Counterbalance

Hudson Senior Fellow Jonathan Ward joins co-host Peter Rough to discuss his new book The Decisive Decade: American Grand Strategy for Triumph Over China. In his book, and during the episode, Ward lays out how the US gave up many of its economic advantages while allowing China's rise. Thankfully, according to Ward, it's not too late to reverse course, but America has to start by winning one decade at a time.

Is Ukraine losing? Can it still win? Where does international support stand now, and where will it be going forward? Host Peter Rough addresses these questions and more having just returned from an overseas study trip to Moldova and Ukraine. Mike Doran joins him to discover what Peter saw, heard, and learned from his travels.

This week, host Michael Doran is joined by co-host Peter Rough, senior fellow and director of the Center for Europe and Eurasia at Hudson Institute. Peter offers an overview of his recent visit to Taiwan and discusses with Mike his thoughts on Beijing's increasing economic and military pressure on Taipei. The duo also talks about the current state of Taiwanese domestic politics and how it affects U.S. foreign policy. 

This week, co-hosts Mike Doran and Peter Rough are joined by Allison Hooker, seasoned Asia hand with extensive experience working on issues relating to the Korean Peninsula and the broader Indo-Pacific, including Taiwan. The trio discuss key developments to watch out for in the year to come, beginning with Taiwan’s presidential election that gave the ruling DPP a historic third straight term.

Peter Rough talks this week with Ken Weinstein, Hudson’s Japan Chair and former president and CEO of Hudson. Peter and Ken talk about Hudson’s founding and the instrumental role Herman Kahn, Max Singer, and Wally Stern played in making it what it is today. The two also delve into the role Shinzo Abe played in transforming Japan’s foreign and security policy.

Veteran reporter Matt Karnitschnig, POLITICO’s Chief Europe Correspondent, joins the podcast to discuss the differences and similarities between European and America media. Matt, Peter, and Mike also delve into Germany’s approach to foreign affairs and view of the world, with special attention on Berlin’s approach to relations Russia and Iran.

Anti-Semitic incidents in the West have significantly increased since the October 7 massacre in southern Israel by Hamas. Daniel Schwammenthal, director of the AJC Transatlantic Institute, joins co-hosts Peter and Mike this week to discuss the root causes of antisemitism and its manifestations in both Europe and the US.

Why hasn’t China named or condemned Hamas? What role does China see for itself in a potential broader Middle East conflict? What is Beijing’s preferred outcome in Ukraine? This week, Director of Hudson Institute’s China Center Miles Yu joins co-host Peter Rough to discuss Beijing’s view of the war in Gaza and how the CCP envisions China’s role in Europe and the Middle East during these times of instability.

Ken Pollack, Senior Fellow at AEI, joins host Michael Doran to reflect on the mistakes made and lessons learned from October 7th and what is holding Israel back from its operations in Gaza. Additionally, Pollack discusses why Hezbollah and Iran may, or may not, open another front in the war against Israel.

Jan Havránek, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Washington, DC, joins the show to discuss the U.S. and NATO postures in Europe, as well as Russia's aims in Ukraine and the larger Eastern European front.

Hosts Peter Rough and Mike Doran are joined by Presidential candidate Governor Doug Burgum of North Dakota. Gov. Burgum delivered a key foreign policy speech at Hudson on Wednesday, but joined the show beforehand to discuss a everything from energy security to the southern border to the ongoing war against Israel.