On the Record

Odd Lots Live at CFR: On How European Industry Is Getting Crushed

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 06:00:00 -0300

In this episode, former Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo discusses her view that European industry is being hollowed out by China and that the only path forward is a unified global trading bloc excluding China—an idea she said is being thwarted by the Trump administration. The episode also covers the legacy of the CHIPS Act and Raimondo’s fears that artificial intelligence could create mass unemployment and destabilize democracy.

Host: Joe Weisenthal, Odd Lots Co-host, Bloomberg

Host: Tracy Alloway, Odd Lots Co-host, Bloomberg

Guest: Gina M. Raimondo, Distinguished Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations; Former U.S. Secretary of Commerce

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To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit it on our YouTube channel: U.S.-China Relations and the Global Economy

On U.S.-China Relations and the Global Economy

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 06:00:00 -0300

In this episode, panelists discuss the implications of U.S.-China relations on the international economy, including how tariff negotiations, supply chain restructuring, and technological competition effect global business.

Host: Michael Froman, President, Council on Foreign Relations

Guests: Albert Bourla, Chairman and Chief Executive Office, Pfizer, Inc; CFR Member

Gina M. Raimondo, Distinguished Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations

Geoff Martha, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Medtronic, Inc.

John E. Waldron, President and Chief Operating Officer, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.; CFR Member

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To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit it on our YouTube channel: U.S.-China Relations and the Global Economy

Anwar Gargash on the Iran War and the Challenges It Presents to Gulf States

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 06:00:00 -0300

In this episode, Dr. Anwar Gargash, diplomatic advisor to the president of the United Arab Emirates, discusses the rapidly evolving conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States and its implications for the Middle East, including the diplomatic and security challenges facing Gulf states.

Host: Ethan Bronner, Israel Bureau Chief and Senior Editor, Bloomberg; CFR Member

Guests: Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Advisor to the President, United Arab Emirates

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To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit it on our YouTube channel: A Conversation with Anwar Gargash

On the Iran War’s Economic Fallout

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 06:00:00 -0300

In this episode, panelists discuss the ongoing geoeconomic consequences of the conflict in Iran, including global energy flows and oil prices, economic development and AI buildout in the Gulf region, and sanctions on Russia. They also explore inflation and interest rates as markets respond to the crises.

Background Reading:

In this article, CFR president Michael Froman discusses the unfolding global energy crisis with CFR senior fellow Daniel B. Poneman and the Center on Global Energy Policy’s Jason Bordoff, all of whom worked together on the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve 2011 release.

Host: Edward Fishman, Senior Fellow and Director of the Maurice R. Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies, Council on Foreign Relations

Guests: Edward Morse, Senior Advisor and Commodities Analyst, Hartree Partners, LP; CFR Member

Meghan L. O’Sullivan, Director and Professor, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School; Member, Board of Directors, Council on Foreign Relations

Brad W. Setser, Whitney Shepardson Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations

Karen E. Young, Senior Research Scholar, Center on Global Energy Policy, Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs; CFR Member

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To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit it on our YouTube channel: The Geoeconomic Ripple Effects of the War in Iran

On the U.S.-Israeli War in Iran

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 06:00:00 -0300

In this episode, panelists discuss Iran’s current political climate, concerns for civilians on the ground, and how the country’s rapidly evolving internal dynamics are shaping U.S. objectives as well as broader regional and international considerations.

Background Reading:

In this article, International Affairs Fellow Sam Vigersky discusses the global economic disruption caused by the Iran war and its effects on existing humanitarian crises.

Host: Deborah Amos, Ferris Professor of Journalism in Residence, Princeton University; CFR Member

Guests: Elliott Abrams, Senior Fellow for Middle Eastern Studies, Council on Foreign Relations

Mahmood Reza Amiry-Moghaddam, Professor, University of Oslo; Founder and Director, Iran Human Rights NGO

Mara Karlin, Professor of Practice, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies; Visiting Fellow, Brookings Institution; CFR Member

Ray Takeyh, Hasib J. Sabbagh Senior Fellow for Middle East Studies, Council on Foreign Relations

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To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit it on our YouTube channel: Iran’s Internal Dynamics and U.S. Objectives

On U.S. National Defense Strategy

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 06:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby discusses the U.S. National Defense Strategy under the Donald Trump administration.

