Clearer Than Truth - Nathan Kiker & George Bogden

Latest Episodes:

Douglas Brunt - New York Times Best-Selling Author May 18, 2026

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Douglas Brunt is a New York Times bestselling author, and host of the podcast Dedicated. His latest book, The Lost Empire of Emanuel Nobel, uncovers the forgotten story of the Nobel family’s oil empire — a business that once rivaled Rockefeller’s Standard Oil before being erased from history by the Soviet regime.

In this episode, Brunt explores the rise of Emanuel Nobel, nephew of Alfred Nobel, and how the Nobel family transformed the Russian oil industry into one of the largest petroleum empires in the world. The conversation traces the origins of global oil competition, the rise of industrial capitalism, and the violent political upheavals that reshaped the 20th century.

Brunt also discusses the role of oil in world history — from the early battles over energy dominance to the Russian Revolution, World War I, and the emergence of modern geopolitics. He explains how Emanuel Nobel crossed paths with figures like Joseph Stalin and why the Bolsheviks saw the Nobel empire as a symbol of everything they wanted to destroy.

The episode also dives into the origins of the Nobel Prize, the legacy of Alfred Nobel, the relationship between energy and global power, and why stories buried in forgotten archives still shape the modern world.

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Ryan Crocker - Former U.S. Ambassador May 12, 2026

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Ryan Crocker is one of the most distinguished diplomats in modern American history, serving as U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria, Lebanon, and Kuwait over a decades-long diplomatic career at the center of U.S. foreign policy.

In this episode, Ambassador Crocker argues that the world is passing through a dangerous geopolitical “hinge point” — one marked by growing instability in the Middle East, rising strain on U.S. alliances, and the potential breakdown of the post-World War II international order.

Drawing on firsthand experience from Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, and Syria, Crocker reflects on the long-term consequences of the Iraq War, the evolution of terrorism and proxy warfare, and the limits of American power. He warns that weakening alliances like NATO could accelerate nuclear proliferation and return the world to a far more dangerous balance-of-power system.

The conversation also explores the Iran conflict, the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, China’s growing role in global affairs, and why diplomacy and personal relationships between leaders still matter in statecraft. Throughout, Crocker offers a sobering but deeply informed perspective on what happens when global leadership becomes uncertain.

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David McCloskey - Co-Host of The Rest is Classified May 05, 2026

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David McCloskey is a former CIA analyst and presidential briefer, now a bestselling author and co-host of the hit podcast The Rest Is Classified. He is the author of acclaimed spy novels including Damascus Station, Moscow X, and The Persian.

In this episode, McCloskey pulls back the curtain on the world of intelligence—explaining why people are so fascinated by espionage and how secret operations can shape global events. He discusses the role of individuals versus systems in geopolitics, arguing that decisions often come down to what’s happening inside the minds of powerful leaders.

The conversation also explores the intersection of fiction and reality, including how McCloskey draws on real-world conflicts—like the shadow war between Israel and Iran—to inform his novels. He shares insights into storytelling across mediums, from books to podcasts to television, and why different formats demand different approaches.

McCloskey also reflects on the current state of the intelligence community, the impact of political dynamics on analysis, and the challenges of delivering clear, unbiased information at the highest levels of government. Throughout, he offers a rare look at how intelligence is created, consumed, and sometimes ignored.

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Kenneth Rogoff - Professor of International Economics at Harvard University Apr 30, 2026

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Kenneth Rogoff is a professor of international economics at Harvard University and former chief economist of the International Monetary Fund. One of the world’s most influential economists, his work spans financial crises, central banking, and global currency systems. His latest book, Our Dollar, Your Problem, examines the future of U.S. financial dominance.

In this episode, Rogoff explains why the U.S. dollar’s global dominance—long a cornerstone of American power—may be gradually weakening. He breaks down how the dollar gives the U.S. enormous economic and geopolitical advantages, from lower borrowing costs to control over global financial flows, and why those advantages are now being challenged.

The conversation explores rising global debt, the risk of a future debt crisis, and why simply taxing the wealthy won’t solve the problem at scale. Rogoff also discusses the growing pressure on central bank independence, the disruptive potential of AI, and the risks posed by crypto and stablecoins to financial stability.

He offers a sobering but nuanced outlook: while the U.S. economy remains historically strong, long-term risks—from political dysfunction to global fragmentation—could reshape the financial system in ways policymakers are not fully prepared for.

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Robert Kaplan | Preeminent Geopolitical Analyst & Author Apr 20, 2026

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Robert Kaplan is a bestselling author and geopolitical analyst, known for works like The Revenge of Geography. A longtime foreign affairs correspondent for The Atlantic, he has also advised the Pentagon and served as a leading voice in strategic analysis for decades.

In this episode, Kaplan explains how geography and human behavior together shape global conflict—from the Strait of Hormuz to Taiwan. He argues that while geography sets the stage, it is ultimately leaders, decisions, and historical memory that determine how events unfold.

