The Truth of the Matter
271 episodes - English - Latest episode: 4 days ago -A weekly analysis of the complex policy issues driving the news.
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Episodes
Iran Emerges From The Shadows
April 19, 2024 13:42 - 25 minutesCSIS’s Eliot Cohen joins the podcast to discuss Iran’s missile attack on Israel and its wider geopolitical implications.
Japan’s Official Visit and Trilateral Leaders’ Summit
April 05, 2024 12:30 - 15 minutesCSIS’ Chris Johnstone joins the podcast to discuss next week’s official visit to the United States by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, as well as the trilateral leaders’ summit between the United States, Japan, and the Philippines.
Russia’s New Space Weapon
April 02, 2024 20:50 - 24 minutesCSIS’ Kari Bingen and Heather Williams join the podcast to discuss Russia’s new space-based anti-satellite weapon, its violation of the Outer Space Treaty and what steps the U.S. can take to mitigate the risks.
Government Use of Deepfakes
March 26, 2024 20:14 - 17 minutesCSIS' Dan Byman joins the podcast to discuss his new report which examines several scenarios in which democratic government might consider before using deepfakes to advance their foreign policy objectives. Read full report at this link
The Government Clock is Ti(c)kTok-ing
March 22, 2024 18:14 - 31 minutesIn this episode of the Truth of the Matter, we feature a conversation from CSIS podcast, Smart Women, Smart Power. Host Kathleen McInnis spoke with Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) about her whirlwind past couple of weeks. The pair discussed her recent trip to the Munich Security Conference, including the moment she found out about the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, and her sponsorship of the recently passed House legislation aimed at protecting Americans from TikTok’s...
China Outpacing U.S. Defense Base
March 19, 2024 19:42 - 26 minutesCSIS’ Seth Jones joins the podcast to discuss his new report which explains how China’s defense industrial base is operating on a wartime footing, while the U.S. defense industrial base is largely operating on a peacetime footing. Overall, the U.S. defense industrial ecosystem lacks the capacity, responsiveness, flexibility, and surge capability to meet the U.S. military’s production and warfighting needs. Unless there are urgent changes, the United States risks weakening deterrence and unde...
Rise of Domestic Terrorism
March 15, 2024 18:20 - 30 minutesCNN national security analyst Peter Bergen joins the podcast to discuss how domestic terrorism is on the rise and what the United States can do to counter it.
Jim Stavridis and Elliot Ackerman on “2054”
March 14, 2024 16:21 - 22 minutesAdmiral Jim Stavridis, a retired four-star admiral in the U.S. Navy and former commander of NATO and SOUTHCOM, and award-winning author Elliot Ackerman, contributor at The Atlantic and veteran of the U.S. Marines, join the podcast to discuss their new novel, “2054,” which explores where the United States could find itself in the middle of this century. “2054” is a sequel to New York Times bestseller “2034.”
James Stavridis and Elliot Ackerman on “2054”
March 14, 2024 16:21 - 22 minutesAdmiral James Stavridis, a retired four-star admiral in the U.S. Navy and former commander of NATO and SOUTHCOM, and award-winning author Elliot Ackerman, contributor at The Atlantic and veteran of the U.S. Marines, join the podcast to discuss their new novel, “2054,” which explores where the United States could find itself in the middle of this century. “2054” is a sequel to New York Times bestseller “2034.”
The Relevant Question: Pollster Mark Penn on Israel-Hamas
March 11, 2024 19:16 - 27 minutesHarvard CAPS-Harris Poll chairman Mark Penn joins the podcast to discuss the results of his February poll on U.S. attitudes toward Israel and Hamas.
"Turning Point: The Bomb and the Cold War” on Netflix
March 08, 2024 21:43 - 26 minutesAward-winning filmmaker Brian Knappenberger joins the podcast to discuss his new docuseries Turning Point: The Bomb and the Cold War, which debuts on Netflix on March 12, and how Cold War history is reflected in the current conflict in Ukraine.
Russia’s Food War
March 07, 2024 21:09 - 18 minutesFor the past two years, CSIS’ Global Food and Water Security Program directed by Caitlin Welsh has analyzed the impacts of Russia’s war in Ukraine on global food security and on Ukraine’s agriculture sector and has shed light onto the ways that agriculture and food are central to Russia’s military strategy in Ukraine and its political strategy for expanding influence around the world. Caitlin joins the podcast to discuss these issues.
Ukraine: A Real War
March 01, 2024 13:30 - 19 minutesOn the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion into Ukraine, CSIS’ Eliot Cohen joins the podcast to discuss how the conflict has become a “real war,” and what the consequences are for the United States and the West if Ukraine doesn’t prevail.
The State of the Global Semiconductor Competition
February 28, 2024 16:46 - 33 minutesOn this special episode, we are joined by Chris Miller, author of Chip War: the Fight for the World's Most Critical Technology, and Professor of International History at Tufts University. We discuss Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo's CHIPS Act announcement (1:38), how the semiconductor landscape has changed since Chip War was published (6:39), why U.S. export controls on Russia and China are leaky (12:29), and the latest news from the Chinese semiconductor industry (22:58).
World’s Coolest Dictator
February 14, 2024 17:37 - 22 minutesCSIS’s Ryan Berg joins the podcast to discuss the reelection of Nayib Bukele in El Salvador, the Central American leader who calls himself “the world’s coolest dictator.”
U.S. Targets Baghdad
February 09, 2024 16:08 - 29 minutesCSIS’ Norman Roule joins the podcast to discuss the recent U.S. strike in Baghdad and what U.S. policy is seeking to achieve in the Middle East in combating Iranian proxies.
U.S. Strikes Back
February 06, 2024 17:29 - 31 minutesCSIS’ Seth Jones joins the podcast to discuss U.S. strikes on targets in Syria, Iraq and Yemen. In addition, Dr. Jones discusses his recent trip to Israel and meetings with senior officials there.
LNG Terminal Pause
January 26, 2024 22:44 - 21 minutesCSIS’ Joseph Majkut and Ben Cahill join the podcast to discuss the Biden Administration’s decision to pause the permitting process for new liquified natural gas export facilities in order to analyze their impact on climate change, the economy and national security.
AI 2023 Year in Review
January 26, 2024 15:04 - 35 minutesIn this episode, Andrew sits down with Gregory C. Allen, director of the Wadhwani Center for AI and Advanced Technologies and discuss 2023 AI biggest developments, newest policies, and our responses to it all. This episode is a crossover with the AI Policy Podcast, a podcast by CSIS' Wadhwani Center for AI and Advanced Technologies.
The Houthis and U.S. Options
January 18, 2024 18:08 - 29 minutesCSIS’ Eliot Cohen joins the podcast to discuss how the United States should respond to Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, plus, Dr. Cohen describes what he saw and experienced during his recent visit to Israel.
Wider War in Mideast
January 09, 2024 19:39 - 35 minutesFormer national intelligence manager for Iran at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, CIA senior official and current CSIS senior adviser Norman Roule joins the podcast to discuss the war in Gaza against Hamas and how Iran and its proxies are provoking a potentially expanded Mideast war.
Grateful Dead’s Influence on Modern Media and Culture
January 05, 2024 19:02 - 31 minutesJonathan Shank, CEO of Terrapin Station Entertainment joins the podcast to discuss live music, immersive entertainment and the impact of the Grateful Dead on social media and the future of rock and roll.
Israel’s Hard Choices
December 21, 2023 17:24 - 20 minutesCSIS’ Daniel Byman, who just returned from Israel where he met with senior military officials, joins the podcast to discuss how the war in Gaza is progressing, why the Israeli campaign has been so destructive and what success looks like for Israel and for Hamas.
Hamas’ Hostages
December 18, 2023 16:32 - 30 minutesCSIS’ Jon Alterman and Washington Post columnist Jason Rezaian, who serve as executive directors of the CSIS Commission on Hostage Taking and Wrongful Detention, join the podcast to discuss the ongoing hostage situation in Gaza, lessons from the Israel-Hamas hostage deal, and how global thought and policymaking regarding hostage situations should evolve.
Ukraine: Will America Come Through?
December 15, 2023 17:14 - 20 minutesCSIS’ Max Bergmann joins the podcast to discuss U.S. funding for Ukraine and its implications
WSJ’s Dion Nissenbaum Reporting on Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah
December 14, 2023 11:00 - 30 minutesDion Nissenbaum is an award-winning reporter covering U.S. policy in the Middle East and regional security for The Wall Street Journal. He joins the podcast to discuss the challenges Israel faces to the south with Hamas and to the north with Hezbollah, the current Israeli psyche, and the political situation in Israel.
Brian Stelter on “Network of Lies”
November 28, 2023 19:51 - 36 minutesFormer CNN Reliable Sources anchor Brian Stelter, now a special correspondent for Vanity Fair, joins the podcast to talk about media polarization, how Israel’s war against Hamas is being covered, and his new book, “Network of Lies: The Epic Saga of Fox News, Donald Trump and the Battle for American Democracy.”
Gaza Hospitals
November 21, 2023 20:39 - 30 minutesCSIS’s J. Stephen Morrison joins the podcast to discuss the situation surrounding Gaza’s hospitals as Israel fights against Hamas.
A View From Israel
November 17, 2023 21:18 - 37 minutesIsraeli Brigadier General Asssaf Orion (res), who served the IDF for over 30 years and is now on reserve duty joins the podcast to discuss the events of October 7 and the Israeli response. During his career in the Israel Defense Forces, General Orion was responsible for strategic policy formulation, international cooperation, and military diplomacy. He also served as a liaison to neighboring militaries and peacekeeping forces in the region. He was most recently the head of the Strategic Div...
De-Risking and Export Controls
November 08, 2023 20:25 - 20 minutesCSIS’s Emily Benson joins the podcast to discuss her new Project on Trade and Technology and its first report, “Establishing a New Multilateral Export Regime.”
War in Gaza and The Hollow Crown
November 02, 2023 17:17 - 23 minutesCSIS’s Eliot Cohen joins the podcast for a discussion of the ground war in Gaza and his new book “The Hollow Crown: Shakespeare on How Leaders Rise, Rule and Fall.”
U.S.-Australia Relationship
November 01, 2023 13:29 - 20 minutesCSIS’s Charles Edel joins the podcast to discuss the recent State Visit of Australian Prime Minister Albanese to Washington and its implications for Indo-Pacific security.
Israel, Hamas & Egypt’s Role
October 27, 2023 18:44 - 18 minutesCSIS’s Jon Alterman joins the podcast to discuss the ongoing battle between Israel and Hamas, and the role Egypt could play.
Israel’s Intelligence Regroups
October 23, 2023 17:28 - 16 minutesCSIS’s Emily Harding joins the podcast to discuss Israel’s tragic intelligence failure and its efforts to regroup against an unseen enemy. Plus, a discussion of Egypt’s role going forward.
Tell it Like it Is: Aaron Neville
October 20, 2023 14:09 - 24 minutesLegendary singer Aaron Neville joins the podcast to discuss his new book “Tell it Like it Is: My Story,” performing with his brothers—The Neville Brothers, duets with Linda Ronstadt and how he overcame addiction and hardship to ultimately achieve platinum album sales, number 1 songs and most importantly, a fulfilling, happy life.
Dimensions of War in Gaza
October 19, 2023 20:09 - 23 minutesCSIS’s Seth Jones joins the podcast to discuss Israel’s military objectives and what’s coming next.
Jerusalem Post Editor-in-Chief Avi Mayer on Hospital Blast
October 18, 2023 20:45 - 26 minutesJerusalem Post Editor-in-Chief Avi Mayer joins the podcast to discuss the catastrophic blast at the Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza, his tour of the massacre at Kibbutz Be’eri in southern Israel, mood of the Israeli people and government, challenges that lay ahead and the role of media in the conflict.
Aftermath of Hamas Attack
October 13, 2023 13:48 - 34 minutesCSIS’s Jon Alterman joins the podcast to discuss the brutal aftermath of the Hamas attack on Israel and its implications in the short and medium term.
Hamas's Attack on Israel
October 11, 2023 19:19 - 15 minutesCSIS's Daniel Byman joins the podcast to discuss the last few days of war between Hamas and Israel and what might come next in the conflict.
Ukraine Funding’s Real Battlefield Implications
October 06, 2023 16:18 - 14 minutesCSIS’s Max Bergmann joins the podcast to discuss congressional funding for Ukraine and what it means for Ukraine’s war against Russia.
Mexico’s Historic Election
September 26, 2023 17:36 - 25 minutesFormer CEO of the Mexican Council on Foreign Relations (COMEXI) and host of the CSIS podcast “Mexico Matters” joins the podcast to discuss Mexico’s historic 2024 presidential election featuring two female candidates and the issues at stake for Mexico and the United States.
Iran Hostage Release: Honey and Vinegar
September 20, 2023 19:22 - 19 minutesCSIS’s Jon Alterman joins the podcast to discuss the deal the U.S. made to retrieve 5 American prisoners from Iran, plus approaches the U.S. may take to deal with Tehran going forward.
CSIS Visits Taiwan
September 15, 2023 12:29 - 17 minutesCSIS’s Seth Jones joins the podcast to discuss his recent visit to Taiwan, meetings with President Tsai Ing-wen and senior officials of the Taiwan government and discussions surrounding Taiwan’s security.
Kim Jong-Putin Summit
September 14, 2023 13:04 - 12 minutesCSIS’s Victor Cha joins the podcast to discuss the meeting of the two autocrats in which they vowed greater cooperation on economic and security issues.
AI and Autonomous-Powered U.S. Military
September 13, 2023 14:09 - 17 minutesCSIS’s Gregory C. Allen joins the podcast to discuss the Department of Defense’s “Urgency to Innovate” and its new initiative called “Replicator,” a Pentagon drone program designed to compete with China—namely to field thousands of drones across multiple domains in the next two years to outcompete China’s industrial advantages.
Everyone is Confused About Covid
September 12, 2023 09:00 - 31 minutesCSIS’s Dr. J. Stephen Morrison joins the podcast to discuss Covid confusion and why most Americans have no idea what to do if they get Covid, whether they should be vaccinated or not this fall, and what the CDC and NIH aim to do about it.
Conflict Minerals
September 07, 2023 16:26 - 17 minutesCSIS’s Gracelin Baskaran and Joseph Majkut join the podcast to discuss why the U.S. should elevate the role of critical minerals for achieving the energy transition, spurring economic development, and strengthening national security.
Prigozhin's Demise
August 25, 2023 17:28 - 21 minutesCSIS’s Catrina Doxsee joins the podcast to discuss the alleged death of Yevgeny Prigozhin and its impact on the future of the Wagner Group and Russia's foreign policy.
The Worst is Over—Now What?
August 18, 2023 15:17 - 32 minutesIn this crossover episode with CSIS's The CommonHealth podcast, Andrew talks with Michaela Simoneau and co-host J. Stephen Morrison on their newly published analysis of the post-Covid moment, “The Worst is Over—Now What?” How do we define this moment we have entered, and what are the factors that lead inexorably toward pessimism? Inversely, what is the argument for a positive, sober realism? Optimism rests on pursuing five pathways for progress: rebuild trust, sustain bipartisan legislative a...
Resilience and the Hunger Crisis with Michelle Nunn
July 31, 2023 17:36 - 17 minutesPresident and CEO of CARE USA Michelle Nunn joins the podcast to discuss the organization’s new report on the current global hunger crisis, its many causes, and how to provide effective relief.