NatSec Matters

Andy talks with the former Deputy Director of the National Security Agency George Barnes about the NSA's missions focused on signals intelligence and cybersecurity, as it also adapts to emerging strategic challenges like competition from China and Russia. George also shares his take on quantum computing and AI, and discusses how the NSA tries to recruit and retain some of the world's most skilled...

Andy talks with Michael about his June Foreign Affairs article, "The Terrorism Warning Lights Are Blinking Red Again: Echoes of the Run-Up to 9/11," co-written with Graham Allison. Michael discusses the pre-9/11 threat and national security parallels with today's environment. He also shares his assessment of a newly unsealed 1999 video from Saudi intelligence officer Omar al-Bayoumi, which Michael...

Michael and Andy discuss their roles as daily intelligence briefers for former President George W. Bush. They share their experiences inside the Oval Office, the unique challenges of the job, and how they dealt with constant pressure and performance expectations. Note: This episode contains an expletive. 

Andy talks with Chris Miller, author of "Chip War: The Fight for the World's Most Critical Technology" and Associate Professor of International History at Tufts University, about semiconductor chips. Chris discusses the global supply chain of critical chip manufacturers, why the U.S. must focus on advancing semiconductor innovation, and the competition with adversaries like China in chip developme...

Andy talks with Steve Bowsher, Chief Executive Officer at In-Q-Tel, an intelligence and national security community venture capital non-profit. IQT says it is a strategic investor that accelerates the development and delivery of cutting-edge technologies to US government agencies. Steve discusses investing in startups, recognizing success, and doing business with the federal government, as well as...

Andy talks with retired General John W. 'Jay' Raymond, the first Chief of Space Operations of the U.S. Space Force. Gen. Raymond discusses leading space operations and commands, and the growing threats posed by China and Russia's counterspace weapons. Gen. Raymond also focuses on collaborating with commercial companies and partners to maintain space superiority, and how the Space Force has evolved...

Andy talks with Arun Gupta, a venture capitalism lecturer at Stanford University and an adjunct entrepreneurship professor at Georgetown. Arun is also the CEO of the NobleReach Foundation, which focuses on catalyzing and inspiring a renewed spirit of national service through innovation. He is the author of "Venture Meets Mission: Aligning People, Purpose, and Profit to Innovate and Transform Socie...

Michael talks with Asfandyar Mir, a South Asia senior expert at the United States Institute of Peace, about Pakistan. The two discuss the U.S. national security interest in Pakistan, relations between the two countries, the influence of China on Pakistan, and the Pakistani Taliban and Al-Qaeda.

Michael talks with Beth Sanner, a career CIA analyst who concluded her tenure with the federal government as Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Mission Integration at the ODNI from April 2019 to March 2021. She discusses the risks and potential next steps in the Israel-Gaza conflict, Iran and the Middle East, Russia's war on Ukraine, and how she rose through the CIA's ranks to become a w...

Michael talks with retired FBI Special Agent Peter Lapp about his new book, "Queen of Cuba: An FBI Agent's Insider Account of the Spy Who Evaded Detection for 17 Years." Peter unveils the remarkable case of Ana Montes, the Defense Intelligence Agency senior analyst who was arrested 10 days after 9/11 for spying for Cuba. Together, Michael and Peter delve into Montes's audacious activities for comm...

Andy speaks with former CIA Center for Cyber Intelligence Director Andrew Boyd about protecting systems from the most sophisticated cyber terrorism and hacking attempts. Andrew outlines the current cyber threats posed by China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and non-state actors like ransomware groups. Andy and Andrew also discuss the US cybersecurity strategy, partnerships between the government and...

Michael talks to Former Assistant Director of CIA for South and Central Asia Dave Pitts about the threat of ISIS-K. Before retiring in October, Pitts was among the last American officials on the ground during the US withdrawal from Afghstanistan in August 2021. He discusses the growing threat of ISIS-K, which has been operating in the country, and around the region. Michael and Dave also reflect o...

Michael and Andy discuss the 2024 worldwide threat report from the Intelligence Community. They discuss frontier issues including space and ISIS-K, and longtime US adversaries including Iran and China. They offer their candid reactions to the unclassified publicly released annual assessment, and what it means for the future of global security. 

Michael talks with Army Ranger veteran LTC (Ret.) James Lechner about his book "With My Shield: An Army Ranger in Somalia" about his experience on the ground in Mogadishu in 1993 during the Black Hawk Down raid. They also discuss his recent experience in Ukraine. 

Andy talks about national security law with former Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces James Baker. He's currently the Director of the Institute of Security Policy and Law at Syracuse University. He has authored several books, including "The Centaur's Dilemma: National Security Law for the Coming AI Revolution". 

Michael speaks with former CIA analyst John Sotos, who's an expert on Iran. He's now Chief of Analysis at PersuMedia. They discuss Iran's goals in the Mideast, its relations with the US, domestic support for the Iranian regime and the modern-day challenges Iran faces since the Iranian Revolution.

Michael talks with Jonna Mendez, who authored the new memoir: "In True Face: A Woman's Life in the CIA, Unmasked". Jonna served nearly 30 years undercover with the CIA, retiring as its Chief of Disguise. She discusses working as a woman at the intelligence agency dominated by men, and her career that took her around the world and into the Oval Office. 

Andy talks with the CIA's first-ever Chief Technology Officer, Nand Mulchandani, who was named to the job by Director William Burns in April 2022. With Nand's roots in Silicon Valley, Andy discusses what he brings to the job and new opportunities for growth and investment.

Michael and Andy speak to International Security Studies students and community members at Yale, in New Haven, Connecticut, for a special episode. Moderated by the Jackson School of Global Affairs's Ted Wittenstein, they discuss the challenges facing US intelligence agencies today including China, Russia, and the Israel-Gaza war. They also talk about what it takes to be a superior intelligence off...

Michael talks with Hal Brands, who edited the new book "The New Makers of Modern Strategy: From the Ancient World to the Digital Age." It focuses on how the theory and practice of war and statecraft have been shaped throughout the centuries. Hal is the Henry A. Kissinger Distinguished Professor of Global Affairs at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and senior fellow at the...

Michael and Andy visit the Washington, D.C., campus of the Texas A&M Bush School of Government and Public Service where they record a 'live' episode of the podcast with students and others. They discuss current national security threats, how the government handles classified documents, careers in the intelligence community, and artificial intelligence. 

Michael talks about the 'Russian mindset' with former CIA Moscow chief Rolf Mowatt-Larssen. He explains how his experience in the former Soviet Union could offer a glimpse into how Russia views its war on Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin's nuclear threats, and the adversity Russians have faced over the decades.   

Andy talks with Silicon Valley venture capitalist and software engineer Marc Andreessen about how the American tech sector can innovate for the national interest and how new technologies like AI can improve warfare and defense.  Send us your feedback at intelligencematterspod@gmail.com.

Andy talks about the complexities and goals of China's cognitive warfare program with Josh Baughman, an analyst at the China Aerospace Studies Institute at Air University. 

Andy talks with former Chief of the CIA's Counterproliferation Division's Special Activities Unit Jim Lawler about the agency's efforts targeting the 'Father of Pakistan's Nuclear Program' the late Abdul Qadeer Khan. Andy also talks with Jim about his espionage novels including 'Living Lies', 'In the Twinkling of an Eye' and 'The Traitor's Tale'. Send us your feedback at intelligencematterspod@gma...