Explainers

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  • Trade

    The Contentious U.S.-China Trade Relationship
    President Donald Trump’s trade war with China that began in his first administration has snowballed into greater tensions between the world’s biggest economies, but experts say completely decoupling from one another is likely impossible.
    President Donald Trump’s trade war with China that began in his first administration has snowballed into greater tensions between the world’s biggest economies, but experts say completely decoupling from one another is likely impossible.

    Backgrounder by CFR.org Editors April 14, 2025

  • Public Health Threats and Pandemics

    How Vaccines Changed the World
    Vaccination campaigns have nearly eradicated some of the most deadly and transmissible diseases. In a rising tide of vaccine hesitancy, however, outbreaks are cropping up again.
    Vaccination campaigns have nearly eradicated some of the most deadly and transmissible diseases. In a rising tide of vaccine hesitancy, however, outbreaks are cropping up again.

    Backgrounder by Mariel Ferragamo April 9, 2025

  • Trade

    What Are Tariffs?
    President Donald Trump has begun his second term imposing tariffs against some of the United States’ leading trading partners to correct what he says are decades of imbalances harmful to the U.S. economy. Here’s how these taxes work.  
    President Donald Trump has begun his second term imposing tariffs against some of the United States’ leading trading partners to correct what he says are decades of imbalances harmful to the U.S. economy. Here’s how these taxes work.  

    Backgrounder by Anshu Siripurapu and Noah Berman April 1, 2025

  • Public Health Threats and Pandemics

    Fentanyl and the U.S. Opioid Epidemic
    Opioid addiction has become one of the United States’ biggest killers, endangering public health, the economy, and national security. But closing the floodgates on fentanyl poses a significant foreign policy challenge.
    Opioid addiction has become one of the United States’ biggest killers, endangering public health, the economy, and national security. But closing the floodgates on fentanyl poses a significant foreign policy challenge.

    Backgrounder by Mariel Ferragamo and Claire Klobucista March 28, 2025

In Briefs
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  • United States

    Here’s Where Trump’s Deportations Are Sending Migrants
    The Trump administration’s deportations of undocumented immigrants are accelerating as part of a broader crackdown on unauthorized immigration. The focus so far has been on hundreds of flights, mainly to Latin American countries.
    The Trump administration’s deportations of undocumented immigrants are accelerating as part of a broader crackdown on unauthorized immigration. The focus so far has been on hundreds of flights, mainly to Latin American countries.

    In Brief by Diana Roy April 9, 2025

  • Yemen

    Iran’s Support of the Houthis: What to Know
    Iranian support has boosted the military prowess of Yemen’s Houthi rebels, helping them project force into the Red Sea. Ramped up U.S.-led attacks on the group raise the prospect of military escalation with Iran.
    Iranian support has boosted the military prowess of Yemen’s Houthi rebels, helping them project force into the Red Sea. Ramped up U.S.-led attacks on the group raise the prospect of military escalation with Iran.

    In Brief by Kali Robinson March 24, 2025

  • Palestinian Territories

    The UN’s Palestinian Aid Controversy: What’s at Stake

    The leading UN aid agency for Palestinian refugees faces severe funding cuts and suspended services, with huge consequences for millions of Palestinians. It remains enmeshed in controversy over accusations that some of its employees were involved in Hamas’s 2023 attack on Israel.
    The leading UN aid agency for Palestinian refugees faces severe funding cuts and suspended services, with huge consequences for millions of Palestinians. It remains enmeshed in controversy over accusations that some of its employees were involved in Hamas’s 2023 attack on Israel.

    In Brief by Christina Bouri March 6, 2025

  • Panama

    What’s Causing the Panama Canal Logjam
    Low water levels have led to a traffic jam at one of the world’s busiest maritime passages. The bottleneck demonstrates how accelerating climate change is threatening global supply chains.
    Low water levels have led to a traffic jam at one of the world’s busiest maritime passages. The bottleneck demonstrates how accelerating climate change is threatening global supply chains.

