Chinese leader Xi Jinping is in his third five-year term as the nation's president, putting him on track to stay in power for life at a time of severe economic challenges and rising tensions with the US. Nonresident senior fellow Paul Heer joins Deep Dish to argue the importance of engagement with China as a necessary component of US foreign policy. If we do not pursue it, he says, we are missing opportunities for a more peaceful coexistence between both countries and the world.   This episode originally aired on August 4, 2022.    Reading List:  The Next Taiwan Strait Crisis Has Arrived, Paul Heer, The National Interest, August 2, 2022   Engagement With China Has Not Failed, Paul Heer, The National Interest, July 14, 2022   Understanding U.S.-China Strategic Competition, Paul Heer, The National Interest, October 20, 2020 

Dive into the world of lasting change with Deep Dish! Join host Brian Hanson and author Sascha Haselmayer in a captivating exploration of 'The Slow Lane.' We’ll uncover the secrets behind why instant solutions often miss the mark, and how embracing patience and strategic thinking can pave the way for sustainable transformation to address global challenges. Reading List  The Slow Lane: Why Quick Fixes Fail and How to Achieve Real Change, Sascha Haselmayer & Anne-Marie Slaughter, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, July 18, 2023 

From Hamas to Russia to Iran, hostage-taking is on the rise once again and hostage diplomacy has entered that arsenal of foreign policy tools by countries around the world. This week, Northwestern University’s Dani Gilbert guides us through what is new, what has worked and failed in the past, and why countries need new ways to respond to hostage-taking today.     Reading List:  Why the Gaza hostage crisis is different, Danielle Gilbert, Good Authority, Oct 13, 2023  Biden’s hostage diplomacy, explained, Danielle Gilbert, Good Authority, Sept 20, 2023  The Prisoners Dilemma, Danielle Gilbert, Foreign Affairs, Aug 24, 2022 

Deep Dish explores how America’s hyper partisan politics are impacting foreign policy actions. Author Jordan Tama shares revelations from his new book, while the Council’s Dina Smeltz unveils fresh survey data to expose how partisanship plays out in US foreign policy.  Reading List:  Bipartisanship and US Foreign Policy: Cooperation in a Polarized Age, Jordan Tama, Oxford University Press, September 1, 2023  Public Opinion Survey Reports, Chicago Council on Global Affairs

The Asia-Pacific region is witnessing a seismic shift in power dynamics as nations like Japan, Australia, and the US forge a game-changing partnership to counter China's influence. The big question: could this lead to a new NATO for the Pacific? And what would that mean? Experts Michael Green and Karl Friedhoff dissect the motives, strategies, and potential outcomes.  Reading List:  Never Say Never to an Asian NATO, Michael Green, Foreign Policy, September 6, 2023 

On Sunday, Poland’s opposition parties won a victory in the country’s general election signaling a radical change for the country. After emerging as a major EU success story, Poland’s politics shifted dramatically almost a decade ago, putting it on a nationalist path dominated by a far-right coalition. But now the country appears headed back in a pro-EU direction. Expert Monika Sus and host Lizzy Shackelford shed light on the country's shifting politics and changing role in the global landscape.

Deep Dish delves into the heart of the Gaza Strip. Expert Michael Merryman-Lotze and host Brian Hanson discuss its complex history, its people, the role of the region in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and its place in the Israel-Hamas war that has shaken the world. Related Content: 5 things you need to know about what’s happening in Israel and Gaza, Michael Merryman-Lotze, American Friends Service Committee, October 9, 2023  Martin Indyk on Breaking the Hamas-Israel Cycle of Violence, Deep Dish Podcast, May 20, 2021

How is energy insecurity shaping the world's power dynamics? From the urgency of collaboration to the delicate balance between environmental sustainability and national interests, guests Jason Bordoff and Meghan O'Sullivan offer a fresh perspective on the complexities of green energy underlying our modern global landscape. Reading List  The Age of Energy Insecurity: How the Fight for Resources Is Upending Geopolitics, Jason Bordoff and Meghan L. O’Sullivan, Foreign Affairs, May/June 2023 

Deep Dish demystifies the world of BRICS+ and delves into the intriguing expansion that is making waves in international diplomacy. Discover its origins and the significance behind its newest members. Atlantic Council’s Colleen Cottle joins host Lizzy Shackelford to explore the motivations, the dynamics at play, and its potential impact on the world stage.  Reading List BRICS has invited 6 countries to join. What does this mean for the US and its allies?, Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, Sep 08, 2023 

Can smart cities truly deliver on their promises of innovation and sustainability? On Deep Dish, author and winner of the Pattis Family Foundation Global Cities Book Award, John Lorinc joins host Brian Hanson to navigate the intersection of urban planning technology and ethical concerns in his book Dream States: Smart Cities, Technology, and the Pursuit of Urban Utopias.  Related Content:  Dream States: Smart Cities, Technology, and the Pursuit of Urban Utopia, John Lorinc, Coach House Books, August 23, 2022  Meet the Pattis Family Foundation Global Cities Book Award winner and finalists and submit books for the 2024 award!  2023 Pritzker Forum on Global Cities: Harnessing AI: Tools for Urban Leaders, Event, November 13-15, 2023  Your Data Were ‘Anonymized’? These Scientists Can Still Identify You, Gina Kolata, New York Times, July 23, 2019    This episode is brought to you by UL Solutions. 

The expulsion of Muslim schoolgirls for refusing to remove their abayas serves as a stark reminder of France's ongoing struggle to balance its historical commitment to laïcité with its growing religious and cultural diversity. The Council’s Ariel Schwartz joins host Brian Hanson to explore laïcité’s historical roots, modern challenges, and global implications in contemporary society.

Deep Dish delves into how the unchecked power of social platforms in the Metaverse, woven into the fabric of modern communication, is fueling conflicts, disinformation, terror, and hate. Experts Kristina Wilfore and Leah Kimathi confront the chilling reality of Big Tech's role in fueling extremism in Kenya, where profit often trumps content policing, and share what Kenyans are doing about it. Reading List: The Council for Responsible Social Media, Website Why dangerous content thrives on Facebook and TikTok in Kenya, Neha Wadekar, Washington Post, July 31, 2022

With 110,000 drug overdose deaths last year, including 70 percent from synthetic opioids, we examine how international factors have played a crucial role in the US drug epidemic. Vanda Felbab-Brown of Brookings Institution and Regina LaBelle of Georgetown University offer insights on the government's response, effective policy solutions, and the path to recovery.     Reading List:  Why America is Struggling to Stop the Fentanyl Epidemic, Vanda Felbab-Brown, Foreign Affairs, May 15, 2023  3 Actionable Bipartisan Solutions to Address the Overdose Crisis, Regina LaBelle, The Hill, February 02, 2023 

Niger's recent coup has reignited debates about democracy, stability, and Western influence. Join Kamissa Camara of the US Institute of Peace and Deep Dish hosts Lizzy Shackelford and Brian Hanson as they explore Niger's coup, its place in the Sahel's instability, and the urgent need to rethink policies in this complex region.  Reading List:  Countering Coups: How to Reverse Military Rule Across the Sahel, Kamissa Camara and Susan Stigant, U.S. Institute of Peace, Thursday, August 3, 2023   Less is More: A New Strategy for US Security Assistance to Africa, Lizzy Shackelford, Ethan Kessler, and Emma Sanderson, Chicago Council on Global Affairs, August 21, 2023 

Deep Dish revisits the haunting morning of August 7, 1998, when al-Qaeda struck US embassies in Kenya that claimed over 200 lives and left thousands wounded. Ambassador Prudence Bushnell, who was present during the attacks, and former foreign service officer Mietek Boduszyński, who served in Libya when US facilities in Benghazi were attacked, reflect on how the US government should balance diplomacy and danger, whether the right lessons were learned, and what challenge face US diplomats in today's risky world.    Reading List:  Terrorism, Betrayal, and Resilience: My Story of the 1998 U.S. Embassy Bombings, Prudence Bushnell, Potomac Books, October 1, 2018  Public Diplomacy and the American Fortress Embassy, Mietek Boduszyński, Pacific Council on International Policy, February 13, 2019   Diplomacy Doesn’t Work in a Zero-risk World, Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, November 4, 2021 

Deep Dish explores the recently released 'Oppenheimer' film and journeys back to the Cold War era when nuclear weapons were etched into popular consciousness. Rachel Bronson and Avery Restrepo of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists explore how nuclear weapons have seemingly faded from public awareness. They draw parallels to today and suggest ways that Gen Z can shape a safer and more responsible future.  Reading List:  Majority in US Want to Learn More about Nuclear Policy, Dina Smeltz, Craig Kafura, and Sharon Weiner, Chicago Council on Global Affairs, July 19, 2023  What Oppenheimer can teach the new generations about nuclear weapons, Magritte Gordaneer, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, July 31, 2023

As birth rates decline and life expectancies increase, some regions are now experiencing a net decrease in population, leaving us to question whether that’s good or bad for the world. Stephanie Feldstein of the Center for Biological Diversity and John Ibbitson, author of the Empty Planet unravel the layers of this population paradox and its implications on society, the global economy, and the environment. Reading List:  Population Decline Will Change the World for the Better, Stephanie Feldstein, Scientific American, May 4, 2023  Empty Planet: The Shock of Global Population Decline, Darrell Bricker & John Ibbitson, Crown, February 5, 2019  The Climate Baby Dilemma, Documentary, 2022 

As stakes rise and tensions mount between the United States and China, the future of Taiwan hangs in the balance. With a pivotal presidential election on the horizon, what are the implications for Taiwanese policy, its alignment with the US, and the risk of war with China? Sam Houston State University’s Dennis Weng and New Bloom Magazine’s Brian Hioe join Deep Dish to offer a glimpse into the uncertain future of the region. Tune into last week's episode for part one of this conversation where Deep Dish focuses on the different positions in the US debate over policy toward Taiwan.

As tensions escalate between Taiwan and China, should Washington back Taiwan through increased militarily deterrence or prioritize reassurance and diplomacy with China? Quincy Institute’s Michael Swaine and the Council on Foreign Relations’ David Sacks debate the growing policymaker consensus for US military support to deter a Chinese attack, while considering dissenting views that prioritize political solutions for China-Taiwan unification from the US standpoint.  Tune in next week for part two of this episode where Deep Dish focuses on Taiwan's internal politics around these issues and their views on how to best preserve peace in the China-Taiwan strait. Reading List:  U.S.-Taiwan Relations in a New Era: Responding to a More Assertive China, Council on Foreign Relations, June 2023  How a reckless report could increase the chance of a crisis with China, Michael Swaine, Jake Werner and James Park, Responsible Statecraft, June 29, 2023 

What is the secret to Costa Rica's exceptional success as a politically stable and environmentally sustainable nation?  While other countries in Central America struggle with political upheaval, violence, corruption, and extreme poverty, Costa Rica has become a global example of success with robust institutions, visionary policies, and a thriving eco-tourism industry. The Atlantic Council’s María Fernanda Bozmoski joins Deep Dish to discuss the reasons for Costa Rica’s achievements, explore lessons for other countries, and unpack the challenges that lie ahead for this remarkable nation.

While the world closely followed the fate of five privileged men who went missing aboard a Titanic-bound submersible, a fishing boat crowded with migrants traveling from Libya sank in Greek waters. This upped the number of migrants who have died trying to reach Europe by sea this year to nearly 2,000. Award-winning journalist Sally Hayden joins Deep Dish to shed light on the underreported crisis of migrant treatment, the heartbreaking stories of those traveling on the world’s deadliest migration route, and the inadequate news coverage and resources dedicated to this humanitarian issue. Reading List: My Fourth Time, We Drowned: Seeking Refuge on the World's Deadliest Migration Route, Sally Hayden, Melville House, March 29, 2022 Ignoring the Humanity of Migrants Won’t Fix Migration Problems, Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, June 30, 2023

Haiti marks the two-year anniversary of President Jovenel Moïse's assassination. On Deep Dish, we unravel the intricate dynamics that make Haiti's path to stability so challenging. Haitian journalist Monique Clesca and the International Crisis Group’s Renata Segura offer their perspectives on the complexities of the situation and explore pathways on Haiti's struggle for a brighter future.

With Uganda's recent passage of an extreme anti-LGBTQ law, Deep Dish explores the external influences, particularly US evangelical groups, that have intensified discrimination in Uganda and beyond. Ugandan journalist Lydia Namubiru unravels the historical context and societal factors behind this pressing issue. And Minority Africa’s Caleb Okereke sheds light on the experiences and challenges faced by LGBTQ communities in Uganda and elsewhere on the continent. Reading List:   The Unholy Relationship Between Uganda's Anti-LGBTQ+ Law and US Evangelicalism, Emma Sanderson, Chicago Council on Global Affairs, June 8, 2023 How US Evangelicals Helped Homophobia Flourish in Africa, Caleb Okereke, Foreign Policy, March 19, 2023 Exclusive: US Christian Right pours more than $50m into Africa, Lydia Namubiru, Open Democracy, October 29, 2020 

Why is the relationship between the West and the Global South failing and what can be done? Stimson Center’s Aude Darnal challenges the dominant focus on great power competition and highlights why this approach fails to foster meaningful, mutually beneficial relations. Discover why redefining this lens is essential for the United States, the Global South, and the world.

What role do international partners like the United States play in shaping Sudan’s transitional path forward? Deep Dish explores the need for a new approach to conflict resolution that prioritizes civilian interests, joined by Jacqueline Burns, former advisor to the US Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan, and Peter Biar Ajak of the Belfer Center. They question traditional methods and uncover alternative strategies for constructive international engagement to secure a peaceful future for Sudan. Reading List: The Violence in Sudan Is Partly Our Fault, Jacqueline Burns, New York Times, April 23, 2023 

Artificial intelligence raises increasingly grim concerns among experts. Are our digital spaces truly safe for democracy? On Deep Dish, the Alliance for Securing Democracy’s Laura Rosenberger and Stanford University’s Jacob Helberg discuss digital interference, misinformation, and data privacy within the lens of geopolitics. [This episode originally aired August 13, 2020]   Reading List: Silicon Valley Can’t Be Neutral in the US China Cold War, Jacob Helberg, Foreign Policy, June 22, 2020  Making Cyberspace Safe for Democracy, Laura Rosenberger, Foreign Affairs, April 13, 2020 

Nearly one in every four children worldwide is affected by malnutrition. Roger Thurow, senior fellow and author of The First 1,000 Days, joins Deep Dish to explore the impact of good nutrition for mothers and children. He provides ten-year updates on the communities in India, Uganda, and Guatemala featured in his book, explores the importance of good nutrition on growth and development, and considers the vital question: what might a child have accomplished for all of us were they not malnourished and stunted in their first 1,000 days?   This episode is brought to you by the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America.   Reading List: Beating the Odds: The Mothers and Children of the 1,000 Days Movement, Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Roger Thurow, March 9, 2023  The First 1,000 Days: A Crucial Time for Mothers and Children—And the World, Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Roger Thurow, May 3, 2016  Lost Chance at Greatness: Hagirso’s Interactive Story, Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Roger Thurow  Student Voices Call for Culturally Appropriate Food in Schools, Agri-pulse Communications, Roger Thurow, September 21, 2022 

Netflix’s hit show "The Diplomat" brings real-world diplomacy to the spotlight. On Deep Dish, Executive Producer of Madam Secretary David Grae and career diplomat Maryum Saifee examine the show’s portrayal of diplomats, the importance of sharing these stories in pop culture, and the significance of the State Department finally going to Hollywood. Reading List:  Transforming State: Pathways to a More Just, Equitable, and Innovative Institution, Truman Center, March 2021  US Embassy in UK fact-checks ‘The Diplomat’, US Embassy London & Aaron Snipe, May 2, 2023 

While the West focuses on Ukraine’s counteroffensive, the stakes look very different inside Kyiv. Fresh from a visit to the capitol city, Council President Ivo Daalder joins former Ukrainian diplomat Iuliia Osmolovska to share Ukrainians’ focus on the long term: integration with the West, consequences of the war, and what comes after.

Since its launch three years ago, The Continent has become the most widely distributed newspaper in Africa. Issued via WhatsApp, The Continent tells stories “by Africans, for Africans,” and reveals just how different African news looks when the people living it are the ones writing the stories. Editor-in-Chief Simon Allison joins us on Deep Dish to talk about shaping this new outlet, and Brian discusses what he learned during his month-long trip to Africa, including what US news consumers often don’t hear.

President Biden hosted South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol at his second-ever state dinner as part of the US strategy to get the strained South Korea-Japan relationship back on track. On Deep Dish, US Institute of Peace’s Frank Aum and the Wilson Center’s Shihoko Goto explore the reasons for the recurring ruptures over history, why the US cares, and the implications for geopolitics in Asia.

On Deep Dish, we explore whether the Biden administration has followed through on its promises to prioritize human rights in US foreign policy and whether recent events like the release of the annual human rights report and the Democracies Summit provide any hints about how effective they have been. Join experts Steven Feldstein and Sarah Yager as they evaluate the administration’s progress and unpack ways the United States can do better abroad.    Reading List:  2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, March 20, 2023  Jimmy Carter was right about human rights, Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, March 9, 2023 

The ICC has dubbed Vladimir Putin personally responsible for the abductions of children from Ukraine. While the world focuses on Putin’s prospects, Deep Dish dives into the underlying issue: accountability, justice, and protection of the most vulnerable victims of war. Experts Nathaniel Raymond and Kathryn Sikkink unpack the tragic reality of child abductions during times of conflict, how the indictments might affect these Ukrainian children, and whether this could truly deter child abductions in future war crimes.  Reading List: Russia's Systematic Program for the Re-Education and Adoption of Ukrainian Children, Humanitarian Research Lab, Yale School of Public Health, February 14, 2023 Evidence for Hope: Making Human Rights Work in the 21st Century, Kathryn Sikkink, Princeton University Press, March 5, 2019 The Justice Cascade: How Human Rights Prosecutions are Changing World Politics, Kathryn Sikkink, W. W. Norton & Company, September 26, 2011

Deep Dish is back after a brief break with a new theme song and some exciting news: occasional host Lizzy Shackelford is joining as an official co-host. To celebrate, Brian and Lizzy talk to each other and give you a chance to get to know them more personally. From what led them to a career grappling with global affairs to their hobbies and interests, we're exploring it all. Tune in to meet the hosts who bring you Deep Dish each week and get ready for a few surprises along the way!   Related Deep Dish Episodes: Kenya Has New President, But Election Might Not Be Over Yet, August 18, 2022 What You Do to Your Women, You Do to Your Nation., March 30, 2023 Debunking Putin's False History of Ukraine, February 24, 2022 Microchips and the US-China Battle for the Future, October 27, 2022

Around the world, authoritarianism is rising, and women’s rights are declining—and it’s not a coincidence that’s happening at the same time. On Deep Dish, we revisit a conversation with Valerie Hudson and Zoe Marks to explain how sexism undermines national security, why autocrats are afraid of women, and why progress on gender equality is essential for stability, democracy, and prosperity. [This episode originally aired on March 10, 2022]  Reading List:  What You Do to Your Women, You Do to Your Nation, Valerie Hudson, New York Times  Revenge of the Patriarchs: Why Autocrats Fear Women, Zoe Marks and Erica Chenoweth, Foreign Affairs

Today, TikTok CEO Shou Chew testified before Congress in light of the Biden administration’s threat to ban the social media app over concerns that it poses a threat to national security. On Deep Dish, we’re revisiting our conversation with author Aynne Kokas who explains why China has been so effective at collecting and “trafficking” the data of citizens, and how this data could give them a geopolitical advantage. Plus, we hear from data privacy attorneys on the state of regulation protecting user data.  [This episode originally aired: December 15, 2022]    Related Content:  Trafficking Data: How China Is Winning the Battle for Digital Sovereignty, Aynne Kokas, Oxford University Press, November 1, 2022 Opinion: Why the U.S. will probably never ban TikTok, Aynne Kokas, Los Angeles Times, March 22, 2023  TikTok CEO Testifies at House Commerce Committee, C-SPAN3, March 23, 2023 

On Deep Dish, we’re revisiting our conversation about the world of espionage and the secrets of intelligence gathering with Amy Zegart, author of Spies, Lies, and Algorithms. As new technology continues to disrupt all aspects of our lives, Zegart explains how these innovations are changing espionage and why spy myths perpetuated by Hollywood often get in the way of understanding threats. [This episode originally aired: March 24, 2022] Related Content:   Spies, Lies, and Algorithms: The History and Future of American Intelligence, Amy Zegart, Princeton University Press, February 1, 2022  Senate Intelligence Hearing on Worldwide Threats, PBS NewsHour, March 8, 2023  National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence, Final Report, March 19, 2021

Since Mahsa Amini’s death in Iranian custody last September, protesters—many women and Gen Z activists—have demanded greater freedom, including an end to the mandatory hijab. Narges Bajoghli of Johns Hopkins University and women of the Iranian diaspora join Deep Dish to explore Iran’s ongoing protests, their significance for the global women's movement, and the push for gender equality.

Mexico’s President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s recent moves to undermine the country’s National Electoral Institute have sparked massive pro-democracy protests and stoked fears that the country is backsliding into authoritarianism. On Deep Dish, Denise Dresser, Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México, and Guillermo Trejo, Notre Dame and Kellogg Institue, discuss Mexico’s future and why everyone should care that the country’s elites are weakening and dismantling democratic systems.  Reading List: Mexico’s Dying Democracy, Denise Dresser, Foreign Affairs, October 21, 2022  Mexico’s Illiberal Democratic Trap, Guillermo Trejo, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, February 17, 2021 

One year ago, Russia launched its brutal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, but perhaps the greatest surprise has been the emergence of one of the most significant wartime leaders of the 21st century. How did Volodymyr Zelensky become the guiding force we know today? On Deep Dish, Olga Onuch, author of “The Zelensky Effect,” dives into the story of the ordinary Ukrainian who rose to command the global stage.     Reading List: The Zelensky Effect, Olga Onuch and Henry E. Hale, Oxford University Press, March 1, 2023 

In recent weeks, the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena sightings in North America have left many wondering whether US air defense systems are equipped to handle such threats. Ex-NORAD chief Scott Clancy and Carnegie Council’s Arthur Holland Michel join Deep Dish to discuss how worried Americans should truly be.       Reading List:  The Chinese balloon is hardly alone in watching America from the sky, Arthur Holland Michel, Washington Post, February 3, 2023  If you’re interested in learning more about defending American airspace against unidentified objects, tune into the Council’s virtual event with US Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi. 

About The Episode Globalization is said to have fused our economies, societies, and cultures—but what if our world is not as globalized as we think? On Deep Dish, Shannon O’Neil, author of “The Globalization Myth,” argues that, in fact, regionalization has played a more key role in global economic competition, discussing the implications for the United States and the future of the world’s economy.    Like this episode? Leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Israel’s right-wing legislators have taken aim at the country’s supreme court. Their proposal to overhaul and limit the judiciary has sparked mass protest and debate and could dramatically change the balance of power. Joining Deep Dish from Israel are Times of Israel journalist Tal Schneider and legal scholar Tamar Hostovsky Brandes to examine the judicial reform proposal, its potential impact on political checks and balance, and whether the nation’s democracy is at risk.

Unrest & instability has surrounded Peruvian politics for the last seven years as six different presidents have taken office. Over the past month, anti-government protests have erupted, uniting disenfranchised Peruvians who are demanding that the newest president, Dina Boluarte, step down. Reporting from Peru, Cynthia Sanborn and Ryan Dube explore what is driving the unrest, unpack Peru’s unprecedented political instability and why democracy is at stake on Deep Dish.  Reading List: Peru's Overlapping Messes, Cynthia Sanborn & Beatriz García Nice, Wilson Center, Jan 20, 2023  Peruvian Protesters March in Capital Against Government, Ryan Dube, Wall Street Journal, Jan 20, 2023 

Brazilian authorities swiftly detained more than 1,500 pro-Bolsonaro rioters in connection with the January 8 attack on Brazil's capital and have charged dozens in recent days. Following the insurrection, what deeper challenges lie ahead for Brazil's president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva? On Deep Dish, Sarah Esther Maslin and Ryan Berg unpack Brazil’s response and what the future holds for one of the world’s largest democracies. Reading List: A copycat insurrection in Brazil, and its troubling aftermath, Sarah Esther Maslin, The Economist, January 12, 2023

This Friday, Japan’s Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida will make his first visit to Washington, DC for a summit meeting with President Biden. On Deep Dish, Council on Foreign Relations’ Sheila Smith and Hudson Institute’s Masashi Murano explore what is behind Japan’s new security vision, how the changes are viewed generationally by the Japanese public, and what this means for the future of the US-Japan security alliance to address rising threats from China. Reading List: How Japan Is Doubling Down on Its Military Power, Sheila Smith, Council on Foreign Relations, December 20, 2022

From Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the climate crisis, to soaring food and energy prices, headlines in 2022 have been tough. If this barrage of negative news has made you want to switch off, you’re not alone. On Deep Dish, behavioral science expert Dr. Kris Lee and former Foreign Policy editor-in-chief Jonathan Tepperman share tips for how to reframe your global outlook and navigate anxiety in 2023. Plus, Deep Dish listeners comment on how the heavy news affects their mood and how they cope as global citizens.   Reading List: The Fix: How Countries Use Crises to Solve the World’s Worst Problems, Jonathan Tepperman, Crown; Reprint edition, July 25, 2017  Worth the Risk: How to Microdose Bravery to Grow Resilience, Connect More, and Offer Yourself to the World, Kristen Lee, Sounds True, June 14, 2022 

As digital technologies and social media have evolved to dominate our everyday lives, governments and businesses – at home and abroad - have been able to collect vast troves of our personal information. On Deep Dish, author Aynne Kokas explains why China has been so effective at collecting and “trafficking” the data of United States and other foreign citizens, and how this data could give them a geopolitical advantage. Plus, we hear from data privacy attorneys on the state of regulation protecting user data.  Reading List: Trafficking Data: How China Is Winning the Battle for Digital Sovereignty, Aynne Kokas, November 1, 2022, Oxford University Press 

FIFA World Cup 2022 has reached its nail-biting knock-out stage. For big-spending hosts Qatar, the tournament has provided an opportunity to bask in the international spotlight, but it has also drawn scrutiny of human rights and the treatment of migrant workers in the Gulf state. On Deep Dish, Jules Boykoff & Minky Worden discuss the growing phenomenon of sportswashing, why sport appeals to autocratic governments, and how businesses, athletes, and fans can respond. Plus, we spoke to sports writers and analysts to understand how fans perceive accusations of sportswashing.  Reading List: Qatar 2022: China and Iran Confront the Political Power of the World Cup, Chris Morris, Chicago Council on Global Affairs, November 28, 2022 NOlympians: Inside the Fight Against Capitalist Mega-Sports in Los Angeles, Tokyo and Beyond, Jules Boykoff, Fernwood Publishing, April 01, 2020  The World Cup is Exciting, Lucrative, and Deadly, Minky Worden, Newsweek, August 23, 2022 

As protests have erupted throughout China, in response to lockdowns imposed from the government’s zero-COVID policy, some protesters have broadened their criticisms of the government, including even calls for President Xi to step down. On Deep Dish, journalist Lizzi Lee reports on what is transpiring, and author Teresa Wright discusses the frequency and nature of protest in modern China and why this latest wave could destabilize China’s political system.  Reading List: Popular Protest in China, Teresa Wright, Polity, July 2018  The Perils of Protest: State Repression and Student Activism in China and Taiwan, Teresa Wright, University of Hawaii Press, March 1, 2001  Handbook of Protest and Resistance in China, Edited by Teresa Wright, Edward Elgar Publishing, June 18, 2019 

Deep Dish is taking this week off for the Thanksgiving holiday in the US, but we'll be back next week with a new episode! In the meantime, here’ a quick note about Giving Tuesday. We’re able to make this show because of the support from our community of listeners —people like you!     Would you consider making a tax-deductible gift this upcoming Giving Tuesday so that we can keep bringing you Deep Dish each week? To make a gift, visit our website.    Thank you for your support and join us next week for another slice of Deep Dish when we discuss sportswashing. With the Qatar World Cup underway and mired in controversy, we’ll examine how governments use major sporting tournaments to burnish their image at home and abroad and ask whether the global exposure that comes with these events can be used to advance issues like human rights.  -The Deep Dish team

Winter is coming, temperatures are dropping, and people in Europe and elsewhere face a cost-of-living crisis that would have seemed unimaginable only a year ago. On Deep Dish, young people across Europe share how they are coping with the rising costs. Then, the European Council on Foreign Relations’ Susi Dennison unpacks how overlapping economic, climate, and geopolitical crises are shaping people’s lives and could alter the continent’s politics.  This episode is in collaboration with our wider organization's listening project, the Winter Diaries. Are you a young person living in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, or the United States? We want to hear from you and will share and amplify your stories. We hope you’ll engage with us by posting on Instagram, tagging @globalaffairscouncil, and using #WinterDiaries. This episode is sponsored by Horizon Therapeutics.   

North Korea fired over 80 missiles last week, triggering evacuation alerts in parts of Japan and South Korea. On Deep Dish, a Japanese citizen shares a firsthand reaction and their concerns for nuclear risks from North Korea. Plus, Stimson Center’s Jenny Town discusses what Kim Jong-un is trying to achieve and how the United States and its regional allies can reduce the risk of escalation.  Reading List: Americans Focused Elsewhere as Tensions Rise on the Korean Peninsula, Karl Friedhoff, Chicago Council on Global Affairs, November 6, 2022 Thinking Nuclear: South Korean Attitudes on Nuclear Weapons, Toby Dalton, Karl Friedhoff, and Lami Kim, Chicago Council on Global Affairs, February 21, 2022  Preventing Nuclear Proliferation and Reassuring America's Allies, Ivo H. Daalder, Chuck Hagel, Malcolm Rifkind, and Kevin Rudd, Chicago Council on Global Affairs, February 10, 2021

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s victory in Brazil’s presidential election is part of a larger leftward shift in Latin American politics in recent years that stretches from Mexico to Chile. On Deep Dish, Brazilian students share some of the issues facing their country as they went to the polls and the challenges the new president will face. Plus, expert Yannik John discusses what the world should expect from this new wave of Latin American leaders and whether this leftward shift represents a new “pink tide”.   Reading List: Latin America’s Second Pink Tide Looks Very Different from the First, Oliver Stuenkel, Americas Quarterly, July 18, 2022  Pink Tide 2.0? The same trap awaits, Yannik John, Global Americans, September 22, 2022    This episode is sponsored by UL Solutions.  

From microwaves to missiles, smartphones to the stock market, microchips are essential to modern economies and future technological advancements. On Deep Dish, we hear from a representative of a manufacturing sector on how critical chips are to businesses and consumers and the effects of a global shortage. And Chip War author Chris Miller argues that microchips – not data - are the new oil and discusses what this means for the geopolitical contest between the US and China.  Reading List: Chip War: The Fight for the World's Most Critical Technology, Chris Miller, Scribner, October 4, 2022    This episode is sponsored by the Dr. Scholl Foundation. 

This week, the Chinese Communist Party hosts its twice-a-decade National Congress and President Xi Jinping is set to secure power for a third term. Nonresident Senior Fellow Paul Heer joins Deep Dish to argue the importance of engagement with China as a necessary component of US foreign policy. If we do not pursue it, he says, we are missing opportunities for a more peaceful coexistence between both countries and the world.  This episode originally aired on August 4, 2022. 

President Putin has demanded the West take his nuclear threats seriously and North Korea is rumored to preparing to undertake a nuclear test in the coming days. On Deep Dish, South Korean and Ukrainian citizens share what it is like to live under the looming shadow of possible nuclear warfare and Ankit Panda discusses whether the nuclear taboo is likely to be broken and how the world should respond. 

President Putin mobilized over 300,000 military reservists to buttress Russia’s battered forces, prompting protests and an exodus of Russians to neighboring countries. On Deep Dish, recently fled Russian social media personalities share their perspective on the darkening political climate in their homeland. And independent journalist and filmmaker Mikhail Fishman and Moscow Times’ Leyla Latypova discuss how Russia’s reversals on the battlefield are transforming the nation's politics and society and could even threaten Putin’s leadership. 

Iran has entered its 12th day of protests following the death of #MahsaAmini in morality police custody. On Deep Dish, women in the Iranian diaspora share firsthand the severity of what is transpiring, and Narges Bajoghli of Johns Hopkins University unpacks why these demonstrations are different and strike at the core of Iran’s regime.

