The President’s Inbox

The Golden Dome Missile Defense System, With Todd Harrison

Todd Harrison, Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the feasibility of a multi-layer missile defense system for the United States.

 

Mentioned on the Episode:

 

Phillip L. Swagel, “Effects of Lower Launch Costs on Previous Estimates for Space-Based, Boost-Phase Missile Defense,” Congressional Budget Office

 

Todd Harrison, “How Much Would a Space-Based Missile Interceptor System Cost and Does It Make Sense?” American Enterprise Institute

 

Todd Harrison, “Is Trump’s Golden Dome a Brilliant Idea or a Gilded Boondoggle?” American Enterprise Institute

 

For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/tpi/golden-dome-missile-defense-system-todd-harrison

Africa’s Urban Youth Revolution, With Michelle Gavin

Michelle Gavin, Ralph Bunche senior fellow for Africa policy studies at the Council, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss what urbanization, a youth-heavy population, and social media mean for politics across the African continent.

 

Enter the CFR book giveaway by September 23, 2025, for the chance to win one of ten free copies of Age of Change by Michelle Gavin. You can read the terms and conditions of the offer here.

For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/tpi/africas-urban-youth-revolution-michelle-gavin

Brewing Troubles in Colombia, With Roxanna Vigil

Roxanna Vigil, International Affairs Fellow in National Security at the Council, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss rising political violence in Colombia and its consequences for the Andean region and beyond.

 

Mentioned on the Episode:

 

Paul J. Angelo, From Peril to Partnership: U.S. Security Assistance and the Bid to Stabilize Colombia and Mexico, Oxford University Press

 

For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at:

https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/tpi/brewing-troubles-colombia-roxanna-vigil

A New U.S. Grand Strategy: The Case for a Realist Foreign Policy, With Stephen Walt

Stephen Walt, Robert and Renée Belfer Professor of International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss what a realist U.S. foreign policy would look like.

 

Mentioned on the Episode:

 

John Ikenberry, “A New U.S. Grand Strategy: The Case for Liberal Internationalism, With G. John Ikenberry," The President's Inbox

 

John J. Mearsheimer and Stephen M. Walt, “The Case for Offshore Balancing: A Superior U.S. Grand Strategy,” Foreign Affairs

 

Barry Posen, Restraint: A New Foundation for U.S. Grand Strategy, Cornell University Press

 

For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/tpi/new-us-grand-strategy-case-realist-foreign-policy-stephen-walt

The Trump-Putin Summit, With Michael Kimmage

Michael Kimmage, professor of history at the Catholic University of America, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the results of the meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on the war in Ukraine.

 

Mentioned on the Episode:

 

Michael Kimmage, Collisions: The War in Ukraine and the Origins of the New Global Instability

 

Michael Kimmage and Maria Lipman, “The Limits of Putin’s Balancing Act," Foreign Affairs

 

For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/tpi/trump-putin-summit-michael-kimmage

TPI Replay: The Eurasia Challenge, With Hal Brands

Hal Brands, Henry A. Kissinger distinguished professor of Global Affairs at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and author of The Eurasian Century: Hot Wars, Cold Wars, and the Making of the Modern World, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss how and why control of Eurasia affects U.S. national security. This episode is the fifth in a continuing TPI series on U.S. grand strategy.

 

This episode was originally released by The President’s Inbox on January 21, 2025.

 

Mentioned on the Episode

 

Hal Brands, The Eurasian Century: Hot Wars, Cold Wars, and the Making of the Modern World

 

H. J. Mackinder, “The Geographical Pivot of History,” The Geographical Journal

 

For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/tpi/eurasia-challenge-hal-brands

The Thai-Cambodian Border Clash, With Joshua Kurlantzick

Joshua Kurlantzick, senior fellow for Southeast Asia and South Asia at the Council on Foreign Relations, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the ongoing border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia and if the current ceasefire will hold up.

 

Mentioned on the Episode:

 

Joshua Kurlantzick, Beijing’s Global Media Offensive 

 

Joshua Kurlantzick, “Thailand and Cambodia’s Ceasefire: Will It Stop War When Elites Want Conflict?,” CFR.org 

 

For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/tpi/cambodian-thai-border-clash-josh-kurlantzick

Donald Trump’s Russia Ultimatum, With Liana Fix

Liana Fix, Fellow for Europe at the Council, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the current status of the fighting in Ukraine and the significance of President Trump’s recent ultimatum to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

 

Mentioned on the Episode:

 

Liana Fix,  “Can NATO Keep It Together?” Foreign Policy

 

Liana Fix, “How the Berlin Bubble Failed in the Ukraine War,” Internationale Politik

 

For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/tpi/donald-trumps-russia-ultimatum-liana-fix

Brazil and the BRICS, With Oliver Stuenkel

Oliver Stuenkel, associate professor at the School of International Relations at Fundação Getulio Vargas in São Paulo, Brazil, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the recent BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro and what Brazil sees as the group’s purpose.

 

Mentioned on the Episode:

 

Oliver Stuenkel,  BRICS and the Future of Global Order

 

Oliver Stuenkel, IBSA: Rise of the Global South

 

Oliver Stuenkel, Post-Western World

 

Oliver Stuenkel, “In Rio, BRICS Tries to Play It Safe," Foreign Policy

 

For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/tpi/brazil-brics-oliver-stuenkel

The Future of U.S. Foreign Aid, With William Henagan

William Henagan, a research fellow at the Council, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the current state of U.S. foreign aid programs after President Donald Trump’s reforms.

 

Mentioned on the Episode:

 

William Henagan, “Reauthorizing DFC: A Primer for Policymakers,” CFR.org

 

William Henagan, “Sovereign Funds and American Investment Strategy: How to Responsibly Create a U.S. Strategic Investment Fund,” CFR.org

 

For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/tpi/future-us-foreign-aid-william-henagan