The Burn Bag Podcast

RE-RELEASE: This episode was originally released in April 2024. The TikTok ban took effect late Saturday night, but may be revoked by President-elect Trump.This week, A'ndre is joined by Lindsay Gorman, the Managing Director & Senior Fellow at the German Marshall Fund’s GMF Tech, to delve into the controversies surrounding TikTok and its implications for national security. Lindsay sheds light on ByteDance, the company behind TikTok, and discusses the concerns surrounding its data storage practices. A'ndre and Lindsay explore the concept of data sovereignty and discuss whether China can access ByteDance's data at will, and why it's different from how the U.S. Government engages with U.S.-based social media companies. Lindsay outlines the types of user data TikTok gathers, and touches upon how China can exploit this collected data. The conversation extends to China's history of leveraging social media platforms for targeting dissenters and the workings of TikTok's algorithms in content recommendation -- particularly with regards to misinformation and polarization. Lindsay offers insights into the likelihood of a TikTok divestiture (and why it's not a ban), legal challenges it might face, and the possibility of a U.S.-based firm acquiring TikTok. The discussion concludes with an examination of China's reaction to the scrutiny, and what Lindsay sees as the biggest myths surrounding TikTok.CORRECTION: A'ndre referenced a dispute between the FBI and Apple, incorrectly attributing it to the Boston Bombing investigation, when in actuality it was the 2015 San Bernardino Terror Attack

On Friday, A’ndre chatted with Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky, a presidential historian and Executive Director of the George Washington Presidential Library, to explore President Jimmy Carter’s presidential and post-presidential foreign policy legacy following his passing at age 100. The discussion began by addressing public reactions to Carter’s death and why the dichotomy of a “failed presidency but outstanding post-presidency” is misleading. Dr. Chervinsky highlighted Carter’s foreign policy achievements, including the Camp David Accords, normalization of relations with China, handling of the Cold War, and the Panama Canal Treaty, as well as Carter's difficulties in dealing with the Iranian Hostage Crisis and inflation.They examined Carter’s presidency in the context of the geopolitical landscape of the late 1970s and his approach to diplomacy, contrasting his administration with the subsequent Reagan era. The conversation also touched on Carter’s post-presidential influence on foreign policy through the Carter Center and drew parallels between his legacy redefinition and that of John Quincy Adams.

On January 2nd, A'ndre sat down with former U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper (2019-2020) to discuss key security challenges facing the United States in 2025 and the Department of Defense's preparedness in addressing them. They began their conversation with a focus on the Middle East, analyzing the aftermath of Assad's ouster and the HTS takeover in Syria, exploring the potential regional consequences of these developments. Secretary Esper also shared his insights on the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict and explained why he believes Iran is weaker than previously thought.The discussion then shifted to U.S.-China relations, with Secretary Esper offering his assessment on why the U.S. must do more to deter China in both security and economic spheres. A'ndre and Secretary Esper also delved into the state of innovation within the Department of Defense, examining the effectiveness of innovation initiatives in the U.S. Armed Forces. Secretary Esper reflected on his experience establishing Army Futures Command during his time as Secretary of the Army and discussed the challenges facing the U.S. defense industrial base, including potential munitions shortages related to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.The conversation concluded with A'ndre asking Secretary Esper about Ukraine's struggles on the battlefield against Russia, why a negotiated settlement appears increasingly likely, and some of the overlooked threats facing the incoming Trump administration.You can find Secretary Esper's auto-biography, A Sacred Oath, here.

Retired General David Petraeus, former CIA director and military strategist, dives into the evolution of warfare since 1945. He analyzes shifts from nuclear strategies to guerrilla tactics and unmanned systems, emphasizing lessons from Iraq and Afghanistan. Petraeus offers insights on the unique aspects of the Ukraine conflict, with its blend of traditional and modern tactics. He reflects on military ethics, particularly in Gaza, and advises future leaders on prioritizing the Indo-Pacific region for global security. His expertise paints a vivid picture of contemporary military challenges.

On Thursday, Israel announced that it had killed Hamas' de facto leader Yahya Sinwar near Rafah, a significant development for the ongoing War in Gaza. A'ndre chatted with his old friend and mentor Javed Ali, former Senior Director for Counterterrorism on the U.S. National Security Council, about his reactions to the development and what it could mean for the broader crisis in the Middle East. Javed compares the killing of Sinwar to the elimination of Hezbollah's Hassan Nasrallah, contrasting what effect those leadership deaths could have on both organizations. A'ndre and Javed also discuss whether the outlook for the military campaign will change in the days ahead, and if there could be a spike in potential lone wolf terror attacks.

In this re-release of our popular episode from October 2021 (excuse the old theme music!), A'ndre and Ryan speak with George Will, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and author, on what it means to practice a 'conservative' foreign policy. Dr. Will, who has published a twice-weekly column in The Washington Post since 1974, provides his definition of what it means to be conservative, discussing the intellectual conservative movement that prospered in the post-war era. He then goes into his views on what a conservative foreign policy actually means, why Reagan and Eisenhower were exemplars of it, and why Donald Trump was not, in his view, conservative. Distinguishing between conservatism and neoconservatism, Dr. Will discusses why he believes liberal internationalism is 'armed humanitarianism',  and the mistakes made in Afghanistan, Iraq, and the broader Middle East. Touching on recent events in the news, Dr. Will talks the U.S.-China rivalry, and his thoughts on the Intelligence Community and the equation of whether security trumps freedoms. We close out the conservation with a short conversation on Dr. Will's new book, American Happiness and Discontents: The Unruly Torrent, 2008-2020, and why Dr. Will abhors denim. Yes, denim.

This week, A'ndre welcomes a unique guest: The Most Rev. Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church. Some of our audience may recall Bishop Curry's captivating sermon during the 2018 Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. He has been an outspoken advocate on various social and political issues, discussing the Episcopal Church's role in policy advocacy amid rising toxicity in discussions about religion and politics.Bishop Curry addresses the church's unique stance on LGBTQ+ rights and reflects on the divisions within the global Anglican communion, particularly regarding Uganda's severe penalties for LGBTQ+ individuals. He also shares his perspective on the ongoing conflict in Gaza and how he approaches conversations about it, given the region's significance to the three major Abrahamic religions.A'ndre and the Bishop conclude the episode with a discussion on Christian Nationalism, where Bishop Curry offers strong critiques of the concept.

Dr. Matthew Levitt, an expert on Hezbollah and former Wexler Senior Fellow at the Washington Institute, explores the militant group's complex identity following the death of Hassan Nasrallah. He discusses Hezbollah's dual role as a political force and militant organization, the historical events that shaped its emergence, and its ties to Iran. Levitt highlights the challenges faced by Hezbollah's new leadership, the implications of recent conflicts with Israel, and the group's evolving relationship with Hamas, shedding light on its influence within the broader Middle Eastern landscape.

The Burn Bag will be covering the Israel-Gaza War over the course of several episodes, sourcing multiple perspectives on the conflict. The Burn Bag does not officially endorse any views expressed by our guests, but rather brings those perspectives to you, the audience, and will continue to provide a diverse array of voices on the program. In this episode, A’ndre introduces Uri Bar-Joseph, professor emeritus at Haifa University and author of the new book Beyond the Iron Wall. Together, they delve into the security failures that led to the October 7th attacks, considering why Israel’s security apparatus was caught off guard and what lessons can be drawn from historical events like the Yom Kippur War. Uri argues that Israel does not have an overarching  strategy in its War in Gaza nor with its actions in Lebanon. Uri discusses the complexities of Israel's "security lifestyle," his reactions to the recent pager attacks targeting Hezbollah, the Israeli government's perceptions of Hamas, and the broader political landscape. Uri also talks about why he believes the Israeli government is averse to political resolutions and the challenges posed by settlements in the West Bank, in addition to his criticisms of Benjamin Netanyahu's handling of the war and the broader Israeli-Palestinian relationship. This insightful conversation aims to unpack the reasons behind recent events and ponder the future of Israeli-Palestinian relations.NOTE: This episode was recorded on September 19, several days before the escalation in Southern Lebanon.

On Saturday, President Joe Biden will host the leaders of India, Japan, and Australia in Wilmington, Delaware, for his final Quad summit. What is the Quad? To explore this four-way partnership and preview the summit, A'ndre is joined by Aman Thakker, an Adjunct Fellow with the Chair in U.S.-India Policy Studies at CSIS.They discuss the Quad's history, including its inception in 2004 after the Indian Ocean tsunami, its revitalization in 2017, and why it shouldn't be seen as an "Asian NATO." Aman contrasts the views of the Trump and Biden administrations on the Quad and provides insights into India's engagement in the partnership, highlighting its policy of "multi-alignment."A'ndre and Aman conclude by previewing this Saturday's summit and discussing potential outcomes and announcements from the four leaders that they expect.CORRECTION: A’ndre refers to the Quad as a security dialogue in his introduction. While some have referred to the group in this lens, none of the four member-states refer to the Quad as that, and it’s more accurate to refer to the partnership as a diplomatic grouping.