Podcasts about Atlantic Council

In this episode of NucleCast, Adam sits down with Paul Amato for an in-depth discussion on the role of theater nuclear weapons in maintaining U.S. deterrence and strategic stability. Drawing on historical lessons from the Cold War and examining today's evolving security environment, they explore why low-yield nuclear capabilities remain an important component of U.S. defense strategy.The conversation examines Russian and Chinese nuclear approaches, the development of low-yield nuclear options in the 2018 Nuclear Posture Review, and the operational realities of deploying and sustaining theater nuclear forces. Amato explains how capability diversity, alliance assurance, and extended deterrence contribute to strategic stability and why maintaining credible options across the escalation spectrum is critical to deterring adversaries.They also discuss common misconceptions about low-yield weapons, the importance of capability symmetry, and what the future nuclear force structure may require as global threats continue to evolve.Paul Amato is the Principal Advisor for Strategic and Nuclear Deterrence at CNA. He is also a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security. From 2016-2025, Amato was director of nuclear deterrence policy in the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Policy, where he and his team led all facets of nuclear deterrence policy development, implementation and allied extended deterrence, including overseeing development and implementation of both the 2018 and 2022 Nuclear Posture Reviews. His experience includes more than a decade as an attorney in private practice, and over twenty-eight years of active and reserve service in the US Marine Corps. Amato is a graduate of Franklin & Marshall College and the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. The views he expresses in this podcast are his own. Follow us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@nuclecast3665?si=h1kCO6NqUtL87w6qFollow on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/nuclecastpodcastSubscribe RSS Feed: https://rss.com/podcasts/nuclecast-podcast/Rate: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nuclecast/id1644921278Email comments and topic/guest suggestions to Kimberly@anwadeter.org

Good afternoon, I'm _ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 391-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 45,234 on turnover of $17.4-billion N-T. Shares in Taiwan closed little changed Thursday after contract chipmaker TSMC rebounded from the day's low amid continued enthusiasm (熱情) over artificial intelligence (AI), helping the broader market recover most of its earlier losses, dealers said. Taiwan's freedom, prosperity indicies rise in annual report Taiwan's freedom and prosperity (繁榮) indicies have risen in an annual international report. Taiwan ranked 21st in the freedom index and 19th in the prosperity index out of 171 countries surveyed. Both those indices mark improvements from last year. But around the world, political freedom and the rule of the law declined overall, while prosperity growth slowed. The only country to beat out Taiwan for freedom was Japan at number 14… but Singapore was the only one to beat Taiwan for prosperity. The indices from the Atlantic Council were established in 2022 and have been published annually since. (AH-CNA) Qatar Warns Public amid Iranian Missiles Qatar is warning the public to take shelter as a barrage of Iranian missiles targets the nation. People heard explosions overhead early today as air defenses fired to intercept the missiles. Iran earlier targeted Bahrain and Kuwait over U.S. airstrikes hitting bridges in the Islamic Republic overnight. Qatar is a key mediator with Pakistan in trying to reach an end to the Iran war. This comes as the United States intensified its strikes on Iran, hitting targets farther north. American forces also fired into a ship they accused of trying to break a U.S. naval blockade (封鎖) on the Islamic Republic. Iran retaliated Thursday with missile and drone fire targeting U.S. allies Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait. The interim ceasefire agreed to last month has collapsed and the region has endured days of back-and-forth attacks by the U.S. and Iran as they battle for control of the Strait of Hormuz. CANADIAN WILDFIRE SMOKE** CHOKES 17 US STATES AS DETROIT'S AIR QUALITY INDEX** HITS DOUBLE THE HAZARDOUS THRESHOLD Canadian wildfire smoke has worsened sharply across the United States on Thursday Air quality alerts now covering at least 17 states and some 115 million people. The densest plumes are pushing south from the Midwest toward Washington and New York, with forecasters warning conditions in the capital could deteriorate (惡化) by Friday. Jagruti Dave reports from Washington. Japan to Pass Law Insisting on MaleOnly Imperial Heir A law set to pass Friday by Japan's parliament could doom its 1,500-year-old hereditary institution by insisting that only men can be emperor, sparking worry about the shrinking, fast-aging imperial family. The revisions include adoption of distant male relatives to father future heirs and allowing princesses to keep their royal status after marrying commoners. Emperor Naruhito's 24-year-old daughter is hugely popular, and many Japanese want her to be his successor. Princess Aiko is ineligible because she is a woman. Japan's male-only succession rule means the emperor's teenage nephew and second in line, Prince Hisahito, will probably be the heir. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 今秋跟著楓紅展開最動人的旅程~ 日本紅葉祭限定！漫遊河口湖紅葉迴廊，或登上東北藏王紅葉纜車飽覽山林秋色 韓國賞紅葉x銀杏，韓服漫遊景福宮感受秋日浪漫 美加東必追楓葉大道，走訪尼加拉瀑布沉醉最美楓景 限量團位，快搜尋「可樂旅遊」與你分享世界的美好~ https://sofm.pse.is/9cb6b6 -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Day 1,599.After a weekend that took the tally of oil exporting Russian ships hit by drones in the Sea of Azov to over 100, Dom reports how Ukraine has trialled an autonomous amphibious assault into Russian-held territory. Meanwhile Ukraine strikes another oil refinery, as fights break out over Russian fuel shortages. Adelie examines the first-ever joint EU-UK sanctions against the Russian cyber-war complex and asks what direction President Zelensky is heading in with his latest cabinet reshuffle. Dom looks at the latest United Nations response to the bombing of civilians and asks how they manage to condemn the killings in such strong terms, without once having to apportion blame. And later, he talks to US international affairs commentator Melinda Haring about the sudden death over the weekend of Senator Lindsay Graham and what the death of a leading Russia hawk means for Kyiv.Contributors:Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.Adelie Pojzman-Pontay (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @Adeliepjz on X.With thanks to Melinda Haring, nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center.Producer: Rachel PorterSenior Producer: Lilian FawcettVideo Producer: Sophie O'SullivanSocial Producer: Tom SteedStudio Director: Meghan SearleExecutive Editor: Francis DearnleyCreated by David KnowlesNOW IN FULL VIDEO WITH MAPS & BATTLEFIELD FOOTAGE:Every episode is now available on our YouTube channel shortly after the release of the audio version. You will find it here: https://www.youtube.com/@UkraineTheLatest CONTENT REFERENCED:Lindsey Graham, Republican Senator and Staunch Trump Ally, Dies at 71 (NYT)https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/12/us/politics/lindsey-graham-dead.htmlZelenskyy dismisses Ukraine's prime minister in cabinet shake-up (FT)https://www.ft.com/content/db48418a-f906-4afd-86a2-1ab08004bd13?syn-25a6b1a6=1Beyond the Battlefield: Russia's Information War Against Ukraine's European Futurehttps://cpd.gov.ua/en/report/beyond-the-battlefield-russias-information-war-against-ukraines-european-future/EMAIL US:Contact the team on ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many as possible.HIGHLIGHTS:Ukraine hits 100 Russian tankers in Sea of AzovWhat Lindsey Graham's death means for Kyiv Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A conversation with the Atlantic Council's Jared Holt, one of the foremost experts fighting online extremism today. His work has lead to the de-platforming of Infowars founder Alex Jones from Paypal, Facebook and YouTube. In addition, his articles and research are cited by everyone from the Washington Post to today's Impeachment where prosecutors cited an op/ed he wrote as proof of Donald Trump's complicity in an insurgent coup attempt. He joins Mea Culpa on Day II of the trial and lead Michael on an illuminating journey into the conspiracy hive mind that threatens our democracy. For cool Mea Culpa gear, check out www.meaculpapodcast.com/merchTo learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policyLearn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After signing a Memorandum of Understanding in June, the U.S. and Iran entered a delicate peace. As negotiators worked toward a permanent deal, one question loomed: Who won the war in Iran — Tehran or Trump? Hours after we concluded a debate on that very question, strikes resumed. By morning, President Trump declared the truce over. Today, we bring you that debate, and the question of who holds the upper hand, and what has been gained and lost, is more pressing than ever.  Note: This debate was recorded on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, before the verbal dissolution of the Islamabad Memorandum and the resumption of military action in the Iran War.  Arguing "Tehran is Winning": Suzanne Maloney, Vice President and Director of Foreign Policy at the Brookings Institution  Arguing "Trump is Winning": Matthew Kroenig, Vice President for Geostrategy and Fellows and Senior Director of the Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security  Emmy award-winning journalist John Donvan moderates  Join the conversation on Substack—share your perspective on this episode and subscribe to our weekly newsletter for curated insights from our debaters, moderators, and staff.  Follow us on YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, Facebook, and TikTok to stay connected with our mission and ongoing debates.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Donald Trump announced multiple times this week that the United States' fragile ceasefire with Iran was over. The announcement came in the midst of a continued escalation in attacks between the two countries. CENTCOM announced that the U.S. struck at least 170 Iranian targets this week alone in retaliation for Iranian attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Jonathan Panikoff, the director of the Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative, joined "Forbes Newsroom" to discuss the developments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hundreds of thousands have gathered to mourn Iran's former Supreme Leader. While overnight US strikes targeted around 90 Iranian military sites. Iran has responded by targeting US bases in the Gulf, as President Trump warns of further military action. For the latest Jonathan spoke to Nicholas Hopton, Former UK Ambassador to Iran and non-resident Senior fellow at the Atlantic Council.

