The Long Game with Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer

Vox Media Podcast Network
  • 4.7 (343)
  • News Commentary
  • Updated Weekly

The Long Game is a weekly national security podcast hosted by Jake Sullivan, President Biden’s National Security Advisor, and Jon Finer, his Principal Deputy—senior aides who sat in on the classified Presidential Daily Brief each morning and translated raw intelligence into policy advice. Each week, Jake and Jon will pull back the curtain on how power really works helping you make sense of the national security stories unfolding today. Part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

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  1. 3d ago

    Trump’s Election Playbook, Explained by Jocelyn Benson

    Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson joins Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer to discuss the security of the 2026 midterm elections — just a day before President Trump’s primetime Thursday address, expected to focus in part on “election integrity.” They discuss Trump’s claims about noncitizen voting, the SAVE Act, efforts to access state voter rolls, the dismantling of federal election security infrastructure, and whether federal agents could be deployed to polling places. Then Jake and Jon debate whether Russia might escalate against NATO as Ukraine gains ground — and what that would mean for the alliance. For subscribers to the Long Game+ on Apple: Jake and Jon break down the latest on Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, including the unraveling ceasefire and Trump’s decision to reimpose a blockade of Iranian exports. Subscribe to The Long Game on Substack for access to video versions of exclusive podcast segments, transcripts, and more. Follow The Long Game so you never miss an episode. New episodes drop weekly. Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. Email Jake and Jon at longgame@voxmedia.com. The Long Game is produced by the Vox Media Podcast Network. Photo credit:  Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    Trump’s Election Playbook, Explained by Jocelyn Benson

  2. 5d ago ·  Bonus • The Long Game+ Only

    Trump’s new ‘Fairness Fee’ in the Strait of Hormuz

    The fragile U.S.–Iran ceasefire appears to be collapsing — and the Strait of Hormuz is back at the center of the crisis. In this special subscriber-only segment, Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer break down the latest developments: renewed U.S.–Iran tension, President Trump’s proposed “fairness fee” on cargo moving through the Strait, Iran’s claim of control over key shipping routes, and whether the U.S. can still shape the outcome. They also assess the bigger questions: Did the U.S. and Iran ever agree on what the deal actually meant? Who can better withstand the economic and political pressure? And will Gulf countries and global companies start working around Washington — and around the Strait itself? Thanks for subscribing to The Long Game. Send us your questions and comments to longgame@voxmedia.com. If you’re not yet a paid subscriber, consider upgrading to the Long Game+ for exclusive access to exclusive subscriber-only segments. Photo credit: July 10, 2026 (Photo by AFP via Getty Images)

    Trump’s new ‘Fairness Fee’ in the Strait of Hormuz

  3. Jul 9

    Heather Cox Richardson on Democracy, Alliances, and America's Future

    Historian and author of the “Letters From An American” newsletter Heather Cox Richardson joined Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer to discuss the historical roots of today's political moment, the relationship between American democracy and U.S. global leadership, the future of the international order, and what a new foreign policy for the 21st century could look like. Follow The Long Game so you never miss an episode. New episodes drop weekly. For exclusive podcast segments, become a member of the Long Game on Substack or Apple.  Show notes are available here. Transcript here. Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. Email Jake and Jon at longgame@voxmedia.com. The Long Game is produced by the Vox Media Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    Heather Cox Richardson on Democracy, Alliances, and America's Future

  4. Jul 1

    America at 250: A Net Assessment (w/ Robert Kagan)

    As the United States approaches its 250th birthday, how should Americans assess the country's strength, its democracy, and its role in the world? Recorded live at the Aspen Ideas Festival, Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer are joined by historian and foreign policy scholar Robert Kagan for a wide-ranging conversation on America's future. Drawing on four decades of writing about American power and the international order, Kagan argues that the United States is living through two historic shifts at once: a renewed struggle over American identity at home and a retreat from the global leadership that defined the post-World War II era. Topics covered: Whether the United States is entering a genuinely multipolar world The future of NATO, Europe, China, and Taiwan Democratic backsliding and the resilience of American institutions What America's role in the world should look like over the next quarter century Jake and Jon also challenge Kagan on Iraq, Iran, the use of American power abroad, and whether the United States can rebuild trust with its allies after the Trump era. Follow The Long Game so you never miss an episode. New episodes drop weekly. For exclusive podcast segments, become a member of the Long Game on Substack or Apple.  Show notes are available here. Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. Transcript here. Email Jake and Jon at longgame@voxmedia.com. The Long Game is produced by the Vox Media Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    America at 250: A Net Assessment (w/ Robert Kagan)

  5. Jul 1 ·  Bonus • The Long Game+ Only

    The Most Overrated President in History, According to Robert Kagan

    This week, paid subscribers get a bonus conversation featuring a lightning round with historian Robert Kagan. Following their net assessment of America at 250, recorded live at the Aspen Ideas Festival, Jake and Jon shift gears with a series of rapid-fire questions, revealing a more personal side of one of America's leading foreign policy thinkers through his takes on history, books, baseball, presidents, and more. New episodes drop weekly — follow The Long Game on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts: https://pod.link/1850526014 Subscribe to The Long Game on Substack for exclusive transcripts, and more. Watch episodes of The Long Game on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@podlonggame Follow The Long Game on socials: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/podlonggame TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podlonggame

    The Most Overrated President in History, According to Robert Kagan

  6. Jun 24

    Timothy Snyder on Iran, Ukraine, and the Future of Freedom

    Historian and “On Tyranny” author Timothy Snyder joins Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer to discuss the Iran war and ceasefire negotiations, the state of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, how Ukraine has transformed drone warfare, what these wars reveal about the limits of American military power, and what a positive vision of freedom looks like for the United States as it approaches its 250th anniversary.  Follow The Long Game so you never miss an episode. New episodes drop weekly. Show notes are available here. Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. Transcript here. Email Jake and Jon at longgame@voxmedia.com. The Long Game is produced by the Vox Media Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  7. Jun 19 ·  Bonus • The Long Game+ Only

    Lavrov's Taunt That Closed the 2015 Iran Deal

    This week, paid subscribers get a bonus conversation in which Jake and Jon share behind-the-scenes stories from their own negotiations with Iranian officials during the Obama administration, including late-night bargaining sessions in Vienna, secret talks in Oman, and some of the unexpected moments that helped shape the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. This content is exclusively for paying subscribers. Thank you for supporting our work. Email Jake and Jon at longgame@voxmedia.com. The Long Game is produced by the Vox Media Podcast Network.

    Lavrov's Taunt That Closed the 2015 Iran Deal

  8. Jun 18

    Did America Lose the Iran War? (w/ Ambassador Wendy Sherman)

    President Trump says the war with Iran is over. But what exactly did the United States agree to? Ambassador Wendy Sherman, the lead U.S. negotiator of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, joins Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer to assess the new U.S.-Iran agreement and explain why she believes it gives Tehran significant concessions while securing few meaningful nuclear constraints in return. Topics covered: Whether the United States or Iran emerged with greater leverage from the war The future of Iran's nuclear program and its economic windfall through sanctions relief and Strait of Hormuz fees What the deal means for Israel, the Gulf states, and the broader Middle East Why diplomacy requires expertise, patience, and direct engagement with adversaries Jake and Jon also discuss whether Congress will review the agreement, what it could mean for Russia and global energy markets, and other stories they're watching in the weeks ahead. For transcripts, exclusive podcast segments, and more, subscribe to The Long Game on Substack.  On  Apple Podcasts, subscribe to The Long Game+ for exclusive audio. This week, paid subscribers get access to an exclusive segment in which Jake and Jon share behind-the-scenes stories from their own negotiations with Iranian officials during the Obama administration, including late-night bargaining sessions in Vienna, secret talks in Oman, and some of the unexpected moments that helped shape the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. Follow The Long Game so you never miss an episode. New episodes drop weekly. Show notes are available here. Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. Transcript here. Email Jake and Jon at longgame@voxmedia.com. The Long Game is produced by the Vox Media Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    Did America Lose the Iran War? (w/ Ambassador Wendy Sherman)
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The Long Game is a weekly national security podcast hosted by Jake Sullivan, President Biden’s National Security Advisor, and Jon Finer, his Principal Deputy—senior aides who sat in on the classified Presidential Daily Brief each morning and translated raw intelligence into policy advice. Each week, Jake and Jon will pull back the curtain on how power really works helping you make sense of the national security stories unfolding today. Part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

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