Geopolitics Rundown

Welcome to Geopolitics Rundown, an innovative new foreign affairs podcast that breaks down top global headlines. If you ever feel lost trying to keep up with world news, come to our show for a place to start. Join your hosts, graduates of the Elliott School of International Affairs at the George Washington University, as they guide you through some of the most complex topics and stories in global politics.

China Targets Latin America, with Mitch Hayes 06/09/2021

China Targets Latin America, with Mitch Hayes On today's episode, China expert Mitch Hayes joins us to discuss China's growing influence in Latin America. Mitch Hayes is a political risk analyst and advisor, as well as the founder of two widely-read newsletters, "The China Signal", and "Mundo". I encourage our listeners to check them out, you can find his work on: /episode/index/show/geopoliticsrundown/id/19417586

Why Business Needs Policy Experts, with Cenk Sidar 03/25/2021

Why Business Needs Policy Experts, with Cenk Sidar Welcome to Season 2 of Geopolitics Rundown! /episode/index/show/geopoliticsrundown/id/18466346

The Third Pole: Europe Debates Strategic Autonomy 12/24/2020

The Third Pole: Europe Debates Strategic Autonomy Welcome back to Geopolitics Rundown! We're wrapping up the holiday season with a far-ranging discussion on the future of the European-American relationship. Joe Biden's pick for Secretary of State, Antony "Tony" Blinken, will have to thread the needle amid an intense debate in Europe about strategic autonomy. As the debate unfolds, the old divide between the Gaullists and the Atlanticists rears its head. /episode/index/show/geopoliticsrundown/id/17322086

Foreign Influence Operations with Natalie Thompson 10/30/2020

Foreign Influence Operations with Natalie Thompson As US election drama reaches a climax, the Nerds tackle headlines around foreign election interference. Joining us is special guest Natalie Thompson from the Carnegie Endowment's Partnership for Countering Influence Operations. Join us for a discussion of what influence operations are, what states are using them, and how to stop them. /episode/index/show/geopoliticsrundown/id/16621913

Candidate Cage Match: Trump vs Biden's foreign policy 10/25/2020

Candidate Cage Match: Trump vs Biden's foreign policy With the US presidential election looming, the nerds tackle Trump and Biden’s foreign policy platforms. Follow along with a dynamic conversation that covers all angles, from flashpoint point issues like China, Iran, and North Korea, to the academic theories behind their policies. /episode/index/show/geopoliticsrundown/id/16535102

Raucous Caucasus: Armenia vs. Azerbaijan 10/10/2020

Raucous Caucasus: Armenia vs. Azerbaijan Welcome to the new Geopolitics Rundown! Today's topic: The recent conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan which has killed hundreds and re-ignited a fight over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh. We're going to walk you through where this conflict is, who is involved, and why it could have serious implications for Russia, Turkey, and the future of NATO. /episode/index/show/geopoliticsrundown/id/16350317

UAE-Israel Deal: Frenemies with Benefits 08/31/2020

UAE-Israel Deal: Frenemies with Benefits Join the nerds for a discussion on the recent peace deal between Israel and the UAE, the Abraham Accord. Why and how did the deal happen? What does the deal do? Who are the winners and losers? What does it mean for the future of the Middle East? All of those questions and more are answered in this episode of Geopolitics Rundown. /episode/index/show/geopoliticsrundown/id/15824543

Inside the Indo-Pacific: Japan 08/17/2020

Inside the Indo-Pacific: Japan In this episode, the nerds return from their brief hiatus to conclude their tour of the Indo-Pacific. Join us for a breakdown of Japan and its geopolitical position. From tensions with China to cooperation with the Quad, Japan is experiencing a period of change that will redefine its role in the region. Learn about the Senkaku islands dispute, the Quad +, and more! /episode/index/show/geopoliticsrundown/id/15642944

Security Sunday: India's Navy with Aman Thakker 07/26/2020

Security Sunday: India's Navy with Aman Thakker In this Security Sunday your nerds bring on guest Aman Thakker, CSIS fellow and author of the Indialogue newsletter, to discuss the nitty gritty of the Indian Navy and its role in the complex power dynamics of the Indo-Pacific. They discuss how India’s rivalry with China has impacted Indian maritime policy, the role of India’s alliance with the Quad (The US, Australia, and Japan), as well as the future of naval competition in the Indian Ocean. /episode/index/show/geopoliticsrundown/id/15352757

Inside the Indo-Pacific: Australia with Michael Hilliard 07/22/2020

Inside the Indo-Pacific: Australia with Michael Hilliard In this episode, your resident nerds take a trip down under with their first guest, Michael Hilliard from The Red Line podcast. Together they explore how Australia fits into the complex Indo-pacific region amidst tensions, new and old, with China and the United States. /episode/index/show/geopoliticsrundown/id/15307277

Geopolitics of TikTok 07/13/2020

Geopolitics of TikTok This is not your average rundown. We're diving into a topic dear to everyone's hearts: TikTok. We're going to talk about why India banned the app, why the US is considering the same, and why some are saying that this video-sharing app is a national security risk. /episode/index/show/geopoliticsrundown/id/15196109

Inside the Indo-Pacific: The South China Sea 07/08/2020

Inside the Indo-Pacific: The South China Sea In part II of our series on the Indo Pacific, your resident nerds take on the complex tinderbox of the South China Sea. In this episode, we talk about why the Sea is so hotly contested, why China is hellbent on taking it all for itself, who the relevant state actors are, what exactly is at stake, and whether or not international law can actually help the situation. To access the maps to better understand what we talk about in this episode, check out our website www.geopoliticsrundown.com. /episode/index/show/geopoliticsrundown/id/15130628

Inside the Indo-Pacific: Chaos in Kashmir 06/19/2020

Inside the Indo-Pacific: Chaos in Kashmir In this episode, the nerds set out on their journey through the Indo-Pacific region with an analysis of the recent India-China border skirmishes. We explore the complex relationship between the two largest countries in the world, from their rocky past to their current balancing act that has everyone from the US to the Maldives involved. /episode/index/show/geopoliticsrundown/id/14894495

Black Lives Matter: The Politics of Protest 06/07/2020

Black Lives Matter: The Politics of Protest This episode is not your average rundown. Today, we explain the geopolitical implications of the Black Lives Matter protests and the government’s response to them. /episode/index/show/geopoliticsrundown/id/14731304

Twilight in Hong Kong: End of an Era 05/31/2020

Twilight in Hong Kong: End of an Era In this episode, your nerds explore the most recent developments out of Hong Kong. Protests are sweeping the streets, and China’s new national security law threatens to illegally remove all of Hong Kong’s autonomy, while the international response led by the US may lead to a huge shift in the global economy. Learn how these events will shape the future of Hong Kong and US-China relations. /episode/index/show/geopoliticsrundown/id/14637191

Security Sunday: The Notorious IRGC 05/24/2020

Security Sunday: The Notorious IRGC n this episode of Security Sunday, your resident nerds tackle the operations of the infamous Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. We break down its mysterious Quds Force, it’s enigmatic former leader Qassem Soleimani, and why he was assassinated by the United States. Find out how the IRGC has been a part of every major conflict in the Middle East, including Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and Lebanon. /episode/index/show/geopoliticsrundown/id/14542181

Maximum Pressure: An Iran Primer 05/17/2020

Maximum Pressure: An Iran Primer In this episode, your resident geopolitics nerds take on a fan-suggested topic and dive into the deteriorating US-Iran relationship. We find out exactly what makes the two countries enemies and what prevents them from reconciling. Learn about their historic JCPOA nuclear deal, how Trump tore it apart and imposed sanctions, and how it all led up to the assassination of the infamous Qassem Soleimani. /episode/index/show/geopoliticsrundown/id/14450171

Security Sunday: The Heist of Crimea 05/11/2020

Security Sunday: The Heist of Crimea In this episode, your hosts break down one of the most controversial moments of the last five years, Russia’s annexation of Crimea. Is it the most ambitious heist in modern history? We'll walk you through this shocking story and tell you how it changes international security. /episode/index/show/geopoliticsrundown/id/14363042

Soft Power Showdown: Taiwan and the WHO 05/09/2020

Soft Power Showdown: Taiwan and the WHO In this episode, the foreign policy nerds take a look at the conflict between the US and China over Taiwan's membership in the WHO. We'll dig into the why Taiwan is such a big issue, and how China's growing influence over the WHO might have consequences for US influence in the world. /episode/index/show/geopoliticsrundown/id/14351729

Democracy Deep Dive: Hungary for Power 05/02/2020

Democracy Deep Dive: Hungary for Power In this episode, your resident foreign policy nerds take a further look into the democratic crisis in Hungary. We'll examine how Hungary ended up in this crisis, what it means for the European Union, and how Russia might come out ahead amidst the chaos. /episode/index/show/geopoliticsrundown/id/14250500

Coronavirus vs Democracy: The Palpatine Playbook 04/24/2020

Coronavirus vs Democracy: The Palpatine Playbook In this episode, we break down how using emergency powers to combat the coronavirus can undermine fundamental democratic rights, and how some democratic leaders are using this emergency to consolidate power. /episode/index/show/geopoliticsrundown/id/14131259

Coronavirus and Oil: A Slippery Situation 04/16/2020

Coronavirus and Oil: A Slippery Situation In this episode, part II of our series on the Coronavirus, your resident foreign policy nerds dive into the geopolitics of oil. We'll talk about the Saudi/Russian oil price war, the impact of COVID-19 on demand, and last week's historic international deal to cut oil production. /episode/index/show/geopoliticsrundown/id/14005844

Geopolitics of the Coronavirus: The US-China Relationship 04/08/2020

Geopolitics of the Coronavirus: The US-China Relationship We're kicking off our new show with a three-part series on how the Coronavirus will change global politics. /episode/index/show/geopoliticsrundown/id/13896080

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