American Diplomat Podcast

Ambassador Vicki Huddleston, author of “Our Woman in Havana”, unpacks the dire circumstances in Cuba driving hundreds of thousands to flee the island and parses the impacts of South Florida exile politics on US diplomacy: the hammer is the only tool left in the box.

Ever wonder what information you are giving away when you click “agree” each time you download a new app?  Susan Wolfinbarger, geographer, data scientist and head of the Conflict Observatory at State’s Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations, walks us through her dream: big data saves lives.  Welcome to 21st Century diplomacy's newest tool.

Meghan Stewart, head of the Negotiations Support Unit in State’s Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations, knows the peace process – its structures, its history, the perspectives of combatants.  Her team uses its specialized knowledge to help diplomats get peace agreements over the line, saving thousands and thousands of lives each time.  Who knew you could devote your legal career exclusively to ending global conflict? 

Many diplomats urge what the vast majority of voters, including American Jews, want – a restrained Israel and a place for Palestinians.  Former Assistant Secretary Eric Schwartz discusses the letter that he and 67 senior foreign policy professionals recently sent to the White House.  Now in the aftermath of the killing of the World Central Kitchen volunteers, will Biden get tough or will the tail continue to wag the dog?  

Our climate: What we do during this decade will determine our climate for a millennium to come. Diplomats not only negotiate multilateral agreements that protect the earth but, even more so, work with nations to follow through on their commitments. But what is the surprising dynamic of domestic politics and global climate policy? And by what mechanisms do market forces impact global action? How does human justice figure in? Ambassador Bob Blake shares the insider view as a climate diplomat.

Pete unpacks the antecedents of modern-day gangsterism, going back to his days as Assistant Secretary.  What were the unintended consequences of sending Central American gangsters back “home” to a country they did not know, where their best chance of fitting in was with ex-guerillas?  Boom.  Not even the tattoo removal machines can save this combustible mix.

General and Ambassador Doug Lute puts Sweden’s recent NATO membership in context: Has Putin accomplished his goals, or has it all backfired? What is the diplomatic solution to this war? And what should we expect at this year’s 75th NATO anniversary in the US?

For Women’s History Month, young diplomat Mary Vargas joins us to share her story as the daughter of an immigrant family of farm workers in Fontana, CA, to life as an American diplomat.  How did she achieve her lifelong dream, and why does she seek assignments working with refugees, the incarcerated, and Gazans?