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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260520T181500
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260520T191500
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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: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
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:20260305T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260305T124000
DTSTAMP:20260219T183131Z
CREATED:20260219T164500Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260219T183131Z
UID:10000412-1772712000-1772714400@ctwac.org
SUMMARY:Women in Power: Ambassador Susan Page | International Women’s Day
DESCRIPTION:Women’s representation in global leadership has slowed and\, in some places\, backslid in recent years. We ask why this is occurring – and where women’s leadership is thriving – with Ambassador Susan Page. Ambassador Page was the first U.S. Ambassador to the newly independent South Sudan and served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs. \nCelebrate International Women’s Day and explore where women are leading – from Ukraine to Mexico to Italy – where women leaders are facing increased challenges\, and what it means for the world when women are in power. \nThis celebration of International Women’s Day is part of an annual collaboration between the Women’s Leadership Center at the University of Saint Joseph and the World Affairs Council of Connecticut. \nThe Details\nWhen: Thursday\, March 5 | 12:00PM – 12:40PM ET\nWhere: Zoom Webinar\nTickets: No charge\, suggested $20 donation \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \n\nFeaturing\n \nAmbassador Susan D. Page \nFormer U.S. Amb. to South Sudan; Director\, Weiser Diplomacy Center; Professor of Practice in International Diplomacy at the University of Michigan's Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy\, and Professor from Practice at the University of Michigan's Law School \nAmbassador Susan D. Page\, a former diplomat\, joined the Ford School faculty and the Weiser Diplomacy Center in 2020 as a Professor of Practice in International Diplomacy. She also serves as a Professor from Practice at the Law School. Page has served the U.S. Department of State\, the U.S. Agency for International Development\, the United Nations\, and non-governmental organizations in senior roles for decades\, across East\, Central\, and Southern Africa\, and in Haiti and Nepal. \nPage was the first U.S. ambassador to the Republic of South Sudan and served as deputy assistant secretary of State for African Affairs\, covering Central and Southern Africa\, and Sudan; legal adviser to the IGAD-led peace process that resulted in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) for Sudan. Page also served as Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Haiti and Head of the United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti (MINUJUSTH). Among her many roles\, she was attorney-adviser for Politico-Military Affairs in the State Department’s Office of the Legal Adviser\, USAID regional legal advisor in Kenya and Botswana covering East and Southern Africa\, and political officer in Rwanda. \nPage earned a JD from Harvard Law School and an AB in English with high distinction from the University of Michigan. She was awarded a Rotary International Postgraduate Fellowship to Nepal where she conducted research on women’s and children’s rights. In addition\, she received certificates of merit and distinction from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland before attending law school. Ambassador Page is an elected member of the American Academy of Diplomacy\, a board member of Road Scholar\, and a member of the Association of Black American Ambassadors. \n\nPresented By\n \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. \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\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/women-in-power-iwd-2026/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ctwac.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Women-in-Power.jpg
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:20260204T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260204T193000
DTSTAMP:20260204T164909Z
CREATED:20260131T204119Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260204T164909Z
UID:10000408-1770231600-1770233400@ctwac.org
SUMMARY:Bad Bunny and the History of Puerto Rico with Dr. Jorell Meléndez-Badillo
DESCRIPTION:Global superstar and Puerto Rican icon Bad Bunny is headlining the Super Bowl halftime show\, and we refuse to let you show up without context. \nBefore kickoff\, join Dr. Jorell Meléndez-Badillo\, UConn alum\, author of Puerto Rico: A National History\, and the historian who worked with Bad Bunny on his Puerto Rican residency\, for a deeper look at Puerto Rico’s history\, its complex relationship with the United States\, and the futures the Puerto Rican people envision for themselves. We’ll also explore behind the scenes of Bad Bunny’s meteoric rise\, the messages in his music\, and his global impact. \nCome for the context\, stay for the culture\, and leave ready to impress your friends and family with the best Bad Bunny facts at your Super Bowl party. \nKnow the lyrics? Now know the history. RSVP today. \nThe Details\nWhen: Wednesday\, Feb. 4 | 7:00PM – 7:30PM ET\nWhere: Zoom Webinar\nTickets: No charge\, suggested $20 donation \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \n\nFeaturing\nDr. Jorell Meléndez-Badillo \nAuthor & Associate Professor of History\, University of Wisconsin-Madison \nDr. Jorell Meléndez-Badillo is a historian of Puerto Rico\, the Caribbean\, and Latin America and the author\, most recently\, of the critically acclaimed book\, Puerto Rico: A National History (Princeton University Press\, 2024)\, translated to Spanish by Aurora Lauzardo Ugarte as Puerto Rico: historia de una nación (Grupo Planeta\, 2024). He is also the author of The Lettered Barriada: Workers\, Archival Power\, and the Politics of Knowledge in Puerto Rico (Duke University Press\, 2021) and Voces libertarias: Orígenes del anarquismo en Puerto Rico (Secret Sailor Books\, 2013) \nDr. Meléndez-Badillo is also the co-editor of Without Borders or Limits: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Anarchist Studies (Cambridge Scholars Publishing\, 2013) and editor of Páginas libres: Breve antología del pensamiento anarquista en Puerto Rico (Editora Educación Emergente\, 2021). I am also the co-editor of Interrogating the Future of Puerto Rican Studies\, forthcoming with Duke University Press in 2026. \nMore recently\, he collaborated with global superstar Bad Bunny in the creation of historical narratives that accompanied each song’s YouTube visualizer in DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS. He also wrote 40 historical and cultural short texts that are used in the screens of Bad Bunny’s historic residency in Puerto Rico. His work has been featured in the LA Times\, Vogue\, New York Magazine\, Good Morning America\, Univisión\, Telemundo\, AFP\, La Nación\, La Jornada\, and El Nuevo Día\, among many national and international outlets. \nBefore UW-Madison\, he was a Mellon Faculty Fellow and Assistant Professor of History at Dartmouth College. He is from the capital of the Caribbean: Aguadilla\, Puerto Rico. \n\nModerated By\nAmanda Jolly \nModerator | World Affairs Council of Connecticut \nAmanda is the former Vice President for Programs and Communications at the World Affairs Council of Connecticut and international nonprofit technology consultant. Amanda is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University SAIS with a Master’s Degree in Global Risk and a specialization in digital policy. \n\nHost & Partners\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. \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\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/bad-bunny-history-of-puerto-rico/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ctwac.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Bad-Bunny-and-the-History-of-Puerto-Rico-Event-Graphic.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260121T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260121T200000
DTSTAMP:20251219T205320Z
CREATED:20251218T203335Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251219T205320Z
UID:10000402-1769022000-1769025600@ctwac.org
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:20260121T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260121T130000
DTSTAMP:20260120T214318Z
CREATED:20260114T212116Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260120T214318Z
UID:10000405-1768996800-1769000400@ctwac.org
SUMMARY:[Postponed] Greenland\, Denmark\, & the U.S.
DESCRIPTION:Thank you for your interest in this event. Unfortunately\, this discussion has been postponed as MG Jensen’s schedule has changed due to the unprecedented current events that require his full attention. \nThe Embassy of Denmark would like to share that MG Jensen highly values this discourse and we’re working hard to reschedule. We will announce the new date and time as soon as MG Jensen’s schedule and the diplomatic situation allows. Please check back soon. \nAny questions\, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Council at: info@ctwac.org. \n\nThe U.S. has stated its desire to take Greenland – by purchase or by force. \nPresident Trump claims the island is a strategic Arctic asset\, and that U.S. ownership would deter Russia and China. Denmark’s leadership states the island is “not for sale\,” and the use of military force to take Greenland could mean the end of NATO. Greenland itself prefers Denmark\, according to its Prime Minister. \nAs this conflict unfolds between NATO allies\, Major General Karsten Jensen\, Defence Attache of Denmark to the U.S. joins the Council to speak with us directly. \nRSVP now to hear directly from Denmark’s top military representative in the U.S.\, on Denmark’s response to U.S. threats and the future of the Denmark\, Greenland\, and the U.S. \nThe Details \nWhen: Wednesday\, Jan. 21 | 12:00PM – 1:00PM ET Postponed\nWhere: Zoom Webinar\nTickets: No charge\, suggested $20 donation \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \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. \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\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/greenland-denmark-us/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ctwac.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Greenland-Denmark-and-the-U.S.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260114T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260114T200000
DTSTAMP:20260107T190623Z
CREATED:20251215T171603Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T190623Z
UID:10000401-1768417200-1768420800@ctwac.org
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
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260107T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260107T130000
DTSTAMP:20260106T202644Z
CREATED:20260106T202428Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260106T202644Z
UID:10000404-1767787200-1767790800@ctwac.org
SUMMARY:Briefing: Maduro's Capture & the Future of U.S.-Venezuela Relations
DESCRIPTION:What just happened in Venezuela?  \nJoin us for a special virtual briefing with Amb. Charles Shapiro\, former U.S. Ambassador to Venezuela (2002-2004)\, on the recent capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. troops in Caracas and what’s next for U.S.-Venezuela relations. \nCo-moderated by Aaron Rosen\, President & Founder of the World Affairs Council of Miami and Rickey Bevington\, President of the World Affairs Council of Atlanta. \nFeatures special commentary on counter-narcotics by former U.S. Ambassador to Jamaica Luis Moreno\, former U.S. Narcotics Affairs Director in Bogota\, Colombia. \nDetails\nWednesday\, January 7 | 12:00pm ET\nZoom Webinar \n\n\nFeaturing\nAmbassador Charles Shapiro \nAmbassador (ret.) Charles Shapiro is a senior advisor at the Pendleton Group\, co-founder of Art of Diplomacy Tours\, and a Professor of Practice at the Nunn School of International Affairs at Georgia Tech. \nA career foreign service officer with 34 years of service\, Shapiro held a number of senior positions at the United States Department of State including Ambassador to Venezuela\, Acting Assistant Secretary for the Western Hemisphere\, and Coordinator for Cuban Affairs. \nIn 2011 Shapiro became the president of the Institute of the Americas\, a think tank at the University of California San Diego. In 2014 he became president of the World Affairs Council of Atlanta. While at the World Affairs Council\, he taught international business in the Executive MBA program at the Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University. \nShapiro’s op-eds have been published in the Toronto Star\, Efecto Cocuyo\, the Atlanta Journal Constitution\, the Atlanta Business Chronicle\, the Miami Herald\, the San Diego Union Tribune\, and the Los Angeles Times.\nAmbassador Luis G. Moreno \nAmbassador Moreno previously served as U.S. Narcotics Affairs Director in Bogota\, Colombia and was instrumental in planning and implementing Plan Colombia (a U.S. foreign aid and military initiative aimed at supporting counter-narcotics in Colombia) \n\nPresented by
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/briefing-maduros-capture-us-venezuela/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ctwac.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Venezuela-Briefing.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251209T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251209T200000
DTSTAMP:20251209T175529Z
CREATED:20251120T191357Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251209T175529Z
UID:10000396-1765306800-1765310400@ctwac.org
SUMMARY:Venezuela and the U.S.: What Comes Next?
DESCRIPTION:Gunboat diplomacy\, armed conflict\, or all-out regime change? As tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela continue to rachet up\, all outcomes and more seem to be on the table. \nThe U.S. has declared an armed conflict with Venezuela\, increased military pressure in the Caribbean\, and accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of heading Cartel de los Soles\, recently declared to be a foreign terrorist organization. Simultaneously\, President Trump has indicated an openness to talks with his Venezuelan counterpart. \nIs the U.S. headed towards war with Venezuela? \nFormer Ambassador to Venezuela\, Charles Shapiro\, joins us to unpack everything we know about the potential of further U.S. military action and what could come next. \nA career foreign service officer with 34 years of service\, Amb. Shapiro held a number of senior positions at the United States Department of State including Ambassador to Venezuela\, Acting Assistant Secretary for the Western Hemisphere\, and Coordinator for Cuban Affairs. \nThe Details:\nWhen: Tuesday\, Dec. 9 | 7:00PM – 8:00PM ET\nWhere: Zoom Webinar\nTickets: No charge\, suggested $20 donation \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \n\nFeaturing\nAmbassador Charles Shapiro \nAmbassador (ret.) Charles Shapiro is a senior advisor at the Pendleton Group\, co-founder of Art of Diplomacy Tours\, and a Professor of Practice at the Nunn School of International Affairs at Georgia Tech. \nA career foreign service officer with 34 years of service\, Shapiro held a number of senior positions at the United States Department of State including Ambassador to Venezuela\, Acting Assistant Secretary for the Western Hemisphere\, and Coordinator for Cuban Affairs. \nIn 2011 Shapiro became the president of the Institute of the Americas\, a think tank at the University of California San Diego. In 2014 he became president of the World Affairs Council of Atlanta. While at the World Affairs Council\, he taught international business in the Executive MBA program at the Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University. \nShapiro’s op-eds have been published in the Toronto Star\, Efecto Cocuyo\, the Atlanta Journal Constitution\, the Atlanta Business Chronicle\, the Miami Herald\, the San Diego Union Tribune\, and the Los Angeles Times. \nModerated by\n \nMegan Clark Torrey \nCEO\, World Affairs Council of Connecticut \nMegan Clark Torrey is the CEO of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut. In 2016\, she founded the Global Security Forum – a globally recognized forum for defense and security hosted annually in Hartford\, CT. \nIn 2022\, Megan participated in the Secretary of Defense Joint Civilian Orientation Conference (JCOC93)\, and in 2023 was nominated by Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro to be the first U.S. Navy Community Ambassador to Connecticut. \nBefore joining the Council in 2003\, she worked with UNESCO’s International Year for the Culture of Peace at its headquarters in Paris and the UN International Training & Research Institute for the Advancement of Women. Megan holds two degrees in International Relations and Diplomacy. \n\nPresented by\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 - or learn more on our website. \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/venezuela-and-the-u-s-what-comes-next/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ctwac.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Venezuela-Event-Image.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
UID:10000395-1765195200-1765198800@ctwac.org
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
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251112T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251112T200000
DTSTAMP:20251020T170917Z
CREATED:20250808T202653Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251020T170917Z
UID:10000383-1762974000-1762977600@ctwac.org
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
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251103T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251103T160000
DTSTAMP:20251029T170116Z
CREATED:20251029T165045Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251029T170116Z
UID:10000394-1762182000-1762185600@ctwac.org
SUMMARY:Edible Economics: A Hungry Economist Explains the World
DESCRIPTION:Presented by the World Affairs Council of Alaska \nWhat do okra\, chocolate\, and economic theory have in common? Join the Alaska World Affairs Council for a thought-provoking conversation with renowned economist and bestselling author Ha-Joon Chang as he explores the surprising connections between food\, economics\, and global change. \nDrawing from his latest work\, Edible Economics\, Chang uses the stories behind everyday foods to illuminate big questions about globalization\, climate change\, inequality\, and the future of capitalism. Through humor\, insight\, and real-world examples\, he challenges conventional thinking and offers fresh ways to understand the forces shaping our world. \nThis is not your average economics talk — it’s a global feast for curious minds. \nWhen: Monday\, November 3rd | 3pm-4pm Eastern\nWhere: Zoom Webinar \n\n\nAbout the Speaker\nHa-Joon Chang is a Distinguished Research Professor of economics\, as well as Co-director of CSST (Centre for Sustainable Structural Transformation) and of DLD (Development Leadership Dialogue) at SOAS University of London. Previously he taught at the Faculty of Economics at the University of Cambridge (1990-2022). In addition to numerous journal articles and book chapters\, he has published 17 authored books (five co-authored) and 11 edited books (seven co-edited). His main books include The Political Economy of Industrial Policy (1994)\, Kicking Away the Ladder (2002)\, Bad Samaritans (2007)\, 23 Things They Don’t Tell You About Capitalism (2010)\, Economics: The User’s Guide (2014)\, and Edible Economics (2022). His writings have been translated and published in 46 languages and 48 countries. Worldwide\, his books have sold around 3 million copies. Chang has advised numerous international organizations\, national governments\, civil society organizations\, and corporations (both private-sector and public). He is currently a member of CDP (Committee for Development Policy)\, the highest advisory body of the United Nations on development issues\, as well as committees overseeing or advising other international organizations\, academic bodies\, and charitable organisations. Chang is the winner of the 2003 Gunnar Myrdal Prize and the 2005 Wassily Leontief Prize. \n\nAbout the Moderator\nLise Kristiansen\, born and raised in Anchorage\, Alaska\, serves as the Norwegian Honorary Consul for Alaska and Advisor to the Alaska World Affairs Council. From 2007 to 2023\, she was President and CEO of the Alaska World Affairs Council\, where she developed high-impact programs featuring more than 450 world leaders\, including diplomats\, NATO commanders\, policymakers\, public officials\, presidents\, and royalty. \nLise has been recognized for her leadership and civic contributions\, including being named one of Anchorage’s Top 40 Under 40\, inducted into the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce Athena Society\, and honored as Leader of the Year by the National World Affairs Councils of America — selected from 94 council leaders nationwide. \nA frequent speaker on Arctic and international affairs\, Lise has shared her expertise both nationally and internationally. In recognition of her contributions to Norway-Alaska relations\, she was awarded the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit\, Knight 1st Class\, by the King of Norway. \nLise has a passion for sports and music\, including playing the piano\, and has participated in 6 Ironman Triathlons including the Ironman World Championship in Kona\, Hawaii.  During her free time\, you can often find her on a nearby pickleball court. \n\nHosted By\n \n\n 
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/edible-economics-a-hungry-economist-explains-the-world/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251020T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251020T124000
DTSTAMP:20251010T145916Z
CREATED:20250923T195902Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251010T145916Z
UID:10000387-1760961600-1760964000@ctwac.org
SUMMARY:The Threat of Nuclear Anarchy with Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins | GSF2025
DESCRIPTION:Nuclear risks are rising. At the same time global nonproliferation efforts are unraveling. A Harvard taskforce has just warned of a new “era of nuclear anarchy.” \nAs the temperature of the nuclear threat heats up\, we sit down with Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins\, former Undersecretary of State for Arms Control & International Security Affairs (2021-2024). Join us for an inside look at these new – and old – threats. \nThe Details\nWhen: Monday\, October 20th | 12:00pm – 12:40pm ET\nWhere: Zoom Webinar\nTickets: No charge\, RSVP required | Suggested $20 Donation \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \nIntroducing: GSF2025 All-Access Pass (CTWAC Members Only)\nYour ticket to all upcoming in-person and virtual GSF2025 events (excluding dinners and private events) - for just $99. Click the button below to unlock this member-exclusive offer. \nGSF2025 All-Access Pass \n\n\n \n\nWith Special Guest\nAmbassador Bonnie Jenkins\nFormer Undersecretary of State for Arms Control & International Security Affairs (2021-2024) \nAs the under secretary of state for arms control and international security from 2021 to 2024\, Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins oversaw three bureaus: Arms Control\, Deterrence and Stability; International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN); and Political-Military Affairs. In May 2023\, Secretary of State Antony Blinken named Jenkins\, the first African American to serve as an under secretary of state\, as the department’s lead on implementation of AUKUS\, the trilateral security partnership between Australia\, the United Kingdom\, and the United States. \nJenkins served as special envoy for cooperative threat reduction programs in the ISN bureau from July 2009 until January 2017. She coordinated U.S. government efforts alongside international programs that prevent non-state actors from developing chemical\, biological\, or nuclear weapons. She was the State Department’s lead for the President’s Nuclear Security Summits and the U.S. representative to the G7 Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction\, and she led diplomatic efforts to promote the Global Health Security Agenda. She was the 2016 ISN nominee for the Secretary of State’s Award for Excellence. \nFrom its inception in 2017 until April 2021\, Jenkins was the founder\, executive director\, and board chair of Women of Color Advancing Peace and Security. From 2005 to 2009\, she was the program officer for U.S. foreign and security policy at the Ford Foundation. She also served as counsel on the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (9/11 Commission). \nJenkins was a legal adviser to the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency. She has been an adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law School\, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service\, George Washington University\, the University of Virginia\, the University of Texas at Austin\, and the University of Minnesota. Jenkins designed and led arms control simulations at Stanford University. Jenkins is a retired U.S. Naval Reserve officer. \n\nThis event is part of the Global Security Forum Series 2025 (GSF2025). GSF2025 is evolving to reach a growing number of attendees and to host more international and national leaders than ever before. GSF has expanded from a one-day gathering into a dynamic series of in-person and virtual events held throughout Fall 2025. Learn more and find the full schedule here. \nThe theme of GSF2025 is Unraveling Order. We explore the edge of uncertainty - the threats that emerge when norms collapse and the opportunities that arise when power shifts. GSF2025 gathers the world’s top leaders and minds to ask: when certainty collapses\, what comes next? \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 2025 Global Security Forum Series. \n\nThank you to GSF2025 Sponsors\nBecome a GSF2025 Sponsor by contacting Council CEO Megan Torrey at mctorrey@ctwac.org. Unlock exclusive access\, increased visibility\, and shape the future of global security.\nGSF2025 Series Sponsorship Package (PDF) \n \n\nGSF2025 Presenting Partners\n \n\nMission Partners\n \n  \nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\n 
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/unraveling-order-the-threat-of-nuclear-anarchy-gsf2025/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
CATEGORIES:Global Security Forum 2025
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251007T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251007T200000
DTSTAMP:20251007T205219Z
CREATED:20250923T202930Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251007T205219Z
UID:10000388-1759863600-1759867200@ctwac.org
SUMMARY:Special Intelligence Briefing with LTG Robert Ashley\, 21st Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency | GSF2025
DESCRIPTION:﻿You’re invited to a member-exclusive live intelligence briefing with LTG Robert Ashley\, U.S. Army (Ret.)\, 21st Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency\, moderated by MG Garrett Yee\, U.S. Army (Ret.). \nGeneral Ashley will share high-level insights on global threats from Iran-Israel tensions to the future of Ukraine\, and from emerging technologies to what national security leaders are watching most closely. Limited audience Q&A will follow this closed-door-style Zoom webinar. \nDon’t miss the return of these two top intelligence leaders and GSF fan-favorite speakers. RSVP today.  \nWhen: Tuesday\, October 7th | 7:00pm – 8:00pm ET\nWhere: Zoom Webinar\nTickets: No charge for members* \nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \n*This event is exclusive to current members of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut and GSF Presenting Partners. \nNot a member?\nBecome a member of the World Affairs Council today in order to access this special briefing by selecting the Membership & Virtual Ticket Combo during registration. Or join on our website and consider our additional levels\, including for students\, young professionals\, your household\, or your business\, at ctwac.org/membership/ \n\nIntroducing: GSF2025 All-Access Pass (CTWAC Members Only)\nYour ticket to all upcoming in-person and virtual GSF2025 events (excluding dinners and private events) - for just $99. Click the button below to unlock this member-exclusive offer. \nGSF2025 All-Access Pass \n\n\n \n\nFeaturing\nLTG Robert Ashley\, U.S. Army (Ret.)\n21st Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency; CEO\, Ashley Global Leadership and Security \nLieutenant General Robert P. Ashley\, Jr. retired from the U.S. Army November 2020 after over 36 years of activity duty service as an intelligence officer. He assumed his last duty position on 3 October 2017 when he became the 21st Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). \nLTG Ashley formerly served as the Army Deputy Chief of Staff\, G-2\, where he was the senior advisor to the Secretary of the Army and Army Chief of Staff for all aspects of intelligence\, counterintelligence and security. He has commanded at the company\, battalion\, squadron\, and brigade levels with six combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan as a squadron\, brigade commander\, and Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence (J-2).  Other key assignments include the Director of Intelligence\, United States Army Joint Special Operations Command; the Director of Intelligence\, United States Central Command; the Deputy Chief of Staff\, Intelligence\, International Security Assistance Force and Director of Intelligence\, United States Forces\, Afghanistan; and Commanding General and Commandant United States Army Intelligence Center and School Fort Huachuca\, AZ. \nLTG Ashley has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Appalachian State University\, a master’s degree in Strategic Intelligence from the National Intelligence University (formerly known as the Defense Intelligence College) and a master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College. LTG Ashley is the CEO of Ashley Global Leadership and Security (LLC). \n\nModerated By\n \nMG Garrett Yee\, USA (Ret.)