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On Shifting Ground

969 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 9 hours ago - ★★★★ - 163 ratings

Geopolitical turmoil. A warming planet. Authoritarians on the rise. We live in a chaotic world that’s rapidly shifting around us.

“On Shifting Ground with Ray Suarez” explores international fault lines and how they impact us all.

Each week, NPR veteran Ray Suarez hosts conversations with journalists, leaders and policy experts to help us read between the headlines – and give us hope for human resilience.

A co-production of World Affairs and KQED.

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Episodes

For Palestine, Biden’s Uncommitted Voters Won’t Be Trump Shamed

March 28, 2024 09:00 - 28 minutes - 39.2 MB

Earlier this year, a grassroots movement emerged in the key battleground state of Michigan calling on Democratic voters to cast “uncommitted votes” in protest of president Joe Biden’s policy towards Israel’s war on Gaza. And in the months since, it’s gone national. But are Arab and Muslim American voters willing to gamble a second Trump presidency to hold Biden accountable for his Israel policy?   Nihad Awad, a CAIR Action board member, joins Ray Suarez to share why Arab and Muslim voter...

Bear Hugs with Israel and Ballot Box Blues

March 25, 2024 09:00 - 25 minutes - 34.3 MB

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's staunch opposition to a ceasefire in Gaza — and a future Palestinian state — is putting President Joe Biden in a vulnerable position at home. And as the 2024 election quickly approaches, it’s becoming clearer that US-Israel policy will be a lingering concern.    Ray Suarez sits down with Zack Beauchamp, a senior correspondent at Vox, to unpack how the political winds on Israel may be shifting.   Guest:   Zack Beauchamp, Senior Correspon...

Why is America Always in Cuba’s Business?

March 21, 2024 09:00 - 31 minutes - 42.8 MB

The US has once again ignored the United Nations’ annual resolution calling for an end to its decades-long embargo on Cuba, even as Cubans took to the streets to protest the island nation’s worst economic crisis in decades, with shortages of food and fuel. And when the US Embassy urged the Communist-led regime to “attend to the legitimate needs” of its people, the Cuban government criticized the comment as “open interference in Cuba’s domestic affairs.” For Cuba, Washington's long standing r...

From Crisis to Normalization – and Back Again: A Conversation with the Cuban Ambassador

March 18, 2024 09:00 - 22 minutes - 30.8 MB

Cuba is facing its worst economic crisis in decades, and shortages of food, fuel, medicine — and opportunity — have fueled a record-breaking surge of Cuban immigrants at America’s borders. But the US shows no signs of changing its policy towards the embargoed island, nor reversing former President Trump’s designation of the communist-led nation as a “state sponsor of terror.”   Ray Suarez sits down with Lianys Torres Rivera, Cuban Ambassador to the US, to unpack how migration and economi...

How Europe Paid to Lock Up Migrants… and Threw Away The Key

March 14, 2024 09:00 - 22 minutes - 30.5 MB

Mass death and disappearances have become normalized on Europe’s borders. Back in 2015, when more than a million refugees turned up on Europe’s doorstep to request asylum, the European Union cut deals with North African and Middle Eastern nations to hold back the flow of asylum-seekers. Since then, roughly 29,000 people have died or disappeared in the Mediterranean, reports the Missing Migrants Project.    And for the migrants who were were intercepted while attempting to cross the Medit...

Ukraine Diaries: The Ones Who Stayed

March 11, 2024 09:00 - 39 minutes - 54.1 MB

The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine has forced millions to flee their homes. And for the Ukrainian civilians caught in the crossfire, war has become a way of life.    This week, we talked to Ukrainians about the ways that the war unexpectedly changed their lives. Kateryna Lazarevych, an archivist at the PinchukArtCentre in Kyiv, shares how she’s working to improve her country, as if everyday were her last day on earth. Filmmaker Iryna Tsilyk takes us through her decision to leave Kyiv w...

How Kenya Took the Fight for Gender Equality… to Reality TV

March 07, 2024 10:00 - 23 minutes - 31.9 MB

Shortly before the end of his term in 2022, former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta pledged to end gender-based violence in his country by 2026. With two years left before the deadline, is Kenya still on track to fulfill the promises made to Kenyan women? And how is Kenyan media keeping the fight alive?   This week, we’re sharing an episode from Foreign Policy’s “Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women”, about how reality TV is helping women’s rights activists press the Kenyan government to ...

Kara Swisher’s Tech Love Story: The Good, Bad, and Ugly of Silicon Valley

March 04, 2024 10:00 - 30 minutes - 41.4 MB

To leaders in Silicon Valley, artificial intelligence is just the latest innovation in a never-ending “make our lives better.” But can we trust them with our data… and our lives… if they can’t be held accountable?   Journalist Kara Swisher joins Ray Suarez to discuss her newest book, “Burn Book,” and the psyche of Silicon Valley’s biggest players.   Plus: Hear Kara Swisher discuss “Burn Book,” the inside story of Silicon valley and the biggest boom in wealth creation in history live ...

Foreign Policy is on the Ballot… But Do We Care? A 2024 Election Special

February 26, 2024 10:00 - 53 minutes - 72.8 MB

Most Americans are far more focused on “pocketbook issues” – like stretching an ever-inflating dollar – than what the country does overseas in their name. But this election cycle, calls for additional aid for overseas wars has put foreign policy on the ballot for voters.   In the second episode of our special election series, South Carolina voter Maryann Wright shares her thoughts on the role of American democracy at home… and its responsibility abroad. Then, Ray Suarez sits down with We...

Will War Bring the End of Ukraine’s Democracy?

February 22, 2024 10:00 - 25 minutes - 35.6 MB

Saturday marks the second anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. And while foreign support may be dwindling, Ukrainian determination to win the war is not. But what’s at stake when war no longer feels like an emergency… but a way of life?   Ray Suarez sits down with Masha Gessen, staff writer for The New Yorker, to unpack the toll of Russia’s aggression on Ukraine’s freedoms… and democracy.   Guest:   Masha Gessen, Russian-American award-winning author and staff ...

Ukraine’s David and Goliath Fight for the Security of Europe

February 19, 2024 10:00 - 27 minutes - 37.8 MB

Vladimir Putin set the world on edge when Russia invaded Ukraine. Two years later, international support for Ukraine’s sovereignty is becoming more precarious, and war weariness amongst the resistance — and their allies— has begun to set in.    Global affairs analyst Michael Bociurkiw joins Ray Suarez to explain how a besieged Ukraine may be Europe’s last line of defense against Putin.   Guest:     Michael Bociurkiw, global affairs analyst and nonresident senior fellow at the A...

Remembering Alexei Navalny

February 16, 2024 18:47 - 37 minutes - 51 MB

On February 16, 2024, the Russian prison service reported that Alexei Navalny had died, and offered no further explanation.    The cause of death hasn’t yet been reported, but since the news broke, world leaders have started speaking out against Vladimir Putin… and it brings a new round of scrutiny to the Russian dictator.   In May 2022, Ray sat down with documentarian Daniel Roher to chat 'Navalny,' his new film following the famed Russian opposition leader’s recovery from a Kremlin...

Where Does Biden’s Middle East Strategy Go From Here?

February 15, 2024 10:00 - 21 minutes - 29.7 MB

Nearly 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza as Israel continues its massive retaliation against Hamas. And as violence spreads to Yemen, Iraq, and Syria, America’s global standing is taking a hit.   Ray Suarez sits down with Trita Parsi, Iran expert and Executive Vice President of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, to unpack how Biden’s unwavering support of Israel could cost him in the Middle East… and at home.   Guest:   Trita Parsi, Executive Vice Preside...

Why Israel Wants to Get Rid of UNRWA

February 12, 2024 10:00 - 31 minutes - 43.6 MB

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) was established to aid Palestinian refugees, but it has become yet another flashpoint in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Israel has accused 12 out of the 13,000 UNRWA employees of taking part in Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israeli settlements. And as major donors like the United States, Germany and Britain have paused their funding, the aid agency may have to cease its life-saving operations for millions of Palestinians in Gaza by...

Stranded: Immigration Policy and the Price of Entry

February 08, 2024 10:00 - 15 minutes - 21.5 MB

Immigration has emerged as a major voter concern in the 2024 elections, and the challenge of securing America’s Southern border is once again a political flashpoint. But while the US debates immigration reform, tens of thousands of migrants have become pawns in a game that endangers their lives…    Ray Suarez sits down with immigration attorney Mahsa Khanbabai to dive into what the broken visa process for Afghan refugees can teach us about immigration reform.   Guest:   Mahsa Kha...

Between Two Worlds

February 05, 2024 10:00 - 37 minutes - 51.9 MB

Immigrants in California are generally protected from federal deportation under sanctuary and safe haven laws, unless they've been incarcerated. And in 2022, after serving 25 years for murder, San Quentin State Prison parolee Phoeun You was turned over to ICE, and deported without warning.    In this episode, Phoeun You tells “On Shifting Ground” senior producer Mateo Schimpf about coming to terms with surviving the Cambodian genocide, how he got caught up in the prison-to-deportation p...

What’s Wrong, America? A 2024 Election Special

January 29, 2024 10:00 - 53 minutes - 72.9 MB

Americans — from the largest urban centers to the smallest rural towns — are deeply pessimistic about the state of the nation. And on both sides of the political aisle, there seems to be a disconnect between what people want… and where they feel the country is headed.    This week, we’re kicking off our special election series, and throughout the year we’ll deep-dive into the issues driving the 2024 Presidential Election.    In this first episode, we’ll hear from Iowa voter Phil Hemi...

Scott Galloway: Dislike by Design, How Big Tech Drives ‘American Enragement’

January 25, 2024 10:00 - 25 minutes - 34.5 MB

Elon Musk’s leadership at “X” (formerly Twitter) has been messy, and his disregard for user safeguards is part of a troubling trend in Silicon Valley. Revisiting the conversation from 2023, Ray Suarez sits down with NYU professor Dr. Scott Galloway to explore how Silicon Valley’s profit-chasing – and unchecked influence – is destroying American society… and our kids.   Guest:   Scott Galloway, Professor of Marketing at NYU Stern School of Business   Host:   Ray Suarez   ...

For America’s Democracy… and Your Well-Being, Check the Facts

January 22, 2024 10:00 - 28 minutes - 38.9 MB

The 2024 US election season is officially underway, and experts are already bracing for the array of threats to free and fair elections that were made all too real the last time Americans elected a president. And this time, many are concerned that it’ll be even harder to combat fake election claims online and political violence.   Alexa Koenig and Andrea Lampros, co-founders of UC Berkeley’s Human Rights Center Investigations Lab, join Ray Suarez to break down how our digital lives are ...

Dodging Bullets For Bylines: Sean Carberry on War Reporting

January 18, 2024 10:00 - 18 minutes - 26 MB

From accidental collateral damage deaths to targeted murders by the people in charge who don’t want them telling the truth, an unprecedented number of journalists are being killed while reporting. So what motivates reporters to keep filing stories despite the ever present threat of danger?   Sean Carberry, author of the memoir “Passport Stamps: Searching The World For A War To Call Home,” joins Ray Suarez to unpack the human costs of reporting from war zones.     Guest:   Sean Ca...

WSJ Moscow Bureau Chief on the Fate of Evan Gershkovich

January 15, 2024 10:00 - 34 minutes - 47.2 MB

Reporting in war zones is an inherently dangerous job. Last year, 95 international media workers were killed while reporting, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. And as the wars in Ukraine and Gaza drag on, 2024 may be just as deadly. So how can we protect the journalists putting their lives on the line?   We revisit our conversation with CPJ’s Gulnoza Said on why the safety of journalists matters to the health of a free press. Then, Ann Simmons, Moscow Bureau Chief at The...

David Brooks on ‘How to Know A Person’… And Why It Matters to Democracy

January 08, 2024 10:00 - 53 minutes - 72.8 MB

Hate crimes, gun violence, political polarization…. to New York Times’ columnist David Brooks, these are signs that America is undergoing a new epidemic: social isolation. He joins Ray Suarez to discuss his new book, “How To Know A Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen,” and to unpack how we can rebuild trust and empathy “for the opposition”... by getting to know our neighbors.   Guest:   David Brooks, Op-Ed Columnist at The New York Times and author of “How t...

Bye Bye Boomers, Hello Perennials

January 01, 2024 10:00 - 53 minutes - 72.8 MB

While many Baby Boomers have already left the workforce behind, almost half are considering coming out of retirement in search of a new purpose in life. Leading sociologist and business economist Mauro Guillén joins Ray Suarez to explain why the days of “OK Boomer” are coming to an end… and why the future of work will be “post-generational.”   Guest:   Mauro F. Guillén, Vice Dean at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and author of “The Perennials: The Megatrends Creating...

From Bethlehem to Kyiv: A Prayer for Peace at Christmas

December 22, 2023 20:00 - 53 minutes - 72.8 MB

Christmas is here, but for many Christians around the world, war has cast a shadow over this year’s festivities. To break with Russian orthodoxy and influence, Ukraine will officially observe Christmas on December 25, even as the terror of airstrikes taints the air. And in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, Palestinian Christians have canceled all celebrations in solidarity with their countrymen under attack in Gaza.     Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac, Senior Pastor at The Evangelical Lutheran ...

2023 Wrapped: A Year of Survival, Sovereignty, and Supremacy

December 18, 2023 10:00 - 53 minutes - 72.8 MB

From Putin’s costly war in Ukraine, to simmering tensions between the US and China, and renewed violence in the Middle East, this week, we’re looking back at the international news stories that defined 2023. Professor Jessica Chen Weiss, senior fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute; Karim Elgendy, founder of the Carboun Initiative for Middle Eastern Sustainable Cities; and Luke Harding, foreign correspondent at The Guardian, join Ray Suarez to dissect this year’s most significant geopo...

The Day After Tomorrow in Palestine-Israel: A Tale of Two Peace Activists

December 11, 2023 10:00 - 53 minutes - 72.8 MB

As the war on Gaza continues with no end in sight, two peace activists – one Palestinian and one Israeli – are already charting a non-violent path forward. Ray Suarez sits down with Luxembourg Peace Prize laureates, Ali Abu Awwad, founding leader of the Taghyeer (Change) Palestinian National Nonviolence movement, and Dr. Gershon Baskin, the Middle East director of the International Communities Organization, to learn why they maintain hope for a peaceful, two-state solution.  Ali Abu Awwad ...

In the People, Planet, Profit Equation, Who Leads the Energy Transition?

December 07, 2023 10:00 - 26 minutes - 36.5 MB

The APEC Multistakeholder Forum (AMF), organized by the Commonwealth Club World Affairs, was the first of its kind to feature Indigenous perspectives on what a ‘just transition’ away from fossil fuels should look like. Maui Solomon, Chairman of Moriori Imi Settlement Trust, and Raylene Whitford, Director of the Canadian Sustainability Standards Board, join Ray Suarez to explain how Indigenous representation and inclusion means putting people and the planet above profit.   Guests:   ...

Decolonizing Energy: Indigenous Led Climate Action

December 04, 2023 10:00 - 27 minutes - 37.5 MB

What does a ‘just’ transition away from fossil fuels actually mean for Indigenous communities? At the APEC Multistakeholder Forum (AMF), organized by the Commonwealth Club World Affairs,  Ray Suarez sat down with Chéri A. Smith, a renewable energy expert and Mi’kmaq descendant. They discussed how the Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy is working to combat energy poverty, bring solar to Indigenous communities and secure Native people a seat at the clean energy development table.   Guest: ...

US State Department’s Mallory Stewart on Controlling Nuclear Escalation

November 27, 2023 10:00 - 23 minutes - 31.9 MB

It’s been 78 years since a nuclear weapon was last used in war. Since then, the number of countries with a nuclear arsenal has increased from one… to nine. For the US government, two of the greatest nuclear threats are China and Russia – two superpowers that are escalating their nuclear capacity. US State Department nuclear expert, Mallory Stewart, shares how serious these threats are to the US.   Guest:   Mallory Stewart, Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Arms Control, Deterrenc...

I'll See Your Deterrence, And Raise You... Nuclear Annihilation

November 23, 2023 00:05 - 30 minutes - 41.3 MB

Former president Dwight Eisenhower described nuclear war as “unwinnable, unsurvivable and unthinkable.” But what changes when the use of a nuclear weapon now seems thinkable, and maybe… inevitable?    Ray Suarez sits down with Shannon E. French, Director of the Inamori International Center for Ethics and Excellence, and Matt Korda, Senior Research Fellow for the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists, to unpack why talk of nuclear annihilation is now being s...

Kofi Annan’s Masterclass on Peace and Power Sharing

November 20, 2023 10:00 - 34 minutes - 47.3 MB

Former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who died in 2018, was one of the most famous diplomats of his time. In today’s episode, we're sharing an Foreign Policy Magazine's The Negotiators about Annan’s mediation of a Kenyan political crisis in 2008—which stands out as one of his most impressive acts of diplomacy.   What we can learn about the nuances of negotiating?    Guest:   Meredith Preston McGhie, Secretary General for the Global Centre for Pluralism   Hosts:   Ray ...

Biden and Xi Walk into a Room… Will They Continue to Play Nice?

November 18, 2023 00:36 - 18 minutes - 25.8 MB

During APEC, President Xi Jinping reminded world leaders that China is “open for business.” So what does the next era of US-China relations look like? Ivan Kanapathy, Senior Associate at the Center for Strategic & International Studies, joins Ray Suarez to unpack the stakes of the Biden-Xi sideline talks, and just how far the two leaders will go to reestablish ties.   Guest:   Ivan Kanapathy, Senior Associate, Freeman Chair in China Studies at the Center for Strategic & International...

The Covert War on LGBT+ Rights

November 15, 2023 10:00 - 25 minutes - 34.4 MB

While the past year has seen major gains for LGBT+ rights, politicians around the world are increasingly using the community as scapegoats. Julie Dorf, Co-Chair of the Council for Global Equality, joins Ray Suarez to explain how a transnational network of American Christians is targeting LGBT+ rights at home… and abroad.   Guest:   Julie Dorf, Co-Chair of the Council for Global Equality   Host:     Ray Suarez   If you appreciate this episode and want to support the work w...

How American Radicalism Inspired the Most Homophobic Law on Earth

November 13, 2023 18:32 - 28 minutes - 38.7 MB

This year, Uganda enacted one of the harshest anti-LGBT+ laws in the world, making homosexuality punishable by death. Ugandan Human Rights activist Dr. Frank Mugisha joins Ray Suarez to share how American Christian evangelicals radicalized the East African country, and how the fight for human rights has turned deadly.   Guest:   Dr. Frank Mugisha, Ugandan LGBT advocate and Executive Director of Sexual Minorities Uganda   Host:     Ray Suarez   If you appreciate this epis...

Beyond Oil and Uncle Sam: MBS's Decade of Bold Reforms

November 09, 2023 10:00 - 27 minutes - 37.9 MB

Can economic power-brokering overcome decades of repression and human rights abuses? Karen Elliott House has covered Saudi Arabia for over four decades, and the Pulitzer-Prize reporter joins Ray Suarez to share her take on Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman’s vision for his country’s future.    Guest:   Karen Elliott House, Senior Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs   Host:    Ray Suarez   If you appreciate this episode and...

Are Saudi-Israel Talks Dead in the Water?

November 06, 2023 10:00 - 25 minutes - 35.5 MB

Saudi Arabia has embarked on a bold vision of innovation, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s stated aims for a long war on Gaza could interrupt Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman’s plans. NPR International Correspondent Aya Batrawy joins Ray Suarez to unpack how Saudi Arabia’s leader may react.    Guest:   Aya Batrawy, NPR International Correspondent and head of NPR’s Gulf Bureau   Host:     Ray Suarez   If you appreciate this episode and want to support the work we do...

Poverty? Climate Disaster? Are World Bank Bonds the Solution?

November 02, 2023 09:00 - 24 minutes - 34.2 MB

By 2030, around 600 million people will be struggling with extreme poverty. And the effects of climate change will only exacerbate the problem. Jorge Familiar joins Ray Suarez to share how the World Bank has revised its mission to tackle the twin problems of climate change and inequality.   Guest:   Jorge Familiar, VP and Treasurer of the World Bank   Host:   Ray Suarez   If you appreciate this episode and want to support the work we do, please consider making a donation ...

Is US Wealth Inequality Undermining Democracy?

October 30, 2023 09:00 - 28 minutes - 39 MB

What do you need to know about wealth to understand structural inequality in America? Becoming wealthy is getting harder with each generation, and the biggest predictor of whether you’ll achieve it isn’t your class… but your race. Ray Suarez sits down with economist Darrick Hamilton to discuss closing the racial wealth gap in the US.   Guest:   Darrick Hamilton, American economist and Henry Cohen Professor of Economics and Urban Policy and Professor at The New School for Social Rese...

Secretary Robert Gates on Israel’s Retaliation, and What Biden Does Next

October 23, 2023 15:27 - 34 minutes - 47.9 MB

Thousands have been killed in the ongoing violence between Israel and Hamas, and a ground invasion into Gaza appears imminent. Former US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates predicts how war could ripple through the Middle East.   Guest: Robert Gates, former US Secretary of Defense   Host:   Ray Suarez   If you appreciate this episode and want to support the work we do, please consider making a donation to World Affairs. We cannot do this work without your help. Thank you.

How the Palestinian Question Could Unravel Netanyahu’s “New Middle East”

October 20, 2023 22:38 - 30 minutes - 41.6 MB

On October 7, Hamas, an Iran-backed Islamist terrorist group, broke through the high-tech security barrier which divides Israel from the Gaza Strip, and launched a coordinated surprise attack on neighboring Israeli military targets and communities. Over 1,200 were killed, and 200 Israelis are still being held hostage. In retaliation, Israel has bombed the Gaza Strip — killing almost 4,000 Palestinians— and cut off water, electricity, medical and humanitarian aid in the occupied territory.  ...

Putin’s Victory in the South Caucasus

October 12, 2023 09:00 - 30 minutes - 41.5 MB

How does Russia benefit from conflict in the Caucasus? And what role can the media play in building bridges of understanding? In this episode, we revisit our conversations with Russian-American journalist Simon Ostrovsky and independent Azeri journalist Arzu Geybulla on the roots of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict post-Soviet collapse, and the potential for future reconciliation.   Guests:   Simon Ostrovsky, PBS NewsHour Special Correspondent   Arzu Geybulla, Independent Azeri jo...

Whose Sovereignty Is It Anyway? Armenia's ICC Bid For Justice with Sheila Paylan

October 09, 2023 09:00 - 23 minutes - 31.8 MB

In late September, Azerbaijan wiped out the self-proclaimed, ethnically Armenian Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh. The attacks prompted Armenia to finally join the International Criminal Court—despite warnings from Russia.   Ray Suarez speaks with human rights lawyer Sheila Paylan about what Armenia’s decision means for the country’s strained relations with Russia, and why Armenians are accusing Azerbaijan of war crimes and ethnic cleansing. Guest:   Sheila Paylan, International Lawyer ...

Troubled Times: Brexit’s Toll on Northern Ireland

October 05, 2023 09:00 - 24 minutes - 34.3 MB

The United Kingdom recently passed a law which grants immunity for the violence of The Troubles – adding another wrinkle to the ongoing Brexit saga. Jude Webber, Ireland correspondent for The Financial Times, joins Ray Suarez to unpack how the precarious peace held together by the Good Friday agreement is at risk of unraveling.    Guest:   Jude Webber, Ireland correspondent for The Financial Times   Host:   Ray Suarez   If you appreciate this episode and want to support t...

Inside the Good Friday Agreement, with Tony Blair’s Chief Negotiator

October 02, 2023 09:00 - 28 minutes - 38.6 MB

April marked the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday agreement, bringing to an end decades of violence known as “The Troubles.” But the chaotic implementation of Brexit and a new Northern Ireland Troubles “reconciliation” law from the UK are threatening that historic peace deal.   From our friends at Foreign Policy’s “The Negotiators,” Jonathan Powell, a chief negotiator of the Good Friday agreement, shares what actually happened in the room. Find the show’s new season wherever you get y...

The Kremlin's Kim-ouflage

September 28, 2023 09:00 - 25 minutes - 34.6 MB

If military cooperation with North Korea is a violation of UN Security Council resolutions, why would Russia do it so publicly? And what’s in it for the Hermit Kingdom? Andrei Lankov, Director at NK News, joins Ray Suarez to explain why Kim Jong Un is solidifying relations with Russia… and not China.   Guest:   Andrei Lankov, Director at NK News and Professor at Kookmin University   Host:     Ray Suarez   If you appreciate this episode and want to support the work we do, ...

Two Dictators Walk Into a Bar: What We Learned From the Putin-Kim Summit

September 25, 2023 09:00 - 28 minutes - 38.6 MB

Russia is firing off more artillery shells than they can produce at home, forcing the Kremlin to shop around for a new supplier. Ray Suarez speaks with New York Times’ national security reporter Julian Barnes about Russia’s alleged arms deal with North Korea, and what it means for the war in Ukraine.    Guest:   Julian Barnes, national security reporter for The New York Times   Host:   Ray Suarez   If you appreciate this episode and want to support the work we do, please ...

Why Detroit’s Auto Workers Are On Strike

September 21, 2023 09:00 - 28 minutes - 25.8 MB

As many as 150,000 US auto workers have walked out in a historic strike against the Big Three Automakers. In this special rerun episode, Mark Phelan, auto writer and columnist for the Detroit Free Press, joins Ray Suarez to break down why electric vehicles and wages are a red line for autoworkers.    Guests:   Shawn Fain, President of the United Auto Workers    Mark Phelan, auto writer and columnist for the Detroit Free Press   Host:     Ray Suarez   If you apprecia...

Regulating Big Tech: Is TikTok Still on the Clock?

September 18, 2023 09:00 - 53 minutes - 72.8 MB

In 2023, the rapid pace of innovation in Silicon Valley is making it increasingly challenging for our global partners to keep up. Ray Suarez speaks with Gerard de Graaf, Senior Envoy for Digital to the US, about strengthening US-EU cooperation on digital affairs. Then, Caitlin Chin, Strategic Technologies Program Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, returns with an update on the latest digital drama between Washington and Beijing… and where a possible TikTok ban goes...

Molière Out, Mercenaries In: Powers and Politics in Françafrique

September 14, 2023 09:00 - 25 minutes - 34.5 MB

Is West Africa going to war over Niger? And is the Niger coup part of a wider decline in French colonial influence – and growing Russian and Chinese interest – in the region? Ray Suarez sits down with security analyst Fola Aina and journalist Nabila Ramdani to discuss the coup in Niger – and across former French colonies in the Sahel region. They explain why the Niger coup could help the Wagner Group expand influence.    Guests:   Fola Aina, international security analyst at the Roya...

Blood and Butter: Why Russia’s Economy is Falling Faster Than Prigozhin’s Plane

September 11, 2023 09:00 - 27 minutes - 38.2 MB

What will happen to Wagner without Prigozhin? And can Russia continue to isolate itself from the economic chaos its war has created? Ray Suarez speaks with Catherine Belton, The Washington Post’s Russia reporter, about the mercenary organization’s future and the price Russians — ordinary and oligarch — are paying for Putin’s power plays.   Guest:   Catherine Belton, international investigative reporter for The Washington Post and author of “Putin's People”    Host:     Ray S...

Guests

Rana Foroohar
2 Episodes
Walter Isaacson
2 Episodes
David Miliband
1 Episode
Eve Ensler
1 Episode
Ishmael Beah
1 Episode
Samantha Power
1 Episode
Stanley McChrystal
1 Episode

Books

The Social Contract
4 Episodes
Behind the Curtain
1 Episode
Brave New World
1 Episode
The Common Good
1 Episode
The Forever War
1 Episode
The Good Soldier
1 Episode
The White House
1 Episode

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