In this episode, Andrew invites a team from the CSIS International Security Program (ISP): Kathleen Hicks, Andrew Hunter, and Todd Harrison. They discuss Defense 360's "Bad Ideas in National Security" series that highlights brief articles written by CSIS and outside scholars on a number of bad ideas in the defense and foreign policy space. In addition to analyzing their own pieces, they nominate their frontrunners for what might be considered the "worst" bad idea.Kathleen Hicks is senior vice president at CSIS, Henry A. Kissinger Chair, and director of the ISP. Andrew Hunter is director of the Defense-Industrial Initiatives Group and a senior fellow in the ISP. Todd Harrison is director of Defense Budget Analysis, director of the Aerospace Security Project, and a senior fellow in the ISP.

In this episode, Bob and Andrew invite two special guests: CSIS's Heather Conley, senior vice president for Europe, Eurasia, and the Arctic; and BBC anchor and correspondent Laura Trevelyan. They discuss an updated outlook on Brexit and the U.K. elections, as well as certain parallels between U.S. and U.K. politics.

In this episode, Bob and Andrew invite Kimberly Flowers, director of the Humanitarian Agenda and Global Food Security Project at CSIS. They analyze the political and humanitarian impact of climate change on food security and global hunger. Kimberly also draws on a recent brief that she co-authored, "Climate Change and Food Security: A Test of U.S. Leadership in a Fragile World."

In this episode, Bob and Andrew invite back Seth Jones, CSIS's Harold Brown Chair and Director of the Transnational Threats Project. Seth discusses the U.S. raid on Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, and what it means for the future of the Islamic State as well as its implications on future relations between the U.S. and the Middle East.Download the full transcript here.

In this episode, Bob and Andrew talk with Judd Devermont, director of the Africa program at CSIS. Judd breaks down the Russia-Africa Summit and steps the U.S. could take to reduce the Russia footprint in Africa. Download the full transcript here.

In this episode, Bob and Andrew talk to Brian Katz, a fellow of CSIS's International Security Program and the Transnational Threats Project. Brian breaks down the situation on the ground following the U.S. decision to pull troops out of northern Syria, discusses where ISIS stands, and offers insights into Russia's stance of the unfolding situation and what it means for the region. Download the full transcript here.

In this episode, Bob and Andrew sit down with Melissa Dalton, deputy director of the CSIS International Security Program and director of the Cooperative Defense Project. Melissa discusses the current situation of the ongoing conflict in Syria and the sudden withdrawal of U.S. forces there, while analyzing Russia's role, potential U.S. strategy, and the state of Turkey's relationship with the U.S. Download the full transcript here.

Bob and Andrew talk with Bulent Aliriza, director of the CSIS Turkey Project, about the escalating situation along the Syrian border with Turkey after President Trump ordered U.S. troops out of the region. Download the full transcript here.

In this episode, Bob and Andrew speak with Jude Blanchette, the Freeman Chair in China Studies at CSIS. Jude brings us up to date on the demonstrations in Hong Kong that escalated on October 1st, the same day of the 70th anniversary of the People's Republic of China. Jude explains what the future might hold for Hong Kong protesters, as well as how everything could affect the U.S. and China relationship. Download the full transcript here.

In this bonus episode of The Truth of the Matter, listen in on Bob Schieffer’s green room conversation with CSIS’ Jon Alterman, Seth Jones and the New York Times’ David Sanger, prior to the CSIS Schieffer Series event on the Iran situation, September 24. Download the full transcript here.