Smash Notes
Intelligence Matters
In Intelligence Matters, former acting Director of the CIA Michael Morell, speaks with top leaders of the U.S. intelligence community as they reflect on their life, career and the critical roles they play in shaping national security policies. As a central figure in the most significant U.S. counter-terror efforts of the past two decades and a former CIA intelligence analyst, Morell is uniquely skilled at taking…
Episodes
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- Journalist and Former Marine Elliot Ackerman
- Global Energy Expert Daniel Yergin
- Terrorism Analyst Bill Roggio
- Former Senior CIA Analysts on China: Chris Johnson and John Culver
- The Potential of Future Conflict with China: Professor Hal Brands
- Battlefield Lessons for Ukraine, Taiwan: Former Diplomat Eric Edelman
- Best of: Stanford Professor and Author Amy Zegart
- Best of: Psychiatrist Kenneth Dekleva on Profiling World Leaders
- Making Fun of Spies: Former CIA Officer and Satirist Alex Finley
- Expert Heather Conley on Russia's "Strategic Conservatism"
- Former Ambassador Peter Wittig on Foreign Perceptions of the U.S.
- Strategic Opportunities and Challenges in Latin America: Pedro Burelli
- Watergate: High Crimes in the White House
- China's Path and Xi's Political Future: Expert Chris Johnson
- Big Tech, Regulation & National Security: Klon Kitchen & Jamil Jaffer
- The Sandy Hook Shooting and How Conspiracy Theories Affect National Security: Journalist Elizabeth Williamson
- Honoring Memorial Day with Steve Hartman
- Reporting From Ukraine's Front Line: CBS News Correspondent Holly Williams
- State of Play in Ukraine: Former Moscow Chief of Station Rolf Mowatt-Larssen
- Counterterrorism Chief Christy Abizaid on Top Terror Threats to the U.S.
- Israel's Security Challenges: Former Senior Mossad Officer Zohar Palti
- Former GOP Congressman and CIA Officer Will Hurd
- John McLaughlin on Russia's World-Changing War
- Top State Department Intelligence Official Brett Holmgren
- Global Effects of Russia's War in Ukraine: Oil and Energy Expert Mark Finley
- WMD Risks in Ukraine: Former Senior CIA Operations Officer Rolf Mowatt-Larssen
- Nuclear Confrontations with Moscow: Author Brian Morra
- Beijing's View of the Russia-Ukraine War: China Expert Chris Johnson
- Profiling Putin and Other World Leaders: Psychiatrist Kenneth Dekleva
- Putin's Choices in Ukraine: Former Top Pentagon Official Mike Vickers
- Taiwan-China Tensions: Expert Bonnie Glaser
- The Russia-Ukraine Crisis: A Panel of Experts Discuss
- The Future of the Kim Regime: North Korea Expert Sue Mi Terry
- Standard Professor and Author Amy Zegart
- CIA's Former Deputy Director for Science and Technology Dawn Meyerriecks
- State Department Counselor Derek Chollet on Top Foreign Policy Challenges
- Applying Cold War Lessons to Great Power Competition: Historian Hal Brands
- Michael Morell on the Top Global Threats in 2022
- "Best Of" Intelligence Matters: Clarissa Ward
- "Best Of" Intelligence Matters: Gayle Tzemach Lemmon
- Former CIA Operations Officer Turned Novelist Jim Lawler
- China's Ambitions: Graham Allison, Hal Brands and Ketian Zhang
- Dealing with the Taliban: Former Afghanistan Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad
- National Cyber Director Chris Inglis on Stemming Cyber Threats
- Defense Intelligence Agency Director LTG Scott Berrier on Global Threats
- Former Defense Secretary and CIA Director Leon Panetta on Top Security Threats
- Escalating Tensions with Tehran: Iran Expert Norman Roule
- Putin's Russia: Former Ambassador Michael McFaul
- The Syria Conflict: Former CIA Analyst David McCloskey
- CIA Chief Historian David Robarge on Pivotal Global Events
- Hayden Center Panel on Intelligence and War in Afghanistan
- The Insurrectionist Movement in the United States: Professor Robert Pape
- Michael Morell on 9/11, the CIA and Afghanistan: Part 2
