Robert McMahon

Managing Editor

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Robert McMahon has covered foreign affairs since 1990, writing for the Associated Press, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and CFR.org. As managing editor of CFR’s Digital Content department, McMahon oversees publishing of daily news-related content on CFR.org, supervising an editorial team that produces Backgrounders, In Briefs, long-form interactives, videos, and other multimedia content. He coordinates with CFR fellows to produce web-only publications. McMahon also contributes analysis and background reporting to the website and cohosts the weekly podcast The World Next Week with Senior Fellow Carla Anne Robbins. Under his guidance, CFR.org has garnered multiple media citations, including Emmy, Overseas Press Club, Society of Professional Journalists, Webby, and Online News Association awards.

Prior to joining CFR.org, McMahon held senior editorial positions at RFE/RL, including as news director in Prague, Czech Republic, where he was a founding editor of RFE/RL’s website, and as a UN correspondent. He has written extensively on democracy promotion, public diplomacy, human rights, UN peacekeeping, and nation-building. He is a contributing writer to the Foreign Service Journal. McMahon has a master’s degree in international relations from Tufts University’s Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.

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Explore More on International Relations

World Order

The World
An invaluable primer from Richard Haass, president of the Council on Foreign Relations, that will help anyone, expert and nonexpert alike, navigate a time in which many of our biggest challenges come from the world beyond our borders.

Book by Richard Haass May 11, 2021

Global Governance

Don’t Show the Parents: The 2018–2019 Report Card on International Cooperation
How did world leaders do in managing global challenges in 2018? Experts from twenty-eight think tanks around the world grade international cooperation a middling C.

Blog Post by Terrence Mullan May 14, 2019 The Internationalist

Turkey

Why I’m Sick of Turkey
Washington continues to claim Ankara as “strategic partner.” Let’s stop pretending it is.

Article by Steven A. Cook November 27, 2018 Middle East Program

Top Stories on CFR

Ukraine

What Does Putin Really Want in Ukraine?
Russia’s early setbacks in its invasion of Ukraine could have foreclosed on some of President Vladimir Putin’s sweeping war objectives, but he is unlikely to relent given the conflict’s momentum.  

Expert Brief by Thomas Graham May 16, 2024

RealEcon

The Fed’s Trade-Offs as It Navigates Inflation and Growth in 2024

The Federal Reserve’s dual mandate of price stability and maximum employment presents trade-offs as the Fed grapples with the next move of interest rates. 

Article by Roger W. Ferguson Jr. May 16, 2024 RealEcon

China

Virtual Media Briefing: U.S. Tariffs on Chinese Imports

Play
CFR experts discuss President Joe Biden’s decision to increase tariffs on various Chinese imports and the implications for the U.S. economy and U.S.-China relations. 

Virtual Event with Zongyuan Zoe Liu, Brad W. Setser and Matthew P. Goodman May 16, 2024 Media Briefings