While Putin overreaches in his war on Ukraine, tensions are flaring in the former Soviet territories along present-day Russia’s southern border. The most immediate danger comes from two conflicts that escalated this month— between Azerbaijan and Armenia in the Caucasus and between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia, both clashes leading to hundreds being killed. Eurasianet’s Joshua Kucera and University of Oxford’s Madeleine Reeves join Deep Dish to explore the erupting violence and whether it could spiral into war. Reading List: Russia’s struggles in Ukraine seed conflict in its neighborhood, Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, September 22, 2022  

Yesterday, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Uzbekistan. While these nations are assumed to be America’s chief geostrategic competitors, Russia’s faltering invasion of Ukraine has isolated its economy, degraded its military, and undermined its international standing. Former US Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul and Wilson Center’s Lucian Kim join Deep Dish to discuss what the war in Ukraine has revealed about Russia’s global power and whether it can still be considered a great power. 

Last week power struggles between rival Shia groups erupted in deadly street battles that sparked fears of a renewed cycle of violence. Chatham House’s Renad Mansour joins Deep Dish and argues that the conventional view that Iraq’s political instability is driven by sectarian and ethnic divisions is wrong. Rather, the real cleavage is between a permanent political elite, across faith and ethnic divisions, who work together to divide up state resources to benefit themselves at the expense of the Iraqi people.  Like the show? Leave us a rating and review. 

Like Ukraine, the Western Balkans sit on a fault line between Russian and Western spheres of influence. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, political tensions have grown in the region, particularly in Bosnia and Kosovo. Many experts suspect Russia is exploiting ethnic divisions. The Economist’s Tim Judah and the Atlantic Council’s Ilva Tare join Deep Dish to examine Moscow's motives for fanning instability in one of Europe’s most fragile regions. Reading List: The Effects of the War in Ukraine on the Western Balkans, Tim Judah, IISS, August 2022 Interested in learning more about the key issues impacting the Western Balkans? Tune into the #BalkansDebrief podcast with host Ilva Tare.

While a 20-year war has ended, the Afghan people continue to suffer, now under a collapsed economy. International Crisis Group’s Laurel Miller and US Institute of Peace’s Andrew Watkins join Deep Dish guest host Elizabeth Shackelford to discuss how the international community's isolation of the Taliban has helped precipitate suffering in Afghanistan, and what can and should be done to help.   Like the show? Leave us a rating and review.

William Ruto has been declared winner of Kenya’s presidential election, after edging out longtime opposition leader Raila Odinga by a narrow margin. Odinga has refused to concede, will likely challenge the results in court, and his supporters took to the streets to protest in the election center. Uppsala University’s Kathleen Klaus and International Crisis Group’s Murithi Mutiga join Deep Dish guest host Elizabeth Shackelford to unpack election results, what it means for Kenya, the broader region, and democracy on the continent. Like the show? Leave us a rating and review.

Ukraine is home to millennia-old culture, including some of the holiest sites of the Orthodox faith. Now, facing a brutal artillery campaign and intentional cultural persecution by Russia, Ukraine’s identity is under attack. But Ukraine is not alone in having its heritage threatened by war, despite this being a war crime. Kyiv-based museum director Olesia Ostrovska-Liuta and Jim Cuno, former President of the Getty Trust, join Deep Dish to help us understand why protecting cultural heritage in Ukraine, and in other conflicts is so important, and what the international community can do to help.  Reading List: Inheritance, Olesia Ostrovska-Liuta, Ukraine Crisis Media Center, March 16, 2022  Protecting Cultural Heritage in Ukraine and Beyond, James Cuno and Thomas G. Weiss, Wall Street Journal, April 14, 2022  Cultural Heritage and Mass Atrocities, Edited by James Cuno and Thomas G. Weiss, Getty Publications, September 20, 2022  How the War Changed a Kyiv Museum’s View of Its Past, Jason Farago, New York Times, August 10, 2022 

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's controversial Taiwan trip came amid increasingly harsh warnings of retaliations from Beijing and escalating US-China tensions. Nonresident Senior Fellow Paul Heer joins Deep Dish to argue the importance of engagement with China as a necessary component of US foreign policy. If we do not pursue it, he says, we are missing opportunities for a more peaceful coexistence between both countries and the world.  Reading List: The Next Taiwan Strait Crisis Has Arrived, Paul Heer, The National Interest, August 2, 2022  Engagement With China Has Not Failed, Paul Heer, The National Interest, July 14, 2022  Understanding U.S.-China Strategic Competition, Paul Heer, The National Interest, October 20, 2020

Two weeks ago, Sri Lankans stormed the residence of the President and Prime Minister, following months of protests against corruption and worsening economic conditions. Saddled with billions of dollars of foreign debt and facing the lingering economic effects of the pandemic and Russia’s war on Ukraine, Sri Lankans face rampant inflation and dire shortages of fuel, foods, and medicines. Dialogue Advisory Group’s Ram Manikkalingam joins Deep Dish to explore how this island nation, whose economy was once held up as a success story in South Asia, has come apart, and what this experience reveals about the pressures faced by other nations across the Global South.  Like the show? Leave us a rating and review!

In recent years, the United States has accounted for nearly three-quarters of the world’s mass shootings and forty-six percent of all private gun ownership worldwide — more than 10 times its share of the global population. University of Sydney Professor Phillip Alpers joins a special live edition of Deep Dish to discuss how other nations have tried to prevent mass shootings and firearm homicides, how successful those attempts have been, and what the US can learn from other countries’ approaches to gun violence.  Like the show? Leave us a rating and review. Reading List: Firearm Registration, Gun Owner Licensing and the Right to Possess Firearms - Global Comparisons, Philip Alpers, GunPolicy.org, July 16, 2022 

Joe Biden is currently on his first trip to the Middle East as President, which will include a controversial meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. On the campaign trail, Biden pledged to make Saudi Arabia a “pariah”, but with gas prices punishing American consumers, and Russia and China court Riyadh, Biden’s tone and policy toward the Kingdom has rapidly evolved. Council on Foreign Relations’ Martin Indyk and Democracy for the Arab World Now’s Sarah Leah Whitson join Deep Dish to discuss the human rights, energy, and geopolitical dimensions of the US–Saudi relationship.  Like the show? Leave us a rating and review wherever you get your podcasts. Reading List: The Case for a New U.S.-Saudi Strategic Compact, Steven A. Cook and Martin S. Indyk, Council on Foreign Relations, June 2022  America’s Middle East ‘Withdrawal’ Breathes Its Last Breath, Sarah Leah Whitson, The American Prospect, June 24, 2022 

Recent US Supreme Court rulings on abortion, religion in school, gun control, and climate regulation will have far-reaching implications for Americans. How does the role that the Supreme Court plays in US democracy compare to Supreme Courts in other democracies? Constitutional law experts Daniel Brinks and Tom Ginsburg join Deep Dish to explore the uniqueness of the US Supreme Court and what we can learn from the functioning of the judicial branch of other nations’ governments. Like the show? Leave us a rating and review!

As global institutions focused on research, innovation, and ideas, universities have historically been closely tied to geopolitical power. Today, America’s world-leading universities face growing competition, particularly from China, with far-reaching implications. Chronicle of Higher Education senior writer Karin Fischer and Harvard Business School professor and author William Kirby join Deep Dish to discuss how America's universities achieved their global preeminence, why this is now threatened, and how they might respond. Like the show? Leave us a rating and review! Reading List: Latitudes, Karin Fischer, The Chronicle of Higher Education Empires of Ideas: Creating the Modern University from Germany to America to China, William C. Kirby, Harvard University Press

What does Russia's war in Ukraine reveal about competing theories of foreign policy thought? The Council’s Elizabeth Shackelford is joined by Emma Ashford, senior fellow at the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, and James Goldgeier, visiting scholar at Stanford University, to debate the war, and what might happen next, from the perspectives of liberal internationalism, the predominant foreign policy doctrine which champions cooperation, and realism, a doctrine that views competition and conflict as inevitable. Like the show? Leave us a rating and review.

Mercenaries from the Wagner Group have been in the headlines recently for their alleged role in war crimes in Ukraine. But the Kremlin-linked paramilitary group has been active in Africa for several years, where it provides a wide range of services to governments across the continent. For this week's Deep Dish, the Council’s Elizabeth Shackelford is joined by Federica Saini Fasanotti of the Institute for International Political Studies in Milan to discuss how Wagner’s growing footprint in Africa supports Russia’s strategic and commercial interests.  Reading List: Russia’s Wagner Group in Africa: Influence, commercial concessions, rights violations, and counterinsurgency failure, Federica Saini Fasanotti, Brookings Institution To Beat Russian Influence in Africa, the West Must Offer Something Better, Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune Like the show? Leave us a rating and review.

With richly fertile soil and easy access to international markets, Ukraine has been called the breadbasket of Europe. Following Russia’s invasion, the country’s grain exports have plummeted, leading to worldwide food price increases of 23 percent and hundreds of thousands facing starvation in the Middle East and Africa. As a global hunger crisis soars, food security experts Ertharin Cousin and Teresa Welsh join Deep Dish to dissect the root causes of modern food insecurity and analyze actions we must take to protect the world’s most vulnerable populations. Join the Council's upcoming virtual Event on June 23: Global Food Security Symposium 2022 Interested in learning more about transforming the global food system? Sign up for Devex Dish's newsletter here. 

Last week, China’s foreign minister Wang Yi met with ten Pacific nations to propose a sweeping trade and security agreement. China's intensifying diplomacy in the Pacific demonstrates the region’s growing geostrategic importance. China experts Patrick Cronin and Bonnie Glaser join Deep Dish to discuss China’s strategy in the Pacific, and how the US should respond.  We'd love to know your thoughts about the show! Leave us a review.  Reading: The Pacific Islands Matter for America/America Matters for the Pacific Islands, East-West Center 

If the United States overturns Roe vs. Wade later this year, it would be a stark policy shift 50 years after the landmark Supreme Court decision on women’s rights. The World Health Organization’s Bela Ganatra and the Center for Reproductive Rights’ Katherine Mayall join Deep Dish to look at global trends on reproductive rights and how the US compares.

This week Ukrainian forces pushed the Russians out of their second largest city, Kharkiv, a triumph that most military analysts would have considered unthinkable two months ago. With Putin’s concerns about his legacy, experts believe we could be heading into a dangerous stalemate. Former National Security Council official Fiona Hill joins Deep Dish to analyze Putin’s motivation for the war, his plans, and what is at stake for the world. Like the show? Leave us a rating and review wherever you get your podcasts. Prefer to watch instead? https://bit.ly/3NoxCUf

This week political dynasty heir and TikTok star Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. brought his corrupt family back to power in the Philippines 36 years after his father was ousted in a public revolution. The Washington Post’s Regine Cabato joins Deep Dish to explain how Filipinos lost faith in democracy, why disinformation works so well in the Philippines, and whether the new administration will bring the country closer to China or the United States.   We'd love to know your thoughts about the show! Leave us a review. 

Russian state TV aired a chilling propaganda video showing nuclear destruction in the United Kingdom this week, echoing bluster from Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on nuclear escalation over Ukraine. Former US Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Rose Gottemoeller, who negotiated the New START treaty with Russia, joins Deep Dish to explain how Russia’s actions have altered conversations on arms control and why it’s still critical for the United States and Russia to work together to prevent nuclear war.    Like the show? Leave us a review!

China’s latest economic data show the lowest GDP growth expectation in 30 years, rising unemployment, and slowing industrial production in part due to strict COVID-19 lockdowns. Victor Shih joins Deep Dish to explain how inflation and the war in Ukraine will compound this decline, what it means for the Chinese Communist Party and Xi Jinping’s leadership, and whether Xi’s demand for China to match the United States’ growth in 2022 is possible. Don't forget to leave us a review!

Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan falsely blamed a United States-led conspiracy for his removal from office last week, feeding anti-American sentiment among his supporters. Brookings’ Madiha Afzal returns to Deep Dish to unpack the ways Pakistan’s political instability interacts with geopolitical competition involving China, Russia, and the United States, and explains why it’s time for the United States to rethink its troubled relationship with the nuclear-armed power. Like the show? Leave us a rating and review! 

In response to Russia’s war on Ukraine, the European Union hopes to decrease its dependence on Russian energy by two-thirds within a year. The Oxford Institute for Energy Studies’ James Henderson joins Deep Dish to look at Europe’s options, how to achieve them, likely effects on energy markets and global politics, and implications for green energy and climate change. Like this episode? Leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Shocking images and accounts emerged from Bucha over the weekend, providing more evidence of Russian atrocities in their war on Ukraine. Forty-one countries, including the United States, have now referred Russia to the International Criminal Court for prosecution. Karen Alter and Rebecca Hamilton join Deep Dish to look at the system for prosecuting war crimes, its record of success and limitations, as well as the politics behind who gets prosecuted and why. Like the show? Leave us a review!

India’s choice to remain neutral on the Ukraine war aligns with their historic foreign policy choices and current security interests, Tanvi Mandan and Srinath Raghavan argue. They join Deep Dish host Brian Hanson to explain the long-term relationship between Delhi and Moscow, why the United States shouldn’t pressure India to choose sides, and where China fits in India’s calculations.  Don't forget to leave us a rating and review!

New technologies like artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and social media have transformed the intelligence community and given the United States’ adversaries new tools to observe and influence global politics. The Hoover Institution’s Amy Zegart joins Deep Dish to discuss her new book Spies, Lies, and Algorithms: The History and Future of American Intelligence and why she warns that, faced with these looming threats, the US is losing its intelligence advantage.   Like this episode? Leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts.

For the last three weeks, people around the world have been watching the war in Ukraine unfold on their phones, intimately observing live footage of the conflict’s devastation alongside rampant fake news from Russia claiming the war isn’t real. Disinformation experts Bret Stephens and Julia Davis join Deep Dish to examine why Putin’s narrative isn’t working outside Russia, how long it can dupe the Russian public, and what all of us can do to combat the spread of misinformation.   Like this episode? Leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts. 

Around the world, authoritarianism is rising and women’s rights are declining—and it’s not a coincidence that’s happening at the same time. Valerie Hudson and Zoe Marks join Deep Dish to explain how sexism undermines national security, why autocrats are afraid of women, and why progress on gender equality is essential for democracy, prosperity, and stability.  LIke the show? Leave us a review!

The United States, the European Union, and a host of other countries (even Switzerland!) are hoping to stop Putin’s war on Ukraine by placing Russia under the most extreme sanctions package ever enacted on a single country. But will it make a difference? The New York Times’ Matina Stevis-Gridneff and sanctions expert Nicholas Mulder join Deep Dish to explain how sanctions work, what they mean for real people, and whether they are likely to stop the war or make it worse.  Like the show? Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts. 

In a fiery speech on Monday, Russia’s President Putin laid out a stark, politically motivated, and false account of Ukraine’s history to justify his full-scale invasion. His main argument? Ukraine is historically not a sovereign nation, but a long-lost part of Russia. A part Russia wants—and will take—back. Historian Kathryn David joins host Brian Hanson on Deep Dish to explain the real history and how it explains the conflict today.  Like the show? Leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts. 

A sharp rise in attempted coups in the last year—more than in the last five years combined—emphasizes democracy’s global decline. Coup d'état experts Jonathan Powell and Erica De Bruin join the Council’s Elizabeth Shackelford on Deep Dish to explore the issues driving coups around the world and how to stop them.  Don't forget to give the show a rating and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts! It helps others find Deep Dish and learn more about global affairs. 

Looking for quick, smart takes on top global affairs news stories each week? This week we're introducing you to a new podcast from the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, World Review with Ivo Daalder. In this episode, Karen DeYoung, Peter Spiegel, and Giles Whittell join Ivo to dive into the latest on Ukraine, from war prep to efforts at diplomacy. Then, they unpack the death of ISIS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi during an American raid, look at the Xi-Putin meeting at the Beijing Olympics, and answer the question everyone following “partygate” is asking: is Boris Johnson finally toast? New episodes air every Friday afternoon. If you like the show, subscribe & leave a review. We'll be back next week with a new episode of Deep Dish!

North Korea’s long-range missile launch this week—already the seventh test in 2022—has the potential to reach the US territory of Guam and destabilize regional alliances. Former National Security Council leaders Victor Cha and Sue Mi Terry join Deep Dish to explain why North Korea appears to be acting with impunity and why the United States can’t afford to ignore the situation. Reading The Last Chance to Stop North Korea? U.S. Aid Could Help Revive Nuclear Diplomacy – by Victor Cha, Foreign Affairs  North Korea’s Nuclear Family - How the Kims Got the Bomb and Why They Won’t Give It Up –  by Sue Mi Terry, Foreign Affairs  

Afghanistan is in on the brink of the worst humanitarian crisis in recent memory: the economy is in a tailspin, famine is looming, food prices are skyrocketing, formal sector jobs have disappeared, and cash is scarce. The International Crisis Group’s Laurel Miller and former US Ambassador to Afghanistan P. Michael McKinley join Deep Dish to explain what led us here after the abrupt US exit five months ago and why it’s not too late for solutions.  Take our listener survey! 

At least 164 people are dead and thousands are imprisoned after mysterious instigators overtook Kazakhstan’s peaceful protests and Russian troops brutally cracked down on demonstrators. Journalist Joanna Lillis and researcher Nargis Kassenova join Deep Dish to unpack the domestic politics driving civil society action and whether Kremlin interference is the new norm in a critically important country for Russia, China, and the United States.   Don't forget to share your feedback about our show in our listener survey!

One year after the attack on the United States Capitol, 64 percent of Americans believe US democracy is "in crisis and at risk of failing," an NPR/Ipsos poll revealed this week. Democracy expert Larry Diamond joins Deep Dish to explain why democracy has been declining around the world for the last 15 years and offer urgent solutions to stop its retreat.   If you’re a Deep Dish subscriber, don’t forget to share your thoughts in our listener survey.

A major Russian troop buildup on the Ukrainian border has the international community concerned about the possibility of an invasion. The Atlantic Council’s Melinda Haring and George Washington University’s Maria Snegovaya join Deep Dish to explain the factors driving Russia’s threats against Ukraine, what’s going on in Putin’s mind, and why this conflict matters for the world. Share your feedback about our show in our new listener survey!

Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine is dominating headlines, but another crisis looms in Eastern Europe: the Balkans. Bosnia and Herzegovina experts Jasmin Mujanović and Patrice McMahon join Deep Dish to explain why the risk of conflict is so high and how Europe and the United States can help ensure more than a decade of peace continues.  

This holiday season we’re all seeing the impact of shifts in the global trade system firsthand while shopping: shortages, high prices, and long shipping delays. The Economist’s Soumaya Keynes joins Deep Dish to explain why this situation is about more than just supply chains or COVID-19—it's about politics and the way our world is dismantling the rules-based trade system.  

Deep Dish is taking this week off for the Thanksgiving holiday in the US, but we'll be back next week with a new episode! In the meantime, here’s a quick note about Giving Tuesday. We’re able to make this show because of the support from our community of listeners —people like you!   Would you consider making a tax-deductible gift this upcoming Giving Tuesday so that we can keep bringing you Deep Dish each week? To make a gift, just go to our website.   Thank you for your generosity and join us next week for another slice of Deep Dish!  -The Deep Dish team

At least 2,000 Middle Eastern migrants spent weeks trapped at checkpoints between Belarus and Poland—unable to legally enter the European Union and, until today, unable to return to Belarus or go home. Former US Ambassador to Poland Daniel Fried joins host Brian Hanson on Deep Dish to explain how Belarus’ strongman President Lukashenka weaponized these migrants as a tool of "hybrid war," and why Russia’s President Putin looms behind this crisis—and others—on Europe’s doorstep.

As countries finalize their commitments at the UN Climate Conference, COP26, soaring global energy prices and shortages around the world emphasize our world’s current dependence on fossil fuels. The Economist’s Vijay Vaitheeswaran and the Just Transition Initiative’s Sandeep Pai join Deep Dish to explain what the energy crisis tell us about the costs of a green energy transition and how to manage shocks in a way that ensures countries and communities with fewer resources are not left behind. 

Recent US intelligence and defense agency reports warn that a warming climate is a fundamental threat to US national security by raising geopolitical tensions, increasing instability, and driving mass migration. The Center for Climate and Security’s Erin Sikorsky and the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft’s Anatol Lieven join Deep Dish to examine what a climate-focused US national security and defense strategy might look like and how to balance other competing threats.

China’s rapid recent nuclear expansion—from a hypersonic missile test to hundreds of new nuclear missile silos—is a stark contrast to years of a minimum deterrence approach. To explain the shift, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace’s Tong Zhao joins host Brian Hanson on Deep Dish to unpack China’s nuclear strategy, the need for nuclear stability, and how to avoid an arms race or worse.

2020 marked the most significant increase in US domestic terrorism in a quarter-century, data from the Center for Strategic and International Studies reveals. The University of Chicago’s Kathleen Belew and Robert Pape join Deep Dish to explain the trends they believe are driving the uptick and the role war and conflict play in shaping these groups. Further Reading The Capitol Rioters Aren’t Like Other Extremists, the Atlantic, by Robert Pape What an Analysis of 377 Americans Arrested or Charged in the Capitol Insurrection Tells Us, Washington Post, by Robert Pape Bring the War Home by Kathleen Belew The Right Way to Understand White Nationalist Terrorism,  New York Times, by Kathleen Belew

For decades, American foreign policy on Taiwan has been rooted in strategic ambiguity, but after China’s President Xi Jinping’s call for “reunification” with Taiwan and record military presence near the island, is it time to rethink this approach? Rand Corporation’s Michael Mazarr and the Commander Michele Lowe join Deep Dish to explore the options in a constructive debate on the benefits—and costs—of a shift in policy.

The 2021 Chicago Council Survey shows Americans are on board with the majority of the Biden administration’s foreign policy agenda, which is focused on decisions that benefit everyday Americans. But when it comes to trade, there are important differences between public opinion and this approach to foreign policy. Council President Ivo Daalder and the American Enterprise Institute’s Kori Schake join Deep Dish to explain what Americans think of a "Foreign Policy for the Middle Class” and why the administration should reassess some of their assumptions.   After the episode, explore the data. 

German voters prioritized stability in the first post-Merkel election—voting for the party who most emulated the former chancellor’s approach to government, the Social Democrats (SPD), instead of Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU). What does the narrow SPD victory tell us about the German political landscape and important Western trends like populism? Ulrike Franke and Sheri Berman join Deep Dish to explain how potential coalition governments could shape German foreign policy and the relationship with the United States.  

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gambled on a snap election that left him in power, but without a majority in Parliament. With an election behind him, can he make progress on the critical foreign policy issues his government must tackle—from COVID-19 to multilateral engagement—during his third term? Canadian political scientists Roland Paris and Jennifer Welsh join Deep Dish to explain why it’s time for a reset on Canadian foreign policy.  

Years of underinvestment, politicization, and data on looming retention problems raise urgent questions about the need for change in the United States Department of State. Ambassador Marcie Ries and Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Fellow Constanza Castro Zúñiga join Deep Dish to explain why diplomacy is still critical for American foreign policy and offer solutions to reimagine the diplomatic service for a new generation.

The US military may have exited the conflict in Afghanistan, but thousands of those who helped during the war remain. What does the United States owe those we leave behind, and is there a better way to prevent chaos and loss of life after war? Virginia Tech’s Amanda Demmer and the Council’s Elizabeth Shackelford join Deep Dish to explore the lessons from past military evacuations in Vietnam and South Sudan and what they tell us about the coming days in Afghanistan.  

Globalization promised us collaboration, peace, and prosperity. But did the connectivity that linked our world together increase conflict and drive our geopolitical priorities farther apart? The European Council on Foreign Relation’s Mark Leonard joins Deep Dish to discuss his new book The Age of Unpeace and his proposal for policymakers navigating our connected future. 

After weeks of finger-pointing and accusations about the catastrophic US retreat from Afghanistan, we’re taking a step back to ask some big-picture questions. What if the problem isn’t the exit, but the strategy that started the intervention in the first place: counterinsurgency? US Naval War College author Jacqueline Hazelton joins Deep Dish to explain what went wrong and why we’re doomed to repeat our mistakes if we don’t shift strategies. 

What will the Taliban’s Afghanistan takeover mean for Pakistan—a US ally, a nuclear power, and a country beset by its own terrorism threats—and will the government’s decades-long support of the Taliban backfire? Brookings’ Madiha Afzal and the Financial Times’ Farhan Bokhari join Deep Dish to explain Pakistan’s priorities, foreign policy, and options for the future.

Cryptocurrencies have moved away from their anarchic origins to spark political conversations that could shift national currencies and redefine the global economy. Former Chairman of the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission Tim Massad and the Financial Times’ Gillian Tett join Brian Hanson on Deep Dish to explore digital currencies and their effect on geopolitics. 

China’s massive investment in Africa through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has prompted concern over political influence—enough for the G-7 to form a rival initiative, the Build Back Better World (B3W). The Center for Global Development’s Gyude Moore and the US Navy’s Michele Lowe join Elizabeth Shackelford on Deep Dish to explore whether these programs are positive or negative and how African countries can take control of their futures. 

This week a bipartisan group of US senators introduced a bill to reform the 48-year-old War Powers Act—the law intended to check a president’s ability to declare war. Yale Law School’s Oona Hathaway joins Deep Dish to explain why it’s so important for Congress to revive its war powers and offer a potential solution. 

Haiti is in political turmoil after President Moïse’s assassination in his home last week. The Miami Herald’s Jacqueline Charles and the University of Virginia’s Robert Fatton Jr. join Deep Dish to assess the country’s stability, how international interference factored into the hollowing out of democratic institutions, and what could tip the scales towards disaster or hope for the future. 

Ten years after South Sudan’s independence, Ambassador Susan D. Page joins the Council’s Elizabeth Shackelford on Deep Dish to discuss their shared history in the country, what went wrong with statehood, and the lessons the international community must learn for the future.  

A century after the founding of the Chinese Communist Party, Bruce Dickson, author of The Party and the People: Chinese Politics in the 21st Century, joins Deep Dish to examine how the party maintains its power and what influences will shape its future—and geopolitics. 

After nearly 20 politically motivated arrests in the last month, Nicaraguan President Ortega’s crackdown on his opposition could shake the country’s democracy. Researcher Ryan Berg and journalist Cindy Regidor join Deep Dish to explain the field for November’s presidential election and whether we’re witnessing the rise of a “second dictatorship.”

Underneath the public face of unity at this week’s NATO meetings, potential disagreements and fissures between the United States and its European allies could significantly complicate the US’ return to the global stage. Council President Ivo Daalder and the New York Times’ Steve Erlanger join Deep Dish to analyze if President Biden has successfully reinvigorated the alliance and whether a shared agenda exists.

Researcher and practitioner Séverine Autesserre argues that traditional approaches to peacebuilding often fail because they follow a top-down formula: expert expatriates parachute in to solve a problem with big budgets, cut-and-paste solutions, and a return ticket home. She joins Deep Dish to explain why a new strategy is needed and how grassroots efforts offer hope for an end to violent conflict.

China announced families can now have three children as opposed to two — a reaction to new data showing shocking population growth slowdowns and mirroring global declines. Demographics expert Nicholas Eberstadt joins Deep Dish to explain why population size, capabilities, and characteristics matter more for competition between great powers than economic or military power. 

US Secretary of State Blinken reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to protecting American interests in the Arctic last week—but what does that mean, exactly? Arctic experts Eugene Rumer and Rebecca Pincus join Deep Dish to unpack the debate over the Arctic’s potential as a geopolitical flashpoint and possibilities for a very cold new Cold War.

After a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, former United States Special Envoy for Israeli-Palestinian Negotiations Martin Indyk joins Deep Dish to explain the pattern driving the latest violence, and implications for the peace process, regional stability, and President Biden’s desire to pivot away from the Middle East. 

Turkish President Erdoğan initially pursued “zero problems with neighbors” as a foreign policy strategy, but now relies on the country’s military might to achieve political goals. Brookings’ Kemal Kirişci and journalist Ayla Jean Yackley join Deep Dish to explain what Turkey’s approach means for neighbors, allies, and foes.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani called the United States' decision to leave Afghanistan by September 11 a “moment of both opportunity and risk” this week. The University of Texas at Austin’s Aaron O’Connell and the International Crisis Group’s Andrew Watkins join guest host Elizabeth Shackelford on Deep Dish to examine whether the United States can withdraw without undermining regional stability.  

Vice President Kamala Harris urged world leaders at the United Nations this week to begin preparing for the next pandemic, even as COVID-19 case numbers continue to rise in some parts of the world. Abbott’s Gavin Cloherty and the Cary Institute’s Barbara Han join Deep Dish to explain their strategies for tracking infections and why collaboration is the key to preventing future outbreaks. 

Twenty-three years after the Good Friday Accords, sectarian violence in Northern Ireland is once again making headlines. The European University Institute’s Brigid Laffan and POLITICO Europe’s Shawn Pogatchnik join Deep Dish to explain why the trade fallout from Brexit could destroy the fragile peace.

After failing to hold elections in February, Somalia’s President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo passed legislation this week to extend his power for at least two more years, prompting global concern. Somali academic Abdi Aynte and former US diplomat Elizabeth Shackelford join Deep Dish to unpack the players in Somalia’s politics and what role the international community should — or shouldn’t— have in its future. 

Brazil’s daily COVID-19 deaths passed 4,000 for first time this week, while President Jair Bolsonaro focused on firing his defense minister; reshuffling congress to ward off impeachment; and replacing the top commanders of the army, navy, and air force. Oliver Stuenkel and Sarah Maslin join Deep Dish to examine whether the pandemic could cost Bolsonaro the 2022 presidential election—or if he will find another way to hold onto power. 

For six days, a ship as tall as the Empire State Building, the Ever Given, was lodged in the Suez Canal – launching memes and delaying 10 percent of global trade. Flexport’s Phil Levy and the Financial Times’ Claire Jones join Deep Dish to discuss if crises like this and COVID-19 show it’s time to rethink global supply chains. 

For decades, the United States has ensured peace for Taiwan through strategic ambiguity, but last week’s combative US-China meeting could be a signal to rethink that approach. Rand Corporation’s Michael Mazarr and the Council’s Commander Michele Lowe join Deep Dish to explore the options in a constructive debate on the benefits—and costs—of a shift in policy.

The changing security environment and decaying trust in the US nuclear guarantee could lead to nuclear proliferation among allies, a new report from a task force of defense and security experts argues. Task force cochairs and report authors Kevin Rudd, Malcolm Rifkind, Chuck Hagel, and Ivo Daalder join Deep Dish to discuss possible solutions and why this is so urgent.

New data shows women have borne the brunt of pandemic job losses, potentially undercutting decades of progress toward gender equality. To recognize Women's History Month, The Council on Foreign Relations’ Jamille Bigio joins Deep Dish to explain why women’s economic participation is not simply a matter of fairness—it’s a global prosperity and security imperative.   

President Biden halted US support for the conflict in Yemen, but “resolving the world’s worst humanitarian crisis will require a larger paradigm shift in foreign policy,” former World Food Programme head Ertharin Cousin writes for Foreign Policy. She joins Deep Dish to explain why hunger must be treated as an essential element of military and foreign policy, not just as a humanitarian issue.

Tens of thousands of farmers have been protesting agriculture reform in India since last November, drawing global attention and celebrity support. Sumit Ganguly and Surupa Gupta join Deep Dish to explain the economic and social impact of the movement and what it might mean for Prime Minister Modi’s hold on political power.

Last week’s military coup in Myanmar has undone nearly a decade of progress toward democratic reform: Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has been jailed, the public is protesting martial law across the country, and the military’s strategy to contain the situation is escalating. Christina Fink and Debra Eisenman join Deep Dish to explain Myanmar’s complicated politics and why the country’s transition toward democracy didn’t go as the West expected. 

Black History Month and recent US domestic political events highlight our historical struggles over freedom and race – how they have shaped our world and why they continue to influence our lives today. Historian Tyler Stovall joins Deep Dish to explain why our understanding of freedom has been fundamentally grounded in race and how understanding our past can give us the tools to move forward. 

  Last weekend, more than 40,000 Russians in 100 cities marched to protest opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s arrest and signal a new era in Russian politics. The New Yorker’s Joshua Yaffa joins Deep Dish to explain why Russians both resent and rely on the state, and what that means for Russia – and President Putin’s – future.

