The Burn Bag Podcast

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Fmr. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta on Iran, Failed Wars, and Washington’s Fatal Mistakes Oct 20, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of The Burn Bag, A’ndre welcomes former U.S. Secretary of Defense and CIA Director Leon Panetta for a wide-ranging conversation on the Iran War, the lessons of America’s post-9/11 conflicts, and the future of U.S. foreign policy.

Panetta offers a blunt assessment of the Trump administration’s handling of the Iran War, arguing that Washington lacks a clear strategy or endgame. He discusses Tehran’s leverage over the Strait of Hormuz, the challenges of restoring freedom of navigation, and why military force alone cannot achieve regime change. Drawing on lessons from Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya, he reflects on America’s repeated struggles with nation-building.

Looking back on 25 years since 9/11, Panetta examines the successes and failures of the War on Terror, including Washington’s inability to address the underlying conditions fueling extremism. He discusses the CIA’s role in national security, the challenges of translating intelligence into policy, and the differences between intelligence and military operations. Panetta also weighs in on defense procurement reform, federal spending, and the need for greater fiscal discipline.

The conversation concludes with Panetta’s perspective on the future of Democratic foreign policy, divisions over Israel and Gaza, and the role of progressives within the party. He reflects on the importance of political compromise and bipartisan consensus, alongside his concerns about America’s declining credibility, alliances, and global leadership.

Topics Covered: Iran War • Strait of Hormuz • Regime Change • Iraq and Afghanistan • Nation-Building • War on Terror • 9/11 • CIA • Intelligence and Policymaking • Defense Reform • Democratic Foreign Policy • Israel and Gaza • U.S. Alliances • American Global Leadership

Amb. Wendy Sherman: The Iran Nuclear Deal, Trump’s War & What’s Next Oct 13, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of The Burn Bag, A’ndre welcomes former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman for a wide-ranging conversation on President Trump’s approach to diplomacy, the ongoing Iran War, the recent Trump–Xi Jinping summit, and the art of negotiating with America’s adversaries.

Sherman, who led the U.S. negotiations that secured the 2015 Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA), assesses Trump’s negotiating style, the outcomes of his recent summit with Xi Jinping, and the implications for U.S.–China relations and Taiwan. She also takes listeners behind the scenes of the JCPOA negotiations, discussing Iran’s red lines, domestic political opposition, and her experience negotiating with current Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

The conversation then turns to the ongoing Iran War, Tehran’s leverage over the Strait of Hormuz, and whether a new diplomatic agreement remains possible. Sherman reflects on the lessons of past negotiations, the role of military pressure in diplomacy, and the challenges of rebuilding American credibility and alliances.

Topics Covered: Trump’s negotiating style • Iran War • Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) • Trump–Xi summit • Xi Jinping • Taiwan • Abbas Araghchi • Strait of Hormuz • U.S.–Iran negotiations • American diplomatic credibility • U.S. alliances

Amb. John Bolton on Trump, the Iran War, China & America’s Alliances Oct 06, 2026

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Former U.S. National Security Advisor and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton returns to The Burn Bag for a wide-ranging assessment of President Trump’s foreign policy nearly two years into his second term.

Amb. Bolton discusses the Iran War seven months in, the state of the Iranian regime, the Strait of Hormuz, and whether the Trump administration has a clear end state for the conflict. He also weighs in on the growing China–Russia partnership, Trump’s relationship with Xi Jinping, the implications for Taiwan, and what Beijing may be learning about U.S. resolve.

A’ndre and Amb. Bolton also discuss NATO and European defense spending, Greenland, America’s alliances, and how the approaching midterm elections and energy prices could shape Trump’s next moves in Iran.

