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Why It Matters
by Council on Foreign Relations
Each episode of Why It Matters breaks down an issue that is shaping our world‘s future. Join host Gabrielle Sierra as she speaks with the leaders and thinkers who are facing these questions head on. Fueled by the minds at the Council on Foreign Relations, Why It Matters brings some of the world‘s most compelling stories home to you.
Episodes
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Side Effects May Include Dependency on China
What happens if the world’s pharmacy decides to close? From ibuprofen to amoxicillin, a majority of the essential medicines used in the United States depend on ingredients from China. This dependence has left the United States vulnerable to a geopolitical rival that could decide to cut off its...
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How Demand for GLP-1s Overwhelmed the Global Drug System
GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic have become some of the world's most-wanted medicines, but soaring demand has also turned them into a stress test for the global drug system. On this episode of Why It Matters, Gabrielle Sierra and CFR Senior Fellow Prashant Yadav trace how the GLP-1 trend led to...
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Honey, I Tracked the War
This episode explores how drones, cell phones, and other widely-available intelligence tools are turning civilians and aid workers into frontline witnesses—documenting war in real time, guiding humanitarian aid, and helping build evidence that could power future war crimes cases. Host: Gabrielle...
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One Woman's Path From a U.S. College Campus to the Ukrainian Battlefield
This episode traces one young woman's journey home to a new kind of war—and Ukraine’s fight for survival. Host: Gabrielle Sierra, Director of Podcasting, Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) Guest: Catarina Buchatskiy, Co-Founder & Director of Analytics, Snake Island Institute We discuss: The story...
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Allies, Partners, or Frenemies?
This episode outlines the global network sustaining both sides of the war in Ukraine, with NATO allies on one side and Russia with backing from China, Iran, and North Korea on the other, and how the limits and tensions within these alliances are shaping the war’s next phase and raising broader...
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We Are in a New Era of Warfare
This episode explores how the emergence of drone warfare and innovation under fire is transforming power and forcing nations to rethink strategy and military capacity. Host: Gabrielle Sierra, Director of Podcasting, Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) Guests: Michael C. Horowitz, Senior Fellow for...
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The Risk Report for 2026
As 2025 draws to a close, U.S. foreign policy stands at an inflection point. Under the second Trump administration, traditional alliances have been tested, a hard-edged national security strategy has been rolled out, and for the first time, CFR’s annual Preventive Priorities Survey has ranked a...
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Where Does U.S. Trade Go From Here?
The unprecedented trade policies since the beginning of this year, driven largely by the Donald Trump administration’s pro-tariff agenda, have propelled the United States into uncertain and rocky territory. When it comes to our trading partners, the potential damage to U.S. alliances has left...
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Mind the Trade Gap
Is having a trade deficit necessarily a bad thing? Many experts argue that the U.S. trade deficit is largely good for our economy. It allows Americans to enjoy a wider variety of cheap goods, attracts foreign investment, and reflects the strength of the U.S. dollar. Others believe it’s a warning...
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Why It Matters Live!: Food Diplomacy
Host Gabrielle Sierra and podcast guests Johanna Mendelson Forman and Matthew Costello discuss food diplomacy, share stories from White House state dinners, and unpack how food has helped to create lasting international partnerships. This taping was originally recorded on April 17, 2025. Featured...
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Trade Agreements: Deal or No Deal
What role does the president have when it comes to making trade deals? In this episode, we dig into the expansive powers of the U.S. president when it comes to trade. From unilateral authority to congressional oversight, we unpack who truly calls the shots when the U.S. negotiates trade…
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Tariff Turmoil, Part 2: Steel and Dog Gelato
Tariffs have sparked intense debate in Washington, but their consequences land far from Capitol Hill. Tariffs can shape paychecks, shift prices for consumers, and affect markets. At best, tariffs offer short-term protection for certain industries. At worst, they can uproot the lives of American...
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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...
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The Washington Consensus Could Not Hold
When it comes to trade, there is no consensus in Washington. The issue has become deeply polarizing, with lawmakers split over whether free trade agreements benefit or harm the U.S. economy. While some argue that open markets are essential for global leadership and economic growth, others believe...
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We’ve Been Looking At Trade All Wrong
There was once a broad consensus in Washington that trade was a force for good—a way to connect, grow, and prosper. But today, trade has evolved into something much bigger than just the exchange of goods. It’s become a powerful tool to rewrite the rules of foreign policy, reshape how the United...
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Why Trade Matters
Why It Matters is back and this time we are dedicating an entire season to talking about trade. Alongside CFR’s leading experts, we are bringing you stories from Americans around the country and trying to figure out where Washington went wrong when it comes to U.S. trade policy.
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Why Climate Matters: Nuclear Energy
As the climate crisis intensifies, so do discussions about the utilization of nuclear energy. In the aftermath of nuclear meltdowns such as Chernobyl and Fukushima, climate skeptics say the environmental benefits do not outweigh the associated costs and risks. But others think that nuclear energy...
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New Podcast Spotlight: The Interconnect
Emerging technologies are transforming international relations and our country’s economy. So how do we connect science and engineering labs with Washington and the world of business? The Interconnect, a new podcast series from the Council on Foreign Relations and the Stanford Emerging Technology...
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Why Climate Matters: Water Scarcity
Fresh water sustains all life, but in many regions, especially arid ones, it is becoming increasingly scarce due to climate change. Aging infrastructure and ineffective policies are only making the situation worse, affecting communities, economies, and even the political stability of some...
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Why Climate Matters: The Arctic
Under international law, the North Pole and the Arctic waters surrounding it are not owned by any country. But this January, President Donald Trump announced his plans to buy the Arctic territory of Greenland, testing the claims of rivals and opening up a greater conversation around who governs…
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Why Climate Matters: Pricing Climate
What does it mean to price our climate? The goal of fees like the “carbon tax” is to put a price on pollutants such as carbon dioxide that contribute to climate change, and incentivize businesses to reduce their emissions and make cleaner choices. But many companies are continuing to value profit...
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Why Climate Matters: Home Insurance
For decades, U.S. homeowners have counted on property insurance to protect them from catastrophic loss if their homes are destroyed. But last year, private companies pulled their coverage in multiple climate-sensitive states, only months before the fires in Los Angeles and the hurricanes in the...
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Why Climate Matters
Our editors top picks of Why It Matters episodes on climate.
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The Dirty Energy Powering AI
What powers artificial intelligence (AI)? As global electricity use is surging, with unprecedented demand coming from an increase in data centers, AI’s dependence on fossil fuels presents a serious issue for the planet. In the United States, data center power usage is on track to double by 2030,...
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Why the World Next Week Matters
Tumultuous events have rocked the last four years: the COVID-19 pandemic, Europe’s largest land war in eighty years, and an escalating Middle Eastern conflict between Israel and Iran-backed forces. On top of that, the United States faces an intensifying geopolitical struggle with China and…
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The New Tech World Order
For most of our history, the realm of international relations was dominated by nation-states. They waged wars and signed treaties through the framework of governance. But today, more so than ever before, tech titans are acting as unilateral decision-makers, upsetting the balance and structure of...
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A World Under the Influence
With the rise of social media, influencers around the world have increasingly taken on the role of newscaster without a traditional media organization behind them. Some say it has democratized journalism, but with the rise of misinformation, influencers who capture massive audiences online also…
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Who’s Afraid of the National Debt?
The United States national debt is rising to levels not seen since World War II. Many economists say Washington is on an unsustainable track, but no one knows when it will pass the point of crisis. What is at risk if U.S. debt continues to grow? Featured Guests: Maya MacGuineas (President of the...
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Why Is the World Obsessed With the U.S. Election? Ask Germany
The world is watching the U.S. presidential contest between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris with intense interest. Few countries are tracking the race more closely than Germany, Europe's biggest economy and a founding member of the NATO alliance. Its experiences...
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Can West Africa Curb Its Brain Drain?
West Africa is losing many of its best and brightest. Across the region, doctors, lawyers, and engineers are leaving, depriving some of the world’s youngest countries of the minds they need to develop sustainably. At the same time, coups have rocked the nearby Sahel, threatening to create a...
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Global Abortion Access After Roe
In the past thirty years, sixty countries have expanded access to abortion care as an underpinning of maternal health. The 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade made the United States the fourth country ever to decrease access to abortion—and the world took notice. Some…
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India, Modi, and Hindu Nationalism
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the most popular man in India. On track to be elected for a third term, he has boosted the country’s global standing and propelled strong economic growth while consolidating power and galvanizing majoritarian support for his Hindu nationalist agenda—all while…
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Publishing in a Polarized World
A free and independent press is at the core of many democracies. But threats to the safety of journalists abound worldwide, and the rise of generative artificial intelligence has raised concerns about the future of media. At the same time, more people have access to high quality news now than...
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Can Israel and Iran Step Back From the Brink? (Podcast Takeover)
A little over a week ago, Iran directly attacked Israel from its own territory for the first time in history. And while the United States and Israel shot down almost all of the missiles and drones, the attack remains unprecedented. Since the release of this episode, Israel has launched a…
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Remembering the Rwandan Genocide
Thirty years ago, Rwanda’s government began a campaign to eradicate the country’s largest minority group. In just one hundred days in 1994, roving militias killed around eight hundred thousand people. Would-be killers were incited to violence by the radio, which encouraged extremists to take to…
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Local Leaders in the Global Economy
Many Americans are losing faith in the benefits of internationalism. But whether it’s wars in the Gaza Strip and Ukraine, worsening extreme weather as a result of climate change, or the trade-offs of globalization, events abroad are increasingly having a local impact. At the same time, more state...
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UFOs: Close Encounters of the National Security Kind
Unidentified flying objects (UFOs) are real. And the truth about them is often hidden from the public, for reasons related to national security. That secrecy has fed conspiracy theories about the possibility of alien life on Earth, creating a stigma around the legitimate scientific search for…
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2024: What’s the Worst That Could Happen?
Every January, CFR’s annual Preventive Priorities Survey analyzes the conflicts most likely to occur in the year ahead and measures their potential impact. For the first time, the survey predicts that this year/in 2024 the United States will contend not only with a slew of global threats, but…
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The Year of AI and Elections
Billions of people will take to the polls next year, marking the world’s largest-ever electoral field. But this historic scale is not the only thing that will make 2024 unique. As new threats like deep fakes become cheaper and more widespread, these upcoming elections could serve as a test run…
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Will India Take America’s Side Against China? (Podcast Takeover)
The United States and India have a long and complex history. In recent years, the two democracies have grown closer, linked by their shared concern about the rise of China. But the relationship has also been marked by a number of challenges. Just last week, U.S. authorities foiled a plot by an...
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Understanding the U.S. Role in the Israel-Hamas War
Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas are again at war. The most recent iteration of the conflict, which erupted after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, has stoked public debate throughout the world. In the United States, heated debates about the issue have played out at...
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A Turning Point for Global Trade
International trade has shaped the world for much of the past century. Countries benefited from the global flow of goods, and the world became richer and safer. At the same time, many Americans lost their jobs to cheaper overseas competitors. Now, a series of compounding challenges, including…
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America’s Fentanyl Epidemic: The China Connection
Over the past few years, a new threat has emerged as a leading cause of death in the United States: fentanyl. Yet even as the drug wreaks havoc on Americans lives, preventing its flow into the United States is complicated, partially because of the supply’s overseas origins, which is often China....
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The Case for Rebuilding Ukraine
Russia has caused unprecedented damage in Ukraine. And with no diplomatic end in sight to the conflict, many Ukrainians are wondering when, if ever, they will be able to go back to their homes. According to many experts, the answer is actually sooner rather than later. Can reconstruction begin...
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Could Climate Change Break Home Insurance?
For decades, U.S. homeowners have counted on property insurance to protect them from catastrophic loss if their homes are destroyed—and the U.S. economy has rested on the functionality of that model. But as this summer’s extreme weather broke records, private companies reduced their coverage. As...
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Who Runs the World?... Not Women
Female representation in politics leads to numerous benefits, but the vast majority of the world’s most powerful politicians are men. Using the Council on Foreign Relations’ Women’s Power Index tool to track women’s leadership across the globe, this episode examines the problems that arise from a...
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Taiwan, China, and the Threat of War
A small island one hundred miles off the coast of China could be the flashpoint that determines the future of great-power competition. Experts increasingly warn that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan would be globally catastrophic, regardless of its success or if the United States intervenes. How...
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AI Meets World, Part Two
The rapid emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) has brought lawmakers and industry leaders to the same conclusion: regulation is necessary to ensure the technology changes the world for the better. The similarities could end there, as governments and industry clash on what those laws should…
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AI Meets World, Part One
After decades of seeming like another sci-fi catchphrase, artificial intelligence (AI) is having its moment. Some experts predict that AI will usher in an era of boundless productivity and techno-utopia; others see a new realm of great-power competition and the end of humanity. Nearly all agree...
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Down and Dirty: The Global Fertilizer Dilemma
Feeding the world's eight billion people has never been easy. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine shocked the market for fertilizer, that task has gotten even harder. The fertilizer crisis threatens to exacerbate food insecurity worldwide, especially in low-income countries already reeling from...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Each episode of Why It Matters breaks down an issue that is shaping our world‘s future. Join host Gabrielle Sierra as she speaks with the leaders and thinkers who are facing these questions head on. Fueled by the minds at the Council on Foreign Relations, Why It Matters brings some of the world‘s most compelling stories home to you.
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Council on Foreign Relations
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How many episodes does Why It Matters have?
Why It Matters currently has 100 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Why It Matters about?
Each episode of Why It Matters breaks down an issue that is shaping our world‘s future. Join host Gabrielle Sierra as she speaks with the leaders and thinkers who are facing these questions head on. Fueled by the minds at the Council on Foreign Relations, Why It Matters brings some of the world‘s...
How often does Why It Matters release new episodes?
Why It Matters has 100 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
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You can listen to Why It Matters 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.
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Why It Matters is created and hosted by Council on Foreign Relations.
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