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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. On December 14, Standage rejoins the Council to discuss his publication’s analysis for 2023. "The World Ahead" is one of the most prestigious launches in The Economist’s annual publishing calendar. This future-gazing publication prepares audiences for the year to come with mind-stretching insights and expert-level analysis. Written by The Economist correspondents and editors alongside globally recognized public figures, it is regarded as essential reading by individuals, professionals, and policymakers alike. It circulates in more than 90 countries, in 24 languages, to a world audience in excess of 2.8 million people. About the Speaker: Tom 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. About the Moderator: Jim Falk, president emeritus of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth, retired in March 2021 after serving as the organization’s president since 2001. Now residing in Santa Fe, New Mexico he is member of the Board of Global Santa Fe where he chairs the program committee. Additionally, Jim co-hosts The McCuistion Program, a public affairs program, that airs weekly on KERA-Dallas (PBS). He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and honorary consul of Morocco. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate

The world changed on that day in August 1945 when the American B-29 bomber released the 7,900 pound “Little Boy” nuclear bomb over the city of Hiroshima, Japan, and 77 years later nuclear weapons remain a primary global issue. Today, a nuclear weapon can fit into a suitcase. Join us for a special Mel Kusin National Security Lecture on nuclear threats with former National Security Council member Robert Litwak. Litwak will discuss the nuclear capabilities and ambitions of Russia, Iran, and North Korea, as well as historical nonproliferation precedents. Ultimately, Litwak will ask us to reevaluate the concept of deterrence and mutually assured destruction. About the Speaker Robert Litwak is the senior vice president and director of international security studies at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington DC, as well as a consultant to the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Litwak served as the director for nonproliferation on the National Security Council during the Clinton administration. He also worked as an adjunct professor in the Security Studies Program at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and a visiting fellow at Harvard University’s Center for International Affairs, the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the Russian Academy of Sciences, and Oxford University. Litwak’s books include Rogue States and U.S Foreign Policy, Outlier States, and Managing Nuclear Risks and Nuclear Crises with North Korea and Iran About the Moderator: Amanda Schnetzer is a social impact leader and entrepreneur who has dedicated her professional life to empowering people and organizations to reach their full potential. She is currently the co-founder and CEO of FirstThen, a digital health startup working to close the gap in access to quality care for children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Previously she worked in the global arena with an emphasis on foreign policy, human rights, and strengthening democracy at home and in the world. Amanda was part of the startup leadership team at the George W. Bush Institute, working with the former President and First Lady to realize their vision for a results-driven, action-oriented policy and programming organization. Earlier in her career, Amanda served with Freedom House and the American Enterprise Institute, two globally recognized public policy research organizations. She holds degrees from Georgetown University and Southern Methodist University, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa, and is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations. About the Mel Kusin National Security Lecture Mel Kusin (1926-2018) was a World War II veteran and University of Illinois alumnus. Mel Kusin’s association with the Council goes back two decades when he established the International Perspectives Series, a joint program with the American Jewish Committee of Dallas. The series has brought some of the nation’s foremost scholars and thinkers on U.S. foreign policy to Dallas. To honor Mel and his legacy, the Mel Kusin National Security Lecture was established in the fall of 2018 and has since featured Ambassador Michael McFaul, Michael O’Hanlon, and Charles Kupchan. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate

From the presence of drones to the power of social media, the Russian invasion of Ukraine is changing the face of warfare as we know it. How will the U.S. military adapt to the evolving future of warfare? Join us for a discussion with former Under Secretary of Defense Michèle Flournoy on America’s strategy for success in the uncertain times ahead, including insights from Lt Gen John "Jack" Shanahan, USAF (Ret.) and Rear Admiral Norman Hayes, USN (Ret.) on the role of new technology like artificial intelligence. Our panelists will evaluate the possibility of a new world order in geopolitics and military strategy.  . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate

The political polarization of America in 2022 is not a new phenomenon, but what is often missing is the political will to find a middle ground. Even while in fierce opposition to the policies of President Ronald Reagan, who was swept into office in a landslide, Democrat House Speaker Tip O’Neill said, “In the best interest of America, the hand of cooperation ought to go out.” Last year, the Pew Research Center found that 86% of Trump supporters and 89% of Biden supporters wanted their elected official to address the needs of all Americans “even if it means disappointing some of his supporters.” Join us for the Mike Rawlings Endowed Lecture as Democrat Mayor Mike Rawlings, Republican and former Texas Speaker of the House Joe Straus, and Rudy Bush of the Dallas Morning News discuss how to slow the polarization of our electorate and find a middle ground where opposition does not become obstruction. About our Speakers: The Honorable Mike Rawlings was the longest serving Mayor of Dallas (2011-2019) in over 50 years. This annual lecture was created to honor him for his service to our city, and especially for his success in raising the city’s international prominence. Rawlings is a founding partner of CIC Partners, its current vice-chairman, and has been with the firm since its inception in 2004. He is a graduate of Boston College. The Honorable Joe Straus served as Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives from 2009 until 2019, the longest-serving Republican Speaker in Texas history. A native of San Antonio and a fifth-generation Texan, Speaker Straus began attending Republican meetings as a child with his mother, Joci Straus, who played a key role in building the Texas Republican Party in the second half of the 20th century. A graduate of Vanderbilt University, Speaker Straus served in the administrations of Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. He represented northeaster Bexar County in the Texas House for 14 years. About the Moderator: Rudolph Bush became editorial page editor and vice president at the Dallas Morning News in 2022 after serving as deputy editorial page editor. He previously served as deputy editorial page editor, Dallas City Hall and investigative reporter, and city desk news editor. Bush covered crime and the federal courts at the Chicago Tribune and later became a national correspondent in the newspaper’s Washington Bureau. He has an M.A. and an M.B.A. from the University of Dallas, where he served as the director of journalism from 2014-2022.

Our challenge is to remain good citizens in a politically and socially divided world. The Freedoms Foundation’s David Harmer says, “When we recognize what we share in common and work through our differences with civility, we can preserve and advance freedoms for all.” At the Bill and Barbara Benac Human Dignity and Fairness for All Lecture, Harmer will focus on the twin ideals of freedom and individual responsibility and the effect our political past, social structure, and economic entity have on them and on citizenship today. About the Speaker: David Harmer: David Harmer is currently the CEO of Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge and previously served as counsel to a subcommittee of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. A fellow of the Heritage Foundation who has been published by the Cato Institute and is considered an expert in constitutional law, Harmer has litigated in defense of personal and economic freedoms recognized by the First and Fifth Amendments. He has spent the heart of his career at the Los Angeles firm of O’Melveny & Meyers. About the Moderator: Katherine Carté Engel is an Associate Professor of History at Southern Methodist University, specializing in early American and Atlantic history. She is an award-winning author, and her articles have appeared in a variety of academic journals and collections. Carté has been a Charles A. Syskamp Fellow of the American Council of Learned Societies, and affiliate fellow of the Center for the Study of Religion at Princeton University, a Franklin Fellow of the American Philosophical Society, and a Barra Postdoctoral Fellow at the McNeil Center for Early American Studies. She received her Ph.D. in history from the University of Wisconsin. The annual Bill and Barbara Benac Human Dignity and Fairness for All Lecture is intended to promote human dignity, equality, and civil discourse. Sponsored By Bill & Barbara Benac Thank you to our Promotional Partner Freedoms Foundation at Valley forge - Dallas area Chapter . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate

Do massive floods worldwide and soaring heatwaves foreshadow changes in the global climate status quo? Last February, the freeze in Texas caused massive power outages, damage to infrastructure, and 172 people lost their lives. What does a system more resilient to catastrophic risk look like? Is our response coming too late? Council on Foreign Relations Senior Fellow for Energy and the Environment Alice Hill will talk with us about confronting the dangers ahead in our November 1 webinar. About the speaker: Alice Hill is the David M. Rubenstein senior fellow for energy and the environment at the Council on Foreign Relations. She previously served as a fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution and as senior counselor to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in 2009. Hill led developments of policy regarding national security and climate change as special assistant to the President and senior director of resilience policy at the National Security Council during the Obama Administration. In 2015, Hill was honored with the Meta-Leader of the Year award from Harvard’s University’s National Preparedness Leadership Initiative. Her 30-year career includes experience as a federal prosecutor, judge, and White House insider. About the Moderator: Brendon Steele is Future 500’s resident expert on all things energy, oil and gas, and climate policy. He grew up with one foot in the San Francisco Bay Area and the other in an oil family, where he was able to find common ground in uncommon places. Steele holds a B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of California, Davis and a masters in Climate and Society from Columbia University. While at Columbia, Steele worked with the Urban Climate Change Research Network at the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies to facilitate knowledge sharing on climate change and cities. He spent six years working in the environmental chemistry field, where he was a liaison between federal regulators and his team of chemists and data analysts. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate

The Civil War may have ended on April 9, 1865, but over 150 years later, the fight for a stable democracy continues with polarizing civil tension in the United States. The fight to preserve the Union is more tightly knit with the fight for democracy than any of can imagine. What are the implications of our forgotten history and what impact does it have on our future? Join us and Suri at the Gail Koppman History lecture for a book signing and discussion on our country’s history. We’ll discuss his argument that there was never a united country post the Civil War and what emerged was a country striving to rebuild and unite, but ultimately unable to. About the Speaker Jeremi Suri is a professor at the University of Texas at Austin in the Department of History and the LBJ School of Public Affairs, where he holds the Mack Brown Distinguished Chair for Leadership in Global Affairs. Suri teaches award-winning graduate and undergraduate courses on strategy and decision-making, leadership, globalization, international relations, and modern history. His accolades include being named America’s “Top Young Innovators” and the Pro Bene Meritis Award for Contributions to the Liberal Arts, in 2007 and 2018, respectively. Outside of University work, Suri writes for various major publications – including the New York Times, The Washington Post, and the Dallas Morning News, among others – and has authored and edited 11 books on modern-day politics and foreign policy. About the Moderator Jim Falk, president emeritus of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth, retired in March 2021 after serving as the organization’s president since 2001. Now residing in Santa Fe, New Mexico he is member of the Board of Global Santa Fe where he chairs the program committee. Additionally, Jim co-hosts The McCuistion Program, a public affairs program, that airs weekly on KERA-Dallas (PBS). He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and honorary consul of Morocco. About the Gail Koppman History Lecture Gail Koppman was a passionate educator, voracious reader and lifelong learner. Born in Philadelphia, Gail graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Pennsylvania in 1964. She began teaching in the Terrell and Richardson school districts and later taught economics at Richland Junior College. After raising her children, Gail taught social studies for more than 20 years at Good Shepherd Episcopal School. In addition to teaching her students study skills and instilling a work ethic that would benefit them throughout their lives, Gail hoped to spark a lifelong curiosity about history, current events, and the world. Her dedication to education was recognized over the years in the countless letters and emails that she received and treasured from former students and their parents. Gail valued the educational contributions of the Council to the DFW community. Not only did she enjoy attending programs, she also appreciated bringing her students to various events and introducing them to different views and ideas. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate

No recent administration has been so intensely scrutinized as that of President Donald Trump. “Insiders,” media, and Congressional hearings attempt to interpret what happened behind the scenes at the Trump White House. Peter Baker, chief White House correspondent for The New York Times, and Susan Glasser, staff writer at The New Yorker and founder/editor at Politico, offer their front-row perspective in "The Divider: Trump in the White House 2017-2021" based on sources including President Trump himself. Join us for this timely conversation with these historians as the former President considers a 2024 reprise of his political campaign. Peter Baker is an award-winning journalist who has covered Washington for more than 30 years. He is the chief White House correspondent for The New York Times. Susan Glasser is a staff writer at The New Yorker and has served as a top editor for several Washington publications as well as editor-in-chief of Foreign Policy. This is the third book the married couple has co-authored. Their 2005 book, “Kremlin Rising: Vladimir Putin’s Russia and the End of Revolution,” chronicled the four years they spent as Washington Post bureau chiefs in Moscow. Moderator: Jeffrey A. Engel is founding director of the Center for Presidential History at Southern Methodist University and Professor in the Clements Department of History. Engel has authored or edited twelve books on American foreign policy. A frequent media contributor on international and political affairs on venues including MSNBC, Fox News, CNN, National Public Radio, and the BBC, his scholarly and popular articles have appeared in such journals as Diplomatic History; Diplomacy & Statecraft; American Interest; USAToday; The Los Angeles Times; International Journal; The Dallas Morning News; The Houston Chronicle; Air & Space Magazine; and The Washington Post. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate

The monarchy is a national symbol of the UK and a traditional unifying point, as we have just witnessed. As the United Kingdom said goodbye to its longest-reigning monarch, questions arose about how many of the 56 commonwealth nations would retain King Charles III as their sovereign. What is the impact of the Queen’s passing on the world? Does it change global order? Will the monarchy remain relevant, be slimmed down, or shift to a republican system? The World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth will present a webinar featuring Lord Mark Sedwill, a British diplomat, member of the House of Lords, and former civil servant who served as Cabinet Secretary to Prime Ministers Theresa May and Boris Johnson and Head of the Civil Service (2018-2020), and as National Security Adviser (2017-2020). He was previously the UK’s Ambassador to Afghanistan, NATO Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan, and Permanent Secretary at the Home Office. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate

Hacking is no longer a far-off, fictional plot from science fiction. We all participate in the digital world. The threats to individuals and their identities are real and inevitable; no person or corporation is exempt from identity theft or data breach. Last year, Microsoft was infiltrated by at least 10 different hacker groups as a result of software flaws and unsuspecting users. Cyber-tech leaders Shawn Wiora and Mike Echols will show Global Forum members how to manage cyber risks and be empowered to safely navigate the tech world.   About the Speakers: Mike Echoles headshotMike Echols is the CEO of IACI, a Kennedy Space Center nonprofit, and CEO of Max Cybersecurity LLC. Echols spent 10 years at the Department of Homeland Security in critical infrastructure protection and cybersecurity leadership and served as the point person for President Obama’s Executive Order Promoting Private Sector Cybersecurity Information Sharing, Chair of the Communications Sector and Network Security Information Exchange, and designated federal official for the President’s National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee. Echols is a graduate of the National Preparedness Leadership Initiative – Harvard Kennedy School of Public Health, and the Federal Executive Institute.     Shawn Wiora headshotShawn Wiora is the co-founder and CEO of Maxxsure, a leading cyber risk quantification and blockchain company in DFW. Known as a cyber industry expert, Wiora has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, CIO.com, and CNNMoney and is a frequent keynote and conference speaker for SOX, PCI, NIST, and HIPAA. Additionally, he took the first healthcare company in the U.S. to the cloud, a company which received the designation of the most cyber-resilient healthcare company in the U.S. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate

Over the past century, Americans have seen several iterations of the Republican Party, from the post-WWII Eisenhower days to Reaganomics to the rise of Trump’s MAGA movement. Amid so much change, how does one define the modern-day Republican Party, and what does it mean to be a conservative in 2022? Political scholar Matthew Continetti seeks to answer these questions and more in his book, The Right: The Hundred-Year War for American Conservatism. In The Right, Continetti takes readers through the history of the party and how the ideology that drives it has evolved over the decades, in the face of changing social, political, and economic circumstances. From a “network of intellectuals” to a 21st century political organization, Continetti explains the intricacies behind what many see as the party’s “desire for mainstream acceptance and the pull of extremism.” Matthew Continetti is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where he studies American political thought and history, emphasizing on the Republican Party and conservative movements throughout the 20th century. Continetti has written two books, The Persecution of Sarah Palin: How the Elite Media Tried to Bring Down a Rising Star and The K Street Gang: The Rise and Fall of the Republican Machine. He is also the founding editor of The Washington Free Beacon, as well as a contributing editor at National Review. He holds a B.A. in history from Columbia University. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate

When facing technical difficulties with your computer, the easiest solution is often just to reboot it. But can you hit control, alt, delete on a political party? In his book, American Reboot: An Idealist’s Guide to Getting Big Things Done, former Republican congressman and CIA officer William Hurd argues you definitely can. Dubbed “the future of the GOP” by Politico and Texas Monthly, Hurd reveals his secrets to success in turning red a large district that has traditionally voted blue. He provides a clear-eyed path forward for America, grounded by what Hurd calls "pragmatic idealism"—a concept forged from enduring American values to achieve what is actually achievable. From his critical analysis of the GOP’s foggy vision for the future to discussing the impact of rapid technological advancements, Hurd will tackle five seismic problems facing the U.S. as outlined in his book. Join us as Hurd shares his unique experience as a Black republican in the House, with a vibrant career in intelligence, articulating what domestic policy can look like by appealing to the middle and empowering people. William Hurd served as the U.S. representative for Texas’s 23rd congressional district from 2015-2021. He is currently a managing director at Allen & Company and most recently served as a fellow at the University of Chicago Institute of Politics. Additionally, he is growing the U.S. transatlantic partnership with Europe as a trustee of the German Marshall Fund and an OpenAI board member. Hurd worked for the CIA from 2000 to 2009, completing a tour of duty as an operations officer in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India. He has a B.S. in Computer Science and a minor in international relations from Texas A&M University. Moderated by Lee Cullum, journalist at Public Media of North Texas (KERA/PBS) and Senior Fellow at the John Tower Center for Public Policy and International Affairs at SMU. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate

Honeybees seem to attract the spotlight but our pollinators in general are in a bind. We aren't helpless though. Everyone has the capacity to be a huge help to our bee populations, both native and introduced, but first we must discuss what’s threatening them and why we need to act. Join us in this special Earth Day conversation with Dr. Sammy Ramsey, founder and director of the Ramsey Research Foundation. Alongside his research focused on predatory and parasitic insect behavior, Dr. Sammy dedicates much of his time to making his work and other entomological efforts more accessible to the community at large. He has generated a significant online following through platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube in the process of making STEM more inclusive, equitable, and diverse. About Dr. Sammy Dr. Sammy, founder and director of the Ramsey Research Foundation, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Entomology from Cornell University in 2011, and focused his research on Predatory & Parasitic Insect Behavior. He cultivated an interest and expertise in the close relationships between insects and other creatures (symbioses), and dedicated his doctoral research to understanding a parasite killing honey bees globally (Varroa destructor). In Dr. Dennis vanEngelsdorp's Honey Bee lab at the University of Maryland, College Park; he completed his formal education. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate

Only three months into the new year, the world has already faced a multitude of new challenges. From humanitarian crises to threats to global democracy to the resurgence of Covid-19 and crippled supply chains, there are many obstacles to clear in the months ahead. Furthermore, with the escalating war between Russia and Ukraine and increasing access to lethal autonomous weapons, the stakes are greater than ever. As we enter a novel era of interstate conflict and potential new world order, it becomes crucial to evaluate how the United States might take on these challenges. As part of the Council’s 2022 International Perspectives series, Richard Fontaine will walk us through what the future holds for U.S. foreign policy in an era of revolutionary global change. Drawing from his role as Chief Executive Officer of the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) and a lifetime career on the frontlines of foreign policy, Fontaine is uniquely equipped to forecast how the United States’ will navigate this time of great conflict and uncertainty. Richard Fontaine is the chief executive officer of CNAS, executive director of the Trilateral Commission, on the Defense Policy Board, and a Sine Institute Fellow at American University. He has previous experience as president and senior fellow at CNAS and as foreign policy advisor to Senator John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign. At the State Department, Fontaine worked for the Deputy Secretary and in the department’s South Asia bureau. He holds a B.A. in International Relations from Tulane University and an M.A. in international Affairs from the John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate

The Abraham Accords represent the first public normalization of relations between an Arab nation and Israel since 1994. The future looms on the precipice of change as this joint statement between the State of Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States signals an opening between Israel and the Middle East. This is evidenced by the American Jewish Committee’s recent announcement of opening a branch in Dubai. As a principal architect of the Accords, Robert Greenway will delve into their growth and evolution to the state of Israel-U.A.E. relations today. As part of the Council’s 2022 International Perspectives series, Greenway will advocate for the expansion of The Abraham Accords and the vitality of U.S. leadership in the matter. Drawing on his experience of developing strategies for the Middle East and with over 30 years in public service on the National Security Council (NSC), Greenway will attempt to map how the Accords could continue to alter the path to peace between Israel and the rest of the region. Robert Greenway is the President and Executive Director of the Abraham Accords Peace Institute and an adjunct fellow at the Hudson Institute. He was previously Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Director of the NSC’s Middle Eastern and North African Affairs Directorate. Before being assigned to the NSC, he served at the Defense Intelligence Agency and U.S. Army Special Forces. Greenway has a B.A. from the Virginia Military Institute and an M.A. from Webster University. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate

Reporter Kelly Weill has spent most of her journalism career covering misinformation and conspiracy theories. As a recent college graduate in 2016, Weill entered the media world at a time of immense change, when terms like “fake news” and “disinformation” became part of the mainstream American vocabulary. Coinciding with this time was the rise in “Flat Earthers,” a group of people who support the idea that “we all live on a flat plane, under a solid dome, ringed by an impossible wall of ice.” In Off the Edge: Flat Earthers, Conspiracy Culture, and Why People Will Believe Anything, Weill sets out to explain where the fringe theory of Flat Earth came from, how it relates to other conspiracy theories, and what it is about society that leads people to believe things that most consider inherently untrue. Kelly Weill is a reporter at The Daily Beast, where she covers extremism, disinformation, and the internet. She is a frequent media contributor on the topics of her work and has been featured on Nightline, CNN, and Al Jazeera, among other outlets, to discuss conspiracy theories, such as the Flat Earth theory and similar ideas outside of mainstream acceptance. She holds a dual degree in journalism and English from New York University. Moderated by Anna Merlan Merlan is a New Mexico-born, Los Angeles-based journalist and author, specializing in subcultures, alternative communities, conspiracy theories, crime, belief, death, sexual violence and women’s lives. She is currently a reporter at Motherboard, a division of VICE. Her work has also appeared in Rolling Stone, BBC Travel, Topic, and on the op-ed page of the New York Times. She is the author of the book Republic of Lies. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate

On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Russia could not feel "safe, develop, and exist" because of what he claimed was a constant threat from modern Ukraine. Immediately after, a full-scale military invasion on Ukraine was launched, resulting in number of casualties, both military and civilian. With President Joe Biden’s recent decisions to increase sanctions on Russia and keep all Russian airlines out of U.S. airspace as tensions escalate, it is pertinent to analyze and evaluate the role the United States will play in this crisis. While current events are still current, the Council is dedicated to offering a RealTime Report, hosting speakers with firsthand knowledge of the issues at bay and the ability to best interpret the situation as it unfolds. For this Russo-Ukrainian crisis, we’ve invited the Honorable Kay Bailey Hutchison, the 22nd permanent representative of the United States to NATO, in conversation with moderator and Russia and Near East expert Anna Borshchevskaya. Ambassador Hutchison has worked tirelessly with members of the 72-year-old alliance to protect our freedoms at home and abroad. She will share her informed insights on the world’s response to the unfolding war in Ukraine while Borshchevskaya will offer perspective on Putin’s intentions and Russia’s foreign policy. Ambassador Kay Bailey Hutchison The Honorable Kay Bailey Hutchison served her term as U.S. permanent representative to NATO in Brussels, Belgium from 2017-2021. During her three-and-a-half years as permanent representative, she focused on the importance of U.S. leadership in the organization and strengthening the transatlantic bond that provides the security umbrella for Europe and North America. She represented Texas in the U.S. Senate from 1993-2013 and was Texas state treasurer from 1991-1993. Ambassador Hutchison is also the author of three books, including the bestseller American Heroines. She earned a B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin and a J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law. Anna BorshchevskayaModerated by Anna Borshchevskaya Anna Borshchevskaya is a senior fellow in The Washington Institute’s Diane and Guilford Glazer Foundation Program on the Great Power Competition and the Middle East, focused on Russia’s policy toward the Middle East. She is also a contributor to Oxford Analytica and a fellow at the European Foundation for Democracy. Borshchevskaya has experience as a former analyst for a U.S. military contractor in Afghanistan and has served as communications director at the American Islamic Congress. Alongside her other publications, Borshchevskaya is the author of the 2021 book, Putin’s War in Syria: Russian Foreign Policy and the Price of America’s Absence. She holds a B.A. from State University of New York at Geneseo, an M.A. from John Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, and a Ph.D. from George Mason University. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate

Not all heroes wear capes, but the best of them take brave stands for people most in need. With a life devoted to issues that affect people in the margins, that bravery is woven in the very fabric of who Shalonda Spencer is. She has spent her career affecting legislation regarding women’s rights, foreign affairs, immigration, healthcare, and education – notably issues pertaining to people of color. Her voice has been heard in some of the nation’s most important spaces, from serving as a legislative assistant in the U.S. House of Representatives to working on presidential campaigns with bold platforms. She is a proven, decorated expert in women’s rights advocacy, serving in various advising roles for multiple organizations that elevate the causes of women. Today, Shalonda Spencer serves as the executive director of Women of Color Advancing Peace and Security (WCAPS), a global organization that advances the voices of women of color in International Relations. Aligned with her own life mission, WCAPS places an emphasis on mentorship and allows for women of color – who are most affected by major global issues – to have strong voices in international policy discussions. In this conversation, taking place during Black History Month and leading into Women’s History Month, Spencer will explore the benefits of diverse voices, why women of color are an asset to U.S. international relations and diplomacy, and how nongovernmental organizations can create pathways for people of color. Shalonda Spencer is a proud Mississippi native and graduate of Jackson State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a master’s degree in public policy and administration. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate

Dan Hunt is no stranger to the professional sports industry. His father, Lamar Hunt, was key to the establishment of professional sports in the U.S. He founded professional leagues and owned many teams – notably the Kansas City Chiefs (NFL) and FC Dallas (MLS). Dan inherited his father’s passion, working with him to make Toyota Stadium a reality and Frisco, TX a premier destination for both professional and youth soccer. In 2018, the National Soccer Hall of Fame opened in connection with Toyota Stadium, honoring the history of soccer but unmistakably focused on the future. If Hunt has his way, part of that future will include hosting 2026 World Cup tournament games in that stadium here in DFW. He’s part of a bid committee made up of elected officials, business leaders, and sports franchise executives lobbying FIFA for North Texas to host as many as six matches of the 2026 World Cup – including the final. Seventeen other cities are also contending for the ten or eleven North American locations to be chosen. Cementing hope that DFW might be a top contender, tournament delegates recently toured the city of Fort Worth, AT&T Stadium, Fair Park, and the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Frisco. Why would this be so significant? The World Cup is the world’s most celebrated tournament; the final match would put North Texas on the world’s stage and mean hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue. Be a part of this conversation with Hunt, discussing the bid, why he believes North Texas is the best location, and what all to expect should DFW be selected. Moderated by Gina Miller. Miller is an award-winning journalist who is currently the Vice President of Media and Communications for FC Dallas, North Texas SC, the National Soccer Hall of Fame and Toyota Stadium. She oversees the organizations’ broadcast, social and digital media operations as well as public relations efforts. The Dallas native has served as a sportscaster in Dallas, Los Angeles, Knoxville and Guam. Gina has been nominated for multiple Lone Star Emmy awards and won a prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award for a feature story she did on the Southlake Carroll football team. She also worked three seasons for the Dallas Cowboys and started her sports media career as an intern for the Houston Rockets where she won an NBA championship ring. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate

There are countless examples of spies in modern popular culture. There are not, however, many examples of the reality behind modern espionage, a world that’s changing faster than most people realize. Rapid advances in technology, combined with ever-changing geopolitical dynamics, have created an intelligence world that Dr. Amy Zegart argues looks quite different from what is portrayed in spy novels, television shows, and movies. In Spies, Lies, and Algorithms, Dr. Zegart takes readers through the long history of American espionage, from George Washington’s Revolutionary War spies to the present day, providing context for the reality faced by American intelligence professionals today, and laying out what the modern landscape looks like today and where it may be heading. Considered “one of the ten most influential experts in intelligence reform” by the National Journal, Dr. Zegart has served in presidential administrations, co-authored a book with Condoleezza Rice, and published award-winning research on intelligence failures leading up to the September 11 attacks. Dr. Amy Zegart is a senior fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University, where she is also the Morris Arnold and Nona Jean Cox Senior Fellow at the university’s Hoover Institution. She is a professor of political science and chair of Stanford’s Artificial Intelligence and International Security Steering Committee. She is a contributing writer at The Atlantic and the author of five books on intelligence topics. Dr. Zegart holds an A.B. in East Asian studies from Harvard University, as well as an M.A. and a Ph.D. in political science from Stanford University. Moderated by Jess Koloini, Senior Program Manager, F-16 Programs, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Jess Koloini is the Senior Program Manager for F-16 Block 72 Programs at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics (LM Aero). In this role, she leads all activity related to platform development and delivery, working closely with multiple U.S. Government stakeholders across Program Management and Policy organizations. Prior to this role, Jess was the F-16 Program Manager for the Kingdom of Jordan, the Kingdom of Morocco, and the Sultanate of Oman, supporting all Sustainment and Production activities for each country. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate