Podcast appearances and mentions of trevor thrall

This week on Security Dilemma, Patrick Carver Fox and John Allen Gay interview Dr. Christopher Preble, Director of the Reimagining Grand Strategy Program at the Stimson Center. We discuss the reasons why the assumptions of liberal internationalism are unsustainable and we talk about Dr. Preble's upcoming paper on redeveloping U.S. foreign policy for an uncertain future. Christopher Preble is the Senior Fellow and Director of the Reimagining US Grand Strategy program at the Stimson Center. Prior to joining the Stimson Center, he served as Co-Director of the Atlantic Council's New American Engagement Initiative. In his role, he leads a team of scholars who challenge prevailing assumptions surrounding US foreign policy, and who offer a range of policy options that go beyond the use of force and coercion. His own work focuses on the history of US foreign policy, contemporary US grand strategy and military force posture, alliance relations, and the intersection of trade and national security. Preble is the author of four books, including Peace, War, and Liberty: Understanding U.S. Foreign Policy (Cato Institute, 2019); and The Power Problem: How American Military Dominance Makes Us Less Safe, Less Prosperous, and Less Free (Cornell University Press, 2009). He co-authored, with John Glaser and A. Trevor Thrall, Fuel to the Fire: How Trump Made America's Broken Foreign Policy even Worse and How We Can Recover (Cato Institute, 2019), and he has also co-edited several other books and monographs, including A Dangerous World? Threat Perception and U.S. National Security (Cato Institute, 2014), with John Mueller. His work has appeared in major publications including the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, the Financial Times, Survival, Foreign Policy, National Review, and The National Interest, and he is a frequent guest on television and radio. In addition to his work at the Stimson Center, Preble co-hosts the “Net Assessment” podcast in the War on the Rocks network, and he teaches the US Foreign Policy elective at the University of California, Washington Center. He has also taught history at St. Cloud State University and Temple University. He is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Preble was vice president for defense and foreign policy studies at the Cato Institute from 2011 to 2020, and director of foreign policy studies from 2003 to 2011. Preble was a commissioned officer in the US Navy, and served aboard the USS Ticonderoga (CG-47) from 1990 to 1993.

The United States sells arms to almost any country willing to pay for them, but many recipients are risky, unstable, undemocratic, and liable to misuse the weapons. Cato defense and foreign policy studies policy analyst Jordan Cohen explains why the U.S. government sells arms to risky countries, why it doesn't give the U.S. strategic leverage, the costs and consequences of U.S. security assistance to Ukraine, the problem of cluster munitions, U.S. support for the Nigerian military (which recently executed a coup d'état), and how to reform U.S. arms sales policies. Show NotesJordan Cohen bioJordan Cohen and A. Trevor Thrall, “2022 Arms Sales Risk Index,” Cato Institute policy analysis no. 953, July 18, 2023.Jordan Cohen and Jonathan Ellis Allen, “When our Weapons Go Missing,” Reason, July 31, 2023.Barry R. Posen, “Ukraine's Implausible Theories of Victory,” Foreign Affairs, July 8, 2023.Jordan Cohen and Jonathan Ellis Allen, “Cluster Munitions May Win a Battle but not Ukraine's War,” Inkstick Media, July 13, 2023.Jordan Cohen and Jonathan Ellis Allen, “Did the Pentagon Just Make a $3 Billion Accounting Error – or Did It Do Something Even Worse?” Reason, May 19, 2023.Jordan Cohen, “Coups Are Just An Arms (Sale) Length Away: US Weapons Equip Niger's Military,” Cato at Liberty, August 3, 2023.Jordan Cohen, “Deal or No Deal: Explaining Congressional Restrictions on Arms Transfers,” PhD diss (George Mason University, 2023).Jon Hoffman, Jordan Cohen, and Jonathan Ellis Allen, “Biden Steamrolls toward Disaster in the Middle East,” The Hill, August 2, 2023. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 12 Week Year - Discover how accountability, commitment, and greatness in the moment can elevate your writing game."The 12 Week Year" by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington - https://www.amazon.com/12-Week-Year-Others-Months/dp/1118509234/"The 12 Week Year for Writers" by A. Trevor Thrall - https://www.amazon.com/12-Week-Year-Writers-Comprehensive-ebook/dp/B09CLX3NMK/Question of the week: What does greatness in the moment mean to you?Get your free copy of the First Chapter Rubric.Links:WritingPursuits.comInstagram: @WritingPursuitsPodcastThree Story Method Certified EditorKathreseMcKee.comYourFirstChapter.com

It's always a good time to set goals! Writer, speaker, and social media consultant Kathryn McClatchy knows how to create and hit achievable goals. She'shelped many authors create realistic goals and objectives for their stage of life - and put the right timeframes in place.We'll be talking all things goal-oriented. No matter if you are looking to level up your business, writing, or hobbies, we break down why goals are important, identifying goals that are realistic for your stage of life and how to lean into your strengths. (Part 1 of 2. Second part can be found on Kathryn's podcast - Authorpreneurs Unleashed)Connect with Kathryn:https://kathrynmcclatchy.com/Twitter: @KmmcclatchyInstagram: @kathrynmcclatchyFacebook: @KMMcClatchyTikTok: @kathrynmcclatchyAuthorpreneurs Unleashed PodcastAuthorpreneurs Unleashed (buzzsprout.com)Or her Author Facebook Group, Unleashing the Next Chapter---------Resources Mentioned:* The 12 Week Year for Writers: A Comprehensive Guide to Getting Your Writing Done by A. Trevor Thrall, Brian P. Moran , Michael Lenningtonhttps://amzn.to/3GSO4e6*On Writing by Steven Kinghttps://amzn.to/3XrJkme*Kitchen Privileges by Mary Higgens Clarkhttps://amzn.to/3GLu110*The Power of When by Michael Breus https://amzn.to/3IPTAjZ*Hero on a Mission by Donald Millerhttps://amzn.to/3DgpJ0P* Mel Robbins "Re-invent your life podcast"https://amzn.to/3IXxg8a---------The YouTube ChannelSupport the ShowFind me below:Twitter - @RomancetheStoryInstagram - @RomancetheStoryFacebook - @RomancetheStorySupport the show

Did you dilly-dally during 2022 and not get your book planned or started or finished? Will you dilly-dally during 2023 and not get your book planned or started or finished? Not on my watch! If you're going to make 2023 the bee's knees, then don't wait for the new year. Pencil in some 'me-time' this month to give yourself the upper hand. If you launch into 2023 with a burst of energy, you'll be light years ahead, heading into January with a sharp eye, a precise plan, and pure grit! Here are seven things to do before New Year's Day: 1. Review your year 2022 has plenty of wisdom to share! Before it slips away, take a moment to reflect on your experiences and cherish the moments that will stick with you for the years to come. And don't be afraid to look at what slipped, why it slipped, and what you can do to stop that happening again. For me, I'd hoped to finish my novel, Spirit of Water. I've been trying to finish that bad boy for 10 years. 10! Yeah, I relaunched my coaching business, started a part-time, freelancing position with Author Accelerator, wrote a novelette, Out in the Cold, compiled and published my writing group's first anthology, and three episodes of a new comedy TV show, but not finishing that novel is bugging me. And why did that happen? Because on my daily list of things to do, my writing came last. 2. Get clear on what's most important Cramming your day with a hundred and one tiny tasks won't suddenly make you the person you want to be. But if you get clear on your core values, it's like getting a mystical guiding light to show you the path towards your top priorities. So define what matters most to you, and then follow the energetic breadcrumbs to get where you're going. On my daily list of things to do, my writing will come first, closely followed by my coaching work. 3. Set a context for 2023 Pinpoint the things you'd like to achieve. Define a word for the year that will grant you permission to say YIPEE to the stuff that resonates with you and BOO to the stuff that doesn't jive. My 2023 word is "accomplished". I want to accomplish these goals: Secure a spot on a Creative Writing PhD course. Publish Spirit of Water. Author Accelerator certification as a nonfiction book coach (stretch goal because it depends on my practicum client). Publish the next novel in my Bacchus Chronicles series. 4. Review your habits James Clear says, “you get what you repeat”.   Are your habits helpful or hurtful? Could you benefit from incorporating some new tricks into your lifestyle to guarantee your success? Be sincere with the behaviours you take on autopilot and determine if it's time to roll out some modifications. I've had a rough few months. One of our dogs put up a brave battle with cancer but passed away on December 10th. There's never a good time for a pet to pass away, but both my husband and I were suffering with the most awful chest infections. Since then I haven't bothered setting my 7 A.M alarm... and now my days are all over the place. As of tomorrow, I'll be setting that 7 A.M. alarm and getting some structure back into my days. I deserve to end my working days feel with a completed "To Feel" list. Which bring us to... 5. Make a "To Feel" list Achievements are great for injecting some purpose into your life. But what sort of person do you want to be and how do you want to feel? A "To Feel" is a sensational journalling technique that can help you explore a more intentional life experience. I learned about "To Feel" list from my bestie. She says that we'll die with an unfinished "To Do" list, so why not concentrate on doing the things that contribute to how we want to feel? In the words of Oscar Wilde, “To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people just exist.” Build a "To Feel" list, and you'll find it simpler to experience 'the rarest thing in the world'. On my daily list of things to feel, 'feel like a writer' will come first. I'll want to write if I want to feel like a writer. 6. Create your support structure Jim Rohn famously said, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” Who will surround you in 2023 and help you thrive? For example: Is it time to join a writing group? I didn't have any local writing groups, so I started two writing groups from my National Novel Writing Month cohorts, first in Essex and now in Hertfordshire. Each month, we make commitments where we'll be by the next meeting and during every meeting at least one of us says, "And I wouldn't have done it without you lot". Would you go further with an accountability buddy or mentor? Having someone out there who's expecting pages from you is a huge motivator. Do you want to find more online groups where ‘your people' hang out? My writing group is online, and it's just as social as it is productive. Plus, you don't have to haul your cookies out of the house for the meetings. Does your friendship group nourish and support you? If they don't, consider that writing group, accountability buddy or mentor—they understand the writing life. Does your family nourish and support you? See above! 7. Set a three-month goal Goals provide you with a beacon of light, guiding your every move. Accomplishing things that matter most to you gives you a sense of grandeur - as if you were a master builder of your own destiny. So don't simply set goals, but craft them. This way, you can ensure that your dreams and aspirations are well within reach. I've ordered a copy of The 12 Week Year for Writers: A Comprehensive Guide to Getting Your Writing Done (affiliate link) by A. Trevor Thrall because I want to feel accomplished by hitting the deadlines for my goals. This year, I've proved to TV producers—and myself—that I can rewrite an entire episode in 24 hours. Imagine what I can do with the novel I've been putting off for 10 years! If you think mentoring might be a good option for you, check out my monthly mentoring service. What fresh adventures await you in 2023? Here's to making the coming year one for the books. YOUR books!

Welcome to the Get Your Writing Done podcast, I'm Trevor Thrall, author of The 12 Week Year for Writers. If you enjoy today's episode, please submit a review wherever you get your podcasts. And for weekly updates on the podcast and other writing resources, you can subscribe to my newsletter at GYWD.comAre you the kind of person who likes to hash out all the details before you start writing? Or are you the kind of person who likes to take an idea, start writing, and see where it goes? Whether or not you've taken sides in the Plotter/Pantser wars, all fiction writers eventually have the same needs. They need to figure out their story's timeline, they need to make sure their plots are coherent, they need to understand their characters' arcs, and so on.So today I'm excited to be chatting with Cameron Sutter and Ryan Zee, founders of the fantastic new app, Plottr. Plottr is a beautiful app with easy-to-use drag & drop visual timelines that let you construct outlines and plots more quickly than ever. And it has built-in plot templates based on time-tested structures like the Hero's Journey, the 12 Chapter Mystery, and Romancing the Beat.Whether you're a plotter or a pantser, the Plottr app is definitely worth checking out.LinksPlottr.comWeekly Writing Routine Workshop (Jan 20, 2022)30 Day Writing Habit Builder Challenge (Jan 24, 2022)Trevor's Coach-Led Weekly Writing GroupGetYourWritingDone.comFollow me on TwitterThe 12 Week Year for Writers

A great way to celebrate a new year and a tricentenary episode: a 'best bits' compilation of wisdom from recent guests talking about one of the most important and rewarding aspects of writing a business book.  Whether you need to focus on building your following or your partnerships, or simply be a bit braver at making new connections, there's inspiration and ideas for you here. Hear from: Eloise Cook on why publishers look for a following Sonya Barlow on creating serendipity Michael Buckworth on the value of talking about your idea Dorie Clark on professional communities, aka 'making friends as an adult' Trevor Thrall on collaborating with trust Michael Leckie on reaching out to your heroes Lucy Ryan on finding writing buddies Jo Bottrill on finding the right publishing skills.    

'No one wants to be preached at or talked down to, or made to believe it's fancier than it is. This is not rocket science. This is just good, plain common sense. You need a framework. There are lots of them out there. This is the one that works for me. And I think there are some good reasons it will work for you. And I'll just explain that to you.' Discovering the 12-week year approach saved Trevor Thrall's career as an academic, and now he teaches it to other writers. In this conversation he tells me how it transformed his own writing, and how he's built the idea beyond the book into a community.  This system is GENIUS, and might just transform your writing life too... 

Welcome to the Get Your Writing Done podcast, I'm Trevor Thrall, author of The 12 Week Year for Writers. If you enjoy today's episode, please submit a review wherever you get your podcasts. And for weekly updates on the podcast and other writing resources, you can subscribe to my newsletter at GYWD.comAh the holidays, that time of year where everyone's plans to get things done meet the hard cold reality of holiday parties, endless hours at the shopping mall, and car trips to Grandma's house. For writers, it's hard to navigate between the temptation to hole up in your office and keep writing until it's all over and the temptation to abandon all pretense at writing between Thanksgiving and New Year's.In this week's episode I discuss the challenges of writing at the holidays and offer a five-step approach to finding the balance that works for you.LinksSubscribe to the GYWD newsletterFollow me on TwitterThe 12 Week Year for Writers

Welcome to the Get Your Writing Done podcast, I'm Trevor Thrall, author of The 12 Week Year for Writers. If you enjoy today's episode, please submit a review wherever you get your podcasts. And for weekly updates on the podcast and other writing resources, you can subscribe to my newsletter at GYWD.comWhat if there were a tool that would simultaneously help you be more accountable, give you inspiration and support, give you feedback on your writing, and provide structure to your writing routine? What an amazing tool that would be. Whoever invented it would surely be a zillionaire. But it sounds way too good to be true. Or does it?In fact, there is absolutely such a tool out there. It really does exist. And it's called the Weekly Writing Group. Without question, this humble tool is responsible for more productivity, more companionship, and more great writing than any other thing I can think of. Unfortunately, many writers have yet to embrace the weekly writing group. In today's episode I'll talk about the many reasons I love the weekly writing group and how you can start a group of your own.LinksTrevor's Coach-Led Weekly Writing GroupGetYourWritingDone.comFollow me on Twitter

9/11 set the course for U.S. national security policy in the 21st century, often with counterproductive results. Cato Institute senior fellow Justin Logan explains how post-9/11 foreign policy went off the rails and thrust America into disastrous elective wars and wasteful spending sprees. The lack of accountability for those who carried out such failures bodes ill for the future. Justin Logan bioJustin Logan, “The Case for Withdrawing from the Middle East,” Defense Priorities, September 2020. Justin Logan, “Why Wait Five to 10 Years to Leave?” Responsible Statecraft, June 24, 2021.Jane K. Cramer and A. Trevor Thrall, Why Did the United States Invade Iraq? (London: Routledge, 2012). See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The renewed debate in Washington over U.S. foreign policy reflects changing attitudes in public opinion. George Mason University professor and Cato Senior Fellow A. Trevor Thrall discusses how generational differences are changing views on U.S. military activism and America's global role. Millennials and younger people generally support international engagement while rejecting excessive military intervention. Show NotesA. Trevor Thrall bioA. Trevor Thrall and Erik Goepner, (2021), “The New Faces of Internationalism: How Generational Change Is Reshaping American Foreign Policy Attitudes,” Cato Working Paper, Cato Institute, Washington, DC. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Chris, Melanie, and Zack debate whether the United States should pursue primacy. They discuss the Donald Trump administration's "Strategic Framework for the Indo-Pacific," and compare some of its recommendations with Stephen Wertheim’s recent article on "Delusions of Dominance." They agree that the United States needs to have a national debate to match American resources and objectives, but disagree on how to adjust both elements. Chris both complements and questions the Joe Biden administration for actions during its first weeks in office. Melanie raises a multitude of concerns about Andrew Cuomo. And Zack supports Republicans facing political costs for votes of conscience.   Links Stephen Wertheim, "Delusions of Dominance," Foreign Affairs, January 25, 2021 "House Republican Reckoning," The Wall Street Journal, February 2, 2021 Ilan Ben-Meir, "That Time Trump Spent Nearly $100,000 On an Ad Criticizing U.S. Foreign Policy in 1987," BuzzFeed News, July 10, 2015 Daniel J. Ikenson, “Inauguration Day Feels Like Groundhog Day for Buy American,” Cato Institute, January 20, 2021 Jonah Shepp, “America Is Complicit in Yemen Atrocities. Biden Says That Ends Now,” New York Magazine, January 22, 2021 John Glaser, Christopher A. Preble, A. Trevor Thrall, Fuel to the Fire: How Trump Made America's Broken Foreign Policy Even Worse (and How We Can Recover), (Cato Institute, 2019)

In the first of a three-part series, Emma Ashford and Trevor Thrall explore what international relations might look like after coronavirus. Today’s guest is Dan Drezner, a professor at Tufts University, who joins them to talk about global economic relations. Daniel Drezner bio: https://fletcher.tufts.edu/people/daniel-drezner Daniel Drezner, “There is No China Crisis,” Reason Magazine: https://reason.com/2020/04/25/there-is-no-china-crisis/ Daniel Drezner, “The Most Counterintuitive Prediction About World Politics and the Coronavirus,” https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/03/30/most-counterintuitive-prediction-about-world-politics-covid-19/Emma Ashford and Matthew Kroenig, “Will Trump’s Decision To Cut WHO Funding Accomplish Anything?” Foreign Policy: https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/04/17/will-trumps-decision-to-cut-who-funding-accomplish-anything/Christopher Preble, “How Will Coronavirus Change US National Security Strategy?” Responsible Statecraft: https://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/how-will-covid-19-change-us-national-security-strategy See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Emma Ashford and Trevor Thrall chat with Peter Singer of New America about his new novel Burn In, and why fiction can be useful for our understanding of national security policy. Peter Singer bio, https://www.newamerica.org/our-people/peter-warren-singer/ Burn In: A Novel of the Real Robotic Revolution, https://www.burninbook.com/Surveillance Takes Wing: Privacy in the Age of Police Drones, Matthew Feeney, https://www.cato.org/publications/policy-analysis/surveillance-takes-wing-privacy-age-police-dronesHow Drones are Changing Warfare, Cato Unbound, https://www.cato-unbound.org/issues/january-2012/how-drones-are-changing-warfare See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Mark Hannah of the Eurasia Group Foundation joins Emma Ashford and Trevor Thrall to talk about how the world views America and American-style democracy in the age of COVID-19. Mark Hannah bio: https://egfound.org/about/our-teamEurasia Group Foundation, Global Views of American Democracy (2020)Mark Hannah, “Stop Declaring War on a Virus,” War on the Rocks See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Alice Hunt Friend of the Center for Strategic and International Studies joins Emma Ashford and Trevor Thrall to talk about the increasingly strained relations between civilian and military leaders in the Trump administration. Alice Hunt Friend bio: https://www.csis.org/people/alice-hunt-friendThis is What Was So Unusual About Making Capt. Bret Crozier Step Down: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/04/05/this-is-what-was-so-unusual-about-us-navy-making-captain-brett-crozier-step-down/ The Military Can’t Save Us From Covid-19: https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/04/14/military-cant-save-us-covid-19.html See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Greg Koblentz of George Mason University joins Emma Ashford and Trevor Thrall to talk about the international security implications of the coronavirus pandemic.Greg Koblentz bioGreg Koblentz and Mike Hunzeker, "National Security in the Age of Pandemics," Defense One, April 3, 2020Gregory Koblentz, "Biosecurity Reconsidered: Calibrating Biological Threats and Responses," International Security, vol. 34, no. 4, Spring 2010Velibor Jakovleski, "Governance, in Crisis: What COVID-19 Means for the Present and Future of Global Governance," TheGlobal.com, April 8, 2020George Mason University: Biodefense Program, The Pandora Report See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dan Nexon of Georgetown University joins Emma Ashford and Trevor Thrall to talk about his new book, Exit from Hegemony.Show Notes:Dan NexonExit from HegemonyDan Nexon, "What if COVID-19 Is Our First Case of Global (Non)cooperation in a Post-hegemonic World?"Power Problems: Great Power Competition, Part I | Power Problems: Great Power Competition, Part II See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Emma Ashford and Trevor Thrall are joined by Brandon Valeriano to discuss the Cyberspace Solarium Commission’s official report.Brandon Valeriano bioCyberspace Solarium CommissionBrandon Valeriano and Benjamin Jensen, "The Myth of the Cyber Offense: The Case for Restraint," Cato Institute Policy Analysis 862, January 15, 2019.Brandon Valeriano, Benjamin Jensen, and Ryan C. Mannes, Cyber Strategy: The Evolving Character of Power and Coercion (Oxford University Press, 2018) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Adam Mount, Senior Fellow and the Director of the Defense Posture Project at the Federation of American Scientists, joins Trevor Thrall and Emma Ashford to discuss the future of progressive foreign policy.Adam Mount bioAdam Mount, “Principles for a Progressive Defense Policy, Texas National Security Review, December 2018Emma Ashford and Trevor Thrall, “The Battle Inside the Political Parties for the Future of U.S. Foreign Policy,” War on the Rocks, December 12, 2018Trevor Thrall and Jordan Cohen, “The Democrats’ Search for a New Foreign Policy,” Cato​.org, January 16, 2020 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dan Ikenson, director of Cato’s Herbert A. Stiefel Center for Trade Policy Studies, joins Trevor Thrall and guest host John Glaser to discuss the economic and foreign policy implications of Trump’s recent trade deals.Daniel J. Ikenson bioDaniel J. Ikenson, “A Few Things to Like about the U.S.-China Trade Deal,” Cato at Liberty, December 16, 2019Daniel J. Ikenson, “Trump’s Alleged Trade Deal with China Would Fix Nothing,” Cato at Liberty, December 13, 2019Simon Lester and Inu Manak, “The USMCA Is Moving Forward (Too) Quickly,” Cato at Liberty, December 16, 2019 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As a presidential candidate, Donald Trump broke not only from the Republican Party consensus but also from the bipartisan consensus on the direction of recent U.S. foreign policy. Calling the Iraq war a terrible mistake and lamenting America's nation building efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, President Trump has shown little interest in maintaining the traditional form of American leadership of the liberal international order. He has threatened to pull the United States out of NATO, complained that the United States was being taken advantage of by its trading partners, and argued that uncontrolled third-world immigration was a terrible mistake and indeed a threat to the American heartland. Instead, Trump's “America First” vision called for a reassertion of American nationalism on the economic front as well as in foreign affairs. In short, President Trump's foreign policy is more akin to that of the pre-Franklin Delano Roosevelt America. Fuel to the Fire: How Trump made America's Foreign Policy Even Worse (and How We Can Recover) (Cato Institute, 2019), co-authored by Christopher A. Preble, John Glaser, and A. Trevor Thrall, this book provides an assessment of Trump's America First Doctrine, its performance to date and its implications for the future. Since Trump took office, it has become clear that “America First” was more campaign slogan than coherent vision of American grand strategy and foreign policy. As president Trump has steered a course that has maintained some of the worst aspects of foreign policy of the Bush and Obama era – namely the pursuit of primacy if not hegemony and frequent military intervention abroad – while managing to make a new set of mistakes all his own. Charles Coutinho Ph. D. of the Royal Historical Society, received his doctorate from New York University. His area of specialization is 19th and 20th-century European, American diplomatic and political history. He has written recently for Chatham House's International Affairs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a presidential candidate, Donald Trump broke not only from the Republican Party consensus but also from the bipartisan consensus on the direction of recent U.S. foreign policy. Calling the Iraq war a terrible mistake and lamenting America's nation building efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, President Trump has shown little interest in maintaining the traditional form of American leadership of the liberal international order. He has threatened to pull the United States out of NATO, complained that the United States was being taken advantage of by its trading partners, and argued that uncontrolled third-world immigration was a terrible mistake and indeed a threat to the American heartland. Instead, Trump's “America First” vision called for a reassertion of American nationalism on the economic front as well as in foreign affairs. In short, President Trump's foreign policy is more akin to that of the pre-Franklin Delano Roosevelt America. Fuel to the Fire: How Trump made America's Foreign Policy Even Worse (and How We Can Recover) (Cato Institute, 2019), co-authored by Christopher A. Preble, John Glaser, and A. Trevor Thrall, this book provides an assessment of Trump's America First Doctrine, its performance to date and its implications for the future. Since Trump took office, it has become clear that “America First” was more campaign slogan than coherent vision of American grand strategy and foreign policy. As president Trump has steered a course that has maintained some of the worst aspects of foreign policy of the Bush and Obama era – namely the pursuit of primacy if not hegemony and frequent military intervention abroad – while managing to make a new set of mistakes all his own. Charles Coutinho Ph. D. of the Royal Historical Society, received his doctorate from New York University. His area of specialization is 19th and 20th-century European, American diplomatic and political history. He has written recently for Chatham House's International Affairs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a presidential candidate, Donald Trump broke not only from the Republican Party consensus but also from the bipartisan consensus on the direction of recent U.S. foreign policy. Calling the Iraq war a terrible mistake and lamenting America's nation building efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, President Trump has shown little interest in maintaining the traditional form of American leadership of the liberal international order. He has threatened to pull the United States out of NATO, complained that the United States was being taken advantage of by its trading partners, and argued that uncontrolled third-world immigration was a terrible mistake and indeed a threat to the American heartland. Instead, Trump's “America First” vision called for a reassertion of American nationalism on the economic front as well as in foreign affairs. In short, President Trump’s foreign policy is more akin to that of the pre-Franklin Delano Roosevelt America. Fuel to the Fire: How Trump made America’s Foreign Policy Even Worse (and How We Can Recover) (Cato Institute, 2019), co-authored by Christopher A. Preble, John Glaser, and A. Trevor Thrall, this book provides an assessment of Trump’s America First Doctrine, its performance to date and its implications for the future. Since Trump took office, it has become clear that “America First” was more campaign slogan than coherent vision of American grand strategy and foreign policy. As president Trump has steered a course that has maintained some of the worst aspects of foreign policy of the Bush and Obama era – namely the pursuit of primacy if not hegemony and frequent military intervention abroad – while managing to make a new set of mistakes all his own. Charles Coutinho Ph. D. of the Royal Historical Society, received his doctorate from New York University. His area of specialization is 19th and 20th-century European, American diplomatic and political history. He has written recently for Chatham House’s International Affairs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a presidential candidate, Donald Trump broke not only from the Republican Party consensus but also from the bipartisan consensus on the direction of recent U.S. foreign policy. Calling the Iraq war a terrible mistake and lamenting America's nation building efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, President Trump has shown little interest in maintaining the traditional form of American leadership of the liberal international order. He has threatened to pull the United States out of NATO, complained that the United States was being taken advantage of by its trading partners, and argued that uncontrolled third-world immigration was a terrible mistake and indeed a threat to the American heartland. Instead, Trump's “America First” vision called for a reassertion of American nationalism on the economic front as well as in foreign affairs. In short, President Trump’s foreign policy is more akin to that of the pre-Franklin Delano Roosevelt America. Fuel to the Fire: How Trump made America’s Foreign Policy Even Worse (and How We Can Recover) (Cato Institute, 2019), co-authored by Christopher A. Preble, John Glaser, and A. Trevor Thrall, this book provides an assessment of Trump’s America First Doctrine, its performance to date and its implications for the future. Since Trump took office, it has become clear that “America First” was more campaign slogan than coherent vision of American grand strategy and foreign policy. As president Trump has steered a course that has maintained some of the worst aspects of foreign policy of the Bush and Obama era – namely the pursuit of primacy if not hegemony and frequent military intervention abroad – while managing to make a new set of mistakes all his own. Charles Coutinho Ph. D. of the Royal Historical Society, received his doctorate from New York University. His area of specialization is 19th and 20th-century European, American diplomatic and political history. He has written recently for Chatham House’s International Affairs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a presidential candidate, Donald Trump broke not only from the Republican Party consensus but also from the bipartisan consensus on the direction of recent U.S. foreign policy. Calling the Iraq war a terrible mistake and lamenting America's nation building efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, President Trump has shown little interest in maintaining the traditional form of American leadership of the liberal international order. He has threatened to pull the United States out of NATO, complained that the United States was being taken advantage of by its trading partners, and argued that uncontrolled third-world immigration was a terrible mistake and indeed a threat to the American heartland. Instead, Trump's “America First” vision called for a reassertion of American nationalism on the economic front as well as in foreign affairs. In short, President Trump’s foreign policy is more akin to that of the pre-Franklin Delano Roosevelt America. Fuel to the Fire: How Trump made America’s Foreign Policy Even Worse (and How We Can Recover) (Cato Institute, 2019), co-authored by Christopher A. Preble, John Glaser, and A. Trevor Thrall, this book provides an assessment of Trump’s America First Doctrine, its performance to date and its implications for the future. Since Trump took office, it has become clear that “America First” was more campaign slogan than coherent vision of American grand strategy and foreign policy. As president Trump has steered a course that has maintained some of the worst aspects of foreign policy of the Bush and Obama era – namely the pursuit of primacy if not hegemony and frequent military intervention abroad – while managing to make a new set of mistakes all his own. Charles Coutinho Ph. D. of the Royal Historical Society, received his doctorate from New York University. His area of specialization is 19th and 20th-century European, American diplomatic and political history. He has written recently for Chatham House’s International Affairs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a presidential candidate, Donald Trump broke not only from the Republican Party consensus but also from the bipartisan consensus on the direction of recent U.S. foreign policy. Calling the Iraq war a terrible mistake and lamenting America's nation building efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, President Trump has shown little interest in maintaining the traditional form of American leadership of the liberal international order. He has threatened to pull the United States out of NATO, complained that the United States was being taken advantage of by its trading partners, and argued that uncontrolled third-world immigration was a terrible mistake and indeed a threat to the American heartland. Instead, Trump's “America First” vision called for a reassertion of American nationalism on the economic front as well as in foreign affairs. In short, President Trump’s foreign policy is more akin to that of the pre-Franklin Delano Roosevelt America. Fuel to the Fire: How Trump made America’s Foreign Policy Even Worse (and How We Can Recover) (Cato Institute, 2019), co-authored by Christopher A. Preble, John Glaser, and A. Trevor Thrall, this book provides an assessment of Trump’s America First Doctrine, its performance to date and its implications for the future. Since Trump took office, it has become clear that “America First” was more campaign slogan than coherent vision of American grand strategy and foreign policy. As president Trump has steered a course that has maintained some of the worst aspects of foreign policy of the Bush and Obama era – namely the pursuit of primacy if not hegemony and frequent military intervention abroad – while managing to make a new set of mistakes all his own. Charles Coutinho Ph. D. of the Royal Historical Society, received his doctorate from New York University. His area of specialization is 19th and 20th-century European, American diplomatic and political history. He has written recently for Chatham House’s International Affairs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michael Swaine, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, joins Trevor Thrall and guest host John Glaser to discuss the crisis in Hong Kong, the plight of the Uighurs, and China’s recent authoritarian turn.Michael Swaine bioMichael Swaine, “Chinese State‐​Society Relations: Why Beijing Isn’t Trembling and Containment Won’t Work,” Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, March 14, 2019Austin Ramzy and Chris Buckley, ““Absolutely No Mercy”: Leaked Files Expose How China Organized Mass Detentions of Muslims,” New York Times, November 16, 2019Richard McGregor, “Party Man: Xi Jinping’s Quest to Dominate China,” Foreign Affairs, September/​October 2019 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Negar Mortazavi, diplomatic correspondent for The Independent, joins Trevor Thrall and guest host John Glaser to discuss the impact of U.S. sanctions on Iran, recent Iranian protests, and the future of the JCPOA.Negar Mortazavi coverage at The IndependentFarnaz Fassihi and Rick Gladstone, “With Brutal Crackdown, Iran Is Convulsed by Worst Unrest in 40 Years,” New York Times, December 1, 2019Doug Bandow, “Trump Must Understand a War with Iran Would Be Hell,” The National Interest, November 21, 2019 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Jim Goldgeier, former dean of the School of International Service at American University and resident scholar at the Brookings Institution, joins Trevor Thrall and guest host John Glaser to discuss President Trump’s use of irregular channels of foreign policy making in Ukraine.Jim Goldgeier BioGoldgeier and Saunders, “How much have Trump’s dealings with Ukraine deviated from the norm?” Washington PostMitchell Orenstein, “Welcome to the United States of Ukraine,” Foreign Policy See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Chris, Bryan, and Melanie talk about the Interim Report issued by the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence last week. What kinds of expectations should we have about AI being used for national security purposes? What kind of investments should be made in this technology, and where will the money come from? What about concerns that AI developed by American companies or the United States government might be used by authoritarian regimes to violate their citizens' human rights? Can we continue to reap the benefits of research collaboration with people from other countries, particularly China, and still protect national security secrets? Finally, Bryan tells us of his exploits in Italy, Chris gives a heartfelt appreciation to a friend and colleague, and Melanie looks forward to some long-awaited playtime with her nephews.   Links National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence, Interim Report, November 2019 Jacey Fortin, “Uber C.E.O. Backtracks After Comparing Khashoggi’s Killing to an Accident,” New York Times, November 11, 2019 Andrew Bacevich, “The Berlin Wall Fell and the U.S. learned the Wrong Lessons. It Got Us Donald Trump,” Los Angeles Times, November 8, 2019 Christopher Preble, John Glaser, and A. Trevor Thrall, Fuel to the Fire: How Trump Made America's Broken Foreign Policy Even Worse, (Cato Institute, 2019) Robert Work and Eric Schmidt, "In Search of Ideas: The National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence Wants You," War on the Rocks, July 18, 2019 Ilanit Chernick, "Holocaust Survivors Reunite with Rescuer at Yad Vashem," November 3, 2019, Jerusalem Post "Holocaust Survivor Reunited with a Baby He Saved During World War II," BBC, November 8, 2019 Gina Kolata, "Vast Dragnet Targets Theft of Biomedical Secrets for China," New York Times, November 4, 2019 Melanie Marlow, Tweets, November 11, 2019 “Puffs,” Heritage Pride Productions, November 14-15-16, and 21-22-23

Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, joins Trevor Thrall and guest host John Glaser to discuss the launch of Washington D.C.’s newest foreign policy think tank.Quincy Institute websiteStephen Wertheim, “The Quincy Institute Opposes America’s Endless Wars. Why Should That Be a Scandal?,” Wahington Post, August 30, 2019David Klion, “Can a New Think Tank Put a Stop to Endless War?,” The Nation, July 29, 2019Curt Mills, “Realism Resurgent: The Rise of the Quincy Institute,” National Interest, July 1, 2019Kelley Vlahos, “The Quincy Institute Seeks Warmongering Monsters to Destroy,” The American Conservative, July 30, 2019 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

David Burbach from the U.S. Naval War College joins Trevor Thrall and guest host John Glaser to discuss civil‐​military relations and public attitudes towards the military.David T. Burbach bioDavid Burbach, “Gaining Trust While Losing Wars: Confidence in the U.S. Military after Iraq and Afghanistan,” Orbis, vol. 61, no. 1, 2019David Burbach, “Partisan Dimensions of Confidence in the U.S. Military, 1973–2016,” Armed Forces and Society, January 11, 2018Jim Golby and Peter Feaver, “Thank You for Your Lip Service? Social Pressure to Support the Troops,” War on the Rocks, August 14, 2019David Barno and Nora Bensehel, “Thank You for Your Lip Service? Social Pressure to Support the Troops,” War on the Rocks, June 18, 2019 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As a candidate for the presidency, Donald Trump declared the prevailing American foreign policy consensus “a complete and total disaster.” He vowed to “shake the rust off of American foreign policy” and promised that his administration would be guided by putting American security and American interests above all other considerations.In Fuel to the Fire: How Trump Made America’s Broken Foreign Policy Even Worse (and How We Can Recover), John Glaser, Christopher Preble, and Trevor Thrall argue that, instead of breaking from his party and the bipartisan consensus that has guided foreign policy for decades, Trump’s administration shows remarkable continuity with the more misguided policies of the last three decades. Simultaneously, the administration has undermined and stifled our two most valuable foreign policy tools: trade and diplomacy. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

