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
Dec 4, 2025 • 31min
Can the U.S. Keep Its Edge on the Battlefield?
Defense is evolving fast—AI, drones, cyber threats, and autonomous weapons. The U.S. has led for decades, but China is closing in. Former Deputy Secretary of Defense Kath Hicks breaks down how the Pentagon is adapting, where it's falling behind, and what's at stake.
Nov 25, 2025 • 28min
Can a Ceasefire Stop Sudan's Crisis?
Sudan is now the world's largest humanitarian crisis—bigger than Gaza and Ukraine combined—yet it remains one of the least covered and least funded. Martin Griffiths, former UN Under‑Secretary‑General for Humanitarian Affairs, explains why a ceasefire has remained out of reach and whether global pressure can still make a difference.
Nov 20, 2025 • 21min
Inside Trump's National Security Playbook
President Trump's second-term national security strategy is coming, and it could reshape U.S. foreign policy from China to Europe to the Middle East. Nadia Schadlow, former Deputy National Security Advisor and architect of Trump's original Strategy, breaks down what's changed, what's stayed the same, and what it all means for allies and rivals under Trump 2.0.
Nov 13, 2025 • 22min
Are Changing Demographics the Next Global Power Shift?
East Asia's biggest powers are getting older — and smaller. China, Japan, and South Korea are seeing shrinking workforces and aging populations, with fewer young people to fill their armies or their factories. Andrew Oros, author of Asia's Aging Security, and public opinion expert Craig Kafura discuss how population decline is changing East Asia and whether technology could help fill the gap.
Nov 6, 2025 • 25min
The Arctic Is Heating Up. So Is the Competition to Control It
Kenneth Rosen, a journalist and Arctic geopolitics author, and Anna Wieslander, Director for Northern Europe at the Atlantic Council, dive into the urgent geopolitical shifts caused by climate change in the Arctic. They discuss how melting ice is opening new shipping routes and resource access, sparking competition among Russia, China, and NATO. The breakdown of Arctic collaboration post-2014 and the implications for US and Canadian security efforts are highlights, alongside insights into the challenges of Arctic governance and cooperation.
Oct 30, 2025 • 24min
Trump—Canada's Friend or Foe?
Tensions between Canada and the US are back in the headlines after new tariffs followed a controversial Ottawa ad. Experts Roland Paris and Robert Howse break down how Canada's new Prime Minister, Mark Carney, is navigating this turbulent moment and what it means for Canada's economy, identity, and role on the world stage.
Oct 23, 2025 • 28min
What's Behind Trump's Venezuela Shift?
After months of diplomatic outreach, President Trump has abruptly shifted course on Venezuela—from covert CIA operations and expanded military activity in the Caribbean, to publicly backing Venezuela's opposition leader. Is this a crackdown on drugs and migration, or part of a broader strategy reshaping US policy in South America? Economist Francisco Rodríguez explains the political, economic, and human stakes of Washington's evolving approach.
10 snips
Oct 16, 2025 • 27min
Inside China's Global Ambitions
Evan Medeiros, a professor at Georgetown University and former senior director for Asia on the U.S. National Security Council, dives into China's ambitions under Xi Jinping. He discusses China's goal to reshape global norms and challenges to the liberal order. Medeiros critiques U.S. policies across administrations and emphasizes the need for intense diplomacy to avoid miscalculations. He also highlights China’s alliances and the importance of rebuilding partnerships, particularly with India, while navigating the complexities of global influence.
Oct 9, 2025 • 39min
Russia's Drones, Europe on Edge
Russian drones are crossing European skies, testing NATO while US focus shifts elsewhere. Charles Kupchan and Constanze Stelzenmüller unpack Russia's strategy, the risks for Ukraine, and what it means for the future of the transatlantic alliance.
Oct 2, 2025 • 23min
What Trump's Peace Plan Means for Israel and Hamas
Nearly two years after the Hamas attacks, President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu are pushing a 20-point plan to end the Gaza war. Experts Steven Cook and Sanam Vakil say the terms essentially demand Hamas' surrender—so is peace possible, and what does this mean for the future of regional stability and alliances? They join Deep Dish to debate the deal and what it reveals about shifting American power in the Middle East.
