Podcasts about International studies

From July 23, 2025: For today's episode, Lawfare Senior Editor Scott R. Anderson shares some of the conversations he had with leading policy experts and practitioners on the margins of this year's Aspen Security Forum, which took place last week. First he sat down Shashank Joshi, the Defence Editor for The Economist to discuss the new dynamics surrounding European security, as well as the path toward (and implications of) a Europe less dependent on the United States for its security.Scott then talked with Iris Ferguson of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, who was until recently the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Arctic and Global Resilience, about the strategic significance of the Arctic and how it plays into the modern dynamics of major power competition.To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/lawfare-institute.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The war against Iran is putting new strains on U.S. military readiness by consuming munitions and missile defense interceptors, as well as through extended deployments, sustained operational demands, and the diversion of forces and attention from other theaters. Mark Cancian (Center for Strategic and International Studies), Stacie Pettyjohn (Center for a New American Security), and Michael Eisenstadt (Washington Institute for Near East Policy) join Ryan to unpack what readiness actually means, how the war is affecting it, what vulnerabilities have been exposed, and what it all means for deterrence and the U.S. military's ability to respond to a crisis with China.

How much strategic bandwidth does the United States have as it manages the Iran war, Ukraine and its wider global commitments? How are conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East changing the nature and cost of modern warfare? What does China's growing military power and activity in the Indo-Pacific mean for Australian security? In this episode, Sharryn Parker is joined by Charles Edel, Dilnoza Ubaydullaeva and Euan Graham to discuss the wars in Iran and Ukraine – and what they are revealing about the United States' capacity, weapons stockpiles, and the changing character of warfare. Dr Charles Edel is Senior Adviser and Australia Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and an expert on statecraft and great power competition.Dr Dilnoza Ubaydullaeva is a Lecturer at the ANU National Security College (NSC) and an expert on Central Asia and the positioning of the Global South in world power.Dr Euan Graham is an Expert Associate at NSC whose research spans military strategy and deterrence in the Indo-Pacific.Sharryn Parker is Senior Policy Advisor at NSC, on secondment from the Department of Defence. TRANSCRIPT Show notes:NSC academic programs – find out moreNavigating Australia's Future in an Uncertain World - Address to the National Press Club of Australia by Dr Kevin RuddJohn Howard on 9/11, geopolitics and Australia's securityCommunity Consultations reportUS National Security Strategy We'd love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don't miss out on future episodes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi encouraged Iran and the United States on Wednesday to act rationally and exercise restraint, return to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding and rebuild the negotiation mechanism, saying that the continued prolongation of the US-Iran conflict is not in the common interest of the parties concerned and the international community.中国外交部长王毅星期三敦促伊朗和美国保持理性、克制，回到《伊斯兰堡谅解备忘录》的框架内，重建谈判机制。他表示，美伊冲突持续延宕不符合有关各方以及国际社会的共同利益。Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during talks in Beijing with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi.王毅同时担任中共中央政治局委员。他在北京同伊朗外交部长赛义德·阿巴斯·阿拉格齐举行会谈时作出上述表示。Since Israel and the US launched joint strikes on Iran on Feb 28, the two foreign ministers have spoken by phone several times. Wednesday's talks marked their second in-person meeting in Beijing since then. They also met in Kyrgyzstan in July.自2月28日以色列和美国对伊朗发动联合打击以来，两国外长已多次通过电话沟通。此次会谈是双方此后第二次在北京举行面对面会晤，双方此前还于7月在吉尔吉斯斯坦举行会谈。Signed by Iran and the US on June 18 following negotiations facilitated by Pakistan, the MoU launched a 60-day window for reaching a final agreement. The window expired on Aug 17, with the two sides nowhere close to determining how to move forward.在巴基斯坦斡旋推动下，伊朗和美国于6月18日签署《谅解备忘录》，并开启为期60天的达成最终协议窗口期。然而，该期限于8月17日结束，双方仍未就下一步行动方向达成一致。Wang urged the US and Iran to conduct substantive consultations on their respective concerns on the basis of the understandings reached so far.王毅呼吁美伊双方在此前达成共识的基础上，围绕各自关切开展实质性磋商。As a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, China is ready to play a constructive role in resolving international disputes, he said.他说，中国作为联合国安理会常任理事国，愿为解决国际争端发挥建设性作用。Describing China and Iran as comprehensive strategic partners, he said that China stands ready to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with Iran and help safeguard the country's legitimate rights and interests.王毅表示，中伊是全面战略合作伙伴，中方愿进一步加强同伊朗的对话与合作，帮助维护伊朗的合法权益。Wang expressed support for dialogue between Iran and the Gulf countries, adding that all sides should respect each other's territorial sovereignty and national security, as well as safeguard the common interests of the region in a constructive manner.王毅支持伊朗与海湾国家开展对话，并表示，各方应相互尊重领土主权和国家安全，以建设性方式维护地区共同利益。He also called on all parties to take effective measures to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as soon as possible, safeguard the security and smooth operation of international shipping routes and maintain the stability of international energy transportation, as well as industrial and supply chains.他还呼吁有关各方采取有效措施，尽快恢复霍尔木兹海峡开放，保障国际航运安全畅通，维护国际能源运输以及产业链、供应链稳定。China does not want tensions in the region to spill over further into Yemen and the Red Sea, Wang noted, calling on all parties to stop further complicating the situation and resolve issues through dialogue and negotiations.王毅指出，中国不希望地区紧张局势进一步外溢至也门和红海。他呼吁各方避免使局势进一步复杂化，通过对话和谈判解决问题。Wang said that the current situation once again demonstrates that the existing security architecture in the Middle East is incomplete and needs to be reformed and strengthened.王毅表示，当前局势再次表明，中东现有安全架构并不完善，需要改革和加强。During his visit to Egypt earlier this month, President Xi Jinping put forward a four-point proposal on building a new security architecture in the Middle East via upholding a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security.本月早些时候，习近平主席访问埃及时，提出了通过坚持共同、综合、合作、可持续安全理念，构建中东新安全架构的四点主张。China welcomes the useful explorations made by regional countries in this regard, Wang said.王毅表示，中方欢迎地区国家在这一方向上开展的有益探索。Noting that China's policy toward Iran remains consistent and stable, he said China has always stood for fairness and justice at the UN Security Council and other multilateral platforms, opposed the use of force and upheld the norms governing international relations.王毅指出，中国对伊朗政策始终保持连续性和稳定性。中国始终在联合国安理会等多边平台上维护公平正义，反对诉诸武力，维护国际关系基本准则。As a responsible major country, China will continue to contribute to peace and stability, promote talks for peace and uphold fairness and justice in the Middle East, he added.他说，作为负责任的大国，中国将继续为维护和平稳定、推动和平谈判、维护中东地区公平正义发挥积极作用。Araghchi said that Iran does not want the conflict to continue and hopes to return to diplomatic channels while firmly safeguarding its rights and interests. He said that Iran believes the Islamabad MoU remains valid, adding that Iran has reached an arrangement with Oman on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and that the US should honor its commitments.阿拉格齐表示，伊朗不希望冲突继续下去，希望回到外交轨道，同时坚定维护自身权利和利益。他说，伊朗认为《伊斯兰堡谅解备忘录》仍然有效，并表示伊朗已就重新开放霍尔木兹海峡问题同阿曼达成安排，美国也应履行相关承诺。He added that Iran is ready to engage in dialogue and consultations with regional countries, establish and develop good-neighborly relations, and work for the early restoration of peace and stability in the region.他表示，伊朗愿同地区国家开展对话磋商，建立和发展睦邻友好关系，为地区和平与稳定早日恢复作出努力。Araghchi welcomed and supported the four-point proposal on promoting peace and stability in the Middle East and the four-point proposal on promoting common security in the region put forward by Xi. The Iranian foreign minister expressed Iran's readiness to strengthen cooperation with China within this framework and its expectation that China will play a greater role in promoting regional peace and stability.阿拉格齐欢迎并支持习近平提出的推动中东和平稳定四点主张以及促进地区共同安全四点倡议。他表示，伊朗愿在这一框架下加强同中国合作，并期待中国在推动地区和平稳定方面发挥更大作用。Experts said that the volatile situation in the Middle East has seriously affected international peace and development, and seeking a solution through diplomatic channels remains a realistic option.有关专家表示，中东局势动荡已对国际和平与发展造成严重影响，通过外交渠道寻求解决方案仍是一种现实选择。Li Zixin, an assistant research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, said that Iran's reaffirmation of the memorandum's validity has kept a window open for future political engagement between the two sides. All parties should seize the opportunity to restart political dialogue rather than intensify military confrontation and economic coercion, Li said.中国国际问题研究院助理研究员李子欣表示，伊朗重申《谅解备忘录》的有效性，为双方未来开展政治接触保留了空间。她认为，各方应抓住机会，重新启动政治对话，而不是加剧军事对抗和经济施压。Niu Xinchun, executive director of the China-Arab Research Institute at Ningxia University, said that China has been actively promoting peace talks since the conflict began. China does not pursue geopolitical self-interest or bloc confrontation and takes into account the reasonable security concerns of all parties, he said, adding that its initiatives offer a viable path toward addressing the security dilemma in the Middle East.宁夏大学中国阿拉伯国家研究院执行院长牛新春表示，冲突发生以来，中国一直积极推动和平谈判。他表示，中国不谋求地缘政治利益，也不寻求集团对抗，而是兼顾各方合理安全关切；相关倡议为解决中东安全困境提供了一条可行路径。【词汇提炼】rational /ˈræʃənl/ adj.理性的；合理的restraint /rɪˈstreɪnt/ n.克制；约束mechanism /ˈmekənɪzəm/ n.机制；体系memorandum /ˌmeməˈrændəm/ n.备忘录；协议文件Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)谅解备忘录substantive /səbˈstæntɪv/ adj.实质性的；重要的architecture /ˈɑːrkɪtektʃər/ n.架构；体系multilateral /ˌmʌltiˈlætərəl/ adj.多边的

Orbis Pictus: World Affairs in the Visual Digital Era by Dr Vendulka Kubalkova https://www.amazon.com/Orbis-Pictus-Affairs-Visual-Digital/dp/B0H3YQ4MMR Drvkubalkova.com The invention of the movable-type printing press by Johannes Gutenberg in the mid-1400s represents one of the most significant technological advancements in history. The printing press shaped the modern era by revolutionizing how information was shared and preserved, as well as educational practices. Today, society is entering the Digital Era. Students now grow up with the internet and social media. Research shows that younger generations increasingly prefer audio-visual content, while both students and the general public read for recreation less often. This book introduces an innovative educational format we call a videobook. It offers access to about 135 original online videos, featuring animated presentations that provide a comprehensive introduction to contemporary global issues. The videobook covers a wider range of topics than most university-level International Relations courses. Integrating video content improves accessibility and relevance, addressing the limitations of traditional educational resources. The videos also encourage deeper engagement with philosophy and history. Many universities have yet to fully adopt visualization as a teaching tool, which remains a significant limitation in the Digital Era. This project aims to address that gap. This work is designed primarily for university students but remains accessible to a wider audience. Professor Kubálková holds a JUDr. from Charles University, Czechoslovakia, and a Ph.D. in International Politics from Lancaster University, England. She is also a graduate of the Prague Conservatoire. She currently serves as a Professor of International Studies at the University of Miami in Florida. Her previous appointments include academic positions in England, New Zealand, and Australia, as well as fellowships at the University of Munich, Stanford University, and the University of California, Berkeley. She has served as Assistant Provost for International Studies and Director of the M.A. program in International Administration (MAIA). Since 2016, she has been a Visiting Professor at VSE, University of Economics and Business, Prague. Professor Kubálková is a past President of the International Studies Association South and served for ten years as a trustee of the Social Science Research Foundation Board at the Korbel School of International Studies, University of Denver. She co-edited the eight-volume M. E. Sharpe series, “International Relations in a Constructed World,” and was a founding member and co-chair of the ISA section Global International Relations (GIRS). Following years in exile, she received the Jan Masaryk Medal “Pro Amicitia Inter Naciones” for expertise in International Relations and has been inducted into the “Memory of the Nation” of the Czech Republic. Her research, publications, and teaching focus on International Relations theory, Marxism, Constructivism, post-Soviet studies, religion, civilizations, culture in world affairs, non-Western perspectives, pedagogy, and the application of information technology in education. She is the author, among others, of My Path to Global International Relations: An Autobiographical Textbook (2026).

In this episode, Garrison is once again joined by Dr. Collin Koh, senior fellow at the Institute of Defense and Strategic Studies at RSIS in Singapore. The two discuss the meteoric naval buildup of China's Navy, and its efforts to improve professionalism and integration in its naval forces. This comes amidst the backdrop of the U.S. Navy's increasingly demanding role in the Middle East and questions about America's focus on the Pacific theater of operations. They also discuss Japan's return to military hard power as a security contributor for Southeast Asia, and its deepening defense cooperation with Australia. The discussion concludes with a review of Dr. Koh's recent article in CNA explaining why Malacca is not the Hormuz when it comes to naval security, and why manned surface ships will keep navies relevant in the age of drones. Dr Collin Koh is senior fellow at the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies which is a constituent unit of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, based in Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. He has research interests on maritime security and naval affairs in the Indo-Pacific, focusing on Southeast Asia. Collin has published several op-eds, policy- and academic journal articles as well as chapters for edited volumes covering his research areas. He has also taught at Singapore Armed Forces professional military education and training courses. Besides research and teaching, Collin also contributes his perspectives to various local and international media outlets, and participates in activities with geopolitical risks consultancies.Garrison Moratto is the founder and host of The New Diplomatist Podcast; he earned a M.S. of International Relations as well as a B.S. in Government: Public Administration (Summa Cum Laude) at Liberty University in the United States. He has been published in RealClearDefense, and Pacific Forum International's "Issues & Insights", among other publications.  He is the author of Distant Shores on Substack.Guest opinions are their own.All music licensed via UppBeat. Episode recorded on Aug. 19th, 2026

La gira de Marco Rubio por Colombia, Ecuador y Perú deja una pregunta de fondo: ¿está Estados Unidos reconstruyendo su influencia en América Latina?El secretario de Estado estadounidense impulsó durante tres días una agenda centrada en narcotráfico, crimen organizado, migración, inteligencia y cooperación de seguridad. Colombia y Perú se incorporaron al Escudo de las Américas, mientras Ecuador profundizó su alianza con Washington.Pero la gira también revela otra dimensión: la competencia con China por influencia económica y estratégica en la región. Minerales críticos, tierras raras, energía, infraestructura y cadenas de suministro empiezan a ocupar un lugar cada vez más importante en la política latinoamericana de Washington.Analizamos qué dejaron las visitas a Colombia, Ecuador y Perú y qué pueden significar para el nuevo mapa geopolítico de América Latina.Analistas:⁠⁠Manuel Alcántara Sáez⁠⁠⁠⁠María Puerta Riera⁠⁠Edición y Conducción:⁠⁠Xavier Rodríguez FrancoRecomendaciones:Hernandez-Roy, Christopher, Juliana Rubio, Jessie Hu, and Sam Smith. “President Trump's Latin America Policy: Short-Term Gains, Long-Term Risks.” Center for Strategic and International Studies, October 6, 2025.Vanderbilt University, Center for Global Democracy. 2026 Pulse of Democracy. September 9, 2026.Lipsitz, Raina. “Los socialistas sin complejos que siguen sorprendiendo a Estados Unidos.” Nueva Sociedad, September 2026.

