Foreign policy generally doesn't shape the way Americans vote. But America's actions abroad have direct consequences at home. Our guests today are experts in public opinion polling and argue that in this year's midterm elections, foreign policy is very much on the ballot.

In this episode, the Institute for Global Affairs' Jonathan Guyer is joined by Shibley Telhami, a distinguished scholar at the University of Maryland, and Dina Smetlz, director of public opinion and foreign policy at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. Together they discuss the Iran war as a pocketbook issue, where US public opinion has shifted most, the decline of bipartisanship, and more.

Find Shibley on X: https://x.com/ShibleyTelhami

Find Dina on X: https://x.com/RoguePollster

Check out the Chicago Council's newest polling: https://globalaffairs.org/research/public-opinion-survey/americans-foreign-policy-and-2026-midterms

Check out the Critical Issues Poll: https://criticalissues.umd.edu/

Does Israel's power in domestic politics threaten the very foundations of American democracy? How has the relationship between Israel and the United States changed over the past two decades — and where will it go from here?

In this episode, the Institute for Global Affairs' Jonathan Guyer is joined by investigative journalist Eli Clifton to discuss his new book Israel's Lobby: America in the Grip of a Foreign Power alongside Harvard professor Stephen Walt, who authored The Israel Lobby and US Foreign Policy nearly two decades ago. Together they discuss the evolution of the tactics of influence, how the debate has shifted amid the Gaza war, and much more.

Find Eli on X: https://x.com/EliClifton

Check out Israel's Lobby: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Israels-Lobby/Eli-Clifton/9781668210840

Read Stephen's Foreign Policy column: https://foreignpolicy.com/author/stephen-m-walt/

Twenty-five years after the September 11 attacks, the United States is still mired in the Middle East. But the story of how the war on terror was fought at home is far less told, and America's history of anti-Muslim sentiment is one we have yet to fully contend with.

In this episode, the Institute for Global Affairs' Jonathan Guyer is joined by journalist Rozina Ali, a New York Times Magazine contributor and author of the new book Seasons of Fury: Four Families and the Rise of Islamophobia in America. They discuss the mass surveillance of Muslims and immigrant communities after 9/11, how media narratives warped Americans' perception of their Muslim neighbors, and what accountability looks like when the war on terror never really ended.

Check out Seasons of Fury: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/672414/seasons-of-fury-by-rozina-ali/

Find Rozina on X: https://x.com/rozina_ali

Iran has taken control of the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for oil shipment out of the Persian Gulf, and the United States has not been able to force its reopening through military means. Meanwhile, fuel prices have risen, and people around the world are feeling the economic pressure.

In this episode, the Institute for Global Affairs' Jonathan Guyer is joined by Gregory Brew, an oil historian and senior analyst at Eurasia Group. They discuss historical analogies to the Hormuz crisis, why a diplomatic end to the war has not yet been achieved, and how oil markets are reacting. Greg also explains why oil is a useful vector for understanding history and geopolitics.

Find Greg on X: https://x.com/gbrew24

Artificial intelligence is creeping into every aspect of our lives and many conversations about geopolitics and governance. The big tech companies which control AI, our communications platforms, and more, have emerged as powerful global actors unto themselves. The stakes couldn't be higher—we are facing highly polarized information environments, and democracy itself is at risk.

In this episode, the Institute for Global Affairs' Jonathan Guyer is joined by Alexis Crews, a tech policy expert working on trust and safety. Alexis has more than a decade of experience spanning government and tech companies like Meta and Google. They discuss election integrity, tech regulatory frameworks the US can learn from, the difference in approach to AI between the US and China, and much more.

Watch Alexis's recent TED talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZMYN7mXzV8