NatSec Matters

Michael speaks with former Ambassador Jeffrey Feltman about the precarious state of the Islamic Republic of Iran following the latest wave of mass protests there. Jeff analyzes the regime's use of brutality, coercion, and a total internet blackout to quiet the streets, while arguing that survival does not equal success. Jeffrey also discusses the economic catastrophe Iran faces, the strategic ambiguity surrounding the White House's next moves following new sanctions, and the outlook for regional instability.

Michael Allen speaks with Dr. Ryan Berg, Director of the Americas Program and Head of the Future of Venezuela Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), about the stunning aftermath of the U.S. military intervention in Venezuela. Ryan breaks down the high-stakes Delta Force raid that successfully captured Nicolas Maduro for trial in New York—an operation that lasted only two hours. Dr. Berg also explores the strategic necessity of the U.S. naval presence in the Caribbean and the administration's new oil policy, which involves the U.S. marketing Venezuelan oil to benefit both nations. Finally, Dr. Berg takes a closer look at the broader implications for regional security and the immense challenges of managing the transition in a post-Maduro Caracas.

In this special episode marking one million downloads for the podcast, Jeremy Bash speaks with David Shedd, former acting director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, about the "breathtaking" US military operation in Venezuela over the weekend. They discuss the high-stakes mission to capture Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Celia Flores, to face trial for narco-terrorism in the US. David explores the complex rationale behind the raid—from narco-trafficking charges to the underlying goal of regime change—and explains why Maduro's security forces offered such little resistance despite weeks of US military pre-staging. He also discusses the "murky" aftermath of the operation and its global impact.

Michael speaks with Craig Singleton, China Program Senior Director and Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, about the new frontiers of the US-China tech competition. Craig explains China's willingness to weaponize its dominance in rare earth magnets and how that leverage has left US assembly lines vulnerable. He also explores the high-stakes debate over semiconductor export controls, including a controversial profit-sharing deal for NVIDIA's H20 chips with the US government. Finally, Craig discusses the Chinese "five lever playbook" used to dominate critical sectors like polysilicon, LIDAR, and display technologies, warning of "strategic kill switches" in US infrastructure and the emerging national security threat of biotech.

Michael speaks with Yaakov Katz, former editor-in-chief of the Jerusalem Post and author of the new book While Israel Slept: How Hamas Surprised the Most Powerful Military in the Middle East. Yaakov discusses how the catastrophic intelligence failure leading up to October 7th was rooted in a moment of "lack of imagination" and Israel's fatal commitment to the misbelief that Hamas wanted quiet prosperity, not war. He connects this failure to Israel's dangerous over-reliance on technology. Yaakov also breaks down how Gaza helped elevate the profile of Qatar as a major regional diplomatic power.

The Reagan Survey: Public 'Firepower' for National Security Michael speaks with Roger Zakheim, the Washington Director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, about the recently released National Security Strategy and the findings of the Reagan National Defense Survey of American public opinion. Although Roger critiques the National Security Strategy for a "huge missed opportunity" in failing to explicitly name China and Russia as adversaries, he highlights that a supermajority of Americans view China as the greatest threat and would support committing U.S. forces to defend Taiwan if China were to invade. Roger also discusses the strong public positioning on support for NATO and defense engagement beyond the Americas.

Michael speaks with former acting Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency David Shedd and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense of Western Hemisphere Affairs Jana Nelson about US strikes on narcotraffickers in Latin America and whether the Trump Administration is closing in on attacks on Venezuela. They discuss what could be next for the Maduro regime and potential US targets in Venezuela, including arms facilities in remote areas. Jana and David also discuss the regional reaction to the rising tensions and how it ties into US politics, including in South Florida.

Michael speaks with David Shedd, former acting director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, and Andrew Badger, a corporate risk advisor and former intelligence officer. David and Andrew share their stark forecasts for possible U.S. military strikes on Venezuela's Maduro regime and narco-trafficking targets. They then shift hemispheres to discuss their book, The Great Heist: China's Epic Campaign to Steal America's Secrets. They reveal how China's "whole of society" espionage campaign feeds into a comprehensive global intelligence operation that poses unique national security risks to the U.S.

Michael speaks with Major General Mick Ryan (Ret.), a Senior Fellow for military studies at the Lowy Institute in Sydney, about the latest developments in the war in Ukraine and what we can learn to apply in conflicts around the globe. General Ryan assesses the current state of the front lines, detailing how Russia is leveraging its advantage in electronic warfare and drone technology. He also explains why the Ukrainian counter-offensive has been hampered by a lack of Western ground-based capabilities and a shortage of young soldiers.