President Xi Jinping will attend the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi from Saturday to Sunday at the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson announced on Thursday.The meeting is widely expected to inject fresh momentum into BRICS cooperation, help BRICS countries and the wider Global South expand the pie of win-win cooperation, and reaffirm their commitment to multilateralism, experts said.India has adopted "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability" as the theme of its 2026 BRICS presidency, with a stated emphasis on a people-centric approach and stronger cooperation among countries of the Global South.Initially comprising Brazil, Russia, India and China, the grouping later welcomed South Africa and has since expanded further to 11 members. According to figures published on India's official BRICS presidency website, the 11 members account for about 49.5 percent of the world's population, 40 percent of global GDP and 26 percent of global trade."Xi's attendance once again demonstrates the importance that China consistently attaches to BRICS cooperation, the development of the mechanism and the common development of Global South countries," said Su Xiao hui, an associate research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies.China's role in advancing BRICS cooperation will again be highlighted at the summit, she said.Cooperation with other BRICS countries has long been a priority of China's foreign policy. Xi's first appearance at a major international multilateral meeting after becoming Chinese president was at the fifth BRICS Summit, held in Durban, South Africa, in March 2013.Wang You ming, a researcher on developing countries at the China Institute of International Studies, said the upcoming summit holds particular significance, as it coincides with the 20th anniversary of the launch of BRICS cooperation."One of the biggest highlights will be Xi's trip to India after seven years," Wang said. "China and India are not only close neighbors, but also founding members and major participants in BRICS. The state of their relationship has a direct bearing on the development of the mechanism."China and India have expressed mutual support for each other in hosting BRICS events, with India holding the rotating presidency this year and China set to assume the presidency next year."Multilateral platforms can create opportunities for bilateral engagement, while improving bilateral relations can in turn facilitate coordination within multilateral mechanisms," Wang said.At a time when unilateral trade measures and disruptions to global industrial and supply chains are placing mounting pressure on developing economies, the summit is expected to amplify the voice of the Global South and strengthen coordination in upholding an open world economy and the multilateral trading system, he added.Wang said BRICS cooperation had gradually moved beyond broad policy declarations toward concrete programs involving small and medium-sized enterprises, cities, young people and people-to-people exchanges.According to Wang, emerging sectors such as the digital economy, green development and artificial intelligence are also likely to provide new areas of growth for BRICS cooperation.Emmanuel Frimpong Sarpong, who holds a PhD from the University of Nottingham Ningbo China and is the lead author of a study on China's role in BRICS, said China has played an instrumental role in the development of the BRICS mechanism.He described the New Development Bank as one of the grouping's most significant achievements. By the end of 2025, the bank had approved $42.9 billion in financing for 139 projects covering clean energy, transportation, water and sanitation, environmental protection, and social and digital infrastructure, according to the bank.

Singapore has raised the maximum fine for online platforms that fail to comply with anti-scam directions from S$1 million to S$10 million. But will a larger penalty stop scams from reaching users or will criminals simply change tactics? On Viewpoint, Lynlee Foo speaks to Benjamin Ang, Senior Fellow and Head of Digital Impact Research at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, NTU, about where platforms can intervene, whether too much responsibility has been placed on individuals, and how much convenience and privacy users may have to trade for greater security. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Conflicts continue in Europe and the Middle East, and Beijing is sprinting to prepare for potential aggression in the Pacific. Meanwhile, the United States confronts a military munitions crisis—but few Americans understand what is really going on.What is the true nature of America's munitions crisis? What are the consequences of the current challenges? How did we get into this position? And what must we do to build the defense industrial base production capacity and munitions arsenals that the US needs?Generation Jihad guest host Bradley Bowman, senior director of FDD's Center on Military and Political Power, is joined by Colonel (Ret.) Mark Cancian, a senior adviser with the Defense and Security Department at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, to discuss these and related questions. Cancian, who formerly worked on defense budget strategy, war funding, procurement programs, and more at the Office of Management and Budget and spent over three decades in the US Marine Corps, draws on that experience to discuss the true state of America's defense industrial base and arsenal.

Interview recorded - 9th of September, 2026On this episode of the WTFinance podcast I had the pleasure of welcoming back Professor Vali Nasr. Vali Nasr is a Professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and one of the most authoritative voices on Iran, having advised American policymakers and diplomats on the country for decades. He is also the author of Iran's Grand Strategy: A political history.During our conversation we spoke about the current situation in the Middle East, the reshaping of the continent, why the US is the real loser in this conflict, whether it'll be a forever war and more. I hope you enjoy!0:00 - Introduction2:37 - Current phase of Iran war5:58 - Challenges of agreement8:51 - Sanction pressure12:34 - Lack of trust14:58 - Forever war?17:31 - Iranian shift post war23:21 - Opposition parties?28:40 - Reshaping the Middle East34:33 - Winner of the conflict?38:53 - One message to takeaway?Vali Nasr is the Majid Khadduri Professor of International Affairs and Middle East Studies at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), and Non-Resident Senior Advisor in the Middle East Program at CSIS. He served as the eighth Dean of Johns Hopkins SAIS between 2012 and 2019 and served as Senior Advisor to U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Ambassador Richard Holbrooke between 2009 and 2011.Professor Nasr is the author of Iran's Grand Strategy: A Political History, The Dispensable Nation: American Foreign Policy in Retreat; Forces of Fortune: The Rise of a New Middle Class and How it Will Change Our World; The Shia Revival: How Conflicts within Islam will Shape the Future; Democracy in Iran: History and the Quest for Liberty; Islamic Leviathan, Islam and the Making of State Power; Mawdudi and the Making of Islamic Revivalism; Vanguard of Islamic Revolution: Jama'at-i Islami of Pakistan, and co-author of How Sanctions Work: Iran and the Impact of Economic Warfare; as well as numerous articles in scholarly journals and commentary in Financial Times, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, New York Times, Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal. He has advised senior American policymakers, world leaders, and businesses, including the President, Secretary of State, senior members of the Congress, and presidential campaigns. He has written for New York Times, Foreign Affairs, Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post, among others.Vali Nasr - X - https://x.com/vali_nasrBook - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Irans-Grand-Strategy-Political-History/dp/0691268924/WTFinance -Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/67rpmjG92PNBW0doLyPvfniTunes -https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wtfinance/id1554934665?uo=4LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-fatseas-761066103/Twitter - https://twitter.com/AnthonyFatseas

From September 28, 2021: Over the weekend, Germany held elections to see who will succeed Angela Merkel as Germany's chancellor. The results are in, but there's still a lot of coalition building to go. To break it all down, Jacob Schulz sat down with Constanze Stelzenmüller, the Fritz Stern Chair on Germany and trans-Atlantic Relations and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, and Yascha Mounk, an associate professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced and International Studies, both of whom are experts in German politics. They talked about the election, how to make sense of the results, and what everything means for the bigger picture of European politics, Germany's role in the world and more.To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/lawfare-institute.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former DoD Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss House passage of a continuing resolution to keep government open until December as the National Defense Authorization Act stalls and the reconciliation outlook remains unclear; Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigned as the administration named Adam Telle as acting secretary and nominated Hung Cao as Navy secretary; US and Iranian forces trade fire as President Trump is reported to want to resume high-intensity combat operations after the election; Israel steps up attacks on Palestinians as Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu maneuvers to remain in office; Germany says Russia was behind an unsuccessful explosive drone attack on Leipzig last month as Washington invited Russia's finance minister to attend the G20 meeting in Asheville to the consternation of allies that complained that the Trump administration's tariffs and Iran war have undermined their economies; the president's assertion that Canada is a bigger adversary than China or Russia, and that Washington might back Argentina's claim to the Falkland Islands, which London maintains is sovereign territory; Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles' first visit to the United States this year; Xi Jinping's ramped up diplomatic offensive ahead of his summit with Trump later this month as his warships sail ever closer to Japan.

On today's Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Dr. Jim Lewis of the Center for European Policy Analysis, Mark Montgomery of the Defense of Democracies and a Cyberspace Solarium Commission senior adviser, and Justin Sherman of the Global Cyber Strategies advisory firm and the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the implications of the ChatGPT AI model that broke out of its “sandbox” — attributed to misprogramming that allowed it to stray from its confines — and hacked computational tool maker Hugging Face; update on AI and cyber legislation; how Washington can better deter China and Russia and whether the Trump administration's actions are undermining deterrence with Beijing and Moscow; and what should replace the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification.

