The President’s Inbox

Alice Hill, the David M. Rubenstein senior fellow for energy and the environment at CFR, and Varun Sivaram, a senior fellow for energy and climate at CFR, sit down with James M. Lindsay to discuss what the United States has done and should do to confront a changing climate. This episode is the second in a special TPI series on the U.S. 2024 presidential election and is supported by the Carnegie Corporation of New York. Mentioned on the Episode Alice C. Hill, The Fight for Climate After COVID-19 Varun Sivaram, Taming the Sun: Innovations to Harness Solar Energy and Power the Planet The U.S. Election and Foreign Policy, CFR.org For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/tpi/climate-challenge-alice-hill-and-varun-sivaram-election-2024-episode-2

Liana Fix, a fellow for Europe at CFR, and Thomas Graham, a distinguished fellow at CFR, sit down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the future of U.S. policy toward Russia and the risks posed by heightened tensions between two nuclear powers. This episode is the first in a special TPI series on the U.S. 2024 presidential election and is supported by the Carnegie Corporation of New York. Mentioned on the Episode Liana Fix, “NATO and Ukraine: The Peril of Indecision,” Survival Liana Fix and Michael Kimmage, “The Ukraine Scenarios,” Foreign Affairs The U.S. Election and Foreign Policy, CFR.org Thomas Graham, Getting Russia Right For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/tpi/russia-challenge-liana-fix-and-thomas-graham-election-2024-episode-1

Max Boot, the Jeane J. Kirkpatrick senior fellow for national security studies at CFR and a columnist for The Washington Post, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss Ronald Reagan’s life and his impact on U.S. foreign policy. Enter the CFR book giveaway by September 24, 2024, for the chance to win one of ten free copies of Reagan: His Life and Legend by Max Boot. You can read the terms and conditions of the offer here. Mentioned on the Episode Max Boot, “Reagan Didn’t Win the Cold War,” Foreign Affairs Max Boot, Reagan: His Life and Legend Max Boot, The Road Not Taken: Edward Lansdale and the American Tragedy in Vietnam Shreya Chattopadhyay and Miguel Salazar, "22 Nonfiction Books to Read This Fall," New York Times Edmund Morris, Dutch: A Memoir of Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan, "Address to the Nation About Christmas and the Situation in Poland" Ronald Reagan, "Address to the Nation on the Explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger" Ronald Reagan, “Remarks at a Ceremony Commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the Normandy Invasion, D-Day" “Ronald Reagan, Mastermind,” Saturday Night Live For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/tpi/ronald-reagan-us-global-leadership-max-boot

Steven Cook, the Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at CFR, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the potential for a wider war in the Middle East as Iran vows to retaliate against Israel for the killing of a top Hamas official in Tehran. Mentioned on the Episode Steven Cook, The End of Ambition: America’s Past, Present, and Future in the Middle East For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/tpi/a-wider-middle-east-war-with-steven-cook

Liana Fix, a fellow for Europe at CFR, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss Ukraine’s surprise incursion into Russia. Mentioned on the Episode Liana Fix, “NATO and Ukraine: The Peril of Indecision,” Survival Liana Fix and Michael Kimmage, “The Ukraine Scenarios,” Foreign Affairs For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/ukraines-attack-kursk-liana-fix

Stephen Heintz, president and CEO of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss how the United States should adapt to an era of renewed great power competition and domestic disagreement over what it should seek to achieve abroad. This episode is the fourth in a special TPI series on U.S. grand strategy. Mentioned on the Episode Stephen Heintz, “A Logic for the Future: International Relations in the Age of Turbulence,” Rockefeller Brothers Fund John F. Kennedy, “Commencement Address at American University,” June 10, 1963 For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/tpi/case-multipolar-pluralism-stephen-heintz

