The World Next Week

Missing The World Next Week? Host Robert McMahon shares his favorite CFR resources for news and analysis on foreign policy and global affairs. The Interconnect, a new podcast series from the Council on Foreign Relations and the Stanford Emerging Technology Review, brings together leading minds in cutting-edge technology and foreign policy to explore recent ground-breaking developments, what’s coming over the horizon, and the implications for U.S. innovation leadership.    In this featured episode, host Martin Giles sits down with CFR Technologist-in-Residence Sebastian Elbaum and Stanford Emerging Technology Review faculty council member Mark Horowitz to discuss where chip manufacturing is heading, how hardware advances are powering the new artificial intelligence (AI) era, and what the United States should prioritize in order to sustain its leadership in this crucial domain.   This episode was originally released by The Interconnect on February 13, 2025.   Featured Episode: Chips and the Future of Computing   Find Us   The Interconnect   Apple Podcasts   Spotify   YouTube

Missing The World Next Week? Host Robert McMahon shares his favorite CFR resources for news and analysis on foreign policy and global affairs. Foreign Affairs invites you to join its editor, Daniel Kurtz-Phelan, as he talks with influential thinkers and policymakers about the forces shaping the world. Whether the topic is the war in Ukraine, the United States’ competition with China, or the future of globalization, The Foreign Affairs Interview offers the kind of authoritative commentary and analysis that you can find in the magazine and on the website. In this featured episode, Dan Kurtz-Phelan speaks with Jason Furman about why the Biden administration’s economic policy fell short—and why both Democrats and Republicans should abandon what he calls their “post-neoliberal delusion.”   This episode was originally released by The Foreign Affairs Interview on February 13, 2025.   Featured Episode: Why Biden’s Economic Ambitions Fell Short   Find Us   Foreign Affairs Interview   Apple Podcasts   Spotify   YouTube

Emerging technologies are transforming international relations and our country’s economy. So how do we connect science and engineering labs with Washington and the world of business?    The Interconnect, a new podcast series from the Council on Foreign Relations and the Stanford Emerging Technology Review, brings together leading minds in cutting-edge technology and foreign policy to explore recent ground-breaking developments, what's coming over the horizon, and the implications for U.S. innovation leadership.   In this featured episode, Stanford Emerging Technology Review Faculty Council Member Mark Horowitz and CFR’s technologist-in-residence Sebastian Elbaum discuss where chip manufacturing is heading, how hardware advances are powering the new artificial intelligence (AI) era, and what the United States should prioritize in order to sustain its leadership in this crucial domain.   Host   Martin Giles, Managing Editor of the Stanford Emerging Technology Review   Guests   Mark Horowitz, chair of the Electrical Engineering Department at Stanford University   Sebastian Elbaum, the Technologist in Residence at the Council on Foreign Relations

Missing The World Next Week? Host Robert McMahon shares his favorite CFR resources for news and analysis on foreign policy and global affairs. Why It Matters is explaining some of the least-understood issues that are shaping our world. Every two weeks, host Gabrielle Sierra speaks to a diverse lineup of guests with the goal of simplifying a complicated global topic. In this featured episode, Adam Segal, the Ira A. Lipman chair in emerging technologies and national security at CFR, explains how tech titans are acting as unilateral decision makers in international relations, upsetting the balance and structure of global power around the world.   This episode was originally released by Why It Matters on November 13, 2024.   Featured Episode: The New Tech World Order   Find Us   Why It Matters   Apple Podcasts   Spotify   YouTube

Missing The World Next Week? Host Robert McMahon shares his favorite CFR resources for news and analysis on foreign policy and global affairs. 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. In this featured episode, Steven A. Cook, the Eni Enrico Mattei senior fellow for the Middle East and Africa studies at CFR, shares how the Israel-Hamas cease-fire over Gaza came together, what the agreement requires each side to do, and what could come next.   This episode was originally released by The President’s Inbox on January 28, 2025.   Featured Episode: The Gaza Cease-Fire, With Steven Cook   Find Us   The President’s Inbox   Apple Podcasts   Spotify   YouTube

Missing The World Next Week? Host Robert McMahon shares his favorite CFR resources for news and analysis on foreign policy and global affairs. CFR newsletters bring you a wide range of expert insights in an easy-to-read email straight to your inbox.    The World This Week, delivered every Friday   The Daily News Brief, delivered every weekday morning   Think Global Health, delivered every Friday    RealEcon, delivered every other Wednesday Check out the full list of newsletters from CFR experts and writers here.

In this live series finale, Bob and Carla discuss the most pressing international news stories with special guest Deborah Amos. President Donald Trump virtually attends the annual Davos summit where he will address corporate and government leaders just three days after his inauguration; the next phase of hostage and prisoner swaps is due as part of the Israel-Hamas cease-fire deal; a tightly controlled presidential election in Belarus kicks off a new year of consequential elections around the globe; and TikTok is revived in the United States—for now— after President Trump forestalled the app’s initial ban.   This episode was originally produced live on January 21, 2025.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Megan Brenan, “Americans' Trust in Media Remains at Trend Low,” Gallup   Watch The World Next Week's final episode live podcast taping on YouTube.   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/twnw/series-finale-trump-addresses-davos-gaza-navigates-cease-fire-2025-elections-loom-and-more

Israel and Hamas reach a cease-fire deal aimed at exchanging hostages and prisoners while seeking a longer-term pause in fighting; the incoming Donald Trump administration weighs ambitious moves on immigration; Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Russian President Vladimir Putin sign off on a twenty-year partnership agreement; and students in Serbia protest violations of civil rights.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Antony Blinken, “U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the Biden Record in the Middle East—and What Comes Next,” Atlantic Council   Steven A. Cook, Elliott Abrams, and Elise Labott, “Virtual Media Briefing: The Israel-Hamas Cease-Fire and Hostage Deal,” CFR.org   “Serbia: ‘A Digital Prison’: Surveillance and the Suppression of Civil Society in Serbia,” Amnesty International For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/twnw/israel-hamas-cease-fire-trumps-first-immigration-moves-russia-iran-new-partnership

President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, will appear before the Senate Armed Services Committee; the Supreme Court hears arguments over the Joe Biden administration’s imminent banning of TikTok; Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation prompts questions on the future of U.S.-Canada trade relations; and Europe’s eastern states confront energy issues after Ukraine stops the flow of Russian gas through its territory.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Amanda Coletta, “‘Hot Mess’: Trudeau’s Turmoil Draws Trump’s Taunts,” Washington Post   Robert Kagan, “Trump Is Facing a Catastrophic Defeat in Ukraine,” The Atlantic   Adam Segal and Zoë Moore, “What’s Next for TikTok: Ban, Sell, or Presidential Reprieve?” CFR.org   Varun Sivaram, “Five Climate Realism Insights on California’s Wildfires,” CFR.org   Trisha Thadani and Will Oremus, “Meta Embraces Fact-Checking Program That X Users Say Is Like ‘Whack-a-Mole’,” Washington Post For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/hegseth-faces-senate-hearing-scotus-hears-tiktok-case-canada-weighs-future-leadership-and-more

In this special year-end episode, hosts Bob McMahon and Carla Anne Robbins sit down with the New York Times’ chief diplomatic correspondent in Europe Steven Erlanger to review the biggest stories of the past year and discuss developments to watch in 2025. They analyze the conflicts and political developments in the Middle East and Europe, President-elect Donald Trump’s picks for his national security team, the state of democracy worldwide, and more.   Mentioned on the Podcast   James M. Lindsay, “Ten Elections to Watch in 2025,” CFR.org   National Centers for Environmental Information, “Monthly Global Climate Report for October 2024,” NCEI.NOAA.gov   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/world-next-year-wars-new-governments-stormy-weather-watch-2025

Syrians begin the early stages of government formation as global and regional powers scramble to devise a strategy for Syria after the fall of President Bashar al-Assad; Georgians protest their government’s postponement of European Union (EU) membership talks as Romanians look for answers following the cancellation of their presidential election results; the United Kingdom (UK) accedes to the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership; and China opens an anti-monopoly case against U.S. chipmaker Nvidia.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Luke Allnutt et al., “Romania's 'King Of TikTok' Tied To Alleged Scheme Boosting Far-Right Presidential Candidate,” Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty   Veronica Anghel, “Why Romania Just Canceled Its Presidential Election,” Journal of Democracy   Thomas Graham, “What Assad’s Fall Means for Russia in the Middle East,” CFR.org For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/syrians-plot-transition-turmoil-georgia-romania-uk-joins-trans-pacific-trade-deal-and-more

Impeachment looms for South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, whose declaration of martial law spurred mass protests; French lawmakers passed the first no-confidence vote in more than sixty years, as the country is set to mark the the reopening of Notre Dame cathedral; Syrian rebels continue a surprise offensive against President Bashar al-Assad’s regime after seizing the cities of Aleppo and Hama; and U.S. President-Elect Donald Trump threatens 100 percent tariffs on BRICS nations.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Steven A. Cook, “What Syria’s Revived Civil War Means for the Region,” CFR.org   John Deluray, “Martial Law in South Korea,” CFR.org   Sarah Jeong, “Six Hours Under Martial Law in Seoul,” The Verge   Brad W. Setser, X   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/twnw/turmoil-south-korea-french-government-collapses-syrian-rebels-reignite-conflict-and-more

The White House authorized Ukraine to use U.S.-made, long-range army tactical missile systems (ATACMS) missiles to hit targets within Russian territory; the UN climate change conference (COP29) wraps up in Baku, Azerbaijan, where progress on climate finance has been notably slow; negotiations for a cease-fire continues in the Middle East, with hopes for an agreement between Israel and Hezbollah; and thousands protest for Māori rights throughout New Zealand.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Clara Fong, “Understanding the Global Push for Climate Finance,” CFR.org   “Māori Lawmakers Perform a Haka to Protest against Indigenous Treaty Bill,” NBC News   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/twnw/us-atacms-ukraine-cop29-wraps-cease-fire-negotiations-lebanon-and-more