President Xi Jinping called on Tuesday for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to prioritize development and security to usher in a future of shared prosperity and foster an environment of universal security.Xi made the remarks when addressing the 26th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO, which was held in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. He underlined the need for the SCO to remain committed to dialogue and consultation for more equitable and orderly governance.In his speech, Xi hailed the extraordinary journey of the regional organization over the past 25 years, saying that it has grown into a new type of regional cooperation grouping with the largest land area and population and enormous development potential. Founded in 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, the SCO now comprises 10 member states, two observer states and 15 dialogue partners.Xi said that the most valuable spiritual asset of the regional grouping is that it pioneered, and has since invariably followed, the Shanghai Spirit featuring mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for the diversity of civilizations and pursuit of common development.Its most important cooperation experience is that it has found the right way of coexistence, featuring nonalliance, nonconfrontation and not targeting any third party, enabling countries in the region to build a common home together, he added.As the world is undergoing accelerated changes unseen in a century, with the intensifying rivalry between dialogue and confrontation, win-win and zero-sum, and multilateralism and unilateralism, Xi urged the SCO to step forward to shoulder its historical responsibility and proactively steer the course for the future.He also called for the SCO to advocate universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, solidify cooperation in traditional fields such as trade, investment, mutual connectivity, energy and resources, and expand cooperation in emerging fields like artificial intelligence, digital economy, green industry and green mining in order to deepen and upgrade regional cooperation.China sees the SCO as a priority area for promoting high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and implementing the Global Development Initiative, he said.In 2025, China's trade with other SCO members reached $523.5 billion and accounted for 8 percent of the country's total foreign trade, up from $12.1 billion in 2001, according to statistics from the Ministry of Commerce.Xi urged the SCO countries to take coordinated measures to tackle traditional and nontraditional security threats, and he called for efforts to prevent external forces from interfering in their internal affairs, endangering their political security and undermining regional stability.China is willing to work with all parties to practice a common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security concept and make the SCO an important platform for implementing the Global Security Initiative, he added.Xi also emphasized the need for the SCO countries to uphold a people-centered approach and cement the foundation for everlasting friendship. China stands ready to work with all parties to implement the Global Civilization Initiative, he added.The summit was chaired by President Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan, which holds the current rotating presidency of the SCO.The leaders of the SCO member states fully affirmed the development achievements of the SCO over the past 25 years, recognizing that the SCO provides important guarantees for regional security and prosperity and has become one of the cornerstones of global stability and economic development.They praised China's significant contributions as a founding member state in promoting the organization's development and agreed to actively implement the strategic blueprint from the SCO Tianjin Summit in 2025.In the face of a complex international situation, SCO member states should work together to enhance the organization's influence, promote the building of a more just and reasonable global governance system, and play a greater role in safeguarding the peace, stability and prosperity of the region and the world, they said.Leaders of the SCO member states signed and issued the Bishkek Declaration on the 25th Anniversary of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, approved the Protocol on Amending and Supplementing the Charter of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Regulations on the SCO Universal Center for Countering Security Challenges and Threats, and the Regulations on the SCO Anti-Drug Center, and adopted 28 outcome documents covering security, economic, people-to-people and cultural cooperation, as well as organizational development.It was decided at the summit that Pakistan will assume the rotating presidency of the SCO for 2026-27.Li Ziguo, director and research fellow in the Department for European-Central Asian Studies at the China Institute of International Studies, said the summit could give fresh impetus to implementing the outcomes of last year's summit and help move the SCO into a stage of pursuing development in tandem.Sun Zhuangzhi, director of the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, described China's efforts in practicing the Shanghai Spirit as an important driving force behind the SCO.prosperity / prɒˈsperəti / n.繁荣；兴旺governance / ˈɡʌvənəns / n.治理；管理；治理体系mutual benefit / ˌmjuːtʃuəl ˈbenɪfɪt / n.互利；共同利益win-win / ˌwɪn ˈwɪn / adj./n.双赢的；双赢局面zero-sum / ˌzɪərəʊ ˈsʌm / adj.零和的；一方获益必然意味着另一方受损的multilateralism / ˌmʌltiˈlætərəlɪzəm / n.多边主义unilateralism / ˌjuːnɪˈlætərəlɪzəm / n.单边主义mutual connectivity / ˌmjuːtʃuəl ˌkɒnekˈtɪvəti / n.互联互通

On today's Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Dr. Jerry McGinn, a former deputy industrial base chief who is now with the director of the Center for the Industrial Base at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg's internal Pentagon memo on profits as well as requirement that company submit detailed plans to accelerate pograms; and his latest report — “How Quickly Can the DoD Rebuild and Recast the Munitions Industrial Base?” — he cowrote with his colleague AJ Dilts.

The United States is burning through some of its most advanced munitions in its war with Iran this year. By some accounts, inventories of high-end Patriot and THAAD interceptors may be depleted by as much as 80 percent. Replacing them could take years, even as military planners worry about needs in Europe and the Indo-Pacific. Tom Karako, director of the Center for Strategic and International Studies' Missile Defense Project, has tracked just how deep the shortfall runs and what it would take to fix it. He joins FP Live to assess the state of U.S. stockpiles and what it means about the future of American preparedness. John Haltiwanger and Rishi Iyengar: The Iran War Has Left the U.S. Dangerously Exposed Sam Skove: U.S. War in Iran Leaves Ukraine's Air Defense in Limbo Robert Almelor Delfeld: The U.S. Munitions Deficit Is a Political Problem Franz-Stefan Gady: Europe's Dangerous Hesitation on Its Own Air Defense Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, former DoD Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the impact of rising inflation on the Trump administration's budget request; CIA Director John Ratcliffe's visit to Moscow; NATO's moves to counter Russia's mounting provocations in the Baltic and across Europe; Pentagon policy chief Bridge Colby's meeting with allies as he oversees the review that will reduce US troops from Europe; Washington's new Iran sanctions to collapse the theocratic regime as Beijing vows to retaliate if its banks or businesses are targeted; the trade war with Canada; Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's claim Iran tried to kill one of his son's in Florida; retired Israeli Brig. Gen. Ofer Winter new extreme right-wing party; Iraq's Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's effort to bring militias under control; Washington cancels an amphibious exercise with South Korea, but will press ahead with the trilateral Freedom Edge exercise next month with Korea and Japan; Japan, Australia, and Indonesia launch defense talks; and Beijing's tightening comprehensive encirclement of Taiwan.

00:08 — Kaveh Ehsani is an Associate Professor of International Studies at DePaul University. 00:33 — Jesse Coburn is a reporter for ProPublica covering defense and the military. The post Trump Administration Threatens New Sanctions on Iran; Plus, Investigation Shows $0.5Billion Defense Project Produced Zero Products appeared first on KPFA.

On June 9, 2026 The Center for European, Russian, & Eurasian Studies hosted a roundtable featuring Miguel Roncero Martin, in discussion with Julio Bonillo. Jose Miguel Roncero Martin (Miguel Roncero) is an EU civil servant hosted by the Jackson School of International Studies in 2026, under the European Union Fellowship program. Miguel's research focuses on the development of the blue economy in the Arctic, also as a way to foster cooperation between Europe and North America. Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union of the EACEA. Neither the European Union now the EACEA can be held responsible for them.

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, former DoD Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss implications of US debt passing $40 trillion as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent intervened in bond markets to cut yields, backfiring by alarming markets that reacted negatively to the move; President Trump declared the Strait of Hormuz as American territory, threatening Iran with an economic “D-Day” and Oman with strikes as the UAE, a financial gateway for Tehran, also imposed sanctions; Israel and Hamas rebuffed Jared Kushner as Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu declared Turkey a threat, striking a facility in Syria where Turkish troops were based; France, Germany and the UN condemned Israel's national security minister Itamar Ben Gvir for calling on the execution of 30 to 40 Gazans a day; Ukrainian civilian casualties mount as Moscow concludes Ukraine can no longer defend against large-scale ballistic missile barrages; another corruption scandal involving a close aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has opposition figures calling for elections; a suspected Russian drone is downed by a NATO fighter jet over Latvia as Moscow threatens London for supplying strike drones to Ukraine; the administration's questionnaire asking allies to detail how nations are exhibiting loyalty to the US president and his policies; Trump's order the Pentagon abruptly end annual military exercises with South Korea six days early to punish Seoul for not support the Iran War and saying North Korea is a nonthreatening state, which Pyongyang rebuffed with its largest missile tests in months; the impact economic warfare on Iran will have on China; and Taiwan's defense spending increase that Washington demanded just as some in Washington debate the US pivoting away from Asia.

Why does Ireland have such strong support for Palestine? New research suggests our own history of colonialism, partition and oppression plays a major role in shaping Irish attitudes towards the conflict. To discuss further was Lecturer in Politics and International Studies at Ulster University, Miceal Canavan.

