Podcast appearances and mentions of ilan berman

In this episode recorded during media briefing, Daniel J. Levy speaks with Dr Ilan Berman for a first reaction to the US-Iran ceasefire announcement and the 60-day nuclear negotiation period now ahead. Dr Berman assesses Washington's political calculations, the pressure of energy markets and the midterm elections, and why he believes the framework currently gives Tehran the advantage. He also discusses Iran's internal instability, the role of the IRGC, and what the deal could mean for Israel, Hezbollah, and Lebanon. Dr Ilan Berman is Senior Vice President of the American Foreign Policy Council in Washington, DC, and an expert on regional security in the Middle East. In the past he has consulted for the CIA as well as the US Departments of State and Defence. 

In this episode of GREAT POWER PODCAST, host Ilan Berman talks to Dr. Colin Clarke of The Soufan Center regarding the growing sophistication of extremist groups, the Trump administration's new counterterrorism strategy, and the intersection with America's Great Power Competition with China, Russia and other powers. MATERIALS REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE:- Colin P. Clarke, "The New Shape Of Global Jihadism," Statecraft and Strategy no. 1, Spring 2026, https://www.statecraftandstrategy.com/the-new-counterterrorism-terrain/the-new-shape-of-global-jihadism/.- Clara Broekaert and Colin P. Clarke, “The Pandemonium Narrative and Its Limits: Artificial Intelligence and the Islamic State's Innovation Pattern,” Hudson Institute Current Trends in Islamist Ideology, May 11, 2026, https://www.hudson.org/terrorism/pandemonium-narrative-its-limits-artificial-intelligence-islamic-states-innovation-clara-broekaret-colin-p-clarke. - Colin Clarke and Charlie Winter, “The Islamic State May Be Failing, but Its Strategic Communications Legacy Is Here to Stay,” War on the Rocks, August 17, 2017, https://warontherocks.com/the-islamic-state-may-be-failing-but-its-strategic-communications-legacy-is-here-to-stay/. - White House, United States Counterterrorism Strategy 2026, May 2026, https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2026-USCT-Strategy-1.pdf. BIO:Dr. Colin Clarke is the Executive Director of The Soufan Center. His research focuses on domestic and transnational terrorism, international security, and geopolitics.Colin previously served as the Director of Research at The Soufan Group and as a Senior Research Fellow with The Soufan Center. Prior to those roles, Clarke was a professor at Carnegie Mellon University, and a senior political scientist at the RAND Corporation, where he spent a decade researching terrorism, insurgency, and criminal networks. At RAND, Clarke led studies on ISIS financing, the future of terrorism and transnational crime, and lessons learned from all insurgencies since the end of World War II.

Washington Watch Reporter Mary Stackhouse reports on the elections in Texas, the U.S. Department of Justice's request to lift an injunction that paused the progress on the White House's East Wing construction project, and a court ruling blocking

In this episode of GREAT POWER PODCAST, host Ilan Berman talks with Nicholas Eberstadt of the American Enterprise Institute about China's growing demographic problems, and what they signify for the PRC's future - and for Beijing's strategic rivalry with Washington. MATERIALS REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE:-- The PRC's Chinese New Year robot demonstration can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUmlv814aJoBIO:Nicholas Eberstadt holds the Henry Wendt Chair in Political Economy at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where he researches and writes extensively on international security in the Korean Peninsula and Asia, demographics, and economic development. Domestically, he focuses on poverty and social well-being. Dr. Eberstadt is also a senior adviser to the National Bureau of Asian Research.His many books and monographs include Men Without Work: Post-Pandemic Edition (2022); Russia's Peacetime Demographic Crisis: Dimensions, Causes, Implications (2010); The Poverty of “the Poverty Rate” (2008); The End of North Korea (1999); The Tyranny of Numbers (1995); and Poverty in China (1979). His latest is Lessons for an Unserious Superpower: The “Scoop” Jackson Legacy and US Foreign Policy (2024).

In this episode of DISINFORMATION WARS, host Ilan Berman speaks with Andres Ilves of the Middle East Broadcasting Networks regarding how the Islamic Republic is manipulating the flow of information during its present conflict with America - and what we can glean about conditions within Iran, despite these efforts. MATERIALS REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE:-- MBN's weekly "Iran Briefing" newsletter (https://alhurra.com/en/category/iran-briefing)BIO:Andres Ilves is currently Special Advisor and Iran lead at the Middle East Broadcasting Networks. He is a veteran Iran watcher who previously ran both the BBC Persian Service and RFE/RL's Persian-language Radio Farda.

In this episode, Richard Pater speaks with Dr Ilan Berman about the war with Iran, the ceasefire talks, and how Washington is thinking about what comes next. He examines the unresolved question of Iran's enriched uranium stockpile, and the implications for Gulf allies, NATO, and the UK-US relationship. Dr Ilan Berman is Senior Vice President of the American Foreign Policy Council in Washington, DC, and an expert on regional security in the Middle East. In the past he has consulted for the CIA as well as the US Departments of State and Defence.  

In this episode of GREAT POWER PODCAST, host Ilan Berman talks with Michael Kofman of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace about the current state of the war between Russia and Ukraine, and its implications for the U.S. campaign against Iran and Great Power rivalry more broadly.BIO:Michael Kofman is a senior fellow in the Russia and Eurasia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, where he focuses on the Russian military, Ukrainian armed forces, and Eurasian security issues. Prior to joining Carnegie in 2023, he served as director of the Russia Studies Program at the Center for Naval Analyses, where he led a team conducting research on the capabilities, strategy, and military thought of the Russian Armed Forces. Kofman is a contributing editor at War on the Rocks, where he hosts the Russia Contingency, a bi-weekly podcast on the Russian military and the Russia-Ukraine war. He previously served as a research fellow and program manager at the National Defense University. Past fellowships have included the Modern War Institute at West Point, Center for New American Security, and the Woodrow Wilson Center.

Today's headlines: U.S.-Israeli air superiority continuesIranian air defenses remain downIsrael eliminated the head of Iran's navyThe Islamic Republic is preparing for a ground warU.S. President Donald Trump has extended the deadline for the regime to make a dealBeirut declared Iran's ambassador to Lebanon persona non grata and instructed him to leave the countryHezbollah continues to batter northern Israel with rocketsThe U.S. embassy in Iraq told American citizens to leave Iraq immediatelyIDF chief of staff informed the cabinet that the army could collapse on itself if the war continues at this pace due to manpower shortages--FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Ilan Berman, Senior Vice President of the American Foreign Policy Council.Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

The Washington Stand's Casey Harper reports on the Homeland Security Committee hearing on DHS Funding, the Senate's debate over the SAVE America Act, and the deployment of 3,000 troops to the Middle East as Iran rejects the U.S. peace proposal. Josh

In this episode, host Ilan Berman talks to Jonathan Schanzer, CEO of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, about how the war with Iran is reshaping the Middle East - and what it means for “great power competition” writ large. MATERIALS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:-- "Regime Change Without Nation Building," Commentary, April 2026, https://www.commentary.org/articles/jonathan-schanzer/regime-change-iran-america-trump/BIO:Dr. Jonathan Schanzer is the executive director at FDD, where he oversees the work of the organization's experts and scholars.Jonathan previously worked as a terrorism finance analyst at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, where he followed and froze the funding of Hamas and al-Qaeda. Jonathan has held previous think tank research positions at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and the Middle East Forum. He has written hundreds of articles on the Middle East and U.S. national security.His most recent book is Gaza Conflict 2021: Hamas, Israel and Eleven Days of War (FDD Press 2021). His other books are State of Failure: Yasser Arafat, Mahmoud Abbas, and the Unmaking of the Palestinian State (Palgrave Macmillan 2013), Hamas vs. Fatah: The Struggle for Palestine (Palgrave Macmillan 2008), and Al-Qaeda's Armies: Middle East Affiliate Groups and the Next Generation of Terror (Washington Institute for Near East Policy 2004).

Mary Stackhouse, Senior Producer for Washington Watch with Tony Perkins, provides an update on the latest military strikes against Iran, the failure to pass a War Powers Resolution, Secretary Kristi Noem's departure from the DHS, and the future fate

Following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran's military infrastructure, much of the Arab world—including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the UAE, Kuwait, Morocco—publicly aligned with the action. The Houthis condemned the strike as “an attack on all Muslims,” but signaled Iran could respond without their military involvement. Russia and China issued denunciations, yet neither moved to assist Tehran. What happens next? Ilan Berman will discuss: What is the United States seeking to achieve—and what will that require? How stable is Iran's internal political order, and what role could the opposition play? What does the regional outlook look like? Is Tehran attempting to widen the war—and what could follow? Ilan Berman is Senior Vice President of the American Foreign Policy Council and an expert on Middle East and Iran policy. He has consulted for U.S. government agencies and written and edited several books on regional security, including Dismantling Tyranny: Transitioning Beyond Totalitarian Regimes and Taking on Tehran: Strategies for Confronting the Islamic Republic.

In this episode of GREAT POWER PODCAST, host Ilan Berman speaks with Randy Schriver and Mike Kuiken, the Chair and Vice-Chair of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, about the USCC's latest report to Congress, and what they see as the future domains of our unfolding competition with the PRC. MATERIALS REFERENCED:-- The Commission's 2025 Annual Report to Congress (available here: https://www.uscc.gov/annual-report/2025-annual-report-congress)BIOGRAPHIES:Randall Schriver is the Chairman of the Board of the Institute for Indo-Pacific Security (IIPS) and a partner at Pacific Solutions LLC. He is also a lecturer for Stanford University's “Stanford-in-Washington” program, is on the Board of Advisors to the Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA, and is on the Board of Directors of the US-Taiwan Business Council. He served for two years (2018-2019) as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, where he led a team of nearly one hundred professionals and was the principal advisor to the Secretary of Defense on matters related to the Indo-Pacific region.Michael Kuiken serves as Vice Chair of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission following nearly 23 years in the U.S. Senate and is a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution. In the private sector, Mike is the Managing Member of Silver Valley Strategies, where he advises founders, CEOs, and investors on geopolitical and government strategies.

In this episode of GREAT POWER PODCAST, host Ilan Berman speaks with Dana Stroul of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy about the changing shape of the new Syria, and what we can expect in terms of the looming showdown between the United States and Iran.BIO:Dana Stroul is Director of Research and Shelly and Michael Kassen Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, positions she assumed in February, 2024. She rejoined the Institute after serving from 2021-2023 as deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East, the Pentagon's top civilian official with responsibility for the region. Prior to first joining the Institute in 2018, she served for five years as a senior professional staff member on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where she covered the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey. Before working on Capitol Hill, Stroul served in the Middle East policy office of the Secretary of Defense.

In this episode of DISINFORMATION WARS, host Ilan Berman speaks with Dr. James Robbins, Senior Fellow at the American Foreign Policy Council and Dean of Academics at the Institute of World Politics, about their experiences dealing with international broadcasting during the Trump 47 Transition - and where America's public diplomacy enterprise is today. BIO:Dr. James S. Robbins is a national security columnist for USA Today and Senior Fellow in National Security Affairs at the American Foreign Policy Council. He is a former special assistant in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and in 2007 was awarded the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joint Meritorious Civilian Service Award.Dr. Robbins is also the former award-winning Senior Editorial Writer for Foreign Affairs at The Washington Times. His work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, National Review, and other publications. He appears regularly on national and international television and radio.Dr. Robbins holds a Ph.D. from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and has taught at the National Defense University and Marine Corps University, among other schools.

In this episode of GREAT POWER PODCAST, host Ilan Berman speaks with Kamran Bokhari of the New Lines Institute regarding the Trump administration's unexpected early January operation to apprehend Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro and the larger strategic implications of that move.BIO:Dr. Kamran Bokhari is Senior Director and a key founder of the New Lines Institute for Strategy & Policy. Previously, Dr. Bokhari served as Director of the Institute's Analytical Development Department and played a pivotal role in establishing its M.A. program in Strategy & Policy, where he teaches three seminars. Bokhari publishes a weekly essay for Geopolitical Futures and is a regular columnist with Forbes. Dr. Bokhari brings over 15 years of private-sector intelligence experience, providing intellectual leadership in publishing cutting-edge geopolitical analyses and strategic forecasts and has also served as Central Asia Studies Coordinator at the U.S. State Department's Foreign Service Institute. His core areas of expertise are: Strategic Intelligence Analysis, Foreign Policy/National Security, Eurasian Geopolitics (Middle East, South Asia, Central Asia, & South Caucasus) Democratization, Civil-Military Relations, Comparative Political Systems, Counterterrorism, & Political Islam.