John Glaser and Trevor Thrall detail the new Cato book, Fuel to the Fire: How Trump Made America's Broken Foreign Policy Even Worse (and How We Can Recover). See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Join Chris, Melanie, and Bryan as they dive into Professor Philip Zelikow’s recent article in the Texas National Security Review titled, “To Regain Policy Competence: The Software of American Problem Solving.” Has policymaking gotten worse, or is it a problem with implementation? Or is implementation part of the policymaking process? The gang also discusses whether there is a lack of professionalism in the education and training of future policymakers. This week's episode is a little wonky, but well worth the time.  At the end of the show, Bryan gives an attaboy for the first person to complete a marathon in under two hours, while Chris gives a shout out to his wife.   Links Philip Zelikow, "To Regain Policy Competence: The Software of American Public Problem-Solving," Texas National Security Review, September 2019 John Glaser, Christopher Preble, A. Trevor Thrall, Fuel to the Fire: How Trump Made America’s Broken Foreign Policy Even Worse (and How We Can Recover) (Cato Institute, 2019) Justin Logan, “Cult of the Irrelevant: National Security Eggheads & Academics,” American Conservative, June 12, 2019 Danielle Pletka, Tweet, October 13, 2019 Justin Logan, Tweet, October 13, 2019 Danielle Pletka, Tweet, October 13, 2019 Krista Preble, LinkedIn Alex Horton, "A Latina Novelist Spoke About White Privilege. Students Burned Her Book in Response," Washington Post, October 11, 2019 Tim Hains, "Beto O'Rourke: Churches That Oppose Same-Sex Marriage Should Lose Tax-Exempt Status," Real Clear Politics, October 11, 2019 Ryan Prior, "Farmers in Idaho Rallied to Harvest a Neighbor's Potatoes as a Deep Freeze Threatened to Ruin Them," CNN, October 11, 2019 Tariq Tahir, "Nobel Peace Prize 2019 – Greta Thunberg Snubbed as Award Given to Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed for Ending 20 Year Eritrea Conflict," Sun, October 11, 2019 Chris Stein, "Nobel Snub No Obstacle in Great Thunberg's Climate Quest," Yahoo News, October 11, 2019 Andrew Keh, "Eliud Kipchoge Breaks Two-Hour Marathon Barrier," New York Times, October 12, 2019 The Bulwark Podcast, "Bryan McGrath on Trump and American Exceptionalism," October 14, 2019

Christopher Preble and John Glaser join Trevor Thrall to discuss their new book, Fuel to the Fire, which assesses Donald Trump’s foreign policies and makes the case for greater restraint in international affairs.Christopher A. Preble bioJohn Glaser bioTrevor Thrall bioChristopher A. Preble, John Glaser, Trevor Thrall, Fuel to the Fire: How Trump Made America’s Broken Foreign Policy Even Worse (and How We Can Recover)Fuel to the Fire promotional page See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Vipin Narang of the M.I.T. Department of Political Science joins Trevor Thrall and guest host Eric Gomez to discuss nuclear trends and the nuclear balance in Asia.Vipin Narang bioVipin Narang, “Why North Korea Is Testing Missiles Again,” Foreign Affairs, May 16, 2019Vipin Narang, “India’s Counterforce Temptations,” International Security, Winter 2018/19Caroline Dorminey and Eric Gomez, “America’s Nuclear Crossroads: A Forward‐​Looking Anthology,” June 2019 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Gregory Gause from the Bush School at Texas A&M joins Trevor Thrall and John Glaser to discuss U.S. policy and strategy in the Middle East in the wake of the missile strike on the Saudi oil facilities.F. Gregory Gause bioF. Gregory Gause, “Should We Stay or Should We Go? The United States and the Middle East,” Survival, Fall 2019.Gregory Gause, “Why the U.S. Should Stay Out of Saudi Politics,” Foreign Affairs, December 2018.John Glaser and Emma Ashford, “Unforced Error: The Risks of Confrontation with Iran,” Cato Institute Policy Analysis , October 9, 2017.Robin Wright, “Trump’s Close-Call Diplomacy with Iran’s President,” New Yorker, September 28, 2019U.S. Institute of Peace, “Timeline: Tensions between Washington and Tehran,” May 8, 2019. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Bryan is celebrating the anniversary of our first episode on a beach, so this week, Chris and Melanie are joined by Tom Karako of CSIS. In this episode they discuss the Syria Study Group Report, which concludes that "the US can still influence the outcome of the Syrian war in a manner that protects US interests." Does America have interests in Syria? If so, can they be managed and protected, particularly with a president who seems uninterested in investing political capital and American resources there? How has the Syrian civil war affected Russia, Iran, and Turkey, and does that matter to America? Finally, is there anything the United States should do about the terrible humanitarian situation, the effects of which have spilled over to other countries? Tom tells us about taking his son to his first baseball game (go Nats!), Chris has a birthday wish for a former president, and Melanie both sticks it to and congratulates the press. We can't wait for Bryan to return and give us his review of the Downton Abbey movie!   Links "Syria Study Group Final Report," United States Institute of Peace, September 24, 2019 Josh Blackman, "When Is It Acceptable Journalistic Practice to Surface Old Social Media Posts?" Reason, September 27, 2019 Vance Serchuk, "Russia's Middle East Power Play," National Review, September 12, 2019 Michael Singh, Tweet, September 23, 2019 Trevor Thrall, “Resettling Syria’s Refugees Would Be Cheaper Than Widening the War,” Defense One, October 21, 2015 Alex Nowrasteh, “Terrorists by Immigration Status and Nationality: A Risk Analysis, 1975 – 2017,” Cato, May 7, 2019 Kareem Fahim, “In ‘60 Minutes’ Interview, Saudi Crown Prince Denies Ordering Khashoggi Killing,” Washington Post, September 29, 2019 Anna Massoglia, “Saudi Arabia Ramped Up Multi-Million Foreign Influence Operation After Khashoggi’s Death,” Open Secrets, October 2, 2019 Elizabeth Wolfe and Brian Ries, “Jimmy Carter, the Oldest Living Former US President, Is 95 Today,” CNN, October 1, 2019 Reis Thebault and Brittany Shammas, "Amber Guyger, Police Officer Who Shot a Man to Death in His Apartment, Found Guilty of Murder," Washington Post, October 1, 2019 Josh Blackman, "When is It Acceptable Journalistic Practice to 'Surface' Old Social Media Posts?" Reason, September 27, 2019 Jack Detsch, "Congress Aims to Restore Syria Stabilization Aid," Al-Monitor, September 18, 2019 Brett McGurk, "Hard Truths in Syria," Foreign Affairs, May 28, 2019 Eric Schmitt, "US Sees Rising Threat in the West from Qaeda Branch in Syria," New York Times, September 30, 2019 Brittany Shamas, "When Trump's Special Envoy to Ukraine Resigned, a Student Newspaper Beat Everyone to the Story," Washington Post, September 28, 2019 "Timeline: Syria's Eight Years of Fire and Blood," Reuters, March 16, 2019 Keith Pandolfi, "How to Refinish Woodwork," This Old House "Hypersonic," Merriam-Webster Events "NATO: The Dangerous Dinosaur," Cato Book Forum, October 18, 2019 "Fuel to the Fire: How Trump Made America’s Broken Foreign Policy Even Worse (and How We Can Recover)," Cato Book Forum, October 21, 2019

In this episode, Van digs into the varieties of progressive foreign policy thought, and confesses to evolutions about his own thinking. Why Joe and Hunter Biden--who did no wrong here--remind us that foreign money corrupts the politics of democracies everywhere. What is the "Washington Post test?" And how is journalism itself complicit in empowering Trump? Also in this episode, why government memos are sanitized versions of history. Ask Me Anything: Which democratic presidential candidates does Van like? Is China neo-fascist (or neo-racist)? Non-Sequitur: Van's recurring dream about Ted Cruz.Notes and Sources:Uri Friedman's Atlantic piece on GOP civil war: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2019/09/will-gop-split-trump-over-foreign-policy/598438/Jim Goldgeier's Washington Post piece on how to read government phone call "transcripts": https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/09/25/what-expect-when-you-are-expecting-trump-transcript/Liz Cheney v. Rand Paul feud: https://www.politico.com/story/2019/09/22/rand-paul-liz-cheney-senate-wyoming-1506603William Gallo Tweet: https://twitter.com/GalloVOA/status/1175420934108266501John Glaser, Trevor Thrall, and Christopher Preble's New Book: https://www.cato.org/events/fuel-to-the-fireIn The Loop Movie: https://www.amazon.com/Loop-Peter-Capaldi/dp/B0093SSPGGShow Producers: Pete McKenzie and Gaby MagnusonTheme Song: "Van is Meta" by Tre' Hester 

Jonathan Caverley of the Naval War College joins Emma Ashford and Trevor Thrall to discuss the defense industry and the arms trade. Jonathan Caverley bioJonathan Caverley, “Slowing the Proliferation of Major Conventional Weapons: The Virtues of an Uncompetitive Market,” Ethics & International Affairs, Vol. 31, No. 4, Winter 2017Jonathan Caverley, “America’s Arms Sales Policy: Security Abroad, Not Jobs at Home,” War on the Rocks, April 6, 2018Security Assistance MonitorSIPRI Arms Transfers DatabaseA. Trevor Thrall and Caroline Dorminey, “Risky Business: The Role of Arms Sales in U.S. Foreign Policy,” Policy Analysis, No. 836, March 13, 2018Ray Rounds, “The Case against Embargos, Even for Saudi Arabia,” War on the Rocks, April 16, 2019 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What have we learned in the 18 years since 9/11? Chris, Melanie, and Bryan discuss whether counterterrorism policy takes account of academic research on the subject. Going forward, the goal should be to implement the most cost-effective policies — and over time, to calm public anxiety about terrorism. Bryan gives a shout out to a bipartisan duo of Net Assessment fans, Chris gripes about NFL officiating, and Melanie offers her appreciation of the Constitution via an unlikely source: former Vice President Joe Biden.   Links Khusrav Gaibulloev and Todd Sandler, "Six Things We've Learned About Terrorism Since 9/11," Washington Post, September 11, 2019 Khusrav Gaibulloev and Todd Sandler, "What We Have Learned about Terrorism since 9/11," Journal of Economic Literature, June, 2019 John Mueller and Mark Stewart, Terror, Security, and Money: Balancing the Risks, Benefits, and Costs of Homeland Security, (Oxford, 2011) John Mueller and Mark Stewart, Are We Safe Enough? Measuring and Assessing Aviation Security, (Elsevier, 2018) Trevor Thrall and Erik Goepner, "Step Back: Lessons for U.S. Foreign Policy from the Failed War on Terror," Cato, June 26, 2017 Scott Simon, "Edward Snowden Tells NPR: The Executive Branch Sort of Hacked the Constitution," NPR, September 12, 2019 Tom Schad, "As New Season Begins, NFL Coaches Still Trying to Sort Out Pass Interference Rule Changes," USA Today, September 5, 2019 Christopher Preble, “Covert Wars, to What End?" War on the Rocks, August 7, 2019 Austin Carson, "Recipient of the Georgetown University Lepgold Prize," Department of Political Science at the University of Chicago, September 4, 2019 Ari Cohn, Tweet, September 12, 2019 International Security Studies Section of the International Studies Association, Tweet, August 19, 2019

Matthew Goodman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies joins Emma Ashford and Trevor Thrall to discuss Trump’s trade war with China.Matthew P. Goodman bioMatthew P. Goodman and Ely Ratner, “A Better Way to Challenge China on Trade: Trump’s Harmful Tariffs Aren’t the Answer,” Foreign Affairs, March 22, 2018Eswar Prasad, “Which country is better equipped to win a U.S.-China trade war?” Washington Post, August 9, 2019. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Todd Harrison from the Center for Strategic and International Studies joins Emma Ashford and Trevor Thrall to discuss the proposed Space Force, war in space, and his chapter in the forthcoming Cato report America’s Nuclear Crossroads.Todd Harrison bioAmerica’s Nuclear CrossroadsAerospace Security Project at CSIS, “Commanding Space: The Story Behind the Space ForceTodd Harrison, “A Space Force is Worth the Price” See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In his State of the Union address in February, President Trump sounded like a non-interventionist when he said, “Great nations do not fight endless wars.” Since then, he has begun to draw down America's military presence in Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq.Due to the growing unpopularity of drawn-out wars in the Middle East, and Trump's focus on reelection in 2020, he probably does not want to start another endless war with Iran. However, much of his rhetoric has been hawkish — perhaps influenced by his national security advisor, arch-hawk neocon John Bolton.The latest news is that he is growing disenchanted with Bolton, who helped design the Iraq War and has even called for a pre-emptive strike on Iran.It was reported that Trump teased Bolton last year — shortly after his appointment — asking, “You're not going to bring me into a war, are you?” But we can detect a seriousness beneath Trump's remarks, signaling an insecurity about his ability to resist outside pressures to exercise America's immense military might.Bolton is Trump's fourth national security advisor, and some worry that his reluctance to fire yet another cabinet member could lead him into the same kind of trap that led George W. Bush into Iraq in 2003. Sketchy intelligence, an idle standing army, and a convenient enemy in an oil-rich region… this story sounds familiar.The difference this time around is that the public adamantly does not want war. As Cato's Trevor Thrall documented back in 2016, a growing number of Americans — and especially young people — are part of a “restraining constituency” that does not want the U.S. to serve as the world's policeman.Sign Up for the Cato Foreign Policy NewsletterThe tensions between the U.S. and Iran have a complex history, but the latest escalation stems from intelligence linking the Iranian regime to an attack earlier this month on two Saudi Arabian oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz.Trump's tough talk has included calling the Iranian Revolutionary Guard a “terrorist group,” to which they responded in kind by labelling our own military in the Middle East as terrorists as well.It's easy to imagine this tit-for-tat spiraling out of control, unless calmer minds in the military and cabinet can influence the President to step back from the brink. Many retired admirals, generals, ambassadors, and senior government executives comprising the American College of National Security Leaders have attempted to do just that — writing an open letter to the Presidentwarning against escalation in the Persian Gulf.Tweet to the President showing your support for ending America's endless wars.As George Washington noted over two hundred years ago, the protected geography of the U.S. ought to insulate us from foreign intervention. He thought we should go to war only when absolutely necessary for national defense, and even then, engage only in short, strategic actions.So why have we so found ourselves in so many endless wars?Chris Preble was a commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy, and is now vice president for defense and foreign policy studies at the Cato Institute. He recently released a video that explains the incentives behind America's infamous military industrial complex — the hybrid beast of a bloated weapons industry and military establishment that perpetuates itself at the expense of the taxpayer and global peace.If all you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.Chris's new book Peace, War, and Liberty: Understanding U.S. Foreign Policyshows how the emergence of this complex cuts against the non-interventionist intentions of the Founders, and why the United States gains strength from the limits on war-making imposed by the Constitution.Let's hope that Trump will make good on his promise in the State of the Union. It's a modest expectation when compared to George Washington's skepticism of standing armies altogether.Chris joined me to explain why war with Iran is still a risk despite the unpopularity. It's everything you need to know about 21st century foreign policy, but were too afraid to ask. Don't miss it.

Donald Trump won the Republican nomination in 2016 and then beat Hillary Clinton in the general election, in part, by pledging to focus on America’s domestic problems, including raising worker wages, solving the problem of unemployment and underemployment, and repairing the nation’s failing infrastructure. But he was hardly alone in taking this stance. The last four U.S. presidents were elected on promises to fight fewer foreign wars. Recent surveys show why such appeals are successful: The American people want to do more nation-building at home — and less of it abroad. Chris, Bryan, and guest co-host Rachel Hoff unpack the latest survey of U.S. public attitudes on foreign policy. Does Americans’ desire for a different form of global engagement, one that is less dependent upon U.S. military power, reflect a failure on the part of America’s foreign policy elite to explain the continued value of U.S. primacy? Or should those elites do more listening and less lecturing? Related, in the grievances portion of the podcast, Bryan and Chris disagree over whether war weariness is a sign of a mature foreign policy debate or rather evidence of Americans’ collective adolescence. Rachel offers attaboys to Sen. Marco Rubio and Rep. Mike Gallagher, Bryan praises Larry Kudlow, and Chris gives kudos to Sen. Chris Murphy.   Links John Halpin, Brian Katulis, Peter Juul, Karl Agne, Jim Gerstein, and Nisha Jain, "America Adrift: How the U.S. Foreign Policy Debate Misses What Voters Really Want," Center for American Progress, May 05, 2019 David V. Gioe, "Make America Strategic Again," National Interest, April 17, 2019 Kyle Rempfer, "H.R. McMaster Says the Public is Fed A 'War-Weariness' Narrative That Hurts U.S. Strategy," Military Times, May 09, 2019 Sam Brodey, "White House Top Economic Adviser Larry Kudlow Undercuts Trump on Tariffs," Daily Beast, May 12, 2019 Chris Murphy, Twitter, May 13, 2019 Emma Ashford, Twitter, May 10, 2019 Loren DeJonge Shulman, Twitter, May 10, 2019 John Glaser, Christopher A. Preble, and A. Trevor Thrall, Fuel to the Fire: How Trump Made America's Broken Foreign Policy Even Worse (and How We Can Recover) (Cato Institute, Forthcoming 2019) "2018 National Defense Survey," Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, November 2018 2019 Nominees, The Cappies of the National Capital Area   Music and Production by Tre Hester

Women play an increasingly important role as insurgents and rebels in civil conflicts all over the world. But most often their story goes untold and their impact has been poorly understood. Jessica Trisko Darden, co‐​author of Insurgent Women, joins Emma Ashford and Trevor Thrall to discuss her new book to discuss.Jessica Trisko Darden bioJessica Trisko Darden, Alexis Henshaw, and Ora Szekely, Insurgent Women: Female Combatants in Civil Wars (Georgetown University Press 2019).Jessica Trisko Darden, “https://​the​con​ver​sa​tion​.com/​h​o​w​-​w​o​m​e​n​-​w​a​g​e​-​w​a​r​-​a​-​s​h​o​r​t​-​h​i​s​t​o​r​y​-​o​f​-​i​s​-​b​r​i​d​e​s​-​n​a​z​i​-​g​u​a​r​d​s​-​a​n​d​-​f​a​r​c​-​i​n​s​u​r​g​e​n​t​s​-​1​13011 The Conversation, March 8, 2019.Jessica Trisko Darden, “Return from ISIS: American Women Want Out of Extremism,” NPR On Point podcast.Mia Bloom, Bombshell: Women and Terrorism (University of Pennsylvania, 2011).Jessica Davis, Women in Modern Terrorism: From Liberation Wars to Global Jihad and the Islamic State (Rowman & Littlefield, 2017). See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

John Glaser is director of foreign policy studies at the Cato Institute. He is the co-author, with Christopher A. Preble and A. Trevor Thrall, of the forthcoming Fuel to the Fire: How Trump Made America’s Broken Foreign Policy Even Worse (and How We Can Recover). For full show notes, go to: http://thaddeusrussell.com/podcast/81/