Water systems across a dozen states were targeted by cyberattacks in recent weeks. So far, the water has remained safe to drink, but the incidents have raised concerns about the possibility of future attacks. Marketplace's Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Nikita Shah, senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, about other vulnerable infrastructure and the steps that states can take to strengthen cybersecurity. More on this:How Tehran's Use of Cyber Operations in the U.S.-Iran Conflict Has Evolved from CSISA Leaked Memo Ties Cyberattacks on Minnesota Water Utilities to Iran | WIRED from WIREDNew York awards $9M to protect water systems after cyberattacks in other states - Gothamist from Gothamist

Water systems across a dozen states were targeted by cyberattacks in recent weeks. So far, the water has remained safe to drink, but the incidents have raised concerns about the possibility of future attacks. Marketplace's Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Nikita Shah, senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, about other vulnerable infrastructure and the steps that states can take to strengthen cybersecurity. More on this:How Tehran's Use of Cyber Operations in the U.S.-Iran Conflict Has Evolved from CSISA Leaked Memo Ties Cyberattacks on Minnesota Water Utilities to Iran | WIRED from WIREDNew York awards $9M to protect water systems after cyberattacks in other states - Gothamist from Gothamist

There is deep support in Ireland for the Palestinian cause. But why? And is Ireland truly an outlier in its attitudes to Palestine and Israel? Academics Miceal Canavan and Liam Kneafsey surveyed over 1,500 people to gauge attitudes, investigate the origins of this support and ask whether anti-Semitism plays a role. Their findings include that Irish people have the highest pro-Palestinian sympathy in Western Europe and that we assign unusually high importance to the conflict despite no direct ethnic, economic or military link. They test explanations for this, including ideology, party support and perceptions of Irish historical oppression as a heuristic and emotional framework. Anti-Semitism is also examined. It exists, but does not explain our outlier sympathies, their data suggest. They talk to Hugh Linehan about their paper and how they interpret what they've discovered. Miceal Canavan is a lecturer in Politics & International Studies at Ulster University. Liam Kneafsey is an assistant professor in Political Science at Trinity College Dublin.Would you like to receive daily insights into world events delivered to your inbox? Sign up for Denis Staunton's Global Briefing newsletter here: irishtimes.com/newsletters/global-briefing/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On August 11, 2026 The Center for European, Russian, & Eurasian Studies hosted a workshop for educators featuring experts focusing on EU Democracy & Security. This recording features a presentation by Sabine Lang called “Making European Citizens — Civic Engagement Practices in the European Union.” Sabine Lang is Professor of International and European Studies at the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies. From 2016 to 2024, she directed the Center for West European Studies and the European Union Center, a Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence. From 2021 – 2024, she held the Jean Monnet Chair in Civil Society, Inclusion, and Diversity from the European Union. She is also Adjunct Professor in the Departments of Political Science, Germanics, and Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies. Her work is in comparative politics with a focus on civil society, the public sphere, the nongovernmental sector, and gender politics. Her current research focuses on gendered political representation in the European Union and on EU-level public engagement processes. Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union of the EACEA. Neither the European Union now the EACEA can be held responsible for them.

It's Tuesday, August 18th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Kevin Swanson and Timothy Reed Arizona pastor murdered by crucifixion Demonically inspired opposition to the Christian faith is on the rise here in the United States as well as overseas.  A Christian pastor in Arizona was subjected to a crucifixion-type murder last year. The perpetrator, Adam Sheafe, confessed he did it because the pastor would not compromise on his teaching on the Biblical doctrine of the Trinity and the deity of Jesus Christ.   The murderer, in this case, has been sentenced to life in prison. “For this reason, the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath..  . but also that He said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.” That's John 5:16 and 18.   Ukraine has achieved an 8-1 casualty ratio with Russia since January Ukraine is back on top in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.  The Center for Strategic and International Studies reports that Ukraine has achieved as much as an 8-1 casualty ratio since the beginning of the year — up from a 2-1 ratio since the beginning of the war.  The report also notes that the war is taking a toll on the Russian people. They suffer from a “sputtering economy, higher prices on groceries and other expenses, tax increases, significant internet restrictions, and an oppressive crackdown on freedom of speech.” Russia has suffered an estimated 450,000 fatalities in the conflict. That compares to the United States losing 102,000 men in military conflicts since World War II. Dramatic increase in military budgets in the Far East Sabers are rattling in the Pacific. Japan's military budget is up 5% year-over-year. South Korea's budget is up 7.5%. The Philippines' budget is up 9%.  And Taiwan's is up 16%.  China's build-up began 25 years ago and is now averaging 7% per year. China's budget is running at $283 billion compared to Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan which are spending $150 billion combined.  America's deficit up 11% Here in America, for the first 10 months of the fiscal year, the U.S. deficit registered an 11% increase year-over-year. That's 31% above the average deficit produced by the Biden budgets between 2021 and 2025. Proverbs 28:22 reads, “A man with an evil eye hastens after riches, and does not consider that poverty will come upon him.” Gen Z investors believe sports betting is good investment An online survey of 1,000 U.S. retail investors conducted in late March and early April, which was released this week, found that 52% of Gen Z investors were planning to shift money originally set aside for stocks or other investments into sports wagers over the past year.  Only about one-third of Gen Z participants reported no involvement in sports betting at all, compared with 63% across all age groups in the survey. Specifically, 26% of Gen Z respondents -- those born between 1997 and 2007 -- said they view sports betting as a deliberate, ongoing part of their wealth strategy. That figure drops sharply with age: 14% of Millennials, 6% of Gen X, and just 1% of Baby Boomers reported the same outlook. Overall, U.S. sports betting has increased from $2 billion of waging to $166 billion in waging since 2018 - just eight years ago, according to Research Ground.   Gen Z also loves cryptocurrency In addition, Motley Fool's recent survey found that Gen Zers are the most likely to invest in cryptocurrency at 49% compared to other demographics including 46% of Millennials, 26% of Gen Xers, and 11% of Baby Boomers.   Plus, 57% of cryptocurrency purchasers think it's an investment, and 26% use it for a monetary exchange. But crypto is losing favor with American investors. Gallup's recent poll found only 2% of Americans favor crypto for a long-term investment which is down from 8% four years ago.  Real estate, stocks, and gold are the favorite choices for investors now. The birth dearth in America The National Center for Education Statistics reports that public schools in America have lost almost two million students since 2019.  This is partially due to the birth dearth – or the decline in America's fertility rate. Since 2015, it amounts to a loss of about one million children. Births to women in America topped out in 2007 at 2.12 or 2,122 births per 1,000 women aged 15–44.  Today, the birth rate is hovering around 1.57 or 1,570 births per 1,000 women. By contrast, the average birth rate for homeschooling families is 3.5 children per family. The Centers for Disease Control reveals that total U.S. births fell off during the first quarter of 2026  — a 2.1% drop off from the previous year. There were 4.3 million births in America in 2007, but only 3.6 million births last year. And we're looking at another drop of about 700,000 students this year.  This data points to an 18% drop in American births in 18 years.  Based on these recent numbers for American births, by 2031, the public schools will lose another 2.44 million students due to birth decline alone in this country. That's not counting the number of students who drop out. Shocker: Canadian male cyclist beating women in the sport And finally, men, pretending to be women, are once again proving that they can beat women in women's sports.  A Canadian cyclist, by the name of “Mr. Ivy,” claimed to have transgendered into a woman; after which he won a women's cycling championship. More recently, “Mr. Ivy” has gone on to win the Inter-Provincial Team title at the Canadian Women's Mid-Amateur Championship golf tournament.  This is actually the third time that he has won the women's Canadian golf tournament. Not surprisingly, he has dominated in other recent golf competitions for woman as well. Close And that's The Worldview on this Tuesday, August 18th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ. Extra print U.S. Senate still has not passed Safeguard American Voter Eligibility The United States Senate continues to drag its feet on the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility, or SAVE America, Act. The Senate has now adjourned for five weeks, and has no formal plans to try and pass the SAVE Act before fall.  President Donald Trump has repeatedly called on the Republican led Senate to secure American elections and to pass the SAVE Act, but to no avail. Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah said, “We did our best, left no stone unturned. I wish the outcome had been different, both as to adjournment and as to these votes. This fight's not over. We're just getting started.” Contact your two U.S. Senators by phone or email and ask them to vote for the SAVE Act. 1,000 fake marriages to Chinese nationals in New York The Department of Justice charged 11 individuals in New York last week in a massive marriage fraud scheme. Per the Justice Department, more than 1,000 fake marriages were conducted, mostly between Chinese nationals seeking to obtain green card status in the United States. The operation had been running for more than 10 years.

