The Long Game Podcast

The Ukraine War After Trump’s Pivot to Russia

17K views · 1d ago · 55:53

Michael Kofman joins Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer to examine the Russia-Ukraine war, restrictions on SpaceX’s Starlink and Starshield services, and the prospects for Ukraine peace negotiations. As Russian drone attacks intensify, what do the Trump administration’s decisions mean for Ukraine’s defenses—and for Vladimir Putin’s willingness to make a deal?

Topics: Michael Kaufman Returns · The Anatomy of Russia's Drone Surge: From Props to Jets · Death in the Sky: How Throttling Starlink and StarShield Cost Ukrainian Lives · Why "Game Changer" Is Wrong: The Real Nature of Military Innovation · The Business of War: Trump's Deal-Making Foreign Policy · Ceasefire Illusions: Why Moscow Won't Stop

Netanyahu Planned To Strike Iran Before Israeli Elections. Trump Said No

11K views · 1w ago · 1:11:25

Could Benjamin Netanyahu lose Israel’s election next week but remain prime minister? Axios Global Affairs Correspondent Barak Ravid joins Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer for an in-depth discussion about Israel’s first election since the October 7 terrorist attacks and what the results will mean for Israeli democracy, the war in Gaza, US-Israel relations, and Donald Trump’s plans for Iran.

Topics: October 7th: The Defining Issue of Israel's Election · Guest Introduction: Barak Ravid of Axios · The Main Characters: Netanyahu vs. Eisenkot · Netanyahu's Defense: Blame the Security Chiefs, Take the Credit · Iran and the Failed Pre-Election Strike · The Ultra-Orthodox Military Service Debate

Trump Makes A Deal With Russia, Houthis Hit Saudi Arabia & Sabotage Tests NATO

17K views · 2w ago · 1:11:29

President Trump’s diesel deal with Russia, the Russia-Ukraine war, renewed Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, and Russian sabotage across Europe: Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer examine how these developments are testing U.S. foreign policy and NATO. What will the Russian diesel deal cost Ukraine? Will it even meaningfully lower prices in the US?

Is China Buying Pres. Trump More Time in Iran?

21K views · 3w ago · 1:07:58

Why hasn’t the Iran war sent oil prices even higher and what does China have to do with it? Bloomberg Opinion energy columnist Javier Blas joins Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer to unpack China’s oil imports, the risks in the Strait of Hormuz, and why diesel, jet fuel, and gas prices tell a harsher story than crude oil alone.

Anne Applebaum: This is a War Against The World America Built

112K views · 4w ago · 59:11

Guest: Anne Applebaum

Anne Applebaum joins Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer to examine Donald Trump’s foreign policy, the Russia-Ukraine war, Venezuela’s oil, Greenland, NATO, and the future of America’s alliances. Drawing on her new cover story for The Atlantic. Applebaum argues that MAGA foreign policy is driven by an increasingly potent combination of far-right ideology, private profit, and personal influence.

Topics: Why Pres. Trump's Foreign Policy Is Unlike Anything We've Seen Before · What Does This New Vision for the World Actually Look Like? · Why the Trump Admin is Targeting the European Union · Grift and Ideology: How They Work Together · Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and Amateur Diplomacy · How Is Ukraine Still Standing?

China Could Have Crushed the U.S. Economy. Why Didn't It?

65K views · 1mo ago · 1:03:07

Ahead of the Trump–Xi summit and Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington, China experts Jessica Chen Weiss and Julian Gewirtz join Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer to examine Donald Trump’s China policy, U.S.–China relations, Taiwan, trade and rare earths—and the growing debate over AI safety and the U.S.–China AI race.

Topics: What Does Xi Jinping Want from Washington? · The Trade Truce Explained · The Pageantry and Symbolism of State Visits · What Should Trump Do - and Not Do? · Detente or Strategic Stalemate? · The “K-Shaped” U.S.–China Relationship

America’s Intelligence Crisis Meets the AI Race With China

17K views · 1mo ago · 1:15:30

Julia Curlee, former CIA analyst and intelligence briefer for Vice President Mike Pence, joins Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer to discuss threats facing the US intelligence community, the politicization of intelligence ahead of the US midterm elections, and the Trump administration’s firings of experienced intelligence officials.

Topics: From CIA Analyst to the White House · What It Was Like Briefing Vice President Mike Pence · How Hollowing Out Government Weakens U.S. Security · An Intelligence Analyst’s Warning About American Democracy · What Politicized Intelligence Looks Like · Is the Best Intelligence Reaching the White House?