The Secrets of Statecraft

In this unique return visit to Secrets of Statecraft, New York Times columnist Bret Stephens discusses why defending Ukraine is in America's interest, and reflects on the perils of Western flirtation with authoritarian figures. Recorded on May 16, 2025.

A new book, U.S. Defense Policy toward Israel: A Cold War History, takes on the revisionists over what happened in the Cold War. Recorded on April 16, 205.

Mitch Daniels is the former Director of the Office of Management and Budget under Ronald Reagan, the former Governor of Indiana, and the former President of Purdue University. He discusses his life, his influences, and his passion for hogs (of the Harley-Davidson variety). Recorded on March 21, 2025.

The former head of the British Army, Richard Dannatt, discusses an important war that is often forgotten. Recorded on February 6, 2025.

America's foremost presidential historian examines the motivations and careers of Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and George H. W. Bush.  Recorded on January 24, 2025.

The bravest of all the free speech campaigners, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, speaks out eloquently on tribalism, Islam, immigration, Trump, her conversion to Christianity, and what it's like being married to a quite well-known historian.

Richard Langworth is the senior fellow at the Hillsdale Churchill Project at Hillsdale College, Michigan, and knows more about Winston Churchill than any person living (including me, annoyingly).

A global tour d'horizon with the former Marine Corps commander and Secretary of Defense General Jim Mattis.

The Polish foreign minister Radek Sikorski is characteristically blunt about his former friend Viktor Orban, the chances of nuclear war in Ukraine, and his enemy Vladimir Putin. Recorded on October 26, 2024.

Professor John Bew's knowledge as the biographer of Lord Castlereagh and Clement Attlee and the historian of Realpolitik was put to good use when he became the senior foreign policy advisor to no fewer than four British prime ministers. Recorded on October 18, 2024.

How Bill Browder reacted when Vladimir Putin murdered Browder's friend and lawyer Sergei Magnitsky. Recorded on October 11, 2024.

Nataliya Bugayova, Non-Resident Russia Fellow at the Institute for the Study of War, shares her latest in-depth knowledge on how the Russo-Ukrainian War is going. Recorded on September 9, 2024. 

The esteemed science writer and author of The Rational Optimist, Matt Ridley, gazes into the future of mankind.  Recorded on September 16, 2024.

Iranian-born Shay Khatiri, senior fellow of the Yorktown Institute, explains the (warped) thinking of the Teheran regime.

The distinguished economist Paul Gregory recalls his time spent with Lee Harvey and Marina Oswald.

The great historian of Russian history compares and contrasts the three monsters of the Russian Revolution.

Nick True was until recently leader of the House of Lords and Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal. His Toryism hails from an earlier and better age, but still has modern relevance.

Lord Hannan draws on his 21 years as a member of the European Parliament for this scholarly and masterly overview of world affairs.

Con Coughlin, veteran war correspondent and Daily Telegraph foreign & defense editor, has written the biographies of Ayatollah Khomeini, Saddam Hussein and Bashir Al-Assad.  And he's also gone drinking with Hunter S. Thompson …

President Nicolas Sarkozy on the weight of history on his shoulders when he ruled France from 2007 to 2012.

The history of Africa over the past seven millennia, and this time from an African perspective.

Dan Senor, host of the “Call Me Back” podcast, discusses the war in Gaza and where it might go from here. 

The Israeli Ambassador to London speaks up eloquently and frankly for her embattled country.

Toby Young, director of the splendid Free Speech Union, discusses his campaign to defend freedom of expression.

Conrad Black discusses his epic thousand-page history of the Ancient World up to the death of Emperor Augustus.

Congressman Mike Gallagher on why the West should take the threat of China seriously, from TikTok to Taiwan.

Elliott Abrams has had the ear of Republican presidents from Reagan to Trump. Here is what he told them...

Former Deputy National Security Adviser and China expert Matt Pottinger takes a clear-eyed view of the threats to peace in Asia.

Tom Gross is an influential British journalist and Middle East commentator who provides cutting-edge analysis on the unfolding Israel-Gaza struggle.

Former State Department Counsellor Eliot Cohen on how William Shakespeare can explain the rise, rule, and fall of present day leaders.

Robert O'Brien has had a large number of demanding jobs, but none more so than being President Trump's national security advisor.

The rabbi of America's oldest Jewish congregation discusses his new book, Providence and Power.

Mike McFaul, President Obama's ambassador to Moscow, drew on history to discover what makes Putin tick.

Former prime minister of Australia Tony Abbott is in characteristically forthright form when discussing the past, present, and future of Western institutions.

Lord (Charles) Powell recalls his service as Margaret Thatcher's closest advisor during her three historic premierships.

Lord (George) Robertson, Secretary-General of NATO, talks about steering the organization through some of its most perilous moments.

The longest serving foreign minister in Australian history, Alexander Downer used his past experience to navigate a series of major crises, including 9/11.

The Oscar-winning creator of Gosford Park and Downton Abbey speaks about history, creativity and noblesse oblige. 

Over a quarter of a century separated William P. Barr's terms as the 77th and also the 85th Attorney General of the United States, serving under two very different presidents.

Bret Stephens, the Pulitzer-winning New York Times journalist, on the influence of the past on himself, his family, the Jewish people, and America.

Former US Ambassador to the UN and National Security Adviser John Bolton considers the global challenges to the West.

British historian and biographer Nick Thomas-Symonds MP is in Sir Keir Starmer's shadow cabinet and will play a key role in any future Labour government.  Here he speaks about the giants of Labour Party history: Ramsay MacDonald, Clement Attlee, Aneurin Bevan, and Harold Wilson.