The cyber era has amplified the impact of non‐​state actors on international relations. From election meddling to sabotage to espionage, states are using non‐​state actors as proxies to do their dirty work. Tim Maurer from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace joins Trevor Thrall and John Glaser to talk about the rise, reach, and implications of these cyber mercenaries.Tim Maurer bioTim Maurer, Cyber Mercenaries: The State, Hackers, and PowerBrandon Valentino and Benjamin Jensen, “The Myth of the Cyber Offense: The Case for Restraint,” Policy Analysis 862, January 15, 2019. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Donald Trump’s second summit with Kim Jong Un has come and gone, this time in abject failure. Emma Ashford and Trevor Thrall are joined by Harry Kazianis of the Center for the National Interest to discuss where U.S.-North Korean relations go from here.Harry Kazianis bio"A Top Trump Official May Have Just Doomed US-North Korea Talks," Vox, March 8, 2019"Dealing with North and South Korea: Can Washington Square the Circle?" Cato Institute Capitol Hill Briefing See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Controversy is growing over the Trump administration’s approach to Venezuela, where the United States has backed opposition leader Juan Guaido in his attempt to remove President Nicolas Maduro from power. Trevor Thrall and Emma Ashford are joined by Venezuela expert Moises Rendon to discuss the situation.Show Notes:Guest Bio: Moises RendondMoises Rendon, “Food vs. Freedom in Venezuela,” July 9, 2018Amanda Sakuma, “The Last 48 hours in Venezuela News, Explained,” Vox, February 24, 2019 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Trump administration has emphasized the reemergence of great power competition as the organizing principle for U.S. foreign policy. How will international relations change in an era when new actors are challenging the status quo? In Part II of our great power special, Professor Stacie E. Goddard of Wellesley College joins Trevor Thrall and Emma Ashford to talk about her recent book, When Might Makes Right, about the relationship between rising powers and existing great powers.Show Notes:Guest Bio: Stacie GoddardStacie Goddard, “When Right Makes Might: Rising Powers and World Order”Stacie Goddard, “Uncommon Ground: Indivisible Territory and the Politics of Legitimacy,” International Organizations, vol. 60, no. 1, January 2006Cato Policy Forum, “The Return of Great Power Competition.” January 15, 2019 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

From trade to immigration, the Trump administration takes a much broader view of national security than prior administrations. Cato Senior Policy Analyst Alex Nowrasteh joins Trevor Thrall and Emma Ashford to talk about the links between immigration and national security.Show Notes:Alex Nowrasteh’s bioAlex Nowrasteh, “Incarcerated Immigrants in 2016: Their Numbers, Demographics, and Countries of Origin,” Immigration Research and Policy Brief, June 4, 2018Alex Nowrasteh, “How Trump Is Really Changing Immigration: Making It Harder for People to Come Here Legally,” Los Angeles Times, May 13, 2018 Alex Nowrasteh, “Terrorism and Immigration: A Risk Analysis,” Policy Analysis See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Trevor Thrall and Emma Ashford are joined by Cato colleague Eric Gomez for a discussion of the year in review, and a preview of 2019. From nuclear weapons and North Korea to the U.S.-Saudi relationship, it’s been a wild year. Show Notes:Eric Gomez’s bio See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week Radha, Loren, and Erin sit down to try and figure out just what the hell happened in 2018. Storm clouds gather as the ladies discuss what NatSec stories we missed - and what we’ll still be talking about in 10 years. But Radha brings the sunshine as we discuss the most important events for the military services in 2018 (which sadly has not resulted in any Space Marines). We wrap up with a review of the Administration’s secret villains and heroes and put a bow on it with movie plot lines that best capture 2018.  Links "Jaw-Jaw," War on the Rocks Keith Bradsher and Ailin Tang, "China's Economy Slows Sharply, in Challenge for Xi Jinping," War on the Rocks Sophie Richardson, "China disappeared Interpol's chief. The world can't pretend it's business as usual." Washington Post Heidi Blake, Tom Warren, Richard Holmes, Jason Leopold, Jane Bradley, Alex Campbell, "From Russia With Blood," BuzzFeed News Alex Horton, "The Army kicked out dozens of immigrant recruits. Now it's allowing them back amid a legal battle." Washington Post Gina Harkins, "The Military's Officer Promotion System May See Major Shake Up," Military.com Lara Seligman, "Strong Economy Poses Recruitment Challenge for the U.S. Army," Foreign Policy Paul Scharre, "A Million Mistakes a Second," Foreign Policy Michael C. Horowitz, "The Algorithms of August," Foreign Policy Zach Dorfman, "Botched CIA Communications System Helped Blow Cover of Chinese Agents," Foreign Policy David E. Sanger, Nicole Perlroth, Glenn Thrush, Alan Rappeport, "Marriott Data Breach Is Traced to Chinese Hackers as U.S. Readies Crackdown on Beijing," New York Times Emma Ashford and Trevor Thrall, "The Battle Inside the Political Parties for the Future of U.S. Foreign Policy," War on the Rocks Katie Mettler, Callum Borchers, Nick Kirkpatrick, "'You're fired': A timeline of Team Trump departures," Washington Post Walt Hickey and Gus Wezerek, "The Definitive Analysis Of 'Love Actually,' The Greatest Christmas Movie Of Our Time," FiveThirtyEight

This week Radha, Loren, and Erin sit down to try and figure out just what the hell happened in 2018. Storm clouds gather as the ladies discuss what NatSec stories we missed - and what we’ll still be talking about in 10 years. But Radha brings the sunshine as we discuss the most important events for the military services in 2018 (which sadly has not resulted in any Space Marines). We wrap up with a review of the Administration’s secret villains and heroes and put a bow on it with movie plot lines that best capture 2018.  Links "Jaw-Jaw," War on the Rocks Keith Bradsher and Ailin Tang, "China's Economy Slows Sharply, in Challenge for Xi Jinping," War on the Rocks Sophie Richardson, "China disappeared Interpol's chief. The world can't pretend it's business as usual." Washington Post Heidi Blake, Tom Warren, Richard Holmes, Jason Leopold, Jane Bradley, Alex Campbell, "From Russia With Blood," BuzzFeed News Alex Horton, "The Army kicked out dozens of immigrant recruits. Now it's allowing them back amid a legal battle." Washington Post Gina Harkins, "The Military's Officer Promotion System May See Major Shake Up," Military.com Lara Seligman, "Strong Economy Poses Recruitment Challenge for the U.S. Army," Foreign Policy Paul Scharre, "A Million Mistakes a Second," Foreign Policy Michael C. Horowitz, "The Algorithms of August," Foreign Policy Zach Dorfman, "Botched CIA Communications System Helped Blow Cover of Chinese Agents," Foreign Policy David E. Sanger, Nicole Perlroth, Glenn Thrush, Alan Rappeport, "Marriott Data Breach Is Traced to Chinese Hackers as U.S. Readies Crackdown on Beijing," New York Times Emma Ashford and Trevor Thrall, "The Battle Inside the Political Parties for the Future of U.S. Foreign Policy," War on the Rocks Katie Mettler, Callum Borchers, Nick Kirkpatrick, "'You're fired': A timeline of Team Trump departures," Washington Post Walt Hickey and Gus Wezerek, "The Definitive Analysis Of 'Love Actually,' The Greatest Christmas Movie Of Our Time," FiveThirtyEight

Attorney and Cato Institute adjunct scholar Scott Lincicome joins Trevor Thrall and Emma Ashford to discuss the Trump administration’s trade strategy and the role of international trade in U.S. foreign policy.Scott Lincicome’s bioScott Lincicome, The “Protectionist Moment” That Wasn’t: American Views on Trade and Globalization, Free Trade BulletinScott Lincicome, “Doomed to Repeat It: The Long History of America’s Protectionist Failures, Policy Analysis See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Trevor Thrall and Emma Ashford from Power Problems Podcast join us to discuss the nuance differences between isolationists, non-interventionists, and pragmatic realists. When it comes to foreign policy, the way U.S. officials make decisions is largely based off the fact that the United States maintains and all-volunteer military. This military is the most powerful in the world, considering the U.S. spends more on defense than the next seven countries combined. There are many reasons for this, but at the forefront is the American desire to remain #1 or the superpower in the eyes of the rest of the world. What is the difference between an isolationist and a pragmatic realist? When do policymakers decide when intervention is necessary? What are real threats? What is John Bolton’s philosophy on foreign affairs? What is the main role of our military? Do we have an obligation to keep America safe, but not all humans safe? Are U.S. policymakers only responsible for Americans? Or the entire Western world? What is the interplay between technology, news, public opinion, and military strategy? Is joining the military the only way to serve your country? Further Reading:Power Problems, by the Cato InstituteThe Future of Conservative Foreign Policy, Power Problems PodcastThe Hell of Good Intentions: America’s Foreign Policy Elite and the Decline of U.S. Primacy, written by Stephen WaltPsychology of a Superpower: Security and Dominance in U.S. Foreign Policy, written by Christopher J. FettweisRelated Content:Is America the Most Fearful Country in the World?, written by Natalie DowzickyWhen is it appropriate to go to War?, Free Thoughts Podcast See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the second half of our election special, Trevor Thrall and Emma Ashford are joined by Jake Sullivan, a former senior advisor to Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton, to discuss the future of foreign policy in the Democratic party.Jake Sullivan bioDan Nexon, “Toward A Neo‐​Progressive Foreign Policy,” Foreign AffairsBernie Sanders, “Building a Global Democratic Movement to Counter Authoritarianism,” Speech at SAISPeter Beinart, “Shield of the Republic: A Democratic Foreign Policy for the Trump Age,” The AtlanticPlease take our listener survey See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As Emma Ashford returns to the podcast, she and Trevor Thrall join Cato colleague John Glaser to review the Trump administration’s take on U.S. foreign policy in 2018.David E. Sangar, “North Korea’s Trump‐​era Strategy. Keep Making A‑Bombs, but Quietly,” New York Times, September 16, 2018Peter Harrell, “Is the US Using Sanctions Too Aggressively?,” Foreign Affairs, September 11, 2018Michael Hirsch, “John Bolton Is Living the Dream — for Now,” Foreign Policy, September 28, 2018Jordan Robertson and Michael Riley, “The Big Hack: How China Used a Tiny Chip to Infiltrate U.S. Companies,” Bloomberg Businessweek, October 4, 2018Michael Hirsch, “Surprise! Trump’s Disruptive Foreign Policy Could Be Working,” Politico, October 2018 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Patrick Porter joins Sahar Khan and Trevor Thrall to discuss the debate over the past, present, and future of the liberal international order. Porter is a professor of international security and strategy at the University of Birmingham, UK and a Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute in London. He researches how power and ideas shape U.S. and U.K. defense and foreign policy, and how both shape conflicts both the United States and United Kingdom are involved in.Patrick Porter bioPatrick Porter, “A World Imagined: Nostalgia and Liberal Order,” June 2018Patrick Porter, “Why America’s Grand Strategy Has Not Changed: Power, Habit, and the U.S. Foreign Policy Establishment,” International Security, May 4, 2018.“Liberal International Order: Past, Present, and Future,” Cato Event, September 20, 2018Bruce Jentleson, “The Post‐​Liberal International Order World: Some Core Characteristics,” Lawfare Blog, September 9, 2018Michael J. Mazarr, “The Real History of the Liberal Order: Neither Myth Nor Accident,” Foreign Affairs, August 7, 2018Rebecca Friedman Lissner and Mira Rapp‐​Hooper, “The Day After Trump: American Strategy for a New International Order,” The Washington Quarterly, June 2018Jake Sullivan, “The World After Trump: How the System Can Endure,” Foreign Affairs, March/​April 2018 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Barbara Slavin of the Atlantic Council joins Sahar Khan and Trevor Thrall to discuss developments in Iran and America’s Iran policy. Barbara Slavin bioBarbara Slavin, “US Policies Undercut ‘Support’ for ‘Iranian Voices’ ”Barbara Slavin, “Renewed Sanctions Will Hurt Iran’s Economy But U.S. Benefits Uncertain”Barbara Slavin, “Mullahs, Money, and Militias”Emma Ashford and John Glaser, “Unforced Error: The Risks of Confrontation with Iran” See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

C. Christine Fair is a Provost’s Distinguished Associate Professor in the Peace and Security Studies Program within Georgetown University’s Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service. She joins Sahar Khan and Trevor Thrall to discuss the ongoing Rohingya crisis in Myanmar and its implication on the Trump administration’s policy toward South Asia.C. Christine Fair’s bioInternational Crisis Group, “The Long Haul ahead for Myanmar’s Rohingya Refugee Crisis,” May 16, 2018Council on Foreign Affairs, “The Rohingya Crisis,” Backgrounder, April 20, 2018Krishnadev Calamur, “The Misunderstood Roots of Burma’s Rohingya Crisis,” The Atlantic, September 25, 2017Sahar Khan, “Ethnic Cleansing vs. Genocide,” Cato @ Liberty, November 29, 2017 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Julie Chernov Hwang from Goucher College joins Trevor Thrall and Sahar Khan to discuss why Indonesian jihadists leave militancy in her new book, Why Terrorists Quit.Julie Chernov Hwang’s bioWhy Terrorists Quit: The Disengagement of Indonesian JihadistsJulie Chernov Hwang, “The Unintended Consequences of Amending Indonesia’s Anti‐​Terrorism Law,” Lawfare Blog, October 1, 2017Anita Rachman and Ben Otto, “Families with Bombs: Islamic State inspires new wave of Indonesian Terrorism,” Wall Street Journal, May 14, 2018Sidney Jones, “How ISIS has changed terrorism in Indonesia,” New York Times, May 22, 2018 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Since World War II, the United States has maintained an active foreign policy agenda, deeply engaged in both the economic and military domains. Many observers over the past few years, however, have voiced doubts about public support for the critical pillars of American internationalism. Many have worried, in particular, about whether younger Americans will believe it worthwhile to take up the mantle of global leadership. A new report from the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, the Charles Koch Institute, and Cato scholars Trevor Thrall and Erik Goepner analyzes a wide range of survey data collected by the Chicago Council since 1974. The report finds that each generation from the silent generation onward entered adulthood less supportive of expansive American internationalism. More recent generations also express lower support for militarized approaches to achieve foreign policy goals. In this special Cato policy forum, the authors will present their findings and will participate in a lively discussion on the impact that generational differences may have on U.S. foreign policy. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Bruce Jentleson from Duke University joins Trevor Thrall and Sahar Khan to discuss the importance of statesmanship and his new book, The Peacemakers.Show notes:Guest Bio: Bruce JentlesonThe Peacemakers See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Show description: In a special 2‑part episode, Emma Ashford, Trevor Thrall, and new co‐​host, Sahar Kahn, discuss North Korea and the prospects for a nuclear summit with Cato Policy Analyst Eric Gomez.Guest bio: Eric GomezPower Problems Episode #4, September 19, 2017: Kim Jong TrumpEric Gomez, “Not Quite Back to the Drawing Board with North Korea”Eric Gomez, “Keep Calm and Summit On” See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Emma Ashford and Trevor Thrall shift from military affairs this week to talk about humanitarian aid with American University’s Jessica Trisko Darden. Guest bio: Jessica Trisko DardenHumanitarian Aid and WarIs Humanitarian Aid a Waste? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Emma Ashford and Trevor Thrall are joined by David Edelstein of Georgetown University to discuss how great powers respond to rising challengers.Guest Bio: David EdelsteinOver the Horizon: Time, Uncertainty, and the Rise of Great Powers See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In Iraq, U.S. soldiers often encounter ISIS fighters armed with American-made weapons. Intentionally sold to the corrupt, poorly-trained, ill-disciplined Iraqi military by previous U.S. administrations, many of these weapons have now fallen into the hands of terrorists. Far from an isolated incident, this example underscores the unintended—and often dangerous—consequences of international arms sales.The Trump administration has embraced arms sales, and at such a fever pitch that it is difficult to determine which sales will come with serious consequences that risk American lives. To help policymakers evaluate the possible downstream effects of selling weapons to specific countries, Cato scholars Trevor Thrall and Caroline Dorminey have created a comprehensive risk assessment index. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Emma Ashford and Trevor Thrall are joined by Cato’s own Caroline Dorminey to discuss U.S. arms sales in the Trump era.Guest bio: Caroline DormineyCaroline Dorminey and Trevor Thrall. “Risky Business: the Role of Arms Sales in U.S. Foreign Policy”Paul Holden (ed.) Indefensible: Seven Myths That Sustain the Global Arms TradeMJonathan Caverley. “America’s Arms Sales Policy: Security Abroad, Not Jobs at Home”Amnesty International. “Iraq: Taking Stock of Arming the Islamic State” See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Today Emma Ashford and Trevor Thrall discuss the expansion of the U.S. war on terror into Africa with Bronwyn Bruton from the Atlantic Council.Guest Bio: Bronwyn BrutonBronwyn Bruton, “Ethiopia: In the Eye of the Storm”U.S. News and World Report, “Where in the World Is the U.S. Military? Everywhere” See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

full 0:02:24 A. Trevor Thrall, Caroline Dorminey

Show Notes:A Dangerous World? edited by Christopher A. Preble and John MuellerAmerican Foreign Policy and the Politics of Fear edited by A. Trevor Thrall and Jane K. CramerCuriosity: How Will the World End? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How valuable are national security documents? And speeches about those documents? Trevor Thrall comments on the latest presidential speech on national security. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How is the Pentagon faring under the Trump administration? More than many administrations, the Trump administration seems determined to rely on the Department of Defense as the primary tool of U.S. foreign policy. With the President’s open acclaim for his ‘generals,’ the Pentagon looms large in today’s U.S. foreign policy.Yet the new administration’s policies also create questions about the future of U.S. defense policy, from increased deployments in the Middle East to ongoing debate over the defense budget.Join us for a live taping of our new foreign policy podcast, Power Problems, where Cato’s own Trevor Thrall and Emma Ashford offer a skeptical take on U.S. foreign policy and discuss some of today’s big questions with guests from across the political spectrum. In this episode, they sit down with Aaron Mehta, Senior Pentagon correspondent at Defense News to discuss a variety of defense-related issues. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Afghanistan strategy laid out by Donald Trump looks a lot like one that previous battlefield commanders have suggested is sorely wanting. Trevor Thrall and Erik Goepner comment. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What price did the U.S. pay for a massive decade-long (and still ongoing) war on terrorism? Was it worth it? Trevor Thrall makes his case in his new report, "Step Back: Lessons for U.S. Foreign Policy from the Failed War on Terror." See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

July 2017 featuring John Mueller, A. Trevor Thrall, Dalibor Rohac, Tom G. Palmer, Sally Satel, Neal McCluskey, John Pfaff See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Lone wolf attacks for which ISIS claims credit should smack of desperation, not sophistication. Trevor Thrall explains why. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Has Donald Trump been captured by conventional foreign policy thinking? Trevor Thrall comments. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Which factions will be duking it out as a Trump administration foreign policy is forged? Trevor Thrall explains. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Does U.S. militarism compromise NATO obligations? A. Trevor Thrall talks about the recent coup attempt in Turkey. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

July 2016 featuring A. Trevor Thrall, Benjamin H. Friedman, Steve Forbes, Rep. Jeb Hensarling, Thaya Brook Knight, Michael Mandelbaum See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

April 2016 featuring Christopher A. Preble, A. Trevor Thrall, Penn Jillette, Neal McCluskey, Michael W. Doyle, Emma Ashford See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The foreign policy of Donald Trump leaves little indication what he might fight for if he becomes President. Trevor Thrall comments. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

August 2015 featuring Walter Olson, Trevor Burrus, Scott Bullock, A. Trevor Thrall, Erik Goepner, Michael D. Tanner, Paul G. Mahoney See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Millennials' worldviews owe a great deal to early life experiences and the foreign policy issues that dominated their childhoods. Chief among them, the Iraq War. A. Trevor Thrall comments.-- Millennials and U.S. Foreign Policy: The Next Generation's Attitudes toward Foreign Policy and War (and Why They Matter) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.