CFR On the Record

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Oct 2026

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About the show

A chance to go inside Council on Foreign Relations events. Listen to world leaders and foreign policy experts discuss and debate the most pressing issues in international affairs.

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60 recent

October 16, 20261 hr 0 min

On Combating Human Trafficking

In this episode, panelists discuss cross-sector efforts to combat human trafficking. Host: Rachel B. Vogelstein , Associate Professor of Professional Practice; Director, Women’s Initiative, Institute of Global Politics, Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs Guests: Diana S. Gerson , Associate Executive Vice President, New York Board of Rabbis Shadi Kourosh , Associate Professor of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School; CFR Member Mary Graw Leary , Professor of Law, Columbus School of Law, Catholic University of America Want more comprehensive analysis of global news and events sent straight to your inbox? Subscribe to CFR’s Daily News Brief newsletter. To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event . To watch this event, please visit the CFR YouTube channel: CFR 2/26 Religion and Foreign Policy Webinar: Combating Human Trafficking

October 9, 202646 min

A Conversation With President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana

In this episode, President John Dramani Mahama discusses Ghana’s development priorities, the country’s role as a regional leader in West Africa, and the future of U.S.-Ghana relations. Host: Michelle Gavin , Ralph Bunche Senior Fellow for Africa Policy Studies and Director of the Council of Councils, Council on Foreign Relations; Former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Botswana Guest: John Mahama , President, Republic of Ghana Want more comprehensive analysis of global news and events sent straight to your inbox? Subscribe to CFR’s Daily Brief newsletter. To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/events . To watch this event, please visit CFR’s YouTube channel: A Conversation With President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana

October 6, 20261 hr 0 min

A Conversation With Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre of Norway and President Alexander Stubb of Finland

In this episode, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre of Norway and President Alexander Stubb of Finland discuss the current state of the war in Ukraine, Arctic and European security, shifting geopolitics, and strategic investments in foreign aid. Host: Fareed Zakaria , Host, Fareed Zakaria GPS, CNN; Member, Board of Directors, Council on Foreign Relations Guest: Jonas Gahr Støre , Prime Minister, Kingdom of Norway Alexander Stubb , President, Republic of Finland Want more comprehensive analysis of global news and events sent straight to your inbox? Subscribe to CFR’s Daily Brief newsletter. To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/events . To watch this event, please visit CFR’s YouTube channel: A Conversation With Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre of Norway and President Alexander Stubb of Finland

October 2, 202651 min

A Conversation With President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi of Somaliland

In this episode, President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi discusses Somaliland’s bid for international recognition and the regional security landscape. Host: Ebenezer Obadare , Douglas Dillon Senior Fellow for Africa Studies, Council on Foreign Relations Guest: Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, President, Republic of Somaliland Want more comprehensive analysis of global news and events sent straight to your inbox? Subscribe to CFR’s Daily Brief newsletter. To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/events . To watch this event, please visit it on our YouTube channel: A Conversation With President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi of Somaliland

September 25, 202647 min

Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados on the Challenges Facing Climate-Vulnerable and Developing Countries

In this episode, Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados discusses the challenges facing climate-vulnerable and developing countries, including efforts to reform the international financial architecture, expand access to development finance, and advance a more resilient and equitable global economy. Host: Linda Thomas-Greenfield , Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations (2021–25); Member, Board of Directors, Council on Foreign Relations Guest: Mia Amor Mottley , Prime Minister, Barbados Want more comprehensive analysis of global news and events sent straight to your inbox? Subscribe to CFR’s Daily Brief newsletter. To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/events . To watch this event, please visit it on our YouTube channel: A Conversation with Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados .

September 24, 20261 hr 0 min

On Africa Policy With Tony Elumelu

In this episode, leading African investor and philanthropist Tony Elumelu discusses the continent’s evolving role in the global economy, including entrepreneurship as a catalyst for development, private sector-led growth, energy security, and the evolving U.S.-Africa partnership. Host: Michael Froman , President, Council on Foreign Relations Guests: Tony O. Elumelu , African Investor and Philanthropist; Founder and Chairman of Heirs Holdings; Founder, The Tony Elumelu Foundation Want more comprehensive analysis of global news and events sent straight to your inbox? Subscribe to CFR’s Daily Brief newsletter. To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/events . To watch this event, please visit it on our YouTube channel: A Conversation With Tony Elumelu .

