One Decision
Listen Now Media
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One Decision is a podcast that explores the tough decisions faced by influential figures, from former MI6 head Sir Richard Dearlove to international journalists. Each episode delves into the doubts, emotions, and unexpected consequences of choices that can shape history. The show offers a fresh perspective on foreign policy through in-depth interviews and analysis.
Епизоде
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Is Iran Secretly Building a Bomb at Pickaxe Mountain? A Nuclear Physicist Answers (w/ Ali Vaez) 17.09.2026 1ч 1минIsrael and the US may have extraordinary intelligence on Iran. But intelligence isn't the same as comprehension, according to nuclear physicist and 2015 Iran deal negotiator Ali Vaez. Vaez joins John Raine and Sir Richard Dearlove to break down what Iran's nuclear capabilities really look like after the 12-day war. Plus, how Iran's Supreme National Security Council stays united under duress, how the Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps maintains primacy over the regular army, and why sanctions now at "nine out of ten" still won't force collapse. Iran doesn't need to win this standoff. It just needs not to lose. In this episode: (00:00) Ali Vaez on wartime Iran (02:39) Is Iran's leadership a monolith or divided? (03:55) Power centers: the SNSC, the Basij, and the IRGC (10:09) The mystery of Mojtaba Khamenei (12:00) Economic and military pressure on Iran (15:00) A forever war? Gulf States, Saudi Arabia, and the Houthis (27:47) What does the Iranian public actually think? (32:33) Iran's nuclear program: what do we really know? (42:18) Israeli intelligence, diplomacy, and the Ahmadinejad theory (52:19) The decision only Donald Trump can make Hosted by Sir Richard Dearlove (former MI6 Chief) and co-host John Raine (International Institute for Strategic Studies). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
How Real Is Netflix's The Diplomat? Ex-MI6 Chief Fact-Checks It (w/ Creator Debora Cahn) 14.09.2026 43минDebora Cahn, the writer behind The Diplomat, Homeland, The West Wing, and Grey's Anatomy, joins Kate McCann and Sir Richard Dearlove to talk about writing political drama in an era when reality keeps outpacing fiction. Debora explains how "spy camp" research trips with real diplomats, spies, and generals shape her scripts, why she resists making her stories too close to current events, and what she learned about the strange double life of foreign service officers: the loneliness of constant relocation, the jockeying for a seat in the room, and the quiet patriotism that keeps them showing up. Sir Richard, a former head of MI6, adds his own view from the other side of the table, including a story about deliberately keeping a British ambassador out of the room in Washington. In this episode: 00:00 Cold Open 02:58 Russia Story Rewritten 04:11 Borgen Inspiration 06:15 Spy Camp Research 08:22 Diplomacy In The Dirt 09:35 Ambassadors Real And Fake 18:39 CIA And Embassy Dynamics 21:24 From West Wing To Diplomat 23:14 No Evil Characters 24:29 MI6 Reality Check 29:59 Demystifying Government Work 31:12 Female President Choice 33:51 Future Of Ambassadors Hosted by Sir Richard Dearlove (former MI6 Chief) and Kate McCann (Political Editor at Times Radio). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Inside the CIA and MI6 on 9/11 (w/ John McLaughlin, CIA Deputy Director on September 11th) 10.09.2026 1ч 9минPart Two of our two-part series marking the 25th anniversary of 9/11 reunites former leaders of the US and UK intelligence services, both of whom were in high office on September 11, 2001. Former deputy director of the CIA John McLaughlin joins former MI6 chief Sir Richard Dearlove and co-host Kate McCann to give the insider’s perspective on the intelligence world’s response to the attacks. McLaughlin details what the CIA knew beforehand, the immediate aftermath inside CIA headquarters, and the rapid attribution to al-Qaeda. He also discusses the power of the US-UK "special relationship," the surge in CIA resources after 9/11, the Bush administration's push toward the Iraq War, the effects of the global war on terror on American civil liberties, and why the war in Ukraine is the single most important geopolitical issue today. In this episode: (00:00) Emotion is a Luxury in Intelligence (01:53) John McLaughlin Introduction (03:03) Pre-9/11 Threats (07:17) Why Was 9/11 A Surprise? (14:13) Considering the "What Ifs" (15:52) M16 Rushes to DC (22:46) CIA on 9/11 (25:12) Post-9/11 Intelligence Overhaul (34:16) Origins of the Iraq Focus (47:17) Legacy of 9/11 in America (57:42) One Decision: Importance of the Ukraine Conflict (01:03:00) Takeaways and Wrap Up Hosted by Sir Richard Dearlove (former MI6 Chief) and co-host Kate McCann (Political Editor at Times Radio). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
The Lessons of 9/11 & the Global War on Terror (w/ Peter Bergen, who Interviewed Bin Laden) 08.09.2026 1ч 7минIn 1997, Peter Bergen found himself in the mountains of Afghanistan, face-to-face with al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden. During the ensuing landmark interview, bin Laden foreshadowed the terrorist attacks of September 11. In Part One of our two-part series commemorating the 25th anniversary of 9/11, journalist and author Peter Bergen sits down with former head of MI6 Sir Richard Dearlove and co-host John Raine to discuss the legacy of the 9/11 attacks, including the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Bergen talks about why negotiating with Osama bin Laden would have been a nonstarter and why the attacks bin Laden orchestrated generated shock, not surprise, within government intelligence agencies. Bergen and the hosts also discuss decisions after the attacks that Dearlove witnessesed firsthand, the proper relationship between intelligence and policy, how the war on terror reshaped the US view of coalitions and allies, and how the conflict in Ukraine points to the future of warfare. In this episode: (00:00) Lessons of Afghanistan and Iraq Wars (03:23) Would Negotiating with Osama bin Laden Have Worked? (06:21) Feeling in US Immediately Post-9/11 (11:29) Origins of Iraq War (15:55) Policy and Intelligence (17:08) Imperial Power of the Presidency (21:16) Why Were There No Major Attacks After 9/11? (25:13) Role of Coalitions and Allies (34:31) Legacy of Fighting Global War on Terror (41:10) Importance of Tribalism (46:54) Scale of Troop Presence and Outcome (50:41) Ukraine as Laboratory for Modern Warfare (54:38) One Decision: Why Trump Should Declare Victory in Iran (56:41) Takeaways and Wrap Up Hosted by Sir Richard Dearlove (former MI6 Chief) and guest co-host John Raine (International Institute for Strategic Studies) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Why the US Lost in Afghanistan (w/Jon Lee Anderson, the Journalist Who Saw the Taliban Rise Twice) 03.09.2026 1ч 4минIt has been five years since the US withdrew its forces from Afghanistan in August 2021, accepting defeat after a 20-year presence in the country. Was this ever a winnable war? War correspondent Jon Lee Anderson of The New Yorker walks former head of MI6 Sir Richard Dearlove and co-host John Raine through the Taliban resurgence. Anderson discusses why it was a strategic error to not allow Hamid Karzai to actually govern, and how that blunder facilitated both the return of opium production and the Taliban comeback. He also talks about what happened to the Northern Alliance, the complexities of Afghan allegiances and loyalties, lessons in counterinsurgency, the importance of winning the hearts and minds of a people, and what diplomatic relations with a Taliban-led Afghanistan could look like. In this episode: (00:00) Ceding an Aura of Invincibility (03:15) Was Afghanistan Ever a Winnable War? (07:26) Karzai and State Building (11:12) Opium Production and Taliban (18:43) Shadow Taliban Government (27:09) What Happened to the Northern Alliance? (33:39) Navigating US-Afghani Cultural Differences (39:14) Afghanistan’s Geography (42:45) Lessons in Counterinsurgency (48:26) Legacy of Afghanistan War (50:09) Persistence of Taliban Government (51:58) Diplomatic Relations with Taliban (55:28) One Decision: The West Must Engage Afghanistan (56:41) Takeaways and Wrap Up Hosted by Sir Richard Dearlove (former MI6 Chief) and guest co-host John Raine (International Institute for Strategic Studies) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
MI6 Spymaster: Was Israel Serious About Regime Change in Iran? (Ft. Ronen Bergman & Mark Mazzetti) 27.08.2026 1ч 1минHow did a Holocaust-denying, hardline former president of Iran become the centerpiece of an Israeli plan to topple the regime in Tehran? Former head of MI6 Sir Richard Dearlove and co-host John Raine sit down with New York Times investigative journalists Mark Mazzetti and Ronen Bergman to detail the high-stakes intelligence mission that preceded Operation Epic Fury. They explain how Israel’s Mossad groomed former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad into an intelligence asset, and how Mossad director David Barnea Ahmadinejad to the White House in February 2026 as part of a plan for rapid regime change in Iran. They also discuss the plan’s collapse within days of the decapitation strikes, why the plan to use Kurdish forces as a ground proxy was a non-starter, how the political fallout from