State of Play

Latest Episodes:

Have Politics Jeopardized the Ebola Response? Jul 02, 2026

Show notes

The current Ebola outbreak comes after major cuts in humanitarian and health aid and is spreading in a deeply insecure environment. This week, Steve Morrison and Michaela Simoneau of the CSIS Global Health Policy Center join Will to discuss the degree to which politics have hampered the response. They assess the global response to date, the impact of the Trump administration’s policies, and the challenges of the local context.

J. Stephen Morrison and Michaela Simoneau, "Managing DRC’s Ebola Crisis," CSIS, June 18, 2026.
J. Stephen Morrison, "Dr. Salim Abdool Karim, Chair, Africa CDC Emergency Consultative Group: "Congolese doctors know how to treat Ebola patients," CSIS, June 22, 2026.
Elizabeth Cameron and J. Stephen Morrison, "America knows how to defeat Ebola" UVA Miller Center, June 29, 2026.
"Ebola in America: Epidemic of Fear" CSIS, May 19, 2016

Was the G7 Summit in France a Success? Jun 17, 2026

Show notes

The G7 Summit may have defied expectations. President Trump stayed until the end, there were no big bust-ups, and lots of joint policy statements. Victor Cha, Kristi Govella, Phil Luck, and Caitlin Welsh join Will to assess how meaningful the outcomes were, what the summit tells us about the United States’ relationship with its allies, and what the value of the G7 is in the evolving international order.

Victor Cha, "Who Are G7’s Top Performers?" CSIS, June 12, 2026.
CSIS scholars, "Press Briefing: Previewing the G7 Summit," CSIS, June 9, 2026.

Trump's Iran Deal: What Comes Next? Jun 15, 2026

Show notes

The United States and Iran announced a framework deal that includes a 60-day ceasefire and reopens the Strait of Hormuz. CSIS Middle East Program experts Mona Yacoubian, Michael Ratney, Paul Salem, and Susan Ziadeh assess the winners and losers of the deal, what challenges lie ahead, and what it means for the emerging order in the Middle East.

How Should the United States Counter the CRINK Axis? Jun 12, 2026

Show notes

The recent Xi–Kim summit has further strengthened ties between China and North Korea, with potential implications for the broader dynamics among the CRINK countries and regional security.

Dr. Victor Cha, Igor Khrestin, Joseph Kim, and Dr. Maria Snegovaya will join host Will Todman to discuss CRINK’s key vulnerabilities and examine U.S. policy recommendations for addressing the challenges the grouping poses to democracy, human rights, economic security, and national security. The discussion will draw on the GWBI’s recent report on CRINK and explore the implications of growing alignment among these authoritarian actors.

Is Ukraine Turning the Tide? Jun 04, 2026

Show notes

Four years into the war, Ukraine may finally have the upper hand. Will speaks with Max Bergmann and Maria Snegovaya about their recent trip to Kyiv, Ukraine's key advantages, Russia's challenges, and if the shifting balance of power means the war may finally end soon.

Max Bergmann and Maria Snegovaya, "War, Inflation, and Putin's Paranoia: has Russian Public Opinion Begun to Shift?" CSIS, May 14, 2026.
Max Bergmann and Donatienne Ruy, "Reflections from Ukraine, Crisis in the UK, and the EU's Corruption-Fighting Toolkit ft. Kövesi," CSIS, May 22, 2026.

Is Something Big About to Happen with North Korea? May 29, 2026

Show notes

A flurry of diplomatic activity and a reported visit of Xi Jinping to North Korea has heightened speculation that something is afoot. Victor Cha, Tom Christensen, and Edgard Kagan join Will to discuss what these signals indicate, how relations between North Korea and China are shifting, and what a Trump-Kim meeting could achieve.

Victor Cha and Andy Lim, “Can Sports Diplomacy Open a Door on the Korean Peninsula?” CSIS, May 4, 2026.
Edgard Kagan, “Trump-Xi Summit in Beijing: Managing the World’s Most Important Relationship,” CSIS, May 8, 2026.

What Can Negotiations Between Lebanon and Israel Achieve? May 26, 2026

Show notes

Under U.S. pressure, Lebanon and Israel recently entered into direct negotiations for the first time in 30 years. This week, Mona Yacoubian and Paul Salem join Will to discuss what each side is hoping to get out of the negotiations, how the talks fit into the broader regional context, and what the prospects for success are.

Paul Salem, “Lebanon and Israel Talks: Empowering Diplomacy Over Open-Ended Conflict,” CSIS, May 14, 2026.
Mona Yacoubian, “Lebanon’s Moment of Reckoning,” Foreign Policy, April 21, 2026.

What did the Trump-Xi Summit Achieve? May 15, 2026

Show notes

The U.S.-China summit covered trade, investment, the war with Iran, and Taiwan. Edgard Kagan, Scott Kennedy, and Bonny Lin joined Will to discuss how successful the summit was, what it means for the future of U.S.-China relations, and what we should be watching going forward.

Edgard Kagan and Bonny Lin, “Unpacking President Trump’s Visit to China | State of Play,” CSIS, May 15, 2026.
Scott Kennedy, “A Confident Beijing Welcomes President Trump,” CSIS, May 11, 2026.

Is a Cold Peace with North Korea Possible? May 07, 2026

Show notes

North Korea has resisted decades of international denuclearization efforts, including the world’s most crippling sanctions regime. Victor Cha and Sydney Seiler join Will to discuss why U.S. strategy has failed, how the strategic landscape has shifted and increased North Korea's leverage, and what a better strategy would look like.

Victor Cha, “North Korea as It Is: The Case for a Cold Peace,” Foreign Affairs, May/June 2026.
Sydney Seiler, “North Korea in 2026: Intentions, Realities, and Response,” CSIS, February 2, 2026.

Has the Iran War Transformed the Middle East's Future? Apr 22, 2026

Show notes

The war with Iran has roiled the economies of the Middle East, shattered trust between Iran and Arab Gulf states, challenged security arrangements, and highlighted the region's geopolitical importance. But looking ahead, how much has the war really changed the region's future, and what is likely to remain more constant? Vali Nasr, Michael Ratney, Mona Yacoubian, and Susan Ziadeh joined Will to discuss how the war has reshaped the Middle East.

Maria Fantappie and Vali Nasr, "Can Saudi Arabia Keep Hedging?" Foreign Affairs, May/June 2026.
Mona Yacoubian, "Why “Mowing the Grass” Won’t Work in Iran," CSIS, April 17, 2026.

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