GZERO discussion examines how US foreign policy impacts all Americans

GZERO Discussion Examines How US Foreign Policy Impacts All Americans | GZERO Media

Why should Americans care about US foreign policy? Whether or not they relate to most "high-brow" diplomacy issues, they should be interested in how US foreign policy impacts their daily life via immigration, trade, America's role in the world, and even race. A few experts shared their thoughts on Tuesday, June 15, during the livestream conversation "How US Foreign Policy Impacts All Americans" presented by GZERO Media and sponsored by the Carnegie Corporation.

Former Acting US Trade Representative Mariam Sapiro said that while most American politicians view US foreign policy as mainly having to do with national security, the pandemic has taught us that they should pay equal — if not more — attention to how our national security is also determined by our economic security as a result of economic and trade policies. COVID, she explained, laid bare the consequences of losing so many jobs due to offshoring and automation — precisely in the communities that were hit the hardest by the virus.

Why National Security Is Inextricably Linked to Economic Security | Amb. Miriam Sapiro | GZERO Mediayoutu.be

Corporations also have a stake in US foreign policy, noted Eurasia Group and GZERO Media President Ian Bremmer. For instance, many big US companies and even celebrities reject the mainstream US political consensus that America must engage its allies against China because they still want to do a lot of business with the Chinese, whatever Beijing does on the rule of law.

The US Government Seems Ready To Get Tough on China, But US Companies? | Ian Bremmer | GZERO Mediayoutu.be

One particularly thorny issue is immigration. For Cecilia Muñoz, senior advisor at New America, if the last four years have taught us anything, it's that the decisions we make around the US southern border are not driving migration to it. We can't fix immigration at the border, she added, because the problem is in the Northern Triangle countries in Central America.

How Climate Is Driving Migrants to US Border | Cecilia Muñoz | GZERO Mediayoutu.be

But President Biden views the world differently than most Americans do — and that's a problem. Former State Department senior official and New America CEO Anne-Marie Slaughter pointed out that Biden will struggle to sell his idea that the US should once again be the global policeman, which Americans started to abandon under Obama and ultimately gave up on by voting for Trump.

Is Biden's Global Role for US Out of Step With Most Americans? | Anne-Marie Slaughter | GZERO Mediayoutu.be

The disconnect between Washington and what Americans are really concerned about extends to trade. For many Americans, said former US Rep. Donna Edwards (D-MD), the perception that America got hurt by its own trade policies is the reality that they lost their jobs due to trade. Edwards also weighed on how race affects US foreign policy, commenting that especially in the aftermath of the George Floyd protests a year ago, there must be a recognition that what happens in America sends signals to the rest of the world.

Why Race in America Is a Foreign Policy Issue | Congresswoman Donna Edwards | GZERO Mediayoutu.be

More from GZERO Media

- YouTube

Fifty years after the fall of Saigon (or its liberation, depending on whom you ask), Vietnam has transformed from a war-torn battleground to one of Asia’s fastest-growing economies—and now finds itself caught between two superpowers. Ian Bremmer breaks down how Vietnam went from devastation in the wake of the Vietnam War to becoming a regional economic powerhouse.

Eurasia Group and GZERO Media are seeking a highly creative, detail-oriented Graphic and Animation Designer who lives and breathes news, international affairs, and policy. The ideal candidate has demonstrated experience using visual storytelling—including data visualizations and short-form animations—to make complex geopolitical topics accessible, social-friendly, and engaging across platforms. You will join a dynamic team of researchers, editors, video producers, and writers to elevate our storytelling and thought leadership through innovative multimedia content.

The body of Pope Francis in the coffin exposed in St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City on April 24, 2025. The funeral will be celebrated on Saturday in St. Peter's Square.
Pasquale Gargano/KONTROLAB/ipa-agency.net/IPA/Sipa USA

While the Catholic world prepares for the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday – the service begins at 10 a.m. local time, 4 a.m. ET – certain high-profile attendees may also have other things on their mind. Several world leaders will be on hand to pay their respects to the pontiff, but they could also find themselves involved in bilateral talks.

A Ukrainian rescue worker sits atop the rubble of a destroyed residential building during rescue operations, following a Russian missile strike on a residential apartment building block in Kyiv, Ukraine, on April 24, 2025.
Photo by Justin Yau/ Sipa USA
Members of the M23 rebel group stand guard at the opening ceremony of Caisse Generale d'epargne du Congo (CADECO) which will serve as the bank for the city of Goma where all banks have closed since the city was taken by the M23 rebels, in Goma, North Kivu province in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo, April 7, 2025.
REUTERS/Arlette Bashizi

The Democratic Republic of the Congo and an alliance of militias led by the notorious M23 rebels announced a ceasefire on Thursday after talks in Qatar and, after three years of violence, said they would work toward a permanent truce.

Students shout slogans and burn an effigy to protest the Pahalgam terror attack in Guwahati, Assam, India, on April 24, 2025. On April 22, a devastating terrorist attack occurs in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of at least 28 tourists.
Photo by David Talukdar/NurPhoto

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has blamed Pakistan for Tuesday’s deadly terrorist attack in Kashmir, and he’s takenaggressive action against its government.