"America will always defend democracy in its hour of need. We tell our allies: we will stand with you. We tell our adversaries: don’t mess with us." The words of U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer struck a rare note of bipartisanship as Congress finally approved a multi-billion dollar package of support to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.  For America’s allies, there was a collective sigh of relief. No more so than at the British Embassy in Washington, where host Anne McElvoy presents this week's special episode of Power Play. She talks to the outgoing ambassador, Karen Pierce, about whether the so-called "special relationship" will endure, despite the potential changes of government in Washington and London later this year and the spectre of war around the globe.Anne is also joined by John Harris, POLITICO's global editor-in-chief, to mark a weekend of political showmanship and intrigue culminating in the annual White House Correspondents' dinner. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How will responses to the confrontation between Israel, its allies and Iran redefine the line that divides Donald Trump and Joe Biden?Host Anne McElvoy talks to Kim Darroch, the former British ambassador to Washington and former U.K. national security adviser, about the scenarios facing President Biden and what Trump might do if he returns to office. They also discuss the options available to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in responding to Iran's failed attack.They are joined by Nahal Toosi, POLITICO’s senior foreign affairs correspondent in Washington, who has been reporting on this week's dramatic developments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week marked the grim six-month milestone since the Hamas terror attack on Israel and the ensuing counter-attack on Gaza, which has led to a mounting death toll and a humanitarian crisis that has divided world opinion.While President Joe Biden's White House struggles to help end the bloodshed, what would his opponent — Donald Trump — do differently if he were voted into office later this year?  Host Anne McElvoy talks to the Heritage Foundation's Robert Greenway, who knows more than most about Trump’s approach to the Middle East as the architect of the Abraham Accords — and may well be part of his inner team if the former president returns to power in November. As a key adviser in the previous administration, Greenway discusses how a second Trump presidency would deal with the Middle East, Iran, Russia and China.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the wake of a devastating Islamist terror attack in Moscow, the dark arts of spreading disinformation are again in focus as Russia’s President Vladmir Putin pins blame for the assault on Ukraine.As a widening array of countries and malign actors spread fake news and analysis, real life consequences are all too clear. How can democracies like the United States and its allies confront information warfare from their adversaries in the era of artificial intelligence?Host Anne McElvoy talks to James Rubin, who leads the Global Engagement Center within the U.S. State Department. Reporting to Antony Blinken, the secretary of state, his job is to disentangle propaganda and disinformation targeting the United States and its allies around the world.Power Play will return after the Easter break with the next edition on April 11. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the specter of a famine and a possible ground incursion of Rafah looming, Israel's allies are fretting. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned of an impending catastrophe in Gaza. Yet Benjamin Netanyahu says “no international pressure will stop Israel” from achieving its war aims. The wars in the Middle East and Ukraine and uncertainty about who will be calling the shots in the White House next year are testing European foreign ministers — and those vying for their jobs. Nowhere more so than in Britain’s Labour party, which is under closer scrutiny as it looks likely to form the next U.K. government.Host Anne McElvoy talks to Labour's David Lammy about the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, cultivating friendships across the aisle in Washington and paying tribute to Margaret Thatcher. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Now that Donald Trump is all but certain to lead his party into November’s presidential election in the U.S., it’s make up your mind time for Republicans – are they with him or not? One of them is a big gun in Floridan politics, the Mayor of Miami, Francis Suarez. Suarez earned a national profile by briefly entering the race for the White House last year before dropping out as the Trump bandwagon rumbled on. He’s gained wider attention for his efforts to lure companies to Miami, with an eye on turning the city into a crytpo hub and the next Silicon Valley. In this week's episode, host Anne McElvoy sits down with the mayor in his waterfront offices in Miami. They discuss his recent endorsement of Donald Trump, the changing character of the Republican Party and the crisis on America's Southern border. Suarez also responds to allegations of impropriety in his administration. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Maine to California, Super Tuesday is the biggest date in the calendar for the United States primary election — a third of delegates for the Republican and Democratic conventions have been chosen. While Donald Trump didn’t quite manage a clean sweep, the former president looks all but certain to face Joe Biden in November — now that the only other contender for the Republican crown, Nikki Haley, has pulled out. As President Biden makes his final State of the Union address before the election, it’s shaping up to be an epic rematch of 2020 ... with even higher stakes at home and abroad. From Washington, host Anne McElvoy brings together two of POLITICO's finest minds on the state of play in this year's race for the White House. She's joined by John Harris, global editor-in-chief and co-founder of POLITICO, who's observed many Super Tuesdays; and Josh Gerstein, senior legal affairs reporter, who's following the race being played out in the courts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As European leaders gathered in Paris this week, there was a sense of foreboding about the war in Ukraine, and the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is a further reminder of how far the Kremlin will go to suppress its foes.Nowhere is the threat posed by Russia felt more acutely than on Europe’s Eastern frontier — and especially in Estonia, home to a significant ethnic Russian population.  In this episode, host Anne McElvoy talks to Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas about the war in Ukraine, as it enters its third year, her campaign to be NATO’s next secretary-general and how she feels about being on Putin's "wanted" list.Kallas also responds to suggestions that Western allies could send troops to Ukraine — and described how seriously she takes Donald Trump’s threat not to defend NATO countries who don't pay up on defense. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From the Munich Security Conference, host Anne McElvoy speaks to U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Celeste Wallander, U.S. assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs.News of the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny set the tone for the conference, where securocrats and world leaders gathered to discuss the mounting crises facing decision-makers.Our guests discuss how America and its allies should deal with pressing conflicts — from Ukraine's stalemate to the war in Gaza, and the specter of a possible Donald Trump return. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As security and defense chiefs descend on Bavaria this weekend for the annual Munich Security Conference, can anything be done to dampen down the geopolitical fires around the world? On everyone's lips will be Donald Trump's latest campaign salvo, which has shaken confidence in America’s commitment to the Atlantic defense alliance. The wars in Gaza and Ukraine, along with the crisis in the Red Sea, also top the agenda.Host Anne McElvoy talks to two of POLITICO’s heavy hitters about what to expect. Alexander Ward, national security reporter and anchor of "National Security Daily" in Washington; and Suzanne Lynch, author of POLITICO's Global Playbook, appearing in your inbox each morning from Munich.Power Play's subsequent episode — featuring an exclusive interview with a leading figure in global security — will be released as the conference wraps up this weekend. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The largest NATO exercise since the Cold War is underway in the North Atlantic. The most powerful military alliance on the planet is putting on a show of strength — hoping that the Kremlin is taking note.As Congress struggles to agree a new package of American support for Ukraine, can the rest of the alliance share the burden?In this week's edition of Power Play, host Anne McElvoy speaks to the U.K.'s Ambassador to NATO, David Quarrey, about the alliance's readiness for a potential conflict with Russia, military support for Ukraine from its members and whether talk of a separate European defense capability will become reality. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Donald Trump’s seemingly unstoppable campaign to win the Republican nomination gathers pace, most eyes in America and the world are moving to the more important contest — between him and Joe Biden. Trump’s resurgence is causing jitters in the Biden camp. He has a small but consistent lead in national polls. Will Biden manage to keep hold of the electoral coalition that brought him to the White House four years ago?Host Anne McElvoy brings together two leading pollsters and party strategists for their inside analysis of where the race is heading. Jim Hobart is partner at Public Opinion Strategies, who has worked on Republican campaigns; Maggie Omero is principal at the Democratic polling firm GBAO. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How much attention is Africa receiving as the world remains transfixed by wars in Europe, the Middle East, and as elections in the West loom?This week, host Anne McElvoy talks to the award-winning musician and activist Angélique Kidjo about her campaign to improve education for girls in Africa and to address the humanitarian needs of her native continent.They also discuss the U.K.'s attempts to send illegal asylum seekers to Rwanda. (Spoiler alert: The five-time Grammy winner calls on U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to abandon the policy, which she reviles as "another way of slavery.")Music courtesy of World Economic Forum. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The focus of the 2024 World Economic Forum at Davos was on rebuilding trust, with artificial intelligence top of the agenda. Since the roll out of AI-powered chat bots, AI has developed a major trust problem among the public. The majority of Americans said last year that the risks of AI outweigh the potential benefits, and in the EU, Europeans were overwhelmingly in favor of restrictions around its use to protect jobs and privacy.Meanwhile, implementation by corporations is steadily growing. A 2023 AI Adoption Index from IBM and Morning Consult found 73 percent of companies surveyed are actively deploying or exploring AI in their business. AI built on a foundation of trust and transparency could be a catalyst that drives progress for society and the economy, creates jobs for a new era and reshapes the world for the better. But, continued public skepticism in the technology could be a serious roadblock to realizing AI’s future.On a special branded episode of Power Play, from our sponsor IBM, we explore AI’s trust problem and what business and political leaders can do to rebuild trust in the technology. The episode features Rob Thomas, senior vice president of software and chief commercial officer at IBM, who talks about ways to ensure the deployment of responsible AI, the importance of good data when creating AI models for business, and why policymakers need to ensure that future regulations still allow innovation to flourish.Power Play is a POLITICO original podcast series.This special branded episode from IBM was produced by POLITICO Focus. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the World Economic Forum draws to a close in Davos, Power Play rounds off the week with analysis of an eventful week in the Swiss Alps.Host Anne McElvoy brings together a top team of POLITICO's reporters: Alex Ward, national security reporter based in Washington; Nahal Toosi, senior foreign affairs correspondent; and Suzanne Lynch, author of POLITICO's Global Playbook, your must-read each morning to keep up with the latest news from Davos.They discuss China's notable presence this week, President Zelensky's plea for the international community to refocus on Ukraine's war with Russia and whether American eyes have been distracted by events back home as Donald Trump returns to the fray. We unpack how the business community is grappling with fast-changing technological advances as well as geopolitical uncertainty in a bumper election year. And stay tuned to hear who our team deems as the surprising "hero" of the Davos crowd.Further reading:"Why the Davos Smart Set Sounds Dumb," by John Harris"China snubs Zelenskyy in Switzerland," by Nahal Toosi"Lawmakers’ short stay in Davos spiked fears of a distracted America," by Alex Ward"Trump’s ghost stalks Davos," by Suzanne Lynch and Zachary Warmbrodt Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, U.K. Foreign Secretary David Cameron sits down with Anne McElvoy at the World Economic Forum to discuss the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, Britain's role in the Israel-Hamas war, as well as Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine — which he says is his "absolute number one priority." Cameron adds, "One thing we can do is demonstrate during the course of this year that Putin isn't winning."Cameron also addresses U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's controversial policy to send asylum seekers to Rwanda to process their applications (known as the Rwanda policy) and reveals more about his return to front-line Conservative party politics, reflects on what it's like to be a former prime minister returning in a different role. "I say that being prime minister for six years was a good apprenticeship for being foreign secretary," he tells Anne. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump's emphatic victory in the Iowa caucuses has been the talking point of many at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos. Meanwhile, the accelerating pace of artificial intelligence is also never far from the lips of those attending this year's WEF.In today's edition of Power Play — continuing our special coverage of Davos — host Anne McElvoy explores these two prevailing themes.Anne talks to Anthony Scaramucci, who was briefly White House director of communications under President Trump, about the impact technological advances like AI are having on the economy. They also dive into the consequences of the Iowa result for the United States and the rest of the world.Then Anne talks to James Manyika, senior vice president of research, technology and society at Google, about how the how AI is changing the world before our eyes — a subject he's advised on from the White House to the world’s leading tech companies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the World Economic Forum gets underway in Davos, many of the world's most powerful business leaders, politicians and tech gurus — and even the odd veteran pop star — have arrived in the Swiss Alps hoping to set the agenda for the year ahead. This week we present four episodes of Power Play with an array of interviews and analysis. Today, host Anne McElvoy brings together three of POLITICO's keenest Davos watchers to chart the week ahead. She's joined by Alex Ward, a national security reporter based in Washington; Nahal Toosi, a senior foreign affairs correspondent; and Suzanne Lynch, author of POLITICO's Global Playbook, your must-read each morning to keep up with the latest news from Davos.Together they'll explore a range of topics including how the prospect of a Trump return is impacting discussions, as well as Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's in-person push to regain the spotlight for Kyiv. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After weeks of relative calm, Russian forces ushered in the New Year by pounding Ukrainian cities. While global attention has been gripped by the war in Gaza, it’s a reminder that there is no end in sight to the conflict in Ukraine. This week, NATO ambassadors met in Brussels to reinforce their commitments to help Ukraine’s air defences fend off devastating Russian air strikes, which have killed dozens of people in the last few days. It's a critical moment for Kyiv as continued military and financial support from the U.S. and the EU hangs in the balance.In this week’s edition of Power Play, host Anne McElvoy talks to Krišjānis Kariņš, Latvia's foreign minister, one of the contenders to become NATO's next secretary-general, about the alliances's plans to combat renewed Russian aggression.And Anne is joined by Matthew Kaminski, editor at large at POLITICO in Washington, and Jan Cienski, senior policy editor at POLITICO in Europe to hear our own experts delve into the what 2024 brings for Ukraine — and NATO. Further reading: "Zelenskyy in Lilliput: Someone Shrunk Ukraine’s War Coalition," by Matthew Kaminski Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we enter a mammoth election year on either side of the Atlantic, Power Play looks back on the highlights from our interviews in 2023 to set the scene for the big geopolitical stories of 2024. In this week's bumper New Year edition, host Anne McElvoy takes a tour through the best of Power Play since the podcast launched last September, talking to some of the most influential figures in the United States, Europe and beyond. We'll hear from prime ministers, business leaders, diplomats and generals about major conflicts, fraught elections and tussles over how to address climate changeGuests include John Kerry, Rishi Sunak, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Ron Prosor, Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, Mark Carney, Mathias Döpfner, David Petraeus and Keir Starmer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.