Our Insights
Featured Insights Selected by Our Experts
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The Return of the Koh Ker Ganesha
with Brad Gordon, Channy Set, and Nguon Chhay Song | Hosted by Deborah Lehr
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CES, Digital Trade, and the Future of Tech Supply Chains
with Ed Brytzwa | Hosted by Jake E. Jennings
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Iran, The Days After: The Succession
By the Basilinna team
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Why China Is Pushing Trade Facilitation Despite a Record Surplus
By Leigh Wedell and Ruihan Huang
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Mexico Now America’s Top Trading Partner as USMCA Review Looms
By Abel Hibert, Senior Fellow
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Nature as National Asset: How the Middle East Is Turning Biodiversity into Economic Opportunity
By Basilinna Deborah Lehr, Chair and CEO.
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China Economic Stimulus Tracker
A comprehensive timeline of announcements and policy actions implemented by the Chinese government to stimulate economic activity.
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From the Middle Kingdom to the Saudi Kingdom: Opportunities Abound
By Yasser Elnaggar, Chair of the Middle East and Africa
Explore all of our Insights, Interviews, Commentary, and More
See you on the field: America’s coming decade of sports diplomacy
By Deborah Lehr, Chair and CEO
More than 2,000 years ago, the Greek orator Isocrates observed that athletic festivals allowed people to set aside their conflicts, gather together, and renew bonds that united them. The ancient Greeks understood something: Sports have always been a form of diplomacy.
The Return of the Koh Ker Ganesha
Hosted by Deborah Lehr, Chair and CEO
To conclude our series Understanding the Thriving Trade in Looted Antiquities, we turn to one of the most powerful case studies in recent history: the return of the Koh Ker Ganesha.
CES, Digital Trade, and the Future of Tech Supply Chains
Hosted by Jake E. Jennings, Chair of Technology and Trade
Jake sits down with Edward Brzytwa, international trade advocate and negotiator, as well as leader of CTA’s international policy, trade, and supply chain advocacy.
Japan’s Rising Influence in U.S. Policy and Geoeconomics
Hosted by Jake E. Jennings, Chair of Technology and Trade
Jake sits down with Alan Turley, a retired U.S. Commerce foreign service officer with over 30 years of experience working to establish and expand U.S. businesses in Asia, with a particular focus on greater China and, most recently, Japan.
Unmasking the Market
December 4, 2025 | Hosted by Deborah Lehr, Chair and CEO
Deborah speaks with Jason Felch, investigative journalist and co-author of Chasing Aphrodite, the landmark exposé that revealed how major museums knowingly acquired looted artifacts.
The Latchford Network and Following the Trail of Loot
September 10, 2025 | Hosted by Deborah Lehr, Chair and CEO
Deborah welcomes back Tess Davis, Executive Director of The Antiquities Coalition, to discuss the story of Douglas Latchford, a notorious antiquities trafficker, and why his story is central to understanding the global illicit antiquities trade. The conversation explores Latchford’s background, how he built a vast smuggling network over a 50-year criminal career, and the devastating impact of his actions on Cambodia’s cultural heritage.
China’s Safeguarding of Cultural Heritage Signals Its Global Ambition
August 14, 2025 | Deborah Lehr, Chair and CEO
China is making its cultural heritage protection a national priority – and a pillar of its global identity. As one of the world’s fastest-growing art markets, China has taken steps in recent years to better safeguard its cultural heritage, both at home and abroad.
Recovering Looted Artifacts and Turning the Tide on Antiquities Trafficking
May 27, 2025 | Hosted by Deborah Lehr, Chair and CEO
In episode four of Understanding the Thriving Trade in Looted Antiquities — a Tholos Talks series that explores the global repercussions of the antiquities trade — Deborah talks to JP Labbat, a leading expert in cultural heritage protection, to discuss the evolving fight against antiquities trafficking and the recovery of stolen artifacts.
Heritage in Crisis: The Changing Role of Museums
May 15, 2025 | Hosted by Deborah Lehr, Chair and CEO
In episode three of Understanding the Thriving Trade in Looted Antiquities — a Tholos Talks series exploring the global repercussions of the antiquities trade — Deborah welcomes Richard Kurin, an American cultural anthropologist, museum official, and author, to discuss the evolving role of museums in preserving heritage, combating the illicit trade in antiquities, and serving as vital sources of public knowledge.
The Dark Side of the Art Market: The Illicit Trade
April 21, 2025 | Hosted by Deborah Lehr, Chair and CEO
Deborah sits down with Tess Davis, Executive Director of The Antiquities Coalition and Basilinna Executive Director, to bring her unique perspective with an extensive history in fighting this form of cultural racketeering. Tess and Deborah discuss the cultural romanticization of artifact trafficking, the broader implications of cultural racketeering, and how we can collectively work towards preserving our shared history, and the impact of looted antiquities on global security.