WACC Distinguished Speaker Series Program (Virtual)

July 15th, 2026: WACC Partner Program (Virtual) – The Future of War

What will war look like in a climate-ravaged world? Join WorldNow host Jim Falk for a conversation with Elliot Ackerman, NYT bestselling author and Atlantic contributor on his novel 2084: A Novel of the Future of War. Co-written with Admiral James Stavridis, 2084 imagines a planet fractured between equatorial nations devastated by climate change and wealthier but politically unstable powers like the U.S. and China, the latest in their trilogy following 2034 and 2054.

July 15th, 2026: WACC Partner Program (Virtual) – The Future of War2026-06-04T13:46:47-04:00

July 1st, 2026: WACC Partner Program (Virtual) — NATO in a Changing World

Kay Bailey Hutchison, former U.S. Ambassador to NATO and U.S. Senator will draw on her experience representing the United States at NATO during a period of heightened alliance tension and transformation, to offer timely analysis of the current and future U.S.–NATO relationship and the leadership challenges facing the Alliance today.

July 1st, 2026: WACC Partner Program (Virtual) — NATO in a Changing World2026-06-04T13:24:04-04:00

June 16th, 2026: WACC Partner Program (Virtual) — Inside Iran: Context For Today’s Global Tensions

Join us for a timely and in-depth webinar examining the historical, political, and geopolitical dynamics shaping the current tensions between Iran, Israel, the United States, and the broader Middle East region. As headlines continue to focus on escalating conflict and uncertainty, this discussion aims to provide critical background, regional context, and informed analysis to help audiences better understand the roots of today’s challenges and their global implications.

June 16th, 2026: WACC Partner Program (Virtual) — Inside Iran: Context For Today’s Global Tensions2026-06-04T13:52:32-04:00

April 20th, 2026: WACC Partner Program with Steven Cook, Senior Middle East Expert at the Council on Foreign Relations; Ambassador Deborah Jones, U.S. Ambassador (ret.) to Kuwait and Libya; and Beth Sanner, CNN National Security Contributor and former Deputy Director of National Intelligence — “The Iran War: What We Know, What Comes Next”

With the U.S. and Iran now in open conflict and the world’s energy supply under threat, the stakes could not be higher – or more uncertain. Join us on WorldNow with Jim Falk as we sit down with Steven Cook, senior Middle East expert at the Council on Foreign Relations; Amb. Deborah Jones, U.S. Ambassador (ret.) to Kuwait and Libya; and Beth Sanner, CNN National Security Contributor and former Deputy Director of National Intelligence. We’ll explore what’s happened so far in the conflict with Iran, what may happen next, and the war’s long-term impact on the region and beyond.

April 20th, 2026: WACC Partner Program with Steven Cook, Senior Middle East Expert at the Council on Foreign Relations; Ambassador Deborah Jones, U.S. Ambassador (ret.) to Kuwait and Libya; and Beth Sanner, CNN National Security Contributor and former Deputy Director of National Intelligence — “The Iran War: What We Know, What Comes Next”2026-04-17T16:43:41-04:00

April 7th, 2026: WACC 2026 China Town Hall Conversation on “The U.S.-China AI Race” + 2026 Annual China Town Hall Hosted by the  National Committee on United States-China Relations (Virtual)

As China rolls out its ambitious 2026–2030 five-year plan to lead in AI, robotics, and quantum computing, and the U.S. pursues its “Winning the AI Race” strategy, both nations are accelerating toward technological dominance. Dr. Min Jiang will help us understand the complex intersection between global politics, foreign policy, and the accelerating competition on AI between China and the U.S.

April 7th, 2026: WACC 2026 China Town Hall Conversation on “The U.S.-China AI Race” + 2026 Annual China Town Hall Hosted by the  National Committee on United States-China Relations (Virtual)2026-03-18T15:38:02-04:00

March 31st, 2026: WACC Partner Program with James Lindsay, Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations – “The Best & Worst: 250 Years of U.S. Foreign Policy” (Virtual)

James Lindsay, Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, reveals his definitive rankings of the best and worst U.S. foreign policy decisions over the past 250 years.

March 31st, 2026: WACC Partner Program with James Lindsay, Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations – “The Best & Worst: 250 Years of U.S. Foreign Policy” (Virtual)2026-03-18T14:42:06-04:00

March 10th, 2026: WACC Partner Program with Dan Schnur, Political Analyst – “Tensions and Transitions: Change and Uncertainty in a Time of Global Conflict”

Join us on March 10th for this timely discussion as Dan Schnur explores explore the unfolding situation in Iran following recent U.S. and Israeli military strikes and the subsequent formation of an interim leadership council as Tehran begins a constitutional transition process. The discussion will examine how these events have affected regional security, global responses, and broader international dynamics in 2026. 

March 10th, 2026: WACC Partner Program with Dan Schnur, Political Analyst – “Tensions and Transitions: Change and Uncertainty in a Time of Global Conflict”2026-03-04T12:33:23-05:00

February 10th, 2026: WACC Partner Program with Yi-Ling Liu, Journalist-in-Residence at the Tarbell Center for AI Journalism and Author of “THE WALL DANCERS: Searching for Freedom and Connection on the Chinese Internet” (Virtual)

Join the World Affairs Council of Charlotte on February 10th for a national WAC program featuring author and journalist Yi-Ling Liu tells the untold story of the Chinese internet. In conversation with Jim Falk on WorldNow, Yi-Ling Liu will offer her perspective on how Chinese citizens have navigated the last 30 years of surveillance and censorship while searching for freedom and connection behind the Great Firewall.

February 10th, 2026: WACC Partner Program with Yi-Ling Liu, Journalist-in-Residence at the Tarbell Center for AI Journalism and Author of “THE WALL DANCERS: Searching for Freedom and Connection on the Chinese Internet” (Virtual)2026-01-08T13:50:39-05:00

January 28th, 2026: WACC Distinguished Speaker Series with Tom Standage, Deputy Editor of “The Economist” and Editor of “The World Ahead” — “The World Ahead in 2026)

Annually, "The World Ahead" series by The Economist offers a forward-looking perspective on anticipated developments in the upcoming year. Tom Standage, Deputy Editor-In-Chief of The Economist and Editor of "The World Ahead 2026," will provide well-informed predictions, in-depth analyses from foreign policy and current affairs experts, a synopsis of the global economic forecast, and crucial insights into focal issues that are poised to be significant touchpoints in the coming year.

January 28th, 2026: WACC Distinguished Speaker Series with Tom Standage, Deputy Editor of “The Economist” and Editor of “The World Ahead” — “The World Ahead in 2026)2026-03-04T14:54:40-05:00

January 21st, 2026: WACC Partner Program with Bill Hartung, Author and Senior Fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft (Virtual)

Join the World Affairs Council of Charlotte on January 21 for a national WAC program featuring Bill Hartung, senior fellow at the Quincy Institute. In conversation with Jim Falk on WorldNow, Hartung will break down the forces shaping the American military‑industrial complex and explore how rethinking a trillion‑dollar defense system could strengthen America’s future.

January 21st, 2026: WACC Partner Program with Bill Hartung, Author and Senior Fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft (Virtual)2026-01-08T10:16:52-05:00
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