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PODCAST

The Restricted Handling Podcast

Restricted Handling

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

news news commentary

All Episodes

00:08:29

RH 2.13.26 | China: PLA Purges, Taiwan Pressure,...

The Restricted Handling Podcast ·

2026/02/13

👉 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

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00:08:27

RH 2.12.26 | China: Xi’s PLA Shakeup, Taiwan Sorties,...

The Restricted Handling Podcast ·

2026/02/12

👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcast https://www.restrictedhandling.com/ In this episode of The Restricted Handling Podcast, we break down a fast moving set of developments that stretch from Beijing’s military command structure to the Taiwan Strait, the South China Sea, the Pacific Islands, Europe, and the AI race. Xi Jinping publicly acknowledged turmoil inside the People’s Liberation Army, describing the past year as “unusual and extraordinary.” That is a carefully chosen phrase. Senior

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00:08:45

RH 2.12.26 | Russia Doubles Down, Missiles Fly,...

The Restricted Handling Podcast ·

2026/02/12

👉 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 intense 24-hour cycles in the Russia-Ukraine war so far in 2026. Moscow hardens its negotiating stance. Missiles and drones hit major Ukrainian cities. Ukraine strikes back inside Russia. And the US makes quiet but significant moves in the South Caucasus that could reshape regional power dynamics. Let’s start with diplomacy. Russian

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00:09:28

RH 2.11.26 | Economic & Sanctions Deep Dive: Russia &...

The Restricted Handling Podcast ·

2026/02/11

Step beyond the headlines and official spin to uncover the deeper realities inside Russia and China’s economies. We take a close look at how Moscow and Beijing project power abroad while grappling with fragile foundations at home, from Russia’s unsustainable wartime spending to China’s faltering growth and anxious workforce. We cut through state narratives to reveal the costs of these economies, costs borne not by leaders, but by ordinary citizens facing higher prices and shrinking opportunities

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00:08:27

RH 2.11.26 | China Purges, Taiwan Pressure, Rare...

The Restricted Handling Podcast ·

2026/02/11

👉 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 global security with a sharp focus on China, Taiwan, Japan, rare earths, and the shifting balance of power in the Indo-Pacific. Xi Jinping publicly acknowledged major military purges inside the People’s Liberation Army, calling the past year “unusual and extraordinary.” Translation: senior generals are out, loyalty is in, and the

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00:08:50

RH 2.11.26 | Russia: Istanbul Terms, Arctic Troops,...

The Restricted Handling Podcast ·

2026/02/11

👉 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 the Russia–Ukraine war that spans diplomacy, cyber pressure, Arctic military posture, sanctions enforcement, and the evolving drone battlefield. On February 10 and 11, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov revived the 2022 Istanbul framework and made it clear Moscow is not backing off its core demands. Neutral Ukraine. No

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00:09:17

RH 2.10.26 | China Tightens the Screws, Taiwan...

The Restricted Handling Podcast ·

2026/02/10

👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcast https://www.restrictedhandling.com/ China is back in the headlines and not in a quiet, subtle way. In this episode of The Restricted Handling Podcast, we break down a fast-moving 24 hours that show how Beijing is tightening control at home while turning up pressure abroad, all at the same time. We start in Europe, where Germany is stepping into an increasingly uncomfortable role as geopolitical air traffic controller. Chancellor Friedrich Merz heads

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00:09:17

RH 2.10.26 | Russia: Blame Games, Shadow Fleets, and...

The Restricted Handling Podcast ·

2026/02/10

👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcast https://www.restrictedhandling.com/ In this episode of The Restricted Handling Podcast, we dig into a week where Russia talked peace out of one side of its mouth while tightening the screws everywhere else. If you are trying to understand where the Ukraine war actually stands right now and why the diplomatic noise does not match the behavior on the ground, this one is for you. We break down Russia’s latest rhetorical offensive against the US, with

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00:08:55

RH 2.9.26 | China Tightens the Screws, Japan Stands...

The Restricted Handling Podcast ·

2026/02/09

👉 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 consequential stretches of geopolitical signaling we’ve seen so far this year, and why it matters a lot more than the headlines might suggest. We start in Hong Kong, where Beijing and local authorities handed pro democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai a 20 year prison sentence. At 78 years old, this wasn’t just a court ruling. It was a

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00:08:02

RH 2.9.26 | Russia, Energy Warfare & a GRU Shot in...

The Restricted Handling Podcast ·

2026/02/09

👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcast https://www.restrictedhandling.com/ In this episode of The Restricted Handling Podcast, we dig into one of those weeks where global politics feels less like chess and more like a high-stakes reality show where everyone knows the cameras are on and still decides to flip the table anyway. The United States is now openly pushing Russia and Ukraine to end the war by June, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is not pretending this is some abstract

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00:05:08

What's Coming Up Next Week in the World: 2026.02.08...

