August 14th: Members' Coffee and Discussion (Virtual)
2025-08-14 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom
A monthly discussion of world events for members. Virtual session on zoom this Thursday, August 10am-11am. Register HERE
From Joe:
We can start with a brief summary of the Wednesday webinar. After we discuss the current situation in the Mideast, if there is time, we can talk a bit about tariffs (see https://responsiblestatecraft.org/trump-tariffs-2673858212/ but don’t feel at all obliged to read).

Looking forward to seeing all who can make it.

Coffee and Discussion (In-Person) at Magno Terra in Yarmouth
2025-10-16 10:00 - 11:00 | Magno Terra Cafe, 2 Delorme Dr, Yarmouth, ME, 04096
A monthly discussion of world events for members. In-person meetings are held every third Thursday of the month. Currently the group will be meeting at the Magno Terra Cafe in Yarmouth (#2 Delorme St – immediately to the right of exit 17 on 295 if you are coming from Portland).

Date & Time: October 19, 2025, from 10:00-11:00 AM
Place: Community Room – Magno Terra Cafe, 2 Delorme St. Yarmouth, ME
Discussion leader: Clifford Gilpin
Proposed topic: Current Events (Clifford has suggested this article for discussion)

Shah, R. J. (2025, October 14). Opinion | Hope didn’t end with foreign aid cuts. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/13/opinion/aid-cuts-new-model.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

Members' Coffee and Discussion (Virtual) - Thursday, November 6th
2025-11-06 10:00 - 11:00 | Zoom
A monthly discussion of world events for members. Virtual session on zoom this Thursday, November 6th, 10am-11am.
Topic: Current events – suggested focus on the future of international assistance.
Facilitator: Clifford Gilpin
Suggested Readings: See Wednesday’s story in the 7in7 for October 12-18, you can also access past newsletters on the website HERE.
Register HERE – Zoom link will be sent in confirmation email.
Looking forward to seeing all who can make it.

Coffee and Discussion (In-Person) at Magno Terra in Yarmouth
2025-11-20 10:00 - 11:00 | Magno Terra Cafe, 2 Delorme Dr, Yarmouth, ME, 04096
A monthly discussion of world events for members. In-person meetings are held every third Thursday of the month. Currently the group will be meeting at the Magno Terra Cafe in Yarmouth (#2 Delorme St – immediately to the right of exit 17 on 295 if you are coming from Portland).

Date & Time: November 20, 2025, from 10:00-11:00 AM
Place: Community Room – Magno Terra Cafe, 2 Delorme St. Yarmouth, ME
Discussion leader: Clifford Gilpin
Proposed topic: Current Events/ Feedback on Fall Foreign Policy Forum
REGISTER HERE OR ABOVE.

Members' Coffee and Discussion (Virtual) - Thursday, December 4th
2025-12-04 10:00 - 11:00 | Zoom
A monthly discussion of world events for members. Virtual session on zoom this Thursday, December 4th, 10am-11am.
Virtual session on zoom Thursday, December 4, 2025 10am-11am.
Topic: G20 Summit
Facilitator: Clifford Gilpin
Suggested Readings:

Jones, M. (2025, November 22). G20: Will Trump’s no-show eclipse South Africa’s moment? https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c20508y7w5yo
South Africa’s G20 Juggling Act. (2025, November 20). International Crisis Group. https://www.crisisgroup.org/africa/south-africa/south-africas-g20-juggling-act
G20 South Africa – Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability. (2025, November 16). G20 South Africa. https://g20.org/
Matiwane, Z. (2025, November 22). South Africans seize on G20 summit to air their nation’s ills. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/world/africa/south-africa-g20-protests.html

You can also access past editions of our weekly world news review HERE.
Register HERE – Zoom link will be sent in confirmation email. Looking forward to seeing all who can make it.
For current events sessions, members are encouraged to review the latest editions of the Council’s weekly world news review: 7in7
Looking forward to seeing all who can make it.

Members' Coffee and Discussion (Virtual) - Thursday, December 4th
2025-12-04 10:00 - 11:00 | Zoom
A monthly discussion of world events for members. Virtual session on zoom this Thursday, December 4th, 10am-11am.
Virtual session on zoom Thursday, February 4, 2026 10am-11am.
Topic: Corruption in Ukraine (for real this time!)
Facilitator: Volunteers needed
Suggested Readings:

Suggested Readings:

Budjeryn, M. (2025, November 26). War, peace, and corruption in embattled Ukraine. Brookings.
Hewson, J., & Warsi, Z. (2025, December 5). Corruption scandal rocks Ukraine as it fights for survival against Russia’s invasion. PBS News.
Skorkin, K. (2025, November 18). The corruption scandal engulfing Ukraine won’t die down anytime soon. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Dickinson, P. (2025, November 17). Zelenskyy faces the biggest corruption scandal of his presidency – Atlantic Council. Atlantic Council.
Transparency International. (2025, February 18). CPI 2024: Highlights and insights – News. Transparency.org.
Ukraine Specific The 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index in the world. (2024). The 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index in the World.

Register HERE – Zoom link will be sent in confirmation email. Looking forward to seeing all who can make it.
For current events sessions, members are encouraged to review the latest editions of the Council’s weekly world news review: 7in7
Looking forward to seeing all who can make it.

Members' Coffee and Discussion (Virtual) - Thursday, March 5th
2025-12-04 10:00 - 11:00 | Zoom
Virtual session on zoom Thursday, March 5th, 2026 10am-11am.
Topic: Developments in the Middle East
Facilitator: Volunteers needed
After the February 19th session, members expressed an interest in sharing impressions and reactions to the speakers at last weekend’s Camden Conference, and/or the Consequences of Palestine conference the Maine Coalition for Palestine is hosting this Saturday (neither event was/is organized or sponsored by the World Affairs Council of Maine). As both conference organizers have extensive reading lists, we are not making any specific recommendations.
Members register HERE – Zoom link will be sent in confirmation email. Looking forward to seeing all who can make it.

Coffee and Discussion (In-Person) at Magno Terra in Yarmouth
2025-12-18 10:00 - 11:00 | Magno Terra Cafe, 2 Delorme Dr, Yarmouth, ME, 04096
A monthly discussion of world events for members. In-person meetings are held every third Thursday of the month. Currently the group will be meeting at the Magno Terra Cafe in Yarmouth (#2 Delorme St – immediately to the right of exit 17 on 295 if you are coming from Portland).

Date & Time: December 18, 2025, from 10:00-11:00 AM
Place: Community Room – Magno Terra Cafe, 2 Delorme St. Yarmouth, ME
Discussion leader: TBD
Proposed topic: The 2025 National Security Strategy

Stelzenmüller, C., and, O’Hanlon, M. E., et-al (2025, December 8). Breaking down Trump’s 2025 National Security Strategy. Brookings.

REGISTER HERE OR ABOVE.

Coffee and Discussion (In-Person) at Magno Terra in Yarmouth
2026-01-15 10:00 - 11:00 | Magno Terra Cafe, 2 Delorme Dr, Yarmouth, ME, 04096
A monthly discussion of world events for members. In-person meetings are held every third Thursday of the month. Currently the group will be meeting at the Magno Terra Cafe in Yarmouth (#2 Delorme St – immediately to the right of exit 17 on 295 if you are coming from Portland).

Date & Time: January 15, from 10:00-11:00 AM
Place: Community Room – Magno Terra Cafe, 2 Delorme St. Yarmouth, ME
Discussion leader: TBD
Proposed topic: TBD
REGISTER HERE OR ABOVE.

Coffee and Discussion (In-Person) at Magno Terra in Yarmouth
2026-02-19 10:00 - 11:00 | Magno Terra Cafe, 2 Delorme Dr, Yarmouth, ME, 04096
A monthly discussion of world events for members. In-person meetings are held every third Thursday of the month. Currently the group will be meeting at the Magno Terra Cafe in Yarmouth (#2 Delorme St – immediately to the right of exit 17 on 295 if you are coming from Portland).

Date & Time: February 19th, from 10:00 AM-11:00 AM
Place: Community Room – Magno Terra Cafe, 2 Delorme St. Yarmouth, ME
Discussion leader: Ghomri Rostampour
Proposed topic: The World Economy and Inflation
Readings:

Americans for Prosperity. (2026, February 13). Lowest inflation rate in over a year shows the economy is moving in the right direction. Americans for Prosperity. https://americansforprosperity.org/press-release/lowest-inflation-rate-in-over-a-year-shows-the-economy-is-moving-in-the-right-direction/
International Monetary Fund. (2026, January). World Economic Outlook Update, January 2026: Global economy: Steady amid divergent forces. IMF. https://www.imf.org/en/publications/weo/issues/2026/01/19/world-economic-outlook-update-january-2026
Council on Foreign Relations. (n.d.). Global inflation tracker. https://www.cfr.org/trackers/global-inflation-tracker
Deloitte. (n.d.). Weekly global economic update. Deloitte Insights. https://www.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/topics/economy/global-economic-outlook/weekly-update.html
The Economist. (2025, October 8). Why Donald Trump’s tariffs are failing to break global trade. The Economist. https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2025/10/08/why-donald-trumps-tariffs-are-failing-to-break-global-trade

REGISTER HERE OR ABOVE.

Coffee and Discussion (In-Person) at Magno Terra in Yarmouth
2026-03-19 10:00 - 11:00 | Magno Terra Cafe, 2 Delorme Dr, Yarmouth, ME, 04096
A monthly discussion of world events for members. In-person meetings are held every third Thursday of the month. Currently the group will be meeting at the Magno Terra Cafe in Yarmouth (#2 Delorme St – immediately to the right of exit 17 on 295 if you are coming from Portland).

Date & Time: March 19th, from 10:00 AM-11:00 AM
Place: Community Room – Magno Terra Cafe, 2 Delorme St., Yarmouth, ME
Discussion leader: Bill Franks
Proposed topic: Ukraine & Peace Negotiations
Associated Press. (2026, February 26). Russia launches major attack hours before U.S.-Ukraine talks. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/26/world/europe/russia-attack-ukraine-talks.html
Barnes, J. E., & Schmitt, E. (2026, February 19). Witkoff and Kushner navigate talks on Iran, Ukraine and Israel. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/19/world/europe/witkoff-kushner-iran-ukraine-israel.html
Hockenos, P. (2026, February 24). Why Ukraine is still standing after four years of war. Foreign Policy. https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/02/24/ukraine-russia-war-civic-resistance-civil-society-volunteers-democracy-protests/
Santora, M. (2026, February 24). Fighting intensifies in Ukraine’s Donetsk region. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/24/world/europe/ukraine-war-donetsk.html
Santora, M., & Troianovski, A. (2026, February 18). Ukraine and Russia discuss peace talks and a possible demilitarized zone. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/18/world/europe/ukraine-russia-peace-talks-demilitarized-zone.html
The New York Times. (2026, February 25). U.S. and Ukrainian officials to meet in Geneva this week. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/02/25/us/trump-news/us-and-ukrainian-officials-to-meet-in-geneva-this-week
Troianovski, A., & Santora, M. (2026, February 24). Ukraine war deaths. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/24/world/europe/ukraine-war-deaths.html
REGISTER HERE OR ABOVE.

Coffee and Discussion (virtual)
2026-04-02 10:00 - 11:00 | Zoom
A monthly discussion of world events for members. Virtual meetings are held every first Thursday of the month.
Date & Time: April 2nd, from 10:00 AM-11:00 AM
Discussion leader:
Proposed topic: Food Supply and Fertilizer Shortages Amid the Iran War
Suggested Readings:

Gordon, N., & Corthell, L. (2026, March 12). The other global crisis stemming from the Strait of Hormuz’s blockage. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. https://carnegieendowment.org/emissary/2026/03/fertilizer-iran-hormuz-food-crisis
Curtis, E., Virzi, J., & Welsh, C. (2026, March 11). Chokepoint: How the war with Iran threatens global food security. Center for Strategic and International Studies. https://www.csis.org/analysis/chokepoint-how-war-iran-threatens-global-food-security
Atlantic Council. (2026). The Iran war’s economic fallout won’t stop at oil: Agriculture and aluminum are next. https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/econographics/the-iran-wars-economic-fallout-wont-stop-at-oil-agriculture-and-aluminum-are-next/
Council on Foreign Relations. (2026). The Iran war’s hidden front: Food, water, and fertilizer. https://www.cfr.org/articles/the-iran-wars-hidden-front-food-water-and-fertilizer
Washington Post. (2026, March 28). Iran war humanitarian aid blocked. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/03/28/iran-war-humanitarian-aid-blocked/
Supply Chain Brain. (2026). Iran war threatens global food supply chains. https://www.supplychainbrain.com/articles/43690-iran-war-threatens-global-food-supply-chains

REGISTER HERE OR ABOVE.

Coffee and Discussion (In-Person) at Magno Terra in Yarmouth
2026-05-14 10:00 - 11:00 | Magno Terra Cafe, 2 Delorme Dr, Yarmouth, ME, 04096
A monthly discussion of world events for members. In-person meetings are held every third Thursday of the month. Currently the group will be meeting at the Magno Terra Cafe in Yarmouth (#2 Delorme St – immediately to the right of exit 17 on 295 if you are coming from Portland).

Date & Time: May 14th, from 10:00 AM-11:00 AM
Place: Community Room – Magno Terra Cafe, 2 Delorme St. Yarmouth, ME
Discussion leader: TBD
Proposed topic: TBD
REGISTER HERE OR ABOVE.
