Deep Dish on Global Affairs

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Has America Started a Global Economic Arms Race? Oct 22, 2026

Show notes

The 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. Georgetown University professor Abraham Newman joins Deep Dish host Leslie Vinjamuri to explain why countries are in an "arms race to collect the chokepoints" of the global economy, how America's economic weapons could backfire, and why this growing competition could leave everyone less secure and more vulnerable.

Could the Midterms Change Trump's Foreign Policy? Oct 14, 2026

Show notes

Could 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 Dish host Leslie Vinjamuri to discuss whether a Democratic victory could constrain President Trump, why it could lead to constitutional crises, and what the results could mean for America's role in the world.

What's at Stake in Israel's First Election Since October 7? Oct 08, 2026

Show notes

Three 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 attacks, what could the outcome mean for Gaza and the West Bank? Efron explains what's at stake, why Israel is facing growing pressure at home and abroad, and whether a new government could put the country on a different path.

Could Brazil's Election Push It Closer to the US? Oct 01, 2026

Show notes

As Brazil heads into an essentially tied presidential election, award-winning journalist Patrícia Campos Mello explains what's driving voters, how President Lula and Senator Bolsonaro offer very different visions for the country's place in the world, and what the outcome could mean for its relationships with the United States and China. Plus, why even a Trump-aligned government may find it difficult to pull away from China.

Trump and Xi Face a New Question: What to Do About AI Sep 24, 2026

Show notes

As 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 and China could find common ground on AI, and what could still get in the way. Plus, how Apple's bet on China helped build the manufacturing powerhouse the US is now competing against.

'The Old World Is Dying.' What Comes Next? Sep 17, 2026

Show notes

What 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 Vinjamuri to discuss how US allies and middle powers are adapting, what Canada's changing relationship with the US could signal, and whether there's any going back to the way things were.

Can the US and China Avoid the Mistakes of 1914? Sep 10, 2026

Show notes

The 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 great powers can escalate. Westad joins Leslie Vinjamuri to discuss what could trigger a wider conflict, why economic ties may not be enough to prevent it, and what today's leaders can learn from the mistakes of the past.

Humanitarian Needs Are Growing. Can the World Keep Up? Aug 20, 2026

Show notes

More 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 to discuss who steps in when governments pull back, whether new donors, private capital, or advancing technology can help fill the gap, and why ending conflicts may be just as important as funding the response. With the old model of humanitarian aid under pressure, McKenna says "the world is not returning to what it was before."

Deep Dish will be on a two-week break. New episodes return September 10, and we look forward to bringing you fresh conversations on the issues shaping our world. Thank you for your continued support of the podcast.

The War in Afghanistan Is Over. Or Is It? Aug 13, 2026

Show notes

Nearly 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 ending revealed about American power. Crocker argues that the withdrawal emboldened America's adversaries and sent a dangerous message about its willingness to stay the course. "We went into Afghanistan for the right reasons," he says. "We came out for the wrong ones."

When The Global Economy Becomes a 'Weapon' Aug 06, 2026

Show notes

Five 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 "chokepoints" — from the Strait of Hormuz to the US dollar — have become powerful tools of geopolitical competition. They discuss what makes a true chokepoint, why tariffs aren't always effective, and how the United States can compete in a more fragmented global economy.

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