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Artwork for State of Play
China
India
China-India Relations
Russia
US Foreign Policy
Trump's Asia Trip
United States
North Korea
Tariffs
BRICS Plus
Us-China Relations
Trump Administration
South Korea
Israel
Japan
Gaza
Nuclear Weapons Testing
Iran
Latin America
Geopolitics

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes30Founded10 months ago
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Artwork for State of Play

Latest Episodes

President Trump delayed his planned summit with Xi Jinping from March to May due to the war with Iran. Scott Kennedy and Brian Hart join Will to assess the war's impact on the talks, if the war has changed China's negotiating strategy, and if we shou... more

Beyond increasing gas prices, the war with Iran has had significant ripple effects for food security, economic security, and humanitarian crises in the Middle East and beyond. Emily Harding, Caitlin Welsh, and Mona Yacoubian joined Will to discuss th... more

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi was the first U.S. ally to visit President Trump in the White House after he called on allies to help with the war on Iran. Nick Szechenyi joins Will to discuss what Takaichi had hoped to achieve in her visit, how she ha... more

As the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran enters its third week, U.S. attention is focused on the Middle East once again. Both China and Russia may find strategic openings, from higher global energy prices that bolster Moscow’s war economy to new opportuniti... more

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Recent Guests

Emily Harding
Vice President of the Defense and Security Department; Director of the Intelligence, National Security and Technology program
CSIS
Episode: What Are the Hidden Costs of the War with Iran?
Nick Szechenyi
Vice President of the Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department and Senior Fellow in the Japan Chair
CSIS
Episode: How did Japan Navigate Trump's Pressure on Iran?
Bonny Lin
Senior advisor and director of CSIS China Power Project
CSIS China Power Project
Episode: Are Russia and China Benefitting from the War with Iran?
Maria Snegovaya
Senior fellow in the Europe, Russia and Eurasia program
CSIS Europe, Russia and Eurasia
Episode: Are Russia and China Benefitting from the War with Iran?
Carrie Filipetti
Executive Director of the Vandenberg Coalition and Distinguished Fellow at the Wilson Center; former deputy assistant secretary for Cuba and Venezuela
Vandenberg Coalition; Wilson Center
Episode: Is Cuba Next?
Dr. Victor Cha
President of the Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department at CSIS, and a distinguished professor at Georgetown.
CSIS
Episode: How should we combat China's economic coercion?
Bethany Allen
Head of China Investigations at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, author of 'Beijing Rules'.
Australian Strategic Policy Institute
Episode: How should we combat China's economic coercion?
Dr. Melanie Hart
Senior Director of the Global China Hub at the Atlantic Council and former Senior Advisor for China.
Atlantic Council
Episode: How should we combat China's economic coercion?
Dr. Thomas Wright
Senior fellow with the Strobe Talbot Center for Security, Strategy and Technology, former special assistant to the president at the National Security Council
Brookings Institution
Episode: Did Trump remake the global order in 2025?

Host

Will Todman
Chief of Staff of the Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department, with expertise in international relations and policy analysis.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 12 ratings
  • 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 Statesa month 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 States7 months 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 States8 months 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 States8 months ago
  • 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 that add value.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RJG179
    United States9 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Many find the discussions accessible and informative, emphasizing the practical implications of global events on the listeners' understanding of international relations.
Listeners appreciate the balance between covering new developments and providing broader geopolitical context.
The host's facilitative style is praised for fostering engaging conversations and insights from experts.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#60
United States/Government
Apple Podcasts
#31
United Kingdom/Government
Apple Podcasts
#112
Canada/Government
Apple Podcasts
#11
Australia/Government
Apple Podcasts
#16
France/Government
Apple Podcasts
#20
Germany/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Is Cuba Next?
Q: What are the practical pathways the administration might pursue besides a direct military intervention?
Back-channel talks targeting key power centers (the Castro family) and leveraging economic reforms as a route to political change, with a strong emphasis on sanctions, remittance policies, and selective engagement rather than formal recognition or direct talks with current Cuban leadership.
Is Cuba Next?
Q: Carrie, how would you describe the current administration's goals when it comes to Cuba, and how do they compare to the first term?
The goals are largely the same: squeeze the regime, separate the regime from the Cuban people, and push for economic reforms that could later lead to political reforms and more openness, while using maximum pressure with targeted openings.
Are we thinking about tech competition with China the right way?
Q: What recommendations can you provide for improving US technology competitiveness?
Focus on speed to scale and improving education and workforce training to match the needs of advanced technologies.
Are we thinking about tech competition with China the right way?
Q: What are the key advantages that the United States still has in relation to technology?
The US excels in stacked technologies, precision technologies, and has a strong ecosystem due to deep inter-company relationships.
Are we thinking about tech competition with China the right way?
Q: What geopolitical power does this give China?
China's advantages translate into hard power in military capabilities and economic security through choke points in critical industries.

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?

Focusing on significant geopolitical developments, this podcast offers insights into the complex dynamics of the emerging international system. Episodes engage with pressing topics such as U.S. foreign policy, the geopolitical implications of major global events, and the shifting landscape of international alliances. Listeners can expect a thoughtful exploration of how rising powers, conflicts, and diplomatic changes are redefining relationships among countries, as well as the impact of these shifts on global governance. The discussions often feature regional experts, ensuring a depth of analysis that seeks to make complex issues accessible to various audiences.

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Which podcasts are similar to State of Play?

These podcasts share a similar audience with State of Play:

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

How many episodes of State of Play are there?

State of Play launched 10 months ago and published 30 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 State of Play?

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What guests have appeared on State of Play?

Recent guests on State of Play include:

1. Emily Harding
2. Nick Szechenyi
3. Bonny Lin
4. Maria Snegovaya
5. Carrie Filipetti
6. Dr. Victor Cha
7. Bethany Allen
8. Dr. Melanie Hart

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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