Hudson Institute Events Podcast

Recent episodes

1. Taiwan’s National Mobilization Against the China Threat

   Jul 24, 202657 min

   As the Chinese Communist Party intensifies its campaign of political, economic, and military pressure against Taiwan, the island's government and civil society have moved to strengthen national resilience on multiple fronts. Please join Hudson Institute’s China Center as Miles Yu hosts a panel with key members of Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan and the Democratic Progressive Party to examine Taiwan’s mobilization efforts against the CCP’s increasing threats. The discussion will address Taiwan's ability to counter disinformation and cognitive warfare, strengthen supply chain and economic security, and build public awareness of gray zone tactics. The panel will also address how Taiwan engages with international partners to reinforce democratic resilience in the face of sustained external pressure.

2. A Conversation on US Communications Law

   Jul 24, 202659 min

   A New Look at US Communications Law is a timely book that explores the evolution of communications law in response to new technologies. It analyzes nearly every major topic of contemporary communications law, including the public interest, common carriage, wireless communications, privacy, and the First Amendment. Join Hudson Institute Senior Fellow Robert McDowell for a discussion of the book and communications law with the authors, Harold Furchtgott-Roth, Kirk Arner, and Arielle Roth.

3. The US-Israel Economic Partnership: A Farewell Conversation with Minister Noach Hacker

   Jul 21, 202653 min

   As Minister Noach Hacker concludes his tenure as Israel's Minister of Economic Affairs in Washington, Hudson Institute's Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East invites you to join a farewell fireside chat with Senior Fellow Michael Doran. Minister Hacker has been a key advocate for deepening the US–Israel economic relationship, overseeing landmark cooperation in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and defense technology. The conversation will trace the arc of that partnership, from its foundations in joint research and development and trade to its acceleration in the wake of October 7, 2023, and the war with Iran. As the region enters a new strategic phase, Hudson is honored to host Minister Hacker for what promises to be a candid farewell discussion.

4. Takeaways from Ankara: Debriefing the 2026 NATO Summit with Representative Mike Turner

   Jul 20, 202645 min

   The 2026 North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit in Ankara, Turkey, provided significant deliverables: a €70 billion pledge of military assistance for Ukraine, President Donald Trump's announcement that Kyiv would be licensed to manufacture Patriot air defense systems, and a declaration reaffirming allied commitment to The Hague defense spending targets. But questions remain over America's evolving role in the alliance and broader European security architecture. Please join Senior Fellow Dr. Rebeccah Heinrichs and Representative Mike Turner (R-OH) to discuss the summit following his return from Ankara, where he served as part of a bipartisan congressional delegation.

5. The Western Balkans: A View from Vienna with Austrian Minister for Europe, Integration, and Family Claudia Bauer

   Jul 17, 202637 min

   Few countries in central and eastern Europe have as much influence in the Balkans as Austria. For centuries, Austria has forged deep personal connections with the region. The imperial legacy of the Austro-Hungarian Empire is visible in the architecture of Zagreb and Sarajevo, and during the Yugoslav Wars of the 1990s, refugees fled into the heart of the Alps. More recently, Vienna has been to the Balkans what Miami is to Latin America: a gateway facilitating trade and movement. Among Balkan hands in the United States, Vienna’s Schwechat airport is familiar terrain. While the US has supported programs that promote economic connectivity in the region, like the Three Seas Initiative (3SI), Austria plays a unique role in the Balkans through such areas as financial services. Moreover, Austrian officials like Valentin Inzko have shaped diplomacy in the Balkans, while the Austrian Bundesheer has deployed to the region as part of the Common Security and Defence Policy and other missions. Today, officials in Austria and elsewhere are discussing how the Western Balkans can be brought into the European Union. Join Senior Fellow Peter Rough as he welcomes Claudia Bauer, minister for Europe, Integration, and Family in the Federal Chancellery of Austria, for a policy address followed by a fireside chat on how Austria sees EU enlargement in the Western Balkans.

6. The Future of US Foreign Policy in the Middle East with Representative Mike Lawler

   Jul 17, 202650 min

   For years, the Middle East has been one of the most volatile regions in the world. And United States foreign policy toward the region often changes drastically with each administration. Today, a fundamentally new regional order is emerging. A weakened Iran has attempted to exercise strategic leverage over one of the world’s most critical waterways. Russian influence continues to recede, underscored by Bashar al-Assad’s fall in Syria, and Beijing seeks to project its influence wherever it can. Meanwhile, the US government continues to prioritize the deepening of security and economic partnerships across the Middle East, and with partners once thought to be adversaries. America’s role during this transformational period is more crucial than ever, but the US faces heightened scrutiny at home and abroad. Policymakers need to assess the current strategic environment to chart a path forward for US foreign policy in the Middle East under dramatically altered political, economic, and security dynamics. Join Representative Mike Lawler (NY-17), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, for a conversation with Senior Fellow Joel Rayburn on the emerging Middle East security order and the future of American strategy in the region.

7. Taiwan’s Institutional Defense: Countering CCP Infiltration and Transnational Repression

   Jul 13, 20261 hr 2 min

   The Chinese Communist Party’s infiltration, transnational repression, and legal warfare are no longer security challenges limited to Taiwan or the Indo-Pacific. They now increasingly threaten the United States’ national security and the resilience of democratic institutions. Taiwan stands on the front line of authoritarian influence operations and has seen firsthand how they can gradually erode democratic systems before conduct clearly crosses the threshold for criminal prosecution. So Taiwan is both a target of CCP pressure and an early warning system for the democratic world. Its experience can help the US and its allies better defend democracy and understand how authoritarian infiltration evolves. Join Hudson Institute’s China Center as Miles Yu hosts a panel examining Taiwan’s experience in handling national security cases, foreign interference, technology theft, election influence, proxy networks, and gray-zone legal warfare. The discussion will explore how authoritarian influence exploits democratic openness, social trust, local networks, and legal ambiguity.

8. Japan’s Role in the Indo-Pacific: A Conversation with Shigeru Kitamura, Former National Security Adviser of Japan

   Jul 13, 20261 hr 6 min

   Japan has emerged as a central pillar of Indo-Pacific security, playing an increasingly important role in strengthening deterrence, supporting regional stability, and deepening cooperation with the United States and other democratic partners. Join Hudson Institute Senior Fellow Jason Hsu for a conversation with the Hon. Shigeru Kitamura, former secretary general of Japan's National Security Secretariat and former director of Cabinet Intelligence. As one of Japan's foremost national security leaders and a close adviser to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Kitamura helped shape Japan's modern national security strategy and economic security architecture. The discussion will examine Japan's evolving security posture in the Indo-Pacific, the future of the US-Japan alliance, economic security resilience, and the strategic implications for the US-China relationship, Taiwan, and the broader region.

9. America’s Competitive Edge: Why Antitrust, Standards, and Intellectual Property Matter

   Jul 8, 202647 min

   Join us for an exclusive luncheon conversation with Dina Kallay, Deputy Assistant Attorney General for International, Policy, and Appellate at the United States Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division. Moderated by Hudson Senior Fellow Urska Petrovcic, the discussion will explore how antitrust, technology standards, and intellectual property shape innovation and competition in critical sectors. Kallay will also analyze what recent policy developments mean for American leadership in an increasingly competitive global landscape.

10. The Eurasian Heartland Arrives: Kyrgyzstan’s Seat on the UN Security Council

    Jul 2, 20261 hr 17 min

    For the first time in its history, Kyrgyzstan will serve on the United Nations Security Council—winning a non-permanent seat for the 2027–28 term in a vote at the UN General Assembly. It is only the second time a Central Asian nation has held this position, after Kazakhstan in 2017–18. The election reflects a broader shift in how the international community understands Central Asia’s place in global affairs. Long treated as a peripheral region, the Eurasian heartland is increasingly central to questions of connectivity and the future of the international order. Ambassador Edil Baisalov, Kyrgyzstan’s newly appointed envoy to the United States and former deputy prime minister, joins Senior Fellow Ken Moriyasu for a conversation about why Kyrgyzstan sought this seat, how it campaigned, and what it hopes to accomplish. What does Kyrgyzstan’s election signal about Central Asia’s rising profile—and what does a small, landlocked nation bring to one of the world’s most consequential tables?

11. Securing American Data: A Conversation with Congressman Nathaniel Moran

    Jul 2, 202656 min

    From surveillance-capable applications to data-harvesting platforms, foreign adversaries—particularly the Chinese Communist Party—are exploiting technology to access American data at an unprecedented scale. This information can give adversaries decisive strategic advantages and give foreign competitors an unfair footing over American businesses in global markets. Ensuring that American businesses do not rely on foreign technology is both a privacy issue and a national security imperative. Policymakers should reform incentive structures to make national security profitable for American businesses. Join Representative Nathaniel Moran (TX-01) for a fireside discussion with Senior Fellow Jason Hsu to discuss the congressman’s bill, H.R. 7509, the Deterring Adversarial Access to Americans’ Data Act, and Congress’s role in facilitating public-private understanding in an era of great power competition.

12. Securing America’s AI Advantage: A Discussion on US Export Control Policy with Senator Jim Banks and Chairman Brian Mast

    Jun 25, 202659 min

13. Advancing American Interests through Trade, Investment, and Commercial Diplomacy: A Conversation with Under Secretary of Commerce William Kimmitt

    Jun 19, 202646 min

    As technology, supply chain resilience, and economic security become increasingly central to United States foreign policy and national security, trade and investment policy has taken on a leading role in advancing American interests abroad. Critical minerals, energy, artificial intelligence, and other strategic sectors have emerged as key areas for collaboration with allies and partners as Washington works to align markets, guard against adversarial manipulation, and leverage economic gains to create national security advantages. Join Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade William Kimmitt for a discussion with Executive Vice President Joel Scanlon on how the Trump administration’s trade and investment strategy is reshaping economic partnerships with allies across areas like industrial policy, digital services, and strategic competition.

14. Deterring Russia and China: Securing America’s Nuclear Future

    Jun 18, 202647 min

    For the first time, the United States is preparing to deter two nuclear adversaries­­­, Russia and China. In today's post-New START environment, US adversaries remain committed to weakening American resolve and undermining Washington’s commitment to its allies. China is engaging in a historic expansion of its nuclear forces and has diversified its delivery systems across land, sea, and air. According to US Department of War estimates, China could possess up to 1,500 nuclear warheads by 2035. Despite the costs associated with President Vladimir Putin’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine, Russia has continued to devote significant resources to modernizing its nuclear program. Join Senior Fellow and Keystone Defense Initiative Director Dr. Rebeccah Heinrichs and Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration Brandon Williams for a discussion on the administration's priorities in strengthening the US nuclear enterprise.

15. The Annual Czech and Slovak Freedom Lecture

    Jun 17, 20261 hr 8 min

    Hudson Institute is pleased to host the 2026 annual Czech and Slovak Freedom Lecture. Established in 2000 as a joint activity of the Czech and Slovak Embassies, the American Friends of the Czech Republic, and Friends of Slovakia to commemorate the Velvet Revolution, the choice of speaker and topic alternates annually between the Czech and Slovak groups. Click here for a list of all previous lectures. This year’s speaker is H.E. Andrej Droba, Slovak ambassador to the United States, in one of his first major addresses since assuming his position in November 2025. In his lecture, "America250 and Slovak–US Relations," Ambassador Droba will celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence and reflect on the enduring partnership between Slovakia and the United States as he looks for opportunities to increase transatlantic cooperation. The lecture will be followed by a fireside chat with Matt Boyse, senior fellow, Center on Europe and Eurasia.

16. The Code as Witness: COVID Origins, Scientific Accountability, and Preventing the Next Pandemic

    Jun 17, 202659 min

    In The Code as Witness , which was published on June 9, Dr. Steven Quay shows how the genetic material of SARS-CoV-2 points directly to human engineering. He warns that irresponsible and unregulated gain-of-function research is accelerating, and that future pandemics may be far deadlier than COVID-19. The book also lays out policy recommendations that could prevent such outbreaks while still allowing important research to continue. Join Hudson as David Asher sits down with Dr. Quay for a fireside chat. Asher will bring his national security, intelligence, and investigative experience to one of the most consequential questions of our time: how the pandemic began, what the genetic evidence shows, and how the United States can prevent the next biological catastrophe. Senator Roger Marshall, who has been a leading voice for stronger oversight of high-risk biological research, will open the program by framing the stakes for Congress, national security, and public health.

