Podcasts about foreign service

In this episode of Pekingology, Henrietta Levin, Senior Fellow with the CSIS Freeman Chair in China Studies, is joined by Kurt Campbell, former Deputy Secretary of State and President Biden's “Asia Czar.” He is currently Chairman of The Asia Group and Distinguished Fellow in Diplomacy with the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service. Henrietta and Kurt discuss how Beijing views American power, the development of U.S. strategy towards China, U.S.-China diplomacy and the characters that sat on the Chinese side of the table, and more. To learn more about Kurt Campbell's perspectives on China, you can read his April 2025 Foreign Affairs article, co-authored with Rush Doshi, ⁠Underestimating China: Why America Needs a New Strategy of Allied Scale to Offset Beijing's Enduring Advantages⁠, and his 2016 book, ⁠The Pivot: The Future of American Statecraft in Asia⁠.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are:Fran Berman - Stuart Rice Honorary Chair at the University of Massachusetts Amherst's College of Information and Computer Sciences (CICS) and Faculty Associate at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University.Theresa Bourgeois - Public policy and communications expert.Bob Brigham - Professor of History and International Relations at Vassar College. He is a specialist on the history of US foreign policy.Donna Welton - Diplomat in Residence at Bard College. She retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2025 after over 30 years in public service. Her last post was ambassador to the SE Asian country, Timor-Leste.

What if uncertainty isn't something to fear or even survive, but a skill you can train and a competitive advantage you can build?Scott Stirrett has spent more than a decade helping people do exactly that. Scott is a Canadian entrepreneur, author, and the founder of Venture for Canada, a national charity that has supported over 10,000 young professionals since 2013. He's also the author of The Uncertainty Advantage, a powerful guide for navigating the future of work that argues uncertainty isn't a bug in the system. It is the system.Scott walks us through how empathy and emotional skills play starring roles in his six pillars that help build real resilience, alongside some surprising mindset shifts and practical exercises you can start using right away. We also talk about why traditional career playbooks no longer apply and how leaders and professionals can turn volatility into opportunity instead of paralysis.If you're navigating change, rethinking your career, or leading others through uncertainty, this episode offers both reassurance and a roadmap.To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com and search by episode title.Listen in for…The six pillars that help build real resilience and momentum in uncertain times. Seeing the opportunity in uncertainty and volatility. How to act when you don't have perfect information. Why it is so important to build your uncertainty muscles. "We don't choose what era we live in. We live in an era of rapid change. Learning to develop a positive relationship with uncertainty is one of the most important things that you can do, perhaps at any moment in human history." — Scott Stirrett Episode References: Scott's Book: The Uncertainty AdvantageAntifragile: Things That Gain From Disorder by Nassim Nicholas TalebThinking in Bets by Annie DukeMIT study on human skills that complement AI: mitsloan.mit.edu/ideas-made-to-matter/these-human-capabilities-complement-ais-shortcomingsAbout Scott Stirrett: Founder, Venture for Canada and Author, The Uncertainty AdvantageScott Stirrett is a Canadian entrepreneur, author, and the Founder of Venture for Canada (VFC), a national charity that has supported over 10,000 young professionals since 2013. Under his leadership, VFC raised $80 million and partnered with leading organizations to equip early-career Canadians with entrepreneurial skills to thrive in an uncertain world.Scott is the author of The Uncertainty Advantage, a guide for young professionals navigating the future of work, endorsed by leaders including Andrew Yang and Amanda Lang. The book draws on lessons from building VFC, emphasizing adaptability, entrepreneurial thinking, and lifelong learning.A graduate of Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service, Scott began his career at Goldman Sachs in New York. He's been recognized as a Telus LGBTQ Innovator, Ashoka Fellow, and Globe and Mail Changemaker. His commentary has appeared in The Washington Post, Forbes, The Globe and Mail, and more. He currently co-chairs the Canadian Centre for Housing Rights.Connect with Scott:The Uncertainty Advantage: scottstirrett.comX: x.com/scottstirrettLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/scottstirrettFacebook: facebook.com/stirrettInstagram: instagram.com/scottstirrettSubstack: substack.com/@scottstirrett Connect with Maria:Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/booksHire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-RossTake the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a LeaderLinkedIn: Maria RossInstagram: @redslicemariaFacebook: Red Slice

Today, after staying on Jon Ossoff's email list for eight years, I finally hit unsubscribe. This is my Dear Jon letter, and in some ways, the moment I will really be saying goodbye to the Democratic Party once and for all.I will admit I held on too long with Ossoff. Try as I might over the past six years since leaving the party to extricate myself from their relentless email machine, I didn't mind when Ossoff's emails flew into my mailbox. In 2017, I saw in Ossoff what the Democrats needed as they tried to find their next Obama stand-in. He fit the bill perfectly. I also liked how he didn't seem to buy into the party's increasingly crazy extremes but was comfortably moderate, at least for a time. My record with Federal political donations tells the tale. If anyone looks at my record, they'll see I continued donating to ActBlue through 2025. Except that I didn't. I just didn't realize they were charging me all that time. That's how relentless they are and how stupid I am. The Glow-UpBefore the expensive makeup, strategic lighting and tight shirts, Ossoff looked like what Steve Bannon would call a “pencil-necked geek.” He was too skinny, even if he was an Obama clone. He seemed too good, too clean for dirty politics back then. I fell for the lie that Ossoff really was a self-made man, a “filmmaker who turned to politics,” per this Wall Street Journal video.He is hardly self-made. More like a hot house flower.Ossoff grew up in a political household. Both parents were heavily involved in politics. At just 19, he began working on Capitol Hill for Rep. Hank Johnson while attending Georgetown's School of Foreign Service and continued working for him until 2012. His email list was mostly the kind of thing you'd get in the old days of the Democratic Party, the kind of thing you'd expect from the Obama clone factory. But that isn't really where Ossoff is now in his political career. He is determined not to go down as a squeaky-clean beta male. No, Ossoff has gotten SWOLE. He appears to have brought in a team to fix the look to be camera-ready. The makeup, the hair, the dimples. Ossoff finally looks the part. He can do alpha. All of a sudden, he's the guy everyone is talking about. He's the guy who is suddenly the hottie on tap. True, he's Jewish, and that's a problem for the Democrats, but no one really talks about that. Instead, they're selling the matinee idol on TikTok. The truth is, I didn't think about Jon Ossoff much until he went viral for channeling his inner sexist in a desperate bid to get attention and rise to the top of the pile. And it worked. He went viral! He's in the headlines now, and everyone knows his name. But this version of Jon Ossoff will never be president. He's abandoned what made him exceptional in the first place, his decency and his goodness. The sharks demanded flesh and blood, and he gave it to them, but it will come at a cost. One of the main reasons Democrats have failed for the past ten years to gain any purchase in this country has been their obsessive fixation on Trump, which is pretty much all Ossoff is doing.It's a race to the bottom to see who can out-Trump Trump, to be more confrontational, more bullying, more vulgar, and tougher. They believe this will solve their “man problem,” and who knows, maybe it will. I look at Ossoff now, and I don't see someone tough or brave. I see a coward.Ossoff, like James Talarico and almost every Democrat, is now leaning into the party's extremes. Because of course he is. He has to. In his viral speech in Atlanta, he referenced his daughters and said they will ask him one day how he let things get so bad, and, in the same sentence, dismiss the concerns of little girls and women in sports.Guess what, Jon: thousands of little girls will one day ask you why you let it happen, why you allowed so many of them to believe they should amputate their breasts when they could not consent. They will look to you, Jon. You will have to tell them why you pretended biological males had no advantage in sports because you were too cowardly to stand up to your own party. I once thought Ossoff was a good man. Now I see him as a desperate man, no different from any other Democrat, so much so that he's given himself over to what has become an uncontrollable fetish on the Left to dehumanize Donald Trump and his supporters. They slut-shamed Melania's modeling photos, splashing them all over social media. They suggested Trump was having an affair with his own daughter. They took a bath in Karoline Leavitt's Vanity Fair photos, which splashed all over TikTok and led to her being called KKKaroline.They mocked Kellyanne Conway's age and her face, and Sarah Huckabee Sanders' makeup. It's grotesque and repulsive, but it is typical and ongoing. Even now, Rosie O'Donnell is out there on primetime television calling Trump a “serial pedophile and rapist.” It doesn't matter if it's true. It only matters if it happened in their imagination.They spent whole seasons giggling about the particulars of the Stormy Daniels affair, and they were willing to forgive lusty E. Jean Carroll's sexy talk at Anderson Cooper and envision instead a ridiculous, implausible, violent rape incident that most likely never happened.They call Trump a rapist so they can kill him. They call him a racist so they can kill him. They call him a fascist so they can kill him. They call him a pedophile so they can kill him. They just want to kill him, and every day the hungry beast must be fed.Before you say “But Trump says…” there's a difference. No one on the Right, least of all Trump, pretends to be morally superior to the other half of the country as they have on the Left. There are no death fantasies. They don't go “no contact.” They don't destroy your career if you even so much as like a post by the other side. The price of admission in their world is that you have to want Trump dead too. You must forsake him, and then they will welcome you with open arms. That's who they are and what they've become and why I could not and will never be a part of that world anymore.Now, Ossoff has become one of them.The party of women knows destroying a woman like Natalie Harp isn't a good look, because she is sympathetic. She's a homeschooled bone cancer survivor whose father committed suicide. And Ossoff, to paraphrase Aaron Sorkin, gets on television and calls her a w***e.And that, more than anything, defines the men of the Left, too. They can't stand up to those crazy, crazy women. They have no real courage to stand up to the extremists either. They know they are muzzled and must do as they're told. Cowardly beta males like musician Bill Madden, a keyboard warrior whose fingers tingle every day when he has the chance to say the worst things he can as long as it's aimed at women on the Right. It kind of helps to see what he really looks like, just a fading nobody clinging to his youth.This quote is on his Wikipedia: “… when it comes to inequality, historically, no group of people has been discriminated against more than women. Men have been f*****g up the world for thousands of years. It's time we give more women a chance to lead.”Oh really? I guess you have to say which women, eh Bill? Not all of them. It's possible the Democrats overplayed their hand and have realized the Natalie Harp story is not a win for them. You can see them now reeling it in, trying to say Trump amplified it as a distraction because it makes the Democrats look bad. Oh no, my friends, you did that all on your own. The problem is that where there is chum in the water, there are hungry sharks. The lower the Democrats go, like Jennifer Welch and Hasan Piker, the more the candidates seeking office must feed the hungry beasts. The Party of Crazy, Crazy WomenThey might think the Great Feminization has made society better, but it has left them like a women's prison, or stranded on a desert island with the only men in sight being the weak, flaccid, pandering, ineffectual men of the Left. And that has left the women, shall we say, a bit unhinged.Can you blame the women stuck on that island for losing their minds when they saw Zohran Mamdani's TikToks? Most of what he does now seems directly related to how much women on TikTok will swoon over him. Parents' night out? Free helmets? Doxing millionaires? Free groceries? Rent freeze!Abdul El-Sayed is following the same sales pitch of aiming his TikTok videos at the young ladies, flexing his muscles and waving his backside at the camera in a way no white man could ever get away with, certainly not while positioning themselves as a sexy “Daddy” figure. They don't just want sexy back; they also want to be the party of fun and are working on a TikTok rebrand. The problem is that the base of the Democratic Party, mostly white women, are nuttier than a five-pound fruitcake. We found out just how nutty this past week as a movement began to form in support of child murderer Lindsay Clancy. There they were again, those crazy, crazy women showcasing their pathology on TikTok. They weren't shaving their heads this time or wearing blue bracelets. They were elevating Lindsay Clancy as the victim, even after she confessed to strangling the life out of her three kids.These are the kinds of lunatics whose votes Jon Ossoff needs. And that is why he has finally given them exactly what they want.The irony of all of this is Natalie Harp was hurled into the arena for unending mockery, slut-shaming, and fantasies. Doesn't she count as a woman, too? Isn't she worthy of support? A Feeding FrenzyThe media was all too ready to devour the bloody chum Ossoff threw into the water. It's just that, as with everything they do, it's not real. It's fake news. There is no bottom when it comes to how they report on Donald Trump and especially the women who surround him. But some of the lows have been extraordinary, like dragging out Harp's wayward, socialist hippie brother to exploit the tragedy of their falling out after the death of their father. It doesn't get much darker than that. Or more desperate.Here is Larry O'Connor on Townhall:O'Connor again with Mark Halperin and Kevin Walling on Next Up:Scott Jennings had no trouble setting the record straight.Ossoff's sleazy attack on Harp reveals his biggest weakness. He wants it too bad, and he sold himself out. And maybe that makes him ready to be the democratic nominee. Want those big donations? Trash women, trash working-class voters, dehumanize your fellow Americans. Sell women and girls down the river. Pander to the extremists. Smear the character of a young woman like Natalie Harp just to go viral, just to please the unhinged women on the Left who don't even know what a woman is. For his part, Trump flicked Ossoff away like a speck of dust on his suit, calling him Pee Wee Herman. And if we know one thing about Donald Trump, once you get hit with a nickname, it sticks. //Become a paid subscriber or leave a tip.Manage subscription This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.sashastone.com/subscribe

The State Department moved hundreds of employees and family members out of the Middle East earlier this year. As those evacuations approach a key deadline, many families are still waiting to learn where they'll serve next and how to plan the months ahead. John Dinkelman, president of the American Foreign Service Association, joins me now to discuss the impacts of this on the workforce and the State Department.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are Stuart Rice Honorary Chair at the University of Massachusetts Amherst's College of Information and Computer Sciences (CICS) and Faculty Associate at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University Fran Berman, a senior fellow and faculty member in the Center for the Advancement of Public Action at Bennington College. She is the President of Beyond Plastics and former EPA Regional Administrator. Judith is co-author of the book 'The Problem with Plastic' Judith Enck, a full professor in the History Department at John Jay College of Criminal Justice (CUNY) Allison Kavey, and Diplomat in Residence at Bard College. She retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2025 after over 30 years in public service. Her last post was ambassador to the SE Asian country, Timor-Leste Donna Welton.

Amidst heightened rhetoric and increasing polarization in the United States, American Pogroms: How Forgotten Massacres Shape America (Oxford University Press, 2026) chronicles the causes and consequences of two centuries of mob violence in American history, highlighting exactly what's at stake when we allow leaders to legitimate violence and the mob to rule. For much of American history, members of the majority population of the United States indiscriminately attacked and terrorized minority communities. In some parts of the country, mob violence seemed a near-constant part of the region's history, while in others it was a brief, horrific spasm that perpetrators--but not victims--quickly forgot. In American Pogroms, terrorism expert Daniel Byman argues that there is a word for this type of communal violence: pogrom. Although pogroms are historically associated with the orchestrated campaigns of anti-Jewish violence in Tsarist Russia, Byman asserts that pogroms have been an all-too-frequent feature of American history. Tracing two centuries of communal violence, Byman recounts cases of attacks against American religious minorities such as Catholics and Mormons, the killing of thousands of ethnic Mexicans in Texas, the murder and wholesale expulsion of Chinese workers from the American West, and the repeated attacks on the Black community that killed thousands and enabled decades of brutal discrimination. In all these cases, pogroms helped cement a system of injustice that left religious, ethnic, and racial minorities politically and economically marginalized. While the idea of mob violence now strikes most Americans as unthinkable, Byman warns that increased polarization and selective news consumption in recent years has coarsened discourse and legitimized violence, raising the risk that at least some violence will return. A broad-ranging synthesis of how and why majorities have so frequently resorted to community-level violence to restore or cement their power, American Pogroms illustrates the outsized role of violence in U.S. history and how it shapes the country today. Daniel Byman is a Professor in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and the Director of the Warfare, Irregular Threats, and Terrorism Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Caleb Zakarin is CEO and Publisher of the New Books Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Amidst heightened rhetoric and increasing polarization in the United States, American Pogroms: How Forgotten Massacres Shape America (Oxford University Press, 2026) chronicles the causes and consequences of two centuries of mob violence in American history, highlighting exactly what's at stake when we allow leaders to legitimate violence and the mob to rule. For much of American history, members of the majority population of the United States indiscriminately attacked and terrorized minority communities. In some parts of the country, mob violence seemed a near-constant part of the region's history, while in others it was a brief, horrific spasm that perpetrators--but not victims--quickly forgot. In American Pogroms, terrorism expert Daniel Byman argues that there is a word for this type of communal violence: pogrom. Although pogroms are historically associated with the orchestrated campaigns of anti-Jewish violence in Tsarist Russia, Byman asserts that pogroms have been an all-too-frequent feature of American history. Tracing two centuries of communal violence, Byman recounts cases of attacks against American religious minorities such as Catholics and Mormons, the killing of thousands of ethnic Mexicans in Texas, the murder and wholesale expulsion of Chinese workers from the American West, and the repeated attacks on the Black community that killed thousands and enabled decades of brutal discrimination. In all these cases, pogroms helped cement a system of injustice that left religious, ethnic, and racial minorities politically and economically marginalized. While the idea of mob violence now strikes most Americans as unthinkable, Byman warns that increased polarization and selective news consumption in recent years has coarsened discourse and legitimized violence, raising the risk that at least some violence will return. A broad-ranging synthesis of how and why majorities have so frequently resorted to community-level violence to restore or cement their power, American Pogroms illustrates the outsized role of violence in U.S. history and how it shapes the country today. Daniel Byman is a Professor in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and the Director of the Warfare, Irregular Threats, and Terrorism Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Caleb Zakarin is CEO and Publisher of the New Books Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/asian-american-studies

Amidst heightened rhetoric and increasing polarization in the United States, American Pogroms: How Forgotten Massacres Shape America (Oxford University Press, 2026) chronicles the causes and consequences of two centuries of mob violence in American history, highlighting exactly what's at stake when we allow leaders to legitimate violence and the mob to rule. For much of American history, members of the majority population of the United States indiscriminately attacked and terrorized minority communities. In some parts of the country, mob violence seemed a near-constant part of the region's history, while in others it was a brief, horrific spasm that perpetrators--but not victims--quickly forgot. In American Pogroms, terrorism expert Daniel Byman argues that there is a word for this type of communal violence: pogrom. Although pogroms are historically associated with the orchestrated campaigns of anti-Jewish violence in Tsarist Russia, Byman asserts that pogroms have been an all-too-frequent feature of American history. Tracing two centuries of communal violence, Byman recounts cases of attacks against American religious minorities such as Catholics and Mormons, the killing of thousands of ethnic Mexicans in Texas, the murder and wholesale expulsion of Chinese workers from the American West, and the repeated attacks on the Black community that killed thousands and enabled decades of brutal discrimination. In all these cases, pogroms helped cement a system of injustice that left religious, ethnic, and racial minorities politically and economically marginalized. While the idea of mob violence now strikes most Americans as unthinkable, Byman warns that increased polarization and selective news consumption in recent years has coarsened discourse and legitimized violence, raising the risk that at least some violence will return. A broad-ranging synthesis of how and why majorities have so frequently resorted to community-level violence to restore or cement their power, American Pogroms illustrates the outsized role of violence in U.S. history and how it shapes the country today. Daniel Byman is a Professor in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and the Director of the Warfare, Irregular Threats, and Terrorism Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Caleb Zakarin is CEO and Publisher of the New Books Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/genocide-studies

