CFR On the Record

Council on Foreign Relations

A chance to go inside Council on Foreign Relations events. Listen to world leaders and foreign policy experts discuss and debate the most pressing issues in international affairs.

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22 episodes
weekly
Avg 58 min
English

Episodes 22

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Friday · 46 min
A Conversation With President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana
In this episode, President John Dramani Mahama discusses Ghana’s development priorities, the country’s role as a regional leader in West Africa, and the future of U.S.-Ghana relations. Host: Michelle Gavin, Ralph Bunche Senior Fellow for Africa Policy Studies and Director of the Council of Councils, Council on Foreign Relations; Former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Botswana Guest: John Mahama, President, Republic of Ghana Want more comprehensive analysis of global news and events sent
October 6 · 1 hr
A Conversation With Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre of Norway and President Alexander Stubb of Finland
In this episode, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre of Norway and President Alexander Stubb of Finland discuss the current state of the war in Ukraine, Arctic and European security, shifting geopolitics, and strategic investments in foreign aid. Host: Fareed Zakaria, Host, Fareed Zakaria GPS, CNN; Member, Board of Directors, Council on Foreign Relations Guest: Jonas Gahr Støre, Prime Minister, Kingdom of Norway Alexander Stubb, President, Republic of Finland Want more comprehensive analysi
October 2 · 51 min
A Conversation With President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi of Somaliland
In this episode, President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi discusses Somaliland’s bid for international recognition and the regional security landscape. Host: Ebenezer Obadare, Douglas Dillon Senior Fellow for Africa Studies, Council on Foreign Relations Guest: Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, President, Republic of Somaliland Want more comprehensive analysis of global news and events sent straight to your inbox? Subscribe to CFR’s Daily Brief newsletter. To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit
September 25 · 47 min
Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados on the Challenges Facing Climate-Vulnerable and Developing Countries
In this episode, Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados discusses the challenges facing climate-vulnerable and developing countries, including efforts to reform the international financial architecture, expand access to development finance, and advance a more resilient and equitable global economy. Host: Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations (2021–25); Member, Board of Directors, Council on Foreign Relations Guest: Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister, Barbados
September 24 · 1 hr
On Africa Policy With Tony Elumelu
In this episode, leading African investor and philanthropist Tony Elumelu discusses the continent’s evolving role in the global economy, including entrepreneurship as a catalyst for development, private sector-led growth, energy security, and the evolving U.S.-Africa partnership. Host: Michael Froman, President, Council on Foreign Relations Guests: Tony O. Elumelu, African Investor and Philanthropist; Founder and Chairman of Heirs Holdings; Founder, The Tony Elumelu Foundation Want more co
September 18 · 1 hr 4 min
On France’s UN Security Council Presidency Priorities
In this episode, Ambassador Jérôme Bonnafont discusses France’s priorities as it assumes the presidency of the UN Security Council. Host: Jane Hartley, Chair, Board of Directors, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom (2022–25) and to France and Monaco (2014–17); CFR Member Guest: Jérôme Bonnafont, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations Want more comprehen
September 11 · 58 min
Eyewitness to History: Reflections on September 11
Title: Eyewitness to History: Reflections on September 11 In this episode, senior leaders across various sectors reflect on their firsthand experiences of the September 11 attacks and the global war on terrorism that followed. Host: Juju Chang, Coanchor, Nightline, ABC News; CFR Member Guests: Jane Harman, Former U.S. Representative (D-CA), Former Ranking Member, House Intelligence Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Security (1993–2011); Chair, 2024 Commission on the National Defense Str
September 4 · 1 hr
On Financing the “Missing Middle” to Scale Energy Breakthroughs
In this episode, panelists from CFR’s Climate Realism Initiative discuss Financing the Missing Middle, a collection of policies and strategies to help bridge the gap in private funding that inhibits energy innovation in the United States. This “missing middle” slows or blocks technologies that could help the energy system become more secure, affordable, and sustainable, and weakens U.S. firms relative to Chinese and other international competitors. Host: Vijay Vaitheeswaran, Incoming Philip D.
August 28 · 58 min
On the Lessons of the 1929 Wall Street Crash
In this episode, Andrew Ross Sorkin discusses lessons from the 1929 Wall Street crash, followed by a panel discussion on the present-day risk of a bubble, and how policymakers should respond. Host: Gillian Tett, Columnist and Member of the Editorial Board, Financial Times; Head, King’s College, University of Cambridge; CFR Member Introductory Remarks: Michael Froman, President, Council on Foreign Relations Guests: Andrew Ross Sorkin, Founder, DealBook, and Columnist and Editor at Large, N
August 21 · 59 min
On AI Policy: Global Stakes, Local Governance
