Global Dispatches -- World News That Matters

Donald Trump's foreign policy team is taking shape. So for today's episiode, I wanted to give listeners a deeper understanding of some of the key players that will shape US foreign policy in the years to come. My guest is Josh Keating, a senior reporter at Vox and a veteran of DC foreign policy reporting. We go through a list of key foreign policy figures in the incomming administration, discuss the distinct foreign policy traditions and personal experiences that have informed their worldviews, and explain what baggage or, perhaps more charitably, perspectives they will bring to their new roles. We then discuss how key decisions on Ukraine may determine what faction of Republican foreign policy ideology may have the upper hand in Trump's second administration. Get a 40% discount off a paid subcription while supporting our work!  https://www.globaldispatches.org/40Off [https://www.globaldispatches.org/40Off]

A new year. A new United Nations. In this 2025 debut episode of To Save Us From Hell, Fordham University professor Anjali Dayal and I discuss what to expect in the year ahead at the United Nations. We cover a lot of ground—from the new composition of the UN Security Council to China’s new status as a major funder of the UN system, the chaos Trump is likely to bring, and much, much more. Get 40% off your subscription by following this link! https://www.globaldispatches.org/40Off [https://www.globaldispatches.org/40Off]

The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which prohibits the manufacture, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons, entered into force in 1997. It is now the most widely adopted international arms control treaty, with 193 states parties. The CWC is a clear example of a treaty that works. Since its adoption, all declared chemical weapon stockpiles have been destroyed, including those of the United States last year. Its broad acceptance has also reinforced international norms against chemical weapons use. When such weapons were deployed in Syria in 2013, the atrocity prompted Russia and the United States to pressure the Assad regime to join the CWC and allow investigators from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to oversee the destruction of Syria’s remaining stockpile. This effort earned the OPCW the Nobel Peace Prize that same year. The CWC is fulfilling its purpose. Joining me to discuss how the treaty was created, its success in shaping state behavior, and what lies ahead now that all declared stockpiles have been eliminated is Paul Walker. He is the chair of the Chemical Weapons Convention Coalition, vice chair of the Arms Control Association, and a former weapons inspector. We begin with the history of efforts to ban chemical weapons before exploring how the CWC has transformed the global approach to these weapons of mass destruction. This episode is produced in partnership with Lex International, a philanthropic fund dedicated to strengthening international law to address global challenges. It is part of a series showcasing how treaties make the world a safer place. To access the transcript of this episode and others in the series, visit GlobalDispatches.org

Today’s episode is produced in partnership with the CGIAR Research Initiative on Fragility, Conflict, and Migration for a series that examines what works to improve the well-being of people in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Settings. CGIAR is a global partnership that unites international organizations engaged in research about food security. We are calling this series “From Fragility to Stability,” and in today’s episode, we examine how a novel school milk program in Yemen is fighting food insecurity and achieving other impressive results. You will hear from: * Adeeb Qasem, Director for Economic Development Initiatives at the HSA Group * Lily Bliznashka, a research fellow at the Nutrition, Diets, and Health Unit at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Jimmy Carter passed away on December 29th, at the age of 100.  Jimmy Carter's term in office coincided with some key events in international affairs, including the Iran hostage crisis and the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan. But for my money, Jimmy Carter's most lasting legacy will be what he did after office.  And in terms of history alterting impacts on the human species, Jimmy Carter has no greater legacy than his determination to eradite guinea worm disease.   Guinea worm is a water born parasite that when ingested grows and grows until it painfully exits the body through a lesion in the skin. There is no treatment for it. There is no cure for it. But it can be prevented.  And if prevented everywhere, Guinea Worm Disease will be eradicated.  We are now on the cusp of global eradication moment. This is largely thanks to the work of the Carter Center.  In 1986, 3.5 million people a year were impacted by guinea worm disease across 21 countries in Africa and Asia. Then, Jimmy Carter decided to make guinea worm eradicationa pillar of his post-presidential work. According to the Carter Center, the incidence of Guinea worm has been reduced by more than 99.99 percent. As of last year there were just 14 cases of the disease.  In February 2023, I caught up with Adam Joseph Weiss, director of the Guinea Worm Eradication Program at the Carter Center. In our conversation he explained how the Carter Center and its partners are able to confront this ancient parasite and why they are so tantalizingly close to global guinea worm eradication.  Rest in power, Jimmy Carter