As U.S. and Chinese leaders meet in Beijing, the future of the world’s most important economic relationship hangs in the balance. In this episode of Current Account, Clay is joined by Evan Medeiros, a professor in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and former director at the White House National Security Council, to assess what is at stake in the latest round of talks and what each side hopes to achieve.

They explore the evolving sources of leverage on both sides, from trade and investment to critical minerals and advanced technologies, and examine the gap between leader level diplomacy and a deeper structural rivalry. The conversation also looks at how domestic politics may constrain any deal and what a more stable U.S.-China relationship could realistically look like in the years ahead.

This IIF Podcast was hosted by Clay Lowery, Executive Vice President, Research and Policy, with production and research contributions from Christian Klein, Digital Graphics and Production Associate and Miranda Silverman, Senior Program Assistant.

In this episode of Current Account, Clay is joined by Stephen Myrow, Managing Partner of Beacon Policy Advisors, to take stock of where the U.S. midterm elections stand six months out - and why they matter far beyond Washington. They discuss why the House has emerged as the central battleground, how the Senate map has quietly become more competitive, and what a potential shift in control could mean for policy, regulation, and executive authority.

The political landscape looks very different than it did just six months ago. Clay and Stephen discuss how slipping presidential approval ratings, aggressive redistricting battles, and the fallout from an unpopular war are reshaping the midterm map in real time. They explore why outcomes once considered unlikely are now firmly in play, and what the evolving election dynamics could mean for investors, financial institutions, and international partners. The question is no longer just who wins in November, but how Washington governs the day after.

This IIF Podcast was hosted by Clay Lowery, Executive Vice President, Research and Policy, with production and research contributions from Christian Klein, Digital Graphics and Production Associate and Miranda Silverman, Senior Program Assistant.

In this episode of Current Account, Clay is joined by Mona Yacoubian, Director of the Middle East Program at CSIS, to unpack what the current phase of negotiations to deescalate the conflict in Iran is really telling us. They discuss how Iran is viewing its leverage, why energy disruption remains central to Tehran’s strategy, and how regional dynamics, particularly involving Lebanon and regional proxy networks, are complicating efforts to contain the conflict.

The conversation looks beyond formal negotiations to the roles being played by Hezbollah and other aligned groups, and what their involvement means for escalation risks across the region. Clay and Mona also examine shifting signals from Gulf states, internal debates within Iran’s leadership, and how Washington’s strategy has evolved from direct military action toward blockades and diplomacy.

This IIF Podcast was hosted by Clay Lowery, Executive Vice President, Research and Policy, with production and research contributions from Christian Klein, Digital Graphics and Production Associate and Miranda Silverman, Senior Program Assistant.