Why It Matters

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Each episode of Why It Matters breaks down an issue that is shaping our world’s future. Join host Gabrielle Sierra as she speaks with the leaders and thinkers who are facing these questions head on. Fueled by the minds at the Council on Foreign Relations, Why It Matters brings some of the world’s most compelling stories home to you.

11 MAR

Autonomous Ukraine: Allies, Partners, or Frenemies?

This episode outlines the global network sustaining both sides of the war in Ukraine, with NATO allies on one side and Russia with backing from China, Iran, and North Korea on the other, and how the limits and tensions within these alliances are shaping the war’s next phase and raising broader global security risks. Host: Gabrielle Sierra, Director of Podcasting, Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) Guests: Liana Fix, Senior Fellow for Europe, Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) Joseph Torigian, Senior Fellow for Asia Studies, Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) We discuss: How the war in Ukraine has become a global conflict fueled by competing networks of allies and partners on both sides. Why Ukraine’s survival depends on sustained military, financial, and intelligence support from the United States and NATO. How Russia has built its own wartime coalition, relying on Iran for drones, North Korea for munitions, and China for economic backing. Why the Russian alliance with China is driven more by shared opposition to Western power than true strategic alignment. How cracks are emerging within both coalitions, from political fatigue in the West to quiet limits in China’s support for Russia. As Liana Fix puts it: “A more transactional idea of alliances is exactly where we are headed.” How sanctions, supply chains, and defense production have turned global economics into a second front in the war. How shifting alliances could expand the conflict’s risks beyond Ukraine and reshape global security dynamics. What this war reveals about the return of bloc politics in a new era of great power competition. Read More: Liana Fix, “Defending Europe if Russia Steps Out of the Gray Zone,” CFR.org Liana Fix, Heidi E. Crebo-Rediker, Thomas Graham, Paul B. Stares, and Sam Vigersky, “Securing Ukraine’s Future: Adapting to New Realities After Four Years of War,” CFR.org Joseph Torigian, “Xi Jinping’s Russian Lessons,” Foreign Affairs Clara Fong and Lindsay Maizland, “China and Russia: Exploring Ties Between Two Authoritarian Powers” Anya Konstantinovsky, “China, Russia, and Ukraine: December 2024” Molly Carlough and James Kennedy, “How North Korea Has Bolstered Russia’s War in Ukraine” Want to keep up with Why It Matters? Sign up to receive an email alert when new episodes drop. Why It Matters is a production of the Council on Foreign Relations. The opinions expressed on the show are solely those of the host and guests, not of the Council, which takes no institutional positions on matters of policy.

38 min
11 MAR

Autonomous Ukraine: We Are in a New Era of Warfare

This episode explores how the emergence of drone warfare and innovation under fire is transforming power and forcing nations to rethink strategy and military capacity. Host: Gabrielle Sierra, Director of Podcasting, Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) Guests: Michael C. Horowitz, Senior Fellow for Technology and Innovation, Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) Erin D. Dumbacher, Stanton Nuclear Security Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) We discuss: How Ukraine is redefining modern warfare with cheap, scalable drone technology that can take down multimillion-dollar weapons. As Michael Horowitz puts it: “We’ve entered the era of precise mass in war.” How Ukraine became a real-world testing ground for autonomous weapons and AI-driven combat systems. Why small countries can now challenge military superpowers using precision strike at scale. How 70% of battlefield casualties in Ukraine are now linked to drone warfare, not traditional weapons. How Silicon Valley quietly became a key player in the war, from Starlink to AI intelligence and communication tools. How Russia is adapting just as quickly, scaling drone production and learning in real time. What the U.S. risks if it fails to keep up with rapid battlefield innovation and production speed. Read More: Securing Ukraine’s Future, CFR Michael C. Horowitz and Lauren Kahn, “Military AI Adoption Is Outpacing Global Cooperation,” CFR.org Michael Horowitz, “What Drones Can—and Cannot—Do on the Battlefield,” Foreign Affairs Erin D. Dumbacher, “Nukes Without Limits? A New Era After the End of New START,” CFR.org Want to keep up with Why It Matters? Sign up to receive an email alert when new episodes drop. Why It Matters is a production of the Council on Foreign Relations. The opinions expressed on the show are solely those of the host and guests, not of the Council, which takes no institutional positions on matters of policy.

