Tough decisions rattle us all to the core. But for our guests on One Decision— the choices they are up against can also shape history. No pressure! They take us through all of their doubts, emotions and—sometimes unexpected--consequences.
A fresh take on foreign policy.
Hear the former head of Mi6, Sir Richard Dearlove alongside international journalists as they analyse, interview, and discuss.
In this week's episode, hosts Christina Ruffini and Sir Richard Dearlove, former head of Britain's MI6, sit down with Kajsa Ollongren, the former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the Netherlands. They discuss how the European Union is approaching security and defense policy in the era of Donald Trump and what the American president's style says about global diplomacy. They also discuss what to expect from NATO's June summit in The Hague and the ramifications of the erosion of the...
In this week’s One Decision In Brief, hosts Kate McCann and Sir Richard Dearlove, former head of Britain’s MI6, sit down to discuss President Donald Trump’s diplomatic style in recent meetings with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and how world leaders should prepare for an Oval Office visit with the American president. They also discuss the state of Russia’s economy and ending the Ukraine war. Plus, Sir Richard reflects on the unique gifts given...
In this week's episode, hosts Kate McCann and Sir Richard Dearlove, former head of Britain's MI6, sit down with Sir Ben Wallace, one of the longest-serving Conservative defence secretaries in the United Kingdom since Sir Winston Churchill. They discuss President Donald Trump's role in global politics, whether his style has changed diplomacy, and Britain's trade deal with America. They also explore the United Kingdom and the European Union's defence needs, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and wha...
In this week's 'One Decision in Brief' episode, hosts Christina Ruffini and Sir Richard Dearlove, former head of Britain's MI6, catch up on President Donald Trump's whirlwind tour of the Middle East, including his decision to not visit Israel, the business deals he closed in Saudi Arabia, lifting the nearly 50 year-old sanctions in Syria and meeting the nation's interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa. Could this kind of diplomacy prove fruitful for the Middle East and the United States? Plus, the ho...
In this week's episode, hosts Christina Ruffini and Leon Panetta, former US Secretary of Defense and CIA Director, sit down with former U.S Ambassador to China, Nicholas Burns. They discuss the recent 90-day tariff deal, share insights on negotiating with Xi Jinping and Chinese officials, and discuss the state of US global soft power. They also unpack the security challenges related to President Donald Trump's acceptance of a gifted Qatari jet and reveal what it's like to travel on Air Force One...
In this week's One Decision In Brief, hosts Kate McCann and Sir Richard Dearlove, former head of Britain's MI6, sit down to discuss the latest in foreign policy including President Donald Trump's recent 90-day tariff pause with China - will the start of negotiations bring a lasting deal? Also, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposes to meet directly with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for peace talks, and why Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, used a Russian interpreter in the Kremlin. Plus...
In this week's episode, Christina Ruffini and co-host Sir Richard Dearlove, former head of MI6, sit down with Republican Congressman Mike Lawler, whose strong bipartisan stance on foreign policy includes supporting Ukraine and ending Iran's nuclear program. He shares his thoughts on India's airstrikes against Pakistan, the recent elections in Romania and Moldova, where a growing wave of right-wing nationalism has created a fraught political response. Lawler also argues that the United States sho...
In this bonus episode, Christina Ruffini sits down with co-host Sir Richard Dearlove, former head of Britain's MI6, to discuss how President Donald Trump's second term in office has created a global response seen in elections worldwide. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's recent election victory will extend his tenure as his platform works against growing right-wing populism. Meanwhile, victories in recent Romanian and UK council elections have proven an interest in nationalist, right-w...
In this week's episode, Sir Richard Dearlove, former head of Britain's MI6 sits down with former US Ambassador William B. Taylor Jr, who served twice as a diplomatic official in Ukraine. They detail the logistics of making a Ukraine ceasefire happen and what it means for Russian President Vladimir Putin's grip on power. They also explore how Putin's legacy could be affected by a ceasefire and reflect on the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon, Vietnam amid tariffs and growing economic tension...
In this bonus episode, One Decision's Kate McCann and Sir Richard Dearlove, former head of Britain's MI6, discuss the latest news of a potential ceasefire in Ukraine. Plus, Sir Richard shares his predictions for the UK's local elections including how the leading Reform party could influence British foreign policy. Be sure to check out the feed this Thursday for the regularly scheduled episode. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Original music composed and produced by Leo Sidran.
