Target USA Podcast by WTOP

The Iran war is beginning to create consequences far beyond the Middle East. Retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery joins Target USA to examine what the extraordinary deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln—and the decision to replace it with the Pacific-based USS George Washington—reveals about the growing strain on American military power.

Olen Cherkun left Ukraine for Spain when the war started, to study and prepare herself for the say when she could return. While away, with war raging, she has a new view of independence. She talks to Target USA about it.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe made an unusual and unannounced trip to Moscow and Washington is saying virtually nothing about it. The world of intelligence rarely reveals details of its developments. But this visit may be one of the biggest developments in years. We spoke with former CIA Director Leon Panetta about it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Trump threatens Oman over Iran as retired Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery warns his rhetoric could undermine U.S. strategy. Meanwhile, former Ambassador Joseph DeTrani examines Washington’s new overtures to North Korea after a surprise reduction in U.S.–South Korean military exercises. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Trump was secretly moved off Air Force One and onto another aircraft during his trip to Turkey amid a reported Iranian threat. Retired senior Secret Service agent Donald Mihalik explains why deception is a critical presidential protection tactic. Then former U.S. Ambassador Gordon Gray assesses the proposed 60-day Strait of Hormuz arrangement, Iran's negotiating leverage, and why regime change in Iran could be extraordinarily difficult. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.c...

The United States finds itself at the center of two of the world's most dangerous conflicts. In the Middle East, the war with Iran is testing American military endurance, precision weapons inventories and the limits of deterrence. In Europe, Ukraine is running dangerously low on the air-defense interceptors needed to stop Russia's growing missile campaign. This week on Target USA, former Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Robert Wilkie examines the ...

The war with Iran is widening, but Washington still has no clear path to end it. Former U.S. Ambassador to NATO Kurt Volker argues that limited strikes are not changing Tehran’s strategy—and warns the United States may soon face a stark choice between a negotiated ceasefire and a much larger war. Meanwhile, Sudan is enduring what Professor Jok Madut Jok calls the world’s greatest humanitarian crisis, largely beyond the glare of international attention. Millions have been displaced, a...

Retired Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery, Sr. Fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, joins us from Kyiv with a direct assessment: Ukraine is not losing, its military is adapting fast, and its drone and long-range strike campaigns are hurting Russia. But Kyiv is uneasy after President Zelenskyy fired popular Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, sparking protests, then removed the senior military leader Fedorov had been feuding with just days later. Montgomery says Russia w...

As Russia unleashes one of its largest missile and drone attacks on Kyiv, a resident describes what it's like to survive another night under fire and wake up to shattered streets and shattered lives. Then, as fighting resumes between the United States and Iran, former U.S. Ambassador Gordon Gray explains why the ceasefire collapsed, what President Trump's next moves could be, and why the Middle East may be heading toward a wider regional war. Two conflicts. Two front lines. One world...

The latest U.S.-Iran fighting didn't erupt because diplomacy collapsed. According to geopolitical analyst Nick Redman, the negotiations may never have truly begun. In this episode of Target USA, Redman explains why Washington and Tehran interpreted the same agreement in completely different ways. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ukrainian MP Halyna Yanchenko watched an interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin recently. For the first time she saw a man that looked defeated. What Ukraine's military is doing and what Putin said confirmed it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Former Veterans Affairs Secretary and former senior Pentagon official Robert Wilkie joins Target USA to argue that today's wars are not isolated conflicts—they are interconnected fronts in a global struggle led by Russia, Iran, and China. Wilkie explains why NATO remains indispensable, why Ukraine is America's best defense investment, why Iran's threat extends far beyond the Middle East, and why the Pentagon needs sweeping reform to prepare for the next era of great-power c...

The U.S. and Iran have agreed to stop fighting and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but the toughest issues—including Iran's nuclear program and sanctions relief—have been pushed into future negotiations. The next 60 days could determine whether this is the start of peace or just a pause in the conflict. Former eSecreteary of Defense Leon Panetta joins us t explain the problems See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-n...

After four years covering the war in Ukraine, I've rarely encountered intelligence as insightful as that gathered by retired Swedish Ambassador Lars Freden. Instead of relying on reports and briefings, he rode a bicycle more than 1,000 miles along the front line—twice. In this episode, he shares what he saw, what he learned, and the human reality of a war that continues to reshape Europe. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.c...

The military operation was a success. The strategy may have been a failure. In this episode, Gordon Gray is the Kuwait Professor of Gulf and Arabian Peninsula Affairs at the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University, examines how the Trump administration may have underestimated Tehran, why negotiations continue to stall, and whether the White House is now looking for a face-saving exit rather than a decisive victory. See Privacy Policy at http...

In this explosive episode, Estonia’s Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna delivers a stark warning about Russia’s growing instability and the escalating battle over the Baltic Sea. He explains how Moscow accidentally exposed its direct ties to the shadow fleet used to evade sanctions, why Russia is reacting “painfully” to Ukrainian deep strikes, and why Putin may now be more vulnerable than at any point since the war began. Tsahkna also discusses NATO, the weakening Russian economy, risin...

Where does the US war with Iran stand? One day there's talk of peace; the next they are shooting at each other. Husain Haqqani, Pakistan's former Ambassador to the US and a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, says there is no clear winner, and that may never change. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A rare insider look at the 2026 White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting. Former Secret Service Deputy Director A.T. Smith explains how the attack unfolded. He breaks down the security response, failures, and lessons learned. And he warns America is entering a far more dangerous political era. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Grant Rumley, Meisel Family Senior Fellow at the Washington Institute, and Nick Redman, Director of Analysis at Oxford Analytica from Dow Jones explain why the negotiations appear to have slowed almost as much as the shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The U.S.–Iran crisis has entered a volatile new phase—and the stakes are rising fast. In this episode, Ambassador Gordon Gray, veteran diplomat and the Kuwait Professor of Gulf and Arabian Peninsula Affairs at the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University, breaks down the reality behind the rhetoric: from President Donald Trump’s inflammatory messaging to the strategic consequences unfolding in the Persian Gulf. See Privacy Policy at https://...

In one of the most volatile stretches of the Iran conflict, a warning came from President Donald Trump that “a whole civilization will die” if escalation continued, followed by a sudden stepdown into a cease-fire framework. In this episode, we sit down with Ambassador Gordon Gray, Kuwait Professor of Gulf and Arabian Affairs at the George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs, to unpack how we got there. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Ca...

In this episode, Ambassador Gordon Gray, the Kuwait Professor of Gulf and Arabian Peninsula Affairs at the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University, delivers a clear-eyed assessment of the rapidly evolving global security landscape. Drawing on deep experience inside the national security apparatus, Gray analyzes the convergence of geopolitical flashpoints, strategic competition with adversaries, and the internal pressures shaping U.S. decision-making. ...

The United States and Israel have devastated Iran’s military capabilities—crippling its air defenses, missile systems, and leadership ranks. But the bigger picture tells a different story. In this episode, Dana Stroul, Research Director at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, explains how Iran is using asymmetric tactics to disrupt global energy flows, pressure the economy, and hold strategic leverage—even after major battlefield losses. The result: tactical success for the...

The Iran war has crossed a critical threshold. What began as a military campaign is now expanding across leadership structures, regional boundaries, domestic security systems, and global power competition. In this episode, we break down the most important developments from the war, including Israel’s targeting of Iran’s leadership, Iran’s widening retaliation, and the growing impact on global systems like shipping and energy. Retired General Ben Hodges, former Commander of U.S. Army ...

The war between the United States, Israel, and Iran is entering a dangerous phase. While the fighting is still concentrated in the Middle East, the ripple effects are already spreading across global energy markets, international security networks, and cyberspace. Dr. Nick Redman, director of analysis and editor-in-chief of Oxford Analytica from Dow Jones, joins us to put it into context See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com...

Over the past 5 days, the war in Iran has been confusing. The air space in the region has been clogged with fighter jets, drones, and missiles. The objective has evolved. Joining us on this episode to put it into perspective are Alireza Jafarzadeh, deputy director of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, and Ret. General Ben Hodges, former Commander of US Army Europe, See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-...

As discussions of ceasefires and negotiations circulate, Ukraine faces its deadliest year for civilians since the full-scale invasion began. With more than 2,500 killed and nightly shelling nearly constant, Ukrainian leaders outline how Ukraine’s rapidly evolving defense industry and battlefield innovations are reshaping modern warfare and NATO’s future security posture. Halyna Yanchenko, a member of Ukraine's parliament, joins us to discuss. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/p...

Sudan’s war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces has driven more than ten million people from their homes and pushed parts of Darfur toward famine. Dan O’Malley, Red Cross chief in Sudan, joins us with a firsthand assessment of a crisis accelerating beyond control. At the same time, February 17–18 talks in Geneva between Ukraine, Russia, and U.S. representatives ended without a ceasefire or concrete progress, even as Russian strikes continued. Ambassador Kur...

As Russian missile and drone strikes continue to hammer Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, hundreds of thousands are living in brutal winter conditions—minus 15 to minus 20 degrees at night—with no electricity, no heat, and sometimes no running water. Former Ukrainian Ministry of Defense spokesman Yuriy Sak describes what daily life is like inside Kyiv and across the country. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/pr...

Germany has issued a formal travel warning for its citizens visiting the United States — a move that would have been almost unthinkable just a few years ago. The advisory cites escalating violence tied to protests and confrontations involving government authorities, raising alarms among European security officials about stability inside the world’s most powerful democracy. In this episode, Dr. Hans-Jakob Schindler, Senior Director at the Counter Extremism Project and a German wh...

The transatlantic alliance is facing its most serious test in decades. President Donald Trump’s aggressive push to assert control over Greenland—combined with mounting pressure tactics against U.S. allies—has accelerated a quiet but consequential shift in Europe’s strategic thinking. In this episode, Ambassador Daniel Fried, Distinguished Fellow at the Atlantic Council and a former senior U.S. diplomat deeply involved in NATO and European security policy, joins us to discuss how...

After a blistering speech that lasted more than an hour, which centered around the US taking Greenland, President Donald announced that a deal had been made. Listen to an excerpt of his speech and hear Ambassador Kurt Volker, former U.S. Ambassador to NATO, explain what happened. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Former Greenland finance minister Maliina Abelsen delivers a blunt warning about President Donald Trump’s renewed talk of “taking” Greenland. This episode examines how power politics, symbolism, and messaging are colliding with international law, alliance norms, and Arctic security—and why Greenlanders see the rhetoric as a threat, not protection. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As U.S. military actions stretch from Venezuela to the North Atlantic, allies and adversaries are reassessing what American power now means. This episode, featuring retired General Ben Hodges and Ambassador Kurt Volker, examines the seizures, the rhetoric, and the growing concern in Europe that long-standing rules are giving way to something more dangerous—and more unpredictable. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privac...

Retired General Ben Hodges, former Commander of U.S. Army Europe, says the U.S. military activity off Venezuela is repeating one of the most dangerous mistakes of Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan: no clear strategy, no defined end state, and questionable legality. And the consequences, he argues, extend far beyond any single operation, putting U.S. troops, alliances, and global credibility at risk. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https:/...

Former U.S. Army Europe commander General Ben Hodges delivers a blunt assessment of America’s shifting military posture and the risks it carries. He raises urgent questions about the legality of recent U.S. strikes on suspected drug-smuggling vessels, the absence of clear rules of engagement, and the strategic vacuum surrounding U.S. actions from the Western Hemisphere to Ukraine. He addresses these issues in Part One of Unchecked Force. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/pri...

This episode pulls back the curtain on daily life inside a country under siege. From a darkened apartment in Kyiv, Ukrainian Member of Parliament and mother Halyna Yanchenko describes nights without electricity, heat, water, or internet. Elevators stop. Food cannot be cooked. Homes go cold. This is not a war fought only on front lines or maps. It is a deliberate campaign aimed at civilians, families, and children, designed to exhaust, frighten, and break a society from the inside out...

As Russia intensifies its campaign, Ukraine faces another threat from within: systemic corruption undermining its own war effort. In this episode, Kurt Volker, former U.S. Ambassador to NATO, Special Envoy to Ukraine, and Distinguished Fellow at CEPA explains how corruption is weakening Western support. It's also complicating battlefield decisions and giving Moscow strategic breathing room. A hard look at Ukraine’s internal battle and what must change for Kyiv to win the externa...

An Afghan national shot two National Guard members in Washington, D.C. Counterterrorism expert Hans-Jakob Schindler says this may be more than a mental health case. He warns extremist networks in Taliban-run Afghanistan now reach directly into Afghan diaspora communities online. The attacker’s travel, target selection, and ambush tactics match modern lone-actor terror patterns. Schindler says social media platforms—not law enforcement—hold the real early-warning data. A close look at...

Today on Target USA, a story that cuts straight to the core of military culture, extremism, and truth. The U.S. Coast Guard, under intense public pressure, has reversed course on a deeply controversial policy shift. A draft manual, first uncovered by The Washington Post, appeared to downgrade the swastika and the noose, two of the most violent, hate-laden symbols in American and world history, from outright banned imagery to merely “potentially divisive.” The backlash ...

Grenada is facing one of the most consequential national security decisions in its modern history, after the United States quietly requested permission to install a radar system and station military personnel on the island as it pursues action against Venezuela. Veteran Grenadian journalist Linda Straker breaks down the mystery behind the U.S. request, the growing anxiety on the island, and the high-stakes diplomatic trap Grenada now finds itself in. See Privacy Polic...

U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to send troops or cut aid to Nigeria has triggered a diplomatic and security storm across Africa. In this episode, we speak with humanitarian journalist Usman Abba Zanna from Maiduguri, who explains how Trump’s words could inflame tensions, embolden extremists, and reshape Nigeria’s ties to the West. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this gripping conversation, Belarusian legal expert and exiled journalist Natalia Belikova explains how disinformation in Belarus isn’t just a tactic; it’s the regime’s operating system. She describes how the Lukashenko government has built an alternative reality, where familiar words like “democracy,” “elections,” and “human rights” are redefined to serve state power. In a sometimes emotional interview, Natalia shares what it’s like to be exiled from your home, to lose colleague...

When President Trump agreed to meet Vladimir Putin in Budapest, it looked like a potential breakthrough. Instead, it became a masterclass in manipulation. Within 24 hours, the Kremlin pulled the plug — and the world saw how quickly leverage can shift. In this episode, Ambassador Kurt Volker, former US Special Envoy to Ukraine and current Distinguished Fellow at the Center for European Policy analysis unpacks how Putin’s “summit offer” was never about peace talks, but about power, hu...

After twenty years of covering the U.S. military, I turned in my Pentagon press credential today. But that’s all that changes; My commitment to covering the men and women of the U.S. military and the institution they serve remains exactly the same. Let me explain. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We go deep inside the mind of one of Ukraine’s most unflinching voices—two-time former Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk. The man who stood at the helm during the nation’s darkest hour after Russia’s first invasion in 2014 returns with a stark warning and a message of resilience. In this powerful conversation, Yatsenyuk, now Chairman of the Kyiv Security Forum, dissects Vladimir Putin’s endgame, the limits of Western resolve, and what it truly means to fight for democracy when yo...

Investigative journalist Andrei Soldatov has tracked the rise of Putin’s propaganda machine from the inside; and paid the price in exile. In this gripping conversation, he connects the dots between Russia’s early media crackdowns and the chilling parallels unfolding in the United States today. From late-night comedy to Pentagon press restrictions, Soldatov explains how free speech erodes step by step; and what Americans must do to fight back. This episode is both a history lesson and...

Russia is turning up the pressure on NATO’s doorstep. Estonia says three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets stormed into its airspace over the Gulf of Finland, lingering for twelve minutes in what Tallinn calls a “brazen and deliberate” violation. It’s the fourth breach this year, but the first involving multiple high-performance fighters—and NATO isn’t brushing it off, especially not Estonia. Krisjan Prikk, Estonia's ambassador to the U.S., explains what happened and the conseque...

In this episode we look at how Immigration and Customs Enforcement is believed to have access to Graphite—powerful spyware capable of silently hacking smartphones and reading encrypted apps like WhatsApp and Signal. At issue is what Graphite can do, the legal red lines it risks crossing, and what it means for civil liberties inside the U.S. if you carry a phone. Joining us are Eric O'Neill, a former FBI counterintelligence operative, author, and current national security strategist w...

