In this episode, we feature an interview with Sam Erhlich, a manager at McKinsey and Company and a student in my Strategic Materials Industry Study. We discuss why critical minerals are crucial to national security and how best to strengthen the U.S. industry

First, however, we look at the runoff elections in Colombia and what a far-right win would mean for the country and the region.

We next turn to North Korea’s surprising economic trajectory since the pandemic and the latest on its diplomatic efforts.

Ryan updates us on one of his favorite topics— aliens and what—if anything—was actually revealed on “Disclosure Day.”

Topics Discussed in this Episode

• 03:15 - Colombia Elections
• 18:45 - North Korean Economic Resurgence
• 48:25 - Disclosure Day Bust
• 1:03:36 - Interview with Sam Ehrlich on Critical Minerals

Articles and Resources Mentioned in Episode

Topic 1: Colombian Elections

• Abelardo de la Espriella is now the front-runner in Colombia (The Economist)
• Colombia’s far-right presidential candidate De la Espriella wins first round of vote ahead of runoff (The Guardian)
• Who is De la Espriella, the Colombian far right’s presidential candidate? (Justice for Colombia.org)

Topic 2: North Korean Economic Resurgence

• The World’s Most Surprising Economic Success Story Is…North Korea (WSJ)
• A ‘Miraculous Transformation’: How Kim Jong-un Fortified North Korea (NY Times)
• China and Russia are competing for influence over North Korea (The Economist)
• The North Korean Threat with David Maxwell

Topic 3: Disclosure Day Bust

• US DOW UAP Disclosure Site
• I’ve reported on UFO sightings for decades — and come to this conclusion (WaPo)
• The Newly Released Government UFO Archives Will Leave You Shrugging (TWZ)

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In this episode, we continue our coverage of the war with Iran. Where are we on the negotiations between the U.S. and Iran? How soon can we expect the Strait of Hormuz to reopen?

We then discuss the stunning upset of Orban in Hungary. How far will his successor go in returning the country to a liberalized democracy? What does this mean for far-right movements across the globe?

Finally, we return to Venezuela to discuss the current situation there and examine the implications of this case for U.S. goals in Cuba.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

• 09:20 Iran-US Peace Talks & Energy Markets
• 30:40 The Downfall of Orban and What it Means for the Global Far Right
• 55:30 The Donroe Doctrine: Venezuela's Success and Is Cuba Next?

Articles and Resources Mentioned in Episode

Topic 1: Iran-US Peace Talks & Energy Markets

• The Price of Peace With Iran (Foreign Affairs)
• The U.S. Military Was Losing Its Edge. After Iran, Everyone Knows It. (NY Times)
• Oil markets are still in La La land (The Economist)

Topic 2: The Downfall of Orban and What it means for the Global Far Right

• How Orban, a Wizard of Populism, Lost His Magic Touch (NY Times)
• Orban’s Defeat Punctures Europe’s Far Right, but Also Offers It a Road Map (NY Times)
• The Transatlantic MAGA Fantasy (Foreign Affairs)

Topic 3: The Donroe Doctrine: Venezuela Success and Is Cuba Next?

• Venezuela is not the triumph Donald Trump claims, but it’s improving (The Economist)
• A dirty deal with Cuba would be better than the alternatives (The Economist)
• With Cuba Under Pressure, the Castro Dynasty Is Making a Comeback (NY Times)

Anita's article "Operationalizing Economic Statecraft," in War on the Rocks

Anita's webinar on the above article

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This episode follows up on our previous two, focusing on Iran. Where are we one month into this war? When and how is it likely to end? We also wonder about the U.S.’s strategic plans for this war. And does regime survival in Iran mean that it may be losing battles but ultimately winning the war?

Topics Discussed in this Episode

• 1-month In: What has the US and Israel accomplished?
• Iran’s Strategy to Survive: Target the Global Economy
• US strategy going forward and the prospects of a ground war

Articles and Resources Mentioned in Episode

• The Revolutionary Guards are taking over Iran (The Economist)
• In an Asymmetrical War, Iran Seeks an Edge With Its Information War (NY Times)
• The Price of Strategic Incoherence in Iran (Foreign Affairs)
• Iran’s Long Game (Foreign Affairs)
• Even the best-case scenario for energy markets is disastrous (The Economist)
• Pentagon prepares for weeks of ground operations in Iran (WaPo)

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We are bringing you an emergency podcast on the war with Iran.

It seems like only yesterday that we put out a bonus podcast on the strikes in Venezuela. That’s because it was just two months ago, and it may have encouraged a sense of military adventurism that has led to full-on war with Iran.

Today, we are talking about who is currently ruling Iran at present. What are the U.S. goals? And what is likely to happen in the future? Will the regime fall? And if it does, what kind of government would likely replace it?

Topics Discussed in this Episode

• US-Israel Strikes on February 28th
• The Death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and key national security leadership
• Iranian Succession Options and U.S. Endgame.

Articles and Resources Mentioned in Episode

• America’s attack on Iran turns a taboo into a method (Steve Simon, The Economist)
• The Folly of Attacking Iran (Nick Kristoff; NY Times)
• John Bolton Sounds the Alarm on Trump’s Iran Gamble (Politico)

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The protests in Iran are largely over, but will the heavy-handed crackdown result in the U.S. taking military action? Is Iran poised to be the next Venezuela?

Trump demanded, then backed down over U.S. ownership of Greenland. What was the final agreement, and was anything really accomplished?

Greenland wasn’t the only thing that grabbed headlines at Davos. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney declared the end of the rules-based international order. If this is true, what comes next, and what steps will middle powers, like Canada, take to serve the best interests of their countries?

Finally, we discuss the recent purge of China’s top military leaders. What does it signal about potential military action against Taiwan?

Topics Discussed in this Episode

• 08:30 - US plans for Iran
• 26:00 - Greenland Crisis and End of the Post-War World Order
• 53:00 - Chinese Military Leadership Purge

Articles and Resources Mentioned in Episode

• US plans for Iran
  • Trump Weighs New Military Options Against Iran (NY Times)
  • Is America about to attack Iran? (The Economist)
  • Donald Trump wants to end America’s half-century conflict with Iran (The Economist)

• Greenland crisis and End of the Post-War World Order
  • The Most Important Foreign Policy Speech in Years (NY Times)
  • Trump’s Greenland Envoy: We Need ‘Total, Unfettered Access’ (NY Times)
  • The Globalization of Canadian Rage (NY Times)

• Chinese Military Leadership Purge
  • What is behind Xi Jinping’s sweeping military purge? (The Economist)
  • The Unsettling Implications of Xi’s Military Purge (Foreign Affairs)
  • China’s Disappearing Generals (NY Times)

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On Saturday, the U.S. announced that it had captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, who, along with his wife, arrived in New York a few hours later to be tried on drug trafficking charges.

Then, President Trump said that the U.S. would be running Venezuela in the near term. So what does this all mean? We cover the latest on this stunning development and what is likely to happen over the next few days and weeks.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

• US Military Capture of Maduro on January 3rd
• Trump Press Conference and who will run Venezuela
• Implications for Russia and China

Articles and Resources Mentioned in Episode

• EIA Breakdown of Venzuela Oil Industry
• Trump Says America will Run Venezuela (UK view-The Rest is Politics)
• Trump Finally Told Americans What This Was All About (NY Times)

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The United States has a new National Security Strategy. What does the world look like under the Second Trump Administration? Should the U.S. no longer strive to be a superpower? We take a look at what in the document seems to strengthen U.S. security, as well as what elements might undermine it and alarm us the most.

Next up, we discuss whether progress has been made on the Ukraine Peace Plan. Are we closer than we have ever been, or is peace still a distant prospect?

Finally, we continue the discussion on Venezuela. The U.S. has taken out more ships and begun seizing oil tankers. What does this escalation mean for the future of Venezuela and U.S. operations there?

Topics Discussed in this Episode

• 04:30 - The New US National Security Strategy
• 39:00 - Ukraine Peace Plan: Actual Progress or Not?
• 1:00:00 - Venezuela: Ramping Up to War?

Articles and Resources Mentioned in Episode

The New US National Security Strategy

• National Security Strategy of the United States of America (The White House)
• The National Security Strategy: The Good, the Not So Great, and the Alarm Bells (CSIS)
• Trump’s Western Hemisphere Pivot Is Real (Foreign Policy)
• Trump Isn’t Interested in Fighting a New Cold War. He Wants a New Civilizational War. (NY Times)

Ukraine Peace Plan: Actual Progress or Not?

• America gives Ukraine reason to hope, just (The Economist)
• Russian’s Energy Achilles Heel (AEI)
• With Attacks on Oil Tankers, Ukraine Takes Aim at Russia’s War Financing (NY Times)

Venezuela: Enforcement of the Trump Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine

• Trump’s Claim That Venezuela ‘Stole’ U.S. Oil Fields Touches Nationalist Nerve (NY Times)
• Trump says Venezuela stole U.S. oil, land and assets. Here’s the history. (WaPo)

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President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping reached a consensus on trade between the two countries. We discuss what each side gave up and who appears to be winning. Next, we address the possibility of a war with Venezuela and why all signs seem to be pointing to yes. Finally, Trump is going after Nigeria for a supposed slaughter of Christians in the country. We get after the truth of these claims and how Christians and Muslims co-exist in the country.

But first, the government shutdown. How is it affecting the everyday lives of Americans, including Anita, and when will it end…well, the next day apparently!

Topics Discussed in this Episode

• 14:30 - Xi and Trump Meeting: Is there a trade deal?
• 27:30 - Looming War with Venezuela
• 54:00 Christian Persecution in Nigeria?

Articles and Resources Mentioned in Episode

Xi and Trump Meeting: Is there a trade deal?

• Why China is winning the trade war (The Economist)
• China Started Separating Its Economy From the West Years Ago (NY Times)

Looming War with Venezuela

• War looms in Venezuela as Trump tests an “Americas First” doctrine (The Economist)
• The Regime Change Temptation in Venezuela (Foreign Affairs)
• Trump Weighs Options, and Risks, for Attacks on Venezuela (NY Times)

Christian Persecution in Nigeria?

• A Fox News report prompted Trump to post about Nigeria, setting off White House scramble (NBC News)
• What to know as Nigeria rejects US military threat over alleged Christian killings (AP)
• Donald Trump says he may strike Nigeria to save Christians. Really? (The Economist)

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