The conversation explores the risks of a future U.S.-China conflict, why a war in the Pacific could be far more catastrophic than conflicts in the Middle East, and what a realistic outcome in Ukraine might look like. Kaplan also examines the weakening of NATO, the long-term instability facing Russia, and the dangers of what he calls “middle-sized wars”—conflicts that are large enough to be destructive but too small to fully capture public attention.

Drawing on lessons from Iraq and decades of geopolitical analysis, Kaplan offers a sobering warning: policymakers must think beyond immediate action and ask the critical question—“what happens next?”

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Nataliya Gumenyuk | CEO & Founder of the Public Interest Journalism Lab (PIJL) Apr 10, 2026

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Nataliya Gumenyuk is a Ukrainian journalist, documentary filmmaker, and CEO & founder of the Public Interest Journalism Lab, as well as co-founder of The Reckoning Project. She is one of the leading voices documenting war crimes and pursuing international justice in the context of Russia’s war in Ukraine.

In this episode, Gumenyuk explains why the war in Ukraine must be understood not just as a series of tragedies, but as deliberate crimes that demand accountability. Drawing on hundreds of survivor testimonies, she discusses the challenges of documenting war crimes, the limits of international institutions like the ICC, and why journalists and legal teams are increasingly turning to alternative jurisdictions to pursue justice.

The conversation also explores the human dimension of war—what victims actually want, why truth and recognition matter as much as punishment, and how disinformation threatens to erase these crimes from global memory. Gumenyuk offers a sobering perspective on war fatigue, Western support, and why Ukrainians continue to fight—not out of choice, but necessity.

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Branko Milanović | Former Lead Economist at the World Bank Apr 08, 2026

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Branko Milanović is one of the world’s leading economists and a former lead economist at the World Bank. Known for his groundbreaking work on global inequality, Milanović has spent decades analyzing how wealth and power shift across countries and individuals.

In this episode, Milanović argues that the era of neoliberal globalization is over—and is being replaced by what he calls “national liberalism.” He explains how countries are abandoning free trade and global integration while continuing pro-market policies at home, creating a new and more fragmented economic system.

The conversation explores the rise of Asia, the decline of Western economic dominance, and how global income is being reshuffled across both nations and individuals. Milanović also breaks down why some economic policies can be “lose-lose” in absolute terms but still make sense geopolitically, and how inequality—both within and between countries—continues to shape global stability.

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Charles Kupchan | Senior Fellow and Director of European Studies Apr 06, 2026

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Charles Kupchan is a professor of international affairs at Georgetown University and a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. He previously served on the National Security Council under Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, helping shape U.S. policy toward Europe.

In this episode, Kupchan explains his concept of “liberal realism” and why he believes the world is entering a new geopolitical era—one defined not by a single dominant power, but by a fragmented, “de-centered” global order. He discusses the decline of multilateral institutions, the uncertain future of NATO, and the growing shift of power from West to East and North to South.

The conversation also explores whether the liberal international order is truly collapsing, what a multipolar world means for global stability, and why democracies must adapt to survive in the digital age. Kupchan offers a sobering look at the future of global cooperation, warning that demand for coordination is rising just as the ability to achieve it is declining.

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Ram Charan | Author of China's 90% Model Mar 25, 2026

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Ram Charan is a world-renowned business advisor, speaker, and author who has spent decades coaching top CEOs and boards across the globe. He is the author of more than 30 books, including the bestseller Execution, and his latest, China’s 90% Model, argues that Beijing is pursuing a strategy of total industrial dominance.

In this episode, Charan outlines his controversial thesis that China’s goal is not just to compete globally—but to eliminate the industrial capacity of rival nations through what he calls the “90% model.” He explains how China uses scale, subsidies, and pricing power to dominate entire industries, from solar to electric vehicles, and warns that this strategy could reshape the global economic order.

The conversation explores whether this represents a new kind of economic warfare, why tariffs may not be effective, and what a realistic U.S. response could look like—from industry-by-industry negotiation to deeper coordination with allies. Charan also discusses the geopolitical implications of China’s rise, the risks to Western manufacturing, and what the next decade could mean for global power.

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Mohammed Soliman | Senior Fellow at The Middle East Institute | Director at McLarty Associates Mar 15, 2026

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Mohammed Soliman is a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, director at McLarty Associates, and a nonresident senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute. He is also the author of West Asia: A New Grand Strategy for the Middle East.

In this episode, Soliman argues that policymakers should stop thinking about the region as the “Middle East” and instead understand it as West Asia—a strategic crossroads increasingly shaped by the rise of Asia, shifting trade routes, and emerging technology infrastructure. Drawing on themes from his new book, he explains how energy flows, migration, supply chains, and capital investment are linking the Gulf, South Asia, Europe, and Africa into a single geopolitical system.

The conversation explores the growing role of India and the Gulf states in global trade, the strategic implications of the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor, and how artificial intelligence infrastructure and data centers are becoming new strategic targets in modern warfare. Soliman also discusses how conflicts in the region could reshape Asian geopolitics and why U.S. strategy should focus less on military dominance and more on flexible coalitions and economic integration across West Asia.

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