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One Decision

Latest episodes

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May 2, 2024 • 47min

Ex-UK Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng on Regrets, a Really Tough Time for Tories

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 Richard Dearlove speak to the longtime rising star of the right and former Finance Minister Kwasi Kwarteng, who oversaw a brief period of huge instability with a controversial package of tax cuts and spending that sent the markets into turmoil. Kwarteng reflects on the disastrous 'mini-budget' that caused him to get sacked and ended Liz Truss's Premiership, if the Tories will lose the upcoming elections, and how his party has handled recent issues of racism and division in an increasingly fractious time. 
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Apr 25, 2024 • 46min

What it Took to Get Ukraine Aid, Israel's Path Forward, What's Next for Taiwan

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 his thoughts on recent pro-Palestinian protests spreading across the United States. Plus, One Decision's resident spymaster, former MI6 Chief Sir Richard Dearlove, discusses Europe's reaction to Washington's support for Ukraine, and if America's delay in passing aid has forced Europe to step up its support for Kyiv and its own security. 
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Apr 18, 2024 • 36min

Ex-MI6 Chief & Senior CIA Official on Iran's Next Moves

Former MI6 Chief and ex-National Intelligence Manager for Iran discuss Iran's escalating threats towards Israel, predicting Tehran's next moves and testing new 'red lines'. They delve into the complexity of Middle East dynamics, including the crisis effects on U.S. policy, Iran's nuclear program, and the challenges in the region.
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Apr 11, 2024 • 36min

Macron's Hawkish Shift on Ukraine, Olympics Security Threats

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 package for Ukraine and President Macron's comments that Western boots on the ground cannot be ruled out. They also discuss the NATO alliance and the European Union's military commitment to Ukraine, the war in Gaza, and the potential security concerns around the upcoming Paris Olympics. Plus, Sir Richard talks with Bili about his previous posting in Beijing, where he arrived as the ambassador in September 2019, and navigated several years of diplomacy during the COVID-19 global pandemic.
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Apr 4, 2024 • 48min

The Diplomat Helping Ukraine Beat Russia, WCK Tragedy in Gaza

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 where he and Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis were meeting Ukriane's President Volodymyr Zelensky. In a wide-ranging interview, Ambassador Lambridis shares strong words about Russia. He also speaks of his heartache over the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, a region he knows well, having served as Greece's Ambassador to Israel. Ambassador Lambridis also discusses his government's enthusiasm for building closer relations with China at a time when Western nations are issuing sanctions in attempts to stop widespread Chinese state-sponsored cyber attacks. Plus, Sir Richard discusses coordination and intelligence methods on the ground in Gaza after seven international aid workers from Chef José Andrés World Central Kitchen charity were killed in an Israeli air strike.
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Mar 28, 2024 • 44min

Congressional Leader on Biden's Foreign Policy, Russia Terrorist Attack

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, Middle East security, and whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's handling of the war in Gaza could damage Israel's standing on the global stage. McCaul discusses his work leading the oversight investigation into the Biden administration's chaotic withdrawal from Kabul and says that U.S. foreign policy has been "abysmal," starting with the fall of Afghanistan in 2021. Plus, One Decision's resident spymaster, former MI6 Chief Sir Richard Dearlove, discusses the current state of intelligence-sharing with Russia after the deadly mass shooting in Moscow and whether the Kremlin failed to heed the West's warning of a terrorist attack.
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Mar 26, 2024 • 34min

Bonus: Leaders of the US & UK on Powering the Future

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 new standards. Guest host and journalist Liz Landers spoke with two top officials overseeing this work for their respective countries: UK Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Claire Coutinho, and United States Deputy Energy Secretary David Turk. Coutinho's a rising star in the conservative government who was first elected in 2019—and has the ear of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as a close advisor. We asked her about nuclear power, using oil and gas drilling licenses to stabilize energy sources during the transition, and how the war between Ukraine and Russia has impacted energy policy. Across the pond in the United States, Turk has decades of experience in government, including working in President Biden's senate office, and more recently was the Deputy Executive Director of the International Energy Agency. We spoke with Turk about the implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act, a massive piece of legislation signed in 2022 that invests in clean and domestic energy projects—and why there aren't more electric vehicle charging stations around the country.
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9 snips
Mar 21, 2024 • 42min

What to Expect as Putin Cements His Grip as Russia’s New Czar

Former British diplomat Sir Laurie Bristow discusses Putin's landslide win, warns of potential WWIII. Analysis of Putin's grip on power, fragile NATO-Russia relations, and election meddling. Expert insights on Putin's tactics in Ukraine, disinformation campaigns, and potential US elections impact.
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Mar 14, 2024 • 39min

Liberal Congressional Leader on Biden's "Strategic Mistake" in Israel

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 regulation, and the ongoing conflict in Gaza, saying the United States’ “bear hugging" of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been a "strategic mistake.” As one of the leading voices on technology regulation in the House of Representatives, Khanna says Europe shouldn't be "preaching" when it comes to regulation, and we're past the days of "colonialism where Europe thought they could tell the world what to do." They also discuss his role as a Biden campaign surrogate and President Biden's reelection prospects. Plus, former MI6 Chief Sir Richard Dearlove joins Liz to discuss the proposed ban on TikTok in the United States and the backlash over Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's new citizenship law. 
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Mar 7, 2024 • 49min

Congressional Intel Leader on Russia, Ukraine and Trump

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 Indira Lakshmanan spoke with Himes about his recent meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as Republican leaders block a vote on a $60 billion aid package to Kyiv, and with Yulia Navalnaya, wife of Russian dissident Alexei Navalny, just as she learned of her husband’s suspicious death in a Russian gulag. Himes discusses the global competition between democracy and autocracy and says there's one decision for the United States—"Do we shrink from that fight?" He calls Donald Trump a "cult leader" whose hold over the Republican Party is dangerous to democracy and global stability. Indira and One Decision’s resident spymaster, former MI6 Chief Sir Richard Dearlove, discuss the Congressman's comments on the threat of Russia deploying a nuclear weapon in space, the massive growth in open-source intelligence, and threats to security from internet-connected technologies.

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