In the National Interest

Latest Episodes:

Antonin Scalia and Today's Supreme Court (w/ James Rosen) Mar 27, 2024

Show notes

Antonin Scalia’s staunch advocacy for constitutional originalism and textualism—and his 1986 appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court—defined a new era in American jurisprudence. As his heirs move to form majorities throughout the federal court system, only now is the full impact of his legacy being realized. In this episode, Jacob Heilbrunn speaks with James Rosen, chief White House correspondent for Newsmax. Rosen is the recent author of Scalia: Rise to Greatness, 1936 to 1986, the first installment in an expected two-volume biography of the Supreme Court justice.

Music by Aleksey Chistilin from Pixabay

Terror in Moscow and Putin’s Response (w/ Paul Saunders) Mar 23, 2024

Show notes

Yesterday’s devastating terrorist attack in Moscow—which left at least 115 dead and reportedly implicates the ISIS-K terror group—poses a significant political challenge for Russia’s freshly reelected president Vladimir Putin. In a bid to manage the fallout from his government’s intelligence failure, Putin's initial remarks this morning hinted at Ukrainian complicity, signaling a clear strategy to shift blame. What are the implications for Russian politics as well as Putin’s war in Ukraine? In this special episode, Jacob Heilbrunn speaks with Paul Saunders, a noted Russia expert and the president of the Center for the National Interest. Saunders served in the Bush Administration from 2003 to 2005 as Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs.

Music by Aleksey Chistilin from Pixabay

Congress’s Tug-of-War Over Ukraine Aid (w/ Scott Cullinane) Mar 21, 2024

Show notes

As members of Congress depart Washington for yet another recess, critical aid to Ukraine remains stalled. What explains the eight-month deadlock, and what are its consequences for both U.S. foreign policy and Ukrainian defense capabilities? In this episode, Jacob Heilbrunn talks with Scott Cullinane, director of government affairs at the non-profit Razom for Ukraine. Cullinane previously served as founding executive director of the non-profit U.S.-Europe Alliance as well as various positions with the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Music by Aleksey Chistilin from Pixabay

The U.S.-Israel Rift Over Gaza (w/ Greg Priddy) Mar 14, 2024

Show notes

As the U.S. announces plans to build a humanitarian aid port in Gaza, a confrontation now brews between the Biden administration and the Netanyahu government over Palestinian refugees. Can President Biden forestall an Israeli military offensive into the border city of Rafah? In this episode, Jacob Heilbrunn speaks with Greg Priddy, a Senior Fellow for the Middle East at the Center for the National Interest. Priddy previously served as Director for Global Oil at Eurasia Group. His recent piece “Joe Biden’s Gaza Port Initiative Can’t Hide U.S.-Israel Discord” appears in The National Interest.

Music by Aleksey Chistilin from Pixabay

Joe Biden's Fiery State of the Union (w/ Harry Kazianis) Mar 08, 2024

Show notes

Facing growing scrutiny over his age, President Biden came out swinging Thursday night with a forceful State of the Union address that set the tone for the 2024 general election. Will his performance assuage doubts about his fitness, at age 81, to lead the U.S. through an increasingly volatile global order? In this episode, Jacob Heilbrunn speaks with Harry J. Kazianis, executive editor of The National Interest. Kazianis previously served as part of the foreign policy team for Senator Ted Cruz's 2016 presidential campaign and worked for the conservative Heritage Foundation.

Music by Aleksey Chistilin from Pixabay

Nikki Haley’s Not-So-Super Tuesday (w/ Harry Kazianis) Mar 06, 2024

Show notes

With Nikki Haley now out of the race for the GOP nomination, will Donald Trump try to bring her back into the fold as his vice presidential pick, or has Haley already sabotaged her chances? In this episode, Jacob Heilbrunn speaks with Harry J. Kazianis, executive editor of The National Interest. Kazianis previously served as part of the foreign policy team for Senator Ted Cruz's 2016 presidential campaign and worked for the conservative Heritage Foundation.

Music by Aleksey Chistilin from Pixabay

Russian Energy After Two Years of War in Ukraine (w/ Tatiana Mitrova) Mar 04, 2024

Show notes

Two years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Russia is still exporting oil and gas—but earning less revenue. What are the consequences? In this special episode, Paul Saunders interviews Tatiana Mitrova, a Research Fellow at Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy and Director of the New Energy Advancement Hub. Mitrova is a leading expert on Russia’s energy system.

Music by Aleksey Chistilin from Pixabay

The Road Ahead for Donald Trump (w/ Curt Mills) Feb 29, 2024

Show notes

With Donald Trump's path to the Republican nomination in July wide open, what obstacles still stand between him and the White House, and what would his election in November herald both for the GOP and for American democracy? In this episode, Jacob Heilbrunn speaks with Curt Mills, executive director of The American Conservative. Mills previously worked at The National Interest, U.S. News & World Report, Washington Examiner, and the Spectator. He was a 2018-2019 Robert Novak Journalism fellow.

Music by Aleksey Chistilin from Pixabay

Mitch McConnell: Last of the Republican Old Guard? (w/ Harry Kazianis) Feb 28, 2024

Show notes

As Republican Senator Mitch McConnell steps down from his leadership post, who in the party will step forward to fill the void left by his historic tenure? In this special episode, Jacob Heilbrunn speaks with Harry J. Kazianis, executive editor of The National Interest. Kazianis previously served as part of the foreign policy team for Senator Ted Cruz's 2016 presidential campaign and worked for the conservative Heritage Foundation.

Music by Aleksey Chistilin from Pixabay

Has MAGA Seized the Republican Party? (w/ Harry Kazianis) Feb 26, 2024

Show notes

As Donald Trump barrels toward the Republican nomination for president, what does his continued hold on the GOP mean for its prospects in the 2024 election and the future of the party? In this episode, Jacob Heilbrunn speaks with Harry J. Kazianis, executive editor of The National Interest. Kazianis previously served as part of the foreign policy team for the 2016 presidential campaign of Senator Ted Cruz as well as the Heritage Foundation.

Music by Aleksey Chistilin from Pixabay

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected