CFR On the Record

CFR On the Record

By Council on Foreign RelationsNon-Profit
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CFR On the Record episodes

  • On U.S. National Security Challenges

    Since the start of the second Trump administration, the National Security Council (NSC) has seen its staff reduced from around 350 employees to fewer than 100, with dozens of policy experts abruptly dismissed or placed on administrative leave this May. Former U.S. National Security Advisors Thomas E. Donilon, Stephen J. Hadley, and Susan E. Rice unpack how the recent reorganization could affect U.S. foreign policy decision-making. 

     

    Background Reading:

    • This backgrounder from CFR Education outlines the role of the U.S. National Security Council.

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      Host: Michael Froman, President, Council on Foreign Relations

       

      Guests: Susan E. Rice, Former National Security Advisor (2013–17); CFR Member

       

      Thomas E. Donilon, Former National Security Advisor (2010–13); Member, Board of Directors, Council on Foreign Relations

       

      Stephen J. Hadley, Former National Security Advisor (2005–09); CFR Member

       

      Want more comprehensive analysis of global news and events 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 our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTvZJxAGnW4 

      1 hr 3 min
    • On Gaza’s Humanitarian Crisis

      Former UN Undersecretary-General Sigrid Kaag discusses the state of humanitarian assistance in Gaza and the role of the international community in supporting relief efforts.

       

      Background Reading:

      • Malnutrition has reached alarming levels in Gaza, with famine declared in the territory’s most populated region. As Israel continues to block aid from entering Gaza, this backgrounder explains how hunger is now reportedly affecting more than just civilians on the ground. 
      • As the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip continues, some countries have announced their intent to recognize the Palestinian territories as a sovereign nation, but full independence and UN membership remain elusive. This backgrounder unpacks the quest for Palestinian statehood.

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        Host: Steven Kalin, Foreign Correspondent at the Wall Street Journal

         

        Guest: Sigrid Kaag, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process; Former United Nations Undersecretary-General

         

        Want more comprehensive analysis of global news and events 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 our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPUiqLythfc 

        59 min
      • On Pope Leo XIV’s First 100 Days

        Experts discuss Pope Leo XIV’s foreign policy priorities during his first 100 days and the Vatican’s evolving role in international diplomacy. 

         

        Host: Claire Giangravé, Vatican Reporter for Religion News Service

         

        Guests: Thomas J. Reese, Senior Analyst for Religion News Service

         

        Stephen Schneck, Commissioner of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom

         

        George Weigel, Senior Fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center

         

        Want more comprehensive analysis of global news and events 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 our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYbURipvtj0 

        1 hr 8 min
      • Religion and Foreign Policy Webinar: AI’s Religious and Policy Implications
        Ilia Delio, founder of the Center for Christogenesis and a Franciscan sister of Washington, DC, and Noreen Herzfeld, the Nicholas and Bernice Reuter professor of science and religion at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University, discuss how religious worldviews and spiritual traditions can inform global AI policy and explore the role of faith leaders in shaping inclusive, ethical, and internationally responsible governance of artificial intelligence.
        1 hr 4 min
      • CEO Speaker Series With Dario Amodei of Anthropic
        Anthropic Chief Executive Officer and Cofounder Dario Amodei discusses the future of U.S. AI leadership, the role of innovation in an era of strategic competition, and the outlook for frontier model development.
        The CEO Speaker series is a unique forum for leading global CEOs to share their insights on issues at the center of commerce and foreign policy, and to discuss the changing role of business globally.
        If you wish to attend virtually, log-in information and instructions on how to participate during the question and answer portion will be provided the evening before the event to those who register. Please note the audio, video, and transcript of this hybrid event will be posted on the CFR website.
        1 hr 3 min
      • Transition 2025 Series: The Future of U.S. Climate and Energy Policy
        Panelists discuss the future of climate and energy policy under the new Trump administration, examining lessons from President Trump’s previous term, anticipated shifts from the policies of the Biden administration, and the trajectory of U.S. energy industries, including oil, solar, and wind, and natural gas.
        This meeting is part of CFR’s Transition 2025 series, which examines the major foreign policy issues confronting the Trump administration.
        If you wish to attend virtually, log-in information and instructions on how to participate during the question and answer portion will be provided the evening before the event to those who register. Please note the audio, video, and transcript of this hybrid meeting will be posted on the CFR website.
        1 hr 2 min
      • Term Member Meeting: Germany’s Next Chapter—Post-Election Analysis and Global Impacts
        Panelists discuss the February German election results and their implications for Germany’s domestic policies, NATO commitments, and the broader European landscape, with insights into how Germany’s new leadership could reshape alliances and influence the continent’s future.
        CFR’s Stephen M. Kellen Term Member Program is pleased to be hosting this event with the American Council on Germany’s Young Leaders Program.
        **This is a virtual meeting through Zoom. Log-in information and instructions on how to participate during the question and answer portion will be provided the evening before the event to those who register. Please note the audio, video, and transcript of this virtual meeting will be posted on the CFR website.
        1 hr
      • CEO Speaker Series With Patrick Pouyanné of TotalEnergies
        TotalEnergies Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Patrick Pouyanné discusses evolving trends in the global energy market in a changing geopolitical environment, the potential for increased transatlantic energy cooperation, the role of gas and renewable energies in the transition, and TotalEnergies’ multi-energy strategy.
        The CEO Speaker series is a unique forum for leading global CEOs to share their insights on issues at the center of commerce and foreign policy, and to discuss the changing role of business globally.
        If you wish to attend virtually, log-in information and instructions on how to participate during the question and answer portion will be provided the evening before the event to those who register. Please note the audio, video, and transcript of this hybrid event will be posted on the CFR website.
        1 hr 1 min

      About CFR On the Record

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      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.