Intelligence Matters

CBS News

Former acting Director of the CIA Michael Morell speaks with top leaders of the U.S. intelligence community as they reflect on their life, career and the critical roles they play in shaping national security policies. As a central figure in the most significant U.S. counter-terror efforts of the past two decades and a former CIA intelligence analyst, Morell is uniquely skilled at taking industry leading knowledge to make connections that provide deep insight into complex security events – helping decode intelligence officials’ key priorities and providing perspectives on how to achieve national security objectives. Morell is the author of “The Great War of Our Time” and a vivid account of the Central Intelligence Agency, a life in secrets, and a war in the shadows.

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Our Editor's Take

What happens in national intelligence matters. And it's this podcast's goal to prove it. Intelligence Matters focuses on national security policies. The podcast host is Michael Morell, the former acting director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Morell has a unique gift for interviewing, which he makes the focal point of this podcast. In each episode, he interviews leaders in the intelligence community. What do these leaders have to say about their lives in the CIA? How does each guest feel about their role-and others' roles-in shaping security policies? And further, what do listeners need to know about American intelligence today? Morell and his guests explore that and more on this podcast.

The Intelligence Matters podcast's goal is to provide insight into security. Its goal is to create a perspective of what national security looks like. What concerns does the government have about Russia's Vladimir Putin? An episode featuring author Andrew Weiss answers that question. What's the status of the US-Iran deal? Middle East expert Karim Sadjadpour discusses that with Morell. How do social media leaks impact the US military? Guests explore these topics and more with Morell in each segment.

Most Intelligence Matters podcast episodes follow a familiar format. Morell has a straightforward approach as he introduces his guests and discusses their merits. He explores their roles in intelligence. Then he lets the guests lead the conversation. Other episodes follow a different format. Called "Best Of" episodes, these are recaps. Audiences can expect discussions of law enforcement and counterterrorism. They'll hear about the importance of intelligence officers in the modern world. No matter what, this weekly podcast is sure to guide listeners through what the CIA does.

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CIA Clinical Psychologist Ursula Wilder on Profiling World Leaders

CIA Clinical Psychologist Ursula Wilder on Profiling World Leaders

In this episode of Intelligence Matters, host Michael Morell speaks with Ursula Wilder, a clinical psychologist at the Central Intelligence Agency, about why intelligence agencies conduct psychological profiles of world leaders, and how past policymakers have used what they have learned to make strategic decisions. Wilder, who also worked in CIA's counterterrorism center and Medical and Psychological Assessments unit, explains the "dark tetrad" of personality -- narcissism, paranoia, Machiavellianism and sadism -- and how those traits can influence how leaders make decisions and engage in negotiations. She and Morell also discuss how policymakers respond to psychological profiles compiled by government agencies. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episodes

CIA Clinical Psychologist Ursula Wilder on Profiling World Leaders

CIA Clinical Psychologist Ursula Wilder on Profiling World Leaders

In this episode of Intelligence Matters, host Michael Morell speaks with Ursula Wilder, a clinical psychologist at the Central Intelligence Agency, about why intelligence agencies conduct psychological profiles of world leaders, and how past policymakers have used what they have learned to make strategic decisions. Wilder, who also worked in CIA's counterterrorism center and Medical and Psychological Assessments unit, explains the "dark tetrad" of personality -- narcissism, paranoia, Machiavellianism and sadism -- and how those traits can influence how leaders make decisions and engage in negotiations. She and Morell also discuss how policymakers respond to psychological profiles compiled by government agencies. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Former Middle East Envoy Dennis Ross on Regional Instability

Former Middle East Envoy Dennis Ross on Regional Instability

In this episode of Intelligence Matters, host Michael Morell speaks with former senior U.S. ambassador and Middle East envoy Dennis Ross about growing instability in the Middle East, including tensions between Israel and Palestine, controversial judicial reforms in Israel, and consistent advancements in Iran's nuclear program. Ross, now counselor and a distinguished fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, offers suggestions for a clearer and more muscular U.S. policy vis a vis Iran and weighs the implications of a possible unilateral military strike on its nuclear facilities by Israel.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The U.S. Invasion of Iraq: A Look at Intelligence, 20 Years Later

The U.S. Invasion of Iraq: A Look at Intelligence, 20 Years Later

In this special episode of Intelligence Matters, host Michael Morell speaks with five former senior CIA officers about the agency's work before, during and after the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003. With personal recollections and reflections, Morell offers a candid walkthrough of what the CIA and other intelligence agencies assessed about Saddam Hussein's intentions and weapons programs in the lead-up to the invasion, how intelligence was used within the U.S. government throughout this period, and how the consequences of the CIA's missteps - as well as its successes - continue to reverberate today.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kristin Wood on the Intelligence Value of Open Source Data

Kristin Wood on the Intelligence Value of Open Source Data

In this episode of Intelligence Matters, host Michael Morell speaks with former senior CIA officer Kristin Wood about the history, value and current applications of open source data to intelligence collection and analysis. Wood, who helped lead the innovation and technology group at CIA's Open Source Center, walks through the types of information available to the public and for purchase through commercial firms that create unique insights into companies, behaviors and events. Morell and Wood discuss the ways in which the U.S. intelligence community has leveraged - or failed to leverage - some key open source data.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Assessing Top Global Security Threats with Expert Frederick Kagan

