‘Ask Me Anything,’ and Why Ravi’s Kyiv Visit Left Him So Worried

It’s time for another ask-me-anything edition of FP Live. After a trip to Kyiv, FP editor in chief Ravi Agrawal explained why new developments in drone technology have him worried about conflicts around the world. Plus, he takes on the energy market, why both the United States and Iran have overreached in their ongoing conflict, and how Chinese President Xi Jinping sees the world.  Ravi Agrawal: Why My Kyiv Visit Worried Me So Much Ravi Agrawal: Trump Has Peaked Ravi Agrawal: Iran Could Be Trump’s Greatest Failure Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this bonus episode, host Ravi Agrawal presents his recent essay arguing that U.S. President Donald Trump has peaked. While Trump still has two years left in office and immense potential for global disruption, Ravi makes the case that his coercive powers are in clear decline, as seen through a depleted military and an array of global moves to de-risk from the White House. As companies and countries realize this shift, they will change how they act toward the United States and how they think about a future world order.  Ravi Agrawal: Trump Has Peaked Hal Brands: How to Survive in a World Without Rules Charles A. Kupchan: The World’s Only Real Hope of Maintaining Order Mariana Mazzucato: How to Write Better Rules for Global Finance Michael Beckley: A New Engine of Development Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Behind every major decision, whether by a family buying a home or a shipping company deciding to transit the Strait of Hormuz, lies the judgment of the insurance markets. How do insurers evaluate risk, and what can we learn from how they attach a premium to conflict or natural disasters? John Doyle, the president and CEO of Marsh, a conglomerate that includes the world’s largest insurance broker, joins the show to discuss how he evaluates geopolitical risk—and how companies and countries should protect themselves from disruption. Ravi Agrawal: Trump Has Peaked Hal Brands: How to Survive in a World Without Rules Charles A. Kupchan: The World’s Only Real Hope of Maintaining Order Mariana Mazzucato: How to Write Better Rules for Global Finance Michael Beckley: A New Engine of Development Elisabeth Braw: Can Ships in the Gulf Take Trump at His Word? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 The global order may be broken, but international relations scholar Charles A. Kupchan has a plan to remake it. In a forthcoming Foreign Policy essay, he argues that because power is becoming more diffuse, regional groupings such as the European Union and Association of Southeast Asian Nations will become more essential. But to really manage global governance, he proposes the creation of a high-level brain trust that would sit above a currently paralyzed United Nations and resolve disputes between world powers. Kupchan joins FP Live to discuss how to put his provocative plan into action. Plus, Ravi shares his read on how China and the United States are presenting two different visions of leadership at this week’s G-20 and Shanghai Cooperation Organization conferences. Alexandra Sharp: Moscow’s Moment of Global Summitry Comfort Ero and Richard Gowan: Peacemaking Is Power Politics Again Bruno Maçães: What Comes After Global Order Nick Danforth: Who Killed the Liberal International Order? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The United States is burning through some of its most advanced munitions in its war with Iran this year. By some accounts, inventories of high-end Patriot and THAAD interceptors may be depleted by as much as 80 percent. Replacing them could take years, even as military planners worry about needs in Europe and the Indo-Pacific. Tom Karako, director of the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ Missile Defense Project, has tracked just how deep the shortfall runs and what it would take to fix it. He joins FP Live to assess the state of U.S. stockpiles and what it means about the future of American preparedness. John Haltiwanger and Rishi Iyengar: The Iran War Has Left the U.S. Dangerously Exposed Sam Skove: U.S. War in Iran Leaves Ukraine’s Air Defense in Limbo Robert Almelor Delfeld: The U.S. Munitions Deficit Is a Political Problem Franz-Stefan Gady: Europe’s Dangerous Hesitation on Its Own Air Defense Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Political outrage is a constant part of modern life, from social media to surges of global protests. But what actually changes? Why do so many structural issues seem deeply entrenched despite high levels of voter turnout? Anton Jäger has a term for this mismatch: hyperpolitics. He joins FP Live to explain the paradox of politicization without institutionalization, why right-wing parties maneuver this era more successfully, and whether the Democratic Socialists of America party is a sign of a new political order.  Plus, Ravi shares his read on why the United States canceled its joint military exercises with South Korea. Alexandra Sharp: Is Trump Choosing North Korea Over South Korea? Derek Grossman: Colby’s ‘Flexible Realism’ Won’t Work in the Indo-Pacific Anton Jäger: The End of Political Parties Steven A. Cook: Outrage Culture Is Ruining Foreign Policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gulf countries like Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates have created entire cities and world-class airlines off the back of energy riches and U.S. security. The Iran war has upended the calculations of the Gulf monarchs. How are they rethinking their strategies? Allison Minor worked on Gulf policy in the Biden administration and joins FP Live to share her analysis.  Plus, Ravi shares his read on what the recent migrant crisis in Ceuta means for the future of immigration policy. Allison Minor and April Longley Alley: A Saudi-Emirati Thaw Can Help Contain Iran Saeid Jafari: The Regional Order Iran Wanted Is Taking Shape Without It Steven A. Cook: Economic Integration in the Middle East Is a False God Rob Geist Pinfold: Discord in the Gulf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Strait of Hormuz may be the chokepoint of the moment, but it’s actually not even the one that’s most concerning to Eddie Fishman, the author of Chokepoints: American Power in the Age of Economic Warfare. He explains why U.S. dollar dominance, Chinese critical mineral control, and the semiconductor supply chain are more potent in terms of how much they can impact geopolitics—and how countries and companies might weaponize them.  Plus, why is China following such a radically different artificial intelligence strategy than the United States? Ravi shares his read. Graham Allison: America’s Cosmic Bet on AI Rishi Iyengar: China Is AI-Maxxing Agathe Demarais: How China Is Winning the Global AI Race Keith Johnson: America’s Economic Warfare Is Sowing Its Own Demise Bob Davis: Does the United States Have the Weapons for Trade War? Maximilian Hess: Trump Has Weakened America’s Sanctions Weapon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The ongoing war in Iran has been called the biggest energy crisis in history. How is it changing the plans of countries and companies? Which changes will be permanent? Ravi turns to Daniel Yergin, the world’s foremost expert of the oil industry and its history. Yergin is the vice chairman of S&P Global and the author of The Prize, The Quest and, most recently, The New Map: Energy, Climate, and the Clash of Nations. Plus, Ravi shares his read on the expanding conflict in the Middle East. Philip H. Gordon: There’s Only One Way Out of Trump’s Reckless War Allison Minor and Nate Swanson: How to End the Iran War Fatih Birol: The Global Energy Map Is Being Redrawn in Real Time Michael Hirsh: How the Iran War Reshaped the Global Landscape of Power  John V. Bowlus: Escaping the Hormuz Trap Ali Ahmadi: The Oil Market Is Much More Vulnerable Than Trump Believes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Iran and the United States are locked in a familiar pattern. Conflict has resumed, both sides seem caught in an escalation trap, and oil prices are rising. What would it take for Tehran and Washington to both save face and step back? Ravi Agrawal turns to career diplomat and Iran expert Nate Swanson, who was fired by the Trump administration last year.  Plus, Ravi shares his read on India’s youth protests and the so-called “Cockroach Janata Party.”  Sumit Ganguly: India’s Cockroach Movement Gains Momentum Ellie Geranmayeh: How the United States and Iran Can Solve Hormuz Dennis Ross: How to Isolate Tehran David Ignatius: Trump Pushed the Reset Button. This is ‘Iran Fiasco 2.0.’ Keith Johnson: Energy Markets’ False Dawn May Be Over Rob Geist Pinfold and Dania Thafer: The Gulf States That Iran Thinks It Can Attack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices