In this episode of Understandable Insights, Sue and Eric trace how seemingly ordinary deals can reshape American security, starting with a Chinese-linked insurance acquisition that offers a window into the “holy grail” of intelligence—intent. Some foreign capital is about substitution, not partnership. From there, they turn to energy in the AI era, using the federal loan to restart Three Mile Island as a case study in government use. They examine the tug-of-war between state and federal authority, from redistricting fights to dueling approaches to AI regulation—asking when “national security” is a legitimate reason to centralize power and when it’s an excuse to avoid hard public debate. In a rapid-fire segment, they run through the latest on the Gaza peace plan, mRNA research, strategic ambiguity with Taiwan, the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, and the peace process in Ukraine. Finally, in What We’re Watching, they look ahead to pending Supreme Court decisions, AI-bubble signals, the Comey indictment, and the response to a congressional video on the military’s obligation to follow lawful orders, before closing with a note of Thanksgiving: the strength of America’s “villages” of people who quietly hold the country together.

Timestamps: 

00:00 Introduction to Understandable Insights

00:30 Thanksgiving Traditions

03:59 China's Investment in the US

14:20 US $1B Loan for Nuclear

19:52 Gerrymandering and AI Laws

28:27 Federal vs. State Control: AI and Women's Rights

32:06 UN Peace Plan for Gaza

33:35 Pfizer's mRNA Flu Shot

37:53 Saudi Arabia's Financial Struggles

40:31 Japan's Stance on Taiwan

43:34 Ukraine Peace Process

48:50 What We’re Watching

54:39 Thanks to Give

Articles: 

Creamed Onions Recipe

U.S.-Taiwan Relations in a New Era: Responding to a More Assertive China

 About the show:

Understandable Insights: Information to Intelligence with Sue Gordon is the national security podcast that provides you an elemental understanding of the world as it is, not how you prefer it to be.

Each week, Eric Koepp — a former Marine, father, and entrepreneur — sits down with the Honorable Sue Gordon, the nation’s former top career intelligence officer. Together, they break down the headlines shaping our world and ask what they really mean for citizens, leaders, and institutions.

From armed conflict to emerging tech, foreign interference to the resilience of democracy — this is where raw information becomes real intelligence. Unfiltered. Candid. Unapologetically clear.

Website and Feedback:
Remember we’re here for you. Provide us feedback or suggest topics for next time: Feedback

Instagram: @ui.podcast

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@UnderstandableInsightsPodcast

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In this episode of Understandable Insights, Sue and Eric break down a new milestone in AI operations: an agentic hack using Claude that orchestrates tools together. They explain what’s actually new about the attack, why intent plus AI scale is the real risk, and how governments, companies, media, and citizens should think about Who’s Responsible in this next phase. From there, they turn to water security as national security—tracing a line from Iran’s dams to the Colorado River, the Ogallala Aquifer, and the messy question of who decides when the water runs short: local, state, or federal leaders. Finally, they look at COP30 in the Amazon, where Washington is largely absent while governors, mayors, and other ‘subnational’ leaders show up on the global stage, raising the stakes for who will influence the climate and infrastructure rules that shape national security for decades to come. They close with What We’re Watching: Japan’s new prime minister angering China with comments about Taiwan, whether FEMA’s future could be in Texas, the Venezuelan president’s pending designation, and Saudi Arabia’s meeting at the White House.

Timestamps: 

00:00 Introduction to Understandable Insights

00:51 Vanity Fair Article 

03:20 Agentic AI Hack

08:23 Who's Responsible? Government, Private Sector, Media, and Citizens

16:18 Open vs. Closed Source AI Models

22:31 Water Security and National Security

26:20 Global Water Scarcity and Its Impacts

27:52 US-Mexico Water Treaty and Legislative Actions

29:15 Aquifers and the Great Plains Farm Belt

29:55 Challenges in US Water Management

34:17 Trust and Government Responsibility

36:34 COP 30 and US Climate Policy

43:05 What We’re Watching

Articles:

Disrupting the first reported AI-orchestrated cyber espionage campaign

About the show:

Understandable Insights: Information to Intelligence with Sue Gordon is the national security podcast that provides you an elemental understanding of the world as it is, not how you prefer it to be.

Each week, Eric Koepp — a former Marine, father, and entrepreneur — sits down with the Honorable Sue Gordon, the nation’s former top career intelligence officer. Together, they break down the headlines shaping our world and ask what they really mean for citizens, leaders, and institutions.

From armed conflict to emerging tech, foreign interference to the resilience of democracy — this is where raw information becomes real intelligence. Unfiltered. Candid. Unapologetically clear.

Website and Feedback:
Remember we’re here for you. Provide us feedback or suggest topics for next time: Feedback

Send us a text

Join us on Youtube, Instagram, and wherever you enjoy your podcasts. New episodes every Tuesday. Follow or subscribe today.

In this episode of Understandable Insights, Sue and Eric discuss U.S. global influence on display as a C5+1 White House celebration, a former al-Qaeda–linked Syrian leader visits, and the State Department expresses irritation as the EU grabs first-mover ground in standards—from a draft Space Act to AI policy. They weigh the case for an AI bubble and the benefits of natural down-selection versus the risks of chilling real adoption. Plus: post-election signals, pragmatic U.S.–Syria engagement, and a salute to the 250th Marine Corps Birthday. They close with What We’re Watching: tariffs at the Supreme Court, Secretary of War’s speed vs. assurance procurement debate, and Virginia’s data-center energy discussion.

Timestamps: 

00:00 Introduction to Understandable Insights

02:28 Election News Recap

07:34 Senate Proposal to End Government Shutdown

10:22 US-Central Asia Diplomatic Relations

13:33 Increased US Military Presence in Syria

21:32 EU Space Act Controversy

28:32 Eu AI Regulation Drawback

41:15 What We’re Watching

About the show:

Understandable Insights: Information to Intelligence with Sue Gordon is the national security podcast that provides you an elemental understanding of the world as it is, not how you prefer it to be.

Each week, Eric Koepp — a former Marine, father, and entrepreneur — sits down with the Honorable Sue Gordon, the nation’s former top career intelligence officer. Together, they break down the headlines shaping our world and ask what they really mean for citizens, leaders, and institutions.

From armed conflict to emerging tech, foreign interference to the resilience of democracy — this is where raw information becomes real intelligence. Unfiltered. Candid. Unapologetically clear.

Website and Feedback:
Remember we’re here for you. Provide us feedback or suggest topics for next time: Feedback

Send us a text

Join us on Youtube, Instagram, and wherever you enjoy your podcasts. New episodes every Tuesday. Follow or subscribe today.

 In this episode of Understandable Insights, Sue and Eric discuss the significance of local elections around the country. They delve into the U.S. government’s approach to decommissioned nuclear warheads, current discussions about resuming nuclear testing, and key takeaways from President Trump’s diplomatic tour in Asia. They also examine a high-profile insider-threat case involving a defense contractor and close with What We’re Watching for the week ahead: Supreme Court action on tariffs, a potential government shutdown, AI-bubble rumblings, developments in Nigeria, and reflections on the passing of former Vice President Dick Cheney.

Timestamps: 

00:00 Introduction to Understandable Insights

01:26 Election Day

03:05 President Trump’s Asia Trip

09:56 Nuclear Weapons Testing Debate

14:52 Upcycling Nuclear Materials

22:08 Insider Threats in National Security

30:29 What We’re Watching

38:42 Remembering Dick Cheney

About the show:

Understandable Insights: Information to Intelligence with Sue Gordon is the national security podcast that provides you an elemental understanding of the world as it is, not how you prefer it to be.

Each week, Eric Koepp — a former Marine, father, and entrepreneur — sits down with the Honorable Sue Gordon, the nation’s former top career intelligence officer. Together, they break down the headlines shaping our world and ask what they really mean for citizens, leaders, and institutions.

From armed conflict to emerging tech, foreign interference to the resilience of democracy — this is where raw information becomes real intelligence. Unfiltered. Candid. Unapologetically clear.

Website and Feedback:
Remember we’re here for you. Provide us feedback or suggest topics for next time: Feedback

Instagram: @ui_podcast

Send us a text

Join us on Youtube, Instagram, and wherever you enjoy your podcasts. New episodes every Tuesday. Follow or subscribe today.

We’re back! In this episode of Understandable Insights, Sue and Eric put speed at the center of national power—why getting tech from contract to combat faster is the 2025 advantage, how to measure success in Ukraine beyond headlines, and what AUKUS and Australia’s rare-earth capacity mean for resilient national security. Plus: what to realistically expect from upcoming Asia travel—watch South Korea—and a tease of the emerging “time-service” cyber risk (“time is the new oil”) that we’ll unpack in a later episode.

Timestamps: 

00:00 Introduction to Understandable Insights

00:31 Sue's Health Update 

02:12 Halloween: Pumpkin Carve or Paint

04:24 US-AustraliaSubmarines and Rare Earths

07:17 Ukraine Conflict and Cruise Missiles

13:41 Army Acquisition Reforms

20:08 Private Capital in Military Investments

27:27 Argentina Currency Investment

33:20 POTUS Asia Trip

37:14 China Accuses US of Hacking Time

40:15 What We’re Watching

About the show:

Understandable Insights: Information to Intelligence with Sue Gordon is the national security podcast that provides you an elemental understanding of the world as it is, not how you prefer it to be.

Each week, Eric Koepp — a former Marine, father, and entrepreneur — sits down with the Honorable Sue Gordon, the nation’s former top career intelligence officer. Together, they break down the headlines shaping our world and ask what they really mean for citizens, leaders, and institutions.

From armed conflict to emerging tech, foreign interference to the resilience of democracy — this is where raw information becomes real intelligence. Unfiltered. Candid. Unapologetically clear.

Website and Feedback:
Remember we’re here for you. Provide us feedback or suggest topics for next time: Feedback

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Join us on Youtube, Instagram, and wherever you enjoy your podcasts. New episodes every Tuesday. Follow or subscribe today.

In this episode of Understandable Insights, Sue and Eric put quantum computing on the table—what quantum computers are, why “harvest-now, decrypt-later” raises the stakes for your data, and what a post-quantum cryptography (PQC) world will look like. Plus: China’s threats to restrict rare-earth exports, partnership opportunities in AI-enabled open-source intelligence (OSINT), and the implications of the well deserved Nobel Peace Prize recognition for María Corina Machado of Venezuela.

Programming note: After a two-week break following Sue’s surgery, catch the next UI Podcast release on October 28, 2025.

Timestamps: 

01:20 Halloween Candy Choices

04:30 China's Rare Earth Restriction

08:37 The Rise of Open Source Intelligence (OSINT)

13:28 Counterintelligence in the Modern Era

21:19 Nobel Peace Prize 

26:31 Quantum Computing Basics

29:24 Quantum Computing and Cryptography

39:38 Quantum Computing in Finance and Medicine

41:26 Future of Quantum Computing

44:07 What We’re Watching

Article Links: 

OSINT OpED:

Kahn Academy Quantum: 

Federal Reserve HNDL Paper:

About the show:

Understandable Insights: Information to Intelligence with Sue Gordon is the national security podcast that provides you an elemental understanding of the world as it is, not how you prefer it to be.

Each week, Eric Koepp — a former Marine, father, and entrepreneur — sits down with the Honorable Sue Gordon, the nation’s former top career intelligence officer. Together, they break down the headlines shaping our world and ask what they really mean for citizens, leaders, and institutions.

From armed conflict to emerging tech, foreign interference to the resilience of democracy — this is where raw information becomes real intelligence. Unfiltered. Candid. Unapologetically clear.

Website and Feedback:
Remember we’re here for you. Provide us feedback or suggest topics for next time: Feedback

Send us a text

Join us on Youtube, Instagram, and wherever you enjoy your podcasts. New episodes every Tuesday. Follow or subscribe today.

