In this special episode marking one million downloads for the podcast, Jeremy Bash speaks with David Shedd, former acting director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, about the "breathtaking" US military operation in Venezuela over the weekend. They discuss the high-stakes mission to capture Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Celia Flores, to face trial for narco-terrorism in the US. David explores the complex rationale behind the raid—from narco-trafficking charges to the underlying goal of regime change—and explains why Maduro's security forces offered such little resistance despite weeks of US military pre-staging. He also discusses the "murky" aftermath of the operation and its global impact.

Michael speaks with Craig Singleton, China Program Senior Director and Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, about the new frontiers of the US-China tech competition. Craig explains China's willingness to weaponize its dominance in rare earth magnets and how that leverage has left US assembly lines vulnerable. He also explores the high-stakes debate over semiconductor export controls, including a controversial profit-sharing deal for NVIDIA's H20 chips with the US government. Finally, Craig discusses the Chinese "five lever playbook" used to dominate critical sectors like polysilicon, LIDAR, and display technologies, warning of "strategic kill switches" in US infrastructure and the emerging national security threat of biotech.

Michael speaks with former acting Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency David Shedd and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense of Western Hemisphere Affairs Jana Nelson about US strikes on narcotraffickers in Latin America and whether the Trump Administration is closing in on attacks on Venezuela. They discuss what could be next for the Maduro regime and potential US targets in Venezuela, including arms facilities in remote areas. Jana and David also discuss the regional reaction to the rising tensions and how it ties into US politics, including in South Florida.

Michael speaks with David Shedd, former acting director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, and Andrew Badger, a corporate risk advisor and former intelligence officer. David and Andrew share their stark forecasts for possible U.S. military strikes on Venezuela's Maduro regime and narco-trafficking targets. They then shift hemispheres to discuss their book, The Great Heist: China's Epic Campaign to Steal America's Secrets. They reveal how China's "whole of society" espionage campaign feeds into a comprehensive global intelligence operation that poses unique national security risks to the U.S.

Michael speaks with Major General Mick Ryan (Ret.), a Senior Fellow for military studies at the Lowy Institute in Sydney, about the latest developments in the war in Ukraine and what we can learn to apply in conflicts around the globe. General Ryan assesses the current state of the front lines, detailing how Russia is leveraging its advantage in electronic warfare and drone technology. He also explains why the Ukrainian counter-offensive has been hampered by a lack of Western ground-based capabilities and a shortage of young soldiers.

Michael speaks with Dr. Kirill Shamiev, a non-resident fellow at the Kennan Institute, about the internal dynamics of the Kremlin and its war in Ukraine. Dr. Shamiev discusses the growing skepticism among the Russian elite regarding Putin's invasion, increasing economic anxiety, and the current state of the regime. He also unpacks how the war has strained civil-military relations and forecasts that the most likely outcome is a "semi-frozen conflict" until there is clarity regarding European political and security uncertainties.

Michael speaks with Nico Lange, a senior fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis and the Munich Security Conference, about the grinding war in Ukraine and the outlook for Europe. Nico details how Russia's summer offensive failed to deliver results for the Kremlin and argues that Western support for Ukraine must move beyond "survival mode." He outlines the strategic necessity of deep strikes on Russian oil refineries and infrastructure to limit Putin's ability to wage war. Nico also discusses the success of U.S. pressure in increasing European support and explains why more pressure on Putin is urgently needed to find the war's off-ramp.