September 18, 20261 hr 4 min

On France’s UN Security Council Presidency Priorities

In this episode, Ambassador Jérôme Bonnafont discusses France’s priorities as it assumes the presidency of the UN Security Council. Host: Jane Hartley , Chair, Board of Directors, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom (2022–25) and to France and Monaco (2014–17); CFR Member Guest: Jérôme Bonnafont , Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations Want more comprehensive analysis of global news and events sent straight to your inbox? Subscribe to CFR’s Daily News Brief newsletter. To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event . To watch this event, please visit the CFR YouTube channel: France’s UN Security Council Presidency Priorities: A Conversation With Ambassador Jérôme Bonnafont

September 11, 202658 min

Eyewitness to History: Reflections on September 11

Title: Eyewitness to History: Reflections on September 11 In this episode, senior leaders across various sectors reflect on their firsthand experiences of the September 11 attacks and the global war on terrorism that followed. Host: Juju Chang , Coanchor, Nightline, ABC News; CFR Member Guests: Jane Harman , Former U.S. Representative (D-CA), Former Ranking Member, House Intelligence Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Security (1993–2011); Chair, 2024 Commission on the National Defense Strategy; CFR Member Paul D. Wolfowitz , Distinguished Visiting Fellow, Hoover Institution; Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense (2001–05); CFR Member John E. McLaughlin , Professor of Practice, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies; Former Deputy Director and Acting Director, Central Intelligence Agency (2000–04); CFR Member John B. Bellinger III , Adjunct Senior Fellow for International and National Security Law, Council on Foreign Relations; Partner, Arnold & Porter LLP; Former Senior Associate Counsel to the President and Legal Advisor to the National Security Council (2001–05); CFR Member Subscribe to CFR’s Daily News Brief newsletter for comprehensive analysis of global news and events. To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event . To watch this event, visit the CFR YouTube channel: Eyewitnesses to History—The View From Washington

September 4, 20261 hr 0 min

On Financing the “Missing Middle” to Scale Energy Breakthroughs

In this episode, panelists from CFR’s Climate Realism Initiative discuss Financing the Missing Middle , a collection of policies and strategies to help bridge the gap in private funding that inhibits energy innovation in the United States. This “missing middle” slows or blocks technologies that could help the energy system become more secure, affordable, and sustainable, and weakens U.S. firms relative to Chinese and other international competitors. Host: Vijay Vaitheeswaran , Incoming Philip D. Reed Senior Fellow and Director of the Energy Security and Climate Change Program, Council on Foreign Relations Guests: David M. Hart , Senior Fellow for Climate and Energy, Council on Foreign Relations Vanessa Z. Chan , Jonathan and Linda Brassington Practice Professor, Materials Science and Engineering and Inaugural Vice-Dean of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, University of Pennsylvania Josh Prueher , Chief Executive Officer, XGS Energy Want more comprehensive analysis of global news and events sent straight to your inbox? Subscribe to CFR’s Daily News Brief newsletter. To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event . To watch this event, please visit it on our YouTube channel: Filling the "Missing Middle" to Scale Energy Breakthroughs

August 28, 202658 min

On the Lessons of the 1929 Wall Street Crash

In this episode, Andrew Ross Sorkin discusses lessons from the 1929 Wall Street crash, followed by a panel discussion on the present-day risk of a bubble, and how policymakers should respond. Host: Gillian Tett , Columnist and Member of the Editorial Board, Financial Times; Head, King’s College, University of Cambridge; CFR Member Introductory Remarks: Michael Froman , President, Council on Foreign Relations Guests: Andrew Ross Sorkin , Founder, DealBook, and Columnist and Editor at Large, New York Times; Coanchor, Squawk Box, CNBC; Author, 1929: Inside the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History—and How It Shattered a Nation; CFR Member Want more comprehensive analysis of global news and events sent straight to your inbox? Subscribe to CFR’s Daily News Brief newsletter. To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event . To watch this event, please visit it on our YouTube channel: A Conversation With Andrew Ross Sorkin

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