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The President’s Inbox

Council on Foreign Relations
China
United States
Russia
Iran
Artificial Intelligence
Ukraine
NATO
Israel
Donald Trump
Council On Foreign Relations
Middle East
Climate Change
Taiwan
Hamas
US Foreign Policy
Cold War
U.s.-China Relations
Foreign Policy
U.S. Military
Gaza

Each episode of The President’s Inbox explores a foreign policy challenge facing the United States.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes102Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsPolitics

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Artwork for The President’s Inbox

Latest Episodes

This episode unpacks how the Marshall Plan transformed postwar Western Europe and why security, allied cooperation, and forward thinking were the real keys to its enduring success.

To mark the 250th anniversary of the U.S. declaration of independenc... more

YouTube

This episode unpacks how Africa's demographic surge, critical mineral wealth, and expanding security threats are reshaping its relevance to U.S. foreign policy in the twenty-first century.

Host:

James M. Lindsay, Mary and David Boies Distinguished ... more

YouTube

This episode unpacks the key discussion points from the U.S.-China summit, including Taiwan, the Iran war, AI regulation, and the future of U.S.-China relations.

Host:

James M. Lindsay, Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Forei... more

YouTube

This episode unpacks President Donald Trump’s upcoming summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, the first by a sitting U.S. President in nearly a decade, as the United States and China work through a tense period of détente.

Host:

James... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Benn Steil
Senior Fellow and Director of International Economics at the Council on Foreign Relations
Council on Foreign Relations
Episode: America at 250: The Marshall Plan, With Benn Steil
Nicholas Burns
Roy and Barbara Goodman Family Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy and International Relations at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government; former US ambassador to the People's Republic of China
Harvard Kennedy School; former US ambassador to China
Episode: What Trump and Xi Didn't Settle in Beijing, With Nicholas Burns
Rush Doshi
CV. Starr, Senior Fellow for Asia Studies and Director of the China Strategy Initiative at the Council on Foreign Relations
Council on Foreign Relations
Episode: Trump and Xi in Beijing, With Rush Doshi
Christy Goldsmith Romero
Former commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission
CFTC
Episode: The Spillover: Are Prediction Markets Forecasting Tools or Virtual Casinos?
Michael Mandelbaum
Professor Emeritus of American Foreign Policy
Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies
Episode: How to Build an American Foreign Policy, With Michael Mandelbaum
HW. Brands Jr.
Jack S. Blanton Sr. Chair in History at The University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
Episode: America at 250: The Spanish-American War, With H.W. Brands
Mina Al-Oraibi
Editor-in-Chief of The National (Abu Dhabi)
The National
Episode: Gulf States Under Fire, With Mina Al-Oraibi
Kristi Govella
Senior Advisor and Japan Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies
Center for Strategic and International Studies
Episode: Why Allies Aren’t Following on Iran, With Kristi Govella and Constanze Stelzenmüller
Constanze Stelzenmüller
Director of the Center on the United States and Europe, Fritz Stern Chair on Germany and Transatlantic Relations
Brookings Institution
Episode: Why Allies Aren’t Following on Iran, With Kristi Govella and Constanze Stelzenmüller

Host

Jim Lindsay
Host of The President's Inbox

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 1.1k ratings
  • The logic of Bill Brands

    For Bill Brands to argue that the US historically is not an imperial power is absurd and disingenuous. And he actually argues that US imperialism in the Philippines was actually less severe than other imperialisms? How brutal does a military campaign have to become, like the one the US waged against the Philippine resistance, before we condemn it as inhumane and barbaric? According to Bill Brands logic, US imperialism is also US exceptionalism.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Len Bussanich
    United States2 months ago
  • Poor man Graham

    Thomas Graham must not understand finance. Iran comes out stronger financially from this conflict, enhancing Russia’s position geopolitically. Like many things Trump there was no consultation, but a Russian ally beating the USA strengthens Russia, not “at their expense,” either. The administration has taken the Russian interest into account and acted accordingly.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    WilderLander
    United States2 months ago
  • Outdated

    Disappointingly, these programmes feature relics from the postwar consensus period, figures still living in the past, incapable of change – approaches that could have been filmed in black and white. Their ideas are stale and simplistic; their thinking persists in a state of rigor mortis; and their philosophy has collectively been marked more by its failures than its successes.

    To take but one example, for people in this secular CFR church NATO is an article of faith—never mind that its benefit... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Bibliophenia
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • I Love It

    I am a longtime listener and enjoy this podcast above most others. Dr. Lindsey is the sole reason why; his rigor and sober approach are very much appreciated. When Dr. Lindsay left The World Next Week, that podcast suffered tremendously and soon thereafter failed. I wish that we could have kept him on both podcasts, but I do sincerely hope that we get to enjoy the President’s Inbox with Dr. Lindsay for a long time to come. I do miss hearing from Shannon K. O’Neil, if you take requests.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RJG179
    United States3 months ago
  • Jim’s fantastic. Please consider bringing back the World Next Week.

    The world next week by CFR was my favourite podcast. Unfortunately. it was canceled. I still love to hear Jim on this podcast, but I wish he had more opportunities to participate in the conversation instead of purely interviewing. It would be nice to hear more of his insights.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    _Selina__
    United States4 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the host for probing questions that draw out expert guests
Some reviews call out perceived bias and desire broader perspectives
Appreciation for informative, neutral analyses and historical context

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#216
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#200
France/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#206
Germany/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#14
Philippines/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#35
South Korea/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#37
China/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

America at 250: The Marshall Plan, With Benn Steil
Q: Why Harvard for the speech, and how did Marshall frame the plan to Europe?
Marshall chose Harvard to encourage European actors to engage and develop their own proposals, framing the plan as a cooperative effort rather than a unilateral U.S. scheme. He stressed that Europeans should work with the United States to rebuild a liberal order, while ensuring security arrangements to sustain that reconstruction.
America at 250: The Marshall Plan, With Benn Steil
Q: So give me a sense of what Truman was thinking about in March and how that leads to the Marshall Plan.
Truman deliberately pushed a strong, security-focused agenda, catalyzing congressional support through collaboration with Marshall and Vandenberg. He used strategic messaging and coordination to align political opposition with the goal of rebuilding Europe and containing Soviet influence.
America at 250: The Marshall Plan, With Benn Steil
Q: What did the Marshall Plan do? Why were Americans willing to support it? And what lessons does it teach us about foreign policy today?
It aimed to rapidly restore Western Europe's productive capacity and create a security framework that would prevent a Soviet-dominated region. Americans supported it due to concerns about economic collapse, geopolitical stability, and the belief that security and prosperity were linked; the lasting lesson is that economic aid coupled with credible security guarantees can build durable alliances and deter aggression.
What Trump and Xi Didn't Settle in Beijing, With Nicholas Burns
Q: How did Xi's handling of Taiwan affect the dynamics and what does it mean for U.S. credibility?
Xi's leaked Taiwan opening statement signaled a hardline stance and aimed to intimidate; the U.S. must reassure allies and maintain strategic ambiguity to avoid encouraging aggression while keeping commitments intact.
What Trump and Xi Didn't Settle in Beijing, With Nicholas Burns
Q: What was your reaction to the summit's overall tone and its potential impact on US-China relations?
The summit created a cautiously warmer atmosphere and some tangible economic steps, but the absence of a joint communique and the exchange on Taiwan show the real constraints and the risk that deep policy shifts may not materialize without credible implementation and allied support.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About The President’s Inbox

What is The President’s Inbox about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The most recent episodes center on high-stakes diplomacy, US-China dynamics, and the political economy of foreign policy tools like prediction markets. Guests range from veteran diplomats and historians to policy scholars and regional experts, offering measured analyses of summit outcomes, alliance credibility, and the interplay between ideology, economics, and power in global affairs. Noteworthy is the clear focus on how policy signals translate into real-world leverage, with regular attention to how allies, adversaries, and domestic politics shape foreign policy choices. Listeners likely appreciate concise, expert-led discussions that connect historical context to current events, with thoughtful takes on strategy, risk, and governance in ... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with The President’s Inbox:

1. The Foreign Affairs Interview
2. On the Record
3. Foreign Policy Live
4. Net Assessment
5. War on the Rocks

How many episodes of The President’s Inbox are there?

The President’s Inbox launched 10 years ago and published 102 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 The President’s Inbox?

Recent guests on The President’s Inbox include:

1. Benn Steil
2. Nicholas Burns
3. Rush Doshi
4. Christy Goldsmith Romero
5. Michael Mandelbaum
6. HW. Brands Jr.
7. Mina Al-Oraibi
8. Kristi Govella

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