Podcasts about united states institute

Interview with Mona Yacoubian on Trump's Middle East Visit: 25:55 This week, Kelly and Tristen discuss President Trump's meeting with the President of South Africa, give an update on the war in Ukraine, and unpack the UK's new trade agreement with the European Union. Kelly then talks with Mona Yacoubian for a breakdown on Trump's recent trip to the Middle East, and what the visit means for American foreign policy in the region. Mona Yacoubian is the Senior Adviser and Director of the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. She was previously the Vice President of the Middle East and North Africa center at the United States Institute of Peace. Prior to joining USIP, Mona was Deputy Assistant Administrator in the Middle East Bureau at the United States Agency for International Development from 2014 to 2017, where she had responsibility for Iraq, Syria, Jordan and Lebanon. Mona also previously served as the North Africa analyst in the State Department's Bureau of Intelligence and Research. The opinions expressed in this conversation are strictly those of the participants and do not represent the views of Georgetown University or any government entity. Produced by Theo Malhotra and Freddie Mallinson.  Recorded on May 22, 2025. Diplomatic Immunity, a podcast from the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University, brings you frank and candid conversations with experts on the issues facing diplomats and national security decision-makers around the world. Funding support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. For more, visit our website, and follow us on Linkedin, Twitter @GUDiplomacy, and Instagram @isd.georgetown

In the midst of the terrible Trump tax bill moving through Congress, Ralph invites Sarah Anderson who directs the Global Economy Project at the Institute for Policy Studies to discuss the massive tax loopholes huge companies like Amazon get that allow them to pay far less in taxes than ordinary working people. Then, Greg LeRoy from Good Jobs First joins us to discuss how state taxpayers are footing the bill for these massive data centers companies like Google are building all over the country. Plus, Ralph has some choice words for passive unions and responds to listener feedback about our guest last week, Nadav Wieman.Sarah Anderson directs the Global Economy Project at the Institute for Policy Studies and is a co-editor of the IPS website Inequality.org. Her research covers a wide range of international and domestic economic issues, including inequality, CEO pay, taxes, labor, and Wall Street reform.They're (Congress is) planning to give huge new tax giveaways to large corporations like Amazon and wealthy people like Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. And partially paying for those tax cuts for the wealthy by slashing programs that mean so much to so many Americans like Medicaid and food assistance.”Sarah AndersonWe're not going to have a healthy, thriving society and economy as long as we have the extreme levels of inequality that we have today.Sarah AndersonDubbed “the leading national watchdog of state and local economic development subsidies,” “an encyclopedia of information regarding subsidies,” “God's witness to corporate welfare,” and “the OG of ensuring that state and local tax policy actually supports good jobs, sustainability, and equity,”* Greg founded Good Jobs First in 1998 upon winning the Public Interest Pioneer Award. He has trained and consulted for state and local governments, associations of public officials, labor-management committees, unions, community groups, tax and budget watchdogs, environmentalists, and smart growth advocates more than 30 years.Public education and public health are the two biggest losers in every state giving away money to data centers right now.Greg Le RoyWe know of no other form of state spending that is so out of control. Therefore, we recommend that states cancel their data center tax exemptions. Such subsidies are absolutely unnecessary for an extremely profitable industry dominated by some of the most valuable corporations on earth such as Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, Facebook, and Google.Good Jobs First report: “Cloudy With a Loss of Spending Control”They've (Congress has) known for years that the ordinary worker pays a higher tax rate than these loophole-ridden corporations.Ralph NaderIn my message to Trump, I ask him, "Why is he afraid of Netanyahu? And doesn't he want to come to the rescue of these innocent babies by saying, ‘Mr. Netanyahu, the taxpayers in this country are paying for thousands of trucks stalled at the border of Gaza full of medicine, food, water, electricity, fuel, and other critical necessities? We're going to put a little American flag on each one of these trucks, and don't you dare block them.'”…No answer.Ralph NaderNews 5/23/251. It seems as though the dam in Israeli politics against acknowledging the horrors in Gaza is beginning to break. In an interview with the BBC this week, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert stated that what Israel "is currently doing in Gaza is very close to a war crime. Thousands of innocent Palestinians are being killed.” He went on to say, “the war has no objective and has no chance of achieving anything that could save the lives of the hostages.” These quotes come from the Jerusalem Post. And on May 21st, Haaretz reported that opposition party leader Yair Golan warned that Israel could become a “pariah state, like South Africa once was,” based on its actions in Gaza. Speaking a truth that American politicians appear incapable of articulating, he added, a “sane state does not wage war against civilians, does not kill babies as a hobby, and does not set goals for itself like the expulsion of a population.”2. Confirming this prognosis, the Cradle reports “The Israeli military has admitted that more than 80 percent of the people killed in the attacks on Gaza since Israel breached the ceasefire two months ago are…civilians.” This fact was confirmed by the IDF in response to a request from Hebrew magazine Hamakom, wherein “the military's spokesperson stated that 500 of the 2,780 killed in the Gaza Strip as of Tuesday are ‘terrorists.'” Leaving the remaining 2,280 people killed classified as “not suspected terrorists.” The Cradle compares this ratio, approximately 4.5 civilians killed for every combatant, to the Russia-Ukraine war – a ratio of approximate 2.8 to one. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has “claimed that the ratio is just one civilian killed for each combatant killed.” At the same time, AP reports that while Israel has allowed a minimum of humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, under immense international pressure, “none of that aid actually reached Palestinians,” according to the United Nations spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric. The renewed offensive coupled with the barring of humanitarian aid has raised the alarm about mass starvation in Gaza.3. Developments on the ground in Gaza have triggered a new wave of international outcry. On May 19th, leaders of the United Kingdom, France and Canada issued a joint statement, reading in part, “We strongly oppose the expansion of Israel's military operations in Gaza. The level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable… The Israeli Government's denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable and risks breaching International Humanitarian Law…We will not stand by while the Netanyahu Government pursues these egregious actions. If Israel does not cease the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid, we will take further concrete actions in response.” The Parliament of Spain meanwhile, “passed a non-binding motion calling on the government to impose an arms embargo on Israel,” per Anadolu Ajansı. This potential ban, supported by all parties except the conservative People's Party and the far-right Vox, would “ban the exports of any material that could strengthen the Israeli military, including helmets, vests, and fuel with potential military use.” Left-wing parties in Spain are now pushing for an emergency session to impose a binding decree to this effect.4. The United States however seems to be moving backwards. Drop Site news reports Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff made a deal with Hamas ensuring that, “the Trump administration would compel Israel to lift the Gaza blockade and allow humanitarian aid to enter the territory…[and] make a public call for an immediate ceasefire,” in exchange for the release of Edan Alexander. Of course, once Alexander was released Trump reneged completely. Basem Naim, a member of Hamas's political bureau, told Drop Site, “He did nothing of this…They didn't violate the deal. They threw it in the trash.” Besides prolonging further the charnel house in Gaza, this duplicity undermines American credibility in the region, particularly with Iran at a time when Trump is seeking a new deal to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.5. Democrats in Congress are inching towards action as well. On May 13th, Senator Peter Welch introduced Senate Resolution 224, calling for “the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid to address the needs of civilians in Gaza.” Along with Welch, 45 Democrats and Independents signed on to this resolution, that is the entire Democratic caucus except for John Fetterman. On May 14th, Rashida Tlaib introduced House Resolution 409, commemorating the Nakba and calling on Congress to “reinstate support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, which provides life-saving humanitarian assistance to Palestinians.” This was cosponsored by AOC and Reps. Carson, Lee, Omar, Pressley, Ramirez, Simon, and Coleman. And, on May 21st, a group of eight senators – Welch, Sanders, Kaine, Merkley, Murray, Van Hollen, Schatz, and Warnock – sent a letter urging Secretary of State Rubio to reopen the investigation into the death of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu-Akleh, per Prem Thakker. The Biden administration ruled the death “unintentional,” but a new documentary by Zeteo News reveals a “Biden cover-up.”6. More action is occurring on college campuses as well, as students go into graduation season. At NYU, a student named Logan Rozos said in his graduation speech, “As I search my heart today in addressing you all…the only thing that is appropriate to say in this time and to a group this large is a recognition of the atrocities currently happening in Palestine,” per CNN. NYU announced that they are now withholding his diploma. At George Washington University, the Guardian reports student Cecilia Culver said in her graduation speech, “I am ashamed to know my tuition [fee] is being used to fund…genocide…I call upon the class of 2025 to withhold donations and continue advocating for disclosure and divestment.” GWU issued a statement declaring Culver “has been barred from all GW's campuses and sponsored events elsewhere.” The moral clarity of these students is remarkable, given the increasingly harsh measures these schools have taken to silence those who speak up.7. Moving on, several major stories about the failing DOGE initiative have surfaced in recent days. First, Social Security. Listeners may recall that a DOGE engineer said “40% of phone calls made to [the Social Security Administration] to change direct deposit information come from fraudsters.” Yet, a new report by NextGov.com found that since DOGE mandated the SSA install new anti-fraud checks on claims made over the phone, “only two claims out of over 110,000 were found to likely be fraudulent,” or 0.0018%. What the policy has done however, is slow down payments. According to this piece, retirement claim processing is down 25%. Meanwhile, at the VA, DOGE engineer Sahil Lavingia, “found…a machine that largely functions, though it doesn't make decisions as fast as a startup might.” Lavingia added “honestly, it's kind of fine—because the government works. It's not as inefficient as I was expecting, to be honest. I was hoping for more easy wins.” This from Fast Company. Finally, CBS reports, “leaders of the United States Institute for Peace regained control of their offices Wednesday…after they were ejected from their positions by the Trump administration and [DOGE] in March.” This piece explains that On February 19th, President Trump issued Executive Order 14217 declaring USIP "unnecessary" and terminating its leadership, most of its 300 staff members, its entire board, installing a DOGE functionary at the top and transferring ownership of the building to the federal government. This set off a court battle that ended Monday, when U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell ruled that the takeover was “unlawful” and therefore “null and void.” These DOGE setbacks might help explain Elon Musk's reported retreat from the political spotlight and political spending.8. On May 21st, Congressman Gerry Connolly passed away, following his battle with esophageal cancer. Connolly's death however is just the latest in a disturbing trend – Ken Klippenstein reports, “Connolly joins five other members of Congress who also died in office over the past 13 months…Rep. Raúl Grijalva…Rep. Sylvester Turner…Rep. Bill Pascrell…Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee…[and] Rep. Donald Payne Jr.” All of these representatives were Democrats and their deaths have chipped away at the close margin between Democrats and Republicans in the House – allowing the Republicans to pass Trump's “Big Beautiful Bill” by a single vote. Connolly himself prevailed over AOC in a much-publicized intra-party battle for the Ranking Member seat on the House Oversight committee. It speaks volumes that Connolly was only able to hold onto that seat for a few short months before becoming too sick to stay on. This is of course part and parcel with the recent revelations about Biden's declining mental acuity during his presidency and the efforts to oust David Hogg from the DNC for backing primaries against what he calls “asleep-at-the-wheel” Democrats.9. Speaking of “asleep-at-the-wheel” Democrats, Bloomberg Government reports Senator John Fetterman “didn't attend a single committee hearing in 2025 until…May 8, about a week after an explosive New York Magazine story raised questions about his mental health and dedication to his job.” Fetterman, who represents Pennsylvania on the Commerce, Agriculture, and Homeland Security committees skipped the confirmation hearings for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Budget Director Russ Vought, some of the most high-profile and controversial Trump appointments. Fetterman still has yet to attend a single Agriculture committee hearing in 2025.10. Finally, in more Pennsylvania news, the state held its Democratic primaries this week, yielding mixed results. In Pittsburgh, progressives suffered a setback with the ouster of Mayor Ed Gainey – the first Black mayor of the city. Gainey lost to Allegheny County Controller Corey O'Connor, the son of former Mayor Bob O'Connor, the Hill reports. In Philadelphia however, voters approved three ballot measures – including expanding affordable housing and adding more oversight to the prison system – and reelected for a third term progressive reform District Attorney Larry Krasner, per AP. Krasner has long been a target of conservatives in both parties, but has adroitly maneuvered to maintain his position – and dramatically reduced homicide rates in Philly. The Wall Street Journal reports Philadelphia homicides declined by 34% between 2023 and 2024, part of substantial decline in urban homicides nationwide. Kudos to Krasner.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

District of Columbia Federal District Court Judge Beryl Howell has issued a 102-page legal opinion and ruling, announcing that Trump/Musk/DOGE's takeover and decimation of the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) was "unlawful" and "null and void."Glenn reviews what the Trump administration did to USIP - an independent, non-profit organization - and discusses the new reporting on this important legal development and Judge Howell's new opinion and order.Link to The Hill article and Judge Howell's opinion: https://thehill.com/regulation/court-...If you're interested in supporting our all-volunteer efforts, you can become a Team Justice patron at: / glennkirschner If you'd like to support Glenn and buy Team Justice and Justice Matters merchandise visit:https://shop.spreadshirt.com/glennkir...Check out Glenn's website at https://glennkirschner.com/Follow Glenn on:Threads: https://www.threads.net/glennkirschner2Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glennkirschner2Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glennkirsch...Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/glennkirschn...TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/glennkirschner2See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

DOGE and Trump are rebuked for their stunning use of law enforcement in their efforts to takeover and dismantle the United States Institute of Peace. Dina Doll reports on Judge Howell's 100 page opinion that declares their takeover unlawful. goPure: Get 25% OFF @goPure with code: MISSTRIAL at https://gopurebeauty.com/misstrial #gopurepod Visit https://meidasplus.com for more!

