The President’s Inbox | Council on Foreign Relations

A rising China. War in Europe. A warming planet. The United States faces a complex and rapidly changing world. With more than four million downloads, The President’s Inbox goes beyond the headlines as host James M. Lindsay speaks with leading experts about how the United States should respond to global challenges and opportunities that are shaping the future.

Episodes by Topic

Host

James M. Lindsay

Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy and Director of Fellowship Affairs Full Bio

Iran

Iran’s Presidential Election, With Suzanne Maloney

Suzanne Maloney, vice president and director of the Foreign Policy program at the Brookings Institution, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss what’s at stake w...

Jun 15, 2021 - 31:23 min

Suzanne Maloney, vice president and director of the Foreign Policy program at the Brookings Institution, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss what’s at stake w...

Jun 15, 2021 - 31:23 min

COVID-19

The Lab-Leak Theory of COVID-19’s Origins, With Nicholas Wade

Nicholas Wade, former editorial writer, science reporter, and science editor for The New York Times, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the theory that COVID...

Jun 8, 2021 - 30:07 min

Nicholas Wade, former editorial writer, science reporter, and science editor for The New York Times, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the theory that COVID...

Jun 8, 2021 - 30:07 min

Belarus

The Diversion of Ryanair Flight 4978, With Stephen Sestanovich

Ambassador Stephen Sestanovich, CFR’s George F. Kennan senior fellow for Russian and Eurasian studies, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss Belarus’s decision ...

Jun 1, 2021 - 30:07 min

Ambassador Stephen Sestanovich, CFR’s George F. Kennan senior fellow for Russian and Eurasian studies, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss Belarus’s decision ...

Jun 1, 2021 - 30:07 min

Taiwan

U.S. Policy on Taiwan, With Robert D. Blackwill

Ambassador Robert D. Blackwill, CFR’s Henry A. Kissinger senior fellow for U.S. foreign policy and a member of Harvard Kennedy School’s Applied History Project, sits...

May 25, 2021 - 30:40 min

Ambassador Robert D. Blackwill, CFR’s Henry A. Kissinger senior fellow for U.S. foreign policy and a member of Harvard Kennedy School’s Applied History Project, sits...

May 25, 2021 - 30:40 min

Cybersecurity

The Colonial Pipeline Hack, With Robert K. Knake

Rob Knake, CFR’s Whitney Shepardson senior fellow, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the consequences and lessons of the recent ransomware attack on the own...

May 18, 2021 - 30:57 min

Rob Knake, CFR’s Whitney Shepardson senior fellow, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the consequences and lessons of the recent ransomware attack on the own...

May 18, 2021 - 30:57 min

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Turmoil in Jerusalem, With Steven A. Cook

Steven A. Cook, CFR’s Eni Enrico Mattei senior fellow for Middle East and Africa studies and director of the International Affairs Fellowship for Tenured Internation...

May 11, 2021 - 27:08 min

Steven A. Cook, CFR’s Eni Enrico Mattei senior fellow for Middle East and Africa studies and director of the International Affairs Fellowship for Tenured Internation...

May 11, 2021 - 27:08 min

Grand Strategy

Rethinking American Grand Strategy, With Beverly Gage, Christopher Nichols, and Andrew Preston

Beverly Gage, Christopher Nichols, and Andrew Preston sit down with James M. Lindsay to discuss what grand strategy means and its role in U.S. history. Beverly Gage ...

May 4, 2021 - 33:56 min

Beverly Gage, Christopher Nichols, and Andrew Preston sit down with James M. Lindsay to discuss what grand strategy means and its role in U.S. history. Beverly Gage ...

May 4, 2021 - 33:56 min

United States

U.S. Maritime Strategy, With RADM James Bynum, RADM Pat DeQuattro, and MajGen Paul J. Rock Jr.

Rear Admiral James Bynum, Rear Admiral Pat DeQuattro, and Major General Paul J. Rock Jr. sit down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the new Tri-Service Maritime Strat...

Apr 27, 2021 - 33:29 min

Rear Admiral James Bynum, Rear Admiral Pat DeQuattro, and Major General Paul J. Rock Jr. sit down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the new Tri-Service Maritime Strat...

Apr 27, 2021 - 33:29 min

Afghanistan

The U.S. Withdrawal From Afghanistan, With Max Boot

Max Boot, CFR’s Jeane J. Kirkpatrick senior fellow in national security studies, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss President Biden’s recent announcement to ...

Apr 20, 2021 - 28:47 min

Max Boot, CFR’s Jeane J. Kirkpatrick senior fellow in national security studies, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss President Biden’s recent announcement to ...

Apr 20, 2021 - 28:47 min

China

China’s Belt and Road Initiative, With Jacob J. Lew and Gary Roughead

Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew, managing partner at Lindsay Goldberg, and retired Admiral Gary Roughead, Robert and Marion Oster distinguished military ...

Apr 13, 2021 - 33:07 min

Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew, managing partner at Lindsay Goldberg, and retired Admiral Gary Roughead, Robert and Marion Oster distinguished military ...

Apr 13, 2021 - 33:07 min

Democracy

Democracy Tested: Democratic Backsliding in Latin America, With Steven Levitsky

In this special series of The President’s Inbox on the future of democracy, James M. Lindsay speaks with experts to discuss whether and where democratic governance i...

Apr 6, 2021 - 32:12 min

In this special series of The President’s Inbox on the future of democracy, James M. Lindsay speaks with experts to discuss whether and where democratic governance i...

Apr 6, 2021 - 32:12 min

Democracy

Democracy Tested: Democratic Backsliding in India, With Pratap Bhanu Mehta

In this special series of The President’s Inbox on the future of democracy, James M. Lindsay speaks with experts to discuss whether and where democratic governance i...

Mar 30, 2021 - 34:59 min

In this special series of The President’s Inbox on the future of democracy, James M. Lindsay speaks with experts to discuss whether and where democratic governance i...

Mar 30, 2021 - 34:59 min

Democracy

Democracy Tested: Democratic Backsliding in Europe, With Ivan Krastev

In this special series of The President’s Inbox on the future of democracy, James M. Lindsay speaks with experts to discuss whether and where democratic governance i...

Mar 23, 2021 - 33:53 min

In this special series of The President’s Inbox on the future of democracy, James M. Lindsay speaks with experts to discuss whether and where democratic governance i...

Mar 23, 2021 - 33:53 min

Democracy

Democracy Tested: Democratic Crises in U.S. History, With Suzanne Mettler

In this special series of The President’s Inbox on the future of democracy, James M. Lindsay speaks with experts to discuss whether and where democratic governance i...

Mar 16, 2021 - 32:22 min

In this special series of The President’s Inbox on the future of democracy, James M. Lindsay speaks with experts to discuss whether and where democratic governance i...

Mar 16, 2021 - 32:22 min

Democracy

Democracy Tested: The Global Democratic Recession, With Yascha Mounk

In this special series of The President’s Inbox on the future of democracy, James M. Lindsay speaks with experts to discuss whether and where democratic governance i...

Mar 9, 2021 - 31:35 min

In this special series of The President’s Inbox on the future of democracy, James M. Lindsay speaks with experts to discuss whether and where democratic governance i...

Mar 9, 2021 - 31:35 min