The IWP Podcast

In Episode 04 of the Foundations of Freedom series, America’s Forgotten Inheritance, Dr. Anne Bradley sits down with Dr. John Lenczowski, Founder, Chancellor, and President Emeritus of The Institute of World Politics, to examine why America’s founding principles still matter for national security, statecraft, and civic life. The conversation explores the decline of civic education, the importance...

In Episode 03 of the Foundations of Freedom series, The Crisis of Moral Relativism, Dr. Anne Bradley and Professor Dennis Teti examine one of the central questions behind political life, foreign policy, and the American founding: can nations and citizens still make objective judgments about good and evil, justice and injustice, freedom and oppression? This episode explores how moral relativism wea...

In Episode 02 of the Foundations of Freedom series, Adam Smith Against the Cronies, Dr. Anne Bradley sits down with Dr. Samuel Gregg to examine Adam Smith’s critique of mercantilism, crony capitalism, and the political favoritism that distorts free markets. The conversation explores how Smith challenged the belief that national wealth comes from gold, silver, trade manipulation, and government-bac...

In Episode 01 of the Foundations of Freedom series, Dr. Anne Rathbone Bradley sits down with Dr. Samuel Gregg to examine the remarkable convergence of two defining events in 1776: the publication of Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations and the signing of the Declaration of Independence. As America approaches the 250th anniversary of the Declaration, this conversation explores how the Founders unders...

In this new episode of The IWP Podcast, Professor John Quattrocki is joined by Paul Kepp , a former senior CIA operations officer with deep experience in the Directorate of Operations and a career shaped by years of overseas service. Together, they take a serious look at how the United States rethought counterintelligence after 9/11 and what those reforms mean today. The discussion covers the rise...

In this fourth installment of The IWP Podcast: Inside Counterintelligence Series, Professor John Quattrocki sits down with Paul Kepp, a former senior CIA operations officer with decades of experience in the Directorate of Operations, much of it overseas. The conversation takes listeners through a deep examination of the legal authorities, surveillance tools, and institutional tensions that shaped...

In this third installment of The IWP Podcast: Inside Counterintelligence Series, Professor John Quattrocki sits down with Paul Kepp, a former senior CIA operations officer with decades of experience in the Directorate of Operations, much of it overseas. The conversation moves into the Reagan era and examines a period of rapid expansion in U.S. counterintelligence, where both the FBI and CIA scaled...

In this episode of the IWP Podcast: Inside Counterintelligence series, Professors John J. Quattrocki and Paul Kepp take us through a deep examination of the history and evolution of U.S. counterintelligence. The discussion traces how American counterintelligence developed across distinct historical periods, from World War I sabotage concerns and Hoover-era domestic security practices to the post-1...

This episode, “ Myths vs Reality in U.S. Counterintelligence ,” traces the evolution of CI through technical collection and oversight, including Venona’s lasting implications, why FISA uses orders rather than warrants, and how 9/11 plus the rise of the internet and mobile telephony changed the practical and legal realities of collection.

Terrorists Never Sleep, but Neither Do Soccer Moms In this episode, Professor John Tsagronis interviews Kelley DeConciliis, a highly experienced professional in the fields of national security, intelligence, and international affairs. DeConciliis serves as the Vice Chairman of the Board of Advisors at the Institute of World Politics (IWP) and is also an Adjunct Professor at the school. She shares...

In this episode, Professor Glancy discusses his teaching at IWP, the importance of understanding political warfare and economic statecraft, and the strategic challenges facing the United States in competition with adversaries like China, Russia, and Iran. Key topics include: Glancy's courses at IWP on propaganda, political warfare, economic statecraft, and forecasting/risk analysis (00:01:19 -...

This podcast episode features a comprehensive discussion with Dr. Sara Vakhshouri , an expert on energy security and an adjunct professor at the Institute of World Politics (IWP). The discussion covers a wide range of topics: -The Need for a Comprehensive U.S. National Energy Security Strategy -The National Security Implications of Rapidly Growing Electricity Demand -Navigating the Energy Trilemma...

Guest: Professor John Quattrocki , distinguished background in the FBI, DNI, the NSC, and the private sector, as well as being one of the most popular IWP professors for 13 years. In this episode, Professor Quattrocki discusses the history and evolution of counterintelligence policy in the U.S. government, covering topics such as: - The origins of the counterintelligence review process in the earl...

Guest : Ambassador David Miller , Former U.S. Ambassador to Tanzania and Zimbabwe, President of the Diplomatic Studies Foundation Guest Host : Prof. Glenn Corn , 34-year Veteran of the U.S. Intelligence and Foreign Affairs Communities In this episode, Ambassador Miller discusses his storied career in the U.S. government and private sector, including his time serving in Vietnam, as a U.S. ambassado...

Podcast Show Notes Guest: Dr. Anne Bradley , Professor at the Institute of World Politics and Vice President for Academic Affairs at the Fund For American Studies In this episode, Dr. Anne Bradley discusses her new monograph "The Political Economy of Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and the War on Terror." She shares her personal experiences studying terrorism and working in counterterrorism a...

In this episode of The IWP Podcast , Jim Robbins and his guest, Al Santoli , explore the value of the scholar-practitioner model at the Institute of World Politics (IWP), where faculty have both academic credentials and practical experience in national security and foreign policy. Professor Santoli, discusses his own background and involvement with IWP, highlighting the importance of instinct, int...

This episode of The IWP Podcast provides an overview of the situation in Ukraine, focusing on the illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia and the ongoing conflict in the occupied territories. Elina Beketova shares her personal experiences and insights into the tactics used by Russia to control and influence the local population, particularly the youth, as well as the various forms of resistance and...

This episode of the IWP Podcast features a discussion on the threat of globally networked terrorism and the potential risks to events like the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics. The host is Jim Robbins, Dean of Academics at the Institute of World Politics (IWP), an accredited graduate school of National Security Intelligence and International Affairs. Main Topics Discussed: Recent arrests of suspected...

Summary: In this episode of the IWP podcast, hosted by Jim Robbins, the discussion centers around the concept of red lines in international affairs, specifically focusing on the recent events involving the White House, Israel, and Gaza. The episode delves into how setting red lines can impact credibility, referencing historical examples like President Obama's red line on chemical weapons in Sy...

In this episode of the IWP podcast hosted by Jim Robbins, the discussion revolves around foreign leaders not heeding President Biden's warnings and advice in various international conflicts. The focus is on recent events in Israel's operations in Raffa and the Gaza Strip, highlighting the dynamics between the White House and Israeli actions. The episode delves into a pattern where warnings...

In this episode of the IWP podcast, Jim Robbins, the dean of academics at the Institute of World Politics, delves into the mythology, reality, and strategy behind ongoing protests on college campuses. He discusses how historical protests, such as those during the 1960s civil rights movement and Vietnam War era, compare to contemporary student demonstrations. The episode explores the impact, miscon...

In this episode of the IWP podcast, host Jim Robbins, the dean of academics at the Institute of World Politics, discusses the possible futures after the 2024 election concerning foreign policy and national security. He compares the leadership styles of President Biden and former President Trump, analyzing their approaches to various international issues. Topics discussed: Comparison of Leadership...

 In this episode of the IWP podcast hosted by Jim Robbins, the discussion revolves around the consequences and dynamics of negotiating with student protesters, specifically at Columbia University and Northwestern University. The episode delves into the power struggles, tactics, and outcomes of negotiations with student protesters, highlighting the challenges faced by university administrations in...

This week, host Jim Robbins discusses Iran's recent attack on Israel, the response from Israel and its allies, the implications of the attack, and the potential future actions in the Middle East. Topics discussed: Iran's missile and drone attack on Israel known as Operation True Promise Response from Israel and its coalition partners Impact of the attack on the region and international rel...

In this episode, Jim discusses why it is crucial to take the statements and threats made by extremist groups seriously, using examples from history and current events to highlight the importance of understanding the mindset of these "bad guys." Key takeaways: It is crucial to take the statements and threats made by extremist groups seriously, even if they seem unrealistic or extreme. Under...