The Transponder: Transatlantic Affairs and Beyond

Gerrymandering has become one of the defining battles in American democracy. Across the country, states are redrawing  political maps in increasingly aggressive ways, seeking to maximize partisan advantage and shape the outcome of future elections. What was once a process that largely occured once a decade has  become an escalating political arms race, with both parties searching for every possibl...

For decades, local newspapers were among the most powerful institutions in American life. They exposed corruption, held leaders accountable, and bound communities together through a shared understanding of the world around them. Today, much of that system is collapsing. Newsrooms across the country have been hollowed out by layoffs, corporate consolidation, shrinking advertising revenue, and the r...

For decades, Germany  and the United States stood at the center of the transatlantic alliance; partners bound by shared security interests, economic ties, and a common vision for the Western world. Today, that relationship is under strain. President Trump has repeatedly clashed with Germany over defense spending, trade, energy policy, and Europe's dependence on Ameican security guarantees. That pr...

A new day has arrived in Hungary. After 16 years in power, Viktor Orban, one of the defining figures of modern right-wing populism has been voted out. His system, which he openly described as an "illiberal democracy." reshaped Hungary's institutions, weakened checks and balances, and concentrated power in the hands of the ruling party. In April 2026, that system was upended. Peter Magyar, a former...

Cuba is at a breaking point. An escalating U.S. pressure campaign has cut off critical oil supplies, deepening an already fragile economic crisis. Blackouts stretch for days. Food shortages intensify. Hospitals struggle to function. What is unfolding on the island is an humanitarian emergency, driven by both internal failures and external pressure. In Episode 11 of The Transponder , host Samuel Ge...

The United States and Iran are now one month into open conflict, without clear resolution in sight. Washington has undertaken its largest military buildup in the Middle East since the early years of the Iraq War. At the same time, negotiations continue in Pakistan, even as the strategic endgame remains uncertain. For many Americans, the fundamental questions remain unanswered: Why are we in this c...

The American economy is at a moment of tension. Growth is resilient, unemployment is low, and demand continues to hold. Yet beneath the surface, structural pressures are building. Persistent inflation, rising deficits, and geopolitical fragmentation are shaping the economic outlook. Consumer sentiment is weak, even as headline indicators point to expansion. In episode 9 of The Transponder, host Sa...

Just over a year ago, the Trump Administration dismantled the U.S. Agency for International Development, fundamentally altering the landscape of global humanitarian aid. So, some fourteen months later, what is the state of aid? In Episode 8 of The Transponder , host Samuel George speaks with humanitarian policy expert Jeremy Konyndyk about the changing landscape of global support for the world's m...

In episode 7 of The Transponder , host Samuel George speaks with energy policy expert Marc Ringel of Sciences Po Paris about Europe's ambitious effort to transform its energy system amid geopolitical shocks, climate pressures, and global competition. For decades, Europe relied heavily on imported fossil fuels, particularly from Russia. Today, the continent is accelerating a transition toward  rene...

In this episode of The Transponder , host Samuel George speaks with Arctic security expert Iris Ferguson about the rapidly changing strategic landscape of the Arctic as climate change, geopolitical competition, and new shipping routes reshape the region. Drawing on her decade of experience at the U.S. Department  of Defense, Ferguson examines rising military risks, the growing presence of Russia a...

In this episode of The Transponder , host Samuel George speaks with veteran Latin America analyst Eric Farnsworth about the dramatic events unfolding in Venezuela following the January 2026 U.S. operation that removed Nicolas Maduro from power. Drawing on decades of regional expertise, Farnsworth examines the fragile interim government, the prospects for democratic transition, and the geopolitical...

Back home in Washington, D.C., Transponder host Samuel George speaks with filmmaker, artist, and academic Dr. Sabiyha Prince about life in the capital one year into the second Trump administration. Drawing on history, lived experience, and field research, Dr. Prince examines D.C.'s democratic vulnerability, the consequences of federal layoffs and National Guard deployments, and the city's long str...

Episode 3 of T he Transponder takes listeners to Berlin for a grounded assessment of the war in Ukraine and its implications for Europe and the United States. In "Washington & Ukraine" host Samuel George speaks with Tyson Barker, former Deputy Special Representative for Ukraine's Economic Recovery under the Biden Administration. Barker explains how Russia's sustained attacks on infrastructure, ene...

Host Samuel George travels to Warsaw for a conversation with Dr. Malgorzata Bonikowska, one of Poland's foremost experts on European affairs. Together they examine Poland's role as a frontline state in the war in Ukraine, its transformation since the fall of communism and the historical forces that shape its deep skepticism toward Russia. They also explore Poland's position within NATO and the EU,...

The Transponder podcast explores how global forces shape international relations, democratic institutions, economics and daily life. Hosted by Bertelsmann Foundation's Director of Documentaries, Dr. Samuel George, the show blends field reporting with clear, grounded analysis to help listeners make sense of a noisy world. The Transponder launches with a deep dive into the geopolitics of outer space...