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Alternate Shots with Richard Haass and John Ellis

Richard Haass and John Ellis
Iran
United States
Ukraine
Russia
China
Venezuela
Trump Administration
NATO
Donald Trump
Taiwan
Strait Of Hormuz
Ukraine Peace Plan
Israel
Middle East
New York Giants
Artificial Intelligence
NFL
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
United States National Security Strategy
Tariffs

The idea of the podcast is this: We talk about “three things” that are interesting, important or both. The third thing will be about something from the world of sports.

Richard is a veteran diplomat (he served in the Carter, Reagan, G.H.W. Bush and G.W. Bush administrations). He was president of the Council on Foreign Relations for two decades (he’s now president emeritus). He’s a Senior Counselo... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes40Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
News CommentaryNewsPolitics

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Artwork for Alternate Shots

Latest Episodes

This week on Alternate Shots, John Ellis and Richard Haass take stock of a world where institutions, summits, and alliances are showing their age. They begin with UN week in New York, where Haass argues the United Nations has become less an instituti... more

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This week on Alternate Shots, John Ellis and Richard Haass look ahead to the Trump-Xi summit and ask whether, in this instance, an uneventful meeting would be preferable to a consequential one. Haass worries not about failure, but about the wrong kin... more

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This week on Alternate Shots, John Ellis and Richard Haass consider a world in which old assumptions no longer hold. They begin with 9/11, what it did and did not change, and the danger that AI, drones, and biotechnology could make terrorism newly co... more

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This week on Alternate Shots, John Ellis and Richard Haass ask whether declaring the Iran war over makes it so. Haass is skeptical: a blockade remains an act of war, retaliation remains likely, and the United States is still stuck in the gray zone be... more

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Recent Guests

Richard Haass
Diplomat and policy analyst; President Emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations
Home and Away newsletter; Center|View Partners
Episode: Overreach: Episode 33

Hosts

John Ellis
Founder/editor of News Items newsletters; experienced in global politics and financial news; previously associated with major outlets and the WSJ CEO Council newsletter.
Richard Haass
Veteran diplomat; former CFR president; later roles in investment/think-tank space; long-form foreign policy expertise.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 24 ratings
  • Fun hang

    Pumped on every update 🤙 preached news items and home & away to everyone I know

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    541red
    United States22 days ago
  • Finally!

    I’ve been following news items for sometime and recommend it to all of my friends. I find reliable, mostly unbiased reporting on the widest range of topics.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sheilambaldwin
    United Statesa month ago
  • Thank you for sharing!

    Two of the greatest minds today. I feel so lucky to get to listen to them. It’s the only show that I know of that I don’t hear screaming or rapid speech or even feel the bad karma between the hosts.

    What a relief. A totally different delivery style. John and Richard are smooth, comfortable yet no less provocative. Go subscribe!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SkagitCrow
    United Statesa month ago
  • TDS clowns

    Two TDS clowns bloviating their Boomer nonsense.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    McMack1120
    United States3 months ago
  • Fun hang

    Pumped on every update 🤙

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    541red
    United States7 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

A credible, grounded discussion with strong policy chops and real-world relevance.
A thoughtful, candid brief on complex geopolitics and leadership.
Punchy banter keeps heavy topics engaging and approachable.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Overreach: Episode 33
Q: What does the OpenAI development signal about governance and global competition?
The guests stress that rapid AI advances demand cautious, proactive regulatory action and international coordination to manage recursive self-improvement and autonomous capabilities.
Overreach: Episode 33
Q: How should the US approach the idea of a broader deal with Saudi Arabia in the current climate?
The discussion indicates skepticism about ad hoc policy; success would require a coherent interagency strategy that aligns security guarantees with regional diplomacy and credible inspection regimes, while considering the broader implications for nonproliferation.
Overreach: Episode 33
Q: What is your take on Iran's tactical moves and the US response in the recent escalation?
Haass suggests that both sides have incentives to push for de-escalation, but complex regional dynamics and Iranian decentralization create risk; a ceasefire and negotiated terms may be more productive than further brinkmanship.
From the Middle East to the Midterms: Episode 16
Q: What happens next with the arms control agreement between the US and Russia?
While the expiration of the agreement may create challenges, the historical management of their nuclear rivalry suggests that changes will not happen overnight.
From the Middle East to the Midterms: Episode 16
Q: What's your take on the midterm elections and potential challenges to voter integrity?
There's a big push for voter identification, which could suppress voting for many Americans. The Trump administration's continued focus on the 2020 election raises concerns about the integrity of upcoming elections.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Alternate Shots

What is Alternate Shots about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A fast-moving, policy-forward conversation that blends in-depth foreign affairs analysis with timely, pop-culture touchpoints. Regular hosts dissect major geopolitical flashpoints—from Iran and broader Middle East dynamics to great-power competition and alliance politics—while peppering the discussion with sports banter and moments of lighter cultural commentary. Episodes tend to hinge on scenario-based diplomacy, leadership decision-making, and how domestic politics intersect with international affairs, offering sharp takes grounded in decades of policy and media experience. Noteworthy is the seamless pairing of serious geopolitical analysis with accessible, real-world examples and a recurring focus on credibility, leadership, and alliance... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Alternate Shots?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Alternate Shots:

1. The News Items Podcast
2. Conversations with Bill Kristol
3. The Spillover
4. The Long Game with Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer
5. GZERO World with Ian Bremmer

How many episodes of Alternate Shots are there?

Alternate Shots launched a year ago and published 40 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Alternate Shots?

Recent guests on Alternate Shots include:

1. Richard Haass

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