Best Global Situation Room Podcasts (2024)

1
NATO Ministers & Former US Defense Secretary on the Summit 37:29

1d ago37:29

37:29

The NATO alliance solidified support for Ukraine's defense against Russia's aggression, pledging an “irreversible path” to membership once the war ends. Guest host Christina Ruffini and One Decision co-host and former United States Defense Secretary Leon Panetta spoke with Sweden's Minister of Defense, Pål Jonson, and Albanian Foreign Minister Igli…

1
Live at the Spy Museum: World & Congressional leaders on the NATO Summit 56:30

4d ago56:30

56:30

The NATO alliance is meeting in Washington amidst the most dangerous security environment since the Cold War. One Decision teamed up with the International Spy Museum for a live panel discussion in front of hundreds of delegates, press, and political leaders. Our new co-host, former US Defense Secretary and CIA director Leon Panetta sat down with L…

1
French Elections: The Far Right, Russia and NATO 40:57

10d ago40:57

40:57

As France prepares to vote in the second round of its parliamentary elections, it appears that Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally may not end up with the majority French President Emmanuel Macron fears—but his troubles are far from over. The Economist's Paris Bureau Chief Sophie Pedder joins One Decision to discuss how the National Rally's re…

1
Nobel Laureate Joseph Stiglitz on Populism, Trump 33:08

17d ago33:08

33:08

Columbia University Professor and Nobel Laureate Joseph E. Stiglitz is one of the world's best-known economists—and one of the most outspoken. He's locked horns with a fellow Nobel laureate, the neoliberal economist Milton Friedman, and openly criticizes globalization. He sits down with One Decision's resident spymaster, Sir Richard Dearlove, and g…

1
Will the US Defend Taiwan? We Ask the Man Biden Just Sent to Taipei 43:46

24d ago43:46

43:46

Richard Armitage, a former Deputy Secretary of State for the George W. Bush administration and a Reagan-era Republican has been deeply involved in America's security and defense policy in the Indo-Pacific region, continuing to represent the United States in trips abroad, joining high-level delegations including a visit to Taipei in May to attend th…

1
A Leading Liberal Podcast Host & Not So Liberal Spy Chief on Labour’s Foreign Policy 42:53

1M ago42:53

42:53

The Conservative Party is on track to see fourteen years in power end, when the United Kingdom votes next month. A popular left-wing figure and co-host of The Trawl podcast Marina Purkiss discusses with One Decision's resident spymaster and Conservative figure Sir Richard Dearlove what a Labour government takeover led by Sir Keir Starmer would mean…

1
Belarus’ Opposition Leader's Message to Putin & Why Ukraine Must Win 43:39

1M ago43:39

43:39

Belarus has spent the past 30 years under the authoritarian rule of President Alexander Lukashenko. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya challenged his rule after her husband was imprisoned by the regime, only two days after he declared his intention to run for office. She is now living as the exiled Belarusian opposition leader and sits down with One Decision…

1
US Ambassador to NATO on Ukraine Getting In 45:55

1M ago45:55

45:55

Julianne Smith serves as the United States Permanent Representative to NATO—a role she assumed at the end of 2021, shortly before Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Ambassador Smith sits down with One Decision's foreign correspondent Christina Ruffini and resident spymaster, former MI6 Chief Sir Richard Dearlove, for a discussion on what to e…

1
Iran, Surprise UK Elections, AI 45:43

2M ago45:43

45:43

Former MI6 Chief Sir Richard Dearlove gives his verdict on this week's biggest news stories—the surprise summer general election in the United Kingdom announced by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and the shock death of Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi and the implications for the regime's succession plan. Julia Macfarlane and Sir Richard also sit down wit…

1
Top US Intel Official on Russia, Chinese Military Threat 46:10

2M ago46:10

46:10

Dr. Trent Maul is the Associate Deputy Director for National Intelligence (ADDNI) for Mission Integration, Office of the Director of National Intelligence. He previously served as the Director of Analysis at the United States Defense Intelligence Agency which produces and analyzes national and foreign military intelligence that supports national se…

1
The Top Negotiator on How Brexit Looks Now 43:30

2M ago43:30

43:30

Lord David Frost, Boris Johnson's pugnacious Brexit chief negotiator, was one of the driving forces behind the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union and a powerful force behind the scenes. But for a man who has had so much influence on British people's lives, he's not often heard from in detail. With time to reflect, Lord Frost s…

1
Ex-UK Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng on Regrets, a Really Tough Time for Tories 46:35

2M ago46:35

46:35

As the British Conservatives head to what may be the end of 14 years in power, One Decision speaks to some of the most influential voices from Britain's ruling party on what's gone wrong, what's gone right, and what lies ahead for the UK and its allies in the West. In the first of these conversations, Julia Macfarlane and former MI6 Chief Sir Richa…

1
What it Took to Get Ukraine Aid, Israel's Path Forward, What's Next for Taiwan 45:32

3M ago45:32

45:32

This week, the United States Congress finally passed a $95 billion military aid package for its allies after months of delays. Democratic Defense leader, Congressman Adam Smith of Washington, joins correspondent Christina Ruffini for a wide-ranging interview to discuss the package that provides crucial aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan and shares …

1
Ex-MI6 Chief & Senior CIA Official on Iran's Next Moves 36:13

3M ago36:13

36:13

Norman Roule served for 34 years in the Central Intelligence Agency, managing significant programs related to the Middle East, including his role as National Intelligence manager for Iran at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence from November 2008 to 2017. Roule joins guest host and journalist Christina Ruffini and One Decision's resi…

1
Macron's Hawkish Shift on Ukraine, Olympics Security Threats 35:47

3M ago35:47

35:47

Ambassador Laurent Bili has served as his nation's diplomatic eyes and ears on the ground in Washington, D.C. —and across the country—since he began his posting in the spring of 2023. Guest host and journalist Liz Landers and One Decision's resident spymaster Sir Richard Dearlove speak with him about the prospects for Congress to pass a support pac…

1
The Diplomat Helping Ukraine Beat Russia, WCK Tragedy in Gaza 47:36

3M ago47:36

47:36

Greece's Special Envoy to Ukraine, Ambassador Spiros Lambridis, knows firsthand what Ukrainians have been experiencing since Russia's full-scale invasion of their country. He tells One Decision's resident spymaster Sir Richard Dearlove and guest host, BBC anchor Kasia Madera, how a Russian ballistic missile struck just a few hundred meters from whe…

1
Congressional Leader on Biden's Foreign Policy, Russia Terrorist Attack 43:39

4M ago43:39

43:39

Republican Congressman Michael McCaul of Texas serves as the chairman of the powerful House Foreign Affairs Committee, which oversees the State Department and shapes the United States foreign policy. Guest host and correspondent Christina Ruffini sat down with McCaul for a wide-ranging interview about the stalled $60 billion aid package for Ukraine…

1
Bonus: Leaders of the US & UK on Powering the Future 34:20

4M ago34:20

34:20

The United Kingdom and the United States are two leading governments working on transitioning to net zero emissions by 2050. Both the Sunak and Biden administrations have set ambitious goals for the next several decades, and in some ways, they are going about it similarly with sweeping legislation—like the Inflation Reduction Act—that is setting ne…

1
What to Expect as Putin Cements His Grip as Russia’s New Czar 42:12

4M ago42:12

42:12

This week, Vladimir Putin hailed a landslide win for a fifth term in an election with no real opposition, whose result was never in question. In a victory speech extending his iron grip on power, Putin warned that World War III between Russia and the West is not out of the question. Guest host and foreign affairs journalist Indira Lakshmanan and On…

1
Liberal Congressional Leader on Biden's "Strategic Mistake" in Israel 38:56

4M ago38:56

38:56

California Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna represents parts of Silicon Valley— the wealthiest congressional district in America and the world's largest technology hub, home to tech giants Apple, Meta, and Google. Khanna sits down for a wide-ranging conversation with One Decision guest host and correspondent Liz Landers to discuss tech, AI regulati…

1
Congressional Intel Leader on Russia, Ukraine and Trump 48:49

4M ago48:49

48:49

Democratic Congressman Jim Himes is the ranking member on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, with oversight of U.S. intelligence agencies, including the CIA and the NSA. He’s also one of the most outspoken members of Congress advocating for supporting Ukraine against Russia’s invasion. Guest host and foreign affairs journalist In…

1
She Predicted the Collapse of China's Real Estate Market. We Ask Her What's Next... 49:41

5M ago49:41

49:41

Charlene Chu, the world-renowned economic analyst whose warnings in 2014 prompted the Chinese government to hastily change their economic policies, is back on One Decision to discuss the fallout from the liquidation of the Hong Kong assets of Evergrande, China’s massive, troubled property developer that she described as “the canary in the coal mine…

1
Bonus: Could This White House Decision Impact Global Energy Goals? 25:03

5M ago25:03

25:03

The team behind the top global affairs podcast, One Decision, brings you "Power Decisions," a new energy series that explores the world's energy sources and the politics and power behind the clean transition. At the beginning of a critical election year in the United States, the Biden administration made waves when it announced a pause on proposed …

1
Famous Russian Dissident Garry Kasparov on Fighting Putin, Navalny Death 40:02

5M ago40:02

40:02

With the news that longtime Vladimir Putin critic Alexei Navalny had died mysteriously while serving in a Siberian penal colony, it seemed that the hopes of the opposition to Putin inside Russia had died with him. While there are still remaining critics in Russia, jailed and facing an uncertain future, Navalny was undoubtedly the most high profile.…

1
Ex-Australian Prime Minister on China, COVID Origins, Trump & Biden 40:30

5M ago40:30

40:30

Former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison overlapped with two American presidents, navigated his nation's response through a global pandemic, and brokered one of the most consequential security agreements that Australia has signed in years. Morrison sits down with One Decision's resident spymaster Sir Richard Dearlove and guest host and journ…

1
The World's Third Biggest Democracy Goes to the Polls 37:34

5M ago37:34

37:34

Indonesia is a rising powerhouse. Its economy is growing— now the 7th largest in terms of GDP. It has huge oil and gas stockpiles, the biggest nickel reserves in the world, and critical materials for semiconductors, laptops, and smartphones. And—arguably its most valuable resource— a diverse, youthful, and digitally native population. Next week, 20…

1
China, Ukraine: Senator Marco Rubio on Where the US is Headed 47:51

5M ago47:51

47:51

Republican Marco Rubio is one of the United States Senate's most outspoken China hawks—criticizing Beijing's human rights practices and warning about its dominance in the semiconductor industry. He's endorsed a candidate in the 2024 presidential elections, throwing his support behind former President Donald Trump, who started a trade war and recent…

1
Special Energy Series: He Led COP. We Ask if Dubai’s a Big Deal 24:59

5M ago24:59

24:59

How's the global transition to clean energy going? The team behind the top global affairs podcast, One Decision, brings you "Power Decisions," a new energy series that explores the world's energy sources and the politics and power behind the clean transition. On this episode, guest host and journalist Liz Landers speaks with former Peruvian Environ…

1
They're Ready for Russia. Are the Rest of Us? 52:22

6M ago52:22

52:22

Lithuania was the first country to declare independence from the Soviet Union before its dissolution. And when their first female leader, Dalia Grybauskaitė, was among the first to raise the alarm about the new Russian President Vladimir Putin, few listened—at first. One of the most outspoken small countries in the world, Lithuania has not only bee…

