WAC Houston

P Series 8: Ambassador Michael Pelletier - The Complex Nuclear Rivalry India-Pakistan

In this timely episode, Ambassador Michael Pelletier unpacks the enduring tensions between nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan. He explores the legacy of partition, the paradox of economic ties amid political hostility, China’s growing regional influence, and the challenges for U.S. diplomacy in navigating one of the world’s most volatile rivalries.
With firsthand experience in the region and decades of diplomatic insight, Ambassador Pelletier brings clarity to a complex and urgent issue. Whether you're a student of international affairs or simply want to understand what’s at stake when global powers collide, this conversation offers a great context and expertise.

P Series 7: Is Qatar the Key to Peace in the Middle East?

he Middle East is facing one of its most volatile and unpredictable periods in decades — with war raging in Gaza, escalating military actions involving Hezbollah and the Houthis, instability in Syria, and President Trump’s surprising announcement of direct talks with Iran.
In this critical moment, Qatar emerges as a potentially decisive actor. Known globally for its vast natural gas reserves and status as a top LNG exporter, Qatar also plays a major strategic and diplomatic role. It hosts the largest U.S. military base in the Persian Gulf and serves as the forward headquarters of U.S. Central Command. Even more crucially, it maintains deep and longstanding relationships with nearly every side involved in the region’s conflicts.
Join the Council for a timely conversation on Qatar’s unique leverage and influence in the Middle East, and how it may help mediate or de-escalate some of today’s most dangerous flashpoints.
Featured Speakers:
Amb. Chase Untermeyer, Former U.S. Ambassador to Qatar
Jim Krane, Fellow for Middle East Energy, Baker Institute
Dr. Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, Fellow for the Middle East, Baker Institute
🔗 Learn more and explore upcoming events at wachouston.org🎧 Subscribe and share for more global insight.

P series 6: James Lindsay - Tariffs, Iran& Israel. What's next for U.S. foreign policy?

Presented by the World Affairs Council of Greater Houston
In this episode, James M. Lindsay — Senior Vice President at the Council on Foreign Relations — offers a sharp analysis of the early trajectory and defining foreign policy decisions of the current U.S. administration. Drawing on his decades of experience in international affairs, Dr. Lindsay explores key issues reshaping America’s global role, including shifts in trade strategy, evolving alliances, and the ripple effects of new tariff measures.
He provides an in-depth look at how the administration is navigating the escalating Iran-Israel conflict — balancing nuclear diplomacy with Tehran while recalibrating U.S. support for Israeli military action — and what this reveals about broader Middle East strategy.
Dr. Lindsay also discusses the long-term implications of these early decisions for America’s standing with allies and adversaries alike.
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. He is the host of The President’s Inbox and author of The Empty Throne and America Unbound.
 Learn more at wachouston.org Subscribe and share for more global conversations.

P Series 5: Loren Grush and Anna Fisher - The First American Astronauts

In this inspiring conversation, journalist Loren Grush and pioneering astronaut Dr. Anna Fisher reflect on the historic journey of NASA’s first six female astronauts, chronicled in Grush’s acclaimed book The Six. From media scrutiny to spacewalks and satellite rescues, they share the challenges and triumphs that helped redefine what it means to have the right stuff.

P Series 4: Khaled Elgindy - Gaza, West bank, and Israel.

Khaled Elgindy, former advisor to the Palestinian leadership and expert on U.S.–Palestinian relations, offers a sobering look at the future of Gaza, the West Bank, and the broader region following the devastation of October 7 and its aftermath. With decades of peace efforts faltering, Elgindy explores what realistic paths—if any—exist for Palestinians, Israelis, and international actors amid political dysfunction, displacement, and deepening crisis.

P Series 3: Jimmy Lai's Story - China's Most Feared Man

Mark Clifford tells the extraordinary story of Jimmy Lai—a self-made billionaire turned fearless pro-democracy activist in Hong Kong—whose bold defiance of the Chinese Communist Party led to his arrest and possible life sentence. From escaping famine in mainland China to founding Apple Daily and challenging authoritarian power, Lai’s life is a powerful symbol of courage, freedom, and the high cost of dissent.

P Series 2: Malcolm Gladwell - Social Epidemics, Tipping Points, and the Modern World.

In this thought-provoking episode, Malcolm Gladwell explores the dark side of contagious phenomena—from the rise of social engineering to the unexpected forces behind epidemics like COVID and the opioid crisis—through gripping stories and sharp social analysis. With his signature blend of storytelling and science, Gladwell challenges us to rethink tipping points and the hidden dynamics shaping our world.

P Series 1: Elliot Abram's Predictions for Trumps Mandate

Elliott Abrams, one of the foremost architects of Republican foreign policy across multiple administrations, offers a powerful analysis of what Trump’s second-term foreign policy could look like—from Iran and Venezuela to China, Russia, Israel, and beyond. Drawing on decades of high-level experience, Abrams explores how Trump may reshape U.S. alliances, global conflicts, and America's role on the world stage.