The stunning U.S. raid that removed Nicolás Maduro from power has upended Venezuela’s political landscape and forced Washington to confront what comes next. Rather than pushing immediately for regime change, the Trump administration appears to be testing a pressure-and-incentives strategy, with sanctions relief, oil production, and economic access used as leverage to shape the behavior of the remaining leadership. Can this approach actually deliver meaningful political reform in Caracas, or will regional stability and U.S. energy interests take precedence over Venezuela's democratic transition?

In this episode, Paul Saunders speaks with Dr. Vanessa Neumann, the founder and president of Asymmetrica, a Latin American business advisory firm. Neumann served as the Official Representative for Interim Venezuelan President Juan Guaidó to the United Kingdom and Ireland, from March 2019 through November 2020. Prior to her diplomatic posting, she served as group leader at the High Level Risk Forum Task Force on Charting Illicit Trafficking at the OECD.

Music by Sonican from Pixabay.

The ongoing peace negotiations to end the Russia-Ukraine War have entered a delicate phase, with both Kyiv and Moscow signaling interest in talks even as fighting continues on the ground. Can Ukraine secure meaningful security guarantees without conceding territory? Is Russia seeking a genuine deal or merely buying time? And what would a workable endgame actually look like for a conflict that has reshaped global politics?

In this episode, Paul Saunders speaks with Andrew Kuchins, a senior fellow at the Center for the National Interest in Washington, DC. Kuchins most recently served as president of the American University of Central Asia in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Before that, he served as Director of the Russia and Eurasia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (2007-2015) and at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (2000-2003, 2006), where he also directed their Carnegie Moscow Center (2003-2005).

Music by Sonican from Pixabay.

It’s been a big two weeks in U.S. politics, and some political observers are asking whether the MAGA movement is finally losing steam. A year after President Donald Trump’s stunning comeback, Republicans face fresh blowback from the record-breaking government shutdown, renewed public scrutiny of the "Epstein Files," and major electoral defeats on November 4. Is the MAGA movement fraying at the edges? And could these developments hint at further weakening ahead of the 2026 midterm elections?

In this episode, Paul Saunders speaks with Jacob Heilbrunn, editor of The National Interest. Heilbrunn previously served as a senior editor at the New Republic and an editorial writer for the Los Angeles Times and has written on both foreign and domestic issues for numerous publications including the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Foreign Affairs, Reuters, Washington Monthly, and the Weekly Standard.

Music by Sonican from Pixabay.

What does “realism” in foreign policy really mean, and why are some experts calling for a return to it? In this episode, Paul Saunders breaks down the core tenets of realism that separate it from more idealistic and moralistic approaches.

Saunders is the president of the Center for the National Interest and an expert with more than three decades of experience in U.S.-Russia policy. He previously served in the George W. Bush Administration from 2003 to 2005 as Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs.

Music by Sonican from Pixabay.

On September 17, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA), a formal pact pledging that aggression against one will be treated as aggression against both. The agreement effectively extends Pakistan’s nuclear deterrent over Riyadh, raising questions about whether this marks the emergence of a new “nuclear umbrella” in the Gulf. Is this a pragmatic hedge by Riyadh amid doubts about U.S. reliability, or a step that could reshape the balance of power in the Middle East? And what risks does it pose for American security policy in the region?

In this episode, Paul Saunders speaks with Greg Priddy, a Senior Fellow for the Middle East at the Center for the National Interest. Priddy consults for corporate and financial clients on political risk in the region and previously served as Director for Global Oil at Eurasia Group.

Music by Sonican from Pixabay.

President Donald Trump's state visit to the UK concluded with a new technology partnership and major investment pledges, but also highlighted sticking points—from Trump’s refusal to lower tariffs to sharp differences with Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Russia, Ukraine, and Gaza. What does this visit reveal about the durability of the “special relationship,” and where might tensions pull Washington and London apart?

In this episode, Paul Saunders speaks with Jacob Heilbrunn, editor of The National Interest. Heilbrunn previously served as a senior editor at the New Republic and an editorial writer for the Los Angeles Times and has written on both foreign and domestic issues for numerous publications including the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Foreign Affairs, Reuters, Washington Monthly, and the Weekly Standard.

Music by Sonican from Pixabay.

The recent summit between Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping in Beijing produced a landmark agreement on the Power of Siberia-2 pipeline, a massive project that would redirect Russia’s natural gas exports from Europe to China. The deal raises far-reaching questions: how will it reshape global energy markets, especially for U.S. and allied LNG exporters? Why has Beijing now moved forward despite past hesitations over sanctions and supply needs? And what strategic calculations drove China to favor a secure overland pipeline through Mongolia rather than riskier Arctic LNG shipping routes vulnerable to U.S. power?

In this episode, Paul Saunders discusses these latest developments. Saunders is the president of the Center for the National Interest and an expert with more than three decades of experience in U.S.-Russia policy. He previously served in the George W. Bush Administration from 2003 to 2005 as Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs.

Music by Sonican from Pixabay.

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung will meet President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday for their first summit, a high-stakes encounter following last month’s trade agreement that eased U.S. tariff pressures on Seoul. The meeting comes at a critical moment, as Seoul seeks to reaffirm its alliance with Washington while navigating domestic political pressures, shifting trade dynamics, and the challenges of an unpredictable American president. How will President Lee balance strengthening economic ties, avoiding confrontation over U.S. troop costs, and maintaining flexibility in dealing with North Korea and China? And can this pragmatic approach reshape the U.S.–Korea relationship for the years ahead?

In this episode, Paul Saunders speaks with Dr. Jae Ku, Senior Fellow for U.S.-Korea Relations at the Center for the National Interest. From 2007-2018, he served as the Director of the U.S.-Korea Institute at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, a research institute he co-founded. He was also the director of Freedom House’s Human Rights in North Korea Project, a Congressionally mandated international campaign under the North Korea Human Rights Act of 2004.

Music by Sonican from Pixabay.