The President’s Inbox

The CIA Director’s Not-So-Secret Trip to Moscow

This episode unpacks the potential purposes and implications of CIA Director John Ratcliffe’s recent surprise trip to Moscow.   Host: James M. Lindsay, Mary and David

Six Months of War With Iran, With Steven Cook

This episode unpacks the current state of the U.S.-Iran conflict, broader dynamics in the Middle East, and the shifting U.S. role in the region.   Host: James M. Linds

Washington’s Missile Shortage, With Michael Horowitz

This episode unpacks reporting that U.S. munitions stockpiles are dangerously low and lays out the consequences of the shortage both for Washington’s ongoing war with Ira

Maximum Pressure on Cuba, With Will Freeman

This episode unpacks how the Trump administration's maximum pressure campaign is accelerating Cuba's economic collapse and what a firsthand trip to the country reveals ab

U.S.-India Relations Under Stress, With Sadanand Dhume

U.S.-India relations have struggled despite U.S. President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s close personal relationship. This episode unpacks why ta

The Myth of the AI Race, With Alvin Wang Graylin

This episode unpacks U.S. and Chinese AI strategies, regulation approaches, and the future implications for society and security.   Host: James M. Lindsay, Mary and Da

Lessons From 250 Years of U.S. Foreign Policy, With Robert Kagan

This episode unpacks the history of 250 years of U.S. foreign policy and examines patterns of the United States’ engagement with the world.   Host: James M. Lindsay, M

Women in Power, With Linda Robinson

This episode unpacks the unique challenges faced by women leaders, their contributions to democracy, and the critical lessons they offer in the fight against authoritaria

Ukraine Turns the Tide, With Liana Fix

This episode unpacks whether Ukraine has turned the tide against Russia on the battlefield and assesses the new security relationship between Ukraine and Europe.   Host

America’s Ebola Preparedness, With Thomas Bollyky

This episode unpacks how a major Ebola outbreak in Central Africa exposed critical gaps in global health surveillance and assesses U.S. preparedness for future biological

America at 250: The Marshall Plan, With Benn Steil

This episode unpacks how the Marshall Plan transformed postwar Western Europe and why security, allied cooperation, and forward thinking were the real keys to its endurin

Why the U.S. Needs an Africa Strategy, With Michelle Gavin

This episode unpacks how Africa's demographic surge, critical mineral wealth, and expanding security threats are reshaping its relevance to U.S. foreign policy in the twe

What Trump and Xi Didn't Settle in Beijing, With Nicholas Burns

This episode unpacks the key discussion points from the U.S.-China summit, including Taiwan, the Iran war, AI regulation, and the future of U.S.-China relations.   Host

Trump and Xi in Beijing, With Rush Doshi

This episode unpacks President Donald Trump’s upcoming summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, the first by a sitting U.S. President in nearly a decade, as t

The Spillover: Are Prediction Markets Forecasting Tools or Virtual Casinos?

Prediction markets have grown into a multibillion-dollar industry. This episode asks whether they are powerful forecasting tools or gambling platforms in disguise—and wha

How to Build an American Foreign Policy, With Michael Mandelbaum

This episode unpacks three enduring pillars that have defined U.S. foreign policy from the nation’s founding to today: ideology, economic statecraft, and democratic accou

America at 250: The Spanish-American War, With H.W. Brands

This episode unpacks the causes, key events, and consequences of the Spanish-American War, highlighting how it shaped U.S. foreign policy into the modern era.    To mar

What Comes Next After Failed U.S.-Iran Talks, With Elliott Abrams

This episode unpacks the U.S.-Iran ceasefire talks in Islamabad and the prospect of a U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.   Host: James M. Lindsay, Mary and David B

Russia’s Stakes in the Iran War, With Thomas Graham

This episode unpacks the opportunities and risks Moscow is facing amid the U.S. and Israeli war with Iran.   Host: James M. Lindsay, Mary and David Boies Distinguished

Gulf States Under Fire, With Mina Al-Oraibi

This episode unpacks how the war with Iran will affect the future of the Gulf countries’ security and economic prosperity.   Host: James M. Lindsay, Mary and David Boi