WorldNow: The World Ahead 2026 with The Economist's Editor Tom Standage
2025-12-08 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | ONLINE
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 8, Standage rejoins the Council to discuss his publication’s analysis for 2026. In conversation with Jim Falk, host of WorldNow.
Join 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.
The details:
When: Monday, December 8 | 12:00PM ET
Where: Zoom Webinar | Registration required
REGISTER HERE: No charge, RSVP required

Meet the Economist
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.

Meet the Host

Jim 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.

Venezuela and the U.S.: What Comes Next?
2025-12-09 18:00 - 19:00 | ONLINE
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.
The 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.
Is the U.S. headed towards war with Venezuela?
Former 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.
A 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.
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Featuring
Ambassador Charles Shapiro
Ambassador (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.
A 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.
In 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.
Shapiro’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.

America’s Changing Strategic Assumptions about China: Implications for the Bilateral Relationship
2026-01-13 17:30 - 19:00
In his talk, David Firestein will examine how key U.S. assumptions about China and strategic aspirations and intentions have changed over the last ten to fifteen years and analyze and assess the impact of these shifts on U.S. policy choices and policy performance.
This event is by invitation-only. Please notify us of your interest to receive an invitation by providing your contact information in the form below. Priority registration is available for World Affairs Council of Austin members. Bring your invitation to the event. Invitations are non-transferable.

REQUEST YOUR INVITATION HERE

David J. Firestein is the inaugural president and CEO of the George H. W. Bush Foundation for U.S.-China Relations (Bush China Foundation) and a founding and current member of the Foundation’s Board of Directors.
Before joining the Bush China Foundation, Mr. Firestein was the founding executive director of The University of Texas at Austin’s (UT) China Public Policy Center (CPPC) and a clinical professor at UT’s Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs.
A decorated career U.S. diplomat from 1992–2010, Mr. Firestein specialized primarily in U.S.-China relations, posted in both Beijing, China, and Moscow, Russia. Mr. Firestein is the author or co-author of three books on China, including two China-published Chinese-language best-sellers, as well as numerous China-focused monographs, policy reports, and articles.

WorldNow: The Architect of Espionage - The Man Who Built Israel’s Mossad
2026-01-14 18:00 - 19:00 | ONLINE
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.
Samuel 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.
Katz 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.
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Meet the Author

Samuel 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.

Meet the Host

Jim 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.

About the Book
The Architect of Espionage: The Man Who Built Israel’s Mossad into the World’s Boldest Intelligence Force by Samuel M. Katz
From 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.
In 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.
Dagan 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.
Katz 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.
For 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.
Get yourself a copy of The Architect of Espionage on Bookshop.org and support your local bookstore.

WorldNow: Trillion Dollar War Machine with Bill Hartung
2026-01-21 18:00 - 19:00 | ONLINE
The U.S. spends nearly a trillion dollars on its military each year, more than any other nation. Is it really keeping us safe?

Bill Hartung, author and senior fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, argues that not only is America’s high military spending not keeping America safe, but it is endangering both the U.S. and the world at large.
On 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.

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The 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
A hard-hitting investigation into how the Pentagon’s runaway spending embroils America in foreign wars, squanders its wealth, and enriches a privileged elite
“A damning indictment of the conflicts of interest running rampant in the defense establishment.”―Publishers Weekly
America 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.
Top 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.
A 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.
Get yourself a copy of The Trillion Dollar War Machine on Bookshop.org and support your local bookstore.

Globalist Coffeehouse: China in the First Decades of the 21st Century
2026-02-04 18:30 - 20:00 | 5280 Burger and Taphouse, 7032 Wood Hollow Dr, Austin, TX, 78731, United States
NEW DATE: February 4th
In the decades to come, what will China’s role be in the global world order? The relationship with the U.S. has been one of competition but also cooperation on certain global issues, such as climate change. Still, it is said that the “Belt and Road Initiative” might become the “Belt and World Initiative” as they move into the vacuum the U.S. has created, from Africa to Asia and the Indian subcontinent. And finally, how will our traditional allies view their relationship with China?
Please join us for what will be a discussion that will dominate global interests for years, if not decades, to come.
REGISTER HERE

World Now: 250 Years of U.S. Foreign Policy - The Best & Worst
2026-03-31 18:00 - 19:00 | ONLINE
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.
James 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.
The details:
When: Tuesday, March 31 | 6pm Central
Where: Zoom Webinar
RSVP HERE

Meet the Guest

James 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.
He 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.

Meet the Host

Jim 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.

Presented by
WorldNow 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:

Critical Rare Earth Minerals & Shifting Geopolitical Landscape
2026-04-09 14:00 - 15:30 | ONLINE
Competition on critical rare earth minerals has moved to the forefront of the global geopolitical landscape with many policy leaders and industry experts contending that this issue could be the defining feature of the international security and economic system for decades ahead. In April 2026, the World Affairs Council of Austin in collaboration with the Department of International Affairs/Political Science at St. Edward’s University will feature a two-part forum exploring the role of critical rare earth minerals and global geopolitics and risk.
Leading expert speakers from policy and industry will offer perspectives on forming optimal government and business strategies for managing and mitigating risk in rare earths. Discussion will range from consequences of distribution of
resources, processing and production, supply chains, sustainable development and potential for global competition and cooperation. In part two of the forum, St. Edward’s University students will share research insights on critical rare earths throughout various regions of the world with the Austin World Affairs Council community.
Moderated by Dr. Sharyl Cross, Distinguished Professor of Political Science/International Affairs, St.
Edward’s University
Panelists:
-Steve Clemons, Editor at Large, The National Interest & Co-Founder of PRISM
-Melissa Sanderson, Director, American Rare Earths Limited & Co-Chair, Critical
Minerals Institute
-Rodger Baker, Chairman S4GEO-Society for Geopolitics
The second follow-up session will be held on Thursday April 16 at 12:00 noon where St. Edward’s University Geopolitical Risk students will present their regional semester project team research (Latin America, Africa, Europe-Eurasia) on Geopolitics and Critical Earths. This session will be co-sponsored by World Affairs Council Austin in cooperation with the St. Edward’s University student Global Affairs Group (St. Edward’s University campus, in the St. Andre multipurpose room)

Panelists
Steve Clemons
Steve Clemons is Editor at Large of The National Interest and has served as Editor at Large of The Hill, The Atlantic and Semafor as well as in senior editorial roles at National Journal and Quartz. He is also editor and publisher of the popular political blog, The Washington Note, and host of “The Bottom Line” which airs on the global network of Al Jazeera English. Clemons serves on the Advisory Board of Future U.S. and CareLab, and is Chairman & CEO of Widehall LLC, a strategic communications and global policy events firm that translates ideas into high-traction impact. Steve recently co-founded PRISM aimed to facilitate optimal policy and strategy development in priority areas including critical rare earths. Clemons writes and speaks frequently on politics of all sorts and matters of foreign policy, defense, and domestic and international economic policy. He was Founder and Senior Fellow of the American Strategy Program at the New America Foundation, where he previously served as Executive Vice President. He has also served as Executive Vice President of the Economic Strategy Institute, Senior Economic & International Affairs Advisor to Senator Jeff Bingman (D-NM) in the US Senate and was founding Executive Director of the Nixon Center (now the Center for the National Interest). He serves on the GLOBSEC International Advisory Board.

Melissa Sanderson
Bringing extensive experience in both policy and industry, Melissa “Mel” Sanderson served in the US Foreign Service contributing to shaping policy across Latin America, Europe, and Africa and played an instrumental role in re-establishing US-DRC relations post-conflict while stationed at the American Embassy in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). In the mining industry, Mel served as Vice President for Africa operations and subsequently Director of International Affairs for Freeport-McMoRan Inc. developing and executing global strategies that merged government relations with sustainable development initiatives. Her work extended to managing Freeport’s engagement with Indigenous communities in North America, ensuring that corporate activities aligned with best practices in Environmental Social Governance/ESG and stakeholder relations. In 2020, Mel founded Sanderson Consulting LLC, where she advises companies on sustainable development and ESG solutions. In addition to her consulting work, Mel serves as a Director for American Rare Earths Limited, where she focuses on government relations, ESG, and strategic vision. As the company’s Interim President for North America in 2023, she led a business transformation, enhancing investor relations and expanding the company’s profile within the critical minerals sector. Her leadership has positioned American Rare Earths as a key player in the rare earths value chain, with an emphasis on sectors such as defense and technology. Melissa has contributed to The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Reuters and spoken throughout the international community reflecting her standing as a leading expert in critical minerals and geopolitics. She currently serves as Co-Chair of the Critical Minerals Institute (CMI), where she drives innovation and policy in the critical minerals sector, focusing on securing sustainable supply chains and advancing ESG principles.