This week, Christina Ruffini and former MI6 Chief Sir Richard Dearlove unpack the proposed Iran nuclear deal discussed in Rome, following Trump’s exit from the JCPOA. They also reflect on Pope Francis’s recent death and the Catholic Church’s ties to intelligence agencies. Later, Rep. Tim Burchett joins to weigh in on the strategic importance of U.S.-Greenland trade, his views on Putin, and U.S. aid to Ukraine. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Original music composed and produced by Le...
How should the UK engage with China? In this week’s episode, journalist Kate McCann and co-host Sir Richard Dearlove, former head of Britain’s MI6, sit down with Sir Grant Shapps, former Defence Secretary for the United Kingdom. During his tenure, Shapps was an advocate for building European defense in the wake of the war in Ukraine. He gives insight into what it was like to work with China and explains why the United Kingdom should engage financially and commercially with the nation. He also sh...
How Should Donald Trump Approach Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Ukraine Plans? And could the American president’s tariffs impact military strategy? In this week’s episode, Christina Ruffini and co-host Sir Richard Dearlove, former head of Britain's MI6, are joined by retired four-star United States General Philip Breedlove who served as NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander in Europe from 2013-2016, during the time of Russia’s annexation of Crimea. Breedlove’s career has been influential in shapin...
"Watching people lie is very compelling," says Academy-Award winning filmmaker Steven Soderbergh when discussing his new spy thriller, Black Bag. Soderbergh joins One Decision hosts Kate McCann and resident spymaster Sir Richard Dearlove, the former head of Britain’s MI6, to talk about the film. They also discuss the reality of being a spy, why integrity and trust are key elements of espionage, and the possibility of Soderbergh directing a James Bond film. Plus, they also explore the role of int...
In this week’s episode of One Decision, host Christina Ruffini and co-host Sir Richard Dearlove, former head of Britain’s MI6, break down how a group of cabinet members from the Trump administration inadvertently revealed classified national security information to a magazine editor. The information, detailing a military attack on Houthis in Yemen, was shared in a group chat on the messaging app, Signal. Later, former U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor, Jon Finer, joins the podcast to discuss...
What is it like to meet with Russian leaders in Moscow? Will President Trump's phone call with President Vladimir Putin help end the war? And why is AI now the hottest tool in cybersecurity? In this week’s episode, Christina Ruffini catches up with co-host and former head of Britain’s MI6, Sir Richard Dearlove, to unpack the global implications of President Donald Trump’s phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this week. Sir Richard shares exclusive insight into his meetings in...
In this week’s episode, correspondent Christina Ruffini and co-host former Secretary of Defense and CIA Director Leon Panetta sit down with former United States Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Barbara Leaf, who was also previously Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Arabian Peninsula in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Iraq. They discuss Leaf’s role in the ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, President Donald Trump’s plans for Gaza...
This episode features a discussion with former CIA Director Leon Panetta on President Trump's address to Congress, his meeting with Ukraine's President Zelensky, and the implications of halting aid to Ukraine. Panetta expresses concern over the shift in U.S. foreign policy, particularly regarding Ukraine and NATO, and criticizes the administration's approach to trade and budget matters. The episode further explores the potential consequences of these decisions on U.S. credibility and global stability.
Trois ans après le début de la guerre en Ukraine, l’équilibre mondial continue de se redessiner. L’Europe se trouve à la croisée des chemins : comment affirmer son indépendance stratégique face à une Amérique en mutation et aux menaces d’intimidations commerciales ? L’idée d’une défense européenne autonome peut-elle enfin se concrétiser ? Cette semaine, nous recevons Thierry Breton, ancien Commissaire européen au marché intérieur et ancien ministre de l’Économie. Il nous livre son analyse sur le...
In this episode of One Decision, host Christina Ruffini sits down with United States Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a New Hampshire Democrat and ranking member of the Foreign Relations Committee. Shaheen recently visited Kyiv, Ukraine, and shared her experience speaking with Ukrainian citizens in the small town of Bucha. She also reacted to the prospective mineral rights deal that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has agreed to with the United States, whether she thinks America is perceived as a r...
Sir Richard Dearlove, the former head of Britain’s MI6, sits down with Roderich Kiesewetter, a current member of the German Bundestag, to discuss what to expect during this weekend’s pivotal German polls. Immigration, foreign policy, and the economy are among the biggest concerns for voters. A rise in support recently for the far-right AfD party has alarmed some observers. Meanwhile, the center-right Christian Democratic Party is hopeful they will hold on to power. Sir Richard and Kiesewetter al...
In this week’s episode of One Decision, host Christina Ruffini wraps up her coverage of the 2025 Munich Security Conference with three separate interviews with European leaders. Petr Pavel, President of the Czech Republic, sits down to unpack US President Donald Trump’s latest rhetoric on the war in Ukraine and why Europe should step up in defense of Ukraine. Then, Salome Zourabichvili, President of Georgia, explains why Russian election interference has triggered a political crisis in the natio...
In this special episode, One Decision’s host Christina Ruffini takes us behind the scenes at the 2025 Munich Security Conference where she sits down with Canadian leaders to discuss the how the United States’ recent tariff threats are shaping the relationship between the two countries, and the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO. She speaks with Canadian Foreign Minister, Mélanie Joly, to unpack US Vice President JD Vance’s remarks at the conference and Canada’s important relationship with the N...
Live from Munich—One Decision teamed up with German broadcaster Deutsche Welle for a live podcast official side event at the 2025 Munich Security Conference. Hosts Christina Ruffini and DW chief political correspondent Nina Haase lead a panel of global women leaders, including Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže, former Icelandic Foreign Minister Þórdís Kolbrún R. Gylfadóttir, and former Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Kajsa Ollongren. This episode is an edited version of the live pan...
This week on One Decision, host Christina Ruffini previews the 2025 Munich Security Conference with Deutsche Welle’s chief political correspondent Nina Haase, who is also the host of DW’s Berlin Briefing podcast. Together they share insights into what to expect from the conference, including the highly anticipated appearance of United States Vice President JD Vance and his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and how European countries are facing a second Trump administration. St...
In this week’s episode of One Decision, host Christina Ruffini and resident spymaster, Sir Richard Dearlove, former head of Britain’s MI6, discuss Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent visit to the White House and President Donald Trump’s latest plans for Gaza and the Middle East. Later in the episode, the hosts are joined by Nick Warner, former Director-General of Australia’s Office of National Intelligence (ONI) to discuss the emerging presence of the Australian intelligence commu...
In this week’s episode of One Decision, host Christina Ruffini and resident spymaster, Sir Richard Dearlove, former head of MI6, are joined by Juan Carlos Pinzón, a former Defense Minister of Colombia and two-time Ambassador to the United States to unpack the recent developments in Colombia as President Trump’s tariff threats compelled the nation's president Gustavo Petro to give into deportation efforts. They also discuss the growing role of China in Latin America, the drug crisis affecting the...
In today’s episode of One Decision, host Christina Ruffini and resident spymaster Sir Richard Dearlove, former head of Britain’s MI6, are joined by former United Kingdom security minister and Conservative Member of Parliament Tom Tugendhat to discuss what President Donald Trump’s second administration could mean for the future of US-UK relations. They also discuss how Trump’s foreign policy could shape the future of the war in Ukraine and what lies ahead for the Chagos Islands, a British archipe...
In this week’s episode of One Decision, host Christina Ruffini and resident spymaster Sir Richard Dearlove, former head of Britain’s MI6, sit down with former Israeli Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami who was a key figure in the Camp David Summit of 2000. They discuss why a potential peace negotiation between Israel and Hamas has taken so long, what could lie ahead for Gaza, and how the landscape of Middle Eastern politics could change in the wake of a new Trump administration. Plus, Christina and...
In this week's episode of One Decision, host Christina Ruffini speaks with Democratic United States Senator Chris Van Hollen, a member of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee. They spoke from his office in Washington D.C. about various foreign policy challenges, including the war in Ukraine, the future of Syria and other countries affected by the Arab Spring, and the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict. Van Hollen says President Biden hasn’t leveraged American influence effectively regarding...