Michael speaks with Dr. Kirill Shamiev, a non-resident fellow at the Kennan Institute, about the internal dynamics of the Kremlin and its war in Ukraine. Dr. Shamiev discusses the growing skepticism among the Russian elite regarding Putin's invasion, increasing economic anxiety, and the current state of the regime. He also unpacks how the war has strained civil-military relations and forecasts that the most likely outcome is a "semi-frozen conflict" until there is clarity regarding European political and security uncertainties.

Michael speaks with Nico Lange, a senior fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis and the Munich Security Conference, about the grinding war in Ukraine and the outlook for Europe. Nico details how Russia's summer offensive failed to deliver results for the Kremlin and argues that Western support for Ukraine must move beyond "survival mode." He outlines the strategic necessity of deep strikes on Russian oil refineries and infrastructure to limit Putin's ability to wage war. Nico also discusses the success of U.S. pressure in increasing European support and explains why more pressure on Putin is urgently needed to find the war's off-ramp.

Michael talks with Beacon's new Director of International Trade Practice Sara Schuman, who previously served as the Senior Trade Representative for China at the Office of the United States Trade Representative. Sara discusses President Trump's trip to Asia and its economic implications, reflecting on what works and doesn't work when negotiating with China. Sara also reveals how closely the Trump administration is linking trade and national security, and why that matters for U.S. strategic partners.

Michael speaks with Anthony Vinci, a former CIA officer and the first Chief Technology Officer of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. Anthony discusses his new book, "The Fourth Intelligence Revolution: The Future of Espionage and the Battle to Save America," arguing that AI has launched a revolution where "machines are going to spy on machines." Anthony warns that the new cyber threats mean every American is now a target, demanding a new strategy. He also explains why the U.S. must rethink policy to aggressively engage in economic espionage to counter China's broad surveillance strategy.

Michael speaks with David Shedd, former CIA officer and former acting director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, about the Western Hemisphere and the escalating threat from Venezuela—on the heels of recent U.S. strikes targeting alleged drug mules off the country's coast. David discusses the significant shift in U.S. strategy, which now treats narco-trafficking more like counter-terrorism targets than criminal organizations. He explains why the U.S. is using MQ-9 Reaper drones and Navy assets to disrupt trafficking and openly acknowledging a covert action campaign. David also outlines how Venezuela, led by President Nicolas Maduro, is driving illicit migration and acting as a hub for malign influence from Cuba, Russia, China, and Iran. They also discuss the critical role of Colombia and Mexico in countering these drug trafficking and migration threats to the U.S.

Michael speaks with Dan Twining, president of the International Republican Institute, about the future of US-Russia relations and the war in Ukraine. Dan discusses Valdimir Putin's current and long-term strategy, and his alliances with countries like North Korea and China. He also takes aim at Biden-era policies that forced Ukraine to "fight with one hand tied behind its back." Finally, Dan discusses what's at stake and the war's most likely off-ramps.

Michael speaks with Ralph Goff, a 35-year CIA veteran and six-time Chief of Station. Ralph, now with Cipher Brief, talks about Israel's daring "Rising Lion" operation targeting Iranian nuclear facilities. He explains why Israel pursues such high-stakes missions, from the theft of Iran's nuclear archive to the targeted assassinations of top officials. Ralph also reveals the immense risk tolerance that allows the Mossad to operate so deeply inside a hostile Iranian police state.

Andrew speaks with Dr. Michael Osterholm, founding director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy Center at the University of Minnesota about his new book, "The Big One: How We Must Prepare for Future Deadly Pandemics", which is an urgent warning about the next global health crisis. Dr. Osterholm explains why the continued focus on COVID's origin is distracting from the critical lessons we need to learn. He also offers a frank critique of "meaningless" plexiglass shields and six-foot distancing, sharing what truly works in transmission prevention. And, he outlines why these biological threats are a core national security challenge for U.S. military forces that demands an increase in research and funding.

Michael speaks with Zack Cooper, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, about the evolving dynamics of US policy toward China and the Indo-Pacific. Zack discusses how President Trump's pursuit of a meeting with Xi Jinping has shaped US policy and offers new analysis on the timeline for a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan. Zack also confronts the reality of the so-called "axis of upheaval"—a tightening cooperation between China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran—and what it means for US foreign policy.

Michael speaks with President and Founder of the Institute for Science and International Security David Albright about the state of the Iranian nuclear program following US and Israeli strikes. David, a renowned expert on Iran's nuclear program, provides updated analysis on the systematic destruction of key facilities and shares his insights on the challenges of reconstituting the program, the fate of missing enriched uranium, and the ongoing efforts of international monitors.

Andrew speaks with Jeffrey Feltman, former United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs and a distinguished fellow at the Brookings Institution. Jeffrey takes us inside the precarious state of post-civil war Syria, the deep-seated sectarian and geopolitical tensions that fueled the conflict, and the complex roles of the US and regional powers who want a stake. He also shares his insights on the ongoing threat from insurgent groups and the challenges of establishing a stable, unified government.