CNA Talks: A National Security Podcast

CNA
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  • POLITICS
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY
CNA Talks: A National Security Podcast

CNA’s experts understand today’s complex and dynamic national security environments. On CNA Talks, you’ll find analysis of globe-shaping conflicts, foreign policy and shifting alliances, regional breakdowns, pandemics and other health crises, environmental disasters, homeland security concerns, and the future of strategic competition. Follow CNA Talks to go behind the headlines and learn from data-driven, objective, discussions on the factors shaping today’s national security landscape.

  1. 2 DAYS AGO

    Rebroadcast: The Navy and Strategic Competition with China

    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 Resources Program. Further Reading CNA: The Department of the Navy and Strategic Competition with the People’s Republic of China

    31 min

  2. DEC 11

    A New Tool to Analyze the Shipbuilding Plan

    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

    15 min

  3. NOV 27

    Rebroadcast: AUKUS

    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.

    35 min

  4. NOV 13

    China's Military Presence in Africa

    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

    30 min

  5. OCT 30

    Russia's Shifting Nuclear Doctrine

    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: Moscow Doesn’t Believe in Tears CNA Talks:  Nuclear Policy After the War in Ukraine

    33 min

  6. OCT 18

    Countering Misinformation Surrounding the 2024 Hurricane Season

    This episode examines the misinformation that spread after Hurricanes Helene and Milton and how individuals and institutions can help stop it.  Guest Bios 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. She has worked on a large array of emergency preparedness issues, helping federal, regional, state, and local agencies prepare for and respond to biological attacks, active shooters, large-scale evacuations, medical evacuations, earthquakes and tsunamis, mass casualty chemical incidents, public health outbreaks, and cyberattacks. Meg McBride is a Senior Research Scientist at CNA. Her expertise includes extremism, terrorism, radicalization, disinformation, and the evaluation of programs to prevent violent extremism. Her recent work has focused on psychological risk factors for radicalization and vulnerability and resilience to misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation.     Further Reading CNA Report: The Psychology of (Dis)information: Case Studies and Implications

    32 min

  7. OCT 9

    The Kursk Offensive

    This episode explores the Kursk Offensive, Ukraine’s counter-invasion of Russia, and its implications for the United States and NATO.  Guest Biography Michael Petersen is a Principal Research Scientist in CNA's Countering Threats and Challenges Program at CNA. 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. From 2015-2023, he was Professor and founding director of the Russia Maritime Studies Institute and the Holloway Advanced Research Program at the U.S. Naval War College. He’s also served with the Defense Intelligence Agency and the National Security Council. Further Reading Russia Studies Program   *There was an audio issue in a previous version of this podcast. This edition is correct.

    28 min

  8. SEP 25

    CNA's Large Language Model: Morse Code

    This episode covers the inception, development, and potential of CNA’s internal large language model, Morse Code. Guest Biographies  Gregor Goodman is the Director and Chief Technology Officer in CNA’s Chief Information Office. He has 20 years of hands-on experience with technology and cyber security, from technical administration to consulting. His expertise is understanding business goals and aligning a technology posture to drive organizational growth.

    29 min
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About

CNA’s experts understand today’s complex and dynamic national security environments. On CNA Talks, you’ll find analysis of globe-shaping conflicts, foreign policy and shifting alliances, regional breakdowns, pandemics and other health crises, environmental disasters, homeland security concerns, and the future of strategic competition. Follow CNA Talks to go behind the headlines and learn from data-driven, objective, discussions on the factors shaping today’s national security landscape.

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