On The Record

For two-and-a-half centuries, the United States has faced a challenging world. Some of its responses have made Americans proud. Others have not. CFR asked members of the Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations what they considered the best and worst U.S. foreign policy decisions. In this episode, panelists discuss the results of the project and the evolution of America’s role in the world.   Host: David M. Rubenstein, Cofounder and Cochairman, The Carlyle Group; Chairman, Board of Directors, CFR   Guests: Mary L. Dudziak, Asa Griggs Candler Professor of Law, Emory University School of Law; CFR Member   James M. Lindsay, Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy, CFR   Christopher M. Nichols, Wayne Woodrow Hayes Chair in National Security Studies and Professor of History, The Ohio State University   Want more comprehensive analysis of global news and events sent straight to your inbox? Subscribe to CFR’s Daily News Brief newsletter.   To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit it on our YouTube channel: America at 250 Series: The Best and Worst Decisions in U.S. Foreign Policy

In this episode, panelists discuss the latest unrest in Iran, the economic pressures that have sparked nationwide protests, and the implications for U.S. policy amid ongoing regional tensions.   Background Reading: This article discusses how the Iranian regime is facing one of its largest protest movements in years, leading Tehran to shut down internet and telephone communications.   Host: Missy Ryan, Staff Writer, The Atlantic   Guests: Vali R. Nasr, Majid Khadduri Professor of International Affairs and Middle East Studies, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies   Ray Takeyh, Hasib J. Sabbagh Senior Fellow for Middle East Studies, CFR   Sanam Vakil, Director, Middle East and North Africa Programme, Chatham House   Want more comprehensive analysis of global news and events sent straight to your inbox? Subscribe to CFR’s Daily News Brief newsletter.   To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit it on our YouTube channel: The Protests in Iran

Immigrants significantly benefit the U.S. economy by growing the labor force, filling essential jobs in sectors like services, construction, and tech. In this episode, panelists discuss the effects of recent refugee and immigration policy developments on the U.S. economy.   Background Reading: This article outlines the critical role immigrants have long played in boosting the U.S. economy and GDP. This article highlights how the second Trump administration has ramped up immigration enforcement, putting pressure on federal, state, and local agencies to meet the president’s deportation goals.   Host: Nelson W. Cunningham, Former President, McLarty Associates; Former Senior Advisor for Economic Affairs, U.S. Department of State; Former Special Advisor on Western Hemisphere Affairs; CFR Member   Guests: Steven A. Camarota, Director of Research, Center for Immigration Studies   Andrea R. Flores, Founder, America’s Promise   Pia Orrenius, Vice President and Senior Economist, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas   Want more comprehensive analysis of global news and events sent straight to your inbox? Subscribe to CFR’s Daily News Brief newsletter. To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit it on our YouTube channel: Immigration Policy and the U.S. Economy

In this episode, David Miliband, president and chief executive officer of the International Rescue Committee, discusses the new IRC Emergency Watchlist report. The report highlights the countries at highest risk of humanitarian crisis in 2026, and evaluates the international community’s progress and shortcomings.   Background Reading: This article discusses Venezuela’s dire humanitarian landscape, as the White House reviews potential military operations in the region. This article examines Sudan’s humanitarian crisis, and a stubborn lack of international attention to its plight. Host: Andrea Mitchell, Chief Washington Correspondent and Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent, NBC News   Guest: David Miliband, President and Chief Executive Officer, International Rescue Committee; Former Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, United Kingdom   Want more comprehensive analysis of global news and events sent straight to your inbox? Subscribe to CFR’s Daily News Brief newsletter.   To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit it on our YouTube channel: Forecasting Humanitarian Risk in 2026: A Conversation with David Miliband.   

In this episode, panelists discuss examples of U.S. presidents leveraging executive power to confront political violence, human rights abuses, and other global challenges, highlighting the ways in which presidential leadership has shaped the United States’ legacy of responsibility.   Host: Jacob M. Weisberg, Executive Chair, Pushkin Industries; Chair, Committee to Protect Journalists   Guests: Meena Bose, Executive Dean, Public Policy and Public Service Programs and Director, Peter S. Kalikow Center for the Study of the American Presidency, Kalikow School of Government, Public Policy and International Affairs, Hofstra University; CFR Member   David J. Scheffer, Senior Fellow, CFR   Ruti G. Teitel, Ernst C. Stiefel Professor of Comparative Law and Codirector, Center for International Law, New York Law School   Want more comprehensive analysis of global news and events straight to your inbox? Subscribe to CFR’s Daily News Brief newsletter. To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit it on our YouTube channel: Reckoning with History: Presidential Leadership and Moral Responsibility.

In this episode, former U.S. President Bill Clinton looks back on critical issues in U.S. foreign policy during his presidency, and shares lessons for sustaining American diplomatic engagement abroad.   His remarks were delivered as part of the inaugural Martin S. Indyk Memorial Lecture, held in collaboration with the Clinton Global Initiative.   Host: Richard Haass, President Emeritus, Council on Foreign Relations; Senior Counselor, Centerview Partners   Guest: Bill Clinton, Founder and Board Chair, Clinton Foundation; 42nd President of the United States   Want more comprehensive analysis of global news and events sent straight to your inbox? Subscribe to CFR’s Daily News Brief newsletter. To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit it on our YouTube channel: A Conversation With President Bill Clinton.

In this episode, Director of the National Institutes of Health Jay Bhattacharya discusses the latest developments in biomedical innovation and how they will shape the future of public health research.   Background Reading: This CFR event discusses emerging threats to public health and how journalists are covering new outbreaks across the United States.   Host: Sylvia Mathews Burwell, Senior Professorial Lecturer and President Emerita, American University; Former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services   Guests: Jay Bhattacharya, Director, National Institutes of Health   Want more comprehensive analysis of global news and events straight to your inbox? Subscribe to CFR’s Daily News Brief newsletter. To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit it on our YouTube channel: A Conversation With Jay Bhattacharya of the National Institutes of Health.

In this episode, experts discuss the geopolitical implications of transformative technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), including how decision-makers are navigating governance, balancing innovation with risk, and addressing questions of equity and accountability.   Background Reading: This article assesses whether AI investments have contributed meaningfully to U.S. economic growth. This article analyzes whether democracies can safeguard AI systems in a way that preserves both institutional and public trust.   Host: Maryam Mujica, Chief Public Policy Officer, General Catalyst   Guests: Laura DeNardis, Professor and Endowed Chair in Technology, Ethics, and Society; Director, Center for Digital Ethics, Georgetown University   Vinh Nguyen, Senior Fellow for AI, Council on Foreign Relations   Miriam Vogel, Author, Governing the Machine: How to Navigate the Risks of AI and Unlock Its True Potential; President and Chief Executive Officer, EqualAI   Want more comprehensive analysis of global news and events straight to your inbox? Subscribe to CFR’s Daily News Brief newsletter.   To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit our YouTube channel: The Rules of AI: Governing Technology in a Geopolitical Age.  

Since President Trump first introduced a proposal to end the war in Ukraine, revisions from both sides have led to disagreement, diminishing hopes for a lasting peace. Experts are now examining the recent meeting between Ukrainian and U.S. officials in Miami, where efforts were made to finalize a peace plan for presentation to Moscow, as well as the types of security guarantees Ukraine may seek going forward.    Background Reading: This article details Trump’s proposed peace plan and the pitfalls of Washington’s attempt to advance ceasefire discussions between Russia and Ukraine.   Host: Paul B. Stares, General John W. Vessey Senior Fellow for Conflict Prevention and Director of the Center for Preventive Action, CFR   Guests: Liana Fix, Senior Fellow for Europe, CFR   Thomas Graham, Distinguished Fellow, CFR   Steven Sestanovich, George F. Kennan Senior Fellow for Russian and Eurasian Studies, CFR   Want more comprehensive analysis of global news and events straight to your inbox? Subscribe to CFR’s Daily News Brief newsletter.   To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit our YouTube channel: The State of Play in Ukraine.  

Intelligence experts discuss the new frontiers of intelligence gathering, examining how emerging technologies are transforming espionage and reshaping the future of U.S. national security.   Background Reading: This article outlines how growing politicization within the intelligence community threatens the integrity of intelligence assessments and endangers U.S. national security.   Host: Barton Gellman, Senior Advisor to the President, Brennan Center for Justice, NYU Law School   Guests: Robert Cardillo, Former Director, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency   Anthony Vinci, Author, The Fourth Intelligence Revolution: The Future of Espionage and the Battle to Save America; Former Chief Technology Officer, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency   Rebecca U. Weiner, Deputy Commissioner, Intelligence and Counterterrorism, New York City Police Department; CFR Member   Want more comprehensive analysis of global news and events straight to your inbox? Subscribe to CFR’s Daily News Brief newsletter.   To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iu62quTXCF0   

Today, U.S. economic leadership is at a crossroads. An overconcentration of critical supply chains in China, underinvestment in important sectors at home, and strategic competition over the next generation of foundational technologies has exposed vulnerabilities in U.S. economic security.    In its new report, U.S. Economic Security: Winning the Race for Tomorrow’s Technologies, the CFR Task Force on Economic Security addresses U.S. economic security risks and offers practical recommendations for mobilizing the resources needed to prevail.   This Task Force is part of RealEcon: Reimagining American Economic Leadership, a CFR initiative of the Maurice R. Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies.   Background Reading: This CFR Task Force Report finds that strategic competition over the world’s next generation of foundational technologies is underway, and U.S. advantages in artificial intelligence, quantum, and biotechnology are increasingly contested.   Host: Greg Ip, Chief Economics Commentator and Deputy Economics Editor, Wall Street Journal   Guests: Jonathan E. Hillman, Project Director, Economic Security Task Force; Senior Fellow for Geoeconomics, CFR   Justin G. Muzinich, Cochair, Economic Security Task Force, CFR; Chief Executive Officer, Muzinich & Co., Inc.; Former Deputy Secretary of the Treasury (2018–21); Board of Directors, CFR   Gina M. Raimondo, Cochair, Economic Security Task Force, CFR; Former Secretary of Commerce (2021–25)   James D. Taiclet, Cochair, Economic Security Task Force, CFR; Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer, Lockheed Martin Corporation   Want more comprehensive analysis of global news and events straight to your inbox? Subscribe to CFR’s Daily News Brief newsletter.   To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLs6B7KF4p0 

As leaders gather in Brazil to discuss international climate policy at this year’s COP30 summit, major questions remain regarding a warming climate and investments in renewable energy. In this conversation, experts discuss the future of global climate negotiations and reflect on lessons learned from past climate diplomacy, including the legacy of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol adopted at COP3.   Background Reading: This article unpacks the lack of cooperation among COP30 members to strengthen climate initiatives and the recent withdrawal of the United States from global climate commitments.   Host: Alice C. Hill, David M. Rubenstein Senior Fellow for Energy and the Environment, Council on Foreign Relations   Guests: David Sandalow, Inaugural Fellow at the Center on Global Energy Policy, Columbia University; Former Senior Director, National Security Council (1997–1999)   David G. Victor, Distinguished Professor of Innovation and Public Policy and Director of the Deep Decarbonization Initiative, University of California, San Diego   Want more comprehensive analysis of global news and events straight to your inbox? Subscribe to CFR’s Daily News Brief newsletter.   To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcIsuBLObcY 

Measles, whooping cough, and other vaccine-preventable diseases are on the rise around the world. Cuts to foreign aid, coupled with growing vaccine hesitancy, and persistent gaps in vaccine access are fueling outbreaks in poor and wealthy nations alike. In this conversation, global health experts discuss the drivers of these outbreaks and the solutions that can advance vaccine equity and better public health worldwide.   Background Reading: This tracker from CFR’s Think Global Health initiative maps weekly updates of disease outbreaks around the globe. This article unpacks the global decline in immunization coverage. This backgrounder unpacks the effectiveness of vaccines in preventing disease, and the global rise in vaccine hesitancy.   Host: Thomas J. Bollyky, Bloomberg Chair in Global Health and Director of the Global Health Program, Council on Foreign Relations   Guests: Heidi Larson, Founder and Director, The Vaccine Confidence Project   Seth Berkley, Senior Advisor, Pandemic Center; Adjunct Professor of the Practice in the Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health   William John Moss, Executive Director, International Vaccine Access Center; Professor of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health   Want more comprehensive analysis of global news and events straight to your inbox? Subscribe to CFR’s Daily News Brief newsletter.   To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilif8cCwErE   

Qatar is home to the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East and maintains deep economic ties with Washington, cementing its status as a critical on-NATO ally. But this September, that partnership was put to the test when Israel, largely funded and supported by the United States, launched an attack on Qatar’s capital, Doha. In this conversation, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani discusses Qatar’s regional role, including its mediation efforts in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, and its response following the Israeli attack in Doha.   Background Reading: This article discusses how the strikes on Doha could jeopardize future ceasefires in Gaza.   Host: Ayman Mohyeldin, Co-Host, The Weekend: Primetime, MSNBC   Guests: Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Qatar   Want more comprehensive analysis of global news and events straight to your inbox? Subscribe to CFR’s Daily News Brief newsletter. To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huTLgmLExc

As great-power competition intensifies and the prospect of conflict with China looms, military strength, technological innovation, and cooperation with allies are essential to ensuring U.S. national security. General Charles Q. Brown, Jr., 21st chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, discusses the most pressing geopolitical challenges facing the United States and the world today.   Background Reading: This article outlines the risks of the United States’ dependence on China for critical minerals, and makes suggestions for how the United States can begin to compete in the space.   Host: Michael Froman, President, Council on Foreign Relations   Guests: Charles Q. Brown, Jr., 21st Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; General, U.S. Air Force (Retired)   Want more comprehensive analysis of global news and events straight to your inbox? Subscribe to CFR’s Daily News Brief newsletter.   To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEqSGjfMPy8 

As the war in Ukraine nears its fourth year, uncertainty is growing over the future of international support. Meanwhile, mounting pressure on Russia’s economy and an increase in high-tech, drone-centric warfare continue to bolster Ukraine’s defense. Experts from Ukraine and Europe discuss international financial initiatives to support Ukraine’s reconstruction and revitalize its infrastructure and economy in the aftermath of Russia’s military aggression.   Background Reading:  This report lays out strategies for rebuilding Ukraine, reintegrating workers, and growing the country’s economy post-war.   Host: Heidi Crebo-Rediker, Senior Fellow, Center for Geoeconomic Studies at CFR   Guests: Nadia Calviño, President, European Investment Bank Sergii Marchenko, Minister of Finance, Ukraine Odile Renaud-Basso, President, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development   Want more comprehensive analysis of global news and events straight to your inbox? Subscribe to CFR’s Daily News Brief newsletter.   To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/live/yySb8cSk7E8.   

U.S. Department of State officials are the foremost representatives of U.S. interests around the world, helping to manage relationships with foreign governments, international organizations, and the people of other countries. Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Dean of Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs Keren Yarhi-Milo discuss their new book, Inside the Situation Room, and lessons for future leaders navigating national security crises.   Background Reading:  This post unpacks leaked reform plans that the Donald Trump administration seeks to make to the State Department.   Host: David Westin, Anchor, Bloomberg   Guests: Hillary Rodham Clinton, 67th U.S. Secretary of State Keren Yarhi-Milo, Dean and Adlai E. Stevenson Professor of International Relations, Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) John J. Sullivan, Partner, Mayer Brown; Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State   Want more comprehensive analysis of global news and events straight to your inbox? Subscribe to CFR’s Daily News Brief newsletter.   To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juwvr_yrwz4 

In September 2025, the U.S. Federal Reserve approved a quarter-point interest rate cut. The move came amid a softening labor market, above-target inflation, heightened uncertainty about Trump’s trade and tariff policy, and other conditions that present significant challenges to monetary policymakers. Against this backdrop, Susan M. Collins, the president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, discusses the United States’ current economic outlook.    Background Reading:  This backgrounder unpacks the role of the U.S. Federal Reserve, and its ongoing struggles with inflation and political scrutiny.   Host: Seema Mody, Technology and Global Markets Correspondent, CNBC   Guest: Susan M. Collins, President and Chief Executive Officer, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston   Want more comprehensive analysis of global news and events straight to your inbox? Subscribe to CFR’s Daily News Brief newsletter.   To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJgEznKrwKY 

From Sudan to the war in Gaza, 2025 has seen the continuation of major humanitarian crises across the globe. Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, examines a range of these crises, while also exploring issues such as financing, reform, and declining multilateral consensus.    This conversation was hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations during the 80th United Nations General Assembly.    Background Reading:  This expert brief outlines the Trump administration's move away from UN human rights standards.  This post discusses the most recent U.S. report on Human Rights Practices.    Host: Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations   Guest: Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights   Want more comprehensive analysis of global news and events straight to your inbox? Subscribe to CFR’s Daily News Brief newsletter.   To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/live/Hami3lD8MeY?si=8Uzbhk09q45hB8jC 

Long before Trump retook the Oval Office, policymakers were concerned that South Africa's growing ties with Russia and China could undermine Washington’s strategic interests in the region. Against the backdrop of these concerns, President Cyril Ramaphosa examines South Africa’s domestic priorities, its bilateral trade relations with the United States, the future of BRICS, and the country’s role in Southern Africa.   This conversation was hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations during the 80th United Nations General Assembly.    Background Reading:  This post unpacks the confrontational meeting between South African President Ramaphosa and U.S. President Trump in May 2025.   Host: Richard Stengel, Political Analyst at MSNBC; Former Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs at the U.S. Department of State   Guest: Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa   Want more comprehensive analysis of global news and events straight to your inbox? Subscribe to CFR’s Daily News Brief newsletter. To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lD93mvqbnDI