District of Columbia Federal District Court Judge Beryl Howell has issued a 102-page legal opinion and ruling, announcing that Trump/Musk/DOGE's takeover and decimation of the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) was "unlawful" and "null and void."Glenn reviews what the Trump administration did to USIP - an independent, non-profit organization - and discusses the new reporting on this important legal development and Judge Howell's new opinion and order.Link to The Hill article and Judge Howell's opinion: https://thehill.com/regulation/court-...If you're interested in supporting our all-volunteer efforts, you can become a Team Justice patron at: / glennkirschner If you'd like to support Glenn and buy Team Justice and Justice Matters merchandise visit:https://shop.spreadshirt.com/glennkir...Check out Glenn's website at https://glennkirschner.com/Follow Glenn on:Threads: https://www.threads.net/glennkirschner2Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glennkirschner2Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glennkirsch...Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/glennkirschn...TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/glennkirschner2See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Interview with Sameer Lalwani on India-Pakistan: 21:30 This week, Kelly and Tristen digest the recent elections in Australia and President Putin's WWII victory day parade, and remember the life and legacy of legendary IR scholar Joseph Nye. Kelly then talks with to Sameer Lalwani for an update on recent tensions between India and Pakistan.  Sameer Lalwani is a non-resident senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments. He was formerly a senior expert in the Asia Center at the United States Institute of Peace, director of the Stimson Center's South Asia Program, an adjunct professor at George Washington University, and a Stanton nuclear security fellow at the RAND Corporation.  His research has also been published in Security Studies, International Studies Quarterly, the Journal of Strategic Studies, Small Wars & Insurgencies, Survival, The Washington Quarterly, Asian Survey, Foreign Affairs, and the New York Times. The opinions expressed in this conversation are strictly those of the participants and do not represent the views of Georgetown University or any government entity. Produced by Theo Malhotra and Freddie Mallinson.  Recorded on May 12, 2025. Diplomatic Immunity, a podcast from the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University, brings you frank and candid conversations with experts on the issues facing diplomats and national security decision-makers around the world. Funding support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. For more, visit our website, and follow us on Linkedin, Twitter @GUDiplomacy, and Instagram @isd.georgetown  

In the first month of the new Trump Administration, much of the attention outside our borders has focused on Europe and the Middle East—the two regions that always seem to divert our focus from America's greatest competitor, the People's Republic of China (PRC). We often think of the challenge in terms of the most obvious arena—the Pacific—but it extends from the Arctic to Africa and, increasingly, to space.Returning to Midrats this Sunday to discuss the PRC's challenge for the new administration is Dean Cheng.Dean Cheng, Senior Advisor, United States Institute of Peace; Non-resident Senior Fellow, Potomac Institute for Policy Studies; Non-resident Fellow, George Washington University Space Policy Institute.He recently retired after 13 years with the Heritage Foundation, where he was a senior research fellow on Chinese political and security affairs, and wrote on various aspects of Chinese foreign and defense policy.Prior to joining the Heritage Foundation, he was a senior analyst with the China Studies Division (previously, Project Asia) at CNA from 2001-2009. Before joining CNA, he was a senior analyst with Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) from 1996-2001. From 1993-1995, he was an analyst with the US Congress' Office of Technology Assessment in the International Security and Space Division, where he studied the Chinese defense industrial complex.He is the author of the book Cyber Dragon: Inside China's Information Warfare and Cyber Operations (NY: Praeger Publishing, 2016), as well as a number of papers and book chapters examining various aspects of Chinese security affairs.Show LinksChina and the new Moon RaceHome Depot v. European UnionSummaryIn this conversation, Sal, Mark and Dean discuss the evolving global landscape with a focus on China's strategic ambitions in space, military capabilities, and economic strategies. They explore the implications of China's presence on the moon, its approach to international order, and the challenges posed by its cyber and nuclear capabilities. The discussion highlights the need for the U.S. to reassess its priorities in light of China's growing influence and the importance of strategic choices moving forward.TakeawaysChina is challenging the post-war international order established by the U.S.The U.S. needs to focus on China's ambitions in space.China's presence on the moon could redefine international norms.The Chinese view of engagement differs significantly from the U.S. perspective.China's cyber capabilities pose a significant threat to U.S. interests.The evolution of China's nuclear deterrence is a growing concern.China's demographic challenges may impact its long-term strategy.The U.S. must prioritize its strategic choices in response to China.China's economic espionage is a tool for technological advancement.The need for a coherent U.S. strategy to counter China's influence is critical.Chapters00:00: Introduction and Context of the Trump Administration's First Month03:35: China's Global Challenge and Space Ambitions08:44: The Implications of China's Space Strategy17:33: China's Technological Advancements in Space24:32: Chinese Military Strategy and Information Dominance29:01: China's Strategic Maneuvers in the Pacific31:56: Cultural Perspectives: Engagement vs. Cooperation36:31: Cyber Warfare: China's Digital Strategies39:38: China's Evolving Nuclear Deterrence44:05: Demographic and Economic Challenges for China47:44: Shifting Focus: U.S. Foreign Policy and China51:57: Future Considerations: Prioritizing Global Threats

Trump appears to want a quick and dirty end to Russia’s invasion, but at what cost to Ukraine and to America’s reputation? On this episode of After America, Dr Gorana Grgić joins Dr Emma Shortis to discuss Trump’s plans for Ukraine, the MAGA movement’s support for Europe’s resurgent far-right parties, and the new Cabinet’s approach to ‘prioritising’ China. This discussion was recorded on Thursday 20 February 2025 and things may have changed since recording. Order What's the Big Idea? 32 Big Ideas for a Better Australia now, via the Australia Institute website. Guest: Gorana Grgić, Senior Researcher, Center for Security Studies, ETH Zürich // goranagrgic.com Host: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @EmmaShortis Show notes: Bridges across regions: the effects of Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific cooperation on European security architectures by Gorana Grgić, International Politics (January 2025) Australia’s strategic thinking on the war in Ukraine, NATO, and Indo-Pacific security by Gorana Grgić, United States Institute of Peace (November 2024) A former defense official warns about China's military power, NPR (April 2024) Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au. Support After America: https://nb.australiainstitute.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Imam Adeel J. Zeb is a global interfaith scholar, CEO, and TEDx speaker. He served as the 1st Muslim and 1st South-Asian president of the National Association of College and University Chaplains. Zeb has worked as a Muslim chaplain at 6 colleges and universities across the United States and currently resides in the Greater Los Angeles area serving as the Executive Director of the University Religious Conference. He has spoken at Capitol Hill, the State Department, Obama's Interfaith Summit, and the Sultanate of Oman and various faith-based centers and colleges globally.  He was profiled by the Washington Post and BuzzFeed, Associated Press, and The New Yorker. He has been published in the Huffington Post and the Temple Journal of Ecumenical Studies. He has completed the prestigious fellowships and study abroad programs in Poland and Germany, Cambridge, Rwanda, Jerusalem, Turkey, and Oman. He has led interfaith and faith-specific service trips internationally. He is the founder of Halal Love Journey, a multifaceted Muslim marriage service offering pre/marital coaching officiating nikkahs, and tailored matchmaking. Zeb has certifications in conflict management, interfaith conflict management, and mediation from the United States Institute for Peace.  He served as a two-time U.S. Congressional staffer. He holds degrees and certifications from Baylor University in business administration and Arees University in traditional Islamic studies, a master's degree in Islamic chaplaincy from Hartford Seminary and certified in tajweed and Qur'anic recitation from the Blue Mosque in Istanbul.  EPISODE LINKS YOUR GIFTS SUPPORT THE MAD MAMLUKS PODCAST:  Please support us on https://Patreon.com/themadmamluks You can also support us on PayPal https://themadmamluks.com/donate VISIT OUR SOCIALS FOR MORE DISCUSSIONS: Twitter https://twitter.com/TheMadMamluks Instagram https://www.instagram.com/themadmamluks/ Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@themadmamluks SIM: https://x.com/ImranMuneerTMM MORT: https://www.tiktok.com/@morttmm Harry: https://x.com/MrHarry198 Shaykh Amir: He is too pious for Social Media. GUEST SOCIALS Twitter: ----------- #palestine #palestineisrael #gaza #genocide #themadmamluks #podcast #honesty #oppression #israel #oud #syria #syriancivilwar

Bill Price is a consultant of entertainment technology and a freelance designer, Lighting Designer, Director, Set Designer, Theatrical and Dance productions. He has been active in the Entertainment industry for over 40 years. Most recently Bill was the Vice President for AKT3 the Mid-Atlantic representative of lighting, rigging and draperies for entertainment. He is also the Past Chair and Founder of the Havre de Grace Arts Collective, the Immediate Past Chair of United States Institute of Theater Technology Chesapeake Section, and former Chair of the USITT eSET Council, an education organization of the entertainment industry. Bill has come highly recommended by Bill Groener to come on the Podcast. This episode is sponsored by ACT Entertainment and Ultimate Support

NATHALIE RAYES Nathalie Rayes serves as  U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Croatia. Ambassador Rayes has led a distinguished career in public service and served previously as the president and CEO of Latino Victory.  Prior to joining Latino Victory, Rayes was vice president of public affairs for Grupo Salinas in the United States and executive director of Fundación Azteca America.  Earlier in her career, she managed the Los Angeles Mayor's Office of Intergovernmental Relations, International Trade, and Protocol, and established the city's first Office of Immigrant Affairs. She has served as a prominent member of multiple boards, to include as President Biden's appointee to the United States Institute of Peace, President Obama's appointee to the board of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, and chair of the board of directors of the Hispanic Federation and the advisory group for Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE) Binational Fellowship. She has been recognized for her many contributions to public service, including the AL DÍA Archetype Ambassador Manuel Torres Award.  She was named among the 25 most powerful Latinas in the United States by People en Español Magazine, and was among the Top 10 Líderes by Hispanic Executive Magazine in 2021.  Rayes was recognized in the Huffington Post's “40 Under 40 Latinos in Foreign Policy” in 2015. Ambassador Rayes has a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Master's in Public Policy from UCLA.  She is fluent in Spanish and conversational in Arabic. Ambassador Rayes is married to Dr. Tarek Samad, an accomplished neuroscientist, and they have two sons, Julian and Alexander. RELATED LINKS Wikipedia US Embassy in Croatia With the 173rd Airborne Brigade Q&A with Daily Bruin (UCLA) GENERAL INFO| TOP OF THE GAME: Official website: https://topofthegame-thepod.com/ RSS Feed: https://feed.podbean.com/topofthegame-thepod/feed.xml Hosting service show website: https://topofthegame-thepod.podbean.com/ Javier's LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/javiersaade  SUPPORT & CONNECT: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/96934564 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551086203755 Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOPOFGAMEpod Subscribe on Podbean: https://www.podbean.com/site/podcatcher/index/blog/vLKLE1SKjf6G Email us: info@topofthegame-thepod.com   THANK YOU FOR LISTENING – AVAILABLE ON ALL MAJOR PLATFORMS

