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PODCAST

NatSec Matters

Beacon Global Strategies LLC

Formerly known as Intelligence Matters, the NatSec Matters podcast features former senior national security officials Michael Allen, Jeremy Bash, and Andrew Shapiro as they interview top leaders in national security, including intelligence officers, military leaders, and policymakers, on the most critical security challenges of our time. Their interviews offer insights into the world"s most pressing problems and assess the effectiveness of U.S. policy responses. They also explore the biographies and

government

All Episodes

55:06

The Deal-Maker's Dilemma: Richard Nephew

NatSec Matters ·

2026/04/16

Former NSC Director for Iran Richard Nephew returns to NatSec Matters to discuss the tactical and economic shifts in the Mideast conflict. Richard, a senior research scholar at Columbia University's Center on Global Energy Policy, gives Michael a candid assessment of the military campaign so far, highlighting the sophistication of allied coordination while questioning whether U.S. tactics are translating into long-term strategic success. Richard also discusses the outlook for the current ceasefire

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38:39

The New Status Quo in the Strait of Hormuz: Roger...

NatSec Matters ·

2026/04/14

Michael is joined by Roger Zakheim, Washington Director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation, and Rich Goldberg, Senior Advisor at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, to discuss the high-stakes blockade of Iranian ports by the US Navy. Following a busy weekend in Islamabad that failed to yield a long-term resolution to the Mideast conflict, the trio gathered Monday to analyze the shift from kinetic strikes to a total maritime strangulation of the Iranian economy and what it means for

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47:46

President Trump's Latest Ultimatum to Iran: Adm....

NatSec Matters ·

2026/04/06

Michael sits down with Admiral (Ret.) Chris Grady, former Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to break down the tactical evolution of the Iran conflict following President Trump's recent address to the nation. Admiral Grady provides an insider's perspective on the new deadline the President has announced for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face devastating new strikes. He also explains the strategic calculus behind targeting Iran's energy infrastructure and deeply buried "missile

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27:27

Emergency Podcast - Decoding the President's Iran...

NatSec Matters ·

2026/04/02

In this special episode, Michael discusses President Trump's primetime address to the nation on the Iran war with Matt Kroenig, Vice President for Geostrategy at the Atlantic Council. Matt offers his reaction to the President's forward-looking timeline and the administration's strategic claim that the conflict's final objectives are now within sight. He also assesses the likelihood of a ground invasion and how Iran might utilize "denial" attacks to fight back. Finally, Matt weighs in on shifting

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42:44

Ukraine's Persistence, Baltic 'Gray Zone' Attacks &...

NatSec Matters ·

2026/04/01

Michael speaks with Rear Admiral (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, following his recent trip to Ukraine. Admiral Montgomery explores the warfare strategies currently defining the conflict, as well as the evolving "gray zone" tactics Russia is employing against the Baltics. He also identifies critical weak spots in the Russian military machine, from logistical vulnerabilities to strategic anxieties, and provides a sobering assessment of the "ground

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45:42

Off-Ramp or Escalator - The Iranian Regime's Final...

NatSec Matters ·

2026/03/25

Michael speaks with Dr. Seth Jones, president of CSIS's Defense and Security Department, to analyze a critical moment in the Iran conflict: are we headed for a diplomatic off-ramp or a rapid escalation toward regime change? Dr. Jones assesses the degradation of Iran's naval and drone capabilities and explains why the current campaign has successfully reset the regional balance of power. However, he also explores the "buying time" strategy of Iranian diplomacy and the increasing pressure from Gulf

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48:57

Israel's Strategic Reset: Yaakov Katz

NatSec Matters ·

2026/03/20

Michael speaks with Yaakov Katz, former editor-in-chief of the Jerusalem Post and author of "While Israel Slept", about the profound shift in the Israeli perspective as the focus of the war moves from regional proxies to a direct conflict with Iran. Yaakov explains why a majority of Israelis now support this military campaign, viewing it as a "unique historical opportunity" to dismantle the source of regional instability. He also examines the influence of President Trump on Israel's strategic

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53:36

The Hormuz Pressure Cooker and Oil Price Roulette:...

NatSec Matters ·

2026/03/18

In this special episode, Michael zeroes in on the potential for a collapse in global energy security amid the U.S.-Israel war with Iran. First, he speaks with Clay Seigle, a senior energy security fellow at CSIS, about the economic impact of the dangerous choke point at the Straits of Hormuz, where a paralyzed trade is threatening to send global oil prices soaring. Clay also analyzes the strategic implications of U.S. strikes on military infrastructure at Iran's key oil depot on Kharg Island. Then,

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50:58

Searching for Cracks in Iran's Core: Michael Doran

NatSec Matters ·

2026/03/12

Michael speaks with Michael Doran, Director of the Hudson Institute's Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East and a former senior director in the National Security Council, about the outlook for U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran. Mr. Doran explains the internal power dynamics within the Iranian regime and why they matter to potential negotiations to de-escalate or end the conflict. He also explores the likely diverging interests of Israeli and American leaders, why understanding the influence of

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54:28

The CENTCOM Playbook for Iran?: Gen. Joseph Votel

NatSec Matters ·

2026/03/11

Michael discusses the rapidly developing conflict in the Middle East with General Joseph Votel, former commander of CENTCOM and U.S. Special Operations Command. General Votel analyzes the strategic implications of Iran blocking the Strait of Hormuz and the challenges of a potential special operations raid to recover highly enriched uranium in the country. He also examines the shifting power dynamics within the Iranian regime, including how the new Supreme Leader's lack of religious credentials may

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40:49

Chaos & Control in Iran: Amb. Jeffrey Feltman

NatSec Matters ·

2026/03/10

Michael Allen discusses Iran's new Supreme Leader with Jeffrey Feltman, a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution and former UN Under-Secretary-General. Feltman examines the sudden rise of Mojtaba Khamenei following the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, and discusses the regime's internal cohesion despite widespread domestic opposition. He also explains Israeli military targeting strategies, the risk of a "race for the bomb," and the potential for significant regional escalation.

