Brussels Sprouts

Special Episode: Ulrike Franke on the State of German Politics

Ulrike Franke, a Policy Fellow with the European Council on Foreign Relations, speaks with Jim Townsend and Dr. Andrea Kendall-Taylor about the rapidly shifting nature of German politics in a special mid-week episode of Brussels Sprouts.

Anna Wieslander on Swedish Elections and the Nordic View of European Defense

Anna Wieslander, the Director of Northern Europe with the Future Europe Initiative at the Atlantic Council, speaks to Jim Townsend about this year's elections in Sweden, as well as the distinctly Nordic view of European defense.

Combatting Disinformation in Lithuania

Viktoras Daukšas, the Director of the Demaskuok.lt (DeBunk) Initiative, and Giedrius, one of the many “elves” fighting Russian trolls online throughout the Baltic region, sit down with Dr. Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Bacevich Fellow Rachel Rizzo to discuss their experiences with disinformation and how best to fight it.

UK Dir. of International Security Policy on the US-UK Relationship and a Changing NATO

Nick Gurr, the Director of International Security Policy at the UK Ministry of Defense, joins Dr. Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the deep connections between the US and the UK, the benefits of a dynamic NATO, and the new normal in relations with Russia.

Christian Mölling on German Defense Spending, Burden-Sharing, and Strategic Autonomy

Christian Mölling, the deputy director of the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), sits down with Dr. Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the conversations happening in the German Bundestag right now about defense spending, burden sharing, and strategic autonomy amid shifting transatlantic dynamics.

Julie Smith and Jim Townsend Reflect on the Podcast and Julie’s Upcoming Transition to Berlin

Julie Smith and Jim Townsend sit down for a bookend episode of Brussels Sprouts to look back on previous episodes and what they’ve learned from them. They also take the time to reflect on Julie’s time at CNAS as she sets out for Berlin and how her commitments to and ambitions in the transatlantic relationship evolved over her career.

Sophia Besch Talks German Politics, Defense, and U.S.-German Relations

Sophia Besch of the Center for European Reform joins Jim Townsend to discuss the shifting internal dynamics in Germany and what they mean for U.S.-German relations, defense spending, and how President Trump is changing things.

LTG (R) Ben Hodges on U.S. Troops in Europe, German Defense, and NATO’s Role in the Black Sea

LTG (R) Ben Hodges, the Pershing Chair in Strategic Studies at the Center for European Policy Analysis, joins Julie Smith and Jim Townsend to discuss his recent piece advocating against permanently basing U.S. troops in Poland, his time commanding United States Army Europe, the current health of the U.S.-German relationship, and prospects for NATO flotilla in the Black Sea.

Special Edition: The 2018 NATO Summit – a European Perspective

The 2018 NATO Summit is one of the most anticipated events in transatlantic relations this year. Seven European embassy defense representatives join Julie Smith and Jim Townsend to offer their countries’ perspectives and expectations for the Summit as it quickly approaches.

Special Edition: Expectations for the 2018 NATO Summit with former U.S. Ambassadors to NATO

The 2018 NATO Summit is just over the horizon but much remains uncertain and the transatlantic relationship is being tested. To give us a better grasp on what to expect in July, Julie Smith and Jim Townsend sat down with three former U.S. Permanent Representatives to NATO Ambassador Victoria Nuland, Ambassador Doug Lute, and Ambassador Alexander “Sandy” Vershbow.