Are two headline-grabbing incidents—the overnight Russian drone incursion into Poland and the explosion of eight Polish gas tankers on a train in Lithuania—part of the same campaign? Dr. Artis Pabriks thinks so. The former Latvian Foreign Minister, Defence Minister, and Deputy Prime Minister, now chairman of the Northern Defence Policy Centre, joins us to explain why he believes the events are connected and why he holds Russia responsible. He also lays out what NATO can do next. See ...

On this episode we’ve got two big stories. First, we continue our Greenland story. Denmark says covert influence operations aren’t just the work of Russia or China anymore—they’re happening inside the Western alliance. Investigators there allege Americans tied to Donald Trump tried to stir separatist sentiment in Greenland. Now we're hearing there are people from another country involved in this. Greenland MP Pipaluk Lynge joins us. And second, BUT a really big story as well, a cyber...

Denmark has done something almost unheard of: it hauled in the top U.S. diplomat in Copenhagen to demand answers—after uncovering evidence that people tied directly to Donald Trump have been running secret influence operations in Greenland. The allegation? That these operatives tried to stir up a movement in Greenland—a territory of Denmark—to break away and open the door to U.S. control. Danish officials call it “completely unacceptable,” likening it to planting a fifth column insid...

In this episode, the Trump–Putin summit in Alaska—three hours of high-stakes talks that produced no ceasefire, no sanctions relief, and no concrete deal. We hear President Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin in their own words. Then break down the much-talked-about event with members of Parliament from Ukraine Ivanna Kympush-Tsintsadse and Halyna Yanchenko. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-i...

A major geopolitical summit is coming up in Alaska this week between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with top European leaders to send a strong message to them—Ukraine's map will not be redrawn at a meeting that doesn't include them. On this episode, Trump explains his thinking, experts discuss Putin's objective, and a Ukrainian tells us exactly what Ukrainians are thinking. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.c...

Former Latvian Defense Minister Dr. Artis Pabriks joins us with a stark warning: the West still misunderstands Russia’s long-term ambitions—and its slow, fragmented response to the war in Ukraine is already reshaping Europe’s future. From Belarus’s silent absorption to NATO’s fragile cohesion, Pabriks argues the stakes couldn’t be higher. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In a seismic allegation, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard claims former President Barack Obama “led a coup attempt” against Donald Trump—accusing him of directing the intelligence community to fabricate the Russia collusion narrative to overturn the 2016 election. In this episode, we scrutinize Gabbard’s charge against the historical record, including testimony from former DNI James Clapper and findings from years of bipartisan investigations. Is this a long-suppressed...

In this explosive episode, we dive into Chinese Espionage: Operations and Tactics—a chilling exposé by Nicholas Eftimiades, a 35-year veteran of the CIA, DIA, and State Department. Eftimiades pulls back the curtain on China’s massive, evolving spy machine—revealing how Beijing is quietly infiltrating America’s power grids, research labs and even targeting young U.S. military personnel online. It’s espionage without borders—covert, relentless, and already inside. If you think the th...

A high-ranking Ukrainian intelligence officer is assassinated in broad daylight—five shots, close range, in the middle of Kyiv. Within hours, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) launches a manhunt. Days later, they kill two suspects tied not only to Russia’s FSB but also to a U.S.-founded extremist group now operating from inside Russia. In this episode, Dr. Hans-Jakob Schindler, Sr. Director at the Counter Extremism Project, navigates us through the shadow war playing out across Easter...

Former U.S. Ambassador to NATO Kurt Volker didn’t mince words—Putin has effectively given U.S. Presient Donald Trump “the middle finger,” rejecting every offer of peace Trump has put on the table. From lifting sanctions to restoring Russia’s global status, Trump tried to cut a deal. But Putin isn’t interested. He’s doubling down—escalating attacks on Ukraine, brushing off diplomacy, and chasing an imperial legacy soaked in blood. With over 100,000 Russian troops dead this year ...

In this episode, we cover the deadliest escalation between Iran and Israel in years. Beginning June 13, Iran launched up to 350 ballistic missiles and drones in waves that pounded Israeli cities through June 16. Civilian areas were hit hard—28 people killed, including children and a Holocaust survivor, and hundreds injured in Tel Aviv, Bat Yam, Rehovot, and Rishon LeZion. This wasn’t routine retaliation—it marked a dangerous shift into a wider conflict. And today, we bring you voices...

In this episode, Estonia’s Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jonatan Vseviov, joins us for a candid conversation on Russia’s failed war objectives, shifting strategies, and the growing threat to Europe’s eastern flank. We explore how Estonia and its allies are countering Kremlin influence—and why the fight for Ukraine is a fight for global stability. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-s...

Two men. One war. And a war of words that could dictate the terms of a new world order. Trump calls Putin crazy. Putin fires back—calls Trump emotional. Trump warns he’s playing with fire. But behind the insults is a deeper conflict—one that could tip the scales of history. At the center: Ukraine. Not just a battlefield, but a test of resolve, ego, and global power. This is where rhetoric meets reality—and the consequences are deadly. Former CIA covert operative Robert Baer explains ...

The world’s most dangerous fleet isn’t on any navy’s registry—it sails in the shadows. Russia’s so-called shadow oil fleet is a rogue armada of unflagged, uninsured, barely seaworthy tankers hauling sanctioned crude across the globe. Estonia’s Undersecretary for Legal and Consular Affairs, Kerli Veski, explains what it is, how it works and why it's a problem. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-in...

The 2025 Lennart Meri Conference in Tallinn wasn’t just another diplomatic gathering—it was a strategic wake-up call. With war raging in Ukraine and hybrid threats escalating across Europe, leaders from NATO, the EU, and beyond converged to confront what they called a new axis of authoritarian aggression—Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea. Jonatan Vseviov, Secretary General of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, delivers a blunt assessment of the situation and what needs to b...

Artis Pabriks is the former Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister for Latvia. He's currently chairman of the “Northern Defence Policy Centre.” He warns that "if somebody will cross our border, we are gonna shoot immediately to kill" and "we will fight to the end." See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dr. Bobo Lo, independent international relations analyst and Nonresident Fellow at the Lowy Institute says China will not likely give in, because if it does, It's President Xi would likely be ousted. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Pipaluk Lynge, Member of Parliament, joins us to make clear her thoughts about the possibility of becoming a part of the U.S. And former National Security Council member Shawn Turner discusses the fallout of the SIGNAL-GATE controversy. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mitchell Miller, Capitol Hill Correspondent at WTOP joins me to discuss all the ways the president's tariffs impact everyone in the U.S. and many people abroad. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How did a reporter "accidentally" get invited into sensitive government chat group. We hear comments from two people in the chat, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Former White House Chief Information Officer Theresa Payton also addresses how secure communications should be handled. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, a member of Ukraine's Parliament and former Deputy Prime Minister joins Daniel Fried, former U.S. Ambassador to Poland and current Weiser Family Distinguished Fellow at the Atlantic Council See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Retired Lt. General Ben Hodges, former Commander of U.S. Army Europe discusses the Trump team's choices in this war. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kristjian Prikk is Estonia's Ambassador to the U.S. He discusses how the turmoil regarding Ukraine is impacting the war against Russia, the U.S. and Europe See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jorn Fleck, senior director with the Europe Center at the Atlantic Council was there and explains why so many people were upset by the remarks. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Margus Tsahkna, Estonia's Foreign Minister discusses Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia severing their connection to Russia's energy grid. It's something many thought was done many years ago. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Paul Whelan, former "hostage" joins us to discuss Fogel's release and how he helped See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dan Stanton, Director, National Security Program. University of Ottawa, Professional Development Institute and former Canadian government intelligence official discusses deep concerns he and other former and current intelligence officers have about the changes the Trump administration is making to the intelligence community. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This hack, which has been going on for more than a year, still has not been contained. Millions of Americans phone calls and text messages may no longer be private. Dr. James Lewis, a Senior Vice President and the Director of the Technology and Public Policy Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies joins us to describe just how dangerous this hack is. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/pri...

President Donald Trump has ordered the security detail terminated for one of his former top advisors, who is facing death threats. John Bolton served as Trump's national security advisor in his first term. The government of Iran has sought to have Bolton, Trump and others killed after the assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in 2020. Bolton spoke to Target USA about what this means for him. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notic...

Matt McCool, Special Agent in Charge of the Secret Service's Washington Field Office, David Sundberg, Assistant Director of the FBI Washington Field Office and retired Sr. Secret Service Special Agent Don Mihalek break down the concerns and how they'll be addressed. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Don Mihalek, Retired Sr. Secret Service agent and Hans-Jakob Schindler, Sr. Director at the Counter Extremism Project break down the impact of the New Orleans terror attack on U.S. security -especially in Washington, D.C. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dr. Hans Jacob Schindler, Sr. Director at the Counter Extremism Project, says 2024 signaled a very concerning terrorism trend for 2025. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Media personality Chris Core says his life, like that of millions of others in Florida and North Carolina, has been ruined by the increasingly powerful hurricanes that have been raking the U.S. in recent years. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

FBI Director explains his decision to resign. Dr. Hans Jakob Schindler details how Hayat Tahrir al Sham overthrew Bashar al Assad's regime in Syria overthrown so fast. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kurt Volker, former U.S. Ambassador to NATO and current Distinguished Fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis discusses some key elements about the war and what's to come. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Meelis Oidsalu, former Undersecretary for Defence Planning in Estonia and current Editor-in-Chief at The Baltic Sentinel suggests Donald Trump is not the "anti-NATO" figure many think he is. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For the last decade the U.S. election system has been targeted relentlessly, by hostile nation-states. Russia, the principal culprit is at it again, with a new scheme so potent that even the US Congress was caught off guard. In this episode, Dr. Martin Innes, from Cardiff University in the UK talks about how Doppleganger works. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For the last decade the U.S. election system has been targeted relentlessly, by hostile nation-states. And, as election day 2024 approaches, Russia, the principal culprit is at it again, with a new scheme so potent that even the US Congress was caught off guard. Va. Democratic Congressman Gerry Connolly and fellow members were bombarded by thousands of angry callers in a coordinated, targeted operation after the Congress passed the Ukraine Aid Package in April. That was just the...

Hans Jakob Schindler, Sr. Director at the Counter Extremism Project discusses how Israeli forces found Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and the circumstances of his death. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jad Nasrallah, an architect, who lives in Beirut, shares his story, heartbreaking videos and pictures that reveal sleepless nights, worry for his family, and personal and city-wide devastation that may signal a long conflict ahead. Also Rena Bitter, Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs talks about innovative ways the State Department's using to get Americans out See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-...

Three interviews in this show paint a picture of a chaotic week in Middle East. Ben Francke, who lives near Tel Aviv reflects on Iran's missile strike. Vedant Patel, the State Department's Principal Deputy Spokesperson talks about US efforts to stop the conflict from spreading. And Fred Burton, former Deputy chief of the State Department's Diplomatic Security Service says he's shocked at how deeply Israeli intelligence penetrated Hezbollah. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/pri...

A rare sit-down interview with the director of the National Reconnaissance Office, Dr. Christopher Scolese. We also talk with Australia's Ambassador Kevin Rudd about the 3rd anniversary of AUKUS and the 2024 Quad meeting. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Former CIA Senior Operations Officers Robert Baer and Douglas London join us to explain what most likely is happening. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Vicki Aken, Ukraine Country Director for Mercy Corps, says Ukrainians are suffering from lack of sleep, land mines, electricity and constant strains on their mental health as they face a devastating, and overwhelming use of weapons by Russia. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

General Onno Eichelscheim, Chief of Defence for the Netherlands discusses Ukraine's incursion into Kursk. Also, Yuriy Sak, Advisor to Ukraine's Minister of Strategic Industries speaks forcefully about why Ukraine needs permission to use long-range western weapons to strike Russia. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Clint Watts, GM of Microsoft's Threat Analysis Center discusses Iran's meddling and Yuriy Sak, Advisor to Ukraine's Minister of Strategic Industries, describes Ukraine's military mission in Russian territory. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Andriy Zagorodnyk explains why Ukraine did it and why Russia can't really stop it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A retrospective look at some my reporting and podcasts from the time of his arrest in December of 2018, to his release in Late July 2024. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.