Russia’s massive cyber attack on SolarWinds put some 250 US government agencies, security firms, and companies in jeopardy and exposed the sophisticated nature of today’s targeted hacks. Cyber risk expert Jody Westby joins Deep Dish to examine how the United States—and the world—can deter future attacks and prevent cyber escalation.

You may have missed it, but at the end of 2020, the European Union and China solidified an investment deal that will open EU access to China’s markets while raising China’s global profile. Former US trade negotiator Wendy Cutler and the Rhodium Group’s Noah Barkin join Deep Dish to look at the geopolitical consequences of the deal and how President-elect Biden can work toward better relationships with both sides.

Last week’s attack at the US Capitol could have long-term effects for the stability of the United States and the state of democracy around the world. In this bonus episode of Deep Dish, journalists Susan Glasser, James Harding, and Stefan Kornelius join Council President Ivo Daalder to discuss what happened on the Council’s weekly news rundown World Review. Watch the full episode here or check out new episodes of World Review at 10:00 am CST each Friday at thechicagocouncil.org/worldreview. 

Even as more people globally are vaccinated for COVID-19, a record-breaking number died from the pandemic this week in the United States. Physician and Partners in Health founder Paul Farmer joins Deep Dish to explain the lessons the 2014 Ebola outbreak taught him and what the world can learn from past infectious disease outbreaks to combat the current crisis.  

Iran’s president signaled he would rejoin the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) if President-Elect Biden signs on after taking office. The Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft’s Trita Parsi and the Atlantic Council’s Barbara Slavin join Deep Dish to explain why Biden must focus on improving relations between the two countries, not just renewing the agreement. Check out new Deep Dish episodes when we return on January 7, 2021. 

The United States broke records for the number of COVID-19 deaths this week – more than Pearl Harbor – and the total number of cases now hovers around 1.4 million. As vaccine rollout starts around the world, the Financial Times’ Hannah Kuchler and Johns Hopkins’ Crystal Watson join Deep Dish to explain the science and politics behind the next phase of the pandemic.

Ethiopia rests on brink of a civil war after long-term tensions between the government and former power brokers, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), exploded in November. Michelle Gavin joins Deep Dish to explain why Ethiopia’s fate will affect the stability of the region and African influence on global affairs.

As COVID-19 continues to surge around the world, CNN’s Fareed Zakaria joins Deep Dish to explain why today’s crises are the product of the international system and how the quality, not quantity, of government is part of the solution. Tune in for the next episode of Deep Dish on December 3, 2020.

President-Elect Biden faces a divided country and a deadlocked Congress when he takes office on January 20, 2021. Author Rebecca Lissner joins Deep Dish to argue that while there are domestic challenges, Biden also has a unique opportunity to reimagine the US approach to foreign policy and focus on openness, rather than dominance.

Two days after Americans voted, it’s still too close to call the 2020 election. As the world waits, American Enterprise Institute’s Kori Schake joins Council President Ivo Daalder and Deep Dish host Brian Hanson to examine how the results – whenever they arrive – will affect US foreign policy, global relationships, and national security. 

Last Sunday, an overwhelming 78 percent of Chileans voted to replace the country’s existing constitution after a year of large-scale protests driven by social movements and economic inequality. Political scientist Claudia Heiss joins Deep Dish to explain what to watch for during the two-year drafting process and examine whether wide-spread change is possible for Chile.

Democrats and Republicans are in different worlds when it comes to evaluating critical threats facing the United States and preferred foreign policy approaches, according to findings of the 2020 Chicago Council Survey. Council polling experts Dina Smeltz and Craig Kafura join Deep Dish to examine how public opinion matches up with the candidates’ perspectives and whether issues like China’s rise, global cooperation, climate change, and trade are driving voter decision making.

From Iran in 1953 to Syria in 2011, the United States has relied on regime change as a core facet of Middle East policy -- with mixed results. Author and former White House Middle East advisor and expert Philip Gordon joins Deep Dish to explain that while regime change is a tempting policy option, in the long-term it leads to high costs, unintended consequences, and the spread of instability.

This week, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with new Japanese Premier Yoshihide Suga, signaling both Japan’s importance to the United States and both sides’ fear of a rising China, analysts argue. Stanford University’s Michael Auslin and Teneo Intelligence’s Tobias Harris join Deep Dish to explain how the 2020 election could influence US foreign policy towards Japan and whether Suga has the power to successfully continue former Prime Minister Abe’s legacy.

Last weekend, fighting broke out in the contested Nagorno-Karabakh region, reigniting a frozen conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The New York Times’ Andrew Kramer and Chatham House’s Laurence Broers Join Deep Dish to examine what the conflict could mean for the region and Russia’s broader competition with Turkey for power.

With just 10 years remaining to reach the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, COVID-19 has undermined much of the existing progress toward the ambitious targets. As the UN General Assembly takes place this week, BP’s Trine Mong and McDonald’s Francesca DeBiase join Deep Dish to explain how their companies are making strides towards sustainability to support the SDGs and revolutionize their industries.

An unprecedented hunger crisis is looming as the world grapples with COVID-19, the global economic downturn, stark inequality, and fractured political relationships. But 10 years after the launch of the US government’s Feed the Future program, USAID’s Jim Barnhart joins Deep Dish to explain why there’s still hope for eradicating hunger within this generation.

This year, the murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and other Black people drove mass Black Lives Matter protests against racial injustice demanding communities defund the police. Princeton University’s Laurence Ralph and the Council on Criminal Justice’s Thomas Abt join Deep Dish to explain why police brutality is not a uniquely American phenomenon and argue the strongest examples of successful police reform come from outside the United States.

COVID-19 has exacerbated our society’s extreme inequality in access to healthcare, economic opportunity, education, and the rights that protect some but not others based on race. Economist Thomas Piketty joins Deep Dish to examine the ideas that drive persistent global inequality and the solutions he believes will produce a more equitable future.

Inspired by Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement, Thailand’s youth organized mass protests to demand reforms from the culturally revered monarchy. Political scientist Pavin Chachavalpongpun joins Deep Dish to explain how social media makes these protests different than past movements and why the United States should see Thailand as a foreign policy priority when negotiating a rising China.

Decades of political corruption and financial crisis in Lebanon came to a head in early August when an explosion decimated much of the country’s economic hub, Beirut. Carnegie Middle East Center Director Maha Yahya and the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ Emile Hokayem join Deep Dish to examine the ongoing protest movement, Hezbollah’s role in the crisis, and how a system built on sectarian politics could be rebuilt.

This week, US intelligence released a report examining the threat of foreign influence in the 2020 presidential election from China, Russia, and Iran. The Alliance for Security Democracy’s Laura Rosenberger and Stanford University’s Jacob Helberg join Deep Dish to discuss digital interference, misinformation, and data privacy within the lens of geopolitics.

August 6 marks the 75th anniversary of the first time nuclear weapons were used in combat, when the United States bombed Hiroshima and later, Nagasaki. Former Deputy Secretary of Energy Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall and Stanford University’s Scott Sagan join Deep Dish to examine nuclear weapons today and what Americans can do as arms control regimes falter, modernization programs move forward, and new technologies upend the logic we’ve relied on to deter the weapons’ use. 

This week, the Pentagon announced a plan to remove 12,000 troops from Germany, a key US ally, claiming the country was “delinquent” on defense spending. The Council on Foreign Relations’ Mira Rapp-Hooper joins Deep Dish to explain why the alliance system is still essential for America’s global leadership – but must be remade to meet the challenges of the 21st century. 

The United States and China are locked in a tense global technology rivalry with significant geopolitical and national security implications. The Council on Foreign Relations’ Adam Segal joins Deep Dish to explain the battles between China and the US over products like Huawei and TikTok, their role in US foreign policy, and why US allies are choosing sides. 

Mali’s mass political protests against President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita escalated over the last few weeks, prompting the government to clash with protestors and dissolve the constitutional court. This week on Deep Dish, the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ Judd Devermont and the Financial Times’ Neil Munshi explain why Mali’s instability is a threat to Africa’s Sahel region — soon to be the West’s largest conflict zone.

Israel’s long-time Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided not to annex the West Bank on July 1, at least for now. Former Netanyahu foreign policy advisor Jonathan Schachter and Brookings’ Tamara Cofman Wittes join Deep Dish to examine the bigger story — how Israel’s foreign policy has changed and the way the country’s relationships will shape the future.

From the controversial 2016 Muslim ban to recent efforts to dismantle DACA, immigration has been a key issue for President Trump's administration — but the legacy of punishing immigrants extends throughout US history. Lawyer and author Alina Das joins Deep Dish to share the stories that give a face to decades of legislation criminalizing immigrants and what we can do to begin to fix the system.

A July 1 presidential referendum will determine if Russia’s President Putin can remain in power until 2036. Investigative reporter Catherine Belton joins Deep Dish to examine the people that surround Russia’s enigmatic leader – and the financial ties to the West that makes the Kremlin’s dominance possible. 

Brazil is poised to overtake the United States for most total COVID-19 infections and deaths globally — but far-right President Jair Bolsonaro is preoccupied with politics and discredits the pandemic’s risk and response. The Igarapé Institute’s Ilona Szabó and the Financial Times' Andres Schipani join Deep Dish to examine the implications of social, political, and economic turmoil in South America’s largest economy. 

The murder of George Floyd and the US government’s reaction to national protests on racial injustice have raised concern over the demise of US global leadership. University of Wisconsin-Madison historian Brenda Gayle Plummer joins Deep Dish to examine what the United States must learn from our past in order to fix our foreign policy. 

Ahead of the 31st anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre, China’s plan to implement a restrictive new national security law in Hong Kong prompted the United States to end decades of a special relationship with the city. Jamil Anderlini, the Financial Times’ Asia editor, and Ambassador Kurt Tong, former US Consul General in Hong Kong, join Deep Dish to examine what this means for the US-China rivalry.

This week President Trump announced he wants all US troops out of Afghanistan by election day. But is that possible? And what does it mean? In this episode from October 2019, the University of Chicago's Robert Pape joins Deep Dish to help us understand the right—and wrong—ways to end the United States’ longest war.

While the world is distracted by COVID-19, China has been ramping up its military actions in hotly contested waters – the South China Sea. The Center for Strategic and International Studies’ Bonnie Glaser and Lieutenant Commander Matthew Dalton, US Navy, join Deep Dish to examine China’s strategy and potential US policy options to ensure freedom of navigation remains intact.

Venezuelans face a global pandemic, a stalled economy, crippling oil shortages, and a potential famine. After a failed coup attempt, will President Maduro hold on to his power? The Inter-American Dialogue’s Michael Camilleri and the International Crisis Group’s Ivan Briscoe join Deep Dish to discuss.

Germany’s effective, science-driven response to COVID-19 is a model for countries around the world. But as life returns to normal for many Germans this week, Chancellor Merkel says the country is still on the “thinnest of ice” in addressing the pandemic. The Wall Street Journal’s Bojan Pancevski joins Deep Dish from Berlin to examine Germany’s reopening strategy.

Tensions between the United States and Iran continue to simmer amid the coronavirus pandemic. Iran is blaming US sanctions for its lack of medical supplies and recently harassed US warships in the Gulf, while the United States is threatening to increase economic pressure with additional sanctions. Brookings’ Suzanne Maloney and the German Marshall Fund’s Ariane Tabatabai join Deep Dish to examine internal politics and the future of the US-Iran standoff.

As New Zealand prepares to emerge from a national lockdown on April 27, Axios’ Rebecca Falconer joins Deep Dish from Auckland to explain the aggressive and effective national eradication strategy and how the government’s actions might influence the general election in September. 

Drawing from today’s global crises and the patterns of American history, geopolitical forecaster George Friedman predicts the 2020s will be a decade of storm and strain for the United States, followed by a period of prosperity. He joins Deep Dish to examine the institutional and socioeconomic cycles of upheaval that have rebuilt and reinvented American life in the past and explains why he’s still optimistic about the future.

In another special edition episode, we’re taking you inside the global COVID-19 pandemic response by talking to Nikkei’s Kiyoshi Ando, reporting from Tokyo. He joins Deep Dish a few days after the start of a national state of emergency to explain why Japan appeared to be a miracle success story but is currently seeing a spike in infections — complicated by an impending national travel holiday and a lack of protective medical equipment.

Over the weekend, OPEC+ finalized the biggest oil supply deal in history — drastically cutting production with the hopes of stabilizing plummeting prices as a result of COVID-19 shutdowns. Charlotte Howard, the Economist’s New York bureau chief and energy and commodities editor, joins Deep Dish to explain the economic and political implications of the agreement and how it could affect the future of oil in the United States and beyond.

Through a series of special edition episodes, we’re taking you inside the global COVID-19 pandemic response by talking to journalists on the ground. The New York Times’ Steven Erlanger, reporting from Brussels, joins Deep Dish to examine how European nations are learning from the devastation in Italy and Spain — and what the pandemic might mean for European solidarity in the long-term.

While Europe has been struggling to contain COVID-19, Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has used his country’s emergency response to reduce checks on his power and make himself a de facto dictator. Princeton University’s Kim Scheppele joins Deep Dish to explain why the failure of one democracy should matter to every democracy and examine whether Hungary could have ripple effects on other political systems in Europe and beyond.

Stock markets have plunged, economic output is falling, businesses are closed with some facing bankruptcy, and unemployment is soaring as a result of COVID-19. In a new episode of Deep Dish, former Bank of London governor Lord Mervyn King draws from lessons he learned during the 2008 financial crisis to discuss how to manage the current economic uncertainty. 

Through a series of special edition Deep Dish episodes, we’re taking you inside the global COVID-19 pandemic response by talking to journalists on the ground. We begin in South Korea, which ranked among the top ten countries for total cases at the time of recording. The Wall Street Journal’s Dasl Yoon, reporting from Seoul, joins us to explain what other countries can learn from South Korea’s innovative approaches to successfully flatten the curve of new infections – without shutting down the economy.

Countries across the globe are rushing to contain COVID-19 and “flatten the curve” – with mixed results. After months of shutdowns China is slowly reopening; India has initiated a national lockdown; leaders in Brazil and Mexico have dismissed the danger; and Italy and Spain report high death totals and lack medical supplies. POLITICO’s Ryan Heath joins Deep Dish to explain the lessons the United States can learn from countries that are further ahead in the infection timeline. 

While the political importance of the American Midwest in 2020 is clear, the region of 70 million people is all too often written off as an economic has-been and a cultural backwater. Shayndi Raice of the Wall Street Journal and John Austin of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs join Deep Dish to tell a different story, one of bright spots as well as blights in this region encompassing all or part of 12 US states.

Yemen's years-long war pits Iran-backed Houthis against a coalition of Saudi-led forces seeking to restore Yemen's internationally recognized government. The war has created not only a dire humanitarian crisis but also an opening for terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda. International Crisis Group's Daniel Schneiderman, who was NSC director for Yemen under presidents Obama and Trump, joins Deep Dish to explain the US role in the conflict.

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Levant Affairs and Special Envoy for Syria Joel Rayburn joins Deep Dish to explain the Trump administration's plan in war-torn Syria, discussing everything from ISIS and the Assad regime to Russian and Iranian influence.

"The United States needs allies more than it ever has," says Mira Rapp-Hooper, senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and author of the forthcoming book Shields of the Republic. On the latest Deep Dish, Rapp-Hooper joins Council President Ivo Daalder for a discussion about the state of US alliances at a moment when new concerns are flaring up from the Philippines and East Asia to Europe.

This week, soldiers with automatic weapons occupied El Salvador’s legislature, demanding more funds to fight rampant criminal gangs. For years, violence and crime have led to poor living conditions in the country and mass emigration. Rosa Anaya, a Gus Hart Visiting Fellow at the Council, joins Deep Dish to discuss her groundbreaking work rehabilitating inmates and gang members in El Salvador with Catholic Relief Services’ Second Chances.

First developed by the United Nations, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are an ambitious effort for countries to address the world's biggest problems. Yet much of the remarkable work happening now is at the sub-national level, by cities, local governments, and the private sector. Anthony F. Pipa of the Brookings Institution and Catherine P. Sheehy, global lead for sustainability partnerships at UL, join Deep Dish to discuss the way forward.