The Restricted Handling Podcast ·

2026/02/08

👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcast https://www.restrictedhandling.com/ What’s coming up next week in the world - In this episode of The Restricted Handling Podcast, we break down the most important geopolitical and international security events scheduled for February 8-14, giving you a clear orientation to the week ahead. This isn’t punditry or prediction. It’s the global calendar, explained by people who actually pay attention to power, timing, and incentives.We walk you through a

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00:13:06

RH 2.7.26 | Saturday Spy Stories Deep Dive

The Restricted Handling Podcast ·

2026/02/07

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

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00:09:55

RH 2.6.26 | China: No Nukes, Arctic Deals, Taiwan...

The Restricted Handling Podcast ·

2026/02/06

👉 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 consequential weeks in global security in years and explain why it matters even if you do not live anywhere near Beijing, Moscow, or Taipei. We start with the end of the New START nuclear arms control treaty and what it actually means now that the last remaining limits on US and Russian nuclear arsenals are gone. No inspections. No

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00:09:02

RH 2.6.26 | Russia: No START, No Breakthrough, No Chill

The Restricted Handling Podcast ·

2026/02/06

👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcast https://www.restrictedhandling.com/ Russia talks peace while firing missiles, nuclear guardrails disappear, and Starlink suddenly becomes a weapon. Yeah, it’s one of those weeks. In this episode of The Restricted Handling Podcast, we break down the latest developments out of Russia and Ukraine as February 2026 kicks off with a mix of stalled diplomacy, escalating pressure, and some very uncomfortable global milestones. The US, Ukraine, and Russia

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00:09:33

RH 2.5.26 | China — Trump–Xi Call, New START Ends,...

The Restricted Handling Podcast ·

2026/02/05

👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcast https://www.restrictedhandling.com/ China says the quiet part out loud and the world takes notes. In this episode of The Restricted Handling Podcast, we break down a packed 24 hours that looked calm on the surface but moved the chessboard underneath. We start with the Trump-Xi phone call that Washington called “very positive” and Beijing treated like a reminder of who sets the boundaries. Trade, soybeans, oil, gas, and an April Beijing visit all get

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00:08:59

RH 2.5.26 | Russia: Winter Strikes, Abu Dhabi Talks,...

The Restricted Handling Podcast ·

2026/02/05

👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcast https://www.restrictedhandling.com/ In this episode of The Restricted Handling Podcast, we break down why Russia showed up to peace talks in Abu Dhabi with one hand on the table and the other firmly on the launch button. As US, Ukrainian, and Russian officials resumed negotiations this week, Moscow paired diplomacy with one of its favorite pressure tools: winter warfare. Missile and drone strikes slammed Ukraine’s energy and heating infrastructure

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00:39:35

Are Manned Aircraft Becoming Obsolete? Drones and...

The Restricted Handling Podcast ·

2026/02/05

👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcasthttps://www.restrictedhandling.com/Get the daily intelligence brief Ryan reads—covering Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, the Middle East, geopolitics, sanctions, military and intel operations. Stay ahead of the news cycle.Drones. Ukraine. China. Deterrence. The Future of War.This episode goes deep on where modern warfare is heading—and why the next 12–24 months matter more than most people realize.In this episode of the Restricted Handling Podcast,

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00:11:38

RH 2.4.26 | Economic & Sanctions Deep Dive: Russia &...

The Restricted Handling Podcast ·

2026/02/04

Step beyond the headlines and official spin to uncover the deeper realities inside Russia and China’s economies. We take a close look at how Moscow and Beijing project power abroad while grappling with fragile foundations at home, from Russia’s unsustainable wartime spending to China’s faltering growth and anxious workforce. We cut through state narratives to reveal the costs of these economies, costs borne not by leaders, but by ordinary citizens facing higher prices and shrinking opportunities

en

00:08:46

RH 2.4.26 | Russia Freezes, Pressures, and Postures

The Restricted Handling Podcast ·

2026/02/04

👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcast https://www.restrictedhandling.com/ Russia turned the volume all the way up just as diplomacy was supposed to kick in. In this episode of The Restricted Handling Podcast, we break down how Moscow shattered the idea of de-escalation with its largest missile and drone strike of 2026, aimed squarely at Ukraine’s energy grid during some of the coldest days of winter. Heat and power were the targets. Timing was the weapon. We walk through what actually

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00:08:52

RH 2.4.26 | China: Xi’s Purge, Taiwan’s Budget Fight,...

The Restricted Handling Podcast ·

2026/02/04

👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcast https://www.restrictedhandling.com/ In this episode of The Restricted Handling Podcast, we dig into a dense but revealing 48-hour stretch that says a lot about where China is heading and why the rest of the world should be paying attention. We start in Beijing, where Xi Jinping’s ongoing purge of the People’s Liberation Army just got real in a way that even seasoned China watchers didn’t fully expect. The removal of General Zhang Youxia and General

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