Best Mankoff Podcasts (2024)

1
A New Investigative Report on the "Havana Syndrome" Phenomenon with Roman Dobrokhotov 43:20

4h ago43:20

43:20

On this week's episode, Max and Maria sat down with Roman Dobrokhotov, the founder and editor-in-chief of the Russia-focused investigative media outlet, The Insider. Roman's team, along with colleagues at CBS's 60 Minutes and the German outlet Der Spiegel, recently concluded an investigation that uncovered evidence potentially linking Russia's mili…

1
Innovations on the Battlefield in Ukraine with Paul Schwartz and Samuel Bendett 41:41

14d ago41:41

41:41

Max and Maria sat down with Paul Schwartz and Sam Bendett to discuss the different technological and tactical battlefield innovations taking place in Ukraine today, and what they mean for military analysts studying the war. Disclaimer: Paul and Sam's views as expressed in this episode are their own, and do not necessarily represent the Center for N…

1
Nicolas Véron and the Continued Debate Over Russia's Frozen Central Bank Reserves 38:35

28d ago38:35

38:35

Nicolas Véron of Bruegel and the Peterson Institute for International Economics joined Max to discuss the ongoing debate over Russia's frozen central bank reserves. This conversation was recorded on March 15, 2024. See "The European Union should do better than confiscate Russia's reserve money" by Nicolas Véron for Bruegel. At the time of this epis…

1
Liana Fix and Nikolay Petrov on Russia's March 2024 Presidential Election 51:47

1M ago51:47

51:47

This week, Maria was joined once again by Liana Fix and Nikolay Petrov to discuss Russia's March 2024 presidential election, and what "politics" looks like in the country today. Be sure to read the new paper written by Maria and Liana, "Leadership Change in Russia: Contingency Planning Memorandum" (Council on Foreign Relations).…

1
The Death of Alexei Navalny with Miriam Lanskoy 30:03

2M ago30:03

30:03

This week, Max and Maria are joined again by Miriam Lanskoy from the National Endowment for Democracy to discuss the recent news of Alexei Navalny's death in a Russian penal colony.By Center for Strategic and International Studies

1
Maria's New Book: "When Left Moves Right" 1:01:55

2M ago1:01:55

1:01:55

On this week's episode, listen to Max interview Maria on her new book, "When Left Moves Right: The Decline of the Left and the Rise of the Populist Right in Postcommunist Europe." Max and Maria were joined by Dan Kelemen, a Senior Associate non-resident fellow at CSIS and an expert on the European Union. This conversation was recorded on January 30…

1
Russian Influence Operations in 2024 with Catherine Belton 32:03

3M ago32:03

32:03

This week, Max and Maria were joined by acclaimed reporter, Catherine Belton. Catherine currently writes for the Washington Post, and has written extensively on the Russian elite and security services. Max, Maria, and Catherine discussed ongoing Russian efforts to influence democratic societies, and the particular vulnerability facing Western count…

1
Aid to Ukraine and the Future of the War with Michael Kofman 1:02:04

3M ago1:02:04

1:02:04

Michael Kofman, a leading expert on the Russian military and a Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace joined Max, Maria, and Michael Kimmage, to discuss the status of further Western military and financial aid to Ukraine, and the impact a lack of additional assistance would have on the battlefield. This recording took place…

1
National Security This Week with Tom Hanson, 12-27-23 1:18:18

4M ago1:18:18

1:18:18

For his final episode, host Jon Olson talks with Tom Hanson, Diplomat-in-Residence at the Alworth School at the University of Minnesota - Duluth, about the state of global affairs at the end of 2023. Hanson was also the show's very first guest in January 2020.By Jon Olson | KYMN News

1
National Security This Week with Dr. Jennifer Wistrand, 12-20-23 1:00:23

4M ago1:00:23

1:00:23

Host Jon Olson talks with Dr. Jennifer Wistrand, Deputy Director of the Kennan Institute at the Wilson Center in Washington, DC, about Central Asia and the Caucasus region.By Jon Olson | KYMN News

1
Russia, Ukraine, and the Question of Containment 35:52

4M ago35:52

35:52

This week, Max and Maria were joined again by Michael Kimmage, and Michael's frequent co-author and a fellow for Europe at the Council on Foreign Relations, Liana Fix. Recently, Michael and Liana published a piece in Foreign Affairs titled, "A Containment Strategy for Ukraine: How the West Can Help Kyiv Endure a Long War," and they shared their pie…

1
National Security This Week with Dr. Constanze Stelzenmueller, 12-13-23 1:01:21

4M ago1:01:21

1:01:21

This week, host Jon Olson welcomes Dr. Constanze Stelzenmueller from the Brookings Institution. They discuss EU and NATO security policy, the trans-Atlantic partnerships, and Germany’s evolving security policies.By Jon Olson | KYMN News

1
National Security This Week with Authors JJ Harrigan, David Bruns, and David McCloskey (National Security Thrillers), 12-6-23 1:01:07

5M ago1:01:07

1:01:07

Host Jon Olson's guests are noted authors JJ Harrigan, David Bruns, and David McCloskey. They discuss the intersection of national security thriller novels and actual national security challenges and opportunities. JJ Harrigan is former state department Foreign Service Officer and was a political science professor, David Bruns served in submarines …

1
Maria Reports Back After a Trip to Ukraine 36:28

5M ago36:28

36:28

On this week's episode, Maria fills in Max and Michael Kimmage after her recent trip to Kyiv. The three of them then discuss the current state of the war with Russia, and examine some of the key questions facing Ukraine and its partners as we head into 2024.By Center for Strategic and International Studies

1
National Security This Week with Dr. Jeff Mankoff, 11-29-23 55:58

5M ago55:58

55:58

Host Jon Olson talks with Dr. Jeff Mankoff from the Institute for National Strategic Studies at the National Defense University in Washington, DC. They discuss Central Asia, with a focus on the role Kazakhstan plays in the region.By Jon Olson | KYMN News

1
National Security This Week with Devry Boughner Vorwerk, CEO of DevryBV Sustainable Strategies, 11-22-23 1:04:16

5M ago1:04:16

1:04:16

Host Jon Olson talks with Devry Boughner Vorwerk, CEO of DevryBV Sustainable Strategies about the nexus of food security and national security.By Jon Olson | KYMN News

1
The Ideology of Putinism with Sergei Guriev 58:49

5M ago58:49

58:49

On October 31st, Max moderated a conversation between Maria and Sergei Guriev on the ideology of Putinism. Does Vladimir Putin have an ideology? If so, will this ideology help him retain power in Russia? Maria recently co-authored a report on this same topic, and the paper's findings were the main topic of discussion. Dr. Sergei Guriev is the Provo…

1
National Security This Week with Christopher Townsend, 11-15-23 59:49

5M ago59:49

59:49

This week's guest is Christopher Townsend, President of the Navy League of the United States. He and Host Jon Olson discuss the maritime services and American national security interests in the maritime arena.By Jon Olson | KYMN News

1
National Security This Week with Yuki Tatsumi, 11-8-23 1:05:12

5M ago1:05:12

1:05:12

Host Jon Olson talks with Yuki Tatsumi from the Stimson Center about Japan’s defense policy and both challenges and opportunities for Japan in the Indo-Pacific region.By Jon Olson | KYMN News

1
Russia and the Global South with Hanna Notte 1:03:16

6M ago1:03:16

1:03:16

On this week's episode, tune into a conversation Max had on October 24, 2023 with CSIS Senior Associate non-resident fellows, Michael Kimmage and Hanna Notte. Hanna, based in Berlin, is an expert on Russian foreign policy, the Middle East, and arms control and nonproliferation. While Hanna was in DC, she sat down with Max and Michael to discuss Rus…

1
National Security This Week with Esfandyar Batmanghelidj and Temur Umarov, 11-1-23 1:14:45

6M ago1:14:45

1:14:45

This week, host Jon Olson talks with Esfandyar Batmanghelidj and Temur Umarov about the strategic significance of the Central Asian Republics.By Jon Olson | KYMN News

1
National Security This Week with Dr Sylvain Leblanc and Dr. Sean Costigan, 10-25-23 59:48

6M ago59:48

59:48

This week live from the 13th Annual Cyber Security Summit in Bloomington, Minnesota, host Jon Olson talks with Dr. Sylvain Leblanc and Dr. Sean Costigan about cyber operations and national security.By Jon Olson | KYMN News

1
Russia as a Strategic Threat: Ukraine, NATO, and Beyond Europe 1:31:59

6M ago1:31:59

1:31:59

This conversation was recorded as a CSIS event on September 18, 2023. Max sat down with Lisa Aronsson, John Deni, and Paul Schwartz, to examine how sanctions-induced limits on Russia's defense industrial capacity have been impacting, and will continue to impact, Russia's ability to wage war on Ukraine, counter NATO, and remain a major actor in glob…

1
National Security This Week with Elisabeth Braw of the American Enterprise Institute, 10-18-23 1:01:30

6M ago1:01:30

1:01:30

Host Jon Olson talks with Elisabeth Braw of the American Enterprise Institute about Sweden’s bid to join the NATO Alliance, among other topics with a world in turmoil.By Jon Olson | KYMN News

1
National Security This Week with Professor Greg Marfleet - Situation in the Middle East, 10-11-23 1:00:54

6M ago1:00:54

1:00:54

Host Jon Olson and Carleton College Political Science Professor Greg Marfleet discuss the current situation in the Middle East.By Jon Olson | KYMN News

1
Security Assistance to Ukraine Under Threat 28:18

7M ago28:18

28:18

This week, Maria interviews Max about the emerging crisis around the future of U.S. security assistance to Ukraine. Max deep dives into the mechanics of how U.S. funding for Ukraine's war effort actually works, the impact of the ouster of Kevin McCarthy from the House speakership on the funding debate, and the potential role of the EU in filling th…

1
Human Augmentation with Dr. Marina Miron of King's College, 10-4-23 58:25

7M ago58:25

58:25

Host Jon Olson talks with Dr. Marina Miron from King’s College London about human augmentation and the potential impacts in the national security arena.By Jon Olson | KYMN News

1
National Security This Week with Erin Sikorsky, Director of the Center for Climate and Security, 9-27-23 58:35

7M ago58:35

58:35

This week, host Jon Olson's guest is Erin Sikorsky, Director of the Center for Climate and Security, and they discuss the nexus of climate change and American national security interests.By Jon Olson | KYMN News

1
Eric Ciaramella and Ukrainian Security Outside of NATO 33:08

7M ago33:08

33:08

On this week's episode, Max is joined by Eric Ciaramella of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, to discuss his recent writing on possible long-term security arrangements for Ukraine while the country remains outside of the NATO alliance. Learn More: "How the West Can Secure Ukraine's Future: Kyiv Needs a Binding Commitment Before NATO M…

1
National Security This Week with Dr. Vasileios Karagiannopoulos, 9-20-23 58:43

7M ago58:43

58:43

Host Jon Olson talks with Dr. Vasileios Karagiannopoulos about cyber security, the role of cyber in the defense of Ukraine, and a phenomenon called “Hacktivism.”By Jon Olson | KYMN News

1
National Security This Week with Professor Rajan Menon, 9-13-23 1:00:31

7M ago1:00:31

1:00:31

Host Jon Olson and Professor Rajan Menon discuss the critical importance of the Global South, and the rise of a new “non-aligned movement” around the world.By Jon Olson | KYMN News

1
Prigozhin's Death, the Ukrainian Counteroffensive, and a Summer Update on Sanctions 48:00

7M ago48:00

48:00

After a few weeks off for the summer, Max and Maria are back, and are joined again this week by Professor Michael Kimmage. Max, Maria, and Michael discuss all the biggest headlines coming out of Russia and Ukraine since our last episode at the start of August, and give their takes on where events might be headed next. Learn More: The Eurofile | CSI…

1
National Security This Week with Dr. Ryan Berg, 9-6-23 1:03:19

8M ago1:03:19

1:03:19

This week, host Jon Olson talks with Dr. Ryan Berg, who heads the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). They discuss an American Grand Strategy for Latin America and the Caribbean.By Jon Olson | KYMN News

1
National Security This Week with St. Olaf Political Science Professor Anthony Lott, 8-30-23 59:39

8M ago59:39

59:39

Host Jon Olson and Professor Anthony Lott from the Department of Political Science at the College of St. Olaf discuss current crisis areas around the world.By Jon Olson | KYMN News

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Mankoff Podcasts

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