Background Reading:

In this article, seven CFR experts consider the implications of the National Security Strategy document released on December 5, 2025, by the Trump administration.

Host: Michael Froman, President, Council on Foreign Relations

Guests: Elbridge A. Colby, Under Secretary of War for Policy, U.S. Department of War; CFR Member

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To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit it on our YouTube channel: A Conversation with Elbridge Colby

On the U.S. Vision for Ukraine

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -0400

In this episode, panelists explore three critical issues for securing Ukraine’s future: achieving a just and durable peace, ensuring long-term security, and helping the country rebuild and recover from the ravages of war.

Background Reading:

This article offers concrete recommendations by five CFR experts for securing the future of Ukraine and Europe.

Host: Jonathan Karl, ABC News chief Washington correspondent and co-anchor of This Week with George Stephanopoulos

Guests: Jeanne Shaheen, U.S. Senator from New Hampshire (D); Ranking Member, Senate Foreign Relations Committee; Member, Senate Armed Services Committee

Thom Tillis, U.S. Senator from North Carolina (R); Chair, Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property; Member, Senate Finance Committee

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To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit it on our YouTube channel: The U.S. Vision for Ukraine

On International Economics

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -0400

In this episode, John C. Williams, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, discusses monetary policy and the economic outlook for the year ahead.

Background Reading:

This article highlights the trade policies four CFR experts will be monitoring this year.

Host: Abby Joseph Cohen, Professor of Business, Columbia Business School

Guests: John C. Williams, President and CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of New York

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To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit it on our YouTube channel: International Economics With John C. Williams

On America’s Grand Strategy for the Future of Global Leadership

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -0400

In this episode, experts discuss the new Council Special Report, America Revived: A Grand Strategy of Resolute Global Leadership, which defines U.S. vital national interests, summarizes the history of U.S. grand strategy, and proposes an alternative that combines military strength with international legitimacy.

Background Reading:

This report outlines the conceptual pillars of five grand strategy schools and proposes a sixth based around resolute global leadership.

Host: Suzanne Nossel, Lester Crown Senior Fellow on U.S. Foreign Policy and International Order, Chicago Council on Global Affairs

Guests: Robert D. Blackwill, Henry A. Kissinger Senior Fellow for U.S. Foreign Policy, Council on Foreign Relations; Author, Council Special Report, America Revived: A Grand Strategy of Resolute Global Leadership

Thomas A. Shannon, Jr., Senior International Policy Advisor, Arnold & Porter; Former U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (2016–18)

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To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit it on our YouTube channel: A Grand Strategy of Resolute Global Leadership

On Sudan’s Humanitarian Emergency

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -0400

Since civil war erupted on April 15, 2023, between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, Sudan has become the site of the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. More than ten million people have been displaced, over half of the population needs humanitarian assistance, and over 750,000 people are facing catastrophic levels of hunger. In this episode, experts discuss ongoing humanitarian efforts, the challenges faced by aid workers, and potential solutions to mitigate the worsening crisis in Sudan.

Background Reading:

This article discusses Sudan’s devastating humanitarian crisis and how it’s not getting the international attention it deserves.

Host: Michelle Gavin, Ralph Bunche Senior Fellow for Africa Policy Studies, Council on Foreign Relations

Guests: Kholood Khair, Political Analyst; Researcher; Founding Director, Confluence Advisory

Kate Almquist Knopf, Senior Advisor, WestExec Advisors; former Assistant Administrator for Africa, U.S. Agency for International Development

Susan Stigant, Director of Africa Programs, U.S. Institute of Peace

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To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit it on our YouTube channel: The Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan

On Congress’s Approach to China

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 06:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Senators Christopher Coons and Pete Ricketts—members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations—discuss the role of Congress in formulating, resourcing, and creating the institutional basis for China policy.

Background Reading:

This article outlines CFR President Michael Froman’s take on artificial intelligence competition between the United States and China

Host: Rush Doshi, C.V. Starr Senior Fellow for Asia Studies and Director of the China Strategy Initiative, CFR; Cochair, Washington China Forum

Guests: Christopher A. Coons, U.S. Senator from Delaware (D)

Pete Ricketts, U.S. Senator from Nebraska (R)

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To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit it on our YouTube channel: China and Congress: Is There Still a Bipartisan Consensus?

