The Restricted Handling Podcast

Restricted Handling
  • 5.0 (12)
  • DAILY NEWS
  • UPDATED DAILY

Former CIA officers talk Russia, China, Iran, North Korea >> international security, geopolitics, military & intel operations, economic power plays. Including daily news drops beyond the headlines (human analysis leveraging AI). It's RH. restrictedhandling.substack.com

  1. Deep Dive: Corporate Statecraft: The Invisible War Where Debt is a Weapon

    1D AGO

    Deep Dive: Corporate Statecraft: The Invisible War Where Debt is a Weapon

    👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcasthttps://www.restrictedhandling.com/ Get a daily intel brief covering Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, the Middle East, global economics, sanctions, and geopolitical competition. Today we have a deep dive prepared by Roan Aidane with the aid of AI and read by AI on a topic that's going on in the background around the world but, in particular, the Global South. Ryan and Glenn feel this is an important topic that flies under the radar and Roan was kind enough to prepare a deep dive on it for us. The most dangerous weapon in modern warfare doesn’t explode. It’s a loan agreement.A telecom contract.A railway corridor.A lithium off-take deal.In this special deep dive episode, we explore one of the most under-discussed dynamics shaping the 21st century: Corporate Statecraft. This is not about tanks crossing borders.It’s about infrastructure, debt, software standards, and supply chains. The battlefield isn’t Europe.It’s the Global South. 🎙️ In this episode, we break down: • Why China’s Belt and Road strategy is more ecosystem than construction project• How financing + construction + technology bundling creates lock-in• Why telecom networks matter more than missile systems• The lithium triangle and control of EV supply chains• Off-take agreements as strategic leverage• Saudi Arabia’s strategic hedging between Washington and Beijing• The Lobito Corridor and logistics warfare in Africa• Debt, ports, and Sri Lanka’s 99-year lease• Why commercial deals now carry geopolitical aftershocks• Whether the U.S. can compete without state-owned enterprises This conversation reframes geopolitics: It’s no longer just about military dominance.It’s about who writes the contracts.Who builds the rails.Who owns the code.Who controls the ports. The invisible war is already being fought —in boardrooms, not battlefields. Chapters 00:00 Intro02:00 What Is Corporate Statecraft?05:00 China’s Bundled Strategy Explained10:00 Lock-In and Infrastructure Dependency14:00 Lithium, EVs, and Resource Control18:00 Telecom Networks as Strategic Terrain23:00 Saudi Hedging Strategy27:00 The Corridor Wars in Africa32:00 Debt, Ports, and Sri Lanka38:00 The U.S. Structural Dilemma44:00 Who Writes the 21st Century? Find Glenn Online Glenn Corn is a former CIA Senior Intelligence Service officer and multiple-time Chief of Station. Institute of World Politics – Faculty Profilehttps://www.iwp.edu/faculty/glenn-corn/ Great South Bay Consultinghttps://greatsouthbayinc.com/ Subscribe and receive the daily intelligence brief:https://www.restrictedhandling.com/

    13 min

  2. 1D AGO

    RH 2.17.26 | China Purges, Japan Pressure, Taiwan Patrols, Manila Clash

    👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcast  https://www.restrictedhandling.com/  In this episode of The Restricted Handling Podcast, we break down a fast moving 24 hours in China’s strategic orbit. From Xi Jinping tightening his grip on the People’s Liberation Army to escalating pressure on Japan and fresh tensions in the South China Sea, this one covers serious ground without putting you to sleep.  At the top of the stack is Xi’s continued purge of senior military leadership. General Zhang Youxia, once considered part of Xi’s inner circle and a vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, has now been effectively removed. That makes five of six top generals gone in three years. We unpack what that means for internal stability, loyalty inside the PLA, and why references to Mao era “rectification” campaigns should get your attention.  Then we shift to Japan. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is not backing down after linking Taiwan’s security to Japan’s national survival. Beijing responded with economic pressure, rare earth restrictions, tourism cuts, and some very pointed rhetoric at the Munich Security Conference. Instead of folding, Tokyo doubled down after Takaichi’s landslide election win. We talk about what this means for US alliances, defense spending, and whether China’s pressure campaign is working or backfiring.  We also cover fresh military activity around Taiwan. In just one 24 hour window, Taiwan tracked multiple PLA naval vessels and aircraft operating near the island, plus a high altitude balloon. The pace is steady. The pressure is constant. This is gray zone strategy in real time.  Down in the South China Sea, things are heating up again between China and the Philippines. The Chinese Embassy in Manila warned that tensions could cost “millions of jobs,” prompting a sharp response from Philippine officials. Add in the arrest of a Mongolian national with reported ties to Chinese military aviation training near sensitive facilities in Zambales, and the story gets even more layered.  We also touch on China’s renewed diplomatic charm offensive toward US allies like Canada and the UK, including new visa free travel agreements that signal a strategic push to look open and stable while tightening control at home.  👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcast  https://www.restrictedhandling.com/  Get the daily intelligence brief Ryan and Glenn read covering Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, the Middle East, geopolitics, sanctions, military and intel operations. Save a few hours of your time getting ahead of the news cycle at restrictedhandling.com.

    8 min

  3. 1D AGO

    RH 2.17.26 | Russia: Geneva Talks, Zircon Strikes, Refinery Fires & Donetsk Showdown

    👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcast https://www.restrictedhandling.com/  In this episode of The Restricted Handling Podcast, we break down the February 17, 2026 Geneva talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the US and why territory is still the fight inside the fight. Moscow is demanding full control of the remaining Ukrainian-held portions of Donetsk. Kyiv says that is a red line. President Trump wants a deal fast. Zelensky wants security guarantees first. The table is set, but nobody is blinking.  While diplomats talk in Switzerland, the war keeps moving.  Russia launched Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles, Iskander ballistic missiles, and waves of Shahed drones against Ukrainian infrastructure. Ukraine responded by striking deep inside Russia, targeting oil refineries in Krasnodar Territory and disrupting energy infrastructure in Belgorod and Bryansk. Russian wholesale gasoline prices jumped after refinery hits at Volgograd and Ukhta. That’s not just battlefield activity. That’s economic pressure.  We also cover Ukraine’s recapture of roughly 201 square kilometers near Zaporizhzhia, reportedly the fastest gains since 2023. Russian forces continue grinding forward near Pokrovsk and Kupyansk, but the battlefield remains fluid. Add in reported Starlink disruptions, expanding Russian drone doctrine through the BARS-Sarmat center, and growing reliance on unmanned systems, and you get a war that is evolving in real time.  Outside the frontline, the hybrid fight is heating up. Western intelligence reporting suggests former Wagner recruiters are linked to sabotage recruitment efforts inside Europe. Arson. Vandalism. Plausible deniability. The gray zone is alive and well.  Energy politics are back in play too. Hungary and Slovakia are scrambling after Druzhba pipeline disruptions. Strategic reserves are being discussed. The EU remains divided on how hard to press Moscow.  Inside Ukraine, an anti-corruption bombshell hits as former Energy Minister German Galushchenko is detained in the Energoatom bribery case. In Russia, the State Duma moves forward on legislation expanding FSB authority to suspend communications services. Meanwhile, new findings on Alexei Navalny’s death escalate tensions between Moscow and European governments.  If you want a fast, clear, no-nonsense breakdown of the Russia Ukraine war, US foreign policy, European security, energy warfare, drone strikes, and geopolitical power plays, this episode has you covered.  👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcast https://www.restrictedhandling.com/    Get the daily intelligence brief Ryan and Glenn read covering Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, the Middle East, geopolitics, sanctions, military and intel operations. Save a few hours of your time getting ahead of the news cycle at restrictedhandling.com.

    9 min

  4. 2D AGO

    RH 2.16.26 | China: Nukes, Purges, Taiwan & Russian Oil

    👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcast  https://www.restrictedhandling.com/  China is not easing into 2026 quietly. It is moving on multiple fronts and this episode of The Restricted Handling Podcast breaks it all down in one tight, high-energy brief.  In this RH 2.16.26 episode, we dig into satellite imagery showing major expansion at China’s nuclear weapons facilities deep in Sichuan Province. New construction at suspected plutonium pit production sites. High-explosive testing infrastructure upgrades. A 360-foot ventilation stack. And all of it unfolding just as the last remaining US-Russia strategic nuclear treaty expires. No caps. No guardrails. Beijing is on track to move from roughly 600 warheads toward 1,000 by 2030. That is not background noise. That is a structural shift.  At the same time, Xi Jinping is purging the top ranks of the People’s Liberation Army. Gen. Zhang Youxia, once considered a trusted insider, is out. Five of six top military leaders have been removed in just a few years. Nearly one million officials punished in the latest party discipline campaign. This is not routine reshuffling. It is consolidation of power at the highest level of the Chinese system.  Then we move to Taiwan. PLA aircraft crossing the median line. Naval vessels operating around the island. Millions of cyber intrusion attempts per day targeting Taiwan’s infrastructure. Telecom networks under pressure. Political messaging dialed up at the Munich Security Conference. The pressure campaign is steady, layered, and intentional.  Japan is feeling the heat too. After Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi linked Taiwan’s security to Japan’s own defense posture, Chinese tourist arrivals dropped 45 percent year over year. Rare earth supply risks are back in the conversation. Diplomatic protests are flying. Economic coercion is not theoretical. It is measurable.  And let’s not forget energy. China is set to import record volumes of discounted Russian crude oil while India cuts back. Moscow gets a lifeline. Beijing gets bargain barrels. Meanwhile Iranian flows dip slightly amid uncertainty over potential US action. Energy markets are quietly reflecting big geopolitical decisions.  If you care about China’s nuclear buildup, Taiwan security, Japan-China tensions, Russian oil flows, South China Sea gray zone pressure, or the future of great power competition, this episode connects the dots.  This is the stuff that shapes the decade ahead. Not hype. Not clickbait. Just the hard realities of international security in 2026.  Listen in and stay ahead of the curve.  👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcast  https://www.restrictedhandling.com/  Get the daily intelligence brief Ryan and Glenn read covering Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, the Middle East, geopolitics, sanctions, military and intel operations. Save a few hours of your time getting ahead of the news cycle at restrictedhandling.com.

    8 min

  5. 2D AGO

    RH 2.16.26 | Russia, Geneva, Drones & Dirty Tricks

    👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcast https://www.restrictedhandling.com/  In this episode of The Restricted Handling Podcast, we break down one of the most pivotal weeks in the Ukraine war since the invasion began. Geneva peace talks are back on the calendar. Russia says territory is on the table. Ukraine says security guarantees come first. And Europe is trying to figure out whether it needs to grow up fast in a world where Washington might not always hold the umbrella.  We start with the upcoming Geneva negotiations between Russia, Ukraine, and the United States. The Kremlin has made it clear that “main issues” include territory, meaning Donbas and potentially more. Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky is leading the delegation, joined by GRU chief Igor Kostyukov. That alone tells you this is not just a symbolic diplomatic photo op. At the same time, Moscow is reviving its claim that Ukraine needs UN supervised elections to produce a “legitimate” government. Yes, that’s back.  President Volodymyr Zelensky is pushing hard for long term security guarantees, saying Ukraine needs at least 20 years of protection before signing any deal. The United States has floated 15. Meanwhile, EU leaders at the Munich Security Conference signaled support for Ukraine but stopped short of committing to a concrete EU accession date. NATO announced new funding for weapons purchases. European leaders talked about defense autonomy and even nuclear deterrence discussions. The geopolitical chessboard is very much in motion.  On the battlefield, Russia continues its grinding advances in eastern Ukraine while Ukrainian forces launch tactical counterattacks in Zaporizhia. Ukrainian drones struck the Taman oil terminal in Russia’s Krasnodar region. Russian officials say over 100 Ukrainian drones were intercepted in a single afternoon. The air war is relentless, with more than 1,300 drones and over 1,200 glide bombs reportedly launched by Russia in just one week.  We also dig into the spike in Ukrainian civilian casualties in 2025, the continued targeting of energy infrastructure, and Ukraine’s efforts to relocate key weapons production after missile strikes.  Beyond the front lines, we examine reports that former Wagner recruiters are now tied to sabotage networks in Europe. Hybrid warfare is alive and well. And inside Ukraine, a former energy minister has been detained in a massive corruption investigation tied to the nuclear energy sector.  If you follow geopolitics, international security, NATO strategy, Russian military operations, or the future of Europe’s defense posture, this episode is for you. We connect the dots between diplomacy, battlefield dynamics, sanctions pressure, and internal political strain in both Kyiv and Moscow.  This is not just about territory. It is about sequencing, leverage, and who gets to shape the postwar order in Europe.  Subscribe, share, and stay sharp.  👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcast https://www.restrictedhandling.com/    Get the daily intelligence brief Ryan and Glenn read covering Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, the Middle East, geopolitics, sanctions, military and intel operations. Save a few hours of your time getting ahead of the news cycle at restrictedhandling.com.

