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: Bread and Circus 09/11/2025

Trump: Bread and Circus Use entertainment as political discourse, distort reality, mock adversaries, distract the public from the real issues. The Romans started it and Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi put it on full throttle. Italy expert Steve Scherer shows us how elected populists gain and keep power. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/38173920

Human Rights, Twisted and Bent 09/04/2025

Human Rights, Twisted and Bent What happens when our president operates from his own alternative reality? A growing Axis of Upheaval against us? Elizabeth Shackelford is back to clarify the moment. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/38092705

Reality Show: Canada 08/28/2025

Reality Show: Canada We fought, died, celebrated victories and became prosperous together. Canadians could count on us, until now. Journalist Steve Scherer walks us through the US boycotts and yes, the profound sense of betrayal. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/38001040

The Jihadi Whisperer 08/22/2025

The Jihadi Whisperer What prompts someone to become a violent Muslim extremist? Even more, what would get them to turn against their comrades? Counter-terrorism guru Brig Barker demystifies this dark world. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/37925845

The Hole in Putin’s Imperial Designs 08/14/2025

The Hole in Putin’s Imperial Designs Why is Kazakhstan safe from Russia? It juts into the heart of Russia and shares the longest continuous land border in the world. What is their secret? Ambassador Dan Rosenblum’s analogy: walking a tightrope. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/37816755

Ukraine: Does Moral Truth Still Exist? 08/07/2025

Ukraine: Does Moral Truth Still Exist? What happens when you are instructed to treat the aggressor as an innocent? Former Ambassador Bridget Brink’s career reaches a fork in the road. What to do? Hint: Who’s running in the Michigan Seventh Congressional District? And most importantly, why? /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/37719285

What Happened to the Man of My Dreams? 07/31/2025

What Happened to the Man of My Dreams? He's charismatic, he's exciting, he's strong. How do elected autocrats woo their publics and then destroy the very countries they promised to elevate? What happens to the populace? Kristie Kenney, ambassador to Ecuador, Thailand and the Philippines has a thing or two to say about these folks and the reasons that people elect them. Repost from 2020, with oddly entertaining postscript from Pete. Spolier alert: Things doesn't always turn out the way these guys expect. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/37524140

Encore: Who Lost China? 07/24/2025

Encore: Who Lost China? It is the 1950s. Senator Joseph McCarthy and his henchman Roy Cohn target and humiliate our diplomats for accurately reporting an eventual Mao victory in China. Jack Service and his family are at the center of the storm. Is history repeating itself before our eyes? Enjoy this snapshot of diplomacy that is more relevant today than it was when we first posted it in 2020. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/37502500

America Alone? 07/17/2025

America Alone? Secretary Rubio’s stated goal is to reduce our diplomatic corps by 15%. Does it stop there? After four years of whim and chaos will the world ever trust us to lead again? Will we have the expertise and talent? Ambassador Eric Rubin lays it all out for us. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/37430750

The Incredible Shrinking Trade Partner 07/10/2025

The Incredible Shrinking Trade Partner What happens when tariff policy becomes a whim? Career commercial officer Dan Crocker peers into the chaos and breaks down the stakes for businesses and national security. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/37363505

The Last of the Cold Warriors is Gone - Now What? 07/03/2025

The Last of the Cold Warriors is Gone - Now What? The old approach to national security is breaking apart. Americans demand change. Young diplomats and global service professionals today have a once in a century opportunity to reshape how the US engages in the world. Amb. Tom Shannon is back to inspire and share his awesome insights. In his words, Liberate the Future. () /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/37265630

Attacks on Iran: Salvation or Quagmire 06/26/2025

Attacks on Iran: Salvation or Quagmire Will diplomacy come next? Will Trump and Netanyahu give the Ayatollah an off-ramp? Acting Secretary of State and Undersecretary in the first Trump administration Tom Shannon lists both sides' options and their likelihood of taking place. Will there be Iranian “retribution” and if so, what will it look like? /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/37157305

Colombia: Snatching Defeat from the Jaws of Victory 06/19/2025

Colombia: Snatching Defeat from the Jaws of Victory For decades Plan Colombia was the gold standard for tackling counter-insurgency. With the current spike in cartel/gang violence, are Colombians losing faith in their conciliatory, populist leader Petro? Is the current violence due to a legacy of armed groups? Does it just boil down to testosterone? Ambassador Kevin Whitaker breaks it all down for us. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/37063680

Are the Chinese Coming for You? 06/12/2025

Are the Chinese Coming for You? The Federal Government has a long-standing entity which reviews possible threats posed by foreign actors, investing inside the US. What happens when a small town decides to wreck a Chinese investment…prudence or a resurgence of the Red Scare? Security expert Nova Daly unpacks these questions and updates us on the impending deadline for TikTok…yes, the clock is ticking! /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/36955125

Lebanon: Finally, A Ray of Hope, or Just a Flash Bang? 06/05/2025

Lebanon: Finally, A Ray of Hope, or Just a Flash Bang? With Assad overthrown in Syria and the new regime freeing themselves of decades long sanctions will they be able to stop the flow of financing and weapons to Hezbollah in Lebanon? Is this an opening to permit reform and true democracy in Lebanon or will it be another missed opportunity? Ambassador Ed Gabriel sets forth what is at stake in the region and for US interests. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/36854380

Have You No Sense of Decency, Mr. Secretary? 05/29/2025

Have You No Sense of Decency, Mr. Secretary? With so much disinformation flying around, Senator Chris Van Hollen sets the record straight and takes down Secretary Rubio at the same time. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/36769930

