Great Power Podcast

In this episode of GREAT POWER PODCAST, host Michael Sobolik chats with Mike Mazza of the American Enterprise Institute about America's China policy, what "responsible competition" actually looks like, and what it means for hot-button policy issues in Washington and throughout the country. Guest biography Michael Mazza is a nonresident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where he analyzes US defense policy in the Asia-Pacific region, Chinese military modernization, cross–Taiwan Strait relations, Korean Peninsula security, and US interests in Southeast Asia. He is also a senior nonresident fellow at the Global Taiwan Institute (GTI). Mr. Mazza writes regularly for the Global Taiwan Brief, GTI’s biweekly publication. He has contributed to numerous AEI studies on American grand strategy in Asia, US defense strategy in the Asia-Pacific, and Taiwanese defense strategy, and his published work includes opinion pieces in the Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, and Foreign Affairs. He also writes often for the AEIdeas blog. Mr. Mazza has an MA in international relations from the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University and a BA in history from Cornell University. He has lived in China, where he attended the Inter-University Program for Chinese Language Studies at Tsinghua University in Beijing. Resources from the conversation Read Mike's policy paper on U.S.-China competition Read Mike's work at AEI Follow Mike on Twitter (or X, whatever it's called now)

In this week's episode of GREAT POWER PODCAST, host Michael Sobolik interviews Julie Millsap about the last developments in the Chinese Communist Party's genocide of Uyghurs, the Biden administration's reprioritization of the issue, and what it portends for the future of US-China relations. Guest biography Julie Millsap serves as the Government Relations Manager at The Uyghur Human Rights Project. She became publicly involved in Uyghur advocacy in 2020, when she left China after 10 years residing and working in the Inner Mongolia region. She has also been a frequent collaborator with the World Uyghur Congress, Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project, and various other entities working on democracy promotion and human rights. During the course of her advocacy, she has met with government officials in Turkey, the United Kingdom, Lithuania, Canada, Germany, The Czech Republic, and the United States to raise the issues and discuss policy options to address the challenges posed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and needed changes to stop Uyghur genocide. She is fluent in Mandarin and resides in the Washington D.C. area with her family. Resources from the conversation Read Julie's tweet that sparked this interview Read Michael Martina's reporting in Reuters about the State Department's blocking of competitive actions targeting the CCP Read Michael's coverage of the Biden administration's diplomatic sacrifices to secure Secretary Blinken's trip to Beijing Follow Julie on Twitter Follow the Uyghur Human Rights Project on Twitter

In this episode of GREAT POWER PODCAST, host Michael Sobolik interviews Bruce Klingner about North Korea’s nuclear program, recent developments in the U.S.-South Korea alliance, and the outlook for stability in Northeast Asia. Guest biography Bruce Klingner specializes in Korean and Japanese affairs as the Senior Research Fellow for Northeast Asia at The Heritage Foundation’s Asian Studies Center. Klingner’s analysis and writing about North Korea, South Korea and Japan, as well as related issues, are informed by his 20 years of service at the Central Intelligence Agency and the Defense Intelligence Agency. Klingner, who joined Heritage in 2007, has testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. He is a frequent commentator in U.S. and foreign media. His articles and commentary have appeared in major American and foreign publications and he is a regular guest on broadcast and cable news outlets.  From 1996 to 2001, Klingner was CIA’s Deputy Division Chief for Korea, responsible for the analysis of political, military, economic and leadership issues for the president of the United States and other senior U.S. policymakers. In 1993-1994, he was the chief of CIA’s Korea branch, which analyzed military developments during a nuclear crisis with North Korea. Klingner is a distinguished graduate of the National War College, where he received a master’s degree in National Security Strategy in 2002. He also holds a master’s degree in Strategic Intelligence from the Defense Intelligence College and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Middlebury College in Vermont. He is active in Korean martial arts, attaining third-degree black belt in taekwondo and first-degree black belt in hapkido and teuk kong moo sool. Resources from the conversation Watch Bruce’s interview with PBS NewsHour Read Bruce’s analysis of the recent U.S.-South Korea summit Read Bruce’s publication about recent developments in North Korea’s nuclear program Read Bruce’s white paper about challenges in the U.S.-South Korea alliance

In this episode of GREAT POWER PODCAST, host Michael Sobolik speaks with Sarah Isgur about the legal issues surrounding a possible TikTok ban, how different bills on Capitol Hill address these realities, and the merits of TikTok's possible legal objections. Guest biography Sarah Isgur is a senior editor of The Dispatch and host of the Advisory Opinions podcast. With experience on three presidential campaigns and all three branches, she knows how decisions in Washington get made., and former spokesperson in the United States Department of Justice. Isgur was campaign manager for the Carly Fiorina 2016 presidential campaign. She also worked for the 2012 Mitt Romney presidential campaign. In 2016, she was a fellow at the Harvard Institute of Politics. Resources from the conversation Read the Politico story about the legal challenges of banning TikTok Read Sarah's recent analysis about the politics of banning TikTok Check out Sarah's podcast, Advisory Opinions Read Michael's recent op-ed about the politics of a TikTok ban Read Michael's analysis of political opposition to banning TikTok on the Left and the Right

In this episode of GREAT POWER PODCAST, host Michael Sobolik interviews Rebeccah Heinrichs about the war in Ukraine and Taiwan's future, the limits and lengths of American power, and whether Washington has the strength to help both capitals. Guest Biography Rebeccah L. Heinrichs is a senior fellow at Hudson Institute and the director of its Keystone Defense Initiative. She specializes in US national defense policy with a focus on strategic deterrence. Ms. Heinrichs currently serves as a commissioner on the bipartisan Strategic Posture Commission, which was created in the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act. She also serves on the US Strategic Command Advisory Group and the National Independent Panel on Military Service and Readiness. She is an adjunct professor at the Institute of World Politics where she teaches nuclear deterrence theory and is also a contributing editor of Providence: A Journal of Christianity and American Foreign Policy. Ms. Heinrichs earned her MA in national security and strategic studies from the US Naval War College and graduated with highest distinction from its College of Naval Command and Staff, receiving the Director’s Award for academic excellence. She earned her BA in history and political science from Ashland University in Ohio, was an Ashbrook Scholar, and currently serves as a member of the University's Board of Trustees. She is enrolled at Missouri State University pursuing her doctorate of defense and strategic studies. She lives in Virginia with her husband and their five children. Resources from the conversation ⁠Read⁠ Michael's op-ed about the New Right ⁠Read⁠ Rebeccah's op-ed about American exceptionalism

In this special edition episode of GREAT POWER PODCAST, host Michael Sobolik turns the conversation over to AFPC President Herman Pirchner and AFPC Advisory Board Member Manisha Singh for a discussion on the past year of warfare in Ukraine, what the coming months could look like, and what it means for the United States and global security. Guest biographies Herman Pirchner, Jr. is the founding President of AFPC. Under his leadership, AFPC has hosted Washington events for hundreds of foreign officials ranging from the Prime Minister of Malta to the Prime Minister of Russia; conducted hundreds of briefings for Members of Congress and their staffs and, organized dozens of fact-finding missions abroad for current and former senior American officials. Former Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge, Former Secretary of Defense Don Rumsfeld, Former Speaker of the House of Representatives Newt Gingrich, former Director of Central Intelligence R. James Woolsey, as well as the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dick Myers are among those who have participated in this program. Pirchner’s travels have taken him to most areas of the world, including more than 65 trips to the former Soviet Union since 1989, and more than 30 trips to China since 1994. He is an engaging speaker with a compelling grasp of the dynamics of world affairs. AFPC’s publication program includes sponsorship of articles, monographs, books and Congressional testimony. AFPC authors have appeared in numerous newspapers and magazines including the Washington Post, New York Times, International Herald Tribune, Jane’s Defense Weekly, Washington Times, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, and National Review. In addition to his duties at AFPC, Mr. Pirchner directed the national security team advising the 2012 Presidential campaign of Newt Gingrich. Among his many publications is Pirchner’s very prescient 2004 monograph, Reviving Greater Russia: The Future of Russia’s Borders with Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, and Ukraine. He is also the author of Post Putin: Succession, Stability, and Russia's Future (Rowman and Littlefield, May 2019), which is also available in Ukrainian and Russian editions. Before founding AFPC, Mr. Pirchner served in the U.S. Senate as Director of Legislation for Senator Roger Jepsen (R-IA) and Legislative Assistant to Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA). She is an American attorney and government official who served as Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs in the Trump administration until January 20, 2021. She previously also served as Acting Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment. Previously, Singh worked as a lawyer at Reed Smith and Squire Patton Boggs. She also served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Economic, Energy, and Business Affairs during the Bush administration. Resources from the conversation Read Herman's book, Post Putin Read Herman's Washington Times op-ed about U.S. assistance to Ukraine

