Need to Know - podcast cover

Need to Know

Wilson Centerwww.wilsoncenter.org
The Need To Know podcast is a production of the Office of Congressional Relations at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Each episode we will bring our nonpartisan research to life through interviews with experts and practitioners covering the world. Our goal is to bring the best independent research, open dialogue and actionable ideas to congressional staff, policy makers, and anyone else who needs to know.
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Episodes

Trading Views: Going From NAFTA To USMCA

NAFTA -- the FTA that everyone loves to hate. And now, we are fast progressing towards USMCA. Here we talk to our Wilson Center experts about where NAFTA came up short, and how the USMCA addresses those issues.

Jan 23, 202027 min

Trading Views: Bonus History Episode

You know you love trade history. This is a quick download on the history of US trade policy to give us a better understanding of how we arrived at NAFTA and then on to the USMCA. 200 years of history in 20 minutes. You can't beat that!

Jan 23, 202023 min

Trading Views: A Growing Industry

Phase one is underway! And one of the central tenants is for China to increase its purchasing of agricultural products. In this episode we chat with a couple of farmers in Nebraska to get their sense of where this is going, and their thoughts on the trade war thus far.

Jan 21, 202019 min

Trading Views: Set Phasers to One!

In this second episode of our Trading Views series, we talk to three of the Wilson Center's top Asia experts to understand what phase one of a trade deal with China means.

Jan 09, 202021 min

Trading Views: On the Front Lines of a Trade War

A new series from Need to Know -- Trading Views -- where we will look at the changes in trade policy seen in the last few years. With the signing of a phase one trade deal happening imminently, we're taking a look at how tariffs have affected businesses. To do that we're on location in Morristown, Tennessee, to talk to Rusty Smith of Forenta, and Roger Porter of Porter's Tire.

Jan 06, 202023 min

Gaming out the UK Election

Michelle Egan comes back to the Wilson Center studio to break down the results of the election in the UK, and what that means for the US going forward.

Dec 17, 201921 min

Elections in Hong Kong and What They Mean for Protests

Robert Daly joins us again to discuss the elections that took place in Hong Kong and the reality that they carry on the ground. Plus, how US actions on the situation could affect trade negotiations with China.

Nov 26, 201920 min

Anders Beal on the Real Deal with Latin America's Protests

Latin America has experienced a wave of protests this spring. Remember, it's spring in the southern hemisphere. Latin American Program Associate Anders Beal walks us through the unfolding situations in the region.

Nov 22, 201927 min

The Tapestry of Syria - Part 2

Syria presents a tapestry of challenges to policymakers. Wilson Scholar Amy Austin Holmes joins us in part two of a two part conversation about Syria, Turkey, Russia, the Kurds, and the United States. So if you haven't already listened to part one, you may want to hit that one first.

Nov 08, 201919 min

The Tapestry of Syria - Part 1

Syria presents a tapestry of challenges to policymakers. Wilson Scholar Amy Austin Holmes joins us in part one of a two part conversation about Syria, Turkey, Russia, the Kurds, and the United States.

Nov 08, 201917 min

South Pacific Breezes Blowing - Why Pacific Island Nations Are Looking to DC

Forget buying Greenland, the largest island in the world. China wants to lease Tulagi. Never heard of it? Well, after this episode you will. Abraham Denmark walks us through diplomatic moves being made by Pacific Island nations and why the US relationship with these countries is strategically important.

Nov 05, 201918 min

What President Trump Gets Right About Mexico

We have heard a lot of opinions of how President Trump has dealt with immigration, the border, and foreign policy. But in explaining a new piece he has written, Duncan Wood, Director of the Wilson Center's Mexico Institute, provides us with some interesting insight into what President Trump has gotten right on the US/Mexico relationship.

Oct 31, 201924 min

Russia and China, Sitting in a Tree?

China and Russia. So many differences, but yet so much in common. Stacy Closson joins us to sort through the venn diagram of issues that are in the China/Russia relationship. And what that means for the US and the world in the future.

Oct 22, 201923 min

Halloween is Coming! Is Brexit?

American University Professor and Wilson Center Scholar Michelle Egan helps us understand Brexit, whether it will happen or not. This is a great catch up if you haven't followed the day to day back and forth of this international challenge, and great for understanding what comes next. Also, a wonderful thank you to The Right Honourable John Bercow, the Speaker of the House of Commons, for providing years worth of colorful clips of him bringing a raucous House to order. He has announced that he w...

Oct 11, 201924 min

Is China Dictating What We See On TV?

Aynne Kokas is back! You see, she was studying China's censorship of American media since before it was cool. And this week, with situations between China and the NBA and South Park hitting the news, it's definitely cool. Take a listen to her previous episode with us if you haven't already, and listen to our episodes with Robert Daly filling in context on the Hong Kong protests.

Oct 08, 201917 min

Quicktake! The Politics of a Definite Article

In this Quicktake episode, Morgan Jacobs of the Kennan Institute and host of "Kennan Xplainer" on Youtube, helps us understand Ukraine vs. THE Ukraine. Interesting etymology ahead!

Oct 01, 20197 min

It's Meg King... or Maybe It's a Deepfake

Deepfake videos have gone beyond the realm of comedic relief and interesting technological innovation. Now things are getting serious. Meg King, the director of the Science and Technology Innovation Program at the Wilson Center spends her time thinking about the challenges posed by this advancing technology, and gives us a heads up on what to watch out for.

Sep 24, 201918 min

Taliban Talks Collapse... Now What?

Michael Kugelman comes back to discuss the collapse of talks with the Taliban in Afghanistan, giving us an overview of what the talks had centered on until now, and a view from the region on where they were heading and where they may go now.

Sep 10, 201920 min

Smoke on the Amazon - The Politics of Wildfires in Brazil

Seven thousand square miles of the Amazon rain forest are on fire. Anna Prusa of the Brazil Institute at the Wilson Center, helps dissect the policy implications of this event, and helps analyze the Brazilian politics that are entangled in the issue.

Sep 10, 201915 min

Negotiations and Love Notes - Where Do The North Korea Nuclear Talks Stand?

Jean Lee, Director of the Hyundai Motor-Korea Foundation Center for Korean History and Public Policy, walks us through where talks between President Trump and Chairman Kim stand today. And she gives us some insight into the tactics of the North Koreans and a peek into the horizon. To understand North Korea, there is no one better to hear from than Jean Lee.

Sep 05, 201924 min

Pining for the Fjords of Greenland - Following Up on the Arctic

A few weeks ago in the episode "Foreign Policy on Top Of The World," I asked Polar Institute Director Mike Sfraga what we needed to look for out on the horizon. He said "Greenland." Now Greenland has emerged, and we revisit this territory of Denmark with a deeper look at its significance, both in recent news and in Arctic geopolitical strategy.

Aug 21, 201920 min

An Update on the Hong Kong Protests

While DC has gone quiet for August, things are heating up in the streets of Hong Kong. For an update, we join back up with Robert Daly of the Wilson Center's Kissinger Institute.

Aug 12, 201916 min

What's the environment like on a silk road?

Jennifer Turner directs the Wilson Center's China Environment Forum. And to kick off celebrations of her upcoming 20th Anniversary at the Center, she sat down with me to talk about China's environmental policy and how that may affect the United States. We discuss China's clean energy initiatives, not so clean initiatives, Belt and Road, and recycling.

Aug 12, 201920 min
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