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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
PoliticsNews

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Artwork for The President’s Inbox

Latest Episodes

U.S.-India relations have struggled despite U.S. President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s close personal relationship. This episode unpacks why tariffs, security concerns, and a détente with China has reframed the importance o... more

YouTube

This episode unpacks U.S. and Chinese AI strategies, regulation approaches, and the future implications for society and security.

Host:

James M. Lindsay, Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy, CFR

Guest:

Alvin Wa... more

YouTube

This episode unpacks the history of 250 years of U.S. foreign policy and examines patterns of the United States’ engagement with the world.

Host:

James M. Lindsay, Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy, CFR

Guest:... more

YouTube

This episode unpacks the unique challenges faced by women leaders, their contributions to democracy, and the critical lessons they offer in the fight against authoritarianism.

Enter the CFR book giveaway by July 8, 2026, for the chance to win one of... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Sadanand Dhume
Senior Fellow for India, Pakistan, and South Asia at the Council on Foreign Relations
Council on Foreign Relations
Episode: U.S.-India Relations Under Stress, With Sadanand Dhume
Alvin Wang Graylin
Senior Fellow for Technology at the Asia Society; Digital Fellow at Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI; Professor of AI and Technology at the University of Washington
Asia Society; Stanford HAI; University of Washington
Episode: The Myth of the AI Race, With Alvin Wang Graylin
Robert Kagan
Senior fellow at the Brookings Institution; author of Dangerous Nation and The Ghost at the Feast
Brookings Institution
Episode: Lessons From 250 Years of U.S. Foreign Policy, With Robert Kagan
Linda Robinson
Senior Fellow for Women in Foreign Policy at the Council on Foreign Relations; author of Women in Power
Council on Foreign Relations
Episode: Women in Power, With Linda Robinson
Thomas Bollyky
Bloomberg Chair in Global Health and Director of the Global Health Program at CFR
Council on Foreign Relations
Episode: America’s Ebola Preparedness, With Thomas Bollyky
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
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

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 States3 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 States3 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 Kingdom4 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 States4 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 States5 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
#187
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#181
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#245
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#64
Italy/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#212
Germany/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#215
Australia/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

U.S.-India Relations Under Stress, With Sadanand Dhume
Q: What is the most promising long-term opportunity for improving U.S.-India ties?
The greatest area of opportunity lies in technology cooperation, driven by the private sector in the United States and a strong Indian component, which could shift the narrative from bad news to a positive trajectory.
U.S.-India Relations Under Stress, With Sadanand Dhume
Q: What explains Modi's reaction to the changing U.S.-India dynamic, and how has he managed public perception in India?
Modi has remained calm and focused on deepening other relationships, presenting a statesman-like posture to avoid antagonizing the United States while managing domestic concerns and balancing China.
U.S.-India Relations Under Stress, With Sadanand Dhume
Q: Is it your sense that Trump came in with a plan to reset U.S.-Indian relations, or was it a by-product of decisions made for other reasons?
Dhume argues Trump did not have a deliberate, coherent plan to reset U.S.-India relations; instead, the relationship evolved through episodic decisions and domestic political factors.
The Myth of the AI Race, With Alvin Wang Graylin
Q: Why is open-source development significant in China's AI strategy?
Open-source models democratize experimentation, expand the talent pool globally, and accelerate iterative improvements, whereas some Chinese firms maintain closed models for strategic reasons.
The Myth of the AI Race, With Alvin Wang Graylin
Q: Is it even the right framing to call this a race to AGI?
The guest argues that viewing AI progress as a race to AGI can be misleading; the more important goal is practical deployment, safety, and productivity gains across industry and government, while avoiding overreliance on a single benchmark.

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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Which podcasts are similar to The President’s Inbox?

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

1. The Foreign Affairs Interview
2. Foreign Policy Live
3. Net Assessment
4. NatSec Matters
5. The Asia Chessboard

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. Sadanand Dhume
2. Alvin Wang Graylin
3. Robert Kagan
4. Linda Robinson
5. Thomas Bollyky
6. Benn Steil
7. Nicholas Burns
8. Christy Goldsmith Romero

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