This week on Alternate Shots, John Ellis and Richard Haass examine a world in which wars of choice are producing consequences nobody quite knows how to manage. They begin with Ukraine (Putin’s war of choice), where Haass calls American policy toward Russia nothing short of shameful, and the decision to restrict Ukraine’s military communications raises deeply troubling questions about Washington’s reliability and priorities. From there, they turn to Saudi Arabia, a Saudi war of choice in 2015 and where now the Houthis are threatening not simply the kingdom’s security but potentially the legitimacy and stability of the House of Saud itself. The parallels with America’s predicament in Iran (Trump’s war of choice) are, shall we say, uncomfortable. Also on the agenda: Germany’s economic malaise, Europe’s absence from the AI race, and the disturbing normalization of political violence in the United States. Finally, the Yankees and Dodgers discover that money cannot buy everything, while baseball’s smaller markets remind us that competence can more than compensate for payroll.

Hosted by John Ellis and Richard Haass

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Produced by Dale Eisinger

This episode of Alternate Shots begins with a status report on the Iran War (who will cry "uncle" first, is the question), President Xi's mysterious "naps" at the White House, the upcoming Israeli election, the U.S. abandonment of Ukraine, the "plague" outbreak in Siberia, Pete Hegseth's presidential campaign and OpenAI's astonishing breakthrough(s) in mathematics. We end with the speedy departure of the New York Yankees from the MLB playoffs and the surprisingly competitive Nearby New York Giants. Reggie Jackson may need to hedge his bet.

Hosted by John Ellis and Richard Haass

News Items on Substack

Home and Away on Substack

Produced by Dale Eisinger

This week on Alternate Shots, John Ellis and Richard Haass take stock of a world where institutions, summits, and alliances are showing their age. They begin with UN week in New York, where Haass argues the United Nations has become less an institution than a venue: useful for speeches and side meetings, but largely irrelevant when the major powers disagree. From there, they turn to the Trump-Xi summit, a quiet affair that may be preferable to the wrong kind of grand bargain. They also discuss Haass’s Foreign Affairs essay on Iran, where diplomacy is now the least bad option after months of war, higher oil prices, and diminishing U.S. leverage. Also on the agenda: China’s role in sustaining Iran, Russia’s temptation to test NATO, AI and cyber vulnerability, Trump fatigue, and the tragedy of the New York Giants.

Hosted by John Ellis and Richard Haass

News Items on Substack

Home and Away on Substack

Produced by Dale Eisinger