In this episode of Need to Know, host John Milewski, dives into the critical issue of the United States' involvement in the global effort to combat malaria with Wilson Center CEO, Ambassador Mark Green. Ambassador Green explores the progress made over the years and the ongoing challenges in the fight against malaria, while highlighting the humanitarian and economic reasons behind the US's vital role in this battle and the importance of international coordination and continued support for malaria...
Nov 14, 2023•13 min
In this episode of Need to Know, host John Milewski discusses the state of affairs in Afghanistan, two years after the U.S. withdrawal, with Wilson Center South Asia Institute Director Michael Kugelman. Kugelman paints a dire picture of the situation under Taliban rule, particularly as it relates to food security and the status of women. They also discuss the possibility of Afghanistan once again becoming a safe haven for terrorists and whether there is any reason for optimism about possible cha...
Sep 25, 2023•16 min
In this episode of Need to Know, John Thon Majok, Director of the Wilson Center’s Refugee and Forced Displacement Initiative, discusses the ongoing challenges faced by Afghan refugees in the aftermath of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan with host John Milewski. They explore the complex issues surrounding Afghan refugees who have found temporary homes and those that remain internally displaced within the country. Majok describes the root causes of displacement and the long-term commitment tha...
Aug 29, 2023•17 min
While the border between the U.S. and Mexico is often in the news as a problem, it could just as easily be viewed as one of the greatest economic assesets for both nations. Mexico Institute Director Andrew Rudman talks with host John Milewski about idea for building a more competitive situation on the border. They discuss post-pandemic recovery, new technologies that can improve information sharing, and how people can better capitalize on the opportunities cross-border trade offers.
Jul 24, 2023•13 min
On this episode of “Need to Know,” Robert Daly, Director of the Wilson Center’s Kissinger Institute on China and the United States, joins host John Milewski to talk about the impact of Biden’s reference to Xi Jinping as a “dictator.” They also discuss recent diplomatic efforts by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and whether his trip to China paved the road for future high-level meetings between the two countries. Milewski and Daly also look at potential strategies to rebuild the US-China relati...
Jun 26, 2023•16 min
In this episode of Need to Know, Kellee Wicker, Director of the Wilson Center’s Science and Technology Innovation Program (STIP), speaks with host John Milewski about artificial intelligence. They discuss concerns about AI, the need for guidelines and regulations, and the recent statement from the White House. Kellee recaps a discussion she moderated for Members of Congress that featured Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI and creator of ChatGPT. She also provides tips on where regulators and others can f...
May 31, 2023•14 min
On this episode of Need to Know, host John Milewski speaks with Andrew Walmsley, Senior Director of Government Affairs at the American Farm Bureau Federation. They discuss expectations for the 2023 Farm Bill and how it might address changes and challenges the agriculture community has faced during the past several years. Walmsley says that if lawmakers get it right, the legislation can help farmers adapt and provide them with the security that will allow them to maintain a competitive advantage ...
May 02, 2023•15 min
In this episode of Need to Know, Deputy Director of Congressional Relations, Erin Jarnagin, provides an overview of the 2023 Farm Bill. She explains what's covered by the bill, how much we should expect it to change from last time around, and what impact the Russian invasion of Ukraine may have on the legislation. Erin also provides thought on the process and timeline for passage.
Apr 04, 2023•11 min
On this episode of Need to Know, host John Milewski speaks with the Director of the Wilson Center’s Science and Technology Innovation Program, Kellee Wicker, on the value of cryptocurrency for international finance, its downsides, and where the digital asset might be headed in the future.
Mar 07, 2023•13 min
On this episode, Mexico Institute Director, Andrew Rudman, speaks with host John Milewski about what we Need to Know about security concerns on the US-Mexico border. They discuss which policies are working and which aren’t, what life is like in border communities, and where opportunities might exist to build consensus around new policy options on Capitol Hill.
Feb 15, 2023•11 min
On this episode of “Need to Know,” the Wilson Center’s VP for Strategy & New Initiatives, Duncan Wood, joins host John Milewski to talk about the importance of affordable, available, and secure energy sources, and the challenges countries face in reaching that goal.
Jan 24, 2023•21 min
On this episode of "Need to Know," the Wilson Center’s China expert, Robert Daly, joins Host John Milewski to talk about the significance of recent protests in China, how the country is advancing its interests in the Middle East, and how President Xi Jinping is trying to shape the global order.
Dec 20, 2022•20 min
In this edition of Need to Know , we are joined by Raoni Rajao , a Fellow of the Wilson Center's Latin American Program. He talks about his experience at COP27 and covers the climate change debates taking place at the conference. Rajao, also explains who the key players are, what challenges they face, and how talks have progressed since he attended his first COP seven years ago.
Nov 28, 2022•23 min
In this episode of Need to Know, we speak with Wilson Center Fellow Marina Ottaway and Haleh Esfandiari, Director Emerita and Distinguished Fellow with the Center’s Middle Program, about the ongoing protests in Iran sparked by the death of 22-year old Mahsa Amini while in police custody. They describe how women are leading the charge, provide context on the role of leadership and organization in similar movements, and discuss whether these protests can succeed where others have failed....