In this episode of Understandable Insights, Sue and Eric unpack Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s fiery Quantico address—why it was a tactical speech to a strategic audience, how it missed the mission, and what its message signals for women and talent across the country. They examine the tension between unity and conformity, leadership and loyalty, and the risk of mistaking discipline for devotion. Plus: SWIFT moves onto blockchain, Beijing’s use of organized crime to expand influence in Taiwan, Netanyahu’s rare apology to Qatar, and the real-world fallout of a U.S. government shutdown on small defense innovators.

Timestamps: 

00:00 Introduction to Understandable Insights

01:30 Super Bowl Halftime Show Discussion

03:39 SWIFT's Blockchain Initiative

06:28 Gangland Geopolitics in Taiwan

13:15 Netanyahu's Apology to Qatar

16:35 Government Shutdown on Defense Startups

23:02 Shutdown Game: What's Funded?

26:52 Military Leadership and Diversity

46:25 What We're Watching

About the show:

Understandable Insights: Information to Intelligence with Sue Gordon is the national security podcast that provides you an elemental understanding of the world as it is, not how you prefer it to be.

Each week, Eric Koepp — a former Marine, father, and entrepreneur — sits down with the Honorable Sue Gordon, the nation’s former top career intelligence officer. Together, they break down the headlines shaping our world and ask what they really mean for citizens, leaders, and institutions.

From armed conflict to emerging tech, foreign interference to the resilience of democracy — this is where raw information becomes real intelligence. Unfiltered. Candid. Unapologetically clear.

Website and Feedback:
Remember we’re here for you. Provide us feedback or suggest topics for next time: Feedback

Send us a text

Join us on Youtube, Instagram, and wherever you enjoy your podcasts. New episodes every Tuesday. Follow or subscribe today.

In this episode of Understandable Insights, Sue and Eric discuss President Erdoğan’s visit to the White House and analyze Turkey, a necessary NATO ally, through Umberto Eco’s ‘ur-fascism’ lens. They examine the SIM farm operating near the U.N. and how cybercriminals are shifting from endpoints to the telecom infrastructure layer. Plus: quick updates on the real-world impacts of a U.S. government shutdown, former FBI Director James Comey’s indictment, the TikTok executive order, and a diplomatic letter from Venezuela.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to Understandable Insights

03:07 Government Shutdown

09:41 James Comey Indictment

13:20 TikTok and National Security

20:19 Venezuela’s Letter to the US

26:56 Telecom Threat  at the UN

32:27 US-Turkey Relations: A Strategic Alliance

35:53 Erdogan's Ur-Fascism Shift in Turkey

44:00 Closing Thoughts and Current Events

About the show:

Understandable Insights: Information to Intelligence with Sue Gordon is the national security podcast that provides you an elemental understanding of the world as it is, not how you prefer it to be.

Each week, Eric Koepp — a former Marine, father, and entrepreneur — sits down with the Honorable Sue Gordon, the nation’s former top career intelligence officer. Together, they break down the headlines shaping our world and ask what they really mean for citizens, leaders, and institutions.

From armed conflict to emerging tech, foreign interference to the resilience of democracy — this is where raw information becomes real intelligence. Unfiltered. Candid. Unapologetically clear.

Website and Feedback:
Remember we’re here for you. Provide us feedback or suggest topics for next time: Feedback

Send us a text

Join us on Youtube, Instagram, and wherever you enjoy your podcasts. New episodes every Tuesday. Follow or subscribe today.

In this episode of Understandable Insights, Sue and Eric sit down with Hon. Shannon Corless, former Assistant Secretary for Treasury’s Office of Intelligence & Analysis, to map how finance, technology, and national security now operate as one system. 

She starts with a clear Blockchain/Digital Assets 101 and why on-chain transparency can aid law enforcement even as anonymity muddies attribution. Then they examine stablecoins and 401(k)s, diversification, and the case for real consumer education. From her experiences inside the room, Corless outlines founder-level guardrails for CFIUS-era capital and offers a different take on a U.S. sovereign wealth fund as soft power and taxpayer value. The conversation closes on the emerging TikTok framework; data control, board structure, and the still-thorny algorithm question.

Timestamps: 

00:00 Introduction to Understandable Insights

01:52 Halloween Decorations Debate

04:03 China's Tech Strategy and US Relations

08:05 Senate Judiciary Committee: Director Patel's Testimony

14:09 Introducing Hon. Shannon Corless

16:58 Understanding Blockchain and Digital Assets

22:51 Opportunities in Digital Currency

26:28 Cybersecurity and Digital Assets

32:40 Exploring Bitcoin and Cryptocurrencies in 401k Plans

35:36 US Sovereign Wealth Fund

42:01 Understanding the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS)

54:32 The TikTok Controversy and Data Security

01:01:37 The Time Horizon of Sanctions

01:05:20 What We're Watching

Our guest: The Honorable Shannon Corless is a former career intelligence officer, who started her career as an intern with the Office of Naval Intelligence.  She spent the entirety of her career at the intersection of national security and economics, the bulk of which was spent leading the IC’s support to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States at ODNI.  For her final act in government, she had the opportunity to serve for three years as the Assistant Secretary of the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis.

About the show:

Understandable Insights: Information to Intelligence with Sue Gordon is the national security podcast that provides you an elemental understanding of the world as it is, not how you prefer it to be.

Each week, Eric Koepp — a former Marine, father, and entrepreneur — sits down with the Honorable Sue Gordon, the nation’s former top career intelligence officer. Together, they break down the headlines shaping our world and ask what they really mean for citizens, leaders, and institutions.

From armed conflict to emerging tech, foreign interference to the resilience of democracy — this is where raw information becomes real intelligence. Unfiltered. Candid. Unapologetically clear.

Website and Feedback:
Remember we’re here for you. Provide us feedback or suggest topics for next time: Feedback

Send us a text

Join us on Youtube, Instagram, and wherever you enjoy your podcasts. New episodes every Tuesday. Follow or subscribe today.

In this episode of Understandable Insights, Sue and Eric dive into autonomous defense at sea, surveillance tech exported by U.S. firms, and the leadership needed when crises hit. After a quick scan of the geopolitical hotspots. 

They unpack Australia’s Ghost Shark program and what undersea autonomy means for allied procurement and deterrence, then ask who is responsible when American technology enables a surveillance state abroad. Finally, they turn to personnel and accountability inside the US government, using a recent high-profile manhunt and cabinet-level missteps to show how leadership experience (or the lack of it) can limit U.S. statecraft.

Timestamps: 

00:00 Introduction to Understandable Insights

04:32 Russia-Ukraine Conflict Analysis

08:49 Middle East Tensions and US Leadership

11:16 Brazil's Political Landscape

13:34 Venezuela and US Military Actions

17:17 Ghost Shark: Australia's Defense Innovations

23:39 US Tech and China's Surveillance

26:13 Government Responsibility in Tech Control

29:11 The Rule of Law and Technology Use

36:52 Leadership in Crisis Management

39:29 The Role of Vision in Leadership

40:25 Effective Leadership and Organizational Success

41:44 The Importance of Trust in Leadership

48:26 Conclusion and Future Outlook

About the show:

Understandable Insights: Information to Intelligence with Sue Gordon is the national security podcast that provides you an elemental understanding of the world as it is, not how you prefer it to be.

Each week, Eric Koepp — a former Marine, father, and entrepreneur — sits down with the Honorable Sue Gordon, the nation’s former top career intelligence officer. Together, they break down the headlines shaping our world and ask what they really mean for citizens, leaders, and institutions.

From armed conflict to emerging tech, foreign interference to the resilience of democracy — this is where raw information becomes real intelligence. Unfiltered. Candid. Unapologetically clear.

Website and Feedback:
Remember we’re here for you. Provide us feedback or suggest topics for next time: Feedback

Send us a text

Join us on Youtube, Instagram, and wherever you enjoy your podcasts. New episodes every Tuesday. Follow or subscribe today.