Off the Record, 551 Fifth Avenue, Suite 3000, New York, NY (2026)

03/31/2026

The Fog of War
With Dr. Carla Anne Robbins

What happens when the United States enters a war without a clearly articulated objective or a consistent public narrative?

Join Dr. Carla Anne Robbins, veteran foreign policy journalist and national security expert, for a timely and thought-provoking discussion on what the conflict with Iran reveals about U.S. foreign policy, both in process and ex*****on, and the consequences for American alliances, security, and global leadership.

Drawing on fast-moving developments in the region, as well as her decades of experience reporting on international affairs and diplomacy, Dr. Robbins will examine what this moment means for the future of U.S. strategy and the broader international order.

Wednesday, April 15
6:30 – 8:00 PM
East & West Room at the Cosmopolitan Club, NYC

Registration closes April 10. Secure your place at off-the-record.org and join this important discussion.

03/24/2026

🌍 Geopolitical Tensions: US-China Relations and the Taiwan Strait With Ambassador Susan Elliott

What lies ahead for U.S.–China relations and how could tensions over Taiwan shape global stability?

Join Ambassador Susan Elliott, career U.S. diplomat and former U.S. Ambassador to Tajikistan, for a timely and in-depth discussion of one of the most consequential geopolitical challenges today.

Drawing on nearly three decades of experience in diplomacy and foreign policy, Ambassador Elliott will explore the evolving U.S.–China relationship, the central role of Taiwan as a geopolitical flashpoint, and the difficult path the United States is navigating between two of its most important global relationships. The conversation will also address the risks of escalation and the prospects for avoiding conflict.

Wednesday, April 8
1:00 – 2:00 PM
SUNY Global Center, NYC
Also available on Zoom

⏳ Registration closes April 7. Secure your place at off-the-record.org and join this important discussion.

03/04/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined Off the Record at the Cosmopolitan Club for Certainties amidst the Uncertainty of the New World Order with Dr. Lori Esposito Murray. We were delighted to see such a strong turnout for this engaging and timely discussion.

🔍 About the Conversation
Dr. Murray explored the defining forces shaping the emerging global order and outlined the key certainties leaders can rely on amid today’s geopolitical volatility. The conversation examined how governments, businesses, and institutions can better navigate global risk while identifying opportunities in a rapidly evolving international landscape.

🎤 About the Speaker
Dr. Lori Esposito Murray is a distinguished national security expert specializing in nuclear strategy and arms control. Her career spans senior leadership roles in government, academia, and the nonprofit sector, including service as Special Advisor to the President on the Chemical Weapons Convention and Assistant Director for Multilateral Affairs at the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency.

🙏 Thank You
We are grateful to our members and guests for contributing to a thoughtful and engaging conversation.

✨ Off the Record is proud to provide a nonpartisan forum for informed exchange on global affairs.

Learn more about membership and upcoming programs at off-the-record.org.

02/25/2026

🌍 The New National Security Strategy
🗣️ With Robin Quinville

How is the United States reshaping its national security posture and what does it mean for allies and global stability?

Join Robin Quinville, career U.S. diplomat and former Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Mission to Germany, for a timely insider discussion on the new U.S. national security strategy and its worldwide implications.

Drawing on more than 30 years of diplomatic service, Robin Quinville will examine the shift toward more transactional, less engaged “America First” policies, the impact on traditional transatlantic alliances, and key insights from European security discussions, including the 2026 Munich Security Conference.

Wednesday, March 11
1:00 – 2:00 PM
📍 New York City Bar Association / Also available on Zoom

Registration closes March 10. Secure your place at off-the-record.org and join this important conversation.

02/20/2026

🌍 Certainties amidst the Uncertainty of the New World Order With Dr. Lori Esposito Murray

What can leaders count on in an increasingly unpredictable global environment?

Join Dr. Lori Esposito Murray — distinguished national security expert and former senior U.S. government official — for a timely, behind-the-scenes look at the certainties shaping the emerging world order and what they mean for global risk, strategy, and opportunity.

Drawing on decades of experience across government, academia, and international policy institutions, Dr. Murray will outline the key geopolitical dynamics leaders should watch and how organizations can position themselves amid ongoing uncertainty.

A must-attend conversation for anyone following global security, foreign policy, and the future of international order.

