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Diplomatic Immunity
by Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, Georgetown University
Diplomatic Immunity: Frank and candid conversations about diplomacy and foreign affairsDiplomatic Immunity is a podcast from the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University. We bring you "frank and candid" conversations on the issues facing diplomats and national security decision makers globally. We talk to current and former diplomatic officials, scholars, and analysts and seek to understand how best to foster international cooperation in an age of global crises. Hosted by Dr. Kelly McFarland Produced by Freddie Mallinson and Abdalla NasefDesign by Rebecca McFarland and Alistair SomervilleMusic by Gabe SwartsThis podcast is supported by funding from the Carnegie Corporation of New York's Bridging the Gap Initiative.
Episodes
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FDR, Fascism, and America's Path to World War II with Historian William Hitchcock
Today on Diplomatic Immunity, we're joined by historian William Hitchcock to talk about FDR's presidency, why he sees him as both a hero and an anti-hero, and how America ended up leading the fight against fascism. William Hitchcock is a Pulitzer Prize finalist and professor of history at the...
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Fighting AIDS | Lifeline: The Story of PEPFAR — Interview with Journalist John Donnelly
In 2003, President George W. Bush proposed spending $15 billion to fight AIDS in Africa — a program that would go on to save more than 26 million lives. Journalist John Donnelly, author of "Lifeline: The Story of PEPFAR, the Greatest Humanitarian Initiative of Our Time," joins the show to tell…
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Headlines in History | Iran's Forever War, US-Canada Trade Fight, and a Nothingburger China Summit
It's been a while! In the first "Headlines in History" since spring, Kelly and Tristan dig into the global stories that refuse to go away. In this episode: Iran — Months into the conflict, there's still no agreement. Iran controls the Strait of Hormuz more than ever, the Houthis are disrupting…
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America Is Losing the Influence Game | Elizabeth Kennedy Trudeau and the Bush Presidential Center
A former US diplomat breaks down why soft power matters more than ever — and why the United States is ceding ground to China and other adversaries. From polling data showing China is viewed more favorably than the US, to exchange programs that produced 500+ heads of state, to the media networks...
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Empire, Roosevelt, and Mark Twain with Stephen Kinzer
This week, Kelly is joined by historian and journalist Stephen Kinzer to discuss his book The True Flag: Theodore Roosevelt, Mark Twain, and the Birth of American Empire. They dig into the Spanish-American War, the fierce imperialist vs. anti-imperialist debate it sparked, and how those same...
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Another breakdown in British Politics
Kelly McFarland and Tristen Naylor are back with a home team episode covering two major breaking stories: a seismic shakeup in British politics and the fast-moving (and deeply uncertain) US-Iran nuclear negotiations. 0:00:06 – Intro & Check-ins 0:03:27 – World Cup Chat 0:04:48 – Keir Starmer...
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How the Confederacy almost Survived: King Cotton and Queen Victoria
What if the Civil War's most consequential diplomacy didn't happen in London or Washington — but in the back offices of Bahamian merchants, the shipyards of Liverpool, and the harbors of Nassau? In this episode, Kelly McFarland sits down with historian and Army veteran Beau Cleland to discuss his...
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The World Cup Comes to Trump's America
The World Cup is finally here — and it's coming to North America. This week, Kelly and Tristen take a lighter-than-usual look at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, kicking off June 11th across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Where there's a major global event, there's geopolitics. From Iran's visa...
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The King's Visit, Trump's China Trip & US-Iran
King Charles visited the White House — and it went exactly as planned. But did it actually matter? In this episode of Diplomatic Immunity, we break down King Charles's state visit to the United States, what it reveals about how the British government has learned to work with Trump, and why the...
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Historian Amy Greenberg on The Mexican-American War: America's Forgotten Conflict | Road to 250
In this episode of Diplomatic Immunity, our host Kelly McFarland sits down with Dr. Amy Greenberg, professor at Penn State and author of A Wicked War: Polk, Clay, Lincoln, and the 1846 U.S. Invasion of Mexico, to explore one of the most consequential — and least remembered — wars in American...
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Historian Lindsay Chervinsky on the Monroe Doctrine & John Quincy Adams | America at 250
In this episode of Diplomatic Immunity, host Kelly McFarland sits down with presidential historian Lindsay Chervinsky, executive director of the George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon, to explore one of the most consequential partnerships in American foreign policy history: James...
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Iran Talks, Hungary's Election Surprise & the Shifting Global Order
In this episode, Kelly and Tristan break down two major stories shaping the world right now - Iran and Hungary. Topics covered: U.S.-Iran nuclear talks collapse — why a deal may leave America worse off than before the war The U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports and the China wildcard Viktor…
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History Professor on James Madison and the War of 1812 | Diplomatic Immunity
In this episode of Diplomatic Immunity, host Kelly McFarland sits down with Dr. Tyson Reeder, assistant professor of history at Brigham Young University and author of Serpent in Eden: Foreign Meddling and Partisan Politics in James Madison's America (Oxford University Press, 2024 — winner of the...
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Road to 250: Thomas Jefferson's foreign policy
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: The Federalist vs. Democratic-Republican...
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Georgetown Professor on the War in Iran
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 unclear end goals: regime change, nuclear disarmament, or ballistic missile elimination? Who's really driving this — the U.S. or Israel? The Strait of…
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Three-time Pulitzer finalist Anand Gopal on his new book, Days of Love and Rage
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...
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Munich Security Conference 2026: Rubio, Europe's Future & Iran Strike Coming?
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…
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America's Grand Strategy in the Age of Polarity with Robert Blackwill
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…
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Inside Nuclear Negotiations with North Korea
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...
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Road to 250: Diplomacy in the Revolution
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...
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Trump's "Board of Peace"
This week, Kelly and Tristen dissect Trump's Board of Peace: who's in, who's out, and who has declined. Can the board supersede the United Nations' peacebuilding efforts? The opinions expressed in this conversation are strictly those of the participants and do not represent the views of…
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Democrazy in Venezeula with Ambassador Jimmy Story
This week, Kelly talks with Jimmy Story, the last US Ambassador to Venezuela. Prospects for democracy look bleak, but what does 2026 hold for the country? The opinions expressed in this conversation are strictly those of the participants and do not represent the views of Georgetown University or...
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Will the US take Greenland?
For the first episode of 2026, Kelly and Tristen dive deep into the Trump administration's renewed efforts to acquire Greenland. 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....
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2025 Wrapped: Gaza, Ukraine & What to Watch in 2026
Kelly and Tristen wrap up 2025's foreign policy: the highlights (and lowlights), what went under the radar, and what they'll be watching for in 2026. The opinions expressed in this conversation are strictly those of the participants and do not represent the views of Georgetown University or any...
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Michael Kimmage: Will Russia's War in Ukraine End Soon?
This week, Kelly talks with Professor Michael Kimmage about Russia's war in Ukraine and current efforts towards a ceasefire. Michael Kimmage is a Professor of History at Catholic University, specializing in U.S.-Russia relations and cold war history, and is director of the Kennan Institute in...
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COP and G20: Multilateralism without the US
This week, Kelly and Tristen talk through recent COP and G20 summits, and what US absence meant for the world's biggest international fora. They also provide updates on US allies' reactions to boat strikes in the Caribbean, and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's meetings with Trump at the...
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Declan Walsh: What's next for Sudan's civil war?
Interview with Decland Walsh on Sudan: 31:30 This week, Kelly and Truisten talk through Hungary's new attempt to start up an anti-Ukraine bloc in the EU as well as Victor Orban's meeting with President Trump. They then turn to recent elections in the Netherlands and to President Trum's trip to…
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History, Statecraft, and Strategy with Francis J. Gavin
This week, Kelly talks with Johns Hopkins Professor Francis J. Gavin about his new book, Thinking Historically: A Guide to Statecraft and Strategy (Yale University Press, 2025). The book looks at how history could be utilized to improve policy and enable better decision-making. It argues for a...
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What's next for Venezuela?
This week, Kelly talks with Carolina Jiménez Sandoval about the state of play between the United States and Venezuela amid increasing tensions, military strikes, and continued economic upheavel in the country. Carolina Jiménez Sandoval is the President of the Washington Office on Latin America...
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Will Gaza's Ceasefire Hold?
Interview with Mona Yacoubian on Gaza: 28:20 This week, Kelly and Tristen unpack NATO's defense ministers meeting in Brussels and the Trump–Zelenskyy visit to the White House—what it means for Ukraine aid, European drone-defense plans, and the Tomahawk debate. They then turn to political…
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The Revolution Throughout History with Dan Edelstein
This week, Kelly talks with Stanford University professor and author Dan Edelstein about his new book, The Revolution to Come: A History of an Idea from Thucydides to Lenin, (Princeton University Press, 2025). The book looks at how political thinkers from Plato to John Adams saw revolutions as a...
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Moldova's Turn Away from Russia with Ambassador Kent Logsdon
Interview with Ambassador Kent Logsdon on Moldova: 33:25 This week, Kelly and Tristen break down President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu's 20-point Gaza peace plan and what it signals for U.S.-Israel relations, as well as the ongoing ceasefire negotiations. They then look at the Gen-Z-led...
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The War Below: Critical Minerals with Ernest Scheyder
This week, Kelly talks with Reuters reporter and author Ernest Scheyder about critical minerals and his new book: "The War Below: Lithium, Copper, and the Global Battle to Power Our Lives." Ernest Scheyder is a senior correspondent with Reuters covering critical minerals and the global energy...
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Will Gen-Z Protests Change Nepal's Path?
Interview with Pranaya Rana on Nepal: 26:50 This week, Kelly and Tristen talk through Trump's speech at the UN General Assembly, his visit last week to the UK, and the administration's recent strikes on suspected Venezuelan cartels. They also provide some brief updates since the last episode: on...
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U.S. Foreign Policy in a Multipolar World with Emma Ashford
Kelly talks with Emma Ashford about her new book, First Among Equals: U.S. Foreign Policy in a Multipolar World (Yale University Press, 2025), where she proposes a return to a more pragmatic, realist set of strategic principles, ones better suited for the emerging multipolar world, that would...
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Trade, Security, and the Future of U.S.–India Ties with Sameer Lalwani
Interview with Sameer Lalwani — 27:32 This week, Kelly and Tristan cover Israel's unprecedented strike on Hamas leaders in Doha and the diplomatic fallout for Qatar and the Gaza ceasefire talks, the historic trial of Brazil's former president Jair Bolsonaro and what it means for democratic...
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USAID's Gutting and The Future of International Aid: Ambassador Erin Mckee
This week, Kelly talks with former assistant administrator of USAID, Erin McKee, in light of the department's gutting in recent months. She is now serving as the CEO of Nova Ukraina, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing humanitarian aid to the people of Ukraine and raising awareness...
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Can External Pressure Bring Peace to the DRC?
Interview with Liam Karr — 28:50 This week, Kelly and Tristan cover the recent rounds of summit diplomacy between Presidents Trump and Putin and subsequent meetings with European leaders, the recent moves in Somaliland's quest for recognition, and the new settlements in the West Bank approved by...
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Dr. Sophal Ear on the Thailand-Cambodia Ceasefire
Interview with Dr. Sophal Ear: 25:30 This week, Kelly and Tristan examine the backsliding of democracy in El Salvador and analyze the regional implications for President Bukele's political crackdown. They then explore Trump's escalating tariff war with India, which threatens to undermine the...
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CFR's Ebenezer Obadare: Nigeria's Turning Point?
This week, Kelly talks with Council on Foreign Relations Senior Fellow Ebenezer Obadare about Nigeria's growing security and economic challenges under President Bola Tinubu. Ebenezer discusses how the country is facing escalating violence from Boko Haram, growing political instability, and...
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Colombia's Political Instability with Crisis Group's Elizabeth Dickinson
This week, Kelly talks with International Crisis Group Analyst Elizabeth Dickinson about the surge in cartel-driven violence in Colombia and how USAID cuts have impacted the country. Elizabeth discusses how criminal groups have filled the vacuum left by FARC's demobilization in 2016, leading to…
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Kelly and Tristen on The UN Turning 80, NATO's Trump Strategy, and US Strikes on Iran
This week, Kelly and Tristan look back on the United Nations as it marks its 80th anniversary, reflecting on its evolution from the failed League of Nations and assessing its future challenges, including Security Council reform. They also analyze the recent NATO summit, exploring how European...
