Institute for Global Affairs

High school juniors passionate about world politics - apply now to IGA’s Summer Geopolitics Academy! Prepare for a degree and career in geopolitics. Visit our website for eligibility details and application instructions and spread the word. DEADLINE: APRIL 6

This map shows the Iranian South Pars natural gas field, which was targeted by Israeli attacks today. In retaliation, Iran escalated attacks against energy sites within Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and the UAE.

@mattduss @PodcastNOTA noneoftheaboveegfpodcast.libsyn.com/how-democrats-…

Breaking the Foreign Policy Cartel | @mattduss Listen to the full conversation on @PodcastNOTA, wherever you get your podcasts.

Answer: Cuba. The island has faced fuel shortages for months, since the US halted oil shipping from Venezuela and Mexico. Trump remarked on Sunday that ‘we’re going to do Iran before Cuba’, and later told reporters on Monday that he believes that he’ll ‘take Cuba’.

Which country faced a 29-hour national blackout this week, as the result of a US blockade?

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What should the Democrats' foreign policy look like? On this episode of None Of The Above, host @mideastXmidwest is joined by @mattduss, EVP at the @CIPolicy and former adviser to Senator Bernie Sanders. Topics include: AOC at Munich, Biden's mistakes, and the response to the Iran war.

How Democrats Can Reimagine Foreign Policy "The Democratic foreign policy cartel seems completely allergic to making bold, courageous arguments," @mattduss tells me on @PodcastNOTA. "What breaks it is, first of all, candidates who are willing to reach beyond the usual suspects when they're building their foreign policy teams. "What breaks it is Democratic candidates, both for Congress and for the presidency in 2028, saying, I am not going to speak to these people. I will not be seeking advice from the people who helped perpetrate the Gaza genocide — in a similar vein, the way that Bernie in 2016, really hit a nerve when he responded, 'I'm glad to say that Henry Kissinger is not my friend.' That was not just about Henry Kissinger. That was challenging the idea of the foreign policy cartel. "Ultimately, what's going to kind of smash this foreign policy cartel is a progressive Democrat who can win the presidency and populate their administration with people with new ideas, people who aren't marinated and mentored in the old thinking, and that's going to take a lot of work." Tune into the latest episode of None Of The Above for a deep-dive with Duss, a former adviser to Bernie who is now building a new progressive bench in Washington at @CIPolicy. We discuss how Democrats are responding to Trump's wars, where President Biden went wrong on the Middle East, and what a new foreign policy vision could look like. 🎧Tune in wherever you listen to podcasts.

This map shows attacks against civilian vessels in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman since the Iran War began. Iran has closed the strait to most shipping as retaliation for the US-Israeli attack on its country. Iran continues to export oil via the strait.

@mideastXmidwest @colinmcshow ctpublic.org/show/the-colin…

Trump's unconventional diplomats | @mideastXmidwest Listen to the full conversation on @colinmcshow.

This map shows the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping passage that has been brought to a standstill in recent weeks by the Iran War. In 2024, 27% of the global maritime oil trade passed through the Strait of Hormuz.

Americans no longer trust Washington to lead in moments of global crisis, writes IGA's Leigh O’Neill. Instead, they turn to local government. That makes it all the more important that community leaders engage internationally. Read Leigh's full argument in @thehill.

Nobody wants the Iran War, says IGA's @mideastXmidwest. Trump's war might lead to trouble with Americans at home. Read more in @TheProspect prospect.org/2026/03/03/blo…

This map shows strikes across Lebanon and Israel. Israel ordered the evacuation of southern Lebanon last week, after Hezbollah attacked Israel. Lebanon has become one of the most active fronts in the Iran War, with 800k+ people forcibly displaced by the Israeli campaign.