Vital Interests Podcast

Host Karen J. Greenberg welcomed CNS Distinguished Fellow for Global Security and former CIA Director John Brennan and former FBI Supervisory Special Agent Ali Soufan at CNS on February 15, 2022 for a conversation on The U.S. and Today's Foreign Policy Challenges. The full webinar can be watched on our website at CenterOnNationalSecurity.org/events.

What will it take for the world to renounce religious dogma and discover humanity’s place in it through science and reason? Can it save our societies from perpetual conflict? Attorney and investment fund manager Richard Conn joins this episode of Vital Interests Podcast to discuss his new book, The Earthbound Parent: How (and Why) to Raise Your Little Angels Without Religion.

ACLU Director Anthony Romero joins our special series on 9/11 to discuss the challenges, accomplishments and persistent hurdles experienced by the ACLU and the country in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Who remains at Guantanamo Bay? What’s more to be known? And can the Biden administration finally close the notorious detention center? Journalists Carol Rosenberg and Charlie Savage discuss lessons culled from nearly two decades of reporting on the prison as part of Vital Interest’s special-edition “9/11-Twenty Years Later.”

In his new book, Reign of Terror: How the 9/11 Era Destabilized America and Produced Trump, journalist Spencer Ackerman traces America’s response to 9/11 to the violence, vitriol and instability the country faces today, part of Vital Interests Podcast Season three, “9/11 – Twenty Years Later.”

Journalist Peter Bergen has spent decades reflecting on the man responsible for the attacks on 9/11. Now, twenty years after that fateful day, he joins our commemoration series to provide insights into Osama bin Laden’s life, his lasting influence, and the enduring War on Terror.

What were the failures in the lead up to the attacks on 9/11? What lessons should we take from that fateful event and our response to it to better prepare for the crises of the future? Former White House terrorism advisor Richard Clarke joins our special series 9/11 – Twenty year later to discuss.

How do America’s top leaders use power to enrich themselves and further their interests? From the Bush administration to the GOP and the Trump presidency, Craig Unger has spent the last twenty years uncovering the “unseen” ways in which power works. He joins this episode of Vital Interest Podcast to discuss what it means for our democracy.

Many Americans think that U.S. criminal justice system is unfair, ineffective, and broken. So how do we fix it? Joshua Dratel, a leading criminal defense attorney, joins this episode of Vital Interests Podcast to discuss.

Twenty years after 9/11, Ken Wainstein, Homeland Security Advisor to George W. Bush, reflects on security and 21st century challenges.

How can America counter group mentality? Clint Watts, a national security, counterterrorism, and cybersecurity expert, joins this episode of Vital Interests Podcast to discuss disinformation, conspiracy theories, and domestic terrorism.

Twenty years after 9/11, with President Biden in the White House, are we ready for a new approach to security and justice? Hina Shamsi joins this episode of Vital Interests Podcast to discuss the ICC, the no fly list, the First Amendment, and today’s terrorism.

Boston University Professor Jessica Stern joins this episode of Vital Interests Podcast to discuss how a perceived loss of status is helping to radicalize young people, and how understanding these feelings could be key to stopping them from becoming terrorists.

Are we seeing something new in terrorist violence? Colin Clarke, the Director of Policy and Research at the Soufan Group, joins this episode of Vital Interests Podcast to discuss what’s changed—and what’s stayed the same—in extremist ideology and recruitment in the past two decades.

Nick Rasmussen, the inaugural executive director of the Global Internet Forum to Counterterrorism (GIFCT) joins this episode of the Vital Interests Podcast to discuss how his organization is helping major technology companies moderate extremist content online.

In this episode of Vital Interest Podcast, Sheila Foster, a professor of urban law and policy at Georgetown University and the co-director of LabGov, reimagines traditional structures of governance in cities. She offers a new approach: the Co-City, which identifies urban space as a “commons.” Vital Interests Podcast with Karen Greenberg is brought to you by the Center on National Security at Fordham Law.

Host Karen J. Greenberg welcomed Ali Soufan for a virtual event at the Center on National Security at Fordham Law titled "January 6th and the Threat To Democracy: What Went Wrong and How Should We Respond?" The full event can be watched on our website at CenterOnNationalSecurity.org/events. 

Vital Interests Podcast with Karen Greenberg is brought to you by the Center on National Security at Fordham Law.

Matt Duss, Foreign Policy Advisor to Bernie Sanders, joins this episode of Vital Interests Podcast to discuss the Capitol Riots, Biden’s foreign policy challenges, and the legacy of 9/11.  Vital Interests Podcast with Karen Greenberg is brought to you by the Center on National Security at Fordham Law.

The Justice Department’s legitimacy took a hit under the Trump administration. Can reforms within its Office of Legal Counsel—and a rule-of-law-abiding new Attorney General— help burnish its reputation? Annie Owens, a former Attorney Advisor in the OLC, joins this episode of the Vital Interests Podcast to discuss. Vital Interests Podcast with Karen Greenberg is brought to you by the Center on National Security at Fordham Law.

Nearly 20 years after 9/11, one might ask, where do we stand now in terms of counterterrorism policies? What have we accomplished? What remains to be done? Fionnuala D. Ní Aoláin, UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms while Countering Terrorism joins this episode of Vital Interests Podcast to share her views on the counterterrorism missteps from the past, today's challenges, and best strategies for the future.  Vital Interests Podcast with Karen Greenberg is brought to you by the Center on National Security at Fordham Law.

Journalist Peter Beinart joins this episode of Vital Interests Podcast to discuss China, multilateralism, a One-State solution for Israel – and more. Vital Interests Podcast with Karen Greenberg is brought to you by the Center on National Security at Fordham Law.

Tech entrepreneur and early leader of the Lean Startup movement Steve Blank joins this episode of the Vital Interests Podcast to discuss his Stanford University course, Hacking for Defense, and how the lessons learned from successful startups in Silicon Valley should be applied to 21st

century warfare and weapons manufacturing. Vital Interests Podcast with Karen Greenberg is brought to you by the Center on National Security at Fordham Law.

Host Karen J. Greenberg welcomed John Brennan and Samantha Power on October 15th to discuss Brennan's new book Undaunted: My Fight Against America's Enemies, At Home and Abroad. The full event can be watched on our website at CenterOnNationalSecurity.org/events. Vital Interests Podcast with Karen Greenberg is brought to you by the Center on National Security at Fordham Law.

Edwin Frank, the editorial director for the New York Review of Books, joins the podcast to discuss his long-running collection, the NYRB Classics Series. Vital Interests Podcast with Karen Greenberg is brought to you by the Center on National Security at Fordham Law.

Host Karen J. Greenberg welcomed journalist Carol Rosenberg and attorney Michel Paradis at CNS on October 1st for a conversation based on Paradis’ new book Last Mission to Tokyo: The Extraordinary Story of the Doolittle Raiders and Their Final Fight for Justice. The full webinar can be watched on our website at CenterOnNationalSecurity.org/events.  Vital Interests Podcast with Karen Greenberg is brought to you by the Center on National Security at Fordham Law.

In this episode of Vital Interest Podcast, Former Democratic Senator Russell Feingold unpacks the historic challenges threatening America’s democratic system and offers four Constitutional amendments to fix “some of the glitches that exist. Vital Interests Podcast with Karen Greenberg is brought to you by the Center on National Security at Fordham Law.

Chis Whipple joined host Karen J. Greenberg on September 29th to discuss his new book: The Spymasters: How the CIA Directors Shape History and the Future. The full webinar can be watched on our website at CenterOnNationalSecurity.org/events. Vital Interests Podcast with Karen Greenberg is brought to you by the Center on National Security at Fordham Law.

The former National Security official joins this episode of Vital Interests Podcast to discuss his time in government, the need for reforms at the Department of Homeland Security, and what’s at stake in the upcoming US presidential election. Vital Interests Podcast with Karen Greenberg is brought to you by the Center on National Security at Fordham Law.

Ali Soufan joined host Karen J. Greenberg on September 24th to discuss the new, declassified version of his book: The Black Banners (Declassified): How Torture Derailed the War on Terror after 9/11. The full webinar can be watched on our website at CenterOnNationalSecurity.org/events.

Vital Interests Podcast with Karen Greenberg is brought to you by the Center on National Security at Fordham Law.

Jonathan Stevenson, senior fellow for US Defense at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, joins this episode of Vital Interests Podcast to discuss the future of the Iran Nuclear Deal, the state of the State Department under Secretary Mike Pompeo, and the Trump administration’s use of the military in responding to nation-wide protests on racial inequality and police brutality.  Vital Interests Podcast with Karen Greenberg is brought to you by the Center on National Security at Fordham Law.

Listen to Robert Draper, writer for the New York Times Magazine & National Geographic, on his new book To Start a War, How the Bush Administration Took America into Iraq.  Vital Interests Podcast with Karen Greenberg is brought to you by the Center on National Security at Fordham Law.

Rep. Jahana Hayes, National Teacher of the Year in 2016, joins this week’s episode of Vital Interests Podcast to discuss her continued hope in American democracy, and how the COVID-19 recovery is an opportunity for systemic and inclusive change.  Vital Interests Podcast with Karen Greenberg is brought to you by the Center on National Security at Fordham Law.

A conversation with Rebecca Ulam Weiner about the evolution of terrorism, and the current challenges facing law enforcement and society at large.  Vital Interests Podcast with Karen Greenberg is brought to you by the Center on National Security at Fordham Law.

Listen as Tom Parker discusses the value of understanding the conditions that give rise to terrorism and the need for a longer time frame for measuring counterterrorism strategies.  Vital Interests Podcast with Karen Greenberg is brought to you by the Center on National Security at Fordham Law.

Join us as Peter Bergen discusses terrorism, the Iran Deal, the Taliban, a Biden presidency and America’s ever-changing national security landscape.  Vital Interests Podcast with Karen Greenberg is brought to you by the Center on National Security at Fordham Law.

Jonathan Hafetz talks about Adham Hassoun, Enemy Combatants and today’s Department of Justice.  Vital Interests Podcast with Karen Greenberg is brought to you by the Center on National Security at Fordham Law.

Michel Paradis discusses the legacy of 9/11, war crimes, military commissions, and his new book Last Mission to Tokyo.  Vital Interests Podcast with Karen Greenberg is brought to you by the Center on National Security at Fordham Law.

Former California Governor Jerry Brown discusses what more states can do to respond to COVID, how we can honor the humanity in all of us, and ways to help parents in today's difficult times. 

Vital Interests Podcast with Karen Greenberg is brought to you by the Center on National Security at Fordham Law.

California's Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis discusses immigration, trade policy, women in politics and her hopes for the future with host Karen Greenberg. 

Former CIA Director and Presidential Advisor talks to host Karen Greenberg about the global landscape, protecting the upcoming elections and his hopes for the future. 

David Rohde discusses his new book In Deep: The FBI, the CIA, and the Truth about America's "Deep State."

Bart Gellman discusses his new book “Dark Mirror: Edward Snowden and the American Surveillance State”

Jameel Jaffer, Inaugural Director of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, joins host Karen Greenberg to discuss national security, FOIA litigation, and the dangers facing freedom of speech today.

Andrea Mitchell, Host of MSNBC 'Andrea Mitchell Reports', talks about the challenges, past and present, of reporting on the White House, about women in journalism, and about the many pressures facing today's journalists.

Peter Singer, Strategist and Senior Fellow at New America, joins host Karen Greenberg to discuss his latest book and the practical and philosophical implications of Artificial Intelligence.