Situated at the intersection of the Arab world, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Southern Europe, Egypt remains a pivotal actor in the evolving geopolitics of the Middle East and North Africa. Under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the Egyptian state has embarked on a sweeping agenda of transformation—redefining its political economy, reasserting its regional role, and confronting a host of domestic and international pressures.

This miniseries aims to move beyond conventional narratives to provide a rigorous, multidisciplinary examination of contemporary Egypt. Through a series of in-depth conversations and analyses, The Looking Glass interrogates the logics, trade-offs, and long-term implications of the choices shaping Egypt’s present and future.

In this final episode, we will dive into the dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, an Ethiopian megaproject that has upended relations between Egypt and Ethiopia. The Nile River is shared by over 11 countries, and Ethiopia seeks to use its waters to increase its electricity production. While this seeks to improve Ethiopia’s development, Egypt fears it would bring negative consequences down river, including negative impacts to its water supply. We will discuss this issue in debt, as well as Egypt’s water security in general, which has proven to be a key issue in the country.

To discuss, we are honored to host Mr. John Mukum Mbaku, Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, who works on the Africa Growth Initiative.

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Welcome back everybody to the SAIS Review’s The Looking Glass Podcast. I am your host Davide Donald. On today’s episode we are going to be talking about disaster management in Turkey. Istanbul lies at the heart of the Eurasian and Anatolian tectonic plate fault lines. The prospect of another major earthquake hitting the city of over 16 million people is a question of when, not if. The 6.2 magnitude earthquake that hit Istanbul a few weeks ago on April 23rd–which luckily resulted in only injuries and minor building damage–was a reminder of just how imminent a major quake could be. To discuss the government’s current preparedness and management approach, and the possible consequences of when an earthquake strikes Istanbul in the future, joining us on the podcast today is Dr. Lisel Hintz.

Lisel Hintz is an Assistant Professor of International Relations at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. Her research explores how identity struggles interact with domestic politics and foreign policy, focusing on Turkey and its neighboring regions. Drawing on fieldwork and a diverse range of sources, including pop culture and social media, Dr Hintz brings unique insights into how state-society relations evolve in times of crisis. She is a frequent commentator in outlets like Foreign Policy and The Washington Post, and we are eager to have her join us today to discuss the political and societal dimensions of disaster response in Turkey. We hope you enjoy this episode of the Looking Glass Podcast.

Host: Davide Donald

Additional Editors: Sloan Askins, Sophie Haas-Goldberg, Juliette Legein, Magdalena Paddock

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Nuclear catastrophes like Chernobyl and Fukushima serve as a stark reminder of the risks that come with harnessing atomic energy — we hear about the evacuations, the health impacts, the geopolitical consequences. But what about the landscapes left behind? What happens to plants, animals, and entire ecosystems when exposed to high levels of radiation over days, months, or even years? To help us unpack these questions, we're joined by Dr. Timothy Mousseau.

Dr. Timothy Mousseau is an evolutionary biologist and leading expert on the effects of radiation on wildlife in Chernobyl and Fukushima. He was the first U.S.-based biologist to begin research in Fukushima, starting in July 2011, and his pioneering work in Chernobyl has revealed a wide range of radiation-related impacts on organisms—shifting how we understand the vulnerability of natural populations to environmental contaminants. Most recently, his research has expanded to explore the effects of cosmic radiation in space. With years of fieldwork across continents, Dr. Mousseau’s findings have offered critical insights and sparked ongoing debate within the field of radioecology. Let’s explore what nuclear fallout really means for the natural world — and why this research matters now more than ever. We hope you enjoy this episode of the Looking Glass Podcast.

Hosts: Meya Lee and Matthew Dowden

Additional Editor: Jacob Wright

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