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.
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In this episode of One Decision In Brief, hosts Kate McCann and Sir Richard Dearlove, former head of Britain's MI6, break down the recent meeting in Washington D.C. between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. They assess the ramifications of Trump pulling back from his original stance on supplying Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles, the reaction from European leaders, and what all of this means for Ukraine. Plus, they discuss the prospective summit in Budapest, Hungary...
In this week’s episode One Decision, hosts Christina Ruffini and former MI6 Chief Sir Richard Dearlove sit down with former Los Angeles Mayor and U.S. Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti. Garcetti reflects on his tenure in New Delhi—what he calls America’s “most complex and consequential” diplomatic post—and how the U.S.–India relationship has evolved through conflict, trade wars, and global realignments. From navigating the Trump administration’s tariffs and sanctions to confronting a “murder-for...
Kate McCann and Sir Richard Dearlove analyze Donald Trump's Middle East peace deal, discussing the release of hostages and prisoners, and the significant hurdles ahead, including Hamas disarmament and Gaza's reconstruction. They examine Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's challenging domestic political situation and the vital role Arab states must play in securing peace and preventing the rise of new extremist movements, alongside the potential for shifts in Iran's political landscape and international power dynamics.
In this week’s episode of One Decision, hosts Christina Ruffini and former MI6 Chief Sir Richard Dearlove sit down with Pascal Lamy, former Director-General of the World Trade Organization, to discuss how tariffs, President Trump, and resurgent geopolitics are reshaping the global order. Lamy argues that the “rule of force” has replaced the “rule of trade,” warns that U.S. democracy itself may now be Europe’s biggest risk, and explains why the EU must move toward political and defense integratio...
At the Warsaw Security Forum, former MI6 Chief Sir Richard Dearlove and Christina Ruffini speak with UK Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel and former Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk about the future of Europe’s security. Patel argues NATO must recognize that “we are all at risk” from Moscow’s grey warfare — while also confronting Europe’s divided approach to refugees and Gaza. Yatsenyuk calls Russian drone incursions a direct test of NATO’s unity, describes how sanctions bite but fa...
From cyberattacks to drones over NATO skies, defense leaders believe Russia is probing for weakness. At the Warsaw Security Forum, Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur and Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Ben Hodges, former Commander of the U.S. Army in Europe told One Decision that Moscow’s provocations aim to divide allies and mask failures in Ukraine. They join hosts Christina Ruffini and former MI6 Chief Sir Richard Dearlove to explain why NATO’s unity—and America’s staying power—will decide whether Europe...
In this week’s One Decision In Brief, Christina Ruffini and former MI6 Chief Sir Richard Dearlove report from the Warsaw Security Forum, where Poland has emerged as NATO’s front-line power. They look at Russia’s latest airspace violations and drone incursions, how European allies are scrambling to build defenses, and why Moldova’s surprising election result signals new limits to Moscow’s influence. Plus: what Ukraine’s drone industry is teaching Europe, and how the UK’s security role has shifted...
Is Palantir a sinister surveillance giant — or the gold standard in mission-critical software? In this episode of One Decision, hosts Christina Ruffini and ex-MI6 Chief Sir Richard Dearlove speak with Lauren Penneys, Palantir SVP , to separate fact from fiction. She discusses the firm’s rise from post-9/11 intelligence work to the front lines of Ukraine and Israel, Britain's National Health Service (NHS), and its controversial work with U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE). They also e...
In this week’s One Decision In Brief, Christina Ruffini and former MI6 Chief Sir Richard Dearlove assess Russia’s latest gray-zone provocations — from fighter jets entering Estonian airspace to swarms of drones over Poland. What do these incursions reveal about NATO’s readiness, Europe’s vulnerabilities, and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s strategy? And with One Decision heading to the Warsaw Security Forum, these questions will be put directly to Europe’s leaders. Plus: inside MI6’s new dark...
In this episode of One Decision, hosts Christina Ruffini and former U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta sit down with Robert Reich, former Labor Secretary under President Bill Clinton, to discuss his new book, Coming Up Short . Reich reflects on how decades of widening inequality, corporate money in politics, and missteps in the implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)—along with China’s entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO)—paved the way for Donald Trump’s rise....
