South Africa has recently reached headlines across the United States due to President Donald Trump's choice to accept white South Africans into U.S.A. under refugee status, along with perpetuating claims of active persecution against the white population in South Africa. With this in mind, in my latest post on "The Diplomatic Debrief," I look into the validity of these claims by exploring South Africa's history, particularly its dark racial past. I look to explain why white South Africans may be looking to claim refugee status. Finally, I examine how President Trump's refugee policies will impact American Grand Strategy in the Global South.

In the year 1804, Napoleon Bonaparte, a Corsican general who rose to prominence following several successful military campaigns underneath the Revolutionary French Republic, crowned himself Emperor of the French. Following being crowned, the emperor almost immediately was engaged in a swift campaign by the Austrian and Russian Empires which would culminate in their defeat following Napoleon’s famous victory - Battle of Austerlitz. Only a year later, however, Napoleon would find himself once again at war - this time with the north German Kingdom of Prussia. However, following the twin battles of Jena-Auerstedt, what Napoleon believed would be a quick and speedy campaign turned into a drawn-out one as the remnants of Prussia would retreat into their territorial possessions in modern-day Poland. Worst of all, winter was approaching and Napoleon and his Grand Armeé were now 900 miles from Paris. Today we will be discussing how Napoleon, despite being isolated from France and being stationed in hostile territory, was able to supply, maintain, and care for his troops - a gargantuan task that can be characterized as a masterwork in military logistics.

Everyone knows the phrase “Conjunction junction, what’s your function” and “I’m just a bill on capitol hill.” These are due to the great popularity of the popular Schoolhouse Rock! shorts that have become an integral part of American childhood as they have been played in schools throughout America. Released in 1973, almost 200 years following the founding of America, the shorts have educated countless children with lessons on grammar, mathematics, and, most importantly for our episode, American history. However, as we approach the 250th year anniversary of America’s founding, Dr. Ringel argues that Schoolhouse Rock!’s discussions on American history may not be as inclusive as they could be. Today, we will be discussing the history of Schoolhouse Rock! and the possibilities of creating a more open, diverse, and civically conscious show. A link to Dr. Ringel's interview will be attached when it is released.

In the year 1517, a German monk by the name of Martin Luther nailed a list of 95 grievances against the Catholic Church to the front door of a church in Wittenberg, Germany, starting what we now know as the Protestant Reformation. This reformation saw the rising of several protestant reformers who, while all were united in their opposition to the Catholic Church, all held various beliefs on how worship should be practiced. On the island of Great Britain, the ideas and discrepancies of and between Luther and these reformers would reach many academics and clergymen, including the likes of Stephen Gardiner and Thomas Cranmer. Today, our story focuses on Gardiner and Cranmer, two highly religious and ambitious men who through an intense rivalry, decide the fate of England and the English Church through one question: when one consumed the Eucharist, were they consuming the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ?

Upon the "discovery" of the Americas by the Genoese explorer Christopher Columbus, a rush to acquire wealth and glory emerged from the Spanish kingdoms of Castile and Aragon who had funded the expedition occurred that saw colonies emerging throughout the New World. The first area to be colonized, Cuba, would prove to be a booming area filled with resources, slaves, and gold. In this scenario enters la Doña Guiomar de Guzman, a Spanish woman who, like others, arrives in search of wealth. Join me in this episode as I interview Dr. Shannon Lalor, an instructor at High Point University and specialist in colonial Cuban history as we explore Guzman's life and the intrigues of the early Cuban colony.