    8 min

  6. 3D AGO

    What's Coming Up Next Week in the World: 2026.02.15 to 2026.02.21

    👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcast https://www.restrictedhandling.com/ In this episode of The Restricted Handling Podcast, we break down the week of February 15th through February 21st, 2026 with a sharp, no-hype, calendar-driven look at the events that could shape the geopolitical landscape. This isn’t prediction. It’s orientation. We walk through the scheduled meetings, economic releases, diplomatic sessions, and political milestones that matter — from Ukraine and Russia to China, North Korea, the European Union, and the Middle East. The week kicks off with the close of the Munich Security Conference, where defense ministers and global leaders cluster to debate Ukraine, European rearmament, and Middle East instability. If you want to understand where NATO cohesion stands — and how serious Europe is about long-term deterrence — this is ground zero. From there, we head into Brussels, where Eurogroup and ECOFIN finance ministers meet to discuss sanctions enforcement, defense financing, and the economic impact of Russia’s war in Ukraine. Behind every headline about tanks and drones is a spreadsheet — and this week, those spreadsheets are front and center. Meanwhile, North Korea marks a major regime anniversary, always a moment worth watching for symbolism, messaging, and possible military signaling. Pyongyang understands political theater — and it knows when the cameras are rolling. We also cover reporting on a potential new round of U.S.-brokered talks involving Ukraine and Russia, and what it would actually mean if Moscow shows up. In geopolitics, attendance is strategy. Midweek, the Federal Reserve releases minutes that could influence global liquidity, energy pricing, and sanctions pressure dynamics. Later in the week, China’s central bank publishes its Loan Prime Rate, a key signal for Chinese growth and global commodity demand — with ripple effects from Moscow to the Gulf. Thursday brings a heavy diplomatic calendar at the UN Security Council, including Middle East and Sudan briefings — and in Washington, a scheduled leaders’ meeting on Gaza reconstruction that could shape post-conflict governance discussions. We close by looking ahead to positioning around the February 24th anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine — a date that carries symbolic and strategic weight. If you follow geopolitics, international security, NATO policy, Russia-Ukraine war developments, China’s economic signals, Middle East diplomacy, or global power competition — this is your weekly situational awareness brief. 👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcast https://www.restrictedhandling.com/ Get the daily intelligence brief Ryan and Glenn read covering Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, the Middle East, geopolitics, sanctions, military and intel operations. Save a few hours of your time getting ahead of the news cycle at restrictedhandling.com."

    5 min

  7. 4D AGO

    RH 2.14.26 | Saturday Spy Stories Deep Dive

    A weekly deep dive into the latest spy stories and intelligence updates from across the globe. We spotlight the hidden dynamics driving security crises, geopolitical maneuvering, and covert operations—all with a sharp, unvarnished perspective. From cyber threats to clandestine influence campaigns, this episode pulls together the week’s most critical developments, cutting through the noise and spin. Join us as we uncover the storylines shaping tomorrow’s conflicts, power plays, and intelligence battles.

    11 min

  8. 5D AGO

    RH 2.13.26 | China: PLA Purges, Taiwan Pressure, Arctic Moves, Cyber Forward Deployment

    👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcast  https://www.restrictedhandling.com/  In this episode of The Restricted Handling Podcast, we break down a packed 24 hours in US–China strategic competition and what it actually means for people tracking geopolitics, defense, and intelligence in real time.  China’s military leadership shakeup is not just internal housekeeping. Xi Jinping publicly addressed what he called an “unusual and extraordinary” year for the PLA following the January removals of senior generals Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli. The Central Military Commission is now effectively compressed around Xi himself. We explain why that matters, what “political rectification” really signals, and how the CIA’s new Mandarin-language recruitment video targeting Chinese military officers fits into the picture.  On Taiwan, the pressure is building from both sides. A bipartisan group of US lawmakers is now urging Taiwan’s parliament to pass President Lai Ching-te’s proposed 40 billion dollar defense expansion. We unpack the political friction inside Taipei, the implications for US arms deliveries, and how this connects to recent PLA exercises including Justice Mission 2025. If you are tracking deterrence credibility in the Taiwan Strait, this is required listening.  We also cover China’s forward deployment of a PLA Cyberspace Force unit on Fiery Cross Reef in the South China Sea. Yes, cyber forces physically positioned on an artificial island in contested waters. This is about cross-domain military integration, not just servers and software.  Beyond the Indo-Pacific, we examine China’s expanding Arctic footprint. The Xuelong 2 icebreaker completed a major expedition and a Chinese container ship transited the Northern Sea Route in just 20 days. Nordic intelligence services are watching closely as China deepens cooperation with Russia in the high north.  Cyber and espionage stories round out the episode. A Greek Air Force colonel has been arrested for allegedly leaking NATO plans to Chinese handlers. Singapore disclosed a China-linked telecom intrusion affecting all major operators. A former Google engineer was convicted in the US for stealing advanced AI trade secrets tied to TPU and GPU infrastructure. And a video appearing to show part of a DF-31A intercontinental ballistic missile surfaced in Inner Mongolia, adding another data point to China’s growing nuclear arsenal.  If you care about US national security, China strategy, Taiwan defense policy, Arctic geopolitics, cyber warfare, AI competition, or nuclear modernization, this episode connects the dots without putting you to sleep.  👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcast  https://www.restrictedhandling.com/  Get the daily intelligence brief Ryan and Glenn read covering Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, the Middle East, geopolitics, sanctions, military and intel operations. Save a few hours of your time getting ahead of the news cycle at restrictedhandling.com.

    8 min
See All (440)

5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

Former CIA officers talk Russia, China, Iran, North Korea >> international security, geopolitics, military & intel operations, economic power plays. Including daily news drops beyond the headlines (human analysis leveraging AI). It's RH. restrictedhandling.substack.com

Information

You Might Also Like