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Alternate Shots with Richard Haass and John Ellis

Richard Haass and John Ellis
Iran
Ukraine
Russia
United States
China
Venezuela
Trump Administration
NATO
Donald Trump
Strait Of Hormuz
Ukraine Peace Plan
Middle East
New York Giants
Taiwan
Artificial Intelligence
NFL
Israel
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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes29Founded10 months ago
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NewsNews Commentary

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Artwork for Alternate Shots

Latest Episodes

For years, artificial intelligence occupied the familiar territory of technological optimism: faster growth, greater efficiency, and the promise that innovation would solve more problems than it created. That era may be ending. This week on Alternate... more

In this week’s Alternate Shots, Richard Haass and John Ellis begin with Iran, which remains suspended in the uneasy territory between war and peace.  Washington appears to be inching toward a revised nuclear arrangement that resembles, in substance i... more

John Ellis and Richard Haass discuss the latest on multiple wars, actual and political. They review the absence of good options for ending the war with Iran, noting that wars dont necessarily end when one side (in this case Donald Trump) has had enou... more

Alternate Shots returns with John Ellis and Richard Haass examining a geopolitical and domestic political landscape defined by drift. The crisis surrounding Iran and the Strait of Hormuz underscores a broader reality: deterrence is fraying, diplomacy... more

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Recent Guests

Richard Haass
Diplomat and author, former president of the Council on Foreign Relations
Home and Away newsletter
Episode: The Strait, the Summit, and the Slush Fund: Episode 28

Hosts

John Ellis
Founder and editor of News Items; editor of multiple sub-stack newsletters; has a background with NBC News, The Boston Globe, CNBC, Fox News, and Newscorp.
Richard Haass
Co-host; veteran diplomat; President Emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations; has connections to Substack's Home and Away and Center|View Partners.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 16 ratings
  • Fun hang

    Pumped on every update 🤙

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    541red
    United States3 months ago
  • Fun Hang

    I dig it 🤙

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    541red
    United States7 months ago
  • Good listen

    Smart conversation balanced and informative

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Out for themselves
    United States8 months ago
  • Fun Hang

    Love Ellis and Haass 🤙

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    541red
    United States9 months ago

Listeners Say

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

High-caliber guests and sharp reads on international affairs.
Insightful, balanced geopolitical analysis with practical takeaways for policy and business.
Engaging hosts who blend depth with accessible commentary.
Thoughtful, occasionally humorous, and consistently informative.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
Episode Ten
Q: What do you make of the recent national security strategy document?
It's a significant redirection of US foreign policy that prioritizes economic interests and places less emphasis on democracy and human rights.
Episode Seven
Q: Can Russia maintain its war effort for as long as it takes?
Russia is able to sustain its war effort economically and militarily for at least another two to three years, with support from countries like China, Iran, and North Korea.
Episode One
Q: Why is it that all of Washington basically lies down in front of Trump?
The Republican calculation hinges on fear of primary opponents initiated by Trump against those who oppose him, making position more important than principle.

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 thoughtful, issue-driven program that centers on geopolitical risk, diplomacy, and macro-strategy, with a consistent emphasis on U.S. foreign policy, great-power competition, and regional flashpoints. Episodes typically pair a deep read on topics like Iran, Ukraine, Russia, and China with analysis of energy markets, defense priorities, and strategic decision-making, then finish with a lighter sports note. A standout feature is the duo's long-form, expert-level dialogue—often grounded in decades of policy experience—paired with accessible banter that keeps complex topics approachable for a knowledgeable audience. This program is likely to appeal to policy professionals, business leaders, and listeners who want rigorous geopolitics discussi... more

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How many subscribers and views does Alternate Shots have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Alternate Shots has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Alternate Shots?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Alternate Shots:

1. Night Owls
2. The News Items Podcast
3. GZERO World with Ian Bremmer
4. Fareed Zakaria GPS
5. Interesting Times with Ross Douthat

How many episodes of Alternate Shots are there?

Alternate Shots launched 10 months ago and published 29 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Alternate Shots?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Alternate Shots?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Alternate Shots from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Alternate Shots?

Recent guests on Alternate Shots include:

1. Richard Haass

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