The President’s Inbox | Council on Foreign Relations

A rising China. War in Europe. A warming planet. The United States faces a complex and rapidly changing world. With more than five million downloads, The President’s Inbox goes beyond the headlines as host James M. Lindsay speaks with leading experts about how the United States should respond to global challenges and opportunities that are shaping the future.

Episodes by Topic

Host

James M. Lindsay

Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy and Director of Fellowship Affairs Full Bio

Development

The Future of U.S. Foreign Aid, With William Henagan

William Henagan, a research fellow at the Council, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the current state of U.S. foreign aid programs after President Donald T...

Jul 15, 2025 - 34:11 min

William Henagan, a research fellow at the Council, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the current state of U.S. foreign aid programs after President Donald T...

Jul 15, 2025 - 34:11 min

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

The Elusive Ceasefire in Gaza, With Elliott Abrams

Elliott Abrams, senior fellow for Middle Eastern studies at the Council, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss ongoing efforts to bring about a ceasefire in Gaz...

Jul 8, 2025 - 32:03 min

Elliott Abrams, senior fellow for Middle Eastern studies at the Council, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss ongoing efforts to bring about a ceasefire in Gaz...

Jul 8, 2025 - 32:03 min

Iran

SPECIAL EPISODE | Answering Your Questions on the U.S. Airstrikes on Iran, With Erin Dumbacher

Erin Dumbacher, Stanton Nuclear Security Senior Fellow at the Council, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the U.S. attack on three Iranian nuclear facilities...

Jun 26, 2025 - 32:18 min

Erin Dumbacher, Stanton Nuclear Security Senior Fellow at the Council, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the U.S. attack on three Iranian nuclear facilities...

Jun 26, 2025 - 32:18 min

Grand Strategy

A New U.S. Grand Strategy: A Return to Spheres of Influence, With Sarang Shidore

Sarang Shidore, director of the Global South Program at the Quincy Institute, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss whether a return to great power spheres of i...

Jun 24, 2025 - 34:46 min

Sarang Shidore, director of the Global South Program at the Quincy Institute, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss whether a return to great power spheres of i...

Jun 24, 2025 - 34:46 min

Iran

Israel Strikes Iran, With Steven Cook

Steven Cook, Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at the Council, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss Operation Rising Lion, Isr...

Jun 17, 2025 - 34:51 min

Steven Cook, Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at the Council, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss Operation Rising Lion, Isr...

Jun 17, 2025 - 34:51 min

Grand Strategy

Zbigniew Brzezinski, With Edward Luce

Edward Luce, U.S. national editor and a columnist for the Financial Times, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss what we can learn from the life, career, and wr...

Jun 10, 2025 - 36:30 min

Edward Luce, U.S. national editor and a columnist for the Financial Times, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss what we can learn from the life, career, and wr...

Jun 10, 2025 - 36:30 min

South China Sea

The China-Philippines Standoff, With Derek Grossman

Derek Grossman, senior defense analyst at RAND and professor of policy analysis at the RAND School of Public Policy, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the c...

Jun 3, 2025 - 34:37 min

Derek Grossman, senior defense analyst at RAND and professor of policy analysis at the RAND School of Public Policy, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the c...

Jun 3, 2025 - 34:37 min

South Africa

The United States and South Africa, With Reuben Brigety

Reuben Brigety, President of Busara Advisors and U.S. Ambassador to South Africa from 2022 to 2025, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss relations between Wash...

May 27, 2025 - 31:01 min

Reuben Brigety, President of Busara Advisors and U.S. Ambassador to South Africa from 2022 to 2025, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss relations between Wash...

May 27, 2025 - 31:01 min

India

The India-Pakistan Crisis, With Šumit Ganguly

Šumit Ganguly, senior fellow and director of the U.S.-India Program at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the ...

May 20, 2025 - 32:41 min

Šumit Ganguly, senior fellow and director of the U.S.-India Program at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the ...

May 20, 2025 - 32:41 min

Iran

The Iran Nuclear Talks, With Karim Sadjadpour

Karim Sadjadpour, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the ongoing talks between the United St...

May 13, 2025 - 39:28 min

Karim Sadjadpour, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the ongoing talks between the United St...

May 13, 2025 - 39:28 min

China

The U.S.-China Trade War, With Zoe Liu

Zongyuan Zoe Liu, Maurice R. Greenberg senior fellow for China studies at the Council, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss China’s response to President Donal...

May 6, 2025 - 34:01 min

Zongyuan Zoe Liu, Maurice R. Greenberg senior fellow for China studies at the Council, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss China’s response to President Donal...

May 6, 2025 - 34:01 min

Donald Trump

Trump's First 100 Days, With Carla Anne Robbins and Matthias Matthijs

Carla Anne Robbins, senior fellow at the Council, and Matthias Matthijs, senior fellow for Europe at the Council, sit down with James M. Lindsay to answer questions ...

Apr 29, 2025 - 38:37 min

Carla Anne Robbins, senior fellow at the Council, and Matthias Matthijs, senior fellow for Europe at the Council, sit down with James M. Lindsay to answer questions ...

Apr 29, 2025 - 38:37 min

Climate Realism

Climate Change Realism on Earth Day 2025, With Varun Sivaram

Varun Sivaram, senior fellow for energy and climate and Director of the Climate Realism Initiative at the Council, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the sta...

Apr 22, 2025 - 37:57 min

Varun Sivaram, senior fellow for energy and climate and Director of the Climate Realism Initiative at the Council, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the sta...

Apr 22, 2025 - 37:57 min

Panama

Trump’s Plan for the Panama Canal, With Will Freeman

Will Freeman, fellow for Latin America studies at CFR, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss President Donald Trump’s calls for the United States to retake cont...

Apr 15, 2025 - 31:53 min

Will Freeman, fellow for Latin America studies at CFR, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss President Donald Trump’s calls for the United States to retake cont...

Apr 15, 2025 - 31:53 min

China

Confronting the China Challenge, With Dmitri Alperovitch

Dmitri Alperovitch, co-founder and chairman of Silverado Policy Accelerator, co-founder and former chief technology officer of cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, and au...

Apr 8, 2025 - 45:44 min

Dmitri Alperovitch, co-founder and chairman of Silverado Policy Accelerator, co-founder and former chief technology officer of cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, and au...

Apr 8, 2025 - 45:44 min