American Diplomat

American Diplomat goes behind the scenes to hear real stories from diplomats who lived newsworthy events overseas. Experience the Cuban revolution, Central American insurgencies, the end of apartheid and more through the eyes of those who were there. A project of Arizona State University.

Trump 2.0: Is Humiliation the Point? 01/30/2025

Trump 2.0: Is Humiliation the Point? Was Trump’s big showdown with President Petro of Colombia a show of might and power, or was there another reality behind the smoke and mirrors? Pete has a thing or two to say about optics, policy and human lives, from the standpoint of the practice of diplomacy. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/35088520

"America First" Meets the Global Economic Machinery 01/23/2025

"America First" Meets the Global Economic Machinery Ambassador (and ASU professor) Ed O’Donnell offers a close look at the economic impacts of Trump’s foreign policies "Tariff is a beautiful word”, “The Chinese are going to take over the Panama Canal!” and "Drill, baby, drill." What’s the reality beneath the bombast, globally and in American households? /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/34976170

Looking Around the Corner Before It's Too Late 01/17/2025

Looking Around the Corner Before It's Too Late Predictive data help make us aware of conflicts and atrocities we can anticipate. Keith Noble, Director of the Office of Advanced Analytics in State’s Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations, shares his work with State's Academic Centers for Conflict Anticipation and Prevention. How do students, undergraduates and graduates, work with State to inform solid policy? How can a young, passionate, smart person get involved? Go get ‘em, tiger! Uncle Sam needs you. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/34888840

Syria: Money’s Gotta Flow 01/09/2025

Syria: Money’s Gotta Flow Welcome to 2025 from AmDip! Amb. Patrick Theros unpacks Syria for us, from the Halcyon 1970s of mini-skirts and old cars on the streets, to the chaos of the present day. What was the West’s role in Syria’s changes, and what should the US do now? /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/34788570

In Vodka Veritas! Encore! 01/02/2025

In Vodka Veritas! Encore! Ambassador Dick Hoagland, having served many years in Russia and former Soviet republics, has had ample opportunity to consider the high-stakes drinking game of vodka diplomacy. Bottoms up and happy New Year! /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/34696600

2025: A Year of Frenemies? 12/26/2024

2025: A Year of Frenemies? Pete and Laura look back on their favorite episodes of the past year, covering cybercrime, space diplomacy and gangsterism among others. And what's to come in the new administration? Borders north and south, changes in the Middle East, and Ukraine. We expect challenges with adversaries, but more importantly, how will the new administration engage our friends? /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/34599535

Keeping Them Home: The Private Sector Steps Up 12/19/2024

Keeping Them Home: The Private Sector Steps Up Ambassador Luis Arreaga, Senior Advisor at the Partnership for Central America, brings companies such as Meta, Mastercard, Microsoft, together with the World Bank, NGOs and civil society organizations to address one of the root causes of immigration: lack of economic opportunity. The result speak for themselves: 90,000 jobs. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/34503670

Global Agreement: Online Predators Dealt a Setback 12/12/2024

Global Agreement: Online Predators Dealt a Setback Ambassador Deborah McCarthy unpacks the benefits to the global community, particularly the American public, of the recently concluded UN Convention on Cybercrime. The mission: to better protect our children from predators and our data from thieves. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/34412960

Fit for Purpose: Modernization at State 12/05/2024

Fit for Purpose: Modernization at State Got a leak? Call a plumber. Want security and prosperity for you and the family, call a diplomat. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Verma and Ambassador Mike Polt (Arizona State University) speak to gearing up the career Foreign Service to meet intensifying global challenges and explain why talent, experience and expertise matter more than ever. Listen and learn, also, what Little League has to do with diplomacy. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/34300355

Our Friend Hosay and the Value of Immigration 11/28/2024

Our Friend Hosay and the Value of Immigration “I feel wonderful!” Hosay Erfani, who appeared on our show as the Taliban took over (, ), had a harrowing escape from the deadly regime. Now in the US for two years, she is an unbelievable young woman, turning adversity into opportunity, opportunity into success. Here is her tale. Bravo, Hosay! And happy Thanksgiving, all. Cheers! /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/34195020

Disinformation's Sputnik Moment 11/21/2024

Disinformation's Sputnik Moment Nadya Bliss, the executive director of ASU’s Global Security Initiative, helps us understand disinformation from the ground up. What is the algorithmification of information and what are the technological incentives for its distribution? When is AI just fine, when is it a problem, how do we detect it and what should we do? What is the power of diplomats working together with technologists to keep us safe? /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/34078781

Hamas, Hezbollah, Israel and Iran - the Pieces, Together 11/14/2024

Hamas, Hezbollah, Israel and Iran - the Pieces, Together We all recognize the intractability and tragedy of the Arab/Israeli conflict but what are the dynamics of Iran’s proxy forces, separately fighting Israel, working together? What is each of their relationship with Iran? And what will be the Trump impact? Ambassadors Jeffrey Feltman and Jake Walles, who spent decades in the Middle East, share stories. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/33932547

The Trump Foreign Policy: First 90 Days 11/12/2024

The Trump Foreign Policy: First 90 Days Campaign promises - repatriating the undocumented, Mexico’s role in securing the border, tariff quid pro quos and NATO’s role in a Russian/Ukraine peace - will require expert diplomacy. Will the new administration be up to it? Secretary Tom Shannon, who led State in the first Trump administration, is here to tell us what Trump’s early days will look like. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/33896617

I'm Going to Kathmandu - Encore 10/31/2024

I'm Going to Kathmandu - Encore Oh, the stress of the election! We're feeling the strain! So we thought we could all use a little break. Here's one of our earliest, most fun episodes. Larry Dinger regales us with tales of tires on fire, pollution, trekking, and one of the most bizarre episodes in monarchy in the world. Now Laura wants to join the Foreign Service and all of us want to go to Kathmandu. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/33705942

War Criminals Held to Account 10/24/2024

War Criminals Held to Account David Scheffer, our country's foremost diplomat on war crimes, reveals the unstoppable forces seeking justice. The bad get badder and the good get better. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/33597887

There Is Always Hope – Encore 10/17/2024

There Is Always Hope – Encore An inspirational story of personal redlines and resilience that has stuck with us: Ambassador John Feeley left a beloved job as US Ambassador to Panama, at the pinnacle of his career. Why? He could in good conscience act as the personal representative of a particular US President. John Feeley shares candidly the painful but surmountable experience of depression and recovery upon departure from the Foreign Service. May we all share as generously as our friend John. There is always hope. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/33498642

Just Don’t Call Them, “the Baltics” 10/10/2024

Just Don’t Call Them, “the Baltics” Soviet occupation of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania ended 30 years ago but to many, it could have been yesterday. How secure are these states, and what will happen to them if Ukraine falls? Is there any change in security policy, in case of a Trump victory in the US? /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/33406517

Viva la Presidenta! 10/03/2024

Viva la Presidenta! Out with the old, in with the new? Will Claudia Sheinbaum, new (and first female) President of Mexico, allow the departing leader AMLO to control her presidency, as designated successors of autocrats often do, or will she govern on her own terms? What will happen with all of those door-to-door check giveaways? Sheinbaum does not tip her hand. Amb. (Ret.) John Feeley guides us through Mexico’s new frontier. We watch with interest. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/33314132

Benghazied! 09/26/2024

Benghazied! And what does Behghazi have to do with our withdrawal from Afghanistan, and why are people investigating our exit from that country on the third anniversary of the withdrawal, not, say, on the first or second anniversary? Ambassador Dennis Jett has a thing or two to say about this. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/33225512

Digital Militias and Collective Delusion 09/19/2024

Digital Militias and Collective Delusion Prominent Brazilian journalist Cecilia Tornaghi shares the major struggle between Elon Musk and Brazilian Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes, after the judge shut down X. The episode begs the question: Since these platforms have become a public service, do they bear responsibility for who uses them? Who decides what is truth, disinformation, or that which is likely to incite? /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/33126117

