What’s Next for the U.S., China, and the World? A Conversation with Wendy Cutler and Danny Russel

What’s Next for the U.S., China, and the World? A Conversation with Wendy Cutler and Danny Russel

On her final episode of Asia Inside Out, Rorry Daniels, managing director of the Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI), is joined by Wendy Cutler, senior vice president of ASPI; and Danny Russel, distinguished fellow at ASPI. With President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing now scheduled for May, they take stock of U.S.-China relations, assess how the Iran war is reshaping the strategic landscape, and examine how Indo-Pacific allies are interpreting recent developments. Drawing on their experience as senior diplomats, Cutler and Russel offer insights into possible outcomes of the Trump-Xi summit, as well as what Americans can expect at the negotiating table. (52 min., 47 sec.) Asia Inside Out brings together our team and special guests to take you beyond the latest policy headlines and provide an insider’s view on regional and global affairs. Each month we’ll deliver an interview with informed experts, analysts, and decision-makers from across the Asia-Pacific region. If you want to dig into the details of how policy works, this is the podcast for you.  This podcast is produced by the Asia Society Policy Institute, a “think-and-do tank” working on the cutting edge of current policy trends by incorporating the best ideas from our experts and contributors into recommendations for policy makers to put these plans into practice.

Revisiting U.S. Interests in Asia with the Honorable H.R. McMaster

February 9, 2026 — On this special episode of Asia Inside Out, Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, 25th Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs and non-resident distinguished fellow at Asia Society Policy Institute, speaks with Daniel Russel, former Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and distinguished fellow at Asia Society Policy Institute. They discuss U.S. defense and alliance strategy following the release of the 2025 National Security Strategy and 2026 National Defense Strategy, and how U.S. policy toward Asia fits within the current global security landscape. (55 min., 21 sec.) Asia Inside Out brings together our team and special guests to take you beyond the latest policy headlines and provide an insider’s view on regional and global affairs. Each month we’ll deliver an interview with informed experts, analysts, and decision-makers from across the Asia-Pacific region. If you want to dig into the details of how policy works, this is the podcast for you.  This podcast is produced by the Asia Society Policy Institute, a “think-and-do tank” working on the cutting edge of current policy trends by incorporating the best ideas from our experts and contributors into recommendations for policy makers to put these plans into practice.

Inside Iran’s Unrest with Jeffrey Feltman

January 22, 2026 — In this episode of Asia Inside Out, Rorry Daniels, Managing Director of the Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI), speaks with Jeffrey Feltman, Non-Resident Distinguished Fellow at ASPI, about the 2025-2026 protests in Iran and what they mean for the future of Ayatollah Khamenei’s regime. Daniels and Feltman unpack the range of international responses and examine how Iran fits into U.S. President Donald Trump’s evolving foreign policy calculus.  Asia Inside Out brings together our team and special guests to take you beyond the latest policy headlines and provide an insider’s view on regional and global affairs. Each month we’ll deliver an interview with informed experts, analysts, and decision-makers from across the Asia-Pacific region. If you want to dig into the details of how policy works, this is the podcast for you.  This podcast is produced by the Asia Society Policy Institute, a “think-and-do tank” working on the cutting edge of current policy trends by incorporating the best ideas from our experts and contributors into recommendations for policy makers to put these plans into practice.

Dr. Leslie Teo on Singapore’s Role in AI Development

On this episode of Asia Inside Out, Rorry Daniels, Managing Director, sits down with Dr. Leslie Teo, Senior Director of AI Products at AI Singapore, to explore how Singapore is shaping AI adoption and setting governance norms across Southeast Asia. Ahead of the upcoming AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, they cover the importance of localized large language models and open-source data to equitable AI adoption.  Asia Inside Out brings together our team and special guests to take you beyond the latest policy headlines and provide an insider’s view on regional and global affairs. Each month we’ll deliver an interview with informed experts, analysts, and decision-makers from across the Asia-Pacific region. If you want to dig into the details of how policy works, this is the podcast for you.  This podcast is produced by the Asia Society Policy Institute, a “think-and-do tank” working on the cutting edge of current policy trends by incorporating the best ideas from our experts and contributors into recommendations for policy makers to put these plans into practice.

10 Years After Paris: Todd Stern on the Future of Climate Diplomacy

On this episode of Asia Inside Out, Rorry Daniels, Managing Director of the Asia Society Policy Institute, speaks with Todd Stern, Non-Resident Distinguished Fellow at ASPI and the former chief U.S. negotiator for the Paris Climate Agreement. They discuss the progress the world has made toward the Paris goals ten years after COP21, the impact of the United States’ withdrawal from the agreement, and China’s climate diplomacy. Todd shares insights from COP30, the emerging players in Asia shaping the future of climate multilateralism, and how global climate diplomacy can adapt in a rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape. Asia Inside Out brings together our team and special guests to take you beyond the latest policy headlines and provide an insider’s view on regional and global affairs. Each month we’ll deliver an interview with informed experts, analysts, and decision-makers from across the Asia-Pacific region. If you want to dig into the details of how policy works, this is the podcast for you.  This podcast is produced by the Asia Society Policy Institute, a “think-and-do tank” working on the cutting edge of current policy trends by incorporating the best ideas from our experts and contributors into recommendations for policy makers to put these plans into practice.