Understandable Insights: Information to Intelligence with Sue Gordon

Sue Gordon & Eric Koepp
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Welcome to “Understandable Insights: Information to Intelligence with Sue Gordon” — the national security podcast that provides you an elemental understanding of the world as it is, not how you prefer it to be. Each week,  Eric — a former Marine, father, and entrepreneur — sits down with the Honorable Sue Gordon, the nation’s former top career intelligence officer. Together, they break down the headlines shaping our world and ask what they really mean for citizens, leaders, and institutions. From armed conflict to emerging tech, foreign interference to the resilience of democracy — this is where raw information becomes real intelligence. Unfiltered. Candid. Unapologetically clear. New episodes every Tuesday. Subscribe now.

  1. Ep. 24 The National Security Trump Card: Ukraine, Greenland, and Windmills

    12H AGO

    Ep. 24 The National Security Trump Card: Ukraine, Greenland, and Windmills

    In this episode of Understandable Insights, Sue and Eric discuss Ukraine’s latest turn: President Zelensky takes his pitch for peace to Mar-a-Lago as Russia sustains heavy strikes. They unpack what would actually signal progress: whether battlefield activity slows in a way that suggests a real path to peace rather than leverage and messaging. Next, they move north to Greenland to draw a sharp distinction between owning terrain and achieving security outcomes, arguing that strategy is built through partnerships and priorities, not possession thinking. Finally, offshore wind becomes the latest case study in overusing “national security” as a trump card: less a physics problem than a governance one and an overused label to bypass transparency, shut down dialogue, and avoid explaining tradeoffs. They close with predictions for 2026, What We’re Watching, and a look ahead for Ui in the coming year.  Timestamps:  00:00 Introduction to Understandable Insights 00:49 New Year's Resolutions and Reflections 04:10 Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks 09:33 US-Greenland Relations 13:19 Offshore Wind Projects and National Security 18:07 Predictions for 2026 22:58 What We’re Watching 26:34 Understandable Insights 2026  About the show: Understandable Insights: Information to Intelligence with Sue Gordon is the national security podcast that provides you an elemental understanding of the world as it is, not how you prefer it to be. Each week, Eric Koepp — a former Marine, father, and entrepreneur — sits down with the Honorable Sue Gordon, the nation’s former top career intelligence officer. Together, they break down the headlines shaping our world and ask what they really mean for citizens, leaders, and institutions. From armed conflict to emerging tech, foreign interference to the resilience of democracy — this is where raw information becomes real intelligence. Unfiltered. Candid. Unapologetically clear. Website and Feedback: Remember we’re here for you. Provide us feedback or suggest topics for next time: Feedback Send us a text Join us on Youtube, Instagram, and wherever you enjoy your podcasts. New episodes every Tuesday. Follow or subscribe today.

    30 min
  2. Ep. 23 Bonus: You Can't Surge Trust in a Crisis

    4D AGO · BONUS

    Ep. 23 Bonus: You Can't Surge Trust in a Crisis

    In this special edition of Understandable Insights, Sue and Eric examine public health policy as national security. Beginning with HHS’s termination of pediatric health grants, they map the downstream consequences of politicized funding: diminished institutional trust, fragmented preparedness, and greater vulnerability ahead of the next crisis. Questioning science isn’t the problem— questioning science is the nature of science.  Recorded on December 22, 2025, this segment originally appeared in the extended YouTube cut of Episode 23. Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome to Understandable Insights 01:20 Impact of mRNA Vaccine Research Cuts 01:43 Concerns Over Political Influence on Health Policies 03:31 Fragmentation of Public Health Policy Across States 06:04 Comparing US and Denmark's Vaccine Policies 07:35 Looking Ahead  About the show: Understandable Insights: Information to Intelligence with Sue Gordon is the national security podcast that provides you an elemental understanding of the world as it is, not how you prefer it to be. Each week, Eric Koepp — a former Marine, father, and entrepreneur — sits down with the Honorable Sue Gordon, the nation’s former top career intelligence officer. Together, they break down the headlines shaping our world and ask what they really mean for citizens, leaders, and institutions. From armed conflict to emerging tech, foreign interference to the resilience of democracy — this is where raw information becomes real intelligence. Unfiltered. Candid. Unapologetically clear. Website and Feedback: Remember we’re here for you. Provide us feedback or suggest topics for next time: Feedback Send us a text Join us on Youtube, Instagram, and wherever you enjoy your podcasts. New episodes every Tuesday. Follow or subscribe today.