On the 2026 Q1 World Economic Update

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 06:00:00 -0400

CFR’s World Economic Update highlights the quarter’s most important and emerging trends. This episode covers changes in the global marketplace, with a special emphasis on current economic events and their implications for U.S. policy.

Host: Sebastian Mallaby, Paul A. Volcker Senior Fellow for International Economics, CFR

Guests: Jan Hatzius, Chief Economist and Head of Global Investment Research, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

Karen Karniol-Tambour, Co-Chief Investment Officer, Bridgewater Associates, LP

Natasha Sarin, Professor of Law, Yale Law School

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To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit it on our YouTube channel: 2026 World Economic Update

On Greenland and U.S. Strategic Interests in the Arctic

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 06:00:00 -0400

In this episode, experts discuss the United States’ renewed interest in Greenland—which the Trump administration argues is vital to U.S. national security—and what it means for Arctic security, the NATO alliance, and great power competition.

Background Reading:

This article unpacks Trump’s increasingly assertive push to bring Greenland under U.S. control and what that means for the NATO alliance and the Arctic.

Host: David E. Sanger, White House and National Security Correspondent, New York Times; CFR Member

Guests: Heather A. Conley, Nonresident Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute, Foreign and Defense Policy; Former President of the German Marshall Fund of the United States; CFR Member

Rebecca Pincus, Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy Research Institute; Senior Fellow, Transatlantic Security, German Marshall Fund of the United States; Former Director, Polar Institute, Wilson Center

Geoffrey Pyatt, Senior Managing Director, McLarty Associates; Former Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources and U.S. Ambassador to Greece and Ukraine

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To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit it on our YouTube channel: Greenland in the Geopolitical Spotlig

On the Best and Worst U.S. Foreign Policy Decisions

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 06:00:00 -0400

For two-and-a-half centuries, the United States has faced a challenging world. Some of its responses have made Americans proud. Others have not. CFR asked members of the Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations what they considered the best and worst U.S. foreign policy decisions. In this episode, panelists discuss the results of the project and the evolution of America’s role in the world.

Host: David M. Rubenstein, Cofounder and Cochairman, The Carlyle Group; Chairman, Board of Directors, CFR

Guests: Mary L. Dudziak, Asa Griggs Candler Professor of Law, Emory University School of Law; CFR Member

James M. Lindsay, Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy, CFR

Christopher M. Nichols, Wayne Woodrow Hayes Chair in National Security Studies and Professor of History, The Ohio State University

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To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit it on our YouTube channel: America at 250 Series: The Best and Worst Decisions in U.S. Foreign Policy

On Iran's Protests

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 15:41:08 -0400

In this episode, panelists discuss the latest unrest in Iran, the economic pressures that have sparked nationwide protests, and the implications for U.S. policy amid ongoing regional tensions.

Background Reading:

This article discusses how the Iranian regime is facing one of its largest protest movements in years, leading Tehran to shut down internet and telephone communications.

Host: Missy Ryan, Staff Writer, The Atlantic

Guests: Vali R. Nasr, Majid Khadduri Professor of International Affairs and Middle East Studies, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies

Ray Takeyh, Hasib J. Sabbagh Senior Fellow for Middle East Studies, CFR

Sanam Vakil, Director, Middle East and North Africa Programme, Chatham House

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To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit it on our YouTube channel: The Protests in Iran

On Immigration Policy and the U.S. Economy

Sun, 11 Jan 2026 01:54:55 -0400

Immigrants significantly benefit the U.S. economy by growing the labor force, filling essential jobs in sectors like services, construction, and tech. In this episode, panelists discuss the effects of recent refugee and immigration policy developments on the U.S. economy.

Background Reading:

This article outlines the critical role immigrants have long played in boosting the U.S. economy and GDP.
This article highlights how the second Trump administration has ramped up immigration enforcement, putting pressure on federal, state, and local agencies to meet the president’s deportation goals.

Host: Nelson W. Cunningham, Former President, McLarty Associates; Former Senior Advisor for Economic Affairs, U.S. Department of State; Former Special Advisor on Western Hemisphere Affairs; CFR Member

Guests: Steven A. Camarota, Director of Research, Center for Immigration Studies

Andrea R. Flores, Founder, America’s Promise

Pia Orrenius, Vice President and Senior Economist, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas

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To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit it on our YouTube channel: Immigration Policy and the U.S. Economy

On Forecasting Humanitarian Risk for 2026

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 06:00:00 -0400

In this episode, David Miliband, president and chief executive officer of the International Rescue Committee, discusses the new IRC Emergency Watchlist report. The report highlights the countries at highest risk of humanitarian crisis in 2026, and evaluates the international community’s progress and shortcomings.

Background Reading:

This article discusses Venezuela’s dire humanitarian landscape, as the White House reviews potential military operations in the region.
This article examines Sudan’s humanitarian crisis, and a stubborn lack of international attention to its plight.

Host: Andrea Mitchell, Chief Washington Correspondent and Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent, NBC News

Guest: David Miliband, President and Chief Executive Officer, International Rescue Committee; Former Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, United Kingdom

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To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit it on our YouTube channel: Forecasting Humanitarian Risk in 2026: A Conversation with David Miliband.

On Presidential Leadership and Moral Responsibility

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 06:00:00 -0400

In this episode, panelists discuss examples of U.S. presidents leveraging executive power to confront political violence, human rights abuses, and other global challenges, highlighting the ways in which presidential leadership has shaped the United States’ legacy of responsibility.

Host: Jacob M. Weisberg, Executive Chair, Pushkin Industries; Chair, Committee to Protect Journalists

Guests: Meena Bose, Executive Dean, Public Policy and Public Service Programs and Director, Peter S. Kalikow Center for the Study of the American Presidency, Kalikow School of Government, Public Policy and International Affairs, Hofstra University; CFR Member

David J. Scheffer, Senior Fellow, CFR

Ruti G. Teitel, Ernst C. Stiefel Professor of Comparative Law and Codirector, Center for International Law, New York Law School

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To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit it on our YouTube channel: Reckoning with History: Presidential Leadership and Moral Responsibility.

President Bill Clinton on U.S. Foreign Policy

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 06:00:00 -0400

In this episode, former U.S. President Bill Clinton looks back on critical issues in U.S. foreign policy during his presidency, and shares lessons for sustaining American diplomatic engagement abroad.

His remarks were delivered as part of the inaugural Martin S. Indyk Memorial Lecture, held in collaboration with the Clinton Global Initiative.

Host: Richard Haass, President Emeritus, Council on Foreign Relations; Senior Counselor, Centerview Partners

Guest: Bill Clinton, Founder and Board Chair, Clinton Foundation; 42nd President of the United States

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To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit it on our YouTube channel: A Conversation With President Bill Clinton.

On Innovation at the National Institutes of Health

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 15:06:42 -0400

In this episode, Director of the National Institutes of Health Jay Bhattacharya discusses the latest developments in biomedical innovation and how they will shape the future of public health research.

Background Reading:

This CFR event discusses emerging threats to public health and how journalists are covering new outbreaks across the United States.

Host: Sylvia Mathews Burwell, Senior Professorial Lecturer and President Emerita, American University; Former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services

Guests: Jay Bhattacharya, Director, National Institutes of Health

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To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit it on our YouTube channel: A Conversation With Jay Bhattacharya of the National Institutes of Health.

On Governing the Rules of AI

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 15:19:13 -0400

In this episode, experts discuss the geopolitical implications of transformative technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), including how decision-makers are navigating governance, balancing innovation with risk, and addressing questions of equity and accountability.

Background Reading:

This article assesses whether AI investments have contributed meaningfully to U.S. economic growth.
This article analyzes whether democracies can safeguard AI systems in a way that preserves both institutional and public trust.

Host: Maryam Mujica, Chief Public Policy Officer, General Catalyst

Guests: Laura DeNardis, Professor and Endowed Chair in Technology, Ethics, and Society; Director, Center for Digital Ethics, Georgetown University

Vinh Nguyen, Senior Fellow for AI, Council on Foreign Relations

Miriam Vogel, Author, Governing the Machine: How to Navigate the Risks of AI and Unlock Its True Potential; President and Chief Executive Officer, EqualAI

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To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit our YouTube channel: The Rules of AI: Governing Technology in a Geopolitical Age.

On a Ukraine–Russia Peace Deal

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 11:59:52 -0400

Since President Trump first introduced a proposal to end the war in Ukraine, revisions from both sides have led to disagreement, diminishing hopes for a lasting peace. Experts are now examining the recent meeting between Ukrainian and U.S. officials in Miami, where efforts were made to finalize a peace plan for presentation to Moscow, as well as the types of security guarantees Ukraine may seek going forward.

Background Reading:

This article details Trump’s proposed peace plan and the pitfalls of Washington’s attempt to advance ceasefire discussions between Russia and Ukraine.

Host: Paul B. Stares, General John W. Vessey Senior Fellow for Conflict Prevention and Director of the Center for Preventive Action, CFR

Guests: Liana Fix, Senior Fellow for Europe, CFR

Thomas Graham, Distinguished Fellow, CFR

Steven Sestanovich, George F. Kennan Senior Fellow for Russian and Eurasian Studies, CFR

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To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit our YouTube channel: The State of Play in Ukraine.

On Espionage and Intelligence Gathering

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Intelligence experts discuss the new frontiers of intelligence gathering, examining how emerging technologies are transforming espionage and reshaping the future of U.S. national security.

Background Reading:

This article outlines how growing politicization within the intelligence community threatens the integrity of intelligence assessments and endangers U.S. national security.

Host: Barton Gellman, Senior Advisor to the President, Brennan Center for Justice, NYU Law School

Guests: Robert Cardillo, Former Director, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency

Anthony Vinci, Author, The Fourth Intelligence Revolution: The Future of Espionage and the Battle to Save America; Former Chief Technology Officer, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency

Rebecca U. Weiner, Deputy Commissioner, Intelligence and Counterterrorism, New York City Police Department; CFR Member

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To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iu62quTXCF0

On U.S. Economic Security and Competition

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Today, U.S. economic leadership is at a crossroads. An overconcentration of critical supply chains in China, underinvestment in important sectors at home, and strategic competition over the next generation of foundational technologies has exposed vulnerabilities in U.S. economic security.

In its new report, U.S. Economic Security: Winning the Race for Tomorrow’s Technologies, the CFR Task Force on Economic Security addresses U.S. economic security risks and offers practical recommendations for mobilizing the resources needed to prevail.

This Task Force is part of RealEcon: Reimagining American Economic Leadership, a CFR initiative of the Maurice R. Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies.

Background Reading:

This CFR Task Force Report finds that strategic competition over the world’s next generation of foundational technologies is underway, and U.S. advantages in artificial intelligence, quantum, and biotechnology are increasingly contested.

Host: Greg Ip, Chief Economics Commentator and Deputy Economics Editor, Wall Street Journal

Guests: Jonathan E. Hillman, Project Director, Economic Security Task Force; Senior Fellow for Geoeconomics, CFR

Justin G. Muzinich, Cochair, Economic Security Task Force, CFR; Chief Executive Officer, Muzinich & Co., Inc.; Former Deputy Secretary of the Treasury (2018–21); Board of Directors, CFR

Gina M. Raimondo, Cochair, Economic Security Task Force, CFR; Former Secretary of Commerce (2021–25)

James D. Taiclet, Cochair, Economic Security Task Force, CFR; Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer, Lockheed Martin Corporation

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To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLs6B7KF4p0

On COP30 and the Future of Climate Negotiations

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 13:31:16 -0400

As leaders gather in Brazil to discuss international climate policy at this year’s COP30 summit, major questions remain regarding a warming climate and investments in renewable energy. In this conversation, experts discuss the future of global climate negotiations and reflect on lessons learned from past climate diplomacy, including the legacy of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol adopted at COP3.

Background Reading:

This article unpacks the lack of cooperation among COP30 members to strengthen climate initiatives and the recent withdrawal of the United States from global climate commitments.

Host: Alice C. Hill, David M. Rubenstein Senior Fellow for Energy and the Environment, Council on Foreign Relations

Guests: David Sandalow, Inaugural Fellow at the Center on Global Energy Policy, Columbia University; Former Senior Director, National Security Council (1997–1999)

David G. Victor, Distinguished Professor of Innovation and Public Policy and Director of the Deep Decarbonization Initiative, University of California, San Diego

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To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcIsuBLObcY

On the Rise of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Measles, whooping cough, and other vaccine-preventable diseases are on the rise around the world. Cuts to foreign aid, coupled with growing vaccine hesitancy, and persistent gaps in vaccine access are fueling outbreaks in poor and wealthy nations alike. In this conversation, global health experts discuss the drivers of these outbreaks and the solutions that can advance vaccine equity and better public health worldwide.

Background Reading:

This tracker from CFR’s Think Global Health initiative maps weekly updates of disease outbreaks around the globe.
This article unpacks the global decline in immunization coverage.
This backgrounder unpacks the effectiveness of vaccines in preventing disease, and the global rise in vaccine hesitancy.

Host: Thomas J. Bollyky, Bloomberg Chair in Global Health and Director of the Global Health Program, Council on Foreign Relations

Guests: Heidi Larson, Founder and Director, The Vaccine Confidence Project

Seth Berkley, Senior Advisor, Pandemic Center; Adjunct Professor of the Practice in the Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health

William John Moss, Executive Director, International Vaccine Access Center; Professor of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

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To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilif8cCwErE

On Qatar's Future

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 06:00:00 -0300

Qatar is home to the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East and maintains deep economic ties with Washington, cementing its status as a critical on-NATO ally. But this September, that partnership was put to the test when Israel, largely funded and supported by the United States, launched an attack on Qatar’s capital, Doha. In this conversation, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani discusses Qatar’s regional role, including its mediation efforts in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, and its response following the Israeli attack in Doha.

Background Reading:

This article discusses how the strikes on Doha could jeopardize future ceasefires in Gaza.

Host: Ayman Mohyeldin, Co-Host, The Weekend: Primetime, MSNBC

Guests: Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Qatar

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To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huTLgmLExc

On U.S. Military Leadership in a New Era of Defense

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 06:00:00 -0300

As great-power competition intensifies and the prospect of conflict with China looms, military strength, technological innovation, and cooperation with allies are essential to ensuring U.S. national security. General Charles Q. Brown, Jr., 21st chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, discusses the most pressing geopolitical challenges facing the United States and the world today.

Background Reading:

This article outlines the risks of the United States’ dependence on China for critical minerals, and makes suggestions for how the United States can begin to compete in the space.

Host: Michael Froman, President, Council on Foreign Relations

Guests: Charles Q. Brown, Jr., 21st Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; General, U.S. Air Force (Retired)

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To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEqSGjfMPy8

On Ukraine’s Reconstruction

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 15:58:15 -0300

As the war in Ukraine nears its fourth year, uncertainty is growing over the future of international support. Meanwhile, mounting pressure on Russia’s economy and an increase in high-tech, drone-centric warfare continue to bolster Ukraine’s defense. Experts from Ukraine and Europe discuss international financial initiatives to support Ukraine’s reconstruction and revitalize its infrastructure and economy in the aftermath of Russia’s military aggression.

Background Reading:

This report lays out strategies for rebuilding Ukraine, reintegrating workers, and growing the country’s economy post-war.

Host: Heidi Crebo-Rediker, Senior Fellow, Center for Geoeconomic Studies at CFR

Guests: Nadia Calviño, President, European Investment Bank

Sergii Marchenko, Minister of Finance, Ukraine

Odile Renaud-Basso, President, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

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On Navigating Crises Inside the Situation Room

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 06:00:00 -0300

U.S. Department of State officials are the foremost representatives of U.S. interests around the world, helping to manage relationships with foreign governments, international organizations, and the people of other countries. Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Dean of Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs Keren Yarhi-Milo discuss their new book, Inside the Situation Room, and lessons for future leaders navigating national security crises.

Background Reading:

This post unpacks leaked reform plans that the Donald Trump administration seeks to make to the State Department.

Host: David Westin, Anchor, Bloomberg

Guests: Hillary Rodham Clinton, 67th U.S. Secretary of State

Keren Yarhi-Milo, Dean and Adlai E. Stevenson Professor of International Relations, Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA)

John J. Sullivan, Partner, Mayer Brown; Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State

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On the Future of the U.S. Economy

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 14:33:53 -0300

In September 2025, the U.S. Federal Reserve approved a quarter-point interest rate cut. The move came amid a softening labor market, above-target inflation, heightened uncertainty about Trump’s trade and tariff policy, and other conditions that present significant challenges to monetary policymakers. Against this backdrop, Susan M. Collins, the president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, discusses the United States’ current economic outlook.

