Cna Talks

This episode covers the stability of Islamic Republic of Iran in the aftermath of the 12 Day War, and how the regime will adapt to its new reality. Guest Biographies Michael Connell is an expert in Persian-Gulf security-related issues, the armed forces of Iran, U.S.-GCC security cooperation, and adversary cyber policy and strategy. He has served as CNA's Field Analyst to Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT). Dov Zakheim a Senior Fellow at CNA and the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He served as Undersecretary of Defense from 2001-2004. Further Reading CNA Report: The Nuclear Programs of Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran CNA Report: The Evolving Russia-Iran Relationship CNA InDepth: Russia and China Respond—or Don’t—to the 12-Day War in Iran CNA Talks: Syria After Assad

We examine efforts to prevent the spread of resporitory viruses in America’s jails and prisons and what practices were identified from this experience.    Guest Biographies NhuNgoc Pham is a research scientist with CNA’s Center for Public Health Preparedness and Resilience. Jim Alexander is a senior advisor with CNA’s Center for Justice Research and Innovation. Darren Sieger is the Director of the Administration Broward Sheriff’s Office and has helped correctional facilities implement steps to mitigate respiratory viruses. Further Reading Bueru of Justice Assitance: Planning for Respiratory Pathogen Pandemics A Guidebook for Corrections Systems and Confinement Facilities  

We examine what happened in South Korea’s snap election and its implications for South Korea’s relations with the US, Japan, China, Russia, and North Korea. Guest Biographies Dr. Thomas Bickford is a principal research scientist in the CNA Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Program. His research has focused on Chinese maritime strategy, Chinese national security policy, and China’s relations with its neighbors. Carita Reid is the Research Assistant for the China and Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Division. Her research focuses on the Korean peninsula, and she is interested in the domestic environment of both Koreas, nuclear proliferation, democratization efforts, and human rights. Further Reading CNA Talks — South Korea: Martial Law and President Yoon’s Impeachment  

We cover the recent conflict between India and Pakistan, why they were able to desescalate so quickly, and what this tells us about nuclear deterrence and escalation.  Guest Biographies Stephanie Stapleton is a Research Scientist with CNA’s Strategy and Policy Analysis Program. She is an expert in nuclear policy and strategic deterrence, with a focus on strategic competition within the emerging two-near-peer security environment. Decker Evelth is an Associate Research Analyst with CNA’s Countering Threats and Challenges Program. He specializes in open-source analysis.  Further Reading CNA: Nuclear Research  

Two CNA field analysts discuss their work assisting operations to ensure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.  Guest Biographies Dr. Keith Zirkle is a research scientist in CNA’s Fleet Operations and Assessments Program. He is CNA’s field representative at Naval Forces Central Command.  Kevin O'Connell is a research analyst in CNA’s Fleet Operations and Assessments Program. He is currently CNA’s field representative to Commander, Seventh Fleet, but he deployed with Carrier Strike Group 2 during the Red Sea crisis.  Further Reading CNA Field Program    

This episode examines what DeepSeek’s AI model tells us about China’s AI ecosystem, military applications for this technology, and other developments in China’s high-tech sector.  Guest Biographies  April Herlevi is a senior research scientist in CNA’s China and Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Division.  Christopher Cairns is a research scientist in CNA’s China and Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Division. Further Reading Intersections: Issue 13  To subscribe to Intersections, email Intersections@cna.org.  

Dmitry Gorenburg, winner of this year’s Trustees Award, joins the show to discuss his 20-year career at CNA and how the study of Russia has changed during that time.    Guest Biography  Dmitry Gorenburg is a Senior Research Scientist in CNA’s Russia Studies Program. He is an expert on security issues in the former Soviet Union, the Russian military, Russian foreign policy, and ethnic politics and identity. His recent research has focused on decision-making processes in the senior Russian leadership, Russia’s relationship with China, Russian naval strategy, and Russian influence operations. Further Reading News Release: CNA Trustees Award Presented to Dmitry Gorenburg CNA Report: Russian Military Mobilization During the Ukraine War CNA Report: Crafting the Russian War Economy

This episode examines how uncrewed systems have been used in the Ukraine war and how the US can use this information to develop countermeasures.  Guest Biographies Samuel Bendett is an advisor with CNA’s Russia Studies Program. His research focuses on Russian defense and technology developments; uncrewed, robotic, and autonomous military systems; artificial intelligence; and Russian military capabilities. His analysis of Russia’s war against Ukraine has appeared in globally read news outlets such as VICE and The Washington Post.   Michael Petersen is a principal research scientist in CNA's Russia Studies Program. He is an expert on Russian military strategy, operations, and net assessments of high-intensity conflict. From 2023-2024, he served as senior advisor to Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti.  Further Reading CNA InDepth: Drones Over Ukraine CNA Report: Russia’s Use of Uncrewed Systems in Ukraine

This episode explores the political, military, and economic dimensions of the relationship between Russia and Iran.  Guest Biographies Dr. Elizabeth Wishnick is an expert on China-Russian relations, Chinese foreign policy, and Arctic strategy. At CNA, Wishnick contributes her dual regional expertise on China and Russia, including professional proficiency in both languages, to research and analyze Xi Jinping’s risk-taking, Sino-Russian military cooperation, China’s Arctic policy, and Chinese and Russian disinformation. She was part of a team that won CNA’s CEO Teamwork Award for Arctic research. Dr. Julian G. Waller is a Research Analyst in the Russia Studies Program at CNA and an applied analyst of Russian political-military affairs, elite strategic decision-making, adversary systems of governance and civil-military relations, and the politics of authoritarian rule and illiberal ideologies globally. Further Reading CNA Report: The Evolving Russia-Iran Relationship CNA Talks: Syria After Assad

Our partners from the FAA’s Center for Excellence’s ASSUREd Safe join the show to discuss integrating uncrewed aerial systems into the national airspace.  Guest Biographies BJ McClenton is the Associate Director of ASSUREd Safe, brings over 20 years of first responder and emergency service experience as a firefighter and emergency medical technician. Prior to joining ASSUREd Safe, he spent 15 years working with Mississippi State University Extension conducting adult education and outreach programs. Michelle Hanlon is the Executive Director of the Air and Space Law Program at the University of Mississippi. She is the Editor-in-Chief of both the Journal of Space Law and the Journal of Drone Law & Policy. As a key partner with ASSURE, the FAA’s Center of Excellence for UAS Research, Michelle drives advancements in drone policy, from airspace integration to beyond-visual-line-of-sight operations. Steven Habicht is the director of CNA’s Center for Enterprise Systems Modernization.  Further Reading CNA: Agent-

This episode covers South Korean President Yoon’s December 3 declaration of martial law, his impeachment, and what this means for US/ROK security cooperation.  Guest Biographies Dr. Thomas Bickford is a principal research scientist in the CNA Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Program. His research has focused on Chinese maritime strategy, Chinese national security policy, and China’s relations with its neighbors. Carita Reid is the Research Assistant for the China and Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Division. Her research focuses on the Korean peninsula, and she is interested in the domestic environment of both Koreas, nuclear proliferation, democratization efforts, and human rights.

This episode covers technological innovation in the People’s Republic of China, including developments in AI, subsea sensors, and the commercial space industry.  Guest Biographies  April Herlevi is a senior research scientist in CNA’s China and Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Division.  Christopher Cairns is a research scientist in CNA’s China and Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Division. Further Reading Intersections: Issue 12  To subscribe to Intersections, email Intersections@cna.org.   

Experts from across CNA join the show to discuss their research on challenges the industrial base faces in meeting U.S. government demands.  Guest Biographies  Dr. Charles A. Cartier is a research scientist in CNA’s Gaming and Integration Program. He was a lead analyst and co-designer of the CAMOLAND wargame on Clothing and Textiles for the Defense Logistics Agency.  Dawn Thomas is a co-director of the Center for Emergency Management and Operations and director of the Center for Critical Incident Analysis. She is an expert in large-scale incident planning and response. April Cho is a research scientist in CNA’s Data Science Predictive Analytics Program. She has worked on various projects supporting the Navy, including the munitions industrial base study for the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development, and Acquisition.    Further Reading CNA Report: Camoland Clothing and Textile Industrial Base Wargame Report The Blue Book Project Registration Link: Blue Book TV Hosts: Planning for Natio

This episode covers the fall of the Assad regime and what it means for Syria, Russia, Iran, and Turkey.  Guest Biographies Michael Connell is a specialist in Russia and the Middle East in CNA’s Russia Studies Program. His primary area of expertise is the armed forces of Iran and Russia, and he has published extensively on these topics both inside and outside of CNA. Jeffrey Edmonds is an expert on Russia and Eurasia in CNA’s Russia Studies Program. Edmonds previously served as the Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, covering topics in Europe, Russia, the Middle East, and Africa. Jeff also served as acting Senior Director for Russia on the National Security Council.  Further Reading  CNA’s Russia Studies Program

This episode covers how Taiwan applies lessons from the Ukraine War to prepare for a potential invasion from the People’s Republic of China.  Guest Biographies April A. Herlevi is a Senior Research Scientist in CNA’s China Studies program. She is an expert on the People’s Republic of China (PRC) foreign and security policy, economic statecraft for technology acquisition, and the increasing role of PRC commercial, economic, and military actors globally. Dr. Pollpeter is the Director of Research at the Air University’s China Aerospace Studies Institute (CASI). Kevin Pollpeter is an internationally recognized expert on China's space program and has been widely published on national security issues related to China. Before joining CASI he was the Senior Research Scientist at CNA. He previously served as the deputy director of a project on innovation and technology in China for the University of California’s Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation.  Further Reading CNA Report: Taiwan Lessons Learned  from th

The Chief of Staff to the Secretary of the Navy asked CNA for recommendations on how the Navy can better position itself for such competition, that is, below the threshold of armed conflict. In this episode, three experts from across CNA join the show to discuss their specific recommendations and what the future fleet needs to look like to implement them.  Guest Biographies David M. Finkelstein is vice president and director of CNA's China and Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Division. A retired U.S. Army officer, he held significant China-related positions at the Pentagon as an advisor to the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Gordon Jaquith is the vice president and director of CNA’s Systems, Tactics and Force Development Division. He formerly served as director of the Strategic, Defensive, and Science/Technology Division at the Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (CAPE) office within the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Ann Parcell is the Director of CNA’s Navy Human R

This episode covers RShiny, a CNA-funded dashboard government leaders can use to examine the Navy Shipbuilding Plan. Guest Biographies Rachel Hartley is a research analyst for CNA’s Force Optimization and Readiness Generation program. She specializes in performance-to-plan Human Resources and addressing recruiting crises.   Further Reading CNA’s Innovation Incubator  

In this episode, Ralph Espach and Stephanie Stapleton join the show to discuss their assessment of AUKUS’s implementation.   Guest Biographies Ralph Espach is an expert in U.S.-Latin American relations, U.S. security assistance and cooperation in Latin America, and the assessment, monitoring, and evaluation of U.S. strategies and programs. His work focuses on U.S. security relations across the Americas, maritime security and naval issues, U.S. security cooperation efforts, and strategic risks such as Chinese and Russian regional relations and climate change. Stephanie Stapleton is a nuclear policy specialist. Her research topics include strategic deterrence and competition, multipolarity, nuclear arms control, risk reduction, and US nuclear policy. Before joining CNA, she was the managing editor of the academic journal Peacebuilding and Development and taught at Georgia Highlands College.

Timothy Ditter joins the show to discuss his report on China’s military presence in Africa, including its first overseas military base in Djibouti.   Guest Biographies Timothy Ditter is a senior research scientist in CNA’s China Studies Program. His work covers PLA amphibious warfare, China’s military modernization and expansion, China’s growing nuclear weapons program, and China’s nascent global military presence. Further Reading  CNA Report: The Military and Security Dimensions of the PRC's Africa Presence CNA Report: PRC Illicit and Malign Activities in Africa: Critical Infrastructure and Mining CNA Report: PRC Lending in Africa: Impacts in a Time of Global Shocks CNA Talks: China's Economic Activities in Africa  

This episode examines the views of three stakeholder communities within Moscow’s interconnected nuclear ecosystem and how they view Russia’s nuclear doctrine.  *A previous version of this episode incorrectly stated that Russia's Security Council changed its nuclear doctrine during a September 25 meeting. The correct telling is that Russian President Vladimir Putin soft-launched proposed changes to the doctrine during this meeting. At this time, Russia has made no official changes to its nuclear doctrine.  Guest Bios Gabriela Rosa Hernandez is a specialist in Russia's security policy. Her recent research has focused on Russian strategic deterrence, security orders, conventional and nuclear arms control in Europe, and the Russian military. Cornell Overfield is a specialist in the relationship between maritime law and foreign policy. At CNA, he has worked on projects covering Arctic security and economic activity, improved engagement with allies and partners, and data analytics. Further Reading CNA Report: Mosc