South Asia expert Michael Kugelman joins us to discuss the recent killing of the Kabul airport bomber by the Taliban and this gives us the chance to catch up on how Taliban rule has been proceeding in Afghanistan.

Some have started floating the idea that bombing Mexican territory where cartels run rampant is a way to deal with the flow of fentanyl into the United States.  We talk to Mexico watcher Andrew Rudman on what this would entail, as well as what the reality is on the ground for the Mexican government.

The new PM in the UK has had a lot on his plate, and he's getting a lot done.  We chat with Michelle Egan to sort out the deal with the EU regarding trade and Northern Ireland, as well as how the new PM is faring politically.

Why care about Canada?  Scotty Greenwood of the Canadian American Business Council AND co-host of the excellent Canusa Street podcast tells us why.  And there is a bilateral meeting coming up so we need to get ready and see what to watch for. Take a listen to the Canusa Street podcast for an even better understanding of this "most important relationship": https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/canusa-street-intersecting-the-canada-u-s-relationship/id1578937754 And check out the book we mentioned in the show "With Faith and Goodwill": https://www.dundurn.com/books_/t22117/a9781459749986-with-faith-and-goodwill  

It's been a bloody year since Russia further invaded Ukraine.  What is Putin thinking?  That's a question that has cost billions of dollars and many lives.  But Yuval Weber from the Bush School comes on the show to help us understand.

We bring back china expert Robert Daly to discuss China's balloon.  Trial balloon?  A mistake?  And what are the implications for US policy towards China now that the threat isn't on the horizon, but literally over missile silos?

In Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu began another term as Prime Minister in December.  Meanwhile, violence has broken out in the Palestinian territories, and US Secretary of State Blinken has made a trip to Jerusalem.  To help us Run The Traps, Aaron David Miller of the Carnegie Endowment For International Peace gives us his take on the long search for peace in the region.

Protests continue to roil Peru following political moves by the President and Congress in December.  We speak with Cynthia McClintock, Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at the George Washington University, about what this means for democracy in Peru and what to watch going forward.

Running the Traps has a conversation with John Sullivan, the Executive Director of Partnership for a Secure America. While everyone always talks about how bipartisanship is dead and everyone is at eachother's throats on Capitol Hill, John has seen otherwise, and actively works to cultivate the collegiality that does exist in the national security space.

2022 was a year of highs and lows for Chinese president Xi Jinping.  As usual, there are rumors that China is on the brink of some revolution following protests over COVID lockdowns.  Could 2023 be a year where we see change in China?  We talk to Robert Daly of the Kissinger Institute at the Wilson Center about this.