Foreign Policy Live

An exclusive episode for our podcast listeners: Host and FP editor in chief Ravi Agrawal gives a preview of the latest print issue: “Letters to the Next President.” Suggested reading (FP links are paywall-free): Martin Kimani: How to Restore the American Center Arancha González: Isolationism Doesn’t Protect Danny Quah: Why America Should Drop Its Obsession With Being No. 1 Joseph E. Stiglitz: Play by the Rules Catherine Ashton: The Trans-Atlantic Partnership Still Matters Jason Bordoff: Clean Energy Is Security Mark Malloch-Brown: Muster Global Majorities Joseph S. Nye Jr.: Invest in Soft Power Nirupama Rao: Strategic Autonomy Is Nothing to Fear Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former Trump administration National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster joins FP Live to debrief after the Harris-Trump debate. Suggested reading (FP links are paywall-free): Christina Lu and Amy Mackinnon: Top Foreign-Policy Moments From the Harris-Trump Debate FP Contributors: Letters to the Next President H.R. McMaster and Gabriel Scheinmann: U.S. Restraint Has Created an Unstable and Dangerous World  H.R. McMaster: At War With Ourselves: My Tour of Duty in the Trump White House H.R. McMaster: Battlegrounds: The Fight to Defend the Free World Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nicholas Burns has served as the U.S. ambassador to China since 2022, a period that encompasses not only the country’s COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns but also a series of high and low points in the U.S.-China relationship. How should Washington compete with Beijing without spiraling into conflict? Burns joins FP Live for a rare longform interview. Suggested reading (FP links are paywall-free): Robbie Gramer and Christina Lu: Washington’s China Hawks Take Flight Bob Davis: Who Got China Wrong? Michael Hirsh: No, This Is Not a Cold War—Yet Bonny Lin: The China-Russia Axis Takes Shape Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The violence on Oct. 7 and the war in Gaza seem to have derailed any hope for a two-state solution. With tensions in the Middle East continuing to escalate, and a cease-fire agreement proving elusive, what does a path forward for both the Israelis and Palestinians look like? Former Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad shares his insights with FP Live. Suggested reading (FP links are paywall-free): Foreign Affairs: Salam Fayyad: A Plan for Peace in Gaza John Aziz: Violence Has Failed the Palestinians FP Contributors: How Will This War End? How Can the Next One Be Prevented?  Stephen M. Walt: The Dangerous Decline in Israeli Strategy Tickets to see FP's Ones and Tooze podcast live at Sixth & I in Washington, DC: https://www.sixthandi.org/event/foreign-policys-ones-and-tooze-podcast/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Democratic National Convention concluded Thursday night with Vice President Kamala Harris accepting the party’s nomination. What did we learn about a potential Harris foreign policy? Matt Duss, former foreign-policy advisor to Sen. Bernie Sanders, and Anne-Marie Slaughter, former director of policy planning at the State Department, join FP Live to unpack this week’s DNC. Suggested reading (FP links are paywall free): Michael Hirsh: Preparing for a Less Arrogant America Michael Hirsh: Kamala Harris’s 21st-Century Foreign Policy  Matthew Duss: Harris Candidacy Gives Democrats a Change to Pivot on Gaza Matthew Duss: The Democrats’ Pro-Worker Agenda Can Go Global Financial Times: What Might a Harris Foreign Policy Look Like? Bhaskar Chakravorti: If Kamala Harris Was the Czar of Anything, It Would Be AI Abdelhalim Abdelrahman: Democrats’ Gaza Policy Is Repelling Arab American Voters FP Staff: The Kamala Harris Doctrine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do the proposed economic policies of Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump differ—and where is there overlap? Adam Posen, the president of the nonpartisan Peterson Institute for International Economics, joins FP Live to discuss the two campaigns’ agendas. Suggested reading: Adam Posen on Industrial Policy: America’s Zero-Sum Economics Doesn’t Add Up Ravi Agrawal’s Interview With U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai (FP Live March 2023) Edward Alden on Robert Lighthizer: The Man Who Would Help Trump Upend the Global Economy Jared Cohen: Don’t Bet Against the Dollar Keith Johnson: Trump’s Plan to Weaken the Dollar Makes No Sense FP Staff: The Kamala Harris Doctrine Peterson Institute for International Economics: Election 2024: Assessing Presidential Economic Platforms Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The assassination of a key Hamas leader in Tehran, following the killing of a top Hezbollah commander in Beirut, could escalate an already tense conflict between Israel, Iran, and its proxies. Middle East expert Trita Parsi sits down with Ravi Agrawal to discuss what might happen next. Suggested reading: Steven A. Cook: Why Americans and Israelis Don’t See Eye to Eye on Iran Chicago Council on Global Affairs: Majority of Americans Oppose Sending US Forces to Defend Israel if Attacked by Iran Trita Parsi: The U.S. Should Negotiate With Iran on One Issue Right Now Trita Parsi: Netanyahu Wants War With Iran. Biden Can Prevent It. FP Live: Iran’s Attack on Israel—What Happens Next? Sina Toossi: Iranians Voted for Change. Will They Get It? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A leading figure in the Trump administration’s national security team, Elbridge Colby, joins FP Live to discuss the Republican nominee’s potential agenda. He argues for a more business-like approach with allies and alliances as well as prioritizing Asia over Europe.  Suggested reading: Transcript: Decoding Trump’s Foreign Policy Stephen M. Walt: The Trump-Vance Unilaterialist Delusion Elbridge Colby and David Ochmanek: How the United States Could Lose a Great-Power War  Elbridge Colby: How to Win America’s Next War Transcript: How Singapore Manages U.S.-China Tensions Transcript: Is Canada Free-Riding on Defense? Elbridge Colby: The Strategy of Denial: American Defense in an Age of Great Power Conflict Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Pussy Riot all have one thing in common—they’ve all sat in front of British portraitist Platon’s wide-angle lens. Platon joins FP Live to share what it’s like to be in the room with the top people in power and discuss how he captures these moments with his camera. Suggested reading: FP Live: How Platon Photographs Power Platon: The Defenders: Heroes of the Global Fight for Human Rights Clips: When Platon Met Putin & Clinton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Few countries are better equipped to interpret the U.S.-China relationship than Singapore. The small but wealthy city-state has extensive contacts with Washington and Beijing and understands both sides. Singaporean Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen sits down with FP’s Ravi Agrawal on stage at the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado to discuss China’s assertiveness, U.S. soft power, and a shifting global order. Suggested reading: Ravi Agrawal: How Singapore Manages U.S.-China Tensions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As NATO members up their defense spending to better equip the security alliance in the face of Russian aggression, Canada is coming in from criticism for lagging behind. How is Ottawa planning to rejuvenate its defense sector, and how is it thinking about new threats from the north, in the Arctic? Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair sits down with Ravi Agrawal at FP’s Security Forum ahead of NATO’s annual summit.  Suggested reading: Jack Detsch: NATO Wants Everyone to Help Deter Russia Robbie Gramer, Amy Mackinnon, and Jack Detsch: What to Watch for at NATO’s 75th Birthday Bash Caroline de Gruyter: NATO’s New Leader Was Planning This the Whole Time Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski joins FP Live ahead of a summit marking NATO’s 75th anniversary in Washington.  Suggested reading: FP Contributors: Europe Alone Hal Brands: Trump’s Return Would Transform Europe Christopher S. Chivvis: NATO is Turning 75, but How Much is There to Celebrate? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

U.S. President Joe Biden’s age and apparent frailty stole the show during the CNN presidential debate on June 27, overshadowing much of the domestic and foreign-policy issues discussed between him and his rival, former President Donald Trump. How is the debate being seen in the rest of the world? Political analysts Leslie Vinjamuri and Gideon Rachman join Ravi Agrawal to share their takeaways. Suggested reading: Michael Hirsh: Yes, Biden Flopped. But Let’s Not Overreact. Rishi Iyengar and Christina Lu: Key Foreign-Policy Moments From the Trump-Biden Debate Bruce Hoffman and Jacob Ware: How Bad Will Political Violence in the U.S. Get? Leslie Vinjamuri: What Another Trump-Biden Showdown Means for the World Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is capitalism broken? A growing number of Americans think so amid declining social mobility and rising inequality. According to investor Ruchir Sharma, author of What Went Wrong With Capitalism, the United States has gone on a decades-long debt binge, with too many regulations and a culture of bailouts, which he says has weakened dynamism in the economy—and capitalism itself. Sharma joins FP Live to discuss potential solutions and lessons from around the world.  Suggested reading: Ravi Agrawal: Capitalism Is Broken. Here’s How to Fix It. Cameron Abadi: Adam Tooze: What Is ESG Investing and Why the Sudden Backlash? Ashley Lester: Why Is Adam Smith Still So Popular? Adam Tooze: The Hidden History of the World’s Top Offshore Cryptocurrency Tax Haven Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The United Nations’ high commissioner for refugees Filippo Grandi talks to FP Live ahead of a visit to Sudan on World Refugee Day. Are international institutions adequately equipped to help a rising number of displaced people around the world? What more should be done? Neha Wadekar: The World’s Refugee Relief is Utterly Broken Shelly Culbertson: A Chance to Fix the Broken Refugee Model Robbie Gramer: Why is the World Ignoring a Looming Genocide in Sudan? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From pundits to polls, there was a wide expectation this year that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi would not only win a rare third consecutive term, but also secure an even bigger parliamentary majority than he had before. As results emerged on Tuesday, it was clear that India’s voters had other ideas. Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party won the most seats—more than the entire opposition alliance combined—but it will need the help of coalition allies to form a government.  How will Modi govern in a third term, and what will it mean for the world? FP’s Ravi Agrawal is joined by experts Milan Vaishnav and Yamini Aiyar to discuss.  Suggested reading: Ravi Agrawal: Why Modi Underperformed Devesh Kapur: Modi’s Power Has Peaked  Sushant Singh:Modi’s Campaign Rhetoric Is Dangerous Ravi Agrawal: The New Idea of India Mukul Kesavan: 4 Books to Understand Modern India Josh Felman and Josh Felman: Is India Really the Next China? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The presidential election in Mexico this weekend will likely result in the country’s first female president. It’s an open question, however, whether the front-runner in the polls and expected winner, Claudia Sheinbaum, will carry on the policies of her political mentor, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Former Mexican Ambassador to the United States Arturo Sarukhán joins Ravi Agrawal to analyze López Obrador’s legacy and how Mexico’s next leader may or may not enact different policies. Suggested reading: Christina Lu: Mexico’s Historic Elections, Explained Ana Sofía Rodríguez Everaert: The Woman Inheriting AMLO’s Revolution Isidro Morales: Mexico’s Next Leader Has an Energy Problem Connor Pfeiffer and Ryan C. Berg: Mexico and the United States Need to Talk About China Now Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Does progress always come with a backlash? How should societies think about managing the immense changes unleashed by technology and globalization? CNN host and author Fareed Zakaria joins FP Live to discuss his latest book, Age of Revolutions: Progress and Backlash From 1600 to the Present. Suggested reading: Michael Hirsh: Is This a Revolution? Or Are People Just Very Ticked Off? Michael Hirsh: No, This Is Not a Cold War—Yet Fareed Zakaria: Age of Revolutions: Progress and Backlash From 1600 to the Present Fareed Zakaria: The Rise of Illiberal Democracy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tehran has announced that it will hold elections on June 28 after President Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash on Sunday. Who might win, and what would that mean for Iranian politics—both at home and abroad? Iran experts Karim Sadjadpour and Robin Wright join FP’s Ravi Agrawal to discuss.  Suggested reading: Robin Wright: What Raisi’s Death Means for the Future of Iran  Ali Vaez and Hamidreza Azizi: Why Iran Believes It’s Winning Against Israel Jack Detsch: What Raisi’s Death Means for Iran’s Future Raphael S. Cohen: The Iran-Israel War Is Just Getting Started Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Increasingly, countries are closing off their economics and questioning the case for globalization. But where does this leave the Bretton Woods institutions intended to facilitate peace and prosperity through trade? World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala joins FP Live to discuss. Suggested reading: Gordon Brown: A New Multilateralism Eswar Prasad: The World Will Regret Its Retreat From Globalization Joseph E. Stiglitz: Where Global Governance Went Wrong—and How to Fix It Adam Posen: America’s Zero-Sum Economics Doesn’t Add Up Gita Gopinath: How Policymakers Should Handle a Fragmenting World Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices