Sound Discussion

Guest: Cyrus Vance Jr.

Encryption has long been an essential tool for protecting digital data and communications. It supports privacy and other human rights, protects financial assets and proprietary data, enhances national security and thwarts cyber-enabled crime. However, the widespread use of encryption has also reduced law enforcement’s ability to access vital digital evidence and other critical information to fight crime.

Following the release of EWI's report "Encryption Policy in Democratic Regimes: Finding Convergent Paths and Balanced Solutions," EWI cyberspace program chief Bruce McConnell sits down with Cyrus Vance Jr.,New York County District Attorney, to discuss the urgent need to find a middle ground in the use of encryption.

Since his first term in 2010, Vance has led his office in dealing with growing cyber-related crimes. Vance also co-founded the Global Cyber Alliance a non-profit, cross-sector coalition focused on reducing digital vulnerability through the exchange of threat data and the development of open-source risk management solutions. His office was one of the contributors in the preparation of EWI's encryption report.

Guest: Nicholas Burns.

Staffing gaps and significant personnel changes at the State Department have raised concerns about the direction of U.S. foreign policy, especially amid public statements by President Donald Trump concerning American alliances and positions on issues around the world. Ambassador Cameron Munter invites Ambassador Nicholas Burns to share his insights and ideas, including on timely topics such as the U.S.-Russia relationship following the re-election of Vladimir Putin, Transatlantic relations and changing perceptions about the future role of NATO, and a possible meeting between President Trump and his North Korean counterpart on nuclear nonproliferation and security.

Ambassador Burns was Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs under President George W. Bush. Prior to that assignment, he was also U.S. Ambassador to NATO. Currently, Burns is the Goodman Family Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy and International Relations at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, and also director of The Future of Diplomacy Project.

Guest: Michael Morell.

Topic: South Asia continues to be a volatile and changing region with historically deep-rooted mistrust among the neighbors. With Russia and China being more involved in the region, the current United States administration chooses to step back.

Ambassador Cameron Munter speaks in depth about the region with Michael Morell, former deputy director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) as well as former acting director. Morell hosts his own podcast called Intelligence Matters.

Guest: Jason Schenker.

Topic: In this conversation, Ambassador Cameron Munter shares his insights on the global geopolitical situation in 2018. He is joined by global economist Jason Schenker, a renowned financial futurist who specializes in forecasting economic trends. The two preview the opportunities and challenges around the world that stakeholders must watch for this year.

Guest: Jeremi Suri.

Topic: Dr. William J. Parker III, Chief Operating Officer of the EastWest Institute, sits down with historian Dr. Jeremi Suri to talk about the evolution of the American presidency. The discussion looks back on the original scope of the presidency conceived by the Founding Fathers and how the role has dramatically shifted owing to present day demands; as well as delving into what leadership may entail in the future.

Guest: Suzanne DiMaggio

Topic: Heightened tensions in the Korean Peninsula have shown the ever urgent need for a sustainable solution to prevent a military conflict. In this podcast, EWI seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of the on-the-ground situation, back-channel diplomacy efforts and challenges as well as lessons from past negotiations that brought about the landmark nuclear deal with Iran.

Ambassador Cameron Munter, CEO & President of EWI, is joined by Suzanne DiMaggio, director and fellow at the New York-based New America. DiMaggio directs the organization's U.S.-Iran Initiative and their U.S.-North Korea Dialogue. As part of that process, she facilitated the first official discussions between the U.S. and North Korea governments in Oslo in May 2017.

Guest: Joshua Keating.

Topic: EWI CEO and President Cameron Munter speaks with Joshua Keating, staff writer and author of the World blog at Slate, on his upcoming book Invisible Countries. In his book, Keating explores possible reasons why the map of the world, unexpectedly, has remained relatively static in the last 25 years.

Referring to cases of states with limited recognition in the international community—Abkhazia, the Mohawk Indian Reservation, Somaliland, Kurdistan and Kiribati—Keating argues for more flexibility in how we define the parameters of what makes a state a recognized country in the modern world.

Guest: Ankit Panda.

Topic: Dr. William Parker, COO of the EastWest Institute, and Ankit Panda dispel myths, assess missile defense capability and explore potential outcomes.

Panda is an award-winning New York City-based writer, editor, and international affairs analyst covering defense, security, economics, and politics with a primary focus on the wider Asia-Pacific region. He is also a senior editor at the Diplomat.

Bruce McConnell, EWI Global Vice President, offers insights stemming from his recent travels to China in the run up to the 19th Party Congress, and the need for joint global leadership on the pivotal issue of cybersecurity.

EWI CEO and President Cameron Munter considers what a second term for Chinese President Xi Jinping might mean for U.S.-China relations.