The World Next Week

Missing The World Next Week? Host Robert McMahon shares his favorite CFR resources for news and analysis on foreign policy and global affairs. The Interconnect, a new podcast series from the Council on Foreign Relations and the Stanford Emerging Technology Review, brings together leading minds in cutting-edge technology and foreign policy to explore recent ground-breaking developments, what’s coming over the horizon, and the implications for U.S. innovation leadership.    In this featured episode, host Martin Giles sits down with CFR Technologist-in-Residence Sebastian Elbaum and Stanford Emerging Technology Review faculty council member Mark Horowitz to discuss where chip manufacturing is heading, how hardware advances are powering the new artificial intelligence (AI) era, and what the United States should prioritize in order to sustain its leadership in this crucial domain.   This episode was originally released by The Interconnect on February 13, 2025.   Featured Episode: Chips and the Future of Computing

Missing The World Next Week? Host Robert McMahon shares his favorite CFR resources for news and analysis on foreign policy and global affairs. Foreign Affairs invites you to join its editor, Daniel Kurtz-Phelan, as he talks with influential thinkers and policymakers about the forces shaping the world. Whether the topic is the war in Ukraine, the United States’ competition with China, or the future of globalization, The Foreign Affairs Interview offers the kind of authoritative commentary and analysis that you can find in the magazine and on the website. In this featured episode, Dan Kurtz-Phelan speaks with Jason Furman about why the Biden administration’s economic policy fell short—and why both Democrats and Republicans should abandon what he calls their “post-neoliberal delusion.”   This episode was originally released by The Foreign Affairs Interview on February 13, 2025.   Featured Episode: Why Biden’s Economic Ambitions Fell Short   Find Us   Foreign Affairs Interview   Apple Podcasts   Spotify   YouTub

Emerging technologies are transforming international relations and our country’s economy. So how do we connect science and engineering labs with Washington and the world of business?    The Interconnect, a new podcast series from the Council on Foreign Relations and the Stanford Emerging Technology Review, brings together leading minds in cutting-edge technology and foreign policy to explore recent ground-breaking developments, what's coming over the horizon, and the implications for U.S. innovation leadership.   In this featured episode, Stanford Emerging Technology Review Faculty Council Member Mark Horowitz and CFR’s technologist-in-residence Sebastian Elbaum discuss where chip manufacturing is heading, how hardware advances are powering the new artificial intelligence (AI) era, and what the United States should prioritize in order to sustain its leadership in this crucial domain.   Host   Martin Giles, Managing Editor of the Stanford Emerging Technology Review   Guests   Mark Horowitz, chair of the Electr

Missing The World Next Week? Host Robert McMahon shares his favorite CFR resources for news and analysis on foreign policy and global affairs. Why It Matters is explaining some of the least-understood issues that are shaping our world. Every two weeks, host Gabrielle Sierra speaks to a diverse lineup of guests with the goal of simplifying a complicated global topic. In this featured episode, Adam Segal, the Ira A. Lipman chair in emerging technologies and national security at CFR, explains how tech titans are acting as unilateral decision makers in international relations, upsetting the balance and structure of global power around the world.   This episode was originally released by Why It Matters on November 13, 2024.   Featured Episode: The New Tech World Order   Find Us   Why It Matters   Apple Podcasts   Spotify   YouTube

Missing The World Next Week? Host Robert McMahon shares his favorite CFR resources for news and analysis on foreign policy and global affairs. The President’s Inbox goes beyond the headlines as host James M. Lindsay speaks with leading experts about how the United States should respond to global challenges and opportunities that are shaping the future. In this featured episode, Steven A. Cook, the Eni Enrico Mattei senior fellow for the Middle East and Africa studies at CFR, shares how the Israel-Hamas cease-fire over Gaza came together, what the agreement requires each side to do, and what could come next.   This episode was originally released by The President’s Inbox on January 28, 2025.   Featured Episode: The Gaza Cease-Fire, With Steven Cook   Find Us   The President’s Inbox   Apple Podcasts   Spotify   YouTube

Missing The World Next Week? Host Robert McMahon shares his favorite CFR resources for news and analysis on foreign policy and global affairs. CFR newsletters bring you a wide range of expert insights in an easy-to-read email straight to your inbox.    The World This Week, delivered every Friday   The Daily News Brief, delivered every weekday morning   Think Global Health, delivered every Friday    RealEcon, delivered every other Wednesday Check out the full list of newsletters from CFR experts and writers here.

In this live series finale, Bob and Carla discuss the most pressing international news stories with special guest Deborah Amos. President Donald Trump virtually attends the annual Davos summit where he will address corporate and government leaders just three days after his inauguration; the next phase of hostage and prisoner swaps is due as part of the Israel-Hamas cease-fire deal; a tightly controlled presidential election in Belarus kicks off a new year of consequential elections around the globe; and TikTok is revived in the United States—for now— after President Trump forestalled the app’s initial ban.   This episode was originally produced live on January 21, 2025.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Megan Brenan, “Americans' Trust in Media Remains at Trend Low,” Gallup   Watch The World Next Week's final episode live podcast taping on YouTube.   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/twnw/series-finale-trump-addresses-davos-gaza-navigates-cease-fire

Israel and Hamas reach a cease-fire deal aimed at exchanging hostages and prisoners while seeking a longer-term pause in fighting; the incoming Donald Trump administration weighs ambitious moves on immigration; Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Russian President Vladimir Putin sign off on a twenty-year partnership agreement; and students in Serbia protest violations of civil rights.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Antony Blinken, “U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the Biden Record in the Middle East—and What Comes Next,” Atlantic Council   Steven A. Cook, Elliott Abrams, and Elise Labott, “Virtual Media Briefing: The Israel-Hamas Cease-Fire and Hostage Deal,” CFR.org   “Serbia: ‘A Digital Prison’: Surveillance and the Suppression of Civil Society in Serbia,” Amnesty International For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/twnw/israel-hamas-cease-fire-trumps-first-immigration-moves-russia-iran-new-partnership

President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, will appear before the Senate Armed Services Committee; the Supreme Court hears arguments over the Joe Biden administration’s imminent banning of TikTok; Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation prompts questions on the future of U.S.-Canada trade relations; and Europe’s eastern states confront energy issues after Ukraine stops the flow of Russian gas through its territory.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Amanda Coletta, “‘Hot Mess’: Trudeau’s Turmoil Draws Trump’s Taunts,” Washington Post   Robert Kagan, “Trump Is Facing a Catastrophic Defeat in Ukraine,” The Atlantic   Adam Segal and Zoë Moore, “What’s Next for TikTok: Ban, Sell, or Presidential Reprieve?” CFR.org   Varun Sivaram, “Five Climate Realism Insights on California’s Wildfires,” CFR.org   Trisha Thadani and Will Oremus, “Meta Embraces Fact-Checking Program That X Users Say Is Like ‘Whack-a-Mole’,” Washington Post For an episode transcript and show notes, visit

In this special year-end episode, hosts Bob McMahon and Carla Anne Robbins sit down with the New York Times’ chief diplomatic correspondent in Europe Steven Erlanger to review the biggest stories of the past year and discuss developments to watch in 2025. They analyze the conflicts and political developments in the Middle East and Europe, President-elect Donald Trump’s picks for his national security team, the state of democracy worldwide, and more.   Mentioned on the Podcast   James M. Lindsay, “Ten Elections to Watch in 2025,” CFR.org   National Centers for Environmental Information, “Monthly Global Climate Report for October 2024,” NCEI.NOAA.gov   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/world-next-year-wars-new-governments-stormy-weather-watch-2025

Syrians begin the early stages of government formation as global and regional powers scramble to devise a strategy for Syria after the fall of President Bashar al-Assad; Georgians protest their government’s postponement of European Union (EU) membership talks as Romanians look for answers following the cancellation of their presidential election results; the United Kingdom (UK) accedes to the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership; and China opens an anti-monopoly case against U.S. chipmaker Nvidia.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Luke Allnutt et al., “Romania's 'King Of TikTok' Tied To Alleged Scheme Boosting Far-Right Presidential Candidate,” Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty   Veronica Anghel, “Why Romania Just Canceled Its Presidential Election,” Journal of Democracy   Thomas Graham, “What Assad’s Fall Means for Russia in the Middle East,” CFR.org For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/syrians-plot-transition-turmoil-georgia-romani

Impeachment looms for South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, whose declaration of martial law spurred mass protests; French lawmakers passed the first no-confidence vote in more than sixty years, as the country is set to mark the the reopening of Notre Dame cathedral; Syrian rebels continue a surprise offensive against President Bashar al-Assad’s regime after seizing the cities of Aleppo and Hama; and U.S. President-Elect Donald Trump threatens 100 percent tariffs on BRICS nations.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Steven A. Cook, “What Syria’s Revived Civil War Means for the Region,” CFR.org   John Deluray, “Martial Law in South Korea,” CFR.org   Sarah Jeong, “Six Hours Under Martial Law in Seoul,” The Verge   Brad W. Setser, X   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/twnw/turmoil-south-korea-french-government-collapses-syrian-rebels-reignite-conflict-and-more 

The White House authorized Ukraine to use U.S.-made, long-range army tactical missile systems (ATACMS) missiles to hit targets within Russian territory; the UN climate change conference (COP29) wraps up in Baku, Azerbaijan, where progress on climate finance has been notably slow; negotiations for a cease-fire continues in the Middle East, with hopes for an agreement between Israel and Hezbollah; and thousands protest for Māori rights throughout New Zealand.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Clara Fong, “Understanding the Global Push for Climate Finance,” CFR.org   “Māori Lawmakers Perform a Haka to Protest against Indigenous Treaty Bill,” NBC News   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/twnw/us-atacms-ukraine-cop29-wraps-cease-fire-negotiations-lebanon-and-more  

Tumultuous events have rocked the last four years: the COVID-19 pandemic, Europe’s largest land war in eighty years, and an escalating Middle Eastern conflict between Israel and Iran-backed forces. On top of that, the United States faces an intensifying geopolitical struggle with China and Russia. Now, U.S. President Joe Biden is running out of time to secure his legacy while the transition to a second Donald Trump administration comes sharply into focus. The U.S. president-elect has been quickly nominating leaders to his cabinet and receiving calls from foreign leaders. Why It Matters sits down with the hosts of The World Next Week to talk about what the United States–and a closely watching world–should expect in the weeks and months to come as incoming President Trump takes office.   Mentioned on this Episode   Peter Baker, “A Four-Decade Secret: One Man’s Story of Sabotaging Carter’s Re-election,” New York Times    Helene Cooper and Maggie Haberman, “Trump Picks Pete Hegseth, a Veteran and Fox News Host, f

World leaders express hopes for cooperation with the United States after former President Donald Trump’s comeback election win; Israel faces a deadline to increase humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip or risk restrictions on U.S. military funding; Azerbaijan prepares to host the twenty-ninth UN climate conference (COP29) as concerns grow that climate targets could fall short; and Moldova’s election spurs hopes of European Union ties.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Clea Caulcutt, Barbara Moens, Nicholas Vinocur, “Macron to Europe: We Need to Become ‘Omnivores’ After Trump’s Victory,” Politico   Alice Hill, “COP29 Summit in Baku: What to Expect,” CFR.org   “Trump and the Future of American Power: A Conversation With Stephen Kotkin,” Foreign Affairs   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/twnw/world-reacts-trump-win-israels-gaza-aid-deadline-nears-azerbaijans-climate-summit-and-more 

In this special episode of The World Next Week, hosts Robert McMahon and Carla Anne Robbins discuss how news outlets around the world are reporting on the November 5 U.S. elections and how it reflects on public and government interests.    Mentioned on the Podcast   American Evolution 2024, The Straits Times   Pierre Breteau, “2024 U.S. Presidential Election: Try Our Swing State Results Simulator,” Le Monde   Campaign Notebook, International Edition, Columbia Journalism Review   Alistair Campbell and Rory Stewart, The Rest is Politics, Goalhanger   Emilio Casalicchio, “Meet the Gun-Toting Brits Who Will Vote for Donald Trump,” Politico Europe   Katty Kay and Anthony Scaramucci, The Rest Is Politics: US   James M. Lindsay, “Election 2024: How to Respond to the Axis of Autocracies,” CFR.org   The U.S. Election and Foreign Policy, CFR.org   “Why Is the World Obsessed with the U.S. Election? Ask Germany,” Why It Matters   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/

France seeks to spur international support for humanitarian aid for Lebanon as fighting grinds on between Israel and Hezbollah; Japan holds a snap general election as Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru hopes to rally the embattled and longtime ruling Liberal Democratic Party; Georgia heads to the polls in an election that could shift the country away from the European Union and firmly into Russia’s orbit; and China and India reach a border deal.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Mariel Ferragamo, “What Is the BRICS Group and Why Is It Expanding?,” CFR.org   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/twnw/france-presses-lebanon-aid-japan-holds-snap-election-georgias-divided-vote-and-more

The summit of the BRICS group begins in Russia, the first meeting since formally welcoming Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates into the bloc; European leaders discuss migration after a series of calls for speedier deportations and revised asylum processes; Colombia hosts the UN Biodiversity Summit; and Canada expels six Indian diplomats tied to the murder of a Sikh separatist.   Mentioned on the Podcast   “The Drug Lords’ Side-Hustle: Smuggling Macaws, Jaguars and Frogs,” The Economist   “Living Planet Report 2024,” World Wildlife Fund   “A Warning Sign: Where Biodiversity Loss Is Happening Around the World,” World Wildlife Fund   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/twnw/russia-hosts-brics-summit-eu-leaders-talk-migration-un-biodiversity-summit-kicks-and-more 

Intelligence officials warn of foreign meddling in the U.S. presidential and congressional elections; Hurricane Milton marks second straight weather blow to the U.S. southeast; this year’s Nobel Peace Prize winner is announced in Norway; and Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico vows to block Ukraine’s bid to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).   Mentioned on the Podcast   The U.S. Election and Foreign Policy, CFR.org   Virtual Media Briefing: Technology and Electoral Dynamics, Council on Foreign Relations and Brookings Institution   “Malala Yousafzai: Nobel Peace Prize Lecture 2014,” Nobel Prize For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/twnw/meddling-us-elections-florida-reels-twin-storms-nobel-peace-laureate-be-named-and-more 

Hostilities between Iran and Israel reach a new level after Israel’s ground invasion in southern Lebanon and the latest Iranian missile attack on Israel; U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump hold separate town halls to reach undecided Hispanic voters; U.S. President Joe Biden heads to Germany to shore up military support for Ukraine; and Norway considers building a fence on its border with Russia.     Mentioned on the Podcast   One Year Later: U.S. Policy Options in the Israel-Hamas War, Council on Foreign Relations   Virtual Media Briefing: Israel, Gaza, and the Middle East a Year After the Hamas Attack, Council on Foreign Relations   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/twnw/iran-israel-escalation-harris-and-trump-seek-hispanic-vote-biden-germany-and-more