The Brief

Jeremy Hammond is a respected author, researcher, and analyst known for his in-depth studies on issues such as the Israel-Palestine conflict, U.S. foreign policy, and more. Hammond's work often focuses on dispelling misconceptions and misinformation surrounding controversial geopolitical topics. He is the author of several books, including “Obstacle to Peace: The US Role in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict,” which critically examines the historical and ongoing factors influencing peace efforts in the Middle East. His writings have been published in various esteemed journals and platforms, showcasing his commitment to uncovering overlooked truths in international relations.

Muhammad Shehada joins Jim Clancy as they dive deep into the desolate landscape of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Gaza. They explore the implications of the White House meeting between Netanyahu and Trump, evidence of genocidal intentions, and the sheer devastation in Gaza. Shehada shares personal anecdotes, shedding light on the plight of Gazans and the desperate calls for aid and reform. The conversation covers international politics, the enduring spirit among Palestinians, and highlights voices within the Jewish diaspora advocating for change. A compelling discourse on the struggle and resilience of the Palestinian people.

Jim Clancy is joined by Kenneth Roth, a luminary in human rights advocacy, to dissect the seismic shifts observed in U.S. foreign policy under the Trump administration and its wider implications for global human rights issues. The discussion unveils complex political dynamics around U.S. relationships with countries like Ukraine, Israel, and China, while highlighting potential threats posed by changes in policy. The episode is not just an examination of geopolitical concerns but a political and moral exploration of progressive international law being undermined. Through Roth's lens, an expert viewpoint on the U.S. turning a blind eye to ethical international governance comes to light.

Jim Clancy and Nick Kristof explore the complexities of global and domestic politics in this enlightening conversation. Kristof highlights positive global trends despite overwhelming negativity while also discussing the challenges posed by Trump’s presidency, including political violence, immigration policies, and economic implications. They delve into international relations, examining the US’s positions on China, Ukraine, and the Middle East, and critique the impact of US actions in Gaza. This episode offers a nuanced analysis of current geopolitical dynamics and their implications for the future.

In this episode of The Brief, host Jim Clancy engages in a compelling dialogue with Reza Aslan, focusing on Aslan’s new children’s book about the Israel-Palestine conflict. Aslan’s book aims to navigate the complexities of this ongoing conflict in a manner relatable to children aged five to twelve, encouraging a dialogue between young readers and their parents. The conversation touches on the need for addressing global issues such as war and trauma, and the pivotal role empathy plays in understanding multiple narratives.

Discern This takes a look at the progressive movement in the United States with a focus on the Poor People’s Campaign founded by Reverend William Barber. This modern analogue to the social movement founded by Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1960s, echoes its predecessor’s conviction that society needs to confront the interlocking and mutually reinforcing injustices of poverty, racism, militarism, and adds climate change to the list. Author and progressive activist Phyllis Bennis explains how the PPC functions as fusion movement with interconnected objectives. Using clips from some of Reverend Barber’s powerful and emotive speeches, Discern This discusses the intellectual underpinnings and practical goals of the Poor People’s Campaign. Phyllis Bennis, who is a research partner to the campaign, gives context to the speeches and lays out Reverend Barber’s view of military spending and intersectionality. In her conversation with host Lonzo Cook, she emphasizes the importance of mobilization to achieve progressive goals.The conversation explores progressive landscape beyond the Poor People’s Campaign, with Lonzo Cook asking Phyllis if the American left has been undermined by its fissiparous tendency to split into narrow interest groups. In the final section, Phyllis Bennis details her engagement with local media outlets across the country and how that meshes with her focus on affecting change in local politics. Phyllis Bennis is an author and progressive activist. She is the Director of the New Internationalism Project at the Institute of Policy Studies in Washington DC.

Discern This delves into America’s changing role in the world with veteran journalist and political commentator David Andelman, whose career includes stints as New York Times bureau chief in Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe. How does the United States self-perception mesh with the views of it around the world and is it still “the shining city on the hill”? David Andelman brings into focus the shifting status of the US, as viewed from abroad, a topic he covers as a CNN columnist and in his own substack Andelman Unleashed.. He highlights a fascinating finding from a recent international survey which placed Canada and its constitution as the leading example to emulate, according to respondents in countries considering their own constitutional revisions.Drawing on his perspective gained from reporting from 86 countries over his career, David Andelman sketches the major fault lines in world affairs. He identifies the possibility of fighting a two front war- in Ukraine and over Taiwan- as the greatest threat facing the United States. Andelman explains why the Baltic states and Poland have had a more realistic and accurate appraisal of Russian intentions and how the France and Germany fell victim to wishful thinking in their policy with Moscow. He highlights the attritional nature of the war in Ukraine and posits the negative feedback loop of Russian casualties could have on the Kremlin. He adds that some of the overlooked disruptions caused by the Russian invasion, include overtures between former Soviet republics in central Asia and the United States.Andelman endorses Henry Kissinger’s dictum that strong domestic support is required of the conduct of a successful foreign policy- that international events are too often refracted through the prism of national politics. He chides the US media for inconsistently explaining the relevance and impact of international events to its domestic audience. For him one of the weaknesses of the American political system is that Americans are not being educated about the linkage between America’s global position and America’s prosperity.David Andelman is a journalist, author and political commentator. His career includes stints as New York Times bureau chief in Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe. David was also a Paris based correspondent for CBS News. He is currently an opinion columnist for CNN on international affairs and writes regularly for his own substack: Andelman Unleashed.

How do US intelligence agencies view and prioritize the panoply of threats facing the country? Suzanne Kelly shares insights from her extensive knowledge and contacts built up over her career as an intelligence correspondent at CNN and as the founder and CEO of the Cipher Brief- a leading publication focused on national security. In conversation with her former CNN colleague Lonzo Cook, Suzanne dissects the long term, multipronged challenges presented by China, ranging from industrial espionage and squabbles over access to advanced computer chips to a burgeoning rivalry in space-based platforms. Suzanne highlights America is developing its offensive and defensive cyber capabilities and explains how US intelligence agencies responded to high profile hacks such as Solar Winds. We also discuss what Hollywood get right and wrong about the working of US intelligence agencies in films like Zero Dark Thirty. While the US intelligence community has long resembled an old boys club to the outside world, Suzanne explains that women have long held important positions behind the scenes and are increasingly in senior leadership positions. Noting that women within intelligence agencies are now playing a more public role we go on to discuss how a diversity of viewpoints leads to better intelligence analysis and decision making.Suzanne Kelly is the founder, CEO and publisher of The Cipher Brief, a national security focused media organization. She's also a former CNN intelligence correspondent and executive producer.