- Michael Morell on 9/11, the CIA and Afghanistan: Part 1
- Remembering 9/11 Part 5: Gina Bennett
- Remembering 9/11 Part 4: Sandy Winnefeld
- Remembering 9/11 Part 3: Winston Wiley
- Remembering 9/11 Part 2: Andy Card
- Remembering 9/11 Part 1: Stephen Hadley
- Addressing the Ransomware Threat: Cyber Expert Jonathan Levin
- Columnist and Foreign Policy Analyst Max Boot on Biden's Foreign Policy
- The Link Between Energy and National Security: Expert Frank Verrastro
- China Expert Matt Turpin on Beijing's Strategic Objectives
- Former U.S. Treasury Sanctions Chief on Using Financial Tools to Protect National Security
- China Expert John Culver on Beijing's Military Prowess
- Former Ambassador Dennis Ross on Israel's Political Future
- "Best of" Intelligence Matters: Putin's Russia
- National Intelligence Officer for North Korea Syd Seiler on Engaging with Pyongyang
- Author and CNN Chief International Correspondent Clarissa Ward on Reporting from Conflict Zones
- Former CIA Analyst and Weapons Expert Maja Lehnus on Thwarting Syria's Nuclear Program
- Military Affairs Reporter Wes Morgan on U.S. Military Involvement in Afghanistan's Pech Valley
- Top Counterintelligence Official Michael Orlando on Non-Traditional Collection and China Threats
- 9/11 Museum Executive Cliff Chanin on the 10th Anniversary of the Hunt for Bin Laden
- China Expert Chris Johnson on the Biden Administration's Approach to Beijing
- Tech Giant Eric Schmidt Warns China is Catching Up to the U.S. in A.I.
- International and Domestic Terrorist Threats: Deputy Homeland Security Advisor Russ Travers
- Maintaining U.S. Technological Superiority: Frances Townsend and Jim Stavridis
- Former Envoy to Global Coalition Against ISIS on the Future of the Syrian Conflict
- What a Seminal Survey Tells Us About the Views of Arab Youth
- The Need for Transparency from China on COVID-19 Origins: Geopolitical Expert Jamie Metzl
- New Research on the Capitol Insurrection: Political Scientist Bob Pape
- Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA) on the Future of the House Intelligence Committee
- Australian Diplomat Nick Warner on His Career in Intelligence
- The Daughters of Kobani and the Fight Against ISIS: Author Gayle Tzemach Lemmon
- DECLASSIFIED: Norman Roule on the Iranian Response to the U.S. Invasion of Iraq
- The Existential Threat Of Nuclear Weapons: NTI's Lynn Rusten
- The Trump-Biden Foreign Policy Transition: FDD's David Adesnik and John Hannah
- The Threat of Bioweapons: West Point Biochemist Dr. Kenneth Wickiser
- A Firsthand Account of the Capitol Insurrection: Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA)
- American Withdrawal in the Middle East: the Atlantic Council's Will Wechsler
- DECLASSIFIED: Former CIA Officer Marc Polymeropoulos on the Triple Agent
- A Closer Look at the Killing of Jamal Khashoggi: Filmmaker Bryan Fogel
- Disinformation as a National Security Issue: Former NSA General Counsel Glenn Gerstell
- Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT) on Biden's National Security Team
- Ambassador Ronald Neuman on Reducing Troops in Afghanistan
- DECLASSIFIED: Former CIA Officer on the Anniversary of the First American Casualty in Afghanistan
- North Korea's Impending Threat of Provocation: Korea Expert Sue Mi Terry
- The State of the U.S.-China Rivalry: Harvard Professor Graham Allison
- Lieutenant General (Ret.) H.R. McMaster on Post-Election Foreign Policy
- Foreign Interference in the 2020 Election: Former FBI Special Agent Clint Watts
- DECLASSIFIED: Former CIA Analyst Kristin Wood on Post 9/11 Briefings
- MBS and the Future of Saudi Arabia: Journalists Bradley Hope and Justin Scheck
- Former CIA Director John Brennan on the Ethics of Intelligence & Challenges to Democracy
- Former Daily Intelligence Briefer David Priess on the Past and Future of the PDB
- Biden Foreign Policy Advisor Antony Blinken on Top Global Challenges
- DECLASSIFIED: Ret. Adm. Bill McRaven and Michael Morell on the Raid on Osama bin Laden's Compound
- Historian Hal Brands on COVID-19's Effect on World Order
- Former CIA Analyst Rodney Faraon on Transferring Skills Beyond Government
- DECLASSIFIED: Former CIA Officer Daniel Hoffman on the Hunt for the "Russian Ten"
- Senior NSA Official Anne Neuberger on Cyber and Election Threats
- The National Security Implications of Climate Change: Environmentalist Bill McKibben
- DECLASSIFIED: Former FBI Agent Bradley Garrett on the Global Manhunt for Mir Aimal Kansi
- Author Robert Draper on What Led the U.S. to War in Iraq
- Top Epidemiologist Dr. Michael Osterholm on the Continuing Challenges of COVID-19
- DECLASSIFIED: Martin Petersen on the Tiananmen Crisis and Training CIA Analysts
- Russia, Afghanistan and Prospects for Peace: Amb. James Cunningham
- 100 Years of Russian Electoral Interference: Author David Shimer
- DECLASSIFIED: Sarah Carlson on Escaping War-Torn Libya
- Intelligence Matters DECLASSIFIED: Former CIA Museum Curator Toni Hiley
- Putin's Playbook in 2020: Journalist Franklin Foer
- Securing Businesses and the 2020 Elections Amid COVID-19: CISA Director Chris Krebs
- Election Security 2020: How Prepared is the U.S. to Confront Foreign Threats?
- The Health, Economic and Political Effects of COVID-19 in Iran: Karim Sadjadpour
- Containing COVID-19: Top Epidemiologist Dr. Michael Osterholm
- Bonus Pod: The Global National Security Implications of COVID-19
- China Expert Chris Johnson on Beijing's Handling of COVID-19
- Economist Olivier Blanchard on Global Economic Effects of COVID-19
- The Global National Security Effects of COVID-19: Former CIA Deputy Director Director John McLaughlin
- Pandemic Preparedness & Response: Former WH Homeland Security Advisor Lisa Monaco
- Dr. David Agus on the Knowns and Unknowns of COVID-19
- "Best Of" Intelligence Matters: CIA's Top Recruiter Sheronda Dorsey
- "Best Of" Intelligence Matters: Anthony Fauci
- Ret. Gen. Phil Breedlove on Engaging Russia, China, North Korea
- Former Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert Work on New Technologies and Military Readiness
- Washington Post Columnist David Ignatius on Journalism, the Middle East and Spy Fiction
- Africa Expert Judd Devermont on the Continent's Security Challenges and Cooperation Opportunities
- Tech Expert Ben Buchanan on the Links Between Artificial Intelligence and National Security
- Former PDDNI Sue Gordon on Intelligence Challenges and Career Milestones
- Journalist Robert Worth on Profiling Mohammed bin Zayed
- Former Senior Pentagon Official-Turned-Congressional Candidate on Running for Office
- Former National Security Advisors on Challenges for the Next Commander in Chief
- Top Election Security Executive Shelby Pierson on Past, Present and Future Threats
- Defense Intelligence Agency Director Lt. Gen. Robert Ashley on DIA's Core Mission
- Samantha Power on Public Service, Human Rights and Global Stability
- Former Head of Digital Innovation at CIA on the Challenges of Technological Change
- Iran Expert Barbara Slavin on Tehran's Potential Path Forward
- Ambassador Susan Rice on Her Career, U.S. Foreign Policy and America's Role in the World
- House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith on Pentagon Oversight
- Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Adm. Stavridis on the Value of Alliances
- Democratic Presidential Candidate Michael Bennet on Foreign Policy and National Security Priorities
- North Korea Update: Expert Sue Mi Terry
- Former Head of FBI National Security Division on International and Domestic Terrorism
- China Expert Chris Johnson on President Xi, Propaganda and a Potential Trade Deal
- Former Head of FBI Counterintelligence Bill Priestap on Top Spy Threats
- Bonus Pod: Michael Morell's Takeaways from the al-Baghdadi Raid
- Former Secretary of Defense James Mattis on Syria, Leadership and Top National Security Threats
- Former Senior CIA Operations Officer Marc Polymeropoulos on Recruiting and Running Spies
- Deep Dive with Experts Kurt Campbell and Jake Sullivan on U.S.-China Relations
- Bonus Pod: 9/11 Memorial Museum Panel on CIA's Response to the September 11 Attacks
- Ret. Adm. Bill McRaven on Leadership, Living History and A Life of Service
- Bonus Pod: Michael Morell on the Whistleblower Complaint and Ukraine Call
- Top U.S. Foreign Policy Challenges: Discussion with Richard Haass
- Bonus Pod: Intelligence Matters Live Taping with Host Michael Morell
- Senior CBP Officer Todd Owen on Agency's Main Missions and State of U.S. Border Security
- Remembering 9/11: Author Garrett Graff on New Oral History Book
- Former CIA Officer Kristin Wood on the Production, Delivery and Value of Analysis
- Pentagon's Former Top Intel Official on U.S. Afghanistan Strategy
- CNN Chief National Security Correspondent Jim Sciutto on 'Shadow Wars' Involving Russia, China
- What’s Next for Venezuela? A Conversation with Latin America Expert Juan Cruz
- Office of the Director of National Intelligence: What It Does, Why It Matters
- Preet Bharara, Former U.S. Attorney, Offers Takeaways from Mueller Testimony
- Former Top Envoy Dennis Ross on Prospects for Middle East Peace
- PDDNI Sue Gordon on the Intelligence Community's Imminent Information Challenges
- Head of State Department's Intelligence Arm on Assessing Foreign Leaders
- National Counterterrorism Center Deputy Director on Enduring Extremist Threats
- Top Cybersecurity Official Chris Krebs on Protecting U.S. Infrastructure
- Bonus Pod: "Situation Room" Dialogue on Responding to Iran
- Kim Jong-Un's Surprising Rise to Power: Washington Post Journalist Anna Fifield
- Former CIA Targeting Officer on the Post-9/11 Hunt for Terrorists
- CIA's Former Chief of Disguise Jonna Mendez on How to Hide Spies
- Russia Expert Angela Stent on What Drives Vladimir Putin
- Ex-Mossad Director Tamir Pardo on Israeli Intelligence and Regional Dynamics
- NYT's David Sanger on the Perils of Cyber Conflict
- International Spy Museum's Executive Director on the World of Espionage
- Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on America's Top Foreign Policy Challenges: Anniversary Edition
- In-Q-Tel President Chris Darby on Investment and Innovation in U.S. Intelligence
- Bonus Pod: How Press Covers the Intelligence Community Panel at GMU's Hayden Center
- How the Genetic Revolution Could Affect National Security: Tech Futurist Jamie Metzl
- Former Top CIA Official on Agency's Leadership, Diversity and Trump's First Visit
- NSA's Top Lawyer on Surveillance, Unmasking, and the Challenges of the Digital Revolution
- Bonus Pod: Congressional Intelligence Oversight Panel at GMU's Hayden Center
- A Building Crisis in American Foreign Policy: Former State Department Counselor Eliot Cohen
- David Petraeus Offers Big Ideas for Leadership, Foreign Policy
- Bill Burns on the Practice and Strategic Value of American Diplomacy
- Psychiatrist and Insider Threat Expert David Charney on What Leads People to Spy
- Managing the World's WMD Threats: NTI's Laura Holgate
- Korea Expert Sue Mi Terry on High-Stakes Second Trump-Kim Summit
- Former Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson on Border, Cyber, Terror Threats
- The View from Havana: Former Top U.S. Diplomat in Cuba Vicki Huddleston
- Bonus Pod: Pedro Burelli on Venezuela's Political Future
- Former NSA Director Mike Rogers on Cyber Threats, Insider Threats and More
- Former CIA Deputy Directors on Life Inside the Agency
- How ISIS Steals Western Ideas to Recruit in U.S.: Terrorism Expert Robert Pape
- Antony Blinken, Former Deputy Secretary of State, on Today's Foreign Policy Challenges
- Lisa Monaco, Former Homeland Security Advisor, on Today's Threat Landscape
- Trade Policy and National Security: An Expert View from Gary Hufbauer
- The National Security Strategy: Lead Author Nadia Schadlow on Its Origins and Impact
- CIA's Former Head of Science and Tech: In New Space Race, U.S. is Falling Behind
- Bonus Pod: Michael Morell on Khashoggi Incident
- NYPD's Counterterrorism Chief on Today's Terror Threats
- Fmr Senior CIA Paramilitary Officer Phil Reilly on U.S.' Afghan Mission
- Pentagon's Former Top Intel Official: US, China Battle for Control of Industries of the Future
- Why the U.S. Military Could Lose the Next War, with Eric Edelman
- Former DEA Special Agent Derek Maltz on Opioids and Transnational Crime
- Top Former CIA, Treasury Official David Cohen on What Makes Sanctions Bite
- The Khashoggi Case: Intel Veteran Norman Roule on Implications for Saudi Arabia
- Top Iran Expert Karim Sadjadpour: Tehran May Wait Out Trump Admin
- The Khashoggi Case: Pentagon's Former Top Intel Official Says There Has to Be Consequences
- Sen. Lankford on Election and Cyber Security Ahead of Midterms
- China Expert Chris Johnson on the Future of the U.S.-China Relationship
- NIAID Director on Threats from Epidemics, Superbugs and Bioterror
- Pres. Bush's Fmr. National Security Advisor on Rebuilding US-Russia Ties
- Former Top Clinton, Biden Adviser on Challenges Facing America
- Country's Top Spy-Catcher Bill Evanina on Espionage Threats
- Senator Mark Warner on Social Media and Foreign Influence Campaigns
- Fmr Ambassador to UAE on State of US Diplomacy, Policy Toward Middle East
- IARPA's Stacey Dixon on Intelligence Innovation
- Colombia's Former Defense Minister on Security in the Region
- Combating Disinformation Campaigns: a View From the Experts
- Bonus Pod: Michael Morell on Why Security Clearances Matter
- Pakistan's Fmr. Ambassador on Regional Challenges
- Adm. Winnefeld (Ret.) on Top Military Threats to U.S.
- CIA's Top Recruiter on How the Agency Finds Its Spies
- Rep. Mike Quigley on U.S. Election Security
- Ben Rhodes on the Obama Administration's Wins, Losses and Legacy
- James Clapper on Internal and External Threats to America
- East Asia Expert Weighs in on Singapore Summit Outcome
- Korea Expert Shares Advice for Trump: Listen to Your Advisors
- John McLaughlin on Helping Families of the Fallen
- Undercover Spy to Public Official: Rep. Will Hurd on Global Threats and Domestic Challenges
- The Iran Nuclear Deal: What, in the World, Happens Next?
- Negotiating with North Korea: The Players, The Stakes and The Surprises
- The Relaunch with General Michael Hayden
- Why Russia "Hacks" Elections: A Spy's-Eye View
- The Tom Cotton You Don't Know
- "We the People": On the Constitution's Relevance Today
- A Family's Fight to Reverse America's Opioid Crisis
- PDDNI on Intelligence, Leadership, and Fallen Officers
- Chris Johnson on the U.S.-China relationship
- Terry Roberts on cyber-crime: evolution, variant nature and countering the threat
- Congressman Adam Schiff on Russian Probe
- Philip Gordon on the brewing crisis in the Middle East
- Spy vs. Spy: Mark Kelton on Cold War intrigue and treason
- Robert Cardillo on the NGA's role in the raid on Osama bin Laden's compound
- Pedro Burelli on what's behind the crisis in Venezuela
- Michele Flournoy on Major U.S. Foreign Policy Crises
- Laura Rosenberger on Rising within the National Security Ranks
- Former DNI Iran Mission Manager Norman Roule on the Iran Nuclear Deal
- Executive Editor Kim Dozier talks about dedicating her life to journalism
- President Obama's Chief of Staff Denis McDonough reflects on Family, Values, Lessons learned and a Life in Public Service
- Former National Security Advisor Tom Donilon looks back on his Career
- Ambassador Joseph DeTrani talks about the Escalating Crisis with North Korea
- Director of National Counterterrorism Center Nicholas Rasmussen
- Secretary Leon Panetta
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