In this episode, we welcome one of the foremost scholars in international relations to the podcast, Professor Martha Finnemore. Recognized globally for her pioneering contributions to the field, Finnemore recently received the 2023 Johan Skytte Prize in Political Science alongside Alexander Wendt. This prestigious accolade celebrates their groundbreaking work in constructivism, a theory that has reshaped how we understand international politics by emphasizing the role of shared ideas and norms. In this episode, Finnemore reflects on the journey and impact of constructivism, tracing its rise from a niche critique to a central framework in global governance. We explore the intellectual and real-world challenges of persuading a discipline once dominated by materialist paradigms to take seriously the power of ideas. With enviable clarity, she explains how constructivism reveals the social underpinnings of power, from norms shaping cybersecurity to the shared authority in the governance of AI. Martha Finnemore is University Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at George Washington University. A leading scholar in global governance, international organizations, and social theory, her award-winning books include Rules for the World and The Purpose of Intervention. Her research has appeared in top journals like International Organization and World Politics. A Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, she has held research appointments at Brookings and Stanford and received fellowships from the MacArthur Foundation and the United States Institute of Peace. Martha's GWU profile can be found here: https://elliott.gwu.edu/martha-finnemore We discussed: The Skytte Prize citation: https://www.skytteprize.com/prize-laureates/martha-finnemore-and-alexander-wendt Who Governs the Globe (with Deborah Avant and Susan K. Sell): https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/who-governs-the-globe/6B6B62E4C2E00E560DF3B2B35E79C839 Rules for the World: International Organizations in Global Politics (with Michael Barnett): https://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9780801488238/rules-for-the-world/

China's push to revise the international security order entered a new phase with the launch of the Global Security Initiative (GSI) in April 2022. A few months after Xi Jinping proposed GSI, host Bonnie Glaser did a podcast episode with Manoj Kewalramani to discuss the drivers behind GSI and analyze the initial statements outlining its content. More than 2 ½ years have elapsed since then, and scholars have begun to investigate how China is implementing GSI in various regions around the world. A new report from the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) examines how GSI is being operationalized and received in two priority regions of Chinese foreign policy: mainland Southeast Asia and Central Asia. The study draws on field research in both regions. The report is titled “China's Global Security Initiative Takes Shape in Southeast and Central Asia.” The report has three authors: Bates Gill, Carla Freeman and Alison McFarland. Bonnie Glaser is joined by Bates Gill for this episode to discuss the report's findings. Bates is a senior fellow with the National Bureau of Asian Research, a Senior Associate Fellow with the Royal United Services Institute, and associated with USIP.Timestamps[00:00] Start[01:53] Objectives of China's Global Security Initiative [04:22] GSI as an Additive or a Replacement[07:21] Fieldwork in Southeast and Central Asia[12:06] Concerns about China's Intentions and Influence[15:24] GSI Initiatives and Sources of Funding[19:58] GSI and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation[23:55] Moscow's View of GSI [29:27] Implications of GSI for the United States

What does peace look like for ordinary people, and how we can create metrics of peace that reflect those things that people value? In this conversation, we bring you audio from a May 2023 talk by Peter Dixon, a member of the CT Collaborative's External Advisory Board and a Middlebury alum.  Peter Dixon is an Associate Professor of Practice in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution at the School of Professional Studies at Columbia University. He graduated from Middlebury in 2001.5 and has a PhD in sociology from the University of California, Berkeley. In his research, Dr. Dixon uses mixed methodologies to understand how local knowledge can influence transformative solutions toward peace and justice in conflict-affected communities. Currently, he is researching community-based transitional justice in Colombia and bottom-up approaches to public safety and restorative justice in urban America. He has received support for this work from foundations including the National Science Foundation, United States Institute of Peace, Inter-American Foundation, and Humanity United. To learn more about Dixon, see here:  https://sps.columbia.edu/person/peter-dixon-phd To learn more about Everyday Peace Indicators, click here: https://www.everydaypeaceindicators.org/  To learn more about our External Advisory Board, see here: https://www.middlebury.edu/conflict-transformation/who-we-are#external-advisory-board 

EPISODE 121 | Coup Coup G'joob: Civic Disturbances in the U.S. 1900 - Present This is a continuation of our previous episode about coup attempts, rebellions and civic unrest in the United States prior to the 20th century. This time, we jump into the 20th century and bring us right up to the present day. After hearing all this, you decide if things really are, as some would have you believe, the worst it's ever been, or if in fact, America has always struggled with its foundational problems and original sins, coupled with an unusual appetite for, or at least tolerance of, violence.  Like what we do? Then buy us a beer or three via our page on Buy Me a Coffee.  You can also SUBSCRIBE to this podcast. Review us here or on IMDb!  SECTIONS Sitting on a Cornflake - Race riots, the Green Corn Rebellion of 1917, the Red Summer of 1919, Anarchists, the Battle of Blair Mountain (1921), 1931 - Bloody Harlan, the Housing Riots, the Kingfish vs. the Wild Bull of Jeanerette Corporation Tee-Shirt - The Business Plot of 1933-1934 Yellow Matter Custard - The McMinn County War (the Battle of Athens) (1946) You Let Your Face Grow Long - The 1960s - Ax Handle Saturday, the Ole Miss Riot, the Harlem Riot, the Selma marches, the Watts Riot, the Long Hot Summer of 1967, segregationists in North Carolina, the Stonewall Riots, the Weathermen and the Days of Rage; the 1970s - the Kent State shootings, the Hard Hat Riot, Alcatraz and Catalina occupations, the Attica Prison Riot, the Weather Underground Organization (WUO) bombings and more; the 1980s and 1990s in brief A Serviceable Villain - The 21st century - Pseudolaw gets violent, the rise of protests, Occupy Wall Street, the Gretchen Whitmer kidnapping plot, stochastic terrorism, Trump mouths off, King Henry II and his "turbulent priest", the Manson family, proposed solutions to violent outbursts, Pakistan's Sabaoon Project, Kenya's Preventing of Violent Extremism through Education, Islamic deradicalization group Muflehun, Google's Redirect Method, what we can do Music by Fanette Ronjat More Info EPISODE 115 | Cuckoo Coups in the U.S. The Beatles explained: What does ‘goo goo g'joob' mean? When the Socialist Revolution Came to Oklahoma—and Was Crushed in Smithsonian Magazine Red Summer: When Racist Mobs Ruled on American Experience Red Summer of 1919: How Black WWI Vets Fought Back Against Racist Mobs on History.com The Battle of Blair Mountain on ReImagine Appalachia Introduction to the West Virginia Mine Wars on the National Park Service Remembering Bloody Harlan on Parallel Narratives When the Unemployed Fought Back on Shelterforce.org Huey Long: His Life and Times Why is so little known about the 1930s coup attempt against FDR? in The Guardian Considering History: The 1933 Business Plot to Overthrow America in the Saturday Evening Post The Battle of Athens: An Obscure American Revolution on Legends of America The Battle of Athens in American Heritage What happened on Ax Handle Saturday, Aug. 27, 1960, in Jacksonville? The Riot at Ole' Miss on American RadioWorks Riots erupt over desegregation of Ole Miss on History.com Riots of 1964: The Causes of Racial Violence paper by Roy Wilkins at the Notre Dame Law Review Inside the Harlem Uprising of 1964 at Rutgers Watts Rebellion on History.com She Played a Key Role in the Police Response to the Watts Riots. The Memory Still Haunts Her—But Black History Is Full of Haunting Memories in Time The 1967 Riots: When Outrage Over Racial Injustice Boiled Over on History.com What was the Stonewall uprising? in National Geographic Stonewall then and now in The Harvard Gazette Chicago's Forgotten 'Days of Rage' THE MAY 4 SHOOTINGS AT KENT STATE UNIVERSITY: THE SEARCH FOR HISTORICAL ACCURACY Kent State shootings: The 1970 student protests that shook the US on the BBC What was the Weather Underground? on The Hill How the Weather Underground Failed at Revolution and Still Changed the World in Time Evading the FBI: The Weather Underground Organization at Yale University Press Some Say Occupy Wall Street Did Nothing. It Changed Us More Than We Think in Time Occupy Wall Street swept the world and achieved a lot, even if it may not feel like it in The Guardian Gretchen Whitmer kidnapping articles on PBS News The Final Twist in the Gretchen Whitmer Kidnap Case on Slate Donald Trump, Stochastic Terrorist in Mother Jones Stochastic terrorism: critical reflections on an emerging concept in Critical Studies on Terrorism How Stochastic Terrorism Uses Disgust to Incite Violence in Scientific American Deradicalizing, Rehabilitating, and Reintegrating Violent Extremists at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) Bringing them home: Pakistan's child deradicalisation centre offers second chance Education for Preventing Violent Extremism (EPVE) working group paper from the Club of Madrid Lessons Learned from Student-led Initiatives to Prevent Violent Extremism in Kenyan Universities PREVENTING VIOLENT EXTREMISM THROUGH PROMOTING INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT, TOLERANCE AND RESPECT FOR DIVERSITY discussion paper from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Preventing violent extremism webpage at UNESCO Preventing Violent Radicalization in America report from the National Security Preparedness Group at the Bipartisan Policy Center DHS Rebrands and Expands Biased, Ineffective Countering Violent Extremism Program at the Brennan Center for Justice The Redirect Method on Moonshot The Search for Extremism: Deploying the Redirect Method at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy Follow us on social: Facebook Twitter Other Podcasts by Derek DeWitt DIGITAL SIGNAGE DONE RIGHT - Winner of a 2022 Gold Quill Award, 2022 Gold MarCom Award, 2021 AVA Digital Award Gold, 2021 Silver Davey Award, 2020 Communicator Award of Excellence, and on numerous top 10 podcast lists.  PRAGUE TIMES - A city is more than just a location - it's a kaleidoscope of history, places, people and trends. This podcast looks at Prague, in the center of Europe, from a number of perspectives, including what it is now, what is has been and where it's going. It's Prague THEN, Prague NOW, Prague LATER 

In our third episode on pig butchering scams, we explore the origins of the Chinese criminal syndicates that enslave people from at least 66 different countries. We examine the institutions supporting this appalling business, from the Thai military to cryptocurrencies, Burmese border guard forces to special economic zones. And the marks for these scam syndicates are not just Chinese lonely hearts—Western countries are now more profitable to scam than China. To ask what can be done to counter this trade, Graeme is joined by Jason Tower, director of the Burma Program at the United States Institute of Peace, and Greg Raymond from the ANU's Strategic and Defence Studies Centre. Image: c/- Stefan Czimmek/DW, KK Park on the Myanmar-Thai borderSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 2 of Season 13 on the Social Change Career Podcast features Dominic Kiraly, Director of Online and In-person Training at the United States Institute of Peace. He shares his journey from initial job search challenges to becoming a leading expert in education, training, and instructional design, highlighting the transformative power of unique skill sets and continuous learning. Why Take a Listen:    - Navigating Career Transitions with Tech and Training Expertise: Discover how Dominic overcame initial career discouragement and leveraged opportunities at University for Peace to build a distinctive profile in distance learning, instructional design, and technical skills. Learn about his insights into aligning passion with marketable skills.    - The Role of Non-Traditional Learning Paths: Gain valuable advice on the merits of online learning platforms like Coursera and the impact of specialized education and training tailored to career goals. Understand how Dominic's work including developing and leading USIP's Gandhi King Global Academy which offers globally accessible and scalable peacebuilding education.    - Proactivity, Skill Proficiency, and AI in Career Development: Learn Dominic's practical tips for emerging professionals, including the significance of being proactive in job roles, developing strong applied skills and becoming fluent in AI for impact,  and maintaining resilience and self-care to manage burnout and thrive in evolving career landscapes. Recommended Resources: Books: How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen by David Brooks Learn More Online Learning Platforms: LinkedIn Learning Coursera edX MasterClass Courses from University for Peace (UPEACE), UNITAR, and United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC) Academies and Programs: USIP Gandhi-King Global Academy Social Change Career Podcast: Don't miss out on the wealth of knowledge shared in the 150+ episodes of our award-winning Social Change Career Podcast. Whether you're into finance, peacekeeping, humanitarian relief, technology, or advocacy, there's a story to spark your interest and passion. Bio: Dominic Kiraly pioneered an online training academy at the United States Institute of Peace. The academy has now become a premier training hub for civil society leaders, humanitarian workers, and foreign government officials worldwide working to prevent and manage violent conflicts. Over 130,000 practitioners have been trained worldwide and the learning community continues to expand rapidly to meet their needs and demands for more topics, languages, and different hybrid training modalities. Kiraly earned a master's in business administration in international economic development from Eastern University and a master's in international law and human rights from UPEACE in Costa Rica. He also completed coursework towards a doctorate in international politics at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth.    Stay informed on PCDN and the podcast by signing up for our Free Weekly Impact Newsletter https://pcdn-impact.beehiiv.com/    

Episode 113 examines the challenges presented by the Islamic State Khorasan (ISK) in Afghanistan within the context of the three-year anniversary of U.S. withdrawal from the region.   Our guests share their extensive backgrounds, research, and practical experience related to the emergence of ISK in Afghanistan and Pakistan. They define the current operational environment that exists in the region with a particular focus on the power vacuum created by U.S. withdrawal in August of 2021. They then delve into how ISK adopted a two-pronged strategy of forging key alliances and rivalries to exploit tensions and build a diverse talent pipeline for their organization. Our guests also offer insight into the challenges of defining and addressing the ISK threat by evaluating the feasibility and limitations of “over-the-horizon” counterterrorism capabilities. Finally, they provide policy and strategy considerations for the future of counterterrorism operations.   Andrew Mines is a senior program specialist in the Asia Center at the United States Institute of Peace. He is the co-author of the book, The Islamic State in Afghanistan and Pakistan: Strategic Alliances and Rivalries, which is the foundation for today's conversation.  LTC Paul Lushenko is an Assistant Professor and the Director of Special Operations at the U.S. Army War College. He earned his Ph.D. and M.A. in International Relations from Cornell University. Paul has deployed continuously, directing intelligence operations at the Battalion, Combined Task Force, and Joint Task Force levels. In his most recent operational assignment, Paul served as the Senior Intelligence Officer for the Joint Special Operations Task Force in Afghanistan.   Frank Struzinski and Julia McClenon are the hosts for Episode 113. Please reach out to them with any questions about this episode or the Irregular Warfare Podcast.   The Irregular Warfare Podcast is a production of the Irregular Warfare Initiative (IWI). We are a team of volunteers dedicated to bridging the gap between scholars and practitioners in the field of irregular warfare. IWI generates written and audio content, coordinates events for the IW community, and hosts critical thinkers in the field of irregular warfare as IWI fellows. You can follow and engage with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, or LinkedIn.   Subscribe to our monthly newsletter for access to our written content, upcoming community events, and other resources.

Gloria Laker Aciro was a teenager when war upended her family's life in Northern Uganda. The Lord's Resistance Army, led by the infamous Joseph Kony, were known for their brutality, and for kidnapping children and making them child soldiers or child brides. As a young displaced person, Aciro became a journalist so the world would know about the suffering in Northern Uganda: The abductions, killings, the ambushes, the destruction. But after a few years, she wondered if focusing on bloodshed was the right approach. What if journalists like her could help bring peace to the country? Today, Aciro is director of the Peace Journalism Foundation of East Africa. Peace Journalism -- as you might remember from one of our previous episodes -- is when editors and reporters make choices that improve the prospects for peace. She covers peace and conflict, refugee issues, and the environment, and trains journalists around East Africa in peace journalism. Aciro was a finalist for the 2022 Women Building Peace Award given by the United States Institute of Peace. And in 2019, she received a Golden Jubilee Medal awarded by Ugandan President Yoweri, for her coverage of the LRA conflict and her contributions to current peace efforts in Northern Uganda. Aciro sat down with Making Peace Visible Education Director Steven Youngblood to reflect on her decades in the field in Uganda, and the real impact of peace journalism in the face of war and gang violence. Music in this episode by Xylo-Ziko and Joel Cummins. ABOUT THE SHOW The Making Peace Visible podcast is hosted by Jamil Simon and produced by Andrea Muraskin, with help from Faith McClure. The Associate Director of Making Peace Visible is Steven Youngblood. Learn more at makingpeacevisible.org Support this podcast Connect on social:Instagram @makingpeacevisibleLinkedIn @makingpeacevisibleX (formerly Twitter) @makingpeaceviz We want to learn more about our listeners. Take this 3-minute survey to help us improve the show!

Visit us at Network2020.org. The ISIS attacks on the Crocus City Hall theater in Russia this past March brought Islamic jihadism back to the headlines. Following the decimation of the ISIS caliphate in Syria and Iraq, ISIS affiliates around the world have continued acts of terrorism through asymmetric warfare. One such group – the Islamic State Khorasan Province or ISIS-K – claimed responsibility for the attack in Moscow and ISIS affiliates are surging in the Sahel. What is the status of global terrorism? How has ISIS transformed since 2019? Where does ISIS-K fit in? What are its objectives and how is it pursuing them? What is the U.S. doing to counter the threats from global terrorism and how successful have its policies been? Today we're joined by Michael Collins, Executive Director Americas of the Institute for Economics & Peace; Dr. Kim Cragin, Director of the national Defense University's Center for Strategic Research and Distinguished Research Fellow for Special Operations and Counterterrorism; and Dr. Asfandyar Mir, Senior Expert in South Asia program at the United States Institute for Peace.

With escalating military conflict between Myanmar's ruling junta and various ethnic armed organisations (or EAOs) in recent months, China is pursuing a delicate balancing act along their shared 2200 km border, juggling its economic interests, security concerns, and regional reputation. While Beijing has traditionally supported the junta, recent events have signalled the limits of such backing as the regime appears to weaken. In Northern Shan State, a region with a rich tapestry of ethnic groups and militias – many at odds with the central government – China has attempted to position itself as a mediator, convening peace talks and exerting pressure on various factions. Meanwhile, reverberations of the unrest have been felt across the border in China's Yunnan Province, impacting trade, border security, and prompting calls for a potential Chinese security presence in Myanmar. So what's really at stake for China as events in Myanmar become increasingly uncertain? How much do Beijing's aspirations in the region rely on continued support for the ruling junta? And what constructive role, if any, could Beijing play in a more peaceful future for Myanmar? Jason Tower, Myanmar country director for the United States Institute of Peace, and Dr Pascal Abb, China foreign policy analyst at the Peace Research Institute Frankfurt, examine the intersection of Myanmar's fate and China's interests with Ear to Asia host Sami Shah. An Asia Institute podcast. Produced and edited by profactual.com. Music by audionautix.com.Further readingTransnational Crime in Southeast Asia: A Growing Threat to Global Peace and Securityhttps://www.usip.org/publications/2024/05/transnational-crime-southeast-asia-growing-threat-global-peace-and-securityRoad to Peace or Bone of Contention?: The Impact of the Belt and Road Initiative on Conflict Stateshttps://www.prif.org/en/publications/publication-search/publication/road-to-peace-or-bone-of-contentionDo regime differences shape developmental engagement? How China and Japan compete in post-coup Myanmarhttps://blog.prif.org/2023/12/20/do-regime-differences-shape-developmental-engagement-how-china-and-japan-compete-in-post-coup-myanmar/Myanmar's Collapsing Military Creates a Crisis on China's Borderhttps://www.usip.org/publications/2024/04/myanmars-collapsing-military-creates-crisis-chinas-border

After the Islamic State was largely defeated on the battlefields of northern Syria in 2019, thousands of fighters and their families were placed in detention facilities in the region. By far the largest of these detention camps is Al Hol, which at its peak held over 70,000 people from several dozen countries. Today, over 50,000 people live in Al Hol, which is essentially an open-air prison. The vast majority of people living there are children. My guest today, Sarhang Hamaseed, is the director of Middle East Programs at the United States Institute of Peace and is intimately involved with efforts to help repatriate families currently stranded in this prison camp. When we caught up, he had recently returned from Iraq, working on programs to support the reintegration of Iraqi families in Al Hol. In our conversation, Sarhang Hamaseed explains why this festering prison camp in northern Syria is both a humanitarian and security crisis that deserves broader international attention.

Michael talks with Asfandyar Mir, a South Asia senior expert at the United States Institute of Peace, about Pakistan. The two discuss the U.S. national security interest in Pakistan, relations between the two countries, the influence of China on Pakistan, and the Pakistani Taliban and Al-Qaeda.

Hey honies, I'm going to ask you a huge favour before we dive into today's episode. Can you take a moment to leave a review of the show on whatever channel you're tuning into? I'm pouring my heart and soul into upleveling the quality of everything here and doubling down on efforts to bring you the best stories, tools and inspiration to feel your best. If you've found the show helpful or supportive in any way, please leave a quick 5-star review and know that it really does make a difference!  Caitlin Crosby, named among Oprah's SuperSoul100 list of visionaries elevating humanity, is the Founder & CEO of The Giving Keys, a give-back Pay-It-Forward jewelry and lifestyle company, 2x Best Selling Author, as well as a speaker, (a 2x TEDx, Stanford, United States Institute of Peace in DC) former singer-songwriter and actress.  Today on the show CAITLIN and I talk about  her hilarious form of rebellion against the superficiality of Hollywood, what inspired the Giving Keys  Challenges of growing a business - including the embezzlement of funds  Single parenting  A wellness practice that she uses that we haven't talked about on the show but that I believe is one of the most profound things SOME people can do.  I'm excited to give a Giving Key to one of you who needs it. All you have to do is leave a review on whatever platform you're listening to.  Links : Instagram @caitlincrosby and @thegivingkeys Caitlin's Book: You Are the Key  Book your complimentary 20-minute Breakthrough Call with Erin here!  Join me inside of the Food Freedom Program!  Are you loving the show? We'd be so grateful if you could share the show with a friend, and leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcasts!  Connect with Erin and Raw Beauty Talks on Instagram or on our website 

In this episode of 1050 Bascom, we were thrilled to have the opportunity to interview Ambassador Karl Eikenberry. Ambassador Eikenberry is a Distinguished Fellow at the Stimson Center, a faculty member of Schwarzman College in Beijing, China and a Senior Advisor to the United States Institute for Peace. He is a former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan and a retired Lieutenant General of the U.S. Army. His postings have included the East/Central/South Asian regions, Europe, and the Middle East. We were honored to speak with the Ambassador and learned so much. We hope you will too.

The United Nations on Friday warned of a “dramatic escalation of tensions” among warring parties near El Fasher, North Darfur. The area is already on the brink of famine, according to the UN, and an attack on the city could have devastating consequences for civilians. The crisis in El Fasher comes as Sudan's calamitous war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces enters its second year. The war has left more than 15,000 people dead and more than 8 million displaced, according to relief agencies. We look at conditions on the ground, the forces that are driving the conflict and how the global community is responding. Guests: Beverly Ochieng, senior journalist and Africa analyst, BBC Monitoring Ali Ali-Dinar, Sudanese scholar and senior lecturer in the department of Africana Studies, University of Pennsylvania Amb. Susan Page, professor of practice in international diplomacy, University of Michigan; former US ambassador to the Republic of South Sudan (2011-2014) Susan Stigant, director of Africa programs, United States Institute of Peace

China maintains a massive lead over the U.S. and other G7 countries in both mining and refining capacity in Africa, a key vulnerability that policymakers in the U.S., Europe, and elsewhere say they're determined to rectify. A new report from the United States Institute of Peace lays out a roadmap for how the U.S. can close that gap with China to achieve mineral security while protecting local labor and environmental standards. Terence McCulley, a senior visiting expert for West Africa at USIP and a former U.S. ambassador to several African countries, joins Eric, Cobus & Geraud to discuss the new report and whether he thinks it's even possible for the U.S. to rival China's critical mineral supply chain. SHOW NOTES: USIP Senior Study Group Final Report: Critical Minerals in Africa: Strengthening Security, Supporting Development, and Reducing Conflict amid Geopolitical Competition: https://tinyurl.com/2yop8jcf JOIN THE DISCUSSION: X: @ChinaGSProject | @stadenesque | @eric_olander | @christiangeraud Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChinaAfricaProject YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ChinaGlobalSouth FOLLOW CAP IN FRENCH AND ARABIC: Français: www.projetafriquechine.com | @AfrikChine Arabic: عربي: www.alsin-alsharqalawsat.com | @SinSharqAwsat JOIN US ON PATREON! Become a CAP Patreon member and get all sorts of cool stuff, including our Week in Review report, an invitation to join monthly Zoom calls with Eric & Cobus, and even an awesome new CAP Podcast mug! www.patreon.com/chinaglobalsouth

For the first two decades of this century, as the West and her friends were distracted by small wars in Central Asia and the Middle East, the People's Republic of China slowly, deliberately, and steadily grew her economic, diplomatic, and economic power.As we are in the last year closing out the first quarter of the 21st Century, the West distracted by an ongoing major conventional war in its third year in Europe, and still cannot extract itself from the Middle Eastern tar-pit. Haw is the PRC doing? Keeping on, moving on...and it's time for an update on their progress.Returning to Midrats for the full hour will be Dean Cheng, Senior Fellow, Potomac Institute for Policy Studies; Senior Adviser, United States Institute of Peace; and Non-resident Fellow, George Washington University Space Policy Institute.Dean was recently appointed a non-resident Senior Fellow at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies, a Senior Adviser with the US Institute of Peace, and a non-resident fellow with the George Washington University Space Policy Institute.He retired as the Senior Research Fellow for Chinese Political and Military Affairs at the Heritage Foundation after 13 years. He is fluent in Chinese, and uses Chinese language materials regularly in his work.Prior to joining the Heritage Foundation, he worked at the Center for Naval Analyses (CNA), a Federally Funded Research and Development Center, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), and as an analyst with the US Congress' Office of Technology Assessment.He is the author of the volume Cyber Dragon: Inside China's Information Warfare and Cyber Operations (Praeger Publishing, 2016), and has written extensively on Chinese views of deterrence, Chinese views of space power, and Chinese mobilization, and contributed to a number of volumes on the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

On February 1st 2021, the Tatmadaw, or Myanmar military began a coup d'etat against the democratically-elected government, which was led by the National League for Democracy (or NLD) just before elected officials from the November 2020 elections could be sworn in. Since then, Myanmar has been largely controlled by a military junta, who continue to struggle against multiple ethnically-aligned armies dispersed throughout the country. Some countries in the region have refused to recognize the junta, but the People's Republic of China called the coup simply a “major cabinet reshuffle” and accelerated their military trade with the junta while decrying Western sanctions on the country as escalatory measures, even going so far as to veto a security council resolution condemning the coup alongside Russia. China's approach to relations with Myanmar since the coup have been evolving swiftly, especially since the recent Operation 1027, a large offensive staged by the ethnic armed forces coalition known as the Three Brotherhood Alliance on October 27th 2023. The losses by the junta during the operation revealed their control of the country to be more tenuous than Beijing might have expected and exemplify the complex factors going into China's decision-making approach to the conflict. For this episode, host Bonnie Glaser is joined by Jason Tower, the country director for the Burma program at the United States Institute for Peace. Tower has over 20 years of experience working in conflict and security issues in China and Southeast Asia, including analysis on cross-border investments, conflict dynamics, and organized crime in the region. He worked previously in Beijing and is a former Fulbright research student and Harvard-Yenching fellow.  Timestamps[02:07] China's Interest in the Myanmar Conflict[05:48] China's Engagement with Parties in Myanmar[12:48] Impact of China's Brokered Ceasefires [20:30] Credibility of China in Southeast Asia[25:15] Myanmar in the US-China Relationship

This episode of the Amazing Cities and Towns Podcast sponsored by Bearing Advisors, Jim Hunt interviews Dr. Seth Kaplan, the author of Fragile Neighborhoods.    ·       A candid conversation about rebuilding cities one neighborhood at a time. ·       And, much more   7 Steps to an Amazing City:   Attitude Motivation Attention to Detail Zing Inclusiveness Neighborhood Empowerment Green Awareness  Thanks for listening and look forward to having you join us for the next episode.   Links Mentions During Show:  https://sethkaplan.org/ ·       www.AmazingCities.org ·       www.AmazingCities.org/podcast to be a guest on the podcast   About Dr. Seth Kaplan:     Dr. Seth Kaplan is a leading expert on fragile states, political transitions, conflict prevention, political risk assessment, political-economic analysis, state-building, governance, and human rights. He is a Professorial Lecturer in the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at Johns Hopkins University, Senior Adviser for the Institute for Integrated Transitions (IFIT), and consultant to multilateral organizations such as the World Bank, U.S. State Department, U.S. Agency for International Development, and OECD as well as bilateral donors, developing country governments, think tanks, and NGOs. He is the author of the U.S. State Department's Political Transitions Analysis Framework (2020) and co-author of the United Nations – World Bank flagship report Pathways for Peace: Inclusive Approaches to Preventing Violent Conflict and USAID's Fragility Assessment Framework (2018). He was the lead author, coordinator, and managing editor of both an eight country comparative study for the United States Institute of Peace on social contract formation in fragile states and a 100-page flagship publication for IFIT articulating a new approach to regime transitions in post-conflict and post-authoritarian countries. Dr. Kaplan is the author of two books on fragile states—Fixing Fragile States: A New Paradigm for Development (Praeger Security International, 2008); and Betrayed: Promoting Inclusive Development in Fragile States (Palgrave Macmillan, 2013)—and one book on human rights and culture, Human Rights in Thick and Thin Societies: Universality Without Uniformity (Cambridge University Press, 2018). He is working on a book on reversing social breakdown. Dr. Kaplan has published widely on development issues in publications such as The Washington Quarterly, The American Interest, Orbis, Policy Review, National Affairs, Journal of Democracy, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times. He has spoken on development issues in major forums around the world, including the Global Economic Symposium (GES) in Kiel, the World Bank in Washington, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing, the Overseas Development Institute in London, and the Aga Khan Foundation in Ottawa. He serves on the Board of Directors of three non-governmental organizations in the United States and abroad. Dr. Kaplan has 20 years of on-the-ground experience managing projects in developing countries, and he has worked for several large multinationals, including Procter & Gamble, Compaq Computers, and Komatsu. During his seven years in Shanghai, Dr. Kaplan founded four companies. Dr. Kaplan has visited over 70 countries and done research in countries as disparate as Somalia, Yemen, Bolivia, Pakistan, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Iran, Azerbaijan, and Syria. He speaks Mandarin Chinese and Japanese. He has a Ph.D. from the University of Utrecht and a Master in Business Administration from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he was a Palmer Scholar.   About Your Host, Jim Hunt: Welcome to the “Building Amazing Cities and Towns Podcast” … The podcast for Mayors, Council Members, Managers, Staff and anyone who is interested in building an Amazing City.   Your host is Jim Hunt, the author of “Bottom Line Green, How American Cities are Saving the Planet and Money Too” and his latest book, “The Amazing City - 7 Steps to Creating an Amazing City”   Jim is also the former President of the National League of Cities, 27 year Mayor, Council Member and 2006 Municipal Leader of the Year by American City and County Magazine.   Today, Jim speaks to 1000's of local government officials each year in the US and abroad.   Jim also consults with businesses that are bringing technology and innovation to local government.   Amazing City Resources:   Buy Jim's Popular Books: ·       The Amazing City: 7 Steps to Creating an Amazing City:   https://www.amazingcities.org/product-page/the-amazing-city-7-steps-to-creating-an-amazing-city   ·       Bottom Line Green: How America's Cities and Saving the Planet (And Money Too)  https://www.amazingcities.org/product-page/bottom-line-green-how-america-s-cities-are-saving-the-planet-and-money-too   FREE White Paper: ·       “10 Steps to Revitalize Your Downtown”  www.AmazingCities.org/10-Steps   Hire Jim to Speak at Your Next Event: ·       Tell us about your event and see if dates are available at www.AmazingCities.org/Speaking   Hire Jim to Consult with Your City or Town: ·       Discover more details at https://www.amazingcities.org/consulting   Discuss Your Business Opportunity/Product to Help Amazing Cities: ·       Complete the form at https://www.amazingcities.org/business-development   A Special Thanks to Bearing Advisors for the support of this podcast:  www.BearingAdvisors.Net  

Knox Thames is an international human rights lawyer, advocate, and author who has dedicated his career to promoting human rights, defending religious minorities, and combatting persecution. Known for his nonpartisan approach to advocacy, both the Obama and Trump administrations appointed Knox as the Special Advisor for Religious Minorities in the Near East and South / Central Asia at the State Department. The first to serve in this special envoy role, he received a civil service appointment to lead State Department efforts to support religious minorities in these regions. In April 2023, Knox joined Pepperdine University as a Senior Fellow, directing the new Program on Global Faith and Inclusive Societies from the Washington DC campus. In addition, since 2020, he has worked with the United States Institute of Peace as a non-resident Senior Visiting Expert. Knox Thames website: https://www.knoxthames.com/ Christians Against All Persecution: https://www.caapnetwork.org/ Special Guest: Knox Thames.

About the Lecture Former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Alphonso Jackson will discuss the interconnection between the American Civil Rights movement and international human rights yesterday and today. Jackson grew up in segregated Dallas, Texas. In 1965, he marched for Civil Rights on Bloody Sunday in Selma, Alabama. The relationship between foreign affairs and the American Civil Rights story was highlighted in an address by Secretary of State Dean Rusk in 1963 and remains true today. “As the matters stand, however, racial discrimination here at home has important effects on our foreign relations. This is not because such discrimination is unique to the United States. Discrimination on account of race, color, religion, national or tribal origin may be found in many countries. But the United States is widely regarded as the home of democracy and the leader of the struggle for freedom, for human rights and human dignity.” -Secretary of State Dean Rusk before the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee, 1963 (The Department of State Bulletin, Volume 49: “Fulfilling Our Basic Commitments as a Nation, Statement by Secretary Rusk”) About the Speaker Secretary Alphonso Jackson, former Secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, has decades of experience in housing and community development. His expertise includes the development of affordable and market-rate housing, handling complex urban development issues, and housing finance. Jackson was appointed by President George W. Bush as the 13th Secretary of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate in March 2004. Before being appointed Secretary, Jackson served as the Deputy Secretary of HUD, managing the daily operations of the $36 billion agency. After his government service, Jackson served as Vice Chairman of Mortgage Services with JP Morgan Chase, followed by Senior Advisor to the CEO at First Data Corporation(now Fiserv Corporation). Early in his professional career, he was president and COO of American Electric Power-Texas, a $13 billion utility company and subsidiary of American Electric Power. From 1988-1996, he was president and CEO of the Housing Authority of the City of Dallas, ranked among the best-managed large-city housing agencies during his tenure. As a college student, Jackson volunteered as a student protester in Alabama on Bloody Sunday in March 1965, a civil rights protest from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. Jackson serves on the United States Institute for Peace International Advisory Board and Ford's Theater Society Board of Trustees. He also recently served on the United States Department of State Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board(Chair). He is a member of The Alfalfa Club and Horatio Alger Association(Board of Directors). He has been awarded numerous civic awards and eleven honorary degrees from colleges and universities, including his alma mater, Washington University in St. Louis, MO. Jackson holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Master's in Education Administration from Truman State University. He also has a Juris Doctor from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, MO.

Jennifer Justice is a successful entrepreneur, entertainment executive, and lawyer. After 17 years as Jay-Z's personal entertainment attorney, in which she was instrumental in some of the rapper's high-profile projects, Jennifer left and eventually started her own venture, The Justice Department. Her new company champions gender equality and focuses on helping women maximize their value in business. In this episode, Jennifer shares valuable advice for those aspiring to follow her career path, underscores the importance of adopting a passion-and-purpose-driven approach to work, and more.Follow Jennifer on Instagram @thejustice.dept or visit her online at thejusticedept.com.About UmindiUmindi Francis is the CEO and founder of the award-winning global brand consulting firm UFCG. She has led strategy and marketing for some of the world's leading brands, such as Louis Vuitton, Bottega Veneta, and Bumble. Over the years, she has worked with celebrities and numerous brands, ranging from The New York Times to the United States Institute of Peace, as a business strategy adviser. Umindi has been featured in a number of publications, including Time, New York, and Vogue, and is the recipient of a United States Congressional Recognition for Business Achievement.Follow Umindi on Instagram @Umindi360 and on Linkedin here and the podcast @whatsnextwithumindi.

Desiree Rogers, the CEO and co-owner of Fashion Fair Cosmetics and Black Opal Beauty, shares her journey in the beauty industry. From her time at the White House to her leadership at Johnson Publishing Company, and now her groundbreaking acquisition of iconic Black beauty brands, Rogers keeps making a mark. We get into her challenges, the state of the beauty industry, and the vital importance of supporting Black businesses.Follow Desiree on Instagram @iamthatdesiree and find her online at iamthatdesiree.com. About UmindiUmindi Francis is the CEO and founder of the award-winning global brand consulting firm UFCG. She has led strategy and marketing for some of the world's leading brands, such as Louis Vuitton, Bottega Veneta, and Bumble. Over the years, she has worked with celebrities and numerous brands, ranging from The New York Times to the United States Institute of Peace, as a business strategy adviser. Umindi has been featured in a number of publications, including Time, New York, and Vogue, and is the recipient of a United States Congressional Recognition for Business Achievement.Follow Umindi on Instagram @Umindi360 and on Linkedin here and the podcast @whatsnextwithumindi.

