Hosted by Colm Quinn, The CSIS Podcast dissects the big (and soon-to-be big) stories of the week in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs.

The Readout

As Donald Trump assumes the presidency of the United States, we hear from a range of CSIS experts on what foreign policy challenges need to be addressed on Day One. Hosted by Colm Quinn.
 (Read more at https://csis.org/podcasts/csis-podcast/president-trumps-day-one-challenges)

President Trump's Day One Challenges

After President Trump's executive order on immigration caused much confusion and consternation worldwide, CSIS Burke Chair in Strategy emeritus Anthony Cordesman discusses the strategic implications for U.S. leadership. Hosted by Colm Quinn.&nbsp;
 (Read more at https://csis.org/podcasts/csis-podcast/president-trumps-immigration-order-and-us-strategy)

President Trump's Immigration Order and U.S. Strategy

After a new round of fighting broke out in Eastern Ukraine this week, Jeff Mankoff discusses the future of the Ukrainian conflict, Russia's involvement, and U.S. action. Hosted by Colm Quinn.
 (Read more at https://csis.org/podcasts/csis-podcast/ukraines-frozen-conflict-approaches-melting-point)

Ukraine's Frozen Conflict Approaches Melting Point

With U.S.-Mexico relations at such a low point, what can be done to improve the ties between the two countries? We hear from Kim Breier - the director of the CSIS U.S.-Mexico Futures Initiative on where to begin. Hosted by Colm Quinn.
 (Read more at https://csis.org/podcasts/csis-podcast/how-improve-us-mexico-relationship)

How to Improve the U.S.-Mexico Relationship

This week we delve in to the archives to bring you remarks from President Trump's new National Security Adviser Lt. Gen H.R. McMaster. McMaster spoke at CSIS in May 2016 on the future of war and the enduring threats that the United States faces. Introduced by Colm Quinn.
Want more? Find the full event here:  https://www.csis.org/events/harbingers-future-war-implications-army-lieutenant-general-hr-mcmaster (Read more at https://csis.org/podcasts/csis-podcast/lt-gen-hr-mcmaster-threats-facing-united-states)

Lt. Gen H.R. McMaster on the threats facing the United States

America already spends more on defense than any other country in the world, and if President Trump gets his way, it'll be spending a lot more. This week, CSIS's Todd Harrison joins to discuss what the first Trump defense budget looks like and whether it represents much of a departure from previous presidents. Hosted by Colm Quinn. 
 (Read more at https://csis.org/podcasts/csis-podcast/what-does-another-54-billion-buy-analyzing-trumps-first-defense-budget)

What Does Another $54 Billion Buy? Analyzing Trump's First Defense Budget

This week Wikileaks published a trove of documents purported to show the tools used by the CIA to hack smartphones, TVs and other Internet connected devices. To explore what this means for the average consumer as well as intelligence agencies worldwide we hear from Jim Lewis the director of the CSIS Tech Policy Program. Hosted by Colm Quinn. (Read more at https://csis.org/podcasts/csis-podcast/wikileaks-exposes-cia)

Wikileaks Exposes the CIA

St Patrick's Day Special: The North Remembers

America Strikes Assad

On this week's podcast we hear from Europe program director Heather Conley on the fallout from the first round of France's presidential election. Hosted by Colm Quinn.
 (Read more at https://csis.org/podcasts/csis-podcast/frances-showdown-begins)

France's Showdown Begins

This show looks at Turkey's controversial constitutional referendum, the reaction to it both inside and outside the country, and how the United States should navigate an increasingly strident Erdogan government. With Bulent Aliriza and hosted by Colm Quinn.
 (Read more at https://csis.org/podcasts/csis-podcast/erdogans-ascendancy-and-turkeys-future)

Erdogan's Ascendancy and Turkey's Future

On this episode we discuss the rise of Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who this week became next in line to the Saudi throne after being named the new Crown Prince. We also check in on the latest developments in Qatar's rift with the rest of the Gulf Cooperation Council. With CSIS's Jon Alterman and hosted by Colm Quinn.
 (Read more at https://csis.org/podcasts/csis-podcast/saudi-arabias-new-crown-prince-0)

Saudi Arabia's New Crown Prince

This week we hear from Victor Cha, the CSIS Korea Chair, on North Korea's latest missile test and how the United States can begin to rein in the Hermit Kingdom. Hosted by Colm Quinn.

Defusing North Korea

This Sunday, Germans go to the polls (die Wahllokale) to elect a new parliament. It's expected that Angela Merkel will carry on as Chancellor but Germany faces headwinds that this election campaign has tended to avoid. We also find time to talk about the upcoming Catalan independence referendum. With CSIS Europe program experts Heather Conley and Jeff Rathke and hosted by Colm Quinn.   (Read more at https://csis.org/podcasts/csis-podcast/germany-goes-wahllokale)

Germany goes to the Wahllokale

Assessing the Nuclear Options

On the second show this week, we talk about what’s behind Catalonia’s independence drive, how the EU-UK Brexit negotiations are stalling, and a now-familiar story: the rise of the far-right in Europe, this time in Austria. With CSIS Europe Program Director Heather Conley. Hosted by Colm Quinn.
 (Read more at https://csis.org/podcasts/csis-podcast/catalonias-independence-push-brexit-update-and-austrias-elections-0)

Cataloniaâs Independence Push, Brexit Update, and Austriaâs Elections

After Chinese President Xi Jinping’s elevation to Mao-like status at the Chinese Communist Party National Congress this week, we look at what his rise means for China and the rest of the world. We’re joined by CSIS’s Freeman Chair in China Studies Chris Johnson. Hosted by Colm Quinn.
Chris’s analysis from October 18: “Xi Jinping Opens 19th Party Congress Proclaiming a New Era—His”
 (Read more at https://csis.org/podcasts/csis-podcast/what-xi-jinpings-ascent-means)

What Xi Jinpingâs Ascent Means

Following the deaths of four U.S. servicemen last month in a militant ambush, the question of America’s involvement in that country and wider region have been hotly debated. This week we hear from Africa Program Director Jennifer Cooke on why the U.S. is there to begin with, the danger of over-militarizing the region, and what an African-led solution would look like. Hosted by Colm Quinn.
 (Read more at https://csis.org/podcasts/csis-podcast/why-us-forces-are-niger)

Why U.S. forces are in Niger

After the mass-arrests of dozens of royal family members in Saudi Arabia on corruption charges, we look at how Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman's latest move will affect the kingdom and the wider region. With Middle East Program Director Jon Alterman. Hosted by Colm Quinn.
 (Read more at https://csis.org/podcasts/csis-podcast/royal-mess-whats-happening-saudi-arabia)

A Royal Mess: What's Happening in Saudi Arabia

As conditions in Yemen continue to deteroriate from a disastrous civil war, we get an update on the facts on the ground from the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen Jamie McGoldrick. Hosted by Colm Quinn.