the war may forever change US-Israel relations, and the electoral implications for both US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this fall. (00:00) Legacy of the Iran War (02:30) Origins of Ahmadinejad Plot (05:10) Planning Iranian Regime Change (08:08) Was Ahmadinejad a Double Agent? (12:45) Why Recruit Ahmadinejad? (15:34) Selling Trump on Regime Change (25:12) Credibility of Kurdish Option (33:27) War Planning vs. Reality (35:32) Legacy of Ahmadinejad Plot (38:55) Did Israel Manipulate the US? (41:44) Mood of Iranian People (43:58) Deal Prospects (46:18) Maximum Pressure on Iran (48:05) Impact of Israel’s Coming Elections (49:03) Takeaways, Audience Comments, and Wrap Up Hosted by Sir Richard Dearlove (former MI6 Chief) and guest co-host John Raine (International Institute for Strategic Studies) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Putin's Russia, Ukraine's Reparations (ft. Jamison Firestone) | German Spies, Iceland-EU, Iran 20.08.2026 1ч 17минVladimir Putin promised Russia a "dictatorship of law" when he took office in 2000. He delivered the dictatorship -- but not the law. This week, Russia expert, human rights lawyer, and founder of Russia's first independent foreign law firm Jamison Firestone joins journalist Rosanna Lockwood and former head of MI6 Sir Richard Dearlove to discuss his new book, Rule of Lies: My Wild Ride Through Chaos, Corruption, and Murder in Putin's Russia. Firestone lived through the upheaval of the early 1990s and worked alongside Sergei Magnitsky, who was murdered after exposing a Russian state built to loot itself. Firestone explains why Russia may now be close to a historical tipping point, how $300 billion in frozen Russian assets could be legally transferred to Ukraine to fund Kyiv;s war effort, and the ways in which Donald Trump has emulated Putin and Yeltsin. Plus, in Brief: changes coming to Germany's BND, the legacy of former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji, Iceland's referendum on restarting EU membership talks, and the latest in the Iran War. In this episode: (00:00) Why Ukraine Matters (02:06) Germany Expands BND Powers (05:01) Zhu Rongji (07:52) Iceland EU Vote and NATO Role (11:46) Iran Deadline and Strait Tensions (15:11) Meet Jamison Firestone (16:42) Growing Up Around Gangsters (26:15) Loving Russia Despite Putin (30:46) Can Russia Reach a Tipping Point (34:32) Mobilization Pressure and Next Steps (36:15) Ukraine Aid and Frozen Funds (41:17) Legal Case For Seizure (43:57) Reparations Loan Explained (50:25) US Politics And Trump Parallels (54:24) How Putin Could Fall (57:06) Can Russia Be Democratic (59:03) Putin Isolation And Ukraine Motive (01:02:12) Life In London And Safety (01:05:08) Magnitsky Legacy And Costs (01:11:33) Drone Swarms And Future War Show Notes: Rule of Lies: My Wild Ride Through Chaos, Corruption, and Murder in Putin's Russia | https://www.harpercollins.com/products/rule-of-lies-jamison-r-firestone?variant=44366648180770 Website to learn more about Jamison Firestone’s advocacy: https://makeputinpay.org/ Hosted by Sir Richard Dearlove (former MI6 Chief) and guest co-host Rosanna Lockwood (International Journalist) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
CIA Under Trump (ft. Tim Weiner) | China’s UK Spy Nest, US to Squeeze Cuba, Russia Tests NATO 13.08.2026 1ч 13минWhat role do intelligence services play under a president that does not heed their advice? That’s one of the questions Pulitzer Prize–winning reporter Tim Weiner posits in his most recent book, The Mission, which details how the modern Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has evolved during the era of the global war on terror. Weiner describes the evolution of the missions undertaken by the CIA, which were historically driven by presidential desires to change the world through covert action, and contrasts them with the post-Cold War agency that grapples with trust and reputation in the information era. Weiner also discusses how the delicate interplay between betrayal and trust underwrites intelligence work, the common aim of pursuing secrets that intelligence and journalism share, and why he believes the cumulative effects of partisan purges within intelligence services under President Donald Trump leaves the United States in a dire state of danger. Sir Richard Dearlove and guest co-host Rosanna Lockwood dive into the news stories in geopolitics shaping the world this week: how a secret CIA task force in Cuba may be laying the groundwork for a more American-friendly government, why the construction of a new giant embassy for China is igniting political NIMBY-ism in London, and what US intelligence says about how stray Russian missiles and drones may be Putin’s way of testing NATO’s resolve. (03:07) Secret CIA Cuba Task Force (07:24) New Chinese Embassy in London (12:31) Will Putin Test NATO’s Resolve? (14:37) Interview with Tim Weiner (15:29) Difficulty of Writing About the CIA (20:07) Human Element of Espionage (22:56) Evolution of the CIA (25:57) Sir Richard’s Post-9/11 Intel Recollections (30:08) Journalists, Intelligence, and Secrecy (34:58) Intelligence and Policy (39:59) Modern CIA Missions Under Trump (48:31) Partisan Purges in US Intel Services (54:55) Can Institutional Trust Recover? (58:48) Trump’s Potential Paradoxical Legacy (01:02:47) One Decision to Watch (01:03:32) Takeaways, Audience Comments, and Wrap Up Hosted by Sir Richard Dearlove (former MI6 Chief) and guest co-host Rosanna Lockwood (international journalist). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Russia-Ukraine War Ground Truth (ft. Analyst Michael Kofman) | Swedish Spies, Iran Pause, AI Fears 06.08.2026 1ч 8минIs the Russian military actually losing ground, or adapting faster than Western allies realize? Fresh off a tour of the Ukrainian front lines, Senior Fellow in the Russia and Eurasia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Michael Kofman delivers a realistic assessment of the latest developments in the Russia-Ukraine war. Kofman explains why Ukraine is in its strongest position since mid-2023, how Russian military commanders reporting false progress to Putin may lead to a mismatch between goals and means in the war, the strategic implications behind Ukraine’s recent command changes and political shifts in defense procurement, and why it’s critical that NATO learns what it can from Ukrainian force exercises to be prepared to face Russia’s next post-war threat. Sir Richard Dearlove and co-host Kate McCann unpack the latest and most significant news stories in geopolitics: the launch of Sweden’s own civilian intelligence service, whether President Trump’s rhetoric on Iran reflects uncertainty or strategic deception, and the data supporting the skeptical American attitude about AI. In this episode: (02:13) Sweden to Launch Its Own MI6 (06:01) Trump Hyperbole and Iran (09:18) America’s AI Skepticism (12:26) Interview with Michael Kofman (13:10) State of the Ukrainian-Russian Frontlines (15:30) Russian Military Goals vs. Means (19:43) Russia’s False Picture of Success (23:17) Evolution of Warfare on the Frontlines (28:58) Assessment of International Response (33:18) Patriot Missile Licensed Production Timeline (37:02) Changes in Ukrainian Defense Leadership (43:28) Corruption, Procurement, and Funding in Ukraine( 48:58) Russia’s Threat Post-War(54:50) Ukrainian Morale on the Frontlines\(57:18) Defining the Front Line of Fighting (01:00:21) One Decision to Watch (01:02:47) Takeaways, Audience Comments, and Wrap Up Show Notes: The Next Russia Threat: Moscow’s Military Power After Ukraine | Foreign Affairs: www.foreignaffairs.com/russia/next-russia-threat-michael-kofman Hosted by Sir Richard Dearlove (former MI6 Chief) and co-host Kate McCann (Political Editor at Times Radio). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
US-China AI Race (ft Gina Raimondo), Kyiv Shakeup, Kash to Moscow, Saudi Nuclear Deal, Iran Update 30.07.2026 44минAI models in the United States may be ahead of China’s in terms of capability, but China far surpasses America in adoption and use. That’s what former US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo says about the state of the AI race, and why she believes it's critical for the US and its allies to understand one thing: China is not our friend. She spells out how exactly China is creating technological dependencies, particularly in European countries, why it’s still important the West maintains continuous, managed economic competition with China, what social adoption of AI should look like in the US to curb anxieties around job loss, and why she remains optimistic about the promise of AI despite all this. Sir Richard Dearlove and guest co-host Sabrina Singh analyze the events making the biggest geopolitical headlines: FBI Director Kash Patel’s upcoming trip to Russia, a nuclear deal between the United States and Saudi Arabia, more changes in defense leadership in Ukraine, and the latest with the war in Iran. In this episode: (01:04) Kash Patel to Visit Russia (04:45) US-Saudi Nuclear Deal (09:39) Changes to Zelenskyy’s Cabinet (14:06) State of the Iran War (18:24) Interview with Gina Raimondo (19:17) US-China AI Race (23:00) Europe’s Vulnerability to China’s Influence (26:16) Managing Economic Competition between US/China (28:31) Why AI is a Geopolitical Net-Good (30:27) Social Adoption of AI (35:31) Regulation for AI (37:44) One Decision to Watch (38:58) Takeaways and Wrap Up Show Notes: Iran’s New Grand Strategy: How a Remade Islamic Republic Will Reshape the Middle East | Foreign Affairs: www.foreignaffairs.com/iran/irans-new-grand-strategy Hosted by Sir Richard Dearlove (former MI6 Chief) and guest co-host Sabrina Singh (Former Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Iran's War Plan (ft. Vali Nasr), Burnham In, Fedorov Out, Japan's New Spy Agency, China's AI Grab 27.07.2026 1ч 4минProfessor Vali Nasr argues that the single objective that's driven Tehran since 1979 has been defending its independence from the US. Author of Iran’s Grand Strategy, Nasr says that logic, more than ideology, explains the current war. He unpacks Iran's shift toward hard-nosed nationalism, what leverage it has left, and whether the country will take a more pragmatic approach to geopolitics. Sir Richard Dearlove and guest co-host John Raine talk through the headlines shaping today’s geopolitics: Japan's intelligence overhaul, the fallout from Zelensky's clash with his defense minister, China's new AI cooperation push, and the UK's untested new PM Andy Burnham. 03:16 Japan Builds Spy Agency07:35 Ukraine Defense Shakeup11:14 China Pushes AI Rules14:49 New UK Prime Minister18:24 Guest interview begins23:20 From Islam to Nationalism28:15 War Pragmatism and New Leaders32:27 Proxies and Forward Defense38:21 How the War Ends43:43 Gulf Markets and Hormuz48:12 Buying Peace49:49 Energy Shifts and Long Game55:37 One Decision to Watch56:23 Takeaways and Wrap Up Show Notes: Iran’s New Grand Strategy: How a Remade Islamic Republic Will Reshape the Middle East | Foreign Affairs: www.foreignaffairs.com/iran/irans-new-grand-strategy Hosted by Sir Richard Dearlove (former MI6 Chief) and guest co-host John Raine (International Institute for Strategic Studies) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Ukraine: Economic Powerhouse (ft Chrystia Freeland), PM Burnham, Iran Stalemate, China's PLA Shakeup 16.07.2026 1ч 7минIn recent months of the war, Ukraine has managed to hold its front lines and bring war to regular Russians via attacks on infrastructure. That’s why Economic Advisor to the President of Ukraine Chrystia Freeland believes Ukraine has flipped the narrative from being the virtuous victim of Russia’s aggression to the necessary ally and shield of Europe. This week, she joins Sir Ben Wallace and co-host Kate McCann to make the case for why Ukraine is winning, and why winning on the economic battlefield is equally important to the country’s future. Freeland talks about how Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is laying the political groundwork for Ukraine’s economic success, the importance of Ukraine’s alliances, and why Poland’s success story should serve as a model for Ukraine’s post-war future. They also discuss Ukraine’s strong defense industrial base, the importance of rooting out corruption and the remnants of Soviet ideology for bringing in investment to the country, the challenges of attracting people back to Ukraine, and why victory for Ukraine is a victory for liberal democracy. Plus, In Brief: what Andy Burnham is up against on the UK’s defense front as he ascends to the role of Prime Minister, another battle in the Strait of Hormuz reignites conflict between Iran and the United States, and a leadership shakeup in China’s People’s Liberation Army. In this episode: (00:00) Cold Open and Introduction (02:21) Incoming UK PM Andy Burnham (04:16) IRGC Proscription Explained (05:20) Renewed Tensions with Iran (09:14) China Military Leadership Shakeup (10:32) Chrystia Freeland On Ukraine (11:35) Is Ukraine Winning? (15:38) Ukrainian Sentiment on the State of War (24:43) Zelenskyy’s Political Strategy (29:44) Ukrainian Defense Innovation (33:36) Why Crimea Was A Strategic Blunder for Putin (37:17) Ukraine’s Future Economic Vision (42:39) Corruption and Investment in Ukraine (53:32) Rebuilding Ukraine and Returning Home (56:28) Why Allyship is Key for Ukrainian Success (59:48) Reflecting On Politics, Alliances, and the Future of Ukraine Hosted by Sir Ben Wallace (former UK Defense Secretary) and co-host Kate McCann (Political Editor at Times Radio). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
World Cup Geopolitics (ft. Simon Kuper), Trump’s Spy List, Burnham’s Devolution, Nord Stream Case 09.07.2026 1ч 8минFootball can be geopolitics by other means. Financial Times Journalist Simon Kuper has covered every World Cup since 1990. This week, he joins Sir Richard Dearlove and guest co-host Baroness Ayesha Hazarika to unpack how football and geopolitics collide. Kuper explains why he thinks FIFA president Gianni Infantino runs the organization like an autocrat, how U.S. President Donald Trump's red card intervention echoes historical precedents set by Mussolini and Brazil's military government, and why hosting a World Cup brings prestige but rarely economic benefit. The conversation also covers the KGB's use of Soviet football clubs for cover during the Cold War, football's role in the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa, why China's investment in football hasn't paid off, and how France's multicultural national team has become a flashpoint in its domestic politics. Plus, in Brief: Russian strikes on Ukraine ahead of the NATO summit, German prosecutors' Nord Stream allegations against Ukraine, deepening Russia-China military cooperation, and reports of Trump pushing for a "master list" of intelligence assets. In this episode: (00:00) World Cup Geopolitics Football & Global Power (00:45) England's Surprising World Cup Victory (03:05) Football As Geopolitics Explained (03:24) Russia-Ukraine War Intelligence Analysis (11:12) Trump CIA Spy List Dangers Exposed (14:25) Andy Burnham Northern Devolution Power Shift (19:10) Simon Kuper On The Geopolitics Of Football (23:07) FIFA Corruption Infantino's Autocratic Control (28:00) Jules Rimet World Cup Origins Peace Vision (30:23) 1954 World Cup Rebuilt German National Identity (38:42) KGB Soviet Football Cold War Espionage (47:53) Argentina 1978 World Cup Junta Propaganda (49:52) Qatar 2022 World Cup Human Rights Backlash (1:02:49) Reflecting On Football Power, Politics, & Identity Show Notes: Soccernomics: Why European Men and American Women Usually Win―and American Men Don’t (Yet) | https://a.co/d/07dBzyak World Cup Fever: A Soccer Journey in Nine Tournaments | https://a.co/d/0g5raBr3 Football Against The Enemy: https://a.co/d/04OUzQgR Hosted by Sir Richard Dearlove (former MI6 Chief) and guest co-host Baroness Ayesha Hazarika (House of Lords) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
NATO Summit Preview (ft. Julianne Smith and Wess Mitchell), Five Eyes on China, Iran Talks Stall 02.07.2026 1ч 10минPresident Donald Trump has continued his pressure campaign on European defense spending. But in the lead-up to the next NATO Summit, there is another core question to ask: How is Europe coordinating its defense production? This might be the key issue that determines how Trump's pressure campaign pays off in the long run. Kate McCann and Sir Richard Dearlove are joined by Ambassador Julianne Smith (Former United States Permanent Representative to NATO under President Biden) and A. Wess Mitchell, Ph.D. (former senior State Department official who helped shape the first Trump administration's Europe strategy) to break down what's really at stake in Ankara. Plus: Should NATO stay laser-focused on Russia and leave China to the U.S.? How deep is the lingering trust deficit after the Greenland dispute? Got a question or comment? Email us at [email protected] or drop us a comment on YouTube. We might answer it in next week's episode. In this episode: (00:00) Cold Open (00:57) Where US-Iran Talks Stand (06:33) Five Eyes Warnings: Chinese LinkedIn Recruitment & AI Threats (11:51) Setting the Scene for NATO's Ankara Summit (13:35) What Does the US Want Out of This Summit? (19:47) Debating What "US Leadership" Really Means (24:59) Trump's Balancing Act: Pressure vs. Reassurance (28:04) The Coordination Problem: Europe's "Potluck Dinner" (37:19) Should NATO Even Focus on China? (44:31) The Anglosphere & AUKUS Debate (45:23) Who's the Most Awkward Meeting for Trump in Ankara? (47:47) Is Trump's Personality a Distraction From Policy? (50:05) Will the Iran War Overshadow the Summit? (52:35) Chaos Agent or Strategic Operator? (56:19) The One Decision to Watch at Ankara (59:31) Listener Mail: Energy Pricing & Geopolitical Reality (1:04:15) Listener Mail: Cuba's Civil Society Problem Show Notes: https://youtu.be/0pYUYBwRdLs?si=2fbDUznnuIs-Y5H3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7FGkxRO_es Hosted by Sir Richard Dearlove (former MI6 Chief) and Kate McCann (Political Editor at Times Radio) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Hormuz Reality Check (ft. Energy Expert Helima Croft), Starmer Out, Ukraine Hits Back, Brexit at 10 25.06.2026 1ч 2минIn the wake of the United States’ MOU with Iran, the headlines have been chock-full of optimism. Sir Richard Dearlove and guest co-host Sabrina Singh sit down with Helima Croft, Managing Director and Head of Global Commodity Strategy and MENA Research, RBC Capital Markets, to lend more nuance to the news. Also: What Starmer’s resignation could mean for the UK, takeaways from the recent G7 meeting, Ukraine’s success with drones, and how things have changed in the decade since Brexit. In this episode: (00:00) Intro: Strait of Hormuz Crisis Explained (02:00) UK PM Starmer Resigns: What Comes Next (08:34) G7 Summit: China, Ukraine, and Europe's Crisis (14:22) Ukraine War: Can Russia Be Stopped? (18:35) Brexit at 10: Was It Worth It? (23:24) Is the Strait of Hormuz Really Open? (30:08) Oil Markets React to Iran-US Peace Deal (36:55) Iran Nuclear Deal: What's Really at Stake (44:39) Iran Sanctions Explained: Congress vs. Treasury (48:01) OPEC's Collapse: Saudi Arabia vs. China (51:47) Best and Worst Case Outcomes for Oil (58:22) Key Takeaways: Global Energy's New Reality Hosted by Sir Richard Dearlove (former MI6 Chief) and guest co-host Sabrina Singh (former Pentagon Press Secretary) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
The Cuba Conundrum (ft. Ricardo Zúñiga), US-Iran Deal, UK Defense Secretary Quits, Armenia Looks West 18.06.2026 56минThe man who secretly negotiated with Cuba for the Obama Administration says it plainly: the risk of military intervention is quite high. Ricardo Zúniga breaks down why the U.S. and Cuba are headed toward conflict, why the Cuban regime would rather fight than negotiate, and why Cuba is not Venezuela, no matter what the White House says. Also this week: the Iran-U.S. ceasefire deal, the resignation of UK Defense Secretary John Healey, and what Armenia's election means for Putin. In this episode: (02:07) Iran Deal (07:32) UK Defense Shakeup (09:39) Armenia Votes West (12:14) Cuba Interview Begins (15:04) Life Inside Cuba (18:31) Cuba Versus Venezuela (20:22) Russia China Backing (24:01) Collapse Crime Risks (28:28) Will US Strike Cuba? (33:04) Reform Not Bombs (36:51) CIA Channel Talks( 44:00) Intermediaries Options (46:34) One Decision to Change Cuba’s Fate Show Notes: The Day After in Cuba | Foreign Affairs https://www.foreignaffairs.com/cuba/day-after-cuba Is Cuba About to Fall? A 35-Year CIA Analyst on What Comes Next | One Decision https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddlk1Wxy8To Hosted by Sir Richard Dearlove (former MI6 Chief) and Kate McCann (Political Editor at Times Radio) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
The Critical Minerals Race (ft. CSIS Expert Gracelin Baskaran), Poland's Defense Surge, and Hungary After Orbán 11.06.2026 1ч 6минThe minerals inside your phone, your car, and U.S. fighter jets almost all pass through one country: China. Dr. Gracelin Baskaran, founding director of the Critical Minerals Security Program at CSIS, joins Sir Richard Dearlove and Rosanna Lockwood to explain how China built a stranglehold on rare earth production, and what it will actually take to break it. Critical Minerals are this century's defining supply chain vulnerability: it's a demand problem, a democracy problem, and, for the West, a race against a country that isn’t swayed by elections. Also: Israel's espionage escalation against US officials, Poland's rise as Europe's top defense power, and the fall of Orbán's Hungary. In this episode: (00:00) Intro: China's Rare Earth Minerals Takeover (01:43) World Cup 2026 Preview (03:50) Middle East Conflict Updates (06:57) Israel Spying on US Officials? (08:43) Bill Pulte Named Intelligence Director (10:27) US APAC Strategy Shifts (14:41) Poland Becomes Europe's Defense Power (16:44) Hungary After Orbán's Fall (19:57) China's Critical Minerals Chokehold (27:12) Western Mining Supply Chain Crisis (38:28) Frontier Markets: Africa's Mineral Race (57:32) Taiwan Crisis and Mineral Shortages Show Notes: The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/06/us/politics/pentagon-sees-growing-espionage-threat-from-israel.html Hosted by Sir Richard Dearlove (former MI6 Chief) and guest co-host Rosanna Lockwood (International Journalist). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Bellingcat Founder Eliot Higgins on the War for Truth in the Age of Slopaganda 04.06.2026 1ч 11минThe Iran conflict contains dueling narratives. Iran says it repelled the attack. Israel says it decimated the nuclear program. The US says it brokered peace. So, how do you find out what actually happened? That’s where Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) can provide valuable information to the public. Eliot Higgins built Bellingcat from a Leicester living room blog into the world's most influential open source intelligence organization. Sir Richard Dearlove and Rosanna Lockwood sit down with him to find out how OSINT cuts through the war of narratives on Iran, Ukraine, and the fronts nobody's covering. Plus: why AI is making the truth harder to find, not easier, and why Higgins won't set foot in the United States right now. Show Notes: bellingcat.com The al-Qaeda offshoot looking to Syria as a blueprint | The Financial Times Senior State Department official sought internal communications with journalists, European officials, and Trump critics | MIT Technology Review Why these Irish cartel bosses are still free | Search Party In this episode: 03:21 Iran Ceasefire 06:39 Israel Strategy Explained 08:53 EU Gets Tough on China 12:30 Mali The Next Syria 16:21 CIA Gold Bar Scandal 20:12 Meet Eliot Higgins 23:37 What Is Bellingcat 25:41 AI Slopaganda Threat 29:20 Dark Web Data Trails 31:13 Russia Adapts Tradecraft 32:54 UAE Image Manipulation 34:07 Rapid OSINT Response 35:57 Blackouts and Radar Tools 37:17 Iran Narrative War 39:17 Tomahawk Strike Verification 41:50 Prediction Versus Proof 43:19 Spies Versus OSINT 46:19 Threats and Harassment 50:56 Ukraine OSINT Evolution 54:50 Why China Is Hard for OSINT 01:00:31 Funding and Partnerships Hosted by Sir Richard Dearlove (former MI6 Chief) and guest co-host Rosanna Lockwood (International Journalist) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Losing Sight of Iran's Revolutionary Character Has Cost the West, ft. IISS Expert John Raine 28.05.2026 54минWith Ayatollah Khamenei’s demise occurring hours into the war, the West anticipated a collapse of the Iranian regime and a popular uprising that never came to be. Is a ‘memorandum of understanding’ the only thing preventing total escalation in the region? In this episode of One Decision, former MI6 Chief Sir Richard Dearlove and co-host journalist Kate McCann sit down with John Raine, Senior Adviser for Geopolitical Due Diligence for the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), to analyze the ripple effects of the war in Iran and what it will take to stabilize the Middle East. What is keeping a comprehensive peace deal off the table? How did Western intelligence miscalculate the IRGC’s resilience? And where does this leave the rest of the Middle East? We also break down China’s pledge to support Cuba’s sovereignty, the 75th anniversary of the Cambridge Five espionage scandal, and the latest in the war in Ukraine, including China’s role in training Russian soldiers and the opening of a museum in North Korea that memorializes the North Korean losses in the war. In this episode: 1:07 – Iran, Israel & Trump: The Middle East Crisis Explained 2:52 – Cuba, China, and US Spheres of Influence 6:23 – Cambridge Five: Cold War Spy Scandal Revisited 9:51 – Russia, North Korea, and Ukraine War Shifting 13:26 – Iran War: MOU vs. Formal Peace Deal Explained 16:55 – Why a Comprehensive Iran Deal Remains Out of Reach 22:41 – IRGC Resilience: How Iran's Regime Survived 29:08 – Who Has Influence Over Iran's IRGC? 33:51 – Israel's Military Objectives and Netanyahu's Agenda 39:36 – Gulf States' Vulnerability and Abraham Accords Future 45:26 – How Does the Iran Conflict End? Three Scenarios 49:47 – Sir Richard and Kate Discussion Hosted by Sir Richard Dearlove (former MI6 Chief) and journalist Kate McCann (Political Editor at Times Radio). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
The Undersea Contest for Control of the Global Economy, ft. Journalist Samanth Subramanian 21.05.2026 1ч 2мин95 percent of global internet traffic travels through underwater fiber optic cables. They've never been more vulnerable. In this episode of One Decision, former MI6 Chief Sir Richard Dearlove and guest co-host Rosanna Lockwood are joined by journalist and author Samanth Subramanian. His latest book, The Web Beneath the Waves, is an investigation into the hidden infrastructure holding the world's economy together, and the growing threats to it. Subramanian’s book, The Web Beneath the Waves, is an investigation Iran is threatening to levy tolls on cables running through the Strait of Hormuz. China is cutting cables in Taiwan's territorial waters using "fishing boats." Russia has been probing European undersea networks for years. And yet there's virtually no international legal framework to stop any of it. Links: The Web Beneath the Waves | Columbia Global Reports In this episode: 1:05 — Iran Nuclear Deal: Trump's Strategy 3:44 — US-China Summit: What Really Happened 6:10 — Putin Visits Xi: Russia's Anxiety 8:13 — CIA in Cuba: Economic Takeover Begins 11:17 — Israel's New Mossad Chief Explained 13:22 — Germany's BND Gets New Powers 17:52 — Undersea Cable Vulnerability Exposed 18:48 — How 95% of Internet Data Travels 32:58 — Can Cables Be Tapped Underwater? 38:54 — Deliberate Cable Attacks: Gray Zone War 45:04 — South China Sea: The Biggest Chokepoint 54:53 — One Decision: Future of the Internet 55:55 — Sir Richard and Rosanna Discussion Hosted by Sir Richard Dearlove (former MI6 Chief) and journalist Kate McCann (Political Editor at Times Radio). Rosanna Lockwood (International Journalist) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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