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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251112T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251112T200000
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SUMMARY:The New Global Disorder with Ambassador Michael McFaul
DESCRIPTION:Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul joins us on WorldNow with Jim Falk to explore the global rise of autocracy\, new challenges posed by an assertive Russia and China\, and an increasingly insular America – and what it all means for democracy and security in a changing world. \nIn Autocrats vs. Democrats\, Ambassador McFaul makes the case for democracy and defines the threats posed by China\, Russia\, and America’s shift to isolationism to the global international order as we know it. \nJoin us November 12th to hear exclusive insight from Ambassador McFaul\, the leading Russia and Eurasian affairs expert\, on his forthcoming book and his vision of American leadership on the world stage. \nThe details:\nWhen: Wednesday\, November 12th | 7:00pm-8:00pm Eastern / 6pm Central\nWhere: Zoom Webinar\nTickets: No charge | RSVP Required \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \n\nMeet the Author\nAmbassador Michael McFaul\nU.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation (2012-2014) \nAmbassador McFaul is a Professor of Political Science\, Director of Freeman Spogli Institute & Hoover Senior Fellow all at Stanford University. He is also an international affairs analyst for NBC News. \nPreviously\, he served in the Obama administration as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Russian and Eurasian Affairs at the National Security Council at the White House (2009–2012) and then as U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation in (2012-2014). He has authored several books\, including\, most recently\, the New York Times bestseller From Cold War to Hot Peace: An American Ambassador in Putin’s Russia. \n\nMeet the Host\nJim Falk is President Emeritus of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. Now residing in Santa Fe\, NM\, he is Vice Chairman of the Board of Global Santa Fe. In addition to hosting WorldNow with Jim Falk\, Jim produces and hosts The Forum\, a weekly talk show on KSFR-FM\, Santa Fe Public Radio. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. \n\nAbout the Book\nAutocrats vs. Democrats: China\, Russia\, America\, and the New Global Disorder by Michael McFaul \nA bold\, clear-eyed look at how the autocracies of China and Russia are challenging the current global order\, and how America’s future depends on successfully confronting this threat. \nThe rise of China\, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine\, and the reelection of President Donald Trump have reinforced a gloomy yet growing consensus: the old global order has ended\, and a new Cold War has begun. \nIn this sweeping account of great power competition between the United States\, China\, and Russia over the past three centuries\, Michael McFaul—former ambassador to Russia and international affairs analyst for NBC News—argues persuasively that today’s challenges require fresh thinking\, not constrained by distant memories of the Cold War or the nationalist dreams of MAGA. \nOne of the preeminent thinkers on American foreign policy for decades\, McFaul crafts a new grand strategy for America in this age of global disorder. Acknowledging how Xi’s China\, Putin’s Russia\, and Trump’s America are upending the current international system\, Autocrats vs Democrats makes the case against America’s retreat from the world\, detailing why: \n\nRussia’s disruptive ambitions should not be underestimated.\nChina’s capabilities should not be overestimated.\nTrump’s shift toward isolationism and autocracy will weaken America’s place in the world.\n\nAt once a clarion call for American diplomacy and a forceful rebuttal of the Trump administration’s policies\, Autocrats vs Democrats provides a nuanced assessment of the China and Russia threats\, as well as a bold vision for renewing America’s leadership on the world stage. \nPre-order a copy of Autocrats vs. Democrats\, coming October 28th\, 2025 \n\n\nHosts & Partners\nWorldNow with Jim Falk is hosted by the World Affairs Council of Connecticut\, Global Santa Fe\, and the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. \n \n\nMission Partners\n \n  \nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\n  \nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. Learn more on our website about available opportunities. \n\nStay Globally Involved\nRenew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut\, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities\, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries\, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you.
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/the-new-global-disorder-amb-michael-mcfaul/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
CATEGORIES:Global Security Forum 2025
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ctwac.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Graphic-The-New-Global-Disorder-with-Michael-McFaul.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251208T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251208T130000
DTSTAMP:20251120T212851Z
CREATED:20251112T212908Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251120T212851Z
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SUMMARY:The World Ahead 2026
DESCRIPTION:Each year\, The Economist publishes The World Ahead series: an informed prediction of the major themes that will dominate the coming year. Spanning topics from politics to technology to sociology and more\, this series edited by Tom Standage is as ambitious as it is awe-inspiring. \nOn December 8\, Standage rejoins the Council to discuss his publication’s analysis for 2026. In conversation with Jim Falk\, host of WorldNow. \nJoin us to unpack all of the trends that will define 2026 – from a possible AI bubble and global climate policy controversies to evolving global conflicts\, problems for Europe\, and China’s rise. \nThe details: \nWhen: Monday\, December 8 | 12:00PM ET\nWhere: Zoom Webinar | Registration required\nTickets: No charge\, RSVP required \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \n\nMeet the Economist\nTom Standage is deputy editor of The Economist and editor of its future-gazing annual\, “The World Ahead.” Standage directs the newspaper’s digital strategy and the development of new digital products and is the author of seven history books\, including Writing on the Wall (2013)\, The Victorian Internet (1998)\, and A History of the World in 6 Glasses (2005). He studied engineering and computing at Oxford University and has written for other publications including the New York Times\, Daily Telegraph\, The Guardian\, and Wired. \n\nMeet the Host\n\nJim Falk is President Emeritus of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. Now residing in Santa Fe\, NM\, he is Vice Chairman of the Board of Global Santa Fe. In addition to hosting WorldNow with Jim Falk\, Jim produces and hosts The Forum\, a weekly talk show on KSFR-FM\, Santa Fe Public Radio. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. \n  \n  \n  \n\n\n\nMission Partners\n \n  \nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\n  \nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. Learn more on our website about available opportunities. \n\nStay Globally Involved\nRenew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut\, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities\, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries\, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you. \n\n\n\n\n\n Add to calendar\n\n\n\n 
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/the-world-ahead-2026/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ctwac.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/World-Ahead.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260114T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260114T200000
DTSTAMP:20260107T190623Z
CREATED:20251215T171603Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T190623Z
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SUMMARY:The Architect of Espionage: The Man Who Built Israel's Mossad | WorldNow
DESCRIPTION:How did Mossad\, Israel’s intelligence service\, come to be one of the world’s most notorious and prominent players in global intelligence? Just look to Meir Dagan\, the Mossad’s former director who transformed the service into the leading force in counterterrorism and espionage it is today. \nSamuel Katz\, bestselling author of The Architect of Espionage: The Man Who Built Israel’s Mossad in to the World’s Boldest Intelligence Force\, joins WorldNow to introduce us to the former Mossad director. \nKatz will give us an inside look at Dagan’s leadership and the operations carried out during his tenure\, including counterterrorism efforts\, covert missions related to Iran’s nuclear program\, and expanded intelligence cooperation with international partners – and how he transformed modern espionage and the Middle East. \nThe details: \nWhen: Wednesday\, January 14 | 7:00PM EST / 6PM Central\nWhere: Zoom Webinar | Registration required\nTickets: No charge\, RSVP required \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \n\nMeet the Author\n \nSamuel M. Katz is a New York Times bestselling author who has written over twenty books on the Arab Israeli conflict\, military and law enforcement special operations\, espionage\, and counterterrorism. He has written hundreds of articles for magazines and journals around the world\, as well as documentaries for television. He is also the former editor-in-chief of Special Operations Report\, a trade publication for the world’s commando and counterterrorist community. Katz lectures police agencies and military commands around the world on the history of terrorism\, and he is a frequent guest on television and radio networks. \n\nMeet the Host\n\nJim Falk is President Emeritus of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. Now residing in Santa Fe\, NM\, he is a Director of the Board of Global Santa Fe. In addition to hosting WorldNow with Jim Falk\, Jim produces and hosts The Forum\, a weekly talk show on KSFR-FM\, Santa Fe Public Radio. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. \n  \n  \n\nAbout the Book\nThe Architect of Espionage: The Man Who Built Israel’s Mossad into the World’s Boldest Intelligence Force by Samuel M. Katz \nFrom a New York Times bestselling author and an expert on Middle Eastern conflict comes a riveting biography of Meir Dagan\, the legendary Mossad director who transformed Israel’s intelligence service into a global powerhouse of espionage and counterterrorism.\nIn The Architect of Espionage\, Samuel M. Katz masterfully chronicles the life of Meir Dagan\, a visionary covert warfare veteran who revolutionized the art of intelligence and espionage. Born in the shadows of the Holocaust\, his life personified the modern history of the Jewish people and the State of Israel. Dagan’s journey embodies decisive action\, innovative thought\, and bold leadership under fire. His tenure as the head of the Mossad marked a transformative era in Israel’s history\, reshaping the agency into a formidable global force. \nDagan spent thirty-two years in uniform\, and under his eight-year leadership\, Mossad orchestrated a series of high-stakes missions\, including targeted assassinations\, clandestine attempts to stop Iran from becoming a nuclear power\, and the covert expansion of Israel’s strategic collaborations with members of the global intelligence fraternity\, notably with the CIA. These operations not only bolstered Israel’s security but also altered the geopolitical dynamics of the Middle East. \nKatz brings to life the portrait of a spymaster whose influence extended far beyond Israel’s borders\, shaping intelligence relationships across the Middle East and worldwide. \nFor anyone captivated by espionage thrillers or historical biographies\, this is an essential and timely read\, providing an insightful glimpse into the mind of one of the most influential spymasters of our era. \nGet yourself a copy of The Architect of Espionage on Bookshop.org and support your local bookstore. \n\nPresented by\nWorldNow with Jim Falk is hosted by the World Affairs Council of Connecticut with the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth and the World Affairs Councils of America. Presented in partnership with Councils nationwide: \n \n\n\n\nMission Partners\n \n\nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\nSe-Min Sohn\n  \nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. Learn more on our website about available opportunities. \n\nStay Globally Involved\nRenew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut\, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities\, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries\, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you. \n\n\nThe World Affairs Council of Connecticut provides a platform for open dialogue and the exchange of ideas on global issues. The views expressed by speakers and contributors to this organization’s public programs—in person\, online\, and through affiliated social media sites— are solely their own and do not necessarily represent the official policies or positions of CTWAC\, its individual staff\, board members\, members\, or sponsors. As a nonpartisan and nonpolitical organization\, CTWAC’s purpose is to foster informed discussion and greater understanding of the world\, without endorsing any particular viewpoint. \n\n 
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/the-architect-of-espionage-worldnow/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ctwac.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Architect-of-Espionage-WorldNow.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260121T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260121T200000
DTSTAMP:20251219T205320Z
CREATED:20251218T203335Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251219T205320Z
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SUMMARY:The Trillion Dollar War Machine with Bill Hartung | WorldNow
DESCRIPTION:The U.S. spends nearly a trillion dollars on its military each year\, making up 40% of the world’s military spending. Is this spending really keeping America safe? \nBill Hartung\, author and senior fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft\, argues that not only is this spending not keeping America safe\, but it is endangering both the U.S. and the world at large. \nOn January 21st\, Hartung joins WorldNow with Jim Falk to reveal how the American military industrial complex operates\, its key players – from Hollywood and Silicon Valley to lobbyists and the Pentagon’s top contractors – and how we can secure America’s future and prosperity by re-envisioning America’s trillion-dollar war machine. \nThe details:\nWhen: Wednesday\, January 21 | 7:00pm-8:00pm Eastern / 6pm Central\nWhere: Zoom Webinar | Registration required\nTickets: No charge\, RSVP required \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \n\nMeet the Author\n \nWilliam D. Hartung is a senior fellow at the Quincy Institute\, focusing on the arms industry and US military budget. He was previously the director of the Arms and Security Program at the Center for International Policy and the co-director of the Center’s Sustainable Defense Task Force. Bill is the co-author\, with Ben Freeman\, of the recently released The Trillion Dollar War Machine: How Runaway Military Spending Drives America into Foreign Wars and Bankrupts Us at Home. \nBill previously directed programs at the New America Foundation and the World Policy Institute. He also worked as a speechwriter and policy analyst for New York State Attorney General Robert Abrams. Hartung’s articles on security issues have appeared in the New York Times\, the Washington Post\, the Los Angeles Times\, The Nation\, and the World Policy Journal. \nHe has been a featured expert on national security issues on CBS 60 Minutes\, NBC Nightly News\, the PBS Newshour\, CNN\, Fox News\, and scores of local\, regional\, and international TV and radio outlets. \n\nMeet the Host\n\nJim Falk is President Emeritus of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. Now residing in Santa Fe\, NM\, he is a Director of the Board of Global Santa Fe. In addition to hosting WorldNow with Jim Falk\, Jim produces and hosts The Forum\, a weekly talk show on KSFR-FM\, Santa Fe Public Radio. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. \n  \n\nAbout the Book\n \nThe Trillion Dollar War Machine: How Runaway Military Spending Drives America into Foreign Wars and Bankrupts Us at Home by William D. Hartung and Ben Freeman \nA hard-hitting investigation into how the Pentagon’s runaway spending embroils America in foreign wars\, squanders its wealth\, and enriches a privileged elite\n“A damning indictment of the conflicts of interest running rampant in the defense establishment.”―Publishers Weekly\nAmerica spends nearly a trillion dollars a year on its military. This extraordinary spending not only detracts from our ability to address pressing social problems but compels us into foreign wars to justify our vast arsenal. Sold to us in the name of “security\,” our military industrial complex actually makes us far less safe. \nTop policy experts William D. Hartung and Ben Freeman follow the profits of militarism from traditional Pentagon contractors\, which receive more than half of the Pentagon’s budget\, to the upstart high-tech firms that shamelessly promote unproven and destabilizing technologies. They unmask the enablers of the war machine—politicians\, lobbyists\, the media\, Hollywood\, think tanks\, and so many more—whose work enriches a wealthy elite at the expense of everybody else\, spreading conflict around the world and embroiling America in endless wars. \nA damning tour de force\, The Trillion Dollar War Machine shows who is pulling the strings and pushing for war\, and offers a blueprint for how we can shut down the war machine and restore American security and prosperity. \nGet yourself a copy of The Trillion Dollar War Machine on Bookshop.org and support your local bookstore. \n\nPresented by\nWorldNow with Jim Falk is hosted by the World Affairs Council of Connecticut with the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth and the World Affairs Councils of America. Presented in partnership with Councils nationwide: \n \n\n\n\nMission Partners\n \n\nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\nSe-Min Sohn\n  \nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. Learn more on our website about available opportunities. \n\nStay Globally Involved\nRenew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut\, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities\, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries\, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you. \n\n\n\n\n\nThe World Affairs Council of Connecticut provides a platform for open dialogue and the exchange of ideas on global issues. The views expressed by speakers and contributors to this organization’s public programs—in person\, online\, and through affiliated social media sites— are solely their own and do not necessarily represent the official policies or positions of CTWAC\, its individual staff\, board members\, members\, or sponsors. As a nonpartisan and nonpolitical organization\, CTWAC’s purpose is to foster informed discussion and greater understanding of the world\, without endorsing any particular viewpoint.
