The Grand Strategy Sessions

Chris Preble and Emma Ashford: First Among Equals

The Strategy Sessions is a limited-run podcast hosted by Emma Ashford, a senior fellow with the Reimagining US Grand Strategy Program at the Stimson Center. Today, Emma talks with Christopher Preble, the director of the Reimagining US Grand Strategy Program. Emma and Chris talk about Emma’s book, First Among Equals. They also discuss wider themes in the New Visions for Grand Strategy series, and answer some of the questions Emma has posed to other guests on the podcast.  Emma and Chris’s discussion is part of the New Visions for Grand Strategy Project [https://www.stimson.org/project/new-visions/], a collection of essays, videos, and podcasts in which out-of-the box thinkers discuss the future of U.S. foreign policy. *The Strategy Sessions Podcast is hosted by the Stimson Center and produced by University FM. SHOW LINKS: * Emma Ashford, First Among Equals: U.S. Foreign Policy for a Multipolar World [https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300279542/first-among-equals/] (Yale University Press, 2025) * Christopher Preble, 2024, A Credible Grand Strategy: The Urgent Need to Set Priorities [https://www.stimson.org/2024/a-credible-grand-strategy-the-urgent-need-to-set-priorities/#elementor-toc__heading-anchor-0]. The Stimson Center, Washington D.C., USA. * Emma Ashford and Nevada Joan Lee, eds., 2025,  New Visions for Grand Strategy [https://www.stimson.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/New-Visions-Full-Report.pdf]The Stimson Center, Washington, D.C., USA

Jennifer Lind: Progressivism and Prioritization

The Strategy Sessions is a limited-run podcast hosted by Emma Ashford, a senior fellow with the Reimagining US Grand Strategy Program at the Stimson Center. Today, Emma talks with Jennifer Lind, an associate professor of Government at Dartmouth College. Emma and Jenny discuss prioritization, burden shifting, and how a strong progressive grand strategy can benefit the wider U.S. foreign policy debate. Emma and Jenny’s discussion is part of the New Visions for Grand Strategy Project [https://www.stimson.org/project/new-visions/], a collection of essays, videos, and podcasts in which out-of-the box thinkers discuss the future of U.S. foreign policy. *The Strategy Sessions Podcast is hosted by the Stimson Center and produced by University FM. SHOW LINKS: * Emma Ashford, First Among Equals: U.S. Foreign Policy for a Multipolar World [https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300279542/first-among-equals/] (Yale University Press, 2025 * Jennifer Lind and Daryl G. Press, “Strategies of Prioritization: American Foreign Policy After Primacy, [https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/strategies-prioritization-lind-press]” Foreign Affairs, June 24, 2025 * Jennifer Lind “To Build the World, Build the Strategy: Progressive US Foreign Policy” in New Visions for Grand Strategy [https://www.stimson.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/New-Visions-Full-Report.pdf], edited by Emma Ashford and Nevada Joan Lee,The Stimson Center. Washington, D.C., USA

Jeremy Shapiro: Eat, Pray, Campaign

The Strategy Sessions is a limited-run podcast hosted by Emma Ashford, a senior fellow with the Reimagining US Grand Strategy Program at the Stimson Center. Today, Emma talks with Jeremy Shapiro, the research director at the European Council on Foreign Relations. Emma and Jeremy discuss the end of U.S. unipolarity and what that means for the American ethos, and how potential Democratic candidates are thinking about building a foreign policy that aims to resonate emotionally with the American people. Emma and Jeremy’s discussion is part of the New Visions for Grand Strategy Project [https://www.stimson.org/project/new-visions/], a collection of essays, videos, and podcasts in which out-of-the box thinkers discuss the future of U.S. foreign policy. *The Strategy Sessions Podcast is hosted by the Stimson Center and produced by University FM. SHOW LINKS: * Emma Ashford, First Among Equals: U.S. Foreign Policy for a Multipolar World [https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300279542/first-among-equals/] (Yale University Press, 2025) * Jeremy Shapiro, “The Bully’s Pulpit: Finding Patterns in Trump’s Use of Military Force [https://ecfr.eu/article/the-bullys-pulpit-finding-patterns-in-trumps-use-of-military-force/],” European Council on Foreign Relations, May 8, 2025 * Jeremy Shapiro, “Eat, Pray, Govern: The Search for Meaning in Democrats’ Foreign Policy” in New Visions for Grand Strategy [https://www.stimson.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/New-Visions-Full-Report.pdf], edited by Emma Ashford and Nevada Joan Lee,The Stimson Center. Washington, D.C., USA

Julia Gledhill: Nationalization and the Military-Industrial Complex

The Strategy Sessions is a limited-run podcast hosted by Emma Ashford, a senior fellow with the Reimagining US Grand Strategy Program at the Stimson Center. Today, Emma talks with Julia Gledhill, a research analyst with the National Security Reform Program also at the Stimson Center. Emma and Julia discuss the state of the U.S. defense industry, current proposals for Pentagon acquisition reforms, and how partial nationalization of U.S. defense companies could help remove constraints on strategic decision-making.  Emma and Julia’s discussion is part of the New Visions for Grand Strategy Project [https://www.stimson.org/project/new-visions/], a collection of essays, videos, and podcasts in which out-of-the box thinkers discuss the future of U.S. foreign policy. *The Strategy Sessions Podcast is hosted by the Stimson Center and produced by University FM. SHOW LINKS: * Emma Ashford, First Among Equals: U.S. Foreign Policy for a Multipolar World [https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300279542/first-among-equals/] (Yale University Press, 2025) * Julia Gledhill, “The Ugly Truth about the Permanent War Economy,” [https://www.stimson.org/2024/the-ugly-truth-about-the-permanent-war-economy/] The Stimson Center, December 2, 2024 * Julia Gledhill, “Recognizing Reality: The Case for Nationalizing the US Arms Industry“ in New Visions for Grand Strategy [https://www.stimson.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/New-Visions-Full-Report.pdf], edited by Emma Ashford and Nevada Joan Lee, The Stimson Center. Washington, D.C., USA

Mohammed Soliman: A Techno-Industrial Strategy

The Strategy Sessions is a limited-run podcast hosted by Emma Ashford, a senior fellow with the Reimagining US Grand Strategy Program at the Stimson Center. Today, Emma talks with Mohammed Soliman, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute. Emma and Mohammed discuss why American leaders need to focus not only on designing the future – but building it, how industrial policy ties into foreign policy, and what role AI and new innovations might play in shaping America’s role abroad. Emma and Mohammed’s discussion is part of the New Visions for Grand Strategy Project [https://www.stimson.org/project/new-visions/], a collection of essays, videos, and podcasts in which out-of-the box thinkers discuss the future of U.S. foreign policy. *The Strategy Sessions Podcast is hosted by the Stimson Center and produced by University FM. SHOW LINKS: * Emma Ashford, First Among Equals: U.S. Foreign Policy for a Multipolar World [https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300279542/first-among-equals/] (Yale University Press, 2025) * Mohammed Soliman, West Asia: A New American Grand Strategy in the Middle East [https://www.wiley.com/en-ie/West+Asia%3A+A+New+American+Grand+Strategy+in+the+Middle+East-p-9781509568376] (Polity Press, Forthcoming)  * Mohammed Soliman, “A Techno-Industrial Strategy for the Exponential Age“in New Visions for Grand Strategy [https://www.stimson.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/New-Visions-Full-Report.pdf], edited by Emma Ashford and Nevada Joan Lee,The Stimson Center. Washington, D.C., USA