In this episode of "Alternate Shots," hosts John Ellis and Richard Haass dive into a range of pressing global issues and intriguing insights. John, the founder and editor of two Substack newsletters, and Richard, a seasoned expert in foreign relations, bring their unique perspectives to the table. They explore the complexities of U.S. military presence in the Caribbean, discussing its implications for Venezuela and the broader geopolitical landscape. The conversation shifts to Russia's ongoing conflict with Ukraine, examining the sustainability of Russia's war efforts and potential future scenarios.

The hosts also tackle the topic of U.S. debt, drawing parallels to climate change as a slow-motion crisis that demands attention. They ponder the role of AI in economic growth and the potential for a "debt coalition of the willing" to address fiscal challenges. As the episode unfolds, John and Richard share their thoughts on the evolving media landscape, the rise of alternative voices, and the future of traditional news outlets.

With a touch of humor and candid exchanges, they wrap up with a lighthearted discussion on sports, injuries, and the New York Giants' prospects. Tune in for a thought-provoking and engaging episode that navigates the intersections of politics, economics, and media.

Hosted by John Ellis and Richard Haass

News Items on Substack

Home and Away on Substack

Produced by Dale Eisinger

In this new episode of 'Alternate Shots', Richard and John discuss the diplomatic twists and turns of the Ukraine "peace" negotiations, the "Donroe Doctrine" and Venezuela, financial "cockroaches", and the politics of the U.S. government shutdown and Congressional map redistricting. At the end, Richard yet again bemoans the sorry state of the New York Giants. At the very end, John and Richard marvel at Shohei Ohtani's performance in Game Four of the NLCS.

Hosted by John Ellis and Richard Haass

News Items on Substack

Home and Away on Substack

Produced by Dale Eisinger

John Ellis and Richard Haass discuss various pressing global issues, starting with the Middle East situation and the potential for a deal involving hostages and ceasefire in Gaza. They explore the political dynamics in Israel, the rise of right-wing politics in Europe, and the implications of AI-generated videos on political discourse. The discussion also touches on the declining trust in news media and the current government shutdown situation, concluding with heavy-hearted reflections on being a New York sports fan.

Hosted by John Ellis and Richard Haass

News Items on Substack

Home and Away on Substack

Produced by Dale Eisinger

There was a famous rap song (at the time) entitled “Things That Make You Go Hmmmm”. That’s the general sentiment of this episode of “Alternate Shots”.

Richard and John discussed (1) President Trump’s “unusual” speech to the General Assembly of the United Nations, (2) the shift in the president’s thinking about the Ukraine war, one of more than one since his election, (3) H-IB visas vs. China’s K-Visa, (4) a gloomy American electorate, (5) Mr. Trump’s continued hold over the GOP and his declining support amongst Independents, and (6) Daniel “Indiana” Jones, the former NY Giants QB, now flourishing as the QB for the Indiana Colts.

Hosted by John Ellis and Richard Haass

News Items on Substack

Home and Away on Substack

Produced by Dale Eisinger

In Episode #3 of "Alternate Shots", John and Richard discuss five "stories" much in the news of late: (1) the active/passive Trump presidency, (2) the local election results from Rhine-Westphalia, Germany's largest state, (3) The murder of Charlie Kirk and the globalization of MAGA politics, (4) Charlie Kirk and the "youth vote" in the 2024 election, and (5) RFK Jr. vs. Big Pharma. John thinks and Richard suspects that Big Pharma will emerge victorious. Finally, Richard finds a silver lining (or two) in Sunday's crushing defeat of the New York Giants by the Dallas Cowboys.

In the latest episode of Alternate Shots, hosts Richard Haass and John Ellis begin with a discussion of Richard’s new essay in Foreign Affairs, “A Palestinian State Would Be Good for Israel". It could also be a win for President Trump. Next up: Xi's anti-American gathering of world leaders in Beijing and the evident breach in U.S.-India relations. In the realm of geopolitics, the breach may be more important than the gathering. Part three: Judge Mehta's ruling on the DOJ's antitrust case against Google; good for Google, good for Apple and arguably what's best for the United States. Part four, the sports section, addresses three subjects: (1) The New York Giants, (2) Bethpage Black, the venue for the Ryder Cup, and (3) Bill Belichick's debut as coach of the UNC football team. All in 30 minutes. Well worth your time.

On the inaugural episode of their podcast, Richard Haass and John Ellis discuss how a president might prepare for a summit, how President Trump flips that on its head, the results of the Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska, and what’s next for the war in Ukraine. They dig into broader geopolitical implications of resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict, possible motivations of leaders on all sides, and global security prospects. Richard wonders why the United States suddenly looks toward a permanent peace, rather than a ceasefire, as previously had been indicated by U.S. leadership. John asks Richard to apply the logic of his book War of Necessity, War of Choice to the conflict at hand. They speculate as to Trump’s plummeting approval rating, in relation to the actions of D.C. leadership, and how, despite this, Trump continues dominating the U.S. political field. John shifts to an article in The New York Times reflecting a downward trend in registered voters committing to the Democratic party, and voices some skepticism on the report, given the recent success of Sherrod Brown; and yet, why does the Democratic party continue to lack substantive policy positions? John throws the voice-cloning technology of ElevenLabs into the ring of possible midterm influences. The episode wraps up with a brief analysis of Jordan Spieth’s prospects for the Ryder Cup and a Gary Player anecdote on behalf of John.

Hosted by John Ellis and Richard Haass

News Items on Substack

Home and Away on Substack

Produced by Dale Eisinger