Newt talks with Herman Pirchner and Ilan Berman from the American Foreign Policy Council about their new book, “The New Imperialists” which explores the collaboration between Russia, China, and Iran, along with allies like North Korea and Venezuela, to challenge the United States' global leadership. Their conversation highlights the strategic actions taken by the Trump administration, including the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro, as part of a broader strategy to counteract these alliances. They also discuss the geopolitical implications of Venezuela's alignment with anti-American forces and the potential impact on U.S. national security. Pirchner and Berman discuss the strategic importance of Greenland in the context of American defense and its relevance to the imperial ambitions of Russia. Additionally, they discuss the new AFPC publication, "Statecraft and Strategy," aimed at providing a comprehensive view of global trends and foreign policy issues, bridging the gap between partisan perspectives. They underscore the interconnectedness of global geopolitical dynamics and the strategic responses required to address emerging threats.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of GREAT POWER PODCAST, host Ilan Berman speaks with intelligence veteran and Iran expert Norman Roule about the state of Iran's strategic programs after the "Twelve Day War" with Israel, its mounting domestic troubles, and the durability of its strategic partnerships with Russia and China.BIO:Norman Roule served for 34 years in the Central Intelligence Agency, managing numerous programs relating to the Middle East in the CIA's Directorate of Operations. He held multiple senior intelligence assignments in Washington, as well as during over 15 years of overseas work. He served as the National Intelligence Manager for Iran at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence from November 2008 until September 2017. He is now a business consultant on Middle East political, security, economic, and energy issues, with an emphasis on the Gulf Cooperation Council states and Iran, as well as an advisor to numerous think tanks.

In this episode of GREAT POWER PODCAST, host Ilan Berman speaks with David Shedd, intelligence veteran and author of the new book The Great Heist, about China's systematic efforts to penetrate the U.S. economy and steal intellectual property. MATERIALS REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE:-- David R. Shedd and Andrew Badger, The Great Heist: China's Epic Campaign to Steal America's Secrets (HarperCollins, 2025), https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-great-heist-david-r-sheddandrew-badger?variant=43738689273890. BIO:David R. Shedd is the former deputy director and acting director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). He also served as chief of staff for the director of national intelligence and National Security Council senior director and as special assistant to the president for intelligence under George W. Bush. He began his intelligence career in 1982 immediately after his studies at Geneva College and Georgetown University, and served nearly thirty-three years in a wide variety of positions both inside and outside of the CIA during his career.

In this episode of DISINFORMATION WARS, host Ilan Berman speaks with Arthur Barys of TVP World about how Poland's premier English-language broadcaster is trying to change the conversation - and provide crucial context - about Russia's information offensive on Europe's eastern flank. BIO:Arthur Barys is a Warsaw-based translator and head language editor at TVP World, the English-language news channel of Poland's public broadcaster. TVP World covers the region from a Central European perspective, with a special focus on Ukraine, Russia, and NATO's eastern flank.

FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer delivers timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Ilan Berman, Senior Vice President of the American Foreign Policy Council.Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief/

In this episode of GREAT POWER PODCAST, host Ilan Berman speaks with Priyank Mathur of Mythos Labs regarding the growing global focus on artificial intelligence, where America stands currently, and what it means for our Great Power rivalry with the PRC. BIO:Priyank Mathur is Founder and CEO of Mythos Labs, a company that uses AI and strategic communications to combat global security threats. He advises senior leadership of governments, the United Nations and technology companies on AI and emerging technologies. Previously, Mr. Mathur served as a Policy Advisor in the Office of the Secretary at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and as Global Consulting Director at Ogilvy and Mather. Mr. Mathur holds graduate degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Boston University. 

In this episode of GREAT POWER PODCAST, host Ilan Berman speaks with Hudson Institute Senior Fellow (and former host) Michael Sobolik about the new deal over wildly popular social media app TikTok - and why national security concerns surrounding the Chinese platform still persist. MATERIALS REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE:— The White House, “Executive Order: Saving TikTok While Protecting National Security,” September 25, 2025, https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/09/saving-tiktok-while-protecting-national-security/. BIO:Michael Sobolik is a senior fellow at Hudson Institute. He specializes in United States–China relations and great power competition with a focus on geopolitics, net assessments, and competitive strategies. He is the author of Countering China's Great Game: A Strategy for American Dominance (Naval Institute Press, 2024). He is also an advisory board member at the Vandenberg Coalition and a contributing editor at Providence: A Journal of Christianity and American Foreign Policy.Prior to joining Hudson, Mr. Sobolik served as a senior fellow in Indo-Pacific studies at the American Foreign Policy Council in Washington, DC, where he ran the council's Indo-Pacific Security Program. He previously served in the United States Senate as a legislative assistant to Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX).

In this episode of DISINFORMATION WARS, host Ilan Berman speaks with journalist and author Yaakov Katz about the institutional dysfunctions plaguing Israel's conduct of public diplomacy - and the impact these deficiencies have had on the country's current conflict with Hamas. MATERIALS REFERENCED:-- Yaakov Katz and Amir Bohbot, While Israel Slept: How Hamas Surprised the Most Powerful Military in the Middle East (St. Martin's Press, 2025)BIO:Yaakov Katz is an Israeli-American author and journalist and a senior fellow at the Jewish People Policy Institute in Jerusalem. Between 2016 and 2023, Yaakov was editor-in-chief of The Jerusalem Post, where he continues to write a popular weekly column. He is the author of three prior books - “Shadow Strike – Inside Israel's Secret Mission to Eliminate Syrian Nuclear Power”, “Weapon Wizards - How Israel Became a High-Tech Military Superpower” and “Israel vs. Iran: The Shadow War”. His new book, co-authored with Amir Bohbot, is “While Israel Slept: How Hamas Surprised the Most Powerful Military in the Middle East."

In this episode of GREAT POWER PODCAST, host Ilan Berman speaks with AFPC Senior Fellow Alexander Gray about China's growing activities and interest in the Arctic region - and their implications for American security. BIO:Alexander Gray is a Senior Fellow in National Security Affairs at the American Foreign Policy Council, where his work focuses on U.S. security and defense strategy in the Indo-Pacific, U.S.-China competition globally, and U.S. defense strategy and modernization. He is also the CEO of American Global Strategies LLC, an international strategic advisory firm he co-founded with former National Security Advisor Robert C. O'Brien. Alex previously served as Deputy Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff of the White House National Security Council (NSC), overseeing daily operations, budget, personnel, and security. He was also Special Assistant to the President for the Defense Industrial Base at the National Economic Council and the first Director for Oceania and Indo-Pacific Security at the NSC.

In this episode of DISINFORMATION WARS, host Ilan Berman speaks with Ellen McCarthy, CEO of the Trust in Media Cooperative, about how AI and foreign actors are altering the media landscape, the dangers associated with declining trust in information, and what the U.S. government and private sector institutions can do about it. MATERIALS REFERENCED:-- Gallup, "Americans' Trust in Media Remains at Trend Low," October 14, 2024, https://news.gallup.com/poll/651977/americans-trust-media-remains-trend-low.aspx. -- YouGov, "Survey: Trump and the Media," January 30-February 3, 2025, https://ygo-assets-websites-editorial-emea.yougov.net/documents/Trump_and_the_Media_poll_results.pdf.BIO:The Honorable Ellen McCarthy is Chairwoman and CEO of the Trust in Media Cooperative (https://www.timcoop.org), a nonprofit working to rebuild public trust in the information ecosystem through a new infrastructure that includes multi-sector standards, tools, and public awareness. She has over 30 years of experience in the U.S. intelligence community and public service, including serving as Chief Operating Officer of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) from 2015-2018. From January 2019 to January 2021, she served as Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research (INR).

HALC Executive Director and host Endy D. Zemenides is joined by Ilan Berman, Senior Vice President of the American Foreign Policy Council, Board Member at Radio Free Europe, and author of Implosion: The End of Russia and What It Means for America to analyze the aftermath and impact of President Trump's meeting with with President Zelensky and European Leaders.You can read the articles we discuss in the podcast here:Major Takeaways From Trump's Meeting With Zelenskyy and European Leaders | Council on Foreign RelationsUN publishes Greek response rejecting Libya hydrocarbon claims | eKathimerini.comRhodes beach violations persist despite crackdown | eKathimerini.comConstruction on the islands getting worse every year | eKathimerini.com

China's Inroads In The AmericasIn this episode of GREAT POWER PODCAST, host Ilan Berman speaks with Evan Ellis of the U.S. Army War College about what China (as well as Russia and Iran) is up to, politically and strategically, south of the U.S. border.BIO:Dr. R. Evan Ellis is Latin America Research Professor with the U.S. Army War College, where his research is focused on China's engagement with Latin America and other regional security issues. In the first Trump administration, he served on the Secretary of State's Policy Planning Staff as the official responsible for Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as International Narcotics and Law Enforcement issues.

Eb and Bruce sit down with Ilan Berman, Vice President of the American Foreign Policy Council, to discuss China's Arctic Policy. Then, they're joined by composer Dr. Daniel Asia to talk about his newest production and the current politics.

In this episode, host Ilan Berman speaks with Sam Douglas-Bate of British futures consultancy ForgeFront about how advances in technology are assisting the proliferation of “fake news” and disinformation - and what Western governments can do about it. MATERIALS REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE:— Sam Douglas-Bate, "The Double-Edged Sword: New Technologies to Win the War on Fake News," New Lines Institute, May 2, 2025, https://newlinesinstitute.org/strategic-technology/the-double-edged-sword-new-technologies-to-win-the-war-on-fake-news/. BIO:Sam Douglas-Bate is the founder of ForgeFront, a futures and foresight consultancy based in the UK. The company works with government and businesses around the world in a policy field called futures thinking, helping them use technology to analyze and react to systemic threats and opportunities. A large part of ForgeFront's work is focused on how new technologies intersect with fake news. Prior to establishing ForgeFront, Sam worked for the European Union and the UK's Cabinet Office, Brexit Department and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. He has also worked in the House of Commons, led high profile accounts for a leading public affairs firm and was in the last tranche of British EU Civil Servants working for the institutions in Brussels.

In this episode of GREAT POWER PODCAST, host Ilan Berman speaks with Israeli Brigadier General (ret.) Eran Ortal regarding Israel's long-running “shadow war” with Iran, its current campaign to eliminate the Islamic Republic's nuclear program, and what it might mean for the region - and for Great Power Competition. BIO:Brigadier General Eran Ortal is a visiting scholar at the American Foreign Policy Council. He is the former commander of The Dado Center for Interdisciplinary Military Studies of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). He is also the founder of the Dado Center journal, a publication focused on operational art and military transformation. His first book, The Battle Before the War, was published in Hebrew in 2022. His second book, Renewal, which tracks the run-up to Israel's 2023-2025 war and the way ahead, will be published later this year. Ortal is also a senior fellow with the BESA center at Bar-Ilan university in Israel, and a special consultant for the Israeli Ministry of Defense and the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces.

In this episode of GREAT POWER PODCAST, host Ilan Berman speaks with Joseph Asunka of Afrobarometer regarding political trends in Africa, and how the continent has become a vital arena of Great Power Competition between the U.S. and China. MATERIALS REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE:-- Afrobarometer's African Insights 2024 flagship report (https://www.afrobarometer.org/publication/african-insights-2024-democracy-at-risk-the-peoples-perspective/)BIO:Joseph Asunka has served as CEO of Afrobarometer since April 2021. He was previously program officer in the Global Development and Population program at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, where he managed a portfolio of grants that support efforts to increase transparency and accountability in fiscal governance and foster citizen participation to improve public services in developing countries. Before joining Hewlett, Joseph was a lecturer in political science at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he taught courses on African politics, political economy of development, research methods, and data analysis.

Newt talks with Ilan Berman, Senior Vice President of the American Foreign Policy Council in Washington, D.C., about President Trump’s four-day, three-nation visit to the Middle East this week. President Trump's visit marked a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy, focusing on economic engagement and regional security. During his trip, Trump announced multi-billion dollar deals with Gulf nations, including a major order for Boeing jets from Qatar, signaling a strong U.S. commitment to the region. The President’s visit also included lifting sanctions on Syria and meeting with Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa. The Trump administration's renewed diplomacy with Iran aims to forge a more comprehensive and lasting nuclear agreement, amidst ongoing regional tensions. Berman highlights Trump's transformational approach, prioritizing economic opportunities and strategic partnerships over traditional nation-building efforts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SYRIA: HANDSHAKE WITH A CUTRHOAT. ilan berman, Malcolm Hoenlein @Conf_of_pres @mhoenlein1 1860 DAMASCUS

Good evening: The show begins in Istanbul, as the sons of Cold Warriors gather to talk Ukraine and security. 1870 CBS EYE ON THE WORLD WITH JOHN BATCHELOR FIRST HOUR 9:00-9:15 #Istanbul: Back to the Future, 2022. Anatol Lieven 9:15-9:30 #Europe: No Leader. Anatol Lieven 9:30-9:45 #PRC: Shipping Christmas. Chris Riegel #ScalaReport: Chris Riegel CEO, Scala.com @Stratacache9:45-10:00 #Canada: Never Mind. Conrad Black SECOND HOUR 10:00-10:15 #Israel: Abraham Accords in Train. Asher Fredman, Malcolm Hoenlein @Conf_of_pres @mhoenlein1 10:15-10:30 #Gaza: Ready to Engage with Hamas. Alex Traiman, JNS. Malcolm Hoenlein @Conf_of_pres @mhoenlein1 10:30-10:45 #Syria: Handshake with a Cutthroat. Ilan Berman, Malcolm Hoenlein @Conf_of_pres @mhoenlein1 10:45-11:00 #Iran: Threats. Malcolm Hoenlein @Conf_of_pres @mhoenlein1 THIRD HOUR 11:00-11:15 #NewWorldReport: Profoundly Troubled Petro. Latin American Research Professor Evan Ellis, U.S. Army War College Strategic Studies Institute. @REvanEllis #NewWorldReportEllis 11:15-11:30#NewWorldReport: Latin American Research Professor Evan Ellis, U.S. Army War College Strategic Studies Institute. @REvanEllis #NewWorldReportEllis 11:30-11:45 #NewWorldReport: CELAC in Beijing. Latin American Research Professor Evan Ellis, U.S. Army War College Strategic Studies Institute. @REvanEllis #NewWorldReportEllis 11:45-12:00 #NewWorldReport: Noboa Gets an Ally in the Legislature. Latin American Research Professor Evan Ellis, U.S. Army War College Strategic Studies Institute. @REvanEllis #NewWorldReportEllis FOURTH HOUR 12:00-12:15 #PRC: Non-Tariff Barriers. Alan Tonelson, Gordon Chang 12:15-12:30 #AI: Huawei the Pirate. Brandon Weichert 12:30-12:45 1/2: #Hotel Mars: Roscosmos: Venera 1972. Anatoly Zak, David Livingston12:45-1:00 AM 2/2: #Hotel Mars: Roscosmos: Venera 1972. Anatoly Zak, David Livingston

In this episode of GREAT POWER PODCAST, host Ilan Berman speaks with Eric Olander of the China-Global South Project about how Beijing is intensifying its engagement with South and Southeast Asia as part of a growing focus on its immediate periphery. BIO:Eric Olander is Editor-in-Chief of the China-Global South Project (www.chinaglobalsouth.com), a non-profit independent multimedia organization dedicated to exploring every aspect of China's engagement with the Global South. He is a journalist with more than 30 years of experience reporting, producing, and managing newsrooms for some of the world's leading editorial organizations, including CNN, FRANCE 24, and the BBC World Service, among others. He has an extensive background working in newsrooms and doing content production in the U.S., Europe, Africa, and Asia. China, though, has been the central focus of Eric's professional career.

In this episode of GREAT POWER PODCAST, host Ilan Berman speaks with Amb. Ryan Crocker, former U.S. envoy to Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq, among other places, about how Great Power Competition intersects with a changing Middle East.BIO:Amb. Ryan Crocker served as U.S. ambassador to Lebanon (1990–1993), Kuwait (1994–1997), Syria (1998–2001), Pakistan (2004–2007), Iraq (2007–2009) and Afghanistan (2011–2012). He is a member of the Afghanistan War Commission, a Distinguished Diplomatic Fellow at the Middle East Institute, a Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and holds the Distinguished Chair in Diplomacy and Security at RAND. He is also Chairman of the Board of the Middle East Broadcasting Networks.

On today's program: Chris Smith, U.S. Representative for the 4th District of New Jersey, highlights the latest instance of Russian aggression in Ukraine and the plight of persecuted Christians in Nigeria. Brent Keilen, FRC's Vice President for

In this episode of DISINFORMATION WARS, host Ilan Berman speaks with Janis Sarts, Director of NATO's Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence, about the current informational environment in Europe, and the threats now being posed to the West by Russia, China and others. BIO:Jānis Sārts is the Director of the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence, a multinational, cross-sector organisation providing comprehensive analysis, advice, and practical support in strategic communications to the Alliance and its allied nations. Prior to that, he served as State Secretary of the Latvian Ministry of Defence for more than seven years, leading defence sector reforms during an economic crisis period, developing a new state defence concept, and encouraging regional defence cooperation within NATO and the EU. He has also led the Latvian Government's efforts to increase its security and defence in cyberspace. As Chair of the National Cyber Security Board, he was responsible for formulating and overseeing the implementation of Latvia's cyber security policy, as well as for overseeing the work of the National Information Technology Security Incident Response Institution.

