Brussels Sprouts

Behind the Turmoil in Italian Politics with Erik Jones

Dr. Erik Jones, Director of European and Eurasian Studies at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced and International Studies, joins Dr. Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend for a rundown of what’s happening in Italian politics. Matteo Salvini’s defection from the previous coalition government set off a series of events that have resulted in Salvini’s League party on the outside and the incumbent Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, still in power. Dr. Jones explains what is likely to happen next and what the options are for Conte and Salvini going forward.

Brexit with Luke Coffey and Amanda Sloat

Luke Coffey of The Heritage Foundation and Dr. Amanda Sloat of the Brookings Institution join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend for a rundown of the latest Brexit developments. As the current government presses on to make good on its promise of a “do or die” Brexit, a diverse set of opponents in the House of Commons has responded with a parliamentary campaign to delay a no-deal Brexit. What could the future hold for British politics and the country's relationship with the European Union?

A Conversation with Maggie Feldman-Piltch and #NatSecGirlSquad

#NatSecGirlSquad founder and Unicorn Strategies managing director Maggie Feldman-Piltch joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the importance of competent diversity in the national security apparatus.

”The New Battle for the Atlantic” with Magnus Nordenman

Former Director of the Transatlantic Security Initiative at the Atlantic Council Magnus Nordenman joins Jim Townsend and Carisa Nietsche to break down his latest book, The New Battle for the Atlantic. Their conversation focuses on Russia’s naval resurgence and military investment in the north Atlantic as well as NATO’s best strategies for securing its namesake territory.

Ilan Goldenberg on Iran, Europe, and the United States

CNAS Senior Fellow and Middle East Security Program Director Ilan Goldenberg joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend for an in-depth look at the current situation in the Strait of Hormuz. With Iran seizing foreign oil tankers and Washington’s recalcitrance in the face of European diplomatic efforts, there’s an ever-present danger that escalation might lead to a conflict that no side wants.

Populism in America and Abroad with Dr. Sheri Berman

Populism expert Dr. Sheri Berman of Barnard College joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend for a discussion about the history, present, and future of populism in Europe and the United States. How is populism reshaping young democracies in Eastern Europe, as well as more established democracies in Western Europe and the United States?

Dmitry Suslov on the Trends Shaping Russian-American Relations

Dmitry Suslov, Deputy Director of the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs at the National Research University Higher School of Economics, joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend for an in-depth discussion about the state of Russian-American relations. How does each country view the other, and are their competing visions for world order irreconcilable?

The Populist Challenge to Liberal Democracy with Cas Mudde

Dr. Cas Mudde, Stanley Wade Shelton UGAF Professor of International Affairs at the University of Georgia, joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Rachel Rizzo to discuss contemporary populism. Right- and left-wing populist movements have grown around the world in the last decade, but right- and left-wing populists feature remarkable differences. Dr. Mudde underlines that populism is a fundamental challenge to liberal democracies everywhere.

The State of Global Democracy with Larry Diamond

Senior fellow at the Hoover Institution and at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies Dr. Larry Diamond joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Carisa Nietsche to discuss the health of global democracy and his latest book, Ill Winds: Saving Democracy from Russian Rage, Chinese Ambition, and American Complacency. Dr. Diamond discusses the electoral, institutional, and geopolitical threats to the world’s democracies and what solutions the United States, Europe, and their allies can forward to bolster against authoritarian states’ resurgence.

Istanbul, Erdogan, and the Future of Turkish Politics with Steven A. Cook

Dr. Steven A. Cook, Council on Foreign Relations Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies, joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Carisa Nietsche for a discussion on the latest rerun of the Istanbul mayoral election. A decade of divisive AKP politics has turned Erdogan’s ‘stronghold’ of Istanbul against him, but his personalist regime is far from collapse. Going forward, Erdogan and the AKP will try to box in opposition urban mayors and retain as tight a grip on national-level politics as possible.