Hundreds of thousands have gathered to mourn Iran's former Supreme Leader. While overnight US strikes targeted around 90 Iranian military sites. Iran has responded by targeting US bases in the Gulf, as President Trump warns of further military action. For the latest Jonathan spoke to Nicholas Hopton, Former UK Ambassador to Iran and non-resident Senior fellow at the Atlantic Council.

Elisabeth Braw, The Atlantic Council

WAR AND INNOVATION - HOW UKRAINE REVOLUTIONIZED CIVIL DEFENSE by The Charles T. McDowell Center for Global Studies and Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center

Це катастрофічні новини для РосіїАвтор: Пітер Дікінсон - науковий співробітник Atlantic Council, видавець журналів Business Ukraine і Lviv TodayНачитала Анна Ільницька

The US Vice President JD Vance is the chief negotiator, tasked with coming up with a enduring peace deal with Iran. But is the United States willing to put in the time and the effort to seal a new deal with the Islamic Republic? Today, Nate Swanson, who worked on Iran policy in the Obama, Biden and Trump administrations on why a deal may never be done. He explains his view that Iran risks overplaying its hand and giving away it's ‘golden ticket' security guarantee if it pursues short term gains with fees on ships in the Strait of Hormuz.  Featured:  Nate Swanson, resident senior fellow and director of the Iran Strategy Project at the Atlantic Council

Diego Area is the President and CEO of Global Americans, a nonpartisan think tank dedicated to reimagining U.S.–Latin America relations. Born and raised in Caracas, Diego came of age during the rise of the Chavez regime, becoming deeply engaged in student government at the Universidad Central de Venezuela—where his father also served on the faculty—and in the broader opposition movement, at times placing himself at personal risk in defense of democratic values. Eventually fleeing Venezuela, Diego and his wife settled in Washington, DC, where he earned a master's degree in political management from George Washington University. In 2021, GWU honored him with its Guardian of Democracy Award, recognizing graduates who have overcome significant obstacles to uphold democratic principles at home and abroad. He went on to spend six years at the Atlantic Council's Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center before taking the helm at Global Americans, where he builds bridges between the private sector, governments, and the U.S. Latino community to strengthen democracy and hemispheric cooperation. In this episode of the Purple Line Podcast, hosted by CHLI CEO Mary Ann Gomez Orta, Diego reflects on his journey from the streets of Caracas to Washington policy circles, the lessons of opposing authoritarianism firsthand, and his views on U.S.–Latin America relations, the current administration's posture toward Venezuela, and the intertwined futures of the Venezuelan and Cuban diasporas. A passionate advocate for free expression and diversity of thought, Diego brings a compelling and deeply personal lens to some of the hemisphere's most pressing questions.

On this episode of Christopher Lochhead: Follow Your Different, we welcome back Ray Wang, Chairman and CEO of Constellation Research, and widely regarded as one of the most insightful technology analysts in the world. In a recent conversation with Christopher Lochhead, Ray Wang shared his unfiltered perspective on the biggest developments shaping the technology landscape today. From the historic SpaceX IPO to the transformative acquisition of Cursor, Ray Wang offered sharp analysis that cuts through the noise and gets to what actually matters for businesses and investors navigating an AI-driven world. The conversation covered topics that most analysts are still catching up on, including why knowledge workers need to rethink their value, what Data Inc companies actually are, and why the context layer above large language models may be the most important competitive battleground of the next decade. What makes Ray Wang’s perspective so valuable is not just his breadth of knowledge but his ability to synthesize experience into wisdom, which is precisely the distinction he draws when talking about why AI cannot replace truly seasoned professionals. You're listening to Christopher Lochhead: Follow Your Different. We are the real dialogue podcast for people with a different mind. So get your mind in a different place, and hey ho, let's go.   Ray Wang on AI, Knowledge Work, and the Commoditization of Expertise Ray Wang makes a clear and compelling distinction between knowledge and wisdom. He argues that knowledge has become a commodity, but wisdom, the ability to take insights and turn them into meaningful action, remains deeply human and increasingly valuable. As AI automates deterministic, repetitive tasks, what rises in importance is judgment, the capacity to learn from failure and connect dots in ways that no model trained exclusively on successful outcomes can replicate. This reframing is critical for anyone worried about AI displacing their career. Ray Wang points out that AI systems today learn only from success, with no real failure database informing their outputs. That gap is where experienced professionals earn their keep. Businesses are increasingly paying for people who have lived through cycles of failure and recovery, not simply those who can recite information retrieved from a search index.   The SpaceX IPO and What Ray Wang Says It Means for the Future of Markets Ray Wang describes the SpaceX IPO as a completely new playbook, one that flipped conventional wisdom about how public offerings should be structured. Rather than allocating the vast majority of shares to institutional investors through a traditional roadshow, SpaceX directed somewhere between 20 and 30 percent of the offering toward retail investors. Ray Wang sees this as Elon Musk rewarding the individual investors who stayed loyal through years of volatility, particularly the Tesla shareholders who held on despite relentless short-selling pressure. Beyond the allocation strategy, Ray Wang highlights how Musk essentially told the markets to take it or leave it at a fixed price, bypassing the typical price-discovery process. The Nasdaq inclusion guaranteed a floor without needing the traditional green shoe option to do the heavy lifting. Ray Wang believes this model could influence how future high-profile tech companies, including OpenAI and Anthropic, approach their own public offerings, fundamentally shifting leverage away from Wall Street banks and toward founders and retail participants.   Ray Wang Explains Data Inc Companies and the Context Layer That Defines AI Competitive Advantage Ray Wang has been developing a framework he calls the Data Inc company, a concept centered on the idea that businesses that treat data as their primary asset, combined with strong distribution, will dominate the AI era. According to Ray Wang, unique data sets that no competitor can access or replicate are the foundation of next-generation competitive moats. Companies that fail to own their data and build derivative products from it will find themselves structurally disadvantaged as AI capabilities become more broadly available. Taking that framework one step further, Ray Wang agrees that the real battleground is not the large language model itself but the contextual layer that sits above it. This semantic and contextual wrapper, built from proprietary data and accumulated organizational knowledge, is what gives AI outputs meaning and reduces hallucinations. Swapping out one LLM for another becomes straightforward when this context layer is robust, much like swapping one database for another in a well-architected system. Ray Wang adds one more dimension that elevates the entire conversation: persistent memory. The ability for AI systems to retain learnings across interactions and pass that accumulated intelligence to downstream systems is, in his view, the true home run of enterprise AI. Decision velocity, powered by a rich contextual layer and persistent memory, is what separates companies that merely adopt AI from those that build genuine exponential advantage from it. To hear more from Ray Wang and his thoughts about the Future of Tech, download and listen to this episode.   Bio R “Ray” Wang (pronounced WAHNG) is the Founder, Chairman, and Principal Analyst of Silicon Valley based Constellation Research Inc. He co-hosts DisrupTV, a weekly enterprise tech and leadership webcast that averages 50,000 views per episode and authors a business strategy and technology blog that has received millions of page views per month.  Wang also serves as a non-resident Senior Fellow at The Atlantic Council's GeoTech Center. Since 2003, Ray has delivered thousands of live and virtual keynotes around the world that are inspiring and legendary. Wang has spoken at almost every major tech conference. His ground-breaking bestselling book on digital transformation, Disrupting Digital Business, was published by Harvard Business Review Press in 2015.  Ray's new book about Digital Giants and the future of business titled, Everybody Wants to Rule the World will be released July 2021 by Harper Collins Leadership. Ray Wang is well quoted and frequently interviewed in media outlets such as the Wall Street Journal, Fox Business News, CNBC, Yahoo Finance, Cheddar, CGTN America, Bloomberg, Tech Crunch, ZDNet, Forbes, and Fortune.  He is one of the top technology analysts in the world.   Links Follow Ray Wang! Website | Twitter | LinkedIn | Constellation Research | DisrupTV   We hope you enjoyed this episode of Christopher Lochhead: Follow Your Different™! Christopher loves hearing from his listeners. Feel free to email him, connect on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and subscribe on Apple Podcast / Spotify!

The Quincy Institute and Foundation for Middle East Peace (FMEP) co-hosted this webinar that examined how the war on Iran — which was conducted by the Americans and Israelis with an unprecedented degree of coordination — may accelerate the divergence of American and Israeli policy conduct in the Middle East. As the costs continue to accumulate for the Americans, and the Israelis continue to dig in, the question of whether a policy break which corresponds to each state's different interests has gained new importance. And if that break ultimately develops, how will the process of extricating Israeli policy-making from Washington unfold? This webinar/podcast features Trita Parsi (Quincy Institute), Barbara Slavin (Stimson Center), Lara Friedman (FMEP), and was moderated by FMEP Fellow Ahmed Moor.  Trita Parsi is co-founder and executive vice president of the Quincy Institute. He is an award-winning author and the 2010 recipient of the Grawemeyer Award for Ideas Improving World Order. He is an expert on US-Iranian relations, Iranian foreign policy, and the geopolitics of the Middle East. He has authored four books on US foreign policy in the Middle East. Barbara Slavin is a distinguished fellow at the Stimson Center and a lecturer in international affairs at GWU. Prior to joining Stimson, she founded and directed the Future of Iran Initiative at the Atlantic Council and led a bi-partisan task force on Iran. She is the author of Bitter Friends, Bosom Enemies: Iran, the US and the Twisted Path to Confrontation (2007) Lara Friedman is the president of the Foundation for Middle East Peace. Previously, she was the Director of Policy and Government Relations at Americans for Peace Now, and before that she was a U.S. Foreign Service Officer, serving in Jerusalem, Washington, Tunis, and Beirut. Lara is a leading authority on U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.  Ahmed Moor is a writer and fellow at the Foundation for Middle East Peace. He is an advisory board member of the US Campaign for Palestinian rights, co-editor of “After Zionism: One State for Israel and Palestine” (2012, Saqi Books) and is currently writing a book about Palestine. He also currently serves on the board of the Independence Media Foundation. Original music by Jalal Yaquoub.

President Donald Trump's deal with Iran is seen as a total capitulation to the Islamic Republic, and most of all in Israel, which fought alongside the Americans. Brian speaks with Eylon Levy, former Israeli government spokesman, and Danny Citrinowicz, a former Israeli intelligence officer now with the Atlantic Council. Levy explains how the deal allows Tehran to drive a wedge between Washington and Jerusalem, just as America's historic support for the Jewish state wanes — perhaps permanently. Citrinowicz analyzes why the joint U.S.-Israeli operation was ill-conceived from the start and why it's ending badly, and warns that Israel's ongoing battle to curb threats from Iran and its proxies may now only serve to further alienate the White House. (Recorded June 18 and 19, 2026) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As one of the most important geopolitical relationships in the world, the United States - China relationship has the opportunity to set the course of a number of issues that would ripple across the world. Unfortunately, it seems that misperceptions, misunderstandings, and missed opportunities abound in this vital relationship. In this month's episode, we speak with Sarwar Kashmeri, a leading international relations scholar, academic, business leader, and host of the Polaris Live program, about his recent trip to China and what insights he gathered during his travels. During his two weeks in China, a country he has not visited in over 20 years, he became confident that both sides of this relationship do not understand each other and that the only solution is exchanges, travel, and everyday interactions which can lead to a better path forward. He outlines the worldview that many in China hold and what their government seems to want from engagement with the world. This certainly is not a relationship free of critical challenges, but we can all do our part to solve them by accurately understanding what each side wants from the other.Sarwar Kashmeri is an international relations specialist, author, and commentator, noted for his expertise on U.S. global strategy and national security.He speaks frequently before business, foreign policy and military audiences. He is the founder and host of Polaris-Live. com, “United States and China in the world,” a live internet video program featuring 30 minute conversations on the business and geopolitical impact of China's rapid rise to superpower status.Kashmeri is author of the Foreign Policy Association's report “The Telegram: A China Agenda For President Biden“ (2021); “The Telegram II: The Business of America and China is Business“(2022); “China's Grand Strategy: Weaving a New Silk Road to Global Primacy,” (Bloomsbury), his third book, was published in July 2019. It is a centennial book of the Foreign Policy Association where Sarwar is a Senior Fellow. The book was released at a Washington D.C. launch featuring Kashmeri and former U.S. Defense Secretary, Chuck Hagel.He is also an Applied Research Fellow of the Peace and War Center of Norwich University, Vermont, USA  and served a four year term as a non-residential Senior Fellow at the Brent Scowcroft Center for International Security of the Atlantic Council in Washington D.C.Kashmeri has hosted “China Focus,” a podcast series for the Carnegie Corporation of New York and discussed China's Belt and Road Initiative on television with Deutsche Welle, the German news network, and in a series of interviews with Xinhua, China's global news agency.

Donald Trump has announced that his much trailed peace deal with Iran is to be signed this Friday, bringing an end to hostilities between the two countries and opening up the strait of Hormuz. With the fine print still to be worked out, many questions about the deal remain. Can it bring some stability to the world economy? And will it actually bring peace to the Middle East in the long term?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests: Mohamed El-Erian, economist and former International Monetary Fund Deputy Director Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, former US ambassador and president of the Middle East Policy Council, now senior fellow at the Atlantic Council. Hosts: Jane Garvey and Fi Glover.Producer: Hannah Quinn. We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Trump's deal with Iran will make the world's tyrants smileFurther listening: “Everyone hates you now” - Could Lebanon cost Trump his Iran deal?Photo: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Olena Halushka is a is a board member of the Ukrainian NGO “Anti-corruption Action Centre”, and co-founder of the International Centre for Ukrainian Victory. She has also worked as a chief of international advocacy at the post-Maidan coalition of 80 CSOs “Reanimation Package of Reforms”. Olena is a contributor to the Atlantic Council, Kyiv Independent. She has also written op-eds for the Washington Post, the Foreign Policy, and the EU Observer – but it's a major article she wrote for the UK's Guardian newspaper that we'll be discussing today.----------LINKS:https://twitter.com/OlenaHalushka https://twitter.com/AntAC_ua https://twitter.com/ICUVua https://www.linkedin.com/in/olena-halushka-b7342259/?originalSubdomain=ua https://ukrainianvictory.org/experts/olena-halushka/ https://www.fpri.org/contributor/olena-halushka/https://cepa.org/author/olena-halushka/https://archive.kyivpost.com/author/olena-halushkahttps://foreignpolicy.com/author/olena-halushka/----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Car4Ukrainehttps://car4ukraine.com/en-US/campaignsDzyga's Pawhttps://dzygaspaw.com/projectsSuperhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/----------PLATFORMS:Substack: https://substack.com/@siliconcurtainTwitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm----------

President Donald Trump has said the United States and Iran could sign a peace deal as soon as this weekend that ⁠would reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping, but Iran countered that it had not reached a final decision on an agreement. Speaking to Anton was Nicholas Hopton, Former UK Ambassador to Iran and Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council.

Trump has vowed Iran will “pay the price” after it launched multiple strikes on US bases throughout the Middle East. The latest escalation came up after the US bombed Iran in response to a Shahed drone downing an American Apache helicopter in the Gulf of Oman. The crew were rescued by an unmanned boat - a US first. Venetia Rainey speaks to former US Deputy Secretary of Defence Kathleen Hicks about what this week's events tell us about the growing role of autonomous systems in the military. Plus, what is the Pentagon's plan to combat the drone threat posed by enemies from Iran to China - and is it moving fast enough? Hicks and Aaron Sherman from the Atlantic Council talk about the Replicator project they launched in 2023 in the Department of Defence and why it's more vital than ever. HighlightsTrump vows Iran will ‘pay the price' for firing at US bases From Iran to China: inside the Pentagon's drone revolutionCONTRIBUTORS:Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiaraineyKathleen Hicks, former US Deputy Secretary of Defence Aaron Sherman, non-resident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic CouncilCONTENT REFERENCED:How a cutting-edge AI drone boat saved defenceless US Apache pilotshttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/06/09/apache-pilots-rescued-ai-drone-boatMove Fast and Scale: A Brief Insiders' History of the Replicator Initiativehttps://www.belfercenter.org/research-analysis/move-fast-and-scale-brief-insiders-history-replicator-initiativeProducer: Peter ShevlinExecutive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor► EMAIL US: Contact the team on battlelines@telegraph.co.uk ► GET THE LATEST HEADLINES: Find all our latest Iran coverage here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/iran-war/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The Biollywood Podcast, the Director of the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense at the Atlantic Council, Dr. Asha M. George, Associate Director for Research, J.T. O'Brien, and Associate Director for Government Relations and Policy, Robert Bradley, discuss the 1999 film, The Matrix, and its implications for the convergence of artificial intelligence and biological science. Premise: In a dystopian future, a war between humanity and sentient machines has ended in humanity's total defeat. The machines, cut off from solar energy after humans scorched the sky in a desperate last-ditch military operation, turned to the most readily available alternative power source: human beings. Billions of humans are now grown in vast fields of pods, their bodies harvested for bioelectric and thermal energy while their minds are kept pacified inside a neural-interactive simulation called the Matrix—a shared virtual reality modeled on late-20th-century civilization. The film follows Thomas Anderson, also known as Neo, a computer programmer who senses something is wrong with the world. He is contacted by Morpheus, a legendary freed human who believes Neo is “The One”—a prophesied figure destined to end the war with the machines. Neo is unplugged from the Matrix, shown the horrifying truth of human enslavement, and trained to fight the machines' enforcement programs (Agents) within the simulation. The Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense is within the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security at Atlantic Council. Learn more about the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense here. Follow us on X (@Biodefensecomm), LinkedIn, and Facebook for more updates. Email us with recommendations on what to review next: biollywood@biodefensecommission.org

