The Burn Bag – National Security and Foreign Policy Redefined
We’re here to redefine how scholars and policymakers approach national security and foreign policy. Join us, as we make sense of a world in crisis.
Episodes
305 episodes since 2020
Foreign Agents: The U.S. Lawmakers, Experts, and Insiders Lobbying for Foreign Governments with Casey Michel, Author of "Foreign Agents"
A powerful U.S. Senator. A leading aide to the New York Governor. A leading Korea expert. All prominent figures in the last several months who have been accused of being foreign agents, working on behalf of foreign governments to influence ...
September 11, 2024
•
53:46
We Are Bellingcat: Uncovering War Crimes, Investigating Autocrats, and Citizen Journalism's Future with Eliot Higgins, Founder of Bellingcat
This week, A'ndre chatted with Eliot Higgins, an award-winning journalist who founded the citizen journalism outlet Bellingcat, a fact-checking platform utilizing open-source intelligence focusing on international affairs. Eliot talks ...
September 04, 2024
•
1:00:44
Punishing Putin: Assessing the Unprecedented Economic War on Russia with Bloomberg Reporter Stephanie Baker
Vladimir Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Within hours, the U.S. and allies coordinated a shadow-war – using the tools of economic statecraft – to bring the heat down on Moscow. That shadow-war is the subject of this...
August 26, 2024
•
46:27
Afghan Technologist Sara Wahedi: How her App Saved Lives and Reflections on Women's Rights since the Taliban Takeover
This week, A'ndre chatted with Sara Wahedi, an award-winning Afghan technologist and humanitarian who created Ehtesab, a crisis notification app that has provided Kabul residents in Afghanistan with real-time emergency alerts. A'ndre and Sara c...
August 19, 2024
•
1:14:39
What In The World? Venezuela's 2024 Election Crisis and Maduro's Gambit to Stay in Power, featuring Gabriela Saade
The Burn Bag returns after a brief hiatus, and we're bringing back "What in the World?" A series where A'ndre talks about ongoing current events with other youthful foreign policy professionals, experts, and geeks.This week, A'...
August 05, 2024
•
44:11
The Righteous Arrows: The Soviet-Afghan War and the Arming of the Mujahideen with Brian Morra, Retired Air Force Intelligence Oficer
This week, A'ndre welcomed back to The Burn Bag Brian Morra, a retired Air Force Intelligence Officer and the author of The Righteous Arrows, a fictionalized account of U.S. proxy efforts during the Soviet-Afghan War...
June 16, 2024
•
59:20
Counterterrorism in Afghanistan and Pakistan: New USIP Report on the Threat Matrix with Co-Chairs LTG (Ret.) Michael Nagata and Laurel Miller
This week, A’ndre and Andrea speak with former SOF-CENTCOM commander LTG Michael Nagata and former senior State Department official Laurel Miller on a recent USIP report on counterterrorism in Afghanistan and Pakistan. LTG Nagata and Laur...
June 04, 2024
•
49:42
Creating intelligence: Open Source in Action with Arctic Competition Research featuring Eric and Greg Levesque, Co-Founders at Strider Technologies
This week, Andrew interviews Eric and Greg Levesque, co-founders of Strider Technologies. Strider is a tech company that utilizes open-source data and AI methodologies to provide strategic intelligence to governments, corporations, and research...
May 29, 2024
•
34:51
The NATO Youth Summit: Interviews with Key Leaders and Partners in Miami, FL
Last week, co-hosts Andrea Ochoa and Christina Oh attended the 2024 NATO Youth Summit, which was a collaborative event hosted by NATO, The Aspen Institute, Aspen Institute Romania, the Swedish Defence University and the Swedish Civil Contingenc...
May 21, 2024
•
59:20
Genocide: Frameworks, Examples in Modern Warfare, and Reconciliation with Dr. Gregory Stanton, Founder of Genocide Watch
This week, A'ndre and Andrew interview Dr. Gregory Stanton, founder of Genocide Watch on the process of genocide, genocide in modern warfare, and efforts towards reconciliation. Dr. Stanton has been a key figure in the genocide prevention movem...
May 02, 2024
•
53:45
Former DNI Jim Clapper on the War in Gaza, Israel-Iran, and the Crisis in the Middle East
This week, A'ndre chatted with former Director of National Intelligence Jim Clapper on the recent strikes exchanged between Israel and Iran, Israel's conduct in Gaza, and the broader regional dynamics at play. Director Clapper, who served as DN...
April 29, 2024
•
51:04
The CIA's Master of Disguise: Jonna Mendez Talks the Art of Deception and Illusion During the Cold War
In this episode, A'ndre and Andrea welcome Jonna Mendez, a distinguished former Chief of Disguise in the CIA's Office of Technical Service, for an intriguing discussion on espionage, disguise, and Jonna's groundbreaking career. Known for her ro...
