Best Alexander Jong Podcasts (2024)

1
Bird Flu is Now Spreading in Dairy Cattle. Are Humans Next? 27:58

15h ago27:58

27:58

H5N1, otherwise known as Avian or Bird Flu, has been around for a long time. Mostly, the virus has been passed among wild birds, but there have also been sporadic outbreaks in poultry flocks. Now, the virus has spread to dairy cattle and, in at least two cases, from cattle to people. This has experts in pandemic prevention on high alert. Dairy work…

1
The United Kingdom and Rwanda Enter a Dangerous Pact for Refugees and Asylum Seekers 20:48

4d ago20:48

20:48

The Parliament of the United Kingdom has passed a controversial new law that would allow the government to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda. Under the so-called "Safety of Rwanda" bill, the Rishi Sunak government has pledged to send migrants from the UK to Rwanda, where their asylum claims would be processed. However, is Rwanda actually safe? My gue…

1
How The New American Aid Package for Ukraine Will Impact the War 26:22

8d ago26:22

26:22

American aid is on its way to Ukraine. This week, Congress passed a $95 billion foreign aid bill that includes about $60 billion for Ukraine. This aid had been stalled for months, mostly due to Republican intransigence in the House of Representatives. But now, the funding is being released, and according to my guest today, it will have a significan…

1
Can A United Nations Treaty to Curb Plastic Pollution Make it to the Finish Line? 25:56

11d ago25:56

25:56

Diplomats are gathering in Ottawa this week for the latest round of negotiations on a treaty to end plastic pollution. Back in 2022, 175 countries agreed to develop a legally binding agreement on plastic pollution by 2024. This meeting in Ottawa is the penultimate round of negotiations and a critical moment in the long effort to curb the environmen…

1
Iran, Israel and A Perilous Moment in the Middle East 31:35

15d ago31:35

31:35

On April 1st, Israel launched airstrikes on an Iranian diplomatic compound in Damascus, killing seven Iranian officials, including a very senior general. Iran responded with a massive drone attack on Israel, marking the first time that Iran directly attacked Israeli soil. All this is happening, of course, in the context of the conflict in Gaza. My …

1
Sudan's Most Horrible Year 27:11

18d ago27:11

27:11

On the one year anniversary of the outbreak of civil war, Sudan is the largest humanitarian crisis in the world today. On April 15, 2023, fighting spread from Khartoum to other parts of the country, including Darfur, where the conflict took on ugly ethnic dimensions, potentially leading to genocide. Over 8 million people have been displaced, and th…

1
Can The UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees Survive? 30:36

22d ago30:36

30:36

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency, better known as UNRWA, was established in 1949 to support Palestinians displaced during the first Arab-Israeli war. Today, it provides services and humanitarian relief to nearly 6 million Palestinians in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank and of course Gaza. There has always been some tension between I…

1
Turkey's Surprising Election Results Puts Erdogan on Notice 23:57

25d ago23:57

23:57

On March 31st, Turkey held local elections across 81 provinces. These elections took place less than a year after national elections cemented President Erdogan and his AK Party's hold on power, which he had been consolidating for nearly 20 years through democratic backsliding. But these elections were different -- very different. Erdogan's AKP suff…

1
Colombia's Largest and Richest Criminal Armed Group is Getting Stronger 26:30

29d ago26:30

26:30

The Gaitenistas, otherwise known as the Gulf Clan, are Colombia's largest and richest criminal armed group. They formed nearly 20 years ago but have gained considerable strength since Colombia's landmark 2016 peace agreement with the Leftist FARC guerrilla group. Today, The Gulf Clan controls much of Colombia's Atlantic coast and is a key player in…

1
How "Xi Thought" Shapes Chinese Foreign Policy 32:51

1M ago32:51

32:51

Xi Jinping has dramatically reshaped China since coming to power in 2012. He is now effectively a leader for life, and throughout his time in power, he has molded Chinese politics and society to his own ideological predilections. Understanding this ideology, known as "Xi Thought," is crucial for comprehending how China perceives its role in the wor…

