Can Democracy Survive Big Tech? w/ Alexis Crews

Twenty-five years after the September 11 attacks, the United States is still mired in the Middle East. But the story of how the war on terror was fought at home is far less told, and America's history of anti-Muslim sentiment is one we have yet to fully contend with.  In this episode, the Institute for Global Affairs' Jonathan Guyer is joined by journalist Rozina Ali, a New York Times Magazine contributor and author of the new book Seasons of Fury: Four Families and the Rise of Islamophobia in America. They discuss the mass surveillance of Muslims and immigrant communities after 9/11, how media narratives warped Americans' perception of their Muslim neighbors, and what accountability looks like when the war on terror never really ended. Check out Seasons of Fury: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/672414/seasons-of-fury-by-rozina-ali/ Find Rozina on X: https://x.com/rozina_ali 

Iran has taken control of the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for oil shipment out of the Persian Gulf, and the United States has not been able to force its reopening through military means. Meanwhile, fuel prices have risen, and people around the world are feeling the economic pressure.  In this episode, the Institute for Global Affairs' Jonathan Guyer is joined by Gregory Brew, an oil historian and senior analyst at Eurasia Group. They discuss historical analogies to the Hormuz crisis, why a diplomatic end to the war has not yet been achieved, and how oil markets are reacting. Greg also explains why oil is a useful vector for understanding history and geopolitics. Find Greg on X: https://x.com/gbrew24  

Artificial intelligence is creeping into every aspect of our lives and many conversations about geopolitics and governance. The big tech companies which control AI, our communications platforms, and more, have emerged as powerful global actors unto themselves. The stakes couldn't be higher—we are facing highly polarized information environments, and democracy itself is at risk.  In this episode, the Institute for Global Affairs' Jonathan Guyer is joined by Alexis Crews, a tech policy expert working on trust and safety. Alexis has more than a decade of experience spanning government and tech companies like Meta and Google. They discuss election integrity, tech regulatory frameworks the US can learn from, the difference in approach to AI between the US and China, and much more. Watch Alexis's recent TED talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZMYN7mXzV8

The World Cup is heating up here in the United States as teams head into the quarter finals. It has had its fair share of controversies: immigration crackdowns, exorbitant ticket prices, and a cozy relationship between FIFA President Gianni Infantino and President Trump. But this year's tournament has also provided some of the most magical and memorable moments in World Cup history.  In this episode, the Institute for Global Affairs' Jonathan Guyer is joined by Alex Shephard, senior editor at The New Republic. He is also a co-founder of Golden Goal, a magazine dedicated to the 2026 World Cup in all its glory and complexity. They discuss what is shaping up to be the most lucrative tournament in World Cup history, greed and corruption at FIFA, and why, despite some ugly realities, the beautiful game continues to unite the world. Find Alex on X: https://x.com/alex_shephard Check out Golden Goal: https://goldengoal.world/ Read Alex's latest piece about the World Cup: https://newrepublic.com/article/212736/trump-world-cup-balogun-red-card-fifa

There is feeling that the era of American dominance in the world is coming to an end. But what is the view from other countries? That's what a new collection of essays from The Dial seeks to answer. Each essay offers a glimpse from another country and what we can learn about the United States by viewing it, with all its faults and enduring promise, through someone else's eyes. In this episode, the Institute for Global Affairs' Jonathan Guyer is joined by Madeleine, editor-in-chief of The Dial, to chat about How We See It. They take a tour around the world and reflect on some of the book's essays, including perspectives from Canada, India, and Palestine. Madeleine, who is based in Paris, also gives the view from France on impending elections, the transatlantic relationship, and more. Find Madeleine on X: https://x.com/mmschwartz   Read The Dial: https://www.thedial.world/   Check out How We See It: https://thenewpress.org/books/how-we-see-it/  

The wealthy countries of the Persian Gulf have steadily become some of the United States' closest partners, through investment, technology, and military relationships. But Israel's assault on Gaza and US-Israeli attacks against Iran have brought turbulence to the region. Now targeted by Iran, the Gulf states find themselves stuck in the middle of a conflict they did not choose.  In this episode, the Institute for Global Affairs' Jonathan Guyer is joined by Omar Rahman, a fellow at the Middle East Council on Global Affairs. Together they discuss how different Gulf states are navigating the current conflict with Iran, the state of the Abraham Accords, and Trump's Board of Peace. Omar also explains where Palestine fits into the picture and how a lack of legitimate leadership is holding Palestinian liberation back. Find Omar on X: https://x.com/omarrahman  Read his recent article in Foreign Policy: https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/04/07/iran-united-states-gulf-uae-qatar-bahrain-saudi-oman-war/ 

For decades, American air power dominated the skies. But, as we've seen with the Iran war, the advent of cheap drone technology is rapidly changing the dynamic. The United States has invested in billions in a military that was designed for traditional warfare, but how is it adapting to the present and preparing for wars of the future?  In this episode, the Institute for Global Affairs' Jonathan Guyer is joined by Kelly Grieco. Kelly is a senior fellow at the Stimson Center and an expert on military operations and air power. Together, they discuss vulnerabilities exposed by the war with Iran, how drones are changing the nature of war, and the importance of challenging entrenched beliefs about American power. Find Kelly on X: https://x.com/ka_grieco

How does geopolitics play out on one street? The residents of Istanbul carry on with their daily routines while reckoning with complex foreign-policy dynamics, which affect the entire neighborhood. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's authoritarian rise — against the backdrop of the US war on terror and the Syrian civil war — has forced the country  to newly contend with questions of nation and identity.  In this episode, the Institute for Global Affairs' Jonathan Guyer is joined by journalist Suzy Hansen. She discusses her new book From Life Itself: Turkey, Istanbul, and a Neighborhood in the Age of Erdoğan in which she traces the country's political and social evolution as the Turkish president consolidated his rule and asserted power on the global stage.  Find Suzy on X: https://x.com/suzyhans   Read From Life Itself: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374298432/fromlifeitself/ 

In Trump 2.0, China has surprisingly taken a backseat to a renewed focus on the Middle East. And as the United States becomes less predictable and reliable, China has positioned itself as a stable partner on the international stage.  In this episode, the Institute for Global Affairs' Jonathan Guyer is joined by Kaiser Kuo, host of the China current affairs podcast Sinica. They discuss how China is thinking about the United States in this moment, the country's approach to technology and innovation, and why China won't replace the United States anytime soon. Kaiser also points out that American and Chinese people have far more in common than they may realize.  Find Kaiser on X: https://x.com/KaiserKuo   Listen to Sinica: https://www.sinicapodcast.com/

War in the Middle East keeps expanding, oil prices are rising, and an unpredictable American president has everyone trying to guess his next move. As trust in media institutions hits an all-time low and disinformation spreads online, how can we begin to make sense of things? The proliferation of open-source intelligence, or OSINT, offers one answer. While it's possible to glean certain insights from these sources, they can also mislead people to wrong conclusions or game booming prediction markets.  In this episode, the Institute for Global Affairs' Jonathan Guyer is joined by friend of the pod Tyler McBrien, managing editor at Lawfare. Tyler recently wrote a piece on the perils of obsessively "monitoring the situation" for The Baffler. He and Jonathan discuss Trump's wars, why prediction markets and geopolitics shouldn't mix, and more.  Find Tyler on X: https://x.com/TylerMcBrien   Read Tyler's piece in The Baffler: https://thebaffler.com/latest/situational-unawareness-mcbrien   Check out Tyler's new series on who blew up the Georgia Guidestones: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/who-blew-up-the-guidestones/id1880399073 Jonathan's piece in The New Republic: https://newrepublic.com/article/208781/trump-iran-venezuela-one-big-war-world