In this week’s One Decision In Brief, hosts Kate McCann and former MI6 Chief Sir Richard Dearlove assess the stakes behind President Donald Trump’s historic second state visit to the United Kingdom amid a political storm that is testing Prime Minister Keir Starmer's leadership. They weigh in on the cultural politics surrounding free speech and faith that are resurfacing in Britain, the UK’s division between U.S. and EU perspectives on AI regulation, and NATO unity on Ukraine. Plus, Sir Richard d...
This week on One Decision, host Kate McCann welcomes Sir Ben Wallace, former UK Defence Secretary, to the podcast as a co-host. They discuss the recent Israeli strike in Qatar targeting senior Hamas officials and the repercussions of Israel attacking a country that’s directly involved in peace negotiations between Hamas and Israel. Later, they welcome Ehud Olmert, former Israeli Prime Minister, who shares why he believes Israel’s pursuit of “total victory” in Gaza is both unrealistic and dangero...
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 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit - where Chinese President Xi Jinping convened global leaders, including India's Narendra Modi, North Korea's Kim Jong-Un, and Russia's Vladimir Putin - hints at a possible new glo...
How fragile is the state of Russia’s economy? In this episode of One Decision, hosts Christina Ruffini and Sir Richard Dearlove, former MI6 Chief, sit down with Alexandra Prokopenko, a fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, who left her role as an advisor to the Bank of Russia after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Prokopenko discusses how state spending, Chinese trade, and quick adaptation by Russian firms have kept economic growth alive — even as inflation and labor shortages strain the sy...
In this week’s One Decision In Brief, hosts Kate McCann and Sir Richard Dearlove, former MI6 Chief, discuss how Israel is deploying AI on the battlefield and how the technology is intercepting calls, mapping behavior, and even generating target lists. They examine the two most common AI models employed, called "Lavender" and “Gospel,” how they’re driving innovation and whether international law can keep pace with this new era of machine-driven warfare. Is this the future of war? What happens whe...
In this episode of One Decision, Sir Richard Dearlove, former MI6 chief, and journalist Christina Ruffini speak with Professor Chuck Freilich, Israel’s former Deputy National Security Adviser. Freilich explains why he no longer sees a two-state solution as viable and lays out a three-pillar alternative for Gaza and the West Bank. He examines the aims and limits of Israel’s campaign against Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political incentives, and what recent strikes mean for I...
This week on One Decision In Brief, hosts Christina Ruffini and former MI6 Chief Sir Richard Dearlove explore what the FBI search of former National Security Advisor John Bolton’s home and office says about America’s broken system for handling classified material and why so many senior U.S. officials - including President Donald Trump, President Joe Biden, and now John Bolton - have been investigated for mishandling classified documents. As a former intelligence chief himself, Sir Richard also g...
Former MI6 Chief Sir Richard Dearlove and Ambassador John Herbst discuss the ongoing Ukraine war, dissecting the complex dynamics between President Trump, Vladimir Putin, and a newly assertive Europe. They examine Putin's goals and vulnerabilities, Trump's unconventional diplomatic approach, and the impact of European rearmament and unity. The conversation also explores the concept of 'gray warfare' and the fragility of Putin's regime, offering insights into potential pathways forward for the West.
Why is Donald Trump letting Nvidia sell chips to China, and what does it mean for global power politics? In this episode of One Decision In Brief, hosts Kate McCann and Sir Richard Dearlove, former MI6 Chief, break down the unusual deal, where the U.S. government gets a cut of the profits. They explore the strategy behind America’s chip dominance, how China might respond, and what this reveals about the balance between economic interests and national security. Episode produced by Situation Room ...
In this episode of One Decision, former MI6 Chief Sir Richard Dearlove and former CIA Director Leon Panetta bring a level of insight into the Trump–Putin summit you won’t find anywhere else. With decades of intelligence briefings, Cold War strategy, and high-stakes negotiations behind them, they assess whether Alaska is a bold bid for peace or a dangerous gamble. They discuss the lack of diplomatic groundwork, the dangers of excluding Kyiv, and the historical warning from Neville Chamberlain’s a...
