Intrigue Outloud
by International Intrigue
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Podcast episodes
Election Intrigue: Kamala has entered the chat
Vice President Kamala Harris will be the Democratic nominee for President. And that's the sum total of what we know about how the electoin will go from here! This week, we discuss what her lightning-fast ascent to the top of the ticket means for US foreign policy, and how leaders in capitals around the world make of a potential Harris Administration. Join John Fowler and Kristen Talman for their takes on the US election and what it means for the world. 👉 Sign up for weekly editions of the Election Intrigue newsletter. 📧 Shoot us an email here.
Election Intrigue: Joe Bye-den (and the RNC)
Can we get a weekend off? Only kidding but it has been a wild past two weekends between an assassination attempt and President Joe Biden, the presumed Democratic candidate, stepping aside. While Kristen was in Milwaukee for the RNC, Republicans united around Trump as foreign delegations tried to squeeze time in with potential 2.0 administration bigwigs. The uncertainty now lies in the Democrat camp where Vice President Kamala Harris looks to be an obvious frontrunner but isn't without her adversaries. John and Kristen discuss the implications of the US political drama and what it means. 👉 Sign up for weekly editions of the Election Intrigue newsletter. 📧 Shoot us an email here.
Election Intrigue: The Biden Shadow (over the NATO Summit)
Hi folks, John here. Both Kristen and I are in the field talking to sources and trying to get close to the people in the rooms where decisions are made. We hear you about the audio quality - it's not the best it could be, but if you can bear with us, we'll back in our home studios soon. Until then, we hope you enjoy our timely, insightful and most importantly, free(!) content. Who noticed the NATO summit even happened? The shadow Biden's future cast over the proceedings obscured the relatively important takeaways from the two day summit. And isn't that the problem? If the president's future is more important than the work he's elected to do, it feels a little like the tail is wagging the dog. John and Kristen discuss the implications of the US political drama and what it means. 👉 Sign up for weekly editions of the Election Intrigue newsletter. 📧 Shoot us an email here.
Election Intrigue: Biden hanging on and a new government in the UK
The UK has a new Prime Minister, and the US doesn't have a new president... yet! What does a Labour government mean for the 'Special Relationship'? *To the emailers: Kristen apologises for her less than perfect audio, but we'll be back in our home studios soon! Join John Fowler and Kristen Talman for their takes on the US election and what it means for the world. 👉 Sign up for weekly editions of the Election Intrigue newsletter. 📧 Shoot us an email here. Key takeaways: US Political Climate: There are ongoing debates about President Biden's health and the media's role in shaping public perception. Media outlets have shifted their narrative, facing criticism for potentially downplaying Biden's cognitive issues. Foreign Policy Focus: The Biden administration's foreign policy decisions are still made with input from key figures like Blinken and Sullivan, even as domestic policy decisions remain somewhat opaque. UK Election Results: The Labour Party won a significant victory in the UK election, leading to discussions on what this means for UK foreign policy, particularly in relation to the US and NATO. The Labour Party's stance on Brexit and its commitment to NATO and Ukraine were highlighted. Labour's Foreign Policy Strategy: Labour's approach to foreign policy is described as "progressive realism," focusing on using realistic means to achieve progressive ends. This includes a strong commitment to NATO and supporting Ukraine, distancing themselves from the previous leadership under Jeremy Corbyn. Future Implications: There is speculation on how the Labour Party, under Keir Starmer, will navigate relationships with global powers, particularly the US, depending on the outcome of the US election. Labour needs to balance domestic priorities with maintaining strong international alliances.
Election Intrigue: What to make of THAT debate performance?
What will Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin or Benjamin Netanyahu make of Biden's stumbling performance? Did we learn anything about Trump or Biden's foreign policy 2.0? Will Biden even be the candidate come November? Join John Fowler and Kristen Talman for their reaction to the Trump-Biden debate last night. 👉 Sign up for weekly editions of the Election Intrigue newsletter. 📧 Shoot us an email here. Key takeaways: Biden's performance in the debate raised concerns about his fitness to lead The Democratic Party may need to replace Biden if they want to win over undecided voters Trump's worldview is isolationist, while Biden's is more aligned with traditional alliances The candidates' views on foreign policy, including NATO and the Russia-Ukraine war, differ significantly The messaging on Israel-Gaza relations is not clear for Biden China is an area of common ground between the parties, with both candidates likely to take a tough stance