Deep Dish on Global Affairs

The Spanish government's violent treatment of Catalonian voters thrust its national political crises into worldwide headlines. On this week's Deep Dish, CSIS's Daniel Runde brings context and clarity to the unsettled scene in Catalonia and the international reaction to the independence referendum.

The odds of NAFTA renegotiations successfully concluding on time are vanishingly small, says the Council's trade expert Phil Levy. In this episode of Deep Dish, he explains the economic, political, and legal difficulties associated with completing the deal—and why it might be just as complicated to back out.

The United States and Britain enjoy a special relationship, but can it hold against the winds of change? UK Minister of State Alan Duncan joined us to talk about President Trump, Brexit, North Korea, Russia, and Iran, explaining how his government sees the US-UK relationship in light of the many challenges it now faces.

The International Rescue Committee deemed today's hunger crisis "the least reported but most important issue of our time." The Council's Roger Thurow, author of The First 1,000 Days: A Crucial Time for Mothers and Children—and the World, outrages and inspires as he explains the injustices of stunting and tells inspirational stories of overcoming hunger on this week's episode of Deep Dish.

"Textbook ethnic cleansing" of the Muslim Rohingya minority continues in Western Myanmar. How do the internal politics of Myanmar, and its fragile democracy under Aung San Suu Kyi, explain the tepid response of the international community to this horrific attack on a forsaken people? Azeem Ibrahim, author of "The Rohingyas: Inside Myanmar's Hidden Genocide," joins Brian Hanson on this week's Deep Dish.

Why does America have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) in the first place, and what will policy changes mean for economic and national security? On the latest Deep Dish podcast, Council experts Sara McElmurry and Cécile Shea join host Brian Hanson to discuss the economic, human, and foreign policy implications of today's renewed focus on DACA.

With news that North Korea may have the capability to launch a miniaturized nuclear weapon on an intercontinental ballistic missile, can the North Korea can be kicked any further down the road? In this summer bonus episode, Brian Hanson discusses with Kori Schake and Jim Lindsay, alums of the national security council and leading voices in foreign policy and national security.

Deep Dish is taking a break for August, but we'll be back in September! In the meantime, we'd love to hear from you! Let us know what you thought of our first season of Deep Dish and what you'd like to hear next. Write to us at [email protected]. Brian and Evan will ready every note you send. We can't wait to hear from you!

From Iran to Canada, the Trump Administration has a number of tough negotiations ahead. Conversely, European leaders are beginning to understand what they need to say and do to keep the President comfortable. On this week's episode of Deep Dish, Dick Longworth, Cécile Shea, and Phil Levy continue the conversation on Donald Trump's Syrian ceasefire and the difficulties this administration can expect in pursuing its nebulous agenda.

The G20 has concluded, Presidents Trump and Putin finally met in person, and America's allies are growing closer as we pull away from the herd. This week on Deep Dish, Council fellows Phil Levy, Cécile Shea, and research associate Craig Kafura convene to discuss the G20's present and future, as well as the united front our trading partners are taking against Trump's proposed steel tariff.

For the first time since the end of the Cold War, the United States Navy is facing true naval competition from other countries all over the world. With the responsibility of maintaining the maritime prosperity of the United States on their shoulders, how is the Navy continuing to address the changing landscape on the open sea? To answer this question, and many others, Admiral John Richardson joins us to discuss the logistical and academic problems facing the Navy on this week's episode of Deep Dish.

In the worst humanitarian crisis in seven decades, 20 million people face famine in South Sudan, northeast Nigeria, Somalia, and Yemen. On this week's Deep Dish, Alesha Black, director of the Food and Agriculture program at the Council, talks to Brian Hanson about the causes and reactions to this international emergency.

For months, Brexit has been characterized as an 'ugly divorce' between Britain and the rest of America's European allies. As it turns out, Great Britain might be taking to the single life better than anyone expected. On this week's episode of Deep Dish, we are joined by Stephen Bridges, the United Kingdom's Consul General to Chicago, and our own senior fellow Phil Levy discuss the road that led Britain to Brexit, how they have been faring, and what we can expect in Britain's uncertain future.

China, Russia, and the United States, three of the biggest players in global energy markets, use energy in very different ways, giving rise to complex geopolitical issues that will play out over the next few decades. Adam Sieminski, energy and geopolitics expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, explains the implications of global energy dynamics on this week's episode of Deep Dish.

As anti-globalist populism continues to influence the decisions of national governments, local governments are exercising their ability to stand up on a national stage and act with autonomy. On this week's Deep Dish, Governor Claudio Orrego of Santiago, Chile joins us to discuss the unique challenges and advantages of his metropolitan constituency and how big cities can work together to enact change on a global scale.

How did President Trump's first foreign trip go? From the Middle East speech on Islam to the NATO summit in Brussels and the G7 summit in Sicily, Trump's trip was ambitious and full of real and symbolic action. On this week's Deep Dish, three Council experts give their review of how the trip went and what it did or did not accomplish.

