The Looking Glass

Space Cybersecurity and Resilience Oct 24, 2024

As new technologies emerge, space operations and infrastructure have become critical to U.S. national security and economy. To understand the ongoing discussion on what the current status is on space technology and infrastructure, developing space policy communities, and the security issues that follow, joining us on the podcast today is Dr. Gregory Falco.
Dr. Gregory Falco is an Assistant Professor at the Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and the Systems Engineering Program at Cornell University. He is the director of the Aerospace ADVERSARY Laboratory, which designs and develops next-generation autonomous, secure and resilient space infrastructure. His space technology research is policy-relevant and advances standards and national security conversations relating to space supremacy and cybersecurity. He consults for a range of big technology companies, space systems and defense contractors including Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Laboratory. Prior to completing his PhD, he was an executive at Accenture. We hope you enjoy today’s episode of The Looking Glass Podcast.

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Sudan Famine Crisis Oct 14, 2024

The Sudan Civil war has brought about the current largest famine and displacement crisis in the world, bringing with it questions around aid and international attention. To discuss the status of the conflict, the famine crisis and why it continues, and possible international actions that could be taken, joining us on the podcast today is Dan Sullivan.
Dan Sullivan is the director for Africa, Asia, and the Middle East at Refugees International. Dan focuses on Myanmar, Sudan, South Sudan, and other areas affected by mass displacement. He has more than 15 years of human rights and foreign policy experience having worked for many high-level organizations, including the Albright Stonebridge Group, where he assisted former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright in her role as co-chair of the Genocide Prevention Task Force.

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AI Global Governance Sep 19, 2024

The rise of AI and its use in private and public sectors has highlighted the need for AI regulations and have sparked debates on its contents globally. To understand the ongoing debates around what exactly the technology is, the pros and cons of adopting AI, and the current and future regulatory environment for an ethical AI, joining us on the podcast today is Dr. Monica Lopez-Gonzalez.
Dr. Lopez is the Co-Founder and CEO of Cognitive Insights for Artificial Intelligence advising on AI risk management, governance and compliance across various industries. In those roles she advanced novel ethical and human-centered projects and policy initiatives across the AI lifecycle, advising partners in healthcare/biotechnology, autonomous vehicles, and cybersecurity. Recent accolades include being named one of 100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics 2023 and receiving a research award from Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law’s Center for Law, Science and Innovation to propose soft law solutions for AI in healthcare. We hope you enjoy today’s episode of The Looking Glass Podcast.

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Talos x TLG: Harnessing Equitable Tech Futures Apr 03, 2024

For our 4th episode, we are joined by Vilas Dhar, President of the Patrick J. Mcgovern Foundation, AI ethicist, and appointee to the UN High-Level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence.

This week, it’s all about the need to support technology creation that is fair and equitable through public and third-sector efforts.

This week we are learning :

Importance of curiosity and life-long learning
Need for more involvement of the public sector in constructing technology
Ability to go beyond actor-limited thinking when it comes to regulation
Ways to hone foundations and nonprofit participation in AI creation and regulation

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Talos x TLG: The Private Sector & Techno-Diversity Mar 26, 2024

On the 3rd episode of this series, we are joined by Ronaldo Lemos - co-founder of the Brazilian Internet Bill of Rights and the National IoT Plan. Founder of the Institute for Technology of Rio de Janeiro, he is also a professor at Schwarzman College in Beijing, at Columbia University and still a lawyer. This week it’s all about how we need to build competitiveness and have different national regulations that fit what each country wants out of technology.

This week we are learning :

To follow our passions (music !)
How technology really is for people who want to understand humansg i
The necessity to produce indigenous technology
The need to fight the one size fits all model and have differentiated regulations
The growmportance of competitiveness and fostering national industries
Digital public infrastructure’s state of the art
Working for the greater good and fostering techno diversity

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Talos x TLG: Reimagining Tech Accountability Mar 08, 2024

This week’s episode, Mathilde is hosting Sabhanaz Diya, the founder of Tech Global Institute as well as a senior fellow for the Center for International Governance Innovation. Whilst working for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation as well as for Meta as the Head for Bangladesh, she developed expertise at the intersection between advocacy and implementation - working to bridge the gaps in communities’ exposure in policy making.

We are learning about :

Early role of journalism in her career
Impact driven career - from local to upstream policy making
How to create more exposure for ‘so-called Global South’ Voices
Revolving door phenomenon - how to create more link between private and public sectors
Finding purpose whilst advocating for greater exposure

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The Maghreb: The Era of Gaddafi Mar 04, 2024

Across the dunes of time, the winds of change have often reshaped nations. Welcome to "The Looking Glass." I'm Kosi Ogbuli, your guide through the intricate maze of history and politics. Today, we step back into 1969, when a young Muammar Gaddafi changed Libya forever. This is Episode 2: "The Winds of Change."
Dirk Vandewalle, a renowned expert from Dartmouth College with extensive knowledge in US-Libya relations, joins us to unravel the complexities of this era. Professor Vandewalle, we are honored to have you here.

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Talos x TLG: What Role(s) Can The UN Play? Feb 20, 2024

Welcome on Talos, a new podcast in partnership with The Looking Glass. My name is Mathilde Barge and I will be taking you on a journey across different technology policy profiles, asking real questions about what it entails, what we can do about it, and how it is evolving.

This week’s episode,I had the pleasure of talking with Eleonore Fournier Tombs, Head of Anticipatory Action and Innovation at United Nations University, about the potential role the UN can take as a new body for a global governance of Artificial Intelligence. She is also a professor, lead researcher for multiple projects across the UN System as well as a writer.

Keep plugged in for next week’s episode and stay curious !

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The Maghreb: The Birth of Libya Feb 14, 2024

Welcome to "The Looking Glass," the show where we reflect on the stories that shape our world. I’m Kosi Ogbuli, and in this inaugural episode of this mini-series, we journey back to the early 20th century to witness the birth of a nation - Libya. It's a tale of independence, monarchy, and the shaping of a country's identity amid the waves of change sweeping through Africa and the Middle East.

We are joined by Hafed Al Ghwell, a respected voice on North African affairs and the Executive Director of the North Africa Initiative at the SAIS Foreign Policy Institute, to explore this pivotal period.

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"The Left in 2024" with Vijay Prashad Jan 09, 2024

Renowned historian, intellectual, and journalist Vijay Prashad joins the pod to discuss how the political left sees the year ahead.
Vijay Prashad is an Indian historian and journalist. Prashad is the author of forty books, including Washington Bullets, Red Star Over the Third World, The Darker Nations: A People's History of the Third World and The Poorer Nations: A Possible History of the Global South. His latest book, The Withdrawal: Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, and the Fragility of U.S. Power (2022), was written with Noam Chomsky.

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Gaza Situation Report with Jason Terry Dec 29, 2023

Jason Terry (He/Him), Director of Strategic Programs at UNRWA USA, joins the pod to discuss the harrowing situation unfolding in Gaza.

Things will have changed by the time you have listened to this episode.

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The World Bank and your Livelihood Dec 10, 2023

Today, we're exploring the critical role of the World Bank Inspection Panel in protecting livelihoods through its 30 years of operations. We'll be discussing the insights and experiences gained from various inspection cases, particularly focusing on a recent investigation in Togo, West Africa."

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Don't Call it a Farmer-Herder Conflict Dec 08, 2023

Today, we're joined by two experts: Laura Sanders from Cetus Global and Dougoukolu Alpha Oumar, a geopolitics analyst, clinical psychologist, and a SAIS alum and someone who can speak truth to power regarding Fulani communities across West Africa. "Don't Call it a Farmer Herder Conflict."

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Is Oat Milk, Milk? [TLG- Archives] Dec 07, 2023

Dr. Marsha A. Echols is the Director of The World Food Law Institute and a Professor at Howard University School of Law, where she teaches commercial, international business and trade, and world food law. She is a recognized expert in the fields of international food regulation, international trade and dispute settlement.

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Shell Shocked: The Untold Story of Environmental Ruin in the Niger Delta Sep 20, 2023

The politics of disaster series continues with a dive into the devastating environmental and human rights abuses perpetrated by the Royal Dutch Shell oil company in the Niger Delta region.
For decades, the local communities have suffered from massive oil spills, gas flaring, and deforestation, leading to loss of livelihoods, contaminated water, and severe health impacts.
Despite ongoing legal battles and international pressure, Shell continues to avoid accountability, highlighting the need for a global response to corporate environmental negligence.

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13 Years Underwater: The Lingering Impact of Deepwater Horizon Jul 12, 2023

In a special series, The Looking Glass and The Politics of Disaster Podcast will explore powerful stories at the intersection of policy and climate disaster.
This episode explores the Lingering Impact of Deepwater Horizon.
On the mic are:
Jeffrey Gorham (MAIR ‘24/narrator), Rowan Humphries (MAIR ‘24/interviewed Ben Casselman), and Nathan Felmus (BA/MAIR ’24/interviewed Allen Lindsay Jr.)
This episode was produced by Kosi Ogbuli.

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Defeating the Dictators: A conversation with Charles Dunst Jun 05, 2023

Back in March, we had the pleasure of Speaking with Charles Dunst about his new book, Defeating the Dictators: How Democracy Can Prevail in the Age of the Strongman.
In a world where democracy is in decline and autocracy is on the rise, Dunst argues autocracy is not the solution despite being an attractive alternative for those disillusioned with current democratic institutions. He argues that the only way to defeat dictators is to have better democracy.
We cover his life, his book, and his fandom for New York sports teams on this episode of The Looking Glass.

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Unpacking Digital Authoritarianism: Definitions and Considerations Mar 27, 2023

Digital authoritarianism is a wide-ranging and, at times, difficult-to-define area of international security analysis. To help us tease out some key terms and analytical frameworks in this ever-evolving domain, we brought on international security expert and analyst Mr. Erol Yayboke, Director of the Project on Fragility and Mobility and Senior Fellow for the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

In 2020, Mr. Yayboke and Deputy Assistant Samuel Brannen of the U.S. Department of Defense jointly published a CSIS brief, “Promote and Build: A Strategic Approach to Digital Authoritarianism.” The publication puts forth a useful analytical set of concepts to develop a deeper understanding of the modern landscape of digital authoritarianism as a threat to global democracies and the subversion of human rights while also highlighting some specific key actors, models, and methods of the practice, and other overlapping challenges in our rapidly digitizing world.

You can read Mr. Yayboke and Deputy Assistant Brannen’s full CSIS brief here -

“Promote and Build: A Strategic Approach to Digital Authoritarianism.”
Other work by Mr. Yayboke and his colleagues:
"The Real National Security Concerns over Data Localization."
"Technology as a Driver of Gender Equality and Peace."
This episode was hosted and produced by Noelle Boyd.

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Obi or Not To Be: The 2023 Nigerian Elections Feb 28, 2023

At the posting of this episode —Nigeria’s tightest presidential election in a generation — Africa’s most significant democratic exercise —has yet to be decided.
However, Nigeria's political map will never be the same after this election. This phenomenon has been years in the making.
Joining us to discuss these dynamics is Ebenezer Obadare, Douglas Dillon senior fellow for Africa studies at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). Before joining CFR, Obadare was a political reporter for The News and TEMPO magazines from 1993 to 1995, and a lecturer in international relations at the Obafemi Awolowo University from 1995 to 2001. His primary areas of interest are civil society and the state, and religion and politics in Africa.
Be on the lookout for pt. 2 of this conversation!

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International Law and The Global South Feb 13, 2023

Perhaps the most important critique of modern international law has been the charge that it is a Eurocentric regime, which has helped to erect and defend a world of deep injustice characterized by violence, exploitation, and inequality.
To reorient the discussion on international law, this episode of The Looking Glass explores International Law and the Global South with Professor Obiora Chinedu Okafor.
Professor Okafor is the Edward B. Burling Chair in International Law and Institutions at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).
Professor Okafor has served, since August 2017, as the UN Independent Expert on Human Rights and International Solidarity (one of the principal groups of human rights experts who advise and report annually to the UN Human Rights Council and General Assembly) and a former Chairperson of the United Nations Human Rights Council Advisory Committee (a Geneva-based committee of experts elected by the Human Rights Council to serve as its think tank and principal subsidiary organ).
This episode was produced by Kosi Ogbuli.
Articles/ Reports referenced:
Re-defining legitimate statehood: international law and state fragmentation in Africa
The third world and international order: Law, politics and globalization
Poverty, agency and resistance in the future of international law: An African perspective

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Surveillance.com: Authoritarianism in a Digital Age Feb 06, 2023

This episode of The Looking Glass follows the rise of digital authoritarianism through China’s use of technology for mass surveillance, including the use of biometrics, artificial intelligence, and big data.

We discuss the export of digital authoritarianism to other parts of the world, the role of democracies in providing a better use case of technology, and technology’s relationship with human rights.

Joining us in this episode is Maya Wang. Maya Wang is the associate director in the Asia division at Human Rights Watch. Wang has researched and written extensively on the use of torture, arbitrary detention, human rights defenders, civil society, disability rights, and women’s rights in China. In recent years, her original research on China’s use of technology for mass surveillance, including the use of biometrics, artificial intelligence, and big data, has helped galvanize international attention on these developments in China and globally.

This episode was produced by Abena Oduro and hosted by Kosi Ogbuli.

Here are some links to reports/articles referenced in the conversation:

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Law & Justice: The Face of Polish Authoritarianism Jul 11, 2022

This episode of The Looking Glass follows the rise of authoritarianism in Poland over the past forty years and considers the varied consequences; from rising tensions with the European Union, to the weaponization of conspiracy and revisionist history, to violations of human rights and threats to democracy. It considers the state of things, as well as the stakes–what it all means for Poles today and in the future.
Joining us in this episode are Professor Charles Gati of Johns Hopkins SAIS and American University Master’s candidate Abigail Steinsieck, whose testimonies shed light on how, when, and why Poland transitioned from a paragon of a post-Soviet democracy to a semi-authoritarian state–and what may be coming next.
This episode was produced by Mary Hopkins and Jen Roberts.

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Helping Hands: International Institutions in the War in Ukraine Jun 30, 2022

This episode of The Looking Glass tackles the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine and asks the question: what can international institutions do to intervene in this conflict? It explores challenges faced by these organizations and what policies they can put in place to solve these problems.

Join us as guests Nele Ewers-Peters, Jason Blessing, and Obiora Okafor as they discuss the historical role of NATO, the EU, and the UN and explore what options these institutions have in resolving this war, as well as further recommendations they have for what steps can be taken in the future.

This episode was produced by Derek Chuah and Jen Roberts.

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Gender Disinformation Mar 25, 2022

This episode of The Looking Glass dives into the understudied field of Gender Disinformation. It explores how disinformation operations conducted against women are inherently different than their male counterparts. This episode combines the subjects of the last two SAIS Review issues, "Who Runs the World: A Look at Gender in International Affairs" and "Conflict in the Fifth Domain", which focuses on cybersecurity.
Join us as guests Lucina Di Meco and Kristina Wilfore from #she-persisted, the only global initiative dedicated to tackling gender disinformation against women in politics, discuss what gender disinformation is, examine case studies, and reflect on the role social media companies play in perpetuating this issue.
This episode was produced by Jen Roberts.

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Choose Your Weapon: A Survey of Cybersecurity Jan 10, 2022

Join hosts Jen Roberts and Derek Chuah as The Looking Glass enters its fourth season! This episode features a roundtable of cybersecurity professionals who discuss a variety of topics, ranging from how malware is implemented in cyberattacks to a review of the Biden Administration's cybersecurity policies.
Join us as we discuss choosing our weapon with Will Loomis, an Assistant Director at the Atlantic Council's Cyber Statecraft Initiative, Ross Luo, a Software Engineer at Nvidia and a Cyber Officer in the Air Force Reserves, Justin Marinelli, an Analyst at the Department of Defense, and Alexandra Seymour, the Chief of Staff at CalypsoAI.
This episode was produced by Jen Roberts and Derek Chuah.

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Happy Wife, Happy Life: China's Commitment to Gender Equality in Africa Nov 18, 2021

This episode of The Looking Glass examines recent changes in China's posture regarding China-Africa relations, complimenting the SAIS Review's latest print issue "Who Runs the World: A Look at Gender in International Affairs." Join our guests Professor Zongyuan Zoe Liu, from Texas A&M University and Professor Maria Carrai from New York University Shanghai as they discuss the successes and struggles in promoting gender equality in Africa and motivations for pursuing gender equality on the continent.
This episode was produced by Abena Oduro and Jen Roberts.

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End of an Era: A Review of Chancellor Angela Merkel Sep 20, 2021

To complement the release of The SAIS Review's "Who Runs the World: A Look at Gender in International Affairs," The Looking Glass is kicking off our new season. Over the next few installments, we will be exploring different facets of gender and its role in policy. In this episode, we explore Chancellor Angela Merkel's tenure. First, we examine some of her key policy successes and failures. Then, we look to the future, discussing what the upcoming German elections mean for the European Union and Germany.
Join us as we talk with the President of the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies, Jeff Rathke, and Senior Fellow for Europe at the Council on Foreign Relations and SAIS Professor, Matthias Matthijs.
This episode was produced by Jen Roberts.

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Season 3 Trailer Sep 16, 2021

The Looking Glass is headed into its third season. With this transition comes some exciting new changes.

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A Global Green Movement: Environmental Protests in Europe and Beyond Jul 02, 2021

As a complement to the current print journal, "The Revolution Will Be Televised: A Decade of Global Protest," The Looking Glass's second installment examines global environmental protests.
Climate change has become an unavoidable political issue. More and more people have taken to the streets, fueled by the existential threat of an increasingly unlivable world. Most notably, the environmental protests have been led by the younger generation. However, despite the hopefulness that more participation can bring about change, there are still questions regarding who leads the movement and if those most effected are being properly advocated for. To answer these questions, we had the great pleasure of speaking about environmental movements with SAISer's Professor Nina Hall and MA students Sahar Priano and Charlie Lawrie as well as Kenyan climate justice activist Kevin Mtai.
This episode was produced by Ester Fang and Emma Riley.

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The Revolution in Hong Kong Jun 25, 2021

The Looking Glass is back with season 2! This is our first installment of our Protest & Revolution series, a complement to the current print journal, "The Revolution Will be Televised: A Decade of Global Protest."
To start us off, we began with Hong Kong . Years of protests, even during the pandemic, have highlighted the struggles Hong Kong faces in keeping its identity. With both internal clashes and external influences, it is difficult to say what Hong Kong might look like in 5 years. To add to the ongoing geopolitical narrative, we discuss the protests and its legacy with practitioners and SAIS students who either currently live or previously lived in Hong Kong or are part of the Hong Kong diaspora.
We have changed some of the guests' names in order to protect their privacy and safety.

This episode was produced by Ester Fang, Gregory Kist, Emma Riley, and Vivian Chen.

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It's Never Just Business: The Realm of Corporate Diplomacy Mar 23, 2021

We have arrived at The Looking Glass' third and final installment of our diplomacy series, a complement to the current print journal, "Ex Amicitia Pax: Diplomacy in Action." This episode focuses on how the expanse and power of corporations are tied to their international conduct a.k.a corporate diplomacy. In a world where public perception and company values have a growing impact on a corporation's success, understanding geopolitics is essential. To learn more, we had the pleasure of speaking with Prashanth Rajan, director of APCO Worldwide, and SAIS M.A. students Ananya Kumar and Andrew Pince. This episode was produced by Ester Fang, Gregory Kist, Emma Riley, and Vivian Chen.
This episode was produced by Ester Fang, Gregory Kist, Emma Riley, Vivian Chen, and Arthur Xie.

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Bonus Content: An American Turning Point Jan 25, 2021

After the rapid succession of January's political events, The Looking Glass podcast team and The SAIS Review editorial boardfound it imperative to discuss the state of our American union. The majority of our team are U.S. citizens and the attack on the Capitol, impeachment, and inauguration left us all with much to think about. We explore what these recent events mean for our specific fields of study. We debate the role of foreign policy in our domestic affairs and vice versa. We layout our hopes for the future.
Listen in on our open discussion, and perhaps it will transport you to those pre-COVID-19 chats you might have struck up in Nitze cafe or as you rushed over to BOB.
This episode was produced by Ester Fang, Gregory Kist, Emma Riley, and Vivian Chen.

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Living in a Digital World Jan 11, 2021

The Looking Glass' second installment of our diplomacy series is here! Complementing the current print journal, "Ex Amicitia Pax: Diplomacy in Action," we discuss how technology has evolved beyond just a tool into an international relations space. From national security to digital governance, this episode covers the individual and organizational responses to technology's most pressing concerns. We are happy to have SAISer's Professor Kenneth Keller, Ph.D. student Simin Kargar, and M.A. students Ashley Wax, Ben Deese, and Alex Kessler join us in conversation.
This episode was produced by Ester Fang, Gregory Kist, Emma Riley, and Vivian Chen.

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The Future of Diplomacy and the U.S. Foreign Service Dec 04, 2020

To complement the print journal's topic of "Ex Amicitia Pax: Diplomacy in Action," The Looking Glass is kicking off our diplomacy series! Over the next 3 installments, we will be exploring different facets of diplomacy and how it is being impacted by current global changes. In this episode we explore what it means to engage in diplomacy in a COVID-19 world. Join us as we talk about a passion for service with Consul-General to Hamburg Darion Akins and SAIS Black Student Union President Theo Guidry.
This episode was produced by Ester Fang, Gregory Kist, Emma Riley, and Vivian Chen.

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The Future of U.S.-China Relations Aug 12, 2020

Welcome to our inaugural episode! On this episode, we speak with SAIS Professor Emeritus David M. Lampton about the future of U.S.-China relations. Our student panel with Zhanping Ling, Logan Ma, and Chenyu Wu weigh in with insightful reflection. Join us as we peer into the Looking Glass.
This episode was produced by Ester Fang and Gregory Kist.

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