Why It Matters

This episode traces one young woman's journey home to a new kind of war—and Ukraine’s fight for survival.   Host:   Gabrielle Sierra, Director of Podcasting, Council on Foreign Relations (CFR)   Guest:   Catarina Buchatskiy, Co-Founder & Director of Analytics, Snake Island Institute   We discuss: The story of a young Ukrainian woman who left college in the U.S. to join the fight at home within days of the invasion. How Ukraine transformed its drone manufacturing from garage shops to a sophisticated, rapidly scaling defense industry. Ukraine’s surprising dependence on China in its drone supply chain, and its push to make ‘China-free’ drones by 2026. Stories of Ukrainian resilience and resolve. How the Snake Island Institute bridges the gap between the battlefield and Western policymaking by connecting Ukrainian military insights to the allies who are shaping defense strategy. As Buchatskiy puts it: “The overarching definition of victory is that the Ukrainian nation is whole, that the state is legitimate, that we have control over the state, that we have our democracy, and that we’re at peace and can live freely.”   Want to keep up with Why It Matters? Sign up to receive an email alert when new episodes drop.   Why It Matters is a production of the Council on Foreign Relations. The opinions expressed on the show are solely those of the host and guests, not of the Council, which takes no institutional positions on matters of policy.

This episode outlines the global network sustaining both sides of the war in Ukraine, with NATO allies on one side and Russia with backing from China, Iran, and North Korea on the other, and how the limits and tensions within these alliances are shaping the war’s next phase and raising broader global security risks.   Host:   Gabrielle Sierra, Director of Podcasting, Council on Foreign Relations (CFR)   Guests:   Liana Fix, Senior Fellow for Europe, Council on Foreign Relations (CFR)    Joseph Torigian, Senior Fellow for Asia Studies, Council on Foreign Relations (CFR)   We discuss: How the war in Ukraine has become a global conflict fueled by competing networks of allies and partners on both sides. Why Ukraine’s survival depends on sustained military, financial, and intelligence support from the United States and NATO. How Russia has built its own wartime coalition, relying on Iran for drones, North Korea for munitions, and China for economic backing. Why the Russian alliance with China is driven more by shared opposition to Western power than true strategic alignment. How cracks are emerging within both coalitions, from political fatigue in the West to quiet limits in China’s support for Russia. As Liana Fix puts it: “A more transactional idea of alliances is exactly where we are headed.” How sanctions, supply chains, and defense production have turned global economics into a second front in the war. How shifting alliances could expand the conflict’s risks beyond Ukraine and reshape global security dynamics. What this war reveals about the return of bloc politics in a new era of great power competition.   Read More:    Liana Fix, “Defending Europe if Russia Steps Out of the Gray Zone,” CFR.org    Liana Fix, Heidi E. Crebo-Rediker, Thomas Graham, Paul B. Stares, and Sam Vigersky, “Securing Ukraine’s Future: Adapting to New Realities After Four Years of War,” CFR.org    Joseph Torigian, “Xi Jinping’s Russian Lessons,” Foreign Affairs   Clara Fong and Lindsay Maizland, “China and Russia: Exploring Ties Between Two Authoritarian Powers”   Anya Konstantinovsky, “China, Russia, and Ukraine: December 2024”    Molly Carlough and James Kennedy, “How North Korea Has Bolstered Russia’s War in Ukraine”   Want to keep up with Why It Matters? Sign up to receive an email alert when new episodes drop.   Why It Matters is a production of the Council on Foreign Relations. The opinions expressed on the show are solely those of the host and guests, not of the Council, which takes no institutional positions on matters of policy.

Erin D. Dumbacher, a national security and defense-industrial expert, and Michael C. Horowitz, a scholar of defense innovation, discuss how Ukraine has become a proving ground for drone swarms, rapid battlefield innovation, and autonomy in weapons. They cover Operation Spiderweb, the rise of low‑cost attack drones, shifts in defense industry roles, and how quantity and tech are reshaping modern warfare.

As 2025 draws to a close, U.S. foreign policy stands at an inflection point. Under the second Trump administration, traditional alliances have been tested, a hard-edged national security strategy has been rolled out, and for the first time, CFR’s annual Preventive Priorities Survey has ranked a military conflict with Venezuela as a top threat facing the U.S. in 2026.    Whether these and other flashpoints erupt next year will hinge on how world leaders manage mounting pressures, both at home and abroad.   Read the full 2026 Preventive Priorities Survey.    Featured Guest: Paul B. Stares (General John W. Vessey Senior Fellow for Conflict Prevention and Director of the Center for Preventive Action)   Why It Matters is a production of the Council on Foreign Relations. The opinions expressed on the show are solely those of the guests, not of CFR, which takes no institutional positions on matters of policy.

The unprecedented trade policies since the beginning of this year, driven largely by the Donald Trump administration’s pro-tariff agenda, have propelled the United States into uncertain and rocky territory. When it comes to our trading partners, the potential damage to U.S. alliances has left economists and policymakers in Washington questioning what’s next. Where do experts foresee U.S. trade policy heading?   This season, Why It Matters is taking you through the ins and outs of trade. In this season finale, CFR’s Michael Froman and Shannon K. O’Neil tackle your biggest questions about what’s at stake and what’s next for U.S. trade policy.    Featured Guests:   Michael Froman (President of the Council on Foreign Relations)   Shannon K. O’Neil (Senior Vice President, Director of Studies, and Maurice R. Greenberg Chair, CFR) To hear more from Michael Froman, subscribe to his newsletter, The World This Week.   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/wim/where-does-trade-go-here 

Brad Setser, a senior fellow at CFR specializing in global trade, and Heather Hurlburt, an expert at Chatham House, dive into the complex world of the U.S. trade deficit. They explore whether this deficit is truly detrimental, arguing that it can enhance economic variety and attract foreign investment. The discussion also unpacks the historical context of trade relations, the nuances of tax impacts, and how these factors directly affect American jobs and consumer prices, challenging the oversimplified narratives around trade deficits.

Host Gabrielle Sierra and podcast guests Johanna Mendelson Forman and Matthew Costello discuss food diplomacy, share stories from White House state dinners, and unpack how food has helped to create lasting international partnerships.   This taping was originally recorded on April 17, 2025.   Featured Guests   Johanna Mendelson Forman (Distinguished Fellow at the Stimson Center, Adjunct Professor at American University’s School of International Service) Matthew Costello (Chief Education Officer and Director of the David M. Rubenstein National Center for White House History at the White House Historical Association)

Inu Manak, a trade policy fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, dives into the tumultuous world of U.S. trade agreements. She discusses the historic shift in trade authority from Congress to the presidency and critiques the risks of abrupt policy changes. The conversation navigates the complexities and conflicts arising from recent tariffs, using the Ford F-150 as a compelling case study. Inu also highlights the evolving landscape of international trade relations and the urgent need for domestic policies that support American workers amid these changes.

Tariffs have sparked intense debate in Washington, but their consequences land far from Capitol Hill. Tariffs can shape paychecks, shift prices for consumers, and affect markets. At best, tariffs offer short-term protection for certain industries. At worst, they can uproot the lives of American workers. In this episode, Why It Matters looks at what tariffs mean for a U.S. steel manufacturer and small business owner trying to stay afloat.   Featured Guests   Matthew P. Goodman, Distinguished Fellow and Director of the Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies, CFR   Jamie Sychak, President of United Auto Workers Local 3303 Debbie Hendrickx, Founder and CEO of Swell Gelato   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/wim/tariff-turmoil-part-2-steel-and-dog-gelato 

Will Hsu, President of Hsu's Ginseng Enterprises Inc., shares the personal toll tariffs are taking on his ginseng farm in Wisconsin. He highlights how volatile trade policies impact local farmers and the cultural significance of ginseng cultivation. Matthew P. Goodman, a distinguished trade expert, provides insights into the broader implications of tariffs on U.S. industries and national security. Together, they explore the complex challenges facing American agriculture in a changing trade landscape.