Post Archives

In this episode, Kelly and Tristan break down two major stories shaping the world right now – Iran and Hungary. Topics covered: The opinions expressed in this conversation are strictly those of the participants and do not represent the views of Georgetown University or any government entity. Produced by Freddie Mallinson and Mislav Majcan. Recorded on April 14, 2026. Diplomatic Immunity, a podcast from the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University, brings you frank and candid conversations with experts on the issues facing diplomats and national security decision-makers around the world. Funding support from the Carnegie Corporation…

In this episode of the Road to 250 series, our host Kelly McFarland sits down with Professor Frank Cogliano of the University of Edinburgh to explore Thomas Jefferson’s foreign policy and its lasting impact on America’s role in the world. Topics covered: Guest Speaker Frank Cogliano is a professor at the University of Edinburgh specializing in early American history and the age of Thomas Jefferson. He is the author of Emperor of Liberty: Thomas Jefferson’s Foreign Policy (Yale University Press, 2014). The opinions expressed in this conversation are strictly those of the participants and do not represent the views of…

Two weeks into Operation Epic Fury, we break down what’s happening, what went wrong, and where this is all heading. In this conversation: The opinions expressed in this conversation are strictly those of the participants and do not represent the views of Georgetown University or any government entity. Produced by Freddie Mallinson and Mislav Majcan. Recorded on March 17, 2026. Diplomatic Immunity, a podcast from the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University, brings you frank and candid conversations with experts on the issues facing diplomats and national security decision-makers around the world. Funding support from the Carnegie…

What happens when ordinary people try to build a democracy from scratch in the middle of a civil war — and what happens when it falls apart? In this episode, our host Kelly McFarland sits down with journalist and author Anand Gopal, a three-time Pulitzer finalist, to discuss his new book Days of Love and Rage: A Story of Ordinary People Forging a Revolution. The book follows six individuals in the northern Syrian city of Manbij, where residents overthrew the Assad regime in 2012 and launched a remarkable 18-month experiment in participatory democracy, before inequality, economic crisis, and the rise…

In this episode, we break down the major takeaways from the Munich Security Conference, where Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a notably softer speech than last year’s JD Vance address—but the underlying message remains the same. We analyze speeches from Emmanuel Macron, Chancellor Scholz, and others as Europe grapples with its “vacation from history” and debates its future role on the world stage. We also discuss the first Board of Peace meeting in Washington, Trump’s claim that it will “look over the United Nations,” and what this means for international institutions. Finally, we examine the US military buildup in…

In this episode, our host Kelly McFarland sits down with Ambassador Robert Blackwill, a fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, who previously served on the National Security Council and as U.S. Ambassador to India, to discuss his new report “America Revived: A Grand Strategy of Resolute Global Leadership.” What we cover: The five historical schools of American grand strategy: primacy, liberal internationalism, restraint, American nationalism, and Trumpism Why Ambassador Blackwill proposes a sixth approach: “Resolute Global Leadership” The rise of China as a peer competitor and what it means for U.S. strategy The critical importance of alliances in an…

This week, Kelly talks with former US Diplomat Joel Wit, author of the new book Fallout: The Inside Story of America’s Failure to Disarm North Korea. Joel was a diplomat negotiating with North Korea in the 1990s and 2000s, and has researched and published on the DPRK ever since. The opinions expressed in this conversation are strictly those of the participants and do not represent the views of Georgetown University or any government entity. Produced by Freddie Mallinson. Recorded on February 12, 2026.. Diplomatic Immunity, a podcast from the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University, brings you…

This year, Kelly takes you on a road to 250 in American Diplomacy. First up is Professor Kathryn Statler, University of San Diego Professor and expert on early American foreign policy. She takes Kelly through the Revolutionary War and America’s earliest days. How did Americans think of their role in the world? How did they juggle their alliance with France while seeking national autonomy? Most importantly, what did “entangling alliances” really mean? The opinions expressed in this conversation are strictly those of the participants and do not represent the views of Georgetown University or any government entity. Produced by Freddie…