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Iran's national team can't spend the night in the United States. A referee arrived with a valid visa and was turned back at the border. FIFA promised free movement for all teams. Trump didn't care.
Welcome to the 2026 World Cup, the most geopolitically charged sporting event in modern history.
Maryanne Maldonado sits down with Dr. Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, Fellow at Rice University's Baker Institute Middle East Institute and one of the leading voices on the intersection of sports, politics, and global affairs, to break down what's really happening beneath the surface of this tournament. From sportswashing and FIFA's Faustian bargain with Trump, to what Houston's diversity means in a World Cup era of ICE fears and diaspora communities, to the jaw-dropping scenario of the US potentially playing Iran on July 3rd, this episode connects the beautiful game to the ugliest geopolitical tensions of our time.
And when the final whistle blows? The legacy might not be the politics. It might be a generation of American kids who fell in love with soccer.
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Topics covered:
Iran's team commuting from Tijuana — is this a FIFA breach?How Trump outmaneuvered FIFA's free movement guaranteeWhat sportswashing actually means — and why this World Cup inverts itGianni Infantino's strategy with Trump — and why it failedHouston as a host city: diversity, ICE concerns & diaspora communitiesThe 2028 LA Olympics — what the IOC is watching right nowCould the US play Iran on July 3rd? What that would meanAmerica 250 celebrations in the middle of the tournamentThe lasting legacy: politics or grassroots soccer growth? -
The headlines called it a diplomatic breakthrough. A leading China expert calls it something else.
Scott Kennedy, Senior Advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and one of America's foremost authorities on the Chinese economy, with 38 years of on-the-ground experience in China, joins Maryanne Maldonado to break down what actually happened at the Trump-Xi summit in Beijing, and what was conspicuously left unsaid.
The two sides agreed to a framework of "constructive strategic stability." But Kennedy argues that framework is far more comfortable for Beijing than Washington. China used rare earth restrictions to force the US to retreat on tariffs and export controls, and in doing so, grabbed control of the dial that sets the temperature of the entire relationship. Now both sides hold it. And Taiwan, Iran, human rights, and Chinese industrial policy were all quietly sidelined in favor of soybeans, beef, and Boeing contracts.
What does this summit mean for Taiwan? For Iran? For the future of AI competition between the world's two superpowers? And when historians look back in five years, what will this moment actually represent?
Hosted by Maryanne Maldonado | The Greater Loop — A podcast of the World Affairs Council of Houston
Subscribe for global affairs content that connects the world to your world.
Topics covered:
Was the Beijing summit a turning point or a tactical pause?How China used rare earths to force US concessionsWhat "constructive strategic stability" actually means to BeijingThe G2 framework — and why China is quietly thrilledTaiwan: why anxiety spiked after the summitIran, the Middle East & why Washington needed Beijing's helpAI safety dialogue — what was agreed and what it meansTrade deals: Boeings, beef, soybeans & energy purchasesThe bigger framing shift that will define US-China relations for years -
Saknas det avsnitt?
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Washington has fired career diplomats, shuttered USAID, and pulled back from international engagement. Houston is doing the opposite.
In this episode, Maryanne Maldonado sits down with Ambassador Chase Untermeyer, veteran of the Reagan and Bush administrations, former US Ambassador to Qatar, and director of the Voice of America, and Nick Sawicki of the Houston Public Library Foundation to announce something that has never been done at any public library in the United States: a Diplomat in Residence program.
Ambassador Untermeyer, who grew up reading at the Houston Public Library, is now its inaugural Diplomat in Residence, bringing decades of firsthand foreign policy experience directly to one of the most diverse cities in America, free and open to everyone.
The conversation covers what diplomacy actually looks like at street level, why Houston's consular corps keeps growing while the federal government retreats, what Sharia law actually is (and why politicians who campaign against it can't define it), and why the library, not a think tank, not a university, might be exactly the right place for this conversation to happen.
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Topics covered:
The first Diplomat in Residence program at any public library in the USHow Houston is filling the diplomatic vacuum Washington left behindAmbassador Untermeyer's career: Reagan, Bush, Qatar, Voice of AmericaWhat Sharia law actually is, and why it's being misused politicallyHow the Houston Public Library connects 2.4 million visitors to global affairsDiplomacy in closed rooms vs. diplomacy for everyday peopleThe lost US Information Agency libraries, and what replaced themHouston's growing consular corps and international business community -
Most people travel to see the world. WAC Houston members travel to understand it.
In this episode, Maryanne Maldonado sits down with travel expert Ilyas Hokkaci to preview two of the most geopolitically charged trips the World Affairs Council has ever offered: Uzbekistan, sitting at the center of a quiet new great power competition between Russia, China, and the West, and South Korea & Taiwan, two democracies living on the most volatile fault lines on earth.
In Uzbekistan, travelers will walk through the ancient cities of Khiva, Bukhara, and Samarkand, the heart of the Islamic Golden Age, and connect that history directly to today's new Silk Road rivalry. In South Korea and Taiwan, they'll stand at the DMZ, meet with North Korea intelligence specialists, and visit the semiconductor companies and democratic institutions that the world's superpowers are competing to control.
This isn't a tour. It's a lens.
Subscribe for global affairs content that connects the world to your world.
What's covered:
Why Uzbekistan is the gem of Central Asia — and a geopolitical battlegroundThe Silk Road as information highway, not just a trade routeKhiva, Bukhara & Samarkand, Islamic civilization made visibleThe DMZ: what it actually feels like to stand thereMeeting North Korea intelligence specialists in SeoulTaiwan's survival story. Why a small island matters to the whole worldSouth Korea & Taiwan as parallel democratic fault linesHow WAC Houston connects ancient history to today's headlines2027 trips preview: Japan, Mongolia, the Baltics & moreBook your spot:
https://wachouston.org/events/category/travel/
— wachouston.org
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In only four eventful and momentous years, numerous major geopolitical events have shocked global oil markets and redefined how oil is, and may be, traded around the world in the years to come. Those events and the leaders still shaping them have contributed to often staggering and unpredictable swings in global oil prices. In the longer term, even if prices stabilize again, what may prove to be the most important ramification of this era may be not just the differing ways oil moves around the world, but which nations may or may not buy/sell oil with each other. Little more than a year after COVID massively disrupted global oil demand & prices, Putin’s brutal full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 rocked global oil markets once again. Within about a year, markets regained their balance, as Europeans looked to reduce their excessive dependence on Russian oil & gas – and with his growing ‘shadow fleet’, Putin re-prioritized where and how his crude would be delivered. The stunning and unexpected capture of Maduro this January may have had a relatively short-term impact on global oil prices. But it set the stage for possibly dramatic political and economic changes in Venezuela, in terms of who is in power and which major companies and countries may be involved in the years to come. Most recently, the US-Israeli War on Iran, which started less than two months ago, has already had profound impacts not only on global oil prices, but on the economies of Saudi Arabia & the Gulf States and beyond. The war also launched an ever-changing and ongoing conflict to determine control and access to the vital artery that supplies 20% of the world’s oil – the Strait of Hormuz. Whether it might result in more Russian pipelines to China, more American energy companies being willing to work in Venezuela, or Gulf States looking for long-term alternatives to avoid the Strait of Hormuz, global oil markets, trading partners, and routes for delivery may never be the same. Featured Speaker: Wafik Beydoun With over 40 years of international experience in the energy sector, Wafik Beydoun has lived and worked across more than 40 countries, leading major projects and partnerships while navigating diverse cultural and operational environments. A former senior executive at TotalEnergies, including leadership positions with ADNOC and the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers, he brings deep insight into how culture influences strategy, leadership, and collaboration on the global stage. He also played a significant role in professional societies and global industry events (like OTC and SEG), serving on the OTC Board of Directors for nearly a decade, including as Chair in 2018–2019. Today, Wafik teaches and advises on cultural intelligence, helping professionals and students decode cultural dynamics through his course Navigating Cultural Dynamics in a Complex Global Environment. Wafik holds a PhD in Geophysics and a Master’s in Earth Sciences from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a Master’s in Science & Technology from the Université Pierre et Marie Curie, in Paris, France. He is a member of SEG, SPE, EAGE, AAPG, AGU, and Sigma Xi, with over 100 publications and communications to his credit.
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Every time a president walks into a room, hundreds of decisions have already been made — the route, the handshakes, the camera angles, and the escape plan. And sometimes, despite all the planning, things go sideways.
Jean Becker spent nearly 25 years as Chief of Staff to President George H.W. Bush — running his post-presidential office, managing his state funeral, and living inside the machinery of American power longer than most people can imagine. She's also the editor of Don't Tell the President, a collection of 96 behind-the-scenes essays from advance teams spanning LBJ to Obama — covering everything from fall-down funny road stories to the moments that made history: 9/11, Reagan's assassination attempt, Sandy Hook, and a secret Thanksgiving trip to Iraq that even Bush 41 didn't know about until it was over.
