Global Dispatches -- World News That Matters

Global Dispatches
  • 4.8 (294)
  • POLITICS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Global Dispatches -- World News That Matters
GLOBAL DISPATCHES PREMIUM

Get smart. Get Premium Access.

$14.99/mo or $79.99/yr after trial

The longest running independent international affairs podcast features in-depth interviews with policymakers, journalists and experts around the world who discuss global news, international relations, global development and key trends driving world affairs. Named by The Guardian as "a podcast to make you smarter," Global Dispatches is a podcast for people who crave a deeper understanding of international news.

  1. 1D AGO • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

    Should We Break Out the Champagne for the New Pandemic Treaty?

    It was a long time coming, but on April 16, delegates at the World Health Organization released a final draft of a much-anticipated—and hotly debated—treaty on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. A French delegate to the talks proposed a champagne toast at three in the morning—but should we really be clinking glasses? Anjali and Mark dissect what’s in this new accord and why it’s so significant that the United States wasn’t even in the room. (Remember: Trump withdrew the U.S. from the WHO earlier this year.) So what does this agreement reveal about the kind of multilateralism that’s possible in the Trump era? And what comes next for actually implementing the accord? Listen and learn! But first, Mark reports on the heightened anxiety that permeated a major nuclear security conference in Washington, D.C., this week—just ahead of a key meeting of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty “Preparatory Committee,” which is convening at the UN next week.

    32 min

  2. 5D AGO

    Tariffs, Counter-Tariffs, and What Comes Next in the US-China "Trade War"

    The escalating trade dispute between the United States and China has, in the view of my guest today, unofficially crossed the threshold into a full-blown trade war. Wendy Cutler is Vice President at the Asia Society Policy Institute and a longtime diplomat and negotiator at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. We spoke on Friday, April 18, as both countries were rapidly imposing tariffs and counter-tariffs, measures and countermeasures. In our conversation, Wendy explains which of these actions may prove particularly damaging to both the U.S. and Chinese economies. She also breaks down China’s diplomatic response, including a recent trip by Xi Jinping to three Southeast Asian countries aimed at shoring up regional trade alliances. Finally, Wendy offers insight into how bad this trade war could get—and identifies potential offramps that might help prevent the worst-case scenarios.`

    22 min

  3. APR 18

    What the World is Ignoring About Sudan’s Civil War

    The crisis in Sudan is taking another devastating turn. Over the past several days, a genocidal paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has attacked a sprawling refugee camp in Darfur. As I write this, nearly 400,000 people have fled the camp and are now traversing the desert in search of safety. Meanwhile, the RSF is mounting an offensive on the last major city in Darfur not under its control. This escalation comes as the world rather quietly marked the second anniversary of Sudan’s civil war. In April 2022, two rival generals vied for control of the country, plunging it into chaos. Two years on, Sudan has become the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, with over 12 million people forcibly displaced from their homes. One of them is Dalia Abdel Moneim. She fled her home in Khartoum shortly after the war began and is now living in Cairo. She joined me for a conversation about the unfolding catastrophe in Sudan.

    30 min

  4. APR 14

    Trump’s Tariffs Are Making a Mess at the UN | To Save Us From Hell

    "Nobody wins in trade wars," said António Guterres as he left a UN Security Council meeting this week. But it’s clear there’s at least one big loser: American diplomacy. This week, Anjali and Mark break down how the Trump tariffs are rippling through the UN — and how they’re complicating diplomacy on issues that have nothing to do with trade. We also speculate on who Trump might tap as his next envoy now that Elise Stefanik is out. Plus, we dig into the UN’s role in Gaza as both diplomacy and humanitarian aid grind to a halt, and what’s next for the World Food Program after a stunning announcement — and sudden retraction — from a senior DOGE official. Get the full episode with your paid subscription. https://www.globaldispatches.org/

    20 min

  5. APR 10 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

    Trump’s Tariffs Are Making a Mess at the UN | To Save Us From Hell

    "Nobody wins in trade wars," said António Guterres as he left a UN Security Council meeting this week. But it’s clear there’s at least one big loser: American diplomacy. This week on To Save Us From Hell Anjali and Mark break down how the Trump tariffs are rippling through the UN — and how they’re complicating diplomacy on issues that have nothing to do with trade. We also speculate on who Trump might tap as his next envoy now that Elise Stefanik is out. Plus, we dig into the UN’s role in Gaza as both diplomacy and humanitarian aid grind to a halt, and what’s next for the World Food Program after a stunning announcement — and sudden retraction — from a senior “DOGE” official.

    30 min

  6. APR 9

    Analyzing The Geopolitical Fallout As Trump’s Trade War Takes Shape

    Heather Hurlburt is a former chief of staff in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative during the Biden Administration and now a fellow at Chatham House. She is also someone I've routinely turned to over the years for insights into broader geopolitical trends. In our conversation today, we dig into the real geopolitical fallout from Donald Trump’s escalating trade war — and how the global balance of power is already shifting in ways that most people aren’t paying attention to. She explains why the trade war is about much more than tariffs, who the real winners and losers are likely to be, and what ripple effects we’re already seeing across Asia, Europe, Africa and beyond. Get a discount subscription to Global Dispatches at this link: https://www.globaldispatches.org/40PercentOff

    26 min

  7. APR 7

    Something Strange is Happening in Canada

    A few months ago, the Canadian Conservative Party, led by Pierre Poilievre, was cruising toward a massive victory in the upcoming Canadian elections, with most polls showing him holding a 20-point lead over his Liberal Party opponent. But what a difference an American election makes! Since Trump’s musings about annexing Canada and his sweeping trade war against the country, polls have shifted decisively in favor of the Liberal Party, now led by Prime Minister Mark Carney. It seems Canadians are poised to soundly reject the so-called “Maple MAGA.” With Canadian elections just a few weeks away on April 28th, I knew I wanted to speak with one of my favo(u)rite explainers of all things Canada: journalist Justin Ling. He’s written for numerous outlets, created some amazing podcasts, and is the author of the Bug-Eyed and Shameless newsletter here on Substack. We spoke one day after Trump’s latest global tariff announcements, which hit Canada hard. In our conversation, Justin explains the current state of Canadian politics in the Trump era, and more broadly, how Trump’s moves against Canada are rallying Canadians in unexpected ways—sparking a surge of national pride and solidarity in defiance of the threat from their powerful neighbor to the south. It’s a fascinating conversation that reveals how Trump’s bluster is reshaping Canadian politics in real time—and why this moment might mark a turning point for Canada’s political identity.

    29 min

  8. APR 3

    Crisis in Myanmar: Earthquake Aftermath and the Global Response

    On March 28th, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar—the strongest to hit the region in a century. The epicenter was in the Sagaing region, near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, in the northwest of the country. Sagaing is also the epicenter of Myanmar’s civil war and the humanitarian crisis caused by the brutal conflict that has raged for the past four years. In other words, this earthquake created a crisis on top of a crisis. And it struck just as the main backer of global humanitarian relief—the United States—has suspended nearly all foreign aid and emergency humanitarian assistance programs. Joining me to discuss the damage caused by the earthquake and the ongoing local and international response is Bob Kitchen, a veteran humanitarian official and the Vice President for Emergencies at the International Rescue Committee. We begin by discussing the scope of the damage and the complexities of mounting a response in the midst of Myanmar's civil war, before delving into how the response to this sudden-onset natural disaster is being shaped by the absence of American leadership, which has long played a central role in global emergency relief efforts. Use this link to get a 40% discounted subscription to Global Dispatches and all we have to offer! https://www.globaldispatches.org/40PecentOff Use this link if you'd like to support us at full price https://www.globaldispatches.org/

    31 min
See All (1.2K)

    Hosts & Guests

    4.8
    out of 5
    294 Ratings

    About

    The longest running independent international affairs podcast features in-depth interviews with policymakers, journalists and experts around the world who discuss global news, international relations, global development and key trends driving world affairs. Named by The Guardian as "a podcast to make you smarter," Global Dispatches is a podcast for people who crave a deeper understanding of international news.

    Information

      You Might Also Like

      Content Restricted

      This episode can’t be played on the web in your country or region.

      To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

      Stay up to date with this show

      Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes, and get the latest updates.
      Select a country or region

      Africa, Middle East, and India

      Asia Pacific

      Europe

      Latin America and the Caribbean

      The United States and Canada