Best Andrew Schieffer Podcasts (2025)

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Did U.S. Strikes Prevent an Iranian Bomb—or Provoke One? 22:58

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1d ago22:58

22:58

“The word ‘obliteration’ is being used a lot…I think there’s a little more nuance to it.” Intelligence assessments from the International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran, and the United States have provided competing accounts of the functionality of Fordow, Iran’s critical uranium refinement site, and the Iranian nuclear program as a whole. The intellig…

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Is Ideology Blinding Iran to Reality? 28:50

2d ago28:50

28:50

“They didn’t understand the essence of Israel, and they are now dead.” Are Iran and regional terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah considering the reality of Israel’s military posture and motivations? Iran may have underestimated Israel’s willingness to launch a surprise attack like the one that started the 12-day war, but with a fragile ceasef…

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Emergency Podcast: How Degraded is Iran’s Nuclear and Missile Program? 13:45

3d ago13:45

13:45

CSIS Missile Threat Program director Tom Karako joins the podcast to assess conflicting reports about the degradation of Iran’s nuclear and missile program and how soon Iran may be able to rebuild.By CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies

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12-Day War: Now What? 25:19

4d ago25:19

25:19

CSIS’s Jon Alterman, a longtime Middle East scholar and geopolitical expert, joins the podcast to discuss potential outcomes from Israel and Iran’s 12-day war and shaky ceasefire. Key question: Does the conflict and ceasefire make the world a safer place and reduce nuclear proliferation, or does it possibly increase nuclear proliferation?…

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Emergency Podcast: Iran Strikes Back 15:19

5d ago15:19

15:19

CSIS Middle East Program Director Mona Yacoubian joins the podcast to discuss Monday’s strike by Iran on Al Udeid Air Base, the largest American military installation in the Middle East and the broader strategic implications of the conflict.By CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies

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Google's Gopi Kallayil on the AI Revolution 47:12

9d ago47:12

47:12

In this cross over episode, Mariana and Andrew are joined by Gopi Kallayil, Google’s Chief Business Strategist for AI, to explore what he calls “the most profound technology ever created by human beings.” Gopi shares how AI’s evolution is reshaping industries while amplifying human cognition and creativity. They discuss the tightrope between AI’s p…

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How Might Iran Conflict End? 29:50

9d ago29:50

29:50

CSIS’s Norm Roule, a former senior U.S. intelligence officer for the Middle East joins the podcast to discuss how conflict with Iran might end, what regime change could look like, the wider implications for the United States and the region and more.By CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies

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Israel’s Strategic Objectives and the Future of Warfare 23:44

10d ago23:44

23:44

CSIS’s Eliot A. Cohen, former dean of Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and former councilor to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice joins the podcast to discuss Israel’s strategic objectives, potential regime change in Iran and what Israel’s military operation indicates for the future of warfare.…

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YoVG # 494 Not E3 - The Dust Has Settled 1:07:57

10d ago1:07:57

1:07:57

2025 Sony State of Play, Summer Games Fest, and the Xbox showcase have come and gone. We've had some time to step back, come down from the hype, and think of what really grabbed our attention last week. So, what stood out to you? What got you hyped in the moment, but now that you've had a minute, the optimism has cooled? Was Not-E3 a major success?…

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Israel-Iran: Is Time Running Out? 18:24

12d ago18:24

18:24

"This is easily once of the biggest ballistic missile and ballistic missile defense engagements in history, and it is truly momentous in terms of the overall context and the overall posture that Israel is taking." Israel and Iran have been at war since June 13, with each country firing hundreds of ballistic missiles in just a few days. Iran's defen…

1
Emergency Podcast: Israeli Strike on Iran 30:13

15d ago30:13

30:13

CSIS’ Seth Jones, Emily Harding and Ben Jensen join the podcast to discuss Israel’s strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, leadership and other targets.By CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies

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YoVG # 493 Guest Rick Lagnese of Madfinger Games! 1:22:01

17d ago1:22:01

1:22:01

This week we have a special guest on the show: Madfinger Games' PR and Comms Director - Rick Lagnese! Madfinger Games is currently developing Grayzone Warfare, an MMO FPS in early access, but has its beginnings in mobile games. You might think that is a huge leap, but there is a clear through-line from their earliest games to today. Developing and …

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Can We Share Spectrum? 13:09

20d ago13:09

13:09

"The spectrum is a scarce national resource...it is absolutely a defense priority." Much of the spectrum has been auctioned off for commercial use, sparking a fierce debate on Capitol Hill: How can we balance spectrum use between commercial and national defense needs? While fast telecommunications is crucial to our economy, leaving spectrum space f…

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YoVG # 492 Sony State of Play - Summer 2025 1:11:09

23d ago1:11:09

1:11:09

Oh, okay Sony. I don't know why people are so hard to please these days, but this was a solid presentation. Went from one game on the horizon to now like half a dozen dropping just in September? Pragmata isn't dead? Romeo IS dead? Overall this is one of Sony's better state of play presentations - let's get into why!…

