Nearly a week after the tense Oval Office meeting between President Trump and President Zelensky, and just days after the Trump administration’s abrupt decision to pause military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, serious questions loom over America’s commitment to Kyiv’s security. At the same time, the White House appears to be exploring a thaw with Moscow—including potential sanctions relief with little in return.
In this episode, Sophia Besch and Dara Massicot unpack the implications of these moves: What message does this send to Ukraine and its European allies? How are European leaders responding? And what does this shift mean for U.S. foreign policy and great power competition?
Notes:
Co-Founder and Co-Director of InSight Crime Steven Dudley joins The World Unpacked this week to dive into MS-13's grip on El Salvador and President Nayib Bukele's fight to dismantle its power.
Rachel Bonnifield joins The World Unpacked to discuss the risks, and benefits, of the Trump administration's termination of USAID and attempts to restructure U.S. foreign assistance.
Oliver Stuenkel, a prominent analyst of Brazilian politics, breaks down the trial and conviction of former president of Brazil Jair Bolsonaro, and their implications, with Jon Bateman on The World Unpacked.
In this debut episode of a revamped The World Unpacked, new host Jon Bateman talks to Nate Soares about his provocative argument that superintelligent AI could destroy all humans in our lifetimes—and how the U.S., China, and other countries should band together to stop it.
In this episode of The World Unpacked, Isaac Kardon speaks with Alexander (Sasha) Gabuev about growing Russia–China cooperation in the Arctic. They explore the region’s rising strategic importance, its overlooked role in great power competition, and what it means for U.S. policy and allies.