April 22, 2024
•
54:14
Is TikTok a Threat? Data Sovereignty, Algorithmic Influence, and the China Factor with Lindsay Gorman, Senior Fellow at GMF Tech
This week, A'ndre is joined by Lindsay Gorman, the Managing Director & Senior Fellow at the German Marshall Fund’s GMF Tech, to delve into the controversies surrounding TikTok and its implications for national security. Lindsay sheds light ...
April 15, 2024
•
54:04
Crisis in Haiti: A Primer on the Country's Violent Flashpoint with Sophie Rutenbar, Visiting Fellow at Brookings
This week, Christina interviews Sophie Rutenbar (she/her), a visiting fellow in the Brookings Strobe Talbott Center and a Visiting Scholar at New York University's Center on International Cooperation, on the current crisis in Haiti and the emer...
March 31, 2024
•
32:40
ISIS Attacks Russia: Dissecting the Terror Attack at a Moscow Concert Hall with fmr. Counterterrorism Official Javed Ali
This week, A'ndre is joined by Javed Ali, a former counterterrorism official who served as Senior Director of Counterterrorism on the National Security Council, to discuss Friday's horrific ISIS terror attacks at the Crocus City Hall in Moscow,...
March 23, 2024
•
33:59
Former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta on Israel-Gaza, Russia-Ukraine, China, and the 2024 Presidential Election
This week, A'ndre chatted with former Secretary of Defense (and CIA Director, and Chief of Staff, and Congressman!) Leon Panetta on a litany of key national security and foreign policy topics relating to the Israel-Gaza War, Russia-Ukraine, the...
March 14, 2024
•
48:04
The Israel-Gaza War: Former Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy on a Path to Peace
The Burn Bag will be covering the Israel-Gaza War over the course of several episodes, sourcing multiple perspectives on the conflict. The Burn Bag does not officially endorse any views expressed by our guests, but rather bring those perspe...
March 11, 2024
•
54:58
Pakistan's Elections: Imran Khan, the Military, and a Game of Thrones with Uzair Younus, Principal at The Asia Group
NOTE: Shebhaz Sharif, brother of Nawaz Sharif, was sworn in as Prime Minister on 3/4. This episode was recorded several days before, on 2/29.This week, A'ndre chatted with Uzair Younus, Principal at The Asia Group and host of <...
March 04, 2024
•
1:04:55
The Current and Future State of Geospatial Intelligence with Dave Sterling, CEO of Royce Geo
This week, Andrew is joined by Dave Sterling, CEO of Royce Geo. Royce Geo, based in Arlington, Virginia, supports mission partners in the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community with geospatial analytics and training platforms. Andrew ...
February 25, 2024
•
35:53
Bonnie Glaser on Taiwan: Why is it a Flashpoint in U.S.-China Relations?
This week, A'ndre chatted with Bonnie Glaser, one of the country's premier Taiwan experts and the Managing Director of the German Marshall Fund's Indo-Pacific program, on all things related to Taiwan. Bonnie provides a quick overview of Taiwan'...
February 20, 2024
•
46:09
"God, Guns, and Sedition:" Looking at Far-Right Terrorism in America with Bruce Hoffman and Jacob Ware
This week, Andrea and Andrew sit down with Bruce Hoffman and Jacob Ware to discuss their new book God, Guns, and Sedition. Hoffman and Ware are both fellows at the Council on Foreign Relations specializing in counterterrorism and share...
February 13, 2024
•
54:22
Biology and Security? Biological Threats, BIOINT, and the Future with Matthew McKnight, General Biosecurity Manager at Ginkgo Bioworks
This week, Andrea speaks with Matthew McKnight, General Biosecurity Manager at Ginkgo Bioworks. Matthew and Andrea discuss the multitude of opportunities available for developments in biotechnology and mitigating national security threats throu...
February 05, 2024
•
1:00:03
Ian Bremmer on 2024's Top Risks: America vs. Itself, Middle East Tinderbox, Ukraine Partitioned, and Ungoverned AI
Ian Bremmer, President of the Eurasia Group, returns to The Burn Bag for a chat with A'ndre on his Top Risks 2024 report -- Eurasia Group's annual forecast of the top geopolitical...
January 28, 2024
•
52:10
AUKUS and Defense Investment: How this Trilateral Partnership aims to Advance Critical Technologies with AUKUS DIN Co-Chairs Heather Richman, Adrian Jones, and Jamie Watson
Over the holidays, A'ndre chatted with AUKUS Defense Investor Network Co-Chairs Heather Richman (U.S.), Adrian Jones (U.K.), and Jamie Watson (Australia) about how AUKUS, the trilateral security partnership between the United States, the United...
January 22, 2024
•
57:12
The Houthis in Yemen: Who Are They and Why Are They (Really) Attacking Ships in the Red Sea? With Dr. Michael Knights, The Washington Institute
In light of the recent U.S./U.K. air strikes on the Houthis in Yemen, A'ndre chatted with Dr. Michael Knights (The Washington Institute) about the Yemeni militant group that has been launching attacks at ships in the Red Sea since the advent of...
January 17, 2024
•
58:13