Chicago Council on Global Affairs✓

This morning, the Council convened a special roundtable with Ambassador Cindy McCain, former executive director of the UN World Food Programme, for a conversation moderated by Council Distinguished Fellow Catherine Bertini. Ambassador McCain reflected on her leadership across multilateral diplomacy, business, and philanthropy, and shared her perspective on the challenges facing global food security. This evening, the Council will honor Ambassador McCain at the 23rd Annual Global Leadership Awards Dinner in recognition of her contributions to the fight against global hunger. Learn more:

The UK is entering a new era. From reshaping its relationship with Washington to redefining its role in Europe, major political shifts are raising important questions about the UK's future at home and abroad. This week, Former UK Foreign Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister @DavidLammy joined Council President & CEO @londonvinjamuri for a live recording of the Deep Dish on Global Affairs podcast to discuss British politics and the future of the ‘special relationship’. A special thank you to Council Board Member Richard W. Porter for his opening remarks, and to everyone who joined us for a thoughtful and engaging Q&A. Watch the full conversation:

Why should Americans care about the "special relationship" between the United States and United Kingdom? In addition to the more than trillion dollars invested in each other's economies, the two countries share a military partnership that "keeps the world safe," says Former UK Foreign Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister @DavidLammy. So, "despite differences that will of course come up in Number 10 or the White House, [Americans should] never, ever bet against the intensity and the power of the US-UK relationship and the strong, abiding people-to-people ties." Lammy joined the Council for a conversation on how the UK is navigating a period of significant change and what it means for its relationship with Washington. Watch the full discussion:

Do democratic values give America and its allies advantage in today’s geopolitical competition? Last week, @NDI President Tamara Cofman Wittes (@WittesNDI) and @IRIglobal President Daniel Twining (@DCTwining) joined Council President and CEO Leslie Vinjamuri (@londonvinjamuri) to discuss global volatility, democracy, and America's role. Watch the full conversation:

On Wednesday, the Council will honor Ambassador Cindy McCain and her commitment to fighting world hunger at our 23rd annual Global Leadership Awards Dinner. Ahead of the special evening, we reflected on her vital work as US ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture in Rome and executive director of the United Nations World Food Programme. Swipe through to see photos from her remarkable career and learn more at: #1: McCain inspects donations at the World Food Programme warehouse at the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Turkana County, Kenya, on March 17, 2022. (USA Mission to the UN in Rome) #2: McCain visits a food distribution center in Poland near the Ukrainian border on March 30, 2022, roughly a month after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. (USA Mission to the UN in Rome) #3: McCain welcomes Pope Leo XIV to the World Food Programme headquarters in Rome on June 22, 2026. (Alessandra Tarantino / AP) #4: McCain speaks with the Associated Press in Damascus on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, after meeting with interim Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani to discuss food security. (Omar Sanadiki / AP)

“In the end, democracy binds us together and is worth fighting for,” former UK Foreign Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister @DavidLammy told a Council audience. He joined Council President and CEO @londonvinjamuri for a special live recording of the Council's Deep Dish on Global Affairs podcast to discuss the importance of predictability in foreign policy, the value of democratic partnerships, and the future of the transatlantic relationship. Watch the full conversation:

Former UK Foreign Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy joins Leslie Vinjamuri to discuss the forces transforming Britain and the nation’s place in an uncertain world.

At the heart of the Council's Emerging Leaders Program is a simple conviction: leadership is exercised collectively, across institutions and sectors, and through our ability to listen, learn from one another, and work together toward shared goals. On November 6, join us to celebrate the Emerging Leaders Class of 2026 as they bring that conviction to life. Over the course of the year, project groups have worked across disciplines and perspectives to explore questions with significance for Chicago and the wider world. During this hour-long program, the class’s project groups will showcase their work, reflect on the process behind it, and share what they learned about collaboration, leadership, and creating impact alongside others. This is a showcase not only of what the Class of 2026 has produced, but of global leadership in action: bringing together different experiences and expertise, navigating disagreement and uncertainty, and turning shared purpose into meaningful work. A reception will follow the program. Register to attend today:

“There is a big landscape out there of people who want stability, safety, accountability, freedom of choice, the ability to choose their leaders,” @NDI President Tamara Cofman Wittes shared with a Council audience last week. “And I think that’s not only good for them and not only good for democracy, but also good for America’s role in the world.” Watch the full program on America’s role in the world with Wittes, @IRIglobal President @DCTwining, and Council President and CEO @londonvinjamuri:

In a time of increasing global volatility, do people still strive to be in a democracy? @DCTwining, whose work as president of the @IRIglobal takes him around the world, believes that is still a universal human aspiration. “Everywhere we go, people are wanting to express themselves, to have voice, to have democratic dignity, to build out civic space, to be free,” he said onstage at the Chicago Council Conference Center last night. Watch his full conversation alongside @NDI President Tamara Cofman Wittes and Council President and CEO @londonvinjamuri:

The Council is excited to announce Leading Forward, a new half-day intensive series built for early career professionals who want to do more than talk about the world’s biggest challenges. In a single afternoon, participants build a concrete leadership skill; dig into a specific, timely global issue with a leading expert; and leave with real relationships with peers across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors ready to act on what they learn. On November 13, Council Distinguished Nonresident Fellow and nuclear expert Deborah Rosenblum will join the first intensive and lead participants for an afternoon spent working through one of the most consequential energy questions of the decade: the expansion of nuclear power. They will work through the opportunities and tradeoffs of a nuclear buildout, while also learning how to write an executive memo and practicing how to deliver an executive report-out, a skill every rising leader needs regardless of industry. Alongside the content, participants will connect with peers through substantive conversation and a hands-on skills workshop built to create lasting, cross-sector relationships. Learn more about the Leading Forward series and register to attend on our website:

At the Warsaw Security Forum, American and European officials appeared to agree Russia’s war against Ukraine must be ended. But internal divisions, domestic tensions, and impending elections made for a more measured response and dampened energies on other matters. Where does the transatlantic alliance go from here? "The transatlantic relationship might be incredibly important at a headline level," Council President and CEO @londonvinjamuri said. "But are the publics in the United States and across Europe willing to make the trade-off—and they do see it as a trade-off—that it takes to secure and make possible those investments?" More:

America's Place in the World: Global Volatility and Authoritarianism

The United States has spent decades using economic sanctions and export controls to pressure its adversaries. Now, China, Iran, and even the European Union are adopting similar tactics. The use of these tools once "seemed completely like breaking that emergency fire alarm," @Georgetown University Professor @ANewman_forward said on this week's episode of Deep Dish. Then "they become regularized and they become normal." Newman joined Council President and CEO @londonvinjamuri to explain why countries are now in an “arms race to collect the chokepoints” of the global economy and how the growing competition could leave everyone less secure and more vulnerable. Out now:

How is the United Kingdom navigating significant change in an uncertain world? On Monday afternoon, former UK Foreign Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister @DavidLammy joins Council President and CEO @londonvinjamuri for a live recording of the Deep Dish on Global Affairs podcast to explore British politics, foreign policy, and the future of the special relationship. Register to attend in-person or virtually today:

As Russia’s war in Ukraine continues, Council polling finds the US public remains supportive of sending military and economic aid to Kyiv and in favor of boosting sanctions against Moscow. Explore the data ➡️

Do democratic values advantage America and its allies in today’s geopolitical competition? Tomorrow evening, join @IRIglobal President @DCTwining, @NDI President Tamara Cofman Wittes, and Council President and CEO @londonvinjamuri for a discussion of how the US can tackle the challenges posed by authoritarian rivals and maintain the support of the American people in doing so.​​​ Register to attend in-person or virtually:

Following the Warsaw Security Forum, Council President Leslie Vinjamuri (@londonvinjamuri) and Council Vice President of Research Ariane Tabatabai examine NATO’s deterrence strategy and the political divisions facing the alliance.

Last week was another busy one in Chicago for the Council. While part of our team was in Poland for the Warsaw Security Forum, colleagues here in Chicago brought members and experts together for conversations spanning US-China relations, food insecurity, national security, and more. A few highlights from the week’s programming: Roundtable with Congressman Jason Crow (@RepJasonCrow) on the Use of Force: Congressman Crow joined Council Senior Advisor to the CEO Eric Pierce to discuss national security and the use of force. Abiding Hunger: Why Food Insecurity Persists in America: Devita Davison, Amy Laboy, @RogerThurow, and Catherine Bertini (@C_A_Bertini) examined why food insecurity persists despite America’s extraordinary abundance and what can be done to expand reliable access to food. Roundtable with Jonathan Cheng (@JChengWSJ): The @WSJ’s China Bureau Chief joined Council members for a private discussion on US-China relations and his experiences as a journalist in Asia. Emerging Leaders Session with Congressman Sean Casten (@RepCasten): The Class of 2026 joined US Representative Casten for a discussion on economic uncertainty and the reshaping of the workforce. Young Professionals Network Happy Hour: YP members gathered at @united headquarters for an evening of networking and connection. The Council’s fall programming continues with a full slate of conversations on the issues shaping our world. Explore our upcoming events and join us for a discussion:

RT @NDI: 📅 Oct. 22 | 🕒 6:30 PM ET Join #NDI President @WittesNDI, @IRIglobal President @DCTwining & @ChicagoCouncil CEO @londonvinjamuri for a timely discussion on America’s global role & the future of #democracy. Register ⬇️