What Happens Next in 6 Minutes

Our speaker is Francisco Rodriguez who is a Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Economic and Policy Research and the author of the recent book The Collapse of Venezuela: Scorched Earth Politics and Economic Decline, 2012-2020.I want to learn from Francisco about the importance of sanctions to explain the catastrophic performance of Venezuela’s economy for the past 20 years. I also want to hear about whether the US should encourage a negotiated settlement between members of the regime and its opposition to create a functioning civil society. Get full access to What Happens Next in 6 Minutes with Larry Bernstein at www.whathappensnextin6minutes.com/subscribe

Our speaker is Amir Avivi who is a retired Israeli Brigadier General and the Chairman of the Israel Defense and Security Forum – ISDF. Amir is the author of a recent book entitled No Retreat: How to Secure Israel for Generations to Come. I want to learn from Amir about why he thinks that Israel should encourage the Palestinians to govern themselves using city states instead of a single state sovereign. In addition, I want to discuss why Amir believes that Israel’s previous negotiating position was flawed and that going forward that Israel should focus foremost seeking borders that can be easily defended with its neighbors and with the Palestinians. Get full access to What Happens Next in 6 Minutes with Larry Bernstein at www.whathappensnextin6minutes.com/subscribe

Our first speaker is Seth Jones who is the president of the Defense and Security Department at the Center for Strategic and International Studies – CSIS. Seth is also the author of a new book entitled The American Edge: The Military Tech Nexus and the Sources of Great Power Dominance. Our second speaker is a very good friend of mine and golf partner David Susser who is the President of HEICO Distribution Group which is a leading company in commercial and defense aviation. Get full access to What Happens Next in 6 Minutes with Larry Bernstein at www.whathappensnextin6minutes.com/subscribe

Our speaker is Abby Pogrebin who is the author of My Jewish Year: 18 Holidays, One Wondering Jew. Abby was previously the President of the Board of Central Synagogue where I am a member. Central’s head rabbi is our friend Angela Buchdahl who has managed Central to be the leading reform synagogue in the world. Get full access to What Happens Next in 6 Minutes with Larry Bernstein at www.whathappensnextin6minutes.com/subscribe

Our speaker is William Howell who is the inaugural Dean of Johns Hopkins School of Government and Policy. This is a new academic division located at the Hopkins Bloomberg Center in DC that plans to develop innovative, evidenced based public policy solutions. William is the co-author with Terry Moe of a new book entitled Trajectory of Power: The Rise of the Strongman Presidency. I want to learn from William about why he opposes the will of a popularly elected president and why he thinks that congress is incapable of controlling expanding presidential power. Get full access to What Happens Next in 6 Minutes with Larry Bernstein at www.whathappensnextin6minutes.com/subscribe

Rory MacFarquhar, a former member of the Obama National Security Council, and Emma Ashford, a senior fellow at the Stimson Center, dive into Trump’s unique approach to foreign policy. They discuss the surprising omissions in the new 2025 National Security Strategy and how it shapes U.S. policy priorities. Rory analyzes the complexities of U.S.-China economic ties and Taiwan's defense challenges. Emma emphasizes the need for realism in this multipolar world, cautioning against overextension while highlighting regional influences and appropriate military engagement.

Our speaker is Roger Moorhouse who is the author of a new book entitled Wolfpack: Inside Hitler’s U-Boat War. I want to hear from Roger about the relative importance of convoys, radar, and breaking the Nazis codes to the allied victory in the Battle of the Atlantic. Our second speaker will be the What Happens Next Culture Critic Darren Schwartz. We are going to discuss World War 2 U-Boat movies including Das Boot and the recent Tom Hanks film Greyhound. Get full access to What Happens Next in 6 Minutes with Larry Bernstein at www.whathappensnextin6minutes.com/subscribe

Our speaker is William Easterly who is a Professor of Economics at NYU and the author of a new book entitled Violent Saviors: The West’s Conquest of the Rest. I want to hear from Bill about whether foreign aid has been a source for good in the developing world.  I also want to understand the role of experts and whether the World Bank’s programs has been successful. Get full access to What Happens Next in 6 Minutes with Larry Bernstein at www.whathappensnextin6minutes.com/subscribe

Richard Breitman, an Emeritus Professor of History and author of Calculated Restraint, dives into the complex decisions faced by Allied leaders during the Holocaust. He discusses whether bombing rail lines to concentration camps could have made a difference and reflects on the silence of the U.S. and British governments at crucial moments. Breitman examines the role of local collaborators, the limits of wartime strategy versus morality, and the impact of delayed warnings, revealing the tragic nuances of history that may have changed lives.

Nicolas Veron, a Senior Fellow at Bruegel and the Peterson Institute, offers deep insights on the resilience of the European Union amidst challenges like the banking crisis, Brexit, and the war in Ukraine. He discusses the mixed impact of Brexit, revealing how it unexpectedly strengthened EU cohesion. Veron critically examines the EU’s democratic processes and explores the tension between European and national identities. He concludes with an optimistic view on EU durability, emphasizing a dual embrace of national and European identities among citizens.