1
Ex-CIA & MI6 Leaders on Top 2024 Threats 43:57

6M ago43:57

43:57

International terrorism is coming back—that’s the stark warning from former Acting Director of the CIA Michael Morell. Following the January 6th insurrection in Washington, the United States government agencies said that far-right groups posed the greatest threat to national security—an assessment Morell says ought to be revisited in the light of t…

1
Taiwan Decides…For the Last Time? 51:51

6M ago51:51

51:51

This weekend, Taiwan will hold the only free and fair elections in the Chinese-speaking world. Whoever wins will lead in a pivotal time—and their term will cover the period during which President Xi Jinping has promised China will annex what it considers a breakaway territory, even by force, if necessary. Could this be Taiwan’s last election? The i…

1
How Will Scotland’s Political Saga Play at the Polls? 47:46

6M ago47:46

47:46

In this week's episode, we talk to one of the BBC's longest-serving political presenters, James Naughtie, who has covered every United States and United Kingdom election since the 1990s. We hear his observations on the recent implosion of the Scottish National Party, the stunning downfall of Nicola Sturgeon, one of the longest-running political lea…

1
A Year of War - 2024 May Be Worse… 46:11

7M ago46:11

46:11

What decision had the most international impact in 2023? The war in Ukraine continued to loom large among Western nations’ foreign policy priorities. The sudden, shocking resurgence of war in the Middle East quickly dominated the global agenda, raised questions about how long the Israeli-Hamas conflict could drag on and whether peace there can even…

1
Special Energy Series: World's Top Energy Expert on COP Deal 37:52

7M ago37:52

37:52

The team behind the top global affairs podcast, One Decision, brings you "Power Decisions," a new energy series that explores the world's energy sources and the politics and power behind the clean transition. On this episode, guest host and journalist Rhana Natour speaks with Daniel Yergin, one of the world's leading experts on energy, a Pulitzer P…

1
What Would Victory Look Like for Putin? 47:48

7M ago47:48

47:48

As the second anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine approaches, and United States support to arm Ukraine fades, One Decision's Sir Richard Dearlove and guest host Jane Ferguson talk to renowned Russia expert Dr. Fiona Hill about what's inside Russian President Vladimir Putin's playbook and how the conflict might ultimately end. Dr. Hill serve…

1
Ukraine's Weapons Chief on How To Win the War 38:32

7M ago38:32

38:32

Alexander Kamyshin is in charge of arming Ukraine's defense industries, and gathering military hardware from allies to sustain the country's defense against a Russian invasion. This week he is in the American capital meeting with lawmakers and business leaders alongside his Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and President Volodymyr Zelensky. He was the…

1
Ex-MI6 Chief on Israel Intel Failure & Climate Predictions 45:11

7M ago45:11

45:11

What happens in a world where mankind has failed to implement the urgent changes needed to tackle climate change, and temperatures rise above the pre-industrial average? What will our world look like? One Decision asks Gaia Vince, author of the book "Nomad Century," in which she envisions worst-case scenarios of a world with dangerous rising temper…

1
Should the US Condition Aid to Israel? 35:25

8M ago35:25

35:25

Senator Chris Murphy, who sits on the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has called for a conversation on American aid to Israel—and what kind of conditions should be a part of it. He, along with other Democratic colleagues, has spoken out against the high death toll in Gaza, which Murphy now calls “unsustainable.” A mammoth aid package i…

1
Special Energy Series: The Future According to Obama's Energy Czar 29:47

8M ago29:47

29:47

The team behind the top global affairs podcast, One Decision, brings you "Power Decisions," a new energy series that explores the world's energy sources and the politics and power behind the clean transition. As the COP28 climate conference kicks off this week in the United Arab Emirates, we examine the growth and development of emerging clean ener…

1
Bonus: What He Learned Negotiating With Hamas 22:41

8M ago22:41

22:41

Twenty-four hostages were released by Hamas following their capture during the October 7th invasion of Israel. But how do the two warring sides find common ground and arrive at an agreement in the midst of a war? Gershon Baskin, a writer and activist from Israel, has carried back-channel messages to and from Hamas for seventeen years and was deeply…

