In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin:
Israel raises readiness across its military, operating under the assumption that Iran may strike. Air forces, missile defenses, and civilian protection systems are placed on heightened alert as Israeli planners prepare for multiple scenarios, including missile and drone attacks.
China ramps up cover ... Show More
Jan 24
PDB Situation Report | January 24th, 2026: Is Cuba the Next Venezuela? & Xi’s Mass Crackdown
In this episode of The PDB Situation Report: First up—new reporting says the White House is actively seeking to topple Cuba’s Communist government, betting that pressure campaigns, quiet backchannels, and lessons learned from Venezuela could finally crack Havana’s grip on power. ... Show More
59m 51s
Jan 23
PDB Afternoon Bulletin | January 23rd, 2026: Trump Delivers Major Warning To Iran & Putin Talks Peace While Pressing Maximalist Demands
In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: First—In his latest warning to the mullahs, President Trump says the U.S. has an “armada” heading toward Iran — as the death toll from the regime’s crackdown tops 5,000. So, what exactly is being deployed, and how close is Washington ... Show More
15m 36s
Oct 17
Bolton charged, Zelenskiy, Putin and Russian oil
John Bolton, President Donald Trump’s former national security adviser, is charged with sharing classified information. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy heads to the White House as Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin make plans to meet in Hungary. The admiral who le ... Show More
9m 51s
Sep 2025
In Brief: Is Trump Driving Modi Closer to Xi & Putin?
In this episode of One Decision In Brief, hosts Christina Ruffini and Sir Richard Dearlove, former head of Britain's MI6, unpack how the latest strike on Ukraine indicates Vladimir Putin's resistance to President Donald Trump's peace negotiations. They also examine how the Shangh ... Show More
16 m
Mar 2025
Signal scandal: The US and its shifting alliances
<p>This week, Mark Leonard joins forces with Jeremy Shapiro, ECFR’s director of research and US programme director, to unpick two momentous geopolitical disruptions. First, a stunning scandal emerged from a Signal group chat, where senior US officials—including the vice president ... Show More
14m 21s
Aug 2025
What Hangs in the Balance of Trump's Meeting With Putin
<p>Today, President Trump and the Russian president, Vladimir V. Putin, are meeting on U.S. soil for the first time, to discuss an end to the war in Ukraine.</p><p>David E. Sanger, the White House and national security correspondent for The New York Times, discusses the wide rang ... Show More
27m 3s