The Burn Bag Podcast

In this episode, A'ndre and Ryan speak with John Brennan, the 5th Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, about the national security landscape. The conversation begins with Director Brennan's story of joining the CIA in 1980, his expertise in counterterrorism, and what the CT threat matrix looks like today. They also discuss how the US pullback from the Middle East impacts operations in the region, as well as the Agency's reorientation towards nation-state threats. Director Brennan's tenure at CIA experienced the development and use of technological innovations, such as drones, and he breaks down how and why the United States deploys them. The episode concludes with a frank conversation about diversity and recruitment at the CIA, as well as what issue area should receive greater attention by the intelligence community.  

In this episode, A'ndre and Ryan are joined by Javed Ali, a former FBI and DHS senior official to discuss the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas last week. The conversation begins with an overview of what occurred and the lapse in response. Javed then discusses how the U.S. government has worked with state and local officials since Columbine to improve training, resources, and coordination for such mass casualty events. They conclude with potential solutions and what options  federal authorities have. 

In this episode, A'ndre and Ryan talk to Khalid Payenda, the former Finance Minister of Afghanistan. Mr. Payenda, who served as Minister from January-August 2021, discusses his life, work in the Finance Ministry, and state of Afghanistan. Having fled to Pakistan as a child to flee civil war, Mr. Payenda recounts his experiences and his dedication to serving his country. The conversation then moves to his experiences with and perspectives on the U.S. intervention and  difficulties of nation-building. Mr. Payenda also delves into  Afghanistan's economy, noting the reliance on foreign aid. The conversation concludes with a frank discussion on life under Taliban rule and whether there should be any hope for the future. For more information on Mr. Payenda and Afghanistan, please check out this story.

In this episode, Ryan talks with Adam Krzywosądzki, the Deputy Chief of Mission of the  Embassy of Poland to the United States. They discuss the Polish perspective on Russia's war against Ukraine and why Poland has been such a steadfast supporter of Ukrainian sovereignty. Adam delves into the ways in which Poland and other NATO and EU countries are pushing back against Russian aggression, but also notes what else can be done. The conversation then turns to Ukraine's humanitarian crisis and how Poland has taken in and provided support to millions of refugees. While there does not seem to be an end in sight now, Adam points out what the international community can do to assist Ukraine, as well as how institutions such as NATO and the EU can play a decisive role. To learn more about how to help Ukrainian refugees in Poland, please click here. 

This week, A'ndre speaks with noted Pakistani human rights activist Gulalai Ismail on Pakistan's security forces and military power, her work on women's empowerment, and her exile from Pakistan. Gulalai, who managed to escape to the United States in 2019 after being placed on a "kill list", discusses her story, from founding Aware Girls at the age of 16 (an organization that trained thousands of young women including Malala Yousafzai) to speaking out against the military for crimes committed against the Pashtun people. Gulalai discusses the dominance of the Pakistani military, including how the military is the true holder of political power irregardless of which party or prime minister holds office, and she shares her thoughts on the recent ousting of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Gulalai does also discuss her work on women's empowerment, discussing how so many young women in Pakistan have inspired her for fighting for peace and against forced marriages, honor killings, and other patriarchal constructs.

To celebrate the 2022 White House Correspondents' Dinner, we're re-releasing our conversation with Zeke Miller, AP reporter and former White House Correspondents' Association President. At this year's dinner, Zeke and his colleague Mike Balsamo won the Award for Excellence in Presidential News Coverage Under Deadline Pressure - Print for their story on the CDC mask order. Here is the original description for this episode:"On this special Presidents’ Day episode, A’ndre and Ryan talk with Zeke Miller, AP White House Reporter and White House Correspondents’ Assoc. President, about presidential reporting. They discuss the history of White House correspondents and the relationship between the President and the press. Zeke also discusses sourcing and the role of leaks. He shares his views on the public’s relationship with the press and how social media has impacted his job, in addition to providing some insights on how Presidents Obama, Trump, and Biden have interacted with the press."

In this week's episode, A'ndre and Ryan talk about Elon Musk taking Twitter private and the potential implications at home and abroad. They also consider Musk's ties to China and whether concerns raised by some regarding possible Chinese Communist Party influence is valid. The conversation then moves to the controversy surrounding the new Disinformation Governance Board within DHS,  which is being compared to 1984's "Ministry of Truth" by conservatives.  The wrap with an update on the Russo-Ukrainian war and the challenges of the UN system. 

This week, A'ndre and Ryan speak with renowned investigative journalist Josy Joseph, founder of Confluence Media, on the state of India's democracy in a conversation covering corruption and India's security apparatus. The first leg of the interview draws on Josy's book Feast of Vultures, as he discusses 'middle-men' -- those who manipulate government decision-making and manage access to decision-makers -- at the center of corruption that has led to the success of big businesses and the criminal enterprise. The second leg of the interview touches on Josy's most recent book, The Silent Coup: A History of India's Deep State, as Josy outlines why India's non-military security apparatus (encompassing police and intelligence services) constitute the 'deep state', and have significantly threatened democracy as they operate under the willpower of 'political masters'. We close out the interview by comparing India's democratic status to two other 'illiberal' democracies in South Asia: Pakistan and Sri Lanka. 

In this week's episode, A'ndre and Ryan began with an update on the Russo-Ukrainian War,  the U.S. military assistance package and how India is playing both sides.  They also discuss the French Presidential election and crisis in Sri Lanka. The conversation concludes with a brief conversation about the latest spike in Israeli-Palestinian tensions. 

This week, A'ndre speaks with Dr. Sanjana Hattotuwa, a leading Sri Lankan researcher and citizens journalist, on the recent mass protests that have taken ahold across the island nation against the ruling Rajapaksa Family. Sanjana, who was the Founding Editor of Sri Lanka's first and only award winning citizens journalism website Groundviews, discusses why protests against the strongman President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and brother Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa have been mobilized amidst Sri Lanka' worst economic crisis. Sanjana digs into the atmosphere of fear that the Rajapaksa brothers had created throughout the country, and why the protests are truly unprecedented in their dismissal of that fear in addition to their wide-ranging, island -wide, cross-cutting demography.  Sanjana, who is seen by many as the pre-eminent expert on social media's intersection with Sri Lankan politics, also provides his analysis on how social media has powered the protests, in addition to talking on why Sri Lanka has seen many of the negative repercussions of social media well before the United States had -- and why many in the West need to pay heed to these experiences.