Between China and Russia, the world's eastern powers are out to reconstruct their empires of old. Currently, we are seeing this play out in Ukraine on televisions across the globe. As focus shifts back to Russia, China continues to subtly and deftly expand its own power and influence. China’s debt diplomacy, and their aggressive economic ‘Belt and Road’ initiative threaten to cripple beleaguered nations in Asia and Africa. Taiwan is the headline… a headline at least… but flying under the radar is how China’s soft power moves threaten neighbors like Cambodia and Vietnam.  CTG’s Alberto Suarez joins Adam Stevens to discuss the machinations of this new Cold War.

At the time of recording, Russia had amassed nearly 130,000 troops at the Ukrainian border. Since then estimates put the number at nearly 190,000. Russia has effectively surrounded every inch of Ukraine including to the south along the Black Sea. Should war break out in earnest, it would be the largest, most sophisticated war effort in Europe since V.E. Day.

The Taliban is firmly entrenched as the ruling party in Afghanistan since seizing power late last summer. Between the Taliban, ISIS-K, and a thoroughly crippled economy, largely run by illicit markets, Afghanistan is in the midst of a human trafficking epidemic.

By some metrics, America saw 34 school shootings in 2021, a number far higher than any other recent year. The Oxford High School Shooter, responsible for four deaths, will face charges of Terrorism, which some are noting is a new way forward, not only for litigating shooters but also as a form of countermeasure to deter mass shootings in the future. To explain these nuances and share a bit about a new, massive CTG report on the topic of school shootings Charley Gleeson of CTG’s CTSC team is joining us.

In mid-January, a top Russian official did not rule out military deployments to Cuba and Venezuela if tensions with the U.S. and NATO over Ukraine continue to escalate. U.S. government officials have dismissed the statements as hyperbole and stated that if Russia did move in that direction, the U.S. would move “decisively” to deal with it. But what does decisive action look like? Intentionally it is a word that attempts to say a lot without saying anything. Stacey Casas from CTG’s SOUTHCOM team is joining us to discuss how seriously we should take this ominous threat.

Welcome to the first podcast episode of 2022! In this round table, two panelists will join Adam to discuss what stories we should watch in 2022. The storylines may be continuing from 2021 (and beyond), or they may be new trends emerging in the new year. Becca Stewart and Kaylyn Matis, both CTG analysts, join me in our second installment of the round table series to discuss stories from Ukraine, COVID-19, and the Metaverse.

The Taliban now controls Afghanistan and has been working in earnest to run the nation since their ascension to power three months ago. In an extensive report, CTG researched and analyzed how the Taliban utilizes public messaging and propaganda both internationally and domestically. Becca Stewart, CTG’s Special Teams Manager, joins us to discuss what propaganda efforts being implemented by the Taliban can tell us about the early months of their regime and discuss what role Afghanistan has yet to play in grand geopolitical strategy.

Somalia is in disarray. Taking advantage of Mogadishu's political gridlock, Al-Qaeda affiliate group Al-Shabaab rages in the countryside looking to replace the old, tired, secular government for their form of Sharia law. Faye, of CTG’s AFRICOM team, joins us to discuss Al-Shabaab’s growing influence.

In recent weeks CTG produced a special report on the Yemen Civil war, including background on the Houthi movement and the current situation on the ground in Yemen. Though 2021 winds to a close, the war that began in 2014 is still in full swing. JJ Singh from CTG’s CENTCOM team joins us to discuss the situation.

In the premiere Round Table episode for the Threat Intelligence podcast Aimee Hanstein and Becca Stewart join Adam to discuss trending stories around Africa and how China’s expanding reach could lead to Cold War-era proxy wars. From Taiwan to East Africa, China's growing influence threatens the security of the U.S. and the rest of the West.