A nation must think before it acts.
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.
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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The Rise of Digital Repression
This week, Aaron spoke with Steven Feldstein, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, about his new book, The Rise of Digital Repression: How Technology is Reshaping Power, Politics, and Resistance (Oxford University Press,...
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Russian-Turkish Relations and Their Implications for the West
The relationship between the Russian Federation and Republic of Turkey is one of the most important bilateral relationships in Eurasia today. This week Aaron chats with Robert Hamilton and Anna Mikulska, authors of FPRI’s latest report “Russian-Turkish Relations...
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Learning From Our Adversaries: Russian Aerial Operations in Syria
In this episode, Aaron speaks with Mule about the lessons that the United States should learn from the Russian Aerospace Forces’ operations in Syria. Mule is preparing to deploy to Jordan to command an operational support squadron. The views...
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Great Power Competition Explained
On this week’s episode, Dr. Thomas Lynch joins the show to discuss his latest book, Strategic Assessment 2020: Into a New Era of Great Power Competition, which includes a series of essays about Great Power Competition and U.S. national security...
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Transactionalism with Turkey
In this episode of Chain Reaction, Aaron speaks with Nicholas Danforth, a Non-Resident Senior Research Fellow at the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy, about the current state of U.S.-Turkish relations during the Biden administration. To be the...
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The Air War Against the Islamic State
The air war against the Islamic State was critical to the territorial defeat of the group’s territorial caliphate and a key enabler of American partner operation led ground combat. To discuss the air war, Aaron spoke this week with...
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The Middle East and America’s Global Posture
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has launched a global posture review, shortly after taking office. To discuss the process and the likely implications for U.S. posture in the Central Command area of operation, Aaron speaks this week with Becca...
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The Tip of the Spear: Special Operations Forces And Great Power Competition
Great power competition is likely to outlast the Trump presidency. To discuss the Biden Administration’s national security priorities and the role that special forces are likely to play, Aaron speaks with Tim Ball, a special forces officer and a...
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