    In Brief by Diana Roy September 29, 2023

Podcasts
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  • Podcast

    Trade

    Tariff Turmoil, Part 1: How Tariffs Are Affecting Farmers
    Tariffs are often discussed in big, abstract terms—trade wars, economic strategy, global power struggles. But for ginseng farmers in Wisconsin, their effects are painfully personal. In this episode, Why It Matters dives into how tariffs work and how they’re hitting one of America's most niche yet lucrative exports: Wisconsin-grown ginseng.
    Tariffs are often discussed in big, abstract terms—trade wars, economic strategy, global power struggles. But for ginseng farmers in Wisconsin, their effects are painfully personal. In this episode, Why It Matters dives into how tariffs work and how they’re hitting one of America's most niche yet lucrative exports: Wisconsin-grown ginseng.

    Podcast with Matthew P. Goodman, Gabrielle Sierra and Will Hsu April 16, 2025 Why It Matters

  • Podcast

    Panama

    Trump’s Plan for the Panama Canal, With Will Freeman
    Will Freeman, fellow for Latin America studies at CFR, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss President Donald Trump’s calls for the United States to retake control of the Panama Canal.
    Will Freeman, fellow for Latin America studies at CFR, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss President Donald Trump’s calls for the United States to retake control of the Panama Canal.

    Podcast with James M. Lindsay and Will Freeman April 15, 2025 The President’s Inbox

  • Podcast

    Technology and Innovation

    Frontier Tech and the Geopolitical Future
    In this episode of The Interconnect, Stanford’s Amy Zegart and Herb Lin join the Council on Foreign Relations’ Adam Segal and Kat Duffy in a discussion about some of the most critical actors that influence the evolution of emerging technologies, the relative advantages of democracies and autocracies in developing frontier tech, and the central importance of talent and public and private investment in driving America's innovation ecosystem.
    In this episode of The Interconnect, Stanford’s Amy Zegart and Herb Lin join the Council on Foreign Relations’ Adam Segal and Kat Duffy in a discussion about some of the most critical actors that influence the evolution of emerging technologies, the relative advantages of democracies and autocracies in developing frontier tech, and the central importance of talent and public and private investment in driving America's innovation ecosystem.

    Podcast with Martin Giles, Kat Duffy, Adam Segal, Amy Zegart and Herb Lin April 10, 2025 The Interconnect

Special Projects
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Videos
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    United States

    Foreign Policy in the 2024 Election: CFR on Campus
    As part of our Election 2024 initiative exploring the role of the United States in the world, how international affairs issues affect voters, and what is at stake as voters make their choices in November, CFR visited colleges and universities in four battleground states—Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, and Pennsylvania—to hold public forums with top experts on international issues and how they influence the lives of Americans. Our nonpartisan conversations, co-hosted with Arizona State University, the Georgia Institute of Technology, Grand Valley State University, and Franklin & Marshall College covered the U.S. role in the world, the trade-offs presented by different policy options both locally and globally, and context on the international issues, choices, and challenges facing the next president.
    As part of our Election 2024 initiative exploring the role of the United States in the world, how international affairs issues affect voters, and what is at stake as voters make their choices in November, CFR visited colleges and universities in four battleground states—Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, and Pennsylvania—to hold public forums with top experts on international issues and how they influence the lives of Americans. Our nonpartisan conversations, co-hosted with Arizona State University, the Georgia Institute of Technology, Grand Valley State University, and Franklin & Marshall College covered the U.S. role in the world, the trade-offs presented by different policy options both locally and globally, and context on the international issues, choices, and challenges facing the next president.

    Explainer Video November 1, 2024

  • Play

    China

    Ten Most Significant World Events in 2023
    2023 was a tumultuous year, marked by violent conflicts, democratic erosion, and record-high temperatures. This year, experts at the Council on Foreign Relations, along with visiting world leaders and thinkers, unpacked these issues and more. Join CFR’s director of studies, Jim Lindsay, in looking back at his list of the ten most impactful events of the year.  
    2023 was a tumultuous year, marked by violent conflicts, democratic erosion, and record-high temperatures. This year, experts at the Council on Foreign Relations, along with visiting world leaders and thinkers, unpacked these issues and more. Join CFR’s director of studies, Jim Lindsay, in looking back at his list of the ten most impactful events of the year.  

    Explainer Video December 7, 2023

  • Play

    Taiwan

    The Stakes for Taiwan's Diplomacy in Three Questions
    Taiwan's relationship with the United States, China, and the rest of the world has a complex history that informs why the island is so consequential to today's geopolitics. To better understand these dynamics, David Sacks, CFR's fellow for Asia studies, answers questions about Taiwan's history and its significance to diplomacy in East Asia. For more on the relationship between the United States, China, and Taiwan, check out the Council on Foreign Relations–sponsored Independent Task Force, "U.S.-Taiwan Relations in a New Era". cfr.org/us-taiwan
    Taiwan's relationship with the United States, China, and the rest of the world has a complex history that informs why the island is so consequential to today's geopolitics. To better understand these dynamics, David Sacks, CFR's fellow for Asia studies, answers questions about Taiwan's history and its significance to diplomacy in East Asia. For more on the relationship between the United States, China, and Taiwan, check out the Council on Foreign Relations–sponsored Independent Task Force, "U.S.-Taiwan Relations in a New Era". cfr.org/us-taiwan

    Explainer Video with Jeremy Sherlick and David Sacks August 16, 2023

  • Play

    Artificial Intelligence (AI)

    How Artificial Intelligence Could Change the World
    Artificial Intelligence (AI) could transform economies, politics, and everyday life. Some experts believe this increasingly powerful technology could lead to amazing advances and prosperity. Yet, many tech and industry leaders are warning that AI poses substantial risks, and they are calling for a moratorium on AI research so that safety measures can be established. But amid mounting great-power competition, it’s unclear whether national governments will be able to coordinate on regulating this technology that offers so many economic and strategic opportunities.
    Artificial Intelligence (AI) could transform economies, politics, and everyday life. Some experts believe this increasingly powerful technology could lead to amazing advances and prosperity. Yet, many tech and industry leaders are warning that AI poses substantial risks, and they are calling for a moratorium on AI research so that safety measures can be established. But amid mounting great-power competition, it’s unclear whether national governments will be able to coordinate on regulating this technology that offers so many economic and strategic opportunities.

    Explainer Video with Noah Berman, James Long and Thamine Nayeem May 25, 2023

InfoGuides
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Timelines
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  • China

    U.S.-China Relations
    The United States and China have one of the world’s most important and complex bilateral relationships. Since 1949, the countries have experienced periods of both tension and cooperation over issues including trade, climate change, and Taiwan.
    The United States and China have one of the world’s most important and complex bilateral relationships. Since 1949, the countries have experienced periods of both tension and cooperation over issues including trade, climate change, and Taiwan.

    Timeline by CFR.org Editors April 15, 2025

  • Public Health Threats and Pandemics

    Major Pandemics of the Modern Era
    For more than a century, countries have wrestled with how to improve international cooperation in the face of major outbreaks of infectious diseases. The COVID-19 pandemic, which brought the world to a near halt in 2020 and killed nearly seven million people, underscored the urgency.
    For more than a century, countries have wrestled with how to improve international cooperation in the face of major outbreaks of infectious diseases. The COVID-19 pandemic, which brought the world to a near halt in 2020 and killed nearly seven million people, underscored the urgency.

    Timeline by Claire Klobucista and Mariel Ferragamo March 10, 2025

  • India

    U.S.-India Relations
    Since India’s independence, ties with the United States have weathered Cold War–era distrust and estrangement over India’s nuclear program. Relations have warmed in recent years and cooperation has strengthened across a range of economic and political areas.
    Since India’s independence, ties with the United States have weathered Cold War–era distrust and estrangement over India’s nuclear program. Relations have warmed in recent years and cooperation has strengthened across a range of economic and political areas.

    Timeline by Lindsay Maizland, Eleanor Albert and Beina Xu February 25, 2025

  • Ukraine

    Ukraine’s Struggle for Independence in Russia’s Shadow
    Ukraine has shown resilience and perseverance despite facing multiple challenges—most notably Russian interference—since it achieved independence in 1991. Russia’s threats have culminated in the annexation of Crimea and Europe’s biggest land battle in eighty years.
    Ukraine has shown resilience and perseverance despite facing multiple challenges—most notably Russian interference—since it achieved independence in 1991. Russia’s threats have culminated in the annexation of Crimea and Europe’s biggest land battle in eighty years.

    Timeline by CFR.org Editors February 21, 2025