Ideas

Russia Is the Biggest Backer of Cybercrime. The US Must Get Serious About Deterrence

Convincing Putin that further attacks will trigger automatic, severe responses is the best way to start.

Ideas

Maria Butina's Guilty Plea Could Illuminate Russian Ploy to Shape 2016 Election

The onetime graduate student admits to being a foreign agent who sought to establish back channels to Republicans through the NRA.

Policy

Trump’s New Africa Plan: Fewer US Troops and Aid, More Investment and Deals

To compete with China in Africa, the White House aims to encourage U.S. investment but will continue a troop drawdown and plans a harsh re-evaluation of foreign assistance.

Science & Tech

Russia’s New Arctic Drones Are Built to Spot Ships

Its maker says the two aircraft can ID vessels approaching oil and gas facilities from 100 kilometers away.

Threats

As Exports of Surveillance Tech Rise, Freer Countries Face a Choice

How far will societies pursue security along paths paved by dictators?

Science & Tech

Russia Launched Cyber Attacks Against Ukraine Before Ship Seizures, Firm Says

Researchers claim to have uncovered Russian cyber attacks aimed at the Ukrainian military and government before and during the Sea of Azov captures.

Ideas

Ep. 30: Crisis in the Sea of Azov; Space Force!?; Nuclear anthropology and American folklore

Welcome to our podcast about the news, strategy, tech, and business trends defining the future of national security.

Policy

Will Nikki Haley Be The Last Trump Official Who Stands Up to Russia?

The American ambassador to the UN, who is stepping down this year, is perhaps the Trump administration’s most forceful, but often solitary, critic of Moscow.

Threats

Ukraine: Intercepted Communications Suggest Kremlin Directed Azov Sea Crisis

An audiotape released by Kyiv appears to back up their version of events. One former U.S. military commander says there’s no doubt.

Science & Tech

Russia Has Started to Train Its Entire Military to Fight Drones

After Syrian insurgent groups attacked Russian forces in Syria, the Defense Ministry began laying plans for wide-scale response.

Policy

Trump Warns Against New Russia Probes by Congress

Incoming House intelligence chair: We “have a compelling interest in making sure that U.S. policy is not driven by leverage that the Russians have over the president.”

Ideas

John Bolton Keeps Citing This 2002 Pact as an Arms-Control Model. It’s Really Not.

The Treaty of Moscow was ill-defined, unverifiable — and not something that Russia would sign today.

Ideas

CyberCom Is Targeting Russia’s Election Meddlers — and Changing How Governments Use Cyber

Although anonymity is generally prized for successful cyber operations, it might not be ideal in all cases, especially if the United States wants to deter an Russia spreading disinformation.

Ideas

Four Perfectly Trump Reasons Why He Wants Out of the INF Treaty

Within the president's haphazard foreign policy, there is logical coherence to him quitting a nuclear treaty Russia ignores. But it won’t make us safer.

Policy

Russia, US Offer Competing Vision of Cyber Norms to the UN

Two proposed versions of an “international code of conduct for international information security” set up a clash between autocracies and democracies.

Ideas

Ep. 26: The pipe-bomber and the presidency; More US troops at the border; Exiting the INF and more.

Welcome to our podcast about the news, strategy, tech, and business trends defining the future of national security.