Beyond the pomp and pageantry of Vladimir Putin's Beijing summit with Xi Jinping, what do Russia and China need from each other? And how strong is their relationship? Plus, coming hot on the heels of Donald Trump's own Beijing visit, what does it mean for the geopolitical balance in an era of great power competition? Gavin Esler joins Joseph Webster, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and editor of the independent China-Russia Report to discuss. • Support us on Patreon to keep This Is Not A Drill producing thought-provoking podcasts like this. Written and presented by Gavin Esler. Produced by Robin Leeburn. Original theme music by Paul Hartnoll – https://www.orbitalofficial.com. Executive Producer Martin Bojtos. Managing Editor Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. This Is Not A Drill is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For years, the energy transition was discussed as a shift that would happen in steady, predictable increments. But a massive surge in electricity demand in recent years—now colliding with a fracturing geopolitical landscape—has reshaped the global race for clean, reliable power.   All this has pulled nuclear energy back to the center of the national conversation—with many policymakers from both sides of the aisle calling for a nuclear renaissance. But past multi-billion dollar cost overruns on traditional gigawatt-scale projects still hang over the sector, even as a novel pipeline of small modular reactors and other advanced nuclear technologies promise to reshape the grid. This has put renewed attention on whether the US regulatory system is ready for the scale and speed of what's needed.   So what reforms are key to supporting the US nuclear energy sector? What needs to be done to ensure speed, safety, and predictability? And where do policymakers need to be careful to preserve the credibility, independence, and public trust that make nuclear regulation durable over the long term?   Today on the show, Jason Bordoff speaks with Ashley Finan and Amy Roma about the growing nuclear industry and evolving landscape of nuclear regulation.   Ashley is the Jay and Jill Bernstein fellow here at the Center on Global Energy Policy and previously served in senior leadership roles at Idaho National Laboratory, where she worked on nuclear energy and national security issues.   Amy is a partner at the law firm Orrick, where she advises clients on legal, business, and policy matters related to the existing nuclear fleet, as well as advanced reactors, fusion facilities, and supporting nuclear infrastructure. She is also a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council's Global Energy Center. Credits: Hosted by Jason Bordoff and Bill Loveless. Produced by Mary Catherine O'Connor, Caroline Pitman, and Kyu Lee. Engineering by Gregory Vilfranc.

Chris and Matt break down a packed few weeks in intelligence and geopolitics, opening with the resignation of Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence — a departure framed officially around her husband's illness but widely read as an exit under pressure. Drawing on a Bulwark piece by former CIA officer John Sipher, they examine whether the ODNI was ever structurally sound enough to survive a politicized occupant, and what Gabbard's tenure — from her reversal on the IC's Iran nuclear assessment to her exclusion from senior meetings — reveals about what this administration actually wants from intelligence. From there, the episode turns to the Trump-Xi summit in Beijing, where the photo-op framing papered over a sharper story: divergent definitions of "constructive strategic stability," a $14 billion arms package for Taiwan left unsigned, and a delegation of American CEOs carrying hat-in-hand business pitches to Washington's principal strategic adversary. They also examine a New York Times investigation into Chinese intelligence's recruitment attempt of a House committee staffer — a case that doubled as a window into Beijing's priorities in the weeks before the summit. Finally, an investigation into Russia's covert cyber warfare training program at a university near Moscow, and a Telegraph profile of Oleg Gordievsky's quiet final years in rural Surrey — including a regular table at a restaurant Chris knows all too well.Subscribe and share to stay ahead in the world of intelligence, global issues, and current affairs.Please share this episode using these linksAudio: https://pod.fo/e/422c3bYouTube: https://youtu.be/DP0ha6QQ394Support Secrets and SpiesBecome a “Friend of the Podcast” on Patreon for £3/$4: https://www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpiesBuy merchandise from our Redbubble shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996Buy us a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/secretsandspiesSubscribe to our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dgFor more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.comArticles discussed in today's episode "Tulsi Gabbard's Office Shouldn't Exist" by John Sipher | The Bulwark: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/tulsi-gabbard-office-shouldnt-exist-director-national-intelligence-9-11"Tulsi Gabbard's resistance to foreign wars amid Trump's aggression was her undoing" by Mohamad Bazzi | The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/24/tulsi-gabbard-foreign-wars-trump"Tulsi Gabbard is showing why her job shouldn't exist" by David Ignatius | The Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/02/05/tulsi-gabbard-trump-dni-intelligence-agency/"China and the U.S. Agreed to ‘Strategic Stability' in Beijing. They Don't Define It the Same Way." by Zongyuan Zoe Liu | Council on Foreign Relations: https://www.cfr.org/articles/china-and-the-u-s-agreed-to-strategic-stability-in-beijing-they-dont-define-it-the-same-way"What did Trump and Xi accomplish?" | Atlantic Council: https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/content-series/fastthinking/what-did-trump-and-xi-accomplish/"He Offered a Lawmaker's Aide Quick Cash. Was He Spying for China?" by Dustin Volz | The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/09/us/politics/china-us-spy-congressional-aide.html"Russia's top secret spy school teaching hacking and election meddling" by Pjotr Sauer & Shaun Walker | The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/07/revealed-russia-top-secret-spy-school-hacking-western-electoral-interference"Revealed: The secret suburban life of Britain's greatest Cold War spy" by Samuel Montgomery | The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/05/26/revealed-the-secret-suburban-life-of-britains-greatest-cold/Connect with us on social media Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/secretsandspies.bsky.socialInstagram: https://instagram.com/secretsandspiesFacebook: https://facebook.com/secretsandspiesSpoutible: https://spoutible.com/SecretsAndSpiesFollow Chris and Matt on Bluesky:https://bsky.app/profile/chriscarrfilm.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/mattfulton.netSecrets and Spies is produced by Films & Podcasts LTD: https://filmsandpodcasts.co.uk/Music by Andrew R. BirdPhotos by Kenny Holston/NYT, Heather Diehl/GettySecrets and Spies sits at the intersection of intelligence, covert action, real-world espionage, and broader geopolitics in a way that is digestible but serious. Hosted by filmmaker Chris Carr and writer Matt Fulton, each episode examines the very topics that real intelligence officers and analysts consider on a daily basis through the lens of global events and geopolitics, featuring expert insights from former spies, authors, and journalists. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of The Biollywood Podcast, the Director of the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense at the Atlantic Council, Dr. Asha M. George, Associate Director for Research, J.T. O'Brien, and Associate Director for Government Relations and Policy, Robert Bradley, discuss the 2026 film, Project Hail Mary. Premise: Science teacher Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) wakes up on a spaceship light years from home with no recollection of who he is or how he got there. As his memory returns, he begins to uncover his mission: solve the riddle of a mysterious substance called Astrophage that is causing the Sun to die out. He must call on his scientific knowledge and unorthodox ideas to save everything on Earth from extinction—but an unexpected friendship with an alien engineer he names Rocky means he may not have to do it alone. Check out our other episode covering the novel: https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-wytsi-17274e8 The Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense is within the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security at Atlantic Council. Learn more about the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense here. Follow us on X (@Biodefensecomm), LinkedIn, and Facebook for more updates. Email us with recommendations on what to review next: biollywood@biodefensecommission.org 

As global powers face rising geopolitical tensions, sanctions, export controls, and tariffs are once again tools of leverage, marking the resurgence of geoeconomics, where economic policy and national security converge. This approach to business was largely abandoned by the West after the Cold War, though for most other countries, geopolitics and economics have always been closely linked. Josh Lipsky is the founding director of the GeoEconomics Center at the Atlantic Council, and Matteo Maggiori is a professor of finance at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. In this podcast, they discuss the new face of geoeconomics and its seemingly vengeful comeback. Transcript: https://bit.ly/4fe0G2a  Read the articles in Finance & Development magazine: IMF.org/fandd

2026-05-27 | UPDATES #207 | Putin is losing. Every authoritarian decisional principle, every historical precedent, every piece of strategic-studies literature on cornered-dictator behaviour says the same thing. When a dictator perceives that the war he started is unsalvageable on his current trajectory, he escalates. This is why Europe needs to send a clear signal, push back hard and define red lines. A desperate dictator, detached from reality and strategic consequences is dangerous. Now we must contain him, and our response needs to punch back so hard, that he cannot ignore the signal, so that his minions cannot explain it away or hide the truth from him. ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------ACTIVE CAMPAIGN:We are raising funds for 5 of 15 Vampire DronesSilicon Curtain for Kupiansk Vampires. Dzyga's Paw, together with Jonathan Fink, is joining forces to raise $40,000 to provide the Khartiia Brigade with Vampire Drones.https://dzygaspaw.com/silicon-curtain-for-kupiansk-vampiresThese heavy bombers are designed to destroy manpower and equipment, as well as for remote mining. The Vampire UAV, manufactured by Skyfall, has proven itself to be one of the most effective weapons in the Kupiansk direction. Skyfall is one of Ukraine's largest defense tech companies, producing Vampire bomber drones, various modifications of Shrike FPV drones, P1-SUN, Shahed drone interceptors, communication systems, and components.----------PLEASE HELP ME ME TO GROW SILICON CURTAINWe are planning our events for 2026, and to do more and have a greater impact. After achieving more than 12 events in 2025, we will aim to double that! 24 events and interviews on the ground in Ukraine, to push back against weaponized information, toxic propaganda and corrosive disinformation. Please help us make it happen!----------SOURCES: National Security Journal — "'Putin Has Cancer': The Headline That Just Won't Go Away" (early May 2026) Global Security archive — "Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin - Health" — Comprehensive historical record of Putin health speculation; Valdai Club November 2024 four-hour appearance with 40+ instances of mispronouncing words, stammering, and misspeaking while reading from a paper; Peskov's "fantastic capacity for work" framing; long-standing pattern of health-information controlFox News / Reuters / AP — "Putin says health 'fine' after two-day checkup, refuses blood pressure test at AI event: report" (November 2025) UNITED24 Media — "Why Russia Fires Ballistic Nuclear Capable Oreshnik Missile in Massive Attack Against Ukraine" (24 May 2026) Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) — Jack Watling, "Russia is Losing – Time for Putin's 2026 Hybrid Escalation" (December 2025) Institute for the Study of War — "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 19, 2026" (19 May 2026) Atlantic Council — "Toplines: Deterring Putin's aggression against NATO" (March 2026) — Five Russian-aggression scenarios in Nordic-Baltic region; NATO posture inadequate; recommendation framework: place NATO brigades in Nordic-Baltic per Madrid 2022 promise; BALTOPS-type comprehensive exercise schedule for Svalbard/Åland; mobilise NATO alliance and Europe writ largeBelfer Center (Harvard) — "Russian Threats to NATO's Eastern Flank: Scenarios, Strategy, and Policy for European Security" (February 2026) Foreign Policy — "I Attacked NATO as Russia's Commander in a War Game" (15 May 2026)NBC News — "Putin is testing NATO's defenses. How will it respond?" (September 2025) ----------

2026-05-26 | UPDATES #206 | DEMENTED AND DANGEROUS: Why the Putin stumbling through May 2026 may be the most lethal Putin of the entire war. As his voice fails – and he can't even summon the strength to shout ‘Hurrah', as the footage recently suppressed by the Kremlin attest to, it seems that Putin is becoming less rational, more visibly angry, frustrated, and possibly confused. He is certainly detached from reality to a large degree, because of the skewed information he is receiving from sycophants and lackeys within the vertical of power. No one wants to tell demented grandpa the truth – in case they feel his wrath, as his war failures accelerate. ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------ACTIVE CAMPAIGN:We are raising funds for 5 of 15 Vampire DronesSilicon Curtain for Kupiansk Vampires. Dzyga's Paw, together with Jonathan Fink, is joining forces to raise $40,000 to provide the Khartiia Brigade with Vampire Drones.https://dzygaspaw.com/silicon-curtain-for-kupiansk-vampiresThese heavy bombers are designed to destroy manpower and equipment, as well as for remote mining. The Vampire UAV, manufactured by Skyfall, has proven itself to be one of the most effective weapons in the Kupiansk direction. Skyfall is one of Ukraine's largest defense tech companies, producing Vampire bomber drones, various modifications of Shrike FPV drones, P1-SUN, Shahed drone interceptors, communication systems, and components.----------PLEASE HELP ME ME TO GROW SILICON CURTAINWe are planning our events for 2026, and to do more and have a greater impact. After achieving more than 12 events in 2025, we will aim to double that! 24 events and interviews on the ground in Ukraine, to push back against weaponized information, toxic propaganda and corrosive disinformation. Please help us make it happen!----------SOURCES: National Security Journal — "'Putin Has Cancer': The Headline That Just Won't Go Away" (early May 2026) Global Security archive — "Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin - Health" — Comprehensive historical record of Putin health speculation; Valdai Club November 2024 four-hour appearance with 40+ instances of mispronouncing words, stammering, and misspeaking while reading from a paper; Peskov's "fantastic capacity for work" framing; long-standing pattern of health-information controlFox News / Reuters / AP — "Putin says health 'fine' after two-day checkup, refuses blood pressure test at AI event: report" (November 2025) UNITED24 Media — "Why Russia Fires Ballistic Nuclear Capable Oreshnik Missile in Massive Attack Against Ukraine" (24 May 2026) Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) — Jack Watling, "Russia is Losing – Time for Putin's 2026 Hybrid Escalation" (December 2025) Institute for the Study of War — "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 19, 2026" (19 May 2026) Atlantic Council — "Toplines: Deterring Putin's aggression against NATO" (March 2026) — Five Russian-aggression scenarios in Nordic-Baltic region; NATO posture inadequate; recommendation framework: place NATO brigades in Nordic-Baltic per Madrid 2022 promise; BALTOPS-type comprehensive exercise schedule for Svalbard/Åland; mobilise NATO alliance and Europe writ largeBelfer Center (Harvard) — "Russian Threats to NATO's Eastern Flank: Scenarios, Strategy, and Policy for European Security" (February 2026) Foreign Policy — "I Attacked NATO as Russia's Commander in a War Game" (15 May 2026)NBC News — "Putin is testing NATO's defenses. How will it respond?" (September 2025) ----------

Geoffrey Cain is an award-winning American journalist and author, writing about geopolitics, national security, and technology. His work has been featured in The Economist, Time, Wired, and The Wall Street Journal. He is a regular commentator on Bloomberg TV, BBC, CNN, and NPR. Cain served as an advisor to the United States House Foreign Affairs Committee, a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations, was a former senior fellow for advanced critical emerging technologies at Foundation for American Innovation and was a visiting senior fellow at the GeoTech Center at the Atlantic Council. His books include Samsung Rising, The Perfect Police State, and most recently-- Steve Jobs in Exile. Learn more at https://geoffreycain.net/. This podcast is for informational purposes only. Guest speakers and their firms are not affiliated with or endorsed by PAS or Guardian. This material contains the current opinions of the speakers but not necessarily those of PAS, Guardian or its subsidiaries and such opinions are subject to change without notice. None of the organizations mentioned in this podcast have any affiliation with Guardian or PAS. Bryan Kuderna is a Registered Representative and Financial Advisor of Park Avenue Securities LLC (PAS). OSJ: 50 Tice Blvd. Woodcliff Lake, NJ 07677 (973)244-4420. Securities products and advisory services offered through PAS, member FINRA, SIPC. Financial Representative of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America® (Guardian), New York, NY. PAS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Guardian. Kuderna Financial Team is not an affiliate or subsidiary of PAS or Guardian. CA Insurance License #OK04194    #8948580.1 exp. 5/28  

21 May 2026. The UAE’s new crude oil pipeline bypassing the Strait of Hormuz is now 50% complete, as the country accelerates delivery towards 2027. That’s according to Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology. Plus, Primark opens its third set of doors in the UAE today and we speak to Alshaya boss John Hadden. We find out what the Dubai real estate hiring situation actually looks like, who’s getting hired and for how much, with one of the largest real estate recruitment agencies in the region. Dubai’s property market is still moving but buyers and tenants are behaving very differently right now. Espace tells us what’s actually transacting and how the leasing market is shifting. And how are advertisers actually behaving in this market right now? The ARN Business Club event is coming up and we find out why radio still works when budgets get tight.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Richard Pater speaks with Hagar Chemali about the prospects for Israel-Lebanon peace and the US-led diplomatic efforts taking place in Washington. Chemali outlines why she believes Hezbollah's weakened position, shifting Lebanese public opinion and the Trump administration's regional approach have created a rare opportunity for progress. Hagar also assesses Hezbollah's current strength, Iran's influence and the role of the Lebanese Armed Forces.  Hagar Chemali is a former US official who served in several national security and public affairs roles, including as Director for Syria and Lebanon at the National Security Council under President Obama. She is the founder and creator of the award-winning world news show Oh My World! On YouTube, an adjunct professor at Columbia University, a non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, and co-founder of the Lebanon Israel Peace Alliance. 

The President's trip to China has concluded with new agreements on agriculture and trade, but major geopolitical tensions remain, particularly over Taiwan. Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council and former NSC Chief of Staff Alex Gray joins the show to unpack the summit's real wins, the looming uncertainty over the Strait of Hormuz, and the administration's evolving strategy toward the People's Republic. Plus, FOX News Contributor Karl Rove dissects the high-stakes redistricting battle in Virginia following a state Supreme Court ruling that has thrown the map, and the upcoming elections, into chaos.   PHOTO CREDIT: ASSOCIATED PRESS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The President's trip to China has concluded with new agreements on agriculture and trade, but major geopolitical tensions remain, particularly over Taiwan. Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council and former NSC Chief of Staff Alex Gray joins the show to unpack the summit's real wins, the looming uncertainty over the Strait of Hormuz, and the administration's evolving strategy toward the People's Republic. Plus, FOX News Contributor Karl Rove dissects the high-stakes redistricting battle in Virginia following a state Supreme Court ruling that has thrown the map, and the upcoming elections, into chaos.   PHOTO CREDIT: ASSOCIATED PRESS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The President's trip to China has concluded with new agreements on agriculture and trade, but major geopolitical tensions remain, particularly over Taiwan. Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council and former NSC Chief of Staff Alex Gray joins the show to unpack the summit's real wins, the looming uncertainty over the Strait of Hormuz, and the administration's evolving strategy toward the People's Republic. Plus, FOX News Contributor Karl Rove dissects the high-stakes redistricting battle in Virginia following a state Supreme Court ruling that has thrown the map, and the upcoming elections, into chaos.   PHOTO CREDIT: ASSOCIATED PRESS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hey BillOReilly.com Premium and Concierge Members, welcome to the No Spin News for Wednesday, May 13, 2026. Stand Up for Your Country.  Talking Points Memo: Bill reviews new polling revealing the effects of Trump's policies on Americans' finances and the midterm elections. Dr. Melanie Hart, Ph.D., Senior Director of the Atlantic Council's Global China Hub, weighs in on whether China has an interest in helping the U.S. with Iran and what she would advise President Trump to do. Just how much have grocery prices have spiked since the war began? Former Dept. of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas says the Biden administration should have acted sooner on border controls. Final Thought: Bill announces tomorrow's We'll Do It LIVE! guest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nate Swanson, former director for Iran at the National Security Council between 2022 and 2025 and current director of the Iran strategy project for the Atlantic Council, offers analysis of President Trump's claim that the US will sign a nuclear deal with Iran, and the major obstacles standing in the way. Photo: Photojournalists take pictures of an Iranian technician walking at the Isfahan Uranium Conversion Facilities (UCF), 420 kms south of Tehran, 03 February 2007. (BEHROUZ MEHRI/AFP via Getty Images) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

President Trump has claimed that the US will sign a nuclear deal with Iran, but there are major obstacles standing in the way. On Today's Show:Nate Swanson, former director for Iran at the National Security Council between 2022 and 2025 and current director of the Iran strategy project for the Atlantic Council, offers analysis. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today's Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Steve Grundman, a former Pentagon industrial base chief now with the Atlantic Council and the Grundman Advisory consultancy, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's latest social media broadside against heritage defense contractors, criticizing them for failing to deliver while padding their pockets, making the case for more funding and greater reliance on commercial fixed-price approaches to develop and acquire new weapons; the prospect the administration's ambitious budget and priorities will be supported by lawmakers; the strategy that's shaping the administration's defense planning and spending; roles of heritage and new economy defense contractors; whether the administration's commercial contracting approach will succeed in cutting acquisition costs; the implications of shifting from open architectures to proprietary ones; and the decline in defense stock values.

Headlines:Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan met with a group of Hamas officials in Ankara over the weekend.The New York Times reported over the weekend that Russia is shipping drone components to Iran through the Caspian Sea, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz.The Wall Street Journal ran an exclusive on Saturday detailing how the Israelis set up a secret military post in Iraq that hosted special forces and served as a logistical hub for the Israeli Air Force.With elections slated for the fall, a heated political debate is erupting in Israel over Hamas and the October 7 attack.--FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, founder and director of the Realign for Palestine project at the Atlantic Council.Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan speaking with Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, the head of Realign for Palestine, an Atlantic Council project that challenges entrenched narratives in the Israel and Palestine discourse. This week, the Board of Peace’s top Gaza envoy, Nickolay Mladenov, is in Israel in an attempt to kick-start the Trump peace plan. He has previously urged the international community to pressure the Hamas Palestinian terror group to disarm and prevent another cycle of violence in the Gaza Strip. This week, we hear why Alkhatib believes the current stalemate in Gaza is being embraced by both Hamas and official Israel. But first, Alkhatib paints a dismal picture of life in the Strip -- rat infestations, sewage in the streets and a strong Hamas presence on the ground. We learn about the recent elections for Hamas leadership and hear background about the leading candidates. Finally, among all the darkness, Alkhatib shares pinpoints of light from among the people who are still not cowed by the terrorist regime. And so this week, we ask Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, what matters now? What Matters Now podcasts are available for download on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Ari Schlacht.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Robert Ward hosts Ambassador Miyagawa Makio, former senior Japanese diplomat, and Professor Michishita Narushige, Professor of International Security Studies at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) and a non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, for an in-depth discussion on the recent reform of Japan's defence-export policy. Together, they explore:The historical background of Japan's defence-export policyThe recent shift in Japan's defence-export policyThe perspectives of Japan's US ally and strategic partners on the recent policy shiftOpportunities and challenges for Japan as a defence equipment and technology exporterRecommended readings from our guests:Agawa Naoyuki, Friendship Across the Seas: The US Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, (Tokyo: Japan Publishing Industry Foundation for Culture, 2019), 308pp.Doi Yasuaki, Tainichi Keizai Sensō: 1939–1941 [Economic War against Japan: 1939–1941], (Tokyo: Chuokoron-Shinsha, 2002), 302pp.Tobe Ryoichi, Teramoto Yoshinari, Kamata Shinichi, Suginoo Yoshio, Murai Tomohide and Nonaka Ikujiro, Shippai no Honshitsu [The Essence of Failure: An Organisational Study of the Imperial Japanese Military], (Tokyo: Diamond, 1984), 304pp.Michishita Narushige, The Maritime Strategy and the US–Japan Alliance: Fighting the Cold War in the Pacific, (Washington DC: Georgetown University Press, forthcoming 2027).We hope you enjoy the episode. Please follow, rate, and subscribe to Japan Memo on your preferred podcast platform. If you have any comments or questions, please contact us at japanchair@iiss.org. Date recorded: 23 April 2026Japan Memo is recorded and produced at the IISS in London. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Justin Sherman, the founder of Global Cyber Strategies, a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council's Cyber Statecraft Initiative, and the author of the book “Navigating Technology and National Security” joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the cyber aspects of the Trump administration's 2027 federal spending request, changes lawmakers should consider to improve cyber security, impact of new AI models like Anthropic's Mythos on improving cyber defenses, the administration's interest in testing AI models before their release and how such tests should be conducted, and growing role of AI in warfare and the government's oversight over contractors during military operations.

Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan speaking with Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, the head of Realign for Palestine, an Atlantic Council project that challenges entrenched narratives in the Israel and Palestine discourse. This week, the Board of Peace’s top Gaza envoy, Nickolay Mladenov, is in Israel in an attempt to kick-start the Trump peace plan. He has previously urged the international community to pressure the Hamas Palestinian terror group to disarm and prevent another cycle of violence in the Gaza Strip. This week, we hear why Alkhatib believes the current stalemate in Gaza is being embraced by both Hamas and official Israel. But first, Alkhatib paints a dismal picture of life in the Strip -- rat infestations, sewage in the streets and a strong Hamas presence on the ground. We learn about the recent elections for Hamas leadership and hear background about the leading candidates. Finally, among all the darkness, Alkhatib shares pinpoints of light from among the people who are still not cowed by the terrorist regime. And so this week, we ask Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, what matters now? What Matters Now podcasts are available for download on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Ari Schlacht.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On The Power Vertical Podcast this week, host Brian Whitmore speaks with James Sherr, an honorary fellow at the International Center for Defense and Security in Tallinn, and John Sipher, a 28-year CIA veteran, a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at The Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center, a Senior Fellow at the Michael V. Hayden Center for Intelligence and Policy at George Mason University, and the founder of Spycraft Entertainment. 

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Mideast and Russia expert Ksenia Svetlova joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. Former MK Svetlova is the executive director of ROPES (Regional Organization for Peace, Economics & Security) and a senior non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council. We open the program with an exploration of Iran's historic and current ties with Russia, after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met yesterday with President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg. Svetlova explores Russia's influence in the region -- specifically its direct ties to Hezbollah -- and assesses how much leverage Moscow may have in the ongoing negotiations between Iran and the United States. In the second half of the program, we focus on Israel's relations with Arab Gulf states in the wake of the war in Iran. We hear how Israel deployed troops and the Iron Dome to its Abraham Accord partner, the United Arab Emirates. She discusses how the region is at a crossroads and the Gulf states are pragmatically discussing whether to deepen ties with Iran, or, potentially, with Israel. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Trump reportedly unhappy with Iran’s proposal to reopen Hormuz but shelve nuclear issue In Saint Petersburg, Iran’s FM blames US for failure of Pakistan talks Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Ari Schlacht edited this episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jonathan Panikoff, the director of the Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative, joined "Forbes Newsroom" to discuss the negotiations between the U.S. and Iran over the weekend that failed to produce a deal, the potential for another round of talks, and the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chance Glasco has over 25 years of experience in game development, including pivotal roles in the Medal of Honor and Call of Duty titles. He joins Bob for a wide-ranging discussion touching on programming mechanics, political pressure on game narratives, and concerns about animated violence.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:The YouTube version of this interview.Chance Glasco's bio for the Atlantic Council.The link for Bob's course in the Tuttle Twins Academy.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.

Nate Swanson, former director for Iran at the National Security Council between 2022 and 2025, current director of the Iran strategy project for the Atlantic Council and writer for Foreign Affairs, offers analysis of the war with Iran, and why he thinks Tehran may dictate the terms of the end of the war. Photo: The aftermath of a March 3, 2026 airstrike on Tehran. (Photo: محمدعلی برنو / Avash Media via Wikimedia Commons/CC 4.0)

Steve Hayes is joined by Mike Warren and Dispatch contributors Mike Nelson, a retired Army Special Forces officer and a member of the Atlantic Council's Counterterrorism Project, and Tim Mak, founder of the Counteroffensive and Iran War Dispatches. The Agenda:—Latest updates out of Iran—On-the-ground reporting during war—Internet blackout in Iran—Obama's policy toward Iran—Drone warfare—The Ukraine-Russia war—American support for war—NWYT: A spicy salsa lawsuit The Dispatch Podcast is a production of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Dispatch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a non-partisan, conservative perspective. To access all of The Dispatch's offerings—including access to all of our articles, members-only newsletters, and bonus podcast episodes—⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you'd like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠by clicking here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices