The Decision Advantage

In this Essential Geopolitics podcast from RANE, Emily Donahue speaks with Greg Priddy. Priddy, who directs coverage of global energy and the Middle East, says the road ahead for oil producers looks long and hard. From Saudi Arabia to Russia and the U.S., the oil markets are looking at a sustained downturn, not unlike that of the mid-1980's. Subscribers to RANE Worldview can read all of our coverage of the Middle East. Get started with your subscription today at https://www.ranenetwork.com/worldview-subscribe.

In this episode of RANE's Essential Geopolitics podcast, host Emily Donahue speaks with Ben West about his work surveying how the global return to work is going. West says that If the shut down process in March and April seemed chaotic and disorganized, the reopening process will be even more jumbled. That's because not only is there no global plan in place but inside individual countries - including the United States - processes are split between national, state, local and even individual plans. You can read more from Ben West on https://worldview.stratfor.com/.

In this episode of the Pen and Sword podcast from RANE, Rodger Baker speaks with the inaugural president and CEO of the George H. W. Bush Foundation for U.S.-China Relations David Firestein. A decorated career U.S. diplomat from 1992–2010, Mr. Firestein specialized primarily in China and U.S.-China relations. Topics covered range from the COVID19 to latest trade tariffs to the U.S. presidential election and the future world order. Subscribers to RANE Worldview can read decades of analysis on the US-China trade and diplomatic relationship as well as in-depth details about China's one belt, one road initiative. Subscribe today at https://www.ranenetwork.com/worldview-subscribe.

The geopolitics of energy and how access to energy and uses of energy play into a changing world order are the topics of Dr. Michael Webber's new book, "Power Trip: The Story of Energy" from Basic Books. Webber argues the stakes are high, given that Earth is in the midst of a major climate transition even as developing countries seek better access to reliable sources of energy. Will the future be driven by clean energy or by fossil fuels? Just where the thirst for power will take us is a critical question for the next half-century, and one that will be answered, Webber argues, whether we are ready or not.

In this episode of Essential Geopolitics from RANE, Emily Hawthorne discusses how the six Middle Eastern countries: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman are approaching the battle against COVID-19. As with the rest of the world, Hawthorne advises, the virus will impact economies, industries and societies. The real question is how to prevent any unrest arising from the impacts. Subscribers to RANE Worldview can read the latest on the geopolitical, cyber, security and risk impacts of GCOVID-19. Get started with your subscription by visiting https://www.ranenetwork.com/worldview-subscribe.

In this episode of the RANE Insight podcast series, host Emily Donahue speaks to Bill Edwards Associate Principle of Protective Design & Security Services Thornton Tomasetti. s the third quarter approaches, a large portion of the workforce may be back. But what would that actually mean?. Edwards says there must be changes to the workplace to ensure workers, clients and visitors will be safe as COVID-19 restrictions begin lifting. Collaboration and creative thinking are necessary to address workplace issues businesses may never have encountered. Topics covered include: How do businesses prepare for a returning workforce? For multinational or multi-state businesses what are best practices for reopening?

In this episode of the RANE Insight podcast series, host Emily Donahue speaks to Bill Edwards Associate Principle of Protective Design & Security Services Thornton Tomasetti. As the third quarter approaches, a large portion of the workforce may be back. But what would that actually mean? Edwards says there must be changes to the workplace to ensure workers, clients and visitors will be safe as COVID-19 restrictions begin lifting. Collaboration and creative thinking are necessary to address workplace issues businesses may never have encountered. Topics covered include: How do businesses prepare for a returning workforce? For multinational or multi-state businesses what are best practices for reopening?

In this Essential Geopolitics podcast from RANE, the conversation is about impending resumption of work on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany. You may recall it was interrupted last year when US sanctions forced the company providing pipe laying vessels to bow out of the project. RANE analyst, Sim Tack says it looks like the U.S. won't be able to stop it. Subscribe to RANE Worldview for full coverage of Nord Stream 2 at https://www.ranenetwork.com/worldview-subscribe.

In this episode of the RANE Essential Geopolitics podcast, host Fred Burton speaks to senior global analyst, Matthew Bey. Amid the COVID-19 crisis, a shellshocked global economy and tangled supply chains, it might seem U.S. - China Trade tensions would be on the decrease. Not so. New U.S. export controls against China aimed at limit Beijing's overall access to U.S. technology will come at the cost of further fragmenting the global tech sector’s highly integrated supply chain network. You can read the article at RANE Worldview. Sign up today at https://www.ranenetwork.com/worldview-subscribe.

In this episode of the RANE Essential Geopolitics podcast, host Fred Burton speaks to senior global analyst, Matthew Bey. Amid the COVID-19 crisis, a shellshocked global economy and tangled supply chains, it might seem U.S. - China Trade tensions would be on the decrease. Not so. New U.S. export controls against China aimed at limit Beijing's overall access to U.S. technology will come at the cost of further fragmenting the global tech sector’s highly integrated supply chain network. You can read the article at RANE Worldview now. Start your subscription here: https://www.ranenetwork.com/worldview-subscribe.

In 2007, then-Secretary General of Liaoning Province, Li Keqiang (kuh-chung), told the United States Ambassador that China's gross domestic product (GDP) numbers were "man-made" and that they were for "reference only." Now, as China's second-in-command after General Secretary Xi Jinping, and as Xi's handpicked coordinator of China's COVID-19 response, Li is in charge of informing the world of China's coronavirus infection tally. The tally, much like China's GDP numbers, have raised questions about whether they can be trusted. Official Chinese government numbers have been suspect for years, with China-focused economists preferring to refer to other measures, such as pollution levels, instead of relying on government GDP numbers. With the global outbreak of COVID-19 and its response reliant upon government numbers, their untrustworthiness has been cast into stark relief. In this RANE podcast, RANE Network experts dive into how businesses can parse the government data to get an accurate view of China, what other methods they should rely on, and how they can best build in the assumption of faulty data into their China-centered businesses. Click Here to learn how RANE can help you navigate the geopolitical, intelligence, compliance and other risk of COVID-19 and more business issues.

In this episode of the RANE Insight Series, some common sense advice on working safely while working remotely. Many companies have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by reducing or banning corporate travel and by asking some or all of their employees to work from home. While having employees work from home will help reduce transmission of the virus in the workplace, it also brings with it some additional risks. As the disruptions from responses to COVID-19 mount, it is important to consider the second- and third-order impacts of the extreme efforts being put in place to curb the spread. In this podcast, RANE Founder and former Associate General Counsel and Managing Director at Goldman Sachs, David Lawrence, sits down with FBI Special Agent Brad Carpenter and former FBI Deputy Director and current President and CEO of Consortium Networks Tim Murphy to discuss best practices for remote work and ways that companies can protect their systems and data in the coming months.

In this podcast, RANE Founder David Lawrence sits down with Dr. Isaac Weisfuse to discuss his perspectives on the current pandemic and the lessons learned from his experiences working in New York on its 2006 pandemic preparedness plan. This happened as an aggressive strain of the flu was making its way across Asia and the Middle East. Dr. Weisfuse, is a medical epidemiologist with over 25 years of experience in public health at the local and national levels. As a Deputy Commissioner, his responsibilities included the control of infectious diseases in New York City and public health emergency preparedness and response. He led his agency as an incident commander in a number of emergency activations including the 9/11 attack, NYC’s anthrax attack, and the 2009 influenza pandemic. He is now an adjunct professor at Cornell University Public Health.

In this episode of the RANE Essential Geopolitics Podcast, Fred Burton speaks with RANE's Senior European Analyst, Adriano Bosoni. Bosoni says that the COVID-19 pandemic has severely delayed free trade agreement negotiations between the European Union and the United Kingdom. This, combined with logistical and political obstacles, has made it unlikely that the two sides will reach a comprehensive trade deal before Britain's scheduled departure from the EU single market by year's end. Subscribers of RANE Worldview get full access to all of RANE's content. Check it out here: https://worldview.stratfor.com/.

In this episode of the RANE Essential Geopolitics podcast, the conversation turns to the Asia Pacific. Countries in the region - from China to Japan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand and more - have had differing reactions to the coronavirus. That has led to vastly different infection rates and deaths. Podcast listeners can subscribe to RANE Worldview at https://www.ranenetwork.com/worldview-subscribe.

What Data from China can be trusted and what does it really tell us? In 2007, then-Secretary General of Liaoning Province, Li Keqiang (kuh-chung), told the United States Ambassador that China's gross domestic product (GDP) numbers were "man-made" and that they were for "reference only." Now, as China's second-in-command after General Secretary Xi Jinping, and as Xi's handpicked coordinator of China's COVID-19 response, Li is in charge of informing the world of China's coronavirus infection tally. The tally, much like China's GDP numbers, have raised questions about whether they can be trusted. Official Chinese government numbers have been suspect for years, with China-focused economists preferring to refer to other measures, such as pollution levels, instead of relying on government GDP numbers. With the global outbreak of COVID-19 and its response reliant upon government numbers, their untrustworthiness has been cast into stark relief. In this RANE podcast, RANE Network experts dive into how businesses can parse the government data to get an accurate view of China, what other methods they should rely on, and how they can best build in the assumption of faulty data into their China-centered businesses. Subscribe to RANE Worldview for full insights into the U.S. - China Relationship. Find out how RANE can help you navigate the geopolitical, intelligence, compliance and other risk of COVID-19 and more business issues at https://www.ranenetwork.com/worldview-subscribe.

Many companies have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by reducing or banning corporate travel and by asking some or all of their employees to work from home. While having employees work from home will help reduce transmission of the virus in the workplace, it also brings with it some additional risks. As the disruptions from responses to COVID-19 mount, it is important to consider the second- and third-order impacts of the extreme efforts being put in place to curb the spread. In this podcast, RANE Founder and former Associate General Counsel and Managing Director at Goldman Sachs, David Lawrence, sits down with FBI Special Agent Brad Carpenter and former FBI Deputy Director and current President and CEO of Consortium Networks Tim Murphy to discuss best practices for remote work and ways that companies can protect their systems and data in the coming months. Learn how RANE can help you navigate security, intelligence, compliance and other risks with COVID-19 and other business needs here: https://www.ranenetwork.com/worldview-subscribe.

In this episode of RANE's Essential Geopolitics podcast, Host Fred Burton speaks to Thomas Abi-Hanna, a global security analyst for RANE. As anyone in the U.S. who was alive in the 1990's might tell you, the case of convicted spy Aldrich Ames shook Washington and all of its intelligence agencies. Ames worked as a double agent for the USSR and Russia for more than a decade and his treachery led to the deaths of intelligence assets. Subscribers of RANE Worldview can read about Ames and the espionage tactics that continue to this day. Start your subscription today at https://www.ranenetwork.com/worldview-subscribe.

In this episode of RANE's Pen and Sword podcast with Fred Burton, a conversation with Dan Gabriel. Dan Gabriel was just out of college when the terror attacks on September 11th, 2001 spurred him to action. He didn't join the military, though. He joined the CIA where he worked in counter-terrorism. And he traveled to Mosul and Afghanistan during both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, conflicts in many U.S. minds forever known as the ongoing war in Afghanistan and Iraq. He returned to Mosul, as a journalist and filmmaker, just as a coalition of anti-ISIS forces, from governments to individuals were fighting to take back the city from ISIS. Gabriel's film is nerve-wracking but compelling, violent yet deeply sensitive. Subscribers to RANE Worldview can access deep libraries of information and forecasting on topics ranging from terrorism to risk to military capabilities to the fifth domain. Join today at https://www.ranenetwork.com/worldview-subscribe.

In this episode of RANE's Essential Geopolitics podcast, host Fred Burton speaks to RANE analyst Ryan Bohl about Israel's new unity government. As the COVID-19 pandemic sweeps Israel, the state’s squabbling political factions have settled into a new government but still must work together to work to address ongoing issues such as Gaza, annexation and its relationship with its Arab neighbors. Subscribers to RANE Worldview get access to RANE's deep library of content on Israel and the Middle East. Subscribe today at https://www.ranenetwork.com/worldview-subscribe.

In this episode of RANE's Essential Geopolitics podcast, Fred Burton speaks with Greg Priddy. Priddy directs RANE's Global Energy and Middle East Analysis. Today they go deep on why West Texas Intermediate, Intermediate, the main US crude oil benchmark, fell to negative prices Monday afternoon and why the OPEC+ agreement didn't prevent this. You can stay ahead of the economic and geopolitical impacts of the current oil crisis with a subscription to RANE Worldview. Get started today at https://www.ranenetwork.com/worldview-subscribe.

In this episode of RANE's Pen and Sword podcast, host Fred Burton speaks with Alexander White, the V.P. of Cyber at Prescient, a global risk management and intelligence firm. Like RANE, Prescient is monitoring an increase in criminal cyber attacks against companies and home offices. Common sense, White says, is always a good first step in keeping bad actors away from your network's back - or front - door. But smart threat management and awareness is always necessary.

In this episode of RANE's Pen and Sword podcast with host Fred Burton, a conversation with Daron K. Roberts. Roberts is the author of Call An Audible. It is the story of Roberts' last minute pivot away from a career in law and a lifelong ambition to become the Governor of Texas by the age of 40 into an NFL coach. These days, Roberts coaches students in a class about Sports Leadership at The University of Texas at Austin, and serves as a "transition coach" to many. In this interview, Roberts shares his story and thoughts on how to take the enforced time away from the office to try to hone skills that will help you meet goals after the COVID-19 crisis is a thing of the past.

In this episode of RANE's Pen and Sword podcast, host Fred Burton speaks to serial entrepreneur, Brett Hurt. Hurt's latest startup is data.world, a Public Benefit Corporation focused on data and analysis that also includes the world's largest collaborative public data catalog. Data.world is using its platform to help fight the COVID-19 virus, collecting and sharing data from sources like Johns Hopkins, Harvard Global Health Institute, WHO, and individuals. In this conversation, the topics range from how anyone can benefit from and contribute to the COVID-19 data hub to how to weather the nation's biggest downturn in nearly a century. Subscribe to RANE Worldview today for the latest intelligence on the coronavirus at https://www.ranenetwork.com/worldview-subscribe.

In this episode of RANE's Essential Geopolitics podcast, a look at Ramadan during unprecedented times. host Fred Burton speaks to Global Security Analyst Ben West about how during the COVID-19 outbreak, nations and religious pilgrims may encounter unusual security constraints.

In this special episode of RANE's Essential Geopolitics podcast, host Fred Burton speaks to Michael Monderer. The IMF predicts the global economy will be in decline by about 2-3% this year - IF the coronavirus that has locked things down is contained in the first half. "If the virus were to continue throughout the summer or come back next year, unemployment would hit 1/3 of the global workforce," says Monderer, "It's not out of the question that the US unemployment rate could go to over 20 or 30%. Those numbers are people. We've never had a downturn this sharp and this fast. Even the Great Depression, when there was a 25% percent loss of output , took 3 or 4 years to develop."

In this episode of RANE's Essential Geopolitics podcast, Fred Burton speaks to threat expert, Thomas Abi-Hanna. Abi-Hanna is a RANE analyst focusing on security. He says, in this COVID-19 reality of working from home, bad actors are not waiting to pounce. He shares tips on best practices and a warning: "You can invest in the best cyber security technology in the world. But if the person behind the keyboard isn't aware of the threat, it essentially becomes useless."

In this episode of RANE's Pen and Sword podcast with Fred Burton, a conversation with David Lawrence. Lawrence is the Founder and Chief Collaborative Officer at RANE (Risk Assistance Network + Exchange). RANE brings together institutions and individuals to create a single risk management community. Lawrence tells the story of how RANE launched, how RANE connects those in need of solutions with experts who can help through a technology platform that delivers efficient access to information and expertise to drive more informed decision making. Learn more about our story at https://www.ranenetwork.com/about/our-story.

In this episode of RANE's Essential Geopolitics podcast, Fred Burton speaks with Middle East and North Africa analyst, Emily Hawthorne. In a recent analysis for RANE Worldview, Hawthorne wrote that "By tightening the screws on Iran’s regional proxies and energy sector, the United States risks damaging its remaining ties with the Iraqi government." This as both countries remain committed to an anti-terrorist coalition and other ties. A meeting scheduled for June, 2020 will reveal a lot about where the relationship is headed. Subscribe to RANE Worldview to read this article and much more from our expert analyst team at https://www.ranenetwork.com/worldview-subscribe.

In this episode of RANE's Essential Geopolitics podcast, the conversation turns to Russia's efforts to limit the role of its presidency. With a constitutional amendment that would allow Vladimir Putin to run for another two terms, the Kremlin is also trying to delay that inevitable transition as much as possible. Host Fred Burton and global analyst Sim Tack discuss the charismatic president who has overseen his country's resurgence on the world stage and whether Russia will be ready to move beyond Putin.

In this episode of the RANE Pen and Sword podcast, Fred Burton speaks with Margaux Ewing, the director of the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation. The Foundation was named for American independent journalist James Foley, who was kidnapped and murdered in Syria by ISIS. HIs mother, Diane, launched the Foundation to advocate for the freedom of all Americans held hostage abroad and promote the safety of journalists worldwide.

In this episode of RANE's Pen and Sword podcast, host Fred Burton catches up with geopolitical analyst, Peter Zeihan. Zeihan previously worked as an analyst with RANE. In his new book, Disunited Nations, Zeihan is predicting the end of the global order - driven by demographics and geopolitics, nations will become more insular. The coronavirus pandemic, he predicts, will hasten the global order's end. What once may have taken a decade, could now happen within 2020.

In this episode of RANE's Essential Geopolitics podcast, host Fred Burton speaks to middle East and North Africa Analyst, Ryan Bohl. Compared to other nations, has the United Stated responded appropriately to the coronavirus pandemic? What is the right balance between the federal and state governments and is too much intervention even possible? For more content like this delivered to your inbox, subscribe to RANE Worldview today at https://www.ranenetwork.com/worldview-subscribe.

In this episode of RANE's Pen and Sword podcast, host Fred Burton speaks to his pal, the author Jack Carr. Carr's latest book, Savage Son, releases this month. It is the third of the James Reece trilogy. Carr reveals that this tale leans toward the darker side of human nature - and follows the paths of both the hunter and the hunted. Carr says this might be his darkest tale yet, but is still full of human redemption. His research for this book took him to the former Soviet Union, where he found delightful people who were more circumspect than other places he's researched.

In this episode of RANE's Essential Geopolitics podcast, Fred Burton speaks to Senior European Analyst, Adriano Bosoni about about the social, political and economic implications of the COVID-19 outbreak in Europe. As the coronavirus continues to shutter businesses, slow production and furlough or fire workers, RANE asks: How can the EU survive intact?

In this episode of RANE's Essential Geopolitics podcast, Fred Burton catches up with global analyst, Sim Tack. He's focusing on how coronavirus is creating challenges for several nations in Africa and what happens after the pandemic passes.

In this episode of RANE's Pen and Sword podcast, Fred Burton speaks with Samuel Katz. Katz' new book comes out in April. It is entitled, "No Shadows in the Desert, Murder, Vengeance, and Espionage in the War Against ISIS." The author tells Burton that the book details the coalition among nations in the Middle East and with the United States, to take down ISIS. The book reveals the secret inner workings of Jordan’s GID, the masters of human intelligence on the espionage battlefields of the Middle East and its role keeping the coalition on target.

In this episode of RANE's Essential Geopolitics podcast, host Fred Burton speaks with Middle East and North Africa analyst, Emily Hawthorne. They discuss Saudi Arabia and the impact not only of the coronavirus but the challenges resented by falling oil price and demand.

In this episode of RANE's Pen and Sword Podcast, Scott Stewart and Fred Burton discuss COVID-19 and working from home. We recommend that employees be educated about the wide array of phishing schemes seeking to capitalize on COVID-19. Employees should also be advised about business email compromise, sometimes referred to as "CEO scams" or "president scams," a growing risk as more business is conducted remotely and over email.

In this episode of RANE's Essential Geopolitics Podcast, host Fred Burton discusses with RANE Global Security Analyst, Thomas Abi-Hanna where COVID-19 fits into Israel's security planning.

In this episode of RANE's Essential Geopolitics podcast, host Fred Burton speaks with Greg Priddy. Priddy directs RANE's Global Energy and Middle East coverage. They discuss the stand-off between Russia and Saudi Arabia over oil production and pricing as global demand falls from the coronavirus pandemic.

In this episode of RANE's Pen And Sword podcast, host Fred Burton speaks to tracy Walder, the author of THE UNEXPECTED SPY. From the CIA to the FBI, My Secret Life Taking Down Some of the World's Most Notorious Terrorists. Walder was recruited into the CIA from college. She served on several high profile counterterrorism efforts against Al Qaeda during the Iraq War. Later, she joined the FBI. Walder tells RANE's Fred Burton that the work at the FBI wasn't the hard part. Battling sexism was.

In this episode of RANE's Essential Geopolitics Podcast, RANE analysts Ryan Bohl and Ben West discuss Covid-19 as both a global and local phenomenon. It is important to track global trends to see where (and how) the disease is being contained vs. where it is spreading and/or accelerating. But individuals are more likely to be affected by responses from local trends - and should be monitoring localized breakouts and considering how they might impact locally.

In this episode of RANE's Essential Geopolitics podcast, analysts Ryan Bohl and Sim Tack discuss Idlib, Syria. The Syrian government's offensive against rebel forces in Idlib province carries significant risks for Turkey and Russia.

In this episode of the RANE's Essential Geopolitics Podcast, Chief Security Officer Fred Burton discusses with RANE's Middle East and North Africa Analyst, Emily Hawthorne, the latest news on the situation in Iran. The Covid-19 virus is burdening an economy already struggling under U.S. sanctions and near neighbors - indeed, the world - are watching how Iran manages this health crisis, especially as it plans for an influx of religious tourism.

In this episode of the RANE podcast, host Fred Burton speaks to Greg Priddy, who directs RANE's analysis of energy and the Middle East. An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report on Iran's nuclear program is likely to show progress on breakout time for making a single nuclear weapon. But is that the only thing the world is watching for?

In this episode of the RANE Essential Geopolitics podcast, RANE's Ryan Bohl is in the host seat. He discusses with RANE Senior Europe Analyst, Adriano Bosoni, whether the coronavirus will affect Italy's economy and the larger economic and trade situation in the EU.

In this episode of the Stratfor Essential Geopolitics podcast, host Fred Burton speaks to Global Security Analyst, Thomas Abi-Hanna about militancy in the Sahel region of Africa. According to Stratfor Worldview, the area is plagued by increasingly frequent, widespread and deadly militant attacks in recent years.

In this episode of the Stratfor Pen and Sword Podcast, Stratfor Chief Security Officer and host, Fred Burton, speaks with Yudhijit Bhattacharje, author of The Spy Who Couldn’t Spell: A DYSLEXIC TRAITOR, AN UNBREAKABLE CODE, AND THE FBI’S HUNT FOR AMERICA’S STOLEN SECRETS. Bhattacharje discovered the details on a reporting trip to the FBI Lab, where he met a cryptanalyst who shared the details of the unusual spy case. The "thrilling, true-life account of the FBI’s hunt for the ingenious traitor Brian Regan" began just before 9/11/2001, so his story was largely untold until Bhattacharje's book. The author tells Regan's tale - that of a disgruntled employee, a series of brilliant yet bungled attempts to betray his country and a diligent effort to uncover his villainy - in a way that reveals not just Regan's psychology but the pernicious world of espionage at the turn of the 21st century.

In this episode of Stratfor's Essential Geopolitics Podcast, host Fred Burton speaks to Stratfor Global Security Analyst, Thomas Abi-Hanna about Hezbollah, the strongest non-state actors in the world, and Iran's strongest proxy in the Middle East.