Deep Dish on Global Affairs
The Chicago Council on Global Affairs
Deep Dish on Global Affairs helps you make sense of our rapidly changing world. Join host Leslie Vinjamuri, President and CEO of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, as she speaks with thought leaders, journalists, and experts shaping foreign policy and global events. Together, they go beyond the headlines, explaining how events unfolded, why they matter, and what to watch for. Can global trade survive the shock of Trump's tariffs? What's behind the global race for AI dominance? New episodes every Thursday.
Learn more at https://globalaffairs.org/deep-dish
Learn more at https://globalaffairs.org/deep-dish
Episodes
Mentioned books
Sep 17, 2026 • 22min
'The Old World Is Dying.' What Comes Next?
What happens when countries can no longer take the old international order for granted? Ishaan Tharoor of the Council on Foreign Relations and The New Yorker joins Leslie Vinjamuri to discuss how US allies and middle powers are adapting, what Canada's changing relationship with the US could signal, and whether there's any going back to the way things were.
Sep 10, 2026 • 20min
Can the US and China Avoid the Mistakes of 1914?
The US and China have plenty of reasons to avoid a war, but international relations historian Odd Arne Westad says the years before World War I show how quickly tensions between great powers can escalate. Westad joins Leslie Vinjamuri to discuss what could trigger a wider conflict, why economic ties may not be enough to prevent it, and what today's leaders can learn from the mistakes of the past.
Aug 20, 2026 • 21min
Humanitarian Needs Are Growing. Can the World Keep Up?
Tjada McKenna, CEO of Mercy Corps (soon Prosper Global), leads one of the largest NGOs working in conflict and fragile settings. She discusses the scale of rising humanitarian need and major donor shortfalls. New donors and private capital are explored but seen as limited. The conversation covers sustaining aid amid protracted conflicts and why the humanitarian system must adapt.
Aug 13, 2026 • 21min
The War in Afghanistan Is Over. Or Is It?
Ryan Crocker, a career U.S. diplomat and former ambassador to Afghanistan and Pakistan, reflects on America's longest war. He discusses how the conflict predates 9/11 and still matters. He questions whether withdrawal was ever justified and argues the pullout altered U.S. credibility and regional dynamics. He explores whether a small continued presence might have changed outcomes.
Aug 6, 2026 • 24min
When The Global Economy Becomes a 'Weapon'
Edward Fishman, director at the Maurice R. Greenberg Center and geoeconomics expert, unpacks how strategic chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz and the US dollar shape global power. He contrasts comparative advantage with strategic vulnerabilities. He traces the rise of financial coercion and highlights pivotal moments that rewrote economic statecraft. He discusses why allied coordination matters in a fragmented economy.
Jul 30, 2026 • 26min
Can Britain Grow Again?
Gillian Tett, Financial Times columnist and provost of King’s College, Cambridge, offers a sharp take on Britain’s economic and geopolitical crossroads. She discusses political fragmentation and stagnation. She outlines growth priorities like attracting talent, market reforms, and science funding. She weighs Europe and U.S. relations, and the role of AI, universities, and scale-up finance in reviving Britain.
Jul 23, 2026 • 28min
What Winning the AI Race Really Means
Anne Neuberger, former Deputy National Security Advisor and AI/cybersecurity leader now at Andreessen Horowitz. She talks about how AI reshapes national security and warfare. She explores AI-driven influence ops and deepfakes. She covers AI’s role in cyber offense and defense and what true tech leadership versus mere chip dominance looks like.
Jul 16, 2026 • 27min
What a Road Trip Across America Reveals About the Country Today
As America marks its 250th anniversary, The Economist's John Prideaux retraces Alexis de Tocqueville's famous journey across the United States to see what has changed over the past two centuries. Starting from the East Coast then across and down the entire country, he joins Leslie Vinjamuri to discuss what those conversations reveal about the state of American democracy today.
Jul 9, 2026 • 24min
NATO's Most Complicated Member: Turkey
Aslı Aydıntaşbaş, director of the Turkey Project at Brookings and Turkey specialist. She breaks down Erdoğan’s summit strategy and aims for validation and defense deals. She explains Turkey’s juggling of Russia and the West. She outlines Ankara’s neutral stance on Iran and its regional middle-power ambitions.
Jul 2, 2026 • 21min
Can America Still Lead at 250 — Or Is the World Moving On?
Mark Urban, journalist and military historian who analyzes military trends and geopolitics, explores America's shifting global role at 250. He discusses whether U.S. decline is inevitable. He examines defense production shortfalls, alliance reliance, NATO credibility, and how Europe and the UK view cooperation on China and Middle East actions.