On today's program: Suzanne Bowdey, Editorial Director and Senior Writer for The Washington Stand, reports on the House's budget standoff, as well as the GOP's two-chamber strategy to stop activist judges. Tracey Mann, U.S. Representative for the

In this episode of GREAT POWER PODCAST, host Ilan Berman speaks with Dhruva Jaishankar, Executive Director of the Observer Research Foundation America, about how an emerging and increasingly ambitious India sees China, Russia, Iran, America and its own place in the world.BIO:Dhruva Jaishankar is Executive Director of the Observer Research Foundation America (ORF America), which he helped establish in 2020, and is the author of Vishwa Shastra: India and the World (Penguin India, 2024). He previously held positions or affiliations with Brookings India, the German Marshall Fund, and the Brookings Institution. He is a frequent contributor to the Indian media, including for the Hindustan Times, and was educated at Macalester College and Georgetown University.

In this episode of GREAT POWER PODCAST, host Ilan Berman speaks with Andrew Michta of the Atlantic Council on the growing divisions between the U.S. and Europe, and what it might mean for Ukraine, Russia and beyond. BIO:Andrew A. Michta is a senior fellow in the GeoStrategy Initiative in the Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security and the former dean of the College of International and Security Studies at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies. He holds a PhD in international relations from Johns Hopkins University. His areas of expertise include international security, NATO, and European politics and security, with a special focus on Central Europe and the Baltic states.

In this episode, a rebroadcast of the most recent DISINFORMATION WARS, host Ilan Berman speaks with Laura Cunningham, President of the Open Technology Fund, about how authoritarian regimes are improving their censorship game - and how technology is helping free media fight back against this growing digital authoritarianism. MATERIALS REFERENCE IN THIS EPISODE:— “Does Bypassing Internet Censorship in China Change Individual Beliefs, Attitudes and Behaviors?” Stanford University China Brief, May 1, 2023 (https://sccei.fsi.stanford.edu/china-briefs/does-bypassing-internet-censorship-china-change-individual-beliefs-attitudes-and)BIO:Laura Cunningham is the President of the Open Technology Fund, a position she has held since April of 2020. In that role, she is responsible for OTF's strategic development, long-term planning, and day-to-day operations to enable OTF to fulfill its mission to support internet freedom worldwide. Prior to joining OTF, Laura was the Senior Advisor for Internet Freedom in the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, where she led the Department's Internet freedom programs focused on technology development, digital security, Internet policy advocacy, and research.

American Foreign Policy Council's Ilan Berman gives us the 101 on the past, present, and possible future of the Iranian regime, Middle East geopolitics, and the potential for Starlink as a tool to topple authoritarian regimes.   ·      What do the Iranian dissidents want from the United States? ·      Is the Iranian regime at a tipping point? ·      The changing demographics in Iran ·      How 1979 changed everything ·      The CIA boogeyman ·      Recapping U.S. – Iran historical relations ·      “They've had a gun to Israel's head for a while.” ·      What's the Iranian regime thinking now? ·      The cold-hearted rationality of Middle East politics ·      Why Iran might fast-track development of a nuclear bomb ·      Three scenarios for a post-ayatollah Iran ·      Why the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps isn't going away ·      How Elon Musk's Starlink could transform geopolitics ·      China's race to dominate space-based digital connectivity ·      Africa's population boom   Ilan Berman is Senior Vice President of the American Foreign Policy Council in Washington, DC. An expert on regional security in the Middle East, Central Asia, and the Russian Federation, he has consulted for the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency as well as the U.S. Departments of State and Defense, and has also provided assistance on foreign policy and national security issues to a range of governmental agencies and congressional offices. Follow him on X at @ilanberman.

#IRAN: The Iran-China Trade. ILAN BERMAN, AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY COUNCIL 1925 Persia