The Burn Bag Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Modi's India: A BBC Documentary, Modi's (Old) U.S. Visa Ban, Adani's Crony Capitalism, and More Feb 15, 2023

Show notes

This week, A'ndre talks to Dr. Joyojeet Pal, an Indian politics expert and an Associate Professor of Information at the University of Michigan's School of Information, on all things Narendra Modi. They discuss Modi's unconventional rise to power and the controversies surrounding the BBC's documentary, which implicated Modi in the 2002 Gujarat Riots, which result in the deaths of 1,000, predominantly Muslim, civilians. Dr. Pal also highlights unclassified State Department documents, painting a picture of the U.S. Government's evolution in its stance on Modi -- from a Visa ban in the 2000s to the revocation of that ban before he became prime minister -- and the role that relevant U.S. political/policy figures and Indian Diaspora groups played in that timeline. They also discuss recent scandals involving Asia's once-richest-man, Gautam Adani, whose Adani Group recorded $120b in market value loss after the Hindenburg Group, an investment research firm, released a damning report alleging stock manipulation and fraud, amongst other allegations. Dr. Pal provides his prognosis on Indian politics, including how Rahul Gandhi, heir to the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty and current opposition leader, is attempting a political rebrand after two landslide losses to Modi in 2014 and 2019.

Risky Business: The New National Security Economy – Globalization, Competition, and Risk Feb 08, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to Risky Business, a limited series in partnership with Trenchcoat Advisors, a risk advisory firm. In an unpredictable, complex, and chaotic world, the business risks are ever-present. To help navigate the challenges ahead, this series delves into the intersection of business and national security — from influence operations and sabotage to hostage diplomacy and investment security, we’re bringing exclusive conversations with leading experts to better understand and anticipate risk!
In episode three, The Burn Bag's A'ndre Gonawela and Trenchcoat's Holden Triplett speak to David S. Lee about what he terms "the new national security economy." David discusses the framework he outlines in his recent Harvard Business Review article, and how companies are already affected by the 'national security economy' -- where certain dependencies (such as foreign production) can be a national security risk. David also talks about how U.S.-China competition has driven national security concerns further, and commentates on whether companies are willful participants or victims of these circumstances. We discuss how companies are responding, whether through the creation of risk intelligence units or through having Chief National Security Officers as part of their senior leadership team.
David S. Lee is an award-winning teacher that is active broadly in the areas of ethics, fintech, leadership, law, and corporate governance. He teaches in the undergraduate, executive education, MBA, and other taught postgraduate degree programs, including the IMBA with Fudan University, and the Executive MBA-Global Asia offered with Columbia Business School and London Business School. David is a co-author of the first Asia focused business ethics textbook, Business Ethics: Ethical Decision Making and Cases, An Asia Edition (Cengage Learning Asia, 2019). His forthcomiong book is entitled A Perilous Moment: Navigating the New National Security Economy.

Top Risks 2023: Ian Bremmer, President of the Eurasia Group, Forecasts New Year's Geopolitical Outlook Jan 31, 2023

Show notes

For the third year in a row, The Burn Bag hosted Eurasia Group President Ian Bremmer (@ianbremmer) to discuss his Top Risks 2023 Report -- a forecast of the top geopolitical risks most likely to play out over the coming year. A'ndre Gonawela spoke with Ian at length about the report's #1 risk, "Rogue Russia", and why Ian believes that it is the most dangerous risk he has forecast ever in his time doing the Top Risk reports. Ian also provides his thoughts on why his #2 risk, China's Xi Jinping, was able to resist the blowback of his Zero-COVID policies and emerge as the strongest Chinese leader since Mao Zedong. We dip into some conversation on artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies, which the report terms as 'weapons of mass disruption,' and how they might impact democracy detrimentally. Next, Ian discusses his optimism that inflation may be easing, while giving a foreboding prediction that inevitable fuel price surges will significantly impact the developing world's economic burdens. We also talk about why U.S. political dysfunction is ranked lower on this year's list as opposed to the high rankings afforded in 2021 and 2022, why Generation Z is the #9 risk, and what Ian means when he asserts that 'Water Stress' is the tenth highest risk.

Winning at Any Cost: Clean Competition, Soft Power through Sports, and the Russian Doping Scandal with Travis Tygart, CEO of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency Jan 25, 2023

Show notes

In this episode, A'ndre and Ryan talk to Travis Tygart, CEO of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), about maintaining the integrity of international sports. Travis, who has spent two decades at the USADA, traces the history of doping in sports and how the rules for clean competition have developed over time. Having oversaw the investigation into Lance Armstrong, Travis break down why anti-doping regulations are so important and why holding athletes, teams, and countries accountable advances the rule of law. We then delve into the Russian doping scandal and the close relationship between sports and politics. Despite international agreements banning doping, countries such as Russia seek to win at any cost. The conversation concludes with Travis's persecutive on the future and how high-level athletes are using their platforms to advance anti-doping and anti-corruption efforts.

What in the World?: Classified Documents, Davos Conspiracies, and Wrestling with a Potential Saudi WWE Purchase (01/19/23) Jan 19, 2023

Show notes

In this week's episode, A'ndre, Ryan and David dive into some of the biggest stories of 2023. With President Biden's classified documents scandal heating up, they discuss the political and legal impact, as well as larger issues related to classification. The conversation then turns to the shocking resignation announcement by New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. A'ndre continues with an overview of the controversies surrounding a potential Saudi Arabia acquisition of WWE. The episode closes out with an update on the War in Ukraine and why the World Economic Forum is mired by conspiracies.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this episode are those of the hosts. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of any host’s employer.

Risky Business: Web3 – Rogue States, Regulation, and Risk with Ari Redbord, Head of Legal and Government Affairs at TRM Labs Jan 11, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to Risky Business, a limited series in partnership with Trenchcoat Advisors, a risk advisory firm. In an unpredictable, complex, and chaotic world, the business risks are ever-present. To help navigate the challenges ahead, this series delves into the intersection of business and national security — from influence operations and sabotage to hostage diplomacy and investment security, we’re bringing exclusive conversations with leading experts to better understand and anticipate risk!
In episode two, the Burn Bag's Ryan Rosenthal and Trenchcoat's Holden Triplett speak with Ari Redbord about the Web3 domain of risk. Ari helps us understand what the blockchain is and the various use cases for the private and public sectors. The conversation then moves to whether digital currencies are national security threats and how governments around the world have responded. Ari outlines the regulatory approaches (or lack thereof), and how existing laws and regulations are being used to combat financial crime. We also discuss how state and non-state actors use and abuse cryptocurrencies and the blockchain, including North Korea and hacking groups, and whether sanctions are effective against on-chain transactions. The episode rounds out with Ari's advice on how to stay safe, noting the benefits of a public ledger that can be used by law enforcement and the private sector to investigate malign actors and enforce compliance.
Ari is a Head of Legal and Government Affairs at TRM Labs. Prior to joining TRM, he was the Senior Advisor to the Deputy Secretary and the Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence at the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

The Defense Innovation Unit: Former DIU Director Mike Brown on Leveraging Commercial Enterprise for National Security Jan 04, 2023

Show notes

This week, A'ndre talks to Mike Brown, who recently served as Director of the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) between 2018 and 2022, on what DIU is and why the organization is unique within the Department of Defense, his time as Director, and the challenges facing the defense innovation space in the 2020s. We begin the podcast with a conversation on the term innovation itself, before moving into how DIU works with commercial enterprise to dramatically accelerate timelines of acquisition. Mike reflects on his own leading the organization, discussing how he made decisions of prioritization and lessons learned for others evaluating innovation. Mike also provides his take on the biggest challenges facing commercial enterprise in partnering with DoD, and what can be done within procurement to enable access to longer-term contracts for smaller businesses and start-ups. He addresses perceived accessibility issues and concerns around classification that may give business leaders pause when partnering with DoD, and whether DIU is being adequately supported by current DoD funding and if the organization has the roots to keep going as the defense innovation space matures. We round out the conversation by getting Mike's reflections on the state of defense innovation today, and his thoughts on the advent of the many new national security centric tech companies that are out there.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this episode are those of the hosts. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of any host’s employer.

Risky Business: Data – The New Oil or the New Nuclear Competition? with Jessie Liu, fmr. U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Dec 28, 2022

Show notes

Welcome to Risky Business, a limited series in partnership with Trenchcoat Advisors, a risk advisory firm. In an unpredictable, complex, and chaotic world, the business risks are ever-present. To help navigate the challenges ahead, this series delves into the intersection of business and national security — from influence operations and sabotage to hostage diplomacy and investment security, we’re bringing exclusive conversations with leading experts to better understand and anticipate risk!
In episode one, the Burn Bag's A'ndre Gonawela and Trenchcoat's Bill Priestap speak with Jessie Liu about her career in national security and the business risks surrounding data. Jesse takes us through a conversation focusing on how the U.S. Government thinks about data regulations, in addition to data protections for U.S. persons and businesses, including the role CFIUS (The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States) has to play. We also discuss public-private partnerships, how the private sector works with government on data protection, and whether the Department of Justice and FBI are more reactive than proactive on this issue. The conversation concludes with Jesse's perspective on how her private practice role is contributing to the national security mission.
Jessie is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Skadden, Arps, Slate Meagher & Flom LLP. From 2017-20, Jessie served as the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia. Prior to joining the U.S. attorney’s office, Jessie was deputy general counsel for the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

Inside the CFIUS Black Box: Foreign Investment and National Security with Tom Feddo, Fmr. Asst. Secretary of the Treasury Dec 21, 2022

Show notes

In this episode, Ryan talks to Tom Feddo, former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Investment Security, about the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). Tom, who led the interagency body from 2018-2021, discusses the history of CFIUS and its power to review foreign investments. With increasing scrutiny on cross-border transactions, Tom sheds light on the CFIUS review process, shares his perspective on the TikTok case and, assesses whether Twitter may be subject to the body's jurisdiction. The conversation concludes with an overview of the proposed outbound review legislation in Congress and what the future may hold for U.S. investment screening.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this episode are those of the hosts. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of any host’s employer.

Live from RNDF22: Bucky Butow, Defense Innovation Unit Space Portfolio Director Dec 15, 2022

Show notes

On December 3rd, Burn Bag co-host Ryan Rosenthal was in Simi Valley, CA covering the 2022 edition of the Reagan National Defense Forum, one of the nation's largest gatherings of the defense community.
Bucky Butow talks to Ryan about the ability of the DoD to rapidly and effectively innovate, collaborating with the private sector to develop new technologies, and the emerging areas that DIU views as particularly important.

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