Meet Jill Baggerman, a Program Officer at the DC-based United States Institute of Peace. Baggerman walks us through her education and background to describe why water, peace, and inclusiveness is her chosen entry point for bridging gaps and constructing more equitable institutions. Learn about USIP's work on the climate and environment team, as well as several regional teams' work to address the environmental constraints on and opportunities for peacebuilding. Also, hear from Cora about where to start if you are interested in installing solar in your home or business.

In this episode, Madison Utendahl, founder of Utendahl Creative, shares her insights about creatives and the struggle with self-worth and burnout prevalent in many industries. Madison talks about the difference between success and true fulfillment, and warns of the pervading “burnout epidemic.”Follow Madison on Instagram @madison.utendahl.About UmindiUmindi Francis is the CEO and founder of the award-winning global brand consulting firm UFCG. She has led strategy and marketing for some of the world's leading brands, such as Louis Vuitton, Bottega Veneta, and Bumble. Over the years, she has worked with celebrities and numerous brands, ranging from The New York Times to the United States Institute of Peace, as a business strategy adviser. Umindi has been featured in a number of publications, including Time, New York, and Vogue, and is the recipient of a United States Congressional Recognition for Business Achievement.Follow Umindi on Instagram @Umindi360 and on Linkedin here and the podcast @whatsnextwithumindi.

Get ready, wanderlusts! National Geographic Explorer Kirsten Elstner joins us in an exciting discussion about the power of photography in connecting us with our heritage and the inspiration behind her photo camps. Listen in for a captivating journey as we unravel the stories and inspiration woven into each photograph.     Key takeaways to listen for An overview of Photo Camp Stories' origin, goals, and narratives How do your child's photographs convey their passions? Valuable realizations you can gain from Photo Camp Why it's important to document your daily stories and emotions The power of photographs in self-discovery and ancestral connection     Resources  Photo Camp Stories by National Geographic PACIFICA INC | Pasefika Proud Citlali Fabián Victor Zea     About Kirsten Elstner Kirsten Elstner is the driving force behind National Geographic Photo Camp and Visionary Workshops. She has brought her expertise since 2003 as a photographer and educator to over 35 countries, orchestrating 145 programs. Her work has been featured in the pages of publications such as Time, Life, The New York Times, and O Globo in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Kirsten's commitment to education is evident through teaching at The International Center of Photography (ICP) in New York, Goucher College, the Art Institute of Boston, and the Corcoran Museum School in Washington, D.C.   Kirsten has not only curated exhibitions at prominent venues such as the John F. Kennedy Center and the United States Institute for Peace in Washington D.C. but has also taken the mission of National Geographic Photo Camp to international heights with showcases at the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo, Norway. Kirsten has left an indelible mark on the world, encouraging young people to harness the power of their voices through the art of photography.      Connect with Kirsten  Website: Vision Workshops LinkedIn: Kirsten Elstner Instagram: @kirstenelstner | @ngphotocamp     Connect with Us To learn more about us, visit our website at www.18summers.com or email us at info@18summers.com. To get a copy of our book “The Family Board Meeting”, click here.   Subscribe to 18 Summers Podcast and leave a rating and written review!     Social Media Channels Facebook Group: 18 Summers LinkedIn: Jimmy Sheils Instagram: @18summerstribe

Jessel Taank shares her experiences as a new cast member on Bravo's "The Real Housewives of New York", her struggles and triumphs from being on the show, and the impacts it had on her personal relationships. She also discusses her pride in representing her Indian culture, her reaction to early negative reactions towards her, and her upcoming e-commerce platform focused on Indian fashion.Follow Jessel on Instagram @jesseltaank. She is the founder of Ōushq. Follow her company on Instagram @oushq.About UmindiUmindi Francis is the CEO and founder of the award-winning global brand consulting firm UFCG. She has led strategy and marketing for some of the world's leading brands, such as Louis Vuitton, Bottega Veneta, and Bumble. Over the years, she has worked with celebrities and numerous brands, ranging from The New York Times to the United States Institute of Peace, as a business strategy adviser. Umindi has been featured in a number of publications, including Time, New York, and Vogue, and is the recipient of a United States Congressional Recognition for Business Achievement.Follow Umindi on Instagram @Umindi360 and on Linkedin here and the podcast @whatsnextwithumindi.

Jason Tower, country director for the Burma program at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), exposes the dark underbelly of an operation that ensnares hundreds of thousands of people into a form of modern-day slavery across Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and the Philippines, forcing them to act as scammers in this multibillion dollar “industry.”Describing these scams as “pig butchering” because they're designed to lead unaware dupes to the slaughter, Tower reveals a highly organized criminal network that resembling modern IT companies employing advanced technology, AI, and fintech to deceive victims globally, and which also engages in prostitution, illegal narcotics, and organ harvesting. The kingpins behind this lucrative industry invest heavily in creating legitimate fronts, as well as fraudulent crypto schemes. Owned by wealthy clans with ties to the Myanmar military and partly protected by junta-aligned Border Guard Forces, these centers help fund the military regime.The relationship between the scam centers and the Myanmar military poses challenges for Beijing, because many of those trapped into acting as scammers being held in horrible conditions are Chinese nationals. This has caused some speculation that China may even have tacitly approved the recent Operation 1027.The recent release of 31,000 victims and arrests of key actors offer a glimmer of hope amid this sordid business, but a grim reality persists—75% of Myanmar's scam center victims remain in bondage, and security forces, complicit in the criminal enterprise, have resorted to violence against those attempting to escape."The point here is, we've got a major global crisis on our hands that extends way beyond Myanmar, and many people in Myanmar are being victimized by this,” Tower says in closing. “This is something that's playing a role in violent conflict in Myanmar, but it's also something that's touching people and harming people all around the world!”

Bangladesh is set to hold parliamentary elections next January. But only time will tell whether there will be real change at the top or whether the current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League will remain in power. In recent months there has been an increase in political protests calling for a neutral interim government ahead of the polls opening. But these protests have only resulted in increasing numbers of senior leaders of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party being rounded up and put in jail. Historically, the country has had a fractured relationship with democracy since its birth in 1971, but the government for their part has denied accusations of democratic backsliding. So this week on the Inquiry we're asking ‘Why is Bangladesh in turmoil?' Contributors: Sabir Mustafa, a former Editor of the BBC Bengali Service, now based in Washington DC, USA Dr. Avinash Paliwal, Reader in International Relations, Department of Politics and International Relations, SOAS University of London Ali Riaz, Distinguished Professor in the Department of Politics and Government, Illinois State University, USA and non-resident Senior Fellow of the Atlantic Council Dr. Geoffrey MacDonald, Visiting Expert in the South Asia Programme, United States Institute of Peace, Washington DC, USA Presenter: Tanya Beckett Producer: Jill Collins Researcher: Matt Toulson Editor: Tara McDermott Technical Producer: Richard Hannaford Broadcast Co-ordinator: Jordan King Photo: Bangladesh Nationalist Party protest for Sheikh Hasina's resignation, Dhaka -28th Oct 2023. Credit: Photo by MONIRUL ALAM/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock(14171078p)

Daniel Markey discusses his recent article in "Foreign Affairs" about India and the US' growing strategic relationship. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/james-herlihy/message

 James talks to Billy Ford of the United States Institute of Peace and Sayar Mohn Tine of the Mandalay PDF about the huge changes in the conflict in Myanmar and how the PDFs and EROS built an alliance that put the junta on the back foot.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Peace processes, two-state vs one-state solutions and nonviolent protests. In conversation with Professor Wendy Pearlman from Northwestern University, we take two of her books as a foundation to examine grassroots activism historically and to consider a potential future “just” solution. Wendy shares her views on realistic outcomes for the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli condition, and takes us through the history of Palestinian grassroots activism both in Palestine and internationally, delving deeper into the parallel between the apartheid in South Africa and in Palestine. Finally, we talk about the atmosphere on US college campuses right now — both for students and teaching staff. Wendy explains why she aims to speak to all her students in the classroom, regardless of where they stand on the Palestine issue. This episode was recorded on November 8, 17:10 Palestine timePlease note that we're recording special podcast episodes relevant to understanding historical context to what is happening in Palestine. Make sure to check out the other highly informative conversations with guests from completely different disciplines who are generously sharing their time and insight in these dark times.About Wendy: Wendy is the Crown Professor of Middle East Studies and the interim Director of the Middle East and North Africa Studies Program at North Western University. She is a scholar of the comparative politics of the Middle East, social movements, and forced migration and has studied or conducted research in Morocco, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Spain, Germany, Israel and the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip. She is the author of five books including Occupied Voices: Stories of Everyday Life from the Second Intifada (Nation Books, 2003) and Violence, Nonviolence, and the Palestinian National Movement (Cambridge, 2011).Since June 2023, Wendy has served as co-editor-in-chief of the journal Perspectives on Politics. Previously, she was a Fulbright Scholar in Spain, a Starr Foundation Fellow at the Center for Arabic Studies Abroad at the American University in Cairo, a Junior Peace Fellow at the United States Institute of Peace, and a postdoctoral Fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government. ***** ABOUT THIS SERIES ***** The afikra Podcast is our flagship program featuring experts from academia, art, media and beyond who are helping document and/or shape the histories and cultures of the Arab world through their ‎work. Our hope is that by having the guest share their expertise and story, the community walks away with a new ‎found curiosity - and maybe some good recommendations about new nerdy rabbit holes to dive into head first. ‎ Explore all afikra Podcast episodes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0voh_EioBM&list=PLfYG40bwRKl5xaTkBDrUKLCulvoCE8ubX ****** ABOUT AFIKRA ******‎ afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present, and future – through conversations driven by curiosity. 

On this episode, Anita interviews Dr. Carla Freeman, a senior expert on China at the United States Institute of Peace. They discuss a wide range of issues, including what has been accomplished through the flurry of high-level diplomatic talks between the U.S. and China and whether there will be a Biden-Xi meeting at APEC in California next month. They also talk about the importance of the U.N. and other global institutions in China's strategy in the Global South and its challenge to the current international order.We begin the episode with breaking news about the recent attack on Israel. Moving on to our main stories, we explore waning support for Ukraine in the U.S. and how it will affect the future of Russia-Ukraine war. Next, we discuss Indian nationalism in the wake of the diplomatic dispute between Canada and India. We then conclude with the interview with Carla Freeman.Topics Discussed in this Episode06:00 - Hamas Surprise Attack on Israel11:00 - Ukraine Funding and Support in Danger32:00 - India's Hindu Nationalism Goes Abroad46:00 - Talking China with Dr. Carla FreemanArticles and Resources Mentioned in EpisodeHamas Surprise Attack on IsraelAnalysis: In striking Israel, Hamas also took aim at Middle East security realignment (Reuters)Russia-Ukraine War: Ukraine Funding and Support in DangerWestern help for Ukraine is likely to diminish next year (The Economist)The ousting of Kevin McCarthy: bad for America, worse for Ukraine (The Economist)Commoditized Weapons in Ukraine: Are the Allies Getting the Procurement Right? (War on the Rocks)Foreign Policy Shutdown (Emma Ashford Substack)‘It's a survival issue': Ukraine looks to arm itself as Western support slips (Politico)India's Hindu Nationalism Goes AbroadSikh Separatism and the Brewing Conflict Between Canada and India (The New Yorker)Under fire from Hindu nationalist groups, U.S.-based scholars of South Asia worry about academic freedom (WaPo)An Anti-Muslim Symbol From India Is Paraded on Main Street, New Jersey (NY Times)Talking China with Dr. Carla FreemanU.S. Institute of PeaceTwitter/X (@CarlaPFollow Us Show Website: www.kelloggsglobalpolitics.com Show Twitter: @GlobalKellogg Anita's Twitter: @arkellogg Show YouTube