\nVice President\, General Dynamics Information Technology \nGarrett Yee currently serves as a Vice President within the Defense Division at General Dynamics Information Technology. \nPrior to GDIT\, Garrett served in the U.S. Army retiring as Major General. In his final assignment with the Army\, Garrett served at the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) where he helped to lead a global organization of approximately 8\,000 military and civilian personnel who plan\, develop\, deliver\, and operate joint\, interoperable\, command and control capabilities and a global enterprise infrastructure in direct support of the president\, secretary of defense\, joint chiefs of staff\, combatant commanders\, Department of Defense components\, and other mission partners across the full spectrum of operations. \nPrior to his assignment at DISA\, Garrett served as the Military Deputy to the Army CIO/G-6 and Senior Information Security Officer in the Office of the Chief Information Officer (CIO)/G6\, Headquarters\, Department of the Army in the Pentagon. Garrett holds a bachelor’s degree from Santa Clara University\, a master’s degree in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College\, and a Master of Business Administration degree from Golden Gate University. \n\nThis event is part of the Global Security Forum Series 2025 (GSF2025). GSF2025 is evolving to reach a growing number of attendees and to host more international and national leaders than ever before. GSF has expanded from a one-day gathering into a dynamic series of in-person and virtual events throughout Fall 2025. Learn more and find the full schedule here. \nThe theme of GSF2025 is Unraveling Order. We explore the edge of uncertainty - the threats that emerge when norms collapse and the opportunities that arise when power shifts. GSF2025 gathers the world’s top leaders and minds to ask: when certainty collapses\, what comes next? \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 2025 Global Security Forum Series. \n\nThank you to GSF2025 Sponsors\nBecome a GSF2025 Sponsor by contacting Council CEO Megan Torrey at mctorrey@ctwac.org. Unlock exclusive access\, increased visibility\, and shape the future of global security.\nGSF2025 Series Sponsorship Package (PDF) \n \n\nGSF2025 Presenting Partners\n \n\nMission Partners\n \n  \nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\n  \n 
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/special-intelligence-briefing-ltg-robert-ashley-gsf2025/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
CATEGORIES:Global Security Forum 2025
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250909T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250909T200000
DTSTAMP:20250904T202255Z
CREATED:20250723T203555Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250904T202255Z
UID:10000382-1757444400-1757448000@ctwac.org
SUMMARY:A Tale of Two Kings: Saudi Arabia\, Jordan\, and the Future of Power in the Middle East
DESCRIPTION:Join us to learn about the two most consequential leaders shaping the future of the Middle East. RSVP now. \nSaudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman – de facto ruler of one of the wealthiest states in the Middle East – has positioned himself as a transformative leader. His rule is defined by economic and social change\, a close relationship with President Trump\, and concerns about human rights abuses and power consolidation. \nJordan’s King Abdullah II leads one of the region’s most economically challenged countries with a steady hand and traditional approach. His rule is characterized by alliance building and cautious political reform\, while also stifling political opposition. \nJoin us on WorldNow with Jim Falk for an inside look at two very different yet consequential leaders who are shaping the future of the Middle East – and redefining what it means to be king in the 21st century. With Pulitzer Prize-Winner Karen Elliot House\, author of The Man Who Would be King: Mohammed bin Salman and the Transformation of Saudi Arabia and Aaron Magid\, author of The Most American King: Abdullah of Jordan. \nThe details:\nWhen: Tuesday\, September 9th | 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 Authors\nKaren Elliott House is a Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist with nearly five decades of experience covering Saudi Arabia. She is also a former executive of Dow Jones & Company and former chair of the Rand Corp. Her deep expertise informs her latest book\, The Man Who Would Be King: Mohammed bin Salman and the Transformation of Saudi Arabia\, which draws on more than half a dozen in-depth interviews with the Crown Prince himself. House spent over 30 years at The Wall Street Journal\, serving as a reporter\, editor\, and ultimately publisher. She resides in Princeton\, New Jersey. \n\nAaron Magid is a former Amman-based journalist and the author of the recently published The Most American King: Abdullah of Jordan. His analysis on the Hashemite Kingdom has appeared in Foreign Affairs\, Foreign Policy\, Al-Monitor\, the Atlantic Council\, France 24\, Al-Jazeera\, and the Middle East Institute. He hosts the podcast On Jordan. He obtained a Master's Degree in Middle Eastern Studies from Harvard University. \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 Books\nThe Man Who Would Be King: Mohammed Bin Salman and the Transformation of Saudi Arabia by Karen Elliot House \nPulitzer Prize-winning reporter and former Wall Street Journal publisher\, Karen House has gained unprecedented insights into Saudi Arabia and its controversial leader\, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman through her more than forty years of experience covering the Arab kingdom. \nHouse reveals a leader who\, like Peter the Great\, is a reformer determined to modernize his kingdom but also an autocrat who jails political opponents and rival princes to assure his grip on power. Drawing on extensive interviews with the Crown Prince\, his royal relatives\, and his inner ring of advisors\, The Man Who Would Be King explains in full what shaped the man who is reshaping Saudi Arabia. It is an unprecedented and much needed in-depth portrait of the leader who\, at only thirty-nine\, will be a major player on the world stage for the next half century. \nGet a copy of The Man Who Would Be King on Bookshop.org to support your local bookstore. \n\nThe Most American King: Abdullah of Jordan by Aaron Magid \nThe first comprehensive biography on Jordan's King Abdullah\, The Most American King details Abdullah's rise to power\, survival amid protests from Jordanians\, and his efforts to cement an alliance with Washington. \nAaron Magid\, a former Amman-based journalist\, charts Abdullah's path to power from a Massachusetts prep school to a British military academy to the throne\, and reveals how Abdullah has remained in power for over a quarter century. While leaders nearby were ousted during the 2011 Arab Spring protests\, Abdullah survived the wave of discontent. Drawing on interviews with over 100 of King Abdullah's classmates\, former Jordanian ministers\, and CIA directors\, The Most American King offers a thorough account of this key Arab leader. \nGet a copy of The Most American King. \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. \n\n 
URL:https://ctwac.org/event/a-tale-of-two-kings/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ctwac.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/A-Tale-of-Two-Kings.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250701T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250701T123000
DTSTAMP:20250626T185740Z
CREATED:20250626T185347Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250626T185740Z
UID:10000379-1751371200-1751373000@ctwac.org
SUMMARY:U.S. Strikes on Iran with Steven Cook
DESCRIPTION:RSVP today \nIn the last week\, the U.S. struck nuclear facilities across Iran and coordinated a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran\, after more than a week of the two sides exchanging attacks on military sites and cities. \nDr. Steven Cook from the Council on Foreign Relations joins us live to answer all of your questions including: \n\nDid U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites achieve their objective?\nCan we expect the conflict between Israel and Iran to escalate?\nIs the U.S. at risk of entering an intractable conflict in the Middle East?\nWhat comes next for Israel\, Iran\, and the U.S.?\n\nBring your questions or submit them early to the Council team and join us live on Tuesday\, July 1 from 12-12:30pm as we discuss all the breaking developments in the Israel-Iran conflict. \nThe Details\nWhen: Tuesday\, July 1 | 12:00PM – 12:30PM ET\nWhere: Zoom Webinar\nTickets: No charge\, suggested $20 donation \nRSVP today \n\n\n Support global engagement in Connecticut by contacting CEO Megan Torrey about sponsorship opportunities. \n\nFeaturing\nSteven Cook | Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies\, Council on Foreign Relations \nSteven A. Cook is an expert on Arab and Turkish politics as well as U.S.-Middle East policy. Cook is the author of False Dawn: Protest\, Democracy\, and Violence in the New Middle East; The Struggle for Egypt: From Nasser to Tahrir Square\, which won the 2012 gold medal from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy; and Ruling but Not Governing: The Military and Political Development in Egypt\, Algeria\, and Turkey. Cook is also the author of the recently published\, The End of Ambition: America’s Past\, Present\, and Future in the Middle East. \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 - or learn more on our website. \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/u-s-strikes-on-iran-steven-cook/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ctwac.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/U.S.-Strikes-on-Iran-Steven-Cook.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250624T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250624T193000
DTSTAMP:20250616T191444Z
CREATED:20250527T181343Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250616T191444Z
UID:10000377-1750791600-1750793400@ctwac.org
SUMMARY:Empty Vessel with Ian Kumekawa: The Story of the Global Economy in One Barge
DESCRIPTION:In his newly published Empty Vessel\, Harvard economic historian Ian Kumekawa tells the history of the global economy through a single barge: which throughout the 20th century served as a floating prison\, military barracks\, housing for migrant workers\, serviced offshore oil rigs\, and anything else the market demanded. \nIan Kumekawa joins us on WorldNow with Jim Falk to explore the making and offshoring of the modern global economy – from mass incarceration\, tax havens\, and fossil fuel extraction to military power and deregulation. We’ll also discuss what the story reveals about the global economy today and the administration’s increased use of offshore prisons\, tariffs\, and economic nationalism. \n“Kumekawa gives us a ‘barge’s-eye view’ of what his protagonist witnessed…tracing how the vessel became a passive yet essential participant in a rapidly changing world. Empty Vessel joins a growing shelf of books about the new forms that globalization is taking” – Jennifer Szalai\, New York Times\n\nThe Details:\nWhen: Tuesday\, June 24th | 7:00PM – 7:30PM ET\nWhere: Zoom Webinar\nTickets: No charge\, suggested $20 Donation | RSVP Required\nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \n\nAbout the Book\nEmpty Vessel: The Story of the Global Economy in One Barge by Ian Kumekawa \nThe rise of globalization and financialization as seen from a barge—one Swedish barge\, to be exact\, built in 1979\nWhat do a barracks for British troops in the Falklands War\, a floating jail off the Bronx\, and temporary housing for VW factory workers in Germany have in common? A single barge that served all three roles. \nEmpty Vessel follows the many lives of a barge—from floating jail to troopship—revealing how a single vessel housed soldiers\, prisoners\, and migrant workers\, playing a role in mass incarceration\, tax havens\, military power\, and fossil fuel extraction. Kumekawa has crafted an astounding\, narrative-driven microhistory in which the forces of globalization converge on one barge\, exposing the infrastructure behind the political economy of the late 20th century. \nKumekawa connects the barge’s different uses with shifts in the global economy\, demonstrating how the Vessel came to represent tax havens\, exploited labor forces\, free banking zones\, Thatcherism\, Reaganomics\, and mass incarceration. The result\, as Eric Klinenberg puts it\, is “a brilliant\, unforgettable tale of our modern times.” \nGet a copy of Empty Vessel on Bookshop.org to support your local bookstore. \n\nMeet the Author\n \nIan Kumekawa is a historian of economic thinking and capitalism at the Center for History and Economics at Harvard University and a Lecturer at MIT. He is the author of The First Serious Optimist (2017)\, which examines the intellectual origins of welfare economics and won the Joseph J. Spengler Prize. He hails from Clinton\, CT and now lives in Boston. Learn more about Ian here.  \n  \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\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/empty-vessel-with-ian-kumekawa-worldnow/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ctwac.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Empty-Vessel-Cover-Image-v2.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250506T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250506T200000
DTSTAMP:20250422T153135Z
CREATED:20250414T141904Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250422T153135Z
UID:10000372-1746558000-1746561600@ctwac.org
SUMMARY:Human Scale: A Conversation with Lawrence Wright | WorldNow
DESCRIPTION:In his new political thriller The Human Scale\, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Lawrence Wright tells the story of an Israeli cop and a Palestinian-American FBI agent who join forces to solve the murder of an Israeli police chief in the West Bank – set against the backdrop of the decades-long Israel-Palestine conflict. \nWright joins us on WorldNow to discuss how his novel\, which concludes on October 8th\, 2023\, underscores the human cost of this longstanding conflict. As he writes at the end of the book: “One cannot hope for an end to the strife without acknowledging the separate histories that each side claims.” \nA staff writer at The New Yorker\, Wright has spent decades reporting from the Middle East as a journalist\, playwright\, and novelist. He won the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11\, his acclaimed nonfiction account of the rise of Al-Qaeda. \n“The politics in this book are impossible to ignore; indeed\, they’re the point. Wright is thorough in his recounting of key elements of the conflict.” – The New York Times\n\nThe Details:\nWhen: Tuesday\, May 6th | 7:00PM – 8:00PM ET\nWhere: Zoom Webinar\nTickets: No charge\, Suggested $20 Donation | RSVP Required\nReserve your spot today \n\n\n \n\nAbout the Book\nThe Human Scale by Lawrence Wright \nIn this sweeping\, timely thriller\, a Palestinian American FBI agent teams up with a hardline Israeli cop to solve the murder of the Israeli police chief in Gaza—from the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Looming Tower and The End of October.\nIn his historically accurate novel\, Lawrence Wright tells the story of the decades-long Israel-Palestine conflict through richly-drawn characters: a Palestinian-American FBI agent\, an anti-Arab Israeli police officer\, family members with ties to Hamas\, religious leaders\, corrupt cops\, and militants on both sides. Through these intersecting lives\, Wright weaves an intricate tapestry that culminates in the devastating Hamas attack on Israel on October 7\, 2023. \nMore than a thriller\, Wright’s novel explores the complex history between Israel and Palestine\, revealing the tragic human scale of this long-standing conflict and offering a nuanced perspective on a tragedy that continues to shape the region and the world. \nGet a copy of The Human Scale on Bookshop.org and support local bookstores. \n\nMeet the Author\nLawrence Wright is an author\, screenwriter\, playwright\, and staff writer for The New Yorker magazine. \nHe is the author of eleven nonfiction books. His book about the rise of al-Qaeda\, “The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11” (Knopf\, 2006)\, was published to immediate and widespread acclaim. It won numerous awards\, including the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction. It was made into a series for Hulu in 2018\, starring Jeff Daniels\, Alec Baldwin\, and Tahar Rahim. \nWright has published four novels\, “Noriega: God’s Favorite” (Simon and Schuster\, 2000) which was made into a Showtime movie starring Bob Hoskins; “The End of October” (Knopf\, 2020)\, a bestseller about a viral pandemic that came out right at the beginning of COVID; “Mr. Texas” (Knopf\, 2023)\, which has been optioned as a limited streaming series; and his most recent novel\, “The Human Scale\,” released in the spring of 2025. \nIn 2006\, Wright premiered his first one-man play\, “My Trip to Al-Qaeda\,” at The New Yorker Festival\, which led to a sold-out six-week run off-Broadway. It was made into a documentary film of the same name\, directed by Alex Gibney\, for HBO. \nWright wrote and performed another one-man show\, “The Human Scale\,” about the standoff between Israel and Hamas over the abduction of an Israeli soldier\, Gilad Shalit. The Public Theater in New York produced the play\, which ran for a month off-Broadway in 2010\, before moving to the Cameri Theater in Tel Aviv. Many of the ideas developed in that play later evolved into the novel of the same name\, published 15 years later. \nIn addition to his one-man productions\, Wright has written five other plays that have enjoyed productions around the country\, including “Camp David\,” about the Carter\, Begin\, and Sadat summit in 1978; and “Cleo\,” about the making of the movie “Cleopatra.” \nWright is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations\, the Society of American Historians\, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He also serves as the keyboard player in the Austin-based blues band\, WhoDo. \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\nHosts & Partners\nWorldNow with Jim Falk is hosted by the World Affairs Council of Connecticut in partnership with Global Santa Fe.\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/human-scale-a-conversation-with-lawrence-wright/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ctwac.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Conversation-with-Lawrence-Wright-3.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250424T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250424T190000
DTSTAMP:20250414T184544Z
CREATED:20250407T172502Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250414T184544Z
UID:10000369-1745517600-1745521200@ctwac.org
SUMMARY:What's Next for the Congo?
DESCRIPTION:On January 23\, M23 rebels launched an offensive on Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo\, reigniting a conflict that has plagued the Great Lakes region and drawn in neighboring African countries since the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Now\, on the brink of another multinational Congo War\, the region and the world wait to see what comes next. \nJoin us for a timely discussion with a former UN representative from the region on the latest in the crisis\, how we got to this point\, and paths to peace in Congo and the Great Lakes Region. We’ll also explore the global implications of the flaring-up of this decades long conflict. \nFeaturing H.E Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja\, former Permanent Representative of the Democratic Republic of Congo to the UN (2022-2023) and scholar activist at the University of North Carolina\, Chapel Hill. \nThe Details:\nWhen: Thursday\, April 24th | 6:00pm ET – 7:00pm ET\nWhere: Virtual | Zoom Webinar\nTickets: No charge\, Suggested $20 Donation | RSVP for zoom link\nRegister Today  \n\n\n Please consider making a small donation in support of this program. We rely on your support to connect our communities with the world and make global education accessible to all. Thank you for being part of our global community. \n\nAbout the Speaker\nProfessor Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja\, professor Emeritus at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill\, is a Congolese scholar-activist and diplomat. He previously served as the Permanent Representative of the Democratic Republic of Congo to the United Nations from 2022 until 2023. \nBefore his posting he had been a professor in the Department of African\, African American and Diaspora Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill\, since 2007. He was concurrently interim Executive Director of the African Governance Institute in Dakar\, Senegal\, from 2009 to 2010\, as well as Director of the Regional Bureau for Africa of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) between 2005 and 2007\, and Director of the Oslo Governance Centre from 2002 to 2005. \nIn 1991\, having lived in exile for 17 years\, Professor Nzongola returned to his homeland -- then called Zaire -- and participated in the Congolese Sovereign National Conference the following year as one of its seven scholars of international renown. Professor Nzongola was also diplomatic advisor to Prime Minister Etienne Tshisekedi from 1992 to 1993 and First Vice-President of the National Election Commission in 1996. \nHe holds a doctoral degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison\, a master's degree in diplomacy and international commerce from the University of Kentucky and a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Davidson College. He is the author of The Congo from Leopold to Kabila: A People's History\, (2002). \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 - or 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/whats-next-for-the-congo/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ctwac.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Congo-Event-Graphic-2.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250319T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250319T200000
DTSTAMP:20250225T201458Z
CREATED:20250207T181649Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250225T201458Z
UID:10000364-1742410800-1742414400@ctwac.org
SUMMARY:The Future of Borders with Edward Alden | WorldNow
