PODCAST

The Diplomacy Podcast

Nicholas Kralev

How diplomacy shapes our world — and our lives nicholaskralev.substack.com

government news commentary

All Episodes

26:37

2025: The Year in Diplomacy

The Diplomacy Podcast ·

2025/12/17

Guest: Marc Grossman, former U.S. undersecretary of state for political affairs and ambassador to TurkeyThe world looks very different at the end of 2025 compared to the beginning of the year. How did diplomacy contribute to that difference, and what were the major diplomatic successes and failures?On this episode of “The Diplomacy Podcast,” we discuss the Trump administration’s diplomacy, its highs and lows, and their impact on the world. My guest is Marc Grossman, former U.S. undersecretary of

23:52

The Loss of International Students in the U.S.

The Diplomacy Podcast ·

2025/12/03

Guest: Kate Byrnes, former U.S. ambassador to North Macedonia and deputy chief of mission in GreeceThe Institute of International Education reported last month that new enrollments of foreign students at U.S. colleges and universities decreased by 17 percent this fall compared to the same time last year.On this episode of “The Diplomacy Podcast,” we discuss what that means for the future of U.S. education, science, economy and soft power. My guest is Kate Byrnes, former U.S. ambassador to North

29:49

From Soldier to Diplomat: Overcoming Culture Shock

The Diplomacy Podcast ·

2025/11/19

Guest: Charles A. Ray, former U.S. ambassador to Cambodia and Zimbabwe and former deputy assistant secretary of defense.The U.S. military and the Foreign Service are two parts of the same national-security apparatus, but that may be where their similarities end. Their cultures, missions and approaches to those missions are very different — and often exactly the opposite.On this episode of “The Diplomacy Podcast,” we discuss those differences with someone who has experienced both — first as a soldier

27:52

Sleeper Threats to U.S. and Global Security

The Diplomacy Podcast ·

2025/11/05

Guest: Tom Countryman, former U.S. assistant secretary of state for international security and nonproliferationThe Trump administration has done an excellent job inundating us with all kinds of news, pronouncements and orders. But lately, I’ve found myself wondering what sleeper threats to U.S. and global security are not making headlines. So I asked an expert.On this episode of “The Diplomacy Podcast,” we discuss hidden risks for both the United States and the world. My guest is Tom Countryman,

26:13

The Diplomacy Behind the Gaza Deal

The Diplomacy Podcast ·

2025/10/22

The Trump administration has won much praise for brokering a deal between Israel and Hamas to stop the war in Gaza. The ceasefire has proven very fragile, and three senior U.S. officials are currently in Israel to bolster it, following Trump’s visit there last week.On this episode of “The Diplomacy Podcast,” we discuss the deal’s chances of full success, and what it means for the future of the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict. My guest is Danielle Pletka, distinguished senior fellow in

22:17

Five Europeans Ponder Trump's America

The Diplomacy Podcast ·

2025/10/15

Educated everyday people, not members of the elite or foreign-policy experts, share their views.The United States still receives more attention by the world’s media than any other country, and the average citizen on every continent is fairly well informed about what happens in Washington. What do they think about the Trump administration’s actions in the last nine months, and how are they affected by those actions?During a recent trip to Europe, I posed these questions to people in several

30:07

Military Posture Amid Domestic Deployments

The Diplomacy Podcast ·

2025/09/03

Guest: Michael O'Hanlon, chair in defense and strategy at the Brookings Institution.Understanding the relationship between diplomacy and military force is essential in designing and implementing national security policy. At a time of domestic deployments of armed service members and a breakdown of the traditional interagency policy process created after World War II, what are the dynamics in that relationship?On this episode of “The Diplomacy Podcast,” we discuss the state of the U.S. defense

28:49

The Shock in Transatlantic Relations

The Diplomacy Podcast ·

2025/08/27

Guest: Gabrielius Landsbergis, former foreign minister of Lithuania.The relationship between the United States and Europe has been quite shaken in the last seven month — from diverging worldviews to disagreements about Russia to punishing tariffs. How do things look from Europe?On this episode of “The Diplomacy Podcast,” we discuss the impact of the Trump administration’s policies and actions on transatlantic relations. My guest is Gabrielius Landsbergis, who served as Lithuania’s foreign minister

28:39

The Foreign Policy of an Imperial Presidency

The Diplomacy Podcast ·

2025/08/06

Guest: Elizabeth Saunders, professor of political science at Columbia University.The U.S. Supreme Court surprised many constitutional lawyers last summer, when it granted presidents “absolute immunity” for their official acts. How has that ruling affected foreign-policy decisions in the first six months of the second Trump administration?On this episode of “The Diplomacy Podcast,” we discuss the impact of the high court’s decision on the checks and constraints on executive power that have long

29:15

The Future of U.S. Global Power

The Diplomacy Podcast ·

2025/07/23

No other country in history has achieved the level of soft power the United States enjoyed for decades, with a peak in the early 1990s. Even more significant was the potent combination of military, economic and soft power, as I noted last month. That combination enabled Washington to organize and manage the world to its own liking.On this episode of “The Diplomacy Podcast,” we discuss the factors that helped the United States become the world’s undisputed hegemon and consider the future of its role

24:08

The Loss of National Security Expertise

The Diplomacy Podcast ·

2025/07/09

What do the collapse of U.S. policymaking and gutting the NSC mean for Americans' safety?The Trump White House has slashed the staff of the National Security Council, whose role is to coordinate policymaking, by more than half. Deliberation of policy options barely exists, and it’s not clear who — if anyone — advises the president.On this episode of "The Diplomacy Podcast," we discuss the recent NSC purge and its implications for Americans’ safety and security, with Ambassador Cindy Courville, a

27:09

The State of Diplomacy on Ukraine

The Diplomacy Podcast ·

2025/06/25

Rare insight from one of the architects of U.S. post-Cold War policy in Europe.As the Russia-Ukraine conflict risks becoming the latest forgotten war, a major reason is the deadlock in diplomatic efforts to end it. On this episode of "The Diplomacy Podcast," we discuss the state of diplomacy five months into the second Trump administration with Ambassador Daniel Fried, a 40-year Foreign Service veteran.With expert insight and a rare ability to explain complex matters in plain English, Fried assesses

24:59

Unpacking the Student Visa Crisis

The Diplomacy Podcast ·

2025/06/11

We explain what international students should keep in mind, with former Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Janice Jacobs.The Trump administration has launched an unprecedented attack on international students. Harvard students face particular peril as the university fights the administration’s campaign to take away its ability to enroll foreign citizens.We explain how student visas work and clarify what students and their families should keep in mind as they deal with the current

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