September 30, 2020 | By Brian Hanson

Five Deep Dish Episodes to Explain the World Right Now

As the host of Deep Dish, the Chicago Council on Global Affairs’ foreign policy podcast, I talk to experts around the world about what’s happening in the news and how to understand the issues driving the headlines. We cover a large range of topics – from national security to urban affairs – and have great conversations on how these issues influence US foreign policy and the United States’ place in the world. In honor of world podcast day, September 30, I’m sharing my recommendations for five of our recent episodes that explain what’s happening in our world and why these issues are so important.  

  1. Making Cyberspace Safe for Democracy  


    As the US Presidential election moves closer, public concern about the election’s integrity has increased. The Alliance for Security Democracy’s Laura Rosenberger and Stanford University’s Jacob Helberg join Deep Dish to discuss digital interference, misinformation, and data privacy within the lens of geopolitics. 
     

  2. How Racial Injustice Shapes US Foreign Policy  


    The murder of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and other Black people — as well as the US government’s reaction to national protests on racial injustice — have added to concerns over the demise of US global leadership. University of Wisconsin-Madison historian Brenda Gayle Plummer joins Deep Dish to examine what the United States must learn from our past in order to fix our foreign policy. 
     

  3. How Putin Holds Power Over Russia  


    After a constitutional referendum this summer, Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to hold power until 2036. Investigative reporter Catherine Belton joins Deep Dish to examine the people that surround the enigmatic leader – and the financial ties to the West that makes the Kremlin’s dominance possible. 
     

  4. Who’s Winning the US-China Tech War?  


    While the United States still allows American users to download the Chinese app TikTok (for now), the outcome of legal proceedings against the app’s parent company ByteDance will set the precedent for future tech companies. The Council on Foreign Relations’ Adam Segal joins Deep Dish to explain the battles between China and the US over products like Huawei and TikTok, their role in US foreign policy, and why US allies are choosing sides. 
     

  5. Why Allies are Key for US Security Today 


    The spread of COVID-19 and the United States’ mismanagement of the pandemic may have a long-term effect on the relationships the country has relied on for decades. The Council on Foreign Relations’ Mira Rapp-Hooper joins Deep Dish to explain why the alliance system is still essential for America’s global leadership – but must be remade to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
     

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About

The Chicago Council on Global Affairs is an independent, nonpartisan organization that provides insight – and influences the public discourse – on critical global issues. We convene leading global voices and conduct independent research to bring clarity and offer solutions to challenges and opportunities across the globe. The Council is committed to engaging the public and raising global awareness of issues that transcend borders and transform how people, business, and governments engage the world.

The Chicago Council on Global Affairs is an independent, nonpartisan organization. All statements of fact and expressions of opinion in blog posts are the sole responsibility of the individual author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Council.

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