Tumultuous events have rocked the last four years: the COVID-19 pandemic, Europe’s largest land war in eighty years, and an escalating Middle Eastern conflict between Israel and Iran-backed forces. On top of that, the United States faces an intensifying geopolitical struggle with China and Russia. Now, U.S. President Joe Biden is running out of time to secure his legacy while the transition to a second Donald Trump administration comes sharply into focus. The U.S. president-elect has been quickly nominating leaders to his cabinet and receiving calls from foreign leaders. Why It Matters sits down with the hosts of The World Next Week to talk about what the United States–and a closely watching world–should expect in the weeks and months to come as incoming President Trump takes office.   Mentioned on this Episode   Peter Baker, “A Four-Decade Secret: One Man’s Story of Sabotaging Carter’s Re-election,” New York Times    Helene Cooper and Maggie Haberman, “Trump Picks Pete Hegseth, a Veteran and Fox News Host, for Defense Secretary,” New York Times   Abigail Hauslohner and Dan Lamothe, “Fear, Celebration As Washington Scrutinizes Trump Pick to Run Pentagon,” Washington Post   “Trumpworld 2.0: Who Is Joining the Trump Administration?” NBC News   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/twnw-special-why-world-next-week-matters

World leaders express hopes for cooperation with the United States after former President Donald Trump’s comeback election win; Israel faces a deadline to increase humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip or risk restrictions on U.S. military funding; Azerbaijan prepares to host the twenty-ninth UN climate conference (COP29) as concerns grow that climate targets could fall short; and Moldova’s election spurs hopes of European Union ties.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Clea Caulcutt, Barbara Moens, Nicholas Vinocur, “Macron to Europe: We Need to Become ‘Omnivores’ After Trump’s Victory,” Politico   Alice Hill, “COP29 Summit in Baku: What to Expect,” CFR.org   “Trump and the Future of American Power: A Conversation With Stephen Kotkin,” Foreign Affairs   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/twnw/world-reacts-trump-win-israels-gaza-aid-deadline-nears-azerbaijans-climate-summit-and-more

In this special episode of The World Next Week, hosts Robert McMahon and Carla Anne Robbins discuss how news outlets around the world are reporting on the November 5 U.S. elections and how it reflects on public and government interests.    Mentioned on the Podcast   American Evolution 2024, The Straits Times   Pierre Breteau, “2024 U.S. Presidential Election: Try Our Swing State Results Simulator,” Le Monde   Campaign Notebook, International Edition, Columbia Journalism Review   Alistair Campbell and Rory Stewart, The Rest is Politics, Goalhanger   Emilio Casalicchio, “Meet the Gun-Toting Brits Who Will Vote for Donald Trump,” Politico Europe   Katty Kay and Anthony Scaramucci, The Rest Is Politics: US   James M. Lindsay, “Election 2024: How to Respond to the Axis of Autocracies,” CFR.org   The U.S. Election and Foreign Policy, CFR.org   “Why Is the World Obsessed with the U.S. Election? Ask Germany,” Why It Matters   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/twnw/twnw-special-surveying-foreign-media-coverage-us-election-2024

France seeks to spur international support for humanitarian aid for Lebanon as fighting grinds on between Israel and Hezbollah; Japan holds a snap general election as Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru hopes to rally the embattled and longtime ruling Liberal Democratic Party; Georgia heads to the polls in an election that could shift the country away from the European Union and firmly into Russia’s orbit; and China and India reach a border deal.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Mariel Ferragamo, “What Is the BRICS Group and Why Is It Expanding?,” CFR.org   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/twnw/france-presses-lebanon-aid-japan-holds-snap-election-georgias-divided-vote-and-more

The summit of the BRICS group begins in Russia, the first meeting since formally welcoming Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates into the bloc; European leaders discuss migration after a series of calls for speedier deportations and revised asylum processes; Colombia hosts the UN Biodiversity Summit; and Canada expels six Indian diplomats tied to the murder of a Sikh separatist.   Mentioned on the Podcast   “The Drug Lords’ Side-Hustle: Smuggling Macaws, Jaguars and Frogs,” The Economist   “Living Planet Report 2024,” World Wildlife Fund   “A Warning Sign: Where Biodiversity Loss Is Happening Around the World,” World Wildlife Fund   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/twnw/russia-hosts-brics-summit-eu-leaders-talk-migration-un-biodiversity-summit-kicks-and-more

Intelligence officials warn of foreign meddling in the U.S. presidential and congressional elections; Hurricane Milton marks second straight weather blow to the U.S. southeast; this year’s Nobel Peace Prize winner is announced in Norway; and Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico vows to block Ukraine’s bid to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).   Mentioned on the Podcast   The U.S. Election and Foreign Policy, CFR.org   Virtual Media Briefing: Technology and Electoral Dynamics, Council on Foreign Relations and Brookings Institution   “Malala Yousafzai: Nobel Peace Prize Lecture 2014,” Nobel Prize For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/twnw/meddling-us-elections-florida-reels-twin-storms-nobel-peace-laureate-be-named-and-more

Hostilities between Iran and Israel reach a new level after Israel’s ground invasion in southern Lebanon and the latest Iranian missile attack on Israel; U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump hold separate town halls to reach undecided Hispanic voters; U.S. President Joe Biden heads to Germany to shore up military support for Ukraine; and Norway considers building a fence on its border with Russia.     Mentioned on the Podcast   One Year Later: U.S. Policy Options in the Israel-Hamas War, Council on Foreign Relations   Virtual Media Briefing: Israel, Gaza, and the Middle East a Year After the Hamas Attack, Council on Foreign Relations   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/twnw/iran-israel-escalation-harris-and-trump-seek-hispanic-vote-biden-germany-and-more

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy intensifies efforts to galvanize greater political and financial support; Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) will elect a new leader to become the next prime minister; the United States and Canada each impose a 100 percent tariff on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs); and Sri Lanka’s new president, Marxist Anura Kumara Dissanayake, calls for national elections.     Mentioned on the Podcast   Kimberly Clausing and Mary E. Lovely, “Why Trump's Tariff Proposals Would Harm Working Americans,” Peterson Institute for International Economics   Joshua Yaffa, “Volodymyr Zelenskyy Has a Plan for Ukraine’s Victory,” New Yorker   Sheila A. Smith, “The LDP Leadership Race: Six More Join, a Field of Nine,” CFR.org   Sheila A. Smith, “The LDP Leadership Race: The Early Birds,” CFR.org   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/twnw/zelenskyys-diplomatic-drive-japans-new-leader-us-and-canadian-tariffs-chinas-evs-and-more

The UN General Assembly begins its seventy-ninth high-level debate amid questions about its limited role in resolving major conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East; fears of a wider regional war grow as Hezbollah vows retaliation against Israel after thousands of pagers exploded across Lebanon; U.S. President Joe Biden hosts the leaders of the Quad in Wilmington, Delaware, to strengthen coordination in the Indo-Pacific region; and Russia seeks to add 180,000 troops to its army.   Mentioned on the Podcast   A Conversation With U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Council on Foreign Relations   Ronen Bergman, Sheera Frenkel, and Hwaida Saad, “How Israel Built a Modern-Day Trojan Horse: Exploding Pagers,” New York Times   Natalie Caloca and Paul B. Stares, “Security Challenges Cloud UN’s Summit of the Future”, CFR.org   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/twnw/un-meets-tense-times-pager-explosions-rattle-hezbollah-bidens-last-quad-summit-and-more

The U.S. Congress returns from its summer recess to try to pass a budget for federal discretionary programs before the fiscal year ends and avoid a government shutdown; the United States and other Western allies accuse Iran of transferring ballistic missiles to Russia, raising concerns over intensified strikes on Ukraine; Hungary faces a second deadline to pay a $221 million fine for breaking European Union asylum law, which President Viktor Orbán remains unwilling to follow; and China gifts Cambodia two newly built Type 056 corvette warships, raising questions about Beijing’s naval ambitions.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Zongyuan Zoe Liu, “Tracking China’s Control of Overseas Ports,” CFR.org   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/twnw/congresss-funding-battle-iran-sends-missiles-russia-orban-defies-eu-and-more

The United States, Egypt, and Qatar prepare another cease-fire proposal after Hamas killed six Israeli hostages and Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu demanded control of the Philadelphi Corridor along the Gaza-Egypt border; Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump hold their first presidential debate; the Toronto International Film Festival showcases independent films spanning from Hungary to Georgia and more; and the United States seizes Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s plane.     What to Watch at Toronto International Film Festival   Edward Berger, Conclave   William Bridges, All of You   Brady Corbet, The Brutalist   Dea Kulumbegashvili, April   Mentioned on the Podcast   Brett Goldstein, Bill Lawrence, Jason Segel, Shrinking   Brendan Hunt, Joe Kelly, Bill Lawrence, Ted Lasso   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/twnw/gazas-troubled-cease-fire-efforts-harris-and-trump-debate-toronto-international-film-fest

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the incursion into Kursk is an important step towards ending the war with Russia, but Ukraine is facing a major test in its own Donbas battlefields; the intensifying mpox outbreak places additional strain on the Democratic Republic of Congo and surrounding African nations; heightened security tensions spur the United States, keeping nuclear defense planners busy; and the Taliban bans the voices of women and girls in public.    Mentioned on the Podcast   “Countries Should Act Faster to Curb the Spread of Mpox,” The Economist   “If a China and America War Went Nuclear, Who Would Win?,” The Economist   Allison Krugman and Chloe Searchinger, “Mpox Vaccine Tracker: Millions Pledged, Millions Still to Be Delivered,” Think Global Health   David E. Sanger, “Biden Approved Secret Nuclear Strategy Refocusing on Chinese Threat,” New York Times   Lara Seligman, “U.S.-Made F-16 Jet Fighter Crashes in Ukraine,” Wall Street Journal   “Ukraine’s Attack on Kursk, With Liana Fix,” The President’s Inbox   “Ukraine Pushes Into Russia, 2024 DNC Begins, Foreign Hacking Targets Trump and Harris, and More,” The World Next Week   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/twnw/stakes-ukraines-kursk-offensive-stopping-mpox-spread-nuclear-arms-race-returns-and-more

This special episode of The World Next Week features a summerlong feast of reading, watching, and listening treats. Deborah Amos, the Ferris Professor of Journalism in Residence at Princeton University and a former international correspondent for National Public Radio, joins CFR’s TWNW hosts Robert McMahon and Carla Anne Robbins to discuss good reads they recommend, books they are looking forward to reading, and other entertainment they are enjoying this summer.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Bob’s Picks   Elizabeth Kolbert, H Is for Hope: Climate Change from A to Z    Stefan Zweig, The World of Yesterday: Memoirs of a European Carla’s Picks   Steve Coll, The Achilles Trap: Saddam Hussein, the CIA, and the Origins of America's Invasion of Iraq   Peter Pomerantsev, How to Win an Information War: The Propagandist Who Outwitted Hitler  Deborah’s Picks   Jayne Anne Phillips, Night Watch   Nathan Thrall, A Day in the Life of Abed Salama: Anatomy of a Jerusalem Tragedy  Additional Books, Films, Podcasts, Shows and More Mentioned on the Podcast   Books   Russell Baker, Growing Up   Ron Chernow, Grant    Elizabeth Kolbert, The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History   Roy Stewart, The Places In Between   Films   Wes Anderson, The Grand Budapest Hotel   James Bridges, The China Syndrome   George Clooney, Good Night, and Good Luck.   Alex Garland, Civil

Ukraine’s surprise incursion of Russia’s Kursk region captures territory and stuns the Kremlin; the Democratic National Convention kicks off in Chicago with concerns of divisions in the party over support for Israel in its war in the Gaza Strip; U.S. intelligence is on high alert after foreign hacking attempts on both former President Donald Trump’s and Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential campaigns; and Mexico turns down Ukraine’s request for it to uphold warrants to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin by the International Criminal Court.      Mentioned on the Podcast   Tim Alberta, “Trump Is Planning for a Landslide Win,” The Atlantic   Kevin Collier, Ken Dilanian, and Dan De Luce, “FBI Says It's Investigating Efforts to Hack Trump and Biden-Harris Campaigns,” NBC News   Alina Lobzina and Anton Troianovski, “Ukraine’s Incursion Into Russia Flips the Script on Putin,” New York Times   Jonathan Weisman, “Worried About a Convention Clash, Democrats Woo Uncommitted Delegates,” New York Times For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/twnw/ukraine-pushes-russia-2024-dnc-begins-foreign-hacking-targets-trump-and-harris-and-more

Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and her new running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, campaign ahead of the party’s convention; world leaders and diplomats reach out to Iran and Israel to head off a wider regional war after the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran spurred retaliation threats; Bangladesh prepares an interim government after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country; and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government responds to anti-immigrant riots across the country.      Mentioned on the Podcast   Fred Kaplan, “Kamala Harris Has Been Much More Involved in Foreign Policy Than We Realize,” Slate   Jonathan Masters, “The U.S. Vice President and Foreign Policy,” CFR.org   Recommended Reading Swift Boats at War in Vietnam, edited by Guy Gugliotta, Neva Sullaway, John Yeoman   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/twnw/us-presidential-campaign-picks-iran-mulls-retaliation-bangladeshs-new-government-and-more

The Middle East braces for the possibility of a full-scale war between Israel and Iran-backed forces after the assassinations of Hamas senior leader Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr; Venezuelans protest the results of the presidential election that grant incumbent President Nicolás Maduro a third term; the Edinburgh Festival Fringe spotlights wide-ranging, new talent; imprisoned journalists in Russia are freed in a major prisoner swap; and militant groups kill troops from Russia’s private military company Wagner Group, including a Wagner commander, in Mali.     Mentioned on the Podcast   Steven A. Cook, “Are Israel and Iran Headed for All Out War?,” CFR.org   Edinburgh Festival Fringe   Edinburgh Festival Fringe App   Edinburgh Fringe Festival Recommendation Lists: Independent, Playbill, and Time Out Magazine   Kali Robinson, “What Is Hamas?,” CFR.org For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/twnw/israel-iran-tensions-escalate-venezuela-election-questioned-edinburgh-fringe-shines-and

Global leaders react to U.S. President Joe Biden’s decision to drop out of the 2024 race and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for the Democratic nomination; France ramps up security measures as the Summer Olympics kick off in Paris; Diplomacy continues over a potential Israel-Hamas cease-fire after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the U.S. Congress; and a Russian court sentences two American journalists.    Mentioned on the Podcast   Charles A. Kupchan, “Biden’s Legacy: Major Accomplishments but Unfinished Business,” CFR.org   Linda Robinson, “Vice President Kamala Harris’s Real-World School of Foreign Policy,” CFR.org   “Politics and Protest at the Olympics,” CFR.org   Suzanne Lynch and Ben Munster, “‘Invisible’ Kamala Harris Struggles to Win Over Europe,” Politico For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/twnw/world-reacts-biden-withdrawal-summer-olympics-begin-gaza-diplomacy-after-netanyahus-visit

The world reacts to the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and the selection of Ohio Senator J.D. Vance as former President Donald Trump’s running mate; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses a joint session of Congress; Cyprus marks fifty years since the Turkish invasion that left the country still split in two; and Nepal’s Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli begins his fourth term in office.      Mentioned on the Podcast   Steven Cook, “Netanyahu’s High-Stakes Visit to Washington,” CFR.org   Ross Douthat, “What J.D. Vance Believes,” New York Times   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/gop-election-enthusiasm-netanyahu-addresses-us-congress-cyprus-50-years-after-invasion-and

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) wraps its seventy-fifth summit, pledging to keep Ukraine on an “irreversible” path to membership while concerns grow about the future of U.S. commitment; Japan hosts the tenth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting to counter China’s influence in the region; France struggles to form a government as party differences intensify; and President-Elect Masoud Pezeshkian raises hopes for possible change in Iran.      Mentioned on the Podcast   A Conversation With Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen of Denmark, Council on Foreign Relations   Emmanuel Macron, “A Letter to the French People,” Le Parisien   Pacific Aid Map, Lowy Institute   Ray Takeyh, “What Could Change Under Iran’s New ‘Reformist’ President?,” CFR.org   Washington Summit Declaration, NATO    Sarah Wheaton, “Orbán’s Humble Pie,” Politico   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/nato-and-ukraine-beyond-75-japan-hosts-pacific-islands-frances-political-gridlock-and-more

This special episode of The World Next Week features a summerlong feast of reading, watching, and listening treats. Deborah Amos, the Ferris Professor of Journalism in Residence at Princeton University and a former international correspondent for National Public Radio, joins CFR’s TWNW hosts Robert McMahon and Carla Anne Robbins to discuss good reads they recommend, books they are looking forward to reading, and other entertainment they are enjoying this summer.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Bob’s Picks   Elizabeth Kolbert, H Is for Hope: Climate Change from A to Z    Stefan Zweig, The World of Yesterday: Memoirs of a European Carla’s Picks   Steve Coll, The Achilles Trap: Saddam Hussein, the CIA, and the Origins of America's Invasion of Iraq   Peter Pomerantsev, How to Win an Information War: The Propagandist Who Outwitted Hitler  Deborah’s Picks   Jayne Anne Phillips, Night Watch   Nathan Thrall, A Day in the Life of Abed Salama: Anatomy of a Jerusalem Tragedy  Additional Books, Films, Podcasts, Shows and More Mentioned on the Podcast   Books   Russell Baker, Growing Up   Ron Chernow, Grant    Elizabeth Kolbert, The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History   Roy Stewart, The Places In Between   Films   Wes Anderson, The Grand Budapest Hotel   James Bridges, The China Syndrome   George Clooney, Good Night, and Good Luck.   Alex Garland, Civil

France’s governance is at stake as it holds snap elections for its National Assembly, with the far-right National Rally looking to build on its success in the European Parliament elections; the United Kingdom (UK) has its own snap general elections with Keir Starmer and his Labour Party looking to end the fourteen-year rule of the Conservatives; Iran’s snap presidential elections could signal unity of regime hard-liners or glimmers of change; the European Union (EU) plans to impose provisional tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles; and Ukraine strikes more than thirty Russian oil refineries.     Mentioned on the Podcast   Amanda Chu, Kenza Bryan, and Lukanyo Mnyanda, “Global Glut Turns Solar Panels into Garden Fencing Option,” Financial Times   Ian Johnston, “French Voters Juggle Democratic Duty and Summer Getaways,” Financial Times   David Lammy, “The Case for Progressive Realism,” Foreign Affairs   Matthias Matthijs, “Pivotal Elections for France—and Europe,” CFR.org   Ray Takeyh, “Does Iran’s Presidential Election Matter?,” CFR.org   Sergey Vakulenko; Michael Liebreich, Lauri Myllyvirta, and Sam Winter-Levy, “Should Ukraine Keep Attacking Russian Oil Refineries?,” Foreign Affairs   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/france-iran-and-uk-hold-snap-elections-eu-pushback-chinese-evs-and-more

A Russian court moves judicial proceedings for detained U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich to Yekaterinburg for a closed-door espionage trial; the success of far-right parties in the European Parliament elections challenges the power of several incumbent European Union (EU) leaders; the Boeing Starliner "Calypso" spacecraft prepares to return from the International Space Station after delays; and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dissolves his war cabinet.    Mentioned on the Podcast Silvina Frydlewsky, Georgi Kantchev, and Joe Parkinson, “The Russian Spies Next Door,” Wall Street Journal   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/russias-secret-trial-gershkovich-eus-rightward-shift-boeing-space-and-more

Ukraine pushes for wider international support and endorsement of its proposed peace process at Switzerland’s Ukraine peace summit; the UN Security Council deliberates how to assist Sudanese civilians and de-escalate the civil war; diplomatic pressure builds for a U.S.-backed cease-fire deal in the Gaza Strip; and Russian ships arrive in Cuban waters for exercises.    Mentioned on the Podcast   Rory Jones and Summer Said, “Gaza Chief’s Brutal Calculation: Civilian Bloodshed Will Help Hamas,” Wall Street Journal   Sorensen Distinguished Lecture: A Conversation With Cindy McCain, Council on Foreign Relations   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at:  https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/ukraine-pushes-peace-summit-sudan-catastrophe-israel-hamas-deal-crossroads-and-more

All twenty-seven European Union (EU) member states vote in European Parliament elections with polls showing right-wing parties poised to gain more seats; the Group of Seven (G7) leading industrial democracies meet in Italy with a sizable agenda, including support for Ukraine and trade concerns with China; the United States prepares for an above-normal hurricane season; and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and partner exporters, known as OPEC+, extend oil output cuts.    Mentioned on the Podcast   Europe’s Migration Dilemma, CFR.org   Caroline Kapp and Matthias Matthijs, “What’s at Stake in the EU Elections?,” CFR.org   Nicholas Vinocur, “An American’s Guide to the 2024 European Election,” Politico   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/european-parliament-elections-g7-leaders-50th-summit-powerful-hurricane-season-looming-and

U.S. President Joe Biden faces increasing international and domestic pressures on his policy toward the Israel-Hamas war amid worsening humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip; Western leaders commemorate the eightieth anniversary of D-Day with Russia’s war in Ukraine front of mind; Mexico holds massive general elections that are likely to usher in the country’s first woman president; and North Korea tests new satellite and missiles.   Mentioned on the Podcast   “Mexico’s Next President Can Reset Relations With the United States,” The Economist   Shannon K. O'Neil, The Globalization Myth: Why Regions Matter   Eli Stokols and Alexander Ward, “White House Not Thrilled by Macron’s D-Day Invite to Russia,” Politico   Sue Mi Terry, “The Coming North Korean Crisis,” Foreign Affairs   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/bidens-gaza-dilemmas-80-years-d-day-mexicos-milestone-election-and-more

Iran’s regime carefully vets candidates for new presidential elections after the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash; Israeli leadership reacts to the International Criminal Court (ICC) request for warrants to arrest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant; South Africa prepares for a general election that could contest the ruling African National Congress’ long-standing majority; and Taiwan inaugurates Lai Ching-te as the new president, aggravating China.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Elbridge Colby, “America Must Face Reality and Prioritize China Over Europe,” Financial Times   Virtual Media Briefing: Iran After Raisi and New ICC Charges, Council on Foreign Relations   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/irans-succession-woes-icc-angers-israel-south-africas-election-and-more

Ukraine rushes to push back against a new Russian offensive in its northeast Kharkiv region; U.S. President Joe Biden invites Kenyan President William Ruto for a state visit, the first U.S. state visit for an African leader since 2008; London’s High Court decides on whether to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the United States to stand trial; and tens of thousands protest in Tbilisi, Georgia, after its parliament passes the controversial “foreign agents” bill.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Rachel Chason, “U.S. Threats Led to Rupture of Vital Military Ties, Nigerien Leader Says,” Washington Post   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/ukraine-tries-halt-russian-advance-biden-woos-kenya-fate-assange-and-more

Israel’s newest military operation in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah stirs concerns of catastrophe for Palestinians in Gaza, and prompts the United States to condition its offensive military aid for the first time since the Israel-Hamas war broke out; Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan meet in Ankara, Turkey, to continue their diplomatic efforts; the seventy-seventh Cannes Film Festival showcases new films ranging from niche to blockbuster; and Russian President Vladimir Putin orders tactical nuclear weapon drills as a signal to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).   Mentioned on the Podcast   Ali Abbasi, The Apprentice    “Anyone Who’s on the Ground in Gaza is in ‘Danger,’ WFP Chief McCain Says,” NBC News   Jacques Audilard, Emilia Perez   Christina Bouri and Diana Roy, “Few Options for Gazans as Israel Enters Rafah,” CFR.org   Francis Ford Coppola, Megalopolis    David Cronenberg, The Shrouds    “Emmanuel Macron In His Own Words,” Economist   Yorgos Lanthimos, Kinds of Kindness    George Miller, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga     War in Gaza Update: The Rafah Incursion and Negotiations Over Hostage Release and Ceasefire, Council on Foreign Relations   “Why Lithuania is Considering Sending Soldiers to Ukraine,” Financial Times For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/israels-rafah-plans-greece-and-turkey-boost-diplomacy-cannes-festival-unveils-new-films

In this special episode to mark World Press Freedom Day, Jeffrey Gedmin, cofounder and editor-in-chief of American Purpose and former president of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, joins Robert McMahon and Carla Anne Robbins to discuss the global state of press freedom. They cover the challenges that a growing number of journalists face in exile or imprisonment, the U.S. role in upholding freedom of the press, and more.    Mentioned on the Podcast   “Exile Journalists Map—Fleeing to Europe and North America,” Reporters Without Borders   “Media Freedom,” Freedom House   2023 World Press Freedom Index, Reporters Without Borders   Journalists:    Parnaz Azima   Jamal Khashoggi   Alsu Kurmasheva   Monica Lovinescu   Georgi Markov   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/world-press-freedom-day-2024-mounting-threats-renewed-purpose

Secretary of State Antony Blinken wraps his second visit to China as tensions mount over Beijing’s military support of Russia’s war in Ukraine and ongoing threats in the South China Sea; International Workers’ Day on May 1 comes at a time of revived labor activism over wages and inequality; and U.S. President Joe Biden approves a $61 billion foreign aid package providing critical military assistance to Ukraine, potentially improving the situation on the ground in the war with Russia.   Mentioned on the Podcast   “2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices,” Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, U.S. Department of State   “Global Military Spending Surges Amid War, Rising Tensions and Insecurities,” Stockholm International Peace Research Institute   Max Boot, “Weapons of War: The Race Between Russia and Ukraine,” CFR.org For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/blinken-visits-china-may-day-stirs-workers-rights-concerns-us-resumes-ukraine-aid-and-more

Concerns grow over the widening Middle East conflict after Iran launches three hundred ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones at Israel; European Union (EU) leaders discuss how to bolster aid to Ukraine amid an uptick in Russian attacks and the situation unfolding in the Middle East; India kicks off the world’s largest democratic election—spanning more than forty-four days—where the incumbent Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is expected to win again; and warming water temperatures cause a mass bleaching of coral reefs.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Steven A. Cook, “Iran Attack Means an Even Tougher Balancing Act for the U.S. in the Middle East,” CFR.org   “How India’s Imports of Russian Oil Have Lubricated Global Markets,” Economist   Andy Bounds, Laura Dubois, Christopher Miller, “Germany Urges Dozens of Allies to Send Air Defense Systems to Ukraine,” Financial Times   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/aftermath-irans-attack-israel-eu-talks-ukraine-indias-massive-election-and-more

Congress returns from recess and grapples with contentious agenda items, including reauthorization of a section of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and a Ukraine aid package; Sudan enters a second year of civil war with more than half of the country’s population in need of aid and millions more displaced; and Ecuadorian police breach international law by raiding the Mexican embassy in Quito to arrest former Ecuadorian Vice President Jorge Glas.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Regina Garcia Cano and Gabriela Molina, “Mexico Severs Diplomatic Ties with Ecuador After Police Storm Its Embassy to Arrest Politician,” Associated Press   “Sudan Crisis Sends Shockwaves Around the Region as Displacement, Hunger, and Malnutrition Soar,” World Food Program   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/congresss-urgent-agenda-sudans-year-war-ecuador-mexico-embassy-fray-and-more

Rwanda marks thirty years since its genocide against the Tutsis; U.S. President Joe Biden hosts the first trilateral leaders’ summit with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and Philippines President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.; music fans celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Swedish pop group ABBA’s Eurovision win; and Ekrem İmamoğlu is elected mayor of Istanbul, in a rebuke to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Eurovision Winners, Eurovision World   Frontline: Ghosts of Rwanda, PBS   Mariel Ferragamo, “Thirty Years After Rwanda’s Genocide: Where the Country Stands Today,” CFR.org    “Rwanda: Freedom in the World 2024,” Freedom House   “Three Decades After Rwanda’s Genocide, the Past is Ever-Present,” The Economist   When Abba Came to Britain, BBC  For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/rwanda-30-years-after-genocide-us-japan-philippines-summit-abbas-eurovision-legacy-and

The fallout after the UN Security Council adopted a resolution for an immediate cease-fire in the Gaza Strip ​​and release of all hostages further reveals a growing strain between the United States and Israel; Russia reels from the ISIS-K terrorist attack on concertgoers near Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin deliberating how to respond; the Cuban government cracks down on recent protests across the country over food shortages and power outages; and former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is found to have stayed overnight at the Hungarian embassy in Brasília in February 2024.     Mentioned on the Podcast   Barak Ravid, “Netanyahu Cancels Meetings with Biden Officials Over UN Ceasefire Vote,” Axios   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/biden-and-netanyahu-odds-putin-responds-isis-k-attack-cuba-food-and-electricity-shortages

Senegal holds its postponed presidential election amid fears of democratic backsliding; Slovakia chooses a new president in voting that could bolster Prime Minister Robert Fico’s illiberal tilt; Pakistan and Taliban-controlled Afghanistan exchange blows after a string of terrorist attacks on Pakistani territory; nuclear energy gets a boost at a first-ever summit in Brussels, Belgium; and the European Union provides Egypt with $8 billion worth of aid.    For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/senegal-and-slovakia-elections-pakistan-and-afghan-taliban-clash-nuclear-energy-gains

Russia holds its presidential election with the Kremlin aiming to orchestrate a sweeping endorsement of President Vladimir Putin; the U.S. Congress continues its partisan battles over the 2024 budget as concerns of shutdown and aid to allies mount; the U.S. Library of Congress flexes its soft power by awarding Elton John and Bernie Taupin with the Gershwin Prize; and the crisis in Haiti worsens.    Mentioned on the Podcast   John Bresnahan and Jake Sherman, “UNRWA Funding Emerges as Sticking Point in FY 2024 Spending Talks,” Punchbowl   Liana Fix and Maria Snegovaya, “Leadership Change in Russia,” CFR.org   From the Catbird Seat, Library of Congress   Thomas Graham, “Why Russia’s Election Matters to Putin,” CFR.org   Michael Kimmage and Maria Lipman, “Forever Putinism: The Russian Autocrat’s Answer to the Problem of Succession,” Foreign Affairs   Putin's Approval Ratings, Levada-Center   Brett Zongker, “Elton John & Bernie Taupin = 2024 Gershwin Prize,” Library of Congress Blog   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/russias-gloomy-elections-us-budget-divisions-elton-john-bernie-taupin-awarded-and-more

Negotiators attempt to establish a six-week cease-fire and hostage exchange deal between Israel and Hamas before the start of the sacred Islamic month of Ramadan; Portugal holds a snap parliamentary election with a far-right party gaining traction; international films gain prominence at the ninety-sixth Academy Awards; and Chinese President Xi Jinping breaks with the thirty-year tradition of the premier’s press conference after the National People’s Congress.   Mentioned on the Podcast   J.A. Bayona, Society of the Snow   Ilker Çatak, The Teachers’ Lounge   Manohla Dargis, “‘The Zone of Interest’ Review: The Holocaust, Reduced to Background Noise,” New York Times   Matteo Garrone, Io Capitano   Greta Gerwig, Barbie   Johnathan Glazer, The Zone of Interest   Andrea Kannapell, Hwaida Saad, and Michael D. Shear, “‘We Need a Cease-Fire,’ Biden Says.” New York Times   Yorgos Lanthimos, Poor Things   Françoise Mouly, “Barry Blitt’s ‘Slappenheimer’,” New Yorker   Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer   Celine Song, Past Lives   Justine Triet, Anatomy of a Fall   Wim Wenders, Perfect Days   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at:  https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/ramadan-cease-fire-prospects-portugals-snap-election-oscars-go-international-and-more