32 min
18/12/2025

The Risk Report for 2026

As 2025 draws to a close, U.S. foreign policy stands at an inflection point. Under the second Trump administration, traditional alliances have been tested, a hard-edged national security strategy has been rolled out, and for the first time, CFR’s annual Preventive Priorities Survey has ranked a military conflict with Venezuela as a top threat facing the U.S. in 2026. Whether these and other flashpoints erupt next year will hinge on how world leaders manage mounting pressures, both at home and abroad. Read the full 2026 Preventive Priorities Survey. Featured Guest: Paul B. Stares (General John W. Vessey Senior Fellow for Conflict Prevention and Director of the Center for Preventive Action) Why It Matters is a production of the Council on Foreign Relations. The opinions expressed on the show are solely those of the guests, not of CFR, which takes no institutional positions on matters of policy.

33 min
05/06/2025

Where Does U.S. Trade Go From Here?

The unprecedented trade policies since the beginning of this year, driven largely by the Donald Trump administration’s pro-tariff agenda, have propelled the United States into uncertain and rocky territory. When it comes to our trading partners, the potential damage to U.S. alliances has left economists and policymakers in Washington questioning what’s next. Where do experts foresee U.S. trade policy heading? This season, Why It Matters is taking you through the ins and outs of trade. In this season finale, CFR’s Michael Froman and Shannon K. O’Neil tackle your biggest questions about what’s at stake and what’s next for U.S. trade policy. Featured Guests: Michael Froman (President of the Council on Foreign Relations) Shannon K. O’Neil (Senior Vice President, Director of Studies, and Maurice R. Greenberg Chair, CFR) To hear more from Michael Froman, subscribe to his newsletter, The World This Week. For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/wim/where-does-trade-go-here

38 min
03/06/2025

Mind the Trade Gap

Is having a trade deficit necessarily a bad thing? Many experts argue that the U.S. trade deficit is largely good for our economy. It allows Americans to enjoy a wider variety of cheap goods, attracts foreign investment, and reflects the strength of the U.S. dollar. Others believe it’s a warning sign that we’re relying too much on imports, hurting American jobs, and racking up debt owed to other countries. This season, Why It Matters is taking you through the ins and outs of trade. In this episode, we unpack the trade deficit. What is it and why has it become a primary focus of the second Trump administration? Featured Guests: Brad W. Setser (The Whitney Shepardson Senior Fellow specializing in global trade and capital flows, financial vulnerability analysis, and sovereign debt restructuring, CFR) Heather Hurlburt (Associate Fellow for the U.S. and the Americas Programme, Chatham House) For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/wim/mind-trade-gap

33 min
21/05/2025

Why It Matters Live!: Food Diplomacy

Host Gabrielle Sierra and podcast guests Johanna Mendelson Forman and Matthew Costello discuss food diplomacy, share stories from White House state dinners, and unpack how food has helped to create lasting international partnerships. This taping was originally recorded on April 17, 2025. Featured Guests Johanna Mendelson Forman (Distinguished Fellow at the Stimson Center, Adjunct Professor at American University’s School of International Service) Matthew Costello (Chief Education Officer and Director of the David M. Rubenstein National Center for White House History at the White House Historical Association)

39 min
21/05/2025

Trade Agreements: Deal or No Deal

What role does the president have when it comes to making trade deals? In this episode, we dig into the expansive powers of the U.S. president when it comes to trade. From unilateral authority to congressional oversight, we unpack who truly calls the shots when the U.S. negotiates trade agreements. This season, Why It Matters is taking you through the ins and outs of trade. In this episode, Why It Matters dissects the current state of U.S. trade agreements; what deals exist, which ones are under strain, and how President Donald Trump’s unconventional approach to trade negotiations is shifting the United States away from the norm. Featured Guest: Inu Manak (Fellow for trade policy at the Council on Foreign Relations) For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/wim/trade-agreements-deal-or-no-deal

30 min
30/04/2025

Tariff Turmoil, Part 2: Steel and Dog Gelato

Tariffs have sparked intense debate in Washington, but their consequences land far from Capitol Hill. Tariffs can shape paychecks, shift prices for consumers, and affect markets. At best, tariffs offer short-term protection for certain industries. At worst, they can uproot the lives of American workers. In this episode, Why It Matters looks at what tariffs mean for a U.S. steel manufacturer and small business owner trying to stay afloat. Featured Guests Matthew P. Goodman, Distinguished Fellow and Director of the Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies, CFR Jamie Sychak, President of United Auto Workers Local 3303 Debbie Hendrickx, Founder and CEO of Swell Gelato For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/wim/tariff-turmoil-part-2-steel-and-dog-gelato

33 min

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Gabrielle Sierra

Host

Each episode of Why It Matters breaks down an issue that is shaping our world’s future. Join host Gabrielle Sierra as she speaks with the leaders and thinkers who are facing these questions head on. Fueled by the minds at the Council on Foreign Relations, Why It Matters brings some of the world’s most compelling stories home to you.