The Focus

In this episode of  The Focus , Dr. John Bruni speaks with economist Nicolas Michelon on how protectionism and power politics are reshaping global trade. 🎧 Watch now on YouTube | Also on Spotify & Apple Podcasts. Show Notes: Connect with Nicolas X: @MichelonNicolas Asia Power Watch:  https://asiapowerwatch.com/ Alagan Partners:  https://alaganpartners.com/our-team/nicolas-miche...

Is General Joseph Aoun the man to rescue Lebanon’s institutions? Can the Lebanese Armed Forces disarm Hezbollah? Can the Lebanese state recover from years of corruption and poor governance? And what role do external powers—Iran, Israel, Syria, and the Gulf states—play in Lebanon’s fate? Dr. John Bruni speaks with Dr. Imad Harb to unpack the country’s fate under new le...

Israel vs. Iran: What Drives Tehran’s Strategy? Dr. Ori Goldberg joins  The Focus  to decode ideology, deterrence, and the risks of a wider Middle East war.   Show Notes: X: @ori_goldberg Bluesky: @origoldberg.bsky.social   Ori’s Top Publications: Selected Articles (2024) “Why Israelis Do and Don’t Want War with Hezbollah”  – New Lines M...

Is Australia charting its own defence course—or simply meeting U.S. demands? Dr. John Bruni speaks with strategist Dr. Peter Layton on AUKUS, strategic autonomy, and Australia’s evolving role in the Indo-Pacific. Show Notes: Contact Peter Layton on: Griffith Asia Institute:  p.layton@griffith.edu.au   LinkedIn X: @GAIGriffith  Peter’s Top Five publications: Ensurin...

🎙️As China increases military pressure and Trump 47 reshapes U.S. foreign policy, Taiwan’s future is more uncertain than ever. Dr. John Bruni speaks with Dr. Alice Yang from Taipei’s Institute for National Defense and Security Research about Taiwan’s fight for democracy, U.S. ambiguity, and what regional conflict could mean for the world. 🎧 Available now on Spotify, iTunes &...

Why does Finland still rely on conscription? And what can Australia learn from it? Brigadier General Jyri Raitasalo breaks down Finland’s “Total Defence” strategy, NATO’s Nordic front, and how citizen readiness can shape national security. 🎧 Watch now on  The Focus  with John Bruni.   Show Notes: Connect with Jyri -  LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin...

In this episode of  The Focus , host John Bruni is joined by Professor Harsh V. Pant — one of India’s foremost strategic thinkers — to dissect the geopolitical shifts shaping South Asia and beyond. From China’s&...

In this gripping episode of  The Focus , Dr. John Bruni speaks with political analyst Dr. Roy Casagranda to unpack the seismic shifts in U.S. politics after 100 days of Trump 47. From executive overreach to the global&nb...

Is Europe prepared for war? In this episode of  The Focus , John Bruni speaks with former NATO commander General Sir Richard Shirreff on Ukraine, NATO’s weaknesses, and the growing threat from Russia. A hard-hitting, unfiltered look at what may lie ahead. 🎧 Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube. 🔗 Connect with Sir Richard Shirreff X: @RichardShirreff  LinkedIn:&n...

In this special panel edition of  The Focus , we bring together three of the world’s most seasoned strategic thinkers—Andrew Michta, Ben Hodges, and Anders Puck Nielsen—to unpack the war in Ukraine and its far-reaching consequences. From the battlefield to NATO's frontlines and the shifting dynamics of global power, this is a timely conversation that goes well beyond Eastern...

Donald Trump is back in the White House—and the shockwaves are global. In this episode, Professor Scott Lucas joins John Bruni to unpack the trade wars, the constitutional controversy, and the chaos that’s redefining America’s role in the world. Is Trump a misunderstood reformer—or a genuine threat to democratic institutions? What do the tariffs mean for allies like Austral...

Professor Jeffrey Sachs joins  The Focus  to discuss the war in Ukraine, global power shifts, and the West’s role in the conflict. In a thought-provoking conversation, we challenge Sachs on his views, exploring the geopolitical landscape and what the future holds. Don’t miss this deep dive into one of the most pressing issues of our time. 🎙️  The Focus with John Bruni &n...

With rapidly shifting global alliances, Germany now faces a critical security dilemma. Can Europe defend itself without unwavering U.S. support? In this episode of The Focus, Dr. Karl-Heinz Kamp, a leading expert in German and European security, joins John Bruni to discuss Germany’s strategic vulnerabilities, NATO’s uncertain future, and the broader implications for European defen...

What does the dawn of  Trump’s second presidency  mean for America and the world? In this hard-hitting episode of  The Focus , host  John Bruni  sits down with  Dr. Roy Casagranda  to break down the  first three weeks  of the  Trump 47 administration . Show Notes: Roy Casagranda LinksX: @RoyCasagranda Website:  https://gov.casagranda.com...

Can Ukraine’s security dilemma reshape the global nuclear order? Join us as we explore the chilling realities of nuclear escalation, broken international promises, and what it takes to secure lasting peace with expert Mariana Budjeryn. Show Notes: https://www.belfercenter.org/person/mariana-budjeryn https://www.belfercenter.org/publication/mariana-budjeryn-personal-perspective-war-ukraine https://...

🔥 What Will Trump 47 Mean for America and the World? 🚨 From immigration crackdowns to a potential ceasefire in Ukraine, we're diving deep with Dr. Roy Casagranda into the policies, global impacts, and controversies that could define Donald Trump’s second term. 🌍 Don’t miss this eye-opening discussion on how his leadership might reshape domestic politics, the economy, education, and America’s ro...

In our latest episode of  The Focus , we sit down with Dr. Roy Casagranda to delve into the high-stakes landscape of the 2024 U.S. presidential election. With democracy, alliances, and the global order on the line, Dr. Casagranda unpacks the complexities surrounding Trump AND Harris as presidential candidates, exploring how their policies and political manoeuvres could reshape America and its role...

🔥  Iran's Largest Missile Barrage Yet!  🔥 In this explosive episode of  The Focus , we dive into the unprecedented Iranian missile strikes on Israel in 2024, the largest of its kind since the conflict began. With  200 ballistic missiles  fired, retaliation for the assassinations of key Hamas and Hezbollah leaders, and Israel's air defenses pushed to the limit, we sit down with  Professor Scott L...

Is there a new 'Harris Doctrine' on the horizon? Join Yale historian Dr. Michael Brenes as we unpack Kamala Harris's foreign policy vision in our latest podcast! Show Notes: You can contact Michael here: X: @mbrenes1 Substack:  michaelbrenes.substack.com Books published by Michael –  And, as mentioned in the podcast -  The Rivalry Peril: How Great-Power Competition Threatens Peace and Weakens Demo...

In this episode of  The Focus , host John Bruni sits down with  Professor John Blaxland  to unravel the complexities of the  AUKUS security pact  and its implications for global power dynamics. As the world shifts into an era of  unrestricted competition  between China & the U.S., what does AUKUS really mean for the future of international security? Are Australia, the U.S., and the UK prepared...

In our latest episode of The Focus, we sit down with Dr. Ori Goldberg, a leading expert on Iran’s political and religious landscape, to dive deep into the complexities of Israel-Iran relations.  Show Notes X: @ori_goldberg Articles by Ori "What Israelis Don’t Want to Hear About Iran and Hezbollah" (Published in +972 Magazine on September 20, 2024) https://www.972mag.com/iran-israel-hezbollah-ori-g...

In our latest episode of The Focus, renowned demographer   Dr. Paul Morland unpacks one of the most controversial and alarming issues of our time: global depopulation. What happens when the world's population shrinks? How does this shift impact economies, geopolitics, and future generations? Are we truly facing a "population crisis," or is there more to the story? Tune in as we dive into shocking...

In this gripping episode of The Focus, we delve into the aftermath of the Wagner Group’s fall from grace and the emergence of a new era in Russian paramilitary operations. Join us as Dr. Ladd Serwat unpacks the intricate power shifts, the rise of the 'Africa Corps', and the lasting impact of Prigozhin's legacy on Russia's global strategy. Show Notes: You can contact Dr. Ladd Serwat directly on his...

Join us on "The Focus" as we dive deep into the Ukrainian Kursk Incursion with Commander of the Royal Danish Navy and YouTuber, Anders Puck Nielsen. This episode provides expert analysis on Russian military tactics and the strategic implications for the region. Captain Nielsen brings his extensive knowledge to discuss the size and scope of Russian forces, those of Ukraine as well as the unsettling...

Join us on  The Focus  as we delve into the world of deception and skullduggery surrounding the failed Franco-Australian Submarine Deal. Investigative journalist and author Andrew J. Fowler exposes the hidden truths and political manoeuvres that jeopardised Australia's sovereignty and led us to AUKUS. Don't miss this eye-opening episode! Show Notes: Connect with Andrew on X - @AndrewJFowler Buy An...