Background Reading:

This backgrounder unpacks the role of the U.S. Federal Reserve, and its ongoing struggles with inflation and political scrutiny.

Host: Seema Mody, Technology and Global Markets Correspondent, CNBC

Guest: Susan M. Collins, President and Chief Executive Officer, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston

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UN High Commissioner Volker Türk On Human Rights

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 18:21:04 -0300

From Sudan to the war in Gaza, 2025 has seen the continuation of major humanitarian crises across the globe. Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, examines a range of these crises, while also exploring issues such as financing, reform, and declining multilateral consensus.

This conversation was hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations during the 80th United Nations General Assembly.

Background Reading:

This expert brief outlines the Trump administration's move away from UN human rights standards.
This post discusses the most recent U.S. report on Human Rights Practices.

Host: Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations

Guest: Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa On Trade, Reform, and the BRICS Alliance

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 15:37:54 -0300

Long before Trump retook the Oval Office, policymakers were concerned that South Africa's growing ties with Russia and China could undermine Washington’s strategic interests in the region. Against the backdrop of these concerns, President Cyril Ramaphosa examines South Africa’s domestic priorities, its bilateral trade relations with the United States, the future of BRICS, and the country’s role in Southern Africa.

This conversation was hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations during the 80th United Nations General Assembly.

Background Reading:

This post unpacks the confrontational meeting between South African President Ramaphosa and U.S. President Trump in May 2025.

Host: Richard Stengel, Political Analyst at MSNBC; Former Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs at the U.S. Department of State

Guest: Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa

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Canadian PM Mark Carney On NATO, Trade, and the Middle East

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 19:01:22 -0300

The U.S.-Canadian relationship boasts a history of cooperation, peaceful borders, and strong trade ties. However, the partnership has come under strain during the second Trump administration, in part due to sweeping tariffs that have called into question Canada’s economic ties to Washington. Against this backdrop, Prime Minister Mark Carney discusses Canada’s role in NATO, the ongoing war in Gaza, Canada’s foreign policy priorities, and the new global economy.

This conversation was hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations during the 80th United Nations General Assembly.

Background Reading:

This backgrounder unpacks Canada’s fraught trade relationship with the United States.
This timeline highlights the U.S.-Canada partnership over the last century, and how trade tensions and territorial disputes have strained relations in recent years.

Host: Michael Froman, President, Council on Foreign Relations

Guest: Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada

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On U.S. National Security Challenges

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 06:00:00 -0300

Since the start of the second Trump administration, the National Security Council (NSC) has seen its staff reduced from around 350 employees to fewer than 100, with dozens of policy experts abruptly dismissed or placed on administrative leave this May. Former U.S. National Security Advisors Thomas E. Donilon, Stephen J. Hadley, and Susan E. Rice unpack how the recent reorganization could affect U.S. foreign policy decision-making.

Background Reading:

This backgrounder from CFR Education outlines the role of the U.S. National Security Council.

Host: Michael Froman, President, Council on Foreign Relations

Guests: Susan E. Rice, Former National Security Advisor (2013–17); CFR Member

Thomas E. Donilon, Former National Security Advisor (2010–13); Member, Board of Directors, Council on Foreign Relations

Stephen J. Hadley, Former National Security Advisor (2005–09); CFR Member

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On Gaza’s Humanitarian Crisis

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 06:00:00 -0300

Former UN Undersecretary-General Sigrid Kaag discusses the state of humanitarian assistance in Gaza and the role of the international community in supporting relief efforts.

Background Reading:

Malnutrition has reached alarming levels in Gaza, with famine declared in the territory’s most populated region. As Israel continues to block aid from entering Gaza, this backgrounder explains how hunger is now reportedly affecting more than just civilians on the ground.
As the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip continues, some countries have announced their intent to recognize the Palestinian territories as a sovereign nation, but full independence and UN membership remain elusive. This backgrounder unpacks the quest for Palestinian statehood.

Host: Steven Kalin, Foreign Correspondent at the Wall Street Journal

Guest: Sigrid Kaag, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process; Former United Nations Undersecretary-General

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