    9 min
  3. Ep. 23 Ukraine, the NDAA, and Fusion Hype — and Why We Track Santa

    DEC 23

    Ep. 23 Ukraine, the NDAA, and Fusion Hype — and Why We Track Santa

    In this episode of Understandable Insights, Sue and Eric start with Europe’s move to fund Ukraine through 2026–2027 and unpack what that signals (and what it doesn’t): real staying power, internal fractures, the role of Russian propaganda, and visible public disagreements in intelligence assessments about Putin’s intentions. Next, they turn to the NDAA and use it as a lens on how national security actually gets built. Combatant Command reorganizations and new-domain priorities matter far less than defining the “ends”, especially the people side: training, readiness, and sustained execution. Then they hit the corporate strategy front: a media-company-plus-fusion deal becomes a case study in how momentum and financial engineering can masquerade as progress—while the energy reality remains that fusion isn’t an energy policy for this decade. They conclude with What We’re Watching: DJI drone restrictions, the TikTok ownership closing timeline, and a holiday reminder about trust—Santa is someone we trust, and tracking is something we’ve come to trust. Remember, for all those days that it seems dark and that we'll never come together, this is a mission that we can do against a global truth that we must preserve.  Timestamps:  00:00 Introduction to Understandable Insights 02:28 Memorable Holiday Toys 06:48 Ukraine Support and Russia Propaganda 16:47 The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) 22:04 Pentagon's Discussed COCOM Consolidation  28:55 Trump Media and TAE Technologies Merger 36:03 What We’re Watching Articles:  NORAD Santa Tracker   About the show: Understandable Insights: Information to Intelligence with Sue Gordon is the national security podcast that provides you an elemental understanding of the world as it is, not how you prefer it to be. Each week, Eric Koepp — a former Marine, father, and entrepreneur — sits down with the Honorable Sue Gordon, the nation’s former top career intelligence officer. Together, they break down the headlines shaping our world and ask what they really mean for citizens, leaders, and institutions. From armed conflict to emerging tech, foreign interference to the resilience of democracy — this is where raw information becomes real intelligence. Unfiltered. Candid. Unapologetically clear. Website and Feedback: Remember we’re here for you. Provide us feedback or suggest topics for next time: Feedback Send us a text Join us on Youtube, Instagram, and wherever you enjoy your podcasts. New episodes every Tuesday. Follow or subscribe today.

    41 min
  4. Ep. 22 Transparency by Design: DOE’s Genesis Mission, H200 Exports, & Australia’s Under-16 Test

    DEC 17

    Ep. 22 Transparency by Design: DOE’s Genesis Mission, H200 Exports, & Australia’s Under-16 Test

    In this episode of Understandable Insights, Sue and Eric track Transparency by Design; how you build trust in national security by setting clear outcomes instead of picking winners. They start with DOE’s Genesis Mission, a national push to use AI and advanced computing to supercharge U.S. science through DOE's 17 national labs, while warning against “integration theater” and calling for real governance and talent to match the ambition. Next, they hit the market front: Nvidia’s H200 exports to China, approved under Commerce oversight with a 25% “toll booth.” Is selling “not-the-best” compute a smart way to keep China on the U.S. stack, or a leverage-leakage trade that speeds up a competitor anyway? They close down under: Australia’s under-16 social media ban, the U.S. looking at Australia’s superannuation retirement model, and the uncomfortable question of where government retirement dollars are actually invested. They conclude with What We’re Watching: the farmer bailouts, GenAI.mil’s launch, and ACA extension votes. Timestamps:  00:00 Introduction to Understandable Insights 01:45 Favorite Christmas Songs 05:30 DOE’s Genesis Mission and AI Strategy 14:02 Federal AI Regulation and State Compliance 21:03 Nvidia's H200s to China 27:33 5G Loss, 6G Focus 30:47 Australia's Social Media Ban for Under-16s 35:34 Australia's Superannuation Retirement System 43:06 The Complexities of Government Fund Investments 48:38 What We’re Watching  About the show: Understandable Insights: Information to Intelligence with Sue Gordon is the national security podcast that provides you an elemental understanding of the world as it is, not how you prefer it to be. Each week, Eric Koepp — a former Marine, father, and entrepreneur — sits down with the Honorable Sue Gordon, the nation’s former top career intelligence officer. Together, they break down the headlines shaping our world and ask what they really mean for citizens, leaders, and institutions. From armed conflict to emerging tech, foreign interference to the resilience of democracy — this is where raw information becomes real intelligence. Unfiltered. Candid. Unapologetically clear. Website and Feedback: Remember we’re here for you. Provide us feedback or suggest topics for next time: Feedback Send us a text Join us on Youtube, Instagram, and wherever you enjoy your podcasts. New episodes every Tuesday. Follow or subscribe today.

    55 min
  5. Ep. 21 Dominance Playbook: National Security Strategy, Undersea Competition, & Golden Dome Limits

    DEC 9

    Ep. 21 Dominance Playbook: National Security Strategy, Undersea Competition, & Golden Dome Limits

    In this episode of Understandable Insights, Sue and Eric crack open the 2025 National Security Strategy. They start by explaining what a National Security Strategy is supposed to do—define outcomes, not micromanage actions—and what it means when a strategy leans hard into “America First” rhetoric while saying almost nothing about education, health, and the human capital that underpins national power. They walk through the Trump Corollary of the Monroe Doctrine and the Western Hemisphere, the choice to treat partners transactionally rather than as allies, and whether this document focuses on strategy or specifics. They then shift domains to the undersea world of submarines, seabed pipelines, and cables as the quiet backbone of global power and the next domain of competition. From there, they discuss updates to the Golden Dome missile-defense concept and ask what it can realistically deliver (risk reduction and better decision-making) and what it can’t (a perfect shield against major nuclear powers). They close with What We’re Watching: the silence around serious budget and ACA debates heading into the holidays, and a second Venezuela boat-strike video that only seven members of Congress have seen, raising fresh questions about transparency, lawful oversight, and how much trust citizens should place in policy narratives. Timestamps:  00:00 Introduction to Understandable Insights 01:29 Top Christmas Movies  04:26 National Security Strategy 2025  17:21 The Trump Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine 28:39 The Bearing Game 35:55 Undersea Competition 43:56 Golden Dome Limits 54:14 What We’re Watching Articles:  2025 National Security Strategy Catch Me If You Claus  About the show: Understandable Insights: Information to Intelligence with Sue Gordon is the national security podcast that provides you an elemental understanding of the world as it is, not how you prefer it to be. Each week, Eric Koepp — a former Marine, father, and entrepreneur — sits down with the Honorable Sue Gordon, the nation’s former top career intelligence officer. Together, they break down the headlines shaping our world and ask what they really mean for citizens, leaders, and institutions. From armed conflict to emerging tech, foreign interference to the resilience of democracy — this is where raw information becomes real intelligence. Unfiltered. Candid. Unapologetically clear. Website and Feedback: Remember we’re here for you. Provide us feedback or suggest topics for next time: Feedback Send us a text Join us on Youtube, Instagram, and wherever you enjoy your podcasts. New episodes every Tuesday. Follow or subscribe today.

    59 min
  6. Ep 20 Bonus: Retribution Politics: When Dissent Becomes Dangerous

    DEC 6 · BONUS

    Ep 20 Bonus: Retribution Politics: When Dissent Becomes Dangerous

    In this special edition of Understandable Insights, Sue and Eric explore the troubling rise of retribution politics in America. Prompted by a Reuters investigation into over 470 individuals and institutions allegedly targeted by the Trump administration, they examine what happens when government power is used to punish dissent—from prosecutors and journalists to universities and companies. Timestamps:  00:00 Introduction to Ui Bonus Episode 00:57 Sue's Perspective on Retribution 02:15 Government Privilege and Free Speech 05:10 Hostile Leadership Environment Implications 05:58 Looking Ahead Article:  Trump’s campaign of retribution: At least 470 targets and counting About the show: Understandable Insights: Information to Intelligence with Sue Gordon is the national security podcast that provides you an elemental understanding of the world as it is, not how you prefer it to be. Each week, Eric Koepp — a former Marine, father, and entrepreneur — sits down with the Honorable Sue Gordon, the nation’s former top career intelligence officer. Together, they break down the headlines shaping our world and ask what they really mean for citizens, leaders, and institutions. From armed conflict to emerging tech, foreign interference to the resilience of democracy — this is where raw information becomes real intelligence. Unfiltered. Candid. Unapologetically clear. Website and Feedback: Remember we’re here for you. Provide us feedback or suggest topics for next time: Feedback Send us a text Join us on Youtube, Instagram, and wherever you enjoy your podcasts. New episodes every Tuesday. Follow or subscribe today.

    6 min
  7. Ep. 20 Trust and Consequences: Afghan Allies, Back-Channels, and Nursing Pros

    DEC 2

    Ep. 20 Trust and Consequences: Afghan Allies, Back-Channels, and Nursing Pros

    In this episode of Understandable Insights, Sue and Eric look at the price of trust—starting with an Afghan ally accused of murdering a West Virginia National Guard member near the White House and the administration’s response: freezing asylum and visa decisions for Afghan allies. They unpack what it means to run a “nation of immigrants” on fear instead of evidence, then turn to Ukraine back-channels and Venezuela’s shadow war to ask what happens when unelected power brokers and intellectual inconsistency undercut public confidence. Finally, they bring the lens home to medical debt, Medicaid cuts, and new rules that squeeze “nursing pros” and other frontline fields, arguing that health and education are part of America’s security infrastructure. They close with What We’re Watching: the lack of real budget discussions and no noise around an ACA vote before the holidays, plus the investigations into a congressional video featuring retired Captain Mark Kelly that raise deeper questions about retribution politics, lawful orders, and how far we can stretch institutions before public trust breaks. Timestamps:  00:00 Introduction to Understandable Insights 02:33 Christmas Preparations 03:50 Afghan Attack on National Guard 10:49 H-1B Visa Reforms 16:02 US-Ukraine Diplomacy 23:55 Corruption Scandals in Ukraine 25:55 US Interests and Foreign Corruption 31:56 Venezuela and US Foreign Policy 38:38 Professional Nursing 46:34 What We’re Watching  About the show: Understandable Insights: Information to Intelligence with Sue Gordon is the national security podcast that provides you an elemental understanding of the world as it is, not how you prefer it to be. Each week, Eric Koepp — a former Marine, father, and entrepreneur — sits down with the Honorable Sue Gordon, the nation’s former top career intelligence officer. Together, they break down the headlines shaping our world and ask what they really mean for citizens, leaders, and institutions. From armed conflict to emerging tech, foreign interference to the resilience of democracy — this is where raw information becomes real intelligence. Unfiltered. Candid. Unapologetically clear. Website and Feedback: Remember we’re here for you. Provide us feedback or suggest topics for next time: Feedback Send us a text Join us on Youtube, Instagram, and wherever you enjoy your podcasts. New episodes every Tuesday. Follow or subscribe today.

    49 min
  8. Ep. 19 Substitution or Sovereignty? China’s Capital, Nuclear Loans, & State vs. Federal Power

    NOV 25

    Ep. 19 Substitution or Sovereignty? China’s Capital, Nuclear Loans, & State vs. Federal Power

    In this episode of Understandable Insights, Sue and Eric trace how seemingly ordinary deals can reshape American security, starting with a Chinese-linked insurance acquisition that offers a window into the “holy grail” of intelligence—intent. Some foreign capital is about substitution, not partnership. From there, they turn to energy in the AI era, using the federal loan to restart Three Mile Island as a case study in government use. They examine the tug-of-war between state and federal authority, from redistricting fights to dueling approaches to AI regulation—asking when “national security” is a legitimate reason to centralize power and when it’s an excuse to avoid hard public debate. In a rapid-fire segment, they run through the latest on the Gaza peace plan, mRNA research, strategic ambiguity with Taiwan, the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, and the peace process in Ukraine. Finally, in What We’re Watching, they look ahead to pending Supreme Court decisions, AI-bubble signals, the Comey indictment, and the response to a congressional video on the military’s obligation to follow lawful orders, before closing with a note of Thanksgiving: the strength of America’s “villages” of people who quietly hold the country together. Timestamps:  00:00 Introduction to Understandable Insights 00:30 Thanksgiving Traditions 03:59 China's Investment in the US 14:20 US $1B Loan for Nuclear 19:52 Gerrymandering and AI Laws 28:27 Federal vs. State Control: AI and Women's Rights 32:06 UN Peace Plan for Gaza 33:35 Pfizer's mRNA Flu Shot 37:53 Saudi Arabia's Financial Struggles 40:31 Japan's Stance on Taiwan 43:34 Ukraine Peace Process 48:50 What We’re Watching 54:39 Thanks to Give Articles:  Creamed Onions Recipe U.S.-Taiwan Relations in a New Era: Responding to a More Assertive China  About the show: Understandable Insights: Information to Intelligence with Sue Gordon is the national security podcast that provides you an elemental understanding of the world as it is, not how you prefer it to be. Each week, Eric Koepp — a former Marine, father, and entrepreneur — sits down with the Honorable Sue Gordon, the nation’s former top career intelligence officer. Together, they break down the headlines shaping our world and ask what they really mean for citizens, leaders, and institutions. From armed conflict to emerging tech, foreign interference to the resilience of democracy — this is where raw information becomes real intelligence. Unfiltered. Candid. Unapologetically clear. Website and Feedback: Remember we’re here for you. Provide us feedback or suggest topics for next time: Feedback Instagram: @ui.podcast Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@UnderstandableInsightsPodcast Send us a text Join us on Youtube, Instagram, and wherever you enjoy your podcasts. New episodes every Tuesday. Follow or subscribe today.

    58 min
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About

Welcome to “Understandable Insights: Information to Intelligence with Sue Gordon” — the national security podcast that provides you an elemental understanding of the world as it is, not how you prefer it to be. Each week,  Eric — a former Marine, father, and entrepreneur — sits down with the Honorable Sue Gordon, the nation’s former top career intelligence officer. Together, they break down the headlines shaping our world and ask what they really mean for citizens, leaders, and institutions. From armed conflict to emerging tech, foreign interference to the resilience of democracy — this is where raw information becomes real intelligence. Unfiltered. Candid. Unapologetically clear. New episodes every Tuesday. Subscribe now.

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