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In this episode of One Decision In Brief, hosts Kate McCann and Sir Richard Dearlove, former head of Britain's MI6, break down the latest meeting in Florida between U.S. and Ukrainian officials and lay out the expectations for Special Envoy, Steve Witkoff's upcoming trip to Moscow, Russia and the likelihood that a peace deal will be negotiated. They also discuss NATO's preparations to potentially confront Russia and whether Germany could replace the United States and take the lead in NATO. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Original music composed and produced by Leo Sidran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Cristina Moreno te cuenta la actualidad cultural y habla con Iris Permuy, de la Asociación de Traducción y Adaptación Audiovisual de España (ATRAE), que piden una traducción humanista, fuera de los usos de la IA. El guionista Rafael Cobos estrena su primera película como director, 'Golpes', que cuenta la historia de un atraco en los años 80. Nos visitan también tres de sus actores: Luis Tosar, Jesús Carroza y Teresa Garzón. Cristina Moreno conversa con Leonor Watling y Leo Sidran, para presentarnos su dúo musical 'Leo & Leo'. Juntos han publicado un disco homónimo que suena a jazz, pop y a canción de autor. Aloma Rodríguez centra su barra libre de hoy en el cómic autobiográfico 'Todo va a estar bien', de Power Paola.Escuchar audio
Cristina Moreno conversa con Leonor Watling y Leo Sidran, para presentarnos su dúo musical 'Leo & Leo'. Juntos han publicado un disco homónimo que suena a jazz, pop y a canción de autor.Escuchar audio
This week on One Decision, hosts Christina Ruffini and Sir Richard Dearlove, former head of Britain's MI6, are joined by Michael McFaul, former U.S. Ambassador to Russia during the Obama administration. In this conversation, McFaul breaks down President Donald Trump's proposed 28-point peace deal for Ukraine and what it means for American and European security. McFaul also brings personal insight, reflecting on his time watching Vladimir Putin up close, from meeting him in 1991 when he first entered politics to becoming the increasingly paranoid dictator he is today. Plus, McFaul dissects China's precarious geopolitical position, caught between its strategic partnership with Russia and their need to avoid conflict with the U.S., and what a win for Ukraine would mean not just for halting Putin's army, but also for possibly creating the first real opening in years for political change inside the Kremlin. Michael McFaul's new book, Autocrats vs Democrats: China, Russia, America and the New Global Disorder, out now: https://t.co/fLOoG1j8me Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Original music composed and produced by Leo Sidran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode of One Decision In Brief, hosts Christina Ruffini and Sir Richard Dearlove, former head of Britain's MI6, break down President Donald Trump's proposed 28-point peace plan for Ukraine. The plan includes Ukraine ceding territory to Russia and never becoming a NATO member state. Ruffini and Dearlove discuss what this plan means not only for Ukrainian security, but also European and American security, and how Europe is pushing back on the plan. Plus, the hosts examine Trump's warm reception of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and what this could signify for the future of the U.S.'s relationship with the Middle East Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Original music composed and produced by Leo Sidran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Madison Cunningham is the latest guest on Leo Sidran's The Third Story podcast
In this week's episode of One Decision, hosts Kate McCann and Sir Ben Wallce, former UK Defence Secretary, sit down for a conversation with Andriy Zagorodnyuk, former Ukraine Minister of Defence. Zagorodnyuk reveals how Russia is revolutionizing warfare with rapid weapons innovation and how Ukraine is adjusting to these changes to stay in the fight. They discuss Vladimir Putin's motives for continued aggression, including his vision for Crimea and how Ukraine's defense technology has changed the landscape of modern warfare. They also question whether NATO is prepared for a Russian attack and explore the ramifications of the war on the West and its allies. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Original music composed and produced by Leo Sidran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode of One Decision In Brief, hosts Kate McCann and Sir Ben Wallace, former UK Defence Secretary, break down President Donald Trump's latest moves in Venezuela, including threatening military strikes and offering Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro a chance for talks. The two consider the regional consequences of military action, including Cuba's political reliance on Venezuela and the Latin American drug supply chain. Sir Ben shares how Venezuelan and Colombian drug operatives are now learning high-stakes defense technology. Plus, Kate asks Sir Ben whether the UK Prime Minister should ask Trump not to sue the BBC, and if Trump should be awarded a Nobel Peace Prize. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Original music composed and produced by Leo Sidran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Una travesía musical por el Mediterráneo y América Latina, enlazando tradición y modernidad, un recorrido donde la introspección, la poesía y el diálogo entre culturas trazan un mismo horizonte musical. Batalla por la vida +Fedra - Santiago Auserón, Vaggelis Tzeretas, Thodoris Karellas, Nerantzi Las Nubes - Manuel García Álbum blanco para Silvio Rodríguez El Viejo Comunista - Manuel García, Silvio Rodríguez, El caminante Al Mismo Tiempo - Hugo Fattoruso, Fernando Cabrera, Al Mismo Tiempo Refugio - Nano Stern, Refugio Light - Leonor Watling, Leo Sidran, Jorge Drexler, Sol Sidran, Leo & Leo My Heart’s in the Highlands - Piers Faccini, Grégory Dargent, Songs I Love Volume II Helplessly Hoping - Crosby, Stills & Nash, Greatest Hits Feel the Spirit - Refuge, Heaven Earth Zghapari - Niad Diasamidze y 33 A, Omi da TavisuflebaPETRICHOR - Jon Batiste, BIG MONEYEscuchar audio
In this episode of One Decision, hosts Kate McCann and Sir Richard Dearlove, former head of Britain's MI6, sit down with Mohamed El-Erian, renowned economist and the Rene M. Kern Practice Professor of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. They discuss how President Donald Trump's tariff policies have shifted the landscape of geo-economics, as countries struggle to adapt to US trade policies. They also examine the state of the US dollar and whether its position as the leading reserve currency may be at risk. Plus, how AI will change the global economy and how a universal basic income could protect against drastic labor impacts. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Original music composed and produced by Leo Sidran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The latest guest on Leo Sidran's "The Third Story" podcast is Theo Bleckmann
In this episode of One Decision In Brief, hosts Kate McCann and Sir Richard Dearlove, former head of Britain's MI6, discuss the BBC's latest crisis after President Donald Trump threatened the broadcaster with legal action over their January 6 documentary. The BBC's coverage of issues such as Israel's role in the war in Gaza, trans rights, climate change, and more have come under fire, forcing top executives to resign. Plus, the hosts examine Vladimir Putin's close aid, foreign minister Sergei Lavrov's recent withdrawal from the public and what that signals about Russia's leadership. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Original music composed and produced by Leo Sidran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode of One Decision, hosts Christina Ruffini and Sir Richard Dearlove, former head of Britain's MI6, are joined by Corey Hinderstein, former deputy administrator for defense nuclear nonproliferation at the National Nuclear Security Administration. As an expert on nuclear weapons and testing, Hinderstein breaks down President Trump's latest comments that the United States will resume testing of its nuclear weapons and what that means for foreign adversaries like Russia, China, and North Korea. She lays out the significance of a robust nuclear weapons state and the responsibilities attached, and what the process of testing actually entails. Plus, Hinderstein shares the story of when she first located the nuclear centrifuge facility in Natanz, Iran and how it shaped the legacy of the JCPOA. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Original music composed and produced by Leo Sidran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Der Herbst ist die perfekte Jahreszeit für dieses Album der Woche. Musik zum Eintauchen, zum Einhüllen. Musik die nicht drängt, sondern einlädt. Keine Effekte, kein unnötiger Ballast. Großartige Musiker im Hintergrund und zwei musikalische Charaktere aus unterschiedlichen Welten davor. "LEO & LEO" von Leonor Watling und Leo Sidran. (superfly.fm)
This week on One Decision, hosts Christina Ruffini and former MI6 Chief Sir Richard Dearlove are joined by Liza Tobin, former China Director at the National Security Council under both the Biden and Trump administrations. They discuss China's takeover of the rare earth mineral market and whether America and its allies are too far behind when it comes to reducing reliance on Beijing's critical resources. They also examine the impact of the West's influence on semiconductor production and what the upcoming meeting between President Donald Trump and Xi Jinping could mean for the U.S.'s dependence on Chinese rare earth elements Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Original music composed and produced by Leo Sidran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this week's One Decision In Brief, hosts Kate McCann and Sir Richard Dearlove, former head of MI6, break down the latest developments in Latin America, including the Pentagon's recent deployment of an aircraft carrier off the coast of Venezuela. The hosts discuss President Donald Trump's intentions and the role Secretary of State Marco Rubio is playing behind the scenes. Plus, they examine the aftermath of Argentina's midterm elections, where President Javier Milei's coalition secured the majority votes and what that means for Trump's promise to bailout the Argentine economy. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Original music composed and produced by Leo Sidran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
