The Missing Piece [International]

We’re looking at a critical tension in Beijing: a crackdown on wasteful spending that may be doing more harm than good. The central government's austerity campaign, aimed at curbing corruption and cutting government excess, has in some areas become so heavy-handed that officials are afraid to dine out or even be seen buying coffee.

This is politically concerning because local overzealous enforcement has been warned against by state media for damaging public life and local economies. Economically, the concern is deeper: as China tries to stimulate domestic consumption, these actions risk choking the very service sector and consumer confidence needed for recovery. The next step for the general economic standard must be precision over blunt force—reining in corruption without strangling legitimate economic activity and ensuring reform focuses on efficiency, like the fiscal changes seen in Beijing's recent budgets.

Guest Info: Professor Ning Leng is an Assistant Professor at the McCourt School of Public Policy, Georgetown University. Dr. Leng specializes in the political economy of China and Global China, and the institutional effects of authoritarianism.

Her work on domestic China includes publications on the motivations, methods, and outcomes of state control over businesspeople, academics, and government officials. Her work on Global China includes public opinion of China in the Global South, the Chinese government’s view of the Global South, and China’s legal influence in South America. Her work has been published or is forthcoming in journals including Comparative Political Studies, Review of International Organizations, and The China Quarterly, among others.

In the episode, we’re tackling the crisis quietly unfolding in American legal education. Applications are plummeting, and for the first time in decades, law schools are fighting over a shrinking pool of talent. But is this just about cost, or is something deeper happening?

We’re seeing campuses transform into political battlegrounds—where admissions, hiring, and even curriculum are being scrutinized through a hyper-partisan lens. The Socratic method is being sidelined for activism, and institutional neutrality is a thing of the past. As the schools lean left or right, they risk alienating half the country and producing graduates ill-prepared for a fractured profession.

The future of law? It’s fragmented. Corporate firms are hiring coders over clerks, and public interest is drowning in debt. Is the JD still worth it? Today, we separate the politics from the precedent.

Guest info: Professor Paul Campos is a law professor, author and blogger on the faculty of the University of Colorado Boulder in Boulder. Campos received his A.B. and M.A. in English from the University of Michigan and in 1989 his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School.

Today, we're looking at North Korea that is fundamentally redefining itself. With Kim Jong-un enshrining his nuclear command in a new constitution and formally abandoning the dream of peaceful reunification, Pyongyang has declared South Korea a permanent enemy. This shift is deeply concerning for both Beijing and Moscow, but for different reasons. For China, it risks destabilizing a critical buffer zone and drawing the U.S. deeper into its periphery . For Russia, it's a strategic partnership that provides military support for its war in Ukraine while challenging U.S. influence. So, how should the West react? Sanctions remain the primary tool, but their effectiveness is waning as Pyongyang leans on its new allies.

Today, we’re pulling back the curtain on a troubling geopolitical reality: the deepening alignment of China, Russia, and Iran. This isn't the Cold War 2.0—it's something more agile and dangerous. These powers are systematically challenging the post-Western world order, leveraging economic dependency, energy blackmail, and information warfare to erode democratic resilience from within. Their goal isn't just influence; it’s systemic disruption. So why is this concerning? Because they are betting on Western impatience and division. They believe our democracies lack the stomach for a long-term contest. To win this race, the West must pivot from reaction to strategy: fortify supply chains, achieve energy independence, and rebuild a unifying narrative about freedom and rules. The race isn’t just military; it’s economic, technological, and ideological. And it’s happening now.

Guest Info: Dr. Brendan Simms is the founder and Director of the Centre for Geopolitics. He works on European geopolitics, past and present, and his principal interests are the German Question, Britain and Europe, Hitler’s global anti-semitism, Humanitarian Intervention and state construction. He is the author of this amazing book "The Return of the Great Powers."

Today, we're looking at a quiet but powerful shift happening right now—how China is making bigger economic and cultural waves around the world, and why we should care. The numbers are clear: China is the only nation in the top 10 of Brand Finance's Global Soft Power Index to see its score rise this year . From blockbuster video games like *Black Myth: Wukong* and global brands like Shein, to AI platforms like DeepSeek, Chinese culture and tech are winning global attention .

But here's what's often missed. This isn't just about China's rise—it's about the West's retreat. Western aid cuts and policies are leaving a gap in the Global South, from Africa to Southeast Asia . As one analysis put it, these policy decisions are "contributing to greater Chinese influence" . We need to ask: is the West losing the global south not because of what China is doing, but because of what the West has stopped doing?

Guest Info: Dr. Marcus Vinicius De Freitas is a Visiting Professor at the China Foreign Affairs University (Beijing), a Senior Fellow at the Policy Center for the New South (Rabat), and a former Visiting Fellow of Practice at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford. He holds degrees from the University of São Paulo, Cornell Law School, and the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His research focuses on international political economy, China–Global South relations, strategic competition, digital sovereignty, and global governance. A frequent contributor to international newspapers, policy journals, and academic forums, his work examines the structural transformations shaping the transition towards a multipolar international order.

Today, we're tackling a critical question: why should we pay attention to women in politics? The answer is simple—because when half the population is shut out of leadership, we all lose. Right now, only one in seven countries is led by a woman, and progress has stalled . But that's only half the story. Women leaders aren't just being sidelined—they're under attack .

From targeted online abuse and deepfakes in Uganda , to a former MP in Ghana being shot at her father's home , the message is clear: women in power face a level of intimidation that their male counterparts simply don't. And yet, they keep fighting, because studies show that when women lead, countries become healthier, more prosperous, and more peaceful.

Guest Info: Linda Robinson is senior fellow for women and foreign policy at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) where she writes about women’s political and economic leadership, the relationship between gender equality and democracy, technology-facilitated violence, and current international affairs. Her latest book, Women in Power: Fighting for Democracy in an Age of Authoritarianism, spotlights the current cohort of women political leaders and tells the powerful stories of the women on the frontlines of the battle between democracy and authoritarianism.

As the October presidential election heats up, Brazil's Lula da Silva is striking a defiant tone against Donald Trump. Unfazed by new U.S. tariffs, Lula has declared he’ll fight back with a "war of truth," warning Trump’s protectionist measures are a "strategic mistake" that will hurt both economies . Lula insists he doesn't want a fight, but he won't accept external pressure .

Meanwhile, Lula's political future looks promising. Polls consistently show him leading his main rival, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, in a potential runoff for the October election . With Lula framing the U.S. trade pressure as foreign interference, it's becoming a central theme in his bid for reelection.

Guest Info: Dr. Marcus Vinicius De Freitas is Senior Fellow at Policy Center for the New South, focusing on International Law, International Relations and Brazil, and is currently a Visiting Professor of International Law and International Relations at China Foreign Affairs University in Beijing, China. Previously, he was a Professor of The Armando Alvares Penteado Foundation in Sao Paulo, where he served as the coordinator of their International Relations Program from December 2012 until December 2013.

We’re starting with major developments out of West Africa. According to U.S. media reports, the Trump administration is actively weighing direct military action in Mali against the al-Qaeda-linked group JNIM, following a deadly attack that killed over 50 Malian soldiers this month . If approved, it would mark the eighth nation targeted by U.S. strikes under the current administration.

But the move is sparking intense internal debate. While a top counterterrorism official is pushing for action, others are wary of the risks—including potential friction with Russian military forces on the ground .

So, is this solely about counterterrorism, or is a larger geopolitical chess match unfolding in the Sahel? We’ll break down the administration's calculations and the real possibility of collaboration with local forces in today's deep dive.

For our Sunday special interview, we invite Mr. Richard Vague, author of the amazing book called "The Banker Who Made America: Thomas Willing and the Rise of the American Financial Aristocracy 1731-1821," to join our show, regarding who Thomas Willing was, how much contribution that he made towards the American financial stability during the independence periods. Vague will answer the question if our current political uncertainties can learn from Willing.

Guest Info: Richard Vague brings a wealth of expertise and experience to the speaking stage, making him an exceptional choice for your event. Author of several influential books including "The Paradox of Debt" and "The Case for a Debt Jubilee," he offers a fresh perspective on macroeconomics and policy exploration. His extensive background in business history, "An Illustrated Business History of the United States," adds depth to his insights into economic trends.

Today, we’re more than two years into the grinding war in Ukraine—a conflict that has reshaped Europe’s borders and tested its unity. While Ukraine has shown incredible resilience, the battlefield reality is stark: artillery shortages, air defense gaps, and troop fatigue are giving Russia the upper hand. So, the question isn’t just about more weapons—it’s about smarter security.

What if a stronger, more coordinated security alliance could change the game? Imagine pooled intelligence, shared logistics, and joint training that turns scattered aid into a seamless defense network. That’s not NATO—yet—but it could be a European-led pillar that fills the gaps, standardizes ammunition, and speeds up decision-making. For Ukraine, that means predictable support, not month-to-month survival.

And that’s why more EU nations must step up—not out of charity, but out of self-interest. Russia’s war is a direct threat to European stability. Every extra artillery shell, every Patriot system, every fighter jet sent now shortens the war and deters future aggression. Hesitation only emboldens Moscow. The cost of inaction—in refugees, energy crises, and shattered borders—will dwarf today’s investments.

Guest Info: Dr. Sergiy Korsunsky is a Senior Adviser at the Nihon Cyber Defense Co., Ltd. He served as Ambassador of Ukraine to Japan in 2020-2025. Prior to that he served as Director of the Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine in 2017-2020. He holds a diplomatic rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. Ambassador Korsunsky’s previous positions include: Ambassador of Ukraine to Turkey (2008-2016), Director-General of the Economic Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2006-2008); Minister-Counselor and Acting Ambassador at the Embassy of Ukraine in the USA (2000-2005).