Under prime minister Narendra Modi, pro-Hindu nationalism and civil rights issues have led to India's downgrade to an electoral autocracy (according to V-Dem Institute), and many question whether better times are ahead. Those who agree with Modi's leadership highlight the new strong economic growth as well as his efforts to improve India's global influence. Those who disagree point to increasingly divisive policies and their effects on the non-Hindu population. Now we debate: Is Modi's India Heading in the Right Direction? Arguing Yes: Sameer Lalwani, Senior Expert in South Asia Programs at the United States Institute of Peace  Arguing No: Prerna Singh, Associate Professor of Political Science and International Studies at Brown University    Emmy award-winning journalist John Donvan moderates    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ask anyone in Washington and they'll tell you, in varying levels of panic, that China is a threat to the United States. Some will say it's the greatest threat ever or, in military-speak, the "pacing threat." So who is right? And if China is a challenge or even a threat, to its neighbors if not America directly, then how does the Biden Administration rationally deal with that? We asked longtime China security studies expert Michael Swaine to join us this week to talk about current U.S. policy and whether or not it is going in the wrong direction. He tells us that the saber-rattling on both sides of the political aisle is risking a "radical deterrence" effect — in other words, there is a way to do positive deterrence that avoids war, not "radical deterrence," which drives you closer to real conflict. In the first segment, Kelley and Dan hash out their favorite headlines of the week, including Zelensky's visit to Washington, Biden's signing of defense security assurances for Bahrain (and possibly for Saudi soon, too), and Canadian accusations that the Indian government is linked to the assassination of a Sikh independence activist in British Columbia in June.More from Michael Swaine: How to Break the Impasse in U.S.-China Crisis Communication, United States Institute of Peace,7/26/23A Restraint Approach to U.S.–China Relations: Reversing the Slide Toward Crisis and Conflict,  with Andrew Bacevich, the Quincy Institute, 4/18/23The Worrisome Erosion of the One China Policy, The National Interest, 2/27/23A Restraint Recipe for America's Asian Alliances and Security Partnerships, with Sarang Shidore, Quincy Institute, 11/18/22 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit crashingthewarparty.substack.com

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Tuesday, August 8th, 2023. Rowdy Christian Merch Plug: If you’re a fan of CrossPolitic, or the Fight Laugh Feast Network, then surely, you know we have a merch store right? Rowdy Christian Merch is your one-stop-shop for everything CrossPolitc merchandise. We’ve got T-Shirts, hoodies, hats, but we’ve also got specialty items like backpacks, mugs, coffee, even airpod cases! Visit Rowdy Christian Merch at rowdychristian.com, and buy that next gift, or a little something for yourself. Again, that’s rowdychristian.com. https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/elections/desantis-replaces-campaign-manager-amid-low-polling DeSantis launches major shakeup, replaces presidential campaign manager amid low polling In a major shakeup weeks in the making, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' presidential campaign announced Tuesday it had replaced its campaign manager amid low polling in the 2024 GOP primary. DeSantis' gubernatorial chief of staff James Uthmeier replaced campaign manager Generra Peck, DeSantis' team confirmed to The Hill. Peck will now work as the campaign's chief strategist. "People have written Governor DeSantis’s obituary many times," Uthmeier told The Messenger. "He’s breaking records on fundraising and has a supporting super PAC with $100 million in the bank and an incredible ground game. Get ready." Additionally, David Polyansky, former chief of staff for Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, will also join the campaign after serving as an adviser at the pro-DeSantis Never Back Down super PAC. "David Polyansky will also be a critical addition to the team given his presidential campaign experience in Iowa and work at Never Back Down," DeSantis' communications director Andrew Romeo said. Republican strategist and former Trump adviser Roger Stone predicted that 2024 presidential candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will completely run out of money by the first of October. The largest donor to the Florida governor said earlier this week that he was going to hold off funding until DeSantis could appeal more to moderates. Trump is ahead of DeSantis in Republican primary polls with 53.2% to the Florida Republican's 15.1%, according to an average of polls analyzed by FiveThirtyEight. The staffing changes come after the DeSantis campaign laid off more than one-third of its employees last month. https://bongino.com/electric-vehicle-company-heavily-promoted-by-biden-admin-goes-bankrupt Electric Vehicle Company Heavily Promoted by Biden Admin Goes Bankrupt Proterra, an electric bus manufacturing company promoted by the Biden administration, had everything it needed to succeed - and failed anyway. As the Washington Free Beacon’s Chuck Ross reported: Proterra cited "various market and macroeconomic headwinds" in a Chapter 11 filing on Monday, which came after the California-based firm cut hundreds of jobs earlier this year and restructured hundreds of millions of dollars in outstanding debt. Proterra stood to rake in millions from Biden's infrastructure and green energy initiatives, the former of which included at least $5 billion in spending on electric buses alone. Biden's flagship climate bill, the Inflation Reduction Act, also includes spending to help cities convert from diesel buses to electric buses, a major incentive for companies like Proterra. JoAnn Covington, Proterra's chief legal officer, acknowledged last year that tax credits and federal grants under Biden's bills were a major incentive for the company. Grants to purchase electric buses and to create electric vehicle charging infrastructure would ​"open up opportunities to accelerate adoption of battery-electric and zero-emissions vehicles to all the other commercial segments on the cusp of being electrified," Covington said. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm held non-public shares of proterra, which she sold in mid 2021 to an undisclosed buyer, pocketing over a $1 million profit in the process. She pledged to disclose the buyer, but never did. Proterra's stock only crashed from there, and Granholm’s 240,000 shares would be worth roughly $60,000 total as of writing, had she still held them. Earlier this year in February, Proterra’s CEO Gareth Joyce was appointed by Biden to his Export Council. The year prior, Biden hosted a virtual White House event that spotlighted Proterra’s business, which included the president of the company giving a virtual tour of the company’s manufacturing facility. https://freebeacon.com/national-security/biden-admin-has-given-2-35-billion-to-taliban-controlled-afghanistan/ Biden Admin Has Given $2.35 Billion to Taliban-Controlled Afghanistan The Biden administration has provided more than $2.35 billion in taxpayer dollars to Afghanistan since the Taliban retook control of the government in 2021 following a deadly U.S. evacuation. The United States remains Afghanistan’s top patron, even as lawmakers and federal oversight officials warn that these funds could be propping up the Taliban’s terrorist government. Updated spending figures were disclosed Tuesday in a report by the Special Inspector General for Afghan Reconstruction (SIGAR), a federal watchdog that documents waste, fraud, and abuse related to U.S. expenditures in the war-torn country. Around $1.7 billion "remained available for possible disbursement" at the time of SIGAR’s report, meaning that this money is ready to flow into non-profit groups and other entities working on reconstruction projects in Afghanistan. With the Taliban exerting control over nearly every sector of the country’s infrastructure—including the NGO community—it is more than likely that a sizable portion of these funds will end up in the terror group’s coffers. The latest figures are certain to increase congressional pressure on the Biden administration to stop sending taxpayer funds into Afghanistan until officials can ensure the Taliban is not stealing the money. John Sopko, head of SIGAR, told the House Foreign Affairs Committee in April that he "cannot assure this committee or the American taxpayer we are not currently funding the Taliban." Sopko also accused the Biden administration of blocking his investigatory efforts and refusing to hand over documents that could show if the Taliban is being propped up by American cash. In the two years since the Taliban retook control of Afghanistan following the Biden administration's withdrawal of American forces in 2021, it has become increasingly clear that the terrorist group views international assistance as a "revenue stream," according to SIGAR’s latest report. The United States Institute of Peace recently warned the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the primary vehicle for U.S. spending in Afghanistan, that the Taliban is "pushing for ever-increasing degrees of credit and control over the delivery of aid." United Nations officials also disclosed to the watchdog that "the Taliban have effectively infiltrated and influenced most UN-managed assistance programming." This reality is raising questions about the nearly $2 billion in funds the Biden administration has made available for disbursement in the country. As U.S. aid money flows to the country, "Taliban interference with NGO work escalated, leading to a steady decline in humanitarian access in 2023, with a 32 percent increase in incidents between January and May 2023 as compared to the same period in 2022," according to the report. The Taliban government also has not moderated its jihadi principles since seizing the country. As SIGAR and congressional oversight committees raise concerns about the Biden administration’s push to pump money into Afghanistan, the government agencies in control of these expenditures are not cooperating with investigations. Sopko revealed in April that the "the Department of State, USAID, the U.N., and other agencies are refusing to give us basic information that we or any other oversight body would need to ensure safe stewardship of tax dollars." Sopko revealed in April that the "the Department of State, USAID, the U.N., and other agencies are refusing to give us basic information that we or any other oversight body would need to ensure safe stewardship of tax dollars." "More troubling," he added, "State and USAID have instructed their employees not to talk to SIGAR, and in one recent instance, State told one of its contractors not to participate in a SIGAR audit." The White House also would not cooperate with SIGAR. Congress has had similar experiences, with USAID declining to tell investigators what safeguards were put in place to ensure taxpayer cash is not stolen by the Taliban. https://nypost.com/2023/08/07/nathan-cruz-cousin-of-uvalde-school-shooter-arrested-for-threatening-school/ Cousin, 17, of Uvalde school shooter arrested for allegedly threatening ‘to do the same thing’ A cousin to Uvalde school shooter Salvador Ramos was arrested after he was accused of threatening to shoot up a school and shoot his sister in the head, according to authorities. Nathan Cruz, 17, allegedly told his sister he planned “to do the same thing” as his sicko cousin, who shot and killed 19 students and two staffers inside Robb Elementary School last year, according to an arrest warrant obtained by the San Antonio Express-News. San Antonio officers responded to a mental health call after the teen suspect’s mother grew worried Monday morning. “The suspect’s mother was especially concerned because the suspect is currently on probation, was intoxicated at the time, and for the fact that they live near an elementary school,” the affidavit reportedly stated. Cruz also allegedly mentioned how “school is starting soon,” according to KSAT, which also obtained the warrant. Cruz reportedly denied making any threats when speaking with detectives. Cruz’s mother said she overheard her son attempting to buy an AR-15 illegally over the phone, according to the warrant. The family lives across the street from the Gardendale Early Learning Program, the newspaper reported. In addition to the school shooting threat, he also threatened to shoot his sister in the head, the mother alleged. The young man’s sister believed his threat was credible “due to the recent history of their family and the suspect’s knowledge of his cousin’s actions,” according to the San Antonio Express-News. Cruz was booked on a felony charge of making a terroristic threat to the public and a misdemeanor charge of making a terroristic threat to a family member, according to online records from the Bexar County jail. Just when you think Disney may have figured things out… https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2023/08/07/disney-teams-up-with-transgender-tiktok-influencer-to-promote-girls-apparel-i-literally-look-like-minnie-mouse/ Disney Teams Up with Transgender TikTok Influencer to Promote Girls Apparel The Walt Disney Co. has teamed up with a transgender TikTok influencer to promote apparel for girls — specifically, Minnie Mouse-themed clothes that include a red dress, yellow pumps, and a red hair bow. Transgender influencer Seann Altman — a biological male who identifies as “gender fluid” — created a promotional TikTok video for Disney Style, the company’s social media brand promoting Disney-themed clothing, makeup, and accessories. In the video, which was first reported by the Twitter account @LeftismForU, he provides a dress-up tutorial to look like Minnie Mouse. The video was subsequently posted to Disney Style’s official TikTok account. https://twitter.com/i/status/1688344659003629569 - Play Video As you just heard, Altman models a red dress, which he accessorizes with a white petticoat, yellow high-heel shoes, and a belt. He then adds artificial buns to his hair to simulate Minnie’s ears and tops it off with Minnie’s signature red bow. The video is the latest example of Disney promoting transgenderism and gender non-conformity. As Breitbart News reported, Disneyland recently employed a mustachioed transvestite to welcome young girls into the park’s Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. In the past couple of years, Disney has fought Florida over its anti-grooming Parental Rights in Education law, created multiple transgender characters for its children’s shows, put gay characters at the center of its big-budget movies, and even launched an LGBTQ-themed apparel line. In 2021, the Disney+ streaming service hosted This Is Me: Pride Celebration Spectacular, a musical special on YouTube starring drag queen Nina West, with performances of popular Disney songs re-imagined with LGBTQ themes.

