The Long Game with Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer
- Episódios
- 50
- Publicação
- semanal
- Último episódio
- 12 nov 2026
Sobre o podcast
The Long Game is a weekly national security podcast hosted by Jake Sullivan, President Biden’s National Security Advisor, and Jon Finer, his Principal Deputy—senior aides who sat in on the classified Presidential Daily Brief each morning and translated raw intelligence into policy advice. Each week, Jake and Jon will pull back the curtain on how power really works helping you make sense of the national security stories unfolding today. Part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.
Episódios 50
Dwarkesh Patel: AI Could Overthrow The Government
Backlash against AI and data centers helped fuel Democrats sweeping midterm victory last week. As AI promises to reshape geopolitics and national security, Jake and Jon speak with Dwarkesh Patel, host of the …
Notas do episódio
Backlash against AI and data centers helped fuel Democrats sweeping midterm victory last week. As AI promises to reshape geopolitics and national security, Jake and Jon speak with Dwarkesh Patel, host of the Dwarkesh Podcast, whom economist Tyler Cowen has called “the number one chronicler of the AI era.”
They discuss Patel’s prediction that by 2030, “we'll have AIs that are at least as good as the best human experts in every field.” They also explore whether AI regulation can keep pace, whether the U.S. and China can agree on AI safety, and the debate over advanced chip sales to China amid reports of Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s relationship with an alleged Chinese spy.
Upgrade to The Long Game+ on Apple to support the show and access exclusive audio segments. This week, Patel weighs in on which tech CEO has the most “realistic” vision of the future and whether instilling AI with human values is the wrong move.
Join us on Substack for video versions of exclusive podcast segments, transcripts, and more: https://thelonggame.substack.com/
Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@podlonggame
Email Jake and Jon with your questions and comments at [email protected]
Follow The Long Game so you never miss an episode. New episodes drop weekly.
The Long Game is produced by the Vox Media Podcast Network.
References and supplemental materials
Tom Cunningham, Nate Rush, Parker Whitfill, and Hjalmar Wijk, Independent Assessment of AI R&D Acceleration at Anthropic in October 2026, METR, November 5, 2026.
OpenAI, On the Navier–Stokes Millennium Prize Problem, OpenAI, September 8, 2026.
Dwarkesh Patel, The Rise and Fall of Agent Civilizations, Dwarkesh Podcast, August 29, 2026.
Dwarkesh Patel, Jensen Huang – TPU competition, why we should sell chips to China, & Nvidia’s supply chain moat, Dwarkesh Podcast, April 15, 2026.
Dwarkesh Patel, Blog prize for the big questions about AI, Dwarkesh Podcast, April 24, 2026.
Bernie Sanders and Greg Casar, Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act (announcement and bill links), Office of Senator Bernie Sanders, September 23, 2026.
Photo Credit: Kevin Frayer/Getty Images
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Trump After the Midterms: Iran, China, and the Limits of Power
New York Times reporter Jonathan Swan, co-author, along with Maggie Haberman, of the bestselling book Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump, joins Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer following …
Notas do episódio
New York Times reporter Jonathan Swan, co-author, along with Maggie Haberman, of the bestselling book Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump, joins Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer following Democrats’ sweeping midterm victory. As results continue to come in, they examine what drove the Republican defeat and what it means for Trump’s final two years in office.
After the Iran war fractured Trump’s winning coalition, what can a Democratic Congress do to constrain a president with broad power over foreign policy?
Drawing on his reporting inside the White House, Swan explores the tension between political weakness and presidential power. Then, in The Wrap, Jake and Jon revisit their predictions, flag stories to watch, and share recommendations for what to read and watch.
Upgrade to The Long Game+ on Apple to support the show and access exclusive audio segments. This week, Jake and Jon discuss the latest news from Iran. Is further US military escalation on the horizon?
Join us on Substack for video versions of exclusive podcast segments, transcripts, and more: https://thelonggame.substack.com/
Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@podlonggame
Email Jake and Jon with your questions and comments at [email protected]
Follow The Long Game so you never miss an episode. New episodes drop weekly.
The Long Game is produced by the Vox Media Podcast Network.
References and supplemental materials
Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump, Simon and Schuster, June 2026
Jonathan Swan, Maggie Haberman, Ana Swanson, Paul Mozur, Tripp Mickle and Julian E. Barnes, “Nvidia Chief Seen as Target of Chinese Spy Plot,” The New York Times, October 29, 2026
Gideon Lewis-Kraus, “Computer Chips Are the Most Magnificent Things Humanity Has Ever Made,” The New Yorker, October 19, 2026
Conan O’Brien, “Conan’s Chaotic Bidet Ad Read,” Team Coco, December 23, 2023
The Diplomat, Netflix, October 15, 2026
Photo Credit: Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Trump’s Russia Deals, Musk’s Starlink Leverage, and Ukraine’s Hardest Winter Yet
Michael Kofman, defense analyst at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, returns to The Long Game as Russia intensifies its bombardment of Ukraine and decisions made in Washington reshape Kyiv’s …
Notas do episódio
Michael Kofman, defense analyst at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, returns to The Long Game as Russia intensifies its bombardment of Ukraine and decisions made in Washington reshape Kyiv’s ability to fight.
Kofman examines the gap between Russia’s military performance and its demands at the negotiating table; the leverage each side currently holds and the deadly consequences of throttling Ukrainian access to SpaceX’s Starlink and StarShield.
Upgrade to The Long Game+ on Apple to support the show and access exclusive audio segments.
Join us on Substack for video versions of exclusive podcast segments, transcripts, and more: https://thelonggame.substack.com/
Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@podlonggame
Email Jake and Jon at [email protected]
Follow The Long Game so you never miss an episode. New episodes drop weekly.
The Long Game is produced by the Vox Media Podcast Network.
References and supplemental materials
Alexander Ward, Natalie Andrews, and Josh Dawsey “Musk Ordered Starlink Slowdown That Blindsided Ukraine,” The Wall Street Journal, October 21, 2026
Photo Credit: Nikoletta Stoyanova/Getty Images
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Israel Votes. What Changes?
Israelis are preparing to vote in their first election since the October 7 terrorist attacks. Barak Ravid, global affairs correspondent for Axios, joins Jake and Jon to discuss the stakes of the election. Will …
Notas do episódio
Israelis are preparing to vote in their first election since the October 7 terrorist attacks. Barak Ravid, global affairs correspondent for Axios, joins Jake and Jon to discuss the stakes of the election. Will Benjamin Netanyahu be re-elected for a historic seventh term as prime minister?
With polls exceedingly close, Barak explains the challenge Netanyahu’s opposition will face in translating their electoral support into a governing coalition. He also weighs in on what the elections will mean for Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza and the future of Pres. Trump’s Middle East agenda.
Drawing on his deep-sourced reporting and decades covering Israeli politics and the US-Israel relationship, Barak says October 7 is on the ballot and next week’s election will determine the future of Israeli democracy.Access to video versions of exclusive podcast segments, transcripts, and more on Substack: https://thelonggame.substack.com/
Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@podlonggame
Email Jake and Jon at [email protected]
Follow The Long Game so you never miss an episode. New episodes drop weekly. The Long Game is produced by the Vox Media Podcast Network.
References and supplemental materials
Barak Ravid and Marc Caputo, “Inside Trump, Netanyahu’s dilemma: Strike Iran before elections or wait,” Axios, October 13, 2026.
Barak Ravid, “Trump tells Axios why he endorsed Netanyahu’s reelection,” Axios, October 18, 2026.
Barak Ravid, “Biden tells Bibi he's concerned about Israel's judicial overhaul legislation,” Axios, September 20, 2023
Donald J. Trump, “President Donald J. Trump’s Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict,” The American Presidency Project — White House press release, September 29, 2025. The American Presidency Project
P5+1, European Union, and Iran, “Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action,” US Department of State, July 14, 2015.
Photo credit: Jack GUEZ / AFP via Getty Images
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
A Diesel Deal With Russia, a Dilemma for NATO, Houthis Escalate Saudi Arabia Attacks
President Trump has struck a diesel deal with Russia as fuel prices squeeze Americans. But what does easing restrictions on Russian exports mean for Ukraine and for efforts to end the war? Jake Sullivan and Jon …
Notas do episódio
President Trump has struck a diesel deal with Russia as fuel prices squeeze Americans. But what does easing restrictions on Russian exports mean for Ukraine and for efforts to end the war? Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer examine the deal’s potential economic impact, the growing tension between Washington and Kyiv, and the prospects for an energy ceasefire as winter approaches.
Then, renewed fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis raises difficult questions about American commitments in the Middle East. With Saudi airports and energy infrastructure under attack, could the United States or Israel enter the fight? What could either accomplish?
Finally, an Options Memo for NATO’s Secretary General: How should the alliance respond if Russian sabotage kills civilians in a member country? Jake and Jon weigh “light,” “medium,” and “heavy” responses, exploring the challenge of restoring deterrence without triggering a wider war. Listen for the hard choices behind the headlines and the risks each carries.
Access to video versions of exclusive podcast segments, transcripts, and more on Substack: https://thelonggame.substack.com/
Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@podlonggame
Email Jake and Jon at [email protected].
Follow The Long Game so you never miss an episode. New episodes drop weekly.
The Long Game is produced by the Vox Media Podcast Network.
References and supplemental materials
Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich, Supreme Allied Commander Europe, NATO, Theory of Victory: How Do We Achieve Military Success Against Russia in Deterrence and Defence?, Warsaw Security Forum, October 12, 2026.
Feras Dalatey, “Amazon's AWS is unable to restore access to Bahrain, one UAE cloud data zone after war damage,” Reuters, September 15, 2026
Photo credit: Mohammed HUWAIS / AFP via Getty Images
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
How China Changed the Oil Market—and the Iran War
Javier Blas, Bloomberg Opinion’s energy and commodities columnist, joins Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer to explain why the Iran war has produced an oil market few expected: crude prices hovering around $100 a …
Notas do episódio
Javier Blas, Bloomberg Opinion’s energy and commodities columnist, joins Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer to explain why the Iran war has produced an oil market few expected: crude prices hovering around $100 a barrel while tankers are braving missile attacks, and sharper pain for people buying diesel, jet fuel, and heating oil.
How has China’s retreat from the oil market changed the pressure on Washington and Tehran? Why are some traders reluctant to bet on higher prices even when they fear escalation? And how long can the improvised system keeping oil moving through the Strait of Hormuz hold together?
Access to video versions of exclusive podcast segments, transcripts, and more on Substack: https://thelonggame.substack.com/
Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@podlonggame
Email Jake and Jon at [email protected].
Follow The Long Game so you never miss an episode. New episodes drop weekly.
The Long Game is produced by the Vox Media Podcast Network.
Photo credit: Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Anne Applebaum on the Grifters and Ideologues Reshaping US Foreign Policy
Anne Applebaum, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and staff writer at The Atlantic, joins Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer to discuss how far-right ideology and private profit have become intertwined in the Trump …
Notas do episódio
Anne Applebaum, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and staff writer at The Atlantic, joins Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer to discuss how far-right ideology and private profit have become intertwined in the Trump administration’s approach to the world; the subject of her new cover story for The Atlantic.
They also examine the opaque U.S. oil arrangements in Venezuela, the campaign for political influence in Greenland, and the difficult work of rebuilding American institutions and alliances after Trump.
For paid subscribers, Jake and Jon continue their conversation with Anne Applebaum. She details what changes to the White House and the Kennedy Center reveal about political power and culture in Washington.Subscribe to Long Game + on Apple or Substack for access and to support the show.
Access video versions of exclusive podcast segments, transcripts, and more on Substack: https://thelonggame.substack.com/
Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@podlonggame
Email Jake and Jon at [email protected].
Follow The Long Game so you never miss an episode. New episodes drop weekly.
The Long Game is produced by the Vox Media Podcast Network.
Photo Credit: Viktor Kovalchuk/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The U.S.–China Relationship Is Moving in Two Directions
PHOTO CREDIT China experts Jessica Chen Weiss, David M. Lampton Professor of China Studies at Johns Hopkins SAIS, and Julian Gewirtz, fellow at Harvard’s Belfer Center and senior research scholar at Columbia …
Notas do episódio
PHOTO CREDIT
China experts Jessica Chen Weiss, David M. Lampton Professor of China Studies at Johns Hopkins SAIS, and Julian Gewirtz, fellow at Harvard’s Belfer Center and senior research scholar at Columbia University, join Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington.
What does Xi hope to secure from President Trump—and what should the United States seek in return? Could the current truce become a durable détente, or is the relationship moving in two directions at once: greater stability at the top and deeper competition underneath? And as concern grows about advanced AI, can Washington and Beijing reduce the risks without resolving their fundamental distrust?
The conversation also examines Taiwan, rare-earth export controls, China’s expanding global role, and the choices that could shape the relationship long after this week’s summit.
For paid subscribers, Jake and Jon break down President Trump’s United Nations General Assembly speech in a special segment. Subscribe to Long Game + on Apple or Substack for access and to support the show.
Access video versions of exclusive podcast segments, transcripts, and more on Substack: https://thelonggame.substack.com/
Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@podlonggame
Email Jake and Jon at [email protected].
Follow The Long Game so you never miss an episode. New episodes drop weekly.
The Long Game is produced by the Vox Media Podcast Network.
Photo Credit:
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
U.S. Intelligence Under Assault and the High-Stakes AI Race With China
Julia Curlee, a former CIA analyst and acting senior director at the National Security Council, joins Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer to explain why she believes America’s intelligence system is being weakened from …
Notas do episódio
Julia Curlee, a former CIA analyst and acting senior director at the National Security Council, joins Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer to explain why she believes America’s intelligence system is being weakened from within.
Curlee also discusses her experience briefing Vice President Mike Pence and why she left government after nearly 20 years. After the interview, Then to argue for and against reaching a deal with the U.S. and continuing Beijing’s open-weight strategy.
Access video versions of exclusive podcast segments, transcripts, and more on Substack: https://thelonggame.substack.com/
Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@podlonggame
Email Jake and Jon at [email protected].
Follow The Long Game so you never miss an episode. New episodes drop weekly.
The Long Game is produced by the Vox Media Podcast Network.
Photo Credit : Julia Curlee
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
25 Years After 9/11: Admiral McRaven’s Warning for America
25 Years After 9/11: Admiral McRaven’s Warning for America Retired Admiral William H. McRaven, former commander of U.S. Special Operations Command and Joint Special Operations Command, joins Jake Sullivan and …
Notas do episódio
25 Years After 9/11: Admiral McRaven’s Warning for America
Retired Admiral William H. McRaven, former commander of U.S. Special Operations Command and Joint Special Operations Command, joins Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer as the country marks the 25th anniversary of 9/11. McRaven recalls watching the attacks while recovering from a parachute accident, and later planning and executing the operation that brought Osama bin Laden to justice.
They also examine why the Trump administration’s unexplained removal of senior military leaders could weaken candid advice and military preparedness; how special operations must adapt from counterterrorism to competition with major powers; and why America’s alliances remain essential to its security.
Access video versions of exclusive podcast segments, transcripts, and more on Substack: https://thelonggame.substack.com/
Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@podlonggame
Email Jake and Jon at [email protected].
Follow The Long Game so you never miss an episode. New episodes drop weekly.
The Long Game is produced by the Vox Media Podcast Network.
Photo credit: TSgt Rob Hazelett, PublicDomain
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Iran’s “Economic D-Day” and the US-Canada Rupture
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the U.S. is entering “the endgame” with Iran, launching what he calls an “economic D-Day.” Closer to home, U.S.-Canada trade talks have collapsed after Prime Minister Mark …
Notas do episódio
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the U.S. is entering “the endgame” with Iran, launching what he calls an “economic D-Day.” Closer to home, U.S.-Canada trade talks have collapsed after Prime Minister Mark Carney rejected Washington’s latest demands.
Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer examine whether Operation Economic Outcast can change Iran’s calculus, why China holds the key, and why Canadians are backing a trade fight they expect to hurt. They also stage a Red Team/Blue Team debate over President Trump’s new cyber memo, which allows private companies to conduct offensive operations against foreign cybercriminals. Jon makes the case for the so-called cyber privateers, while Jake lays out the risks.
Subscribe to The Long Game+ on Apple podcasts or on Substack for access to exclusive segments. This week, Jake and Jon tackle two listener questions: What should we make of CIA Director John Ratcliffe’s unannounced trip to Moscow? And, how did Jake and Jon manage the physical and mental toll of their years as national security advisors?
Video versions of exclusive podcast segments, transcripts, and more available on Substack: https://thelonggame.substack.com/
Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@podlonggame
Email Jake and Jon at [email protected].
Follow The Long Game so you never miss an episode. New episodes drop weekly.
The Long Game is produced by the Vox Media Podcast Network.
Photo by ANDREJ IVANOV / AFP via Getty Images
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Corruption in a Shameless Age (with Patrick Radden Keefe)
Acclaimed investigative journalist and New Yorker staff writer Patrick Radden Keefe joins Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer to discuss his new book, London Falling. They discuss London’s dirty-money economy, “Say …
Notas do episódio
Acclaimed investigative journalist and New Yorker staff writer Patrick Radden Keefe joins Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer to discuss his new book, London Falling.
They discuss London’s dirty-money economy, “Say Nothing” and the unfinished business of the Good Friday Agreement, whether the CIA helped spread the Scorpions’ “Wind of Change” behind the Iron Curtain, what a year inside the Pentagon taught Patrick about Washington, and why powerful people rarely see themselves as villains. At the end, Patrick, Jake and Jon share their summer reading list.
In an exclusive segment for subscribers to The Long Game+ on Apple or Substack: Patrick, Jake, and Jon examine how Trump-era impunity and outrage fatigue can normalize corruption.
Access to video versions of exclusive podcast segments, transcripts, and more on Substack: https://thelonggame.substack.com/
Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@podlonggame
Email Jake and Jon at [email protected].
Follow The Long Game so you never miss an episode. New episodes drop weekly.
The Long Game is produced by the Vox Media Podcast Network.
Photo credit: Albert Llop/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Can Europe Defend Itself Without America? Radek Sikorski on NATO & Ukraine
Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radosław “Radek” Sikorski joins Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer to assess Europe’s security at a moment of growing strain in the transatlantic alliance. They …
Notas do episódio
Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radosław “Radek” Sikorski joins Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer to assess Europe’s security at a moment of growing strain in the transatlantic alliance.
They discuss whether Europe can deter Russia with a reduced US military presence, how NATO should respond to Russian sabotage and possible false-flag operations, and whether America can still be counted on if Article 5 is tested.
Sikorski also lays out Ukraine’s possible path to victory, the pressure building on Russia’s economy, the prospects for tougher sanctions, China’s leverage over Vladimir Putin, and why he sees the European Union as a strategic shield for Poland and Ukraine.
Then, Jake and Jon discuss Sikorski’s strikingly cautious assessment of the US commitment to NATO—and revisit the closest they came to an Article 5 crisis while serving in the Biden administration.
For subscribers to The Long Game+ on Apple Podcasts: Jake and Jon break down the FCC’s new restrictions on foreign-made humanoid robots and connected power inverters—and what the action reveals about the widening US technology competition with China.
Subscribe to The Long Game on Substack for access to video versions of exclusive podcast segments, transcripts, and more: https://thelonggame.substack.com/
Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@podlonggame
Email Jake and Jon at [email protected].
Follow The Long Game so you never miss an episode. New episodes drop weekly.
