March Speaker: Mr. Brian Katulis @ the Wakonda Club, Thursday, March 5th
About the Presentation
The Middle East has featured more prominently in overall U.S. foreign policy in the first year after President Trump returned to office. His first year included two presidential trips to the region, U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran’s nuclear and military sites, a ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas, and a major policy shift to lift sanctions on Syria and meet with Syria’s de facto leader, Ahmed Al-Sharaa.
Nearly two months into Trump’s second year in this second term, President Trump is engaged in both a military build up and diplomacy focused on Iran and efforts to build on the Gaza ceasefire in the recent formation of the Board of Peace.
Brian Katulis will offer an engaging and informative presentation providing a clinical assessment of Trump 2.0’s overall foreign policy approach—characterized by transactional diplomacy, selective military engagement, and attempts to use America’s economic power to gain global leverage—and answer key questions like whether this approach is likely to produce a more durable and sustainable security environment in the Middle East, amid a rapidly evolving regional landscape.
Let’s welcome Brian to Des Moines with a rousing event full of questions, commentary, and engagement!
About Brian Katulis
Brian Katulis is a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute (MEI), specializing in US foreign policy and national security. He hosts the MEI podcast series Taking the Edge Off the Middle East and authors the column “Making Sense: A Regular Take on US Foreign Policy.” Katulis draws on decades of experience living and working in the Middle East, where he has forged relationships of trust and confidence across the region with top leaders in government, the private sector, media, national security, and thought leaders from a wide variety of international organizations.
As a foreign policy strategist, Katulis has produced influential studies that have shaped key regional policy debates and provided expert testimony to congressional committees. Prior to MEI, he was a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress (CAP), where he built the center’s Middle East program. His career also includes significant experience at the National Security Council, the US Department of State, and the US Department of Defense.
Katulis co-authored The Prosperity Agenda (2008) with Nancy Soderberg, examining how America’s economic advantages can positively shape global dynamics. He is frequently quoted in leading news publications and media outlets.
He holds a Master in Public Affairs from Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs and a BA in History and Arab and Islamic Studies from Villanova University. He was a Fulbright Scholar in Amman, Jordan (1994–1995), where he conducted research on the peace process between Israel and Jordan.
February Speaker: Ambassador James Story @ the Wakonda Club, Thursday, February 5th
Event Details
“Is Democracy in Decline”
Our meeting on February 5th will be at the Wakonda Club, 3915 Fleur Dr in Des Moines. The meeting will begin with hors d’oeuvres and conversation at 5:30pm followed by the ambassador’s presentation at 6pm. The meeting fee is $20 ($10 for students).
Ambassador James B. Story most recently served as U.S. Ambassador for the Venezuela Affairs Unit, located at the United States Embassy in Bogotá, Colombia. Previously, Ambassador Story served as Chargé d’Affaires at the Venezuela Affairs Unit and, prior to mid-2019, the United States Embassy in Caracas, Venezuela. Ambassador Story has also served as Consul General in Rio de Janeiro. Other positions include Director of the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) Office for the Western Hemisphere; Director of the INL Office in Bogotá, Colombia; and Senior Civilian Representative in Southeastern Afghanistan.
A career Senior Foreign Service Officer, Ambassador Story has served in Sao Paulo, Brasilia, Washington, D.C., Maputo, Guadalajara, and at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations. He is the recipient of numerous State Department and interagency awards including the Superior and Meritorious Honor Awards, the Department of the Army Superior Civilian Service Award, the Warren Christopher Award for Outstanding Achievement in Global Affairs, and the Distinguished Honor Award for the Western Hemisphere Bureau.
Ambassador Story grew up in the small town of Moncks Corner, South Carolina, and graduated with a B.A./B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies from South Carolina College at the University of South Carolina. He received an M.S. in Foreign Service from Georgetown University. He speaks Portuguese and Spanish.
Additional resources…
NewsNation’s The Hill – Sep 8, 2025
Tensions Rise Between the U.S. and Venezuela
NewsNation’s The Hill interviewed Senior Advisor Jimmy Story regarding escalating tensions between the United States and Venezuela.
Venezuela in US crosshairs | GZERO World
PBS.org | Jan 3, 2026
Former U.S. ambassador analyzes goal of Maduro regime change
AMERICAN DIPLOMAT
Venezuela: The President’s Flotilla
America’s Diplomats Speaker Series with Ambassador (ret.) James Story
America’s Diplomats Speaker Series with Ambassador (ret.) James Story
January Speaker: The Honorable Uzra Zeya- The Strategic Imperative for Human Rights @ the Wakonda Club, Tuesday, January 20th
Ms. Zeya’s career has been defined by a profound dedication to human rights. From her past high ranking leadership at the U.S. Department of State to her current role as President and CEO of Human Rights First, she has been a tireless advocate for democracy, international security, and the protection of the vulnerable.
As authoritarianism gains ground and democracies worldwide face growing internal and external challenges, the strategic imperative to recover bipartisan convergence for human rights has never been more important. Join Human Rights First President and CEO and former U.S. Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya for a candid discussion on how U.S. human rights leadership bolsters security, prosperity, and well-being for all Americans.
About the Speaker
The Honorable Uzra Zeya is a distinguished U.S. diplomat and humanitarian leader. She currently serves as the President and CEO of Human Rights First. Previously, she served as the U.S. Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, a role in which she led global diplomatic efforts to strengthen democracy, support refugees, and prevent armed conflict.
With over three decades of experience across the Middle East, Europe, and South Asia, Ms. Zeya brings a unique and vital perspective to the most pressing humanitarian challenges of our time.
For more information regarding Ms. Zeya: