

One Decision
Situation Room Studios
Tough decisions rattle us all to the core. But for our guests on One Decision— the choices they are up against can also shape history. No pressure! They take us through all of their doubts, emotions and—sometimes unexpected--consequences.A fresh take on foreign policy.Hear the former head of Mi6, Sir Richard Dearlove alongside international journalists as they analyse, interview, and discuss.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 19, 2023 • 43min
Biden Flies Into War
After the divisive and controversial storm surrounding an explosion at a hospital in Gaza, President Joe Biden flew on Wednesday to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his Cabinet, and families touched by the October 7th massacre last week. As protests and riots spread like wildfire around not just Arab and Muslim capitals and cities worldwide, but in London, Paris, New York, and Berlin—the diplomatic stakes could not be higher. A four-way summit Biden planned to attend with Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, and King Abdullah II of Jordan was abruptly called off. However, all was not lost—before returning to the United States, Biden announced that Israel had agreed to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza and Egypt acceded to let the convoys across the Rafah crossing. Gaza has been without electricity, food, water, and medicine for nearly a week. One Decision speaks to former State Department official and CIA Middle East Analyst Marie Harf, who was in office during the intense Israel-Hamas war of 2014. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 12, 2023 • 37min
What Went Wrong? Ex-Head of MI6 on the Attacks and Israeli Intelligence
The world is still reeling from the shocking invasion of Israel over the weekend, where Hamas militants staged the most audacious and horrific attacks in Israel resulting in the biggest loss of Jewish life since the Holocaust. But questions are now being asked, to how the country's high tech military and sophisticated intelligence services missed what Hamas was planning? Did Mossad drop the ball? What responsibility belongs to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu? One Decision's Sir Richard Dearlove, the former Chief of MI6, examines the issues that may have impacted Israeli intelligence agencies' ability to anticipate the worst attack in the state's history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 5, 2023 • 37min
EU Parliament President on Putin, Populism and the Biggest Problems it Faces
Europe today is being tested like never before in its recent memory—war and instability are on the edges of Europe, threatening to spill over into its borders; Russian influence and propaganda are sowing divisions across the continent, and rising inflation and unemployment are giving oxygen to divisive populist politics. One Decision sits down for a sweeping and wide-ranging conversation with Roberta Metsola, the President of the European Union Parliament to discuss the bloc’s biggest security priorities and what needs to happen now to address them, what the EU is doing about Putin weaponizing its energy needs, the migrant crisis and how populists have been exploiting divisions across the continent. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 2, 2023 • 22min
Bonus: He Met Putin and Xi Over 30 Times. What Did He Learn?
No country quite understands what it’s like to live next to a major power to the extent Mongolia does because it lives between two. For decades, the government had to balance its relations and goals against the actions and ambitions of its neighbors— except one, Russia is now a pariah, and Mongolia is almost entirely dependent on the other—China for trade. In this week's bonus episode, guest host, journalist and Senior Editor at Semafor, Prashant Rao, sits down with Mongolia's former President and Prime Minister, Elbegdorj Tsakhia, who led his country’s transition to democracy after the fall of the Soviet Union. They discuss the relationship that Mongolia has built with China and Russia, what he learned from his interactions with Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, how he navigated pressure from Beijing during the Dalai Lama's visits to Mongolia, and what the United States should understand about China. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 28, 2023 • 41min
Trump National Security Advisor's Warning About His Return to Office
Ambassador John Bolton, former National Security Advisor, discusses the challenges and concerns of a potential second Trump term, the potential impact of a Trump 2.0 presidency on international relations, the dynamics between Taiwan and China, the need for increased military spending, and the exploration of a historical parallel to Donald Trump.

Sep 25, 2023 • 21min
Bonus: Canada’s UN Ambassador on Assassination Allegations Against India
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's announcement of 'credible allegations' that the Indian government was involved in the assassination of a Canadian Sikh activist sparks outrage and strains Canada-India relations. The podcast explores the impact of the allegations, the complexities of the Canada-India relationship, and the potential political and diplomatic implications of the accusation. The hosts also discuss the surprising nature of Trudeau's statement and speculate on its effects on Canada's relationships with its Five Eyes allies.

Sep 21, 2023 • 34min
More Cooperation with China: A Good Move for the UK?
The podcast discusses the UK's changing stance towards China and the need for cooperation amidst global challenges. It includes an interview with UK's UN Ambassador Barbara Woodward and reflections on UK-China relations. The podcast also covers issues like coups in Africa, Russia's violation of the UN Charter, and the limitations of UN Security Council membership. Additionally, it explores China's strategic relationships with Russia, the UK, and the US.

Sep 18, 2023 • 15min
Bonus: What's a Spy Chief Watching for at UNGA?
Discussion on the declining influence of the West at the UN General Assembly, Ukraine's attempt to gain African support and concerns about Russian influence, and recent news on alleged Chinese infiltration in the UK political system.

Sep 14, 2023 • 32min
Christiane Amanpour on Ukraine, Democracy and 40 Years at CNN
Christiane Amanpour, the legendary foreign correspondent who marked 40 years with CNN, discusses her recent visit to Ukraine, American support for Ukraine, the influence of tech barons on democracy, and her thoughts on the newly announced CNN CEO.

Sep 11, 2023 • 19min
Bonus: Washington Post’s White House Bureau Chief on Covering Biden’s Foreign Policy
As the Washington Post's White House Bureau Chief, Toluse Olorunnipa has an outsized role in how the world—especially the power players in America’s capital city—interpret President Joe Biden’s diplomacy. In this week's bonus episode, Olorunnipa sits down with guest host Brett Bruen to look at what it’s like to travel the globe on Air Force One and write the first draft of history books on major moments from the Russian invasion of Ukraine to the controversial decision to withdraw from Afghanistan. They also discuss foreign anxiety over a second Donald Trump term and what role international affairs will play in the presidential election in the United States. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices