The Truth of the Matter

​Wall Street Journal national security correspondent Vivian Salama joins the podcast to discuss her reporting from the ground in what the Ukrainians call, “The Great War” against Russia.

CSIS’s Dr. Bonny Lin joins the podcast to discuss the aggressive military exercises China conducted against Taiwan and how she’s tracked the crisis, what the United States is doing and should do in response, and what China’s overarching strategy in the Taiwan Strait is.

CSIS’s Seth Jones joins the podcast to discuss the death of al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri and the future of the terrorist organization. Plus, an update on the situation in Ukraine.

CSIS’s Chris Johnstone, former NSC director for East Asia, joins the podcast to discuss the aftermath of the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the current policies of Prime Minister Kishida going forward.

Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times reporters Eileen Sullivan and Steven Lee Myers join the podcast to discuss their July piece “Disinformation Has Become Another Untouchable Problem in Washington.” In their article, Sullivan and Myers report that numerous federal agencies agree that disinformation threatens the nation’s security, but that there is bipartisan gridlock surrounding how to create policy in order to address the issues.

CSIS’s Jon Alterman joins the podcast to discuss President Biden’s visit to the Middle East and what the administration can gain strategically from the trip.

CSIS’s Dr. Eliot Cohen joins the podcast to discuss why he thinks the U.S. and the West need a tougher, Al Capone-style “Chicago Rules” approach to the war in Ukraine. 

CSIS’s Ryan Berg joins the podcast to discuss the Colombian election and its implications for the region.

CSIS’s Victor Cha, co-host of The Impossible State podcast, joins this episode to talk about what is expected to be North Korea’s seventh nuclear test and its repercussions.

Puck News’ star reporter Tara Palmeri talks inside Washington baseball, the new media model of Puck, and about her fascinating new Discovery Plus documentary "Dr. Delirium & the Edgewood Experiments.”