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FDR and the Invention of National Security with Andrew Preston
Kelly talks with Andrew Preston about his new book, Total Defense: The New Deal and the Invention of National Security. Preston explores how FDR revolutionized national security policy by connecting domestic New Deal programs to global defense strategies. Andrew Preston is a Professor of American...
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The Pope's Spies: Yvonnick Denoël on the Vatican's Clandestine Operations
Kelly talks with Yvonnick Denoël about his new book, Vatican Spies: From the Second World War to Pope Francis, exploring the Vatican's little-known intelligence operations. Yvonnick is a French historian, publisher and intelligence specialist who has written on the CIA, Mossad, and espionage in…
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Will Popular Elections Undermine Mexico's Court System? Plus updates on South Korea, Poland, and the Sahel
Interview with David Mora on Mexico's Judicial Elections: 27:20 This week, Kelly and Tristen unpack key elections in Poland and South Korea, and examine the growing reach of an Al-Qaeda affiliate in West Africa. Kelly then sits down with David Mora to explore Mexico's recent judicial elections…
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Amitav Acharya: Why The International Order Will Survive Western Decline
Kelly talks with Amitav Acharya about his new book The Once and Future World Order and the deep roots of global civilization beyond the West. They explore why the recent decline of American dominance doesn't mean collapse, but a chance to build a more just, inclusive global system. Amitav Acharya...
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Mona Yacoubian on Trump's Middle East Visit
Interview with Mona Yacoubian on Trump's Middle East Visit: 25:55 This week, Kelly and Tristen discuss President Trump's meeting with the President of South Africa, give an update on the war in Ukraine, and unpack the UK's new trade agreement with the European Union. Kelly then talks with Mona...
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Moisés Naím on Authoritarianism
Next up this Summer, Kelly talks with bestselling author Moisés Naím about the rise of authoritarianism around the world. Moisés Naím is an internationally syndicated columnist and best-selling author of several books, including most recently "The Revenge of Power: How Autocrats Are Reinventing...
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Sameer Lalwani on India-Pakistan tensions
Interview with Sameer Lalwani on India-Pakistan: 21:30 This week, Kelly and Tristen digest the recent elections in Australia and President Putin's WWII victory day parade, and remember the life and legacy of legendary IR scholar Joseph Nye. Kelly then talks with to Sameer Lalwani for an update on...
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Patricia Owens: A History of International Thought without Men
In the first episode of our summer series, Kelly talks with Oxford University Professor Patricia Owens about her new book "Erased: A History of International Thought Without Men." Kelly and Patricia discuss how women and minority voices were erased from the early cannon of interntional relations,...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Diplomatic Immunity: Frank and candid conversations about diplomacy and foreign affairsDiplomatic Immunity is a podcast from the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University. We bring you "frank and candid" conversations on the issues facing diplomats and national security decision makers globally. We talk to current and former diplomatic officials, scholars, and analysts and seek to understand how best to foster international cooperation in an age of global crises. Hosted by Dr. Kelly McFarland Produced by Freddie Mallinson and Abdalla NasefDesign by Rebecca McFarland and Alistair SomervilleMusic by Gabe SwartsThis podcast is supported by funding from the Carnegie Corporation of New York's Bridging the Gap Initiative.
HOSTED BY
Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, Georgetown University
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Diplomatic Immunity have?
Diplomatic Immunity currently has 100 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Diplomatic Immunity about?
Diplomatic Immunity: Frank and candid conversations about diplomacy and foreign affairsDiplomatic Immunity is a podcast from the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University. We bring you "frank and candid" conversations on the issues facing diplomats and national security decision...
How often does Diplomatic Immunity release new episodes?
Diplomatic Immunity has 100 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
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You can listen to Diplomatic Immunity on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Diplomatic Immunity?
Diplomatic Immunity is created and hosted by Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, Georgetown University.
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