Amidst heightened rhetoric and increasing polarization in the United States, American Pogroms: How Forgotten Massacres Shape America (Oxford University Press, 2026) chronicles the causes and consequences of two centuries of mob violence in American history, highlighting exactly what's at stake when we allow leaders to legitimate violence and the mob to rule. For much of American history, members of the majority population of the United States indiscriminately attacked and terrorized minority communities. In some parts of the country, mob violence seemed a near-constant part of the region's history, while in others it was a brief, horrific spasm that perpetrators--but not victims--quickly forgot. In American Pogroms, terrorism expert Daniel Byman argues that there is a word for this type of communal violence: pogrom. Although pogroms are historically associated with the orchestrated campaigns of anti-Jewish violence in Tsarist Russia, Byman asserts that pogroms have been an all-too-frequent feature of American history. Tracing two centuries of communal violence, Byman recounts cases of attacks against American religious minorities such as Catholics and Mormons, the killing of thousands of ethnic Mexicans in Texas, the murder and wholesale expulsion of Chinese workers from the American West, and the repeated attacks on the Black community that killed thousands and enabled decades of brutal discrimination. In all these cases, pogroms helped cement a system of injustice that left religious, ethnic, and racial minorities politically and economically marginalized. While the idea of mob violence now strikes most Americans as unthinkable, Byman warns that increased polarization and selective news consumption in recent years has coarsened discourse and legitimized violence, raising the risk that at least some violence will return. A broad-ranging synthesis of how and why majorities have so frequently resorted to community-level violence to restore or cement their power, American Pogroms illustrates the outsized role of violence in U.S. history and how it shapes the country today. Daniel Byman is a Professor in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and the Director of the Warfare, Irregular Threats, and Terrorism Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Caleb Zakarin is CEO and Publisher of the New Books Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies

Amidst heightened rhetoric and increasing polarization in the United States, American Pogroms: How Forgotten Massacres Shape America (Oxford University Press, 2026) chronicles the causes and consequences of two centuries of mob violence in American history, highlighting exactly what's at stake when we allow leaders to legitimate violence and the mob to rule. For much of American history, members of the majority population of the United States indiscriminately attacked and terrorized minority communities. In some parts of the country, mob violence seemed a near-constant part of the region's history, while in others it was a brief, horrific spasm that perpetrators--but not victims--quickly forgot. In American Pogroms, terrorism expert Daniel Byman argues that there is a word for this type of communal violence: pogrom. Although pogroms are historically associated with the orchestrated campaigns of anti-Jewish violence in Tsarist Russia, Byman asserts that pogroms have been an all-too-frequent feature of American history. Tracing two centuries of communal violence, Byman recounts cases of attacks against American religious minorities such as Catholics and Mormons, the killing of thousands of ethnic Mexicans in Texas, the murder and wholesale expulsion of Chinese workers from the American West, and the repeated attacks on the Black community that killed thousands and enabled decades of brutal discrimination. In all these cases, pogroms helped cement a system of injustice that left religious, ethnic, and racial minorities politically and economically marginalized. While the idea of mob violence now strikes most Americans as unthinkable, Byman warns that increased polarization and selective news consumption in recent years has coarsened discourse and legitimized violence, raising the risk that at least some violence will return. A broad-ranging synthesis of how and why majorities have so frequently resorted to community-level violence to restore or cement their power, American Pogroms illustrates the outsized role of violence in U.S. history and how it shapes the country today. Daniel Byman is a Professor in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and the Director of the Warfare, Irregular Threats, and Terrorism Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Caleb Zakarin is CEO and Publisher of the New Books Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-west

Amidst heightened rhetoric and increasing polarization in the United States, American Pogroms: How Forgotten Massacres Shape America (Oxford University Press, 2026) chronicles the causes and consequences of two centuries of mob violence in American history, highlighting exactly what's at stake when we allow leaders to legitimate violence and the mob to rule. For much of American history, members of the majority population of the United States indiscriminately attacked and terrorized minority communities. In some parts of the country, mob violence seemed a near-constant part of the region's history, while in others it was a brief, horrific spasm that perpetrators--but not victims--quickly forgot. In American Pogroms, terrorism expert Daniel Byman argues that there is a word for this type of communal violence: pogrom. Although pogroms are historically associated with the orchestrated campaigns of anti-Jewish violence in Tsarist Russia, Byman asserts that pogroms have been an all-too-frequent feature of American history. Tracing two centuries of communal violence, Byman recounts cases of attacks against American religious minorities such as Catholics and Mormons, the killing of thousands of ethnic Mexicans in Texas, the murder and wholesale expulsion of Chinese workers from the American West, and the repeated attacks on the Black community that killed thousands and enabled decades of brutal discrimination. In all these cases, pogroms helped cement a system of injustice that left religious, ethnic, and racial minorities politically and economically marginalized. While the idea of mob violence now strikes most Americans as unthinkable, Byman warns that increased polarization and selective news consumption in recent years has coarsened discourse and legitimized violence, raising the risk that at least some violence will return. A broad-ranging synthesis of how and why majorities have so frequently resorted to community-level violence to restore or cement their power, American Pogroms illustrates the outsized role of violence in U.S. history and how it shapes the country today. Daniel Byman is a Professor in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and the Director of the Warfare, Irregular Threats, and Terrorism Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Caleb Zakarin is CEO and Publisher of the New Books Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-south

Amidst heightened rhetoric and increasing polarization in the United States, American Pogroms: How Forgotten Massacres Shape America (Oxford University Press, 2026) chronicles the causes and consequences of two centuries of mob violence in American history, highlighting exactly what's at stake when we allow leaders to legitimate violence and the mob to rule. For much of American history, members of the majority population of the United States indiscriminately attacked and terrorized minority communities. In some parts of the country, mob violence seemed a near-constant part of the region's history, while in others it was a brief, horrific spasm that perpetrators--but not victims--quickly forgot. In American Pogroms, terrorism expert Daniel Byman argues that there is a word for this type of communal violence: pogrom. Although pogroms are historically associated with the orchestrated campaigns of anti-Jewish violence in Tsarist Russia, Byman asserts that pogroms have been an all-too-frequent feature of American history. Tracing two centuries of communal violence, Byman recounts cases of attacks against American religious minorities such as Catholics and Mormons, the killing of thousands of ethnic Mexicans in Texas, the murder and wholesale expulsion of Chinese workers from the American West, and the repeated attacks on the Black community that killed thousands and enabled decades of brutal discrimination. In all these cases, pogroms helped cement a system of injustice that left religious, ethnic, and racial minorities politically and economically marginalized. While the idea of mob violence now strikes most Americans as unthinkable, Byman warns that increased polarization and selective news consumption in recent years has coarsened discourse and legitimized violence, raising the risk that at least some violence will return. A broad-ranging synthesis of how and why majorities have so frequently resorted to community-level violence to restore or cement their power, American Pogroms illustrates the outsized role of violence in U.S. history and how it shapes the country today. Daniel Byman is a Professor in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and the Director of the Warfare, Irregular Threats, and Terrorism Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Caleb Zakarin is CEO and Publisher of the New Books Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amidst heightened rhetoric and increasing polarization in the United States, American Pogroms: How Forgotten Massacres Shape America (Oxford University Press, 2026) chronicles the causes and consequences of two centuries of mob violence in American history, highlighting exactly what's at stake when we allow leaders to legitimate violence and the mob to rule. For much of American history, members of the majority population of the United States indiscriminately attacked and terrorized minority communities. In some parts of the country, mob violence seemed a near-constant part of the region's history, while in others it was a brief, horrific spasm that perpetrators--but not victims--quickly forgot. In American Pogroms, terrorism expert Daniel Byman argues that there is a word for this type of communal violence: pogrom. Although pogroms are historically associated with the orchestrated campaigns of anti-Jewish violence in Tsarist Russia, Byman asserts that pogroms have been an all-too-frequent feature of American history. Tracing two centuries of communal violence, Byman recounts cases of attacks against American religious minorities such as Catholics and Mormons, the killing of thousands of ethnic Mexicans in Texas, the murder and wholesale expulsion of Chinese workers from the American West, and the repeated attacks on the Black community that killed thousands and enabled decades of brutal discrimination. In all these cases, pogroms helped cement a system of injustice that left religious, ethnic, and racial minorities politically and economically marginalized. While the idea of mob violence now strikes most Americans as unthinkable, Byman warns that increased polarization and selective news consumption in recent years has coarsened discourse and legitimized violence, raising the risk that at least some violence will return. A broad-ranging synthesis of how and why majorities have so frequently resorted to community-level violence to restore or cement their power, American Pogroms illustrates the outsized role of violence in U.S. history and how it shapes the country today. Daniel Byman is a Professor in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and the Director of the Warfare, Irregular Threats, and Terrorism Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Caleb Zakarin is CEO and Publisher of the New Books Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amidst heightened rhetoric and increasing polarization in the United States, American Pogroms: How Forgotten Massacres Shape America (Oxford University Press, 2026) chronicles the causes and consequences of two centuries of mob violence in American history, highlighting exactly what's at stake when we allow leaders to legitimate violence and the mob to rule. For much of American history, members of the majority population of the United States indiscriminately attacked and terrorized minority communities. In some parts of the country, mob violence seemed a near-constant part of the region's history, while in others it was a brief, horrific spasm that perpetrators--but not victims--quickly forgot. In American Pogroms, terrorism expert Daniel Byman argues that there is a word for this type of communal violence: pogrom. Although pogroms are historically associated with the orchestrated campaigns of anti-Jewish violence in Tsarist Russia, Byman asserts that pogroms have been an all-too-frequent feature of American history. Tracing two centuries of communal violence, Byman recounts cases of attacks against American religious minorities such as Catholics and Mormons, the killing of thousands of ethnic Mexicans in Texas, the murder and wholesale expulsion of Chinese workers from the American West, and the repeated attacks on the Black community that killed thousands and enabled decades of brutal discrimination. In all these cases, pogroms helped cement a system of injustice that left religious, ethnic, and racial minorities politically and economically marginalized. While the idea of mob violence now strikes most Americans as unthinkable, Byman warns that increased polarization and selective news consumption in recent years has coarsened discourse and legitimized violence, raising the risk that at least some violence will return. A broad-ranging synthesis of how and why majorities have so frequently resorted to community-level violence to restore or cement their power, American Pogroms illustrates the outsized role of violence in U.S. history and how it shapes the country today. Daniel Byman is a Professor in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and the Director of the Warfare, Irregular Threats, and Terrorism Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Caleb Zakarin is CEO and Publisher of the New Books Network.

Show Notes Clare Scherrer outlines her career journey in three main chapters: 25 years at Goldman Sachs in Investment Banking, a number of years as a public company Chief Financial Officer, and her current role as a director on two public company boards of directors. Clare also shares her life immediately post-graduation, including getting married and completing McKinsey's Business Analyst program in New York City. Love at First Blind Date Clare recounts her initial post Harvard plan to join the Foreign Service and how a blind date led to her getting engaged and pivoting her career path. She describes the decisive nature of her engagement and how it shaped her life and career.   McKinsey, HBS, & the Pivot to Investment Banking Clare reflects on her years at McKinsey, emphasizing the importance of critical thinking and learning from her engagement managers. She also explains how her experience at McKinsey influenced her pivot to investment banking during her time at Harvard Business School. Relationship Building in Investment Banking Clare details her summer internship at Goldman Sachs and how it led to a 25-year career at the firm. She highlights the various roles she held at Goldman Sachs, including managing client relationships, co-leading a global team, and co-chairing the IPO committee.  Clare discusses the skills that contributed to her success, including work ethic, critical thinking, and building trust. She emphasizes the importance of running toward problems and the value of trust in client and colleague relationships. Clare shares her approach to communication, stressing the need for over-communication and the importance of truly understanding how critical business decisions are influenced and taken.   Becoming CFO of Smiths Group Clare recounts how a long time client approached her about the opportunity to become the CFO of Smiths Group, a global engineering company. She initially hesitated but was encouraged by her husband to embrace the opportunity. Clare describes the company's products and services when she was CFO; including energy efficiency, safety, and connectivity solutions. She highlights how much she valued the experience of being both the CFO and a board member, which gave her a deeper understanding of the importance of public company governance. Pursuing a Portfolio of Board Directorships Clare explains her decision to pursue a portfolio of board directorships after her tenure as CFO.  She currently serves on the boards of Legrand, a leading electrical and digital infrastructure company; and Shell, an integrated energy company. Clare also discusses that she sets aside some time to coach next generation finance executives in the US, drawing parallels to her experience developing talent at Goldman Sachs. She emphasizes the importance of developing and retaining talent, even outside of a full-time executive role. Returning to the U.S. Clare describes her typical work week, including the imperative to stay current on relevant financial markets, industry, and company developments. She also shares her current plans to move back to the U.S. after 15 years in London. Clare also reflects on the importance of consciously investing in personal growth and adopting habits that challenge as well as encourage reflection.   Harvard Reflections Clare recalls her most challenging course at Harvard, which was Russian, and how rewarding the class and learning process was, despite it not being directly linked to her career pursuits after Harvard. Clare also shares how energizing she finds her weekly tennis match. She encourages others to find a pursuit outside of work that is energizing and allows you to laugh at yourself and with others. Timestamps: 04:02: First Date and Early Career Decisions 07:03: McKinsey, HBS, & the Pivot to Investment Banking 13:38: Relationship Building in Investment Banking 19:39: Transition to CFO Role 26:06: Board Membership and Coaching 28:45: Personal Growth 36:25: Most Memorable Course and Personal Interests Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clare-scherrer-651396b1/   *AI generated transcript and show notes.    

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are Joseph Palamountain Jr. Chair in Government at Skidmore College Beau Breslin, Associate Professor of Music at Vassar College. He studies music in American politics; sound studies; East Asian art music; and music in the African diaspora Justin Patch, and Diplomat in Residence at Bard College. She retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2025 after over 30 years in public service. Her last post was ambassador to the SE Asian country, Timor-Leste Donna Welton.

On Today's Episode –Before diving into today's interview, hosts Mark Young and Matt Umbarger kick off the show by reacting to the breaking news surrounding Anthony Fauci's congressional testimony. They break down the shocking revelations from his personal diary, his heavy reliance on the Fifth Amendment despite holding a presidential pardon, and how the mainstream narrative has finally collapsed into what Blunt Force Truth called out years ago regarding the Wuhan lab and gain-of-function funding.Then, Mark welcomes an extraordinary guest who matches his own out-of-control, thrill-seeking spirit. Enter John Graham—a man who spent the first half of his life living by the bumper sticker "lucky to be alive." From hitchhiking into an active colonial war in Algeria at age 19 to completing the treacherous first direct descent of Denali's north wall, John thrived on adrenaline. As a U.S. Foreign Service officer, he purposefully sought out the world's most dangerous hotspots, eventually finding himself trapped in Hue during the 1972 North Vietnamese Easter Offensive, where he had to help establish martial law.But a sudden, shattering realization in the middle of a warzone changed his trajectory forever. John sits down with Mark to share how he transitioned from a self-described "moral monster" chasing personal thrills to a global peacemaker who helped end apartheid in South Africa. Together, Mark and John tackle the complex crisis of modern masculinity, the critical need for a balance between strength and compassion, and how John's global initiative, the Giraffe Heroes Project, is inspiring people around the world to stick their necks out for the common good. Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode· The Giraffe Heroes Project: Explore over 2,000 stories of real-life heroes at giraffe.org· John Graham's Official Website: Learn more about his seminars and work at johngraham.org· John's Book: Quest: Risk, Adventure, and the Search for Meaning (Available on Amazon and via Audiobook)· Follow "Badass Granddad": Look up "Badass Granddad" on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube to watch John's viral 3-minute adventure stories and weekly calls to action.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are Lecturer of Cognitive Sciences at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and former Fulbright US Scholar to Egypt Jackie Berry, Dean of the College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity at the University at Albany Robert Griffin, Former Times Union Associate Editor Mike Spain, and Diplomat in Residence at Bard College. She retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2025 after over 30 years in public service. Her last post was ambassador to the SE Asian country, Timor-Leste Donna Welton.

On July 20th we marked 52 years since phase one of Turkey's invasion of Cyprus. For 52 years, Turkey has never been held accountable for this illegal invasion and occupation, for the division it imposed on the island, or for the lives and communities it shattered.  Today, despite international condemnation, UN resolutions, and calls for negotiations, the Cyprus issue remains one of the world's longest-running unresolved challenges. While progress toward a solution has been elusive over the last five decades, reports indicate there is a new effort afoot to revive peace talks as UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres prepares to visit Cyprus in the coming days. Turkey's invasion of Cyprus was also part of the discussion at the European Parliament this month, as the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the impact of Turkey's 1974 invasion on Cypriot women and girls. This is seen as an important step acknowledging Cypriot women's experiences of violence during the invasion, including sexual violence, that can hopefully open the door for survivors to speak and be heard openly and safely. The Cyprus invasion isn't just an open wound for the island, but for the Greek diaspora. 1974 was a major turning point, especially in the US, as Greek-Americans mobilized across the country, becoming politically active and advocating in Washington, DC for justice.  Andrew Novo, Harris Georgiades, Natalie Alkiviadou, and Alexander Kitroeff join Thanos Davelis as we look into both phases of Turkey's invasion of Cyprus in 1974, whether we could be seeing a new push from the UN for talks, the importance of the European Parliament's resolution on the impact of Turkey's invasion on Cypriot women, and how the Cyprus invasion mobilized the Greek American community. A little more info on our guests: Andrew Novo is a professor of strategic studies at the National Defense University and adjunct professor at Georgetown University's Walsh School of Foreign Service and Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies. Harris Georgiades is Chairman of the Foreign and European Affairs Committee of Cyprus' Parliament, Chairman of the “Clerides Institute”, and a former Minister of Finance. Dr. Natalie Alkiviadou is a Senior Research Fellow at the Future of Free Speech project at Vanderbilt University. Alexander Kotroeff is a professor of history with an expertise in Greece and the diaspora. You can support The Greek Current by joining HALC as a member here.

Today's guest is Ambassador Frederic C. Hof, Bard College's Diplomat-in-Residence, who served as ambassador and special adviser for transition in Syria under President Obama, and as special coordinator for regional affairs in the US Department of State's Office of the Special Envoy for Middle East Peace. A US Army Vietnam veteran, Ambassador Hof served two tours of duty in the US Department of State. In this episode, Alon and Ambassador Hof discuss his recent Track II diplomacy work in Lebanon regarding the prospects of a future Israeli-Lebanese agreement and the elements of the consensus document developed from this work, and the impact of the war on Iran on this delicate diplomacy work. Full bio Frederic C. Hof, Bard College's Diplomat-in-Residence, has had a distinguished career with the U.S. Army, Department of State, and the international consulting firm AALC, specializing in the Mideast region. He served as ambassador and special adviser for transition in Syria under President Obama and as special coordinator for regional affairs in the U.S. Department of State's Office of the Special Envoy for Middle East Peace, where he conducted a backchannel peace mediation between Israel and Syria. A Vietnam veteran and graduate of the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and Naval Postgraduate School, Hof also served as president and CEO of AALC (formerly Armitage Associates LC); as a U.S. Army Middle East Foreign Area Officer; as the U.S. Army attaché in Beirut; and as an officer in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. In 2001, he directed the Jerusalem field operations of the Sharm el-Sheikh Fact-Finding Committee, headed by former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell, and was lead drafter of the committee's report. As an Army officer, he helped draft the Long Commission report investigating the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Marine headquarters at the Beirut airport. Both reports drew international praise for their fairness and integrity. Hof has written extensively on Lebanon, Syria, and Arab-Israeli issues. Publications include Galilee Divided: The Israel-Lebanon Frontier, 1916–1984 (1985); Line of Battle, Border of Peace? The Line of June 4, 1967 (1999); Beyond the Boundary: Lebanon, Israel, and the Challenge of Change (2000); Reaching for the Heights: The Inside Story of a Secret Attempt to Reach a Syrian-Israeli Peace (2022); opinion pieces in Foreign Policy and The Atlantic; and numerous articles on Jordan Valley water issues. Awards and honors include the Purple Heart, Department of State Superior Honor Award, Secretary of Defense Meritorious Civilian Service Medal, and the Defense Superior Service Medal. He has been teaching at Bard since 2018.

China's growing use of economic power for strategic and political purposes has become one of the defining features of international competition. Beijing is no longer simply using trade and investment to promote economic growth—it is increasingly deploying a sophisticated toolkit of laws, regulations, export controls, market access, infrastructure investment, and technological standards to advance its broader geopolitical objectives.   In today's episode, we'll explore how China's approach to economic statecraft has evolved, how effective it has been, its impact on Chinese foreign policy – especially relations with the United States -- and what governments around the world can do in response. I'm delighted to be joined by Dr. Evan Medeiros, one of the leading experts on Chinese foreign policy, including its use of economic statecraft, to help us unpack these important issues.   Dr. Medeiros is the Penner Family Chair in Asia Studies in the School of Foreign Service and the Cling Family Distinguished Fellow in US-China Studies at Georgetown University. He served seven years in President Obama's NSC first as director for China, Taiwan and Mongolia, and then as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Asia. Timestamps: [00:00] Introduction [01:49] What is Chinese Economic Statecraft? [04:52] How Chinese Leaders Think About Economic Power and Political Influence [06:43] The Evolution of China's Economic Statecraft Toolkit [09:49] Chinese Market Accessibility as Statecraft [14:07] Institutionalizing Economic Statecraft [17:37] How Legal Bodies are Implemented [23:32] Implications for the US-China Relationship [25:36] Strengthening US Economic Statecraft

Democrats are seeking to offer support to laid-off Foreign Service officers looking to get their jobs back. A new bill called the Foreign Service Test-Free Reentry Act would let former State Department officers rejoin service without needing to retake Foreign Service entry exams. Lawmakers who introduced the bill say there's no need for them to prove their expertise again. It comes as former employees, federal unions and lawmakers continue to call for the reinstatement of more than 1,300 laid-off department workers.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are public policy and communications expert - Theresa Bourgeois, Dean of the College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity at the University at Albany Bob Griffin, Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute Robert Pondiscio, and Diplomat in Residence at Bard College. She retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2025 after over 30 years in public service. Her last post was ambassador to the SE Asian country, Timor-Leste Donna Welton.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are Fran Berman, the Stuart Rice Honorary Chair at the University of Massachusetts Amherst's College of Information and Computer Sciences and faculty associate at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University; Theresa Bourgeois, a public policy and communications expert; and Donna Welton, a diplomat in residence at Bard College who retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2025 after over 30 years in public service. Her last post was as ambassador to the Southeast Asian country, Timor-Leste.

Jenn talked to Carlisle Richardson about his fascinating career in the Foreign Service of St. Kitts and Nevis, including as Ambassador to the United Nations, and his debut crime thriller THE SOFT UNDERBELLY, which follows investigators in a fictional Caribbean state as they untangle a web of murder, corruption, and weapons trafficking.

https://alexsnider.onlinepresskit247.com/ Alex Snider, a writer, facilitator, meditation teacher and former government strategist whose upcoming book, “Sometimes You Should Be Late” (July 2026), explores what happens when urgency becomes the unconscious organizing force of modern life. After spending more than 15 years in public service in roles connected to the State Department, Senate, World Bank, and White House initiatives, Alex began questioning the assumptions modern culture carries about speed, productivity, punctuality, urgency, and worth. Meditation practice, teaching, and recovery from a serious bike accident deepened those questions even further. His work explores what happens when speed becomes more than a scheduling issue and starts shaping how people relate, listen, lead, apologize, rush, react, and move through everyday life. What makes Alex's perspective particularly compelling is that he is not arguing against ambition, effectiveness, or responsibility. Instead, he explores a more human question: How do people remain emotionally present, relationally connected, and fully human inside systems increasingly organized around speed, optimization, and urgency? Alex explores themes including urgency culture, emotional punctuality, authentic lateness, attention, relationships, leadership, kindness, and what he calls “time alchemy” — transforming moments usually dominated by stress and reactivity into moments of awareness, humanity, and choice. About the Author: Alex Snider is a writer, facilitator and former government strategist who bridges the worlds of mission-driven leadership and mindfulness. After spending more than 15 years inside high-pressure federal environments, along with a life-altering bike accident that reshaped his perspective on urgency and attention, he began questioning whether constant speed, pressure, and responsiveness were actually helping people live, lead, and relate more meaningfully. A meditation teacher and co-founder of Mindful Fed, Alex explores what modern busyness gives us (and what it quietly takes away) in his book “Sometimes You Should Be Late” (Practical Inspiration Publishing, July 7, 2026). He holds degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service. Learn more at SlowMindfulness.com. SOCIAL MEDIA: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-snider-9b4a233/ https://www.instagram.com/slowmindfulness/ After spending more than 15 years in public service in roles connected to the State Department, Senate, World Bank, and White House initiatives, Alex began questioning the assumptions modern culture carries about speed, productivity, punctuality, urgency, and worth. Meditation practice, teaching, and recovery from a serious bike accident deepened those questions even further. His work explores what happens when speed becomes more than a scheduling issue and starts shaping how people relate, listen, lead, apologize, rush, reac

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are Joseph Palamountain Jr. Chair in Government at Skidmore College Beau Breslin, a former U.S. Army officer and State Department Diplomat who taught at Bard College for six years and is now a Senior Fellow at Bard's Center for Civic Engagement Ambassador Fred Hof, Diplomat in Residence at Bard College. She retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2025 after over 30 years in public service. Her last post was ambassador to the SE Asian country, Timor-Leste Donna Welton, and Wall Street Investment Banker Mark Wittman.

We welcome Naval officer, diplomat, strategist and author Tom Duffy for a conversation about a largely forgotten Cold War–era naval campaign: Operation Earnest Will. During the final years of the Iran–Iraq War, the Persian Gulf became the scene of a dangerous maritime struggle known as the “Tanker War.” Iran and Iraq attacked oil tankers to cripple each other's economies and pressure international shipping. In response, the United States launched Operation Earnest Will—the largest naval convoy operation since World War II—escorting Kuwaiti oil tankers through hostile waters and confronting Iranian threats at sea. The mission began when Kuwaiti tankers were re-flagged under the U.S. flag so they could legally sail under American naval protection. U.S. warships then escorted the tankers through the Gulf while surveillance aircraft, helicopters, and special operations forces hunted for mines and small-boat attackers. The danger became clear immediately. On the very first escort mission, the reflagged tanker Bridgeton struck an Iranian mine in the Gulf—an early reminder that even a powerful navy could not fully control the narrow and volatile waters of the Persian Gulf. Over the next fourteen months, dozens of U.S. warships rotated through the region while Navy SEALs, special operations aviators, and patrol boat crews conducted night operations to stop Iranian mining and harassment of shipping. In his book Tanker War in the Gulf, Duffy draws on his experience as a U.S. Navy officer who participated in the operation and later as a Foreign Service officer stationed across the Middle East. He reconstructs the tense months when American warships escorted vulnerable tankers through minefields, missile threats, and political uncertainty—while trying to prevent a regional war from spiraling into a superpower confrontation. The story includes dramatic moments such as the USS Stark incident, the shadow presence of Soviet naval forces monitoring U.S. movements, and retaliatory clashes between U.S. and Iranian forces that nearly escalated into a wider war. Though often overlooked in American military history, Operation Earnest Will marked the first sustained U.S. military confrontation with Iran—a precursor to tensions that continue today. The operation also offers timely lessons about limited warfare, maritime security, and the strategic importance of protecting global energy routes—issues that echo in today's crises in the Red Sea and across the wider Middle East. Duffy will also reflect on his unusual career path—from naval officer to U.S. diplomat—including postings in Bogotá during the Pablo Escobar era, Saudi Arabia during the early al-Qaeda bombings, and Baghdad during the turbulent early years of the Iraq War. His stories offer a rare view of how military operations, diplomacy, and global politics intersect in real time. Join us for a fascinating discussion about a little-known naval campaign that still shapes how the United States uses sea power today—and hear firsthand how history, strategy, and lived experience come together in one remarkable career.

What do we inherit from the people we lose too soon? Author Hilary Plattner joins the show to discuss her memoir The Momma Puzzle, a poignant story of grief, discovery, and family history. After her mother's death by suicide, Hilary spent decades carrying unanswered questions. Eventually, she began piecing together her mother's life through personal artifacts, family interviews, and historical research—including her mother's experiences working for the Foreign Service in Saigon during the 1950s. We discuss memory, loss, mental health, family secrets, intergenerational healing, and the ways storytelling can help us understand both those we've lost and ourselves.

The latest episode of the Center for Immigration Studies' Parsing Immigration Policy podcast features a wide-ranging conversation with Frank Morris Sr., who recently retired from the Center's Board of Directors after 38 years of service. Morris – a former Foreign Service officer, Executive Director of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, and Dean of Graduate Studies […]

Ralph welcomes political consultant and pollster, Celinda Lake, to outline a ten-point Progressive Contract for America that she and Ralph believe – if adopted by Democratic candidates— will ensure they landslide the Republicans in the midterms. Then, Ben Cohen stops by to fill us in on his “Free Ben & Jerry!” campaign to take back the brand from the conglomerate that no longer retains the social justice values of their original company. Plus, Marine Corp veteran, Matthew Hoh, tells us about the provocative speech he made on Veterans Day entitled “Armistice Day and the Empire.”Celinda Lake is a political strategist and president of Lake Research Partners. She and her firm are known for cutting-edge research on issues including the economy, health care, the environment and education, and have worked for a number of institutions including the Democratic National Committee, the Democratic Governor's Association, AFL-CIO, SEIU, CWA, Sierra Club, NARAL, Human Rights Campaign, Planned Parenthood, VoteVets Action Fund, and the Kaiser Family Foundation. Her international work has included work in Liberia, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus Ukraine, South Africa, and Central America.I think [a Compact for America] is a really, really, really important idea, and it's absolutely essential to winning…And it should include concrete economic proposals. And it is noticeable that the two people who won governorships in 2025—Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill—both had contracts with their voters.Celinda LakeDemocrats need to lay out ten concrete proposals and run on them. We have the critique of what's going on. We understand what's happening in real people's lives. The third leg of the stool is offering our alternative—and a concrete alternative that people can pass on to their friends and family, that people can hold us accountable for. And the last of the ten proposals in the contract needs to be something about campaign finance reform. We have to get corporate money out of politics, or our system will continue to be rigged against us and rotting from the middle.Celinda LakeBen Cohen is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and longtime anti-war activist. He is a co-founder of the ice cream company Ben & Jerry's and a prominent supporter of progressive causes. He is co-founder of Up In Arms, a public education and advocacy campaign pushing for a common-sense approach to military budgeting.What's happened is that the company recently got owned by the Magnum Corporation, and the Magnum Corporation has disbanded that independent board of directors. I mean, it's kind of a crazy, stupid move because it's under that independent board (which has legal authority over the social mission and the quality of the product and the use of the trademark) it's under that independent board that the company has grown and done so well. But they've gotten rid of the independent board.Ben CohenWhen Ben & Jerry's was in the midst of trying to fend off this acquisition, there were some new laws that were passed in Vermont that allowed a consideration of the benefit of the community with regard to a potential sale. And after the sale happened, B Corporation started. And I've talked with the founder of B Corp, and he was saying that one of the inspirations for starting B Corporations was what happened to Ben & Jerry's. So B Corporations are a different legal structure for corporations which requires them to take into account the social benefit to the community and legally makes it easier to resist these efforts to have the company taken over.Ben CohenMatthew Hoh is a disabled Marine Corps veteran of the Iraq War and former Afghan War State Department Officer. In 2009, after being appointed to the Foreign Service, Hoh resigned his post in Afghanistan over the Obama administration's escalation of the Afghan War. He is now an analyst and commentator on foreign and military policy issues as a senior fellow with the Eisenhower Media Network. He serves on the advisory boards of many peace organizations, including Veterans for Peace and World Beyond War, and is an associate member of Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity.The United States recognized Armistice Day as a holiday until after the Second World War. And then in the height of the Cold War in the early 1950s, this idea of a holiday dedicated to peace, a holiday dedicated to the abrogation of warfare, a holiday that exposed just how false the motives for war are—oh that was incredibly troublesome. That was very problematic for the American empire (again, at the height of the Cold War). So there was this campaign to rename Armistice Day to Veterans Day. And this way, it became not a remembrance of the horrors of war, of what war entailed, of who profited from war. But rather a celebration of American veterans, that they have won freedoms, they have protected us from overseas enemies—and utilizing veterans, then, as a tool to crush dissent, to silence opposition.Matthew HohClick here to sign up to get a copy of Matthew Hoh's "Armistice Day and the Empire”News 6/19/26* Our top stories this week are about major local progressive victories. Here in Washington, DC Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George – endorsed by a broad coalition of groups including the Metro DC DSA, the AFL-CIO, the Sierra Club and many more – has triumphed in the Mayoral primary. Lewis George trounced her centrist opponent, Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, who was backed both by major local corporate interests, such as the realtor lobby and even the Washington Parking Association, but also Democratic Party power brokers, including two former DNC Chairs. Lewis George, hailed as DC's answer to Zohran Mamdani, won over 50% of the vote in the first round, meaning that while this is DC's first mayoral election under ranked-choice voting, this race will not trigger this mechanism. McDuffie, for his part, won around 36% of the vote, coming ahead of Lewis George only in Ward 3, the wealthiest in the District. While votes remain to be counted, McDuffie has conceded.* Another DSA-backed candidate is poised to win a seat on the DC council. In Ward 1, Aparna Raj appears to have come up just short of 50% but while this means the race will go to a second round of ranked-choice reallocation, given that Raj is more than 25 points ahead of her nearest opponent, her victory is all but guaranteed. This is based upon data from the DC Board of Elections. Raj's impending victory, paired with that of Janeese Lewis George and others like Oye Owolewa demonstrates that the DC DSA is an electoral force to be reckoned with.* In more progressive electoral news, Semafor reports Bernie Sanders has endorsed former Congresswoman Cori Bush in her “comeback” bid for her old seat. Bush, a nurse and Black Lives Matter activist, was a member of the “Squad” in the House before she was defeated by a primary challenge from the right, backed in large part by AIPAC money. With the Republican redistricting in her home state of Missouri, this seat is now the sole remaining safe Democratic seat in the Show-Me State. In a statement, Bush said she was “honored to be endorsed” by Sanders, whom she called a “true leader in our movement to guarantee healthcare, housing, and childcare for all.”* Another much-publicized Bernie endorsement was announced this week: that of Tennessee state Rep. Justin J. Pearson. Pearson was originally running as a primary challenger against longtime incumbent Congressman Steve Cohen in Tennessee's 9th congressional district, but since the state Republicans redrew the districts Cohen has decided to retire, leaving the Democratic nomination to Pearson for the taking. While this district has been drawn in such a way to make it difficult for a Democrat to win, Pearson argues that “You've got a number of disaffected Republican voters, you've got a number of distraught MAGA voters, and you've got fired-up Democrats, which is a perfect recipe for success for us…Because our tent is big enough for everybody who is feeling that this status quo was rigged and broken against working-class folk, and want to see a future that is more just,” per the Intercept.* Elsewhere in the South, the race in Florida's 20th congressional district is descending into chaos. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the powerful centrist Democratic congresswoman who was drawn out of her traditional seat by the recent Republican-led redistricting is now officially running in this district, a move that “disappointed” Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Nikki Fried, according to the Miami Herald. Fried further stated that Wasserman Schultz “[refused] to engage in meaningful dialogue about her decision.” Elijah Manley, the progressive candidate in this race, had harsher words for DWS. In a quote reported by Florida Politics, Manley stated “I'm not surprised that Debbie Wasserman Schultz is carpetbagging to FL-20, a black opportunity district, abandoning her own district and constituents…She is no different than the Republicans that are eviscerating black representation across the South. She is everything that's wrong with the broken unpopular Democratic establishment…I look forward to retiring her from public office permanently.”* Facing down the barrel of this decision, several of the Black candidates running in the 20th convened to discuss a plan to consolidate in order to ensure the district would continue to be represented by a Black member of Congress, as it has been for the past 34 years. However, CBS reports that plan has “fallen apart” as the filing deadline passed with none of the major Black candidates bowing out. This report includes statements from Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, who, the piece notes, resigned from this very seat in disgrace earlier this year amid a congressional ethics investigation, saying she is “excited to campaign in the district I have represented for the last 5 years.” Dale Holness, the former Mayor of Broward County, said, “It has to be about policies that produce prosperity for the people.” Elijah Manley, said “I think it's going to come down to who works the hardest, and I think I'm going to work the hardest.” To this end, Manley has recently racked up major progressive endorsements in Florida, including Armando Grundy-Gomes, President of the Democratic Black Caucus of Florida, the Democratic Progressive Caucus of Florida, through President Matthew Grocholske, and Black Voters Matter lead Florida organizer Jamil Davis. According to the most recent polling, Manley lags behind Wasserman Schultz 21% to 39% in initial ballot testing, but blitzes into the lead 36% to 27% after voters receive candidate biographical information, per Florida Politics.* Another major political story from Florida is the comeback bid of former Congressman Alan Grayson. Grayson, who won a House seat in 2008, lost it in the Tea Party wave of 2010, won another seat, ran unsuccessfully for Senate, and then sought a comeback in 2018 is running in Florida's 7th congressional district, AOL reports. Grayson, known during his time in Congress for his “combative style and frequent clashes with Republicans,” is seeking to unseat scandal-plagued incumbent Republican Congressman Cory Mills. As this piece notes, Mills has “faced allegations ranging from sextortion claims made by a former girlfriend to accusations that he embellished aspects of his military record,” as well as what appears to be clear instances of corruption, such as driving government contracts to entities he owned. However, before these two have any chance of facing off against one another, both will have to get through his own party's primary.* Looking to Latin America, the outgoing President of Colombia Gustavo Petro, has published a fascinating op-ed in the Washington Post. In this piece, President Petro emphasizes how his government – considered one of the most opposed to American intervention in the region – has cooperated with the United States on shared objectives including stopping the “deadly flow of drug trafficking and transnational criminal violence.” Throughout the op-ed, Petro goes to great lengths to talk up Trump and how they have collaborated on mutual goals, even ending the piece by writing that “with continued U.S.-Colombia partnership, we can truly make the Americas great again.” This apparent about face from Petro, culminating in an obsequious appeal to Trump's favor, has led many to speculate about Petro's motivations here, including fear for his own safety, possible persecution within the American legal system or intervention in Colombia if his designated successor Ivan Cepeda ultimately wins the Colombian runoff presidential election this month. Whether or not this stratagem will work remains to be seen, but with Trump, flattery can get you everywhere.* In neighboring Peru, votes continue to be counted in the razor's edge race between Keiko Fujimori and Roberto Sánchez. The votes for the election, held on June 7th, are almost completely counted now – the tally stands at 99.38% – and at the moment Fujimori leads by around 39,000 votes. However, around 140,000 votes have been formally challenged, with 60% of those coming from Fujimori strongholds like Lima as well as Peruvians abroad. This from Reuters. Peru's political system has been wracked by instability, with the country going through nine presidents in the last ten years. Another painstakingly close election is unlikely to restore stability no matter who comes out on top.* Finally, we turn to the Middle East, where it seems the numerous parties involved in the latest round of peace talks may have finally reached a deal. According to Al Jazeera, in addition to the US-Iran agreement, rooted in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which includes financial concessions to the Islamic Republic, Israel and Hezbollah are pursuing a ceasefire in Lebanon. However, Israel's notoriously loose interpretation of ceasefire agreements jeopardizes both this deal and MOU. Journalist and expert Rania Khalek states simply that “From Iran's perspective, continued Israeli strikes would be a violation of that understanding.” Vice President JD Vance, who has been intimately involved in these negotiations, expressed a sharp warning to Israel not to jeopardize the deal and risk alienating Trump, their “only ally” left. Trump for his part is already hedging, saying “If it works out, I'm going to take the credit…If it doesn't work out, I'm blaming JD,” per CNN. A report in the Hill indicates that Republican Senators would largely oppose the deal if it were submitted for their approval, but given the increasing concentration of foreign policy powers in the executive branch, it is unlikely the Senate will even be consulted.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are Joseph Palamountain Jr. Chair in Government at Skidmore College Beau Breslin, a writer and analyst. He recently retired from the presidency of Siena College and was a former NY Congressman. His new book is 'The Spirit of Philadelphia' Chris Gibson, Political Consultant & Lobbyist Libby Post, and Diplomat in Residence at Bard College. She retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2025 after over 30 years in public service. Her last post was ambassador to the SE Asian country, Timor-Leste Donna Welton.

