The World Next Week

This special episode of The World Next Week features a summerlong feast of reading, watching, and listening treats. Deborah Amos, the Ferris Professor of Journalism in Residence at Princeton University and a former international correspondent for National Public Radio, joins CFR’s TWNW hosts Robert McMahon and Carla Anne Robbins to discuss good reads they recommend, books they are looking forward to reading, and other entertainment they are enjoying this summer.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Bob’s Picks   Elizabeth Kolbert, H Is for Hope: Climate Change from A to Z    Stefan Zweig, The World of Yesterday: Memoirs of a European Carla’s Picks   Steve Coll, The Achilles Trap: Saddam Hussein, the CIA, and the Origins of America's Invasion of Iraq   Peter Pomerantsev, How to Win an Information War: The Propagandist Who Outwitted Hitler  Deborah’s Picks   Jayne Anne Phillips, Night Watch   Nathan Thrall, A Day in the Life of Abed Salama: Anatomy of a Jerusalem Tragedy  Additional Books, Films, Podcasts, Sho

Ukraine’s surprise incursion of Russia’s Kursk region captures territory and stuns the Kremlin; the Democratic National Convention kicks off in Chicago with concerns of divisions in the party over support for Israel in its war in the Gaza Strip; U.S. intelligence is on high alert after foreign hacking attempts on both former President Donald Trump’s and Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential campaigns; and Mexico turns down Ukraine’s request for it to uphold warrants to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin by the International Criminal Court.      Mentioned on the Podcast   Tim Alberta, “Trump Is Planning for a Landslide Win,” The Atlantic   Kevin Collier, Ken Dilanian, and Dan De Luce, “FBI Says It's Investigating Efforts to Hack Trump and Biden-Harris Campaigns,” NBC News   Alina Lobzina and Anton Troianovski, “Ukraine’s Incursion Into Russia Flips the Script on Putin,” New York Times   Jonathan Weisman, “Worried About a Convention Clash, Democrats Woo Uncommitted Delegates,” New York Times For an

Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and her new running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, campaign ahead of the party’s convention; world leaders and diplomats reach out to Iran and Israel to head off a wider regional war after the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran spurred retaliation threats; Bangladesh prepares an interim government after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country; and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government responds to anti-immigrant riots across the country.      Mentioned on the Podcast   Fred Kaplan, “Kamala Harris Has Been Much More Involved in Foreign Policy Than We Realize,” Slate   Jonathan Masters, “The U.S. Vice President and Foreign Policy,” CFR.org   Recommended Reading Swift Boats at War in Vietnam, edited by Guy Gugliotta, Neva Sullaway, John Yeoman   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/twnw/us-presidential-campaign-picks-iran-mulls-retaliation-bangladesh

The Middle East braces for the possibility of a full-scale war between Israel and Iran-backed forces after the assassinations of Hamas senior leader Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr; Venezuelans protest the results of the presidential election that grant incumbent President Nicolás Maduro a third term; the Edinburgh Festival Fringe spotlights wide-ranging, new talent; imprisoned journalists in Russia are freed in a major prisoner swap; and militant groups kill troops from Russia’s private military company Wagner Group, including a Wagner commander, in Mali.     Mentioned on the Podcast   Steven A. Cook, “Are Israel and Iran Headed for All Out War?,” CFR.org   Edinburgh Festival Fringe   Edinburgh Festival Fringe App   Edinburgh Fringe Festival Recommendation Lists: Independent, Playbill, and Time Out Magazine   Kali Robinson, “What Is Hamas?,” CFR.org For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/twnw/israel-iran-tensions-escalate-venezu

