Foreign Press Podcast

Trade once anchored the US-China relationship—but can it still serve as a bridge in an era of deepening rivalry? In this episode of the Foreign Press Podcast, AFPC-USA speaks with Merle Hinrich, chair and founder of the Hinrich Foundation , about the growing trust deficit between the world's two largest economies . Joining the conversation is Ana Swanson, international trade reporter for The N...

The media industry is changing at a pace we’ve never seen before. Layoffs, shrinking newsrooms, the rise of the creator economy and new platforms like Substack are challenging what it means to be a journalist today. More reporters are leaving traditional media, or being forced to leave, and building independent brands. But can independence truly replace everything a newsroom provides? What do jour...

As tensions in the Middle East disrupted one of the world's most critical shipping routes, what did the Strait of Hormuz blockade reveal about the future of global trade and energy security? In this episode, ImportGenius Research Director William George discusses his latest Hinrich Foundation paper, co-authored with Lynn Hughes, examining how the crisis exposed stark differences in the resilie...

The 2025 U.S.-China trade war was about far more than tariffs. According to Georgetown University scholar Evan Medeiros, it marked a structural turning point in the relationship between the world's two largest economies. In this episode, Medeiros joins veteran journalist Roseanne Gerin to discuss his latest research paper, "A New Era of U.S.-China Interaction: From Competing to Racing,&qu...

In our latest episode, Nadia Bilbassy, the Bureau Chief for Al Arabiya News Channel and the outlet’s chief White House Correspondent, reflects on a groundbreaking career that has taken her from some of the world’s most dangerous conflict zones to the center of U.S. foreign policy reporting in Washington. Drawing on decades of experience covering wars, diplomacy, and political upheaval, Bilbassy di...

In our latest episode, journalist Roseanne Gerin sits down with Christina Twomey to discuss the evolving relationship between journalism, corporate communications, and global markets. Twomey reflects on her transition into the Chief Communications Officer role at S&P Global and how joining the C-suite reshaped her approach to leadership, strategy, and reputational risk. The conversation explor...

In our latest episode, produced in partnership with the Hinrich Foundation , host Roseanne Gerin sits down with Peter Draper, co-editor with Andreas Freytag of The Elgar Companion to the G7 , to explore the future of the Group of Seven as it approaches 50 years at the center of global economic governance. Draper explains how the G7’s informal structure allows world leaders to negotiate sensitive i...

In our latest episode, Ana Rita Guerra, a Portuguese journalist who is the West Coast correspondent for Lusa, sat down with veteran journalist David Hamilton, now Director of Communications at Lenovo North America, to discuss his transition from journalism into public relations and the insights he gained navigating both industries. Hamilton shared insights about his transition out of journalism an...

What happens when one legal path to tariffs is closed—and another quickly opens? In this episode, AFPC-USA, in partnership with the Hinrich Foundation , sits down with Dawn Shackleford, president of Looking Glass Trade, LLC, to unpack how the Trump administration pivoted to Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 after the U.S. Supreme Court blocked its use of IEEPA to impose tariffs. Shackleford exp...

In our latest episode, AFPC-USA explores why the World Trade Organization is struggling to adapt to a rapidly changing global economy. Host Roseanne Gerin sits down with Keith Rockwell, Senior Research Fellow at the Hinrich Foundation and former longtime WTO spokesman. Drawing on his latest white paper , Rockwell argues the WTO is at an existential turning point. He explains how core principles li...

China now produces more than 30% of the world’s manufactured goods—more than the United States, Germany, and South Korea combined. In this episode, host Roseanne Gerin sits down with economist Mariko Watanabe to unpack what that scale really means. Drawing on Watanabe’s research with the Hinrich Foundation , the conversation explores why some scholars believe China should push its global manufactu...

In this episode, Patsy Widakuswara, Voice of America's Washington bureau chief, breaks down the lawsuit that bears her name and what it means for the survival of VOA. She shares how the legal fight reshaped the lives of hundreds of journalists placed on leave. Alongside VOA's press freedom editor Jessica Jerreat, she explores what’s at stake for editorial independence and public trust. The...

In Minnesota, journalism students are preparing for a reality few classrooms once imagined. Senior lecturer Regina McCombs discusses how today’s reporters must navigate not only misinformation and AI-generated media, but also real-world safety risks. Through the new Crisis Ready Media initiative, students are receiving training typically reserved for professionals covering conflict zones. The prog...

In this episode, Caren Bohan reflects on three decades in American journalism — from local reporting to the White House beat to leading the newsroom at USA Today. She offers practical guidance for foreign correspondents, discusses the challenges facing political reporting, and explores how the industry is adapting to rapid technological and economic changes. This interview was conducted by Roseann...

Western governments are racing to loosen China’s grip on rare earth minerals — but is that strategy too narrow to work? In this episode, Hinrich Foundation Senior Research Fellow Stewart Paterson explains based on his research why special interventions and short-term fixes won’t solve deeper supply-chain vulnerabilities . Drawing lessons from the Russia–Ukraine war, he highlights how many critical...

In this episode, Al Jazeera Gaza bureau chief Wael Al-Dahdouh reflects on reporting a war he says is “unprecedented in modern history.” As one of the few journalists able to document the conflict from inside Gaza, he describes covering mass destruction while grieving the loss of his own family members. Al-Dahdouh explains why he refuses to stop reporting, the collapse of press protections, and the...

How are Trump’s auto tariffs reshaping the global car industry? In this episode, the Association of Foreign Press Correspondents in the U.S. (AFPC-USA), in partnership with the Hinrich Foundation , dives into the ripple effects of trade tensions on automakers worldwide. Host Paul Beckett (Wall Street Journal) speaks with Yuka Hayashi, VP at The Asia Group and author of new Hinrich research, on why...

In this episode of our Foreign Press Podcast, we met with Mohamed Moawad, an award-winning Arab journalist who is the Managing Editor for Al Jazeera Media Network, to discuss the ongoing crisis in Gaza and how it is impacting the organization's journalists—to say nothing of others who work round the clock to document its sheer scale. Al Jazeera Media Network recently published a call to action to...

On July 8, the Association of Foreign Press Correspondents in the United States (AFPC-USA) hosted a podcast episode produced in partnership with the Hinrich Foundation . The episode focused on the US-China tech rivalry , specifically on how smartphones have influenced the contentious relationship between the two nations amid global trade tensions. The episode was hosted by Vlad Savov, the Technolo...

The United States has a complicated relationship with immigration. Or, does it? In this podcast episode, we unpack immigration policies in the US and narratives around immigration with Prof. Hiroshi Motomura and Prof. Cecilia Menjívar from UCLA. This interview was conducted by Ankita M. Kumar, who is an AFPC-USA Professional Excellence awardee.

On our latest episode, economist and journalist Adam Creighton speaks with Naoise McDonagh, a senior lecturer at Edith Cowan University, about the hidden but vital role of rare earth minerals in today’s global economy. McDonagh explains how these minerals power technologies from EVs to military gear, and why their dominance by China poses serious challenges for the West. From "super magnets&q...

Economist Stewart Paterson joins us to explain why the overvaluation of the U.S. dollar—not just tariffs—is at the heart of America’s persistent trade deficits. Based on his recent paper for the Hinrich Foundation titled “Trump, the US Dollar, and American Trade Policy,” this conversation breaks down the real economic consequences of currency misalignment. Why have tariffs failed to solve the trad...

What does it take to drive real-world impact on climate and sustainability? In this episode, we sit down with Karin Sempf, founder of Innova Nation, and Emily Renshaw Smith, executive director of Open Planet, for an in-depth conversation on next-gen leadership, education, and environmental storytelling. From youth-led innovation to democratized access to climate visuals, learn how their work is ac...

 Is China out-innovating the U.S.? Craig Allen, former U.S. ambassador and longtime expert on U.S.-China relations, breaks down the complex dynamics shaping today’s tech rivalry . In this episode, we examine the “four rivers” of Chinese innovation, how Beijing is reshaping industrial policy, and what U.S. policymakers are missing. Allen shares insights from decades in diplomacy and trade—and sound...

Libra Philanthropies CEO Rosanna Mortoglou joins the show to talk innovation, equity, and global impact. We dive into how her foundation is investing in changemakers—from supporting maternal mental health to helping tech talent land their first roles. Hear how Libra is driving systemic change through initiatives like Envolve XL, We Lead, Founder Forward, and the Rising Global Leaders Program. We a...