1
The Geopolitics of English 23:50

1M ago23:50

23:50

Podcast guest Rosemary Salomone is the Kenneth Wang Professor of Law at St John's University School of Law and author of the book "The Rise of English: Global Politics and the Power of Language." The book takes readers around the world to show the political, social and cultural implications of English having been firmly established as the Lingua Fr…

1
What New Legislation to Ban Tik Tok Tells Us About US-China Relations Today 25:49

1M ago25:49

25:49

In Mid-March the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bill that would effectively ban Tik Tok in the United States. Tik Tok's parent company, Byte Dance, is Chinese. This bill would force Byte Dance to sell Tik Tok to an American buyer or else the app would no longer be available in the United States. President Biden has said he’d …

1
Why Gender Equality Advocates Are Playing Defense at the UN Commission on the Status of Women 24:39

1M ago24:39

24:39

The Commission on the Status of Women concludes this week at the United Nations. CSW, as it is known, is one of the major annual events at UN headquarters, second only to the opening of the UN General Assembly in September. But unlike UNGA, it rarely gets much media attention, at least not the kind of attention commensurate for a diplomatic gatheri…

1
Why Haiti is Descending Deeper into Crisis 33:57

2M ago33:57

33:57

The security and humanitarian situation in Haiti has gone from bad to worse over the last several days. The country, ensnared in an enduring crisis following the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, now faces a critical juncture as violence led by gang coalitions escalates and state authority wanes. Amid this chaos, Prime Minister Ariel H…

1
How to Limit the Threat of "Killer Robots" and Autonomous Weapons That Are Changing Warfare 25:01

2M ago25:01

25:01

Artificial Intelligence is changing warfare. Fully autonomous weapons that can make their own decisions about what to target or whom to kill are already in limited use today. But the pace of development of AI suggests that these so-called "Killer Robots" may become more and more common in future armed conflicts. Meanwhile, the speed at which new AI…

1
Why Confiscating Russian Assets is Key to Financing Ukraine's Reconstruction 28:22

2M ago28:22

28:22

Western countries have seized hundreds of billions of dollars of Russian assets following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine two years ago. Since then, the question of what to do with those assets has loomed large over debates about Ukraine. Vladimir Milov is a Former Deputy Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation and now a Russian opposi…

1
The Untold Story of a CIA Plot to Kill Congo's First Elected Leader, Patrice Lumumba 30:20

2M ago30:20

30:20

Stuart Reid is the executive editor of Foreign Affairs and author of the new book "The Lumumba Plot: The Secret History of the CIA and a Cold War Assassination." The book tells the story of Congo's liberation from Belgium in the 1950s and 60s and the rise to prominence of Patrice Lumumba, Congo's charismatic independence leader. Believing Lumumba t…

1
From Afghanistan to Ukraine to Gaza: Politico's Alexander Ward on How Biden's Foreign Policy Evolved 27:55

2M ago27:55

27:55

Alexander Ward ia national security reporter for POLITICO and author of the book "The Internationalists: The Fight to Restore American Foreign Policy After Trump." We discuss the implications of Mitch McConnell stepping down as the leader of the Senate Republicans and delve into the key themes and insights from Ward's important new book. We explore…

1
Montezuma II vs. Porfirio Diaz 57:46

2M ago57:46

57:46

The dictator knock-out tournament continues. The hosts unravel the lives and legacies of two Mexican dictators; Aztec Emperor Montezuma II and Mexican President Porfirio Diaz. They discuss the creation of the Aztec Empire, human sacrifice, life in Tenochtitlan and the invasion of Hernan Cortes and the Spanish conquistadors. They also discuss Porfir…

