Right now, Jim Lehrer is hosting a discussion with Paul Begala and Michael Gerson about the presidential transition and its implications for foreign policy decision-making in the next Administration.

You can watch a live stream of the event currently taking place in Washington, DC here.

They will spend time discussing the Global Plum Book. From the Center for US Global Engagement:

The Center for U.S. Global Engagement today released its Global Plum Book identifying the 100 key leadership positions that will shape the next Administration’s strategy for global development and diplomacy. Accompanying the report are “First Steps” for how the transition team can successfully translate the pledges of Candidate Obama – the most in-depth and far reaching global development platform of any candidate in history – into the policies of President Obama.

-Chris Scott

UPDATE: The discussion has concluded, but here’s a video of the event

I just watched the first installment of a web show, called “The Global Wire” produced by our great colleagues at the Center for U.S. Global Engagement. The series is hosted by veteran CNN reporter Frank Sesno and the first show features Sen. Chuck Hagel.

It delves deeper into the global challenges facing the next president than your average talk show usually manages to accomplish and I found Sen. Hagel’s comments striking. In one case, he relates his view on foreign assistance programs, saying that the “mentality of [foreign assistance] has to be changed in understanding that we’re not just a nation that goes and flies over countries and sprinkles $100 bills and then just sends sacks of oats and meal and corn because we’re benevolent people. We are benevolent people. We’re the most generous country in the history of man, by any measure. But there’s something more to it than that. It is an investment in stability and security.”

The next show of “The Global Wire” features former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, which I’m told will be posted in early June. While you’re waiting, definitely check out the interview with Sen. Hagel.

J. Mark Brinkmoeller, ONE U.S. NGO Partnerships & Faith Relations