The President’s Inbox

CFR

4.4 (714)
Politics
Updated Weekly

Each episode of The President’s Inbox explores a foreign policy challenge facing the United States.

18h ago

Six Months of War With Iran, With Steven Cook

This episode unpacks the current state of the U.S.-Iran conflict, broader dynamics in the Middle East, and the shifting U.S. role in the region. Host: James M. Lindsay, Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy, CFR Guest: Steven A. Cook, Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies, CFR We Discuss: Who, if anyone, is winning the six-month war with Iran, and how freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's ability to menace its neighbors, and its incentives to pursue a nuclear weapon have all evolved. Why the extent of the damage to Iran's nuclear program remains unknown, and why Tehran now has every incentive to dash toward weaponization. How the war's decapitation strikes produced leadership change rather than genuine regime change, leading to a situation in which the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the hardest of Iran’s hardliners now call the shots in Tehran. Whether the supposed split between Iranian "moderates" and "hardliners" is real or a Western construct that makes the regime more intelligible. What President Donald Trump's "economic D-Day" is meant to achieve, and why it remains uncertain that economic isolation will lead to regime collapse. Whether U.S. bluster carries real costs, and how doubts about U.S. credibility have pushed Gulf partners to look elsewhere for their security. What the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey actually signals, and whether it represents an alternative to an American-sponsored regional order rather than a true Article 5-style pact. Why the United Arab Emirates was left out of the Mecca agreement, and what the rift between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh reveals about fractures within the Gulf. Where the region is headed as the U.S.-led Middle East order comes to an end, and whether a diminished U.S. role and greater regional agency is a good thing. Mentioned on the Episode: Steven A. Cook, The End of Ambition: America’s Past, Present, and Future in the Middle East, Oxford University Press Steven A. Cook, “The U.S.-Led Middle East Order Is Over. The Mecca Agreement Proves It.,” Council on Foreign Relations Steven A. Cook, “After Iran, It’s Time for the United States to Leave the Middle East,” Foreign Policy Marc Lynch, “The End of the American Middle East: Iran and the Last Gasp of a Failed Order,” Foreign Affairs Robert Kagan, “Iran Unleashed,” The Atlantic For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/presidents-inbox/six-months-of-war-with-iran Opinions expressed on The President’s Inbox are solely those of the host or guests, not of CFR, which takes no institutional positions on matters of policy.
Aug 19

Washington’s Missile Shortage, With Michael Horowitz

This episode unpacks reporting that U.S. munitions stockpiles are dangerously low and lays out the consequences of the shortage both for Washington’s ongoing war with Iran, and for its deterrence of adversaries. Host: James M. Lindsay, Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy, CFR Guest: Michael C. Horowitz, Senior Fellow for Technology and Innovation and Director of the Defense and National Security Program, CFR We Discuss: Whether news reports of a serious depletion of U.S. high-tech weapons stocks are accurate, and how far inventories have been drawn down. The distinction between defensive interceptors, such as Patriot and THAAD, and offensive standoff weapons, such as Tomahawks and ATACMS, and how long each takes to produce. How the roots of the munitions crisis trace back to decisions in the 1990s—including the "Last Supper" defense industry consolidation—that prioritized quality over quantity. Why President Donald Trump's argument that the shortage stems from Biden-era weapons transfers to Ukraine misses deeper structural causes. How chokepoints—from Chinese rare-earth dominance to consolidated tier-two and tier-three suppliers—make ramping up production slow and costly. Why the Pentagon has been slow to shift its acquisition strategy despite nearly a decade of warnings about renewed great power competition, and how "not invented here" attitudes compound the problem. Whether budget austerity would spur innovation or choke it, and how "precise mass" could revitalize U.S. capabilities within a two-year window. How much the current drawdown threatens deterrence at a moment when the United States is left without an aircraft carrier in the Western Pacific. Mentioned on the Episode: Rush Doshi, Erin D. Dumbacher, William Henagan, Michael C. Horowitz, and Samuel Lazarus, “Out of Ammo: A Two-Year Sprint to Rebuild the American Arsenal and Deter China,” Council on Foreign Relations “One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R.1),” U.S. Congress Michael C. Horowitz, “Battles of Precise Mass: Technology Is Remaking War—and America Must Adapt,” Foreign Affairs Erin D. Dumbacher, Michael C. Horowitz, and Lauren Kahn, “Will Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful’ Defense Spending Last?” Council on Foreign Relations For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/presidents-inbox/washingtons-missile-shortage Opinions expressed on The President’s Inbox are solely those of the host or guests, not of CFR, which takes no institutional positions on matters of policy.
Jul 22

Maximum Pressure on Cuba, With Will Freeman

This episode unpacks how the Trump administration's maximum pressure campaign is accelerating Cuba's economic collapse and what a firsthand trip to the country reveals about life amidst the crisis. Host: James M. Lindsay, Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy, CFR Guest: Will Freeman, Fellow for Latin America Studies, CFR We Discuss: What the Trump administration is ultimately seeking to accomplish with its Cuba policy. How secondary sanctions differ from the existing trade embargo. What life on the ground in Cuba looks like today, with a mass economic crisis including widespread malnutrition and near-total electricity blackouts. Whether ordinary Cubans blame the United States or their own government for the crisis. Whether Cuba's government is attempting to pivot toward a China-style state capitalist system. What Grupo de Administración Empresarial S.A. (GAESA) is, why it controls so much of Cuba's economy, and who actually benefits from it. Whether the Trump administration's pressure is targeting GAESA directly. Why a Venezuela-style external coup or regime collapse is harder to engineer in Cuba. Mentioned on the Episode: "Cuba's 176 Market-Liberalization Measures," NBC News, June 20, 2026 "July 11, 2021 Protests in Cuba," WOLA, July 2022 "Miami Herald Investigation: GAESA's Secret Dollar Reserves," Miami Herald, August 6, 2025 For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/presidents-inbox/maximum-pressure-on-cuba Opinions expressed on The President’s Inbox are solely those of the host or guests, not of CFR, which takes no institutional positions on matters of policy.
Jul 15

U.S.-India Relations Under Stress, With Sadanand Dhume

U.S.-India relations have struggled despite U.S. President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s close personal relationship. This episode unpacks why tariffs, security concerns, and a détente with China has reframed the importance of the relationship, and what it could take to put it back on track. Host: James M. Lindsay, Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy, CFR Guest: Sadanand Dhume, Senior Fellow for India, Pakistan, and South Asia, CFR We Discuss: Why U.S.-India relations have been uncertain since mid-2025 after having slowly strengthened over many years. How the second Trump administration’s early actions and India’s multipolar diplomacy forced substantive confrontations thatTrump and Modi’s personal relationship could not overcome. Why U.S.-India trade negotiations stalled and the Trump administration imposed tariffs, despite India repeatedly offering concessions. How the May 2025 India-Pakistan conflict and Trump’s claim of forcing a ceasefire put Modi in a domestic political bind. How Pakistan’s prominent role in brokering the U.S.-Iran ceasefire has amplified Indian anxieties about a U.S.-Pakistan thaw. Why Trump’s talk of a Group of Two with China undermines its strategic desire to strengthen India as a counterweight to Chinese power. What the state of the Quad—an informal security dialogue among the United States, Australia, India, and Japan—and the United States’ de-emphasis of the Indo-Pacific framework reveal about U.S. strategy in Asia. How Modi is normalizing ties with China and whether there is a limit to normalization given the Himalayan border dispute and China’s efforts to constrain India’s growth. How India’s dependence on Russian arms has fallen over time, and why India is increasingly skeptical that Russia can act independently of China. Why Modi has resisted domestic political pressure to challenge Trump, and what that restraint reveals about India’s calculation of its long-term national interest. Where the greatest opportunity lies to rebuild the U.S.-India relationship, and why tech cooperation and Silicon Valley represent the most natural and promising place to start. Mentioned in the Episode: “How People in 24 Countries View India,” Pew Research Center Mathew George, Katarina Djokic, Zain Hussain, Pieter D. Wezeman, and Siemon T. Wezeman, “Trends In International Arms Transfers, 2024,” Stockholm International Peace Research Institute For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/presidents-inbox Opinions expressed on The President’s Inbox are solely those of the host or guests, not of CFR, which takes no institutional positions on matters of policy.
Jul 8

The Myth of the AI Race, With Alvin Wang Graylin

This episode unpacks U.S. and Chinese AI strategies, regulation approaches, and the future implications for society and security. Host: James M. Lindsay, Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy, CFR Guest: Alvin Wang Graylin, Senior Fellow for Technology, Asia Society; Digital Fellow, Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence; Professor of AI/Tech Policy, University of Washington We Discuss: Whether the framing of an AI "race" with China is accurate or helpful, and why it may be producing costly policy distortions. The concept of AGI (artificial general intelligence) and the thesis that underpins U.S. policy. China's focus on broad industrial adoption over frontier model development. How U.S. export controls and visa restrictions spurred the innovations behind DeepSeek. Why China turned down the offer to purchase NVIDIA H200 chips. Why Beijing regulates AI more extensively than either the United States or Europe. The Trump-Xi discussions on AI safety guardrails and the shared interest in preventing non-state bad actors from weaponizing AI. The economic bubble risk posed by rapidly rising data center costs. Mentioned on the Episode: China's "AI Plus" Initiative, State Council of China, August 2025 China's New Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Plan, State Council of China, 2017 For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/presidents-inbox/the-myth-of-the-ai-race Opinions expressed on The President’s Inbox are solely those of the host or guests, not of CFR, which takes no institutional positions on matters of policy.
Jul 1

Lessons From 250 Years of U.S. Foreign Policy, With Robert Kagan

This episode unpacks the history of 250 years of U.S. foreign policy and examines patterns of the United States’ engagement with the world. Host: James M. Lindsay, Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy, CFR Guest: Robert Kagan, Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution; Author, Dangerous Nation: America’s Place in the World From Its Earliest Days to the Dawn of the Twentieth Century and The Ghost at the Feast: America and Collapse of World Order, 1900-1941 We Discuss: Why Robert Kagan argues that Americans misunderstand their own history and have long been a “dangerous nation” rather than an insular one. How American foreign policy debates have always been entangled with domestic politics, and what the polarized fights of the founding era reveal about the true norm of American political life. Which forces have consistently pulled the United States outward, producing an oscillation between intervention and retrenchment. Why the era of American imperialism following the Spanish-American War, including the humanitarian motives behind U.S. intervention in Cuba, is among the most misunderstood chapters of U.S. history Why Americans tend to enter wars with enthusiasm only to sour on them afterward. Whether the United States is forgetting the lessons of the postwar order. What the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence should teach Americans about the fragility of liberal democracy. Mentioned on the Episode: Robert Kagan, Dangerous Nation: America’s Place in the World From Its Earliest Days to the Dawn of the Twentieth Century, Knopf Robert Kagan, The Ghost at the Feast: America and the Collapse of World Order, 1900–1941, Knopf Robert Kagan, The Jungle Grows Back: America and Our Imperiled World, Knopf Walter Lippmann, U.S. Foreign Policy: Shield of the Republic, Little, Brown Norman Angell, The Great Illusion, G.P. Putnam’s Sons Francis Fukuyama, The End of History and the Last Man, Free Press James A. Field Jr., “American Imperialism: The Worst Chapter in Almost Any Book,” American Historical Review “Declaration of Independence,” National Archives George Washington, “Farewell Address,” 1796 For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/presidents-inbox/lessons-from-250-years-of-us-foreign-policy Opinions expressed on The President’s Inbox are solely those of the host or guests, not of CFR, which takes no institutional positions on matters of policy.
Jun 24

Women in Power, With Linda Robinson

This episode unpacks the unique challenges faced by women leaders, their contributions to democracy, and the critical lessons they offer in the fight against authoritarianism. Enter the CFR book giveaway by July 8, 2026, for the chance to win one of ten free copies of Women in Power by Linda Robinson. You can read the terms and conditions of the offer here. Host: James M. Lindsay, Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy, CFR Guest: Linda Robinson, Senior Fellow for Women and Foreign Policy, CFR; Author, Women in Power: Fighting for Democracy in an Age of Authoritarianism We Discuss: Why women's political representation has stalled at roughly 27 percent in the world's legislatures. How right-wing authoritarianism and the normalization of violent misogyny have combined to create ferocious headwinds for women in politics. Whether women govern differently from men, and what the research reveals about their attentiveness to health, education, welfare, and climate issues. Why rolling back women's rights is central to authoritarian and right-wing movements, and why playing the "misogyny card" proves so effective, even among women voters. Why some of the most prominent nationalist movements—in Italy, France, and Germany—are led by women, and how right-leaning figures like Giorgia Meloni complicate the picture. How authoritarian governments use hybrid warfare and gendered disinformation against women leaders, including Chinese campaigns against Taiwan's Tsai Ing-wen and Russian campaigns against Moldova's Maia Sandu. Which common themes emerge among successful women leaders. Which policy reforms could strengthen both democracy and women's political participation. Mentioned on the Episode: Linda Robinson, Women in Power: Fighting for Democracy in an Age of Authoritarianism, Columbia University Press Sanna Marin, Hope in Action: A Memoir About the Courage to Lead, Scribner “Freedom in the World 2026: The Growing Shadow of Autocracy,” Freedom House “Expanding Representation: Reinventing Congress for the 21st Century,” American Academy of Arts and Sciences “TAKE IT DOWN Act (S.146),” U.S. Congress “The Digital Services Act,” European Commission “First Five,” HBO Max For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/presidents-inbox/women-in-power Opinions expressed on The President’s Inbox are solely those of the host or guests, not of CFR, which takes no institutional positions on matters of policy.
Jun 17

Ukraine Turns the Tide, With Liana Fix

This episode unpacks whether Ukraine has turned the tide against Russia on the battlefield and assesses the new security relationship between Ukraine and Europe. Host: James M. Lindsay, Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy, CFR Guest: Liana Fix, Senior Fellow for Europe, CFR We Discuss: The state of the battlefield in Ukraine after four and a half years of war. How Ukraine’s drone strategy has evolved from frontline attacks to strikes deep inside Russia. Why Russia has failed to achieve its goals on the battlefield and at the negotiating table. Growing frustration among the Russian elite and what it signals about Putin's position. What U.S. intelligence sharing still provides Ukraine and why direct military aid has effectively ended. How European countries have filled the military support gap left by the United States. Whether European support for Ukraine is politically sustainable. What escalation options Putin has left. Mentioned on the Episode: Jack Watling, "Ukraine Turns the Tide," Foreign Affairs Sauli Niinistö, "Safer Together: Strengthening Europe's Civilian and Military Preparedness and Readiness," European Commission For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/presidents-inbox/ukraine-turns-the-tide Opinions expressed on The President’s Inbox are solely those of the host or guests, not of CFR, which takes no institutional positions on matters of policy.

See All (102)

James M Lindsay

Host
Robert Nicholas Burns

Guest
Rush Doshi

Guest
Christy Goldsmith Romero

Guest
Michael Mandelbaum

Guest
H.W. Brands

Guest
Elliott Abrams

Guest
Thomas Graham

Guest
Mina Al-Oraibi

Guest
Kristi Govella

Guest

4.4

out of 5

714 Ratings

Great Podcast - one concern.

12/26/2025

1855LGC

This is my go-to podcast to understand what is going on in the world and how it affects the United States. Jim is a knowledgeable veteran of foreign relations and asks the right questions. I was, however, dismayed to hear Carla Ann Robbins on the latest episode. She doesn’t seem to have any particular expertise except for a visceral hatred of Donald Trump and Republicans in general that informs all of her opinions. She killed The World Next Week. Don’t let her bring down the President’s Inbox.
The logic of Bill Brands

Apr 23

Len Bussanich

For Bill Brands to argue that the US historically is not an imperial power is absurd and disingenuous. And he actually argues that US imperialism in the Philippines was actually less severe than other imperialisms? How brutal does a military campaign have to become, like the one the US waged against the Philippine resistance, before we condemn it as inhumane and barbaric? According to Bill Brands logic, US imperialism is also US exceptionalism.
Poor man Graham

Apr 9

WilderLander

Thomas Graham must not understand finance. Iran comes out stronger financially from this conflict, enhancing Russia’s position geopolitically. Like many things Trump there was no consultation, but a Russian ally beating the USA strengthens Russia, not “at their expense,” either. The administration has taken the Russian interest into account and acted accordingly.
I Love It

Mar 26

RJG179

I am a longtime listener and enjoy this podcast above most others. Dr. Lindsey is the sole reason why; his rigor and sober approach are very much appreciated. When Dr. Lindsay left The World Next Week, that podcast suffered tremendously and soon thereafter failed. I wish that we could have kept him on both podcasts, but I do sincerely hope that we get to enjoy the President’s Inbox with Dr. Lindsay for a long time to come. I do miss hearing from Shannon K. O’Neil, if you take requests.