17. Winning the Innovation Competition

    Jun 16, 20261 hr 49 min

    Today’s wars in Ukraine and the Middle East show how adaptation is becoming the central military competition. The side that can field new tactical or technical innovations faster gains an advantage and can impose compounding costs on enemy forces. To win this competition, the United States Department of War implemented a new strategy to accelerate new capabilities by better leveraging the private sector and focusing government research where it is uniquely needed. These changes are beginning to bear fruit on the battlefield. Artificial intelligence is arguably the Pentagon’s top technology priority. In addition to speeding planning and decision-making, AI is enabling a more adaptable US force and powering the next generation of autonomous systems. And AI is only one of several technologies where the US military can benefit from America’s world-leading commercial innovation sector. Please join Hudson Institute Senior Fellow Dan Patt for a conversation with Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering Emil Michael about the Department of War’s efforts to bring AI to the battlefield and implement an innovation strategy that makes the most of America’s commercial and government research sectors. Following a fireside chat with the under secretary, a panel will discuss how adaptation is a new source of military advantage. This event is part of Hudson Institute’s Apex Defense Conference series, which highlights the intersection of technology, military operations, and strategy. Hudson Institute hosts the Apex Conference in collaboration with Clarion Defence. To learn more about APEX 2027 participation or sponsorship opportunities, please visit apexdefense.org .

18. How to Transform the Japan Self-Defense Force for Twenty-First-Century Deterrence

    Jun 16, 20261 hr 7 min

    Please join Hudson Institute’s Center for Defense Concepts and Technology for the launch of a new report, Strengthening the Front Line: Transforming the Japan Self-Defense Force for Twenty-First-Century Deterrence. Japan’s government has committed to historic increases in defense spending—and is preparing to revise its National Defense Strategy and Defense Buildup Program before the end of 2026. But larger budgets and updated strategy documents alone will not translate into deterrence. The Japan Self-Defense Forces need a fundamentally different force design: one built around adaptability, uncrewed systems, and hedge forces tailored to how future conflict in the Indo-Pacific is likely to unfold. Join report authors Bryan Clark and David Byrd, in conversation with Masashi Murano, for a discussion of the report’s principal findings and their implications for how Japan should design and resource its future defense force.

19. Saving Ukrainian Children: A Conversation with Maksym Maksymov

    Jun 13, 202640 min

    One of the most horrific consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been Moscow’s illegal abduction of Ukrainian children. These children have not only been taken from their homeland and dispersed across the Russian Federation, but they are also being raised to forget their Ukrainian identity and, in some cases, taught to hate their native land. Bring Kids Back UA is a Ukrainian humanitarian initiative launched by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in 2023 to locate and return Ukrainian children forcibly deported or displaced by Russia. It serves as an umbrella organization, bringing together domestic and international efforts to rescue, return, and reintegrate these children. Please join Hudson Institute as it welcomes Maksym Maksymov, head of Bring Kids Back UA, to discuss his organization’s important work.

20. Helping Ukraine Defend Europe’s Skies: The Urgent Need for PAC-3 Interceptors

    Jun 12, 202638 min

    This month, Russia launched the largest wave of airstrikes in its war against Ukraine, using hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles to strike targets, including civilian infrastructure. Russia first enacted this savage way of war against the people of Grozny in the 1990s and later refined it through its atrocities in Bucha. While Ukraine has shown remarkable innovation and creativity in countering Russia’s drones, the bigger threat comes from Russia’s ballistic and hypersonic missiles. Against these weapons, there is only one combat-proven defense: the PAC-3 interceptor fired from the MIM-104 Patriot air defense system. Ukraine is running out of these interceptors at the moment they are needed most. What can the United States and its European partners do to help Ukraine mitigate the threat of Russian ballistic and hypersonic missiles, especially before winter begins? What is the nature of Russia’s ballistic and hypersonic missile threat? And how is Russia still able to produce so many missiles using Western component parts despite sanctions? To discuss these issues and more, please join Hudson Institute for an event on Ukraine’s air defense.