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Tuesday, August 8th, 2023. Rowdy Christian Merch Plug: If you’re a fan of CrossPolitic, or the Fight Laugh Feast Network, then surely, you know we have a merch store right? Rowdy Christian Merch is your one-stop-shop for everything CrossPolitc merchandise. We’ve got T-Shirts, hoodies, hats, but we’ve also got specialty items like backpacks, mugs, coffee, even airpod cases! Visit Rowdy Christian Merch at rowdychristian.com, and buy that next gift, or a little something for yourself. Again, that’s rowdychristian.com. https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/elections/desantis-replaces-campaign-manager-amid-low-polling DeSantis launches major shakeup, replaces presidential campaign manager amid low polling In a major shakeup weeks in the making, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' presidential campaign announced Tuesday it had replaced its campaign manager amid low polling in the 2024 GOP primary. DeSantis' gubernatorial chief of staff James Uthmeier replaced campaign manager Generra Peck, DeSantis' team confirmed to The Hill. Peck will now work as the campaign's chief strategist. "People have written Governor DeSantis’s obituary many times," Uthmeier told The Messenger. "He’s breaking records on fundraising and has a supporting super PAC with $100 million in the bank and an incredible ground game. Get ready." Additionally, David Polyansky, former chief of staff for Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, will also join the campaign after serving as an adviser at the pro-DeSantis Never Back Down super PAC. "David Polyansky will also be a critical addition to the team given his presidential campaign experience in Iowa and work at Never Back Down," DeSantis' communications director Andrew Romeo said. Republican strategist and former Trump adviser Roger Stone predicted that 2024 presidential candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will completely run out of money by the first of October. The largest donor to the Florida governor said earlier this week that he was going to hold off funding until DeSantis could appeal more to moderates. Trump is ahead of DeSantis in Republican primary polls with 53.2% to the Florida Republican's 15.1%, according to an average of polls analyzed by FiveThirtyEight. The staffing changes come after the DeSantis campaign laid off more than one-third of its employees last month. https://bongino.com/electric-vehicle-company-heavily-promoted-by-biden-admin-goes-bankrupt Electric Vehicle Company Heavily Promoted by Biden Admin Goes Bankrupt Proterra, an electric bus manufacturing company promoted by the Biden administration, had everything it needed to succeed - and failed anyway. As the Washington Free Beacon’s Chuck Ross reported: Proterra cited "various market and macroeconomic headwinds" in a Chapter 11 filing on Monday, which came after the California-based firm cut hundreds of jobs earlier this year and restructured hundreds of millions of dollars in outstanding debt. Proterra stood to rake in millions from Biden's infrastructure and green energy initiatives, the former of which included at least $5 billion in spending on electric buses alone. Biden's flagship climate bill, the Inflation Reduction Act, also includes spending to help cities convert from diesel buses to electric buses, a major incentive for companies like Proterra. JoAnn Covington, Proterra's chief legal officer, acknowledged last year that tax credits and federal grants under Biden's bills were a major incentive for the company. Grants to purchase electric buses and to create electric vehicle charging infrastructure would ​"open up opportunities to accelerate adoption of battery-electric and zero-emissions vehicles to all the other commercial segments on the cusp of being electrified," Covington said. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm held non-public shares of proterra, which she sold in mid 2021 to an undisclosed buyer, pocketing over a $1 million profit in the process. She pledged to disclose the buyer, but never did. Proterra's stock only crashed from there, and Granholm’s 240,000 shares would be worth roughly $60,000 total as of writing, had she still held them. Earlier this year in February, Proterra’s CEO Gareth Joyce was appointed by Biden to his Export Council. The year prior, Biden hosted a virtual White House event that spotlighted Proterra’s business, which included the president of the company giving a virtual tour of the company’s manufacturing facility. https://freebeacon.com/national-security/biden-admin-has-given-2-35-billion-to-taliban-controlled-afghanistan/ Biden Admin Has Given $2.35 Billion to Taliban-Controlled Afghanistan The Biden administration has provided more than $2.35 billion in taxpayer dollars to Afghanistan since the Taliban retook control of the government in 2021 following a deadly U.S. evacuation. The United States remains Afghanistan’s top patron, even as lawmakers and federal oversight officials warn that these funds could be propping up the Taliban’s terrorist government. Updated spending figures were disclosed Tuesday in a report by the Special Inspector General for Afghan Reconstruction (SIGAR), a federal watchdog that documents waste, fraud, and abuse related to U.S. expenditures in the war-torn country. Around $1.7 billion "remained available for possible disbursement" at the time of SIGAR’s report, meaning that this money is ready to flow into non-profit groups and other entities working on reconstruction projects in Afghanistan. With the Taliban exerting control over nearly every sector of the country’s infrastructure—including the NGO community—it is more than likely that a sizable portion of these funds will end up in the terror group’s coffers. The latest figures are certain to increase congressional pressure on the Biden administration to stop sending taxpayer funds into Afghanistan until officials can ensure the Taliban is not stealing the money. John Sopko, head of SIGAR, told the House Foreign Affairs Committee in April that he "cannot assure this committee or the American taxpayer we are not currently funding the Taliban." Sopko also accused the Biden administration of blocking his investigatory efforts and refusing to hand over documents that could show if the Taliban is being propped up by American cash. In the two years since the Taliban retook control of Afghanistan following the Biden administration's withdrawal of American forces in 2021, it has become increasingly clear that the terrorist group views international assistance as a "revenue stream," according to SIGAR’s latest report. The United States Institute of Peace recently warned the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the primary vehicle for U.S. spending in Afghanistan, that the Taliban is "pushing for ever-increasing degrees of credit and control over the delivery of aid." United Nations officials also disclosed to the watchdog that "the Taliban have effectively infiltrated and influenced most UN-managed assistance programming." This reality is raising questions about the nearly $2 billion in funds the Biden administration has made available for disbursement in the country. As U.S. aid money flows to the country, "Taliban interference with NGO work escalated, leading to a steady decline in humanitarian access in 2023, with a 32 percent increase in incidents between January and May 2023 as compared to the same period in 2022," according to the report. The Taliban government also has not moderated its jihadi principles since seizing the country. As SIGAR and congressional oversight committees raise concerns about the Biden administration’s push to pump money into Afghanistan, the government agencies in control of these expenditures are not cooperating with investigations. Sopko revealed in April that the "the Department of State, USAID, the U.N., and other agencies are refusing to give us basic information that we or any other oversight body would need to ensure safe stewardship of tax dollars." Sopko revealed in April that the "the Department of State, USAID, the U.N., and other agencies are refusing to give us basic information that we or any other oversight body would need to ensure safe stewardship of tax dollars." "More troubling," he added, "State and USAID have instructed their employees not to talk to SIGAR, and in one recent instance, State told one of its contractors not to participate in a SIGAR audit." The White House also would not cooperate with SIGAR. Congress has had similar experiences, with USAID declining to tell investigators what safeguards were put in place to ensure taxpayer cash is not stolen by the Taliban. https://nypost.com/2023/08/07/nathan-cruz-cousin-of-uvalde-school-shooter-arrested-for-threatening-school/ Cousin, 17, of Uvalde school shooter arrested for allegedly threatening ‘to do the same thing’ A cousin to Uvalde school shooter Salvador Ramos was arrested after he was accused of threatening to shoot up a school and shoot his sister in the head, according to authorities. Nathan Cruz, 17, allegedly told his sister he planned “to do the same thing” as his sicko cousin, who shot and killed 19 students and two staffers inside Robb Elementary School last year, according to an arrest warrant obtained by the San Antonio Express-News. San Antonio officers responded to a mental health call after the teen suspect’s mother grew worried Monday morning. “The suspect’s mother was especially concerned because the suspect is currently on probation, was intoxicated at the time, and for the fact that they live near an elementary school,” the affidavit reportedly stated. Cruz also allegedly mentioned how “school is starting soon,” according to KSAT, which also obtained the warrant. Cruz reportedly denied making any threats when speaking with detectives. Cruz’s mother said she overheard her son attempting to buy an AR-15 illegally over the phone, according to the warrant. The family lives across the street from the Gardendale Early Learning Program, the newspaper reported. In addition to the school shooting threat, he also threatened to shoot his sister in the head, the mother alleged. The young man’s sister believed his threat was credible “due to the recent history of their family and the suspect’s knowledge of his cousin’s actions,” according to the San Antonio Express-News. Cruz was booked on a felony charge of making a terroristic threat to the public and a misdemeanor charge of making a terroristic threat to a family member, according to online records from the Bexar County jail. Just when you think Disney may have figured things out… https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2023/08/07/disney-teams-up-with-transgender-tiktok-influencer-to-promote-girls-apparel-i-literally-look-like-minnie-mouse/ Disney Teams Up with Transgender TikTok Influencer to Promote Girls Apparel The Walt Disney Co. has teamed up with a transgender TikTok influencer to promote apparel for girls — specifically, Minnie Mouse-themed clothes that include a red dress, yellow pumps, and a red hair bow. Transgender influencer Seann Altman — a biological male who identifies as “gender fluid” — created a promotional TikTok video for Disney Style, the company’s social media brand promoting Disney-themed clothing, makeup, and accessories. In the video, which was first reported by the Twitter account @LeftismForU, he provides a dress-up tutorial to look like Minnie Mouse. The video was subsequently posted to Disney Style’s official TikTok account. https://twitter.com/i/status/1688344659003629569 - Play Video As you just heard, Altman models a red dress, which he accessorizes with a white petticoat, yellow high-heel shoes, and a belt. He then adds artificial buns to his hair to simulate Minnie’s ears and tops it off with Minnie’s signature red bow. The video is the latest example of Disney promoting transgenderism and gender non-conformity. As Breitbart News reported, Disneyland recently employed a mustachioed transvestite to welcome young girls into the park’s Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. In the past couple of years, Disney has fought Florida over its anti-grooming Parental Rights in Education law, created multiple transgender characters for its children’s shows, put gay characters at the center of its big-budget movies, and even launched an LGBTQ-themed apparel line. In 2021, the Disney+ streaming service hosted This Is Me: Pride Celebration Spectacular, a musical special on YouTube starring drag queen Nina West, with performances of popular Disney songs re-imagined with LGBTQ themes.

Summary  This week on SpyCast, Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) is joined by former DPRK Agent Kim, Hyun Woo. This is the first time Dr. Kim has stepped out from the shadows to speak.  *EXTENDED SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* What You'll Learn  Intelligence  The organizational structure of North Korean intelligence The journey of a defector  The training and skills needed to be a DPRK agent North Korean intelligence priorities in the East Reflections  Bravery and courage in the face of danger State conformity vs. Personal convictions  And much, much more …    Quote of the Week  “When I envision reunification, I am envisioning reunified Korea under a liberal democratic system as opposed to say, unified Korea under a more North Korean system – That I oppose. My desire is that in a unified Korea, even North Korean populous or population living in northern parts of the Korean Peninsula will be guaranteed fundamental, standard rights as humans.” – Agent Kim, Hyun Woo. Resources   SURFACE SKIM  *SpyCasts*  Spies: The Epic Intelligence War Between East vs. West with Calder Walton (2023) The Counterintelligence Chief with FBI Assistant Director Alan Kohler (2023) The Counterterrorism and Counter WMD Strategist with Dexter Ingram (2022) Becoming a Russian Intelligence Officer with Janosh Neumann (2022) *Beginner Resources*  The Current Situation in North Korea, United States Institute for Peace (2022) [Fact sheet] A Brief History of North Korea in 3 Minutes, G. Willson, New York Magazine (2017) [3 min. video] *EXTENDED SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* DEEPER DIVE  Books  Becoming Kim Jong Un: A Former CIA Officer's Insights, J. H. Pak (Ballantine Books, 2020)  The Impossible State: North Korea, Past and Future, V. Cha (Ecco, 2018) In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl's Journey to Freedom, Y. Park (Penguin Books, 2015)  Korea's Place in the Sun: A Modern History, B. Cumings (W.W. Norton, 2005)  Primary Sources   Supreme Leader Kim Jong-Un Delivers Speech at Military Parade, KCNA Watch (2020) Key Issue Paper for Secretary of State-designate Madeleine Albright, Subject: Korean Peninsula Issues, National Security Archive (1994) China: Potential Response to Korean Contingencies, DIA Special Report, National Security Archive (1994) DPRK: Slow-Motion Succession: the Secretary's Morning Intelligence Summary, National Security Archive (1994) Protocol for the Phased Withdrawal of Troops (First Draft), Wilson Center (1954) Mutual Defense Treaty Between the United States and the Republic of Korea, US Forces Korea (1953)  Statement by President Syngman Rhee, Wilson Center (1953) Congratulatory Message [from Mao Zedong] to the Chinese People's Volunteer Army, Wilson Center (1953) Telegram from Stalin to Mao Zedong, Wilson Center (1952) Cable Nos. 408-410, Shtykov to Vyshinsky, Wilson Center (1950)  Statement by the President, Truman on Korea, Wilson Center (1950) *Wildcard Resource*  Inspired by Dr. Kim's love for Sherlock Holmes: His Last Bow is the last chronological short story installment of the Sherlock Holmes series. In this story, Sherlock tracks down a German spy during the First World War! *EXTENDED SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE*