Best Situation Room Studios Podcasts (2024)

1
Ex-CIA Director and Trump’s Former National Security Advisor on Middle East, Ending Ukraine War 32:39

26m ago32:39

32:39

In this week’s episode of One Decision, host Christina Ruffini and former Secretary of Defense and CIA Director Leon Panetta sit down with Ambassador and former National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien. O’Brien, who served as National Security Advisor during President Donald Trump’s first administration, shares his thoughts on several topics, inclu…

1
Ex-MI6 Chief on Europe’s Response to Trump’s Victory, Cabinet Picks 38:27

2h ago38:27

38:27

In this week’s episode, One Decision’s Kasia Madera speaks with our resident spymaster, former Chief of Britain’s MI6, Sir Richard Dearlove, to talk about what President-Elect Donald Trump’s next term could mean for relations between the United Kingdom and the United States, and what his Cabinet picks could mean for the future of global affairs. Pl…

1
Ex-CIA Chief on What Trump's Return Means for the World 37:46

13d ago37:46

37:46

In this week's episode, One Decision's Christina Ruffini and guest co-host, Times Radio Political Editor Kate McCann, discuss the reactions in Washington and Europe following former President Donald Trump's historic election to another term in the White House. Also, resident spymaster and co-host, former Secretary of Defense and CIA Director Leon P…

1
Who Will Be in the Situation Room with Trump and Harris? 34:28

14d ago34:28

34:28

Next week, American voters will decide who will become the next President of the United States: former President Donald Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris. In this week's episode, One Decision’s Christina Ruffini speaks to Vivian Salama, Wall Street Journal's national politics reporter, to see what she's watching ahead of the election. Later, Ch…

1
Ex-MI6 Chief on Moscow’s Moldovan Meddling, Prime Minister of Iceland on Arctic Threats 34:59

21d ago34:59

34:59

This week, host Christina Ruffini and One Decision's resident spymaster, Sir Richard Dearlove, the former head of MI6, discuss former President Donald Trump's recent complaint accusing United Kingdom's Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the Labour Party of election interference in support of Vice President Kamala Harris's presidential campaign. They a…

1
Ex-UK Defence Secretary Warns Wars Converging 35:54

1M ago35:54

35:54

In this week's episode, One Decision's Julia Macfarlane and Sir Richard Dearlove, the former head of Britain's MI6, sit down with Sir Michael Fallon, the former United Kingdom Defence Minister. They discuss how today's global conflicts mirror those from ten years ago when Sir Fallon oversaw British defense during the conflict between Israel and Ham…

1
Ex-CIA Director on Putin and Trump’s Secret Talks & the Man Who Got Bin Laden 39:58

1M ago39:58

39:58

This week, One Decision’s Christina Ruffini sits down with former CIA director and former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta to discuss legendary Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward’s upcoming book, War, and the book’s revelations about the rocky relationship between President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, along with f…

1
Ex-CIA & MI6 Heads on What Israel Does Next 31:49

1M ago31:49

31:49

This week, One Decision's Sir Richard Dearlove returns to the host seat to interview fellow spymaster and co-host, former Secretary of Defense and CIA Director Leon Panetta, on the growing crisis in the Middle East following Iran's missile attack against Israel. They discuss the implications of Israel's response, Iran's fragile state and influence …

1
Eastern European Leaders on the Russian Risks 26:45

2M ago26:45

26:45

In this bonus episode, One Decision's Christina Ruffini sits down with the Czech Republic's Foreign Minister, Jan Lipavsky, and Poland's Ambassador to the United Nations, Krzysztof Szczerski, in New York City during the United Nations General Assembly. They discuss Russia's military threat in Eastern Europe, the strain of illegal migration, interna…

1
Asian Leaders on the China Challenge 32:11

2M ago32:11

32:11

During the high-level week at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York City, world leaders are gathering to discuss a world in crisis. One Decision's Christina Ruffini spoke with the Philippines’ Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo and Taiwan’s Representative to the United States, Alexander Yui. They discussed the escalating threats acro…

1
Ex-MI6 Chief on How Israel Pulled Off the Pagers Plot 34:42

2M ago34:42

34:42

One Decision's resident spymaster, former MI6 Chief Sir Richard Dearlove, and journalist Kasia Madera break down how Israeli intelligence orchestrated an exploding pager attack against Hezbollah in Lebanon and how Tehran may respond. They also discuss the recent second assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. Plus, Pulitzer-Prize-win…

1
Ex-FBI Deputy Director on Putin's New Election Interference Efforts 39:18

2M ago39:18

39:18

Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe joins journalist Kasia Madera and One Decision's resident spymaster, former MI6 Chief Sir Richard Dearlove, to discuss efforts by foreign actors such as Russia, China, and Iran to influence American elections, recent warnings from intelligence officials about potential terror attacks, Donald Trump's relation…

1
Secretary Gates' Warning: We Are Reaching Pre-WWII Level Instability 37:49

3M ago37:49

37:49

Former CIA Director and United States Secretary of Defense Robert Gates joins One Decision's Christina Ruffini and former MI6 Chief Sir Richard Dearlove to discuss global security challenges facing the West and its allies. Gates describes the challenges as "more perilous than we've probably faced since World War II." They also discuss what's at sta…

1
Former US & UK Spy Chiefs Discuss US Election, Global Crises 36:19

3M ago36:19

36:19

This week, One Decision's Sir Richard Dearlove takes over the host seat to interview fellow spymaster and co-host, former Secretary of Defense and CIA Director Leon Panetta, to discuss the recent rise of Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris. They also explore what foreign policy would look like in a potential Harris administration, why a…

1
Ambassador John Bolton: We May Not Get Gaza Ceasefire 37:31

3M ago37:31

37:31

Former White House national security adviser Ambassador John Bolton sits down with One Decision's Christina Ruffini and former MI6 Chief Sir Richard Dearlove to discuss the conflict in the Middle East and the current status of the elusive cease-fire deal. Ambassador Bolton also discusses the recent Ukrainian incursion and notes that it represents a…

1
Gen. David Petraeus on Ukraine's Audacious Attack, What Iran Does Next 38:56

3M ago38:56

38:56

Retired four-star general and former CIA Director David Petraeus sits down with One Decision's Christina Ruffini and former MI6 Chief Sir Richard Dearlove to discuss the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. General Petraeus, who commanded United States forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, discusses Ukraine's surprise attack on Russian terri…

1
Rory Stewart on UK Riots, Elon Musk & US Elections 38:42

3M ago38:42

38:42

Former minister, diplomat, and bestselling author Rory Stewart reflects on the root causes of the recent riots and attacks in the United Kingdom that have targeted ethnic minorities, immigration services, and police officers for a week—leading to calls for the Prime Minister to recall parliament. Social media has fanned the flames of unrest, with E…

1
Is America Ready for a Female Commander-in-Chief? 39:25

4M ago39:25

39:25

General Wesley Clark served as NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander during the Yugoslav wars. After a career spanning more than three decades of military service, Clark ran as a Democratic Presidential candidate in 2003–before endorsing John Kerry. One Decision’s Julia Macfarlane and former MI6 Chief Sir Richard Dearlove spoke to him about the veteran v…

1
Intel Chiefs on Biden Exit, Bibi’s Desperate Bid & Putin’s Plans 34:28

4M ago34:28

34:28

As Washington focuses on the upcoming 2024 presidential election, guest host Christina Ruffini talks to One Decisions's resident spymaster, Ex-MI6 Chief Sir Richard Dearlove, about Joe Biden's decision not to run for president, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Washington, and the latest news on the investigation into the assassi…

1
Ex-MI6 & CIA Leaders on US Assassination Attempt, Should Europe Worry? 38:58

4M ago38:58

38:58

Guest host and correspondent Christina Ruffini speaks with One Decision's resident spymaster's—Ex-MI6 Chief Sir Richard Dearlove and former CIA Director Leon Panetta to get their take on this week's shocking assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump and Europe’s anxiety over Trump choosing Ohio United States Senator JD Vance as hi…

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

4M 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

4M 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

5M 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

5M 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

5M 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

5M 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

6M 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

6M 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

6M 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

6M 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

6M 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

7M 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

7M 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

7M 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

7M 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

8M 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

8M 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

8M 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

8M 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

8M 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

9M 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

9M 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

9M 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

9M 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

9M 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

10M 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

10M 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

10M 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

10M 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

10M 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…

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