Deep Dish on Global Affairs
by The Chicago Council on Global Affairs
Latest episode
What Trump's Midterm Setback Means for Europe
What Trump's Midterm Setback Means for Europe
About this podcast
Deep Dish on Global Affairs helps you make sense of our rapidly changing world. Join host Leslie Vinjamuri, President and CEO of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, as she speaks with thought leaders, journalists, and experts shaping foreign policy and global events. Together, they go beyond the headlines, explaining how events unfolded, why they matter, and what to watch for. Can global trade survive the shock of Trump's tariffs? What's behind the global race for AI dominance? New episodes every Thursday.
Learn more at https://globalaffairs.org/deep-dish
Episodes
The newest 50 of 423 episodes
- What Trump's Midterm Setback Means for Europe · 23 minThe US midterms delivered a setback for President Trump, but could the political forces that helped bring him to power be reshaping Europe? Mark Leonard of the European Council…
- Is America's Presidency Becoming Too Powerful? · 20 minOver the past 25 years, American presidents have steadily expanded their executive authority to take the country to war. CNN national security analyst Peter Bergen joins Deep…
- Deep Dish Live: David Lammy on Britain's 'Special Relationship' With Trump · 21 minIn a live Deep Dish conversation, former UK Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary David Lammy joins host Leslie Vinjamuri to discuss Britain's "less predictable"…
- Has America Started a Global Economic Arms Race? · 28 minThe US has spent decades using economic sanctions and export controls to pressure its adversaries. Now China, Iran, and even the European Union are adopting similar tactics…
- Could the Midterms Change Trump's Foreign Policy? · 28 minCould the war in Iran help Democrats take back Congress? The National Interest's editor-at-large Steve Clemons predicts they'll do "very well despite themselves." He joins Deep…
- What's at Stake in Israel's First Election Since October 7? · 23 minThree years after the October 7 attacks, RAND's Shira Efron says Israel is "still in the trauma phase." With the country now heading into its first national election since the…
- Could Brazil's Election Push It Closer to the US? · 26 minAs Brazil heads into an essentially tied presidential election, award-winning journalist Patrícia Campos Mello explains what's driving voters, how President Lula and Senator…
- Trump and Xi Face a New Question: What to Do About AI · 21 minAs Trump and Xi meet in Washington, Apple in China author Patrick McGee explains why he's "a little more hopeful" about what could come out of the summit, where the United States…
- 'The Old World Is Dying.' What Comes Next? · 22 minWhat happens when countries can no longer take the old international order for granted? Ishaan Tharoor of the Council on Foreign Relations and The New Yorker joins Leslie…
- Can the US and China Avoid the Mistakes of 1914? · 20 minThe US and China have plenty of reasons to avoid a war, but international relations historian Odd Arne Westad says the years before World War I show how quickly tensions between…
- Humanitarian Needs Are Growing. Can the World Keep Up? · 21 minMore than 300 million people need emergency humanitarian support as some of the world's biggest donors scale back their aid. Mercy Corps CEO Tjada McKenna joins Leslie Vinjamuri…
- The War in Afghanistan Is Over. Or Is It? · 21 minNearly five years after the United States withdrew from Afghanistan, former US Ambassador Ryan Crocker joins Leslie Vinjamuri to reflect on America's longest war and what its…
- When The Global Economy Becomes a 'Weapon' · 24 minFive months after the conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran began, Council on Foreign Relations' Edward Fishman joins Leslie Vinjamuri to explain how strategic…
- Can Britain Grow Again? · 26 minBritain's new prime minister, Andy Burnham, takes office amid sluggish growth, political uncertainty, and intensifying global competition. Financial Times columnist and King's…
- What Winning the AI Race Really Means · 28 minArtificial intelligence is reshaping cybersecurity, military strategy, and the competition between the United States and China. Former Deputy National Security Advisor Anne…
- What a Road Trip Across America Reveals About the Country Today · 27 minAs America marks its 250th anniversary, The Economist's John Prideaux retraces Alexis de Tocqueville's famous journey across the United States to see what has changed over the…
- NATO's Most Complicated Member: Turkey · 24 minTurkey is playing an increasingly important role inside NATO, but its relationships with Russia, Europe, and the United States are more complicated than ever. Brookings…
- Can America Still Lead at 250 — Or Is the World Moving On? · 21 minAs the United States marks 250 years of independence, its allies are reassessing America's role in the world. Journalist and military historian Mark Urban joins Leslie Vinjamuri…
- DEEP DISH LIVE: David Sanger on Trump's Phone Call, Iran Deal, and What Comes Next · 26 minIn this special Deep Dish LIVE episode, Leslie Vinjamuri sits down with New York Times White House and National Security Correspondent, David Sanger, who recently spoke with…
- Summer Davos: What does China Want? · 27 minChina's annual Summer Davos meeting comes at a complicated moment: consumer demand is weak, manufacturing is booming, and tensions with the United States and Europe are rising…
- Can the G7 Deliver on Economic Security? · 25 minEconomic security has become a major focus ahead of next week's G7 summit in France. A rare call between G7 leaders and China, convened by President Macron, underscores just how…
- Rise of Middle Powers: 'A New Order Is Gradually Being Born' · 28 minThe world's great powers still dominate the headlines, but they may not be the only countries shaping what comes next within the international order. Anne-Marie Slaughter joins…
- Is the US Entering a New Era of Global Power? · 33 minCan America's allies still count on the United States? As the Trump administration pulls troops from Europe and reshapes America's defense strategy, former Under Secretary of…
- Why Trump Took America's Top Tech CEOs to China · 31 minPresident Trump brought some of America's biggest tech leaders—including Elon Musk, Tim Cook, and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang—to Beijing for a high-stakes summit with Chinese leader…
- What China Really Thinks About America Right Now · 32 minAs Trump and Xi meet for a high-stakes summit amid rising tensions over trade, technology, and Taiwan, the US-China relationship is entering another uncertain phase. Stanford…
- Is the Quad Fracturing as US Priorities Shift? · 26 minThe Quad was meant to anchor stability in the Indo-Pacific—a way for the United States, India, Japan, and Australia to stay aligned in a rapidly changing region. But shifting US…
- The Most Surprising Success Stories Around the World Right Now · 32 minThere seems to be no shortage of global challenges, from aging populations to political gridlocks to immigration. But solutions are emerging in unexpected places. John Kampfner…
- Is China Quietly Winning the Iran War? · 26 minThe war with Iran isn't just a Middle East story anymore. As attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz disrupt global energy markets, the economic impacts are being felt by…
- Is International Law Built for Today's Wars? · 29 minAs the US-Israel war on Iran continues, the international rules, laws, and norms meant to govern it are collapsing and being rewritten. Does international law still matter? And…
- The Cost of Trump's Pressure Campaign on Cuba · 24 minAs the United States tightens sanctions and cuts off oil to Cuba, the island is facing deepening economic and humanitarian strain. President Trump has signaled he wants regime…
- Is the Middle East Heading Toward a Much Bigger War? · 27 min"This is no longer an Iran war. This is a region-wide war." Fawaz Gerges, of the London School of Economics and Political Science, explains why he believes the conflict has…
- From Oil to Food: How the Iran War Could Disrupt Global Stability · 32 minGas prices may be the first way Americans feel the war in Iran, but Catherine Bertini, former executive director of the United Nations World Food Programme, and Michael Werz of…
- Trump, Iran, and the Future of American Power · 28 minTrump said he would stop wars, not start them. But as the conflict with Iran widens, that promise is under strain. Matt Duss of the Center for International Policy explores what…
- War with Iran: What the World Debated in New Delhi · 36 minJust days after US and Israeli strikes on Iran, global leaders gathered in New Delhi for the Raisina Dialogue. As tensions escalated, conversations quickly shifted to urgent…
- Are We Headed for a Bigger War with Iran? · 24 minUS and Israeli strikes on Iran have triggered retaliation across the region, with drones, missiles, grounded flights, and rising oil prices. But what's the actual goal? Is this a…
- The West Under Pressure: Inside Munich 2026 · 27 minUkraine, China, and Iran are shaking up the world—but at the Munich Security Conference, the West seemed to be worrying about itself. Amid simmering transatlantic tensions, US…
- Can Europe Stand Without the US? · 29 minEurope is rethinking its security as the US signals it may not always be a reliable partner. Ahead of the Munich Security Conference, countries are scrambling to rearm, diversify…
- Is the West Ready for an Asian Century? · 27 minAs China and India rise, power in the Indo-Pacific is shifting fast, and the world is feeling it. Former Singaporean diplomat Kishore Mahbubani puts it bluntly: "the era of…
- Davos Shockwaves: Moments That Sparked Bigger Questions · 33 minThe World Economic Forum doesn't always deliver clear answers—but this year, it delivered drama and tension. From President Trump's speech to Europe's pushback and a rare…
- How the World Is Reading US Power · 33 minOne year into US President Donald Trump's second term, the administration has outlined a vision of US preeminence in the Western Hemisphere and sharper competition with China…
- Iran Protests: Can the Regime Survive · 28 minProtests are spreading across Iran, and reports suggest violent crackdowns and a rising death toll. So what's driving this moment, and how does it differ from protests Iran has…
- Europe's Security Wake-Up Call · 30 minFrom US pressure over Greenland to high-stakes peace talks on Ukraine, long-standing assumptions about Europe's security are being tested. The Economist's defense editor Shashank…
- Trump's First Year Back: What Stood Out · 31 minThe past year has made one thing clear: this version of Trump on the world stage is different. From the Caribbean to Europe to America's own institutions, familiar rules don't…
- Human Rights in Retreat? Kenneth Roth Weighs In · 26 minHuman Rights Day lands as conflict is rising and accountability is fading. Big-power tensions are shaking old norms, and new technologies are changing the rules. So, are human…
- Can the U.S. Keep Its Edge on the Battlefield? · 31 minDefense is evolving fast—AI, drones, cyber threats, and autonomous weapons. The U.S. has led for decades, but China is closing in. Former Deputy Secretary of Defense Kath Hicks…
- Can a Ceasefire Stop Sudan's Crisis? · 28 minSudan is now the world's largest humanitarian crisis—bigger than Gaza and Ukraine combined—yet it remains one of the least covered and least funded. Martin Griffiths, former UN…
- Inside Trump's National Security Playbook · 21 minPresident Trump's second-term national security strategy is coming, and it could reshape U.S. foreign policy from China to Europe to the Middle East. Nadia Schadlow, former…
- Are Changing Demographics the Next Global Power Shift? · 22 minEast Asia's biggest powers are getting older — and smaller. China, Japan, and South Korea are seeing shrinking workforces and aging populations, with fewer young people to fill…
- The Arctic Is Heating Up. So Is the Competition to Control It · 25 minThe Arctic's heating up—literally and politically. Melting ice is turning a once-remote region into a stage for global power. Experts Kenneth Rosen and Anna Wieslander unpack how…