1
Are We Facing a Global Development "Traffic Jam?" 30:39

2M ago30:39

30:39

There is a global development pileup on the horizon. In 2024 and 2025, about a dozen funding pools that support global development and global health are due for replenishment. These replenishments are essentially fundraisers for entities like the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization…

1
Why Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger Are Leaving ECOWAS 28:25

2M ago28:25

28:25

On January 28th, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger jointly announced they were leaving the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS. This is a regional economic and political union of most countries in West africa. Citizens enjoy free movement across borders of ECOWAS member states and many of its members share the same currency. ECOWAS also se…

1
Two Years On, The Ukraine War is at a Turning Point 23:21

2M ago23:21

23:21

Last week, the United States Senate passed a foreign aid bill that included about $60 billion for Ukraine's defense. The vote was overwhelmingly bi-partisan, but the ultimate fate of continued American aid for Ukraine now depends on action in the House of Representatives, where the outcome is unknown. Mounting uncertainty around America's commitmen…

1
What Indonesia's Election Results Mean for Foreign Policy 28:57

2M ago28:57

28:57

Indonesia is the third largest democracy in the world, and on February 14th national elections were held including to replace the extremely popular outgoing president Joko Widodo. The current defense minister Prabowo Subianto won those elections and will be Indonesia's next president. He's a controversial figure who has been credibly accused of hum…

1
2024 is a Key Year for Democracy in Africa 27:22

3M ago27:22

27:22

2024 is an important year for African democracy. At least 19 national elections scheduled to take place this year. Not all of these elections will be free or fair-- let alone competetive. Some of these elections will serve to ensconce leaders for life like Rwanda's Paul Kagame. Others may serve to consolidate power following a coup. But genuine mul…

1
The View From Iran 25:36

3M ago25:36

25:36

To understand any country's foreign policy you need to understand domestic political dynamics. So what is driving Iranian decision making right now? Negar Mortazavi is a journalist, host of the Iran Podcast and senior fellow at the Center for International Policy. I reached out to her for this interview because it seems that lost in much commentary…

1
A Milestone in the Fight Against Malaria 22:25

3M ago22:25

22:25

On January 25th, a milestone was reached in humanity's long fight against Malaria. For the first time ever, a Malaria vaccine was included in a country's routine childhood vaccinations program. Cameroon rolled out a new Malaria vaccine for children and other countries will soon follow. This comes after years of successful trials in Kenya, Ghana and…

1
Is Kim Jong Un Readying for War With South Korea? 26:45

3M ago26:45

26:45

On January 15, Kim Jong Un formally declared South Korea to be an enemy state. This is significant for the fact that since the end of the Korean War, the line from Pyongyang was more or less that South Korea was like a wayward relative and would ultimately be reunified with the North. But now, according to Kim and changes he's enacting to the North…

1
The Promise and Potential of The UN's Summit of the Future 31:14

3M ago31:14

31:14

The United Nations is hosting the Summit of the Future in September during the annual opening the UN General Assembly. If all goes according to plan, world leaders will endorse a so-called "Pact for the Future" that will serve as a vehicle for enacting meaningful reforms to the United Nations. In late January, negotiations began in earnest over wha…

1
Can a Famine Be Averted in Gaza? 28:27

3M ago28:27

28:27

The UN has not declared a famine in gaza--not yet at least. But the World Food Program has said there are "pockets of famine" in Gaza. In December, the UN released its most comprehensive assessment of food security in Gaza and estimated that over half a million people are facing catastrophic levels of food insecurity inside Gaza. For comparison's s…

1
The Geopolitics of Fish 24:38

3M ago24:38

24:38

Climate change is impacting the migratory patterns of fish around the world. And in some cases, the changing location of fish stocks is heightening the risk of armed conflict. My guest today, Johan Bergenas, is Senior Vice President for Oceans at the World Wildlife Fund. Late last year, the World Wildlife Fund launched a platform called Oceans Futu…

1
A New Crisis Between Iran and Pakistan 27:23

3M ago27:23

27:23

On Tuesday January 16th, Iran launched airstrikes in Pakistan targeting a terrorist group it claimed carried out attacks in Iran. Two days later, Pakistan responded with its own strikes in Iranian territory, targeting a separatist group that has carried out attacks against Pakistan. These attacks were notable for both their scale--these were major …

1
Taiwan's Elections and the Future of Relations With China 22:35

4M ago22:35

22:35

Taiwan held elections for President and the Legislature on January 13. These elections were highly anticipated for the fact that the leading candidates have differing views on how to manage Taiwan's relationship with China. The current vice President, Lai Ching-te of the Democratic Progressive Party won the elections and is considered to be more pr…

1
Why Airstrikes in Yemen Won't Stop Houthi Attacks in the Red Sea 27:21

4M ago27:21

27:21

Since mid-November, the de-facto authorities in most of Yemen, the Houthis, have launched dozens of attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea. The Houthis say they are doing this in response to Israel's war in Gaza and these attacks have severely disrupted a key global shipping lane. The United States and the United Kingdom have launched missile s…

1
What Happens When the War in Gaza Ends? 32:19

4M ago32:19

32:19

As I'm recording this, Antony Blinken is on a whirlwind trip to at least eight countries in the Middle East and Mediterranean region. This flurry of diplomatic activity comes in the wake of worrying signs that the conflict in Israel and Gaza may spread throughout the region. The Houthis have mounted a series of attacks on commercial shipping off th…

1
Key Trends in the Ukraine War in 2024 | Yaroslav Trofimov 27:06

4M ago27:06

27:06

Yaroslav Trofimov is the chief foreign affairs correspondent for the Wall Street Journal and author of the new book "Our Enemies Will Vanish: The Russian Invasion and Ukraine's War of Independence." Yaroslav Trofimov is a veteran journalist who has covered conflicts around the world. He also happens to have been born and raised in Ukraine. In the b…

1
Sudan is the Worst Crisis in the World That Receives The Least Amount of Attention 34:23

4M ago34:23

34:23

As we enter 2024, the conflict in Sudan is shaping up to be one of the worst crises in the world. Nearly 7 million people have been displaced, hunger is widespread and a hallmark of this civil war has been ethnic cleansing that may have crossed the threshold to genocide. Despite being a calamitous catastrophe, Sudan has not received much media atte…

1
The Clarissa Ward Interview | CNN's Chief International Correspondent Discusses The Stories That Made Her Career 46:55

4M ago46:55

46:55

Ten years ago the podcast industry was in its infancy and the format of Global Dispatches was a bit different than it is today. I would sit down with people who had interesting lives or careers in international affairs and interview them about their life and career, with digressions about the historic foreign policy moments in which their or career…

1
Our Favorite Foods Are Going Extinct | Former White House Chef Sam Kass 25:49

4M ago25:49

25:49

A few months ago, I attended one of the more interesting dinners of my life. Partly, it was the conversation: the venue was the Council on Foreign Relations. But mostly, it was the menu. The dishes served were of ingredients that are going extinct. Sam Kass curated the menu for this “Dinner of Extinction.” He was the White House chef for the Obamas…

1
Big Elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Will Have Global Impact 27:56

5M ago27:56

27:56

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is holding national elections on December 20th. The DRC is a massive country, with some 100 million people. It is also one of the most resource-rich countries on the planet, particularly the kinds of metals required in consumer electronics and in the batteries used in electric vehicles. Needless to say, the poli…

1
What Happened at COP28? 21:56

5M ago21:56

21:56

The international climate change conference, COP28, concluded in Dubai on December 13th, one day later than its scheduled end-date. Negotiators went into overtime to hammer out an agreement that for the first time addressed the politically fraught question of phasing out fossil fuels. Joining me to discuss that key outcome and other significant res…

1
After a Sudden Turn, The Military Junta in Myanmar May be Facing Defeat in a Civil War 28:58

5M ago28:58

28:58

In February 2021, the Myanmar military toppled the civilian government of Burma, lead by Aung San Suu Kyi. Mass protests followed this coup and were brutally suppressed by the military junta. Soon, an insurgency sprang up. For much of this conflict, the Burmese military has had the upper hand. But things changed dramatically in recent weeks. Now, t…

1
Climate Adaptation for Peace in a Polycrisis Era | Climate Security Series 1:00:47

5M ago1:00:47

1:00:47

This episode of Global Dispatches was recorded as a live taping of the podcast, produced in partnership with CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future dedicated to transforming food, land, and water systems in a climate crisis. Global Dispatches and CGIAR are partnering on a series of episodes about the nexus between climate and…

1
The Big Bets That Can Change Global Development | Raj Shah 28:13

5M ago28:13

28:13

Raj Shah served as administrator of USAID during the Obama administration and is now the President of the Rockefeller Foundation, a major philanthropy that is a key player in the global development space. His new book "Big Bets: How Large-Scale Change Really Happens" draws from lessons in his career to argue that big bold visions for systemic chang…

1
Estonia's Top Military Commander: What a "War of Attrition" in Ukraine Means For Europe 18:45

5M ago18:45

18:45

I caught up with Estonia's top military commander General Martin Herem at the Halifax International Security Forum in November. Estonia is a NATO member that borders Russia and I was interested in drawing out General Herem's perspective on the conflict in Ukraine. We kick off with General Herem's military and strategic analysis of the current state…

1
Hundreds of Thousands of Afghans are Being Forced to Leave Pakistan 22:56

5M ago22:56

22:56

There is a mounting humanitarian emergency on the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Since October, hundreds of thousands of Afghans living in Pakistan have fled back to Afghanistan. They are being forcibly repatriated by the Pakistani government which began a crackdown on so-called illegal immigrants, compelling the expulsion of over three h…

1
How Climate Adaptation Can Mitigate Disaster-Related Displacement | Climate Security Series 1:05:27

5M ago1:05:27

1:05:27

This episode of Global Dispatches was recorded as a live taping of the podcast, produced in partnership with CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future dedicated to transforming food, land, and water systems in a climate crisis. Global Dispatches and CGIAR are partnering on a series of episodes about the nexus between climate and…

1
Congressman Jason Crow Discusses the Israel-Palestine Crisis, How Not To Repeat the Mistakes of the War on Terror 19:47

5M ago19:47

19:47

I caught up with Congressman Jason Crow at the Halifax International Security Forum, a major global security conference held each year in Nova Scotia that brings together military leaders, politicians, media and civil society groups from democratic countries. Congressman Crow is a Democrat from Colorado, first elected in 2019 and someone widely vie…

1
How Climate Adaptation Can Benefit Peace and Human Security | Climate Security Series 1:05:15

6M ago1:05:15

1:05:15

This episode was recorded as a live taping of the podcast, produced in partnership with CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future dedicated to transforming food, land, and water systems in a climate crisis. It is part of a series of episodes about the nexus between climate and security, and in our conversation today expert panel…

1
China and the United States Hold their First Nuclear Security Talks in Years 27:05

6M ago27:05

27:05

In early November the United States and China held their first talks on nuclear security and arms control since 2019. The talks came ahead of a much anticipated meeting between President Biden and President Xi in San Francisco. There were no tangible outcomes from these initial nuclear security talks, but the fact that they happened at all is a sig…

1
The War in Ukraine Has Entered a New Phase 26:09

6M ago26:09

26:09

The much anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive began in earnest in June and certainly made some gains, but nothing approaching expectations. Ukraine's top military commander admitted the conflict was a stalemate, likening it to the trench warfare of World War One. Meanwhile the world's attention has shifted to the Middle East and the future of Ame…

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Alexander Jong Podcasts

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