Why Orbán's Loss Matters
The video examines why the defeat of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán matters beyond Hungary’s borders, highlighting his outsized role in Europe’s far‑right resurgence and his strategic importance to Moscow and Beijing. Orbán’s 16‑year tenure made him a bellwether for hard‑right governance, from inspiring European nationalist parties to blocking a €90 billion EU loan to Ukraine as leverage for frozen Hungarian funds. He was the only EU leader to meet Vladimir Putin in Moscow twice after the invasion, giving Russia a rare diplomatic foothold. Budapest also cultivated deep ties with China: its foreign minister met the Chinese counterpart 27 times, Hungary joined the Belt and Road Initiative, and BYD opened the continent’s first major Chinese battery plant, positioning the country as a gateway to the European EV market. Orbán’s loss could weaken the far‑right coalition, reduce Russia’s leverage over the EU, and diminish China’s bridgehead into Europe, reshaping geopolitical dynamics and prompting Brussels to reassess its strategic partnerships.
The U.S. and Israel’s War With Iran: Where Do We Go From Here?
The Carnegie Connects panel examined the rapidly evolving U.S.–Israel conflict with Iran, now seven weeks old, and the looming diplomatic overtures that could reshape the war’s trajectory. Host Aaron Miller framed the discussion around the unexpected durability of Iran’s political...
What Does Russia Gain From War in Iran?
The video examines how Russia stands to profit from the escalating conflict in the Persian Gulf, focusing on fiscal, geopolitical and sanctions‑related dimensions. Higher global oil prices and the temporary U.S. waiver on Russian crude shipments are delivering extra revenue to...
The Future of Russian Power: Threat Perceptions, Military Reconstitution, and Economic Constraints
The Carnegie Endowment launched a comprehensive project examining the future of Russian power, arguing that Moscow will emerge from the Ukraine war more insecure, unrepentant, and determined to reshape Europe’s security environment. The initiative maps out seven analytical pillars: shifting...
A Garbage Bag Crisis in South Korea?
The video explains how the geopolitical tension in Iran, specifically the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, has sparked an unexpected panic‑buying spree for garbage bags in South Korea. The country’s unique waste‑management law, in place since the 1990s, requires...
India’s Middle Class Hits a Breaking Point
The podcast spotlights "Break Point: The Crisis of the Middle Class and the Future of Work," a new book arguing that India’s once‑vibrant middle class – roughly 40 million income‑tax‑paying households – is at its most vulnerable since the 1991 liberalisation....
A Conversation on U.S. Middle East Policy With Senator Chris Murphy
The Carnegie Endowment hosted a conversation with Senator Chris Murphy to dissect the U.S.–Israel conflict with Iran and its fallout. Murphy outlined how Washington moved toward war, the strategic costs, and the domestic political pressures shaping policy. The discussion highlighted...
Aging Societies: Why Speed Matters
The video examines the global transition toward "super‑age" societies—where 20% or more of citizens are over 65—and why the pace of that transition matters. While most regions are moving toward this demographic milestone, the speed differs dramatically, shaping fiscal pressures,...
Inside The Complex: Family, Power, and India in Turmoil
Grand Tamasha hosted author Karan Mahajan to discuss his new novel, The Complex, a multigenerational saga of the fictional Chopra family set against India’s turbulent decades from the late 1970s to the early 1990s. The conversation, recorded at Carnegie’s Washington...
What Trump Really Wants From China
The video centers on a potentially historic summit between former President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, a meeting that has been delayed but could finally occur in the coming weeks. It frames the encounter as the most consequential...
Where Do Gulf States Stand on the Iran War?
The video examines how the six Gulf monarchies are positioning themselves amid the escalating US‑Israeli conflict with Iran. It frames their stances as a spectrum, from Oman’s quiet mediation to the United Arab Emirates’ overt security coordination with Washington and...
What Path Forward? The Board of Peace, Gaza, and the Future of Multilateralism
The Carnegie Endowment convened a panel to assess the Board of Peace’s role in Gaza amid heightened scrutiny following the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran. The Board, backed by $4 billion in pledged Gulf investments, faces questions about World Bank financing, legal...
Can India Thrive in Trump’s World?
The podcast examines how the second Trump administration reshapes India’s foreign policy landscape. Trump’s return has introduced a more transactional, personality‑driven diplomacy, marked by abrupt tariffs, selective engagement with multilateral institutions, and an erratic China strategy that leaves Delhi...
How China Is Adjusting Its Approach to Taliban 2.0
The video examines how Beijing has reshaped its policy toward the Taliban‑run Afghan state, emphasizing a dual security‑economic agenda after the group reclaimed power in 2021. China’s approach is pragmatic and non‑ideological: it kept its embassy open, offers limited humanitarian assistance,...
Inside the Pentagon's AI War Machine
The video “Inside the Pentagon’s AI War Machine” examines how artificial‑intelligence systems are being integrated into U.S. combat operations, from rapid strikes in the ongoing Iran confrontation to long‑term planning for a potential conflict with China. Reporter Katrina Manson explains that...