Global leaders react to U.S. President Joe Biden’s decision to drop out of the 2024 race and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for the Democratic nomination; France ramps up security measures as the Summer Olympics kick off in Paris; Diplomacy continues over a potential Israel-Hamas cease-fire after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the U.S. Congress; and a Russian court sentences two American journalists.    Mentioned on the Podcast   Charles A. Kupchan, “Biden’s Legacy: Major Accomplishments but Unfinished Business,” CFR.org   Linda Robinson, “Vice President Kamala Harris’s Real-World School of Foreign Policy,” CFR.org   “Politics and Protest at the Olympics,” CFR.org   Suzanne Lynch and Ben Munster, “‘Invisible’ Kamala Harris Struggles to Win Over Europe,” Politico For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/twnw/world-reacts-biden-withdrawal-summer-olympics-begin-gaza-diplomacy-after-netanyahus-visit   

The world reacts to the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and the selection of Ohio Senator J.D. Vance as former President Donald Trump’s running mate; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses a joint session of Congress; Cyprus marks fifty years since the Turkish invasion that left the country still split in two; and Nepal’s Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli begins his fourth term in office.      Mentioned on the Podcast   Steven Cook, “Netanyahu’s High-Stakes Visit to Washington,” CFR.org   Ross Douthat, “What J.D. Vance Believes,” New York Times   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/gop-election-enthusiasm-netanyahu-addresses-us-congress-cyprus-50-years-after-invasion-and 

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) wraps its seventy-fifth summit, pledging to keep Ukraine on an “irreversible” path to membership while concerns grow about the future of U.S. commitment; Japan hosts the tenth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting to counter China’s influence in the region; France struggles to form a government as party differences intensify; and President-Elect Masoud Pezeshkian raises hopes for possible change in Iran.      Mentioned on the Podcast   A Conversation With Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen of Denmark, Council on Foreign Relations   Emmanuel Macron, “A Letter to the French People,” Le Parisien   Pacific Aid Map, Lowy Institute   Ray Takeyh, “What Could Change Under Iran’s New ‘Reformist’ President?,” CFR.org   Washington Summit Declaration, NATO    Sarah Wheaton, “Orbán’s Humble Pie,” Politico   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/nato-and-ukraine-beyond-75-japan-hosts-pacific-islands-frances-political-gridlo

This special episode of The World Next Week features a summerlong feast of reading, watching, and listening treats. Deborah Amos, the Ferris Professor of Journalism in Residence at Princeton University and a former international correspondent for National Public Radio, joins CFR’s TWNW hosts Robert McMahon and Carla Anne Robbins to discuss good reads they recommend, books they are looking forward to reading, and other entertainment they are enjoying this summer.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Bob’s Picks   Elizabeth Kolbert, H Is for Hope: Climate Change from A to Z    Stefan Zweig, The World of Yesterday: Memoirs of a European Carla’s Picks   Steve Coll, The Achilles Trap: Saddam Hussein, the CIA, and the Origins of America's Invasion of Iraq   Peter Pomerantsev, How to Win an Information War: The Propagandist Who Outwitted Hitler  Deborah’s Picks   Jayne Anne Phillips, Night Watch   Nathan Thrall, A Day in the Life of Abed Salama: Anatomy of a Jerusalem Tragedy  Additional Books, Films, Podcasts, Sho

France’s governance is at stake as it holds snap elections for its National Assembly, with the far-right National Rally looking to build on its success in the European Parliament elections; the United Kingdom (UK) has its own snap general elections with Keir Starmer and his Labour Party looking to end the fourteen-year rule of the Conservatives; Iran’s snap presidential elections could signal unity of regime hard-liners or glimmers of change; the European Union (EU) plans to impose provisional tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles; and Ukraine strikes more than thirty Russian oil refineries.     Mentioned on the Podcast   Amanda Chu, Kenza Bryan, and Lukanyo Mnyanda, “Global Glut Turns Solar Panels into Garden Fencing Option,” Financial Times   Ian Johnston, “French Voters Juggle Democratic Duty and Summer Getaways,” Financial Times   David Lammy, “The Case for Progressive Realism,” Foreign Affairs   Matthias Matthijs, “Pivotal Elections for France—and Europe,” CFR.org   Ray Takeyh, “Does Iran’s Presidential E

A Russian court moves judicial proceedings for detained U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich to Yekaterinburg for a closed-door espionage trial; the success of far-right parties in the European Parliament elections challenges the power of several incumbent European Union (EU) leaders; the Boeing Starliner "Calypso" spacecraft prepares to return from the International Space Station after delays; and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dissolves his war cabinet.    Mentioned on the Podcast Silvina Frydlewsky, Georgi Kantchev, and Joe Parkinson, “The Russian Spies Next Door,” Wall Street Journal   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/russias-secret-trial-gershkovich-eus-rightward-shift-boeing-space-and-more   

Ukraine pushes for wider international support and endorsement of its proposed peace process at Switzerland’s Ukraine peace summit; the UN Security Council deliberates how to assist Sudanese civilians and de-escalate the civil war; diplomatic pressure builds for a U.S.-backed cease-fire deal in the Gaza Strip; and Russian ships arrive in Cuban waters for exercises.    Mentioned on the Podcast   Rory Jones and Summer Said, “Gaza Chief’s Brutal Calculation: Civilian Bloodshed Will Help Hamas,” Wall Street Journal   Sorensen Distinguished Lecture: A Conversation With Cindy McCain, Council on Foreign Relations   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at:  https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/ukraine-pushes-peace-summit-sudan-catastrophe-israel-hamas-deal-crossroads-and-more 

All twenty-seven European Union (EU) member states vote in European Parliament elections with polls showing right-wing parties poised to gain more seats; the Group of Seven (G7) leading industrial democracies meet in Italy with a sizable agenda, including support for Ukraine and trade concerns with China; the United States prepares for an above-normal hurricane season; and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and partner exporters, known as OPEC+, extend oil output cuts.    Mentioned on the Podcast   Europe’s Migration Dilemma, CFR.org   Caroline Kapp and Matthias Matthijs, “What’s at Stake in the EU Elections?,” CFR.org   Nicholas Vinocur, “An American’s Guide to the 2024 European Election,” Politico   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/european-parliament-elections-g7-leaders-50th-summit-powerful-hurricane-season-looming-and 

U.S. President Joe Biden faces increasing international and domestic pressures on his policy toward the Israel-Hamas war amid worsening humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip; Western leaders commemorate the eightieth anniversary of D-Day with Russia’s war in Ukraine front of mind; Mexico holds massive general elections that are likely to usher in the country’s first woman president; and North Korea tests new satellite and missiles.   Mentioned on the Podcast   “Mexico’s Next President Can Reset Relations With the United States,” The Economist   Shannon K. O'Neil, The Globalization Myth: Why Regions Matter   Eli Stokols and Alexander Ward, “White House Not Thrilled by Macron’s D-Day Invite to Russia,” Politico   Sue Mi Terry, “The Coming North Korean Crisis,” Foreign Affairs   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/bidens-gaza-dilemmas-80-years-d-day-mexicos-milestone-election-and-more 

Iran’s regime carefully vets candidates for new presidential elections after the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash; Israeli leadership reacts to the International Criminal Court (ICC) request for warrants to arrest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant; South Africa prepares for a general election that could contest the ruling African National Congress’ long-standing majority; and Taiwan inaugurates Lai Ching-te as the new president, aggravating China.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Elbridge Colby, “America Must Face Reality and Prioritize China Over Europe,” Financial Times   Virtual Media Briefing: Iran After Raisi and New ICC Charges, Council on Foreign Relations   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/irans-succession-woes-icc-angers-israel-south-africas-election-and-more 

Ukraine rushes to push back against a new Russian offensive in its northeast Kharkiv region; U.S. President Joe Biden invites Kenyan President William Ruto for a state visit, the first U.S. state visit for an African leader since 2008; London’s High Court decides on whether to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the United States to stand trial; and tens of thousands protest in Tbilisi, Georgia, after its parliament passes the controversial “foreign agents” bill.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Rachel Chason, “U.S. Threats Led to Rupture of Vital Military Ties, Nigerien Leader Says,” Washington Post   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/ukraine-tries-halt-russian-advance-biden-woos-kenya-fate-assange-and-more 

Israel’s newest military operation in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah stirs concerns of catastrophe for Palestinians in Gaza, and prompts the United States to condition its offensive military aid for the first time since the Israel-Hamas war broke out; Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan meet in Ankara, Turkey, to continue their diplomatic efforts; the seventy-seventh Cannes Film Festival showcases new films ranging from niche to blockbuster; and Russian President Vladimir Putin orders tactical nuclear weapon drills as a signal to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).   Mentioned on the Podcast   Ali Abbasi, The Apprentice    “Anyone Who’s on the Ground in Gaza is in ‘Danger,’ WFP Chief McCain Says,” NBC News   Jacques Audilard, Emilia Perez   Christina Bouri and Diana Roy, “Few Options for Gazans as Israel Enters Rafah,” CFR.org   Francis Ford Coppola, Megalopolis    David Cronenberg, The Shrouds    “Emmanuel Macron In His Own Words,” Economist  

In this special episode to mark World Press Freedom Day, Jeffrey Gedmin, cofounder and editor-in-chief of American Purpose and former president of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, joins Robert McMahon and Carla Anne Robbins to discuss the global state of press freedom. They cover the challenges that a growing number of journalists face in exile or imprisonment, the U.S. role in upholding freedom of the press, and more.    Mentioned on the Podcast   “Exile Journalists Map—Fleeing to Europe and North America,” Reporters Without Borders   “Media Freedom,” Freedom House   2023 World Press Freedom Index, Reporters Without Borders   Journalists:    Parnaz Azima   Jamal Khashoggi   Alsu Kurmasheva   Monica Lovinescu   Georgi Markov   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/world-press-freedom-day-2024-mounting-threats-renewed-purpose 

Secretary of State Antony Blinken wraps his second visit to China as tensions mount over Beijing’s military support of Russia’s war in Ukraine and ongoing threats in the South China Sea; International Workers’ Day on May 1 comes at a time of revived labor activism over wages and inequality; and U.S. President Joe Biden approves a $61 billion foreign aid package providing critical military assistance to Ukraine, potentially improving the situation on the ground in the war with Russia.   Mentioned on the Podcast   “2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices,” Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, U.S. Department of State   “Global Military Spending Surges Amid War, Rising Tensions and Insecurities,” Stockholm International Peace Research Institute   Max Boot, “Weapons of War: The Race Between Russia and Ukraine,” CFR.org For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/blinken-visits-china-may-day-stirs-workers-rights-concerns-us-resumes-ukraine-ai

Concerns grow over the widening Middle East conflict after Iran launches three hundred ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones at Israel; European Union (EU) leaders discuss how to bolster aid to Ukraine amid an uptick in Russian attacks and the situation unfolding in the Middle East; India kicks off the world’s largest democratic election—spanning more than forty-four days—where the incumbent Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is expected to win again; and warming water temperatures cause a mass bleaching of coral reefs.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Steven A. Cook, “Iran Attack Means an Even Tougher Balancing Act for the U.S. in the Middle East,” CFR.org   “How India’s Imports of Russian Oil Have Lubricated Global Markets,” Economist   Andy Bounds, Laura Dubois, Christopher Miller, “Germany Urges Dozens of Allies to Send Air Defense Systems to Ukraine,” Financial Times   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/after

Congress returns from recess and grapples with contentious agenda items, including reauthorization of a section of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and a Ukraine aid package; Sudan enters a second year of civil war with more than half of the country’s population in need of aid and millions more displaced; and Ecuadorian police breach international law by raiding the Mexican embassy in Quito to arrest former Ecuadorian Vice President Jorge Glas.   Mentioned on the Podcast   Regina Garcia Cano and Gabriela Molina, “Mexico Severs Diplomatic Ties with Ecuador After Police Storm Its Embassy to Arrest Politician,” Associated Press   “Sudan Crisis Sends Shockwaves Around the Region as Displacement, Hunger, and Malnutrition Soar,” World Food Program   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/congresss-urgent-agenda-sudans-year-war-ecuador-mexico-embassy-fray-and-more