The US and China are locked in a high-stakes race to dominate AI and the chips that power it. As the Trump administration lifts export controls and sets tech priorities, Beijing is doubling down on its AI ambitions while hosting top EU leaders. Nikita Lalwani, former White House director for technology and national security, breaks down what this means for global power.

Reading List:

• A Playbook for Industrial Policy: What Washington Can Learn From CHIPS, Foreign Affairs, May 22, 2025
• How America Can Stay Ahead of China in the AI Race: The Case for Export Control Diplomacy, Foreign Affairs, April 15, 2025

With President Trump’s increasing tariff threats and growing talks of dedollarization, how much power does the BRICS bloc really hold? Lord Jim O’Neill, who originally coined the term BRICS, joins Deep Dish to unpack its rise and global relevance amid deepening geopolitical rivalries.

The pandemic cracked the foundation of the global system—and things haven’t exactly settled. With wars, rising tensions, and global rivalries heating up, former Biden officials Colin Kahl and Tom Wright join Deep Dish to unpack how US strategy is shifting—and where it’s headed next.

After US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, a fragile ceasefire with Israel is holding—for now. But is this a turning point or just a pause before more conflict? Experts Vali Nasr and Suzanne Maloney join Leslie Vinjamuri on Deep Dish to break down what’s really at stake for Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Israel’s strategy, and the future of the region.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping is in his third five-year term as the nation's president, putting him on track to stay in power for life at a time of severe economic challenges and rising tensions with the US. Nonresident senior fellow Paul Heer joins Deep Dish to argue the importance of engagement with China as a necessary component of US foreign policy. If we do not pursue it, he says, we are missing opportunities for a more peaceful coexistence between both countries and the world.  

This episode originally aired on August 4, 2022. 

Reading List: 

• The Next Taiwan Strait Crisis Has Arrived, Paul Heer, The National Interest, August 2, 2022  

• Engagement With China Has Not Failed, Paul Heer, The National Interest, July 14, 2022  

• Understanding U.S.-China Strategic Competition, Paul Heer, The National Interest, October 20, 2020 

Dive into the world of lasting change with Deep Dish! Join host Brian Hanson and author Sascha Haselmayer in a captivating exploration of 'The Slow Lane.' We’ll uncover the secrets behind why instant solutions often miss the mark, and how embracing patience and strategic thinking can pave the way for sustainable transformation to address global challenges.

Reading List 

• The Slow Lane: Why Quick Fixes Fail and How to Achieve Real Change, Sascha Haselmayer & Anne-Marie Slaughter, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, July 18, 2023 

From Hamas to Russia to Iran, hostage-taking is on the rise once again and hostage diplomacy has entered that arsenal of foreign policy tools by countries around the world. This week, Northwestern University’s Dani Gilbert guides us through what is new, what has worked and failed in the past, and why countries need new ways to respond to hostage-taking today.  

Reading List: 

• Why the Gaza hostage crisis is different, Danielle Gilbert, Good Authority, Oct 13, 2023 

• Biden’s hostage diplomacy, explained, Danielle Gilbert, Good Authority, Sept 20, 2023 

• The Prisoners Dilemma, Danielle Gilbert, Foreign Affairs, Aug 24, 2022 

Deep Dish explores how America’s hyper partisan politics are impacting foreign policy actions. Author Jordan Tama shares revelations from his new book, while the Council’s Dina Smeltz unveils fresh survey data to expose how partisanship plays out in US foreign policy. 

Reading List: 

• Bipartisanship and US Foreign Policy: Cooperation in a Polarized Age, Jordan Tama, Oxford University Press, September 1, 2023 

• Public Opinion Survey Reports, Chicago Council on Global Affairs