The Pastry Chef, the Hand Grenade, the OSS and Vietnam 05/22/2025

The Pastry Chef, the Hand Grenade, the OSS and Vietnam From wartime to prosperity, Ambassador Ted Osius shares his personal experience of change in US/Vietnam relations since the end of the war 50 years ago. Best question: Why is Amb. Osius optimistic, even in today’s trade climate? Hint: , the title of both Amb. Osius’s book and his previous episode with us. For bonus fun, enjoy the video of Vietnamese female rap artist ! /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/36674880

Politics of Retribution 05/15/2025

Politics of Retribution How did a utopian vision for society lead to one of the bloodiest regimes in history, Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge? Why does it matter today? Was it mediocrity? Arrogance? Or is it just easier to seize power than it is to govern? Prof. Andrew Mertha of Johns Hopkins’ School of International Studies, whose new book – out today, lays it out for us. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/36581015

Is the Chaos at State Over? 05/08/2025

Is the Chaos at State Over? Acting Undersecretary for Management, Ambassador Tibor Nagy, had a front row seat to the twenty-something DOGE Musketeers and their slash and burn approach to “re-organizing” venerable national security infrastructure. Tibor reflects on that and opines on whether the worst is over. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/36486300

Squeezing Blood From a Stone 05/05/2025

Squeezing Blood From a Stone Overseas, mugged, sick, arrested, who are you going to call and will there be anyone to answer? Tom Yazdgerdi, the President of AFSA, the State Department labor union, fears what budget cuts will mean for traveling Americans. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/36440105

What’s Behind the Trump-Bukele Bromance? 04/24/2025

What’s Behind the Trump-Bukele Bromance? Is it simply mutual self-interest or is it Bukele's head start on the authoritarian’s handbook? Both? AmDip’s own Pete Romero breaks it down, with feeling! /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/36282370

Democracy Prevails! 04/17/2025

Democracy Prevails! Former US Ambassador to South Korea Kathleen Stephens answers the question: How was martial law defeated within hours and the would-be dictator impeached? Hint: The citizens, and the soldiers(!) said no. Putting up barricades with sofas and chairs, and grabbing a gun from a soldier, one woman asked, "Aren’t you ashamed of yourself?" Even the president accepted the rules set forth in the constitution. But why? For another one of Amb. Stephens's episodes with us, click . Vive la republique! /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/36213510

Universities in the Trump Crosshairs 04/10/2025

Universities in the Trump Crosshairs US colleges and universities are a battleground for First Amendment rights. Each side of the political spectrum wants to limit these rights for the other side. Now the Trump Administration has weaponized these issues by cutting grants and detaining students. Is there a neutral path forward? ASU honors student Sami Al-Asady breaks it down for us. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/36085455

DEI: Enemy of the People? 04/03/2025

DEI: Enemy of the People? Trump has led a relentless attack on Diversity Equity and Inclusion, saying it undermines a meritocracy. Former State DEI chief Ambassador Gina Abercrombie Winstanley asserts that equity and inclusion are simply effective management tools for molding smart teams. You be the judge. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/35988585

South Africans Don't Like to be Bullied 03/28/2025

South Africans Don't Like to be Bullied And why does it matter how regular South Africans feel about US behavior toward their country? Ambassador Charlie Ray untangles the powerful dynamics within South Africa domestically and vis-a-vis the United States, and helps us understand what this means for our present and future. Plus: It's up to us to create our world and it all starts with voting. Always vote! /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/35908655

We are Americans and we stand for something. 03/20/2025

We are Americans and we stand for something. What happens when the US washes its hands of its international obligations? Ambassador Mike Polt, Co-Founder of ASU’s Leadership, Diplomacy and National Security Lab, views our president as our chief diplomat and calls the Zelensky-Trump Oval Office meeting a pivotal moment. We have humiliated the rest of the world, including our friends. Now what? /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/35791455

How is Trump 2.0 Like An Onion? 03/17/2025

How is Trump 2.0 Like An Onion? A foreign policy grandmaster strategist? Or is our president guided simply by whim and spite, without a cohesive plan? Pete and Laura break it down. You be the judge. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/35724215

Tariff Wars 03/06/2025

Tariff Wars Tony Wayne, former Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs and US Ambassador to Mexico, pulls apart the strands. First, what is an import? How many times would you guess a raw material or auto part crosses a Canadian or Mexican border in the process of making and assembling a car? 4? 5? Each crossing carries a 25% tariff. That’s a lot of crossings! And a whole lot of tariffs! And the point? To make our neighbors tougher on smuggling into the US things we don’t want such as fentanyl. But the drug trade runs two ways, depending largely on American-made guns that cross into Mexico. All three countries must work together or everyone loses. And what’s this about an external revenue service? /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/35563855

When Economists Wage War 02/28/2025

When Economists Wage War Diplomat and Author Edward Fishman reveals how globalization is giving way to zero-sum self-interest. Can we win the emerging economic warfare? Listen, and read his new book . /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/35475260

USAID and the Fate of Gazans 02/20/2025

USAID and the Fate of Gazans Peace in the Middle East starts in Gaza and the West Bank. But beautiful parks and fountains and casinos…the Riviera of the Middle East, a beautiful vacation spot in what is now rubble? And somehow the US would own it. But what about all those Gazans, walking home along a highway, carrying all of their belongings, some with donkeys, on their way back to rubble. Enter USAID. In asymmetric warfare nothing, absolutely nothing, can defeat hearts and minds, and no one can impact those more effectively than USAID, at a minute financial cost. And this is how you neutralize the seduction of bad actors. /episode/index/show/americandiplomat/id/35367825

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