America spends more on its military than the next 10 countries combined, and the Department of Defense oversees some 1.3 million military personnel. But is it all necessary? Joining Deep Dish to discuss his provocative new book Close the Pentagon, Charles Kenny argues that not only can the United States cut its defense budget, but it can also better secure the nation by eventually shuttering the Pentagon and channeling some of the savings to development, diplomacy, and aid.

Demonstrators have taken to the streets from Hong Kong to Lebanon, with many calling for democratic reforms. Yet policymakers in the United States are split on whether or not to support pro-democracy movements abroad. Rochelle Terman and Paul Poast of the University of Chicago join Deep Dish to debate the two competing options, which they call “America first” and “Spider-Man.”

Chancellor Sebastian Kurz of Austria, the young head of a conservative party deeply opposed to immigration, has just formed a coalition government with Austria’s Green party. Having adopted a platform that is anti-immigration, pro-business, and pro-environment, the odd pairing of these parties holds important and timely lessons for the larger realignment of left-right politics taking place across Europe, not least in Europe’s biggest economy, Germany. Sam Jones of the Financial Times joins Deep Dish to discuss.

Earlier this week, in retaliation for the killing of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani, Iran fired a dozen missiles on two bases in Iraq housing US troops. After, President Trump said Iran "appears to be standing down." But Kelly Magsamen, NSC director for Iran under US presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama and now at the Center for American Progress, explains on Deep Dish that the repercussions of killing Soleimani will be felt for days, months, and even years to come.

Following the killing of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani last week, Iraq's parliament voted to ask the prime minister to oust US forces from the country. It comes after violent protests in Iraq against both the Iraqi government and the US embassy in Baghdad. Emma Sky, a former political adviser to the commanding general of US forces in Iraq and now at Yale University, joins Deep Dish to explain why US-Iraq relations have deteriorated so abruptly and what it means for Iran and ISIS.

As we’ve seen in places like Syria and Iraq, today’s armed conflict is civilian-focused, driven by non-state actors, and increasingly urban. Do traditional international norms like the Geneva Conventions still matter? Peter Maurer, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, joins Deep Dish to examine why changes in the nature of war have complicated the way international law governs humanitarian crises and urban conflict.

Ever since the Kremlin's invasion of Ukraine in 2014 and its meddling in US elections in 2016, relations between Moscow and Washington have gone from bad to worse. But should the United States actively work to improve relations? Or is dealing with Putin a lost cause? Molly Montgomery, a former US foreign service officer and special advisor to Vice President Mike Pence, and William Ruger, vice president for research and policy at the Charles Koch Institute, join Deep Dish to discuss.

There's no sign of a big deal soon in the US-China trade war, the US Congress has not yet passed the USMCA, and the World Trade Organization’s appeals panel is in peril. But the US jobs market is booming, with 266,000 jobs added in November. The University of Chicago’s Austan Goolsbee, former chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers under President Obama, and The Economist’s Soumaya Keynes join Deep Dish to discuss whether it's a moment for optimism or concern about the US economy.

A centerpiece of US strategy during the Trump administration has been the idea of the "Indo-Pacific," a massive single region stretching across both the Pacific and Indian Oceans. One of the goals in this strategy is to link up India with US allies in East Asia as a counterbalance to a rising China. But how does New Delhi see the situation? Sushant Singh, deputy editor of the Indian Express newspaper, joins the University of Chicago's Paul Staniland and the Council's Brian Hanson to discuss.

While Ukraine dominates US news this week due to the impeachment proceedings, Ukrainian President Zelensky and Russian President Putin are preparing for an upcoming meeting to find a peaceful resolution to the five-year conflict in eastern Ukraine. Melinda Haring of the Atlantic Council and Joanna Rohozinska of the National Endowment for Democracy join Deep Dish to discuss the latest in Europe.

This week, a case was filed in the International Court of Justice accusing Myanmar of having committed genocide against its Rohingya Muslim minority. It is a far cry from where the country also known as Burma seemed to be a few years ago, when the long-ruling military junta opened the door for democratic elections. Historian Thant Myint-U, author of the new book The Hidden History of Burma, joins Deep Dish to discuss Burma’s recent struggles with race, capitalism, and democracy, as well as the consequences for Southeast Asia.

Facebook, Google, Amazon, and Apple are massive companies, commanding so much of the market that they are now being called monopolies. Rana Foroohar, global business columnist for the Financial Times and author of the new book Don't Be Evil: How Big Tech Betrayed Its Founding Principles—and All of Us, joins Deep Dish to discuss how these data-fueled tech behemoths are disrupting the US economy and American politics.

The breakdown of fledgling democracies in Iraq, Libya, and Afghanistan, the return of authoritarian leaders, and the resurgence of protesters in the streets all suggest that democracy promotion is a failed project. But the United States still has an essential role to play in promoting democratic institutions abroad, argue Ambassador Derek Mitchell and Daniel Twining. The presidents of the National Democratic Institute and the International Republican Institute join Deep Dish to explain why.

The US Congress has not approved a use of force since 2002, when it voted to invade Iraq. "Too many members of Congress are all too happy to abdicate their constitutional responsibility and allow the president to go it alone," explains Oona Hathaway, professor of International Law at Yale Law School. Hathaway joins Deep Dish to lay out a step-by-step plan for Congress to revive its war powers.

The 2019 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed for his role in ending a 20-year military stalemate between Ethiopia and Eritrea. In fact, the historic rapprochement is just one element of the young leader’s ambitious, fast-moving reforms. Boston University’s Michael Woldemariam and the Council’s Ertharin Cousin join Deep Dish to discuss the strides so far and the steps ahead.

More than 1,200 days have passed since Britain's referendum to leave the European Union, but little has been decided in that time about how Brexit will actually take place. As the Oct. 31 deadline nears and Boris Johnson's government tries to negotiate a deal at the wire, the editor-in-chief of The Economist joins Deep Dish to explain how the United Kingdom fell into this predicament and what to expect next.

Monday, October 7, marks 18 years since the launch of Operation Enduring Freedom. Since 2001, more than 2,400 US military personnel have died in Afghanistan, yet the Taliban and other insurgents continue to launch attacks, hold terrain, and decimate the US-backed Afghan security forces. Robert A. Pape, professor of political science and the director of the Chicago Project on Security and Threats at the University of Chicago, joins Deep Dish to discuss another way forward for America’s longest war.

On October 1, the Chinese Communist Party marks 70 years in power. Much has changed since the founding of the People's Republic of China, but the legacy of its founder, the revolutionary Mao Zedong, still looms large today over Xi Jinping’s leadership and Beijing’s foreign policy. Julia Lovell, author of Maoism: A Global History, joins Deep Dish to discuss.

National security, alliances, immigration, and trade wars have already surfaced in debates and speeches by 2020 US presidential candidates. But how do the candidates’ ideas match those of Americans overall? James M. Lindsay of the Council on Foreign Relations joins the Council’s Dina Smeltz to discuss the findings of the newly released 2019 Chicago Council Survey on how Americans view US foreign policy.

Australia has long been a strong ally of the United States, but new challenges and opportunities, including the rise of China, confront the alliance in the 21st century. Ahead of Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s visit to the United States and state dinner with President Donald Trump, Dr. Michael Fullilove, executive director of the Lowy Institute in Sydney, joins Deep Dish to delve into this important but often-overlooked relationship.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel will annex part of the Jordan Valley if he stays in power after elections next week. The decision comes as tensions with Hezbollah in Lebanon and with Iran-backed militias in Syria flare up. The Jerusalem Post's Middle East affairs analyst Seth Frantzman and the Council's Cécile Shea join Deep Dish to discuss.

Flames raging across the Amazon have captured the world’s attention, but Brazil faces other pressing economic, political, and conservation consequences due to deforestation as well. In all, the fires have revealed a stark division between increasingly urban populations and the rural areas that feed their modern way of life. Robert Muggah of the Igarapé Institute in Rio de Janeiro joins Deep Dish to discuss.

On September 1, two important state elections are being held in Germany’s Brandenburg and Saxony. The far-right-wing party Alternative for Germany (AfD) looks poised to win. On Deep Dish, Sheri Berman of Barnard College explains why the AfD has emerged as a formidable populist challenger to the two long-dominant parties in Germany, the social democrats and the Christian democrats.

Indonesia's massive, overcrowded capital is sinking due to climate change and depleted ground water. Now President Joko Widodo wants to move the capital and build an entirely new city. The decision comes just as Jokowi, as he is known, begins his second presidential term—and it's not the only challenge he faces. Tom Pepinsky of Cornell University and the Brookings Institution joins Deep Dish to discuss.

Last week, Narendra Modi’s government revoked the constitutional provision that had long granted special autonomy to India-administered Kashmir. Bloomberg’s Nisid Hajari, author of Midnight's Furies, and Paul Staniland of the University of Chicago join Deep Dish to discuss how the decision has once again torn open tensions between India and Pakistan—and what it means for the United States.

Last week, Tokyo decided to downgrade its trade relationship with Seoul following weeks of protests, boycotts, and sparing. While bad blood between the two US allies goes back decades, its reemergence today raises new questions about stability and security in the region—and all while US relations with China and North Korea worsen. Alexis Dudden of the University of Connecticut and the Council’s Karl Friedhoff join Deep Dish to discuss.

Tunisia is the only democracy to emerge from the Arab Spring. Yet the death of its first democratically elected president last week has raised new questions about its future. The outcome matters not just to Tunisians, but also as a test case for democracy across North Africa and the Arab world. Sarah Yerkes of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and Gordon Gray, the US ambassador to Tunisia from 2009 to 2012, join Deep Dish to discuss.

With the return of national populism to global politics, multilateral organizations such as the United Nations have come under renewed scrutiny. Yet the UN is much more than just colorful speeches from leaders each September in New York and vetoed resolutions in the Security Council. The Council’s Catherine Bertini, a former executive director of the UN World Food Programme, and the Council’s global governance fellow, Thomas Weiss, join Deep Dish to discuss the future of the UN and why the United States should lead its renewal.

US sanctions on Iran are shifting the strategic calculus for Tehran to retaliate, creating a situation reminiscent of the sequence in 1941 that led Imperial Japan to attack the US naval base in Hawaii, argues Robert Pape of the University of Chicago. Ellen Laipson of George Mason University, too, warns about the White House neglecting the risks of economic coercion when it fails. Both join this week's Deep Dish to discuss what is at stake with Iran. 

More than a million people have demonstrated in Hong Kong over the last month, rallying against a proposed bill that would have allowed for the extradition of criminal suspects to mainland China. Yet even now that the bill has been suspended, the protests show no sign of abating. Director of the Southeast Asia Project at the Lowy Institute Ben Bland joins Deep Dish to explain what is happening.

In a recent 90-minute interview with the Financial Times, President Vladimir Putin detailed his thoughts not only about Russia, but also about the United States, China, Europe, and the Middle East. Financial Times editor Lionel Barber, who conducted the interview, joins Council President Ivo Daalder and Deep Dish host Brian Hanson to discuss what the Russian president revealed about his worldview.

Sudan is careening towards a crisis. President Omar al-Bashir was ousted in April after three decades in power, yet heavily armed groups are now fighting in Sudan for control. At the same time, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt, and the United States are each vying for influence. Andrew Natsios, director of the Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs at the Bush School at Texas A&M University and US envoy to Sudan during the George W. Bush administration, joins Deep Dish to explain what is going on and why it matters.

For each bold move abroad, from the Belt and Road Initiative to island building, China seems confronted with new vulnerabilities at home, including the ongoing protests in Hong Kong. Jessica Chen Weiss, author of an intriguing new essay in Foreign Affairs, and Ali Wyne of the Rand Corporation join Deep Dish to discuss what is intrinsic and what is incidental to Beijing’s ambitions.

This week President Donald Trump touted a new agreement with Mexico to stem the flow of migrants into the United States. But Mexican officials claimed both sides were still evaluating the situation. Earl Anthony Wayne, a former US ambassador to Mexico, joins Deep Dish to discuss what can realistically be done about migrant flows.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is facing "the most severe crisis in the security environment in Europe since the end of the Cold War and perhaps ever," warn Douglas Lute and Nicholas Burns. The two former US ambassadors to NATO recently joined Deep Dish to explain why. 

As cities grow in size and power, local governments are increasingly shaping their own diplomatic agendas independent from national governments. New York City's Commissioner for International Affairs Penny Abeywardena and Montréal's Director of International Relations Henri-Paul Normandin join Deep Dish to discuss the rise of city diplomacy.

The Trump administration raised tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum last year in the name of national security. Last week, President Trump ended the tariffs as a new trade agreement, the USMCA, moves forward. Bruce Heyman, a former US ambassador to Canada, and the Council’s Phil Levy join Deep Dish to discuss what happened and where the relationship goes now.

The White House escalated warnings about a threat from Iran this week, Tehran warned it may resume enriching uranium at higher levels, and more US warships were sent to the Middle East. Michael Singh of the Washington Institute and Ariane Tabatabai of the RAND Corporation join Deep Dish to explain what's going on.

The spread of internet-connected smartphones in India is upending everything from jobs and marriage to politics and education. In 2000, only 20 million Indians had internet access. By 2020, more than 700 million will. Ravi Agrawal, author of India Connected, joins Deep Dish to explain how the smartphone is transforming the world's largest democracy.

Washington Post contributing editor and Council expert Daniel Drezner joins Deep Dish to discuss how trade disputes could spark World War III and why US grand strategy is more or less dead. His views on both could pretty accurately be described as "apocalyptic."

Artificial Intelligence is changing what it means to be human. From jobs and the economy to security and geopolitics, AI is rewriting human society in big ways that we are only just beginning to understand. Data scientist JT Kostman joins this week's Deep Dish podcast to explain.

Warming ties between Baghdad and Iran and souring ties between Washington and both raise the question: Did Iran come out as the real winner of the Iraq war? Ryan Crocker, who served as the US ambassador to Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Syria, Kuwait and Lebanon, joins Deep Dish to discuss. 

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s long-dominant political party lost elections in Ankara and Istanbul last week. At the same time, a dispute between Washington and Ankara over Turkey buying a Russian missile system has hurt ties between the NATO allies. Steven A. Cook of the Council on Foreign Relations and Mustafa Akyol of the Cato Institute join Deep Dish to explain.

President Trump has signed an executive order to formally recognize Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights. Ambassador Dennis Ross, who led the Israeli-Palestinian peace process for 12 years and served in senior political positions under Presidents Carter, Reagan, H.W. Bush, Clinton, and Obama, joined this week's Deep Dish podcast to explain what this means.

The world is in for a shock. Global population is expected to peak and then decline this century, reshaping everything from economic growth and immigration to government spending. Darrell Bricker and John Ibbitson, authors of the provocative new book Empty Planet: The Shock of Global Population Decline, join the Council's Brian Hanson and Dina Smeltz to discuss why it's happening and how nations can prepare for this radical shift.

Comic actor Volodymyr Zelensky, who has no political experience but has played the Ukrainian president on TV, is leading in the polls ahead of Ukraine’s presidential election on March 31. Last weekend marked five years since Russia annexed Crimea, and fighting in eastern Ukraine, which has killed thousands, continues. Steven Pifer, former US ambassador to Ukraine, joins Deep Dish to explain what's going on.

In recent months, Somalia has seen a surge of airstrikes by the US military as part of an intensifying campaign against al Shabaab, an extremist group affiliated with al Qaeda. Bronwyn Bruton of the Atlantic Council and Paul D. Williams of George Washington University join Deep Dish this week to explain what the United States is doing in Somalia and why al Shabaab is a target.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces corruption charges ahead of Israel's election and the subsequent rollout of President Trump's Mideast peace plan. Douglas J. Feith, former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy in the George W. Bush administration, and Aaron David Miller, a twenty-year analyst, negotiator, and adviser on Middle Eastern issues at the Department of State, join Deep Dish this week to discuss the future of US-Israel relations.

Bad blood between India and Pakistan goes back decades, but tensions have escalated in recent days after a suicide bomber from a Pakistan-based militant group killed Indian paramilitary troops in Kashmir. Former US Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter and Tanvi Madan of the Brookings Institution explain what you need to know about the ongoing crisis between two nuclear powers on this week's Deep Dish podcast.

The 91st Academy Awards take place on Sunday in Los Angeles, but international markets, led by China, have eclipsed the domestic market in importance for the US movie industry, rewriting the rules about what kinds of films get made. On this week’s Deep Dish podcast, Lynda Obst, producer of Sleepless in Seattle, Contact, Interstellar, and How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, and Orville Schell of the Asia Society join Brian Hanson to discuss how China is changing the US box office.

For thirteen straight weeks, demonstrators in high-visibility vests have taken to the streets in Paris and in cities around France. Government buildings have been attacked, shops looted, and cars set ablaze. On this week's Deep Dish podcast, Sophie Pedder of The Economist and Benjamin Haddad of the Atlantic Council explain what the political demonstrations mean for French President Emmanuel Macron, for France, and for Europe.

The chief of naval operations recently visited the Council and spoke with Deep Dish host Brain Hanson about China's growing global ambitions and Russia's troublesome actions in the Mediterranean and North Atlantic. Richardson also explained what the US Navy needs now to retain its supremacy in the years ahead.

Venezuela has two claimants to power: Juan Guaidó and Nicolás Maduro. Western countries back Guaidó, Putin and China favor Maduro, and the people of Venezuela are looking for a way out of their country's rolling economic disaster. Latin America expert Peter Schechter and veteran diplomate Cécile Shea join this week’s Deep Dish to discuss.

China announced its economic growth had slowed to its lowest annual rate since 1990. At the same time, Beijing and Washington remain locked in a trade war that shows no sign of resolution. Global economics expert Phil Levy joins this week's Deep Dish podcast to explain what's going on, and how lessons from the US shutdown might help explain what will happen next.

As the Trump administration prepares to withdraw from Syria, former US ambassador to Syria Robert Ford and Tamara Cofman Wittes, former deputy assistant secretary of state for near East Affairs, join this week's Deep Dish podcast to dissect the withdrawal's implications for US-Syria policy. 

A president's ability to enact their vision is not absolute. It is constrained by international laws and by the willingness of allies and partners to go along with what the White House wants. On this week's Deep Dish, Harold Hongju Koh, former Legal Adviser at the US State Department, joins Council President Ivo Daalder and Brian Hanson to discuss Koh's new book The Trump Administration and International Law.

The massive Marriott records breach was the latest in a series of economic espionage cases attributed to China. Top cybersecurity experts Lesley Carhart and Adam Segal join this week's Deep Dish podcast to discuss the evolving tactical and policy challenges involved in managing international cyber space.

The war in Yemen has created one of the greatest unseen humanitarian tragedies in the world. It finally drew public attention after the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, which triggered a debate about US involvement in the war. As peace talks begin in Sweden, Yemen expert Gregory Johnsen joins this week's Deep Dish podcast. 

Russia and Ukraine have been locked in a "frozen conflict," but Russia recently seized three Ukrainian naval vessels near the Kerch Strait to the Black Sea. In this week's Deep Dish podcast, US Navy Commander Tony Chavez joins Council President Ivo Daalder, former US ambassador to NATO, to discuss the geopolitical importance of this maritime dispute.

Sitting Conservative Member of Parliament Rory Stewart joined this week's Deep Dish podcast, along with Sebastian Mallaby of the Washington Post and guest host Phil Levy, to weigh the pros and cons of voting for Theresa May's Brexit deal. Now that EU leaders have accepted the deal, it's up to Parliament to decide what happens next.

US foreign policy since the end of the Cold War has been a resounding failure, argues Stephen M. Walt in his new book “The Hell of Good Intentions.” What’s worse, the failure is our fault, a direct result of America’s chosen grand strategy of liberal hegemony, he says. But Walt has an alternative, as he explains in this week’s Deep Dish podcast.

For the first time ever, the European Union rejected a proposed budget from a member state: Italy. A deadlock has ensued, threatening a "doom loop" that could consume Italy's economy, the eurozone, and perhaps even the global economy. Former International Monetary Fund official Isabelle Mateos y Lago and Adam Tooze, economic historian and author of Crashed: How a Decade of Financial Crises Changed the World, join Brian Hanson to discuss this issue.

Council President Ivo Daalder and James M. Lindsay, senior vice president at the Council on Foreign Relations, discuss their new book "The Empty Throne: America's Abdication of Global Leadership"—a revealing look at President Trump’s foreign policy and its implications for the rules-based international order. 

Jair Bolsonaro won Brazil's presidency with a far-right populism that drew comparisons to President Donald Trump. But Brazil and Latin America don't fit neatly into the Western populism narrative, says Peter Schechter, host of the Altamar podcast and 20-year veteran of Latin American politics.

Two big shocks are hitting the Chinese economy at once. The first shock is within China—slowing growth, increasing debt, an aging population, and an underdeveloped consumer base. The second shock is with the United States as tensions rise and a trade war looms. Angela Lee, professor of Marketing at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management, Paul Schickler, a former president of DuPont Pioneer, and Vivian Lin Thurston, a partner and global research analyst with William Blair, discuss the changing Chinese economy with the Council's Phil Levy.

Within hours of President Trump's announcement that the United States would withdraw from the Iranian nuclear deal, Iran's foreign minister was on a plane, first to China and then to Russia. This often overlooked but important geopolitical trio, Iran, Russia, and China, is the subject of a new book by Dina Esfandiary and Ariane Tabatabai.

Two distinguished public opinion surveys reveal how American foreign policy is perceived at home and abroad. Pew’s director of global attitudes research Richard Wike joins Dina Smeltz, lead author of the Chicago Council Survey on US public opinion on foreign policy, to discuss their findings.

Sheila Bair was front and center for the 2008 fiscal crises as George Bush’s appointee to the FDIC. Notably, she was also among the small number of officials who voiced concerns about the dangers of subprime mortgages before the meltdown. On this episode of Deep Dish, we ask her what we’ve learned about the global crisis and how vulnerable we are today.

Of the 50 most violent cities in the world, 47 are in the Americas. This week's Deep Dish features World Bank citizen security expert Flavia Carbonari, Mario Maciel from San Jose's Gang Prevention Task Force; and Medellín's Chief Resilience Officer Santiago Uribe discussing how cities can combat urban violence. 

Hurricane Florence and Typhoon Mangkhut have inflicted widespread damage to property, food production, and human life. As extreme weather increasingly uproots communities and economies, leading experts Simon Dalby and Joshua Busby join this week's Deep Dish podcast to predict how today’s climate change will affect tomorrow’s foreign policy.

The Trump administration is furious that the International Criminal Court is considering an investigation into US military action in Afghanistan. In a major speech this week, National Security Advisor John Bolton threatened the court with sanctions. One of the court’s founder’s, Ambassador David Scheffer, joins Deep Dish this week to react.

Yale Historian Tim Snyder says “if it can happen in Poland, it can happen anywhere.” Find out how this Eastern European poster child for democracy backslid into autocracy, and what lessons it holds for the rest of the West.

President Trump announced a new trade deal with Mexico to replace NAFTA, and called on Canada to join the deal or risk being left out. On this week's Deep Dish, Mexico expert Duncan Wood, Canada expert Laura Dawson, and US trade economist Phil Levy analyze the new deal and lay out what could happen next. 

The Turkish Lira has been plunging in value, causing investor concern about a greater financial contagion. This comes amid heightened tensions between the United States and Turkey on a range of domestic and geopolitical issues. Turkey experts Steven Cook and Henri Barkey join economist Phil Levy on this week’s Deep Dish podcast to examine the causes and consequences of this emerging market crisis.

Ambassador James Dobbins established the US embassy in Kabul 17 years ago, at the beginning of the War in Afghanistan. Since then, the United States and its NATO allies have been at constant war. On this episode of Deep Dish, Ambassador James Dobbins and US NATO Ambassador Douglas Lute discuss whether and how an endgame might take shape in America's longest war.

The results of Zimbabwe's first election in decades will signal how the country proceeds economically and politically during its transition to a post-Mugabe era. Experts Alex Vines and Rachel Riedl join Deep Dish this week to explain the election's importance for the country and region. 

From the South China Sea to the DMZ, there are tensions in the world that could lead to deadly war. But two renowned political theorists believe they have the keys to conflict prevention. Paul Stares and Bruce Jentleson join this week’s Deep Dish podcast to discuss how preventative engagement can help keep global peace.

Russian election interference changed the cyber playing field. While United States intelligence knows what happened before, is it ready to stop it from happening again? Cybersecurity experts Adam Segal and David Sanger join this week’s Deep Dish podcast to discuss the latest in US cyber policy.

With the NATO summit underway in Brussels, former US Ambassador to NATO Ivo Daalder joined this week's Deep Dish podcast to discuss President Trump's relationship with the alliance and his upcoming summit with Russian Vladimir Putin.

The United States has gone from threats to action on a number of trade fronts. China and Europe are both retaliating, while NAFTA negotiations continue to slog on. To help see the big picture, global economy fellow Phil Levy joins Brian Hanson on this week's Deep Dish.

Mexico heads to the polls on Sunday, and Andrés Manuel López Obrador is largely expected to claim presidential victory. NPR’s International Correspondent in Mexico City, Carrie Kahn, explains how this election is Mexico’s anti-establishment statement and why President Trump may not be relevant to the campaign.

Until Wednesday, family separations were part of the Trump administration's "zero tolerance" response to illegal immigration. The Bipartisan Policy Center's Theresa Brown breaks down how we got there, why migrants risk so much to enter the United States, and what else can be done to deal with migrant flows. 

Following their historic meeting on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un called for "complete denuclearization" of the Korean Peninsula. But they offered few specifics. To break down what happened, how we got here, and what all this means, Asia experts Katrin Katz and Karl Friedhoff join Brian Hanson on this week’s Deep Dish podcast.

Fake news, cyber-attacks, election tampering, and expanding its territory are some of the ways Russia continues to antagonize the West. Former president of the Brookings Institution, diplomat, and journalist Strobe Talbott joins this week's Deep Dish podcast to share his view of Russia based on extensive personal experience.

Spain's Congress will hold a vote of no-confidence at the end of this week. If it is successful it will bring down the government of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy. What are the implications of this vote on the state of Spain's domestic politics today? How does Spain view its role in NATO and other transatlantic agreements? Spanish Ambassador to the United States, Pedro Morenés, joins Brian Hanson to discuss.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro handily won reelection, but the international community rejected his election as a sham, and the United States responded with new sanctions. To explain what happened and what's next, Francisco Rodriguez, a Venezuelan economist and a policy advisor to leading opposition candidate Henri Falcón, joins this week’s Deep Dish with Brian Hanson.

After weeks of popular protest, Armenia's Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan was replaced by opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan. Former Foreign Minister of Armenia and Member of Parliament, Vartan Oskanian, along with Salpi Ghazarian, director of the University of Southern California’s Institute of Armenian Studies, joined Deep Dish to give their eyewitness accounts of the "Velvet Revolution" and explain how it all happened. 

President Trump's "Maximum pressure" campaign could be working, or Kim Jong-un's playbook could be running the show. After an historic South-North summit, The Wall Street Journal's bureau chief in Seoul, South Korea, Jonathan Cheng, joins the Council's Karl Friedhoff to examine the drivers and developments leading up to President Trump's meeting with Kim Jong-un. 

Iran’s leaders may fear regime collapse enough to consider renegotiating the nuclear deal, but President Trump could walk away anyway. Expert Iran watchers Saeid Golkar and Ilan Goldenberg explore the ramifications of ending the Iran deal on this week’s Deep Dish.

While China bolsters its military strength in the South China Sea, the US Navy is expanding its capability to enforce maritime norms across the region. "The US Navy will not be deterred," says Vice Admiral Andrew Lewis, as he dives into the Navy's latest steps to challenge its near-peer rivals.

The United States, United Kingdom, and France launched coordinated air strikes against Syria’s military on Saturday. To analyze the fallout, Council President Ivo Daalder and Greg Jaffe, national security reporter from The Washington Post, join this week’s Deep Dish podcast.

National Security Council alums from both sides of the aisle sit down to look at what responsibilities and challenges President Trump's new National Security Advisor will face on the job. A National Security Adviser trying to implement the President's agenda might be tempted to run around any bureaucracy slowing down the President's impulses. With no congressional or public oversight, John Bolton may soon find himself taking national policy into his own hands. Former National Security Council members Ivo Daalder and Kori Schake join Brian Hanson to discuss the future of the NSC under John Bolton. 

What can the president do in trade wars, and what restraints exist? This episode originally aired in 2017 but has become newly relevant as China and the US go tit for tat in opening trade skirmishes. Listen again to learn what powers the president has in true trade wars. Featuring Phil Levy and Gary Clyde Hufbauer.

Deep Dish often takes a strategic or policy-oriented view toward conflicts around the world. In this episode, we pause to consider the real human lives impacted by the headlines we read. Becky Carroll, who is in direct contact with people on the ground in Eastern Ghouta, co-founded the #StandWithAleppo social media campaign in 2016 and serves on the Ambassador Board for MedGlobal. Dr. Wendy Pearlman, whose new book, "We Crossed a Bridge and it Trembled: Voices from Syria," reports first-hand testimonials of those affected by political violence in Syria. Dr. Pearlman is a political science professor at Northwestern University. 

Social media, the internet of things, and the dark web are the latest battlegrounds in a new era of asymmetrical warfare. Premier cyberterrorism expert Gabriel Weimann joins Deep Dish to discuss how terrorists and bad actors use cyber networks to recruit members, spread propaganda, and cause physical harm. 

Ambassador Barbara Stephenson, president of the American Foreign Service Association, joins Deep Dish to give voice to the members of the US Foreign Service. She talks State Department cuts, political appointees, military partners, and how members of the US Foreign Service cope with the challenge of forming and implementing US foreign policy.

President Donald Trump has accepted North Korea's invitation for direct talks with Kim Jong-un. North Korea expert Karl Friedhoff and national security expert Commander Thomas Bodine discuss what brought us here, what China, North Korea, South Korea, and the United States want out of these talks, and what to watch for next. 

After five months of uncertainty, Germany has formed a new government. Meanwhile in Italy, right-wing populists triumphed electorally but left no clear path toward a governing coalition. Italian expert Nathalie Tocci and German expert Constanze Stelzenmüller analyze the results and what it could mean for stability in Europe.

Stav Shaffir, the youngest-ever woman elected to Israel's parliament, joins Deep Dish to discuss corruption charges against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as her own Labor party's failure to pull ahead in polling, despite what she says is a broad base of support for its progressive agenda. 

Each year, international security and defense chiefs meet at the Munich Security Conference for intense debate about global security challenges. The Washington Post's Josh Rogin and Julie Smith from Foreign Policy and the Center for a New American Security help us understand what happened, and, more importantly, what didn't happen at this year's premier security summit.

NATO Ambassador Ivo Daalder and POLITICO's Susan Glasser react to the Pentagon's new nuclear posture review, the rumored "bloody nose" strategy for deterring North Korea, mismatches between the State Department and the White House, Russia's upcoming election, and the destabilization of US institutions. 

The United States faces a new era of great power conflict, according to the Trump administration's new National Security Strategy and National Defense Strategy. Naval Commander Thomas Bodine joins this week's podcast to help make sense of the strategic shift away from terrorism and toward peer on peer state competition. 

The World Economic Forum's annual meeting of economic and political elites opened Tuesday in Davos, Switzerland. As the vanguard of globalization met, senior economist Phil Levy joined this week's Deep Dish podcast for a tour of hot spots in the global economy.

The Trump administration will not renew the temporary protected status of more than 200,000 El Salvadorian nationals living in the United States. This episode of Deep Dish features Latin America experts from the Atlantic Council and Migration Policy Institute talk about the impact of this decision from the lenses of social policy, economics, and diplomacy. Guests: Jason Marczak, director of the Atlantic Council’s Latin America Center, and Kevin Appleby, senior policy director on international migration at the Center for Migration Studies. Guest host: Phil Levy, senior fellow for the global economy at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. 

What began as Iranian protests about high food prices and inflation has turned into the largest anti-government outcry in nearly a decade. Iran experts Saeid Golkar and Nicola Pedde join guest host Stephen Anderson to unpack what this uprising could mean for the Islamic Republic.

Making Russia great again has long been a domestic and foreign policy goal of Vladimir Putin and his Russian base of support. This week's Deep Dish explores Russian politics, foreign and domestic, that are geared toward making that wish a reality. 

Bitcoin may be the most famous application of blockchain technology, but its potential extends well beyond cryptocurrency. On this week’s Deep Dish podcast, two tech experts explore the promise of this revolutionary technology in the global economy.

President Trump has recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital – a move he says "acknowledges the obvious." But officials and religious leaders across the Middle East condemn the decision for stoking violence and defying UN resolutions on Jerusalem's status. This week's Deep Dish podcast welcomes Carnegie’s Maha Yahya, POLITICO's Susan Glasser, and the Council's Cécile Shea to discuss. 

ISIS has been decimated and Bashar al-Assad sits secure atop the bloody streets of Syria. With Russia leading diplomatic efforts to close the books on the Syrian Civil War, this week’s Deep Dish examines the state of play in Syria, how we get there, and the competing interests of those who hope to influence what happens next. Brian Hanson is joined by U.S. Ambassador (ret.) to Syria Robert S. Ford, senior fellow for global security and diplomacy Cecile Shea, and nonresident senior fellow for Iran policy Saeid Golkar. 

Now that President Trump has passed the Iran deal to Congress, debates about the deal's merits have resurfaced. To help explain the arguments for and against the deal, we asked two experts with extensive experience in the area to present their perspectives on this week's episode of Deep Dish. Listen as Brian Hanson moderates a debate between Jessica Mathews, Distinguished Fellow and past President at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and Michael Singh, the Lane-Swig senior fellow and managing director at The Washington Institute and a former senior director for Middle East affairs at the National Security Council.

Ma Jun is China's leading environmental activist. In this week's Deep Dish, he joins host Brian Hanson during a rare visit to the United States to talk about how he's using big data to hold corporations in China accountable to the environmental damage they're causing in his country. 

Saudi Arabia says Lebanon and Iran have declared war on it. Meanwhile, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman has initiated the arrest of dozens of royal family members, officials, and business executives in an anti-corruption sweep.  This week's Deep Dish looks at what's going on and explains it within the larger context of geopolitical trends in the region. 

President Trump is preparing to visit China, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Hawaii from Nov. 3 - 13. In the latest Deep Dish, we gathered a group of Asia experts to dissect the potential pitfalls and opportunities that await in each leg of his journey, as well as what to watch for during the trip. 

The Spanish government’s violent treatment of Catalonian voters thrust its national political crises into worldwide headlines. On this week’s Deep Dish, CSIS's Daniel Runde brings context and clarity to the unsettled scene in Catalonia and the international reaction to the independence referendum.

The odds of NAFTA renegotiations successfully concluding on time are vanishingly small, says the Council's trade expert Phil Levy. In this episode of Deep Dish, he explains the economic, political, and legal difficulties associated with completing the deal—and why it might be just as complicated to back out.   

The United States and Britain enjoy a special relationship, but can it hold against the winds of change? UK Minister of State Alan Duncan joined us to talk about President Trump, Brexit, North Korea, Russia, and Iran, explaining how his government sees the US-UK relationship in light of the many challenges it now faces.

The International Rescue Committee deemed today's hunger crisis “the least reported but most important issue of our time.” The Council's Roger Thurow, author of The First 1,000 Days: A Crucial Time for Mothers and Children—and the World, outrages and inspires as he explains the injustices of stunting and tells inspirational stories of overcoming hunger on this week’s episode of Deep Dish.

“Textbook ethnic cleansing” of the Muslim Rohingya minority continues in Western Myanmar. How do the internal politics of Myanmar, and its fragile democracy under Aung San Suu Kyi, explain the tepid response of the international community to this horrific attack on a forsaken people? Azeem Ibrahim, author of “The Rohingyas: Inside Myanmar’s Hidden Genocide,” joins Brian Hanson on this week’s Deep Dish.

Why does America have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) in the first place, and what will policy changes mean for economic and national security? On the latest Deep Dish podcast, Council experts Sara McElmurry and Cécile Shea join host Brian Hanson to discuss the economic, human, and foreign policy implications of today’s renewed focus on DACA.

With news that North Korea may have the capability to launch a miniaturized nuclear weapon on an intercontinental ballistic missile, can the North Korea can be kicked any further down the road? In this summer bonus episode, Brian Hanson discusses with Kori Schake and Jim Lindsay, alums of the national security council and leading voices in foreign policy and national security.

Deep Dish is taking a break for August, but we'll be back in September! In the meantime, we'd love to hear from you! Let us know what you thought of our first season of Deep Dish and what you'd like to hear next. Write to us at DeepDish@TheChicagoCouncil.org. Brian and Evan will ready every note you send. We can't wait to hear from you!

From Iran to Canada, the Trump Administration has a number of tough negotiations ahead. Conversely, European leaders are beginning to understand what they need to say and do to keep the President comfortable. On this week’s episode of Deep Dish, Dick Longworth, Cécile Shea, and Phil Levy continue the conversation on Donald Trump’s Syrian ceasefire and the difficulties this administration can expect in pursuing its nebulous agenda.

The G20 has concluded, Presidents Trump and Putin finally met in person, and America’s allies are growing closer as we pull away from the herd. This week on Deep Dish, Council fellows Phil Levy, Cécile Shea, and research associate Craig Kafura convene to discuss the G20’s present and future, as well as the united front our trading partners are taking against Trump’s proposed steel tariff.

For the first time since the end of the Cold War, the United States Navy is facing true naval competition from other countries all over the world. With the responsibility of maintaining the maritime prosperity of the United States on their shoulders, how is the Navy continuing to address the changing landscape on the open sea? To answer this question, and many others, Admiral John Richardson joins us to discuss the logistical and academic problems facing the Navy on this week’s episode of Deep Dish.

In the worst humanitarian crisis in seven decades, 20 million people face famine in South Sudan, northeast Nigeria, Somalia, and Yemen. On this week's Deep Dish, Alesha Black, director of the Food and Agriculture program at the Council, talks to Brian Hanson about the causes and reactions to this international emergency.

For months, Brexit has been characterized as an ‘ugly divorce’ between Britain and the rest of America’s European allies. As it turns out, Great Britain might be taking to the single life better than anyone expected. On this week’s episode of Deep Dish, we are joined by Stephen Bridges, the United Kingdom’s Consul General to Chicago, and our own senior fellow Phil Levy discuss the road that led Britain to Brexit, how they have been faring, and what we can expect in Britain’s uncertain future.

China, Russia, and the United States, three of the biggest players in global energy markets, use energy in very different ways, giving rise to complex geopolitical issues that will play out over the next few decades. Adam Sieminski, energy and geopolitics expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, explains the implications of global energy dynamics on this week's episode of Deep Dish.

As anti-globalist populism continues to influence the decisions of national governments, local governments are exercising their ability to stand up on a national stage and act with autonomy. On this week's Deep Dish, Governor Claudio Orrego of Santiago, Chile joins us to discuss the unique challenges and advantages of his metropolitan constituency and how big cities can work together to enact change on a global scale.

How did President Trump's first foreign trip go? From the Middle East speech on Islam to the NATO summit in Brussels and the G7 summit in Sicily, Trump's trip was ambitious and full of real and symbolic action. On this week's Deep Dish, three Council experts give their review of how the trip went and what it did or did not accomplish.

The apparent concession of American hegemony to China has alarmed many Americans, but it seems unclear what, if anything, can be done. Gideon Rachman, chief foreign affairs columnist for the Financial Times and author of Easternization: Asia’s Rise and America’s Decline From Obama to Trump and Beyond, explains what the birth of a new global superpower means for the United States, and what we can expect in our near future. Subscribe: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/deep-dish/id1169079758

This is the most important election in the history of the Islamic Republic, says Saeid Golkar. Two main candidates, incumbent president Hassan Rouhani and conservative challenger Ebrahim Raisi, face off in tense two-round vote that will determine the future of Iran's interaction with the rest of the world. Will the moderate, reformist president responsible for the nuclear deal win out, or will Raisi bring Iran back into isolation? Golkar lays out the facts with guest host Cecile Shea in the latest episode of Deep Dish.

“When you focus on Korea, you have to focus on everything,” says Council expert Karl Friedhoff. In the latest episode of Deep Dish, Karl explains the significance of South Korea’s newly elected president and how he will usher in a new era affecting North Korea, China, Japan, and the United States.

The race for the French presidency between Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen is approaching its final stage. From the spike in populism to the floundering of primary party leadership, this election will play a major role in determining the direction of political winds across the West. Join the consul general of France in Chicago, Vincent Floreani; the Council's Dick Longworth, who brings decades of experience as the Chicago Tribune's chief European correspondent; and the Council's Dina Smeltz, our public opinion, polling, and foreign policy expert, as they discuss what looks familiar and different about the French election on this week's episode of Deep Dish.

Often missing from discussions about the US-China relationship is the perspective of the Chinese government. On this week's Deep Dish podcast, Hong Lei, China's Consul General in Chicago, explains how China and the United States may be able to cooperate on global security and the global economy.

Given recent airstrikes in Syria, use of the MOAB in Afghanistan, and missile tests in North Korea, we asked Council President and former US NATO Ambassador Ivo Daalder about the objectives of current US military deployments. He discusses the capabilities of the US armed forces and how to balance military action with diplomatic efforts.

President Trump's response to the gas attack in Syria created a wave of media coverage. In this week's Deep Dish on Global Affairs, veteran journalists Susan Glasser of POLITICO and Edward Luce of the Financial Times discuss what insight we gained into Trump's foreign policy and what role the news media might play in shaping his doctrine.

As President Trump meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping for the first time, Council fellows Karl Friedhoff and Phil Levy preview the pressing issues likely to arise at their summit: economic relations and the ever-aggressive North Korea.

President Trump said President Obama warned him of a "big problem" before he left office: North Korea. The increasing application of sanctions has been ineffective, transforming its nuclear program into a “superbug” that rest of the world can't seem to kill. North Korea experts Dr. John Park and Karl Friedhoff dish in the latest slice of Deep Dish on Global Affairs.

Populations across Midwest metros are either shrinking or experiencing slowing growth rates, especially in prime working-age adults. But influxes of immigrants are helping offset those declines. Immigration expert Sara McElmurry and expert demographer Rob Paral break down a new report from the Council about these changing demographics in and discuss how to harness this growth in a politically sensitive time.

Brexit is coming. The House of Commons and House of Lords just cleared the way for Theresa May to trigger Article 50 and formally exit from the European Union. Rebalancing the country's economy will be no small task – and to explain what’s at stake, former European commissioner for trade Lord Peter Mandelson sits down for a slice of the Deep Dish podcast.

While Mexico and the United States have done a great many things together, "the one thing that we won't be doing together is building a wall," says former Mexican Ambassador to the United States Arturo Sarukhán. On the latest Deep Dish podcast, Sarukhán sits down with Council President Ivo Daalder for a frank ambassador-to-ambassador conversation about Trump, the border wall, NAFTA, and more.

China’s military expansion in the South China Sea and rising economic influence command increasing attention, but North Korea, Japan, and other regional actors are shifting power beneath the surface. On the latest Deep Dish podcast, Asia experts Richard McGregor and Sheila Smith talk with host Brian Hanson about the intricate choices facing the Trump administration in Asia.

Will the appointment of H.R. McMaster as President Trump’s National Security Advisor calm the tumult over Michael Flynn’s resignation? On the latest Deep Dish episode, two former NSC members, Ivo Daalder and Kori Schake, illuminate the genuine challenges for McMaster and Trump’s national security machine from the inside out.

Syria, Libya, and Iraq are the latest in a series of contentious US interventions. Forced to choose between leaving other countries alone or trying to run the world—Americans choose both, says author and journalist Stephen Kinzer. On this week's Deep Dish, Kinzer and career diplomat Cécile Shea discuss intervention done well, done poorly, and how the intervention debate has endured since the Spanish-American war.

A flare-up of violence in eastern Ukraine following a call between presidents Putin and Trump has many wondering what’s next in the highly combustible situation. On this week's Deep Dish podcast, former US Ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst joins Russia expert Samuel Charap to analyze Putin’s goals and the likely outcome of a shift in Eurasian geopolitics.

President Trump’s executive order suspending new refugee admissions and blocking travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries has sparked protests across the United States and shocked the world. Ian Tuttle says Trump’s order is mostly right on substance but wrong on rollout, while Robert Pape says Trump is making ISIS great again. Listen to this episode of Deep Dish to hear two leading voices describe what’s at stake.

In the aftermath of President Trump's pullout of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, trade experts Gary Clyde Hufbauer of the Peterson Institute for International Economics and Council senior fellow on the global economy Phil Levy talk with Council vice president of studies Brian Hanson about presidential powers in international trade.

Talk from the incoming Trump administration on Asia is rattling allies in the region. Council experts Cécile Shea and Karl Friedhoff talk with host Brian T. Hanson about the return on US investment in Asia, what America stands to lose from disengagement, and how China could fill the vacuum created by a US abandonment of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal.

Millions of people attended the funeral procession for former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. In the latest Deep Dish podcast, the Council’s visiting fellow for Iran policy, Saeid Golkar, explains why Rafsanjani was so beloved and how his death may position hardliners and “conflictualists” to seize the initiative in Iran's internal and external affairs.

As the US election and Brexit vote showed, the relationship between cities and their surrounding areas is fraught with conflicting interests. Council Distinguished Fellow Dick Longworth and the Financial Times' Edward Luce talk about where this relationship is headed in the latest episode of Deep Dish.

For some, social integration is a new challenge caused by globalization and cultural change. For others, inequality and segregation have long been strains on civil society. In this episode, Michael Nutter, former mayor of Philadelphia, and Kamal Al-Solaylee, journalist and author of Brown: What Being Brown in the World Today Means (To Everyone), discuss social inclusion in the 21st century with Deep Dish host Brian T. Hanson.

Anything that surprises people about President-elect Trump shouldn’t surprise them too much, says Chinese entrepreneur and 2016 Scholl Fellow Victor Yuan. In the latest Deep Dish podcast, Yuan talks with Council experts about the potential points of conflict and consensus between the next US administration and China.

Washington Post chief correspondent Dan Balz sits down with the Council's Ivo Daalder, Brian Hanson, and Richard Longworth to discuss how Trump redefined the debate on globalization and what the 2016 election exposed about the US identity and its role in the world.

Trade and globalization seem to have played an outsized role in this year's election. On this week's episode of Deep Dish, Council vice president of studies Brian T. Hanson sat down with experts Phil Levy, Dina Smeltz, and Diana Mutz to discuss.

Following Donald Trump's surprising win, Council vice president of studies Brian T. Hanson sat down with Council President Ivo Daalder to discuss how US foreign policy and the organizing principles of the world order are likely to change under a Trump presidency.

In a speech at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, US Secretary of State John Kerry said that solutions to climate change were staring us in the face. In this episode of Deep Dish, Council vice president of studies Brian T. Hanson sits down with resident climate and sustainability expert Karen Weigert to ask her about the latest developments and solutions to this critical global issue.

What’s behind this year’s populist explosion? In the latest episode of Deep Dish, Council vice president of studies Brian Hanson interviews John Judis, author of The Populist Explosion, to put the year’s political movements—from Brexit to Trumpism—into historic context. Hanson then sits down with Council President Ivo Daalder and Chatham House Director Robin Niblett to discuss the implications of populism for the established world order.

In the latest episode of Deep Dish, resident global economy expert Phil Levy sat down with Council Vice President of Studies Brian Hanson to discuss one of this election’s biggest issues: The TPP and trade deals like it. Phil breaks down the use of trade in foreign policy, what happened to the TPP that put it in critical condition, and what its odds are for recovery.

Immigration and national security have been salient topics in this year’s election, but until now they’ve been conspicuously absent from the presidential debates. With both topics set for discussion in the third debate, vice president of studies Brian Hanson sat down with Council immigration expert Sara McElmurry and polling expert Craig Kafura to discuss common sense immigration reforms that could find consensus during the next administration.

With the 2016 Chicago Council Survey of American attitudes on foreign policy in hand, Vice President of Studies Brian Hanson sat down with Council polling experts Dina Smeltz and Craig Kafura before Sunday’s debate to find out how American public opinion compares with what the candidates are saying in the latest episode of our new Deep Dish podcast.

Meet the Chicago Council on Global Affairs' new podcast – Deep Dish. From now until election day, Council experts Craig Kafura, Phil Levy, and Karen Weigert will be dishing on global affairs topics that are critical to the election and our understanding of America’s role in the world. Their first slice is a discussion following Federal Reserve Governor Lael Brainard’s speech at the Council this week – where is monetary policy heading and has it become political? Listen here.