The Long Game with Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer

President Trump says the war with Iran is over. But what exactly did the United States agree to? Ambassador Wendy Sherman, the lead U.S. negotiator of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, joins Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer to assess the new U.S.-Iran agreement and explain why she believes it gives Tehran significant concessions while securing few meaningful nuclear constraints in return. Topics covered: Whether the United States or Iran emerged with greater leverage from the war The future of Iran's nuclear program and its economic windfall through sanctions relief and Strait of Hormuz fees What the deal means for Israel, the Gulf states, and the broader Middle East Why diplomacy requires expertise, patience, and direct engagement with adversaries Jake and Jon also discuss whether Congress will review the agreement, what it could mean for Russia and global energy markets, and other stories they're watching in the weeks ahead. For transcripts, exclusive podcast segments, and more, subscribe to The Long Game on Substack. On Apple Podcasts, subscribe to The Long Game+ for exclusive audio. This week, paid subscribers get access to an exclusive segment in which Jake and Jon share behind-the-scenes stories from their own negotiations with Iranian officials during the Obama administration, including late-night bargaining sessions in Vienna, secret talks in Oman, and some of the unexpected moments that helped shape the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. Follow The Long Game so you never miss an episode. New episodes drop weekly. Show notes are available here. Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. Transcript here. Email Jake and Jon at longgame@voxmedia.com. The Long Game is produced by the Vox Media Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

China, AI, sand — and a 10% chance of UFOs? Jake and Jon are joined by economist and public intellectual Tyler Cowen for a wide-ranging conversation about the structural forces reshaping geopolitics and the balance of power. From the rivalry between China and the United States to the unglamorous constraints of supply chains, they step back from the headlines to ask what will actually define the long game. Together, they take on a series of core questions: - China: What does China actually want? Are the U.S. and China headed for decisive conflict — or a long stalemate over Taiwan and the balance of power in Asia?- AI: Is the AI “race” winner-take-all? How much does being first at the frontier matter — and would any U.S. edge be durable or just a temporary window? - Supply Chains & State Capacity: Can America realistically build resilience in critical inputs, from rare earths to sand? And does the U.S. government still have the institutional capacity to execute in an era of rapid change? - UAPs: How seriously should we take unexplained aerial phenomena — and what does it mean to assign a non-zero probability to extraterrestrial explanations without sliding into conspiracy? The episode closes with Cowen in the hot seat for his signature overrated/underrated rapid-fire questions covering a broad sweep of topics. Follow The Long Game so you never miss an episode. New episodes drop on Thursdays. Watch the video of this episode on Youtube. Show notes of the episode are available here. Transcript here, coming soon. The Long Game book recommendations here. Join us on Substack Email Jake and Jon with your thoughts and questions at longgame@voxmedia.com. Or leave a comment below. The Long Game is produced by the Vox Media Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The geopolitics of the Winter Olympics and a pivotal moment in U.S.-Iran diplomacy. As global attention turns to the Games and the possibility of U.S. military action in Iran, Jake and Jon: Explore how sport, soft power, and international conflict intersect. Run a Red Team/Blue Team exercise from Iran’s perspective as nuclear negotiations with the U.S. get underway in Oman. Taking on the roles of Iranian advisers to the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, they weigh the risks of striking a deal against the dangers of refusal. Follow The Long Game so you never miss an episode. New episodes drop on Thursdays. Watch the video of this episode on Youtube. Show notes of the episode are available here. Transcript here, coming soon. The Long Game book recommendations here. Join us on Substack Email Jake and Jon with your thoughts and questions at longgame@voxmedia.com. Or leave a comment below. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer unpack Trump’s Greenland gambit and the strain it has placed on NATO and America’s closest partners. They situate the crisis within a one-year assessment of Trump’s foreign policy and debate whether pressure and tariffs are advancing U.S. interests — or undermining the alliance system that has long underpinned American power. Follow The Long Game so you never miss an episode. New episodes drop on Fridays. Show notes and a transcript of the episode are available here. Watch the video of this episode on Youtube. Join us on Substack Email Jake and Jon with your thoughts and questions at longgame@voxmedia.com. Or leave a comment below. Transcript here, coming soon. Note: This episode was taped early afternoon on Wednesday, January 21, prior to Trump’s announcement of reaching a framework deal with NATO Secretary General Rutte. The Long Game is produced by the Vox Media Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices