Podcasts about CSIS

Former Canadian Security Intelligence Service operative Neil Bisson delivers a compact masterclass in Human Intelligence gathering in this blow-by-blow account of a Mobile Debrief. Along the way, you'll discover how Canada's intelligence apparatus works - and how it could change in the years to come. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Joe Foley. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“I think what happened here is Europeans made a lot of commitments that they don't have any intention of fulfilling—at least in the near term—and this is all about appeasing President Trump to keep him engaged with the NATO alliance.” At the recent summit in The Hague, Netherlands, NATO allies agreed to spend a target 5 percent of GDP on defense in a win for Donald Trump, who has repeatedly expressed the belief that European NATO allies are not spending enough. Was this a mistake—and can European nations afford to follow through?CSIS's Max Bergmann, director of the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program, joins the podcast to discuss what really happened at the NATO summit and how defense spending will impact European economies going forward.

Pekingology is back with all-new conversations hosted by Henrietta Levin, Senior Fellow with the Freeman Chair in China Studies at CSIS. Tune in on July 10th for our next episode featuring Dr. Kurt Campbell, former deputy secretary of state and President Biden's “Asia Czar.”

Welcome to another hard-hitting episode of the Kaka Balli Punjabi Podcast, where we unpack controversial truths the mainstream won't touch. Hosted by Gagan Boparai, this episode features Ajaydeep Singh Dhaliwal, a powerful voice in Punjabi intellectual circles.Together, we uncover the deep-rooted issues plaguing Punjabi communities in Canada and India, the global political chessboard, and the psychological traps that shape modern identity and conflict.

CSIS warns the public of Khalistani extremism, undocumented immigrants want free education in Alberta, and Elections BC tries to cover up their mistakes on election night. Also, Trump calls off trade talks with Canada again. Hosts: Shane and Patrick Duration: 56:50 For detailed show notes visit westerncontext.ca.

In this podcast, Kushal and Daniel discuss a recent interview by Canadian journalist Sameer Kaushal with Jaspal Atwal, in which Jaspal made the explosive claim that the former Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, allegedly instructed the CSIS and RCMP not to investigate the Khalistanis. Registration link for United Against Extremism (UAE) Conference: https://tafsik.com/event/conference/ Sunday // June 29th // 2025 10:00am-5:00pm PARAMOUNT EVENT SPACE 222 Rowntree Dairy Rd. Woodbridge, Ontario, L4L 9T2 Follow them: Twitter: @DanielBordmanOG Support Daniel: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/DanielBordman #g7summit #pmmodi #canada #markcarney #narendramodi #khalistan #nijjar ------------------------------------------------------------ Listen to the podcasts on: SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/kushal-mehra-99891819 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1rVcDV3upgVurMVW1wwoBp Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-c%C4%81rv%C4%81ka-podcast/id1445348369 Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-carvaka-podcast ------------------------------------------------------------ Support The Cārvāka Podcast: Buy Kushal's Book: https://amzn.in/d/58cY4dU Become a Member on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKPx... Become a Member on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/carvaka UPI: kushalmehra@icici Interac Canada: kushalmehra81@gmail.com To buy The Carvaka Podcast Exclusive Merch please visit: http://kushalmehra.com/shop ------------------------------------------------------------ Follow Kushal: Twitter: https://twitter.com/kushal_mehra?ref_... Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KushalMehraO... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecarvakap... Koo: https://www.kooapp.com/profile/kushal... Inquiries: https://kushalmehra.com/ Feedback: kushalmehra81@gmail.com

Hanna Notte returns to the show for a conversation with Max and Maria about what the most recent round of hostilities between Israel and Iran, plus the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, mean for Russia's own Middle Eastern strategy.  This conversation was recorded on June 25, 2025. "Russia no longer needs Iran's help to sustain the war in Ukraine," by Hanna Notte (June 2025, Financial Times) "Why Isn't Russia Defending Iran?" by Hanna Notte (June 2025, The Atlantic)

“The word ‘obliteration' is being used a lot…I think there's a little more nuance to it.” Intelligence assessments from the International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran, and the United States have provided competing accounts of the functionality of Fordow, Iran's critical uranium refinement site, and the Iranian nuclear program as a whole. The intelligence community still has a lot of blanks to fill in, including the extent of the damage to various Iranian nuclear sites, the state of Iran's missile arsenal, and how much of a setback this represents for Iran's nuclear program. CSIS's Heather Williams, director of the CSIS Project on Nuclear Issues, joins the podcast to discuss the uncertain status of Iran's nuclear program following Operation Midnight Hammer and what we should be watching for next.

Max moderated a live panel discussion with Maria, and two leading experts on the Russian economy, Elina Ribakova and Vladislav Inozemtsev. The conversation focused on the findings of the recent report from the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program, "The Russian Wartime Economy: From Sugar High to Hangover."

In this episode from the ChinaPower Podcast, Dr. Joseph Torigian joins host Bonny Lin to discuss his newly released book, The Party's Interests Come First: The Life of Xi Zhongxun, Father of Xi Jinping. Dr. Torigian describes the life and struggle of Xi Zhongxun as a party official during the Cultural revolution and specifically the impact he had on the life and political views of Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Dr. Torigian notes that his book utilizes the story of Xi Zhongxun's life as a lens to better understand how the Party works and why both Xi Zhongxun and Xi Jinping believe certain values, such as those of sacrifice and suffering for the greater good, are highly important. He describes how Xi Jinping was viewed positively by his father due to the idea that his son had “eaten more bitterness” than other children, even going as far as to state that Xi Jinping had “the makings of a premier.” Dr. Torigian describes how deeply involved Xi Zhongxun was during his time in the party on the United Front, ethnic policy in Tibet and Xinjiang, and policy towards Taiwan, and how, because of his father's dedication to these issues, Xi Jinping views them as personal unfinished business. Finally, Dr. Torigian describes how Xi Zhongxun's influence on his son has left Xi Jinping with a Hobbesian view of the world and with the idea that the Party is the best tool for helping China assert its rightful place in the world and secure its inevitable march towards greatness.

In this podcast, Kushal speaks Josh from the Elev8 podcast about the CSIS Public Report 2024. Registration link for United Against Extremism (UAE) Conference: https://tafsik.com/event/conference/ Sunday // June 29th // 2025 10:00am-5:00pm PARAMOUNT EVENT SPACE 222 Rowntree Dairy Rd. Woodbridge, Ontario, L4L 9T2 Follow them: Twitter: @TheElev8Podcast Website: https://www.elev8podcast.ca/ CSIS Report: https://www.canada.ca/en/security-intelligence-service/corporate/publications/csis-public-report-2024.html #khalistan #immigration #markcarney #pierrepoilievre #csis ------------------------------------------------------------ Listen to the podcasts on: SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/kushal-mehra-99891819 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1rVcDV3upgVurMVW1wwoBp Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-c%C4%81rv%C4%81ka-podcast/id1445348369 Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-carvaka-podcast ------------------------------------------------------------ Support The Cārvāka Podcast: Buy Kushal's Book: https://amzn.in/d/58cY4dU Become a Member on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKPx... Become a Member on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/carvaka UPI: kushalmehra@icici Interac Canada: kushalmehra81@gmail.com To buy The Carvaka Podcast Exclusive Merch please visit: http://kushalmehra.com/shop ------------------------------------------------------------ Follow Kushal: Twitter: https://twitter.com/kushal_mehra?ref_... Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KushalMehraO... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecarvakap... Koo: https://www.kooapp.com/profile/kushal... Inquiries: https://kushalmehra.com/ Feedback: kushalmehra81@gmail.com

Michael talks with Dr. Tom Karako, Director of the Missile Defense Project at CSIS, about the high-stakes missile confrontation between Israel and Iran, recorded just before the recent US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Tom analyzes the role of ballistic missiles in the conflict, the capabilities of Israeli and US defenses, and the strategic implications of the Trump Administration's "Golden Dome" initiative for US national security.

Iceland has no standing military—so how did Brynja Huld Óskarsdóttir, an Icelandic civilian, find herself working for NATO in Afghanistan and now holding a key role at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly? Host Kathleen McInnis sits down with Brynja to explore her unique journey and meaningful contributions to the Alliance.

In a live conversation on June 23, Lawfare Editor-in-Chief Benjamin Wittes spoke to Lawfare Senior Editor Scott Anderson, Lawfare Foreign Policy Editor and CSIS fellow Daniel Byman, and Vice President and Director of Foreign Policy at the Brookings Institution Suzanne Maloney about the American attacks on Iranian nuclear sites, what the reaction within Iran has been, whether the strikes were legal under domestic and international law, and more.To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/lawfare-institute.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CSIS's Jon Alterman, a longtime Middle East scholar and geopolitical expert, joins the podcast to discuss potential outcomes from Israel and Iran's 12-day war and shaky ceasefire. Key question: Does the conflict and ceasefire make the world a safer place and reduce nuclear proliferation, or does it possibly increase nuclear proliferation?

In the first instalment of News Week In Review with The Bill Kelly Podcast, Bill reviews his biggest news stories of the week of June 15 - June 21, 2025. Today, he focuses on Prime Minister Mark Carney's performance at the G7 meeting, international tensions involving Donald Trump, Canada-India relations, the challenges in the Canadian airline industry, and the passing of Bill C-5 in recent legislative developments. The discussion highlights the complexities of global politics and domestic issues, emphasizing the need for strategic responses and informed decision-making.Look forward to weekly news updates every Saturday! Watch more of Bill's deeper dive videos about trending political news stories in Canada and beyond by subscribing to his channel.Top News Stories of June 15-June 21, 2025* Prime Minister Carney received praise for his handling of the G7 meeting.* Trade, a sudden exit, Middle East conflict - five takeaways from G7: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpqnjx1qw9po* Trump's unpredictable nature raises concerns about international stability, specifically regarding the escalating Israel-Iran conflict.* The US can end Iran conflict with one call, official from Iran's presidency says: https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/20/middleeast/iran-israel-conflict-trump-intl-latam* Canada must be cautious in its diplomatic relations with India.* Canada 'must remain vigilant' about Indian foreign interference, CSIS report cautions: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/india-foreign-interference-csis-report-1.7564710* The Canadian airline industry faces challenges due to lack of competition.* Cleared for take-off: Elevating airline competition: https://competition-bureau.canada.ca/en/how-we-foster-competition/education-and-outreach/publications/cleared-take-elevating-airline-competition* Legislation aimed at fast-tracking economic projects has passed.* Liberals' major projects bill passes House of Commons with Conservative support: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/bill-c-5-passes-1.7566780Chapters00:26 Prime Minister Mark Carney's Big Week After G702:03 Counter-Tariffs Announcement03:13 Trump's Personal Conflicts Re: Israel-Iran Loyalties5:18 CSIS Warning Re: Indian Foreign Interference 07:09 Competition in the Canadian Airline Industry08:28 Controversial Bill C-5 PassedBecome a paid SubStack subscriber or YouTube channel member to hear Bill's personal stories and life lessons from 50+ years as a broadcast journalist in his members-only series, MORAL OF THE STORY: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeUbzckOLocFzNeY1D72iCA/joinDon't forget to like, follow and subscribe across our channels! Thank you.Listen to The Bill Kelly Podcast everywhere: https://kite.link/the-bill-kelly-podcastWATCH New Episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBillKellyPodcast/featuredBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/thisisbillkelly.bsky.socialFacebook: https://facebook.com/TheBillKellyPodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisisbillkelly/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisbillkelly/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thebillkellypodcastSubStack: billkelly.substack.com/*Comment ‘likes' on behalf of this channel are an acknowledgment of your comment, not necessarily an endorsement of its contents. Thanks for joining these critical discussions in critical times!HASHTAGS#News#Politics#BreakingNews#canadianpolitics#CanadianNews#PoliticalPodcast#PoliticalNews#PoliticalCommentary#NewsUpdates#PoliticalInsights#NewsCommentary#TodayNews#NewsToday#MarkCarney#Liberal This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billkelly.substack.com/subscribe

Max and Maria get another update from military expert Mike Kofman on the state of the frontlines in Ukraine.  This conversation was recorded on June 11, 2025. "The Russian Wartime Economy: From Sugar High to Hangover" by Maria Snegovaya, Nicholas Fenton, Tina Dolbaia, and Max Bergmann (June 2025, CSIS.org) "Russia's Battlefield Woes in Ukraine" by Seth Jones and Riely McCabe (June 2025, CSIS.org) "Assessing Russian Military Adaptation in 2023" by Michael Kofman (October 2024, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace)

CSIS's Norm Roule, a former senior U.S. intelligence officer for the Middle East joins the podcast to discuss how conflict with Iran might end, what regime change could look like, the wider implications for the United States and the region and more.

Go to https://surfshark.com/elev8 and use code elev8 at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN!Iranian Officials EXPOSED Trying to Flee to Canada—CSIS Sounds ALARM Over Khalistan THREATSend a one-time contribution to the show - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=XARF5X38AMZULListen to our Podcast on the go: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/elev8podcastTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elev8podcast X: https://twitter.com/TheElev8Podcast0:00 - Intro1:45 - CSIS Report EXPOSES Khalistan9:05 - Iran Regime could Flee to Canada

Would you like like to better understand the role of the United States in cyber diplomacy? This episode features William Klein, a former U.S. State Diplomat with over two decades of experience with a special focus on China. William and David discuss a range of issues including the evolution of U.S. cyber foreign policy, China, export controls, digital arms control and more. William Klein is now a consulting partner with FGS Global, a strategic advisory consultancy and is a Senior Associate with CSIS.

This rant is about our Liberty. The Mark Carney Liberals have put forward a Bill that will allow the Government (without a warrant) - to go through your mail, your internet history, and find out everything that is going on with your banking or business... or lovelife. Even taking into consideration that the bad guys are getting more sophisticated - and that the government and law enforcement need more tools at their disposal - we must not give up all of our liberties to the Bureaucrats. Even when CSIS was created the government went to great lengths to protect the liberties of the individuals. With this Bill the Carney Liberals have crossed a line - and we must speak up about it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At this point, it's anyone's guess as to what the US will do next in Iran. Apparently, not even our President knows what's coming next. Will we enter the war? More importantly, should we? Esteemed guests Rosa Brooks, Kori Schake, and CSIS's Max Bergmann join host David Rothkopf to try and answer these questions and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CSIS's Eliot A. Cohen, former dean of Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and former councilor to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice joins the podcast to discuss Israel's strategic objectives, potential regime change in Iran and what Israel's military operation indicates for the future of warfare.

At this point, it's anyone's guess as to what the US will do next in Iran. Apparently, not even our President knows what's coming next. Will we enter the war? More importantly, should we? Esteemed guests Rosa Brooks, Kori Schake, and CSIS's Max Bergmann join host David Rothkopf to try and answer these questions and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The world is waiting to see if US President Donald Trump will enter the conflict between Israel and Iran. MAGA followers and Republican lawmakers divided about potential U.S. involvement in Israel-Iran conflict. CSIS says hostile state actors may be trying to deceptively hire private investigators to track people in Canada. Officials in Prime Minister Mark Carney's office say the US wanted to water down a G7 statement about Russia's war in Ukraine, then retract the statement. There is still no trace of Lilly and Jack Sullivan, the two young siblings who disappeared in Pictou, Nova Scotia. Young Indigenous drummers from Squamish Nation in British Columbia, go viral with performance for grizzly bears on Grouse Mountain.

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CSIS says India is a big threat to China Guest: Dan Stanton, Former CSIS Officer and Director of National Security, Ottawa U Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special episode, listen to the first episode of CSIS's newest podcast, Echonomics that investigates how past economic events in Asia continue to impact U.S. policy today.  In 1997, Thailand's currency collapsed, setting off a currency contagion that spread across Asia and threatened to take down several economies with it. Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Siwage Dharma Negara, Caroline Atkinson, and Paul Blustein discuss the origins of the crisis and the impact it had on markets across the region.  Check out Echonomics here. 

"This is easily once of the biggest ballistic missile and ballistic missile defense engagements in history, and it is truly momentous in terms of the overall context and the overall posture that Israel is taking." Israel and Iran have been at war since June 13, with each country firing hundreds of ballistic missiles in just a few days. Iran's defense enterprise is severely weakened following Israel's huge initial attack, but Israel lacks the capability to completely destroy Iran's hardened nuclear targets, at a time when the United Nations' nuclear watchdog warned that Iran could be as close as three days away from being able to assemble a nuclear weapon. CSIS's Tom Karako, director of the Missile Defense Project and senior fellow in the Defense and Security Department, joins the podcast to discuss the Israel-Iran conflict—who's winning, who's losing, whether the United States will get involved, and what we should be looking for next.

On this episode of the Trade Guys, we discuss the results of the latest round of U.S.-China negotiations on tariffs and export controls in London. We also go through recent progress on new and expanding trade deals—including the EU-Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)—many of which are proceeding with the U.S. on the sidelines. The first episode of Echonomics, a new CSIS podcast that looks at how past economic events in Asia continue to impact U.S. policy today, is now available online. Find it here. 

CSIS' Seth Jones, Emily Harding and Ben Jensen join the podcast to discuss Israel's strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, leadership and other targets.

In this episode from The Impossible State, host Victor Cha moderates a discussion with Henrietta Levin, former Deputy China Coordinator for Global Affairs at the U.S. Department of State and former Director for China at the National Security Council, and Dr. Luis Simón, director of the Centre for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy (CSDS) at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) School of Governance and the Brussels office of the Elcano Royal Institute. Together, they discuss the Trump administration's policy toward China, U.S.–China trade relations, the future of U.S. and NATO engagement with China, and more. Originally aired on May 28, 2025.

On today's program, sponsored by Elbit America, Wes Rumbaugh with the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss takeaways from the think thank's recent conference — America's Golden Dome Explained — on what we know about President Trump's effort to establish a national air and missile defense system over the United States, how much the network would cost, how effective it would be, the challenges ahead and role of allies in the effort.

Vannevar Labs at its core has a bold mission: bring the best technology American innovation can offer into close partnership with the U.S. government to equip public servants with the tools they need to keep the country safe. Host Dr. Kathleen McInnis sits down with Erin Biggers, Vice President of Mission at Vannevar Labs, for a conversation on how she went from service in the Air Force to playing a pivotal role in scaling the impact and operations of a new modern defense tech company. 

On this week's Look Ahead Podcast, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian discuss the latest from the Hill as lawmakers grapple with reconciliation, the NDAA and appropriations, a rescission package from the Trump administration, as well as hearings and the Senate Armed Services Committee's reconciliation markup; the implications of the acrimony between President Trump and Elon Musk, and the outlook for SpaceX; a deeper look at Golden Dome in the wake of a major CSIS conference; takeaways from Oshkosh's investor day; important historical lessons from France before World War II; and a look at the week ahead.

On this week's GZERO World Podcast, Ian Bremmer sits down with Bonny Lin, director of the China Power Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, for a look at one of the most dangerous flashpoints in the world: the Taiwan Strait. China has been conducting drills around Taiwan for years, but since the current pro-independence president, William Lai, took office in 2024, Beijing has been staging near-daily military exercises near the island–larger, louder, and more aggressive than ever before.Lai has pledged to boost defense spending, strengthen ties with the US, and reduce Taiwan's economic dependence on China. But Lai faces serious political headwinds at home. His party lost its majority in parliament, and he'll have to navigate a deeply divided government to get anything done. Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping says reunification with Taiwan is a national priority and has made it clear Beijing won't hesitate to take the island by force if necessary. The stakes are global: A war in the Strait would reshape the world economy, drag in major powers, potentially triggering the deadliest military conflict in the Asia-Pacific since World War II. So how far can China push, and how long can Taiwan hold out, before a crisis becomes inevitable?Host: Ian BremmerGuest: Bonny Lin Subscribe to the GZERO World with Ian Bremmer Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform, to receive new episodes as soon as they're published.

On this week's GZERO World Podcast, Ian Bremmer sits down with Bonny Lin, director of the China Power Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, for a look at one of the most dangerous flashpoints in the world: the Taiwan Strait. China has been conducting drills around Taiwan for years, but since the current pro-independence president, William Lai, took office in 2024, Beijing has been staging near-daily military exercises near the island–larger, louder, and more aggressive than ever before.Lai has pledged to boost defense spending, strengthen ties with the US, and reduce Taiwan's economic dependence on China. But Lai faces serious political headwinds at home. His party lost its majority in parliament, and he'll have to navigate a deeply divided government to get anything done. Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping says reunification with Taiwan is a national priority and has made it clear Beijing won't hesitate to take the island by force if necessary. The stakes are global: A war in the Strait would reshape the world economy, drag in major powers, potentially triggering the deadliest military conflict in the Asia-Pacific since World War II. So how far can China push, and how long can Taiwan hold out, before a crisis becomes inevitable?Host: Ian BremmerGuest: Bonny Lin Subscribe to the GZERO World with Ian Bremmer Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform, to receive new episodes as soon as they're published.

Elina Ribakova returned to the show to speak with Max and Maria about the evolution of the Ukrainian economy since February 2022.

➡️ Join the community of geopolitics enthusiasts and gain access to exclusive content on PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/DecodingGeopolitics➡️ Sign up to my free geopolitics newsletter: https://stationzero.substack.com/Thank you Conducttr for sponsoring the podcast. Take a look at Conducttr's services and its crisis exercise software at: https://www.conducttr.comWith the war in Ukraine still ongoing, it's not surprising that conventional warfare usually dominates the headlines but underneath this traditional battlefield there are other types of conflict taking place as well that are a lot more quiet but just as consequential. From covert influence operations, proxy militias to economic pressure and cyberattacks, countries like Iran, Russia, and China have become extremely good at waging wars that don't look like wars in the traditional sense. But that can be just as powerful and sometimes even more effective. And while this kind of warfare isn't new, it feels like we've entered a golden age of it.And so in this conversation, I spoke with Seth Jones, Director of the International Security Program at CSIS, and one of the leading experts on irregular warfare on the different tactics and strategies of the three leading hybrid warfare powers —Iran, Russia, and China. We discuss the strengths and vulnerabilities of each country's approach, the effectiveness of their influence operations, why the U.S. seems to lag behind in this area or what role hybrid warfare plays in the war in Ukraine and much more.

“The stark reality is that the Russians really aren't doing well on the battlefield, and their economy is also in pretty tough shape.” CSIS experts examined several indicators of Russia's battlefield performance and found that it has been performing poorly since January 2024. Russia's rate of advance on some fronts has been as slow as just 50 meters per day—the slowest rate since World War II. It has also only seized around 5,000 square kilometers, less than 1 percent of Ukrainian territory, over the same time period. Russia is also losing equipment at a significantly higher rate than Ukraine, and is nearing the 1 million casualty mark by summer 2025, including 250,000 fatalities—more than five times the number of fatalities in all Russian and Soviet wars between World War II and January 2022. Seth G. Jones, director of the CSIS Defense and Security Department and Harold Brown Chair, joins the podcast to discuss the state of the war in Ukraine and break down the data on Russia's battlefield performance, which is included in an upcoming CSIS report.

On this episode from the Trade Guys, Bill Reinsch, Scott Miller, and Andrew Schwartz unpack the Geneva agreement between the U.S. and China to deescalate their trade war. They also look at the US-UK framework agreement and what lessons it offers for other countries looking to negotiate with the Trump administration. Originally aired on May 15, 2025.

In this episode, host Kathleen McInnis speaks with Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Head of the Center for Civil Liberties, Oleksandra Matviichuk, for a detailed discussion on the devastating Russian war crimes being perpetrated against Ukrainian children.

Over the past decade, there's been much debate around whether Canada's presence on the world stage has diminished. As Canada prepares to host the upcoming G7 summit in Alberta, along with attending next month's NATO Summit in The Hague, is there an opportunity for a Mark Carney led Canada to take on a more prominent role in a shifting global order? Host Steve Paikin asks: Richard Fadden, Former Director of CSIS - the Canadian Security Intelligence Service; Former National Security Adviser to Stephen Harper, and Former Deputy Minister for the Department of National Defence. Adam Chapnick, Professor of defence studies at the Royal Military College of Canada and Co-author of: "Canada First, Not Canada Alone: A History of Canadian Foreign Policy." Kerry Buck, Former Canadian Ambassador to NATO and Senior Fellow at the University of Ottawa. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on a special edition of Babel, Will Todman speaks with Jon Alterman, the creator of Babel and the show's host since it began in 2019. They discuss Jon's reflections on 22 years directing the CSIS Middle East Program, his analysis of how the Middle East policy ecosystem has changed during that time, and his advice to those entering the field. Jon and Will cap off the conversation by discussing the lessons Jon will take to his new CSIS role as the Brzezinski Chair in Global Security and Geostrategy. Transcript: "⁠Babel Special: Jon Alterman's Next Chapter⁠⁠," CSIS, May 22, 2025. Jon's latest work:⁠ "Scenarios That Could Define 2035⁠," CSIS, May 14, 2025. Jon's career advice: ⁠"Advice for Job Seekers in Middle East Policy⁠," CSIS.

The US is risking ceding global market share of clean energy to China, permanently.New tariffs, put in place one day then removed the next. Rising costs for everything along the supply chain. The US clean energy sector is navigating one of its most unpredictable phases yet. From solar to storage, how are developers and policymakers reacting to renewed trade tensions and their impact on the energy transition? “This isn't just about clean energy deployment. It's about whether the US will have a seat at the table in the future global energy economy,” says Leslie Abrahams, Deputy Director of the Energy Security and Climate Change Program at CSIS – the Center for Strategic & International Studies. She joins host Sylvia Leyva Martinez, a principal analyst covering global energy markets at Wood Mackenzie, to find out what the outlook is for US energy innovation. Escalating tariff policy is shaking investor confidence, altering supply chains, and putting the power firmly with China.Plus, in the second half of the show, Sylvia gets the developer perspective, from Joao Barreto, who is CEO of EDP Renewables' distributed generation business in North America. He explains how one of the world's largest clean energy developers is mitigating risk, adjusting their strategy, and building trust with manufacturers and offtakers amid unprecedented uncertainty.Sylvia, Leslie and Joao discuss:Why US$8 billion in clean energy projects were cancelled in Q1 2025, and what that signals to the marketHow US tariffs on Chinese batteries are backfiring on domestic manufacturingThe challenge of accelerating R&D while shutting out foreign investmentHow storage and solar developers are hedging their betsWhether the US risks ceding global market share to China permanentlyPower Play was developed by ExxonMobil to shine a light on the accomplishments of remarkable women and the men who uphold the importance of empowering others in the LNG and decarbonization industries. Nominations for the seventh annual Power Play Awards are now open, with four categories available: The Rising Star, The Pioneer, The Ambassador, and The Low Carbon Accelerator. Nominate a deserving candidate today! Nominations close May 30th. Find out more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Max and Maria spoke with Edward Fishman about his bestselling book, Chokepoints: American Power in the Age of Economic Warfare. 

In this special episode from the ChinaPower podcast, Mr. Jon Czin joins host Bonny Lin to discuss domestic dynamics and leadership decisionmaking within the People's Republic of China's (PRC), including what is currently missing in the conversation within the United States on Chinese politics. Mr. Jonathan A. Czin is the Michael H. Armacost Chair in Foreign Policy Studies at Brookings Institution and a fellow in the John L. Thornton China Center. He is a former member of the Senior Analytic Service at CIA, where he was one of the intelligence community's top China experts. From 2021 till 2023, he was director for China at the National Security Council, where he advised on, staffed, and coordinated White House and inter-agency diplomacy with the People's Republic of China, including all of President Biden's interactions with President Xi, and played a leading role in addressing a wide range of global China issues. He also served as advisor for Asia-Pacific security affairs in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and overseas at a CIA field station in Southeast Asia. Original interview published on October 31, 2024.

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Dr. Mohanad Hage Ali, deputy director for research at the Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut. Mohanad's latest paper for Carnegie investigates the rise of a new form of drug smuggling in Lebanon. Together, they discuss Hezbollah's involvement in these drug networks, as well as the opportunities to bolster Lebanese sovereignty and state institutions as a result of the group's weakened standing. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Mona Yacoubian, the CSIS Middle East Program's new director, and Asher Grant-Sasson to discuss the challenges the shifting drug trade poses for Lebanese stability. Transcript: "Mohanad Hage Ali: Hezbollah and the Captagon Trade⁠⁠," CSIS, May 15, 2025. Mohanad's latest work: "Double Dealers: Lebanon and the Risks of Captagon Trafficking," Carnegie, March 19, 2025.

What does the future of industrial policy in America look like, and what state capacity investments are needed to get there? How does China factor into the future of the U.S. semiconductor industry? And what do government affairs offices at large technology firms actually do? To explore these questions, we're concluding our CSIS Chip Chat series with Bruce Andrews. Bruce has had a long career on Capitol Hill, led government affairs for Ford, served as Deputy Secretary of Commerce under President Obama, and most recently headed government affairs at Intel. He's now a fellow at CSIS. We discuss… The decline of bipartisanship and how to bring expertise back to Capitol Hill, The case for a new “Department of Competitiveness”  Industry's role in policymaking and what it took to get semiconductor manufacturers on board with the CHIPS Act, Why Silicon Valley suddenly became interested in politics, How to optimize industrial policy in a stick-focused political environment. Outro music: Moon River, Frank Ocean 2018 (YouTube Link) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join former director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, David Vigneault, and Hoover Senior Fellow, H.R. McMaster, as they discuss the Canadian federal election results, trade, and the potential for a common agenda for the future of the US-Canada alliance. Reflecting on Prime Minister Mark Carney's victory in the Canadian federal election in April 2025 and President Trump's recent controversial comments on Canada as the ‘51st state', Vigneault provides his thoughts on the importance of the US-Canada relationship and outlines a positive agenda of cooperation between both countries in areas including North American defense, intelligence cooperation, missile defense, supply chain resilience and energy security. Vigneault discusses Canada's relationship with Mexico, the dangers associated with conflicts in South Asia, including the current conflict between Pakistan and India, and how best to secure critical infrastructure, sensitive technologies, and intellectual property from hostile countries such as China. ABOUT THE SPEAKERS David Vigneault is the former director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, also known as CSIS. Under his leadership, CSIS elevated awareness of vulnerabilities in sectors critical to Canadian innovation and sovereignty—ranging from biopharmaceuticals and artificial intelligence to aerospace and quantum computing. Prior to CSIS, Vigneault served as Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet for Security and Intelligence in the Privy Council Office. He also held roles in the Canada Border Services Agency, the Communications Security Establishment, and the Department of National Defence. In August 2024, Vigneault joined Strider Technologies—a U.S.-based strategic intelligence firm—where he guides security strategy across public and private sector domains. H.R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business. He was the 25th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018.