Why It Matters

Host Gabrielle Sierra and podcast guests Johanna Mendelson Forman and Matthew Costello discuss food diplomacy, share stories from White House state dinners, and unpack how food has helped to create lasting international partnerships.

This taping was originally recorded on April 17, 2025.

Featured Guests

Johanna Mendelson Forman (Distinguished Fellow at the Stimson Center, Adjunct Professor at American University’s School of International Service)

What role does the president have when it comes to making trade deals? In this episode, we dig into the expansive powers of the U.S. president when it comes to trade. From unilateral authority to congressional oversight, we unpack who truly calls the shots when the U.S. negotiates trade agreements.

Featured Guest: 

Inu Manak (Fellow for trade policy at the Council on Foreign Relations)

For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/wim/trade-agreements-deal-or-no-deal 

Tariffs have sparked intense debate in Washington, but their consequences land far from Capitol Hill. Tariffs can shape paychecks, shift prices for consumers, and affect markets. At best, tariffs offer short-term protection for certain industries. At worst, they can uproot the lives of American workers. In this episode, Why It Matters looks at what tariffs mean for a U.S. steel manufacturer and small business owner trying to stay afloat.

Featured Guests

Matthew P. Goodman, Distinguished Fellow and Director of the Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies, CFR

Jamie Sychak, President of United Auto Workers Local 3303

For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/wim/tariff-turmoil-part-2-steel-and-dog-gelato 

Tariffs are often discussed in big, abstract terms—trade wars, economic strategy, global power struggles. But for ginseng farmers in Wisconsin, their effects are painfully personal. In this episode, Why It Matters dives into how tariffs work and how they’re hitting one of America's most niche yet lucrative exports: Wisconsin-grown ginseng.

Featured Guests

Matthew P. Goodman, Distinguished Fellow and Director of the Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies, CFR

Will Hsu, President of Hsu's Ginseng Enterprises Inc.

For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/wim/tariff-turmoil-part-1-how-tariffs-are-affecting-farmers 

When it comes to trade, there is no consensus in Washington. The issue has become deeply polarizing, with lawmakers split over whether free trade agreements benefit or harm the U.S. economy. While some argue that open markets are essential for global leadership and economic growth, others believe that such policies disproportionately harm American workers and industries, fueling the rise of protectionist sentiment. 

This season, Why It Matters is taking you through the ins and outs of trade. In this episode, we’re examining how trade policy is sizing up to be anything but consensus.

Featured Guests

Shannon K. O’Neil, Senior Vice President, Director of Studies, and Maurice R. Greenberg Chair, CFR

Edward Alden, Senior Fellow specializing in U.S. economic competitiveness, trade, and immigration policy

For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/wim/washington-consensus-could-not-hold

There was once a broad consensus in Washington that trade was a force for good—a way to connect, grow, and prosper. But today, trade has evolved into something much bigger than just the exchange of goods. It’s become a powerful tool to rewrite the rules of foreign policy, reshape how the United States is viewed by the rest of the world, and steer us toward an increasingly uncertain future. When did this change begin, and where did we go off course?

This season, Why It Matters is taking you through the ins and outs of trade. In this episode, we’re diving into the history books to learn what can the past tell us about the future of U.S. trade policy.

Featured Guest

Edward Alden, senior fellow specializing in U.S. economic competitiveness, trade, and immigration policy

For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/weve-been-looking-trade-all-wrong 

Why It Matters is back and this time we are dedicating an entire season to talking about trade. Alongside CFR’s leading experts, we are bringing you stories from Americans around the country and trying to figure out where Washington went wrong when it comes to U.S. trade policy.

As the climate crisis intensifies, so do discussions about the utilization of nuclear energy. In the aftermath of nuclear meltdowns such as Chernobyl and Fukushima, climate skeptics say the environmental benefits do not outweigh the associated costs and risks. But others think that nuclear energy might be the best option for a greener future. Weighed against the world’s continued reliance on fossil fuels, how could nuclear be a safeguard for our energy supply?

This episode was originally released on October 29, 2021.

Featured Guests

Leslie Dewan, CEO, RadiantNano

Shirley Ann Jackson, President, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Emerging technologies are transforming international relations and our country’s economy. So how do we connect science and engineering labs with Washington and the world of business? 

The Interconnect, a new podcast series from the Council on Foreign Relations and the Stanford Emerging Technology Review, brings together leading minds in cutting-edge technology and foreign policy to explore recent ground-breaking developments, what's coming over the horizon, and the implications for U.S. innovation leadership.

In this featured episode, Stanford Emerging Technology Review Faculty Council Member Mark Horowitz and CFR’s technologist-in-residence Sebastian Elbaum discuss where chip manufacturing is heading, how hardware advances are powering the new artificial intelligence (AI) era, and what the United States should prioritize in order to sustain its leadership in this crucial domain.

Host

Martin Giles, Managing Editor of the Stanford Emerging Technology Review

Guests

Mark Horowitz, chair of the Electrical Engineering Department at Stanford University

Sebastian Elbaum, the Technologist in Residence at the Council on Foreign Relations

Fresh water sustains all life, but in many regions, especially arid ones, it is becoming increasingly scarce due to climate change. Aging infrastructure and ineffective policies are only making the situation worse, affecting communities, economies, and even the political stability of some countries. As water shortages intensify, it’s crucial to rethink how we manage this vital resource and develop more adaptable systems that can better withstand the effects of climate change.

This episode was originally released on July 8, 2021.

Featured Guests

Sandra Postel, Founder and Director, Global Water Policy Project

Mark Giordano, Professor of Geography and Cinco Hermanos Chair in Environment and International Affairs, Georgetown University

For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/water-scarcity