Foreign Policy on the Ballot w/ Shibley Telhami & Dina Smeltz

Foreign policy generally doesn't shape the way Americans vote. But America's actions abroad have direct consequences at home. Our guests today are experts in public opinion polling and argue that in this year's midterm elections, foreign policy is very much on the ballot.  In this episode, the Institute for Global Affairs' Jonathan Guyer is joined by Shibley Telhami, a distinguished scholar at the University of Maryland, and Dina Smeltz, director of public opinion and foreign policy at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. Together they discuss the Iran war as a pocketbook issue, where US public opinion has shifted most, the decline of bipartisanship, and more. Find Shibley on X: https://x.com/ShibleyTelhami  Find Dina on X: https://x.com/RoguePollster  Check out the Chicago Council's newest polling: https://globalaffairs.org/research/public-opinion-survey/americans-foreign-policy-and-2026-midterms  Check out the Critical Issues Poll: https://criticalissues.umd.edu/  

Silicon Valley is a child of the Pentagon. Cold War programs like DARPA bankrolled the research that gave us the internet. Today, the relationship has flipped: tech companies and their powerful CEOs wield far more influence over how and when the country wages war. What happens when private interests outweigh national security interests? And what makes the military's relationship with this new crop of defense tech startups from the contractors that came before?  In this episode, the Institute for Global Affairs' Jonathan Guyer is joined by national security reporter Sharon Weinberger to discuss her new book Valley of Death: How Big Tech is Fueling the Future of War. They examine the on-again, off-again relationship between Silicon Valley and the Pentagon, the gold rush ignited by the war in Ukraine, the way today's battlefields have become proving grounds for new defense products, and much more. This conversation originally took place at the 92nd Street Y in New York. Find Sharon on X: https://x.com/weinbergersa   Get a copy of Valley of Death: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/sharon-weinberger/valley-of-death/9780316595933/?lens=little-brown

Does Israel's power in domestic politics threaten the very foundations of American democracy? How has the relationship between Israel and the United States changed over the past two decades — and where will it go from here? In this episode, the Institute for Global Affairs' Jonathan Guyer is joined by investigative journalist Eli Clifton to discuss his new book Israel's Lobby: America in the Grip of a Foreign Power alongside Harvard professor Stephen Walt, who authored The Israel Lobby and US Foreign Policy nearly two decades ago. Together they discuss the evolution of the tactics of influence, how the debate has shifted amid the Gaza war, and much more. Find Eli on X: https://x.com/EliClifton Check out Israel's Lobby: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Israels-Lobby/Eli-Clifton/9781668210840 Read Stephen's Foreign Policy column: https://foreignpolicy.com/author/stephen-m-walt/

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