Leanne McCallum Desselle joins Dr. Sandie Morgan as they explore what happens when a hurricane knocks out the very systems built to catch trafficking — from a child abuse hotline down for three weeks after Hurricane Ida to the disaster recovery jobs where exploitation quietly takes hold.Chapters(00:00) - Introduction (01:39) - An International Lens on a Uniquely American Blind Spot (04:17) - The Signal International Case After Katrina (07:36) - From the Ground in Louisiana to a Researcher's Path (11:13) - Why Research Doesn't Reach the People Who Need It (14:50) - Who Disasters Make Vulnerable to Trafficking (20:18) - Responding in the First Days — and How to Prepare Before the Storm (25:22) - Creative Partnerships That Kept Services Running (28:27) - Turning Research Into Policy and Practice (34:32) - Advice for Researchers Entering This Space About Leanne McCallum DesselleLeanne McCallum Desselle is a Research Analyst and Training & Technical Assistance Provider at RTI International, a role she has held since August 2022. She spent nearly a decade in frontline anti-trafficking work in Louisiana, coordinating the Greater New Orleans Human Trafficking Task Force for more than three years and later managing a statewide child and youth trafficking initiative for the Louisiana Alliance of Children's Advocacy Centers. In 2018 she was appointed Chair of the Labor Trafficking Committee for the Louisiana Governor's Human Trafficking Prevention Commission and Advisory Board. At RTI, she leads technical assistance for a U.S. Office for Victims of Crime initiative on child and youth trafficking outcomes and contributes to research on labor trafficking prosecutions and the effects of disasters on trafficking vulnerability. She holds a Master of Arts in International Studies, concentrating in Human Rights and Human Trafficking, from the University of Denver's Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs, and a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Linfield University.Key Points• Hurricane Katrina's Signal International case, in which hundreds of Indian guest workers were defrauded and trafficked into labor repairing Gulf oil rigs, became one of the largest labor trafficking settlements at the time and helped drive Louisiana's first designated federal anti-trafficking funding in 2007-2008.• Housing instability is one of the biggest drivers of post-disaster trafficking risk — when people lose their community, school, and church, they become far more vulnerable to someone who says, "Don't worry, I'll take care of everything. I'll get you a job."• Disasters disproportionately hit communities already made vulnerable by redlining, the historical practice of confining people of color and poor families to lower-lying land that's more exposed to flooding and severe weather.• In interviews with 46 disaster and trafficking responders, foreign national day laborers doing disaster recovery work and isolated children in disrupted households emerged as two of the populations most vulnerable to exploitation after a storm.• After Hurricane Ida, Louisiana's child abuse hotline — the mandated channel for reporting child trafficking — was down for at least three weeks, leaving responders with no way to report what they saw.• Preparation has to happen before a disaster, not during one: without a plan already tested and rehearsed, coordinating a trafficking response becomes nearly impossible once phones, power, and staff are all unreachable at once.• Louisiana responders found creative workarounds under pressure, from standing up a mobile forensic interview unit in a neighboring parish within 24 hours to running child trafficking response operations out of a partner's building after their own offices were destroyed.• Leanne and her RTI colleagues sent their findings directly to the Louisiana Human Trafficking Prevention Commission and Advisory Board, which is now recommending changes to state labor procurement practices to help prevent forced labor.Resources• RTI International• Human Trafficking in the Wake of Natural Disasters (RTI research project page)• Human Trafficking in the Wake of Natural Disasters: A Case Study of Preparedness and Response in Louisiana (Violence and Victims, 2026)• The Intersection of Human Trafficking and Natural Disasters: A Scoping Review (Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 2024)• Advancing the Field: Human Trafficking and Natural Disasters — Recommendations for the Louisiana Human Trafficking Prevention Commission and Advisory Board• Labor Trafficking in Construction During the Recovery and Reconstruction from a Natural Disaster (OPRE Report, Barrick & Pfeffer)• Louisiana Human Trafficking Prevention Commission and Advisory Board• David, et al. v. Signal International, LLC, et al. (ACLU case page)

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

On July 6, a Chinese submarine fired a nuclear-capable ballistic missile out of the South China Sea. It likely overflew parts of the Philippines before coming down in waters between Tuvalu, Nauru and Solomon Islands, inside the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone. The 14 Pacific Island countries in whose region it landed were almost entirely skipped in Beijing's notifications. A month later, when Pacific Islands Forum foreign ministers met in Fiji, two of its members held up the response text.Kathryn Paik of the Center for Strategic and International Studies joins Ray Powell and Jim Carouso to explain what Beijing was signaling, and why the Pacific Island Countries couldn't answer with one voice. Paik wrote the first-ever U.S. Pacific Partnership Strategy at the National Security Council, following 23 years in the Marine Corps as a helicopter pilot and as a military attaché in Indonesia.In this episode:Why the missile's route mattered more than its range: launched from the South China Sea, overflying a U.S. treaty ally and landing in a declared nuclear-free zone hours after Australia signed its fourth-ever mutual defense treaty with Fiji. Paik's read: the message was that China "can militarily touch you anywhere it wants."How Nauru and Kiribati, two countries that recently switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing, frustrated an 18-member consensus bloc. Jim presses the obvious counter — the U.S. and France tested here for decades — and Paik explains what makes this launch different.How sports became a national security instrument in a deal to put Papua New Guinea in Australia's National Rugby League, and the commitment on security ties with Beijing that came attached.Australia's diplomatic surge: mutual defense treaties with PNG and Fiji, plus bespoke security pacts with Tuvalu, Nauru and Vanuatu.Why Kiribati patrols an ocean territory larger than India with a population of roughly 140,000, and what that means for fisheries, the seabed and undersea cables.Paik on why U.S. Pacific policy has always been somebody's side job: "In Australia they have 300 people in their Office of the Pacific. We have about a dozen." The 2025 damage to U.S. standing, including USAID's closure, tariffs and no resident ambassadors across the 14 Pacific Island countries. Subscribe for your weekly Indo-Pacific briefing.Follow Kathryn Paik on LinkedIn or X, @KathrynPaikFollow us on X, @IndoPacPodcast, LinkedIn or FacebookFollow Ray Powell on X, @GordianKnotRay, or LinkedIn, or check out his maritime transparency work at SeaLightFollow Jim Carouso on LinkedInSponsored by BowerGroupAsia, a strategic advisory firm that specializes in the Indo-Pacific

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

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, former DoD Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss what's next for the Iran war as Tehran taps a new top security leader — Mohsen Rezaee — and holds firm on its demands, striking shipping as President Trump says America can maintain and “indefinite” blockade of the Strait of Hormuz; USS Abraham Lincoln becomes emblematic of the war's burden on the US military; more details on the Turkey-Pakistan-Saudi Arabia pact; Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu defies Trump on Gaza as his government continues to push Palestinians from the West Bank; how Europe should respond to Moscow's increasingly kinetic moves as Germany investigates the suspected Aug 4 Russian drone attack on Leipzig's airport; US efforts to gain control of Greenland as a US company, Greenland Energy, lands oil exploration equipment on the world's largest island without necessary approvals; Europe's elections as heat waves spark wildfires and dry up rivers, undermining growth; Russia uses North Korean ballistic missiles target Ukrainian civilians as well as Odesa and its grain supplies; Vladimir Putin visited Iturup on the Kuril Islands claimed by Japan and threatened to seize European ships if nations escalate efforts to combat Moscow's sanctions-evading shadow fleet; former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongi's legacy; Taiwan's pledge to increase defense spending and anti-blockade drills; North Korea's missile test; and the Trump administration touts its deterrence by denial and slams China's tariff evasion.

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

Visit us at Network2020.org.The Philippines sits at the center of an increasingly contested Indo-Pacific, caught between its traditional ally in Washington, and rising interference from Beijing. The country's strategic location including control of the Luzon Strait, which sees over one trillion dollars in passing goods annually, makes it an important player in the jockeying for economic position in the South China Sea. And the disputed Scarborough Shoal is the last link in the Chinese artificial island triangle which could allow China to project radar control over the South China Sea. As strategic competition intensifies between the United States and China, Manila's foreign policy choices are shaping not only regional security but also the future of global trade and maritime governance. What greater strategic role does the Philippines play in Asia and the South China Sea? How has the country changed its strategic outlook during the transition from Rodrigo Duterte to Bongbong Marcos? And how will Philippine foreign policy influence the future of regional stability, commerce, and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific?Join us for a discussion with Gregory B. Poling, Director and Senior Fellow at the Southeast Asia Program and Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and author of On Dangerous Ground: America's Century in the South China Sea.

Defense policy expert Seth Jones of the Center for Strategic and International Studies discusses the latest developments in the U.S.-Iran war, including reports that U.S. munitions stockpiles are running low. Then, Adam Brandon of the Independent Leadership Council explains the group's new effort to elect independent candidates to federal office. Finally, Unite America Executive Director Nick Troiano discusses his organization's campaign to reform political primaries and what those changes could mean for the future of U.S. elections. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, sponsored by L3Harris, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former DoD Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the future of reconciliation, a continuing resolution and appropriations as well as the confirmation of Todd Blanche as attorney general; President Trump reportedly blasted Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the acute shortage of weapons that are said to have curtailed US options against Iran; US intelligence warns Russia might test NATO through a limited incursion into alliance territory as Washington frays relations with its European allies and faces depleted magazines; Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg's Aug 5 memo to defense executives giving them 21 days to develop concrete plans to accelerate production of sensors, platforms and electronic warfare, munitions, and space systems; Democratic senators accuse Feinberg of steering contracts to firms involving the president's sons; Iran and Oman continue to negotiate an agreement to jointly manage the strait of Hormuz including a transit corridor for traffic; Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan's mutual security pact; Trump's deal between Israel and Hamas, Jerusalem struck Hamas in Gaza as Hamas said it won't give up its weapons, just lock them up; Russia is suspected of using explosive drones on Leipzig's airport in the vicinity of Ukrainian cargo planes; China tightens its grip on the Scarborough Shoal as Beijing acknowledges two Chinese sailors were killed last year when one of its destroyers collided with one of its coast guard cutters while chasing a Philippine Coast Guard vessel; Japan's new defense white paper — “Preparing for a New Era of Warfare;” Taiwan's“Han Kuang” exercise to test wartime readiness; and why Pentagon policy chief Bridge Colby wants to go to China.

In the midst of the US-China trade conflict last year, Beijing unsheathed its fiercest weapon. By ramping up restrictions on exports of rare earth metals – crucial elements for high-tech manufacturing – China forced the US to climb down. That show of strength was a wake up call for the US. It has since spent huge sums backing mining companies, penned eye-catching deals and moved to collaborate with allies. But after a little more than a year, how much progress has it made in breaking China's hold on the rare earths supply chain? Featuring: Abigail Hunter of the SAFE Center for Critical Minerals Strategy; Gracelin Baskaran of the Critical Minerals Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies; Cory Combs of Trivium China; and FT commodities correspondent Camilla Hodgson.Subscribe to Soumaya's show on Apple, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you listen.Further reading: China and the new era of critical minerals diplomacyHedge funds raise bets against US-backed critical minerals companies China restricts trading with some US rare earth companiesPresented by Soumaya Keynes. Produced by Mischa Frankl-Duval. Original music by Breen Turner. Sound design by Breen Turner and Samantha Giovinco. Manuela Saragosa and Topher Forhecz are the executive producers. Flo Phillips is the FT's head of audio.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the morning of March 20, 1995, millions of rush hours commuters boarded trains across Tokyo, just as they countless other mornings. Unbeknownst those millions of riders, five of those trains were carrying large quantities of a nerve agent called Sarin, a colorless, odorless liquid that, when released into the air, can cause extreme respiratory problems and eventually death. As the trains traveled to their respective destinations through the underground system, the bags of Sarin became punctured and released the gas into the packed trains cars and within seconds, the first victims began dropping to floor, choking and vomiting.  The Tokyo gas attacks killed thirteen people and injured nearly 6,000 others, and they remain the worst case of domestic terrorism in Japan's history. Yet beyond the obvious trauma of the incident, the attack has left a deep wound in the nation's psyche. When the perpetrators of the attack, a doomsday cult known as Aum Shinrikyo, were apprehended, the nation was shocked that a small religious cult had managed to cause such tremendous damage. Even now, thirty years later, the impact of Aum Shinrikyo and the sarin gas attacks are still felt around Japan. References BBC News. 2018. Aum Shinrikyo: The Japanese cult behind the Tokyo Sarin. July 6. Accessed July 16, 2025. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-35975069. Kristof, Nicholas D. 1995. "In shrine of Japan cult, police find labratory." New York Times, March 27: 2. —. 1995. "Japanese police raid the offices of a sect linked to poison gas." New York Times, March 22: 1. Monterey Institute of International Studies. 2016. Chronology or Aum Shinrikyo's CBQ Activities. Timeline , Monterey Institute of International Studies. Murakami, Haruki. 2001. Underground: The Tokyo Gas Attack and the Japanese Psyche. Translated by Alfred Birnbaum and Philip Gabriel. New York, NY: Vintage. Watanabe, Teresa. 1995. "Police seize toxic chemicals in raid on Japanese sect." Los Angeles Times, March 23: 1. —. 1995. "Raid on sect spurs civil-liberties worries." Los Angeles Times, March 23: 4. WuDunn, Sheryl. 1995. "Fear stalks Tokyo: safe no more." New York Times, March 21: 13. —. 1995. "Sect says government staged the gas attack." New York Times, March 22: 10. Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash KelleyListener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra LallyListener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Scientific Sense ® by Gill Eapen: Prof. Anna Grzymala-Busse is Professor of International Studies and Senior Fellow at Stanford University. Her research focuses on the historical development of the state and its transformation, political parties, religion and politics, and post communist politics. Other areas of interest include populism, informal institutions, and causal mechanisms. Please subscribe to this channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/ScientificSense?sub_confirmation=1

The war with Iran is putting renewed attention on a critical national security question: does America's defense industrial base have the capacity and resilience needed for a larger conflict with China or Russia? Defense expert Dr. Seth Jones joins Rep. Crenshaw to discuss why America struggles to build weapons fast enough and what policies could strengthen our military edge. They also discuss lessons from the war in Ukraine, the most likely scenarios as China ramps up pressure on Taiwan, and the number one threat to the homeland that most people are ignoring: drone attacks.   Seth G. Jones is president of the Defense and Security Department and Harold Brown Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Find his work at https://www.csis.org/.

In this episode of Occupied Thoughts, FMEP Fellow Ahmed Moor speaks with Hani Almadhoun, Vice President of Philanthropy at UNRWA USA and co-founder of Gaza Soup Kitchen, an initiative that Hani and his family in Gaza started to feed people in Gaza during the Israeli genocide. Hani and Ahmed speak about Hani's family in Gaza and the work of the Gaza Soup Kitchen from its founding until today. They discuss the mission and work of UNRWA and the role that UNRWA USA plays in supporting it. And they talk about accountability, justice, and ways forward.  Hani Almadhoun is the Vice President of Philanthropy at UNRWA USA and co-founder of Gaza Soup Kitchen. Born in the Emirates, Hani's family fled to the Gaza Strip in the aftermath of the first Gulf War. It was tough adjusting to the harsh conditions in Gaza during the First Intifada, but his family was made whole again when his dad got a job at an UNRWA school teaching English to refugees. A child of an educator, Hani was raised with the mantra of school being the top priority, and in this pursuit, he eventually found his way to the United States, thanks to a university scholarship from the LDS Church. After earning both his Masters in Public Administration and his BA in International Studies and Latin American studies from Brigham Young University, Hani settled in Washington, DC where he fell into the world of fundraising for various causes that spoke to him, including civil rights and social justice groups for Muslim and Arab Americans and charities that serve the Palestinian people and other marginalized communities in the Middle East. Ahmed Moor is a Palestinian-American writer born in Gaza and a Fellow at FMEP. He is an advisory board member of the US Campaign for Palestinian rights, co-editor of After Zionism (Saqi Books) and is currently writing a book about Palestine. He also currently serves on the board of the Independence Media Foundation. His work has been published in The Guardian, The London Review of Books, The Nation, and elsewhere. He earned a BA at the University of Pennsylvania and an MPP at Harvard University. You can follow Ahmed on Substack at: https://ahmedmoor.substack.com and on X at @AhmedMoor. Original music by Jalal Yaquoub.

Governments started the space age. Now, billionaires and private firms are reinventing it. Guest host Steve Levitt explores what the past can teach us about a high-stakes future. (Part two of a two-part series.)   SOURCES: Blaise Agüera y Arcas, vice president and fellow at Google, C.T.O. of technology and society. Rosanna Hoffman, head of space law, policy, and sustainability at the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs. Alex Macdonald, former first chief economist at NASA, senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Will Marshall, co-founder and C.E.O. of Planet Labs.   RESOURCES: "The mission to create a searchable database of Earth's surface," by Will Marshall (TED, 2018). The Long Space Age, by Alex Macdonald (2017). Planet Labs A.I.    EXTRAS: "Should A.I. Move to Space?," series by Freakonomics Radio (2026). Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Day 1,617.As yet more Russian Wildberries distribution sites reach for the stars, Ukrainian missile producer Firepoint wins the month's top-trolling award by offering merch to anyone who correctly predicts their next target. Dom reports how ballistic-missile defence is the hot topic of military and diplomatic discussion at the moment, with offers from Poland, favours asked of SpaceX and, perhaps least surprising of all, a growing coolness from Donald Trump over the plan/idea/wishful thinking that Ukraine would be given the Patriot blueprints. Alex Nichol reports that Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff may be in Ukraine in the next few weeks, which would be their first trip to Kyiv despite making multiple visits to Putin in Moscow.Contributors: Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.Alex Nichol (Telegraph Journalist).With thanks to Hugh Roberts (@hugh.g.a.roberts on Instagram) and the University of Exeter. Senior Producer: Lilian FawcettVideo Producer: Sophie O'SullivanSocial Producer: Tom SteedStudio Director: Meghan SearleExecutive Editor: Francis DearnleyCreated by David KnowlesNOW IN FULL VIDEO WITH MAPS & BATTLEFIELD FOOTAGE:Every episode is now available on our YouTube channel shortly after the release of the audio version. You will find it here: https://www.youtube.com/@UkraineTheLatest CONTENT REFERENCED:If you're interested in sponsoring Dom's upcoming defence event, email our colleagues at events@telegraph.co.ukRussian missile destroys US firm's Kyiv drone factory (The Guardian)https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/30/us-firm-drone-factory-terminal-autonomy-ukraine-russia Zelensky Asked Trump for a Favor From Elon Musk (The Atlantic)https://www.theatlantic.com/national-security/2026/07/zelensky-asked-trump-for-a-favor-from-elon-musk/688122/Donald Trump ‘not sure' he will let Ukraine build Patriot missiles (Financial Times)https://www.ft.com/content/d8c42f6b-4dba-4976-a907-c7c93bca0bbd?syn-25a6b1a6=1 War and peace: Ukraine's ambassador in Washington joins our table (Christian Science Monitor)https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/monitor_breakfast/2026/0731/ukraine-ambassador-olga-stefanishyna?icid=rssThe Geopolitics of Russia's Civil Nuclear Exports Four Years into the War (Centre for Strategic and International Studies)https://www.csis.org/analysis/geopolitics-russias-civil-nuclear-exports-four-years-war Ukrainian War Time Poetry: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx2YPXiQIIQvRHSFfabgsOZM_5G5eqj5OJantar Publishing House: https://www.jantarpublishing.com/Lines from the frontline: the poet soldiers defending Ukraine (The Conversation): https://theconversation.com/lines-from-the-frontline-the-poet-soldiers-defending-ukraine-276676 Death of a Ukrainian Writer (New Yorker): https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/the-death-of-a-ukrainian-writer-victoria-amelinaThe Buried Book That Helped Ukraine's Literary Revival (The New York Times): https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/20/world/europe/ukraine-publishing-buried-book.htmlMore about Aliaksei Lazarau: https://x.com/Alx_lazarau/status/2050195969103307014 The petition to allow non-Ukrainian to be recognised as Hero of Ukraine: https://petition.president.gov.ua/petition/264020 EMAIL US:Contact the team on ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many as possible.HIGHLIGHTS:Russians 'fear being killed in Red Square,' Kyiv claimsZelensky asks Elon Musk a favour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former DoD Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the national security headlines of the week.

We heard this week about further casualties from drone and missile attacks on US forces in the Middle East. How is the threat changing, and can we still defend ourselves as weapon inventories shrink? In this summer-weight edition, Dr. Tom Karako, Director of the Air and Missile Defense program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, joins us with the analysis — and an update on Golden Dome. And, of course, the week's top headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!

On today's episode, I talk to historian and journalist Daniel Bessner. Danny is a true renaissance man, but not in the Danny DeVito sense. As an academic, he is the Anne H.H. and Kenneth B. Pyle Associate Professor in American Foreign Policy in the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies at the University of Washington. He is also the author of two books, Democracy in Exile and Imperialist Realism and the co-editor of a number of anthologies, including Cold War Liberalism: Power in a Time of Emergency, which just came out in January. As a podcaster, Danny is the co-host with Derek Davison of the fantastic U.S. foreign policy and global affairs podcast American Prestige, which packs more news and analysis into every second than most other political podcasts pack into their entire run. This is the website for Beginnings, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, follow me on Twitter. Check out my free philosophy Substack where I write essays every couple months here and my old casiopop band's lost album here! And the comedy podcast I do with my wife Naomi Couples Therapy can be found here! Theme song by the fantastic Savoir Adore! Second theme by the brilliant Mike Pace! Closing theme by the delightful Gregory Brothers! Podcast art by the inimitable Beano Gee!  

On today's episode, Lawfare's Ukraine Fellow Anastasiia Lapatina talks to Maria Snegovaya, a senior fellow for Russia and Eurasia at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, about how the Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy sites are shifting attitudes towards the war inside Russia. They also discuss Maria's latest report, co-authored with Jade McGlynn, called “Russian Attitudes Are Shifting as the War's Effects Come Home.”To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/lawfare-institute.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Episode 487 of Hidden Forces, Demetri Kofinas speaks with Vali Nasr — professor of international affairs and Middle East studies at Johns Hopkins University, non-resident senior advisor in the Middle East program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and author of Iran's Grand Strategy: A Political History — about the argument that the Islamic Republic's conduct is driven far less by religious ideology than by national insecurity and historical grievance, how that reframing bears on US and Western policy and the nuclear negotiations, the forces that forged the Islamic Republic into what it is today, and the range of likely outcomes for Iran, the region, and the global economy. The first hour examines the central argument of Vali's work—drawn from his book and a recent Foreign Affairs article co-authored with Narges Bajoghli—that the Islamic Republic's conduct is driven far less by religious ideology than by a deeply entrenched sense of national insecurity and historical grievance rooted in Iran's long experience of foreign domination. They trace that experience through Iran's centuries of isolation and weakness, the imperial penetration of the nineteenth century, and the 1953 coup against Mohammad Mossadegh, before turning to why the distinction between ideology and rational national interest is so consequential for how the United States, Tel Aviv, and the West approach Iran—nowhere more so than in the nuclear negotiations. The second hour turns to the forces that made the Islamic Republic what it is today, beginning with the eight-year Iran-Iraq War—the crucible in which its current leadership, its institutions, and the Revolutionary Guards were formed, and from which Iran drew its doctrine of forward defense and proxy warfare. From there they examine Iran's nuclear program as an instrument of negotiation and deterrence rather than an end in itself, the effects of the maximum pressure campaign and sanctions, and how the latest war has accelerated cultural change inside the country. The conversation closes by drawing a parallel between the collapse of the Safavid state in 1722 and China's century of humiliation before considering the range of likely outcomes—including whether a grand bargain is possible and what the default scenario looks like for Iran, the region, and the global economy if the status quo persists. Subscribe to our premium content—including our premium feed, episode transcripts, and Intelligence Reports—by visiting HiddenForces.io/subscribe. If you'd like to join the conversation and become a member of the Hidden Forces Genius community—with benefits like Q&A calls with guests, exclusive research and analysis, in-person events, and dinners—you can also sign up on our subscriber page at HiddenForces.io/subscribe. If you enjoyed today's episode of Hidden Forces, please support the show by: Subscribing on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify, Stitcher, SoundCloud, CastBox, or via our RSS Feed Writing us a review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify Join our mailing list at https://hiddenforces.io/newsletter/ Producer & Host: Demetri Kofinas Editor & Engineer: Stylianos Nicolaou Subscribe and support the podcast at https://hiddenforces.io. Join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @hiddenforcespod Follow Demetri on Twitter at @Kofinas Episode Recorded on 07/06/2026