The Long Game is produced by the Vox Media Podcast Network.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Why Zelensky Fired His War Chiefs & Where Trump's Iran War Goes Next
Zelensky just fired his defense minister, his top general, and his prime minister in a single reshuffle — and thousands of Ukrainians poured into the streets. Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer unpack what's really …
Notas do episódio
Zelensky just fired his defense minister, his top general, and his prime minister in a single reshuffle — and thousands of Ukrainians poured into the streets. Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer unpack what's really driving it: a generational war over how to fight, Zelensky's wariness of rivals who outshine him, and a reckoning over corruption in military procurement. They trace how Ukraine's homegrown drone industry — now the front line of the war — grew out of a 2023 "tech sprint," and why it may soon make Ukraine one of the world's largest arms exporters.
Then, Iran. With the ceasefire dead and the Strait of Hormuz closed, Jake and Jon reopen their "options memo" — keep striking, cut a deal, go for a knockout blow, or walk away.
Subscribe to The Long Game on Substack for access to exclusive podcast segments, transcripts, and more: https://thelonggame.substack.com/
Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube.
Email Jake and Jon at [email protected].
Follow The Long Game so you never miss an episode. New episodes drop weekly.
The Long Game is produced by the Vox Media Podcast Network.
Photo credit: Danylo Antoniuk/Anadolu via Getty Images
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Trump’s Election Playbook, Explained by Jocelyn Benson
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson joins Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer to discuss the security of the 2026 midterm elections — just a day before President Trump’s primetime Thursday address, expected to …
Notas do episódio
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson joins Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer to discuss the security of the 2026 midterm elections — just a day before President Trump’s primetime Thursday address, expected to focus in part on “election integrity.”
They discuss Trump’s claims about noncitizen voting, the SAVE Act, efforts to access state voter rolls, the dismantling of federal election security infrastructure, and whether federal agents could be deployed to polling places.
Then Jake and Jon debate whether Russia might escalate against NATO as Ukraine gains ground — and what that would mean for the alliance.
For subscribers to the Long Game+ on Apple: Jake and Jon break down the latest on Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, including the unraveling ceasefire and Trump’s decision to reimpose a blockade of Iranian exports.
Subscribe to The Long Game on Substack for access to video versions of exclusive podcast segments, transcripts, and more.
Follow The Long Game so you never miss an episode. New episodes drop weekly.
Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube.
Email Jake and Jon at [email protected].
The Long Game is produced by the Vox Media Podcast Network.
Photo credit: Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Heather Cox Richardson on Democracy, Alliances, and America's Future
Historian and author of the “Letters From An American” newsletter Heather Cox Richardson joined Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer to discuss the historical roots of today's political moment, the relationship between …
Notas do episódio
Historian and author of the “Letters From An American” newsletter Heather Cox Richardson joined Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer to discuss the historical roots of today's political moment, the relationship between American democracy and U.S. global leadership, the future of the international order, and what a new foreign policy for the 21st century could look like.
Follow The Long Game so you never miss an episode. New episodes drop weekly.
For exclusive podcast segments, become a member of the Long Game on Substack or Apple.
Show notes are available here.
Transcript here.
Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube.
Email Jake and Jon at [email protected].
The Long Game is produced by the Vox Media Podcast Network.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
America at 250: A Net Assessment (w/ Robert Kagan)
As the United States approaches its 250th birthday, how should Americans assess the country's strength, its democracy, and its role in the world? Recorded live at the Aspen Ideas Festival, Jake Sullivan and Jon …
Notas do episódio
As the United States approaches its 250th birthday, how should Americans assess the country's strength, its democracy, and its role in the world?
Recorded live at the Aspen Ideas Festival, Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer are joined by historian and foreign policy scholar Robert Kagan for a wide-ranging conversation on America's future. Drawing on four decades of writing about American power and the international order, Kagan argues that the United States is living through two historic shifts at once: a renewed struggle over American identity at home and a retreat from the global leadership that defined the post-World War II era.
Topics covered:
Whether the United States is entering a genuinely multipolar world
The future of NATO, Europe, China, and Taiwan
Democratic backsliding and the resilience of American institutions
What America's role in the world should look like over the next quarter century
Jake and Jon also challenge Kagan on Iraq, Iran, the use of American power abroad, and whether the United States can rebuild trust with its allies after the Trump era.
Follow The Long Game so you never miss an episode. New episodes drop weekly.
For exclusive podcast segments, become a member of the Long Game on Substack or Apple.
Show notes are available here.
Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube.
Transcript here.
Email Jake and Jon at [email protected].
The Long Game is produced by the Vox Media Podcast Network.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Timothy Snyder on Iran, Ukraine, and the Future of Freedom
Historian and “On Tyranny” author Timothy Snyder joins Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer to discuss the Iran war and ceasefire negotiations, the state of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, how Ukraine has transformed drone …
Notas do episódio
Historian and “On Tyranny” author Timothy Snyder joins Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer to discuss the Iran war and ceasefire negotiations, the state of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, how Ukraine has transformed drone warfare, what these wars reveal about the limits of American military power, and what a positive vision of freedom looks like for the United States as it approaches its 250th anniversary.
Follow The Long Game so you never miss an episode. New episodes drop weekly.
Show notes are available here.
Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube.
Transcript here.
Email Jake and Jon at [email protected].
The Long Game is produced by the Vox Media Podcast Network.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Did America Lose the Iran War? (w/ Ambassador Wendy Sherman)
President Trump says the war with Iran is over. But what exactly did the United States agree to? Ambassador Wendy Sherman, the lead U.S. negotiator of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, joins Jake Sullivan and Jon …
Notas do episódio
President Trump says the war with Iran is over. But what exactly did the United States agree to?
Ambassador Wendy Sherman, the lead U.S. negotiator of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, joins Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer to assess the new U.S.-Iran agreement and explain why she believes it gives Tehran significant concessions while securing few meaningful nuclear constraints in return.
Topics covered:
Whether the United States or Iran emerged with greater leverage from the war
The future of Iran's nuclear program and its economic windfall through sanctions relief and Strait of Hormuz fees
What the deal means for Israel, the Gulf states, and the broader Middle East
Why diplomacy requires expertise, patience, and direct engagement with adversaries
Jake and Jon also discuss whether Congress will review the agreement, what it could mean for Russia and global energy markets, and other stories they're watching in the weeks ahead.
For transcripts, exclusive podcast segments, and more, subscribe to The Long Game on Substack. On Apple Podcasts, subscribe to The Long Game+ for exclusive audio. This week, paid subscribers get access to an exclusive segment in which Jake and Jon share behind-the-scenes stories from their own negotiations with Iranian officials during the Obama administration, including late-night bargaining sessions in Vienna, secret talks in Oman, and some of the unexpected moments that helped shape the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.
Follow The Long Game so you never miss an episode. New episodes drop weekly.
Show notes are available here.
Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube.
Transcript here.
Email Jake and Jon at [email protected].
The Long Game is produced by the Vox Media Podcast Network.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
What the World Cup Reveals About Global Politics (w/ Franklin Foer)
As the World Cup kicks off, what can soccer tell us about the state of the world? Franklin Foer, author of “How Soccer Explains the World,” joins the show to discuss why the world's most popular sport remains …
Notas do episódio
As the World Cup kicks off, what can soccer tell us about the state of the world?
Franklin Foer, author of “How Soccer Explains the World,” joins the show to discuss why the world's most popular sport remains one of the best lenses for understanding nationalism, globalization, identity, and political power. More than twenty years after the book's original publication, Foer reflects on how globalization reshaped the game, why national identity remains a powerful force, and what the World Cup reveals about today's geopolitical landscape.
Topics covered:
Why globalization often strengthened nationalism rather than weakened it
The possibility of a U.S.-Iran World Cup showdown on American soil
The roles of Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and the growing intersection of sports and geopolitics
President Trump’s relationship with FIFA
Subscribe to The Long Game on Substack for exclusive video content, transcripts, and more. This week, paid subscribers receive the inaugural edition of The Wrap, where Jake and Jon share what they're reading, revisit something they may have gotten wrong, and discuss the issues they're watching most closely.
Follow The Long Game so you never miss an episode. New episodes drop weekly.
Show notes are available here.
Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube.
Transcript here.
Email Jake and Jon at [email protected].
The Long Game is produced by the Vox Media Podcast Network.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Is Ukraine Now Winning the War Against Russia? (w/Michael Kofman)
More than four years into the Russia-Ukraine war, has the battlefield finally begun to shift? Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer sit down with Michael Kofman, one of the leading analysts of the conflict, fresh off a …
Notas do episódio
More than four years into the Russia-Ukraine war, has the battlefield finally begun to shift?
Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer sit down with Michael Kofman, one of the leading analysts of the conflict, fresh off a trip to Ukraine's frontlines. Kofman argues that Ukraine is in its strongest position since 2023 and explains why Russia's grinding offensive may be running out of steam. Together, they discuss how Ukraine used drones and battlefield innovation to offset Russian advantages, why Moscow's military strategy is producing diminishing returns, and what it would take to translate recent developments on the battlefield into a lasting political settlement.
They discuss:
Why Kofman believes Ukraine has gained the advantage for the first time in years
How drones and decentralized defense production have transformed the battlefield
Whether Russia can be convinced that continuing the war is futile
Subscribe to The Long Game on Substack for exclusive video content, transcripts, and more. This week, paid subscribers will receive a special mailbag segment where Jake and Jon answer listener questions.
Follow The Long Game so you never miss an episode. New episodes drop weekly.
Show notes are available here.
Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube.
Transcript here.
Email Jake and Jon at [email protected].
The Long Game is produced by the Vox Media Podcast Network.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Iran Talks and Trump’s Cuba Strategy w/Ricardo Zúñiga
President Trump is simultaneously pursuing peace talks with Iran while escalating U.S. military pressure in the region following recent strikes. Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer revisit the policy options most …
Notas do episódio
President Trump is simultaneously pursuing peace talks with Iran while escalating U.S. military pressure in the region following recent strikes. Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer revisit the policy options most likely facing the administration and walk through how they would advise the president at this moment of escalation and diplomacy.
Then, Ricardo Zúñiga, former Senior Director for Western Hemisphere Affairs at the National Security Council and one of the architects of the Obama administration’s opening to Cuba, joins to discuss:
The politics behind U.S.-Cuba policy
What Obama was trying to achieve through engagement with Havana
How Trump’s approach to Cuba and Latin America has changed in his second term
The likelihood that the U.S. will undertake some form of military action in Cuba
Whether sanctions and pressure campaigns still create meaningful leverage
How Venezuela reshaped U.S. thinking about authoritarian regimes in the hemisphere
Follow The Long Game so you never miss an episode. New episodes drop weekly.
Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube.
Show notes are available here.
Transcript coming soon.
Email Jake and Jon at [email protected].
The Long Game is produced by the Vox Media Podcast Network.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
America’s Cybersecurity Crisis Starts With Software (w/Jen Easterly)
President Trump is preparing to sign a major executive order on AI and cybersecurity at a moment of growing concern over cyber threats from China, Russia, Iran, and criminal ransomware gangs. Jen Easterly …
Notas do episódio
President Trump is preparing to sign a major executive order on AI and cybersecurity at a moment of growing concern over cyber threats from China, Russia, Iran, and criminal ransomware gangs.
Jen Easterly, former Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and now CEO of RSAC, the world's largest cybersecurity community, joins Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer to discuss:
Why America has a software security problem, not just a cybersecurity problem
How insecure software shifted risk from tech companies onto consumers
Why AI tools like Mythos and GPT-5.5 Cyber could fundamentally change cyber defense
What China’s Volt Typhoon campaign revealed about U.S. infrastructure vulnerabilities
How cyber warfare has shaped conflicts in Ukraine and Iran
Jake and Jon close the episode with a discussion of the latest developments in the Iran war, rising tensions around Cuba, the Ebola outbreak in the Congo, and President Trump’s summit with Xi Jinping in Beijing.
Follow The Long Game so you never miss an episode. New episodes drop weekly.
Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube.
Show notes are available here.
Transcript coming soon.
Email Jake and Jon at [email protected].
The Long Game is produced by the Vox Media Podcast Network.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
China’s Strategy for Trump (w/Kurt Campbell)
President Trump heads to Beijing for a high-stakes summit with Xi Jinping at a moment of growing instability in the Middle East and rising anxiety across Asia. In this episode, former U.S. Deputy Secretary of …
Notas do episódio
President Trump heads to Beijing for a high-stakes summit with Xi Jinping at a moment of growing instability in the Middle East and rising anxiety across Asia.
In this episode, former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell joins Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer to preview the summit and discuss:
Why China increasingly believes the United States is in decline
Xi Jinping’s read of Donald Trump
Whether Trump might shift U.S. policy on Taiwan or semiconductor export controls
How the Iran war is factoring into China’s strategy
What comes next in the U.S.-China competition
Follow The Long Game so you never miss an episode. New episodes drop weekly.
Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube.
Transcript here.
Email Jake and Jon at [email protected].
The Long Game is produced by the Vox Media Podcast Network.
REFERENCES & SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS:
“How China hopes to win from the war,” The Economist, April 1, 2026.
"The Stakes of Trump vs. Xi," Kurt Campbell, Foreign Affairs, May 2026.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Iran War & Trump’s Europe Troop Drawdown: What Comes Next?
Iran war developments, including new signs of a potential deal, UAE’s withdrawal from OPEC, and what weeks of conflict have revealed about U.S. leverage. In this episode, Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer discuss …
Notas do episódio
Iran war developments, including new signs of a potential deal, UAE’s withdrawal from OPEC, and what weeks of conflict have revealed about U.S. leverage.
In this episode, Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer discuss:
- Why a deal with Iran may be inevitable but harder to reach now
- How markets, military risks, and politics are shaping Trump’s strategy
- Warnings about depleted U.S. munitions
- Why the UAE is leaving OPEC and what it says about tensions with Saudi Arabia
- A Red Team/Blue Team debate on in U.S. reducing troops in Europe
Follow The Long Game so you never miss an episode.
New episodes drop weekly.
Watch the video of this episode on YouTube.
Show notes are available here.
Transcript available here.
Email Jake and Jon at [email protected].
The Long Game is produced by the Vox Media Podcast Network.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
China’s Engineering State vs. America’s Lawyerly Society (w/Dan Wang)
Dan Wang, author of Breakneck, breaks down the divide between China’s “engineering state” and America’s “lawyerly society” and what that means for the future of U.S.-China competition. Wang joined Jake and Jon …
Notas do episódio
Dan Wang, author of Breakneck, breaks down the divide between China’s “engineering state” and America’s “lawyerly society” and what that means for the future of U.S.-China competition.
Wang joined Jake and Jon before a live audience at the Endless Frontiers conference in Austin, Texas.
In this episode:
- Why China builds at scale and why the U.S. often struggles to keep up
- The strengths and limits of China’s model, from manufacturing to social policy
- A closer look at Xi Jinping’s leadership and decision-making
- Why “process knowledge” is key to rebuilding American capacity
Follow The Long Game so you never miss an episode. New episodes drop weekly.
Watch the video of this episode on YouTube.
Show notes are available here. Transcript coming soon.
Join us on Substack. Email Jake and Jon at [email protected].
The Long Game is produced by the Vox Media Podcast Network.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Debating the War in Iran and U.S. Strategy (w/H.R. McMaster and Matt Pottinger)
H.R. McMaster and Matt Pottinger, former National Security Adviser and Deputy National Security Adviser to President Trump in his first administration, join Jake and Jon for a wide-ranging conversation on Iran …
Notas do episódio
H.R. McMaster and Matt Pottinger, former National Security Adviser and Deputy National Security Adviser to President Trump in his first administration, join Jake and Jon for a wide-ranging conversation on Iran, China, and how national security decisions get made at the highest level.
Drawing on their time in the White House, they debate the decision to go to war with Iran, the nature of Iran’s nuclear program, and what a successful outcome would even look like. As McMaster puts it, “a lot of times you’re looking at the least bad option.”
Follow The Long Game so you never miss an episode.
New episodes drop weekly.
Watch the video of this episode on YouTube.
Show notes are available here.
Transcript coming soon.
Join us on Substack.
Email Jake and Jon at [email protected].
The Long Game is produced by the Vox Media Podcast Network.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
John Kerry on Iran, Israel, and Diplomacy
Former Secretary of State John Kerry, who has spent more time negotiating with Iranian leaders than anyone, joins Jake and Jon to discuss the marathon diplomacy efforts that resulted in the JCPOA, Trump’s …
Notas do episódio
Former Secretary of State John Kerry, who has spent more time negotiating with Iranian leaders than anyone, joins Jake and Jon to discuss the marathon diplomacy efforts that resulted in the JCPOA, Trump’s decision to strike Iran, the likelihood of a deal, the prospects for a two state solution between Israel and Palestinians, and the future of the U.S.-Israel relationship. Then, Jake and Jon discuss Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s surprising defeat in Hungary’s election and what his loss means for the MAGA movement, Trump’s relationship to Europe’s far right, and Ukraine.
Follow The Long Game so you never miss an episode. New episodes drop weekly.
Watch the video of this episode on YouTube.
For show notes and transcripts, find and follow us on Substack.
Email Jake and Jon at [email protected].
The Long Game is produced by the Vox Media Podcast Network.
Photo credit: Thomas Imo/Photothek via Getty Images
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Iran Ceasefire Explained: Winners, Losers, and What Comes Next
Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer break down the ceasefire between the United States and Iran, announced Tuesday evening. They walk through how the deal came together from President Trump’s escalating rhetoric to …
Notas do episódio
Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer break down the ceasefire between the United States and Iran, announced Tuesday evening.
They walk through how the deal came together from President Trump’s escalating rhetoric to Pakistan’s role as an unlikely intermediary and assess what the ceasefire actually is, and what it isn’t.
They also break down the deeper questions about what the U.S. achieved, what Iran gained, and how this reshapes the strategic balance going forward.
Topics discussed:
What the ceasefire includes and address the major gaps that remain
Why Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz may be the most important outcome of the war
What could come out of the upcoming negotiations, including the future of Iran’s nuclear stockpile
The impact of the war on U.S. deterrence, military readiness, and global credibility
The broader implications for Russia, China, NATO, and the U.S.-Israel relationship
At the end of the episode, Jake and Jon open up the Long Game mailbag for the first time, answering listener questions on targeted assassinations, Russia’s status as a great power, what’s next for Cuba, and why they started the podcast after leaving the government.
Follow The Long Game so you never miss an episode. New episodes drop weekly.
Watch the video of this episode on YouTube.
Show notes are available here.
Transcript available here.
Join us on Substack. Email Jake and Jon at [email protected].
The Long Game is produced by the Vox Media Podcast Network.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Trump's Iran Speech & Debating the Deal
One month into the war with Iran, President Trump addressed the nation in prime time — but instead of clarity, the same big questions remain about how this war ends. This week, Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer break …
Notas do episódio
One month into the war with Iran, President Trump addressed the nation in prime time — but instead of clarity, the same big questions remain about how this war ends. This week, Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer break down what the president said, what he didn’t say, and what it reveals about where this war is heading. They then take on a Red Team / Blue Team exercise: Jon argues to Iran’s leadership that it should take the deal; Jake makes the hardline case that Iran should stand firm and let America suffer.
Follow The Long Game so you never miss an episode. New episodes drop weekly.
Watch the video of this episode on YouTube.
For show notes and transcripts, find and follow us on Substack.
Email Jake and Jon at [email protected].
The Long Game is produced by the Vox Media Podcast Network.
Photo credit: Photographer: Alex Brandon/AP Photo/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Aqui estão os 40 episódios mais recentes de 50. Os mais antigos estão no feed do podcast.
Podcasts parecidos
Mais podcasts de Notícias
Este podcast é seu?
Confirme com uma entrada no seu feed: você recebe um código aqui, adiciona como podcast:txt no canal do seu feed e nós verificamos. Depois disso, seu podcast aparece como “verificado” no SoundNode.