British singer-songwriter dodie has spent half her life in public. Long before algorithms and engagement metrics ruled the day, she began posting homemade songs and videos on YouTube as a teenager from Essex. Her soft voice, self-effacing humor, and unfiltered honesty drew millions of viewers who watched her grow up online—sharing heartbreaks, mental-health struggles, and moments of joy in real time. Fifteen years later, that same authenticity anchors her second album, Not For Lack of Trying (Decca / Verve), a project that finds her looking inward with more clarity and balance than ever. Produced with Joe Rubel, the record feels both intimate and expansive, blending hushed guitars, clarinets, and a subtle electronic pulse beneath lyrics about healing, boundaries, and learning to feel okay. Here she talks about what it means to grow up online, how she learned to protect her private life, and the long road to emotional equilibrium. She opens up about the strange feedback loop of being praised for her pain, the decision to step back from constant posting, and the discovery that medication, therapy, and time have finally helped her feel “a bit better.” She discusses the making of Not For Lack of Trying, her collaboration with friends like Greta Isaac and producer Joe Rubel, and the sonic choices that define her sound - the low rumble of drop-tuned guitars and the warmth of analog synths supporting a voice that seems to hover just above the mix. “When I'm writing,” she says, “I'm not aiming for how it sounds. I'm aiming for how it feels—I just want to get goosebumps.” Along the way, dodie reflects on the evolution from being a “special girl” with a ukulele and a webcam to becoming a full-fledged artist with more than a billion streams, seven million followers, and a place on Forbes' 30 Under 30 list. Through it all, she's still trying, still curious, still kind, still chasing that feeling. www.third-story.com www.substack.leosidran.com www.wbgo.org/podcast/the-third-story
This week on One Decision, hosts Kate McCann and former MI6 Chief Sir Richard Dearlove sit down with Russian military scholar Mark Galeotti to examine a war that's reshaping not only Russia—but the West itself. Galeotti describes how Vladimir Putin, convinced he's winning, is “burning through Russia's future” to sustain a failing war. He warns that Europe, which has long sheltered under the American security umbrella, must now take its own defense seriously “if it wants to be taken seriously” and prepare for the unpredictable reality of a post-Putin Russia. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Original music composed and produced by Leo Sidran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode of One Decision In Brief, hosts Kate McCann and Sir Richard Dearlove, former head of Britain's MI6, break down the recent meeting in Washington D.C. between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. They assess the ramifications of Trump pulling back from his original stance on supplying Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles, the reaction from European leaders, and what all of this means for Ukraine. Plus, they discuss the prospective summit in Budapest, Hungary with Trump and Vladimir Putin and whether that meeting could lead to peace negotiations. Finally, they examine the latest case of alleged Chinese spying in the UK, what this reveals about the Chinese threat, and what it could mean for Prime Minister Keir Starmer's political leadership. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Original music composed and produced by Leo Sidran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this week's episode One Decision, hosts Christina Ruffini and former MI6 Chief Sir Richard Dearlove sit down with former Los Angeles Mayor and U.S. Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti. Garcetti reflects on his tenure in New Delhi—what he calls America's “most complex and consequential” diplomatic post—and how the U.S.–India relationship has evolved through conflict, trade wars, and global realignments. From navigating the Trump administration's tariffs and sanctions to confronting a “murder-for-hire” plot that tested Washington's trust in New Delhi, Garcetti explains how the two largest democracies can still find common purpose. Plus, Garcetti, who serves as an Ambassador for Global Climate Diplomacy at C40 Cities, argues why the future of global climate action may depend less on nations—and more on cities. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Original music composed and produced by Leo Sidran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this week's One Decision In Brief, hosts Kate McCann and former MI6 Chief Sir Richard Dearlove unpack President Donald Trump's Middle East peace deal—what it means for Israel, Hamas, and the shifting balance of power across the region. They assess Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's precarious position at home, the risk of a new extremist movement, and whether Arab states can enforce a fragile truce and fund Gaza's reconstruction. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Original music composed and produced by Leo Sidran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this week's episode of One Decision, hosts Christina Ruffini and former MI6 Chief Sir Richard Dearlove sit down with Pascal Lamy, former Director-General of the World Trade Organization, to discuss how tariffs, President Trump, and resurgent geopolitics are reshaping the global order. Lamy argues that the “rule of force” has replaced the “rule of trade,” warns that U.S. democracy itself may now be Europe's biggest risk, and explains why the EU must move toward political and defense integration—or face decline. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Original music composed and produced by Leo Sidran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
At the Warsaw Security Forum, former MI6 Chief Sir Richard Dearlove and Christina Ruffini speak with UK Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel and former Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk about the future of Europe's security. Patel argues NATO must recognize that “we are all at risk” from Moscow's grey warfare — while also confronting Europe's divided approach to refugees and Gaza. Yatsenyuk calls Russian drone incursions a direct test of NATO's unity, describes how sanctions bite but fall short, and insists Ukraine's drone technology and battlefield resilience make it indispensable to Europe's defense. Full interview with former Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk: https://youtu.be/IpeGN6QIzl8?si=eNpurxuAk8KX63qq Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Original music composed and produced by Leo Sidran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
En esta edición de nuestro podcast estrenamos 'Leo & Leo', el disco que han grabado juntos Leo Sidran y Leonor Watling. En el repaso a novedades de la música Smooth Jazz reseñamos los álbumes de Till Brönner, Brian Culbertson, Torsten Goods y Christian McBride. En el bloque del recuerdo escuchamos temas a ritmo de Bossa Nova interpretados por el guitarrista y cantante John Pizzarelli.
Born and raised in Madrid, Leonor Watling grew up between cultures, the daughter of a Spanish academic father and a British mother who had been raised in Africa. From an early age she was aware of both the fragility and the richness of life: her father was sick for much of her childhood and passed away when she a teenager, just as she began working steadily as an actress. That combination of otherness and awareness shaped her perspective, both on stage and in song. Best known internationally for her starring role in Pedro Almodóvar's Talk to Her, she is one of the most recognizable faces in Spanish cinema, constantly at work in new films and series. Watling has also built a parallel career as a musician. For nearly two decades she fronted the band Marlango, releasing seven albums and touring the world, first singing in English and later in Spanish. In this conversation, recorded in Madrid, Leonor reflects on her journey from early television fame to international cinema, from intimate songwriting to major-label tours, and from the demands of motherhood to the challenges of sustaining a creative life. We also unpack our own collaboration, Leo & Leo, a new project that reimagines songs from the Leo Sidran song catalog alongside new originals, featuring guests Jorge Drexler, Kevin Johansen, Sol Sidran, Javi Peña, and the Paris based Groovy French Band. At its heart, this is both a portrait of an artist who has spent decades walking the line between acting and music, fame and privacy, English and Spanish—and a rare, intimate conversation between two close collaborators who are still discovering new ways to ask questions of each other. www.third-story.com www.leosidran.substack.com
From cyberattacks to drones over NATO skies, defense leaders believe Russia is probing for weakness. At the Warsaw Security Forum, Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur and Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Ben Hodges, former Commander of the U.S. Army in Europe told One Decision that Moscow's provocations aim to divide allies and mask failures in Ukraine. They join hosts Christina Ruffini and former MI6 Chief Sir Richard Dearlove to explain why NATO's unity—and America's staying power—will decide whether Europe's defenses hold. One Decision is an official media partner of the Warsaw Security Forum. The gathering was held this week in Warsaw, Poland. #WSF2025 #DividedWeFall Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Original music composed and produced by Leo Sidran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Leonor Watling se ha enfrentado a nuestro gran reto para presentar su nuevo proyecto musical junto a Leo Sidran, 'Leo y Leo' (no, no es un guiño a María Pombo o a los participantes de 'La isla de las tentaciones'). A pesar de sufrir muchísimo, ha sido de ese tipo de invitadas a las que el picante les provoca ataques de risa en lugar de ira. No tiene desperdicio verla. A disfrutar de una nueva entrega de 'A las Bravas'.
Leonor Watling se ha enfrentado a nuestro gran reto para presentar su nuevo proyecto musical junto a Leo Sidran, 'Leo y Leo' (no, no es un guiño a María Pombo o a los participantes de 'La isla de las tentaciones'). A pesar de sufrir muchísimo, ha sido de ese tipo de invitadas a las que el picante les provoca ataques de risa en lugar de ira. No tiene desperdicio verla. A disfrutar de una nueva entrega de 'A las Bravas'.
In this week's One Decision In Brief, Christina Ruffini and former MI6 Chief Sir Richard Dearlove report from the Warsaw Security Forum, where Poland has emerged as NATO's front-line power. They look at Russia's latest airspace violations and drone incursions, how European allies are scrambling to build defenses, and why Moldova's surprising election result signals new limits to Moscow's influence. Plus: what Ukraine's drone industry is teaching Europe, and how the UK's security role has shifted post-Brexit. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Original music composed and produced by Leo Sidran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Descubrimos algunas de las canciones del disco de Leonor Watling y Leo Sidran, 'Leo & Leo', que se va a publicar esta semana: 'Somehow they understand', 'What´s trending', 'Entre chien et loup', 'Nobody kisses', 'This too shall pass', 'The art of conversation' y 'Hanging by a thread'. Con Leo, que le acompaña como de costumbre, Ben Sidran, su padre, ha grabado 'Are we there yet' en el club Sunside de París con canciones como la que le da título, 'I might be wrong', 'Panda' o 'Victime de la mode'. Y de otro Leo, el brasileño Leo Minax, de sus discos 'Con la mosca detrás de la oreja' y 'Trinta', sus canciones 'Vagabundo', 'Cabelos de lua preta' y 'Tempo de samba'.Escuchar audio
Is Palantir a sinister surveillance giant — or the gold standard in mission-critical software? In this episode of One Decision, hosts Christina Ruffini and ex-MI6 Chief Sir Richard Dearlove speak with Lauren Penneys, Palantir SVP , to separate fact from fiction. She discusses the firm's rise from post-9/11 intelligence work to the front lines of Ukraine and Israel, Britain's National Health Service (NHS), and its controversial work with U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE). They also explore Palantir's wider role in defense, intelligence, and healthcare, and whether artificial intelligence will magnify both the promise — and the risks — of its technology. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Original music composed and produced by Leo Sidran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this week's One Decision In Brief, Christina Ruffini and former MI6 Chief Sir Richard Dearlove assess Russia's latest gray-zone provocations — from fighter jets entering Estonian airspace to swarms of drones over Poland. What do these incursions reveal about NATO's readiness, Europe's vulnerabilities, and Russian President Vladimir Putin's strategy? And with One Decision heading to the Warsaw Security Forum, these questions will be put directly to Europe's leaders. Plus: inside MI6's new dark-web recruitment portal, and how British intelligence is adapting to the digital age. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Original music composed and produced by Leo Sidran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode of One Decision, hosts Christina Ruffini and former U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta sit down with Robert Reich, former Labor Secretary under President Bill Clinton, to discuss his new book, Coming Up Short. Reich reflects on how decades of widening inequality, corporate money in politics, and missteps in the implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)—along with China's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO)—paved the way for Donald Trump's rise. Reich and Panetta reflect on what both political parties missed, why Washington drifted into dysfunction, and how the coming wave of AI could deepen inequality unless new policies—from national service to profit-sharing—take hold. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Original music composed and produced by Leo Sidran.
In this week's One Decision In Brief, hosts Kate McCann and former MI6 Chief Sir Richard Dearlove assess the stakes behind President Donald Trump's historic second state visit to the United Kingdom amid a political storm that is testing Prime Minister Keir Starmer's leadership. They weigh in on the cultural politics surrounding free speech and faith that are resurfacing in Britain, the UK's division between U.S. and EU perspectives on AI regulation, and NATO unity on Ukraine. Plus, Sir Richard discusses the vetting process for former UK Ambassador to the U.S., Lord Peter Mandelson, and whether Number 10 was aware of his closer ties to Jeffrey Epstein than previously thought. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Original music composed and produced by Leo Sidran.
In this episode of One Decision In Brief, hosts Christina Ruffini and Sir Richard Dearlove, former head of Britain's MI6, unpack how the latest strike on Ukraine indicates Vladimir Putin's resistance to President Donald Trump's peace negotiations. They also examine how the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit - where Chinese President Xi Jinping convened global leaders, including India's Narendra Modi, North Korea's Kim Jong-Un, and Russia's Vladimir Putin - hints at a possible new global order that competes with the West. Plus, how the recent U.S. hit on an alleged Venezuelan drug cartel ship implies how Secretary of State Marco Rubio's influence is shaping foreign policy in the Oval Office. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Original music composed and produced by Leo Sidran.
How fragile is the state of Russia's economy? In this episode of One Decision, hosts Christina Ruffini and Sir Richard Dearlove, former MI6 Chief, sit down with Alexandra Prokopenko, a fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, who left her role as an advisor to the Bank of Russia after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Prokopenko discusses how state spending, Chinese trade, and quick adaptation by Russian firms have kept economic growth alive — even as inflation and labor shortages strain the system. They examine the cracks in Putin's war-fueled economy, why the Kremlin is unlikely to cut defense spending, and how sanctions are strengthening, rather than weakening, domestic solidarity. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Original music composed and produced by Leo Sidran.
In this week's One Decision In Brief, hosts Kate McCann and Sir Richard Dearlove, former MI6 Chief, discuss how Israel is deploying AI on the battlefield and how the technology is intercepting calls, mapping behavior, and even generating target lists. They examine the two most common AI models employed, called "Lavender" and “Gospel,” how they're driving innovation and whether international law can keep pace with this new era of machine-driven warfare. Is this the future of war? What happens when algorithms, not humans, are shaping life-and-death decisions? Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Original music composed and produced by Leo Sidran.
In this episode of One Decision, Sir Richard Dearlove, former MI6 chief, and journalist Christina Ruffini speak with Professor Chuck Freilich, Israel's former Deputy National Security Adviser. Freilich explains why he no longer sees a two-state solution as viable and lays out a three-pillar alternative for Gaza and the West Bank. He examines the aims and limits of Israel's campaign against Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's political incentives, and what recent strikes mean for Iran's nuclear program. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Original music composed and produced by Leo Sidran.
This week on One Decision In Brief, hosts Christina Ruffini and former MI6 Chief Sir Richard Dearlove explore what the FBI search of former National Security Advisor John Bolton's home and office says about America's broken system for handling classified material and why so many senior U.S. officials - including President Donald Trump, President Joe Biden, and now John Bolton - have been investigated for mishandling classified documents. As a former intelligence chief himself, Sir Richard also gives us an inside look into how the UK's policy of handling sensitive information differs from America's policy, including what happens once a public official leaves office. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Original music composed and produced by Leo Sidran.
In this week's episode of One Decision, host Sir Richard Dearlove, former MI6 Chief, is joined by former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst to assess the fallout from President Donald Trump's unprecedented summit with Vladimir Putin in Alaska — and the extraordinary gathering of European leaders at the White House that followed. They examine whether Trump is being outmaneuvered by Putin or whether he can still bring real leverage to the table, how Europe's sudden military unity is reshaping the balance of power, and what it all means for Ukraine's survival and NATO's credibility. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Original music composed and produced by Leo Sidran.
Why is Donald Trump letting Nvidia sell chips to China, and what does it mean for global power politics? In this episode of One Decision In Brief, hosts Kate McCann and Sir Richard Dearlove, former MI6 Chief, break down the unusual deal, where the U.S. government gets a cut of the profits. They explore the strategy behind America's chip dominance, how China might respond, and what this reveals about the balance between economic interests and national security. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Original music composed and produced by Leo Sidran.
Every year on his birthday, my dad and I sit down for a conversation. It started when he turned 76, and with a few exceptions, we've done it ever since - capturing an ongoing record of where his head and heart are at that particular moment. Over the years we've talked about music, memory, politics, travel, the craft of performing, and the art of living. These annual conversations have become a kind of time-lapse portrait: the same two people returning to the mic, but always a little changed. This year, as Ben turns 82, the theme that emerges is that he is “still auditioning for the role of myself.” We talk about what it means to keep creating, to stay curious, and to hold on to your sense of fun as the outside world speeds up and your personal world contracts. Ben is, as always, the consummate jazz philosopher. “History is what we make of it and what we live every day,” he tells me. “We're all feeling pain, and you can't deny it. [...] But the response to pain is something separate from the pain itself. And in that distance between the pain and the response to pain is where our work is.” He shares stories from his days hosting NPR's Jazz Alive and later Sidran on Record, explains how he came to be the first person to record Billy Joel's “New York State Of Mind,” reflects on maintaining the outsider's perspective, and weighs in on the latest curveball: AI-generated music. If you've been following this series of birthday talks, then this is a great addition to the canon. If this is your first one, welcome - you're dropping into the middle of a conversation that's been going on for years, and will, I hope, keep going for many more. Ben's most recent album Are We There Yet (Live at the Sunside) was released earlier this summer. www.leosidran.substack.com www.third-story.com www.wbgo.org/studios www.bensidran.com
In 2018, film editor, producer, writer, and director Mary Sweeney sat down for a wide-ranging conversation about her career — from growing up in Madison, Wisconsin, to collaborating with one of the most visionary directors of our time, David Lynch. That conversation traced her evolution as an artist, her pivotal role in shaping films like Lost Highway, The Straight Story, and Mulholland Drive, and the intimate creative and personal relationship she shared with Lynch. Seven years later, in the wake of Lynch's death in early 2025, Sweeney returns for a follow-up conversation, recorded in a Paris hotel room nearly to the day of the original talk. While she has grown and evolved in the intervening years, she is also, unmistakably, in the process of mourning. This new conversation captures a deeply human moment: a woman navigating the complexities of grief, memory, and creative identity after the loss of a longtime collaborator and partner. Sweeney reflects not only on the legacy of her work with Lynch, but also on her ongoing life as an artist, mentor, and teacher. She speaks candidly about the challenge of being defined by a past she helped create, even as she seeks to shape new stories. There's a tension between wanting to move forward and being drawn back to moments that shaped her — and a palpable vulnerability in her willingness to explore that contradiction publicly. Paris itself plays a quiet role in the conversation — a place of reflection and ritual that has become part of Sweeney's life in recent years. The setting adds to the emotional texture of the interview: past and present gently overlapping in a city known for memory and reinvention. If the first conversation served as a kind of time capsule — a snapshot of a creative life at a particular moment — this follow-up serves as both an epilogue and a revision. It expands the story, complicates it, and deepens it. In the language of film, it might be called a director's cut: longer, more revealing, more personal. Ultimately, this episode is about how stories are shaped, reshaped, and sometimes reclaimed. About how we carry our experiences forward. And about how, even in the face of loss, we find ways to keep creating — and keep becoming. www.third-story.com www.leosidran.substack.com www.wbgo.org/podcast/the-third-story
From Bolsonaro to Orbán, what drives leaders who reject democratic norms—and what keeps them in power? One Decision hosts Kate McCann and Sir Richard Dealove sit down to explore the makings of an authoritarian leader, including the times Sir Richard met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and former Libyan dictator, Muammar Gaddafi. Later, they speak with historian Ruth Ben-Ghiat about the modern autocrat's playbook, and how tech oligarchs may be helping to shape a new version of authoritarianism from inside the system. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Original music composed and produced by Leo Sidran.
This week on One Decision In Brief, Kate McCann and Sir Richard Dearlove, former MI6 Chief, analyze how an Israeli minister's visit to Temple Mount and Hamas's release of a hostage video have each raised the stakes. Also, this week, President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff heads to Moscow, but there's no sign that Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to compromise. Plus, Trump claims he'll reposition two nuclear submarines near Russian territories, prompting many to question whether this is a subtle threat to former President Dmitri Medvedev's online comments. Episode produced by Leo Sidran. Original music composed and produced by Leo Sidran.
In this week's episode of One Decision, Congressman Bill Foster — the only Ph.D. physicist in Congress — joins hosts Christina Ruffini and Sir Richard Dearlove to examine the widening gap between science and policy in Washington. Foster warns that as the U.S. defunds research and sidelines experts, it risks falling behind in the global race for technological dominance, particularly against China. From the dangers of deregulated artificial intelligence to the unclear status of Iran's nuclear program, Foster outlines the stakes of ignoring science at the highest levels of government. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Original music composed and produced by Leo Sidran.
In this episode of One Decision In Brief, hosts Sir Richard Dearlove, former MI6 Chief, and Christina Ruffini unpack Donald Trump's new trade deal with the European Union, French President Emmanuel Macron's plans to recognize Palestinian statehood, and the growing international backlash over Israel's conduct in Gaza. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Original music composed and produced by Leo Sidran.
In this episode, “The Godfather of AI” Geoffrey Hinton joins One Decision hosts Kate McCann and Sir Richard Dearlove to discuss the growing global race to build and control superintelligent machines—and why artificial intelligence can no longer be simply switched off. Hinton warns that AI systems are learning in ways we don't fully understand—and may soon be capable of making decisions beyond our control. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Original music composed and produced by Leo Sidran.
Moses Patrou has spent the past twenty-five years in New York, carving out a unique space as a multi-instrumentalist and bandleader. From early days in Madison, Wisconsin playing hand drums in hip hop bands, to immersing himself in Cuban and Brazilian traditions, to gigging across the city in every imaginable context, Patrou has done it all. During the pandemic, he taught himself to play organ—a transformation that has reshaped his sound and his role in the scene. Here he reflects on the long road behind his new record Confession of a Fool - a soulful and striking record that represents the culmination of a lifetime in music - and what it means to make a defining statement at midlife. Patrou talks about the house fire that nearly took everything, the influence of his father (a piano player who named him after Mose Allison), and the difference between being a sideman and stepping into the spotlight. “There's a certain point where the music has to come through your experience,” he says. “It has to filter through your life.” Today, on the ocassion of the 300th episode of The Third Story, there is no better person to talk to than Moses Patrou. www.third-story.comwww.leosidran.substack.com www.wbgo.org/podcast/the-third-story
For Joe Henry, truth in songwriting doesn't come from confession or fact. It comes from presence, from listening, from surrender, from giving shape to the ineffable. As he puts it: “Total presence—that is the code of my road.” Henry's road has taken him across both the literal and metaphorical map of American music. Born in North Carolina, raised in Georgia and Ohio, and coming of age in Ann Arbor, Michigan, he grew up suspended between North and South, white and Black, rural and urban. This early sense of duality, of living between poles, helped shape his identity and fed a lifelong curiosity. Alongside his brother Dave, he immersed himself in records, films, and books that would later form the bedrock of his creative work. Over the past four decades, Henry has become one of the most respected songwriters and producers in American music. His solo albums, beginning in the late 1980s, blend literary songwriting with genre-bending arrangements. As a producer, he's worked with artists like Allen Toussaint, Mavis Staples, Solomon Burke, Bonnie Raitt, Rodney Crowell, Joan Baez, and Meshell Ndegeocello. He co-wrote Madonna's hit “Don't Tell Me,” (she also happens to be his sister in law) and more recently, he's been collaborating with Jon Batiste. This year he is releasing three of his classic albums on vinyl for the first time. In this wide-ranging conversation, Henry discusses his love of character-driven songwriting—an approach influenced early on by Randy Newman and Bob Dylan—and his rejection of the notion that autobiography equals authenticity. “Your factual experience can be disruptive to the truth you're trying to allow to move through you,” he says. www.third-story.com www.leosidran.substack.com www.wbgo.org/podcast/the-third-story