In episode 16 of Alternate Shots, John Ellis and Richard Haassbegin with Iran and the critical question of how the U.S. defines “success” as well as the limits to what military force could accomplish. They then turn to the expiration of the New Start, the last remaining U.S.-Russians ams control pact, and the even bigger problem of horizontal proliferation—particularly if countries like South Korea and Japan begin doubting U.S. security guarantees. The discussion turns to concerns about the integrity of the upcoming U.S. midterm elections. Ellis and Haass examine the potential for voter suppression and inaccurate counts by the Trump administration, casting doubt on the willingness of Republicans in Congress to stand up for democratic stability. They also reflect on the decline of major media institutions in light of the massive firings at The Washington Post. The episode concludes with lighter fare: Super Bowl predictions along with explanations of why Ellis loves curling and Haass the biathlon.

Hosted by John Ellis and Richard Haass

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Produced by Dale Eisinger

In this episode of Alternate Shots, John Ellis and Richard Haass begin with the muddled US response to upheaval in Iran, highlighting the lack of clarity as to both US objectives and the potential role of military force. Here at home, they examine Minneapolis and the larger issue of immigration policy, arguing that Democrats would be wise to find a middle ground between both borders and the administration's excessive deportations on one hand and between "Abolish ICE" and letting ICE run amok on the other. They then turn to the growing brain drain in the sciences and the federal work force that amounts to nothing less than national self-sabotage. Finally, they call out the outrageous NFL Hall of Fame snub to Bill Belichick and, turning to golf, wonder if we are witnessing the end of the expensive LIV effort to compete with the PGA tour.

Hosted by John Ellis and Richard Haass

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Produced by Dale Eisinger

In episode 14 of Alternate Shots, John Ellis and Richard Haass delve into the new "real estate doctrine" of American foreign policy, discussing the irrelevance of ownership in international relations, particularly in the context of Greenland. Haass critiques the U.S. shift from an approach to allies based on consent to one of coercion under the Trump administration, a shift that has raised fundamental concerns about America's reliability and intentions. The conversation also touches on the failure thus far of American policy toward Iran. The discussion discusses in detail the implications of Trump's speech at Davos, which among other things heightened concerns about his mental capacity and judgment. Haass for his part had nothing good to say about the Board of Peace initiative, be it its mission, membership, or funding model. The episode concludes with predictions and analysis of the upcoming NFL matchups, with the co-hosts agreeing on Seattle and going their separate ways on Denver and New England.

Hosted by John Ellis and Richard Haass

News Items on Substack

Home and Away on Substack

Produced by Dale Eisinger