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/trillion-dollar-war-machine-worldnow/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ctwac.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Trillion-Dollar-War-Machine-.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260210T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260210T200000
DTSTAMP:20260206T193612Z
CREATED:20251219T210051Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260206T193612Z
UID:10000403-1770750000-1770753600@ctwac.org
SUMMARY:The Great Firewall with Yi-Ling Liu | WorldNow
DESCRIPTION:Thirty years ago\, the world began to discover the power of the Internet: a digital world and resource to connect\, share ideas\, learn\, and earn. While the rest of the world connected\, the Chinese government began creating a system of strict surveillance and censorship on its internet – now known as the Great Firewall. \nToday\, as the country’s leadership intensifies its control of public discourse and Western headlines reduce the Chinese public to a faceless monolith\, what is the true online and on-the ground reality for Chinese citizens? \nJoin us February 10th on WorldNow as author and journalist Yi-Ling Liu tells the untold story of the Chinese internet. Hear how Chinese citizens have navigated the last 30 years of surveillance and censorship while searching for freedom and connection – behind the Great Firewall \nThe details:\nWhen: Tuesday\, February 10 | 7:00pm-8:00pm Eastern / 6pm Central\nWhere: Zoom Webinar\nTickets: No charge\, RSVP required \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \n\nMeet the Author\n \nYi-Ling Liu is a writer & editor covering AI and Chinese society\, from a human-centered lens. She is currently a journalist-in-residence at the Tarbell Center for AI Journalism. She is the author of The Wall Dancers: Searching for Freedom and Connection on the Chinese Internet¸out on February 3rd. \nHer work has been published in The New York Times Magazine\, The New Yorker\, Harper’s Magazine\, WIRED\, and The New York Review of Books. She is a New America Fellow\, a recipient of the Matthew Power Literary Reporting Award\, and an Overseas Press Club Foundation Scholar. Born and raised in Hong Kong\, and a graduate of Yale University\, she now lives in London. \n\nMeet the Host\n\nJim Falk is President Emeritus of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. Now residing in Santa Fe\, NM\, he is a Director of the Board of Global Santa Fe. In addition to hosting WorldNow with Jim Falk\, Jim produces and hosts The Forum\, a weekly talk show on KSFR-FM\, Santa Fe Public Radio. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. \n  \n\nAbout the Book\n \nThe Wall Dancers: Searching for Freedom and Connection on the Chinese Internet by Yi-Ling Liu \nAn eye-opening exploration of the Chinese internet that reveals the intricate dance between freedom and control in contemporary China.\nIn the late 1990s\, as the world was waking up to the power and emancipatory promise of the internet\, Chinese authorities began constructing a system of online surveillance and censorship now known as the Great Firewall. But far from being a barren landscape\, the digital world that sprouted up behind the firewall brimmed with new subcultures and tech innovations\, offering many Chinese citizens previously unimaginable connection and opportunity. \nToday\, as the country’s leadership intensifies its control of public discourse and Western headlines reduce the Chinese public to a faceless monolith\, journalist Yi-Ling Liu presents an intimate portrait of China’s online ecosystem—and a crucial lens into the on-the-ground reality of life there. Tracing the last three decades of the Chinese internet’s evolution—from its lexicon to its memes to the precise nature of its censorship—she equips readers with a critical tool to assess the past\, present\, and future of a global power. \nDrawing on years of firsthand reporting\, The Wall Dancers weaves together the stories of individuals navigating China’s transformation into both the world’s largest online user base and one of its most populous authoritarian states. As these entrepreneurs\, activists\, artists\, and dreamers experience the internet’s power as a tool for both control and liberation\, they grapple with universal questions of success and authenticity\, love and solidarity\, faith and resilience. \nThe Wall Dancers is at once an unforgettable work of human storytelling and a vital exploration of what it means to live with dignity and hope within the technological systems that now shape all our lives. \nOrder a copy of The Wall Dancers\, out on February 3\, 2026. \n\nPresented by\nWorldNow with Jim Falk is hosted by the World Affairs Council of Connecticut with the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth and the World Affairs Councils of America. Presented in partnership with Councils nationwide: \n \n\n\n\nMission Partners\n \n\nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\nSe-Min Sohn\n  \nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. Learn more on our website about available opportunities. \n\nStay Globally Involved\nRenew your membership or become a member on our website. As a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut\, you can get exclusive access to events and travel opportunities\, build relationships with local leaders and global dignitaries\, and join our community of global citizens. Let us bring the world to you. \n\n\n\n\n\nThe World Affairs Council of Connecticut provides a platform for open dialogue and the exchange of ideas on global issues. The views expressed by speakers and contributors to this organization’s public programs—in person\, online\, and through affiliated social media sites— are solely their own and do not necessarily represent the official policies or positions of CTWAC\, its individual staff\, board members\, members\, or sponsors. As a nonpartisan and nonpolitical organization\, CTWAC’s purpose is to foster informed discussion and greater understanding of the world\, without endorsing any particular viewpoint.
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/the-great-firewall-liu-worldnow/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ctwac.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Great-Firewall-WorldNow.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260331T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260331T200000
DTSTAMP:20260225T144122Z
CREATED:20260210T201937Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260225T144122Z
UID:10000411-1774983600-1774987200@ctwac.org
SUMMARY:The Best & Worst: 250 Years of U.S. Foreign Policy with CFR’s James Lindsay | WorldNow
DESCRIPTION:From the Marshall Plan\, the Louisiana Purchase\, and the creation of the United Nations to the bombing of Nagasaki\, Indian Removal Act\, and the invasion of Iraq\, U.S. foreign policy decisions throughout its 250-year history have had an immense impact in reshaping our nation and the world. \nJames Lindsay\, Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations\, unveils the ultimate rankings of the best and worst decisions in U.S. foreign policy in 250 years. Join us March 31 on WorldNow with Jim Falk as we explore these foreign policy moves\, their impact on the U.S. and the world\, and the future of U.S. foreign policy in the century ahead. \nThe details:\nWhen: Tuesday\, March 31 | 7:00pm-8:00pm Eastern / 6pm Central\nWhere: Zoom Webinar\nTickets: No charge\, RSVP required \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \n\nMeet the Guest\n \nJames M. Lindsay is the Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy and Director of Fellowship Affairs at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). A leading expert on U.S. national security and foreign policy\, Lindsay has held senior roles at CFR and previously served on the National Security Council. \nHe is the author of several acclaimed books\, including The Empty Throne and America Unbound\, and hosts the podcast The President’s Inbox. He holds advanced degrees from Yale University and has taught at the University of Texas and the University of Iowa. \n\nMeet the Host\n\nJim Falk is President Emeritus of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. Now residing in Santa Fe\, NM\, he is Vice Chairman of the Board of Global Santa Fe. In addition to hosting WorldNow with Jim Falk\, Jim produces and hosts The Forum\, a weekly talk show on KSFR-FM\, Santa Fe Public Radio. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. \n\nPresented by\nWorldNow with Jim Falk is hosted by the World Affairs Council of Connecticut with the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth and the World Affairs Councils of America. Presented in partnership with Councils nationwide: \n \n\nMission Partners\n\nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. Learn more on our website about available opportunities. \n\nStay Globally Involved\nRenew your membership or become a member on our website. Council members gain exclusive\, lower-cost access to global events and travel opportunities\, while engaging with top international leaders. Join our community of global citizens and let us bring the world to you. \n\n\n\nThe World Affairs Council of Connecticut provides a platform for open dialogue and the exchange of ideas on global issues. The views expressed by speakers and contributors to this organization’s public programs—in person\, online\, and through affiliated social media sites— are solely their own and do not necessarily represent the official policies or positions of CTWAC\, its individual staff\, board members\, members\, or sponsors. As a nonpartisan and nonpolitical organization\, CTWAC’s purpose is to foster informed discussion and greater understanding of the world\, without endorsing any particular viewpoint.
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/250-years-of-us-foreign-policy-worldnow/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ctwac.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Jim-Lindsay-250-Years-of-Foreign-Policy.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260420T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260420T210000
DTSTAMP:20260416T205016Z
CREATED:20260325T182631Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260416T205016Z
UID:10000420-1776715200-1776718800@ctwac.org
SUMMARY:The Iran War: What We Know\, What Comes Next | WorldNow
DESCRIPTION:With the U.S. and Iran now in open conflict and the world’s energy supply under threat\, the stakes could not be higher – or more uncertain. \nJoin us on WorldNow with Jim Falk as we sit down with Steven Cook\, senior Middle East expert at the Council on Foreign Relations; Amb. Deborah Jones\, U.S. Ambassador (ret.) to Kuwait and Libya; and Beth Sanner\, CNN National Security Contributor and former Deputy Director of National Intelligence. \nWe’ll explore what’s happened so far in the conflict with Iran\, what may happen next\, and the war’s long-term impact on the region and beyond. \nThe details:\nWhen: Monday\, April 20 | 8:00pm-9:00pm EDT / 7pm CDT\nWhere: Zoom Webinar\nTickets: Registration Required \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \nAs this program will be simulcast with KSFR’s The Forum\, it will begin one hour later than our usual start time. The Zoom link will open at 8:00 PM EDT\, and the program will get underway at 8:04 PM EDT. \n\nFeaturing\n \nSteven A. Cook \nSenior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies\, Council on Foreign Relations \nSteven Cook is Eni Enrico Mattei senior fellow for Middle East and Africa studies and director of the International Affairs Fellowship for Tenured International Relations Scholars at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). He is an expert on Arab and Turkish politics as well as U.S.-Middle East policy. Cook is the author of The End of Ambition: America’s Past\, Present\, and Future in the Middle East.  \n\nAmb. Deborah Jones\nU.S. Ambassador (ret.) to Kuwait and Libya \nAmbassador Deborah Jones retired from the U.S. Department of State in 2016 with the rank of Career Minister following a 34-year diplomatic career that included assignments in Argentina\, Iraq\, Tunisia\, Syria\, Ethiopia\, the United Arab Emirates\, and Turkey\, as well as service as U.S. Ambassador to Kuwait and Libya. \n\n \nBeth Sanner\nDeputy Director of National Intelligence (2019-2021)\, National Security Contributor for CNN \nBeth Sanner\, a leading commentator and analyst of global affairs\, is a national security contributor for CNN\, director of geopolitics and strategy at International Capital Strategies. As Deputy Director of National Intelligence from April 2019 to March 2021\, Beth was the nation’s top intelligence analyst and also served as President Trump’s intelligence briefer during his first term. \nIn an intelligence career spanning three decades\, she was director of the President’s Daily Brief\, vice chair of the National Intelligence Council\, and a senior executive in CIA’s Directorate of Analysis\, before being appointed DDNI. She also served on the White House National Security Council staff and at the State Department. \nIn 2021\, Beth received the Presidential Rank Award\, the highest honor granted to civil servants\, for her leadership role in support of U.S. national security and the Distinguished Intelligence Service Medal\, the Intelligence Community’s highest award. \n\nModerated by\n\nJim Falk is President Emeritus of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. Now residing in Santa Fe\, NM\, he is Vice Chairman of the Board of Global Santa Fe. In addition to hosting WorldNow with Jim Falk\, Jim produces and hosts The Forum\, a weekly talk show on KSFR-FM\, Santa Fe Public Radio. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. \n\nPresented by\nWorldNow with Jim Falk is hosted by the World Affairs Council of Connecticut with the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth and the World Affairs Councils of America. Presented in partnership with Councils nationwide: \n \n\nMission Partners\n\nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. Learn more on our website about available opportunities. \n\nStay Globally Involved\nRenew your membership or become a member on our website. Council members gain exclusive\, lower-cost access to global events and travel opportunities\, while engaging with top international leaders. Join our community of global citizens and let us bring the world to you. \n\n\n\nThe World Affairs Council of Connecticut provides a platform for open dialogue and the exchange of ideas on global issues. The views expressed by speakers and contributors to this organization’s public programs—in person\, online\, and through affiliated social media sites— are solely their own and do not necessarily represent the official policies or positions of CTWAC\, its individual staff\, board members\, members\, or sponsors. As a nonpartisan and nonpolitical organization\, CTWAC’s purpose is to foster informed discussion and greater understanding of the world\, without endorsing any particular viewpoint.
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/the-iran-war-worldnow/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ctwac.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Iran-on-WorldNow-Website-1.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260520T181500
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260520T191500
DTSTAMP:20260420T201442Z
CREATED:20260420T194449Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260420T201442Z
UID:10000422-1779300900-1779304500@ctwac.org
SUMMARY:The Global AI Race with Sebastian Mallaby | WorldNow
DESCRIPTION:Artificial intelligence is reshaping the global balance of power. Nations are racing for advantage\, companies are competing for dominance\, and the quest for superintelligence is moving faster than ever. \nJoin us on WorldNow with Jim Falk as we sit down with Sebastian Mallaby\, author of The Infinity Machine: Demis Hassabis\, DeepMind\, & the Quest for Superintelligence and Senior Fellow for International Economics at the Council on Foreign Relations. \nFrom the rise of DeepMind and Silicon Valley to the intensifying global race for AI dominance\, we’ll explore what this technological competition could mean for security\, power\, and the future of the world economy. \nThe details:\nWhen: Wednesday\, May 20th | 6:15pm-7:15pm Eastern\nWhere: Zoom Webinar\nTickets: No charge\, RSVP Required \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \n\nMeet the Guest\n \nSebastian Mallaby is the author of several books including the bestselling More Money Than God. A former Financial Times contributing editor and two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist\, Mallaby is the Paul A. Volcker Senior Fellow for International Economics at the Council on Foreign Relations. \nHe is the author of the newly published The Infinity Machine: Demis Hassabis\, DeepMind\, and the Quest for Superintelligence.  \n  \n\nMeet the Host\n\nJim Falk is President Emeritus of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. Now residing in Santa Fe\, NM\, he is Vice Chairman of the Board of Global Santa Fe. In addition to hosting WorldNow with Jim Falk\, Jim produces and hosts The Forum\, a weekly talk show on KSFR-FM\, Santa Fe Public Radio. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. \n  \n  \n\nAbout the Book\nThe Infinity Machine: Demis Hassabis\, DeepMind\, and the Quest for Superintelligence by Sebastian Mallaby \nFrom one of our leading chroniclers of the intersection of innovation and capitalism\, a landmark reckoning—based on unprecedented access—with one of the world’s most brilliant and driven tech visionaries\, and his game-changing company. \n“A fascinating portrait of Demis Hassabis\, the influential thinker heading DeepMind\, Google’s AI research laboratory…Mallaby captures Hassabis’ curiosity and relentless drive\, weaving a vivid tapestry of collaborators\, competitors\, and engineers of modern AI systems…A tantalizing glimpse inside the pursuit of machine superintelligence.”--Kirkus Reviews\, starred review \nGet yourself a copy of The Infinity Machine on Bookshop.org and support your local bookstore \n\nPresented by\nWorldNow with Jim Falk is hosted by the World Affairs Council of Connecticut with the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth and the World Affairs Councils of America. Presented in partnership with Councils nationwide: \n \n\nMission Partners\n\nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. Learn more on our website about available opportunities. \n\nStay Globally Involved\nRenew your membership or become a member on our website. Council members gain exclusive\, lower-cost access to global events and travel opportunities\, while engaging with top international leaders. Join our community of global citizens and let us bring the world to you. \n\n\n\nThe World Affairs Council of Connecticut provides a platform for open dialogue and the exchange of ideas on global issues. The views expressed by speakers and contributors to this organization’s public programs—in person\, online\, and through affiliated social media sites— are solely their own and do not necessarily represent the official policies or positions of CTWAC\, its individual staff\, board members\, members\, or sponsors. As a nonpartisan and nonpolitical organization\, CTWAC’s purpose is to foster informed discussion and greater understanding of the world\, without endorsing any particular viewpoint.
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/the-global-ai-race-worldnow/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ctwac.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Save-the-Date-Sebastian-Mallaby-Global-AI-Race.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260715T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260715T200000
DTSTAMP:20260629T130713Z
CREATED:20260520T195655Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260629T130713Z
UID:10000424-1784142000-1784145600@ctwac.org
SUMMARY:The Future of War | WorldNow
DESCRIPTION:What will war look like in 2084 – in a world devastated by climate change? \nJoin us on WorldNow with Jim Falk as we sit down with Elliot Ackerman\, author of 2084: A Novel of the Future of War; NYT bestselling author\, and contributing writer at The Atlantic. \nIn 2084\, decorated military officers and award-winning authors Elliot Ackerman and Admiral James Stavridis write a world on the brink of war\, divided between equatorial countries ravaged by climate change and the wealthier\, politically fractured countries like China and the U.S. 2084 follows their two previous novels\, envisioning a war between the U.S. and China in 2034 and the breakdown of American politics fueled by AI in 2054. \nThe details:\nWhen: Wednesday\, July 15 | 7:00pm-8:00pm EDT\nWhere: Zoom Webinar\nTickets: No charge\, RSVP Required \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \n\nMeet the Guest\n \nElliot Ackerman is the New York Times bestselling author of the novels Halcyon\, 2034\, Red Dress In Black and White\, Waiting for Eden\, Dark at the Crossing\, and Green on Blue\, as well as the memoir The Fifth Act: America's End in Afghanistan\, and Places and Names: On War\, Revolution and Returning. \nHis books have been nominated for the National Book Award\, the Andrew Carnegie Medal in both fiction and nonfiction\, and the Dayton Literary Peace Prize among others. \nHe is a contributing writer at The Atlantic and Marine veteran who served five tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan\, where he received the Silver Star\, the Bronze Star for Valor\, and the Purple Heart. He divides his time between New York City and Washington\, D.C. \n  \n\nMeet the Host\n\nJim Falk is Vice Chairman of the Board of Global Santa Fe\, a member organization of the World Affairs Councils of America. He is the host of WorldNow with Jim Falk and the producer and host of The Forum\, the weekly public affairs program on KSFR-FM\, Santa Fe Community Radio (KSFR.org). A member of the Council on Foreign Relations\, Falk led the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth as President and CEO from 2001 to 2021\, helping expand the organization's role as one of the nation's leading forums for international affairs and public policy. His guests have included diplomats\, senior intelligence officials\, policymakers\, military leaders\, scholars\, journalists\, and bestselling authors from around the world. Through WorldNow and The Forum\, he continues his commitment to fostering informed\, civil dialogue on the international\, political\, social\, and cultural issues shaping our world. \n  \n\nAbout the Book\n2084 (A Novel of Future War) by Elliot Ackerman and Admiral James Stavridis \n“Gripping…Ackerman and Stavridis stage a harrowing global conflict that pits military might against an appetite for justice… equal parts haunting and entertaining.” —Publishers Weekly\, starred review\nA gripping drama and chilling prophecy about the possible path to war for a planet devastated by climate change \nIn their novel 2034\, decorated military officers and award-winning authors Elliot Ackerman and Admiral James Stavridis imagined a war between the US and China. In their follow-up novel\, 2054\, they envisioned a breakdown in American politics fueled by a radical advance in AI. Now they make their boldest\, most astonishing\, and arguably most necessary leap—imagining the consequences of a climate war. \nBy the year 2084\, the world is divided into the equatorial countries that bear the brunt of the climate crisis—led by Nigeria\, Brazil\, and Indonesia—and wealthier countries like China and the US\, beset by their own problems after a series of civil wars. Tensions between the two sets of countries have reached a breaking point\, until finally the so-called Reparationist nations of the equator decide that only military force can bring them justice. \nA fascinating and disturbingly plausible extrapolation from current realities\, 2084\, like other classics of the genre such as Kim Stanley Robinson’s The Ministry for the Future and Neal Stephenson’s Termination Shock\, deploys a global cast of characters\, all protecting their interests as the fate of human civilization hangs in the balance. Individuals often seem small in the face of the forces that drive global change\, but in the end human agency proves surprisingly decisive. Big doors can swing on small hinges. We have it within ourselves to write a different destiny\, if only we can imagine it. \nGet yourself a copy of 2084 on Bookshop.org and support your local bookstore \n\nPresented by\nWorldNow with Jim Falk is hosted by the World Affairs Council of Connecticut with the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth and the World Affairs Councils of America. Presented in partnership with Councils nationwide: \n \n\nMission Partners\n\nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. Learn more on our website about available opportunities. \n\nStay Globally Involved\nRenew your membership or become a member on our website. Council members gain exclusive\, lower-cost access to global events and travel opportunities\, while engaging with top international leaders. Join our community of global citizens and let us bring the world to you. \n\n\n\nThe World Affairs Council of Connecticut provides a platform for open dialogue and the exchange of ideas on global issues. The views expressed by speakers and contributors to this organization’s public programs—in person\, online\, and through affiliated social media sites— are solely their own and do not necessarily represent the official policies or positions of CTWAC\, its individual staff\, board members\, members\, or sponsors. As a nonpartisan and nonpolitical organization\, CTWAC’s purpose is to foster informed discussion and greater understanding of the world\, without endorsing any particular viewpoint.
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/future-of-war-worldnow/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ctwac.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Future-of-War-Graphic.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260924
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261113
DTSTAMP:20260916T163727Z
CREATED:20260911T145824Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260916T163727Z
UID:10000432-1790208000-1794527999@ctwac.org
SUMMARY:Global Security Forum 2026 Series | Fault Lines
DESCRIPTION:The international system is under pressure.  \nAlliances are fracturing and new rivalries emerging. Technology\, energy\, and critical minerals are the now lynchpins of national security. Fault lines are emerging where nations\, interests\, and competing visions collide. \nYou’re invited to the Global Security Forum 2026 Series: Fault Lines\, where leaders\, policymakers\, strategists\, and experts reveal the pressures reshaping global security – and the choices that will define what comes next. \n\nGSF2026 Events\nSept. 24\, In-Person | South Korea: Where Fault Lines Collide\nWith South Korea’s former Foreign Minister and current Ambassador to the U.S.\, H.E. Kang Kyung-wha \nOct. 8\, Virtual | All the Presidents’ Wars: 25 Years of America’s War on Terror | WorldNow\nWith Peter Bergen\, CNN National Security Analyst \nOct. 15\, Virtual | Brink: Inside the Race to Free the Oct. 7 Hostages | WorldNow\nWith Brett McGurk\, author and former diplomat \nOct. 20\, Virtual | The Global Race for Critical Minerals\nWith Gracelin Baskaran\, Director of the CSIS Critical Minerals Security Program \nNov. 5\, In-Person | Acting Ambassador of Poland in the U.S.\,Mr. Bogdan Klich \nNov. 11\, In-Person | State of the World \nWith David Sanger\, New York Times Chief White House & National Security Correspondent \nNov. 12\, Virtual | Big Tech & the Future of War | WorldNow\nWith Sharon Weinberger\, Editor-in-Chief-of The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists \n\nGSF2026 All-Access Pass (CTWAC Members Only) \nYour ticket to all in-person and virtual GSF2026 events\, for just $75. Perks include your name listed as a supporter and a special invitation to a private reception with David Sanger. Click here to unlock this member-exclusive offer. \n\nGSF2026 Sponsors\n \nBecome a GSF2026 Sponsor by contacting Council CEO Megan Torrey at mctorrey@ctwac.org. Unlock exclusive access\, increased visibility\, and shape the future of global security. \n\n\nMission Partners\n \nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. Learn more on our website about available opportunities. \n\nJoin the Community\nWith continuous breaking global news\, Council membership allows you to understand it all. Members gain lower-cost and exclusive access to discussions with foreign and local leaders\, events with experts and opposing views\, and – most essentially – a community of engaged people like yourself. \nBecome a member or renew today and unlock member benefits for the entire 2026 Global Security Forum Series. \n\n\nThe World Affairs Council of Connecticut provides a platform for open dialogue and the exchange of ideas on global issues. The views expressed by speakers and contributors to this organization’s public programs—in person\, online\, and through affiliated social media sites— are solely their own and do not necessarily represent the official policies or positions of CTWAC\, its individual staff\, board members\, members\, or sponsors. As a nonpartisan and nonpolitical organization\, CTWAC’s purpose is to foster informed discussion and greater understanding of the world\, without endorsing any particular viewpoint. \n\n 
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/gsf2026/
LOCATION:CT
CATEGORIES:Global Security Forum 2026
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ctwac.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GSF2026-Fault-Lines-scaled.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261008T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261008T200000
DTSTAMP:20260911T212034Z
CREATED:20260715T225825Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260911T212034Z
UID:10000428-1791486000-1791489600@ctwac.org
SUMMARY:All the Presidents' Wars with Peter Bergen | WorldNow
DESCRIPTION:How did the War on Terror reshape America – and the world?  \nPeter Bergen\, the journalist who conducted the first televised interview with Osama bin Laden in 1997 and author of All the Presidents’ Wars\, joins WorldNow with Jim Falk to examine the decisions of four U.S. presidents over 25 years of conflict and their lasting consequences: from the rise of ISIS and the Taliban’s return to Afghanistan to today’s war with Iran. \nThe details:\nWhen: Thursday\, October 8 | 7:00pm-8:00pm EDT\nWhere: Zoom Webinar\nTickets: No charge\, RSVP Required \nTickets \n\n\nThis event is part of the 2026 Global Security Forum Series: Fault Lines. \nThe international system is under pressure. Alliances are fracturing and new rivalries emerging. Technology\, energy\, and critical minerals are the now lynchpins of national security. Fault lines are emerging where nations\, interests\, and competing visions collide. \nJoin us for GSF2026\, where leaders\, policymakers\, strategists\, and experts reveal the pressures reshaping global security – and the choices that will define what comes next. \nGSF2026 All-Access Pass (CTWAC Members Only)\nYour ticket to all in-person and virtual GSF2026 events\, for just $75. Perks include your name listed as a supporter and a special invitation to a private reception with David Sanger. Click here to unlock this member-exclusive offer. \n\nMeet the Guest\n \nPeter Bergen is the author of seven books\, including Manhunt\, one of three New York Times bestsellers. Bergen is vice president at New America\, professor at Arizona State University\, and CNN national security analyst. \nHe is the author of All the Presidents’ Wars: Twenty-Five Years of America’s War on Terror\, available September 8th\, 2026. \n  \n\nMeet the Host\n\nJim Falk is Vice Chairman of the Board of Global Santa Fe\, a member organization of the World Affairs Councils of America. He is the host of WorldNow with Jim Falk and the producer and host of The Forum\, the weekly public affairs program on KSFR-FM\, Santa Fe Community Radio (KSFR.org). A member of the Council on Foreign Relations\, Falk led the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth as President and CEO from 2001 to 2021\, helping expand the organization's role as one of the nation's leading forums for international affairs and public policy. His guests have included diplomats\, senior intelligence officials\, policymakers\, military leaders\, scholars\, journalists\, and bestselling authors from around the world. Through WorldNow and The Forum\, he continues his commitment to fostering informed\, civil dialogue on the international\, political\, social\, and cultural issues shaping our world. \n\nAbout the Book\n \nAll the Presidents' Wars: Twenty-Five Years of America's War on Terror by Peter Bergen \nFrom the New York Times best-selling author\, an eye-opening history of the United States’ war on terror across four presidential administrations.\n2026 is the twenty-fifth anniversary of 9/11\, the most devastating attack on American soil since Pearl Harbor. Within days\, the United States began to declare its war on terror: “Either you are with us\, or you are with the terrorists\,” President George W. Bush proclaimed. The resulting war on terror cost trillions of dollars\, hundreds of thousands of lives\, a series of misguided wars\, and the damaged perception of American power. And yet despite its blunders\, this campaign has kept America safe from large-scale foreign attack. \nBased on hundreds of interviews\, All the Presidents’ Wars focuses on critical decisions of four successive presidents—Bush\, Obama\, Biden\, and Trump—and their global consequences. One of the few journalists to interview Osama bin Laden and have unparalleled access to the US intelligence community\, Peter Bergen covers the history that might have been avoided: the many terrorist attacks by al-Qaeda and its affiliated groups around the world; the rise of al-Qaeda in Iraq\, largely responsible for the Iraqi civil war in the mid-2000s; the birth of ISIS; the resurrection of Afghanistan’s Taliban; and Trump’s war with Iran. From the failure to capture and the eventual killing of Osama bin Laden to the disastrous rise of sectarian violence in the Middle East\, Bergen traces the profound ramifications of this epoch in American life. \nAll the Presidents’ Wars also explores the innovations and unintended consequences of each presidency’s military and political decisions\, including debates over military intervention and withdrawal; the tactics of special operations units\, armed drones\, and armies of counterterrorism partners; and whether the idea of war ever properly captured the defining conflict of recent American foreign policy. All the Presidents’ Wars is essential reading to understand America’s devastating war on terror and to avoid the mistakes of the past. \nPre-order a copy of All the Presidents’ Wars on Bookshop.org and support your local bookstore. \n\nPresented by\nWorldNow with Jim Falk is hosted by the World Affairs Council of Connecticut in partnership with Councils nationwide: \n \n\nGSF2026 Sponsors\nBecome a GSF2026 Sponsor by contacting Council CEO Megan Torrey at mctorrey@ctwac.org. Unlock exclusive access\, increased visibility\, and shape the future of global security. \nSponsor the GSF2026 Series\n\n\n\n\nMission Partners\n\nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. Learn more on our website about available opportunities. \n\nStay Globally Involved\nRenew your membership or become a member on our website. Council members gain exclusive\, lower-cost access to global events and travel opportunities\, while engaging with top international leaders. Join our community of global citizens and let us bring the world to you. \n\n\n\nThe World Affairs Council of Connecticut provides a platform for open dialogue and the exchange of ideas on global issues. The views expressed by speakers and contributors to this organization’s public programs—in person\, online\, and through affiliated social media sites— are solely their own and do not necessarily represent the official policies or positions of CTWAC\, its individual staff\, board members\, members\, or sponsors. As a nonpartisan and nonpolitical organization\, CTWAC’s purpose is to foster informed discussion and greater understanding of the world\, without endorsing any particular viewpoint.
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/all-the-presidents-wars-worldnow/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ctwac.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/All-the-Presidents-Wars-GSF2026-scaled.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261015T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261015T200000
DTSTAMP:20260911T212102Z
CREATED:20260804T210404Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260911T212102Z
UID:10000429-1792090800-1792094400@ctwac.org
SUMMARY:Brink: Inside the Race to Free the October 7th Hostages with Brett McGurk | WorldNow
DESCRIPTION:Brett McGurk\, former White House Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa and author of Brink (available Oct. 6\, 2026)\, takes us inside the high-stakes negotiations to free the October 7 hostages and secure a ceasefire in Gaza. \nMcGurk led U.S. diplomacy on some of the region’s most consequential challenges\, offering a rare firsthand look at the negotiations and decisions that continue to shape the Middle East today. \nThe details:\nWhen: Thursday\, October 15 | 7:00pm-8:00pm EDT\nWhere: Zoom Webinar\nTickets: No charge\, RSVP Required \nTickets \n\n\nThis event is part of the 2026 Global Security Forum Series: Fault Lines. \nThe international system is under pressure. Alliances are fracturing and new rivalries emerging. Technology\, energy\, and critical minerals are the now lynchpins of national security. Fault lines are emerging where nations\, interests\, and competing visions collide. \nJoin us for GSF2026\, where leaders\, policymakers\, strategists\, and experts reveal the pressures reshaping global security – and the choices that will define what comes next. \nGSF2026 All-Access Pass (CTWAC Members Only)\nYour ticket to all in-person and virtual GSF2026 events\, for just $75. Perks include your name listed as a supporter and a special invitation to a private reception with David Sanger. Click here to unlock this member-exclusive offer. \n\nMeet the Guest\n \nBrett McGurk served as a top national security advisor under Presidents George W. Bush\, Barack Obama\, and Donald Trump. He has been involved in U.S. military strategy\, diplomacy\, and foreign policy for nearly two decades\, most recently as Obama and Trump’s envoy leading the campaign to defeat ISIS. He served as a law clerk to Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist on the U.S. Supreme Court from 2001 to 2002\, and was at the Court on the morning of 9/11\, a day that changed history and his life. McGurk is currently the Payne Distinguished Lecturer at Stanford University’s Freeman Spogli Institute where he teaches and lectures on presidential decision-making in wartime. \nHe is the author of the forthcoming book Brink: Inside the Race to Free the October 7 Hostages\, available October 6th\, 2026.  \n\nMeet the Host\n\nJim Falk is Vice Chairman of the Board of Global Santa Fe\, a member organization of the World Affairs Councils of America. He is the host of WorldNow with Jim Falk and the producer and host of The Forum\, the weekly public affairs program on KSFR-FM\, Santa Fe Community Radio (KSFR.org). A member of the Council on Foreign Relations\, Falk led the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth as President and CEO from 2001 to 2021\, helping expand the organization's role as one of the nation's leading forums for international affairs and public policy. His guests have included diplomats\, senior intelligence officials\, policymakers\, military leaders\, scholars\, journalists\, and bestselling authors from around the world. Through WorldNow and The Forum\, he continues his commitment to fostering informed\, civil dialogue on the international\, political\, social\, and cultural issues shaping our world. \n\nAbout the Book\n \nBrink: Inside the Race to Free the October 7th Hostages by Brett McGurk \nThe first major insider account of the high-stakes negotiations to free the hostages taken by Hamas on October 7—written in gripping detail by the American mediator who was in the room through it all.\nHaving served four American presidents on matters of war and peace\, Brett McGurk was no stranger to high-stakes diplomacy\, but this was different. With American citizens missing\, the hostages’ release critical to ending the war in Gaza\, and the desperate situation for civilians\, McGurk and his team faced impossible tradeoffs at every turn. Caught between Hamas’s maximalist demands and Israel’s determination that Hamas could not maintain power in Gaza\, McGurk and his colleagues worked relentlessly over fifteen months to get a deal that most increasingly thought impossible. \nTaking readers inside McGurk’s discussions and negotiations with President Joe Biden\, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu\, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman\, and presidents\, generals\, spies\, and diplomats in Qatar\, Egypt\, Oman\, and more\, Brink paints a portrait of a region one wrong choice away from tipping into total war\, as Iran and its proxy militias seized upon the chaos to open fire on Israeli and American targets. With the 2024 election reshaping the political landscape and time running out on the hostages\, McGurk found himself working hand in hand with an unlikely partner—Trump’s emissary from the New York real estate world\, Steve Witkoff. They forged a bipartisan front when it mattered most—to secure a ceasefire and save lives. \nA gripping account of diplomacy under fire\, Brink takes readers from the Oval Office to the seats of power in the Middle East and offers a remarkable look inside a crisis that reshaped the world\, the consequences of which are still unfolding today. \nPre-order a copy of Brink\, available October 6\, on Bookshop.org and support your local bookstore. \n\nPresented by\nWorldNow with Jim Falk is hosted by the World Affairs Council of Connecticut in partnership with Councils nationwide: \n \n\nMission Partners\n\nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. Learn more on our website about available opportunities. \n\nStay Globally Involved\nRenew your membership or become a member on our website. Council members gain exclusive\, lower-cost access to global events and travel opportunities\, while engaging with top international leaders. Join our community of global citizens and let us bring the world to you. \n\n\n\nThe World Affairs Council of Connecticut provides a platform for open dialogue and the exchange of ideas on global issues. The views expressed by speakers and contributors to this organization’s public programs—in person\, online\, and through affiliated social media sites— are solely their own and do not necessarily represent the official policies or positions of CTWAC\, its individual staff\, board members\, members\, or sponsors. As a nonpartisan and nonpolitical organization\, CTWAC’s purpose is to foster informed discussion and greater understanding of the world\, without endorsing any particular viewpoint.
