Asher Ross

CFR Staff

Asher Ross

Lead Content Strategist

Asher Ross helps develop and guide content strategy for CFR.org and is co-creator and co-producer of the CFR podcast Why It Matters. Before joining CFR, he was a copy editor at The New York Times. He holds a BA in English Literature from Bard College.

Select Work

Climate Change

Batteries Not Included

The world is moving toward electric vehicles and clean energy, but a green future doesn’t depend on wind turbines, solar panels, and Teslas alone. It will also require a vast supply of advanced batteries. As a result, global demand for lithium—an essential battery ingredient—is outpacing supply, with the gap expected to grow in the years to come.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra February 16, 2022 Why It Matters

China

Hyperventilating Over Hypersonics

Last summer, China tested a hypersonic missile that traveled through orbit. The test shocked many observers and led to widespread concern about the potential for nuclear-armed missiles that can evade detection and defense systems. The technology is not as new as it might seem, but this latest test highlights an underlying threat that the world has been living with for decades.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra November 12, 2021 Why It Matters

Climate Change

Dimming the Sky

As climate change accelerates, some scientists are researching ways to alter our climate to slow down warming. But the method, called solar geoengineering, comes with some serious risks.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra February 12, 2020 Why It Matters

Technology and Innovation

The New Tech World Order

For most of our history, the realm of international relations was dominated by nation-states. They waged wars and signed treaties through the framework of governance. But today, more so than ever before, tech titans are acting as unilateral decision makers, upsetting the balance and structure of global power around the world.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra, Adam Segal and Rana Foroohar November 13, 2024 Why It Matters
Media

A World Under the Influence

With the rise of social media, influencers around the world have increasingly taken on the role of newscaster without a traditional media organization behind them. Some say it has democratized journalism, but with the rise of misinformation, influencers who capture massive audiences online also run the risk of spreading false or even harmful information. How much have influencers altered the media landscape?

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra, Renée DiResta, Nic Newman and Michael Spikes October 21, 2024 Why It Matters
Budget, Debt, and Deficits

Who’s Afraid of the National Debt?

The United States national debt is rising to levels not seen since World War II. Many economists say Washington is on an unsustainable track, but no one knows when it will pass the point of crisis. What is at risk if U.S. debt continues to grow?

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra, Roger W. Ferguson Jr. and Maya MacGuineas October 2, 2024 Why It Matters
Election 2024

Why Is the World Obsessed with the U.S. Election? Ask Germany

The world is watching the U.S. presidential contest between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris with intense interest. Few countries are tracking the race more closely than Germany, Europe's biggest economy and a founding member of the NATO alliance. Its experiences provide insights into how this election is reverberating globally.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra, Liana Fix and Stefan Kornelius September 18, 2024 Why It Matters
West Africa

Can West Africa Curb Its Brain Drain?

West Africa is losing many of its best and brightest. Across the region, doctors, lawyers, and engineers are leaving, depriving some of the world’s youngest countries of the minds they need to develop sustainably. At the same time, coups have rocked the nearby Sahel, threatening to create a corrosive cycle of instability. Can West Africa quell the tide of emigration?

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra, Ebenezer Obadare and Aanu Adeoye June 20, 2024 Why It Matters
Maternal and Child Health

Global Abortion Access After Roe

In the past thirty years, sixty countries have expanded access to abortion care as an underpinning of maternal health. The 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade made the United States the fourth country ever to decrease access to abortion—and the world took notice. Some countries have since reinforced protections for abortion care, while others have moved to further restrict it.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra, Onikepe Owolabi and Patty Skuster June 5, 2024 Why It Matters
India

India, Modi, and Hindu Nationalism

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the most popular man in India. On track to be elected for a third term, he has boosted the country’s global standing and propelled strong economic growth while consolidating power and galvanizing majoritarian support for his Hindu nationalist agenda—all while growing closer to the United States. How could Hindu nationalism reshape India?

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra, Ashok Swain and Hartosh Singh Bal May 23, 2024 Why It Matters
Genocide and Mass Atrocities

Remembering the Rwandan Genocide

Thirty years ago, Rwanda’s government began a campaign to eradicate the country’s largest minority group. In just one hundred days in 1994, roving militias killed around eight hundred thousand people. Would-be killers were incited to violence by the radio, which encouraged extremists to take to the streets with machetes. The United Nations stood by amid the bloodshed, and many foreign governments, including the United States, declined to intervene before it was too late. What got in the way of humanitarian intervention? And as violent conflict now rages at a clip unseen since then, can the international community learn from the mistakes of its past?

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra, David J. Scheffer and Claude Gatebuke April 10, 2024 Why It Matters
Economics

Local Leaders in the Global Economy

Many Americans are losing faith in the benefits of internationalism. But whether it’s wars in the Gaza Strip and Ukraine, worsening extreme weather as a result of climate change, or the trade-offs of globalization, events abroad are increasingly having a local impact. At the same time, more state and local officials in the United States are becoming involved in global affairs, conducting their own form of diplomacy on international issues and driving investment home. What role should the United States play in the world economy? And how do states and cities fit in?

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra, Matthew P. Goodman and Nina Hachigian April 2, 2024 Why It Matters
Space

UFOs: Close Encounters of the National Security Kind

Unidentified flying objects (UFOs) are real. And the truth about them is often hidden from the public, for reasons related to national security. That secrecy has fed conspiracy theories about the possibility of alien life on Earth, creating a stigma around the legitimate scientific search for life on other planets. Why are UFOs considered a defense concern? And does a defense framing of UFOs inhibit scientific research?

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra, Philippe Ailleris, Shane Harris and Kai-Uwe Schrogl March 27, 2024 Why It Matters
Center for Preventive Action

2024: What’s the Worst That Could Happen?

Every January, CFR’s annual Preventive Priorities Survey analyzes the conflicts most likely to occur in the year ahead and measures their potential impact. For the first time, the survey anticipates that this year, 2024, the United States will contend not only with a slew of global threats, but also a high risk of upheaval within its own borders. Is the country prepared for the eruption of election-related instability at home while wars continue to rage abroad?

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra and Paul B. Stares March 13, 2024 Why It Matters
Artificial Intelligence (AI)

The Year of AI and Elections

Billions of people will take to the polls next year, marking the world’s largest-ever electoral field. But this historic scale is not the only thing that will make 2024 unique. As new threats like deep fakes become cheaper and more widespread, these upcoming elections could serve as a test run for democracy in the artificial intelligence (AI) era. What risks does AI pose to elections next year? And will a surge in AI-powered disinformation change the nature of democratic elections?

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra, Kat Duffy and Yoel Roth December 20, 2023 Why It Matters
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Understanding the U.S. Role in the Israel-Hamas War

Scenes from the Israel-Hamas war have reverberated across the world. In the United States, debate about the conflict has intensified, and it has resurfaced long-standing questions about policy toward Israel and the Palestinian territories. What is the U.S. goal for the region? And how is the United States responding to the war?

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra and Steven A. Cook November 22, 2023 Why It Matters
Trade

A Turning Point for Global Trade

International trade has shaped the world for much of the past century. Countries benefited from the global flow of goods, and the world became richer and safer. At the same time, many Americans lost their jobs to cheaper overseas competitors. Now, a series of compounding challenges, including great power competition and climate change, have led U.S. officials to rethink trade policy. What's next for international trade? And can the United States retain the benefits of trade while protecting critical supply chains and fighting climate change?

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra, Jennifer Hillman, Inu Manak and Edward Alden November 8, 2023 Why It Matters
Drug Policy

America’s Fentanyl Epidemic: The China Connection

Over the past few years, a new threat has emerged as a leading cause of death in the United States: fentanyl. Yet even as the drug wreaks havoc on Americans lives, preventing its flow into the United States is complicated, partially because of the supply’s overseas origins, which is often China. What is China’s role in the U.S. fentanyl crisis?

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra, Thomas J. Bollyky, Zongyuan Zoe Liu and Shannon K. O'Neil October 25, 2023 Why It Matters
Ukraine

The Case for Rebuilding Ukraine

Russia has caused unprecedented damage in Ukraine. And with no diplomatic end in sight to the conflict, many Ukrainians are wondering when, if ever, they will be able to go back to their homes. According to many experts, the answer is actually sooner rather than later. Can reconstruction begin before a war ends? Who pays, and where should world leaders begin?

