One Decision

This week, Sir Richard Dearlove, One Decision’s resident spymaster and former Chief of MI6, sits down for our annual Spy Chiefs roundtable. Tune into this wide-ranging conversation with distinguished former intelligence leaders as they examine global threats and hard choices facing Western governments. Joining Sir Richard are former CENTCOM Commander Gen. Joseph Votel and Andrew McCabe, former Deputy Director of the FBI. Together, they explore the challenges posed by Russia and China’s alliance of convenience, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence, and address the disastrous impact of AI-created disinformation and deepfakes.  The intelligence leaders also discuss Chinese espionage across Europe, cyber threats to critical infrastructure, and the growing vulnerability of these systems, and raise legal and constitutional concerns around the conflict in Venezuela. The episode ends with predictions for 2026, including potential regime changes in the Middle East and what's next for the war in Ukraine.  Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Original music composed and produced by Leo Sidran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week’s One Decision In Brief, hosts Kate McCann and Sir Richard Dearlove, former MI6 Chief, examine the security risks posed by major Chinese companies like Alibaba. The hosts discuss a recent White House memo alleging that Alibaba provided tech support for Chinese military operations against countries, including the US. They explore what China’s national security laws mean for data access and the dangers posed by its infrastructure control. They also discuss the UK’s experience with Huawei and Europe's concern about commercial dependencies on China. The episode sheds light on the case of imprisoned Hong Kong Democracy activist and British national Jimmy Lai, raising questions about how the West should further engage with Beijing. 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 special year-end episode of One Decision, host Sir Richard Dearlove, former Chief of MI6, welcomes a panel featuring Sabrina Singh, former Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary and senior official in the Biden administration, and Jim Sciutto, CNN’s Chief National Security Analyst and anchor of The Brief. They assess the year 2025, which has been arguably one of the most disruptive years in modern foreign policy. The conversation begins addressing global instability, technological change driven by AI, and a shift in U.S. foreign policy under the Trump administration, and how this shift has shaken allied confidence and raised doubts about U.S. commitments. The panel examines Israel’s efforts to weaken Iran-backed groups across the region, the collapse of the Assad regime, and U.S.-led strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. The panel also discusses U.S policy with Ukraine and Russia, the perceived willingness to pressure Ukraine into giving up territory and what that could mean for European security and the ability to deter future aggression. The episode wraps with reflections on the year’s most bizarre moments and the enduring role of political humor and satire during times of geopolitical change. 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 of One Decision In Brief, hosts Christina Ruffini and Sir Richard Dearlove, former head of MI6, dive into a very controversial and perplexing mystery, Havana Syndrome. The hosts break down a range of surveillance devices possibly used in Havana, Cuba, against U.S diplomats and embassy staffers, and explore whether foreign rivals like Russia, China, or Cuba could be responsible. Sir Richard speaks on his intelligence experience, providing real-world examples of Cold War espionage, including Soviet listening devices hidden in embassy walls, and how the accidental use of a laser beam allowed for the interception of private conversations. They examine how advanced eavesdropping tools and listening devices might unintentionally harm U.S. officials and whether the government has done enough to investigate cases or support those affected with long-term trauma.  Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Original music composed and produced by Leo Sidran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on One Decision, guest host Mary Alice Parks and Sir Richard Dearlove, former Chief of MI6, sit down with Jon Czin, former Director for China at the National Security Council and current Chair of Foreign Policy Studies at the Brookings Institution. In this conversation, the group explores China's growing confidence and its shift from defensive to offensive strategy under the second Trump administration. They examine China's economic posturing, including Xi Jinping's reluctance to craft a stimulus package, Beijing's confidence in its technological advancements, and why tariffs have failed to gain the leverage Washington expected. They also examine the tension between Trump's trade-focused approach and U.S. lawmakers security concerns. The group debates whether China’s assertiveness reflects genuine strength or hides deeper vulnerabilities in its political and economic system, and questions what China’s recent confidence could mean for a potential Taiwan invasion in 2027. The conversation also looks at how China’s rise is shaping global order, including Europe's increasing dependence on China and the risks that come with it, and considers whether the West is truly prepared for what lies ahead. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Original music composed and produced by Leo Sidran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices