The President’s Inbox Episodes by Topic (2024-2026)
A comprehensive list of each episode of The President’s Inbox organized by topic from 2024 to present.
By experts and staff
- Published
James M. LindsayCFR ExpertMary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy
The President’s Inbox (TPI) has produced almost five hundred episodes since it debuted in November 2016, addressing and interrogating the major challenges in U.S. foreign policy. The podcast has covered international politics, military interventions, the defense industrial base, new technology, human rights, and much more. To make it easier for listeners to find recent episodes by common themes, this post organizes all of the TPI episodes from January 1, 2024 by topic. Each listing under each subhead is in reverse chronological order, with the most recent episode listed first. The list is updated each week. Click here to see all episodes from November 2016 through the end of 2023 here.
Special Series
America at 250
“The Best and Worst U.S. Foreign Policy Decisions” with Mary Dudziak (Emory University Law School) and Christopher Nichols (The Ohio State University), January 21, 2026
Are We Ready?
“America’s Crumbling Industrial Base” with Kathleen Hicks, December 17, 2025
“Trump’s National Security Strategy” with Rebecca Lissner, December 10, 2025
“The Economic Security Challenge” with Jonathan Hillman, December 3, 2025
“China’s Campaign to Reshape the Global Order” with Hal Brands and Mike Kuiken, November 26, 2025
“The U.S.-China Chip War” with Chris McGuire, November 19, 2025
“AI, Espionage, and Influence” with Jessica Brandt, November 12, 2025
“The New Weapons of War” with Mike Horowitz, November 5, 2025
“America’s Next Battlefield” with Thomas Shugart, October 29, 2025
“The China Reckoning” with Rush Doshi, October 22, 2025
Election 2024
“The Axis of Autocracies Challenge” with Jennifer Kavanagh (Defense Priorities) and Andrea Kendall-Taylor (CNAS), October 29, 2024
“The China Challenge” with Liza Tobin (Special Competitive Studies Project) and Jake Werner (Quincy Institute), October 22, 2024
“The Taiwan Challenge” with Oriana Mastro (Spogli Institute for International Studies) and David Sacks (CFR), October 15, 2024
“The Middle East Challenge” with Steven Cook (CFR) and Amy Hawthorne (independent consultant on the Middle East), October 8, 2024
“The Trade Challenge” with Edward Alden (CFR) and Ana Swanson (NYT), October 1, 2024
“The Climate Challenge” with Alice Hill (CFR) and Varun Sivaram (CFR), September 24, 2024
“The Russia Challenge” with Liana Fix (CFR) and Thomas Graham (CFR), September 17, 2024
Grand Strategy
“A New U.S. Grand Strategy: A Return to Spheres of Influence” with Sarang Shidore (Quincy Institute), June 24, 2025
“Zbigniew Brzezinski” with Edward Luce (Financial Times), June 10, 2025
“A New U.S. Grand Strategy: A World in Permanent Crisis” with Robert Kaplan (Journalist and Author), February 11, 2025
“A New U.S. Grand Strategy: The Eurasia Challenge” with Hal Brands (Johns Hopkins SAIS), January 21, 2025
“A New U.S. Grand Strategy: The Case for Multipolar Realism” With Stephen Heintz (Rockefeller Brothers Fund), August 20, 2024
“A New U.S. Grand Strategy: The Case for Liberal Realism” With Charles Kupchan (CFR), July 30, 2024
“A New U.S. Grand Strategy: The Case for Liberal Internationalism” With G. John Ikenberry (Princeton University), May 7, 2024
“A New U.S. Grand Strategy: The Case for U.S. Retrenchment Overseas” With Stephen Wertheim (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace), March 19, 2024
Transition 2025
“Trump’s Immigration Policy” with Edward Alden (CFR), January 14, 2025
“Iran Reacts to Trump’s Victory” with Ray Takeyh (CFR), January 7, 2025
“China Reacts to Trump’s Election” with Zoe Liu (CFR), December 17, 2024
“Japan Reacts to Trump’s Election” with Sheila Smith (CFR), December 10, 2024
“Latin America Reacts to Trump’s Election” with Will Freeman (CFR), December 3, 2024
“Europe Reacts to Trump’s Election” with Liana Fix (CFR) and Mattias Matthijis (CFR), November 26, 2024
“Trump’s National Security Appointees” with Christopher Tuttle (CFR), November 19, 2024
“Trump and the Middle East” with Steven Cook (CFR), November 12, 2024
“Staffing a New Administration” with Stephen Hadley (Rice, Hadley, Gates & Manuel LLC), November 5, 2024
Africa
“The United States and South Africa” with Reuben Brigety (Busara Advisors), May 27, 2025
“Conflict in Eastern Congo” with Mvemba Dizolele (CSIS), March 18, 2025
“Sudan’s Civil War” With Michelle Gavin (CFR), July 25, 2023
“Nigeria’s General Election” With Ebenezer Obadare (CFR), March 7, 2023
“What Climate Change Means for the Horn of Africa” With Michelle Gavin (CFR), February 14, 2023
Asia
“The Thai-Cambodian Border Clash” with Joshua Kurlantzick (CFR), August 5, 2025
China
“The China-Philippines Standoff” with Derek Grossman (RAND), June 3, 2025
“The U.S.-China Trade War” with Zoe Liu (CFR), May 6, 2025
“Confronting the China Challenge” with Dmitri Alperovitch (Silverado Policy Accelerator), April 8, 2025
“Reporting from China” with Jane Perlez (Belfer Center), March 4, 2025
“China Reacts to Trump’s Election” with Zoe Liu (CFR), December 17, 2024
“The China Challenge” with Liza Tobin (Special Competitive Studies Project) and Jake Werner (Quincy Institute), October 22, 2024
“A U.S.-China Cold War.” With Robin Niblett (Chatham House), July 23, 2024
“A Second China Shock” With Brad Setser (CFR), April 30, 2024
“China’s Underground Historians” With Ian Johnson (CFR), September 26, 2023
“China’s Economic Downturn” With Zongyuan Zoe Liu (CFR), August 15, 2023
“Critical Minerals and China” With Morgan Bazilian (Colorado School of Mines), April 25, 2023
“China’s Nuclear Forces.” With Fiona Cunningham (University of Pennsylvania), February 28, 2023
“Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy” With Jonathan Berkshire Miller (Macdonald-Laurier Institute), February 7, 2023
“China’s Covid Surge” With Yanzhong Huang (CFR) and Zongyuan Zoe Liu (CFR), January 17, 2023
“China’s Global Influence Campaign” With Joshua Kurlantzick (CFR), January 3, 2023
India
“The India-Pakistan Crisis” with Šumit Ganguly (Hoover Institution), May 19, 2025
“Modi Meets Trump” with Tanvi Madan (Brookings Institute), February 18, 2025
“What Climate Change Means for the Bay of Bengal.” With Sarang Shidore (Quincy Institute), July 11, 2023
Japan
“Japan Reacts to Trump’s Election” with Sheila Smith (CFR), December 10, 2024
“Japan Rearmed” With Sheila A. Smith (CFR), January 31, 2023
North Korea
“North Korea’s Nuclear Program” With Jenny Town (Stimson Center), April 11, 2023
Pakistan
“The India-Pakistan Crisis” with Šumit Ganguly (Hoover Institution), May 19, 2025
“Pakistan in Crisis” With Sadanand Dhume (AEI), May 23, 2023
South Korea
“The U.S.-South Korea Alliance” With Scott A. Snyder (CFR), December 12, 2023
“The Biden-Yoon Summit” With Scott A. Snyder (CFR), May 2, 2023
Taiwan
“The Taiwan Challenge” with Oriana Mastro (Spogli Institute for International Studies) and David Sacks (CFR), October 15, 2024
“Taiwan’s Presidential Election” With David Sacks (CFR), January 9, 2024
“The Future of U.S.-Taiwan Relations” With Susan M. Gordon (Former Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence) and Michael G. Mullen (Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff), June 20, 2023
Europe
Germany
“Germany’s Rearmament” with Sophia Besch (Carnegie Endowment), April 1, 2025
Regional Issues
“Europe Reacts to Trump’s Election” with Liana Fix (CFR) and Mattias Matthijis (CFR), November 26, 2024
“The Elections in Britain and France.” With Mattias Matthijs (CFR) and Daniela Schwarzer (Bertelsmann Stiftung), July 9, 2024
“Europe’s Geoeconomic Revolution.” With Matthias Matthijs (CFR) and Sophie Meunier (Princeton University), September 5, 2023
“The Right Surges in EU Elections.” With Liana Fix (CFR) and Matthias Matthijs (CFR), June 11, 2024
Russia
“The Trump-Putin Summit” with Michael Kimmage (Catholic University of America), August 19, 2025
“Donald Trump’s Russia Ultimatum” with Liana Fix (CFR), July 29, 2025
“The Russia Challenge” with Liana Fix (CFR) and Thomas Graham (CFR), September 17, 2024
“Russia, Ukraine, and Global Instability” With Michael Kimmage (Catholic University of America), April 9, 2024
“Getting Russia Right” With Thomas Graham (CFR), October 3, 2023
Ukraine
“Trump’s Peace Plan for Ukraine” with Liana Fix (CFR) and Charles A. Kupchan (CFR), February 25, 2025
“Ukraine’s Attack on Kursk” With Liana Fix (CFR), August 27, 2024
“Russia, Ukraine, and Global Instability” With Michael Kimmage (Catholic University of America), April 9, 2024
“Year Three of the Ukraine War” With Miriam Elder (CFR) and Carla Anne Robbins (CFR), February 20, 2024
“The Future of the War in Ukraine” With Kori Schake (AEI), December 19, 2023
“Ukraine’s 2023 Counteroffensive” With Max Boot (CFR), September 19, 2023
“U.S. Strategy in Ukraine” With Charles A. Kupchan (CFR), May 9, 2023
“The Long War in Ukraine” With Samuel Charap (RAND Corporation) and Miranda Priebe (RAND Corporation), February 21, 2023
Global Issues
Environment and Climate Change
“Climate Change Realism on Earth Day 2025” with Varun Sivaram (CFR), April 22, 2025
“The Climate Challenge” with Alice Hill (CFR) and Varun Sivaram (CFR), September 24, 2024
“Global Food Insecurity” With Caitlin Welsh (CSIS), August 8, 2023
“What Climate Change Means for the Bay of Bengal” With Sarang Shidore (Quincy), July 11, 2023
“The U.N. High Seas Treaty” With Esther Brimmer (CFR), April 4, 2023
“What Climate Change Means for the Horn of Africa” With Michelle Gavin (CFR), February 14, 2023
Cybersecurity and Technology
“DeepSeek Upends AI Competition” with Adam Segal (CFR), February 4, 2025
“Silicon Valley and the Future of Warfare” With Christopher Kirchhoff (Special Assistant to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs” and Raj M. Singh (Shield Capital), August 6, 2024
“Governance of Artificial Intelligence” With Kat Duffy (CFR), February 13, 2024
“Artificial Intelligence and Great Power Competition” With Paul Scharre (CNAS), March 28, 2023
Nuclear Weapons and Arms Control
“The Threat of Nuclear Terrorism” With Stephen Flynn (National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine), July 16, 2024
“Confronting the Nuclear Threat” With W. J. Hennigan (New York Times), March 26, 2024
“China’s Nuclear Forces” With Fiona Cunningham (University of Pennsylvania), February 28, 2023
International Economy
“Combating Global Poverty” With Kate Schecter (World Neighbors), February 27, 2024
“The Globalization Myth” With Peter Trubowitz (LSE), November 21, 2023
“The APEC Summit” With Matthew Goodman (CFR), November 14, 2023
Space
“U.S. Space Policy” with Nina Armagno (ret. USSF) and Jane Harman (Wilson Center), March 11, 2025
Terrorism
“Far-right Terrorism” With Bruce Hoffman and Jacob Ware (CFR), January 2, 2024
Global Health
“China’s Covid Surge” With Yanzhong Huang (CFR) and Zongyuan Zoe Liu (CFR), January 17, 2023
Women and Foreign Policy
“International Women’s Day” With Ann Norris (CFR), March 5, 2024
Latin America
“Washington’s Venezuela Strategy After Maduro” with Will Freeman (CFR), January 7, 2026
“Brazil and the BRICS” with Oliver Stuenkel (Fundação Getulio Vargas), July 22, 2025
“Trump’s Plan for the Panama Canal” with Will Freeman (CFR), April 15, 2025
“Latin America Reacts to Trump’s Election” with Will Freeman (CFR), December 3, 2024
“Mexico’s Presidential Election.” With Andrés Rozental (Rozental & Asociados), May 28, 2024
“Latin America’s Crime Surge.” With Will Freeman (CFR), August 1, 2023
“Mexico’s Democratic Backsliding.” With Shannon K. O’Neil (CFR), March 14, 2023
Middle East
Regional Issues
“Trump and the Middle East” with Steven Cook (CFR), November 12, 2024
“The Middle East Challenge” with Steven Cook (CFR) and Amy Hawthorne (independent consultant on the Middle East), October 8, 2024
“A Wider Middle East War” with Steven Cook (CFR), September 3, 2024
“U.S. Policy in the Middle East” With Steven A. Cook (CFR), June 4, 2024
“U.S. Airstrikes in Iraq and Syria” With Ray Takeyh (CFR) and Robin Wright (USIP and Wilson Center), February 6, 2024
“The Houthi Threat to Red Sea Shipping” With Katherine Zimmerman (AEI), January 16, 2024
Iran
“SPECIAL EPISODE | Answering Your Questions on the U.S. Airstrikes on Iran” with Erin Dumbacher (CFR), June 26, 2025
“The Iran Nuclear Talks” with Karim Sadjadpour (Carnegie Endowment), May 13, 2025
“Iran’s Attack on Israel” With Steven Cook (CFR) and Ray Takeyh (CFR), April 16, 2024
Israel
“The Elusive Ceasefire in Gaza” with Elliott Abrams (CFR), July 8, 2025
“Israel Strikes Iran” with Steven Cook (CFR), June 17, 2025
“The Gaza Cease-Fire” with Steven Cook (CFR), January 28, 2025
“Iran’s Attack on Israel” With Steven Cook (CFR) and Ray Takeyh (CFR), April 16, 2024
“The War in Gaza” With Steven Cook (CFR), April 2, 2024
“The Renewed Fighting in Gaza” With Steven Cook (CFR), December 5, 2023
“The Laws of War” With Matthew Waxman (CFR), October 31, 2023
“The Future of the Israel-Hamas War” With Linda Robinson (CFR), October 24, 2023
“The Israel-Hamas War” With Elliott Abrams (CFR) and Steven A. Cook (CFR), October 10, 2023
“Israeli-Saudi Peace Deal” With Steven A. Cook (CFR), August 22, 2023
“Israel’s New Government” With Martin S. Indyk (CFR), January 10, 2023
Saudi Arabia
“Israeli-Saudi Peace Deal” With Steven A. Cook (CFR), August 22, 2023
Turkey
“Erdoğan’s Victory” With Steven A. Cook (CFR), June 6, 2023
United States
Defense Policy
“Silicon Valley and the Future of Warfare” With Christopher Kirchhoff (Special Assistant to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs” and Raj M. Singh (Shield Capital), August 6, 2024
“The Impact of AI on Warfare” With Andrew Reddie (University of California, Berkeley), May 14, 2024
“Challenges Facing the U.S. Military” With John Barrientos (CFR) and Kristen Thompson (CFR), April 23, 2024
“The U.S. Military Recruiting Crisis” With Nora Bensahel (Johns Hopkins), June 13, 2023
Diplomacy
“Trump’s Foreign Policy at One Year” with Matthew Kroenig (Atlantic Council), January 14, 2026
“Trump’s Greenland Ambitions” with Heather Conley and Rebecca Pincus, January 28, 2026
“The Trump-Putin Summit” with Michael Kimmage (Catholic University of America), August 19, 2025
“The Future of U.S. Foreign Aid” with William Henagan (CFR), July 15, 2025
“The New Era of Economic Warfare” with Edward Fishman (Columbia University), March 25, 2025
“The Axis of Autocracies Challenge” with Jennifer Kavanagh (Defense Priorities) and Andrea Kendall-Taylor (CNAS), October 29, 2024
“America’s China Strategy” With Rush Doshi (CFR), August 13, 2024
“A U.S.-China Cold War” With Robin Niblett (Chatham House), July 23, 2024
“The U.S. Pivot to Asia” With Robert Blackwill (CFR) and Richard Fontaine (CFR), June 25, 2024
“America’s New Cold Wars” With David E. Sanger (New York Times), May 21, 2024
“Assessing the NATO Summit” With Ivo H. Daalder (Chicago Council on Global Affairs), July 18, 2023
“U.S. Strategy in Ukraine” With Charles A. Kupchan (CFR), May 9, 2023
History
“Ronald Reagan on U.S. Global Leadership” with Max Boot (CFR), September 10, 2024
“Henry Wallace and the Origins of the Cold War” With Benn Steil (CFR), January 30, 2024
Immigration
“The Crisis at the U.S. Southern Border“ With Dara Lind (American Immigration Council), March 12, 2024
“U.S. Immigration Policy” With Edward Alden (CFR), March 21, 2023
Politics
“2025 in Review” with Carla Anne Robbins (CFR) and Matthias Mattijs (CFR), December 23, 2025
“Trump’s First 100 Days” with Carla Anne Robbins (CFR) and Matthias Mattijs (CFR), April 29, 2025
“Year End Q&A Special” With Shannon K. O’Neil (CFR), December 26, 2023
“U.S. House Republican Speaker Battle” With Christopher M. Tuttle (CFR), October 17, 2023
“The Fourth of July” With Jack Rakove (Stanford), July 4, 2023
“The Future of U.S. Foreign Policy” With Richard Haass (CFR), June 27, 2023
“The Obligations of American Citizens” With Richard Haass (CFR), January 25, 2023
Trade
“The Trade Challenge” with Edward Alden (CFR) and Ana Swanson (NYT), October 1, 2024