In this episode, Maryanne Maldonado sits down with Jean to talk about what presidential advance actually means, what really went wrong at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, and what George H.W. Bush was actually like behind closed doors — the man whose moral character, she says, was simply in his DNA.
This is the side of American power you don't read about in official records.
Hosted by Maryanne Maldonado | The Greater Loop — A podcast of the World Affairs Council of Houston
Subscribe for global affairs content that connects the world to your world.
Topics covered:
What presidential advance actually is — and how it worksThe White House Correspondents' Dinner security breach — what went wrongRunning Bush 41's post-presidency for 25 yearsThe secret Thanksgiving trip to Iraq — and why Barbara Bush couldn't knowWhat Obama looked like before facing the Sandy Hook familiesThe moral character of George H.W. Bush — discipline or DNA?What life looks like for a president after leaving officeDon't Tell the President — the book behind the storieshttps://wachouston.org/event/1082-wine-wisdom-confessions-behind-presidential-visits/
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Most people travel to see the world. WAC Houston members travel to understand it.
In this episode, Maryanne Maldonado sits down with Ilyas Hokkaci, WAC Houston's travel program lead, to talk about what intentional travel really looks like — from the just-completed cherry blossom season trip through Kyoto and Tokyo, to the upcoming October journey through Morocco that has members already booking their seats.
Morocco isn't just a destination. It's a crossroads — where North Africa, Europe, and the Arab world collide across 1,000+ years of layered history. From the Atlantic coast of Casablanca and Rabat, through the Atlas Mountains, into the Sahara desert, and on to the ancient souks of Marrakesh — this 10-day trip moves through civilizations, not just cities.
And thanks to WAC Houston's decades-long relationships with local partners, travelers get access that no individual traveler — or standard tour company — can replicate. Private palace lunches. Overnight desert camps. Conversations with people who actually live the history you came to see.
If you've been on the fence about Morocco, this episode will get you off it.
Hosted by Maryanne Maldonado | The Greater Loop — A podcast of the World Affairs Council of Houston
Subscribe for global affairs content that connects the world to your world.
What's covered:
Highlights from WAC Houston's Japan trip — Kyoto to TokyoWhat makes Morocco a once-in-a-lifetime destinationThe Atlas Mountains, Sahara desert, Kasbahs & Marrakesh itineraryWhy Morocco is one of the most stable, welcoming countries in the regionExclusive access: private lunches, desert glamping & local homesHow to secure your spot on the October tripReady to go?
Morrocco:
https://wachouston.org/event/morocco-from-sahara-to-the-sea/All trips:https://wachouston.org/events/category/travel/
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The war in Iran has dominated every headline. But in Gaza, there is no ceasefire. The suffering didn't pause; it just stopped being covered. In this episode, Maryanne Maldonado sits down with Dr. Alice Rothchild, physician, author, filmmaker, and one of the most unflinching voices on the Gaza crisis. A former Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School with nearly 40 years of practice as an OB-GYN, Dr. Rothchild has spent decades traveling to Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel, documenting what mainstream media doesn't show. She serves on the board of the Gaza Mental Health Foundation, is a member of the Jewish Voice for Peace Health Advisory Council, and has written multiple books on the human cost of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including Broken Promises, Broken Dreams, and On the Brink, translated into multiple languages. She's also a Jewish American who has dedicated her life to telling the Palestinian story. That combination, medical credibility, firsthand access, and moral courage, makes her one of the most important voices you can hear right now. While the world's attention shifts, Dr. Rothchild reminds us: Gaza is still there. And the people inside it still need the world to pay attention. Why Dr. Rothchild matters on this subject: Nearly 40 years as an OB-GYN, former Harvard Medical School faculty Has traveled to Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel repeatedly since the late 1990s Author of multiple books on Palestinian health and human rights Producer of the award-winning documentary Voices Across the Divide Board member, Gaza Mental Health Foundation Jewish Voice for Peace Health Advisory Council member Co-founder of Americans Jews for a Just Peace — Boston One of the few American Jewish voices with direct on-the-ground Gaza experience. Hosted by Maryanne Maldonado | The Greater Loop — A podcast of the World Affairs Council of Houston Subscribe for global affairs content that connects the world to your world.
