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Artwork for State of Play
China
United States
Russia
Iran
North Korea
Ukraine
Japan
India
Trump Administration
China-India Relations
US Foreign Policy
Trump's Asia Trip
Economic Coercion
Cuba
Tariffs
Southeast Asia
Israel
BRICS Plus
Us-China Relations
Liberal International Order

The world order has been disrupted, and a new international system is emerging. Hosted by Will Todman, State of Play unpacks the biggest geopolitical developments of the week. Every episode brings together CSIS’s leading regional experts to explore how global power is shifting, how allies and adversaries are responding, and what it all means for the future of international order. State of Play is ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes49Foundeda year ago
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Government

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Artwork for State of Play

Latest Episodes

Fighting has broken out between the Ethiopian government and an alliance of 7 opposition groups. Ethiopia has accused Eritrea, Egypt, and Sudan of backing the rebel alliance, though officials from all three governments have denied this. This week, Aa... more

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The summit between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping could cover a range of issues to potentially include trade, investment, AI, the war with Iran, and Taiwan. The morning after the summit, CSIS’s leading China experts will provide a rapid assessment of it... more

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A recent opinion poll found that Filipinos have the most positive view of President Trump of any of the 36 countries surveyed. On the sidelines of the Manila Strategy Forum, Amb. John Negroponte and Greg Poling join Will to assess the strength of the... more

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When faced with President Trump’s economic pressure, most U.S. allies have fallen into line. Canada bucked the trend and stood firm. This week, Will talks with Chris Hernandez-Roy and Diego Marroquin Bitar to discuss if Canada can withstand U.S. pres... more

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Recent Guests

John Negroponte
Ambassador, former Director of National Intelligence, former Deputy Secretary of State
US Philippines Society
Episode: Is the U.S.-Philippines Alliance Really at a Historic High?
Greg Poling
Director of the Southeast Asia Program and Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative
CSIS
Episode: Is the U.S.-Philippines Alliance Really at a Historic High?
Chris Hernandez-Roy
Acting Director and Senior Fellow, Americas program
CSIS
Episode: Will Trump’s Pressure on Canada Break the USMCA?
Diego Marroquin Bitar
Fellow in the Americas program focusing on USMCA
CSIS
Episode: Will Trump’s Pressure on Canada Break the USMCA?
Lauryn Williams
Deputy Director and Senior Fellow, Strategic Technologies Program
CSIS
Episode: Did Iran Attack U.S. Water Systems?
Nikita Shah
Senior Fellow, Intelligence, National Security and Technology Program
CSIS
Episode: Did Iran Attack U.S. Water Systems?
William LeoGrande
Professor of Government and Dean Emeritus at the School of Public Affairs, American University
American University
Episode: Is Cuba Nearing an Inflection Point?
Dr. Charles Edel
Australia Chair and Senior Advisor, CSIS
CSIS
Episode: How Should the U.S. Counter China in the Pacific?
Kathryn Paik
Senior Fellow and Deputy Director of the Australia Chair
CSIS
Episode: How Should the U.S. Counter China in the Pacific?

Host

Will Todman
Host of State of Play

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 28 ratings
  • Good Show

    I enjoy Mr. Todman and I enjoy this show. Relevant topics are covered and Mr. Todman’s facilitation style brings about unique conversations with experts who add value. The summary that Mr. Todman does towards the end of each episode is genius… the “who’s up and who’s down this week” question is nauseatingly ridiculous and lowers the podcast a bit.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RJG179
    United States5 months ago
  • Why so negative

    Your last show discussing the war with Iran had an entirely negative outlook. War is always uncertain except for your so called experts who know it can’t work out for the better.

    I think they all suffer TDS. They remind me of the Israel reporter who when asked what a win in the October 7th war might like replied than anything in which Bibi loses would be a win.

    I think your experts look at this war similarly. They are hoping that they can blame Trump for a loss and so only focus on that outc... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    This Ken
    United States7 months ago
  • Fair and balanced

    I found the podcast to be very fair minded and balanced … please keep future episodes on the same path … job well done!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RRIG666
    United Statesa year ago
  • 5 stars!

    Will Todman brings such a wealth of knowledge to each episode and proves to be an incredibly capable moderator, drawing on the expertise of his guests to craft an informative and comprehensive episode every time. 10/10!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    IR Student !!
    United Statesa year ago
  • Promising

    I’ve been looking for a show that will dive into the changing balance of power and this has been great so far. It looks like it’ll strike a helpful balance between covering the latest developments and zooming out for the bigger geopolitical picture.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    FormerArabist
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Recurring feedback highlights the show's ability to translate geopolitics into actionable insights.
Some episodes draw constructive criticism about tone when covering highly contentious topics.
Guests are often praised for delivering expert context and real-world implications in concise formats.
Listeners appreciate the host's facilitation and the depth brought by panelists.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#124
United States/Government
Apple Podcasts
#97
Canada/Government
Apple Podcasts
#137
United Kingdom/Government
Apple Podcasts
#42
France/Government
Apple Podcasts
#69
Germany/Government
Apple Podcasts
#78
Australia/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Will Trump’s Pressure on Canada Break the USMCA?
Q: Is the USMCA dead or is there a deal to be salvaged?
The agreement remains on paper and could survive, but with significant holes and political pressure, especially from the U.S. side; Canada and Mexico still seek a path forward, but the U.S. has shown willingness to break or alter different components, suggesting a fragile, prolonged fight rather than a clean resolution.
Will Trump’s Pressure on Canada Break the USMCA?
Q: So, Diego, can I ask you to give us a brief rundown of what USMCA is and where things stand right now?
USMCA is the three-country North American production framework replacing NAFTA, with tighter rules and a built-in six-year review. The U.S. signaled changes and paused formal extension, pushing negotiations into bilateral talks (U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada) while Canada and Mexico steer different paths; the overall framework remains in force but uncertainty dominates.
How Should the United States Counter the CRINK Axis?
Q: What is the best immediate lever for the U.S. to counter Crink's influence, particularly regarding dependencies on China?
Prioritize strengthening critical dependencies (rare earths, semiconductors), diversify supply chains (francsourcing), and expand sanctions enforcement and multilateral coordination to close loopholes.
How Should the United States Counter the CRINK Axis?
Q: Is this Crink grouping an alliance or axis, and what distinguishes it from a formal alliance?
It is not a traditional alliance; there are bilateral networks and parallel actions that create a coordinated, but non-elite, alignment with real challenges for the U.S. and partners.
What Can Negotiations Between Lebanon and Israel Achieve?
Q: What is the Trump administration hoping to get out of these talks?
A diplomatic win and progress toward normalizing ties in the region, leveraging the Lebanon-Israel talks as part of a broader effort to expand influence and showcase leadership in the Middle East.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About State of Play

What is State of Play about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Geopolitics-focused discussions with a consistent host that draws on CSIS regional and policy expertise. Episodes typically feature a mix of senior CSIS analysts and policy researchers, analyzing current flashpoints such as U.S.–China relations, alliance dynamics, cyber and infrastructure security, and regional security in Europe, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific. A recurring strength is translating complex geopolitics into accessible, strategic takeaways, often balancing hard security issues with economic and diplomatic implications. Notable is a track record of deep dives with subject-matter experts, plus on-site and cross-institution conversations that illuminate how power overlaps at the governmental, business, and alliance levels.... more

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Which podcasts are similar to State of Play?

These podcasts share a similar audience with State of Play:

1. The Asia Chessboard
2. Pekingology
3. Russian Roulette
4. ChinaPower
5. The Trade Guys

How many episodes of State of Play are there?

State of Play launched a year ago and published 49 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 State of Play?

Recent guests on State of Play include:

1. John Negroponte
2. Greg Poling
3. Chris Hernandez-Roy
4. Diego Marroquin Bitar
5. Lauryn Williams
6. Nikita Shah
7. William LeoGrande
8. Dr. Charles Edel

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