DESCRIPTION:In its first few weeks\, the Trump administration announced sweeping changes to immigration policy – from mass deportations and a migrant detention center at Guantanamo Bay to suspending asylum and trying to restrict birthright citizenship. What is the cost of these policies – to citizens and noncitizens alike? \nCFR’s Edward Alden joins us on WorldNow with Jim Falk to explain the economic\, social\, and international impact of the new administration’s border policies and mass deportations. \nThe details:\nWhen: Wednesday\, March 19 | 7:00PM ET\nWhere: Zoom Webinar \nRSVP Here \n\n\n \n\nMeet the Author\nEdward Alden is Bernard L. Schwartz Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. Alden's career spans more than three decades in journalism\, think tanks\, and academia. He was the bureau chief for the Financial Times newspaper in Toronto\, Canada\, and Washington\, DC before joining the Council on Foreign Relations in 2007. \nIn addition to his own books and articles\, he has worked with senior US policymakers on in-depth investigations of issues such as US immigration policy\, US trade policy\, border security\, and the future of work. Since 2019 he has also been a visiting professor at Western Washington University\, and he currently writes a column for Foreign Policy. \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. Jim also hosts Perspectives Matter\, which airs weekly on KERA-Dallas (PBS). He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. \n\nWhen the World Closed Its Doors: The Covid-19 Tragedy and the Future of Borders by Edward Alden and Laurie Trautman \nA detailed exploration of the most sweeping government border closures in human history during the Covid-19 pandemic and the implications for the future of global mobility.\nIn When the World Closed Its Doors\, Edward Alden and Laurie Trautman tell the story of how nearly every country in the world shut its borders to respond to an external threat and explain how this global shock to the system ended up transforming state border policies around the world. \nThey detail the consequences of the COVID border restrictions - couples separated for years\, children blocked from reuniting with their parents\, container ship workers moving essential goods trapped at sea\, pregnant citizens barred from returning home - and explain why governments used their harshest containment measures on those coming from outside. \nThroughout\, Alden and Trautman focus on human stories to show the multiple impacts that states' increasing restrictiveness has had - economic\, demographic\, social\, and political. And the fallout continues: governments left unchecked will continue to restrict borders with little regard to the collateral damage and disruption they cause. \nA sweeping overview of the re-bordering of the world\, both during and after 2020\, this synthetic\, wide-angle view of a singular shock to the international systems of travel and migration highlights why citizens need better protections and governments more robust guardrails. \nGet a copy of When the World Closed Its Doors \n\nHosts & Partners\nWorldNow with Jim Falk is hosted by the World Affairs Council of Connecticut and Global Santa Fe. Presented in partnership with the Alaska World Affairs Council\, Colorado Springs World Affairs Council\, Dallas Committee on Foreign Relations\, Phoenix Committee on Foreign Relations\, World Affairs Council of Albuquerque\, World Affairs Council of Austin\, World Affairs Council of Charlotte\, World Affairs Council of Hampton Roads\, World Affairs Council of Houston\, World Affairs Council of Jacksonville\, World Affairs Council of Orange County\, World Affairs Council of Western Massachusetts\, WorldOregon\, and Perspectives Matter. \n\nStay Globally Involved\nBecome a member or renew today. 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-future-of-borders-edward-alden-worldnow/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250304T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250304T130000
DTSTAMP:20250225T202233Z
CREATED:20250225T201420Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250225T202233Z
UID:10000365-1741089600-1741093200@ctwac.org
SUMMARY:Global Trade | A Celebration of International Women's Day 2025
DESCRIPTION:A future-focused conversation on global trade\, tariffs\, and transformation featuring Anne Evans and Dr. Rhona Free. Register today.\nFrom the threat of tariffs and unpredictable new federal “auditors” to supply chain instability\, how will shifting global trade trends reshape the global economy in 2025? \nJoin us for a timely conversation in celebration of International Women’s Day with Anne Evans\, CEO of Universal Strategies\, and Dr. Rhona Free\, President of the University of Saint Joseph on global trade\, tariffs\, and their impact on economies at every level. \nAnne became the Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration Director for Connecticut in 2007\, and drove Connecticut’s economic recovery through the recession. She received the Hartford Business Journal’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020. \nAs the world undergoes rapid change\, new national policies are poised to reshape the global economic landscape\, with women playing a pivotal role in this transformation. Don’t miss this chance to gain critical insights into the forces driving the future of global trade and economic policy. \nThe Details:\nWhen: Tuesday\, March 4th | 12:00 PM\nWhere: Virtual | Zoom Webinar\nTickets: No charge\, RSVP for zoom link\nRegister Today \n\n\n This celebration of International Women’s Day is part of an annual collaboration between the Women’s Leadership Center at the University of Saint Joseph and the World Affairs Council of Connecticut. \n\nFeaturing\nAnne Evans | CEO of Universal Strategies Limited; Board Member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut; and former Director of the International Trade Administration in Connecticut \nAnne founded Universal Strategies in 1999 as an international business\, government relations\, trade and specialty environmental consulting company. \nReturning to the company in 2021 after a 13 year leadership position with the US Department of Commerce International Trade Administration\, Anne brings more than 45 years of experience in the global marketplace with senior government and private sector business and trade positions. She has led numerous trade missions worldwide and organized high level business\, trade and procurement events including events at the White House and at USA and foreign embassies. At Universal Strategies Limited she leads a team that specializes in business development\, government relations and international trade with a particular focus on Australia and AUKUS opportunities. \nAnne was recognized by tire industry and awarded the Tire Industry Pioneer Award for her innovation and leadership in waste tire recovery. She was the 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award winner by the Hartford Business Journal. She has been recognized twice by the US Congress for her support of USA businesses and employment of veterans. \nRead more about Anne here. \n\nRhona C. Free | President\, University of Saint Joseph \nRhona C. Free\, Ph.D.\, became the ninth President of the University of Saint Joseph in July 2015. During her time at USJ\, she has guided the deliberations that led to the University’s decision to become fully-coeducational and championed the creation of the Women’s Leadership Center. She has overseen the launch of new academic majors to meet student interests and workforce needs; the consolidation of health care programs onto the West Hartford campus; significant expansion of athletic programs and facilities; the implementation of the Catholic Promise Scholarship program; and completion of numerous capital projects to enhance student life\, campus accessibility\, and educational training facilities including studios\, classrooms\, and laboratories. \nLearn more about Dr. Free here \n\nMission Partners\n \n  \nMark & Linda Caplan\nDonna Collins\nSusan & Peter G. Kelly\n\nStay Globally Involved\nBecome a member or renew today. 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/global-trade-iwd-2025/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ctwac.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/IWD2025-website.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250123T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250123T200000
DTSTAMP:20250121T220406Z
CREATED:20241115T173411Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250121T220406Z
UID:10000351-1737658800-1737662400@ctwac.org
SUMMARY:Priorities for the New Administration with H.R. McMaster | WorldNow
DESCRIPTION:For 13 months\, Lt. Gen. (ret.) H.R. McMaster served as President Trump’s National Security Advisor. Just days after the inauguration\, he joins us to break down the critical national security and foreign policy priorities that will shape the next four years. \nMcMaster is also the author of At War with Ourselves: My Tour of Duty in the Trump White House. \nThe details:\nWhen: Thursday\, January 23\, 2025 | 7:00PM ET\nWhere: Zoom Webinar\nTickets: Free | Register for Zoom link \nRegister today \n\n\n \n\nAbout the Speaker\nLt. General H. R. McMaster (US Army\, Ret.) is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution. General McMaster was the 26th National Security Advisor to President Donald J. Trump from February 2017 to April 2018. Upon graduation from the U.S. Military Academy\, he served as a commissioned officer for 34 years in the Army before retiring in June 2018. \nMcMaster earned a Ph.D. in history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is the author of several books including At War with Ourselves: My Tour of Duty in the Trump White House; Battlegrounds: The Fight to Defend the Free World and Dereliction of Duty: Lyndon Johnson\, Robert McNamara\, the Joint Chiefs of Staff\, and the Lies that Led to Vietnam. \nAdditionally\, General McMaster hosts Battlegrounds: Vital Perspectives on Today’s Challenges\, a podcast produced by the Hoover Institution. He is a Distinguished University Fellow at Arizona State University. \nAbout 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. Jim also hosts Perspectives Matter\, which airs weekly on KERA-Dallas (PBS). He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. \n\nHosts & Partners\nWorldNow with Jim Falk is hosted by the World Affairs Council of Connecticut and Global Santa Fe.\n \n\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/priorities-for-the-new-administration-hr-mcmaster/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ctwac.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/McMaster-website.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250109T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250109T200000
DTSTAMP:20241126T151656Z
CREATED:20241122T162041Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241126T151656Z
UID:10000355-1736449200-1736452800@ctwac.org
SUMMARY:Most Honorable Son with Gregg Jones: A Forgotten Hero’s Fight Against Fascism
DESCRIPTION:Join us January 9 to hear the story of a Japanese-American combat pilot and forgotten war hero’s fight against fascism abroad and bigotry at home during World War II. \nAuthor Gregg Jones introduces us to Ben Kuroki\, who enlisted following Pearl Harbor and eventually became the first Asian American and only Japanese American to fight in the Pacific theater during WWII. Ben’s vocal championing of anti-bigotry\, patriotism\, and honor spurred the Roosevelt Administration to reconsider the incarceration of more than 100\,000 Japanese Americans on the West Coast. \nGet a copy of Most Honorable Son on Bookshop.org and support local bookstores. \nThe details:\nWhen: Thursday\, January 9 | 7:00PM ET\nWhere: Zoom Webinar\nTickets: No charge | RSVP for Zoom link \nRSVP Now \n\n\n \n\nWorldNow with Jim Falk is hosted by the World Affairs Council of Connecticut and Global Santa Fe. Presented in partnership with the Asia Society - Texas\, Alaska World Affairs Council\, Colorado Springs World Affairs Council\, Dallas Committee on Foreign Relations\, Phoenix Committee on Foreign Relations\, World Affairs Council of Albuquerque\, World Affairs Council of Austin\, World Affairs Council of Charlotte\, World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth\, World Affairs Council of Hampton Roads\, World Affairs Council of Houston\, World Affairs Council of Jacksonville\, World Affairs Council of Orange County\, World Affairs Council of Western Massachusetts\, WorldOregon\, and Perspectives Matter. \n\nAbout the Author\nA long-time foreign correspondent and investigative journalist\, Pulitzer Prize finalist Gregg Jones has covered civil wars and insurgencies in Asia and Latin America\, the fall of Asia’s two longest-ruling twentieth-century dictators\, and the early months of the U.S. war in Afghanistan. \nHe is the author of the acclaimed nonfiction books Honor in the Dust: Theodore Roosevelt\, War in the Philippines\, and the Rise and Fall of America’s Imperial Dream\, and Last Stand at Khe Sanh: The U.S. Marines’ Finest Hour in Vietnam\, which received the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation's General Wallace M. Greene Jr. Award for distinguished nonfiction. \nAbout 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. Jim also hosts Perspectives Matter\, which airs weekly on KERA-Dallas (PBS). He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. \n\nAbout the Book\nMost Honorable Son: A Forgotten Hero’s Fight Against Fascism and Hate During World War II by Gregg Jones \nThe first comprehensive biography of unjustly forgotten war hero Ben Kuroki\, a Japanese American farm boy from Nebraska who flew fifty-eight combat missions\, fighting the Axis Powers during World War II and battled racism\, injustice\, and prejudice on the home front.\nBen Kuroki was a twenty-four-year-old Japanese American farm boy whose heritage was never a problem in remote Nebraska--until Pearl Harbor. Among the millions of Americans who flocked to military stations to enlist\, Ben wanted to avenge the attack\, reclaim his family honor\, and prove his patriotism. But as anti-Japanese sentiment soared\, Ben had to fight to be allowed to fight for America. And fight he did. \nAs a gunner on Army Air Forces bombers\, Ben flew fifty-eight missions spanning three combat theaters: Europe\, North Africa\, and the Pacific. In between his tours in Europe and the Pacific\, he challenged FDR's shameful incarceration of more than one hundred thousand people of Japanese ancestry in America\, and he would be credited by some with setting in motion the debate that reversed a grave national dishonor. In the euphoric wake of America's victory\, the decorated war hero used his national platform to carry out what he called his "fifty-ninth mission\," urging his fellow Americans to do more to eliminate bigotry and racism at home. \nTold in full for the first time\, and long overdue\, Ben's extraordinary story is a quintessentially American one of patriotism\, principle\, perseverance\, and courage. It's about being in the vanguard of history\, the bonding of a band of brothers united in a just cause\, a timeless and unflinching account of racial bigotry\, and one man's transcendent sense of belonging--in war\, in peace\, abroad\, and at home. \nGet a copy of Most Honorable Son on Bookshop.org and support local bookstores. \n\nHosts & Partners\n \n\n\nStay Globally Involved\nBecome a member or renew today. 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/most-honorable-son-with-gregg-jones-a-forgotten-heros-fight-against-fascism/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ctwac.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Most-Honorable-Son-Cover-Image.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241106T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241106T200000
DTSTAMP:20241030T161939Z
CREATED:20241023T140428Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241030T161939Z
UID:10000348-1730919600-1730923200@ctwac.org
SUMMARY:Avoiding a Forever War with Dr. Trita Parsi | What Escalation Between Israel & Iran Means for the U.S.
DESCRIPTION:  \nRescheduled for November 6th \nThe conflict between Israel and Iran is escalating at a rapid pace. With the U.S. deploying 100 U.S. service members and a THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) Missile Defense System to Israel\, the U.S. seems to be signaling increased involvement in the conflict. \n\nAs Israel and Iran trade attacks\, join us for a conversation on the escalating tensions\, U.S. involvement\, and whether or not the U.S. risks entering another “forever war.” \nDr. Trita Parsi\, Executive VP of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft\, award-winning author\, and community favorite of CTWAC returns to address these challenges and more. \nRSVP today for the inside look at this rapidly developing conflict. \nThe details:\nWhen: Wednesday\, November 6th | 7:00 PM ET \nWhere: Zoom Webinar \nTickets: No charge | Register for Zoom link \nRegister Today \n\n\n \n\n\n\n\nBecome a Member\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/avoiding-a-forever-war-with-dr-trita-parsi/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ctwac.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Forever-War-with-Trita-Parsi-Website.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241023T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241023T200000
DTSTAMP:20241023T165823Z
CREATED:20240923T141432Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241023T165823Z
UID:10000343-1729710000-1729713600@ctwac.org
SUMMARY:America's Cold Warrior: Paul Nitze & National Security with James Graham Wilson | WorldNow
DESCRIPTION:Author James Graham Wilson joins us for another episode of WorldNow with Jim Falk on Paul Nitze\, America’s most influential national security strategist throughout the Cold War. \n“In his superb America’s Cold Warrior…Wilson portrays Nitze as consistently animated by a single\, ‘steadfast conviction that the United States needed to possess overriding strength.’” – Foreign Policy Magazine \nPurchase America’s Cold Warrior here | Get on Bookshop.org | Collected Works Bookstore \nThe details:\nWhen: Wednesday\, October 23 | 7:00PM ET\nWhere: Zoom Webinar\nTickets: No charge | Register for Zoom link \n\n\nWorldNow with Jim Falk is hosted by the World Affairs Council of Connecticut and Global Santa Fe. Presented in partnership with the Alaska World Affairs Council\, Dallas Committee on Foreign Relations\, Phoenix Committee on Foreign Relations\, World Affairs Council of Albuquerque\, World Affairs Council of Austin\, World Affairs Council of Charlotte\, World Affairs Council of Colorado Springs\, World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth\, World Affairs Council of Hampton Roads\, World Affairs Council of Houston\, World Affairs Council of Jacksonville\, World Affairs Council of Orange County\, World Affairs Council of South Texas\, World Affairs Council of Western Massachusetts\, WorldOregon\, and Perspectives Matter. \n\nAbout the Book\n \nAmerica’s Cold Warrior: Paul Nitze and National Security from Roosevelt to Reagan by James Graham Wilson\nIn America’s Cold Warrior\, James Graham Wilson traces Paul Nitze’s career path in national security after World War II\, a time when many of his mentors and peers returned to civilian life. Serving in eight presidential administrations\, Nitze commanded White House attention even when he was out of government\, especially with his withering criticism of Jimmy Carter during Carter’s presidency. While Nitze is perhaps best known for leading the formulation of NSC-68\, which Harry Truman signed in 1950\, Wilson contends that Nitze’s most significant contribution to American peace and security came in the painstaking work done in the 1980s to negotiate successful treaties with the Soviets to reduce nuclear weapons while simultaneously deflecting skeptics surrounding Ronald Reagan. America’s Cold Warrior connects Nitze’s career and concerns about strategic vulnerability to the post-9/11 era and the challenges of the 2020s\, where the United States finds itself locked in geopolitical competition with the People’s Republic of China and Russia. \nPurchase America’s Cold Warrior here | Get on Bookshop.org | Collected Works Bookstore \n\nAbout the Author\nJames Graham Wilson is a Historian at the US Department of State\, where he is currently responsible for editing volumes in the Foreign Relations of the United States series on arms control and national security during the Reagan Administration. In addition to America’s Cold Warrior\, he is also the author of The Triumph of Improvisation: Gorbachev’s Adaptability\, Reagan’s Engagement\, and the End of the Cold War. \n  \n\nAbout the Moderator\nJim Falk is President Emeritus of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth and Global Santa Fe’s Program Chair. Jim co-hosts Perspectives Matter\, a McCuistion Program\, that airs weekly on KERA-Dallas (PBS). He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. \n  \n\nHosts & Partners\n \n\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/americas-cold-warrior-paul-nitze-national-security-with-james-graham-wilson-worldnow/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240923T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240923T200000
DTSTAMP:20240809T171307Z
CREATED:20240801T150338Z
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SUMMARY:Ronald Reagan: His Life & Legend with Max Boot | WorldNow
DESCRIPTION:Historian\, author\, and CFR foreign policy expert Max Boot reintroduces us to one of America’s most consequential and controversial presidents – and his lasting impact on the U.S. and the world. In conversation with Jim Falk. \n“A timely and fascinating book\, just what we need to understand\, and perhaps transcend\, our current age of political paralysis and polarization…Understanding Reagan is key to understanding our politics today.” –Walter Isaacson\, author of Elon Musk and Steve Jobs \nThe details:\nWhen: Monday\, September 23 | 7:00PM ET\nWhere: Zoom Webinar\nTickets: No charge | Register for Zoom link \n\n\nWorldNow with Jim Falk is hosted by the World Affairs Council of Connecticut and Global Santa Fe. Presented in partnership with the Alaska World Affairs Council\, Dallas Committee on Foreign Relations\, Phoenix Committee on Foreign Relations\, SMU Center for Presidential History\, World Affairs Council of Albuquerque\, World Affairs Council of Austin\, World Affairs Council of Colorado Springs\, World Affairs Council of Hampton Roads\, World Affairs Council of Houston\, World Affairs Council of Jacksonville\, World Affairs Council of Orange County\, World Affairs Council of South Texas\, World Affairs Council of Western Massachusetts\, WorldOregon\, and Perspectives Matter. \n\nAbout the Book\n \nReagan: His Life & Legend by Max Boot\nSon of the Midwest\, movie star\, and mesmerizing politician—America’s fortieth President comes to three-dimensional life in this gripping and profoundly revisionist biography.  \nFrom best-selling biographer Max Boot comes this revelatory portrait\, a decade in the making\, of the actor-turned-politician whose telegenic leadership ushered in a transformative conservative era in American politics. Despite his fame as a Hollywood star and television host\, Reagan remained a man of profound contradictions\, even to those closest to him. Never resorting to either hagiography or hit job\, REAGAN charts his epic journey from Depression-era America to “Morning in America.” Providing fresh insight into “trickle-down economics\,” the Cold War’s end\, the Iran-Contra affair\, and so much more\, this definitive biography is as compelling a presidential biography as any in recent decades. Purchase Reagan: His Life & Legend here. \n\nAbout the Author\nMax Boot\, historian and foreign-policy analyst\, is a senior fellow for national security studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and a columnist for the Washington Post. His New York Times bestseller\, The Road Not Taken: Edward Lansdale and the American Tragedy in Vietnam\, was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Biography.\n \n  \n\nAbout the Moderator\nJim Falk is President Emeritus of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth and Global Santa Fe’s Program Chair. Jim co-hosts Perspectives Matter\, a McCuistion Program\, that airs weekly on KERA-Dallas (PBS). He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. \n  \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/reagan-his-life-and-legend-max-boot/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240801T190000
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DTSTAMP:20240731T145605Z
CREATED:20240709T234934Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240731T145605Z
UID:10000339-1722538800-1722544200@ctwac.org
SUMMARY:The End of Ambition with Steven Cook | America's Future in the Middle East
DESCRIPTION:***Rescheduled for August 1st*** \nWhat’s next for the U.S. in the Middle East? Join author Steven Cook\, senior fellow for Middle East & Africa at the Council on Foreign Relations\, in conversation with Jim Falk on what went wrong with U.S. involvement in the region\, and how the U.S. should reimagine our strategic interests in the Middle East amid a changing global order. Purchase The End of Ambition here. \n“Cook demonstrates with terrifying clarity that the Middle East’s reputation for devouring the schemes and dreams of great powers is sending to more and is more often than not a place where grandiose American ideas have gone to die.” Aaron David Miller\, Senior Fellow\, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. \nThe details:\nWhen: Thursday\, August 1 | 7:00PM ET\nWhere: Zoom Webinar\nTickets: No charge | Register here \n\nWorldNow with Jim Falk is hosted by the World Affairs Council of Connecticut and Global Santa Fe. Presented in partnership with the Alaska World Affairs Council\, Dallas Committee on Foreign Relations\, Phoenix Committee on Foreign Relations\, World Affairs Council of Albuquerque\, World Affairs Council of Austin\, World Affairs Council of Charlotte\, World Affairs Council of Colorado Springs\, World Affairs Council of Hampton Roads\, World Affairs Council of Houston\, World Affairs Council of Jacksonville\, World Affairs Council of Orange County\, World Affairs Council of South Texas\, World Affairs Council of Western Massachusetts\, WorldOregon\, and Perspectives Matter. \n\nAbout the Book\nThe End of Ambition: America’s Past\, Present and Future in the Middle East by Steven Cook \nA clear-headed vision for the United States’ role in the Middle East that highlights the changing nature of US national interests and the challenges of grand strategizing at a time of profound change in the international order. \nFollowing a long series of catastrophic misadventures in the Middle East over the last two decades\, the American foreign policy community has tried to understand what went wrong. After weighing the evidence\, they have mostly advised a retreat from the region. The basic view is that when the United States tries to advance change in the Middle East\, it only makes matters worse. \nIn The End of Ambition\, Steven A. Cook argues that while these analysts are rightly concerned that engagement drains US resources and distorts its domestic politics\, the broader impulse to disengage tends to neglect important lessons from the past. Moreover\, advocates of pulling back overlook the potential risks of withdrawal. Cook makes the bold claim that despite setbacks and moral costs\, the United States has been overwhelmingly successful in protecting its core national interests in the Middle East. Conversely\, overly ambitious policies to remake the region and leverage US power not only ended in failure\, but rendered the region unstable in new and largely misunderstood ways. \nWhile making the case that retrenchment is not the answer to America’s problems in the Middle East\, The End of Ambition highlights how America’s interests in the region have begun to change and critically examines alternative approaches to US-Middle East policy. Cook highlights the challenges that policymakers and analysts confront developing a new strategy for the United States in the Middle East against the backdrop of both political uncertainty in the United States and a changing global order. Purchase The End of Ambition here. \n\nAbout the Author\nSteven A. 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 False Dawn: Protest\, Democracy\, and Violence in the New Middle East. He is a columnist at Foreign Policy magazine and speaks Arabic and Turkish. \n\nAbout the Moderator\nJim Falk is President Emeritus of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth and Global Santa Fe’s Program Chair. Jim co-hosts Perspectives Matter\, a McCuistion Program\, that airs weekly on KERA-Dallas (PBS). He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. \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-end-of-ambition-with-steven-cook-americas-future-in-the-middle-east/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240625T190000
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DTSTAMP:20240624T162615Z
CREATED:20240501T185430Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240624T162615Z
UID:10000331-1719342000-1719345600@ctwac.org
SUMMARY:Behind the White House Curtain with Steve Herman
DESCRIPTION:﻿Freedom of the press is a hallmark of our democracy. Steve Herman\, a veteran member of the White House Press Corps\, considers covering the U.S. President a key part of ensuring a healthy democracy. Join us in conversation with Steve on June 25 on what it’s really like to cover the President\, and the importance of journalistic independence at a time when misinformation is so rampant. In conversation with Jim Falk. \nThe details:\nWhen: Tuesday\, June 25 | 7:00PM ET \nWhere: Zoom Webinar \nTickets: Free | Registration required \nBuy Tickets on EventbriteRSVP Now \n\n\nWorldNow with Jim Falk is hosted by the World Affairs Council of Connecticut and Global Santa Fe. Presented in partnership with the World Affairs Council of Albuquerque\, Phoenix Committee on Foreign Relations\, Dallas Committee on Foreign Relations\, World Affairs Council of Jacksonville\, World Affairs Council of Western Massachusetts\, and Perspectives Matter. \n\nAbout the Book\nBehind the White House Curtain: A Senior Journalist’s Story of Covering the President – and Why it Matters by Steven Herman \nGoing behind the scenes with a veteran member of the White House press corps \nSteven L Herman\, chief national correspondent for the nonpartisan\, government-funded Voice of America (VOA)\, weaves together memoir and history to pull back the curtain on the inner workings of the White House press corps\, giving readers a rare glimpse into the historic and current relationship between the president and the press. \nHerman traces the trajectory of his career as a journalist—from learning to be skeptical of government officials’ statements when he worked as a novice reporter covering nuclear testing in Nevada in the 1970s to understanding the power of on-the-ground social media coverage after the Fukushima disaster in 2011 and facing the challenges of covering the Trump administration. He reflects on the experience of reporting on a president who once called journalists “enemies of the people”—and indeed\, former president Trump singled out VOA\, accusing the organization of being not a voice of America but rather a voice supporting Moscow’s and Beijing’s interests. Under questionable circumstances\, top VOA executives lost their security clearances\, and a dossier was prepared on Herman in an effort to remove him as White House bureau chief. With journalistic independence under threat\, Herman feared not only for his career but also for “the soul of Voice of America.” \nThroughout Behind the White House Curtain\, Herman convincingly argues that public access to accurate\, unbiased information is essential to a healthy and peaceful democracy\, and that journalists can and should play a key role in pressing government officials to be truthful and transparent. At a time when misinformation is rampant and the need for unbiased coverage of current events is more urgent than ever\, Herman reminds readers that freedom of the press is a foundational American right. \nPurchase Behind the White House Curtain here. \n\nAbout the Author\nSteven L Herman is the chief national correspondent of the Voice of America (VOA)\, an adjunct assistant professor at Shenandoah University\, and an adjunct lecturer in the journalism department of the University of Richmond. He covered the White House for VOA during the Trump administration and the first eight months of the Biden administration. He has traveled to more than 75 countries and territories\, including reporting assignments in Afghanistan\, Argentina\, Bhutan\, Burma\, China\, the Gaza Strip\, North Korea\, Peru\, and Vietnam. \nAbout the Moderator\nJim Falk is President Emeritus of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. Now residing in Santa Fe\, New Mexico he is member of the Board of Global Santa Fe where he chairs the program committee. Jim co-hosts Perspectives Matter\, a McCuistion Program\, that airs weekly on KERA-Dallas (PBS). He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. \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/behind-the-white-house-curtain-with-steve-herman/
LOCATION:Zoom Webinar
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