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PODCAST

American Diplomat

Ambassador (Retired) Pete Romero and Writer/Producer Laura Bennett

American Diplomat goes behind the scenes to hear real stories from diplomats who lived newsworthy events overseas. Experience the Cuban revolution, Central American insurgencies, the end of apartheid and more through the eyes of those who were there. A project of Arizona State University.

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All Episodes

36:50

Are the Chinese Coming for You?

American Diplomat ·

2025/06/12

The Federal Government has a long-standing entity which reviews possible threats posed by foreign actors, investing inside the US. What happens when a small town decides to wreck a Chinese investment…prudence or a resurgence of the Red Scare? Security expert Nova Daly unpacks these questions and updates us on the impending deadline for TikTok…yes, the clock is ticking!

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30:36

Lebanon: Finally, A Ray of Hope, or Just a Flash Bang?

American Diplomat ·

2025/06/05

With Assad overthrown in Syria and the new regime freeing themselves of decades long sanctions will they be able to stop the flow of financing and weapons to Hezbollah in Lebanon? Is this an opening to permit reform and true democracy in Lebanon or will it be another missed opportunity? Ambassador Ed Gabriel sets forth what is at stake in the region and for US interests.

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13:27

Have You No Sense of Decency, Mr. Secretary?

American Diplomat ·

2025/05/29

With so much disinformation flying around, Senator Chris Van Hollen sets the record straight and takes down Secretary Rubio at the same time.

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44:27

The Pastry Chef, the Hand Grenade, the OSS and Vietnam

American Diplomat ·

2025/05/22

From wartime to prosperity, Ambassador Ted Osius shares his personal experience of change in US/Vietnam relations since the end of the war 50 years ago. Best question: Why is Amb. Osius optimistic, even in today’s trade climate? Hint: Nothing is Impossible, the title of both Amb. Osius’s book and his previous episode with us. For bonus fun, enjoy the video of Vietnamese female rap artist Suboi!

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46:32

Politics of Retribution

American Diplomat ·

2025/05/15

How did a utopian vision for society lead to one of the bloodiest regimes in history, Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge? Why does it matter today? Was it mediocrity? Arrogance? Or is it just easier to seize power than it is to govern? Prof. Andrew Mertha of Johns Hopkins’ School of International Studies, whose new book Bad Lieutenants – out today, lays it out for us.

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45:28

Is the Chaos at State Over?

American Diplomat ·

2025/05/08

Acting Undersecretary for Management, Ambassador Tibor Nagy, had a front row seat to the twenty-something DOGE Musketeers and their slash and burn approach to “re-organizing” venerable national security infrastructure. Tibor reflects on that and opines on whether the worst is over.

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38:03

Squeezing Blood From a Stone

American Diplomat ·

2025/05/05

Overseas, mugged, sick, arrested, who are you going to call and will there be anyone to answer? Tom Yazgerdi, the President of AFSA, the State Department labor union, fears what budget cuts will mean for traveling Americans.

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35:49

What’s Behind the Trump-Bukele Bromance?

American Diplomat ·

2025/04/24

Is it simply mutual self-interest or is it Bukele's head start on the authoritarian’s handbook? Both? AmDip’s own Pete Romero breaks it down, with feeling!

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45:40

Democracy Prevails!

American Diplomat ·

2025/04/17

Former US Ambassador to South Korea Kathleen Stephens answers the question: How was martial law was defeated within hours and the would-be dictator impeached? Hint: The citizens, and the soldiers(!) said no. Putting up barricades with sofas and chairs, and grabbing a gun from a soldier, one woman asked, "Aren’t you ashamed of yourself?" Even the president accepted the rules set forth in the constitution. But why? For another one of Amb. Stephens's episodes with us, click here. Vive la

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26:46

Universities in the Trump Crosshairs

American Diplomat ·

2025/04/10

US colleges and universities are a battleground for First Amendment rights. Each side of the political spectrum wants to limit these rights for the other side. Now the Trump Administration has weaponized these issues by cutting grants and detaining students. Is there a neutral path forward? ASU honors student Sami Al-Asady breaks it down for us.

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40:53

DEI: Enemy of the People?

American Diplomat ·

2025/04/03

Trump has led a relentless attack on Diversity Equity and Inclusion, saying it undermines a meritocracy. Former State DEI chief Ambassador Gina Abercrombie Winstanley asserts that equity and inclusion are simply effective management tools for molding smart teams. You be the judge.

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32:34

South Africans Don't Like to be Bullied

American Diplomat ·

2025/03/28

And why does it matter how regular South Africans feel about US behavior toward their country? Ambassador Charlie Ray untangles the powerful dynamics within South Africa domestically and vis-a-vis the United States, and helps us understand what this means for our present and future. Plus: It's up to us to create our world and it all starts with voting. Always vote!

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35:41

We are Americans and we stand for something.

American Diplomat ·

2025/03/20

What happens when the US washes its hands of its international obligations? Ambassador Mike Polt, Co-Founder of ASU’s Leadership, Diplomacy and National Security Lab, views our president as our chief diplomat and calls the Zelensky-Trump Oval Office meeting a pivotal moment. We have humiliated the rest of the world, including our friends. Now what?

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23:18

How is Trump 2.0 Like An Onion?

American Diplomat ·

2025/03/17

A foreign policy grandmaster strategist? Or is our president guided simply by whim and spite, without a cohesive plan? Pete and Laura break it down. You be the judge.

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37:31

Tariff Wars

American Diplomat ·

2025/03/06

Tony Wayne, former Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs and US Ambassador to Mexico, pulls apart the strands. First, what is an import? How many times would you guess a raw material or auto part crosses a Canadian or Mexican border in the process of making and assembling a car? 4? 5? Each crossing carries a 25% tariff. That’s a lot of crossings! And a whole lot of tariffs! And the point? To make our neighbors tougher on smuggling into the US things we don’t want

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29:32

When Economists Wage War

American Diplomat ·

2025/02/28

Diplomat and Author Edward Fishman reveals how globalization is giving way to zero-sum self-interest. Can we win the emerging economic warfare? Listen, and read his new book Chokepoints: American Power in the Age of Economic Warfare.

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32:04

USAID and the Fate of Gazans

American Diplomat ·

2025/02/20

Peace in the Middle East starts in Gaza and the West Bank. But beautiful parks and fountains and casinos…the Riviera of the Middle East, a beautiful vacation spot in what is now rubble? And somehow the US would own it. But what about all those Gazans, walking home along a highway, carrying all of their belongings, some with donkeys, on their way back to rubble. Enter USAID. In asymmetric warfare nothing, absolutely nothing, can defeat hearts and minds, and no one can impact those more

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47:41

Mar-A-Panama?

American Diplomat ·

2025/02/13

How many "Mar-a-" conquests will there be? US Ambassador (ret) to Panama John Feeley breaks it all down, with a quick review of the relevant past, and substantive, yet richly candid view of Trump’s foray into the Canal Zone today. Get smart on what is true and what is not true at all.

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43:50

Mar-A-Greenland? What Do the Europeans Think?

American Diplomat ·

2025/02/06

The Arctic is a serious US national security issue. NATO, particularly Denmark, agree and have offered significant resources to better secure the area from China and Russia. Will Trump accept these or hold out for Mar-a-Greenland? Can we divide the policy rhetoric from the policy outcomes? Luke Coffey, former adviser to the British defense minister and prior to that a US service member, now a fellow at the Hudson Institute, knows his brief! Bonus: Who was Eric the Red?

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26:17

Trump 2.0: Is Humiliation the Point?

American Diplomat ·

2025/01/30

Was Trump’s big showdown with President Petro of Colombia a show of might and power, or was there another reality behind the smoke and mirrors? Pete has a thing or two to say about optics, policy and human lives, from the standpoint of the practice of diplomacy.

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435 results

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