Alternate Shots with Richard Haass and John Ellis
Richard Haass and John Ellis
The idea of the podcast is this: We talk about “three things” that are interesting, important or both. The third thing will be about something from the world of sports.Richard is a veteran diplomat (he served in the Carter, Reagan, G.H.W. Bush and G.W. Bush administrations). He was president of the Council on Foreign Relations for two decades (he’s now president emeritus). He’s a Senior Counselor at Center|View Partners, a prominent New York City-based investment banking firm. He also distributes a weekly newsletter — Home and Away — on Friday mornings. Home and Away addresses matters domestic and foreign. John is the founder and editor of News Items, a daily newsletter that covers global politics, financial news, advanced technologies and science. He has been in and around the news business for virtually all of his adult life, working for NBC News (as a political analyst), The Boston Globe (as a columnist), CNBC, Fox News, and Newscorp. In 2016, he launched News Items as a morning brief for executives and editors at Fox and Newscorp. In 2018, News Items became The Wall Street Journal CEO Council's morning newsletter. He restarted News Items as an independent newsletter in August of 2019.
Episodes
Mentioned books
13 snips
Oct 7, 2025 • 29min
Episode Five
A tense discussion unfolds around the Middle East, with hopes for a hostage-ceasing deal in Gaza. The political landscape in Israel raises questions about Netanyahu’s future amid rising right-wing politics in Europe. Attention turns to the potential dangers of AI-generated videos, which threaten to distort political trust. The conversation dives into the waning credibility of news media and reflects on the current U.S. government shutdown. Meanwhile, there's a bittersweet nod to the trials of being a New York sports fan.
Sep 25, 2025 • 36min
Episode Four
In this episode, Richard and John dive into Trump's unconventional speech at the UN, highlighting the global reactions. They analyze the shifting stance on Ukraine and explore the implications for U.S. foreign policy. The discussion turns to H-1B visas and how changes may affect talent competition, especially concerning China. They also assess the gloomy American electorate and Trump's ongoing influence within the GOP. On a lighter note, they touch on Daniel Jones' impressive performance with the Colts and expectations for the Ryder Cup.
Sep 16, 2025 • 32min
Episode Three
In Episode #3 of "Alternate Shots", John and Richard discuss five "stories" much in the news of late: (1) the active/passive Trump presidency, (2) the local election results from Rhine-Westphalia, Germany's largest state, (3) The murder of Charlie Kirk and the globalization of MAGA politics, (4) Charlie Kirk and the "youth vote" in the 2024 election, and (5) RFK Jr. vs. Big Pharma. John thinks and Richard suspects that Big Pharma will emerge victorious. Finally, Richard finds a silver lining (or two) in Sunday's crushing defeat of the New York Giants by the Dallas Cowboys.
Sep 4, 2025 • 26min
Episode Two
The discussion kicks off with a provocative essay suggesting a Palestinian state could enhance Israel's position. Geopolitical tensions unfold as Xi hosts an anti-American summit, revealing cracks in U.S.-India relations. The legal arena heats up with a ruling on Google's antitrust case, raising questions about the political influence on tech giants. In sports, skepticism about the New York Giants' NFL prospects contrasts with optimism for draft strategy, while the Ryder Cup rivalry critiques U.S. golf teamwork ahead of a pivotal tournament.
6 snips
Aug 22, 2025 • 32min
Episode One
The hosts delve into how presidential summits are prepared and critique recent diplomatic missteps. They analyze the complex dynamics of the Trump-Putin meeting and its implications for Ukraine. Political landscape insights reveal the paradox of Trump's popularity despite low approval ratings while questioning the Democratic Party's lack of direction. The discussion even dives into the potential of voice-cloning technology, speculating its impact on future elections and sports commentary. Plus, a lighthearted take on Jordan Spieth's Ryder Cup prospects adds a fun twist!
