The President’s Inbox

Iran’s Presidential Election, With Suzanne Maloney

Suzanne Maloney, vice president and director of the Foreign Policy program at the Brookings Institution, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss what’s at stake when Iranians head to the polls later this week.

The Lab-Leak Theory of COVID-19’s Origins, With Nicholas Wade

Nicholas Wade, former editorial writer, science reporter, and science editor for The New York Times, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the theory that COVID-19 originated in an accident at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

The Diversion of Ryanair Flight 4978, With Stephen Sestanovich

Ambassador Stephen Sestanovich, CFR’s George F. Kennan senior fellow for Russian and Eurasian studies, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss Belarus’s decision to force a commercial airliner to land in Minsk in order to arrest Belarusian journalist and blogger Roman Protasevich.

U.S. Policy on Taiwan, With Robert D. Blackwill

Ambassador Robert D. Blackwill, CFR’s Henry A. Kissinger senior fellow for U.S. foreign policy and a member of Harvard Kennedy School’s Applied History Project, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the debate over U.S. strategy toward Taiwan. Ambassador Blackwill, with Philip Zelikow, recently co-authored the Council Special Report, The United States, China, and Taiwan: A Strategy to Prevent War.

 

The Colonial Pipeline Hack, With Robert K. Knake

Rob Knake, CFR’s Whitney Shepardson senior fellow, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the consequences and lessons of the recent ransomware attack on the owner of the largest fuel pipeline system in the United States.

Turmoil in Jerusalem, With Steven A. Cook

Steven A. Cook, CFR’s Eni Enrico Mattei senior fellow for Middle East and Africa studies and director of the International Affairs Fellowship for Tenured International Relations Scholars, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the rising tensions between Israelis and Palestinians.

Rethinking American Grand Strategy, With Beverly Gage, Christopher Nichols, and Andrew Preston

Beverly Gage, Christopher Nichols, and Andrew Preston sit down with James M. Lindsay to discuss what grand strategy means and its role in U.S. history. Beverly Gage is professor of twentieth century American history and director of the Brady-Johnson Program in Grand Strategy at Yale University. Christopher Nichols is director of the Center for the Humanities and the Sandy and Elva Sanders Eminent professor in the Honors College at Oregon State University. Andrew Preston is professor of American history at the University of Cambridge, where he is a fellow of Clare College.

U.S. Maritime Strategy, With RADM James Bynum, RADM Pat DeQuattro, and MajGen Paul J. Rock Jr.

Rear Admiral James Bynum, Rear Admiral Pat DeQuattro, and Major General Paul J. Rock Jr. sit down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the new Tri-Service Maritime Strategy, which was released in December 2020. Rear Admiral Bynum currently serves in a dual capacity as the assistant deputy chief of naval operations for war fighting development, and the director of warfare development in the office of the chief of naval operations. Rear Admiral DeQuattro is the Coast Guard deputy for Operations, Policy and Capabilities. Major General Rock is the director of Plans, Policies & Operations in the Strategy and Plans division at Marine Corps Headquarters.

The U.S. Withdrawal From Afghanistan, With Max Boot

Max Boot, CFR's Jeane J. Kirkpatrick senior fellow in national security studies, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss President Biden's recent announcement to completely withdraw all U.S. forces from Afghanistan before September 11, 2021.

China’s Belt and Road Initiative, With Jacob J. Lew and Gary Roughead

Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew, managing partner at Lindsay Goldberg, and retired Admiral Gary Roughead, Robert and Marion Oster distinguished military fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, sit down with James M. Lindsay to discuss what China’s global infrastructure initiative means for the United States and the world. Secretary Lew and Admiral Roughead co-chaired the CFR Task Force Report, China’s Belt and Road: Implications for the United States.