Rush Doshi, C.V. Starr Senior Fellow for Asia Studies and director of the China Strategy Initiative, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss how America should navigate its geopolitical rivalry with China. Mentioned on the Episode Graham Allison, Destined for War: Can America and China Escape Thucydides’ Trap? Hal Brands and Michael Beckley, Danger Zone: The Coming Conflict With China Rush Doshi, The Long Game: China’s Grand Strategy to Displace American Order Rush Doshi, et al., “Debating the United States’ China Strategy,” CFR.org Rush Doshi, et al., “What Does America Want From China?,” Foreign Affairs Aaron Friedberg, The Weary Titan: Britain and the Experience of Relative Decline, 1895-1905 Mike Gallagher and Matt Pottinger, “No Substitute for Victory: America’s Competition With China Must Be Won, Not Managed,” Foreign Affairs William Langley and Gloria Li, “Chinese Robot Maker Says Protectionism Will Not Stop Its March,” Financial Times For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/tpi/americas-china-strategy-rush-doshi

Christopher Kirchhoff, former special assistant to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Raj M. Shah, managing partner of Shield Capital, sit down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the efforts by the U.S. Department of Defense to incorporate cutting-edge technology into its operations. Mentioned on the Episode Ashton B. Carter, “Keeping America’s Military Edge,” Foreign Affairs Christopher Kirchhoff and Raj M. Shah, Unit X: How the Pentagon and Silicon Valley Are Transforming the Future of War For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/tpi/silicon-valley-and-the-future-of-warfare

Charles A. Kupchan, a senior fellow at CFR and a professor of international affairs at Georgetown University, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss how the United States should adapt to an era of renewed great power competition and domestic disagreement over what it should seek to achieve abroad. This episode is the third in a special TPI series on U.S. grand strategy. Mentioned on the Episode "A New U.S. Grand Strategy: The Case for Liberal Internationalism, With John Ikenberry,” The President’s Inbox Richard Haass, Foreign Policy Begins at Home: The Case for Putting America’s House in Order Charles A. Kupchan, Isolationism: A History of America’s Efforts to Shield Itself From the World Jake Sullivan, "Renewing American Economic Leadership” Jake Sullivan, “The Sources of American Power: A Foreign Policy for a Changed World,” Foreign Affairs For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/tpi/new-us-grand-strategy-case-liberal-realism-charles-kupchan

Sir Robin Niblett, distinguished fellow at Chatham House, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss a potential second Cold War between the United States and China. Mentioned on the Episode Graham Allison, Destined for War: Can American and China Escape Thucydides’ Trap? Barry Buzan, “A New Cold War? The Case for a General Concept,” International Politics Robin Niblett, “The G-7 Must Prepare Now for Trump,” Foreign Policy Robin Niblett, The New Cold War: How the Contest Between the US and China Will Shape Our Century Robin Niblett and Leslie Vinjamuri, “The Liberal Order Begins at Home,” Foreign Affairs Jake Sullivan, “Remarks by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Renewing American Economic Leadership at the Brookings Institution,” April 27, 2023 Jake Sullivan, “The Sources of American Power: A Foreign Policy for a Changed World,” Foreign Affairs For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/us-china-cold-war-robin-niblett

Stephen Flynn, chair of the Committee on Assessing WMD Nuclear Terrorism at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and a political science professor at Northeastern University, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the steps the U.S. government should take to prevent and respond to nuclear terrorism. Mentioned on the Episode Nuclear Terrorism: Assessment of U.S. Strategies to Prevent, Counter, and Respond to Weapons of Mass Destruction, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicines For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/threat-nuclear-terrorism-stephen-flynn

Matthias Matthijs, senior fellow for Europe at CFR and associate professor of international political economy at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies, and Daniela Schwarzer, a member of the executive board of the Bertelsmann Stiftung, sit down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the results and consequences of the snap elections in France and the United Kingdom. Mentioned on the Episode Matthias Matthijs, “Pivotal Elections for France—and Europe,” CFR.org Matthias Matthijs and Mark Blyth, “Don’t Bet on a British Revival,” Foreign Affairs Daniela Schwarzer, “It’s Time to Reset EU-UK Relations,” Financial Times For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/elections-britain-and-france-matthias-matthijs-and-daniela-schwarzer

Jack Rakove, the William Robertson Coe professor of history and American studies and professor emeritus of political science and law at Stanford University, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss why the United States declared independence in 1776 and its meaning for the country today. This episode first aired: July 4, 2023 Mentioned on the Podcast Bernard Bailyn, The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, “Paul Revere’s Ride” Jack N. Rakove, Original Meanings: Politics and Ideas in the Making of the Constitution Jack N. Rakove, Revolutionaries: A New History of the Invention of America Jack N. Rakove, The Beginnings of National Politics: An Interpretive History of the Continental Congress 1619 Project, New York Times For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/fourth-july-jack-rakove

Robert D. Blackwill, the Henry A. Kissinger senior fellow for U.S. foreign policy at CFR, and Richard Fontaine, the chief executive officer of the Center for a New American Security, sit down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the U.S. response to the rise of China. Enter the CFR book giveaway by July 8, 2024, for the chance to win one of ten free copies of Lost Decade: The U.S. Pivot to Asia and the Rise of Chinese Power by Robert D. Blackwill and Richard Fontaine. You can read the terms and conditions of the offer here. Mentioned on the Episode Robert D. Blackwill and Richard Fontaine, Lost Decade: The U.S. Pivot to Asia and the Rise of Chinese Power Hillary Clinton, “America’s Pacific Century,” Foreign Policy Philip Zelikow, “Confronting Another Axis? History, Humility, and Wishful Thinking,” Texas National Security Review For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/us-pivot-asia-robert-d-blackwill-and-richard-fontaine

Michelle Gavin, the Ralph Bunche senior fellow for Africa policy studies at CFR, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the ongoing deadly conflict and humanitarian crisis in Sudan. Mentioned on the Episode Michelle Gavin, “The World’s Shameful Neglect of Sudan,” CFR.org “Sudan’s Civil War, With Michelle Gavin,” The President’s Inbox For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/sudans-ongoing-civil-war-michelle-gavin

Liana Fix, a fellow for Europe at the CFR, and Matthias Mattijs, senior fellow for Europe at CFR and associate professor of international political economy at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies, sit down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the results and consequences of the 2024 European Parliament elections. Mentioned on the Episode Liana Fix, A New German Power? Germany’s Role in European Russia Policy Caroline Kapp and Matthias Matthijs, “What’s at Stake in the EU Elections?,” CFR.org Additional Reading Liana Fix, “How Will the EU Elections Results Change Europe?,” CFR.org Matthias Matthijs, “Have European Voters Hamstrung the EU?,” Foreign Affairs For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/right-surges-eu-elections-liana-fix-and-matthias-matthijs

Steven A. Cook, the Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at CFR, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the United States’ past, present, and future policy in the Middle East. Enter the CFR book giveaway by June 17, 2024, for the chance to win one of ten free copies of The End of Ambition: America's Past, Present, and Future in the Middle East by Steven A. Cook. You can read the terms and conditions of the offer here. Mentioned on the Episode George H. W. Bush and Brent Scowcroft, A World Transformed Steven A. Cook, False Dawn: Protest, Democracy, and Violence in the Middle East Steven A. Cook, The End of Ambition: America's Past, Present, and Future in the Middle East For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/us-policy-middle-east-steven-cook

Andrés Rozental, a distinguished retired Mexican diplomat, president of Rozental & Asociados, and the founding president of the Mexican Council on Foreign Relations, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the dynamics of Mexico’s upcoming election and its consequences for the Mexican people as well as for U.S.-Mexico relations. For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/mexicos-presidential-election-andres-rozental

David Sanger, the White House and national security correspondent for the New York Times, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss how the post-Cold War ended and why the new era of geopolitical rivalry began. Mentioned on the Episode John Maggio, Year One: A Political Odyssey, HBO Max David E. Sanger, New Cold Wars: China's Rise, Russia's Invasion, and America's Struggle to Defend the West, with Mary K. Brooks David E. Sanger, The Perfect Weapon: War, Sabotage, and Fear in the Cyber Age For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/americas-new-cold-wars-david-sanger

Andrew Reddie, an associate research professor of public policy at the University of California, Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss how artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing warfare. Mentioned on the Episode Alan Hickey, Andrew Reddie, Sarah Shoker, and Leah Walker, "New Tools Are Needed to Address the Risks Posed by AI-Military Integration," Lawfare Max Lamparth and Jacquelyn Schneider, "Why the Military Can't Trust AI," Foreign Affairs "Political Declaration on Responsible Military Use of Artificial Intelligence and Autonomy,” U.S. Department of State For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/impact-ai-warfare-andrew-reddie