📅 Tuesday, March 3
🕡 6:30 – 8:00 PM
📍 Library at the Cosmopolitan Club, NYC
⏳ Registration closes March 2. Secure your place at off-the-record.org and join this important discussion.

02/11/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined Off the Record today at the SUNY Global Center and on Zoom for Venezuelan Oil and the U.S. Energy Strategy: Why Trump and Big Oil Are Not Always on the Same Page.

🔍 About the Conversation
Today’s discussion examined the geopolitical and economic implications of U.S. intervention in Venezuela and the evolving relationship between government energy policy and corporate strategy. Katharina Kort explored why major oil companies have been reluctant to reinvest in Venezuela’s oil infrastructure and what this divergence reveals about global oil markets, political risk, and shifting energy dynamics.

🎤 About the Speaker
Katharina Kort is U.S. correspondent for DER SPIEGEL, Germany’s leading news magazine, covering American business and economic policy. She previously served as U.S. Bureau Chief for Handelsblatt and reported extensively across Europe and the United States on economic transformation and global markets. She is a recipient of the Georg von Holtzbrinck Prize for Business Journalism.

🙏 With Thanks
We are grateful to our sponsor, The Kurt Forrest Foundation, and to our members and guests for contributing to a thoughtful and engaging conversation.

✨ Off the Record is proud to provide a nonpartisan forum for informed exchange on global affairs.

To learn more about membership and upcoming programs, visit off-the-record.org.

01/27/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined Off the Record last Wednesday at the SUNY Global Center and on Zoom for Systemic Corruption in Russia and the War in Ukraine.

🔍 About the Conversation
Our discussion examined how corruption and governance structures shape state behavior and conflict, with a focus on Russia’s political system and Ukraine’s reform efforts since the 2014 Revolution of Dignity. The conversation also explored the challenges governments face when pursuing institutional reform under the pressures of war.

🎤 About the Speaker
Our speaker, Matthew Murray, brings decades of experience at the intersection of international law, governance, and national security. A former senior U.S. government official, human rights lawyer, NGO founder, and business executive, he is currently an Adjunct Professor at Columbia University and Georgetown University and is widely recognized for his work on rule of law and anti-corruption in high-risk environments.

🙏 With Thanks
We are grateful to our sponsor, Seward & Kissel, and to our members and guests for contributing to a thoughtful and engaged discussion.

✨Off the Record is proud to provide a nonpartisan forum for informed exchange on global affairs.
To learn more about membership and upcoming programs, visit off-the-record.org or contact us at [email protected].

01/08/2026

🌍 Systemic Corruption in Russia and War in Ukraine

🗣️ With Matthew Murray

How does corruption shape war, power, and global instability?

Join Matthew Murray, a leading expert on governance and corruption, for a sharp, behind-the-scenes look at how entrenched corruption inside Russia has fueled the war in Ukraine and reshaped global geopolitics. From weakened institutions to distorted decision-making, Mr. Murray will unpack how corruption affects military outcomes, economic resilience, and Russia’s relationship with the West and the wider world.

Drawing on decades of experience in government, academia, and international advisory roles, he will connect the dots between corruption, conflict, and foreign policy — and explain why this war matters far beyond Eastern Europe.

A must-attend conversation for anyone following Ukraine, Russia, global security, or the future of international order.

📅 Wednesday, January 21
🕐 1:00 – 2:00 PM
📍 SUNY Global Center, NYC
💻 Also available on Zoom

⏳ Registration closes January 20. Secure your place via off-the-record.org and join a critical discussion on the forces shaping the war in Ukraine and the future of international security.

05/27/2025

🌱 Thank you to everyone who joined us on last Wednesday for Clean Energy Developments and Policies in India with Richard Rossow at the New York City Bar Association and on Zoom!

🔍 About the Talk
Richard Rossow highlighted India’s surging energy demand—driven by urbanization and industrial growth—and explored how coal, renewables, and policy choices will shape the global market. He also discussed India’s potential to model sustainable energy transitions for developing economies.

🎤 About the Speaker
Richard Rossow is Managing Director, India & South Asia at McLarty Associates and holds the Wadhwani Chair in U.S.–India Policy Studies at CSIS. A former USIBC Deputy Director and New York Life Head of International Governmental Affairs, Rick brings decades of expertise in business diplomacy and energy policy.

🙏 Thank You to Our Sponsors
• The Kurt Forrest Foundation
• Glenmede Private Wealth

✨ This was our final event of the season—thank you for making 87 such a success! We’ll see you again this fall. Don’t forget: season renewals are now open at [off-the-record.org].

05/06/2025

☀️Registration Now Open!☀️

Join us on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, as Off the Record presents our tenth and final regular event of the season, Clean energy developments and policies in India, featuring Richard Rossow, Managing Director at McLarty Associates and Chair in U.S.-India Policy Studies at CSIS.

⚡ With energy demand in India accelerating alongside rapid urbanization and economic growth, the country's choices in energy sourcing will carry deep global implications. From its partnerships with the U.S., Russia, and OPEC to its role as a model for sustainable energy adoption, India is poised to shape the global energy landscape. Richard Rossow will offer his expert insight into India’s strategic energy future and its influence on geopolitics.

🌏 Richard Rossow has decades of experience in U.S.-India relations, serving in senior roles at CSIS, McLarty Associates, and the U.S.-India Business Council. His unique perspective blends policy insight with private sector expertise across India and South Asia.

📅 Date: Wednesday, May 21, 2025
🕐 Time: 1:00 – 2:00 PM
📍 Location: New York City Bar Association, 42 W 44th St
💻 Also available on Zoom

🎉 Registration closes May 20th! Members can secure their spot through the Off the Record website [off-the-record.org]. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore one of the most important global energy stories of our time.

05/01/2025

✨The 2025 Elizabeth French Hitchcock Lecture: Panel on Trade, Tariffs, and the Global Economy✨

🎉 Thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday at the SUNY Global Center, and on Zoom, for a dynamic 2025 Elizabeth French Hitchcock Lecture! This year’s panel tackled the shifting landscape of global markets, examining how tariffs, trade policy, and economic uncertainty are shaping the world economy.

🎤 Speakers
Moderated by Charles Wait, Chairman of The Adirondack Trust Company, the conversation featured insights from top financial minds Robert Sockin, Senior Global Economist at Citi, and Cameron Dawson, Chief Investment Officer at NewEdge Wealth.

🔍 Key Takeaways
Panelists explored the ripple effects of shifting trade dynamics, rising protectionism, and economic volatility. They shared real-time analysis on the global financial outlook and discussed how investors and institutions are adapting to geopolitical and economic headwinds. The conversation highlighted the importance of data-driven policy, resilient markets, and long-term thinking in uncertain times.

✨ Membership Renewal Now Open for the 2025–2026 Season!
As of today, May 1, 2025, you can renew your membership for the 2025–2026 season directly through our website. Stay connected and continue enjoying exclusive member benefits throughout the upcoming year. Renew now to ensure uninterrupted access to our events and programs at [off-the-record.org].

Thanks again to all who attended! Events like these underscore the value of informed dialogue and expert insight.

04/17/2025

🌎The Art of Diplomacy🌎

🎉 Thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday for a powerful conversation with Ambassador Stuart E. Eizenstat at the New York City Bar Association and on Zoom! This timely event explored the crucial role of diplomacy in a world marked by rising conflict, polarization, and uncertainty.

🎤 Speaker
Ambassador Stuart E. Eizenstat has served in six U.S. administrations, holding senior roles from Chief White House Domestic Policy Adviser under President Carter to Deputy Secretary of the Treasury under President Clinton. A key negotiator of historic international agreements and an advocate for Holocaust justice, Ambassador Eizenstat brings a lifetime of diplomatic experience to today’s most pressing global challenges. He is currently Senior Counsel at Covington & Burling LLP and author of the newly released The Art of Diplomacy: How American Negotiators Reached Historic Agreements That Changed the World.

🔍 Key Takeaways
Ambassador Eizenstat emphasized that diplomacy is both an art and a science—one that requires history, psychology, cultural fluency, and, above all, human connection. He shared lessons from high-stakes negotiations and reflected on how diplomacy can help bridge divides and build sustainable peace in today’s fractured world.

✨ Thanks again to all who attended! Events like these reaffirm the importance of civil discourse and thoughtful leadership. For more upcoming programs, visit us at [off-the-record.org].

Off the Record

03/31/2026

03/24/2026

03/04/2026

02/25/2026

02/20/2026

02/11/2026

01/27/2026

01/08/2026

05/27/2025

05/06/2025

05/01/2025

04/17/2025

Address

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Contact The Organization

Shortcuts

Featured

Share

Category