Global in the Granite State

Cuba has long played a role in U.S. foreign relations, including as a one time part of the country following the Spanish American War in 1898. However, since the Cuban Revolution of 1959, the relationship has been rocky to say the least. As tensions between the two countries ratchet up, now is an important time to dive into this history and understand where things are headed. While the popular ima...

As one of the most important geopolitical relationships in the world, the United States - China relationship has the opportunity to set the course of a number of issues that would ripple across the world. Unfortunately, it seems that misperceptions, misunderstandings, and missed opportunities abound in this vital relationship. In this month's episode, we speak with Sarwar Kashmeri, a leading inter...

Access to energy has been one of the major driving forces in geopolitics since at least the industrial revolution. Without reliable access to the dominate form of energy, economies stall, people protest, and governments fall apart. The United States has become an energy superpower, leading the way in multiple forms of diversified energy resources, however, its economy remains vulnerable to supply...

Conversations about women’s health are often avoided in polite company — but ignoring challenges does not make them disappear. Period poverty is a global issue affecting communities everywhere, creating serious consequences not only for women and girls, but for society as a whole. In this month's episode, we speak with the Fihri Foundation and its founder, Ceylon Rowe, to explore this important ye...

47 years. That is how long the U.S. and Iran have been circling each other, probing for weaknesses, and demonizing the other (in many cases for good reason). Tensions reached a tipping point on February 28, 2026 and the United States, along with Israel, initiated a new wave of strikes which has lead to chaos across the Middle East. 11 countries have been targeted by retaliatory strikes from Iran a...

This month marks four years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine—a conflict that has reshaped global politics, security, and the international order. To reflect on this grim anniversary, Global in the Granite State welcomes a powerful and deeply personal conversation with Sviatoslav Yuras , Ukraine’s youngest member of parliament and a recent participant in the Open World Leade...

In the wake of the U.S. capture of Nicholás Maduro, a lot of questions have swirled around this major international event. Two things seem indisputable at this point. First, this was a near flawless and impressive operation by the U.S. military. Second, Nicholás Maduro is not a good guy. Beyond that, people around the world seem to fall into two main camps, this was a law enforcement operation tak...

Sudan, once one of Africa's largest countries, has had a tumultuous history since independence in 1956 from Egypt and the United Kingdom. Over that 70 plus year history, the country has struggled through multiple civil wars, coups and coup attempts (20 overall and 7 successful), creating a very unstable and violent history. That violence continues today with a power struggle between the Sudanese A...

You have likely heard about the buildup of American naval forces in the region around Venezuela. You have also, probably, heard conflicting reports on why this is happening. Does the United States want only to target drug trafficking groups and use all tools of the US military to stop it? Are they instead building up forces to scare Venezuela's government, led by Nicolas Maduro, to fold and flee t...

As technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace, the ways in which people, governments, and other entities engage with it morph right along with these generational changes. This is true for the current wave of protests sweeping the globe that got its start in countries from the Andes to the Himalayas. What ties these protests together are not only the demands for a better future, in each country...

How does studying or working abroad change the way we see ourselves—and the world? In this episode of Global in the Granite State , host Tim Horgan shares his own story of transformation through exchange, alongside insights from Mark Overmann , Executive Director of the Alliance for International Exchange. Together, they explore the lifelong impacts of international exchanges, from shaping careers...

What does it take to hold a dictator accountable for decades of atrocities? In this episode, Tim Horgan speaks with Chris Ried , Director of Operations at Mercury SGS and former Regime War Crimes Liaison in post-Saddam Iraq. Drawing on his firsthand experience in building the case against Saddam Hussein, Chris reflects on the challenges of documenting crimes, ensuring a fair trial, and balancing p...

For over 250 years the United States and the United Kingdom has shared a special relationship. While not always positive... for example the British burning down the White House during the War of 1812 (thanks a lot)... the past 150 years has been very positive. Throughout it all the shared people-to-people connections have driven the relationship to new heights and provided a solid footing for coll...

Founded in its modern form in 1932, Saudi Arabia continues to play an important role in the world today, shaping many different regional and global issues. The country also shares a long history of engagement with the United States on various issues, from economic development, military support, and geopolitical goals. While not always in exact alignment, this enduring relationship has continued to...

Across the globe, many people see democracy retreating and authoritarianism on the rise. In places as diverse as India, Hungry, Niger, El Salvador, and even right here in the United States, people of all political background are concerned about the state of their democracy, even if their reasons for worry differ. From attacks on courts, to the accumulation of executive power, and the takeover of i...

As the Trump Administration works to re-envision, revise, and rewrite the ways in which the United States engages with the world, it remains important that people understand the why and the how of U.S. foreign policy.  Whether you want to make America safer, more prosperous, and more secure, or you take a broader look at the importance of global engagement, understanding the goals and limitations...

One of the first government agencies targeted for dismantling by the Trump Administration, The United States' Agency for International Development (USAID) has been a major focal point of executive actions, headlines, and judicial filings. The chaotic approach to slashing jobs, shuttering offices, and eliminating funding has led to many people feeling unclear on what this agency does and how it aff...

As President Trump has implemented sweeping changes in how the government functions and continues to try and re-write the rules of the game, many people are feeling overwhelmed trying to keep up. In this month's episode, we speak with Jeffrey Thielman, President & CEO of the International Institute of New England, to unpack the various changes and enforcement actions implemented in the first c...

The relationship between the United States and China remains one of the most critical dynamics shaping our world today, with ripple effects that could lead to either global progress or conflict. Amid political shifts in the U.S., now is the perfect time to take stock of where this high-stakes relationship stands, uncover emerging trends, and hear from experts on fostering understanding between the...

For the past thirteen years, a bloody and terrible civil war has raged through Syria that has caused one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world. Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed, millions have been displaced, and yet the war still rages on. While many around the world have forgotten about the war in Syria, especially with other global issues taking precedence, we have all se...

Over the past three years, several seemingly frozen conflicts (Sudan, Russia/Ukraine, Israel/Gaza, Armenia/Azerbaijan, etc) have broke out into hot conflicts that are challenging the current international order. There is, however, one of the longest standing potential flashpoints that has not entered the fray, but is listed as one issue that could embroil the world. That is the unresolved issue of...

For time immemorial, various groups have been taking hostages, political prisoners, and illegally detaining people with impunity. This tried-and-true method of gaining leverage over a rival state or group continues today, despite the fact that is runs contrary to established international law. As of this posting 42 Americans are being illegally detained by foreign governments and the United States...

Over the course of the past 170 years, the world has experienced many different forms of terrorism designed to create fear, push for political aims, and recruit followers. Groups of varying political ideologies have used terrorism over the years, making this an issue that never really goes away, it simply morphs and changes. However, one thing remains the same... all of these groups eventually com...

It has long been said that the United States has benefited from its geography, when it comes to national security. This is attributed to vast oceans to the east and west, along with friendly neighbors to the north and south. The same can be said for Canada, with Santa being a pretty friendly neighbor to the north, one would assume. Do to this shared advantage, which might be less true today, Canad...

With the NATO Summit, celebrating 75 years of this alliance, coming up in July, it is an important time to continue to make the case for the importance of NATO. While some question the usefulness of this alliance, the undeniable fact is that having a strong set of allies in the world sets the United States apart from its competitors. Russia and China cannot call on other countries in the same way...