War Game – See this Film! 09/13/2024

War Game – See this Film! Janessa Goldbeck, ex-Marine, CEO of Vet Voice Foundation and producer of the new film War Game, explains what a war game is and how it became the basis for this unusual and highly effective film. What will happen if we experience another insurrection at the coming inauguration? Why are vets and servicemembers special targets of foreign disinformation campaigns? Join us and learn in depth what the Insurrection Act is, why it exists, and how powerful and potentially dangerous it is. Now in theaters, streaming on September 27. Go to for more info. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/33039402

The World Is Burning 09/05/2024

The World Is Burning FSO Chad Houghton takes us back to 2020 when John Kerry, the first Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, brought the US back into the Paris agreement. Quiz: Which is worse, methane or CO2? Also, what argument won people over diplomatically (hint – not the moral or scientific angle)? And how do we work with adversaries like China to cool things down? And why would a petrostate like the UAE host a global climate conference? Join us, and see also this month’s for more. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/32908397

Trade is Leaving the Planet 08/29/2024

Trade is Leaving the Planet David Thomas, Executive Director of ASU’s Milo Space Science Institute, describes the global stability benefits of providing countries of the world access to space through education (what’s it like to mine ice water on the shadow region of the moon?) and ridesharing (yes, ridesharing) to space. Prada is making space suits and Hilton is designing crew quarters. Milo fosters global opportunity to join the space economy and in so doing, fosters the creation of values-based laws and policies. Prepare to be inspired. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/32794897

Attempted Takeover of Voice of America 08/23/2024

Attempted Takeover of Voice of America Steve Herman, author of , is back to tell the tale of the time the Trump administration tried to seize editorial control of the Voice of America and turn it into a propaganda agency. Why is it in our interests as Americans for VOA to remain an independent, credible source worldwide, even covering negative events in the US? What are the risks to those, like Steve, who resisted the takeover? See also a review of his book in /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/32712402

This Steal Was For Real: Venezuela 08/15/2024

This Steal Was For Real: Venezuela The Maduro regime told breathtaking lies about voting tallies, but the opposition has proof. What are diplomats doing to promote a democratic outcome? Keith Mines, Vice President of the Latin America Program at the US Institute for Peace, explores the options and shares first-hand tales of similar instances in the region. Over seven million Venezuelans have fled poverty and mass misery already. What will happen if no one can help? /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/32591997

Behind the White House Curtain 08/08/2024

Behind the White House Curtain Journalist and FSO (you read that correctly!) Steve Herman’s new book delves into the balance between, as Pete says, being the pitcher and the umpire at the same time. Especially during the Trump White House, what was it like to be “the enemy of the people”? Trump’s priority was to feed his base red meat, was he really out of control? Join us to hear Steve talk about his experience in this extraordinary dual role. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/32498837

Rivalry on Earth, Rivalry in Space 08/01/2024

Rivalry on Earth, Rivalry in Space General Brook Leonard is back to focus on China as our competitor in space. What is rivalry in space – economic, military, both? And what can we learn from China’s holistic approach to space? The technological environment is rapidly changing and the stakes are very high. We are not the leader. How does diplomacy address this? /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/32378462

Space Diplomacy 07/25/2024

Space Diplomacy Major General Brook Leonard joins us to parse “coopetition” in the 3rd space age. With vital interests ranging from movement of money to food security, space technology is moving faster than rules and norms. What are the red lines? There is no geographic separation in space as on earth, and no way to be sure what a communications satellite in space is actually doing. Will global powers follow the law of the jungle or establish rules of the road? /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/32280337

NATO Summit: Too Hot, Too Cold or Just Right? 07/18/2024

NATO Summit: Too Hot, Too Cold or Just Right? NATO celebrated its 75th year anniversary last week. It doubled down on Ukraine support and the Alliance now sees Itself as the bulwark against growing anti-democratic regimes. Ambassador Kurt Volker, a Trump appointee, provides insight into what his former boss might do if re-elected. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/32201037

Cognitive Warfare 07/11/2024

Cognitive Warfare Tricks, tricks, tricks. General Robert Schmidle, expert in cognitive warfare, helps us understand that although this has gone on for centuries, what’s different today is the scope and scale. How do you fight it? Bonus question: What famous statesman said, “a lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on”? /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/32099872

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