Assessing Top Global Security Threats with Expert Frederick Kagan

In this episode of Intelligence Matters, host Michael Morell speaks with Frederick Kagan, director of the Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, about the current landscape of global security threats from the likes of Russia, China, Iran and North Korea. Kagan and Morell discuss Russian president Vladimir Putin's options and objectives in the war in Ukraine and the lessons China's Xi Jinping may be drawing from the conflict. Kagan also offers insights into the effect of recent protests on the Iranian regime's stability and the nuclear ambitions of both Tehran and Pyongyang. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Marking One Year of War in Ukraine: State Department Counselor Derek Chollet

Marking One Year of War in Ukraine: State Department Counselor Derek Chollet

In this episode of Intelligence Matters, host Michael Morell speaks with State Department Counselor Derek Chollet about the state of the war in Ukraine as it enters its second year. Morell and Chollet discuss the implications of a deepening relationship between Russia and Iran as well as Russia and China, which the U.S. recently warned against providing material aid to Moscow. Chollet also provides new insights into the newly tense relationship between Washington and Beijing, following the shootdown of a Chinese surveillance balloon. He outlines the Biden administration's approach to managing Iran's nuclear ambitions after the earlier collapse of nuclear talks. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Chinese Spy Balloon Fallout: Military Expert John Culver

Chinese Spy Balloon Fallout: Military Expert John Culver

In this episode of Intelligence Matters, host Michael Morell speaks with former senior CIA analyst and National Intelligence Officer for East Asia John Culver about the rippling implications of the Chinese surveillance balloon shot down over U.S. territory. Culver and Morell discuss Beijing's possible intentions behind deploying the balloon as well as the potential information it - and other Chinese surveillance efforts - may have targeted. They also discuss the ways in which heightened tensions between Washington and Beijing could raise the risks of conflict over Taiwan.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Inside Global Diplomacy: RT. Honourable Baroness Catherine Ashton

Inside Global Diplomacy: RT. Honourable Baroness Catherine Ashton

In this episode of Intelligence Matters, host Michael Morell speaks with Rt. Honourable Baroness Catherine Ashton, former Vice President of the European Commission and the European Union's first representative for foreign affairs and security policy, about her career and new book, "And Then What? Inside Stories of 21st Century Diplomacy." Ashton provides an insider's view of several high-stakes diplomatic engagements, including the early days of forging the Iran nuclear deal and the EU-brokered talks between Serbia and Kosovo. Morell and Ashton also discuss the nature of political leadership and share thoughts about some of the world leaders with whom they engaged personally. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

China Expert Dennis Wilder on U.S. Policy Towards Beijing

China Expert Dennis Wilder on U.S. Policy Towards Beijing

In this episode of Intelligence Matters, host Michael Morell speaks with Dennis Wilder, former CIA officer and current research fellow at Georgetown University's Initiative for U.S.-China Dialogue on Global Issues, about the effectiveness of the United States' current diplomatic and economic policies toward China. Wilder and Morell discuss China's recent economic slowdown and its longer-term prospects for growth, as well as key regional issues like the management of North Korea's nuclear ambitions. Wilder also provides his views on President Xi Jinping's leadership and the trajectory of the Chinese Communist Party. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Understanding Electronic Surveillance with NSA's Former Top Lawyer

Understanding Electronic Surveillance with NSA's Former Top Lawyer

In this episode of Intelligence Matters, host Michael Morell speaks with Glenn Gerstell, former general counsel at the National Security Agency, about how and when the NSA is authorized to use electronic surveillance to collect intelligence on foreign targets. Gerstell offers a detailed explanation of the origins and evolution of the Foreign Intellingence Surveillance Act (FISA) and the statute, most commonly referred to as Section 702, that allows electronic surveillance using U.S. electronic communications service providers. He and Morell walk through the legal limitations put forth in the statute and the debate currently surrounding its reauthorization by Congress. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Former CIA Officer Rolf Mowatt-Larssen's Strategic Analysis of the Russia-Ukraine War

Former CIA Officer Rolf Mowatt-Larssen's Strategic Analysis of the Russia-Ukraine War

This week on Intelligence Matters, Michael Morell speaks with former senior CIA officer and Moscow station chief Rolf Mowatt-Larssen about his strategic analysis of the Russia-Ukraine war. He maps out the Russian objectives in the war and the lack of clear Western goals as the war continues. Mowatt-Larssen predicts that Putin will launch an offensive in 2023 but not until he has mobilized a sufficient number of troops, something he failed to do in the past year. Mowatt-Larssen discusses Putin's "scorched earth" approach and how it has led to the weaponization of energy. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Michael Morell on the Year Ahead: Strategic Challenges in 2023

Michael Morell on the Year Ahead: Strategic Challenges in 2023

This week on Intelligence Matters, Michael Morell offers an in-depth analysis of the top national security challenges facing the world in 2023. Morell describes how the outcome of the Russia-Ukraine war is in the hands of West and that without Western assistance, Russia could win the war. Morell defines the U.S. China relationship as a "cold war," but despite that tension Morell does not predict that China will invade Taiwan in 2023. Where Morell foresees the greatest probability of war in 2023 is between Iran and Israel as a hardline Israeli government takes the helm.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Inside China's Surveillance State: Liza Lin and Josh Chin

Inside China's Surveillance State: Liza Lin and Josh Chin

This week on Intelligence Matters, Michael Morell speaks with Wall Street Journal reporters Liza Lin and Josh Chin about their new book Surveillance State: Inside China's Quest to Launch a New Era of Social Control. Their new reporting examines how China's data collection goes beyond that of other countries as China seeks to create a model to export as an alternative to democratic governance. Lin and Chin detail Silicon Valley's involvement in the buildup of China's surveillance state and how the technology is used to surveil Uyghurs in Xinjiang. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

BEST OF: Hal Brands on Potential of Future Conflict with China

BEST OF: Hal Brands on Potential of Future Conflict with China

In this Best of episode of Intelligence Matters, host Michael Morell spoke with Hal Brands, Henry A. Kissinger Distinguished Professor of Global Affairs at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies and author of the new book, Danger Zone: The Coming Conflict with China, about China's economic, political and demographic trajectory and the percolating risk of conflict with Beijing in the coming years. Brands explains why he believes China, rather than being on the rise, is peaking as a global power and as a result may engage in more destabilizing behavior. Brands and Morell explore how certain external tailwinds - which once propelled China's rise - have become headwinds, and may be driving President Xi Jinping's tightening grip on political power. They also discuss the effect of Speaker Pelosi's visit to Taipei, different scenarios and timelines for a possible Chinese invasion of Taiwan, as well as how the conflict in Ukraine may - or may not - affect Xi's calculus. This episode was originally released in August 2022.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

BEST OF: Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy and Force Development Elbridge Colby

BEST OF: Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy and Force Development Elbridge Colby

In this "Best Of" episode of Intelligence Matters, host Michael Morell speaks with Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy and Force Development Elbridge Colby about his new book The Strategy of Denial: American Defense in an Age of Great Power Conflict and whether the U.S. military is ready for a new era of great power competition. Colby discusses doubts amongst analysts in the U.S. ability to win a war against the Chinese military. He notes that there is substantial bipartisan agreement that China is the biggest threat against the U.S. This episode was originally released in September 2022.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Former CIA Chief Operating Officer on his Career at the CIA

Former CIA Chief Operating Officer on his Career at the CIA

This week on Intelligence Matters, Michael Morell speaks with former CIA Chief Operating Officer Andrew Makridis on his 37-year career at the CIA. Makridis reflects on his front row seat to history as a Presidential briefer to President George H.W. Bush. He provides his analysis on how the CIA has changed and improved since the Iraq WMD intelligence failure and Wikileaks breach. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Accidental Czar: The Life and Lies of Vladimir Putin with Former White House Russia Expert Andrew Weiss

Accidental Czar: The Life and Lies of Vladimir Putin with Former White House Russia Expert Andrew Weiss

This week on Intelligence Matters, Michael Morell speaks with Andrew Weiss, former White House Russia Expert and vice president for studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, about his new book Accidental Czar: The Life and Lies of Vladimir Putin. Weiss discusses what motivates Putin and what misconceptions the U.S. has about his strategy in Ukraine. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The CIA in the Movies: A Review with the Co-Founders of Spycraft Entertainment

The CIA in the Movies: A Review with the Co-Founders of Spycraft Entertainment

This week on Intelligence Matters, Michael Morell speaks with John Sipher and Jerry O'Shea, former CIA officers and co-founders of Spycraft Entertainment, about what Hollywood gets right and wrong about its depictions of the CIA. Sipher and O'Shea review movies, TV series, and books on how realistic their portrayals are of life in the agency. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Working at CIA: In Conversation with CIA Director of Operations and Director of Analysis

Working at CIA: In Conversation with CIA Director of Operations and Director of Analysis

This week on Intelligence Matters, Michael Morell, in partnership with the Michael V. Hayden Center for Intelligence, Policy, and International Security, speaks with Dave Marlowe, CIA Director of Operations, and Linda Weissgold, CIA Director of Analysis about their careers at CIA and global hotspots. Marlowe and Weissgold discuss what skills and attributes CIA looks for when hiring officers while sharing their own career trajectories at CIA. They examine key issues for the agency including Ukraine, Iran, and China.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Evolution of U.S.-China Relations: National Security Analyst Graham Allison

The Evolution of U.S.-China Relations: National Security Analyst Graham Allison

This week on Intelligence Matters, Michael Morell speaks with Professor at the Harvard Kennedy School and national security analyst Graham Allison as he re-examines his interviews on China with Former Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew. Allison inspects how their analysis and predictions on China hold up ten years later. Allison discusses Xi's plan for China, the negative consequences of bellicose rhetoric, and how Taiwan could potentially trigger a war between the U.S. and China. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.