What In The World?

2019 marks the 70th Anniversary of the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization better known as NATO. The US' participation in NATO has been scrutinized by President Trump as he has expressed some concerns about spending. Transatlantic experts, music lovers, and global trotters, Alex Johnson and Anthony Robinson explain NATO--what it is, how it operates, and how US-Europe relations matter to our every day lives. Credits: Intro Remarks: President Harry S. Truman, Speech at the signing of the NATO Washington Treaty, 1949 Intro Song: "Ryde or Die" by L.O.X., Eve,Drag-On Theme Song: "Asi ki no ta vive" by Chachi Carvalho Outro Song: "Someday We'll All Be Free" by Donny Hathaway

Houston, do we have a problem? President Trump announced the establishment of Space Force in February. Skeptics have asked, what could we possibly need a space military for when we haven’t found aliens to fight and what's the difference between NASA and Space Force?. Guest experts, Victoria Samson and Krystal Wilson, discuss space security, space technology's beneficial values, and the plans behind President Trump's Space Force. Credits: Intro Remarks: President John F. Kennedy Speech, "We Choose To Go To The Moon Speech" Intro Song: "Forever Begins" by Common Theme Song: "Asi ki no ta vive" by Chachi Carvalho Outro Song: "Under the Milkyway" by The Church

President Maduro, in late January, ordered diplomats in the American embassy in Caracas to leave the country. Since then, Venezuela's crisis has gained national attention here in America, sparking concern about what exactly is happening in the country. The international community has called for Maduro to step down and to allow opposition leader Juan Guiado to claim his position as the elected President. Claims of human rights abuses, severe corruption, and economic degradation have plagued Venezuela, the world's leading producer of oil. The real life "Olivia Pope", Dr. Vanessa Neumann, breaks down the situation and provides clarity about what this crisis matters to America. Credits: Theme Song: "Asi ki no ta vive" by Chachi Carvalho Outro Song: "Set You Free" by N-Trance Photo Credit: Juan Barreto, AFP, Getty Images

The United States has been immersed in the news of the trade war China and concerns about Chinese currency manipulation. But across the ocean in Africa, the Chinese have a different kind of relationship. Their presence has grown exponentially over several decades. Annually, trade between Africa and China has ballooned to $166B—China IS Africa’s largest trading partner. China’s Africa strategy, though, raises a lot of concerns on the part of the West because of China’s human rights abuses--they aren’t particularly known to be champions of the many freedoms we have here in the states like press, speech, religion, etc, and many are concerned that their pivot towards Africa actually emboldens corruption and sets Africa back in terms of having more open, free, and industrialized societies—concepts we typically associate with democracy. This episode focuses on the role of the Chinese in African media. How are the Chinese using Africa media to connect with Africans? What are some of the regulatory concerns? And mo

The 116th Congress is in session and the Hill is buzzing with new faces, new agendas, and lots of global issues to tackle. Brian Greer, a Georgia boy, chess player, and Defense expert explains the ins and outs of the power of Congress when it comes to foreign policy and why your understanding of these issues matter. Credits: Theme Song: "Asi ki no ta vive" by Chachi Carvalho Outro Song: "So What" by Miles Davis Photo Credit: Getty

From hacked emails to questionable election results, Cybersecurity is often looked at as something outside of our control. Our Cyberhero, Tech policy expert, and advocate of digital smarts, Camille Stewart, shares every day cyber tips to protect users and the country. We talk about the basics of cybersecurity (the players, the issues, and challenges), her #EveryDayCyber campaign, and tech policies that impact our lives and issues like national security.

Brazil's elections, laden with controversy, hate speech, violence, and deep community divide, is reminiscent of America's 2016 Presidential elections. Like President Trump, Jair Bolsonaro, has promised to bring economic stability and an end to the status quo of democratic ideals. At what cost, though? And why should Americans pay attention? Jana Nelson, a Brazilian-born American and expert in Latin America and trade, explains. Credits: Theme Song: "Asi ki no ta vive" by Chachi Carvalho Outro Song: "The Wall" by Pink Floyd Photo Credit: Mauro Pimentel/AFP/Getty Images

Imagine what it's like to work alongside someone whose job is to orchestrate the cooperation of 190+ vastly different countries. Mihn-Thu Pham of the United Nations Foundation shares her experiences being led by the late Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan. Born in Vietnam and moving to America with her family, Minh-Thu was called to support Kofi Annan as he lead a complicated world and addressed a skeptical American public. Find out what the role of the Secretary-General is, Mr. Annan's contributions were, and why the UN is still relevant to the United States. Credits: Intro Clip: Kofi Annan Farewell Speech, December 2006 courtesy of the UN Intro Clip Song: "Hold My Hand" by Michael Jackson Theme Song: "Asi ki no ta vive" by Chachi Carvalho Outro Song: "Walk On" U2

A bus full of school children is bombed by Saudia Arabian war weapons purchased from the United States; Women negotiate food supplies for a country where 60% of the population lives in poverty; And a community tries to claim its sovereignty amid dueling powers and violent extremists. Yemen's silent war, for many Americans, is an unknown. Sanam Naraghi-Anderlini of ICAN Peace Network explains the crisis in Yemen and womens' attempts to use the power of the pen to bring about peace. Credits: Theme Song: "Asi ki no ta vive" by Chachi Carvalho Outro Song: "Super Trouper" by Abba Cover Photo: Hani Mohammed/AP

Bunmi Akinnusotu attends Podcast Movement 2018 and speaks to David Direntis, a conference guest and fellow podcaster, about why foreign policy is relevant to the city of Brotherly Love. David shares how he came up close and personal with foreign policy when he and his wife traveled to China on a quest to achieve an important milestone. Credits: Intro Clip Song: "Its Love" by Jill Scott Outro Song: "Listen Hear" by Eddie Harris

On June 12, 2018, South Korean President Moon Jae-in ushered in a new era of what will hopefully be, peace and stability along the Korean peninsula. For almost seven decades, the peninsula was a hotbed of nuclear threats between North and South Korea and was an area of contention between the superpowers of the United States and the former Soviet Union. What did America and North Korea agree to do? And why does any of it matter to Americans? Catherine Killough, K-Pop fan and English Lit major turned North Korea expert explains. Credits: Intro Clip: President Truman Library Intro Clip Song: "Many Men" by 50 Cent Theme Song: "Asi ki no ta vive" by Chachi Carvalho Outro Song: "Noonside" by Yaeji Cover Art: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)

On August 25, 2017, nearly 1 million Rohingya Muslims fled their homes to escape "cleansing operations" of the Myanmar military. For decades, the Rohingya have been politically, socially, and economically isolated and continue to live under repressive discriminatory practices. Debate team nerd turned Human Rights Advocate, Francisco Benscome, describes the extensive human rights violations by the Myanmar military, shares his experience on the ground in the world's largest refugee camp, and describes the global effort to help find justice. Credits: Cover Photo: Mohammed Pomir Hossain of Reuters Theme Song: "Asi ki no ta vive" by Chachi Carvalho Outro Song: "Found Tonight" by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Ben Platt

What's a Yak? A Sherpa? And what exactly happens at the G7? Listen to Sydney Hulebak, Ryan Migeed, and Ann Love, share what the G7 Summit is all about and why it matters to youth in America and all around the world. Sent on their way to represent youth voices at the Y7 Summit, a subset of the G7, the team also shares thoughts and lessons learned trying to negotiate global policies. Credits: Intro Clip: "I Know I Can" by Nas Theme Song: "Asi ki no ta vive" by Chachi Carvalho Outro Song: "Send Me On My Way" by Rusted Root

Trump recently announced tariffs on steel and aluminum from foreign countries--a move he initially said was a matter of national security and protecting America's trade interests. Thamar Harrigan, our soca groovin' Trade Whisperer talks us through the current trade beef (pun intended), educates us on basic trade principles using familiar household items, and provides her take on the impact a trade war could have on Americans. Credits: Intro Clip of President Trump: PBS Newshour, March 8, 2018 Intro Song to Intro Clip: "What's Beef" by The Notorious B.I.G Cover Photo: Haitian slave revolution led by Toussaint L'ouverture Theme Song: "Asi ki no ta vive" by Chachi Carvalho Outro Song: "Hulk" by Blaxx

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one year prior to his assassination condemned the Vietnam War and U.S. foreign policy of the time. He called on America to lead a global revolution from a place of love and unity. Vasu Mohan of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), builds on Dr. King's philosophy by reimagining modern foreign policy as the human body and uses hate speech in elections to demonstrate this concept. Credits: Cover Photo: Unknown but thank you to the artist! Theme Song: "Asi ki no ta vive" by Chachi Carvalho Outro Song: "It's Good To Be Alive" by Andy Grammar

The trickle-down effects of the Arab Spring sparked a wave of protests throughout Arab nations, Syria was one of those nations. Wa'el Azayat, President of Emgage, explains the basics of what's happening in Syria from its colonial history, the strict rule of the Assad family and government, the Syrian people's fight for basic freedoms, and all of the key players' interests, including the United States. Wa'el also discusses how the fight abroad has encouraged American states to adopt laws that foster fear of Muslim Americans here at home. Credits: Cover Photo: AP/Press Association Images Theme Song: "Asi ki no ta vive" by Chachi Carvalho Outro Song: "Creedence Clearwater Revival" by Fortunate Son

From Cardi B, Cambodia, and to the Congo, Afropean-American, Laura Kupe and Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, Jalina Porter discuss why women matter in American foreign policy drawing from their colorful tapestry of personal and professional experiences. Both also share the parallels of Foreign Policy and film, Black Panther and acknowledge extraordinary women who inspire them. Credits: Cover Photo: Unknown but thank you to the artist! Intro Background Song - "Who Run The World?" Instrumental by Beyonce Theme Song: "Asi ki no ta vive" by Chachi Carvalho Outro Song: "Congo Square" by Teena Marie

What in the world is going on in Africa? Africa enthusiasts and trade experts, Brionne Dawson and Jennelle Cray-Pelamoko explain! In celebration of Black History Month and the release of Black Panther, we discuss how the textiles industry and other products, fuel the continent's economic growth and how America benefits from U.S.-Africa partnerships. From colorful fabric to shea butter, African countries contribute numerous goods that are part of our everyday lives. Theme Song: "Asi ki no ta vive" by Chachi Carvalho Outro Song: "Africa" by Yemi Alade

Slavery and human trafficking are still a reality for 40 million people, from the corridors of K street in Washington D.C. to Kuwait and elsewhere. The CNN video of a slave auction in Libya has elevated this reality and many have begun to pay attention. To honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., The Civil Rights Center and New Bethel Baptist Church in Washington D.C. and The Civil Rights Center, unpacked this issue from the perspective of four individuals fighting to end slavery and trafficking and discussed some of the root causes that fuel its existence. Content Credits & Event Co-Sponsors: The Civil Rights Center, New Bethel Baptist Church Theme Song: "Asi ki no ta vive" by Chachi Carvalho Outro Song: "Rewind" by Blue Wednesday Editing Credits: Apolleaux

On December 18th, the White House released the 2018 National Security Strategy. Queens-born and Bronx-raised military veteran, Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins, shares her thoughts on the document and why Americans should read it. Could modernizing the military mean more jobs for Americans? Should America promote American values abroad while it struggles with certain values at home? You'll learn about Amb. Jenkins, her response to these questions and more.