Hosts discuss the implications of the upcoming Trump-Putin summit in Alaska, focusing on Europe's anxieties about a potential peace deal without Ukraine's presence and its impact on the conflict. They also delve into President Trump's controversial move to federalize Washington D.C.'s police, exploring the political and historical context, including a striking parallel to former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's actions.
From Bolsonaro to Orbán, what drives leaders who reject democratic norms—and what keeps them in power? One Decision hosts Kate McCann and Sir Richard Dealove sit down to explore the makings of an authoritarian leader, including the times Sir Richard met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and former Libyan dictator, Muammar Gaddafi. Later, they speak with historian Ruth Ben-Ghiat about the modern autocrat’s playbook, and how tech oligarchs may be helping to shape a new version of authoritarian...
This week on One Decision In Brief, Kate McCann and Sir Richard Dearlove, former MI6 Chief, analyze how an Israeli minister’s visit to Temple Mount and Hamas’s release of a hostage video have each raised the stakes. Also, this week, President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff heads to Moscow, but there’s no sign that Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to compromise. Plus, Trump claims he’ll reposition two nuclear submarines near Russian territories, prompting many to question...
In this week’s episode of One Decision, Congressman Bill Foster — the only Ph.D. physicist in Congress — joins hosts Christina Ruffini and Sir Richard Dearlove to examine the widening gap between science and policy in Washington. Foster warns that as the U.S. defunds research and sidelines experts, it risks falling behind in the global race for technological dominance, particularly against China. From the dangers of deregulated artificial intelligence to the unclear status of Iran’s nuclear prog...
In this episode of One Decision In Brief, hosts Sir Richard Dearlove, former MI6 Chief, and Christina Ruffini unpack Donald Trump’s new trade deal with the European Union, French President Emmanuel Macron’s plans to recognize Palestinian statehood, and the growing international backlash over Israel’s conduct in Gaza. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Original music composed and produced by Leo Sidran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
In this episode, “The Godfather of AI” Geoffrey Hinton joins One Decision hosts Kate McCann and Sir Richard Dearlove to discuss the growing global race to build and control superintelligent machines—and why artificial intelligence can no longer be simply switched off. Hinton warns that AI systems are learning in ways we don’t fully understand—and may soon be capable of making decisions beyond our control. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Original music composed and produced by Leo Sid...
In this week’s One Decision In Brief, hosts Kate McCann and Sir Richard Dearlove examine Israel’s expanding operations in Syria and its backing of the Druze minority amid renewed violence. As Iran prepares to meet with European nations—without the United States—questions emerge about the coherence of Western diplomacy. Meanwhile, a sensitive data leak hidden by the UK government for over a year has sparked outrage over secrecy, oversight, and trust in government. Episode produced by Situation Ro...
In this week’s episode, Congressman Don Bacon, a self-described “old school Reagan Republican,” joins hosts Sir Richard Dearlove and Christina Ruffini to unpack the internal battle over Republican foreign policy and what it means for U.S. credibility abroad. Bacon outlines how China, Iran, and North Korea are propping up Russia’s war effort and why he believes a Ukrainian defeat could embolden an attack on Taiwan. He also weighs in on the state of U.S. air power, the future of drone warfare, and...
This episode of One Decision in Brief analyzes significant shifts in global affairs. Hosts discuss the controversial 15% staff reduction at the U.S. State Department and its operational consequences. They also examine France's decision to boost military spending, its nuclear posture, and deepening defense cooperation with the UK. Finally, the episode explores the uncertainties and impacts of President Trump's continued tariff trade wars on foreign policy and international economies.
In this week’s episode of One Decision, Laura Holgate, the former U.S. Ambassador to the Vienna Office of the United Nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), joins host Christina Ruffini to break down the uncertain state of Iran’s nuclear program following recent U.S. strikes on Tehran's nuclear sites. Ambassador Holgate explains how the IAEA works, why its supervision of nuclear technologies is essential, and how Iran’s current posture puts the world at a dangerous crossroads....