Rodger Baker
Rodger Baker, based in Austin, is the Executive Director of Stratfor Center for Applied Geopolitics. Rodger guides the company’s analytical process, to include the development of their understanding and application of Stratfor’s proprietary methodology grounded in the study of applied geopolitics and intelligence analysis. He established the widely accessed RANE analysis platform bringing insights to the defense community, industry and academics on critical geopolitical developments and risk assessment. Rodger leads the MacKinder Forum on Geopolitics and the S4GEO Society for Geopolitics. He teaches in the area of Applied Geopolitics at Florida Atlantic University. Baker is a leading expert on North Korea and Asian/Indo-Pacific geopolitics, defense and geoeconomics. He has dedicated extended periods living and working in and around the Korean peninsula. His core emphasis is the multidisciplinary approach to geopolitics and the evolution of international relations to develop mid- and long-term forecasts to assist companies, governments and other globally engaged organizations in making informed decisions. Rodger holds a master’s degree in military history from Norwich University and regularly engages with academic institutes and research groups around the world briefing executives and corporate boards as well as delivering keynote addresses to a wide range of industry groups. He regularly appears in media including CNN, BBC, CBC, CNBC International, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Economist, Reuters and The Associated Press.

Sharyl Cross, Session Moderator
Dr. Sharyl Cross is Distinguished Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at St. Edward’s University. She served previously in the College of International and Security Studies at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies in Garmisch Germany, U.S. Air War College at Maxwell AFB and as Distinguished Professor of Political Science at the United States Air Force Academy. Professor Cross earned a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles with concentrations in international relations, comparative politics (Soviet Union/Russia/ Eurasia/Eastern Europe and Latin America regional concentrations), and American foreign and security policy. She held appointments as a U.S. Fulbright Visiting Senior Research Scholar and Professor at the Institute of USA and Canada Studies and Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), Visiting Professor of Transatlantic Security and International Political Studies at Science-Po Lille, Kennan Institute Woodrow Wilson Center, post-Doctoral Fellowship Scholar at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and resident fellowship scholar and consultant at the RAND Corporation. Dr. Cross published China, Russia, and Twenty First Century Global Geopolitics co-authored with Paul J. Bolt Oxford University Press and has published extensively on issues of international security, foreign policy and geopolitics in leading professional peer reviewed journals. She is offering a new course in 2026 on Applied Geopolitical Risk in support of a certificate concentration for the programs in Political Science and International Affairs at St. Edward’s University. Her students, engaged this semester in regional research initiatives exploring the relevance of rare earth minerals to global geopolitics and risk, will present their conclusions next week at a session sponsored by World Affairs Council Austin in cooperation with the Global Affairs Society at St. Edward’s University.

Student Presentations on Critical Rare Earth Minerals & Shifting Geopolitical Landscape
2026-04-16 12:00 - 13:00 | St Edwards University St Andre Apartments Multipurpose Room, 3001 South Congress Avenue, Austin, TX, 78704, United States
Join the World Affairs Council of Austin along with others interested in geopolitics, political risk, and critical rare earth mineral issues to hear from St. Edwards University students as they present conclusions from their semester-long major projects on geopolitical risk.
Given the turbulence in today’s world, governments & businesses are increasingly prioritizing assessing geopolitical risks & seeking strategies for mitigation & management of potential crisis, shock or destabilizing circumstances that might adversely impact policy, diplomacy or business investment. A general consensus exists among experts in political risk that neither qualitative or quantitative approaches provide absolute certainty as tools of prediction. However, there is much that focused analysis of geopolitical conditions, national level circumstances & trends can offer as resources in considering development & management of policy & strategy in any given regional or domestic context.
The St. Edwards students have studied the complex array of interconnected transnational trends in geopolitics, economics, socio-cultural & environmental conditions that could be consequential for stability at the global & regional levels or within specific nation-state contexts. Factors such as major power competition & conflict, cyber & hybrid challenges, propensity for societal polarization, corruption, terrorism, crime, legislation within nations restricting investment or leading to expropriation, sanctions, debt, vulnerability to environmental devastation are all issues that can affect stability & policy execution, markets & investment.
The students’ coursework also took into account material & reputational risks generated by non-state actors & individuals with increasing capacity to rival even nation-states in presenting threats to policy & business engagement throughout the world. Student presentations will focus on perspectives from both academics & industry, country case studies & form regional project teams assessing reciprocal geopolitical risk in rare earth minerals during the forum sponsored in cooperation with World Affairs Council Austin.

World Now: The Iran War - What We Know, What Comes Next
2026-04-20 19:00 - 20:00 | ONLINE
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.
Join 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.
We’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.
The details:
When: Monday, April 20th | 7pm CDT
Where: Zoom Webinar
REGISTER HERE

As 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 7:00 PM CDT, and the program will get underway at 7:04 PM CDT.

Featuring

Steven A. Cook
Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies, Council on Foreign Relations
Steven 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.

Amb. Deborah Jones
U.S. Ambassador (ret.) to Kuwait and Libya
Ambassador 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.

Beth Sanner
Deputy Director of National Intelligence (2019-2021), National Security Contributor for CNN
Beth 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.
In 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.
In 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.

Moderated by

Jim 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. Inaddition 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.

Presented by

Globalist Coffeehouse: Rare Earth Minerals and Global Geopolitics
2026-04-22 18:30 - 20:00 | 5280 Burger and Taphouse, 7032 Wood Hollow Dr, Austin, TX, 78731, United States
REMs (Rare Earth Minerals) and REEs (Rare Earth Elements) and their role in the global economic system and even national security will be defining issues in the decades ahead. The terms are used interchangeably. But the name is a misnomer, as they are not rare. It is the mining and, most importantly, the processing into a component in magnets that can be effectively used in everything from EVs to data centers and AI, which is complicated. Also, there are national security issues; for example, a single F-16 carries 100 lbs. of REMs.
The mining process is very destructive, but in Africa, it is also economically viable for multinational corporations. What does it mean that the US has essentially pulled out of Africa and access to this resource? Currently, the supply chain is on the other side of the world. China dominates the market, producing 90% of the refined product and effectively setting the price. What are the implications of this situation? How does this play into the larger national security issue?

Please join us for a very interesting and surprisingly relevant discussion.

WorldNow: The Global AI Race with Sebastian Mallaby
2026-05-20 17:15 - 18:15 | ONLINE
Artificial intelligence is reshaping the global balance of power. What does the AI race mean for security, power, and the world economy?

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.
Join 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.
From 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.
The details:
When: Wednesday, May 20 | 6:15pm-7:15pm Eastern
Where: Zoom Webinar

REGISTER HERE

The Infinity Machine: Demis Hassabis, DeepMind, and the Quest for Superintelligence by Sebastian Mallaby
From 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.
“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
Get yourself a copy of The Infinity Machine on Bookshop.org and support your local bookstore

Partners

Fireside Chat with the Honorable Susan Harper, Consul General of Canada
2026-05-26 17:30 - 19:00
Join the World Affairs Council of Austin for a discussion about Canada’s role in a shifting global landscape.

This fireside‑chat–style discussion will explore how Canada is navigating a more fragmented and competitive global environment, while deepening—not retreating from—its economic and strategic relationship with the United States and Mexico. The conversation will connect global geopolitics directly to regional realities: investment decisions, technology development, energy markets, mobility of talent, and the role of Texas as a continental economic and policy actor.

This event is by invitation-only. Please notify us of your interest to receive an invitation by providing your contact information in the form below. Priority registration is available for World Affairs Council of Austin members. Bring your invitation to the event. Invitations are non-transferable.

REQUEST YOUR INVITATION HERE

The Middle East: Where are We Now, and What are the Geopolitical Implications for the Future?
2026-06-17 17:30 - 19:00
Recent developments in the Middle East have raised important questions about regional stability, international relations, global energy markets, and the broader geopolitical landscape. How might current tensions shape the future of the region and its relationships with major global powers? What could the evolving situation mean for international trade, security, and diplomatic engagement?
This panel discussion will examine the current dynamics in the Middle East, including the strategic significance of the Strait of Hormuz and the potential long-term implications for regional and global affairs. The conversation will explore a range of perspectives on how recent events may influence geopolitical alignments and international policy in the months and years ahead.
Please join us and hear a timely and insightful discussion with our distinguished panelists.
This event is by invitation-only. Please notify us of your interest to receive an invitation by providing your contact information in the form below. Priority registration is available for World Affairs Council of Austin members. Bring your invitation to the event. Invitations are non-transferable.
REQUEST YOUR INVITATION HERE
About the panelists:
Ambassador (ret.) Larry E. André, Jr. retired from the State Department’s Senior Foreign Service in May 2023 after a 38-year career in global public affairs. During his 33 years at the U.S. State Department, he served in a mix of leadership, policy, and management positions.
Ambassador André’s leadership positions included serving as Ambassador to Somalia, Djibouti, and Mauritania. He also served as Chargé d’affaires, U.S. Embassy, South Sudan; Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy, Tanzania; Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy, Sierra Leone; Director, Office of the Presidential Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan; and Deputy Director, Office of West African Affairs. He also served in the Middle East with the Embassy in Iraq.
Ambassador André is a recipient of the Presidential Rank Award, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joint Distinguished Civilian Service Award, Global Reporting Award, and several other honors. In 2023, Amb. André was inducted into the American Academy of Diplomacy.

Matthew Bey is a Senior Global Analyst at RANE, where he focuses on geopolitical risk management for organizations across sectors and a wide range of international relations topics. Matthew has focused heavily on political, economic, and security issues in the Middle East and Africa. He also covers several international topics relating to global governance, technology, trade, and the oil and gas industry. Matthew has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Texas Lutheran University and a master’s degree in mathematics from the University of Texas at Austin.

Dr. Jeremi Suri holds the Mack Brown Distinguished Chair for Leadership in Global Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin. He is a professor in the University’s Department of History and the LBJ School of Public Affairs. Professor Suri is the author and editor of eleven books on politics and foreign policy, most recently: Civil War By Other Means: America’s Long and Unfinished Fight for Democracy. His other books include: The Impossible Presidency: The Rise and Fall of America’s Highest Office; Liberty’s Surest Guardian: American Nation-Building from the Founders to Obama; Henry Kissinger and the American Century; and Power and Protest: Global Revolution and the Rise of Détente. His writings appear in the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, CNN.com, Atlantic, Newsweek, Time, Wired, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, and other media. Professor Suri is a popular public lecturer and comments frequently on radio and television news. His writing and teaching have received numerous prizes, including the President’s Associates Teaching Excellence Award from the University of Texas and the Pro Bene Meritis Award for Contributions to the Liberal Arts. Professor Suri also hosts a weekly podcast, “This is Democracy.

Globalist Coffeehouse: The Middle East
2026-06-24 18:30 - 19:30 | Shoal Creek Saloon, 909 N. Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX, 78703, United States
Please join like-minded “global thinkers” for what will be a very lively discussion with your fellow World Affairs Council members.
This month, our open social group discussion will focus on recent developments in the Middle East, and the broader geopolitical landscape. What are your thoughts on how current tensions will shape the future of the region and international relations? What do you think the evolving situation means for global trade, security, and diplomatic engagement? We look forward to hearing from you!

WorldNow: The Future of War
2026-07-15 18:00 - 19:00 | ONLINE
On this special edition of WorldNow with Jim Falk, we sit down with Elliot Ackerman, author of 2084: A Novel of the Future of War.

