Hudson Institute Events Podcast

As the security situation in Afghanistan deteriorates, the Trump administration should reassess America’s approach to the country and US strategic posture in the region. At Hudson, General Jack Keane (Ret.) will deliver a keynote address. Then a panel of experts will discuss the future of Afghanistan and US interests in South and Central Asia.

Join Senior Fellow Michael Doran, director of Hudson’s Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East, for an event with Bernard Haykel, a new Hudson senior fellow and a leading authority on Saudi Arabia’s political, societal, and religious landscape.They will discuss Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s vision for the kingdom, including his ambitious social and economic reforms. The event will also address the evolving geopolitical landscape of the Gulf region, the persistent challenge Iran poses, and China’s growing strategic presence in the Middle East.

On a near-daily basis, Chinese forces encircle Taiwan, interfere with Philippine fishing and shipping, and intrude on Japan’s territory. China’s leaders regularly threaten these United States allies with further escalation—including invasion—if they do not yield to Beijing’s demands. Fortunately, the new administration has made protecting US allies from China its top defense priority.But to do so while also seeking to rein in defense spending, the US will need to use emerging technologies and tactics that include uncrewed systems, new munitions, and cyber and electronic warfare. This will require the Department of the Navy to move away from traditional ways of fighting and embrace the approaches on display in Ukraine and the Middle East.Hudson Institute released a series of reports during the last year detailing how the US Navy and Marine Corps can regain the advantage against China. At Sea Air Space 2025, Senior Fellows Bryan Clark and Timothy A. Walton will discuss their findings with a panel of government and industry experts tasked with implementing these ideas.

In his new book On Democracies and Death Cults: Israel and the Future of Civilization, journalist Douglas Murray examines the historical and ideological motivations that underpin the latest global wave of antisemitic violence. Using accounts of both survivors and perpetrators of the October 7 massacre, he pieces together the true story of those atrocities and their aftermath. He draws a clear distinction between Israel’s commitment to individual rights and democracy and Hamas’s glorification of death over life. In doing so, Murray demonstrates how misplaced Western sympathy for terror groups could undermine the liberal values these activists claim to support.Murray will join Hudson Senior Fellow Dr. Rebeccah L. Heinrichs for a discussion on his conversations in the Middle East, the aftermath of the October 7 massacre, and the historical and moral dimensions of the ongoing conflict between Israel and the terrorists who seek to destroy it.

Stephen Miran, the Chairman of President Trump’s Council of Economic Advisers, discusses crucial aspects of the administration's economic agenda. He dives into the role of the U.S. dollar as a global reserve currency and its implications for trade dynamics. Miran addresses America's economic strategies for managing national debt, interest rates, and the impact of regulatory challenges on inflation. He also critiques China's economic vulnerabilities while emphasizing the importance of overcoming the skilled labor shortage in U.S. manufacturing.

Join Hudson for a discussion on European Union and United Kingdom competition and regulatory authorities’ increasing focus on digital platforms. Topics will include:The features of digital platforms that have attracted competition law and regulatory scrutinyReform initiatives including the UK Digital Markets Unit, and European Commission’s Digital Markets Act, and antitrust probes into big techEmerging challenges for defining and regulating digital platformsPolicy interventions relating to digital platforms outside of mainstream competition law

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum faces a formidable set of challenges with enormous stakes for the country. New American tariffs signal a turning point in supply chain integration with the United States and will disrupt Mexico’s most productive economic sectors. And although Sheinbaum has taken a stronger approach to organized crime by extraditing cartel leaders, increasing arrests, and seizing more fentanyl, the recent discovery of a mass grave of cartel victims underscores the country’s rule-of-law crisis.Join Hudson Institute for a panel discussion examining the potential scenarios for Mexico and the future of the US-Mexico relationship.

The Horn of Africa is one of the world’s most sensitive and strategic regions. It overlooks vital shipping lanes that connect Asia and Europe, shares a maritime border with the Middle East, and has thousands of miles of Indian Ocean coastline. The region is also home to Africa’s second most populous country, Ethiopia; one of the continent’s most important ports, Djibouti; and Chinese, American, and other military bases. But the Horn’s deep political tensions and history of conflict make it difficult to engage in effective diplomacy. Hudson Institute, in collaboration with the Israel-Africa Institute, is conducting a series of webinars analyzing this important region, especially the role that outside actors play.In this episode, experts discuss what regional powers such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Türkiye, and Qatar are doing in the Horn, their strategies and motivations, and the impact they might have on the region.

Join Hudson’s Mario Mancuso, William Chou, and Thomas Duesterberg for a discussion about the Trump administration’s recently announced America First Investment Policy. The event will explore the new policy through the lens of strategic competition between the United States and China, US alliance politics, and broader political economy considerations.

The Horn of Africa is one of the world’s most sensitive and strategic regions. It overlooks vital shipping lanes that connect Asia and Europe, shares a maritime border with the Middle East, and has thousands of miles of Indian Ocean coastline. The region is also home to Africa’s second most populous country, Ethiopia; one of the continent’s most important ports, Djibouti; and Chinese, American, and other military bases. But the Horn’s deep political tensions and history of conflict make it difficult to engage in effective diplomacy. Hudson Institute, in collaboration with the Israel-Africa Institute, is conducting a series of webinars analyzing this important region, especially the role that outside actors play.In this episode, experts discuss what large powers such as the United States, China, and Russia are doing in the Horn, their strategies and motivations, and the impact they might have on the region.