Chain Reaction

A podcast from the Foreign Policy Research Institute examining America’s role on the world stage. Every two weeks we’ll talk to experts about policy relevant news from around the world and why it matters for U.S. foreign policy.

Please note this podcast was known as the Middle East Brief prior to 2021. 

 

AUKUS: A Deep-Dive on U.S.-Australia Ties

On this episode, Aaron speaks with Susannah Patton, a Research Fellow in the Foreign Policy and Defence Program at the United States Studies Centre, about the recent submarine agreement. For listeners, check out Susannah’s latest report, Correcting the Course:...

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How Do You Solve a Problem Like Navalny?

In this special series hosted by FPRI Fellow and BMB Russia founder, Aaron Schwartzbaum, we’ll explore politics, economics, and their intersection in Russia, Ukraine, and the post-Soviet space and beyond.  This week, Jan Matti Dollbaum, Morvan Lallouet, Ben Noble,...

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Parliamentary, My Dear Watson

In this special series hosted by FPRI Fellow and BMB Russia founder, Aaron Schwartzbaum, we’ll explore politics, economics, and their intersection in Russia, Ukraine, and the post-Soviet space. This week Aaron speaks with Felix Light, a reporter with the...

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Russia’s Coercive Diplomacy: Looking Back at the Ukraine Crisis

To discuss recent events in Ukraine, Aaron speaks this week with Rob Lee, a FPRI Eurasia Fellow, about his recent report, Russia’s Coercive Diplomacy. The conversation explores Rob’s research about Russia’s military build up around Ukraine and what that...

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Tanker War 2.0: Iranian Strategy in the Gulf

  The Iranian government is accused of using a loitering munition to strike the tanker Mercer Street, killing two crew members. The attack is the latest incident at sea involving the Iranians and international shipping. To discuss Iranian strategy...

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Defining the China Challenge: The Future of the U.S. Navy

On this episode of Chain Reaction, Aaron speaks with Chris Dougherty, senior fellow for defense at CNAS and the co-lead of the CNAS gaming lab, about a recent article he wrote for War on the Rocks, Gradually and then Suddenly: Explaining the...

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Mishustin Impossible

In this special series hosted by FPRI Fellow and BMB Russia founder, Aaron Schwartzbaum, we’ll explore politics, economics, and their intersection in Russia, Ukraine, and the post-Soviet space and beyond.  This week Aaron speaks with Fabian Burkhardt, a research...

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Biden’s Visit to NATO

  President Biden just finished a three-country trip, where he met with world leaders in the United Kingdom, Belgium, and in Switzerland. The main focus of the trip was to reinvigorate U.S. alliances in Europe and with NATO. To discuss the...

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Wither Democracy?

This week we’d like to introduce a special series recorded in collaboration with FPRI’s BMB Russia, a news brief that brings together the latest on Russia’s economy, politics, business, and political risk environment.  FPRI’s BMB Russia brings you news...

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Finding Mobile Targets: Reviewing the War in Gaza

On this episode, Aaron speaks with Mike Benitez, a U.S. military officer and creator of the Merge newsletter, about the challenges of finding mobile rocket launchers in an urban environment. The views expressed in this episode do not necessarily...

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