From Russia to Iran with NWS and IAF

Oct. 17, 2026

Big conversations are coming to Traverse City this week. On Tuesday, Oct. 20, join the National Writers Series (in partnership with the International Affairs Forum) to hear from Wall Street Journal writer turned author Evan Gershkovich, who was held for over a year on false espionage charges in Russian prisons, then released in a prisoner exchange in August 2024. His book, This Cursed Beautiful Land, is described as “an extraordinary, deeply reported chronicle” of Russia and its people. Tickets begin at $17 at nationalwritersseries.org. Then, on Thursday, Oct. 22, IAF welcomes Javed Ali—former Defense Intelligence Agency, Department of Homeland Security, and FBI—to discuss how events in the Middle East affect “American foreign policy, economic stability, and domestic security,” per the IAF website. Tickets start at $20 at tciaf.com.

Photo courtesy of NMC International Affairs Forum