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The peace talks in Islamabad lasted just 21 hours. Hours later, the U.S. Navy began a full blockade of Iranian ports. And yet, a former Iranian Ambassador says this wasn't a collapse. It was progress. So what's really going on? Maryanne Maldonado sits down with Dr. Seyed Hossein Mousavian, a former Iranian ambassador and one of the most closely watched voices on Iran-West relations, to decode the nuclear deadlock, the broken diplomacy, and whether there's any realistic path to a deal before the next escalation. From the JCPOA's collapse to zero-enrichment demands, from the Strait of Hormuz to China and Russia's quiet role, this is the conversation that goes beyond the headlines. Hosted by Maryanne Maldonado | The Greater Loop, A podcast of the World Affairs Council of Houston
Subscribe for global affairs content that con nects the world to your world. Topics covered: Why the Islamabad talks failed, and why Mousavian calls it progress Iran's nuclear red lines and the NPT rights dispute The U.S. naval blockade and what it signals to Tehran A proposed regional enrichment consortium as an alternative Who inside Iran is pushing for peace — and who isn't The Supreme Leader's ceasefire gamble Whether a second round of negotiations is still possible Check out our upcoming event with Amb. Sayed Mousavian on May 05! https://wachouston.org/event/iranian-ambassador/
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The fall of Assad. The capture of Maduro. A ceasefire in Iran. On the surface, it looks like Russia is losing ground, but is it? Dr. Angela Stent, one of the world's leading experts on U.S.-Russia relations and author of Putin's World, says the picture is far more complicated than the headlines suggest. In this episode, Maryanne Maldonado sits down with Dr. Stent to unpack what's really happening inside Russia, whether Putin's grip on power is as strong as it appears, and what a Trump-era reset of U.S.-Russia relations actually means for Ukraine, Europe, and the global order we've taken for granted. From sanctions and oil revenues to NATO fractures and China's quiet role — this is the conversation that puts it all in context. Hosted by Maryanne Maldonado | The Global Lens — A podcast of the World Affairs Council of Houston Subscribe for global affairs content that connects the world to your world. Topics covered: Is Russia really losing influence — or just recalibrating? Putin's grip on power and rising domestic pressure The Trump-Putin relationship and what it means for Ukraine Why a negotiated peace remains out of reach Sanctions, oil revenues, and Russia's economic cracks Europe's fear that Russia's ambitions go beyond Ukraine China's role as Russia's most critical lifeline The shift toward a post-Western global order
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Check Wafik Beydoun IN PERSON at our upcoming event on April 29th 2026.
https://wachouston.org/event/1080-global-oil-in-chaos-with-otc/
The Strait of Hormuz carries over 20% of the world's oil — and right now, it's at the center of a global energy crisis. Gas is hovering around $4 a gallon, emergency reserves are being tapped, and analysts warn that even if the conflict ends tomorrow, recovery could take months. To make sense of it all, Maryanne Maldonado sits down with Wafik Beydoun, an energy executive with four decades of experience across the global oil and gas industry.
He breaks down what's really happening inside major energy operators, why Asia is most exposed, whether renewables can actually step in, and how long everyday consumers should expect to feel the pain — at the pump and beyond. This is the episode for anyone trying to understand why a war on the other side of the world is showing up in your grocery bill.
Topics covered:
Strait of Hormuz shutdown & global oil supply
How energy companies respond to supply shocks
Emergency reserves — bridge or real solution?
Japan, South Korea, India & China's exposure
Renewables: catalyst or overnight fix?
Where the global energy industry is heading
Subscribe for more videos about global affairs and international politics!
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India is rewriting the rules of global power, and nobody does it quite like New Delhi.
In this episode of The Global Lens, host Maryanne Maldonado sits down with Ambassador Rahul Chhabra, a 40-year veteran of Indian diplomacy, to break down how India is simultaneously managing its relationships with the United States, Russia, and China without fully committing to any of them.
From buying Russian oil while courting Washington, to resetting ties with China while keeping troops at the border, India is executing one of the most complex foreign policy balancing acts in modern history.
Ambassador Chhabra calls it "strategic autonomy", and he explains exactly what that means, why it works, and how long India can keep it up. In this episode: Why India refuses to pick a side, and why that's actually strategic
How Trump's pressure on Modi over Russian oil is playing out India's tactical stabilization with China (and why it's not a real reset) The role of soft power in India's rise as a global force What India's rise actually means for Houston, Africa, and Southeast Asia Why India is now a rule-shaper, not a rule-taker
Whether you follow geopolitics closely or you're just trying to understand what's happening in the world right now, this conversation will give you the full picture. Want to see Ambassador Chhabra in person? He'll be speaking live in Houston on April 9, 2026, at Asia Society Texas.
Don't miss it
https://wachouston.org/event/1077-indias-global-leadership/ Subscribe so you never miss an episode.
#India #Geopolitics #ForeignPolicy #IndiaChina #IndiaUS #BRICS #Modi #GlobalAffairs #Diplomacy #TheGlobalLens #WACHouston
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Check out the upcoming live event that will cover these and many more topics on the 2026 World Health Day.
https://wachouston.org/event/2026-world-health-day/
Billions of people around the world lack access to basic healthcare — and most of us never hear about it.
In this episode, we speak with Walter Ulrich, CEO of Medical Bridges, a Houston-based nonprofit redistributing surplus medical supplies to under-resourced communities across 61 countries.
From war-torn Ukraine to crisis-stricken Haiti, Walter shares what the global health emergency actually looks like on the ground — and how small, agile organizations are making an outsized difference where large institutions fall short.
In this conversation, you'll learn: How conflict and war are systematically destroying healthcare infrastructure worldwide The critical supply shortages facing hospitals in Africa, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East Why nimble nonprofits often deliver aid faster and more effectively than governments
The story of a woman who survived a life-threatening pregnancy after a natural disaster — thanks to donated supplies from Houston What frontline workers in Ukraine and Gaza are facing right now How you can get involved — through volunteering, advocacy, or donation
Subscribe for more conversations on global affairs, humanitarian issues, and international security.
#GlobalHealth #MedicalBridges #HumanitarianAid #Healthcare #Ukraine #Haiti #NGO #Houston #WorldHealthDay #ForeignPolicy #GlobalAffairs
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In a polarized era, history can become a subject of political contention. Many see America as perfect; many others argue that the national experiment is fundamentally flawed. The truth, Meacham shows, likely lies between these extremes. America has had shining hours, and also dark ones. In American Struggle, Pulitzer Prize-Winner Jon Meacham illuminates the nation’s complicated past. This rich and diverse collection covers a wide spectrum of history, from 1619 to the twenty-first century, with primary-source documents that take us back to critical moments in which Americans fought over the meaning and the direction of the national experiment. From the founders to Lincoln to Obama, from Andrew Jackson to Theodore Roosevelt to Ronald Reagan, from Seneca Falls to the March on Washington, this chorus—sometimes discordant and always fascinating—tells the story of the country and of its people. As clashes over liberty and slavery, inclusion and exclusion, play out, these voices, brilliantly framed by Meacham’s singular commentary, remind us that contentious citizenship and fair-minded observations are essential to bringing about the more perfect union envisioned in the Preamble to the Constitution, which Frederick Douglass called a “glorious liberty document.” Conflict is nothing new in our democracy; rather, as Meacham and these texts show, tensions are inherent, stubborn, and perennial. And American Struggle teaches us anew that to know what has come before, to watch as long-running disputes rise and fall, is to be armed against despair. Featured Speaker: Jon Meacham Jon Meacham is a Pulitzer Prize–winning biographer. The author of the New York Times bestsellers Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power, American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House, Franklin and Winston, Destiny and Power: The American Odyssey of George Herbert Walker Bush, and The Soul of America: The Battle for Our Better Angels, he is a distinguished visiting professor at Vanderbilt University, a contributing writer for The New York Times Book Review, and a fellow of the Society of American Historians. Meacham lives in Nashville and in Sewanee with his wife and children.
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The Arctic is melting — and the world's powers are racing to control what's left.
In this episode, we sit down with Kenneth R. Rosen, national security correspondent and author of Polar War, to explore how climate change is triggering a dangerous new era of geopolitical competition at the top of the world. From Russia's push to dominate Arctic shipping lanes, to China's quiet near-Arctic ambitions, to NATO's expanded northern flank with Finland and Sweden now in the alliance — the battle for the melting north has already begun. And the United States may be woefully underprepared. In this conversation, you'll learn: Why the Arctic has become the world's most strategically contested region How melting ice is opening new trade routes worth trillions of dollars The surprising China-Russia partnership reshaping energy geopolitics What Navy SEALs and Coast Guard patrols are already doing in the Arctic Why Indigenous communities are caught in the crossfire What the U.S. must do to catch up — before it's too late Whether you work in energy, defense, diplomacy, or just want to understand where the next global crisis is brewing, this episode is essential listening.
See Kenneth Rosen live in Houston on April 1, 2026:
https://wachouston.org/event/1074-polar-war-the-battle-for-the-melting-north/
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In The Architect of Espionage, Samuel M. Katz masterfully chronicles the life of Meir Dagan, a visionary covert warfare veteran who revolutionized the art of intelligence and espionage. Born in the shadows of the Holocaust, his life personified the modern history of the Jewish people and the State of Israel. Dagan’s journey embodies decisive action, innovative thought, and bold leadership under fire. His tenure as the head of the Mossad marked a transformative era in Israel’s history, reshaping the agency into a formidable global force.
Dagan’s story is one of daring strategy and relentless ingenuity. He spent thirty-two years in uniform, and under his eight-year leadership, Mossad orchestrated a series of high-stakes missions, including targeted assassinations, clandestine attempts to stop Iran from becoming a nuclear power, and the covert expansion of Israel’s strategic collaborations with members of the global intelligence fraternity, notably with the CIA. These operations not only bolstered Israel’s security but also altered the geopolitical dynamics of the Middle East. Drawing on unprecedented access to Dagan’s closest confidants, comrades in arms, and contemporaries in the international intelligence community, Katz brings to life the portrait of a spymaster whose influence extended far beyond Israel’s borders, shaping intelligence relationships across the Middle East and worldwide.
Katz’s expertise in Middle Eastern conflicts and counterterrorism shines through in this meticulously researched narrative that delves into the intricate details of Dagan’s strategies. The Architect of Espionage is more than a biography—it is the history of the Jewish state told through the life of one of its most incredible warriors, spy chiefs, and, ultimately, statesmen. The Architect of Espionage is an immersive journey into the shadowy world of intelligence, where decisions carry life-or-death stakes and outcomes are steeped in secrecy.
For anyone captivated by espionage thrillers or historical biographies, this is an essential and timely read, providing an insightful glimpse into the mind of one of the most influential spymasters of our era.
Featured Speaker: Samuel M. KatzSamuel M. Katz is a New York Times bestselling author who has written over twenty books on the Arab Israeli conflict, military and law enforcement special operations, espionage, and counterterrorism.
He has written hundreds of articles for magazines and journals around the world, as well as documentaries for television. He is also the former editor-in-chief of Special Operations Report, a trade publication for the world’s commando and counterterrorist community.
Katz lectures police agencies and military commands on the history of terrorism, and he is a frequent guest on television and radio networks.
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What is really happening inside modern Russia—and what does it mean for the future of global security? In this episode, veteran journalist and former CNN Moscow bureau chief Jill Dougherty joins the World Affairs Council of Greater Houston to unpack the power dynamics shaping Vladimir Putin’s Russia and its growing impact on the world stage. Drawing on decades of experience covering the Kremlin, Dougherty explores how Russia has shifted from the relative openness of the post–Cold War era to a system increasingly defined by centralized power and strategic control. The conversation traces Putin’s early ambitions—from his student years in Leningrad to his career in the KGB—and how those formative experiences continue to shape his leadership style today. The discussion also examines Russia’s evolving geopolitical strategy, including its relationships with China, Iran, and North Korea, and how these partnerships are reshaping global alliances. From nuclear signaling to hybrid warfare tactics such as cyber operations, sabotage, and election interference, Russia’s actions continue to test the resilience of NATO and Western democracies. Dougherty also analyzes Putin’s current strategic posture amid ongoing tensions involving Ukraine and Europe, highlighting why some experts see his approach as increasingly cautious—and what that may signal about the future of the conflict. For policymakers, students of international relations, and anyone trying to understand today’s rapidly shifting global landscape, this episode offers essential insight into one of the most consequential geopolitical stories of our time. Watch to gain a deeper understanding of Russia’s strategy, the fragile balance of power in Europe, and the risks that could shape international security in the years ahead.
Jill Dougherty served as CNN’s Moscow Bureau Chief for almost a decade. She reported on the presidencies of Boris Yeltin and Vladimir Putin, as well as the political career of Mikhail Gorbachev, the first – and last – Soviet president. She covered a number of seminal events in modern Russia, including the collapse of the Soviet Union; the coup against Gorbachev; Ukraine’s Orange Revolution and Maidan Revolution of Dignity; Georgia’s Rose Revolution; Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea and full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Dougherty served as CNN White House correspondent for six years, covering the presidencies of George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton. As Foreign Affairs Correspondent she reported from the U.S. State Department. She served as U.S. Affairs Editor, reporting from Washington, DC. Based in Hong Kong, she was Managing Editor CNN International, Asia-Pacific, in charge of sevenbureaus across the region.
She currently is a CNN on-air contributor, commenting on Russia-related issues; Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University’s Center for Eurasian, Russian and East European Studies; Distinguished Fellow at The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars; and Fellow at the Kennan Institute. She has pursued research on Russia and the media as a fellow at the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government; at the Woodrow Wilson Center; and at the International Centre for Defense and Security in Tallinn, Estonia.
Dougherty received her B.A. degree in Slavic Languages and Literature from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and her M.A. from Georgetown University, where she researched Russia’s soft power diplomacy.
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Check out our full upcoming program with Clay Risen!
https://wachouston.org/event/red-scare-mccarthyism-today/
The Red Scare and McCarthyism didn’t just define a moment in history — they reshaped American civil liberties, politics, and culture in ways that still resonate today. In this conversation, journalist and author Clay Risen explores how fear of communist infiltration spiraled into national hysteria, destroying careers, silencing artists and activists, and reshaping the boundaries of free speech.
Drawing from his book Red Scare: Blacklists, McCarthyism, and the Making of Modern America, Risen unpacks the covert machinery behind Hollywood blacklists and the grassroots activism that fueled anti-communist vigilance, including Houston’s Minute Women. Through powerful stories of resilience, including Dalton Trumbo and Helen Reed Bryan, the discussion reveals how civil liberties were tested, and how legal figures like Earl Warren helped push back against political overreach.
This episode offers a timely reminder of how fear can be weaponized, why civil liberties require constant vigilance, and what the Red Scare teaches us about political polarization and social pressure in the modern era.
Clay Risen, a reporter and editor at The New York Times, is the author of The Crowded Hour, a New York Times Notable Book of 2019 and a finalist for the Gilder-Lehrman Prize in Military History. A member of the Society of American Historians, he is also the author of two other acclaimed books on American history, A Nation on Fire and The Bill of the Century. He lives in Brooklyn, New York, with his wife and two young children. -
Escalating tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran are reshaping the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East. In this episode of *The Greater Loop* from the World Affairs Council of Greater Houston, host Maryanne Maldonado sits down with Middle East expert Mona Yacoubian to unpack the rapidly evolving crisis and what it could mean for regional stability and global security.
The conversation explores the key triggers behind the latest escalation, including stalled negotiations reportedly mediated by Oman, military strikes targeting Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities, and the broader strategic questions driving the conflict.
Were these actions meant to weaken Iran’s military infrastructure, deter future threats, or signal something larger about regime stability and regional power dynamics? Yacoubian and Maldonado also examine how the crisis is reverberating across the region—from tensions in the Gulf to potential spillover involving Lebanon and Iran-aligned groups such as Hezbollah.
They discuss how proxy networks, alliance politics, and the credibility of U.S. commitments to regional partners are shaping responses across the Middle East. The episode also dives into the diplomatic dimension of the crisis, including the role of back-channel negotiations, international oversight bodies such as the United Nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency, and the difficult path toward de-escalation. At stake is more than a single confrontation.
This moment could redefine the regional order, influence global energy markets, and test the balance between military pressure and diplomacy. With insights into escalation dynamics, alliance management, and the uncertain future of U.S. strategy in the Middle East, this conversation provides essential context for understanding one of the most consequential geopolitical developments of our time.
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What does America stand for in a moment of global uncertainty? And how should we understand the nation’s political divisions in the context of its history?
In this episode of The Greater Loop, the World Affairs Council of Greater Houstonbrings the Pulitzer Prize–winning historian and bestselling author Jon Meacham to explore the enduring story of the American experiment.
Drawing from his book, he reflects on why he felt compelled to write about America’s recurring struggles and why he remains cautiously hopeful about the country’s future. This conversation offers thoughtful insight for anyone seeking clarity about America’s role in the world—and the ongoing “American struggle” to live up to its highest ideals.
Subscribe for more global conversations from the World Affairs Council of Greater Houston.
- Visa fler