1
Moldova: In Putin's Crosshairs? 36:38

8M ago36:38

36:38

Foreign Minister Nicu Popescu of Moldova sits down with One Decision in New York to talk about the various efforts that Russia is allegedly committing to destabilizing the tiny and young European nation, preventing it from joining the European Union. Russian soldiers and separatists already occupy a large part of the country, and it's an area that …

1
Xi Comes to America, Cameron Makes a Comeback 44:09

8M ago44:09

44:09

President Xi and President Biden meet face-to-face for the first time since tensions frayed over a visit to Taiwan by the United States Speaker of the House of Representatives and the shooting down of a Chinese spy balloon enraged Washington. America’s allies in the South China Sea are watching closely—will Biden and Xi patch things up, and what do…

1
Ex-Palestinian and Israeli Leaders Weigh in on War 54:50

8M ago54:50

54:50

This week, we sit down with Dr. Michael Oren, former Israeli Ambassador to the United States and former member of the Knesset, and Salam Fayyad, the former Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority. We hear from both perspectives on the main roadblocks to peace and what needs to happen going forward. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Ne…

1
Obama's Trade Czar on One of the Biggest Blunders in US History 47:59

8M ago47:59

47:59

The new President of the Council on Foreign Relations, Ambassador Michael Froman, joins One Decision to talk about the China challenge as President Joe Biden prepares to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping later this month in California. Froman was a key player in the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations while serving as U.S. Trade Representat…

1
Special Energy Series: Will It Be a COP Out? 47:09

9M ago47:09

47:09

The team behind the top global affairs podcast, One Decision, introduces "Power Decisions," a new energy series that explores the world's energy sources and the politics and power behind the clean transition. This debut episode hosted by CNBC's Mandy Drury examines the globe's next energy conference—COP28 which has been plagued by controversy surro…

1
What is Hezbollah's Next Move? 42:54

9M ago42:54

42:54

Robin Wright from The New Yorker has, on more than one occasion, been granted an audience with the reclusive but fiery leader of the Lebanese Shia group Hezbollah, designated a terrorist group in the United States and most of the Western world. Having spent years observing and reporting on the Israel-Palestinian conflict and its spinoffs in Lebanon…

1
Biden Flies Into War 42:34

9M ago42:34

42:34

After the divisive and controversial storm surrounding an explosion at a hospital in Gaza, President Joe Biden flew on Wednesday to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his Cabinet, and families touched by the October 7th massacre last week. As protests and riots spread like wildfire around not just Arab and Muslim capitals and citi…

1
What Went Wrong? Ex-Head of MI6 on the Attacks and Israeli Intelligence 36:46

9M ago36:46

36:46

The world is still reeling from the shocking invasion of Israel over the weekend, where Hamas militants staged the most audacious and horrific attacks in Israel resulting in the biggest loss of Jewish life since the Holocaust. But questions are now being asked, to how the country's high tech military and sophisticated intelligence services missed w…

1
EU Parliament President on Putin, Populism and the Biggest Problems it Faces 36:47

9M ago36:47

36:47

Europe today is being tested like never before in its recent memory—war and instability are on the edges of Europe, threatening to spill over into its borders; Russian influence and propaganda are sowing divisions across the continent, and rising inflation and unemployment are giving oxygen to divisive populist politics. One Decision sits down for …

1
Bonus: He Met Putin and Xi Over 30 Times. What Did He Learn? 22:12

10M ago22:12

22:12

No country quite understands what it’s like to live next to a major power to the extent Mongolia does because it lives between two. For decades, the government had to balance its relations and goals against the actions and ambitions of its neighbors— except one, Russia is now a pariah, and Mongolia is almost entirely dependent on the other—China fo…

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