of the Commerce Committee and the Defence Committee, among others. Minister Strand has also worked as the Chair of the City Council of his hometown, Vaasa, the Chair of the Regional Assembly of Ostrobothnia, the Chair of the Kvarken Council, and the Chair of the Board of two energy companies. He holds a Master of Laws and a Master of Science in Economics and Business Administration.

Amid the doom and gloom about France's political crisis and the public deficit, our guest maintains that the country is still economically attractive and still the second power in the European Union. Clément Beaune is France's High Commissioner for Strategy and Planning, a former secretary of state for European Affairs and a former minister-delegate for Europe in French governments. He supposes that the current political fragmentation will not disappear with elections in the years to come, and urges French political forces to find the kind of compromises that have enabled coalition governments to function in other European countries.

As Ireland prepares for its EU Presidency in the second half of 2026, this keynote speech by Deputy Prime Minister Ivanović addresses the key topic of EU Enlargement. Deputy Prime Minister Ivanović presents Montenegro's journey as the frontrunner in the European Union accession process, emphasising the country's achievements, its enduring challenges and its clear vision for the future. From a Montenegrin perspective, EU integration is not merely a technical process, but a strategic and value-driven choice that reaffirms Montenegro's European identity and its role as a regional leader on the path towards full membership. Speaker bio: Dr Filip Ivanović is the Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign and European Affairs of Montenegro, a position he has held since July 2024. Prior to this post, he was Minister of Foreign Affairs. From May 2022 to August 2023, Dr Ivanović served as member of the Governing Board of the University of Montenegro. From 2018 to 2021, he was member of the Working Group for the Negotiations on Accession of Montenegro to the EU for Chapter 25 ‘Science and Research'. Deputy Prime Minister Ivanović has a distinguished academic career and was a research/teaching fellow at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, the University of Leuven, the Van Leer Institute in Jerusalem, and the University of Donja Gorica. In February 2020, Dr Ivanović was a visiting professor at the University of North Bengal and in April 2022, he was appointed assistant research professor at the Institute of Advanced Studies of the University of Montenegro. Since 2021, he has also been a visiting scholar at the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in History of Ideas (CRISI) at the Vita-Salute San Raffaele University in Milan. Deputy Prime Minister Ivanović is also an expert evaluator of the European Commission, expert of the Agency for Control and Quality Assurance of Higher Education of Montenegro, member of the College of Research Associates of the European Science Foundation, a fellow of the Young Academy of Europe and the Royal Historical Society, and member of the Committee for Philosophy and Sociology of the Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts. He holds BA and MA degrees from the University of Bologna and a PhD from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim. He also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Diplomatic Practice from the United Nations Institute for Training and Research.

Joining Pat this morning for our Friday Forum were Thomas Byrne, Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade with special responsibility for European Affairs and at the Department of Defence and TD for Meath East, Kathleen Funchion, Sinn Féin MEP for Ireland South and also Jack Horgan-Jones, Political Correspondent with The Irish Times.

Thomas Byrne, Fianna Fáil TD for Meath East, and Minister of State for European Affairs, Trade and Defence and Professor Ray Murphy, Irish Centre for Human Rights at University of Galway

US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose new tariffs and curb exports to countries with digital taxes or regulations that affect American tech companies. With the EU Digital Services Act in affect, this puts Ireland and its tech companies firmly in the firing line, but how can we react? For more on this we heard from Dan O'Brien, Chief Economist at the Institute of International and European Affairs and Columnist with The Currency.

US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose new tariffs and curb exports to countries with digital taxes or regulations that affect American tech companies. With the EU Digital Services Act in affect, this puts Ireland and its tech companies firmly in the firing line, but how can we react? For more on this we heard from Dan O'Brien, Chief Economist at the Institute of International and European Affairs and Columnist with The Currency.

Former NSC official Lt. Col. (Ret.) Alexander Vindman joins The Burn Bag to break down the fallout from the Trump–Putin summit in Alaska, the Monday meeting between Trump, Zelenskyy, and European leaders at the White House, and the dangerous trajectory of U.S. diplomacy on Ukraine. A former NSC Director for European Affairs and key Trump impeachment witness, Lt. Col. Vindman argues that Trump's ad hoc engagement with Putin diminished U.S. credibility, granted Putin international legitimacy, and undermined Ukraine's sovereignty. He discusses Putin's proposed land-for-peace deal, Zelenskyy's constrained agency, and the risk that Washington's approach trades away strategic leverage for short-term optics. Lt. Col. Vindman and A'ndre discuss discuss whether Monday's White House Summit of Trump, Zelenskyy, and European allies actually showcased unity, in addition to the current state of the war. The former NSC official offers a candid assessment of what's at stake—for Ukraine, for Europe, and for American credibility on the global stage.Read Lt. Col. Vindman's new book, The Folly of Realism, here.

After Ukrainian President Zelensky visited the White House with European leaders, it's still not clear if Moscow's war in Ukraine is any closer to ending. Now European and world leaders are assessing the aftermath of the high-stakes meeting. Benjamin Haddad is France's Minister for European Affairs and he joins the show to discuss his nation's support for a strong and autonomous Ukraine.   Also on today's show: Former Russian Foreign Minister Andrei Kozyrev; Jimmy Lai's lawyer Caoilfhionn Gallagher and son Sebastien Lai  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How can the U.S. pursue a realist foreign policy without abandoning its core values? Alexander Vindman, retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel and former director for European Affairs on the White House's National Security Council, joins the "Values & Interests" podcast for a discussion on the critical interplay between morality and power in the practice of geopolitics. Together with host Kevin Maloney, Vindman discusses the shifting U.S. foreign policy landscape, President Trump's increasingly transactional approach to international relations, and what a just end to the war in Ukraine might look like. Alexander Vindman's latest book is "The Folly of Realism: How the West Deceived Itself About Russia and Betrayed Ukraine." For more, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/values-interests-vindman

The ‘Zeitenwende', announced by Olaf Scholz days after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, meant a profound shift in Germany's self-image. With writer Philipp Oehmke and political analyst Caroline de Gruyter we explore the implications of this new cultural reality.After its defeat in the Second World War, Germany transformed from a militaristic regime into a soft power house. Self-conscious pacifism became a core part of the German identity. Is Germany now ready to become a military player of geopolitical significance? And how would that affect the German sense of self? We discuss this with German author Philipp Oehmke, who dissected post-war Germany in his family novel The Schönwalds, and Caroline de Gruyter, journalist and political commentator for outlets including Dutch newspaper NRC.Philipp Oehmke (1974) grew up in Bonn and studied journalism at Columbia University. After four years working for the magazine of the renowned Süddeutsche Zeitung, he switched to Der Spiegel. In 2015 he moved to New York, returning to Berlin in 2020. Oehmke is widely regarded as one of the best journalists of his generation. He is currently heading the culture section of Der Spiegel. His biography of the German punk band Die Toten Hosen spent several weeks on the bestseller list, as did his debut novel Schönwald. Oehmke is currently working on a sequel to Schönwald.Caroline de Gruyter is a journalist and political analyst. She is a European Affairs correspondent and columnist for the leading Dutch newspaper NRC and a regular contributor to Foreign Policy, EUobserver and De Standaard. She spent more than twenty years covering Europe, from different corners of the continent.This programme is a part of the Forum on European Culture 2025 and took place on June 29 2025.Zie het privacybeleid op https://art19.com/privacy en de privacyverklaring van Californië op https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In Episode 434 of Hidden Forces, Demetri Kofinas speaks with Bruno Maçães, a geopolitical strategist and the former Minister of European Affairs for Portugal, whose latest book titled "World Builders" explores the intersection of technology and geopolitics. In the first hour, Bruno puts forward a radical new theory of geopolitics and technology that no longer views the world as a neutral battlefield between great powers to control territory and resources, but rather as a contest in world building that will afford the most powerful states back-doors into all aspects of our lives that they can use to alter the state of the world at any time or place of their choosing. In the second hour, Kofinas and Maçães explore why the United States has ceased building the global order it once championed, paving the way for China to construct a new world according to its own technological standards and ideological blueprints. We discuss what this means for the nature of the international order, individual freedom, the form that governance is likely to take in an increasingly virtualized world, and what is in store for all of us if things remain on their current trajectory and the United States recedes from its world building project, or perhaps, even worse, decides to destroy it entirely. Subscribe to our premium content—including our premium feed, episode transcripts, and Intelligence Reports—by visiting HiddenForces.io/subscribe. If you'd like to join the conversation and become a member of the Hidden Forces Genius community—with benefits like Q&A calls with guests, exclusive research and analysis, in-person events, and dinners—you can also sign up on our subscriber page at HiddenForces.io/subscribe. If you enjoyed today's episode of Hidden Forces, please support the show by: Subscribing on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify, Stitcher, SoundCloud, CastBox, or via our RSS Feed Writing us a review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify Joining our mailing list at https://hiddenforces.io/newsletter/ Producer & Host: Demetri Kofinas Editor & Engineer: Stylianos Nicolaou Subscribe and support the podcast at https://hiddenforces.io. Join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @hiddenforcespod Follow Demetri on Twitter at @Kofinas Episode Recorded on 08/04/2025

Thomas Byrne, Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade with special responsibility for European Affairs, discusses the concerns Ireland has around proposed changes to CAP.

Dan O'Brien, Chief Economist at the Institute of International and European Affairs and Pat Leahy Irish Times Political Editor

June 24 marked International Women in Diplomacy Day. To mark the occasion, a public discussion was held at the European Parliament Liaison Office in Bratislava. In this follow-up, we bring you some highlights from that event and speak with both the host and guests about the importance of women's representation in diplomacy and high-ranking positions. Joining the conversation are former Slovak ambassador, State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, and twice Permanent Representative of Slovakia to the OECD in Paris – Ingrid Brocková; former ambassador, head of protocol, and director of the press department at the Office of President Michal Kováč in the 1990s – Anna Tureničová; researcher at the Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences at Comenius University – Zuzana Maďarová; and the event's organizers. They share personal stories from diplomatic missions, reflect on how the field has changed, and speak candidly about challenges and progress toward gender equality in society. The new episode of the Slovak Sound Check introducse the conjugation of the verb mať – to have.

The next EU-China Summit will take place in Beijing at the end of this month. In this episode of our podcast, Abigaël Vasselier, Director of Policy and European Affairs and Head of Program for Foreign Relations at MERICS, joins Claudia Wessling, Director Communications and Publications, to talk about her expectations for the summit, the state of EU-China relations and outcomes of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's recent visit to Europe.

The calls for significantly increased taxes on the ultra-wealthy are only getting louder. Is it possible to be an ethical billionaire? Jonathan Healy is joined by Oxfam Ireland CEO Jim Clarken and Dan O'Brien, the Chief Economist at the Institute of International and European Affairs. to discuss. Listen here.

Dan O'Brien, Chief Economist at the Institute of International and European Affairs, and Owen Reidy, General Secretary of the irish Congress of Trade Unions, discuss the warning by the Central Bank Governor about the vulnerability of VAT as a source of revenue as plans are being made to cut the tax rate for hospitality and retail sectors.

After a summit tailor made for President Donald Trump, NATO members (except for Spain) agreed to an historic ramping up of their defence spending. Dan O'Brien, Chief Economist at the Institute of International and European Affairs and columnist with The Currency joins us on the programme.

According to Eurostat figures, in 2024, the price level for alcohol and tobacco was 3 times higher in Ireland than in the likes of Bulgaria.And the price is actually over 200% above the EU average.So, we want to talk about Minimum Unit Pricing – something that was brought into Ireland three and a half years ago.Joining guest host Seán Defoe to discuss whether or not MUP should be scrapped is Dan O'Brien, Chief Economist with the Institute of International and European Affairs and Chris Luke, retired Consultant in Emergency Medicine and host of the Irish Medical Lives podcast.

Thomas Byrne, Fianna Fáil TD for Meath East, and Minister of State for European Affairs, Trade and Defence

In this podcast, Reuben Slife interviews Rocco Buttiglione about his life and work. Buttiglione was promised by Luigi Guissani, the founder of Communion and Liberation, that a Christian life will never be boring; taking this wager, he discusses his studies with Augusto Del Noce, his early encounters in Poland with Karol Wojtyła, his appointment to the European Union and time as Italian Minister of European Affairs, and the beginning of his friendship with Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina.

On Friday Donald Trump announced 50% tariffs on the European Union to take effect on 1st June. However, yesterday Trump u-turned and said the tariffs would not come into effect until 9th July. Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence Thomas Byrne joined Pat to discuss further.

Thomas Byrne, Fianna Fáil TD for Meath East, and Minister of State for European Affairs, Trade and Defence // Sinéad Gibney, Social Democrats TD for Dublin-Rathdown // Mary Regan, Political Editor with the Irish Independent // Elaine Loughlin, Political Editor with the Irish Examiner

The latest update from the Department of Housing has said that the number of homes being completed will have to rise substantially for the remainder of the year if the Government is to have any hope of meeting its annual target of 41,000 units.This comes as growth estimates have shown that population growth slowed in Ireland during 2024, but is still growing.Are housing issues possible to solve in this context?Dan O'Brien is Chief Economist of the Institute of International and European Affairs, and joins Kieran to discuss.

In this episode, we welcome back Dr. Alexander Vindman—retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel and former Director for European Affairs on the White House National Security Council. Known for his key role in the first Trump impeachment and his deep expertise in Eastern European affairs, Vindman returns to discuss his latest book, The Folly of Realism: How the West Deceived Itself About Russia and Betrayed Ukraine. The conversation dives into the geopolitical stakes of the ongoing war in Ukraine, U.S. foreign policy across administrations, and the importance of civic responsibility in the face of authoritarianism. What We Discuss: Why U.S. administrations consistently misunderstood Russia and Ukraine. The concept of “Neo-Idealism” and its value in foreign policy. How family history and personal experience shaped Vindman's worldview. The political realities facing Ukraine and the U.S. in a post-Trump world. The role of values in sustaining democratic institutions. Episode Highlights: [00:01:00] Introduction to Alexander Vindman and his background. [00:04:30] Alex's twin brother Eugene Vindman's transition to Congress and bipartisan cooperation. [00:17:00] Reconnecting with family in Ukraine and the impact of history. [00:25:00] The thousand-year struggle for Ukrainian sovereignty. [00:38:00] Why equating Russia with Cold War power is misguided. [00:44:30] Vindman defines “Neo-Idealism” and its global implications. [01:00:00] The danger of Trumpism and dismantling of democratic norms. [01:07:00] How we can engage across political and cultural divides. Featured Quotes: “Russia, absent Ukraine, ceases to be an empire. With Ukraine, it becomes one.” – Alexander Vindman “Neo-Idealism is about tethering our interests to our values and committing to them over the long term.” – Alexander Vindman “We succumbed to misplaced hopes and fears. We thought if we treated Russia as a partner, it would behave like one.” – Alexander Vindman “You can find common ground by talking about family. That's where our shared concerns lie.” – Alexander Vindman Resources Mentioned: The Folly of Realism – www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/alexander-vindman/the-folly-of-realism/9781541705043 Alexander Vindman's Substack – www.avindman.com Alexander Vindman on Bluesky - @avindman.bsky.social

Alexander Vindman is a retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel and was the director for European Affairs on the National Security Council. Before that, he served as the Political-Military Affairs Officer for Russia for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and as an attaché at the US Embassies in Moscow and Kyiv. While on the Joint Staff, he authored the National Military Strategy for Russia. He earned an MA from Harvard University, where he served as a Hauser Leader, and an MA and PhD from Johns Hopkins, where he is a senior fellow. Dr. Vindman leads the national security think tank Institute for Informed American Leadership, is the president of the non-profit Here Right Matters Foundation, an executive board member for the Renew Democracy Initiative, a senior fellow at the Kettering Foundation, and a senior advisor to VoteVets. And he's the author of the Why It Matters Substack and the New York Times bestselling books Here, Right Matters and The Folly of Realism. My chats with Alex are always quite insightful and compelling given his distinguished career in both the military and the government and the vast experience he's amassed over the last three decades. Join us as he discusses his new book and shares his thoughts on Trump 2.0 foreign policy, Ukraine/Russia, SignalGate, Iran negotiations, the tension with Israel/Netanyahu, Tulsi Gabbard's NIC firings, the Qatar plane fiasco, the SCOTUS hearing on Birthright Citizenship and jurisdiction, and the threats to habeas corpus and due process. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Joining Brendan to dissect the Sunday papers are Fr. Iggy O'Donovan, Augustinian Priest, Ellen Coyne, Special Correspondent, Irish Independent, Dan O' Brien, Chief Economist at the Institute of International and European Affairs and Columnist with The Currency, Lisa Chambers, Former Fianna Fáil Seanad Leader and Head of Public Affairs at Consello.

Joining Brendan to digest the Sunday papers are; Gerard Howlin, former government advisor and Irish Times columnist, Susanne Rogers, Research and Policy Analyst Social Justice Ireland, Dan O'Brien, Chief Economist at the Institute of International and European Affairs & columnist at The Currency and Natasha Maimba, Legal Executive & Youth Activist

Donald Trump's America First policy has reignited a debate that has shaped U.S. history for centuries: Should America lead on the world stage, or should it pull back and focus on problems at home? In this episode, Hillari Lombard sits down with Charles Kupchan—senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, professor at Georgetown, and author of Isolationism: A History of America's Efforts to Shield Itself from the World—to unpack the past, present, and future of American isolationism.This episode is a good-faith attempt to understand what America First really means—not just as a campaign slogan, but as a governing philosophy. Whether you support it, fear it, or are just trying to make sense of it, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.Resources that informed this episode:Isolationism: A History of America's Efforts to Shield Itself From the World | Council on Foreign RelationsSupporting Ukraine Is in Trump's Interest by Michael Froman & Charles A. Kupchan - Project SyndicateTrump Is Right That Pax Americana Is Over - The AtlanticThe Past and Future of American Isolationism | Council on Foreign Relations---Charles A. Kupchan is Professor of International Affairs in the School of Foreign Service and Government Department at Georgetown University, and Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. From 2014 to 2017, Kupchan served as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for European Affairs on the National Security Council in the Obama White House. He was also Director for European Affairs on the National Security Council during the first Clinton administration. His most recent books are Anchoring the World: International Order in the Twenty-First Century (2021), Isolationism: A History of America's Efforts to Shield Itself from the World (2020), No One's World: The West, the Rising Rest, and the Coming Global Turn (2012), and How Enemies Become Friends: The Sources of Stable Peace (2010). His forthcoming book is Bringing Order to Anarchy: Governing the World To Come.

Thomas Byrne, Fianna Fáil TD for Meath East, Minister of State for European Affairs, at the Departments of the Taoiseach, Foreign Affairs, Trade and Defence // Matt Carthy, Sinn Fein TD for Cavan Monaghan, Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs & Defence

Everything, everywhere, all at once — but not the movie. This is how cybersecurity experts describe a scenario where a foreign adversary shuts off critical infrastructure, like oil pipelines, water networks, ports, and electric grids, all over the country. The terrifying truth is that China has already hacked into our critical infrastructure. They're “living off the land” and could conceivably attack whenever is most convenient. What's worse? Our political leaders are defunding America's cybersecurity efforts. In order to dig in deeper, Kara talks to Nicole Perlorth, Michael Schmidt, and Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, (Ret.)   Nicole Perlroth spent a decade as the lead cybersecurity reporter at The New York Times, before going inside the tent and joining the advisory board of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the Council on Foreign Relations' Cyber Task Force. She is a founding partner at Silverbuckshot Ventures and the host and producer  of To Catch a Thief, a new podcast on China's rise to cyber dominance. Michael Schmidt is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter for The New York Times and the author of the best-selling book Donald Trump v. The United States. He's also the executive producer and co-creator of the Netflix series Zero Day, a political thriller about a devastating cyberattack on the U.S. Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman is the former director of European Affairs for the National Security Council. Vindman was a key witness during President Trump's first impeachment and testified about Trump's infamous phone call with President Zelensky of Ukraine. He is a senior fellow at the Johns Hopkins Foreign Policy Institute and the author of The Folly of Realism: How the West Deceived Itself About Russia and Betrayed Ukraine. Questions? Comments? Email us at on@voxmedia.com or find us on Instagram, TikTok and Bluesky @onwithkaraswisher. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, six US presidential administrations of both parties pursued policies for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia that emboldened Russia, playing into its imperialist, centuries-long mythos of regional hegemony. The result: military aggression and full-scale invasion. It was all too foreseeable.In The Folly of Realism, leading national security expert and bestselling author Alexander Vindman argues that America's mistakes in Eastern Europe result from policymakers' fixation on immediate, short-term problem-solving and misplaced hopes and fears. He proposes a new long-term, values-based approach that insists on the fundamentals of liberal democracy and a rules-based world order.Alexander Vindman, lieutenant colonel US Army (retired), was the director for European Affairs on the White House's National Security Council, former Political-Military Affairs Officer for Russia, and diplomat at the American Embassies in Moscow and Kyiv. He is a senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Institute, the author of the New York Times–bestselling memoir Here, Right Matters, and leads the Here Right Matters Foundation organization which focuses on helping Ukraine win the war against Russia.Michael previously spoke with Col. Vindman about his book "Here, Right Matters" in 2022, listen in Episode 162.

President Trump delays some tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico. NBC Senior National Security Correspondent Courtney Kube and former Director of European Affairs at the National Security Council Alexander Vindman dissect the impacts of changes in U.S. support to Ukraine following an emergency EU summit. NBC Homeland Security Correspondent Julia Ainsley speaks with families and local officials about the possibility of ICE raids at sensitive locations.

President Trump has directed Secretary of State Marc Rubio to negotiate a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine without Ukraine at the table. U.S. Army Lt. Col. (retired) Alexander Vindman was the director for European Affairs on the White House's National Security Council, former Political-Military Affairs Officer for Russia and diplomat at the American Embassies in Moscow and Kyiv. He is also a senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Institute and leads the Here Right Matters Foundation organization, which focuses on helping Ukraine win the war against Russia. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why he believes U.S. policy towards Russia has only emboldened Vladimir Putin and how tenants of liberal democracy might right the ship moving forward. His book is “The Folly of Realism: How the West Deceived Itself About Russia and Betrayed Ukraine.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

The United States has reached a preliminary deal with Ukraine to share in revenue from the country's mineral assets, but so far it is not offering security guarantees against Russia in return. It's a reflection of the Trump Administration's Russia-first policy, according to retired army lieutenant colonel and Trump impeachment whistleblower Alexander Vindman. We talk to Vindman about his new book “The Folly of Realism: How the West Deceived Itself About Russia and Betrayed Ukraine.” Guests: Alexander Vindman, author, His new book is "The Folly of Realism: How the West Deceived Itself About Russia and Betrayed Ukraine"; lieutenant colonel, United States Army (Retired); former director for European Affairs; U.S. National Security Council