The World Unpacked

Southeast Asia holds vast economic significance to not just the United States but to the world. But the pandemic has strained the region’s recovery with the delta variant surging, while global supply chains have been stretched to the limit. Meanwhile, the United States is looking to reinforce its ties with Southeast Asia as China makes its own moves in the region.

Economist Trinh Nguyen joins Doug to talk about the region’s battle with the virus and why the global economic recovery depends on Southeast Asia.

Follow Trinh for more insights on emerging Asia and watch her latest interview on CNBC about Southeast Asian economies. 

Crisis has struck Cuba and Haiti in recent weeks. In Cuba, thousands of protestors have flooded the streets in unprecedented demonstrations amid a dire economic situation and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Meanwhile, Haiti has plunged into further turmoil following the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse at the hands of highly trained assassins, as rivals jockey for power and gangs sew chaos across the island nation.

This week, Foreign Policy columnist Elise Labott joins Doug to talk about how both crises unfolded, where the two Caribbean countries go from here, and how the United States should respond.

1. Elise Labott, “Biden’s Missed Opportunity in Cuba,” Foreign Policy
2. Elise Labott, “How to End Haiti’s Terminal Despair,” Foreign Policy

On June 25, a much anticipated report from the U.S. government on UFOs was released to the public. The nine-page report examined 144 cases of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), or more commonly known as UFOs. Only one UAP case in the report was able to be identified with confidence, while the others remain unidentified. The report has captivated the public as well as government officials, who are taking the findings seriously from a national security standpoint. 

Joining Doug is Washington Post reporter Shane Harris to unpack the findings in the UFO report and what it means for U.S. national security.

1. Guardian News. Pentagon officially releases 'UFO' videos [Video]. YouTube.
2. Preliminary Assessment: Unidentified Aerial Phenomena. Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
3. Roland Emmerich. Independence Day [Film]. 20th Century Fox.
4. Shane Harris and Missy Ryan. U.S. unable to explain more than 140 unidentified flying objects, but new report finds no evidence of alien life. The Washington Post.

On June 21, Ethiopia held a historic national election, but millions of Ethiopians couldn’t vote with the country in the midst of a civil war. Backed by Eritrean soldiers, Ethiopia’s military has been in conflict with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, a regional political party that broke off from Ethiopia last November. And just this week, Tigrayan forces have taken back the regional capital of Mekelle from the Ethiopian army. Both sides have been accused of violating human rights, and the war has forced thousands from their homes.  

Joining Doug is Carnegie’s Africa Program director, Zainab Usman, to unpack what Ethiopia is facing after holding a national election. 

Iranians head to the polls tomorrow to elect a new president. While Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has largely favored one candidate, calls for a boycott have taken root among many grassroots Iranian activists. Meanwhile, the United States and Iran continue to negotiate the revival of the Iran nuclear deal.

Iranian journalist and human rights activist Masih Alinejad joins Doug to unpack the Iranian elections and what they mean for the world.

1. Masih Alinejad, The Wind In My Hair
2. My Stealthy Freedom
3. Masih’s Instagram profile

President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to meet in Geneva on June 16. Tensions between the United States and Russia are high in the aftermath of Russia’s involvement in Belarus’ hijacking of a commercial airliner and a string of devastating cyberattacks. Will the summit lead to progress, or will personal animosity and geopolitics continue to mire the bilateral relationship?

Joining Doug for his first episode as host are Andrew Weiss and Alex Gabuev. Bringing both American and Russian perspectives, Andrew and Alex unpack what to expect from the summit.

The recent Colonial Pipeline attack was yet another example of the escalating threats in cyberspace as many Americans experienced long lines at gas stations amid fears of shortages after a ransomware attack. This incident just comes months after the likely Russian government-sponsored SolarWinds hack that compromised thousands of government and company platforms. Meanwhile, the Facebook Oversight Board recently upheld its ban on former President Donald Trump. 

With all these disruptions in the digital realm, the line between what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior online—and who should manage cyberspace—has never been blurrier. Companies are exercising their private authorities, paying off ransoms and managing challenging content moderation decisions. Have governments ceded too much ground to the private sector, and is there a way to build a more organized structure to make these groundbreaking decisions in cyberspace?

Jon Bateman, a fellow at Carnegie’s Cyber Policy Initiative, joins Laura to tackle the growing governance challenges in the technology sector.

More the 100 days into his administration, President Biden has faced a fraught moment for democracy. Within the last year, protests for racial equity have underlined the challenge of systemic racism in the United States, while dubious claims of election fraud culminated in the shocking assault on the U.S. Capitol on January 6. Across the globe, the military’s grip in Myanmar holds firm after a coup, while the Kremlin put political dissident Alexei Navalny behind bars. With Biden making democracy promotion a key element in his address to Congress last week, can democracy make a comeback?

Ashley Quarcoo, a senior fellow at Carnegie, joins Laura to discuss the task of bolstering democracy at home in the United States and abroad.

Read Ashley's latest work:

"Can Biden Revive Democracy at Home and Abroad?"

"The Long-Term Impact of COVID-19 on U.S. Democracy"

"Reversing the Tide: Towards a New US Strategy to Support Democracy and Counter Authoritarianism"

While the Biden administration has signaled an openness to reviving the Iran nuclear deal, whether that is possible  is far from certain. An alleged Israeli attack on the Natanz nuclear facility and Iran’s response pledging to enrich uranium at even higher levels have only raised the stakes for new talks in Vienna.

Cornelius Adebahr, a nonresident fellow with Carnegie Europe, sits down with Laura to unpack the complex negotiations, European leaders’ vital role to revive the JCPOA, and the prospects for a deal.

Read Cornelius' latest pieces:

Europe Is Late but Crucial in U.S.-Iran Nuclear Talks

Where's Europe on the Iran Nuclear Deal?

Europe’s vaccine distribution has come under fire in recent weeks, jeopardizing the continent’s recovery and its relationships with important partners worldwide. Meanwhile, European leaders are reckoning with an emboldened China, while also welcoming the Biden administration’s new tone on the transatlantic alliance.

Rosa Balfour, the director of Carnegie Europe, joins Laura to discuss how Europe can manage the pressures of the moment. 

Read Rosa's latest pieces:

"Against a European Civilization: Narratives About the European Union"

"European Leaders Are Facing Their Armageddon"