The Truth of the Matter

Special Olympics International chairman, Dr. Timothy Shriver joins the podcast to discuss inclusivity through basic human dignity in education and how the United States can work to engage in foreign policy efforts on an international scale to further inclusion in education.

Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Defense Programs Deborah Rosenblum who is also serving as interim Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy, joins the podcast to discuss the impact on global supply chains from the Russian invasion of Ukraine.  

On October 7, 2022, the Biden administration announced a new export controls policy on artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductor technologies to China. These new controls—a genuine landmark in U.S.-China relations—provide the complete picture after a partial disclosure in early September generated confusion. CSIS’ Greg Allen joins the podcast to discuss the new regulations and what they mean...

CSIS’s Suzanne Spaulding, former Undersecretary of Homeland Security joins the podcast to discuss disinformation (foreign and domestic) surrounding the midterm election and its impacts.

CSIS’s Scott Kennedy joins the podcast to discuss the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, its outcomes, and the new strategic direction that Chinese President Xi Jinping has set for the country.

CSIS’s Joseph Majkut and Jon Alterman join the podcast to deconstruct Saudi Arabia’s recent push to slash oil production and what it means for the United States, our allies, and the global energy landscape.

CSIS’s Tom Karako joins the podcast to discuss Russia’s missile arsenal, what they are prepared to do with it, and the implications of Iran’s role. 

Internet legend and famed investor Steve Case joins the podcast to discuss his new book, “The Rise of the Rest: How entrepreneurs in Surprising Places are Building the New American Dream.”

CSIS Americas Program director Ryan Berg joins the podcast to discuss the runoff election for the Brazilian presidency.  

#NAFO, the North Atlantic Fella Organization, a play on NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, is an Internet meme and social media movement dedicated to countering Russian propaganda and disinformation about the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. Launched in May 2022, NAFO has achieved a surprising amount of traction, even to its cofounder, retired U.S. Marine Matt Mores who joins the podca...

CSIS’s Dr. Eliot Cohen joins the podcast to discuss his recent visit to Kiev and meeting with Ukrainian President Zelensky, his assessment of Polish efforts to help Ukraine, and his analysis of Vladimir Putin’s next moves.  

CSIS’s Jude Blanchette joins the podcast to discuss U.S. policy confusion surrounding Taiwan, our concepts of “strategic ambiguity” and “strategic clarity” and how China can be deterred.   

Former federal prosecutor and Homeland Security official Paul Rosenzweig joins the podcast to talk about the national security implications of misinformation and technology.

​Politico journalist Ryan Heath, author of the Global Insider newsletter, joins the podcast to discuss all things Europe and the upcoming UN General Assembly, aka “the new Davos.”

CSIS’s Seth Jones joins the podcast to discuss Ukraine’s stunning battlefield advances. 

Morning Consult media and entertainment analyst, Kevin Tran, joins the podcast to discuss how Gen Zers are less likely than their older counterparts to be aware of or have favorable views toward major news brands, and what that means for the future of news.

CSIS’s Max Bergmann joins the podcast to discuss the UK’s new PM and the energy and economic war she, and Europe are facing.

CSIS’s Ben Cahill joins the podcast to talk about energy prices in the US and globally, plus how Europe is bracing ahead of winter to prepare for life without Russian oil and gas. 

CSIS’s Seth Jones joins the podcast to assess Ukraine after six months of war with Russia, plus, the assassination of Russian nationalist Daria Dugina, and winter is coming.  

CSIS non-resident senior associate John Larsen, of the non-partisan Rhodium Group, joins the podcast to dissect what the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) does to address climate change and whether the legislation could be overturned in the future. For more of John's analysis on the IRA, visit: rhg.com/research/climate-clean-energy-inflation-reduction-act/

​Wall Street Journal national security correspondent Vivian Salama joins the podcast to discuss her reporting from the ground in what the Ukrainians call, “The Great War” against Russia.

CSIS’s Dr. Bonny Lin joins the podcast to discuss the aggressive military exercises China conducted against Taiwan and how she’s tracked the crisis, what the United States is doing and should do in response, and what China’s overarching strategy in the Taiwan Strait is.

CSIS’s Seth Jones joins the podcast to discuss the death of al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri and the future of the terrorist organization. Plus, an update on the situation in Ukraine.

CSIS’s Chris Johnstone, former NSC director for East Asia, joins the podcast to discuss the aftermath of the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the current policies of Prime Minister Kishida going forward.

Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times reporters Eileen Sullivan and Steven Lee Myers join the podcast to discuss their July piece “Disinformation Has Become Another Untouchable Problem in Washington.” In their article, Sullivan and Myers report that numerous federal agencies agree that disinformation threatens the nation’s security, but that there is bipartisan gridlock surrounding how to create p...