Live Debate: World on the Brink?
Streaming now on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.
Topics: World, Politics
In partnership with the Cascade PBS Ideas Festival, renowned foreign policy voices Danielle Pletka and Julia Ioffe join moderator-in-chief John Donvan for a timely, debate-esque conversation on the Iran war and its far-reaching implications for global stability – perfect for anyone seeking to understand the forces shaping today’s foreign policy landscape. As the conflict reshapes the dynamics in the Middle East and raises questions about the risk of regional escalation, the discussion examines what comes next for U.S. strategy, alliances, and adversaries alike. Pletka and Ioffe offer competing perspectives on the future of American leadership under President Trump’s second term, exploring how the war could affect U.S.-Iran relations, Russia’s role in the region, the balance of power among major global actors, and the broader international order.
This debate was recorded on June 6, 2026, at the Cascades PBS Ideas Festival in Seattle, Washington.
OUR GUESTS:
Julia Ioffe: Founding Partner and Washington Correspondent at Puck; Author of “Motherland”
Danielle Pletka: Distinguished Senior Fellow in Foreign and Defense Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute
MODERATOR-IN-CHIEF:
John Donvan: Emmy award-winning journalist
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
Love it. I found this conversation/debate interesting and educational. Credit to the guests for engaging with and respecting each other, and credit to Open to Debate for arranging this event with Ioffe and Pletka