What will war look like in 2084 – in a world devastated by climate change?
Join us on WorldNow with Jim Falk as we sit down with Elliot Ackerman, author of 2084: A Novel of the Future of War; NYT bestselling author, and contributing writer at The Atlantic.
In 2084, decorated military officers and award-winning authors Elliot Ackerman and Admiral James Stavridis write a world on the brink of war, divided between equatorial countries ravaged by climate change and the wealthier, politically fractured countries like China and the U.S. 2084 follows their two previous novels, envisioning a war between the U.S. and China in 2034 and the breakdown of American politics fueled by AI in 2054
The details:
When: Wednesday, July 15 | 6:00pm-7:00pm CDT
Where: Zoom Webinar

2084 (A Novel of Future War) by Elliot Ackerman and Admiral James Stavridis
“Gripping…Ackerman and Stavridis stage a harrowing global conflict that pits military might against an appetite for justice… equal parts haunting and entertaining.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
A gripping drama and chilling prophecy about the possible path to war for a planet devastated by climate change
In their novel 2034, decorated military officers and award-winning authors Elliot Ackerman and Admiral James Stavridis imagined a war between the US and China. In their follow-up novel, 2054, they envisioned a breakdown in American politics fueled by a radical advance in AI. Now they make their boldest, most astonishing, and arguably most necessary leap—imagining the consequences of a climate war.
By the year 2084, the world is divided into the equatorial countries that bear the brunt of the climate crisis—led by Nigeria, Brazil, and Indonesia—and wealthier countries like China and the US, beset by their own problems after a series of civil wars. Tensions between the two sets of countries have reached a breaking point, until finally the so-called Reparationist nations of the equator decide that only military force can bring them justice.
A fascinating and disturbingly plausible extrapolation from current realities, 2084, like other classics of the genre such as Kim Stanley Robinson’s The Ministry for the Future and Neal Stephenson’s Termination Shock, deploys a global cast of characters, all protecting their interests as the fate of human civilization hangs in the balance. Individuals often seem small in the face of the forces that drive global change, but in the end human agency proves surprisingly decisive. Big doors can swing on small hinges. We have it within ourselves to write a different destiny, if only we can imagine it.
Get yourself a copy of 2084 on Bookshop.org and support your local bookstore

Partners
WorldNow 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:

Critical Rare Earths/Strategic Minerals: Geopolitical Competition Among Major Powers
2026-09-23 17:30 - 19:00
Join us on this special evening as we welcome back distinguished speaker, Dr. Sharyl Cross. Dr. Cross will provide details about the competition among China, Russia and the United States in the area of critical rare earths/strategic minerals.
This event is by invitation-only. Please notify us of your interest to receive an invitation by providing your contact information in the form below. Priority registration is available for World Affairs Council of Austin members. Bring your invitation to the event. Invitations are non-transferable.

REQUEST YOUR INVITATION HERE
Dr. Sharyl Cross is Distinguished Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at St. Edward’s University. She served previously in the College of International and Security Studies at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies in Garmisch Germany, U.S. Air War College at Maxwell AFB and as Distinguished Professor of Political Science at the United States Air Force Academy. Professor Cross earned a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles with concentrations in international relations, comparative politics (Soviet Union/Russia/ Eurasia/Eastern Europe and Latin America regional concentrations), and American foreign and security policy. She held appointments as a U.S. Fulbright Visiting Senior Research Scholar and Professor at the Institute of USA and Canada Studies and Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), Visiting Professor of Transatlantic Security and International Political Studies at Science-Po Lille, Kennan Institute Woodrow Wilson Center, post-Doctoral Fellowship Scholar at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and resident fellowship scholar and consultant at the RAND Corporation. Dr. Cross published China, Russia, and Twenty First Century Global Geopolitics co-authored with Paul J. Bolt Oxford University Press and has published extensively on issues of international security, foreign policy and geopolitics in leading professional peer reviewed journals. She is offering a new course in 2026 on Applied Geopolitical Risk in support of a certificate concentration for the programs in Political Science and International Affairs at St. Edward’s University. Her students, engaged this semester in regional research initiatives exploring the relevance of rare earth minerals to global geopolitics and risk, will present their conclusions next week at a session sponsored by World Affairs Council Austin in cooperation with the Global Affairs Society at St. Edward’s University.
