The Truth of the Matter

In this episode, Andrew invites Heather Conley and Steve Morrison to give an update on the unfolding COVID-19 crisis in Italy and Europe. Heather Conley is senior vice president for Europe, Eurasia, and the Arctic and director of the Europe program at CSIS. Steve Morrison is senior vice president and director director of the Global Health Policy Center at CSIS.

In this episode, Andrew invites CSIS's Samuel Brannen to discuss decade-long trends of mass political protests around the world. Sam draws on the new CSIS report The Age of Mass Protests: Understanding an Escalating Global Trend, which he co-authored, to explain factors that could increase the rate of protests, the suppression of movements in certain countries, and the U.S.'s failure to develop a...

In this episode, Andrew invites CSIS's Steve Morrison, Jude Blanchette, and Stephanie Segal to discuss how the coronavirus outbreak, also known as COVID-19, is directly affecting the global economy, health security, and international politics. Steve Morrison is senior vice president and director of the Global Health Policy Center. Jude Blanchette holds the Freeman Chair in China Studies. Stephanie...

In this episode, Bob and Andrew invite Bulent Aliriza, director of the CSIS Turkey Project, to unpack the worsening conflict in Libya. Bulent explains who the U.S. is supporting, the impact of other foreign powers in the region, and what the main interests are of the long-standing civil war.

In this episode, Bob and Andrew welcome back CSIS's Heather Conley, senior vice president for Europe, Eurasia, and the Arctic. Now that Brexit has happened, everyone is wondering: what comes next for the UK? Heather discusses many of the challenges the UK will still have to face, why the U.S. should care, and what will go into the making of a trade agreement between the U.S. and the UK.

In this episode, Bob and Andrew invite former executive editor and vice president of The Washington Post Leonard Downie Jr. Leonard describes his time supervising the Post's Watergate coverage, as well as the Post being first to report the Monica Lewinsky story. The three also discuss the current state of the media and how the Trump administration may be affecting the public's view of the news.

In this episode, Bob and Andrew invite Stephanie Segal, senior fellow of the CSIS Simon Chair in Political Economy, to give a forecast of the global economy in 2020. They unpack President Trump's recent address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the U.S.'s growing national debt, as well as the current state of the economy and where it might be heading.

In this episode, Bob and Andrew invite CSIS's "Trade Guys," Bill Reinsch and Scott Miller to discuss the "Phase One" trade agreement between the U.S. and China that was signed on Wednesday. They give insight on specifics of the agreement, who is impacted the most, and what it might reveal about the future of the U.S. and China's economic relationship. Bill Reinsch holds the Scholl Chair in Interna...

In this episode, Bob and Andrew invite CSIS’s Seth G. Jones, Harold Brown Chair, director of the Transnational Threats Project, and senior adviser to the International Security Program. They discuss the latest news about the Ukrainian aircraft that was shot down by Iranians, as well as President Trump’s address to the nation, and Iran’s vulnerabilities. This episode was recorded on January 9th at...

In this episode, Andrew invites a team from the CSIS International Security Program (ISP): Kathleen Hicks, Andrew Hunter, and Todd Harrison. They discuss Defense 360's "Bad Ideas in National Security" series that highlights brief articles written by CSIS and outside scholars on a number of bad ideas in the defense and foreign policy space. In addition to analyzing their own pieces, they nominate t...

In this episode, Bob and Andrew invite two special guests: CSIS's Heather Conley, senior vice president for Europe, Eurasia, and the Arctic; and BBC anchor and correspondent Laura Trevelyan. They discuss an updated outlook on Brexit and the U.K. elections, as well as certain parallels between U.S. and U.K. politics.

In this episode, Bob and Andrew invite Kimberly Flowers, director of the Humanitarian Agenda and Global Food Security Project at CSIS. They analyze the political and humanitarian impact of climate change on food security and global hunger. Kimberly also draws on a recent brief that she co-authored, "Climate Change and Food Security: A Test of U.S. Leadership in a Fragile World."

In this episode, Bob and Andrew invite back Seth Jones, CSIS's Harold Brown Chair and Director of the Transnational Threats Project. Seth discusses the U.S. raid on Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, and what it means for the future of the Islamic State as well as its implications on future relations between the U.S. and the Middle East. Download the full transcript here.

In this episode, Bob and Andrew talk with Judd Devermont, director of the Africa program at CSIS. Judd breaks down the Russia-Africa Summit and steps the U.S. could take to reduce the Russia footprint in Africa. Download the full transcript here.

In this episode, Bob and Andrew talk to Brian Katz, a fellow of CSIS's International Security Program and the Transnational Threats Project. Brian breaks down the situation on the ground following the U.S. decision to pull troops out of northern Syria, discusses where ISIS stands, and offers insights into Russia's stance of the unfolding situation and what it means for the region. Download the ful...

In this episode, Bob and Andrew sit down with Melissa Dalton, deputy director of the CSIS International Security Program and director of the Cooperative Defense Project. Melissa discusses the current situation of the ongoing conflict in Syria and the sudden withdrawal of U.S. forces there, while analyzing Russia's role, potential U.S. strategy, and the state of Turkey's relationship with the U.S....

Bob and Andrew talk with Bulent Aliriza, director of the CSIS Turkey Project, about the escalating situation along the Syrian border with Turkey after President Trump ordered U.S. troops out of the region. Download the full transcript here.

In this episode, Bob and Andrew speak with Jude Blanchette, the Freeman Chair in China Studies at CSIS. Jude brings us up to date on the demonstrations in Hong Kong that escalated on October 1st, the same day of the 70th anniversary of the People's Republic of China. Jude explains what the future might hold for Hong Kong protesters, as well as how everything could affect the U.S. and China relatio...

In this bonus episode of The Truth of the Matter, listen in on Bob Schieffer’s green room conversation with CSIS’ Jon Alterman, Seth Jones and the New York Times’ David Sanger, prior to the CSIS Schieffer Series event on the Iran situation, September 24. Download the full transcript here.

Bob and Andrew bring in nonpartisan legal expert Bradley P. Moss, Esq., to explain the Intelligence Community Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989. Mr. Moss tells us how it works, the unique situation regarding the President with respect to the Act, and how the process may move forward. Download the full transcript here.

In this episode, hosts Bob Schieffer and Andrew Schwartz interview CSIS Harold Brown Chair and Director of the Transnational Threats Project Seth Jones about the recent attack on Saudi Arabia's oil production facilities. They also discuss Jones's prescient and relevant report, "Iran’s Threat to Saudi Critical Infrastructure." Download the full transcript here.

In this inaugural episode, hosts Bob Schieffer and Andrew Schwartz interview former deputy secretary of defense and now CSIS’s CEO, Dr. John Hamre. Download the full transcript here.