The apparent concession of American hegemony to China has alarmed many Americans, but it seems unclear what, if anything, can be done. Gideon Rachman, chief foreign affairs columnist for the Financial Times and author of Easternization: Asia's Rise and America's Decline From Obama to Trump and Beyond, explains what the birth of a new global superpower means for the United States, and what we can expect in our near future. Subscribe: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/deep-dish/id1169079758

This is the most important election in the history of the Islamic Republic, says Saeid Golkar. Two main candidates, incumbent president Hassan Rouhani and conservative challenger Ebrahim Raisi, face off in tense two-round vote that will determine the future of Iran's interaction with the rest of the world. Will the moderate, reformist president responsible for the nuclear deal win out, or will Raisi bring Iran back into isolation? Golkar lays out the facts with guest host Cecile Shea in the latest episode of Deep Dish.

"When you focus on Korea, you have to focus on everything," says Council expert Karl Friedhoff. In the latest episode of Deep Dish, Karl explains the significance of South Korea's newly elected president and how he will usher in a new era affecting North Korea, China, Japan, and the United States.

The race for the French presidency between Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen is approaching its final stage. From the spike in populism to the floundering of primary party leadership, this election will play a major role in determining the direction of political winds across the West. Join the consul general of France in Chicago, Vincent Floreani; the Council's Dick Longworth, who brings decades of experience as the Chicago Tribune's chief European correspondent; and the Council's Dina Smeltz, our public opinion, polling, and foreign policy expert, as they discuss what looks familiar and different about the French election on this week's episode of Deep Dish.

Often missing from discussions about the US-China relationship is the perspective of the Chinese government. On this week's Deep Dish podcast, Hong Lei, China's Consul General in Chicago, explains how China and the United States may be able to cooperate on global security and the global economy.

Given recent airstrikes in Syria, use of the MOAB in Afghanistan, and missile tests in North Korea, we asked Council President and former US NATO Ambassador Ivo Daalder about the objectives of current US military deployments. He discusses the capabilities of the US armed forces and how to balance military action with diplomatic efforts.

President Trump's response to the gas attack in Syria created a wave of media coverage. In this week's Deep Dish on Global Affairs, veteran journalists Susan Glasser of POLITICO and Edward Luce of the Financial Times discuss what insight we gained into Trump's foreign policy and what role the news media might play in shaping his doctrine.

As President Trump meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping for the first time, Council fellows Karl Friedhoff and Phil Levy preview the pressing issues likely to arise at their summit: economic relations and the ever-aggressive North Korea.

President Trump said President Obama warned him of a "big problem" before he left office: North Korea. The increasing application of sanctions has been ineffective, transforming its nuclear program into a "superbug" that rest of the world can't seem to kill. North Korea experts Dr. John Park and Karl Friedhoff dish in the latest slice of Deep Dish on Global Affairs.

Populations across Midwest metros are either shrinking or experiencing slowing growth rates, especially in prime working-age adults. But influxes of immigrants are helping offset those declines. Immigration expert Sara McElmurry and expert demographer Rob Paral break down a new report from the Council about these changing demographics in and discuss how to harness this growth in a politically sensitive time.

Brexit is coming. The House of Commons and House of Lords just cleared the way for Theresa May to trigger Article 50 and formally exit from the European Union. Rebalancing the country's economy will be no small task – and to explain what's at stake, former European commissioner for trade Lord Peter Mandelson sits down for a slice of the Deep Dish podcast.

While Mexico and the United States have done a great many things together, "the one thing that we won't be doing together is building a wall," says former Mexican Ambassador to the United States Arturo Sarukhán. On the latest Deep Dish podcast, Sarukhán sits down with Council President Ivo Daalder for a frank ambassador-to-ambassador conversation about Trump, the border wall, NAFTA, and more.

China's military expansion in the South China Sea and rising economic influence command increasing attention, but North Korea, Japan, and other regional actors are shifting power beneath the surface. On the latest Deep Dish podcast, Asia experts Richard McGregor and Sheila Smith talk with host Brian Hanson about the intricate choices facing the Trump administration in Asia.

Will the appointment of H.R. McMaster as President Trump's National Security Advisor calm the tumult over Michael Flynn's resignation? On the latest Deep Dish episode, two former NSC members, Ivo Daalder and Kori Schake, illuminate the genuine challenges for McMaster and Trump's national security machine from the inside out.

Syria, Libya, and Iraq are the latest in a series of contentious US interventions. Forced to choose between leaving other countries alone or trying to run the world—Americans choose both, says author and journalist Stephen Kinzer. On this week's Deep Dish, Kinzer and career diplomat Cécile Shea discuss intervention done well, done poorly, and how the intervention debate has endured since the Spanish-American war.

A flare-up of violence in eastern Ukraine following a call between presidents Putin and Trump has many wondering what's next in the highly combustible situation. On this week's Deep Dish podcast, former US Ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst joins Russia expert Samuel Charap to analyze Putin's goals and the likely outcome of a shift in Eurasian geopolitics.

President Trump's executive order suspending new refugee admissions and blocking travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries has sparked protests across the United States and shocked the world. Ian Tuttle says Trump's order is mostly right on substance but wrong on rollout, while Robert Pape says Trump is making ISIS great again. Listen to this episode of Deep Dish to hear two leading voices describe what's at stake.

In the aftermath of President Trump's pullout of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, trade experts Gary Clyde Hufbauer of the Peterson Institute for International Economics and Council senior fellow on the global economy Phil Levy talk with Council vice president of studies Brian Hanson about presidential powers in international trade.

Talk from the incoming Trump administration on Asia is rattling allies in the region. Council experts Cécile Shea and Karl Friedhoff talk with host Brian T. Hanson about the return on US investment in Asia, what America stands to lose from disengagement, and how China could fill the vacuum created by a US abandonment of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal.

Millions of people attended the funeral procession for former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. In the latest Deep Dish podcast, the Council's visiting fellow for Iran policy, Saeid Golkar, explains why Rafsanjani was so beloved and how his death may position hardliners and "conflictualists" to seize the initiative in Iran's internal and external affairs.

As the US election and Brexit vote showed, the relationship between cities and their surrounding areas is fraught with conflicting interests. Council Distinguished Fellow Dick Longworth and the Financial Times' Edward Luce talk about where this relationship is headed in the latest episode of Deep Dish.

For some, social integration is a new challenge caused by globalization and cultural change. For others, inequality and segregation have long been strains on civil society. In this episode, Michael Nutter, former mayor of Philadelphia, and Kamal Al-Solaylee, journalist and author of Brown: What Being Brown in the World Today Means (To Everyone), discuss social inclusion in the 21st century with Deep Dish host Brian T. Hanson.

Anything that surprises people about President-elect Trump shouldn't surprise them too much, says Chinese entrepreneur and 2016 Scholl Fellow Victor Yuan. In the latest Deep Dish podcast, Yuan talks with Council experts about the potential points of conflict and consensus between the next US administration and China.

Washington Post chief correspondent Dan Balz sits down with the Council's Ivo Daalder, Brian Hanson, and Richard Longworth to discuss how Trump redefined the debate on globalization and what the 2016 election exposed about the US identity and its role in the world.

Trade and globalization seem to have played an outsized role in this year's election. On this week's episode of Deep Dish, Council vice president of studies Brian T. Hanson sat down with experts Phil Levy, Dina Smeltz, and Diana Mutz to discuss.

Following Donald Trump's surprising win, Council vice president of studies Brian T. Hanson sat down with Council President Ivo Daalder to discuss how US foreign policy and the organizing principles of the world order are likely to change under a Trump presidency.

In a speech at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, US Secretary of State John Kerry said that solutions to climate change were staring us in the face. In this episode of Deep Dish, Council vice president of studies Brian T. Hanson sits down with resident climate and sustainability expert Karen Weigert to ask her about the latest developments and solutions to this critical global issue.

What's behind this year's populist explosion? In the latest episode of Deep Dish, Council vice president of studies Brian Hanson interviews John Judis, author of The Populist Explosion, to put the year's political movements—from Brexit to Trumpism—into historic context. Hanson then sits down with Council President Ivo Daalder and Chatham House Director Robin Niblett to discuss the implications of populism for the established world order.

In the latest episode of Deep Dish, resident global economy expert Phil Levy sat down with Council Vice President of Studies Brian Hanson to discuss one of this election's biggest issues: The TPP and trade deals like it. Phil breaks down the use of trade in foreign policy, what happened to the TPP that put it in critical condition, and what its odds are for recovery.

Immigration and national security have been salient topics in this year's election, but until now they've been conspicuously absent from the presidential debates. With both topics set for discussion in the third debate, vice president of studies Brian Hanson sat down with Council immigration expert Sara McElmurry and polling expert Craig Kafura to discuss common sense immigration reforms that could find consensus during the next administration.

With the 2016 Chicago Council Survey of American attitudes on foreign policy in hand, Vice President of Studies Brian Hanson sat down with Council polling experts Dina Smeltz and Craig Kafura before Sunday's debate to find out how American public opinion compares with what the candidates are saying in the latest episode of our new Deep Dish podcast.

Meet the Chicago Council on Global Affairs' new podcast – Deep Dish. From now until election day, Council experts Craig Kafura, Phil Levy, and Karen Weigert will be dishing on global affairs topics that are critical to the election and our understanding of America's role in the world. Their first slice is a discussion following Federal Reserve Governor Lael Brainard's speech at the Council this week – where is monetary policy heading and has it become political? Listen here.