United We Fall: Should the U.S Leave the UN?
UNMUTED x Network 20/20
Tuesday, September 22, 2026 | 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM ET
The United Nations receives roughly $40 billion annually from governments around the world, with the United States serving as its single largest contributor. Yet questions surrounding institutional effectiveness, peacekeeping, representation on the Human Rights Council, and the pace of reform continue to fuel debate over the value of U.S. participation.
Could withholding U.S. funding provide meaningful leverage for reform, or would disengagement weaken American influence and create greater opportunities for countries such as China to shape the institution?
Should the United States leave the United Nations, or would doing so ultimately undermine U.S. interests?
Join UNMUTED and Network 20/20 on Tuesday, September 22 for for a fun and engaging debate on whether the United States should leave the U.N., or is that a threat we’ll regret making?
Arguing for, Taufiq Rahim, is a senior fellow at New America and has extensive experience in foreign policy. He has read the budget line by line… and thinks most of it isn’t buying us much.
Arguing against, Ambassador Chris Lu, did the job for real. Sworn in as US Representative to the United Nations for Management and Reform, he spent three years leading the American negotiations on the UN budget and grinding out reform from the inside of the Fifth Committee.
Moderated by Rekha Shanmugam of Al Jazeera, and MC by Eliana Kwartler, Writer at The Late Show.
*UNMUTED is a non-partisan discussion forum that tries to make politics accessible, engaging, and social, for the people who want to care but are totally tuned out by social media division.
DOORS OPEN AT 6:30 PM | PROGRAM BEGINS AT 7:00 PM
NEW YORK, NY | EXACT LOCATION PROVIDED UPON REGISTRATION
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SPEAKERS:
Taufiq Rahim
Taufiq Rahim is a Senior Fellow in the Future Security Program at New America. Rahim is a strategist, investor, and writer focused on the intersection of global geopolitics and transformative technology.
Over the last two decades, Rahim has driven investment, convened conversations, and brought together public and private partnerships to tackle global issues across four continents, from disruptive technology and economic development to geopolitics and global health. In addition to his geopolitical advisory work, he is building 2040 Ventures, a global platform focused on the transformative potential of decentralization technology.
He has previously worked with McKinsey & Company, the Aga Khan Foundation, and the United Nations, and was the founder of Globesight, a global development firm that helped catalyze philanthropic capital across the Global East and West.
Rahim received a master’s in public policy from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and his A.B. from Princeton University. He is regularly cited by leading publications, including the Financial Times, CNN, Bloomberg, The Washington Post, The New York Times, and CNBC.
Ambassador Chris Lu
Ambassador Chris Lu served as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations for Management and Reform from 2022 to 2025. In this role, he led U.S. negotiations on the UN budget, coordinated oversight of UN programs, and worked on management and reform issues across the organization.
Lu previously served as U.S. Deputy Secretary of Labor from 2014 to 2017 and as White House Cabinet Secretary and Assistant to the President from 2009 to 2013. Earlier in his career, he served as Legislative Director and Acting Chief of Staff for then-Senator Barack Obama and as Executive Director of the Obama-Biden Transition Project.
Lu is a graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School. He currently serves as the James R. Schlesinger Distinguished Professor at the University of Virginia’s Miller Center.
MODERATOR:
Rekha Shanmugam
Rekha Shanmugam is a news planning producer for AJ+ at Al Jazeera Media Network. Based in New York, she has more than a decade of experience in journalism and has worked extensively in international news and politics.
INTRODUCTION:
Eliana Kwartler
Eliana Kwartler is a comedy writer and performer based in New York City and a writer for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Her work has received multiple Emmy nominations, as well as recognition from the Writers Guild of America and the Peabody Awards.
DOORS OPEN AT 6:30 PM | PROGRAM BEGINS AT 7:00 PM
NOT YET A NETWORK 20/20 MEMBER?
Apply today to enjoy exclusive conversations with leading foreign-affairs experts
Image Credit: UN Photo/Cia Pak