Nov 02, 2022•24 min
Former Deputy Under Secretary of Defense Sherri Goodman joins Need To Know to discuss a couple of interesting recent developments in the arctic that are of interest. We've always said the Arctic has emerged, and it continues to be a hot area for policy experts watching multiple portfolios.
Sep 09, 2022•20 min
A flash briefing for policymakers from Robert Daly discussing the possibility of Speaker Pelosi traveling to Taiwan and what it really means for US-China relations.
Aug 01, 2022•29 min
A new initiative has begun at the Wilson Center, the Refugee and Forced Displacement Initiative (RAFDI), headed by John Thon Majok, will bring policy makers tools and solutions for these problems, but coming at it from the unique perspective of one who has lived in refugee camps and utilized policy options that were available. Listen to find out more!
Jul 19, 2022•19 min
A special episode, taking a look at the predictions our experts made and what became of them. Special thank you to everyone who has helped make this show a success over the last three years!
Jul 08, 2022•37 min
Fresh back from the West Coast attending the Summit of the Americas, we go over the highs and lows with our Latin America Program Acting Director Benjamin Gedan!
Jun 13, 2022•16 min
There's a lot of talk about Cold Wars lately, lessons from the first Cold War, maybe a new one with Russia. Perhaps China too? Robert Daly drops by the pod to let us know his thinking on whether we are in a new Cold War with China as an adversary. And how will this Cold War be the same or different from the first Cold War with the USSR? Well you will just have to listen and find out.
May 31, 2022•17 min
Bradley Jardine joins us to discuss his new publication, The Great Wall of Steel - https://www.wilsoncenter.org/book/great-wall-steel For years, the international community has known about China's treatment of Uyghurs within China, particularly in Xinjiang Province. But here for the first time, the campaign against the Uyghurs beyond China's borders is documented.
May 20, 2022•27 min
Touching base with Latin America expert (and fellow Wilson Center Podcast Host!) Benjamin Gedan to discuss a recent piece he co-wrote with Richard Feinberg in Foreign Policy magazine, "Latin America's Leftists Aren't Who You Think." Check out the article at https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/01/31/latin-americas-leftists-arent-who-you-think/
Mar 09, 2022•13 min
No one can read Vladimir Putin's mind, but we bring in Kennan Institute expert Joseph Dresen to analyze his actions in the recent invasion. We discuss world reaction and also what may happen next with sanctions. Further Reading: https://www.wilsoncenter.org/blog-post/putin-has-already-lost
Mar 01, 2022•21 min
Experts from our Canada Institute at the Wilson Center walk us through the causes and iterations of protests in Canada which led to the closure of border crossings, having an affect on supply chains and regular cross border commerce and traffic. This audio is taken and edited from a briefing we held for congressional staff on February 14, 2022.
Feb 14, 2022•53 min
With a long history of strife on both sides of the border, the Colombia/Venezuela relationship is one of the most interesting ones in Latin America. And with one of the world's largest humanitarian crises occurring there right now, it is even more prescient that we talk to one of the world's leading experts on the region, Cindy Arnson.
Feb 08, 2022•29 min
The ongoing crisis on the Russian-Ukrainian border has brought new attention to how Washington and Moscow navigated the end of the Cold War thirty years ago. Today, Russian officials justify aggression against Ukraine by claiming that NATO had reneged on an assurance President Bush had provided to Gorbachev that NATO would not expand eastward. Wilson Center President and CEO, Ambassador Mark Green hosted a discussion with the Honorable Robert Zoellick, who was a direct participant in these talks...
Feb 01, 2022•22 min
Asia Expert Abraham Denmark fills us in on the relationship and rivalry between mainland China and Taiwan. In this episode we quickly cover history, but also analyze the potential for US involvement in a possible attempt by Beijing to reunify Taiwan to the mainland, and the fact that China has been able to develop a tailored capability to fight the US in a Taiwan scenario.
Jan 26, 2022•25 min
Kazakhstan does not get much attention in US foreign policy, but maybe it should. Recent protests in the country have uncovered the complicated situation that exists at a place where Russia, the US, and China intersect. Edward Lemon and Lucian Kim help walk us through it.
Jan 19, 2022•23 min
Here we go again. Russia has massed troops at the border of Ukraine and everyone is trying to figure out what Vladimir Putin is thinking. In this episode, Kennan experts Will Pomeranz and Nigel Gould-Davies help us piece together what is going on what what we could see in coming days.
Jan 19, 2022•26 min
Everyone likes to talk about China, and we've covered India on our podcast as well, including the relationship between those two neighbors. But what happens when you consider Myanmar as well? Michael Kugelman and Lucas Myers have been tracking this and give us a breakdown of what to look out for.
Jan 12, 2022•24 min