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54:42

Exclusive - The Iranian End Game: Richard Nephew

NatSec Matters ·

2026/03/04

In an exclusive conversation, Michael talks to former National Security Council Director for Iran Richard Nephew about the joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran and the regime's response. Richard, a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, explores how a collapse of the Islamic Republic could unfold and the last-ditch retaliation measures the regime could take against its Middle East neighbors and U.S. forces in the region. He also evaluates leadership succession possibilities and

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37:16

Special Episode - The Battle for the Middle East:...

NatSec Matters ·

2026/03/02

Michael joins Rear Admiral (Ret.) Mark Montgomery of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies to discuss the U.S.-Israel combined attacks on Iran. RADM Montgomery, an expert in U.S. national security, explores the potential for Iranian regime change, regional security impacts, and Iran's strategic vulnerabilities. He also breaks down the massive air power currently assembled in the region and the likelihood of an expanded Iranian retaliation campaign.

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46:21

Eliminating 'El Mencho' & Re-Engineering the...

NatSec Matters ·

2026/02/26

Michael speaks with Dr. Ryan Berg, Director of the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, about the violent fallout from the Mexican army's deadly operation against drug kingpin "El Mencho." Ryan analyzes what's at stake for the U.S. as narco-barricades and violence force Americans to shelter in place, and explains how the U.S.-Mexico relationship is shifting as the White House turns up the heat on cartels. They also discuss the lingering fragility of the Cuban

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45:27

Red Sea Rivalries - The Proxy War for Sudan and the...

NatSec Matters ·

2026/02/18

Michael speaks with Josh Meservey, a Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute and one of the nation's leading experts on African geopolitics and counterterrorism. Josh discusses the high-stakes Sudanese Civil War, its ripple effects across the Red Sea into the Middle East, and why the US has a stake in the region's stability, trade, and security. Josh also explains the Great Power competition unfolding in Africa as China works to escalate its influence.

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48:02

The Lurking Escalation with Iran & the Future of the...

NatSec Matters ·

2026/02/11

Michael speaks with the former Chief of the IDF Intelligence Directorate Maj. Gen. (res.) Tamir Hayman about the increasing likelihood of military action against Iran's missile program. Gen. Hayman—who serves as Executive Director of the Tel Aviv-based Institute for National Security Studies (INSS)—analyzes the complex regional "reshuffle," explaining how Saudi Arabia is recalibrating its position through a rapprochement with Iran while distancing itself from the UAE and Israel. Gen. Hayman also

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41:56

US-Iran Summit - Taming Mideast Volatility: Gregory Brew

NatSec Matters ·

2026/02/04

Michael speaks with Gregory Brew, Senior Analyst at the Eurasia Group and country analyst for Iran, about the high-stakes decision facing the Islamic Republic: "strikes or talks." Greg analyzes the upcoming diplomatic summit in Istanbul, where the U.S. is pushing for "maximalist concessions" regarding Iran's nuclear program, ballistic missile stockpile, and regional proxy networks like Hamas and Hezbollah. Greg also discusses the strategic leverage of the recent U.S. naval buildup in the Middle East

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01:01:32

The Iranian Regime's Long Goodbye: Richard Goldberg

NatSec Matters ·

2026/01/28

Michael speaks with Richard Goldberg, a Senior Advisor at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and former Director for Countering Iranian WMD at the National Security Council. Rich provides a masterclass on the historical and modern context of Iranian protest movements, explaining why the most recent uprising is fundamentally different from previous ones. He breaks down the regime's playbook of violence—including internet blackouts and brute force—while examining the strategic failures of past

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52:18

The Future of the Iranian Regime: Jeffrey Feltman

NatSec Matters ·

2026/01/21

Michael speaks with former Ambassador Jeffrey Feltman about the precarious state of the Islamic Republic of Iran following the latest wave of mass protests there. Jeff analyzes the regime's use of brutality, coercion, and a total internet blackout to quiet the streets, while arguing that survival does not equal success. Jeffrey also discusses the economic catastrophe Iran faces, the strategic ambiguity surrounding the White House's next moves following new sanctions, and the outlook for regional

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41:48

Venezuela After Maduro - U.S. Intervention, Cartels,...

NatSec Matters ·

2026/01/14

Michael Allen speaks with Dr. Ryan Berg, Director of the Americas Program and Head of the Future of Venezuela Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), about the stunning aftermath of the U.S. military intervention in Venezuela. Ryan breaks down the high-stakes Delta Force raid that successfully captured Nicolas Maduro for trial in New York—an operation that lasted only two hours. Dr. Berg also explores the strategic necessity of the U.S. naval presence in the

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138 results

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