Alternate Shots with Richard Haass and John Ellis

In this episode of Alternate Shots, John Ellis and Richard Haass begin with the muddled US response to upheaval in Iran, highlighting the lack of clarity as to both US objectives and the potential role of military force. Here at home, they examine Minneapolis and the larger issue of immigration policy, arguing that Democrats would be wise to find a middle ground between both borders and the admini...

In episode 14 of Alternate Shots , John Ellis and Richard Haass delve into the new "real estate doctrine" of American foreign policy, discussing the irrelevance of ownership in international relations, particularly in the context of Greenland. Haass critiques the U.S. shift from an approach to allies based on consent to one of coercion under the Trump administration, a shift that has rai...

In the newest episode of Alternate Shots, hosts John Ellis and Richard Haass dig into many of the most pressing issues around the world. Iran is experiencing widespread protests against a regime that has lost widespread support. The Trump administration needs to decide on its definition of success there and how to bring it about. Haass and Ellis go on to discuss how Venezuela is an example of wher...

In the year's first episode of Alternate Shots, hosts John Ellis and Richard Haass discuss the U.S. intervention in Venezuela: what led to it, why it is better understood as leadership rather than regime change, and why the US might well encounter difficulties down the road. They also discuss what it is likely to mean for oil prices, its implications for U.S. interests in the region, and why...

In the latest episode of Alternate Shots, John Ellis and Richard Haass look back at 2025, focusing on a Trump foreign policy that is radically different from what we have known for 80 years, the resistance of the Military Industrial Legislative Complex to much needed military reform, an executive branch that dominates both the Congress and the Supreme Court, and the adverse impact of a host of pol...

In this episode of Alternate Shots, John Ellis and Richard Haass discuss the recent National Security Strategy, highlighting a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy that has come to prioritize commercial interests and the Western Hemisphere over the balance of power in Europe and Asia, the rule of law, or traditional alliances. They delve into what is transpiring in and around Venezuela, and ex...

In this episode of Alternate Shots, John Ellis and Richard Haass discuss flaws in the US approach to negotiating an end to the war between Russia and Ukraine on terms consistent with US interests, new doubts raised about U.S. foreign policy commitments to NATO and Taiwan, the complexities of attacking boats allegedly carrying drugs off Venezuela, and why we are spending our defense dollars in the...

In this episode of Alternate Shots, John Ellis and Richard Haass discuss the recent developments in U.S. foreign policy, particularly focusing on the controversial Ukraine peace plan. They explore the implications of the plan, the disarray within the U.S. administration, and the public's sentiment towards Ukraine. The conversation also touches on the aftermath of the Afghanistan withdrawal, r...

In this episode of "Alternate Shots," hosts John Ellis and Richard Haass dive into a range of pressing global issues and intriguing insights. John, the founder and editor of two Substack newsletters, and Richard, a seasoned expert in foreign relations, bring their unique perspectives to the table. They explore the complexities of U.S. military presence in the Caribbean, discussing its im...

In this new episode of 'Alternate Shots', Richard and John discuss the diplomatic twists and turns of the Ukraine "peace" negotiations, the "Donroe Doctrine" and Venezuela, financial "cockroaches", and the politics of the U.S. government shutdown and Congressional map redistricting. At the end, Richard yet again bemoans the sorry state of the New York Giants...

John Ellis and Richard Haass discuss various pressing global issues, starting with the Middle East situation and the potential for a deal involving hostages and ceasefire in Gaza. They explore the political dynamics in Israel, the rise of right-wing politics in Europe, and the implications of AI-generated videos on political discourse. The discussion also touches on the declining trust in news med...

There was a famous rap song (at the time) entitled “ Things That Make You Go Hmmmm ”. That’s the general sentiment of this episode of “ Alternate Shots ”. Richard and John discussed (1) President Trump’s “unusual” speech to the General Assembly of the United Nations, (2) the shift in the president’s thinking about the Ukraine war, one of more than one since his election, (3) H-IB visas vs. China’s...

In Episode #3 of "Alternate Shots", John and Richard discuss five "stories" much in the news of late: (1) the active/passive Trump presidency, (2) the local election results from Rhine-Westphalia, Germany's largest state, (3) The murder of Charlie Kirk and the globalization of MAGA politics, (4) Charlie Kirk and the "youth vote" in the 2024 election, and (5) RFK...

In the latest episode of Alternate Shots , hosts Richard Haass and John Ellis begin with a discussion of Richard’s new essay in Foreign Affairs , “A Palestinian State Would Be Good for Israel ". It could also be a win for President Trump. Next up: Xi's anti-American gathering of world leaders in Beijing and the evident breach in U.S.-India relations. In the realm of geopolitics, the brea...

On the inaugural episode of their podcast, Richard Haass and John Ellis discuss how a president might prepare for a summit, how President Trump flips that on its head, the results of the Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska, and what’s next for the war in Ukraine. They dig into broader geopolitical implications of resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict, possible motivations of leaders on all sides, and gl...