Topics Covered: Trump’s foreign policy • Iran War • Regime change • Strait of Hormuz • China and Russia • Trump–Xi relations • Taiwan • NATO • European defense spending • Greenland • U.S. alliances • Midterm elections

Cheap Drones, Deadly Wars: How Drones Are Reshaping Warfare, with Professor Sarah Kreps Oct 03, 2026

Show notes

Drones have gone from a specialized tool of warfare to an indispensable feature of the modern battlefield. From Ukraine and Russia deploying millions of drones to Iran using inexpensive Shahed systems against far more sophisticated adversaries, cheap and disposable weapons are changing the economics of war.

A’ndre sits down with Dr. Sarah Kreps, Professor of Government at Cornell University and a former U.S. Air Force officer, to break down how drone warfare has evolved — and where it is headed next. Sarah explains how the United States went from pioneering modern drone warfare during the War on Terror to playing catch-up as Ukraine, Russia, Iran, and others rapidly innovate and produce drones at scale.

A’ndre and Sarah discuss Ukraine’s extraordinary wartime innovation cycle, Russia’s adaptation on the battlefield, and how Iran and its partners have used drones to threaten U.S. forces, infrastructure, and global shipping. They also examine whether America’s defense industrial base can produce cheap drones at sufficient scale, what China and Taiwan are learning from today’s conflicts, and whether the Pentagon could replicate Ukraine’s rapid innovation during a major war.

The conversation closes with the growing intersection of drones, artificial intelligence, and autonomy — including what “human in the loop” actually means and whether AI-enabled warfare necessarily creates new risks or amplifies longstanding problems with intelligence and targeting.

Topics: Drone Warfare • Ukraine • Russia • Iran • Shahed Drones • U.S. Military • Defense Innovation • Defense Industrial Base • China • Taiwan • AI • Autonomous Weapons • Future of Warfare

Former Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull on Trump, China, AUKUS, & Why Australia Can’t Depend on America Sep 24, 2026

Show notes

Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull joins The Burn Bag for a candid conversation about Donald Trump, China, AUKUS, Taiwan, and the future of America’s alliances.
Having dealt directly with both President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Turnbull offers a rare perspective on how U.S. leadership is viewed from abroad. He explains why he believes allies can no longer assume America will return to the foreign policy consensus of the past—and why countries like Australia need greater strategic autonomy.
Turnbull also delivers a sharp critique of AUKUS, arguing that Australia could spend billions on a submarine deal that ultimately leaves it with no submarines. He discusses what a U.S.-China conflict over Taiwan could mean for Australia, how Canberra should manage its relationship with Beijing, and why China may benefit from declining trust in the United States.
The conversation also explores AI and technological dependence, the changing global order, and what future American leaders would need to do to rebuild credibility with U.S. allies and partners.
Topics: Donald Trump • Malcolm Turnbull • Australia • AUKUS • China • Xi Jinping • Taiwan • U.S.-Australia Alliance • U.S.-China Relations • AI • Indo-Pacific • American Foreign Policy
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The Left’s Foreign Policy: Gaza, American Power, and the Democratic Divide | Matt Duss Sep 17, 2026

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What would American foreign policy look like if the progressive left were in charge?

A’ndre is joined by Matt Duss, Executive Vice President at the Center for International Policy and former foreign policy adviser to Senator Bernie Sanders, to examine the left’s growing challenge to the Democratic Party’s foreign policy establishment.

Matt traces Democratic foreign policy from the post-9/11 era through the Obama and Biden administrations, discusses Bernie Sanders’ alternative vision of American power, and explains why Gaza has become such a major dividing line within the Democratic coalition.

A’ndre and Matt also debate what a progressive foreign policy would mean in practice: when the United States should use military force, support for Ukraine, competition with China, the future of Taiwan, and whether America can move away from primacy while protecting its security and alliances.

Matt also discusses his forthcoming book, A World for All: New Visions of U.S. Foreign Policy.

Did America Win the War on Terror? | Peter Bergen Sep 10, 2026

Show notes

Twenty-five years after 9/11, what did America’s War on Terror actually accomplish?

Peter Bergen, one of the country’s leading experts on terrorism and national security, joins The Burn Bag to take stock of a quarter-century of American war and counterterrorism. Bergen produced the first televised interview with Osama bin Laden in 1997 and is the author or editor of ten books, including his newest, All the President’s Wars, which examines twenty-five years of the War on Terror.

From the initial invasion of Afghanistan and the decision to go to war in Iraq to the rise of ISIS, the expansion of drone warfare, the raid that killed bin Laden, and the eventual U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, we look at what worked, what failed, and what the United States should have learned.

We discuss what bin Laden hoped to achieve with 9/11; where the war in Afghanistan went wrong; whether Iraq was the defining strategic mistake of the post-9/11 era; how the United States became extraordinarily effective at disrupting terrorist organizations while struggling to translate tactical victories into political outcomes; and why four successive presidents struggled to bring America’s longest war to an end.

Finally, we take stock of the War on Terror’s legacy 25 years later: Did it succeed? Is it actually over? And are we at risk of repeating its mistakes today?

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📖 Peter Bergen’s new book:
Get All the Presidents’ Wars: Twenty-Five Years of America’s War on Terror here.

Refuge and Security: Why Should Immigration be a Foreign Policy Priority? with Krish O'Mara Vignarajah Jun 18, 2026

Show notes

Immigration is often framed as a domestic political fight — about borders, jobs, identity, and security. But America’s immigration choices also shape how the world understands U.S. power, credibility, and values.

In this episode of The Burn Bag, A’ndre Gonawela sits down with Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, President and CEO of Global Refuge, to examine immigration as a foreign-policy and national-security issue. Drawing on her own family’s journey from Sri Lanka, her service at the State Department and Obama White House, and her work leading one of the country’s major refugee-serving organizations, Krish explains how U.S. policy toward refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants reverberates far beyond America’s borders.

Krish discusses what gets lost when immigration is treated only as a domestic-policy debate, how restrictive policies can affect U.S. soft power and alliances, and why people fleeing conflict or persecution often see America’s immigration system as a test of its global leadership. Krish also discusses the strategic consequences of framing immigrants as threats, climate migration as a growing security challenge, and the role faith communities and civil society play in welcoming newcomers.

The Dissident's Dilemma: Case Studies of Moral Courage in an Age of Authoritarianism with Gal Beckerman Jun 04, 2026

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In this episode of The Burn Bag, Gal Beckerman joins us to explore what it means to be a dissident in an age of conformity, fear, and authoritarian drift. Drawing on themes from his new book, How to Be a Dissident, Beckerman reflects on the people who refuse to betray their conscience — from historic rebels and moral witnesses to ordinary individuals forced to decide whether silence is still an option.

This conversation goes beyond the book to ask bigger questions about dissent itself: What separates genuine dissidence from performative rebellion? When does courage become recklessness? Why do authoritarian systems fear humor, memory, and witness? And how can acts of conscience become movements capable of changing history?

Violence as an Epidemic: From Community Harm to War and Authoritarianism with Dr. Gary Slutkin May 27, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, The Burn Bag speaks with Dr. Gary Slutkin, a physician, epidemiologist, former World Health Organization official, and founder of Cure Violence Global, about a provocative idea: what if violence is not simply a problem of crime, morality, or politics, but a contagious epidemic?

Drawing on his decades of work fighting tuberculosis, cholera, AIDS, and community violence, Dr. Slutkin explains how violence spreads through exposure, trauma, social networks, and norms — and how it can be interrupted using tools adapted from public health. We discuss why punishment-first approaches often fall short, how violence interrupters work on the ground, and what this model can teach us about community violence, political extremism, authoritarianism, and war.

At a time when violence is shaping communities, politics, and conflicts around the world, Dr. Slutkin offers a different diagnosis — and a more hopeful path toward prevention.

You can find Dr. Slutkin's book, The End of Violence, here.

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