On Shifting Ground

In recent weeks, searing rhetoric from President Trump has pushed our trading relations with both Europe and with China onto center stage. In the case of China, an escalating trade war has begun, and with Europe, President Trump and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker first clashed before agreeing in principle to work toward lowering barriers to commerce. Is Trump simply solving problems of his own making or is this part of a smart negotiating strategy that will ultimately benefit American consumers, producers and farmers? Can trade wars actually be won? Tyler Cowen, Holbert L. Harris chair of economics at George Mason University, and Gillian Tett, US managing editor for the Financial Times, discuss the ramifications of Trump's trade policy with Ray Suarez, former chief national correspondent for PBS NewsHour.

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Direct download: 07_30_18_Trade_Wars.mp3
Category:News & Politics -- posted at: 7:00am PDT

Digital and social media have upended not only the news industry, but entire notions of governance and leadership. In this week’s episode, we’ll consider how the rise of digital media has impacted public life and the ethical innovations needed in order to capture the benefits and mitigate harm. In conversation with Ray Suarez, former chief national correspondent for PBS NewsHour, is a panel of digital media experts, including, Jennifer Cobb, Director of United for News, Eileen Donahoe, Executive Director of the Global Digital Policy Incubator at Stanford University, Tristan Harris, Co-founder of the Center for Humane Technology, and Gerald Ryle, Director of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.

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Direct download: 07_23_18_Digital_Media.mp3
Category:News & Politics -- posted at: 7:00am PDT

The increased use of cyberweapons is changing geopolitics. Cyberattacks now occur on a daily basis, by states and non-state actors alike, large and small. On the receiving end, governments are challenged by the anonymity and asymmetry of these attacks. In this week’s episode we’ll consider how, and if, we can develop foreign policy doctrines to deal with this new reality. David Sanger, Chief Washington Correspondent for The New York Times, talks with Markos Kounalakis, visiting fellow at Stanford's Hoover Institution, about how the US can protect itself in the age of cyberweapons.

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Direct download: 07_16_18_David_Sanger.mp3
Category:News & Politics -- posted at: 7:00am PDT

On June 12th, President Donald Trump met with Kim Jong-un in Singapore. Despite widespread international news coverage, the state of US-North Korea relations is still shrouded in mystery. In the first part of this week’s episode, Victor Cha, senior adviser and Korea chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, discusses what was achieved in the meeting and what to expect going forward.
 
In the second part of the program, World Affairs CEO Jane Wales talks with Lina Sergie Attar, co-founder and CEO of the Karam Foundation, and Chelsea Handler, celebrated comedian, talk show host and activist, about the need for humanitarian and philanthropic intervention for Syrian refugees.
 
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Direct download: 07_09_18_Victor_Cha-Karam_Foundation.mp3
Category:News & Politics -- posted at: 7:00am PDT

The White House recently announced that President Trump plans to hold his first formal summit with President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, Finland on July 16th. The meeting will take place against a contentious backdrop that includes Russia’s meddling in the 2016 presidential election, widespread diplomatic expulsions on both sides, continued Russian support of military offensives in Syria and the ongoing investigation into possible ties between the Trump campaign and Russia. How did we get here and is there a way forward? World Affairs CEO Jane Wales is in conversation with former US ambassador to Russia and author of “From Hot War to Cold Peace” Michael McFaul.

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Direct download: 07_02_18_Michael_McFaul.mp3
Category:News & Politics -- posted at: 7:00am PDT

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