American Diplomat

FSO Chad Houghton takes us back to 2020 when John Kerry, the first Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, brought the US back into the Paris agreement. Quiz: Which is worse, methane or CO2? Also, what argument won people over diplomatically (hint – not the moral or scientific angle)? And how do we work with adversaries like China to cool things down? And why would a petrostate like the UAE host a global climate conference? Join us, and see also this month’s Foreign Service Journal for more. 

David Thomas, Executive Director of ASU’s Milo Space Science Institute, describes the global stability benefits of providing countries of the world access to space through education (what’s it like to mine ice water on the shadow region of the moon?) and ridesharing (yes, ridesharing) to space. Prada is making space suits and Hilton is designing crew quarters. Milo fosters global opportunity to join the space economy and in so doing, fosters the creation of values-based laws and policies.  Prepare to be inspired.

Steve Herman, author of Behind the White House Curtain, is back to tell the tale of the time the Trump administration tried to seize editorial control of the Voice of America and turn it into a propaganda agency.  Why is it in our interests as Americans for VOA to remain an independent, credible source worldwide, even covering negative events in the US?  What are the risks to those, like Steve, who resisted the takeover?  See also a review of his book in June's Foreign Service Journal.  

The Maduro regime told breathtaking lies about voting tallies, but the opposition has proof.  What are diplomats doing to promote a democratic outcome?  Keith Mines, Vice President of the Latin America Program at the US Institute for Peace, explores the options and shares first-hand tales of similar instances in the region.  Over seven million Venezuelans have fled poverty and mass misery already.  What will happen if no one can help?

Journalist and FSO (you read that correctly!) Steve Herman’s new book Behind the White House Curtain delves into the balance between, as Pete says, being the pitcher and the umpire at the same time.  Especially during the Trump White House, what was it like to be “the enemy of the people”?  Trump’s priority was to feed his base red meat, was he really out of control?  Join us to hear Steve talk about his experience in this extraordinary dual role.

General Brook Leonard is back to focus on China as our competitor in space.  What is rivalry in space – economic, military, both?  And what can we learn from China’s holistic approach to space?  The technological environment is rapidly changing and the stakes are very high.  We are not the leader.  How does diplomacy address this?  

Major General Brook Leonard joins us to parse “coopetition” in the 3rd space age.  With vital interests ranging from movement of money to food security, space technology is moving faster than rules and norms.  What are the red lines? There is no geographic separation in space as on earth, and no way to be sure what a communications satellite in space is actually doing.  Will global powers follow the law of the jungle or establish rules of the road?

NATO celebrated its 75th year anniversary last week. It doubled down on Ukraine support and the Alliance now sees Itself as the bulwark against growing anti-democratic regimes. Ambassador Kurt Volker, a Trump appointee, provides insight into what his former boss might do if re-elected.

Tricks, tricks, tricks.  General Robert Schmidle, expert in cognitive warfare, helps us understand that although this has gone on for centuries, what’s different today is the scope and scale.  How do you fight it?  Bonus question:  What famous statesman said, “a lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on”?

Recently the indigenous of the Amazon have been gifted with Starlink, but to what effect? Years ago, Pete visited a similar community, botched up a boar hunt, drank the mystery drink chicha, and received upon his departure a marriage proposal, ambiguously addressed either to himself one of the other (finer?) young gringos.  Which is worse, Pete or the Internet?  Give us your thoughts on whether Starlink is a gift or curse for the Marubo via our socials or via voicemail on our website.