In this episode, Margaret Woolley Busse discusses the regulatory environment for artificial intelligence (AI) in the United States, with particular focus on its implications at the state and local level. She is joined by Adam Segal, who assesses the global AI race and why these dynamics matter for U.S. national security and strategic competition with China. Host: Irina A. Faskianos, vice president for the National Program and Outreach, Council on Foreign Relations Guests: Margaret Woolley Bu
August 14 · 57 min
On Pope Leo XIV and Human Dignity in the Age of AI
In this episode, Kim Daniels, Michael Baggot, Erin D. Dumbacher, and Brian Green discuss Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical on artificial intelligence and human dignity. Host: Kim Daniels, Director, Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life, Georgetown University Guests: Michael Baggot, Associate Professor of Bioethics, Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum; Adjunct Professor of Theology, Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas-Angelicum Erin D. Dumbacher, Stanton Nuclear Security
August 7 · 1 hr 3 min
Yechiel Leiter on the U.S.-brokered Israel-Lebanon Agreement
In this episode, Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter discusses the recent trilateral framework agreement among the United States, Israel, and Lebanon, as well as the future of the U.S.-Israel relationship amid the Iran war. Host: Steven A. Cook, Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies Guests: Yechiel Leiter, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Embassy of Israel, Washington, DC Want more comprehensive analysis of global news and events
July 31 · 1 hr
On the State of U.S.-Cuba Relations
In this episode, panelists discuss the impact of U.S. sanctions, the potential for U.S. military action, and the ongoing energy crisis in Cuba. Host: Kezia McKeague, Managing Director, McLarty Associates; CFR Member Guests: Ricardo Herrero, Executive Director, Cuba Study Group; CFR Member Maria Werlau, Cofounder and Executive Director, Free Society Project/Cuba Archive Jorge R. Piñón, Energy Institute Senior Research Collaborator, University of Texas at Austin Want more comprehensive ana
July 24 · 59 min
On the Hormuz Crisis and the Global Energy Landscape
In this episode, Fatih Birol examines how the Hormuz crisis is reshaping the global energy landscape and explores how countries may increasingly favor domestic energy sources that reduce reliance on fuel imports. Host: Vijay V. Vaitheeswaran, Philip D. Reed Senior Fellow and Director of the Energy Security and Climate Change Program Guests: Fatih Birol, Executive Director, International Energy Agency (IEA) Want more comprehensive analysis of global news and events sent straight to your in
July 17 · 58 min
From the Archives: A Conversation With Lindsey Graham
This episode revisits a 2011 CFR event featuring U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, who passed away at age 71. Host: Jonathan Karl, Chief Washington Correspondent, ABC News Guests: Lindsey Graham, U.S. Senator, South Carolina Want more comprehensive analysis of global news and events sent straight to your inbox? Subscribe to CFR’s Daily News Brief newsletter. To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event.
July 10 · 52 min
On the Best and Worst Decisions in U.S. Foreign Policy
In this episode, panelists discuss the best and worst decisions in U.S. foreign policy as a part of the CFR Young Professionals Briefing Series. Host: Kelebogile Zvobgo, Mansfield Associate Professor of Government and Director, International Justice Lab, College of William and Mary; CFR Term Member Guests: Kathryn E. David, Historian, Office of the Historian, U.S. Department of State; CFR Term Member James M. Lindsay, Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy,
July 3 · 1 hr
On the Gulf After the Iran War
In this episode, panelists discuss the growing economic and security threats facing Persian Gulf countries and the future of U.S. engagement in the region. Host: Karen E. Young, Senior Research Scholar, Center on Global Energy Policy, Columbia University; CFR Member Guests: Joseph L. Votel, Distinguished Chair, Combating Terrorism Center at West Point; Former Commander, U.S. Central Command (2016–2019); CFR Member Robert Mogielnicki, Nonresident Fellow, Arab Gulf States Institute; Middle E
June 26 · 58 min
From the Archives: Alan Greenspan on the U.S. Economy in 2015
This episode revisits a 2015 CFR event featuring former Federal Reserve Chair Alan Greenspan, who passed away at age 100. Host: Steve Liesman, Senior Economics Reporter, CNBC Guests: Alan Greenspan, Former Chairman, Federal Reserve Board Want more comprehensive analysis of global news and events sent straight to your inbox? Subscribe to CFR’s Daily News Brief newsletter. To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit it on our YouTube channel: A Con
June 19 · 1 hr 1 min
On AI, Quantum, and the Future of American Science
In this episode, Under Secretary Gil discusses the Genesis Mission, and what the federal government’s bet on AI and quantum computing for scientific discovery means for American competitiveness and global collaboration. Host: Nicholas F. Beim, Partner, Venrock; Member, Board of Directors, Council on Foreign Relations Guests: Darío Gil, Under Secretary for Science, U.S. Department of Energy Want more comprehensive analysis of global news and events sent straight to your inbox? Subscribe to
June 12 · 56 min
On U.S. Democracy, Belonging, and Power
In this episode, panelists discuss what American democracy has and hasn't delivered on equality, access, and opportunity, and whether that internal reckoning is now inseparable from the country's standing and credibility as a world leader. Host: Meena Bose, Executive Dean, Public Policy and Public Service Programs and Director, Peter S. Kalikow Center for the Study of the American Presidency, Kalikow School of Government, Public Policy and International Affairs, Hofstra University; CFR Member

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