The Truth of the Matter

Latest Episodes:

The Houthis and U.S. Options Jan 18, 2024

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CSIS’ Eliot Cohen joins the podcast to discuss how the United States should respond to Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, plus, Dr. Cohen describes what he saw and experienced during his recent visit to Israel.

Wider War in Mideast Jan 09, 2024

Show notes

Former national intelligence manager for Iran at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, CIA senior official and current CSIS senior adviser Norman Roule joins the podcast to discuss the war in Gaza against Hamas and how Iran and its proxies are provoking a potentially expanded Mideast war.

Grateful Dead’s Influence on Modern Media and Culture Jan 05, 2024

Show notes

Jonathan Shank, CEO of Terrapin Station Entertainment joins the podcast to discuss live music, immersive entertainment and the impact of the Grateful Dead on social media and the future of rock and roll.

Israel’s Hard Choices Dec 21, 2023

Show notes

CSIS’ Daniel Byman, who just returned from Israel where he met with senior military officials, joins the podcast to discuss how the war in Gaza is progressing, why the Israeli campaign has been so destructive and what success looks like for Israel and for Hamas.

Hamas’ Hostages Dec 18, 2023

Show notes

CSIS’ Jon Alterman and Washington Post columnist Jason Rezaian, who serve as executive directors of the CSIS Commission on Hostage Taking and Wrongful Detention, join the podcast to discuss the ongoing hostage situation in Gaza, lessons from the Israel-Hamas hostage deal, and how global thought and policymaking regarding hostage situations should evolve.

Ukraine: Will America Come Through? Dec 15, 2023

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CSIS’ Max Bergmann joins the podcast to discuss U.S. funding for Ukraine and its implications

WSJ’s Dion Nissenbaum Reporting on Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah Dec 14, 2023

Show notes

Dion Nissenbaum is an award-winning reporter covering U.S. policy in the Middle East and regional security for The Wall Street Journal. He joins the podcast to discuss the challenges Israel faces to the south with Hamas and to the north with Hezbollah, the current Israeli psyche, and the political situation in Israel.

Brian Stelter on “Network of Lies” Nov 28, 2023

Show notes

Former CNN Reliable Sources anchor Brian Stelter, now a special correspondent for Vanity Fair, joins the podcast to talk about media polarization, how Israel’s war against Hamas is being covered, and his new book, “Network of Lies: The Epic Saga of Fox News, Donald Trump and the Battle for American Democracy.”

Gaza Hospitals Nov 21, 2023

Show notes

CSIS’s J. Stephen Morrison joins the podcast to discuss the situation surrounding Gaza’s hospitals as Israel fights against Hamas.

A View From Israel Nov 17, 2023

Show notes

Israeli Brigadier General Asssaf Orion (res), who served the IDF for over 30 years and is now on reserve duty joins the podcast to discuss the events of October 7 and the Israeli response.

During his career in the Israel Defense Forces, General Orion was responsible for strategic policy formulation, international cooperation, and military diplomacy. He also served as a liaison to neighboring militaries and peacekeeping forces in the region. He was most recently the head of the Strategic Division in the Planning Directorate of the IDF General Staff. In this position, he was in charge of communication with UNIFIL and the Lebanese army, led staff meetings with counterparts from the Pentagon and from other Western militaries, took part in the U.S.-Israel security dialogue, and represented the IDF in talks with the Palestinian Authority. After retiring from the IDF in 2016, General Orion joined the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) in Tel Aviv and serves as the Liz and Mony Rueven International Fellow with The Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

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