Three Questions

It’s been a big two weeks in U.S. politics, and some political observers are asking whether the MAGA movement is finally losing steam. A year after President Donald Trump’s stunning comeback, Republicans face fresh blowback from the record-breaking government shutdown, renewed public scrutiny of the "Epstein Files," and major electoral defeats on November 4. Is the MAGA movement fraying at the edges? And could these developments hint at further weakening ahead of the 2026 midterm elections?

In this episode, Paul Saunders speaks with Jacob Heilbrunn, editor of The National Interest. Heilbrunn previously served as a senior editor at the New Republic and an editorial writer for the Los Angeles Times and has written on both foreign and domestic issues for numerous publications including the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Foreign Affairs, Reuters, Washington Monthly, and the Weekly Standard.

Music by Sonican from Pixabay.

What does “realism” in foreign policy really mean, and why are some experts calling for a return to it? In this episode, Paul Saunders breaks down the core tenets of realism that separate it from more idealistic and moralistic approaches.

Saunders is the president of the Center for the National Interest and an expert with more than three decades of experience in U.S.-Russia policy. He previously served in the George W. Bush Administration from 2003 to 2005 as Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs.

Music by Sonican from Pixabay.

President Trump’s indecision on providing Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine has raised fresh questions about what his true endgame may be. Is the president using the weapons issue as leverage in a broader negotiation with Moscow? Could his push for a ceasefire bring about lasting peace, or does it risk merely freezing the conflict on Russia’s terms? And what does this shift reveal about the administration’s broader approach to Europe, NATO, and America’s global role?

In this episode, Paul Saunders discusses these latest developments. Saunders is the president of the Center for the National Interest and an expert with more than three decades of experience in U.S.-Russia policy. He previously served in the George W. Bush Administration from 2003 to 2005 as Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs.

Music by Sonican from Pixabay.

On September 17, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA), a formal pact pledging that aggression against one will be treated as aggression against both. The agreement effectively extends Pakistan’s nuclear deterrent over Riyadh, raising questions about whether this marks the emergence of a new “nuclear umbrella” in the Gulf. Is this a pragmatic hedge by Riyadh amid doubts about U.S. reliability, or a step that could reshape the balance of power in the Middle East? And what risks does it pose for American security policy in the region?

In this episode, Paul Saunders speaks with Greg Priddy, a Senior Fellow for the Middle East at the Center for the National Interest. Priddy consults for corporate and financial clients on political risk in the region and previously served as Director for Global Oil at Eurasia Group.

Music by Sonican from Pixabay.

President Donald Trump's state visit to the UK concluded with a new technology partnership and major investment pledges, but also highlighted sticking points—from Trump’s refusal to lower tariffs to sharp differences with Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Russia, Ukraine, and Gaza. What does this visit reveal about the durability of the “special relationship,” and where might tensions pull Washington and London apart?

In this episode, Paul Saunders speaks with Jacob Heilbrunn, editor of The National Interest. Heilbrunn previously served as a senior editor at the New Republic and an editorial writer for the Los Angeles Times and has written on both foreign and domestic issues for numerous publications including the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Foreign Affairs, Reuters, Washington Monthly, and the Weekly Standard.

Music by Sonican from Pixabay.

The recent summit between Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping in Beijing produced a landmark agreement on the Power of Siberia-2 pipeline, a massive project that would redirect Russia’s natural gas exports from Europe to China. The deal raises far-reaching questions: how will it reshape global energy markets, especially for U.S. and allied LNG exporters? Why has Beijing now moved forward despite past hesitations over sanctions and supply needs? And what strategic calculations drove China to favor a secure overland pipeline through Mongolia rather than riskier Arctic LNG shipping routes vulnerable to U.S. power?

In this episode, Paul Saunders discusses these latest developments. Saunders is the president of the Center for the National Interest and an expert with more than three decades of experience in U.S.-Russia policy. He previously served in the George W. Bush Administration from 2003 to 2005 as Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs.

Music by Sonican from Pixabay.

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung will meet President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday for their first summit, a high-stakes encounter following last month’s trade agreement that eased U.S. tariff pressures on Seoul. The meeting comes at a critical moment, as Seoul seeks to reaffirm its alliance with Washington while navigating domestic political pressures, shifting trade dynamics, and the challenges of an unpredictable American president. How will President Lee balance strengthening economic ties, avoiding confrontation over U.S. troop costs, and maintaining flexibility in dealing with North Korea and China? And can this pragmatic approach reshape the U.S.–Korea relationship for the years ahead?

In this episode, Paul Saunders speaks with Dr. Jae Ku, Senior Fellow for U.S.-Korea Relations at the Center for the National Interest. From 2007-2018, he served as the Director of the U.S.-Korea Institute at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, a research institute he co-founded. He was also the director of Freedom House’s Human Rights in North Korea Project, a Congressionally mandated international campaign under the North Korea Human Rights Act of 2004.

Music by Sonican from Pixabay.

The United States is in the midst of an energy export boom, driven by a massive expansion of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) shipments to allies in Europe and Asia. This surge carries significant consequences for American domestic energy production, with export capacity projected to double by 2030, while also establishing energy as a central tool of U.S. foreign policy. This new reality raises critical questions: Is the recent $750 billion U.S.-EU energy deal a realistic commodity agreement or a broader strategic framework designed to counter Russia? What are the prospects for the ambitious, multi-billion-dollar Alaska LNG project, and how does it fit into America’s strategic competition with China in the Arctic? Finally, will the threat of U.S. secondary sanctions on Russia's top oil customers, China and India, successfully pressure Moscow to seek an end to the war in Ukraine?

In this episode, Paul Saunders speaks with Douglas Hengel, an adjunct lecturer in the geopolitics of energy at Johns Hopkins SAIS. Hengel is a former American diplomat who worked extensively on economic and energy issues, including as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Energy, Sanctions and Commodities. In that capacity, his responsibilities included formulating and advancing U.S. international energy policy and being a member of the Governing Board of the International Energy Agency in Paris.

Music by Sonican from Pixabay.

President Donald Trump has once again moved his deadline for Vladimir Putin to begin peace talks on Ukraine, this time to just 10–12 days. But with no breakthrough in sight and repeated Russian missile strikes undercutting diplomatic overtures, frustration in the White House is mounting. What happens if Putin ignores this latest ultimatum? Could extreme tariffs or indirect pressure on other countries make a difference? And what might the war’s trajectory look like if neither side is willing or able to negotiate?

In this episode, Paul Saunders discusses these latest developments. Saunders is the president of the Center for the National Interest and an expert with more than three decades of experience in U.S.-Russia policy. He previously served in the George W. Bush Administration from 2003 to 2005 as Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs.

Music by Sonican from Pixabay.

Donald Trump’s return to the White House has revived one of his signature economic tools: tariffs. But will this strategy revitalize the U.S. economy or sabotage it? With Trump pressing forward on new levies against hundreds of countries and industries, global trade relationships are in flux and domestic markets are bracing for impact. What could this mean for consumer prices, interest rates, and America’s already staggering $36 trillion debt? And will Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” deliver growth or invite economic catastrophe?

In this episode, Paul Saunders speaks with Jacob Heilbrunn, editor of The National Interest. Heilbrunn previously served as a senior editor at the New Republic and an editorial writer for the Los Angeles Times and has written on both foreign and domestic issues for numerous publications including the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Foreign Affairs, Reuters, Washington Monthly, and the Weekly Standard.

Music by Sonican from Pixabay.