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra, Philip Zelikow and Sam Greene October 11, 2023 Why It Matters
Climate Change

Could Climate Change Break Home Insurance?

For decades, U.S. homeowners have counted on property insurance to protect them from catastrophic loss if their homes are destroyed—and the U.S. economy has rested on the functionality of that model. But as this summer’s extreme weather broke records, private companies reduced their coverage. As climate disasters become more frequent, can home insurance hold up?

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra, Nancy Watkins and David Marlett September 27, 2023 Why It Matters
Inequality

Who Runs the World?... Not Women

Female representation in politics leads to numerous benefits, but the vast majority of the world’s most powerful politicians are men. Using the Council on Foreign Relations’ Women’s Power Index tool to track women’s leadership across the globe, this episode examines the problems that arise from a shortage of female leaders.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra, Linda Robinson and Sandra Pepera September 13, 2023 Why It Matters
Taiwan

Taiwan, China, and the Threat of War

A small island one hundred miles off the coast of China could be the flashpoint that determines the future of great-power competition. Experts increasingly warn that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan would be globally catastrophic, regardless of its success or if the United States intervenes. How concerned should Americans be?

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra, David Sacks and James Lin July 13, 2023 Why It Matters
Artificial Intelligence (AI)

AI Meets World, Part Two

The rapid emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) has brought lawmakers and industry leaders to the same conclusion: regulation is necessary to ensure the technology changes the world for the better. The similarities could end there, as governments and industry clash on what those laws should do, and different governments take increasingly divergent approaches. What are the stakes of the debate over AI regulation?

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra, Sebastian Mallaby and Janet Haven June 21, 2023 Why It Matters
Artificial Intelligence (AI)

AI Meets World, Part One

After decades of seeming like another sci-fi catchphrase, artificial intelligence (AI) is having its moment. Some experts predict that AI will usher in an era of boundless productivity and techno-utopia; others see a new realm of great-power competition and the end of humanity. Nearly all agree that AI will change the world. But will it be for the better?

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra, Sebastian Mallaby and Janet Haven June 8, 2023 Why It Matters
Supply Chains

Down and Dirty: The Global Fertilizer Dilemma

Feeding the world's eight billion people has never been easy. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine shocked the market for fertilizer, that task has gotten even harder. The fertilizer crisis threatens to exacerbate food insecurity worldwide, especially in low-income countries already reeling from record-high inflation and rapidly depreciating currencies. What is fertilizer’s role in the food supply chain?

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra, Michelle Gavin and Laura Cross May 25, 2023 Why It Matters
Nuclear Weapons

A New Nuclear Age

Before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the possibility of nuclear war felt like a problem of days past. Now, as great-power competition heats up, the potential for nuclear conflict seems higher than at any point in decades. How did the nuclear taboo fade, and what does nuclear proliferation mean for the United States?

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra, J. Andrés Gannon and Rupal N. Mehta May 10, 2023 Why It Matters
National Security and Defense Program

Army of Some: Recruiting Trouble for the All-Volunteer Force

All current U.S. military personnel have one thing in common: they volunteered. But falling recruitment has raised questions of national security, military readiness, and the health of U.S. society. Can the all-volunteer force handle a changing international security landscape?

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra, Max Boot, Amy Bushatz and Timothy J. MacDonald April 26, 2023 Why It Matters
Censorship and Freedom of Expression

Silencing the Messenger: Global Threats to Press Freedom

Freedom of the press is under attack around the globe, but for journalists in Latin America in particular, reporting has become a matter of life and death. Populist leaders in the region have consolidated power and clamped down on press freedom, making the area the deadliest in the world for reporters. With anti-journalist sentiment on the rise, can a free and fair press prevail in an increasingly polarized world?

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra, Carin Zissis, Jan-Albert Hootsen and Neil Brandvold April 12, 2023 Why It Matters
Arctic

What’s Cracking in the Arctic?

As rising global temperatures thaw the ice at the North Pole of the planet, competition between nuclear-powered states threatens to heat up the Arctic Circle even further. An increasingly minable Arctic, which contains vast natural resources, has piqued the economic interests of oil-hungry great powers, even as the warmer climate jeopardizes Indigenous tribes. Here’s how the Arctic could become the next frontier of great-power competition.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra, Esther Brimmer and Jeff Randall March 29, 2023 Why It Matters
Center for Preventive Action

2023: What’s the Worst That Could Happen?

The world is entering a new era of great-power competition. As U.S. policymakers look ahead, it pays to know what global threats to anticipate. Every January, the Council on Foreign Relations publishes a survey that analyzes the conflicts most likely to occur in the twelve months ahead and rates their potential impact on the United States. But can the country prepare itself for mass immigration, cyberwarfare, and nuclear tensions while still cooperating with adversaries on global issues such as climate change?

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra and Paul B. Stares March 15, 2023 Why It Matters
Global Governance

Another Year of Living Dangerously

In 2022, several colossal events dominated the headlines, most prominently the war in Ukraine and the worldwide inflation that it helped spark. But beyond Ukraine, events with global implications continued to unfold. In this episode, Why It Matters checks in with three CFR fellows and CFR President Richard Haass to understand the least-covered stories of 2022 and to take a peek at what could await the world in 2023.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra, Steven A. Cook, Richard Haass, Shannon K. O'Neil and Ebenezer Obadare December 20, 2022 Why It Matters
Technology and Innovation

The Three Internets

For years, the world thought of the internet as a borderless zone that brought people from around the world together. But as governments pursue very different regulatory paths, the monolithic internet is breaking apart. Now, where there had been one, there are at least three internets: one led by the United States, one by China, and one by the European Union.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra, Anu Bradford, Adam Segal and Tarah Wheeler December 7, 2022 Why It Matters
International Organizations

A Troubled Cup for the Beautiful Game

The 2022 FIFA World Cup has kicked off in Qatar, and billions of fans worldwide are tuning in to the world’s most popular live event. And yet as in years past, the Qatar Cup is transpiring under the shadow of controversy.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra and Laurent Dubois November 23, 2022 Why It Matters
Arms Industries and Trade

The Cost of the U.S. Arms Trade

The global arms trade is big business and the United States accounts for more than 40 percent of the world’s weapons exports. Aside from the profit motivation, selling arms abroad can be an effective foreign policy tool, allowing the United States to exert influence over conflict and security worldwide without having to put boots on the ground. But are the risks worth the reward?

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra October 26, 2022 Why It Matters
Ukraine

Update on Ukraine, With Richard Haass: How Will It End?

How does a war end? In this special episode, Why It Matters speaks with CFR President Richard Haass on the conflict in Ukraine. We ask if and how this war can come to a close and discuss what compromises might have to be made.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra October 12, 2022 Why It Matters
Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Exception

The U.S.-Saudi relationship is fraught with complications. Saudi Arabia has the largest oil reserves in the world, giving it influence over what Americans pay at the gas pump. At the same time, the kingdom’s human rights abuses are at odds with the United States’ stated democratic values. Who holds the power in this partnership? And what compromises are being made so the countries can work together?

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra September 28, 2022 Why It Matters
Climate Change

Trouble Brewing for Coffee

Beware, coffee lovers: climate change could disrupt your precious morning cup of joe. Coffee beans could lose half of their farmable land by 2050 as temperatures and weather patterns become more extreme and less predictable. This could lead to scarcer yields and pricier brews. But there is hope that unique varieties and novel farming techniques could change coffee’s destiny. The transition will require massive investments and many observers question whether the industry can meet the challenge.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra September 15, 2022 Why It Matters
Diplomacy and International Institutions

Hip-Hop Diplomacy

Hip-hop is a phenomenon that has captured hearts around the world. Its musical form ranges from party anthems to critical social commentary. But the genre plays another role: it is an influential soft-power tool for the United States. Like its predecessors jazz and rock, hip-hop is utilized by the U.S. State Department to connect with young minds, and its unique ability to inspire goodwill toward the United States offers a significant advantage over adversaries such as China and Russia. How did hip-hop become a go-to diplomatic instrument?

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra May 25, 2022 Why It Matters
Religion

The Power of the Pope

For the past two thousand years, the pope has been a major player in global affairs. He is frequently called upon to act as a peace broker, a mediator, an advocate, and an influencer; and with over 1.3 billion followers around the world, the pope and his governmental arm, the Holy See, have the power to shape the future. How has the pope's power changed over time, and what is his role today?

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra May 13, 2022 Why It Matters
Russia

Update on Ukraine, With Richard Haass

In this special episode, Why It Matters follows up with CFR President Richard Haass to hear his insights on the war in Ukraine.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra April 27, 2022 Why It Matters
Financial Markets

What in the World Is a Global Minimum Tax?

For years, large corporations have exploited international tax laws to pay less taxes. But last year, 137 countries backed a potential solution: a 15 percent corporate tax applied regardless of a company’s location. The reform could raise global tax revenues by more than $150 billion a year, but as advocates garner political support, there are significant roadblocks.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra April 14, 2022 Why It Matters
Technology and Innovation

Quantum Leap

How can the world create better medicines? More powerful solar cells? New batteries? The answers could come from a revolutionary research tool known as the quantum computer. It can seem like magic—harnessing the power of quantum physics to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges. But there are unmitigated risks too, as the technology continues to develop. What would a quantum-led future hold?

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra March 31, 2022 Why It Matters
Climate Change

Climate Adaptation: Rising Tides in Coastal Cities

The world is already witnessing the effects of climate change. One inescapable and irreversible consequence is sea-level rise, which could destroy coastal cities. How will the world adapt to rising tides?

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra March 17, 2022 Why It Matters
Ukraine

Perspective on Ukraine, With Richard Haass

In this special episode, Why It Matters sits down with CFR President Richard Haass to ask the basic questions about the war in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s frame of mind, and his threat to world order.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra March 2, 2022 Why It Matters
Climate Change

Batteries Not Included

The world is moving toward electric vehicles and clean energy, but a green future doesn’t depend on wind turbines, solar panels, and Teslas alone. It will also require a vast supply of advanced batteries. As a result, global demand for lithium—an essential battery ingredient—is outpacing supply, with the gap expected to grow in the years to come.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra February 16, 2022 Why It Matters
Global

Season Five Trailer

Why It Matters is back for a fifth season, asking the important questions about the global issues, problems, and trends that will affect the future. What role does American music play in international relations? Will the global supply chain put the path to clean energy at risk? What the heck is quantum computing?

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra January 26, 2022 Why It Matters
China

Hyperventilating Over Hypersonics

Last summer, China tested a hypersonic missile that traveled through orbit. The test shocked many observers and led to widespread concern about the potential for nuclear-armed missiles that can evade detection and defense systems. The technology is not as new as it might seem, but this latest test highlights an underlying threat that the world has been living with for decades.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra November 12, 2021 Why It Matters
Nuclear Energy

The Climate for Nuclear Energy

Nuclear energy is critical for decarbonization in the fight against climate change. But high-profile accidents, substantial costs, and concerns about waste management have kneecapped its expansion. As the climate crisis intensifies, the world is rethinking how to use nuclear energy to tackle ambitious climate targets.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra October 29, 2021 Why It Matters
Mexico

Mexico

Experts argue that Mexico affects daily life in the United States more than any other country. For years, U.S. and Mexican officials have attempted to tackle immigration, trade, and security challenges, and their success has depended on cooperation. With so much at stake, Why It Matters investigates the complex relationship and the factors that threaten it.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra October 14, 2021 Why It Matters
Military Operations

Sexual Assault in the U.S. Military

Female service members are more likely to be sexually assaulted by a fellow member of the military than shot by an enemy combatant at war. As the reports increase, the controversial military justice system remains intact. The current policy gives commanders authority over the prosecution, often allowing perpetrators to evade accountability. The consequences are dire for survivors and the armed services at large, as the status quo undermines military readiness.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra September 30, 2021 Why It Matters
Intelligence

Spying 101

The glamour and thrill of espionage, brought to life on screen by characters such as James Bond, have long captivated imaginations. But this profession is deeply misunderstood, and it is always changing. Today, spycraft hangs in the balance as new technologies emerge and societies change.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra September 1, 2021 Why It Matters
Afghanistan War

Perspective on Afghanistan, With Richard N. Haass

In this special episode, CFR President Richard N. Haass examines the war in Afghanistan and the lessons to be learned in its wake.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra and Richard Haass August 19, 2021 Why It Matters
Japan

Japan’s Population Problem

The United States’ alliance with Japan is the centerpiece of U.S. security in Asia, but new demographic challenges from within Japan raise concerns about the future of the region.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra July 22, 2021 Why It Matters
Food and Water Security

Water Scarcity

Fresh water is more than just a resource, it is the source of all life. But in many arid regions of the world, water supplies are under pressure from climate change, and outdated rules and infrastructure are making the problem worse. What does the world need to know about water consumption, and how can societies build better systems for a dryer future?

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra July 8, 2021 Why It Matters
Technology and Innovation

When the Microchips Are Down

Silicon chips are in almost all electronics, and access to them can make or break a country’s economic future. Their production relies on complex supply chains, and during the pandemic, the world learned just how fragile these supply chains are. Many countries, including the United States and China, are investing billions of dollars to develop the capacity to produce chips domestically, and some analysts see chip-related conflict on the horizon.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra June 23, 2021 Why It Matters
Global

Season Four Trailer

Will the world have enough water to survive in the era of climate change? Could a shortage of silicon chips eventually lead to war? Do human spies matter in the era of cyber espionage? Why It Matters is back for its fourth season, unpacking new problems and speaking with a host of new guests.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra June 16, 2021 Why It Matters
Oceans and Seas

Gone Fishing

Industrial overfishing and other man-made factors have pushed one-third of the world’s fish stocks to be threatened with extinction, and many other species are not far behind. The problem represents a serious risk to ocean biodiversity, and to large human populations that rely on fish for day-to-day survival. What can be done?

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra March 18, 2021 Why It Matters
COVID-19

A Global Shot in the Arm, With Anthony Fauci

Successful vaccine rollouts in the United States and other wealthy nations have made many people hopeful that the end of the COVID-19 pandemic is in sight. But the majority of the world’s population does not yet have access to these vaccines. Without a strong global effort to immunize everyone, new variants could tighten the pandemic’s grip on rich and poor countries alike.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra, Anthony S. Fauci, Richard Haass and Tidjane Thiam March 3, 2021 Why It Matters
Currency Reserves

The Dollar Privilege

The dollar is the world’s primary reserve currency, accounting for $6.7 trillion in foreign reserves. This has given the United States what some have called “an exorbitant privilege,” allowing it to borrow easily and to levy painful sanctions. But could it lose this status?

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra February 18, 2021 Why It Matters
Terrorism and Counterterrorism

‘The Most Persistent and Lethal Threat’

For years, security experts have warned that white nationalist and white supremacist extremism represent the most significant domestic terrorism threat to the United States. Now, in the wake of the attack on the U.S. Capitol, the country seems to be gaining clarity about the seriousness of the situation for the first time. How did we get here, and what can be done?

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra February 3, 2021 Why It Matters
Russia

Russia

There is no country quite like Russia. Despite having a relatively small economy, it has been able to maintain global influence through a range of unconventional tactics. How has Vladimir Putin played his country’s weak hand so effectively? And what is his goal?

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra January 19, 2021 Why It Matters
China

China’s Starring Role in Hollywood

What does it take to make a Hollywood blockbuster? Movie stars? A great script? How about approval from the Chinese government? In this episode, two guests explore the surprising role of Chinese censorship and oversight in the production of U.S. films and ask what’s at stake as their presence increases.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra January 6, 2021 Why It Matters
Brazil

A Climate Bomb in the Amazon

The Brazilian Amazon is burning, threatening the world’s largest repository of biodiversity. If the fires are not controlled soon, they could release a “climate bomb” of stored carbon that would accelerate climate change.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra November 24, 2020 Why It Matters
Health

Let’s Talk About Toilets

Fifty-five percent of the global population lacks access to safe sanitation, a deadly global health disparity that rarely finds its way into the spotlight. In this episode, we examine the scope of the problem, and the cultural challenges that have made it surprisingly difficult to fix.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra November 11, 2020 Why It Matters
United States

Make America Vote Again

The United States trails far behind most advanced democracies when it comes to voter turnout, with just 55 percent of eligible voters participating in the 2016 election. What are other countries doing right, and what is the United States doing wrong?

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra October 28, 2020 Why It Matters
Global

Season Three Trailer

What happens when the world runs out of fish? Does TikTok actually present a national security risk? Will Africa's population boom change the world as we know it? In season three, Why It Matters explores a new series of challenges that are gathering on the horizon.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra October 14, 2020 Why It Matters
Transnational Crime

Treasures Looted in War

Works of art and cultural heritage sites are common casualties in war. In many cases, the sale of plundered treasures has helped finance ongoing conflict. In this episode, two experts examine the history of conflict-driven looting. Along the way, they trace the opaque, unregulated international art market that allows irreplaceable treasures to travel from strife-torn regions to the catalogues of prestigious auction houses.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra August 25, 2020 Why It Matters
Education

Why We Need International Students

For decades, international students have enjoyed bipartisan support in the United States, with strong consensus that they fuel American innovation, job creation, and competitiveness. But in recent years, their access to U.S. colleges and universities has come under threat, and other nations are seizing the opportunity to bring in the world’s brightest students.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra, Edward Alden and Esther Brimmer August 12, 2020 Why It Matters
Climate Change

Pricing Our Climate

As the effects of climate change move from scientific predictions to daily headlines, some investors have begun sounding the alarm about impending dangers to financial markets. In this episode, experts break down the intersection of climate change and the economy, and examine whether the persuasive power of the dollar can be leveraged in the fight for climate action.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra, Kate Mackenzie and Michael Greenstone July 29, 2020 Why It Matters
Olympics

Hey, Remember the Olympics?

Hosting the Olympics is a monumental undertaking that often leaves behind rusted stadiums and financial losses. So why do nations compete to do it? This episode examines the political history of the games, and the soft power that countries hope to gain by hosting them.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra and Jules Boykoff July 15, 2020 Why It Matters
Political History and Theory

Living in History

Whether you think we are making history or repeating it, it’s safe to say we are living in a historic time. In this episode, Why It Matters asks three historians to weigh in on how to use the past to examine the present and make better choices for the future.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra, Richard Haass, Margaret MacMillan and Annette Gordon-Reed July 1, 2020 Why It Matters
Demonstrations and Protests

The World Is Watching Us

The killing of George Floyd, the anti-racism protest movement that followed, and the Donald J. Trump administration’s response have shaken the United States and captivated the world. Why It Matters speaks with two foreign correspondents to understand how the protests are being understood abroad.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra, Chika Oduah and Keith B. Richburg June 17, 2020 Why It Matters
Human Trafficking

The Human Cost of Labor Trafficking

It is estimated that twenty to forty million people around the world are victims of human trafficking. Of these, the majority are trafficked for labor, and many of them are exploited in the United States.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra, Susy Andole, Mark P. Lagon and Anita Teekah June 3, 2020 Why It Matters
China

Exporting Authoritarianism

China is undertaking massive infrastructure projects across the world and loaning billions of dollars to developing nations. On paper, the objective is to build a vast trade network, but is China also exporting authoritarianism?

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra May 20, 2020 Why It Matters
India

WhatsApp With India?

Roughly four hundred million people in India use the encrypted messaging platform WhatsApp. Now, the country’s ruling party is trying to force WhatsApp to let the government trace and censor messages. The outcome could change digital freedoms in the world’s largest democracy, and could have strong implications for the future of privacy everywhere.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra May 6, 2020 Why It Matters
Globalization

Wearing the World Out

What’s the true cost of cheap clothes? Fast fashion has become a multibillion-dollar industry in recent decades, reshaping the world’s shopping habits. But the industry’s low prices disguise a staggering environmental cost.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra April 19, 2020 Why It Matters
COVID-19

Bonus Episode: “A Medically Induced Economic Coma”

Is the coronavirus a zero-sum game in which we must choose between saving lives and saving the economy? In this episode, we sit down with two experts to find out.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra April 8, 2020 Why It Matters
Global

Season Two Trailer

Is China exporting its authoritarian model to other countries? Is the “fast fashion” industry accelerating climate change? In season two, Why It Matters explores a new series of issues that are flying under the radar now, but won’t be for long.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra March 25, 2020 Why It Matters
COVID-19

Coronavirus

The worldwide spread of the new coronavirus has pulled back the curtain on the vulnerabilities of our interconnected world. Now we are left asking some basic questions. What lessons have we learned so far?

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra March 11, 2020 Why It Matters
NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

The One Where We Talk About NATO at a Party

You’re making the rounds at a party when someone asks you about NATO. Is it still important? The alliance is credited with preventing a third world war, but a lot of us don’t know what it is or how it works. This episode takes a look at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization from the ground up, paired best with a cold drink.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra February 26, 2020 Why It Matters
Climate Change

Dimming the Sky

As climate change accelerates, some scientists are researching ways to alter our climate to slow down warming. But the method, called solar geoengineering, comes with some serious risks.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra February 12, 2020 Why It Matters
Elections and Voting

Voter, You’ve Been Hacked

The aftershocks of Russia’s interference in the 2016 U.S. election are still being felt today. Is the United States ready for future elections?

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra January 29, 2020 Why It Matters
Technology and Innovation

Robots That Kill

Militaries around the world are designing artificial intelligence–powered weapons that could one day make their own decisions about who to target. The technology could change the scope of warfare, but at what cost?

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra January 15, 2020 Why It Matters
Nuclear Energy

New Year’s Special: 2020 Hindsight

At the start of the new year, the Why It Matters team takes a look at some of the best interview segments that didn’t make it into the episodes.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra January 1, 2020 Why It Matters
Public Health Threats and Pandemics

Prescription for Disaster

Antibiotics have saved untold millions of lives, but bacteria are learning to outsmart them at alarming rates. Projections show that by 2050, ten million people could die each year from antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra December 18, 2019 Why It Matters
Space

Space Jam

Space is getting crowded. The biggest challenge is space junk—the debris that results when satellites break up or get shot down. If we aren’t careful, space junk, and space conflict, could cause a lot of problems down here on Earth.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra December 4, 2019 Why It Matters
Women and Women's Rights

STEMinism

Women and girls are excluded from career paths in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). This gender gap is causing the world to lose out on “the genius of half the population,” according to former U.S. Chief Technology Officer Megan Smith.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra November 20, 2019 Why It Matters
China

China Doesn’t Want Your Trash

For years, China processed more than half of the world’s plastic recycling. Then, in 2018, it stopped. Things have gotten messy since then.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra November 6, 2019 Why It Matters
United States

The Big Red Button

A U.S. president can launch a first-strike nuclear attack at any time and, according to the law, does not need to seek advice first. Some experts think that’s too much power to put in one person’s hands.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra and Richard K. Betts October 23, 2019 Why It Matters
Global

Trailer: Why It Matters

Each episode breaks down an issue that is shaping our world’s future. Join host Gabrielle Sierra as she speaks with the leaders and thinkers who are facing these questions head on. Fueled by the minds at the Council on Foreign Relations, Why It Matters brings some of the world’s most compelling stories home to you.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra October 2, 2019 Why It Matters

United States

What Is Temporary Protected Status?

Temporary Protected Status has long been used as a humanitarian solution for migrants who are unable to return home safely. President Trump’s renewed efforts to scale back such programs have further fueled the debate over the immigration policy’s use and scope.

by Diana Roy and Claire Klobucista June 30, 2025

Sudan

What Is the Extent of Sudan’s Humanitarian Crisis?

More than two years into the civil war in Sudan, at least twelve million people have been forcibly displaced, but experts say the country’s devastating humanitarian crisis is still not getting the international attention it deserves.

by Mariel Ferragamo and Diana Roy June 26, 2025

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

What Is NATO?

The alliance continues to bolster its military deterrent in Europe amid Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine and has expanded its membership in recent years.

by Jonathan Masters June 24, 2025

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