The Burn Bag Podcast

In the sixth and final episode of our miniseries Sri Lanka: Debt, Development, and Democracy , A'ndre interviews outgoing U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Alaina B. Teplitz to get her perspective on the  state of U.S.-Sri Lanka relations in the midst of Sri Lanka's tightening relationship with China. Ambassador Teplitz, who is wrapping up her time in Sri Lanka after serving since 2018, speak...

In this week's episode, A'ndre and Ryan discuss the migrant crisis at the southern border, the murder of British MP David Amess, and Saif Gaddafi's potential power play in Libya. They also break down the looming closure of Russia's mission to NATO and trouble at home for Jair Bolsonaro. 

In the latest episode of Sri Lanka: Debt, Development, and Democracy?  A'ndre speaks with Subhashini Abeysinghe, a prominent Sri Lankan economist who works on international trade issues with Verité Research, about the state of Sri Lanka's economy and the nature of its debt crisis. Subhashini has been working on a data-driven analysis of China's economic engagement in Sri Lanka, and...

In this week's episode, A'ndre and Ryan discuss global supply chain challenges and how its impacting vaccination distribution. They also cover the violence in Lebanon, parliamentary elections in Iraq, and U.S. military advisors in Taiwan. 

A'ndre and Ryan interview Mick Mulroy, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East (2017-2019), to get his take on U.S. Middle East policy in the aftermath of Afghanistan.  Mick, whose time as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense required that he oversee Middle Eastern policy for the Defense Department, discusses why he was in favor of maintaining a residual force in Afg...

In this week’s episode, A’ndre and Ryan do a deep dive on President Biden’s sinking approval rating, tying in several foreign policy crises that have contributed to the President’s diminished stature. They also talk about the massive backlog in shipments to the United States as hundreds of thousands of shipping containers wait weeks to enter the Port of Los Angeles resulting in high prices and ret...

In the second installment of The Opening of the American Mind , A'ndre and Ryan speak with George Will, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and author, on what it means to practice a 'conservative' foreign policy. Dr. Will, who has published a twice-weekly column in The Washington Post since 1974, provides his definition of what it means to be conservative, discussing the intellectual...

In this week's episode, A'ndre and Ryan talk about the Afghanistan hearing on Capitol Hill and Senator Blumenthal's deep interest in "finstas". They also discuss the outcome of Germany's parliamentary elections and the likely coalition to follow, as well as then-CIA Director Mike Pompeo's plot against Julian Assange.

A'ndre and Ryan speak with University of Chicago Professor Robert Pape on political violence and radicalization, in the first episode of a new special series, The Opening of the American Mind , where The Burn Bag will interview leading scholars and thinkers on the the deep-rooted trends underlying contemporary foreign policy and national security issues, in an accessible, intellectual convers...

In this week's episode, A'ndre and Ryan breakdown the major UN General Assembly speeches, assess the British PM's meeting with Biden, and foreshadow the Quad meeting in Washington, DC. They also discuss the outcome of the Canadian snap and Russian parliamentary elections, and give a final rundown before Germans head to polls to decide who will succeed Angela Merkel. 

In the fourth installment of our miniseries "Sri Lanka: Debt, Development, and Democracy?", we interview incumbent State Minister of Regional Cooperation Tharaka Balasuriya to get the Government's take on economic diplomacy, U.S.-China, and the response to the United Nations Human Rights Council initiatives against Sri Lanka. Mr. Balasuriya, whose role is new and similar to that of...

In this week's episode, A'ndre and Ryan speak with retired CIA Officer Marc Polymeropoulos on the Afghanistan withdrawal, his personal experience with the mysterious Havana Syndrome,  and his new book Clarity in Crisis . Marc, who served as the Head of Clandestine Operations in Europe and Eurasia, discusses the need for the United States to get its local allies out of Afghanistan and the...

In this week’s episode of What in the World , A’ndre and Ryan dissect the biggest global news story of the week: Nicki Minaj and the controversy around  her cousin’s friend, a story that’s elicited reactions from the White House and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.  All kidding aside,  A’ndre and Ryan react to the announcement that the U.S. will provide Australia with nuclear powered submarines, a...

In this week's episode of The Burn Bag Podcast , A'ndre, Ryan, and Javed Ali (former NSC Senior Director of Counterterrorism) reflect on the twentieth anniversary of the September 11th Attacks. Javed recounts his experience of being in Washington D.C. on the day of the attacks, having driven past the Pentagon shortly before it was hit, and shares how those tragic events shaped his own ca...

In this week's episode, A'ndre recounts a strange dream he had that involved former President Richard M. Nixon. A’ndre and Ryan then go through the latest news from across the world, starting with an overview of the Taliban’s new government in Afghanistan — which includes someone with a multi-million dollar FBI bounty on their head. They also discuss the latest in Germany’s upcoming elec...

In the third installment of our miniseries "Sri Lanka: Debt, Development, and Democracy?", we speak with Tamil National Alliance MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam about the state of Sri Lanka's minority heavy North and East regions, areas facing the lingering effects of Sri Lanka's Civil War that ended in 2009. Rasamanickam asserts that the Tamil people have been left in a 'much...

In this week's episode, A'ndre and Ryan talk about the final days of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and what the future may hold. They also discuss President Biden's meetings with Israeli PM Bennett and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, India's undemocratic actions in Kashmir, and the humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia. 

In the second installment of our miniseries "Sri Lanka: Debt, Development, and Democracy?", we interview former Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe about political and foreign policy developments that occurred during his tenures as premier (1993-1994, 2001-2004, 2015-2018, 2018-2019) and that are occurring under the present government. The former Prime Minister, who was the su...

The Burn Bag Podcast is launching a limited miniseries entitled "Sri Lanka: Debt, Development, and Democracy?" The series will explore Sri Lanka's geopolitical position and developmental goals, in order to showcase how smaller countries can highlight U.S. foreign policy lapses amidst heightened U.S.-China competition, and will feature interviews with several key players from the Sri...

In this episode, A'ndre and Ryan talk to Ronald Marks about the Congress-Intelligence Community relationship. Ron, who  is a 38-year veteran of the IC, served as CIA Senate Liaison and Intelligence Counsel on Capitol Hill, among other positions. This conversation dives into the interests and perspectives of each institution, as well as Ron's experiences on both sides. Ron also provides h...

In this week's episode, A'ndre and Ryan are joined by Javed Ali to discuss the fall of the Afghan government. Javed talks about the deterioration of political, economic, and social rights, the threat of international terrorism, and regional geopolitics. 

In this episode, A'ndre and Ryan talk with Daniel Levin about his new book, Proof of Life: Twenty Days on the Hunt for Missing Person in the Middle East . Daniel recounts the thrilling, brutal, and real-life story of how he was tasked with finding a Westerner who had gone missing in Syria, navigating the Middle Eastern underworld to find this man whose story had largely been ignored by govern...

In this week's episode, A'ndre and Ryan discuss the situation in Afghanistan, noting the Taliban's recent advances and the increasing concern regarding the security of U.S. personnel in country. They also talk about the consequences for the Afghan people, the mounting migration crisis, and responses from countries in the region. 

In this episode, A'ndre and Ryan speak with Col. (ret.) Peter Newell, founder and CEO of BMNT, an organization seeking to drive competition within both the government and the private sector. Pete discusses his experience leading the U.S. Army Rapid Equipping Force, talking sourcing, acquisition, and personnel, and how his experiences there have translated into lessons on defense innovation. P...

In this week's episode, A'ndre begins by detailing his on-the-ground experience in Sri Lanka which is at the forefront of China's vaccine diplomacy. The conversation then moves to the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan and the U.S. Senate's bill to repeal the AUMF. A'ndre and Ryan then talk about the Olympics, where a Belarusian athlete who has sought refuge in Poland...