Deep Dish on Global Affairs

Starvation is spreading in Gaza—not because of a lack of aid, but because humanitarian access is being blocked. Former UN World Food Programme Executive Director and Council Distinguished Fellow Ertharin Cousin joins Deep Dish to analyze how the crisis is fueling a broader diplomatic reckoning, with more nations moving toward recognition of a Palestinian state.     Related: Americans Grow More Divided on US Support for Israel, Chicago Council on Global Affairs, May 15, 2025

The US and China are locked in a high-stakes race to dominate AI and the chips that power it. As the Trump administration lifts export controls and sets tech priorities, Beijing is doubling down on its AI ambitions while hosting top EU leaders. Nikita Lalwani, former White House director for technology and national security, breaks down what this means for global power.  Reading List: A Playbook for Industrial Policy: What Washington Can Learn From CHIPS, Foreign Affairs, May 22, 2025 How America Can Stay Ahead of China in the AI Race: The Case for Export Control Diplomacy, Foreign Affairs, April 15, 2025

With President Trump’s increasing tariff threats and growing talks of dedollarization, how much power does the BRICS bloc really hold? Lord Jim O’Neill, who originally coined the term BRICS, joins Deep Dish to unpack its rise and global relevance amid deepening geopolitical rivalries.  

The pandemic cracked the foundation of the global system—and things haven’t exactly settled. With wars, rising tensions, and global rivalries heating up, former Biden officials Colin Kahl and Tom Wright join Deep Dish to unpack how US strategy is shifting—and where it’s headed next.

Vali Nasr, a Professor at Johns Hopkins and author of 'Iran's Grand Strategy,' teams up with Suzanne Maloney, VP at the Brookings Institution, to delve into the ongoing tensions between Iran and Israel. They discuss the fragile ceasefire and what it means for regional stability, the intricacies of Iran's nuclear ambitions, and the evolving role of the U.S. in Middle Eastern diplomacy. The conversation highlights Gulf states' responses, shares insights on public sentiment around military versus diplomatic strategies, and ponders the broader implications of Iran's nuclear pursuits.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping is in his third five-year term as the nation's president, putting him on track to stay in power for life at a time of severe economic challenges and rising tensions with the US. Nonresident senior fellow Paul Heer joins Deep Dish to argue the importance of engagement with China as a necessary component of US foreign policy. If we do not pursue it, he says, we are missing opportunities for a more peaceful coexistence between both countries and the world.   This episode originally aired on August 4, 2022.    Reading List:  The Next Taiwan Strait Crisis Has Arrived, Paul Heer, The National Interest, August 2, 2022   Engagement With China Has Not Failed, Paul Heer, The National Interest, July 14, 2022   Understanding U.S.-China Strategic Competition, Paul Heer, The National Interest, October 20, 2020 

Dive into the world of lasting change with Deep Dish! Join host Brian Hanson and author Sascha Haselmayer in a captivating exploration of 'The Slow Lane.' We’ll uncover the secrets behind why instant solutions often miss the mark, and how embracing patience and strategic thinking can pave the way for sustainable transformation to address global challenges. Reading List  The Slow Lane: Why Quick Fixes Fail and How to Achieve Real Change, Sascha Haselmayer & Anne-Marie Slaughter, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, July 18, 2023 

This podcast explores the rise of hostage-taking and hostage diplomacy, discussing the shift in methods and the emergence of autocratic states practicing it. It also delves into the measures taken in response to hostage situations, the UN Convention Against the Taking of Hostages, US policy on concessions to terrorists, and the motivations, patterns, and solutions related to hostage diplomacy.

Deep Dish explores how America’s hyper partisan politics are impacting foreign policy actions. Author Jordan Tama shares revelations from his new book, while the Council’s Dina Smeltz unveils fresh survey data to expose how partisanship plays out in US foreign policy.  Reading List:  Bipartisanship and US Foreign Policy: Cooperation in a Polarized Age, Jordan Tama, Oxford University Press, September 1, 2023  Public Opinion Survey Reports, Chicago Council on Global Affairs

Experts discuss the idea of an Asian NATO as a counterbalance to China's influence in the Asia-Pacific region. The podcast explores the purpose of the Quad in countering China's power, the challenges of implementing an economic Article 5, the risks of a defense pact in Asia, and the potential gains and losses of an Asian NATO.