In this episode of GREAT POWER PODCAST, host Michael Sobolik chats with Rick Lane about the controversy surrounding TikTok, what it means for national security, and what we should do about it. Guest biography Rick Lane is a tech policy expert, child safety advocate, and the founder and CEO of Iggy Ventures. Iggy advises and invests in companies, projects, and public policy intitiatives that can have a positive social impact. Prior to starting Iggy, Rick served for 15 years as the Senior Vice President of Government Affairs for 21st Century Fox. Until its purchase by Disney, 21st Century Fox was one of the world's premier entertainment companies with a portfolio of cable, broadcast, film, pay TV and satellite assets spanning six continents across the globe. As Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, Rick was responsible for coordinating the development and implementation of the Company’s public policy activities. Resources from the conversation Read Rick’s congressional testimony about TikTok Read Rick’s full biography Read Rick’s 2023 article about TikTok and foreign lobbying Read Rick’s 2020 article about TikTok Read Michael’s latest op-ed about the China spy balloon Support the work of AFPC Subscribe to AFPC’s Indo-Pacific Monitor

In this episode of GREAT POWER PODCAST, host Michael Sobolik caught Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) between votes for a conversation about the Senator's recent trip to Taiwan and Japan, as well as his legislative efforts to counter Beijing's economic coercion and insulate America's supply chain vulnerabilities. Guest Biography Senator Todd Young represents the state of Indiana. He currently serves on the U.S. Senate Committees on Finance; Foreign Relations; Commerce, Science & Transportation; and Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Previously, in the House, he served on the House Armed Services Committee, the House Budget Committee, and most recently the House Ways and Means Committee. Resources from the Conversation Read Sen. Young's interview with Politico about his trip to Taiwan Read Sen. Young's bill, S.4514 - "Countering Economic Coercion Act of 2022" Read reporting on Sen. Young's backroom negotiations to pass the CHIPS and Science Act Read Michael's op-ed in Newsweek about Speaker Pelosi's trip to Taiwan in August 2022 Subscribe to the AFPC Indo-Pacific Monitor Give to AFPC

In this episode of GREAT POWER PODCAST, host Michael Sobolik interviews Josh Kurlantzick about the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) public diplomacy, its malign activities around the world, and what it means for the United States. Guest Biography Joshua Kurlantzick is senior fellow for Southeast Asia at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). He is the author, most recently, of Beijing's Global Media Offensive: China's Uneven Campaign to Influence Asia and the World. Kurlantzick was previously a visiting scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, where he studied Southeast Asian politics and economics and China's relations with Southeast Asia, including Chinese investment, aid, and diplomacy. Previously, he was a fellow at the University of Southern California Center on Public Diplomacy and a fellow at the Pacific Council on International Policy. He is currently focused on China’s relations with Southeast Asia, and China’s approach to soft and sharp power, including state-backed media and information efforts and other components of soft and sharp power. He is also working on issues related to the rise of global populism, populism in Asia, and the impact of COVID-19 on illiberal populism and political freedom overall. Resources from the Conversation Read Josh's new book, Beijing's Global Media Offensive Read Josh's previous book about China's public diplomacy Read reporting from Politico about Beijing's charm offensive Read reporting from The Wall Street Journal about China-Australia relations Subscribe to AFPC's Indo-Pacific Monitor

In this episode of GREAT POWER PODCAST, host Michael Sobolik interviews Matt Pottinger about the Chinese Communist Party's censorship and propaganda, its impact on America, and how the United States can counter it. Guest Biography Matt Pottinger is a distinguished visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution and Chair of the China program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Pottinger served the White House for four years in senior roles on the National Security Council staff, including as deputy national security advisor from 2019 to 2021. In that role, he coordinated the full spectrum of national security policy. He previously served as senior director for Asia, where he led the administration’s work on the Indo-Pacific region, in particular its shift on China policy. Before his White House service, Pottinger spent the late 1990s and early 2000s in China as a reporter for Reuters and the Wall Street Journal. He then fought in Iraq and Afghanistan as a US Marine during three combat deployments between 2007 and 2010. Following active duty, he founded and led an Asia-focused risk consultancy and ran Asia research at an investment fund in New York. Resources from the Conversation Read Matt's latest article in Foreign Affairs with Matthew Johnson and David Feith Read Matt's prior articles and congressional testimony about the Great Firewall of China Subscribe to AFPC's Indo-Pacific Monitor Support the work of AFPC