From the Munich Security Conference, host Anne McElvoy speaks to U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Celeste Wallander, U.S. assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs.News of the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny set the tone for the conference, where securocrats and world leaders gathered to discuss the mounting crises facing decision-makers.Our guests discuss how America and its allies should deal with pressing conflicts — from Ukraine's stalemate to the war in Gaza, and the specter of a possible Donald Trump return. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As security and defense chiefs descend on Bavaria this weekend for the annual Munich Security Conference, can anything be done to dampen down the geopolitical fires around the world? On everyone's lips will be Donald Trump's latest campaign salvo, which has shaken confidence in America’s commitment to the Atlantic defense alliance. The wars in Gaza and Ukraine, along with the crisis in the Red Sea, also top the agenda.Host Anne McElvoy talks to two of POLITICO’s heavy hitters about what to expect. Alexander Ward, national security reporter and anchor of "National Security Daily" in Washington; and Suzanne Lynch, author of POLITICO's Global Playbook, appearing in your inbox each morning from Munich.Power Play's subsequent episode — featuring an exclusive interview with a leading figure in global security — will be released as the conference wraps up this weekend. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The largest NATO exercise since the Cold War is underway in the North Atlantic. The most powerful military alliance on the planet is putting on a show of strength — hoping that the Kremlin is taking note.As Congress struggles to agree a new package of American support for Ukraine, can the rest of the alliance share the burden?In this week's edition of Power Play, host Anne McElvoy speaks to the U.K.'s Ambassador to NATO, David Quarrey, about the alliance's readiness for a potential conflict with Russia, military support for Ukraine from its members and whether talk of a separate European defense capability will become reality. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Donald Trump’s seemingly unstoppable campaign to win the Republican nomination gathers pace, most eyes in America and the world are moving to the more important contest — between him and Joe Biden. Trump’s resurgence is causing jitters in the Biden camp. He has a small but consistent lead in national polls. Will Biden manage to keep hold of the electoral coalition that brought him to the White House four years ago?Host Anne McElvoy brings together two leading pollsters and party strategists for their inside analysis of where the race is heading. Jim Hobart is partner at Public Opinion Strategies, who has worked on Republican campaigns; Maggie Omero is principal at the Democratic polling firm GBAO. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How much attention is Africa receiving as the world remains transfixed by wars in Europe, the Middle East, and as elections in the West loom?This week, host Anne McElvoy talks to the award-winning musician and activist Angélique Kidjo about her campaign to improve education for girls in Africa and to address the humanitarian needs of her native continent.They also discuss the U.K.'s attempts to send illegal asylum seekers to Rwanda. (Spoiler alert: The five-time Grammy winner calls on U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to abandon the policy, which she reviles as "another way of slavery.")Music courtesy of World Economic Forum. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The focus of the 2024 World Economic Forum at Davos was on rebuilding trust, with artificial intelligence top of the agenda. Since the roll out of AI-powered chat bots, AI has developed a major trust problem among the public. The majority of Americans said last year that the risks of AI outweigh the potential benefits, and in the EU, Europeans were overwhelmingly in favor of restrictions around its use to protect jobs and privacy.Meanwhile, implementation by corporations is steadily growing. A 2023 AI Adoption Index from IBM and Morning Consult found 73 percent of companies surveyed are actively deploying or exploring AI in their business. AI built on a foundation of trust and transparency could be a catalyst that drives progress for society and the economy, creates jobs for a new era and reshapes the world for the better. But, continued public skepticism in the technology could be a serious roadblock to realizing AI’s future.On a special branded episode of Power Play, from our sponsor IBM, we explore AI’s trust problem and what business and political leaders can do to rebuild trust in the technology. The episode features Rob Thomas, senior vice president of software and chief commercial officer at IBM, who talks about ways to ensure the deployment of responsible AI, the importance of good data when creating AI models for business, and why policymakers need to ensure that future regulations still allow innovation to flourish.Power Play is a POLITICO original podcast series.This special branded episode from IBM was produced by POLITICO Focus. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the World Economic Forum draws to a close in Davos, Power Play rounds off the week with analysis of an eventful week in the Swiss Alps.Host Anne McElvoy brings together a top team of POLITICO's reporters: Alex Ward, national security reporter based in Washington; Nahal Toosi, senior foreign affairs correspondent; and Suzanne Lynch, author of POLITICO's Global Playbook, your must-read each morning to keep up with the latest news from Davos.They discuss China's notable presence this week, President Zelensky's plea for the international community to refocus on Ukraine's war with Russia and whether American eyes have been distracted by events back home as Donald Trump returns to the fray. We unpack how the business community is grappling with fast-changing technological advances as well as geopolitical uncertainty in a bumper election year. And stay tuned to hear who our team deems as the surprising "hero" of the Davos crowd.Further reading:"Why the Davos Smart Set Sounds Dumb," by John Harris"China snubs Zelenskyy in Switzerland," by Nahal Toosi"Lawmakers’ short stay in Davos spiked fears of a distracted America," by Alex Ward"Trump’s ghost stalks Davos," by Suzanne Lynch and Zachary Warmbrodt Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, U.K. Foreign Secretary David Cameron sits down with Anne McElvoy at the World Economic Forum to discuss the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, Britain's role in the Israel-Hamas war, as well as Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine — which he says is his "absolute number one priority." Cameron adds, "One thing we can do is demonstrate during the course of this year that Putin isn't winning."Cameron also addresses U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's controversial policy to send asylum seekers to Rwanda to process their applications (known as the Rwanda policy) and reveals more about his return to front-line Conservative party politics, reflects on what it's like to be a former prime minister returning in a different role. "I say that being prime minister for six years was a good apprenticeship for being foreign secretary," he tells Anne. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump's emphatic victory in the Iowa caucuses has been the talking point of many at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos. Meanwhile, the accelerating pace of artificial intelligence is also never far from the lips of those attending this year's WEF.In today's edition of Power Play — continuing our special coverage of Davos — host Anne McElvoy explores these two prevailing themes.Anne talks to Anthony Scaramucci, who was briefly White House director of communications under President Trump, about the impact technological advances like AI are having on the economy. They also dive into the consequences of the Iowa result for the United States and the rest of the world.Then Anne talks to James Manyika, senior vice president of technology and society at Google, about how the how AI is changing the world before our eyes — a subject he's advised on from the White House to the world’s leading tech companies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the World Economic Forum gets underway in Davos, many of the world's most powerful business leaders, politicians and tech gurus — and even the odd veteran pop star — have arrived in the Swiss Alps hoping to set the agenda for the year ahead. This week we present four episodes of Power Play with an array of interviews and analysis. Today, host Anne McElvoy brings together three of POLITICO's keenest Davos watchers to chart the week ahead. She's joined by Alex Ward, a national security reporter based in Washington; Nahal Toosi, a senior foreign affairs correspondent; and Suzanne Lynch, author of POLITICO's Global Playbook, your must-read each morning to keep up with the latest news from Davos.Together they'll explore a range of topics including how the prospect of a Trump return is impacting discussions, as well as Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's in-person push to regain the spotlight for Kyiv. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After weeks of relative calm, Russian forces ushered in the New Year by pounding Ukrainian cities. While global attention has been gripped by the war in Gaza, it’s a reminder that there is no end in sight to the conflict in Ukraine. This week, NATO ambassadors met in Brussels to reinforce their commitments to help Ukraine’s air defences fend off devastating Russian air strikes, which have killed dozens of people in the last few days. It's a critical moment for Kyiv as continued military and financial support from the U.S. and the EU hangs in the balance.In this week’s edition of Power Play, host Anne McElvoy talks to Krišjānis Kariņš, Latvia's foreign minister, one of the contenders to become NATO's next secretary-general, about the alliances's plans to combat renewed Russian aggression.And Anne is joined by Matthew Kaminski, editor at large at POLITICO in Washington, and Jan Cienski, senior policy editor at POLITICO in Europe to hear our own experts delve into the what 2024 brings for Ukraine — and NATO. Further reading: "Zelenskyy in Lilliput: Someone Shrunk Ukraine’s War Coalition," by Matthew Kaminski Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we enter a mammoth election year on either side of the Atlantic, Power Play looks back on the highlights from our interviews in 2023 to set the scene for the big geopolitical stories of 2024. In this week's bumper New Year edition, host Anne McElvoy takes a tour through the best of Power Play since the podcast launched last September, talking to some of the most influential figures in the United States, Europe and beyond. We'll hear from prime ministers, business leaders, diplomats and generals about major conflicts, fraught elections and tussles over how to address climate changeGuests include John Kerry, Rishi Sunak, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Ron Prosor, Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, Mark Carney, Mathias Döpfner, David Petraeus and Keir Starmer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Taiwan, political parties are entering the final stint of a lively campaign as voters prepare to go to the polls in a presidential election on 13 January. With a population of 23 million, Taiwan is at the precarious juncture of the South and East China seas, buffeted by geo-strategic gusts as China maintains its claim on sovereignty. In this special edition of Power Play, host Anne McElvoy talks to Vincent Chao, a prominent figure from the incumbent pro-independence party, hoping to win an unprecedented third term, and Alexander Huang, from the principal opposition party, which seeks closer links with Beijing. And Anne speaks to the man who is about to head to Washington to become Taiwan’s top diplomat — Alexander Yui.To reflect on the interview with the ambassador and look ahead to the final weeks of the election campaign, Anne is joined by Stuart Lau, co-author of POLITICO’s China Watcher newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As negotiators from nearly 200 countries enter the final week of climate talks at COP28 in Dubai, all eyes will be on the big players and who moves first.In this week’s special edition of Power Play from Dubai, host Anne McElvoy talks to one of the most influential figures in the talks — John Kerry, the U.S. special presidential envoy for climate. A close ally of President Joe Biden and veteran of climate negotiations over several decades, the former secretary of state has the ear of this year's controversial host — COP president Sultan Al-Jaber from the UAE.Kerry also has a domestic audience in mind. He tells Power Play: "The subsidies are crazy and we have them still in the United States. President Biden has said we've gotta get rid of these subsidies. But again ... you have to legislate to do that and we've been pretty gridlocked in our country for a period of time."To reflect on the interview and look ahead to the finale of this year's COP, Anne is joined by POLITICO climate and energy reporter Zack Colman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The diplomatic caravan is rolling into Dubai for this year’s COP — the United Nations' round of global climate talks. Scores of world leaders and luminaries — including King Charles and the pope — from nearly 200 countries are due to attend, alongside an estimated 70,000 delegates.What are the chances of a meaningful agreement emerging at COP28? In this week’s edition of Power Play, host Anne McElvoy talks to Mark Carney, the U.N.’s special envoy for climate finance and action. He's banging the financial drum for the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy, encouraging CEOs, financiers and leaders to put their money where their mouths are. "Let's see who stands up in the UAE at COP amongst the oil and gas companies and countries and we'll start to judge who's performing and who isn’t," he says as the conference begins.Anne is then joined by POLITICO’s "Power Panel" to reflect on the interview. Zack Colman is a climate and energy reporter at POLITICO in Washington and Rachel Kyte is visiting professor at the Blavatnik school at Oxford University and co-chair of the Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thomas Heatherwick’s designs have become icons in his home city of London, including the eye-catching cauldron at the 2012 Olympic Games and the reimagined Routemaster bus. The British designer's projects have popped up around the world — and not without controversy.In this week’s edition of Power Play, host Anne McElvoy talks to Heatherwick about his mission to change the way our cities and urban areas are built. His new book "Humanise" implores mayors and town planners around the world to replace "boring" buildings, arguing that they damage our health and the environment. Anne is then joined by POLITICO’s "Power Panel" to reflect on the interview. Aitor Hernández-Morales is author of the Living Cities Global Policy Lab at POLITICO Europe, and Jeff Coltin is co-author of POLITICO’s New York Playbook.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Israel’s most senior diplomat – Michael Herzog, the ambassador to the U.S. – is in the eye of a diplomatic storm in the country that is Israel’s most vital ally. He insists that a ceasefire "would invite the next war."In this week's edition of Power Play, host Anne McElvoy talks to Ambassador Herzog about Israel's raid on Gaza’s Al Shifa hospital, how long the conflict is likely to last and the U.S.'s discussions with Israel on what happens after the war.Anne is then joined by POLITICO’s “Power Panel” to reflect on the interview. Jamie Dettmer is POLITICO Europe’s opinion editor, who's reporting from Israel, and Alex Ward, POLITICO’s national security reporter in Washington D.C. and anchor of “National Security Daily.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One month after war broke out between Israel and Hamas, the solidarity of European leaders is being tested. Nowhere more so than in Greece, on the EU's southern border, which has traditional ties to Israel and Arab states.On this week’s edition of Power Play, host Anne McElvoy speaks to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on his concerns about the war in the Middle East, Greece's proximity to the region, and the prospect of increasing humanitarian aid via a sea corridor.They also discuss Greece's economic revival, relations with Turkey, the challenges of dealing with migrant boat crossings and climate change.Anne is then joined by POLITICO’s “Power Panel” to reflect on the interview. Jamie Dettmer is POLITICO Europe's opinion editor, and Matt Kaminski is POLITICO’s editor-at-large in Washington D.C. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over 100 leading figures from the biggest tech companies and governments across the globe have assembled for Britain’s two-day AI Safety summit. The UK hopes the event will galvanize power players into agreeing common aims to regulate the growth of artificial intelligence.In this early edition of Power Play, host Anne McElvoy talks to British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak about the risks and opportunities posed by AI, as well as other pressing global issues.Anne is then joined by POLITICO’s "Power Panel" to reflect on the summit, including Steven Overly, host of POLITICO's daily Tech podcast, and Matt Honeycombe-Foster, U.K. news editor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the Middle East crisis deepens, how should the West react to a growing sense of unease about the world order?On this week's edition of Power Play, host Anne McElvoy speaks to Mathias Döpfner, CEO of Europe's leading digital publisher, Axel Springer (POLITICO's parent company).His new book, "Trade Trap," calls for a new approach to free trade between democracies. He believes we are experiencing a "war of systems, and it is truly a battle between democracies and autocracies."Anne is also joined by POLITICO's head of news in Europe, Christian Oliver and Rana Mitter, an expert on U.S.-Asia relations from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The carnage on the streets of Gaza and mounting tensions between Israel and its Arab neighbours presented a bleak and chaotic backdrop for President Biden’s impromptu visit to Tel Aviv. Is this a conflict on the brink of exploding across the region? In this week’s episode of Power Play, host Anne McElvoy talks to David Petraeus, the former director of the CIA and four-star general who led coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has co-authored a new book, "Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare from 1945 to Ukraine," which draws on the lessons of warfare since 1945. His warnings about the prospect of an Israeli ground offensive will raise alarm bells around the world.Anne is then joined by POLITICO’s “Power Panel” to reflect on the consequences of this week’s events for the U.S., Europe and the wider world. Alex Ward is POLITICO’s national security reporter in Washington, D.C. and Joshua Posaner is POLITICO’s senior defense reporter in Berlin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The horrific events unfolding in Israel have sent shockwaves around the world. As the death toll mounts from Hamas' deadly attacks and Israel's retaliatory strikes on Gaza, how will the ensuing conflict alter the power balance of the Middle East and its alliances?In this week’s episode of Power Play, host Anne McElvoy talks to Ron Prosor, Israel's ambassador to Germany. Prosor has also served as the Israeli Ambassador to the UK and Permanent Representative to the UN.She also talks to Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, deputy mayor of Jerusalem, to get insight into the mood in a city at the heart of tensions in the Middle East.Anne is joined by POLITICO’s "Power Panel" to reflect on the consequences of this week's events for the US, Europe and the wider world. Lara Seligman, POLITICO’s defense reporter in Washington DC and Sam Wilkin, policy editor in POLITICO's Brussels newsroom. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The crisis in the U.S. House of Representatives is resonating far beyond Washington, not least in Ukraine, where the durability of America's commitment to the war effort has been thrown into doubt after future funding was omitted from its recent stopgap funding deal.Can Ukraine and its allies in Europe go it alone without agreement on further aid from Congress? And is America’s foreign policy shifting away from the days of spreading liberal democracy?In this week’s episode of Power Play, host Anne McElvoy talks to Michael Froman, president of the influential Council on Foreign Relations in New York. The Council’s recommendations are heeded in the Oval Office, State Department as well as European capitals — a bellwether for America’s approach to the world.They explore how the U.S. foreign policy establishment is dealing with the war in Ukraine, the rise of protectionism, liberal democracy, China and the prospect of another Trump presidency. Are the days of America acting as the world's policeman over? Anne is joined by POLITICO's "Power Panel" to reflect on the choices facing the Biden administration and the impact in European capitals. This week's panel are Heidi Vogt, POLITICO's national security editor in Washington and Nicholas Vinocur, editor-at-large for POLITICO Europe in Brussels. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The exit of the most powerful player at News Corp has made headlines on both sides of the Atlantic. At 92, Rupert Murdoch has decided to step down as executive chairman, making way for his son Lachlan. But will much change, given Rupert Murdoch's reputation for being close to the action?In this week's episode of Power Play, host Anne McElvoy talks to Michael Wolff, long-time chronicler of the Murdoch empire and biographer. His latest book, "The Fall: The End of Fox News and the Murdoch Dynasty," is published this week.They discuss what's at stake for News Corp and Fox and what the change at the top will mean for general elections in the U.S. and the U.K. next year.Later, Anne talks to POLITICO’s assembled “Power Panel” to chart their way through a fast-changing media and political landscape. She's joined by Jonathan Martin, POLITICO's senior political reporter in Washington, and Emilio Casalicchio, author of London Playbook PM.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this inaugural episode of POLITICO's new global podcast Power Play, host Anne McElvoy talks to the man who hopes to be Britain's next prime minister, Keir Starmer.In a wide-ranging interview on global affairs, the Labour leader reveals his concerns about China. He warns that the U.K. needs to “wean itself off” China “when it comes to trade, commerce and technology.”Starmer also tells Anne what he thinks about Donald Trump, Joe Biden, the war in Ukraine and his vision for a "clean energy alliance" around the world.Later, Anne talks to POLITICO's assembled “Power Panel” from New York City, where the annual U.N. General Assembly is underway. As leaders gather on the international stage, Rosa Prince, the editor of London Playbook and Nahal Toosi, senior foreign affairs correspondent in Washington, D.C. share their analysis of Starmer's thinking about the world and what it might mean for transatlantic relations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

POLITICO's new weekly transatlantic podcast Power Play is officially coming to your podcast feed on Thursday, September 21!Hosted by renowned British journalist Anne McElvoy, Power Play takes listeners inside the minds of those who wield power to better understand the choices they face. The show features guests at the top of their fields in government, business, civil society and more — accompanied by the expert analysis of journalists across POLITICO's newsrooms globally, giving listeners the inside take on the most significant issues raised by the guest, as well as the implications.Be sure to sign up to receive email alerts every time a new episode publishes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In an exclusive interview for POLITICO's forthcoming podcast Power Play, Richard Moore, chief of the UK's Secret Intelligence Service — MI6 — speaks to Anne McElvoy about how the culture of agencies like MI6 is changing.Recorded in Prague, a city that shaped the outcome of the Cold War, Moore shares revealing insights into MI6's approach to Russia, China and other threats to the West. Britain's chief spy explains why he believes the West needs to commit to a battle for freedom and against authoritarian regimes akin to the Prague Spring of 1968.  They share a personal conversation about how their experiences of the Cold War (Moore as a rising star of Western intelligence, McElvoy as co-writer of the memoirs of a Soviet bloc spymaster) shaped their thinking on handling threats today. They also discuss the impact of AI on intelligence work and how the culture of agencies like MI6 is beginning to change.We hope you enjoy this taste of what's to come on POLITICO's Power Play podcast, officially launching in September — bringing you inside the minds of those who wield power. Please be sure to subscribe or follow the podcast on your favorite podcast app, and you can sign up to receive email alerts every time a new episode publishes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.