The Truth of the Matter

Legendary ESPN reporter Wright Thompson joins Andrew to discuss his new book, Pappyland: A Story of Family, Fine Bourbon and the Things That Last. In listening to this episode, you’ll learn that “Pappyland” is “barely a book about bourbon,” but rather, about so many other facets of American life. Among them: tradition and legacy, family and relationships, our public discourse and the power of bran...

In this episode, Andrew invites CSIS's Romina Bandura to discuss the challenges and factors that lead to the deforestation of the Amazon. Romina draws on her latest CSIS report, "Sustainable Infrastructure in the Amazon," to discuss the underlying causes of the deforestation and what initiatives countries need to take in order to pursue sustainable economic development and ensure that economic, en...

In this episode, Andrew speaks with John Zogby and Jean-Paul (JP) Guilbault about a new poll that asked American adults and 16- to 17-year-olds how the national health and economic crises has impacted their lives and outlook. John and JP draw from the results of the Navigate360 and John Zogby Strategies report to discuss American feelings of personal safety and wellbeing in schools and the workpla...

In this episode, Andrew invites CSIS's Dr. Michael J. Green to analyze global perspectives on U.S. China policy. Dr. Green draws on statistics found in a recent CSIS survey of the American public and thought leaders in the U.S., Asia, and Europe. Listen in to hear how people view China in terms of trade, human rights, security, and more. To find the full survey and analysis, please click here. Dr....

In this episode, Andrew is joined by Bruce Mehlman to discuss all things on the 2020 presidential election. They reflect on the news of President Trump and other senior White House officials testing positive for Covid-19, the first presidential debate, as well as what could come of President Trump's Supreme Court nomination. Bruce P. Mehlman is the founder of Mehlman Castagnetti Rosen & Thomas, a...

This is a crossover episode with the CSIS podcast The Reopening. Pulitzer Prize-winning author and global energy expert Daniel Yergin talks with Andrew and Scott about his latest book, The New Map, and the way technology revolutions in energy are influencing geopolitics, security, climate, and health. Daniel is vice-chairman of the research firm IHS Markit and has served on the Secretary of Energy...

In this episode, Andrew invites Rebecca Lissner, co-author of An Open World: How America Can Win the Contest for Twenty-First-Century Order. Rebecca draws on this new book to discuss why she believes the United States needs to re-imagine its grand strategy in order to face and overcome new 21st century challenges.  Rebecca Lissner is a non-resident scholar for the Center for Security Studies at Ge...

In this episode, Seth Jones is back to further analyze the increase of violence that has occurred across America in the last couple of weeks. He draws on more data from his CSIS brief, "The Escalating Terrorism Problem in the United States," to discuss extremist groups and their use of social media, what violence might occur after this November's presidential election, and the transnational spread...

In this episode, Andrew invites Seth Jones to discuss what CSIS data reveals on the increasing terrorism problem in the U.S. Seth draws on his CSIS brief, "The Escalating Terrorism Problem in the United States," to unpack where the most significant threats are likely to come from and what factors will likely cause those threats to rise throughout the rest of 2020. Dr. Seth Jones holds the Harold B...

In this episode, Andrew invites New York Times columnist Bret Stephens to discuss the concepts of one-state and two-state solutions for Israel, and what steps could be taken to have a peaceful resolution between Israelis and Palestinians.

In this crossover episode with CSIS's Take As Directed/Coronavirus Crisis Update podcast, New York Times national security correspondent David Sanger discusses the NYT's recent investigative team’s efforts, which chronicled the momentous White House decisions taken in early April to step back and push lead responsibility on to the states.

In this episode, Andrew invites CSIS's Sarah Ladislaw and Nikos Tsafos to explain how a new U.S. international energy policy should look, and climate change’s role within it. They also discuss the inspiration behind and future of the new CSIS initiative, Climate Smart Foreign Policy. Sarah Ladislaw is senior vice president and director and senior fellow of the Energy Security and Climate Change Pr...

In this crossover episode with CSIS's The Reopening, Robin Hood Foundation CEO Wes Moore, author of the new book “Five Days: The Fiery Reckoning of An American City” discusses how changes in public policy must occur for poverty and racial inequality to end in America.

Eminent political scientist Dr. Michael Fauntroy of Howard University discusses systemic racism and inequality. He discusses whether we are witnessing a movement, an awakening or a fad; and what achieving meaningful results could look like in America’s quest for social justice. 

In this episode, Georgetown Law professor and National Task Force on Election Crises member Joshua Geltzer discusses the challenges that Covid-19, disinformation campaigns, cyber-attacks and partisanship bring to the 2020 election.

In this crossover episode with CSIS's Coronavirus Crisis Update podcast, Tulane University professor and historian John Barry, author of the New York Times bestseller The Great Influenza, joins the podcast from his home in New Orleans’ French Quarter to discuss the lessons gleaned from the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic that speak to today’s coronavirus pandemic sweeping America and the world.

In this episode, CSIS Food Security Program director Caitlin Welsh discusses the state of meat production, supply chains and food security in the United States during the pandemic.

In this episode, CSIS’s Erol Yayboke joins Andrew to provide a window into the challenges that an almost complete halt to human mobility, due to Covid-19, will have on the United States and the rest of the world. Erol Yayboke is deputy director and senior fellow with the Project on U.S. Leadership in Development (USLD) and Project on Prosperity and Development (PPD) at CSIS.

In this episode, Andrew invites Laura Silver of the Pew Research Center to discuss a new study she co-authored, "U.S. Views of China Increasingly Negative Amid Coronavirus Outbreak." She expands on different findings of the study, including what the data says about differing opinions across partisan lines. Andrew then turns to David Sanger of The New York Times to further analyze U.S. feelings tow...

In this hybrid episode of Truth of the Matter and the Impossible State, CSIS’ Victor Cha and Steve Morrison join Andrew Schwartz to discuss South Korea’s innovative systems for tracking Covid-19 and whether they can work for the United States.

In this episode, Andrew invites New York Times White House correspondent Maggie Haberman. Maggie draws from one of her latest reports, "Trade Adviser Warned White House in January of Risks of a Pandemic," to discuss WH trade adviser Peter Navarro's memo to the Trump administration about the implications of Covid-19, dated back in January. She also details what it's like covering the WH during this...

In this episode, Andrew is joined by CSIS's Victor Cha to discuss how South Korea is battling COVID-19 and the innovative strategies they took to prevent a wider spread of the virus. Victor also gives insight into what is and isn't known on how North Korea is responding to the global pandemic, noting their recent missile tests. Victor Cha is a senior adviser and the inaugural holder of the Korea C...

In this episode, CSIS’s Steve Morrison and Stephanie Segal join Andrew Schwartz to get to the Truth of the Matter about the conflicting approaches to saving lives and saving the U.S. economy. 

In this episode, Andrew invites Sarah Ladislaw and Kevin Book to give an update on oil markets as they face downward economic pressure. Sarah Ladislaw is senior vice president, director and Senior Fellow of the Energy Security and Climate Change Program at CSIS. Kevin Book is the managing director for Clear View Energy Partners LLC.

In this episode, Andrew invites Heather Conley, Stephanie Segal, and Steve Morrison to give an update on the global COVID-19 crisis. Heather Conley is senior vice president for Europe, Eurasia, and the Arctic and director of the Europe program at CSIS. Stephanie Segal is senior fellow of the Simon Chair in Political Economy. Steve Morrison is senior vice president and director of the Global Health...