Straight from the Shoulder – Details, episodes & analysis

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Straight from the Shoulder

The Arkin Group

Government

Frequency: 1 episode/57d. Total Eps: 8

How might someone who worked at the CIA or NSA view what’s happening around the world? What can we learn about politics and risk from the intelligence vantage point- past and present? Straight from the Shoulder is a podcast that strives to analyze geopolitical events through the apolitical lens of intelligence officers. The podcast features commentary by Jack Devine, former Acting Deputy Director of Operations at the CIA and President The Arkin Group in conversation with Julia Stone, former government Intelligence Analyst and Senior Director at The Arkin Group. Listeners can expect a candid, non-partisan, and lively discussion that seeks to unravel the complex issues that threaten security and global stability.

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2024/10/11/trump-harris-china-russia-iran-monitor-election/75555336007/
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Score global : 63%

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Terrorism: Then and Now/Home and Abroad

Episode 8

Wednesday, January 22, 2025 • Duration 36:39

2025 began with a tragic, ISIS-inspired terrorist attack in New Orleans that serves as a disturbing reminder of the enduring terrorism threat both at home and abroad. Join Jack and Julia as we discuss the evolution of terrorism over the past several decades, and what we should be watching out for today. On this episode, we’ll consider:

How the threat to the homeland has evolved since 9/11, and the role of US agencies and citizens in advancing our collective security
The rise and threat of ISIS-K-- the ISIS affiliate group based in Afghanistan that was responsible for the most significant terrorist attacks of 2024
The differences between lone wolf and coordinated attacks and how the two are connected through global events and borderless ideologies

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Before the Handoff: What to Expect Leading Up to the Presidential Inauguration

Episode 7

Monday, November 25, 2024 • Duration 29:54

In the immediate aftermath of the 2024 US elections, global leaders are recalibrating their political strategies and vying for President Trump’s good favor. But what can we expect over the course of the next two months before Trump takes office, and what’s the broader outlook for global stability?

Join Jack and Julia for a discussion about how President Trump’s second term is already resonating and impacting policy decisions on both the domestic and international fronts. On this episode, we’ll consider:

The new US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and what, if anything, government leaders can learn from business leaders
If “America First” implies “America Alone” and if Washington will be able to reestablish a bipartisan approach to foreign policy
Implications for China as a global economic powerhouse, and the possibility of ceasefire agreements in Eastern Europe and throughout the Middle East

Devine, J. (2024, October 11). Opinion: Trump or Harris? Whoever wins will lose wars without bipartisan consensus. USA Today. https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2024/10/11/trump-harris-china-russia-iran-monitor-election/75555336007/
*Mentioned 0:07:34:70

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A Sprawling Web of War and Peace

Episode 6

Monday, November 4, 2024 • Duration 20:00

On the cusp of the 2024 US presidential election, only one thing looks certain: the next US president is going to inherit two major ongoing wars in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. And right now, these wars appear to be expanding, not shrinking.

Join Jack and Julia for a thoughtful discussion about these ongoing conflicts and what their outcome might mean for the future of global security. On this episode, we’ll consider:

The latest status of the fight between Russia and Ukraine
How the politics of regional states and global alliances are evolving and impacting the battle
The role of diplomacy and what it might take to have an upcoming period of peace in both Ukraine and the Middle East

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Acts of Betrayal, Part One: Hearts and Minds

Season 1 · Episode 5

Wednesday, June 26, 2024 • Duration 36:01

Betrayal is a complicated act of “deliberate disloyalty” that can shock and unravel the fabric of any relationship. But when an intelligence officer is caught working for the other side, the damage is amplified - shattering the hard-won trust among colleagues and spy agencies that’s essential to doing effective intelligence work. The reasons why an officer might defect, however, can vary widely and have implications of their own.

Join Jack and Julia for a colorful conversation about what motivated historic double agents like Kim Philby and Aldrich “Rick Ames” to defect, and the consequences of their betrayal.

On this episode we’ll discuss:

Why the famous British intelligence officer Kim Philby chose to defect and how he managed to get away with it for so long
Jack’s take on the motivations of fellow CIA officer Rick Ames – including personal insights as to why Ames defected
The dangerous impact of high-level intelligence betrayals on both individual lives and global operations

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Screen of Spies

Season 1 · Episode 4

Tuesday, March 26, 2024 • Duration 25:48

Hollywood serves as a powerful recruiting mechanism for spy agencies like the CIA- using the screen to glamorize the work of intelligence operatives worldwide- but it also contributes to some of the biggest misunderstandings of what spies do and how they operate. Join Jack and Julia for a fun and enlightening conversation about what Hollywood gets right- and what it gets wrong- in its portrayal of the spy-world.

On this episode we’ll discuss:

What’s real and fake about James Bond and other famous spy movies – replete with anecdotes of Jack’s fame-studded encounters.
The essential but unglamourous aspect of teamwork in accomplishing real-world intelligence operations.
How Hollywood’s ideas for seemingly unrealistic spy technology can inspire what happens off-screen.
If Hollywood’s portrayal of the spy-world ultimately helps or hurts the work of clandestine organizations.

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Disinformed

Season 1 · Episode 3

Monday, March 11, 2024 • Duration 22:33

Many Americans now consider disinformation to be a key national security threat, and disinformation topped the World Economic Forum’s list of short-term global risks for 2024. But what’s the history of disinformation and how is it increasingly interfering in international relations and eroding the trust of civilian populations? Are democratic nations simply more susceptible to disinformation? Whose responsibility is it to limit the influence of disinformation and can we mitigate the threat moving forward?

Join Jack and Julia as we examine the role and challenge of disinformation. On this episode we’ll discuss:

What counts as disinformation and its historic role in intelligence operations
Examples of what makes an effective disinformation campaign and when it might backfire
Personal and political strategies for uncovering disinformation and moving closer to a true understanding of what’s happening in the world

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Held Hostage

Season 1 · Episode 2

Tuesday, January 23, 2024 • Duration 25:52

Given that hostage taking is again in the spotlight after the October 7 Hamas attacks, what is the latest status of Washington’s hostage policy? What can we learn from a review of the past several decades of hostage crises worldwide? And is it possible for Americans to avoid hostage situations in the coming years, even while tensions between democratic and non-democratic countries appear to be on the rise?

Join Jack and Julia for a thoughtful discussion about the recent history of hostage taking, where we grapple with the question of how to best respond to the threat, and what the future might hold. On this episode, we’ll consider:

The evolution of hostage threats to US citizens- from Latin America to the Middle East
How and why the United States has historically decided to respond to hostage takers, and the use of both policy and force in deterrence
Why democratic societies are more susceptible to hostage crises in the first place, and what this means for our collective future

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Straight from the Shoulder, Episode 1

Season 1 · Episode 1

Sunday, December 17, 2023 • Duration 18:13

“How is the world being reshaped by two active wars involving US allies in Europe and the Middle East? And what will the outcome of these conflicts mean in terms of the world we want to live in? Join us for a thoughtful discussion about these destabilizing global conflicts, where we grapple with the question of what’s really at stake. On this episode, we’ll consider:

The broader implications of supporting Ukraine and what’s currently happening in Washington
Parallels between the wars in Ukraine and Israel
The role of intelligence in mitigating violent outbreaks and how and why intelligence failures have an outsized impact on global stability

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Straight from the Shoulder – Details, episodes & analysis

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Straight from the Shoulder – Details, episodes & analysis

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USA TOday1

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USA TOday1

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