One Decision

The Elders' Mary Robinson was the first female President of Ireland. She has spent decades fighting climate change. One Decision's Julia Macfarlane gets her take on China, Biden, & whether a world weary from COVID can rally the strength to make the sacrifices necessary to reduce carbon emissions. Plus the former head of the British spy agency Sir Richard Dearlove on the serious security and stability implications we are likely to see emerge from environmental issues in the coming years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s been two years since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, but the virus has quickly been replaced by two increasingly concerning crises that are redrawing the political and diplomatic map. The Washington Post’s Shane Harris and New Lines’ Hassan Hassan join Sir Richard Dearlove to consider how Putin’s gamble in Ukraine, coinciding with a global energy crisis that is battering households worldwide, is putting pressure on governments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Russian war on Ukraine has western leaders looking once again to the Middle East to ramp up oil supplies to bring relief at the gas pump as they try to squeeze Russia’s economy. But energy giant Saudi Arabia and its crown prince Mohammed bin Salman have so far been cool to western efforts to get him to pump more oil to get gas prices down. And the Arab Gulf states as well as Israel have been cautious to date about declaring allegiance in the struggle between Russian President Vladimir Putin and the West. Wall Street Journal investigative reporter Justin Scheck, co-author of a book on the Saudi crown prince: Blood & Oil: Mohammed bin Salman’s Ruthless Quest for Global Power, joins former MI6 chief Sir Richard Dearlove, and guest host Laura Rozen, to discuss how MBS and the Middle East are trying to navigate a world reshaped by the war in Ukraine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hollywood used to rule. But now, American blockbusters often cannot break even without breaking into the Chinese box office. Not only that, sharp Chinese film executives who have studied decades of American success on the silver screen, are beating them at their own game. Erich Schwartzel has taken a deep dive on the growing links between Hollywood and China, the impact on freedom of expression, and how Beijing is weaponizing the arts to support its global strategic priorities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former Estonian Prime Minister Taavi Rõivas speaks exclusively to One Decision on what it’s like being a small FSU state on the border with an increasingly aggressive Russia. As PM, he lobbied for Nato to step up its presence in the Alliance’s east - and secured Nato troop deployments in the Baltics for the first time in 2016 after the annexation of Crimea. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Donald Trump quit the Iran nuclear deal in 2018, then Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu showered him with praise. But now, a series of former Israeli security chiefs says the decision was a catastrophe. “The worst mistake of the last decade,” former Israeli Defense Minister Yaalon said. Former Israeli military intelligence Iran analyst Danny Citrinowicz says Israel didn’t really have any plan B for what to do after the US pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal and Iran responded by growing its nuclear program with few constraints. He talks about how Israel and the United States cheered each other on to make a terrible mistake. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vladimir Putin made the decision to invade Ukraine - sending shockwaves around the world. As Russian forces have shelled schools, administrative buildings and residential blocks, civilians on both sides have expressed horror at the sudden turn of events. As detention centers in Moscow and St Petersburg fill up with detained anti-war protesters, the casualties in Ukraine - and among the Russian Armed Forces - is beginning to grow. The EU, which until recently was accused of being divided and unable to respond cohesively to the threat, has sprung into action, imposing sanctions on oligarchs and cutting off Russia and its banking institutions from global finance. Even neutral Switzerland is freezing Russian assets, and Germany suddenly transformed its defence policy overnight - with Chancellor Olaf Scholz announcing a more than $100 billion fund to modernize Germany's defense forces. For now, Ukraine is holding off advancing forces - but things may change. Former Chief of MI6 Sir Richard Dearlove considers Putin's options, and how the West ought to respond. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last July, the President of Haiti was gunned down in his bedroom. The assassination plunged the already fragile country further into turmoil. Ambassador Daniel Foote, America's Special Envoy to Haiti quit his post just a few months later in protest at how the Biden Administration was handling the crisis. In an explosive interview, the former career diplomat opens up about the many mistakes and missed opportunities he witnessed while in office. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Montenegro is a young country where the stakes are especially high as the United States along with its NATO allies look to prevent a further Russian invasion of Ukraine. Former Montenegrin Prime Minister Igor Luksic shares the challenges and critical lessons learned from their independence to integration into NATO with our guest host from the Wall Street Journal, Vivian Salama. They take a close look at the current crisis in Ukraine and how the experience of freeing itself from Russia's nexus may provide valuable recommendations and even a roadmap for other nations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

China’s growing power is a big concern for the West, but perhaps nowhere more so than Australia - US strategic partner and Five Eyes member. Julie Bishop, Foreign Minister between 2013-2018 talks to One Decision about Australia’s priorities in a western alliance post-Trump, and how the West needs to approach and counter, Beijing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we approach the 2022 Winter Olympics, it’s clear that the Chinese President wants the world to focus on China and sports - and not its record on human rights. In 2020 the US State Department accused Beijing of cultural genocide against its Uygher population. Former MI6 Chief Richard Dearlove explores how China is fighting to control the narrative, and the tactics Beijing uses to influence the West. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NBA player Enes Kanter learned a lot about US values when he became a US citizen and changed his name to Enes Freedom. One of those is freedom of speech. But he says speaking out against the Beijing government, whom the US government accuses of cultural genocide, is considered out of bounds. Lifting the lid on the murky relationship between sports and sponsorship, Freedom tells all - including who has been pressuring him to stay silent. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This season we hear directly from some of the key decision makers - former world leaders, foreign policy experts, and leading voices calling for change - to talk about the decisions they’ve taken that have made global shockwaves. And we are also looking at what lies ahead…what are the BIGGEST decisions yet to be made that will have MASSIVE global impact Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Colombian Ambassador Francisco Santos delivers an extraordinary, insider wake-up-call to his South American neighbors: beware the Chinese bearing gifts. And to the US-- “It’s halftime and you’re losing 30 to nothing.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Saudis have entered the English football chat. And it’s not a very pretty one, we’re afraid. Two kick-ass British sports journos sound off on what we know, what all we don’t, how the Newcastle deal went down-- and what ought to happen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

US Amb. Stephanie Turco Williams led fractured Libya through its dark days after war. Now, it’s on the cusp of a first-ever presidential election. But she is sounding a very loud alarm to the US and others—that democracy still desperately needs something. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Was it a very bad year? Or just a looong continuation of 2020?! You don’t want to miss this sharp, freewheeling roundtable on the most impactful decisions on our planet—and the not-so-obvious angles. With FT’s Gillian Tett. Politico’s Suzanne Lynch. And Sir Richard lets loose with some insights… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Max Lucks faced death threats from the Far Right, on his long road to the Bundestag. At 24, he is now one of the fresh faces—and consciences—of Germany’s youngest-ever parliament. He speaks candidly on what’s coming—and what he wants. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The day after the September 11th attacks, then-NATO chief Lord George Robertson faced an existential question for the alliance: was this an attack on all? And if so, what to do? Lord Robertson, for the first time, shares details of his dealings with all the players of the time: Bush, Rumsfeld, Powell—even Vladimir Putin. Who wanted something… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patricia Moller, legendary American ambassador, describes a big decision she made that helped spark democracy in a West African country. Which, just fell to a military coup. Not good. Or—is it? Her words may surprise you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

China has been getting everywhere. Investing in virtually every corner of the globe. And now, the Middle East. With 5G, and beyond. Expert and longtime diplomat Charles Dunne-- along with Britain’s former head of Mi6—get real, about what this means for the West. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Liberia, Myanmar, Haiti, etc.—the trouble spots of the world are what Richard Gowan’s organization focuses on. And alerts the world to looming crises of violence, instability. But this time—the focus was right here at home. A controversial decision that pointed straight to Jan. 6th. Before it happened. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Simon Adams needed one thing, to fight for justice for hundreds of thousands of victims and refugees in Myanmar. It was simple. But no one—no country in the entire world—would dare do it. Except, one day… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Coming up in the next season of One Decision podcast we’ll be sharing all new gripping stories of decisions good – and bad. Our guests take us on a journey through their doubts, emotions and sometimes unexpected consequences. Tune in next week for a new season! You can download One Decision on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you find your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The pandemic spreading like fire, the WHO’s Paul Molinaro is faced with an all-consuming task: trying to stop the virus in its tracks. And get people to pay for it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman’s testimony rocked the Trump administration. He was called a hero. Then, betrayed. By the very people he thought he could rely on most. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sir Richard Dearlove tells why. But what’s the latest thinking on this mystery? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Governments around the world can now slip into your DM’s—and everything else—unnoticed. A team of journalists vows to expose it all. Listen to Laurent Richard and Danna Ingleton on the NSO Group. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shawn VanDiver’s friend was on a mountain, surrounded by Taliban. He said goodbye. The rest is (amazing) history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So what’s the best (and worst) decision you’ve ever made, in your career? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alyssa Farah was witness to a momentous decision—and pushback, and doubt—inside the Trump administration. Then, faced an ethical decision of her own. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever wonder what—exactly—it is like, trying to get North Korea to agree to anything? You need to listen to Robert Gallucci tell it. And how his own people nearly wrecked everything. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever wonder what—exactly—it is like, trying to get North Korea to agree to anything? You need to listen to Robert Gallucci tell it. And how his own people nearly wrecked everything. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kyaw Moe Tun’s country’s troubled democracy has just crumbled in a violent coup. Forcing an ambassador to choose a path, risk his life—and go rogue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alyssa Farah was witness to a momentous decision—and pushback, and doubt—inside the Trump administration. Then, faced an ethical decision of her own. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It was the most delicate of situations. A minefield of moving past a bitter war, and trying to prevent another one. Baroness Catherine Ashton knew the expected way of doing things would never cut it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s gotten increasingly tricky to decide where each Olympic Games should go. There’s always gonna be a reason why not. And he has to face the music, every time. Now, here comes China, with Richard Pound. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices