Frank Lavin discusses the Indo-Pacific region with Alexander Downer, former Foreign Minister of Australia. We discuss China, AUKUS, India, Indonesia, Ukraine - and most consequentially, the role of the U.S. The book we discuss is The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt.

Frank Lavin talks with Renee DiResta, Internet disinformation analyst. How does misinformation and disinformation travel so rapidly on the Internet and what steps can be taken to push back? How will this affect U.S. elections or U.S. support for Ukraine? Books discussed include Renee DiResta’s Invisible Rulers, Peter Pomerantsev’s Nothing Is True and Everything Is Possible and Annalee Newitz’s Stories are Weapons.

Frank Lavin talks with Alexander Radwan, Member of the German Bundestag (Parliament). Alexander formerly served in the Bavarian state Parliament and in the European Parliament, all of which makes him well-grounded in national, regional, and international issues. The discussion includes Russia’s war in Ukraine, the success and future of the European Union, anti-Israel and pro-Hamas protests on U.S. campuses, and immigration. Books discussed include Ian Kershaw, Personalities and Power and Theo Waigel, Honesty is a Currency. This visit was supported by the American Council on Germany and the Hanns Seidel Foundation.