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/brink-brett-mcgurk-worldnow/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ctwac.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Brink-with-Brett-McGurk-GSF2026-scaled.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261112T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261112T200000
DTSTAMP:20260911T212158Z
CREATED:20260911T141910Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260911T212158Z
UID:10000431-1794510000-1794513600@ctwac.org
SUMMARY:Big Tech & the Future of War with Sharon Weinberger | WorldNow
DESCRIPTION:Who will shape the future of war – the Pentagon or Silicon Valley? \nBig Tech is transforming the battlefield. Artificial intelligence\, autonomous weapons\, drones\, and private technology companies are changing not only how wars are fought\, but who holds power over the technologies that define national security. \nSharon Weinberger\, author of Valley of Death: How Big Tech is Fueling the Future of War and veteran national security correspondent\, joins WorldNow for an inside look at Silicon Valley’s growing influence on the Pentagon – and the technologies that could determine the next era of warfare. \nThe details:\nWhen: Thursday\, November 12 | 7:00pm-8:00pm EDT\nWhere: Zoom Webinar\nTickets: No charge\, RSVP Required \nTickets \n\n\nThis event is part of the 2026 Global Security Forum Series: Fault Lines. \nThe international system is under pressure. Alliances are fracturing and new rivalries emerging. Technology\, energy\, and critical minerals are the now lynchpins of national security. Fault lines are emerging where nations\, interests\, and competing visions collide. \nJoin us for GSF2026\, where leaders\, policymakers\, strategists\, and experts reveal the pressures reshaping global security – and the choices that will define what comes next. \nGSF2026 All-Access Pass (CTWAC Members Only)\nYour ticket to all in-person and virtual GSF2026 events\, for just $75. Perks include your name listed as a supporter and a special invitation to a private reception with David Sanger. Click here to unlock this member-exclusive offer. \n\nMeet the Guest\n \nSharon Weinberger \nEditor-in-Chief of The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists \nSharon Weinberger has been writing on national security issues for more than 25 years\, and was most recently the National Security Editor at The Wall Street Journal from 2022 to 2026. Previously\, she was the Washington\, D.C.\, bureau chief for Yahoo News\, and before that\, the executive editor for news at Foreign Policy magazine. She is the author of the forthcoming book Valley of Death: How Big Tech Is Fueling the Future of War. Her prior books include The Imagineers of War\, A Nuclear Family Vacation and Imaginary Weapons. \nWeinberger was a 2026 Omidyar Network reporter-in-residence and has also held fellowships at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University\, MIT’s Knight Science Journalism program\, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars\, the International Reporting Project at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies\, and Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. Her writing has appeared in the Wall Street Journal\, New York Times\, Washington Post\, New York Magazine\, Nature and WIRED\, among many other publications. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and lives in Washington\, D.C. \n\nMeet the Host\n\nJim Falk is Vice Chairman of the Board of Global Santa Fe\, a member organization of the World Affairs Councils of America. He is the host of WorldNow with Jim Falk and the producer and host of The Forum\, the weekly public affairs program on KSFR-FM\, Santa Fe Community Radio (KSFR.org). A member of the Council on Foreign Relations\, Falk led the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth as President and CEO from 2001 to 2021\, helping expand the organization's role as one of the nation's leading forums for international affairs and public policy. His guests have included diplomats\, senior intelligence officials\, policymakers\, military leaders\, scholars\, journalists\, and bestselling authors from around the world. Through WorldNow and The Forum\, he continues his commitment to fostering informed\, civil dialogue on the international\, political\, social\, and cultural issues shaping our world. \n\nAbout the Book\n \nValley of Death: How Big Tech is Fueling the Future of War by Sharon Weinberger \n“A knowledgeable account of Silicon Valley’s growing influence on Washington\, a relationship with potentially huge pitfalls.” – Kirkus Reviews\nA veteran national security correspondent reveals how a new military-industrial complex is arising from the cradle of Silicon Valley\, with vast implications for American democracy and the global balance of power.\nElon Musk\, Peter Thiel\, and Alexander Karp. These tech titans are fast becoming some of the most powerful figures in the realm of national security\, with enormous implications for us all. As Sharon Weinberger reveals in this gripping account\, the American military and spy agencies helped to create Silicon Valley as we now know it\, and some of its biggest and most valuable companies today owe much of their success to the Pentagon and CIA. \nBeginning with the War on Terror and accelerating under Donald Trump\, however\, the old alliance between elected leaders in Washington and the unelected CEOs of Silicon Valley has grown increasingly uneasy as power shifts to the private sector and Big Tech exerts greater influence over its old patrons. Companies like SpaceX and Palantir are proudly supporting – and quietly shaping – US national defense\, whether by providing spies and soldiers with AI and cloud-computing tools or actual military hardware such as microwave weapons\, hypersonic missiles\, and advanced drones. \nWhat happens when mercurial billionaires like Elon Musk control weapons and technologies that were once the preserve of the US government? How will this new military-industrial complex affect the way wars are fought\, or even which wars are fought? That is the urgent question before us today—and as Weinberger reveals\, it is one on which our collective future might well hinge. \nPre-order a copy of Valley of Death\, available September 22\, on Bookshop.org and support your local bookstore. \n\nPresented by\nWorldNow with Jim Falk is hosted by the World Affairs Council of Connecticut in partnership with Councils nationwide: \n \n\nGSF2026 Sponsors\n \nBecome a GSF2026 Sponsor by contacting Council CEO Megan Torrey at mctorrey@ctwac.org. Unlock exclusive access\, increased visibility\, and shape the future of global security. \n\n\nMission Partners\n\nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. Learn more on our website about available opportunities. \n\nStay Globally Involved\nRenew your membership or become a member on our website. Council members gain exclusive\, lower-cost access to global events and travel opportunities\, while engaging with top international leaders. Join our community of global citizens and let us bring the world to you. \n\n\n\nThe World Affairs Council of Connecticut provides a platform for open dialogue and the exchange of ideas on global issues. The views expressed by speakers and contributors to this organization’s public programs—in person\, online\, and through affiliated social media sites— are solely their own and do not necessarily represent the official policies or positions of CTWAC\, its individual staff\, board members\, members\, or sponsors. As a nonpartisan and nonpolitical organization\, CTWAC’s purpose is to foster informed discussion and greater understanding of the world\, without endorsing any particular viewpoint.
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/big-tech-future-of-war-worldnow/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261203T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261203T130000
DTSTAMP:20260826T152045Z
CREATED:20260713T201104Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260826T152045Z
UID:10000426-1796299200-1796302800@ctwac.org
SUMMARY:The World Ahead: 2027 | WorldNow
DESCRIPTION:Each year\, The Economist‘s The World Ahead series examines the forces expected to shape the year ahead. Covering politics\, technology\, society\, and beyond\, this series edited by Tom Standage offers an ambitious and wide-ranging look at what’s next. \nOn December 3\, Standage returns to WorldNow with Jim Falk to unpack his predictions for the trends that will define 2027. \nThe details:\nWhen: Thursday\, December 3 | 12:00PM – 1:00PM ET\nWhere: Zoom Webinar\nTickets: No charge\, RSVP Required \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \n\nMeet the Guest\n \nTom Standage is deputy editor of The Economist and editor of its future-gazing annual\, “The World Ahead.” Standage directs the newspaper’s digital strategy and the development of new digital products and is the author of seven history books\, including Writing on the Wall (2013)\, The Victorian Internet (1998)\, and A History of the World in 6 Glasses (2005). He studied engineering and computing at Oxford University and has written for other publications including the New York Times\, Daily Telegraph\, The Guardian\, and Wired. \n  \n\nMeet the Host\n\nJim Falk is Vice Chairman of the Board of Global Santa Fe\, a member organization of the World Affairs Councils of America. He is the host of WorldNow with Jim Falk and the producer and host of The Forum\, the weekly public affairs program on KSFR-FM\, Santa Fe Community Radio (KSFR.org). \nA member of the Council on Foreign Relations\, Falk led the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth as President and CEO from 2001 to 2021\, helping expand the organization's role as one of the nation's leading forums for international affairs and public policy. His guests have included diplomats\, senior intelligence officials\, policymakers\, military leaders\, scholars\, journalists\, and bestselling authors from around the world. \nThrough WorldNow and The Forum\, he continues his commitment to fostering informed\, civil dialogue on the international\, political\, social\, and cultural issues shaping our world. \n\nPresented by\nWorldNow with Jim Falk is hosted by the World Affairs Council of Connecticut and presented in partnership with Councils nationwide: \n \n\nMission Partners\n\nSupport global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. Learn more on our website about available opportunities. \n\nStay Globally Involved\nRenew your membership or become a member on our website. Council members gain exclusive\, lower-cost access to global events and travel opportunities\, while engaging with top international leaders. Join our community of global citizens and let us bring the world to you. \n\n\n\nThe World Affairs Council of Connecticut provides a platform for open dialogue and the exchange of ideas on global issues. The views expressed by speakers and contributors to this organization’s public programs—in person\, online\, and through affiliated social media sites— are solely their own and do not necessarily represent the official policies or positions of CTWAC\, its individual staff\, board members\, members\, or sponsors. As a nonpartisan and nonpolitical organization\, CTWAC’s purpose is to foster informed discussion and greater understanding of the world\, without endorsing any particular viewpoint.
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/world-ahead-2027-worldnow/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ctwac.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/World-Ahead.png
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