The latest episode of the Center for Immigration Studies' Parsing Immigration Policy podcast features a wide-ranging conversation with Frank Morris Sr., who recently retired from the Center's Board of Directors after 38 years of service.Morris – a former Foreign Service officer, Executive Director of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, and Dean of Graduate Studies at Morgan State University – joined CIS Executive Director Mark Krikorian to discuss how immigration policy has evolved over the decades and why its impact on American workers, particularly African Americans, first drew him to the Center.Morris was invited to join the CIS board after publishing research examining immigration's effects on black workers, an issue he believes remains relevant today.Among the topics discussed:Why tight labor markets have historically provided the greatest economic opportunities for African Americans.How immigration policy affects wages, employment, and labor market competition.The changing relationship between the Democratic Party and working-class voters.Why concerns about immigration's impact on black workers have largely disappeared from mainstream political debate.The divide between political leadership and grassroots opinion on immigration.The role of institutions such as churches, civil rights organizations, fraternities, and historically black colleges in advancing economic opportunity.Why Morris believes understanding immigration requires a deeper appreciation of American history, particularly labor markets, immigration, and economic opportunity.Reflecting on nearly four decades with CIS, Morris discusses the personal and professional costs of taking unpopular positions, the future of the immigration debate, and why he believes policymakers must pay closer attention to the interests of American workers.In his closing commentary, Krikorian drew attention to the recent federal indictment of the Southern Poverty Law Center, a group which libeled CIS as a “hate group” in an attempt to police the immigration debate, drawing particular attention to New York Post reporting on Heidi Beirich, who was responsible for the “hate group” designation.HostMark Krikorian is the Executive Director of the Center for Immigration Studies.GuestFrank Morris, Sr. is an Emeritus Board Member of the Center for Immigration StudiesLinksA 2013 interview with Frank MorrisSPLC boss funneled $1.2 million to lover in neo-Nazi group — pair even had joint bank accountHow labeling my organization a hate group shuts down public debateIntro MontageVoices in the opening montage:Sen. Barack Obama at a 2005 press conference.Sen. John McCain in a 2010 election ad.President Lyndon Johnson, upon signing the 1965 Immigration Act.Booker T. Washington, reading in 1908 from his 1895 Atlanta Exposition speech.Laraine Newman as a "Conehead" on SNL in 1977.Hillary Clinton in a 2003 radio interview.Cesar Chavez in a 1974 interview.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaking to reporters in 2019.Prof. George Borjas in a 2016 C-SPAN appearance.Sen. Jeff Sessions in 2008 comments on the Senate floor.Candidate Trump in 2015 campaign speech.Charlton Heston in "Planet of the Apes".

What does it look like to open a door that changes everything?In this episode of Undercurrents, we trace the remarkable story of how Canada became a world leader in refugee welcome — and why that legacy matters more now than ever.Host Ken Ogasawara sits down with Mike Molloy, retired Foreign Service officer and one of the architects of the world's first private refugee sponsorship program, to hear how a small clause buried in a 1976 immigration act became a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of people fleeing the Indo-China wars. And how MCC became a foundational partner in making it all work.We also hear from Kaylee Perez, MCC's Global Migration and Resettlement Strategic Initiatives Lead, who brings both professional expertise and deeply personal roots to this work. Her insight: the antidote to fear is proximity.Together, their stories remind us that welcoming the stranger isn't a radical idea, it's foundational to our faith expression.In this episode:Why Bill Janzen's "drop the rope" approach to government negotiation built something extraordinaryWhat Hearts of Freedom — 170+ interviews with former refugees — reveals about gratitude, belonging, and Canadian identityWhy 66% of Canadians still support refugee welcome, even if you'd never know it from the comments sectionHow the We're Better Together campaign is equipping everyday people to shift the conversation in their own communitiesThe data is clear. Refugees strengthen Canada's workforce, arrive ready to contribute, see their incomes grow, and become citizens at remarkable rates. But as Kaylee reminds us — this was never just about economics. It's about who we want to be.Ready to act?Learn about refugee sponsorship at mcc.orgJoin the We're Better Together campaign at the Canadian Council for Refugees: https://mcc.org/better-togetherExplore the Hearts of Freedom project: heartsoffreedom.orgUse the discussion guide on our website to bring this conversation to your church or community groupSend us a note at podcast@mcco.ca — we'd love to hear from youTranscription is here.Discussion guide here.Undercurrents is sponsored in part by Kindred Credit Union.Credits:Production support from Christen KongLogo artwork by Jesse BergenTheme song by Brian MacMillanExecutive produced by Sandra Reimer.

Trita Parsi has a rational, pro-American view of the Iran war, so naturally Bari Weiss tried to get him deported. (00:00) The Key Points of Trump's Iran Peace Deal (05:36) Israel's Move to Sabotage the Peace Deal (11:00) Why Both the US and Iran Need Peace (38:34) Why Are There Us Bases in the Middle East? (45:18) Parsi's Shocking Conversation With the Former Head of Mossad (1:05:02) Tom Cotton's Plot to Merge CIA With Mossad Trita Parsi is an award-winning foreign policy expert and author specializing in U.S.–Iran relations and Middle East diplomacy. He is the 2010 recipient of the Grawemeyer Award and has written several acclaimed books, including Treacherous Alliance and Losing an Enemy, on U.S. foreign policy and Iran. He co-founded and serves as Executive Vice President of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft and teaches at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service. Find Parsi here: https://tritaparsi.substack.com/ Paid partnerships with: Brooklyn Bedding: Get 30% off sitewide with promo code TUCKER at https://brooklynbedding.com American Financing: NMLS 182334, http://nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.327% for well qualified borrowers. Call 800-685-5696 for details about credit costs and terms. Visit http://AmericanFinancing.net/Tucker. Battalion Metals: The market moves fast. Invest when the time is right. Get alerted at https://battalionmetals.com/alerts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the adventures that nearly killed you were actually preparing you for your life's true purpose? In this fascinating episode, John Graham shares his remarkable journey from adrenaline-fueled adventurer to global peacebuilder. As a teenager, he shipped out on a freighter, hitchhiked through the Algerian Revolution, helped make the first ascent of Denali's dangerous North Wall, and reported from war zones around the world. His quest for excitement eventually led him to serve as a U.S. Foreign Service officer in Libya, Vietnam, and at the United Nations. But it was during the Vietnam War that John experienced a profound awakening that forced him to confront the emptiness behind a life spent chasing danger. That turning point set him on a new path—one focused on service, justice, and helping others create meaningful change. John discusses the lessons he learned from surviving life-threatening situations, the search for purpose, his role in international peace efforts, and the inspiration behind the Giraffe Heroes Project, which honors people who courageously "stick their necks out" to make the world a better place. This powerful conversation explores courage, transformation, purpose, and the enduring impact of choosing service over self-interest. Full post: https://www.yourradicaltruth.com/053-John-Graham 

Taiwan Representative to Denmark Robin J.C. Cheng's career in Taiwan's Foreign Service spans several stints across the United States, Tuvalu, and now Denmark. The de-facto ambassador traces his path from law student to seasoned diplomat, and opens up about what he hopes to achieve for Taiwan in the northern European country. Hosted by ICRT's Hope Ngo. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

In this episode of Occupied Thoughts, FMEP Fellow Peter Beinart speaks with Professor Dana El Kurd (University of Richmond) and Professor Nader Hashemi (Georgetown University) about how the current war increases Iran's “soft power," why Saudi Arabia and the UAE are reacting differently to Iran and Israel, and why American hegemony remains in the Middle East.  ​​Dana El Kurd is an associate professor at the University of Richmond in the Department of Political Science, and a senior nonresident fellow at the Arab Center Washington. Nader Hashemi is the Director of the Alwaleed Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, an Associate Professor of Middle East and Islamic Politics at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, and a non-resident fellow at Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN). Peter Beinart is a Non-Resident Fellow at the Foundation for Middle East Peace. He is also a Professor of Journalism and Political Science at the City University of New York, a Contributing opinion writer at the New York Times, an Editor-at-Large at Jewish Currents, and an MSNOW Political Commentator. His newest book (published 2025) is Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza: A Reckoning. He publishes regularly on https://peterbeinart.substack.com/. Original music by Jalal Yaquoub.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are Professor of History and International Relations at Vassar College. He is a specialist on the history of US foreign policy Robert Brigham, Former Vice President for Editorial Development at the New York Press Association and Former Longtime Editor of 'The Daily Gazette' Judy Patrick, and Diplomat in Residence at Bard College. She retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2025 after over 30 years in public service. Her last post was ambassador to the SE Asian country, Timor-Leste Donna Welton.

In this episode of the ChinaPower Podcast, Dr. Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Dr. Evan Medeiros join us to unpack President Putin's visit to Beijing. They discuss what the timing reveals about China's diplomatic strategy after the Trump–Xi meeting, and how both sides used optics to serve their own interests. The conversation explores Russia's growing dependence on China, the limits of the partnership including the stalled Power of Siberia II pipeline, and what to watch for in China-Russia security cooperation. Andrea Kendall-Taylor is a Senior Fellow and Director of the Transatlantic Security Program at the Center for a New American Security. Evan Medeiros is the Penner Family Chair in Asia Studies in the School of Foreign Service and the Cling Family Distinguished Fellow in U.S.-China Studies at Georgetown University.

Conversation with Washington Post columnist and political scientist Shadi Hamid on American power, democracy, and the case for hegemony in the 21st centuryIs America a force for good in the world? It's a question that has become increasingly uncomfortable to ask—and even more uncomfortable to answer. In this episode of Due Diligence, I sit down with political scientist, columnist, and author Shadi Hamid to explore one of the central tensions of modern politics: how should we think about American power in a world where power is unavoidable? Drawing from his new book, The Case for American Power, Shadi argues that while America has often fallen short of its ideals, it remains the least bad option in a world where someone will inevitably wield power. Throughout the conversation, we wrestle with a question that sits at the heart of Due Diligence: How do we hold America accountable for its failures without losing sight of what makes the American project worth preserving? Whether you're skeptical of American power, broadly supportive of it, or deeply conflicted about both, this conversation offers a thoughtful exploration of democracy, empire, idealism, realism, and the future of the international order.(00:43) Meet Shadi Hamid(01:56) Why power must be embraced(04:14) Why America is morally superior among great powers(05:28) The Nirvana fallacy (09:28) Is American foreign policy responsive to democracy?(12:09) How Gaza became a progressive litmus test (15:13) James Baldwin's argument(17:37) Why Democratic pride in America collapsed (20:44) Pride in country vs. love of country(25:17) Why American hypocrisy is a feature, not a bug(33:50) Sincerity vs. propaganda(36:21) Why having ideals makes America different(37:53) Why presidents fold on their foreign policy promises(41:15) The Obama tragedy & disappointment(42:59) How Obama obstructed Arab democracy(45:37) The uncomfortable reason America doesn't support Arab democracy(48:02) When America chose the moral path (51:23) Why supporting democracy is in America's self-interest(54:27) Why China's rise has been overstated(59:43) The role of cultural values in democracy(01:03:50) Idealism vs. realism(01:06:35) The challenge of writing this book(01:08:54) Why America's advantage is immigrationAbout Shadi HamidShadi Hamid is a columnist at The Washington Post, where he focuses on culture, religion and foreign policy. He is also a senior fellow at Georgetown University's Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding. Previously, he was a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and a contributing writer at The Atlantic. Hamid is the author of several books, including most recently, “The Case For American Power.” In 2019, Hamid was named one of the world's top 50 thinkers by Prospect magazine. He is also the co-founder of “Wisdom of Crowds,” a podcast, newsletter and debate platform. Hamid received his B.S. and M.A. from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service and his PhD in political science from Oxford University, where he was a Marshall Scholar.Subscribe & followDue Diligence SubstackDue Diligence InstagramDulma's Instagram

Send us Fan MailA naked dinner party assignment. An alligator living by a dollar store. A “be more efficient” book that actually teaches you to rest. Lifestyle and wellness reporter Madeleine Aggeler has made a career out of taking the internet's strangest trends seriously enough to find the human truth inside them, and she joins us to explain how that work actually happens. We start with Madeleine's unconventional journalism origin story: a childhood spent devouring magazines, a detour through the Peace Corps and Foreign Service ambitions, then a one-year gamble in New York that turns temp work and small gigs into a real reporting career. She breaks down what it was like learning on the fly during the high-output days at The Cut, why writing fast can sharpen your voice and how a bold pandemic-era move helped her chase the kind of long-form journalism she wanted to do. From there, we get practical about idea generation and wellness reporting. Madeleine shares how she spots stories, why trusting your gut often beats guessing what readers want and how she balances curiosity with healthy skepticism in an age of nonstop health content. We talk about trends that surprised her, trends she'd never do again and the “boring” habits that keep showing up as the most reliable wellness advice. Finally, she tells us what she's watching now, including strength training culture and the relationship side of GLP-1 medications. If you like smart, funny reporting that still asks big questions about loneliness, dating culture, beauty standards and self-improvement, hit subscribe, share this with a friend and leave a review so more listeners can find us.Madeleine Aggeler's author page at The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/profile/madeleine-aggelerMadeleine's LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/madeleine-aggeler/Blueskyhttps://bsky.app/profile/mmaggeler.bsky.social 

Is the State Department serving the American people—or protecting a broken bureaucracy?In this episode ofThe Feds, Stephanie sits down with Foreign Service officer and Feds for Freedom co-founderMarcus Thornton to tackle one of the biggest questions in government reform today:What is happening inside the Department of State that needs radical transparency—and radical reform?Together, they examine the systemic problems inside the State Department and Foreign Service, from accountability failures and ideological insularity to family policy, recruitment, overseas assignments, and religious discrimination. 

On this special podcast episode, we are sharing the opening statements from the Munk Debate on Foreign Wars, which took place this past Wednesday May 20th in front of a packed crowd at Toronto’s Meridian Hall. Against the backdrop of America’s war with Iran — and after nearly three decades of disastrous Middle East interventions — the debate asked whether the U.S. should continue intervening abroad, and what that means for the future of global order. The resolution was: Be it resolved, don’t go hunting monsters. Arguing against the motion was Mike Pompeo, 70th U.S. Secretary of State, former Director of the CIA, and four-term U.S. Congressman. He was joined by Victoria Nuland, whose 35-year career in the U.S. Foreign Service includes roles as Acting Deputy Secretary of State, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, and U.S. Ambassador to NATO. Arguing in favour of the motion were two former Munk Debaters and the world’s leading proponents of U.S. foreign policy restraint: John Mearsheimer, the R. Wendell Harrison Distinguished Service Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago and Stephen Walt, Professor of International Affairs at Harvard Kennedy School. Find out how to watch the full debate at www.munkdebates.com

On this episode of Unsupervised Learning Razib talks to Christopher Rufo. Rufo is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research. A contributing editor at City Journal, author of the New York Times bestseller America's Cultural Revolution, and 2025 Bradley Prize recipient, he also serves as a New College of Florida board member and Distinguished Fellow at Hillsdale College. He is also co-host of the podcast Rufo and Lomez. Raised in Sacramento, California, Rufo graduated magna cum laude from Georgetown University's Walsh School of Foreign Service in 2006 and a Master of Liberal Arts in Government from Harvard Extension School in 2022. He lives in the Pacific Northwest with his wife and children. Razib and Rufo first discuss his California upbringing and the idyllic environment of the Golden State. They discuss what they both love about California and why it matters for the US as a whole. Razib brings up the contrast with Texas, where the weather and scenery are less attractive, but pro-business and pro-housing regulatory framework has attracted many migrants from California. Rufo then details exactly what he's uncovered about the poor governance in his home state under Gavin Newsom. They also discuss the prospects in the current governor's race, and whether California's pathologies can ever be fixed.

Eric and Eliot lament the firing of 200 Foreign Service officers and the recent large-scale exodus of senior diplomats from public service. They discuss the impact of the Trump Administration's diplomatic malpractice including the handling of Operation Freedom and their own disagreements about it. They assess the likely costs of ensuring Iran is not left in control of the Strait of Hormuz and the inevitable long-term future US presence in the Persian Gulf. They also consider the impact of the UK local elections and the collapse of support for Keir Starmer's Labour Party. Finally, they address the US troop withdrawals from Germany and Vladimir Putin's worsening political, economic, and personal situation.Eric & Frank Miller on Withdrawing From Germany:https://www.thebulwark.com/p/withdrawing-troops-from-germany-is-own-goal-trump-merz-natoSecretary Hegseth's Defense Budget Video:https://x.com/SecWar/status/2052396775797891417?s=20Shield of the Republic is a Bulwark podcast co-sponsored by the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia.

On this episode of Unsupervised Learning Razib talks to Russ Greene, who promoted the idea of "Total Boomer Luxury Communism." Greene currently serves as the Executive Director of the Prime Mover Institute, a public interest organization and think tank he launched to advocate for American energy dominance. Previously, he was a Senior Fellow for the Economy at the Stand Together Trust. In this role, he managed a grantmaking portfolio centered on federal regulatory affairs and strategic litigation, with a strong focus on classical liberalism and critiques of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) corporate frameworks. Greene also directed brand defense and government affairs for CrossFit Inc. He has a Bachelor of Science in International Politics from Georgetown University's Walsh School of Foreign Service. Greene and Razib talk about the fiscal insolvency of Social Security in six years, and the shift of the federal budget to focus on transfers from younger generations to older ones. Greene also talks about the fiscal situation in the developed world more generally, out of the United States, and the general issues engendered by massive pension systems. They discuss the history of past changes to benefits programs for senior citizens, and how it puts the squeeze on all other areas of the budget.  

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are a former NY elementary teacher and now 2nd year PhD student at RPI Sophia Acquisto, Senior Fellow for Health Policy at The Empire Center for Public Policy Bill Hammond, and Diplomat in Residence at Bard College. She retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2025 after over 30 years in public service. Her last post was ambassador to the SE Asian country, Timor-Leste Donna Welton.

Tod Robberson is the author of Globemaster Down: Soviet Espionage and the Doomed Attempt to Sneak Nukes into Europe, released on March 31, 2026. Tod is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who spent four decades as a reporter, bureau chief, correspondent and/or editor for various news organizations including The Washington Post, Dallas Morning News, St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Reuters news agency. He currently is a senior editor for investigative news at ESPN. Robberson has lived in London, Panama, Mexico, Cyprus, El Salvador, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia and holds a master’s degree from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service. He has covered wars throughout Latin America, the Middle East and Afghanistan and has provided guest commentary for CNN, MSNBC, National Public Radio, Sky News and Telemundo. In addition to his 2010 Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing, Robberson has received a National Headliners Award, the SAIS-Novartis Award for international reporting, and statewide journalism awards in Texas and Missouri. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.