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What is the End Point of U.S.-China Competition? 26:41

25d ago26:41

26:41

“I do believe we’re in a strategic competition. I believe it’s fine to describe it that way analytically. But if it’s a competition that is purely strategic, what’s the goal? What’s the endpoint?” U.S. strategic competition with China is a cornerstone of our Indo-Pacific policy. However, this suggests that the U.S.-China relationship is always a ze…

1
Russia’s Battlefield Woes 17:40

1M ago17:40

17:40

“The stark reality is that the Russians really aren’t doing well on the battlefield, and their economy is also in pretty tough shape.” CSIS experts examined several indicators of Russia’s battlefield performance and found that it has been performing poorly since January 2024. Russia’s rate of advance on some fronts has been as slow as just 50 meter…

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YoVG # 491 The Doldrums 2025 1:07:53

1M ago1:07:53

1:07:53

It's that time of year where things slow down. The calm before the storm of summer announcements. E3 may be dead but the excitement of E3 week lives on. Unfortunately, it means this time of year - unless there is a major leak - is usually quiet. But that's okay because this episode we talk about areas of the world, mythologies and cultures that cou…

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YoVG # 490 Is Any Game Worth $80? 1:03:42

1M ago1:03:42

1:03:42

Subjectively, yes. There are games I would pay 80 for and not feel bad. Although one problem may be that you don't know until you own it and have played it - whether it is worth it. Profits in the game industry have never been higher, so why is Randy saying he needs the real fans to shell out 80 bucks for a game? What makes a game "high end" in his…

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The Golden Dome and the New Missile Age 20:36

1M ago20:36

20:36

“Back in 2015, about $12.8 billion, or about 7.6 percent of DOD’s modernization, went to missile defense of some kind. Today it’s up to $25.5 billion, and 8.2 percent of DOD’s modernization budget.” As hypersonic missiles, cruise missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles become increasingly more common on the battlefield, focusing on the full spectrum…

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Trump’s Middle East Minerals Deal 16:02

1M ago16:02

16:02

“The Gulf is an absolutely critical player in critical minerals, because they’re all working on their goal of diversifying away from a reliance on oil…Each of these countries has adopted critical minerals as a central priority for their own economic development agenda, and that mirrors President Trump’s prioritization of minerals.” Minerals collabo…

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YoVG # 489 Peak Anime & Summer Games Fest Possibilities 1:06:51

2M ago1:06:51

1:06:51

Alright, who the hell knows what's coming for Summer GamesFest 2025. Microsoft has blown it's load so maybe we have a shocking Xbox Games Showcase in June, or maybe it is a dead zone. Sony has Ghost of Yotei and Marathon, but Marathon is in rough shape by many accounts. And Nintendo is going to do its own thing. What's that leave? Two hours of Deat…

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Emergency Podcast: U.S.-China Tariff Pause 27:20

2M ago27:20

27:20

“The economic costs were beginning to become much more obvious—not just in terms of the market volatility, but potential shortages, inflation, the rare earths restrictions that the Chinese imposed. Those were going to bite soon.” On May 12, the White House announced a 90-day pause in the trade war between the United States and China and a significa…

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Analyzing Missile Attacks in Ukraine 31:48

2M ago31:48

31:48

“Modern war is almost a new missile age.” Missiles have played a crucial role in the Russia-Ukraine war, with Russia beginning to send mass missile salvos at command and control nodes, political centers, and even civilian targets. The CSIS Futures Lab has launched an innovative new project, the Russian Firepower Strike Tracker, that uses AI and dat…

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Trump and the Australian Elections 20:30

2M ago20:30

20:30

CSIS’s Charles Edel joins the podcast to discuss the Australian elections and what it means for the Trump administration and the United States.By CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies

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YoVG # 488 1000xRESIST Creative Director Remy Siu! 1:11:19

2M ago1:11:19

1:11:19

1000xRESIST was a GOTY contender for Matt last year and by a twist of good luck we got to sit down with Remy Siu, the creative director, for the one year anniversary of release. With such a small team, Remy wore a lot of hats. He comes from a performing arts background, and during the COVID shutdown he found himself with the time to start learning …

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YoVG # 487 Industry Obscur Expedition Stonks 1:10:03

2M ago1:10:03

1:10:03

This week saw the buying of Polygon (and subsequent layoffs), GiantBomb's implosion (and subsequent staff exodus) and in a bright spot Clair Obscur Expedition 33 released (it is great!) So, why is the industry seemingly cannibalizing itself at the height of its fortunes? Well, we've said it before: short term gains to entice investors. Alanah Pearc…

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A Drone and Ground View From Ukraine 19:21

2M ago19:21

19:21

CSIS’ Emily Harding joins the podcast to discuss observations from her recent visit to Ukraine including drone warfare, the state of the battlefield, U.S. and European support as well as the mining deal forged by President Trump and President Zelensky.By CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies

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Debt Matters 31:04

2M ago31:04

31:04

CSIS’s Phil Luck joins the podcast to discuss the U.S. national debt, why it matters and what the Trump administration and Congress can do to address it.By CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies

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Trump’s Panama Canal Policy 18:44

2M ago18:44

18:44

CSIS’s Ryan Berg joins the podcast to discuss the U.S. strategic interests in the Panama Canal, competition with China and potential outcomes.By CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies

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Can Policy Win the AI Race? 21:50

2M ago21:50

21:50

"There's some real concern that if U.S. companies back away from selling in China, Chinese companies like Huawei could become dominant in this space and outsell us all over the world, which then hurts our competitiveness." China and the United States have quickly taken the lead in the global AI race, each acting as a hub for innovation in its own h…

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YoVG # 486 F Realism! 1:15:37

2M ago1:15:37

1:15:37

In this week's episode we wanted to keep it fun and light again. So, we talk about the true enemy of a good time: realism. Okay not always. Some realistic elements can really add to a game. Certain mechanics being realistic adds authenticity, or keeps a loop challenging and fresh. But when does realism go too far? Also in this episode: reasons Miam…

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China Weathers the Storm of U.S. Tariffs 18:58

2M ago18:58

18:58

“This is not good for China’s economy, but they have staying power, and I don’t see them backing down.” While the pandemic years were tough on China’s economy, the country has recently recovered financially, recording a 5 percent growth rate last year. China is also becoming increasingly less dependent on exports to the United States and is diversi…

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YoVG # 485 PS6 Rumors, Already!? 1:06:55

2M ago1:06:55

1:06:55

There are already PS6 rumors gaining momentum. Does this further prove that PS5 has been sort of a dud? I don't know. And we aren't going into how true or possible this rumor is: just talking about what it would take to be a success. Plus, I share more YoVG deep lore. correction I misspeak about Marathon: I have only seen the official gameplay trai…

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Auto Tariffs Threaten to Drive Up Prices 23:26

2M ago23:26

23:26

"The President's 'Liberation Day' really shakes the foundation of the current system in the auto industry...if these tariffs stay on for any length of time, they could lead to a fundamental reordering of the U.S. market." The slate of tariffs recently announced by the White House will likely lead to rising costs for cars in the United States, espec…

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China’s Halt of Critical Minerals 20:15

2M ago20:15

20:15

CSIS’s Gracelin Baskaran joins the podcast to discuss China’s halt of critical minerals to the United States. In addition to consumer products, the Pentagon and defense contractors are heavily reliant on magnets and rare earth minerals mined or processed in China. Baskaran discusses the impact of this decision and more.…

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Rep. Bryan Steil on STABLE Act 22:57

3M ago22:57

22:57

“We are in the Golden Age of digital assets.” More Americans than ever are investing in cryptocurrencies and digital assets, keeping the United States dominant in blockchain technologies. However, given market volatility and the decentralized nature of these assets, some lack confidence in dollar-denominated payment stablecoins as a viable investme…

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YoVG # 484 Switch 2: Failure to Launch? 1:09:12

3M ago1:09:12

1:09:12

The Switch 2 was revealed a week ago and for a short time, a very short time, spirits were high. Since then, Nintendo has had to push back the pre-order date, take back the announced price, and do damage control on their planned variable pricing for games. The biggest culprit? Trade uncertainty as big ol' tariffs start hitting everywhere. But it tu…

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Liberation Day Fallout and What Comes Next 30:33

3M ago30:33

30:33

In this special crossover episode with CSIS podcast, The Trade Guys, Bill Reinsch and Scott Miller unpack the latest news about the impacts of the Trump administration’s reciprocal tariffs and how markets, trading partners, and consumers will respond.By CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies

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Mark Penn Polls and the Future of News 22:49

3M ago22:49

22:49

Stagwell CEO and longtime pollster/strategist talks about his latest Harvard CAPS/Harris poll findings plus a discussion about the future of news.By CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies

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South Korea’s Quiet Crisis and Trade with the U.S. 7:05

3M ago7:05

7:05

CSIS’ Victor Cha joins the podcast to discuss South Korea’s “Quiet Crisis” of leadership and the vacuum in wake of President Yoon’s impeachment, plus, the impact of President Trump’s tariffs while the ROK seeks to elect its next leader over the next two months.By CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies

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Reciprocal Tariff Reactions 24:18

3M ago24:18

24:18

In this special crossover episode with CSIS podcast, The Trade Guys, Bill Reinsch and Andrew give their first takes on the April 2 tariff announcements from the White House.By CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies

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Brief: Trump's Tariff Plan 11:18

3M ago11:18

11:18

CSIS’s Navin Girishankar joins the podcast to discuss the new world order President Trump has created with his latest tariff announcement.By CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies

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YoVG # 483 Nintendo Switch 2 Launch Direct! 1:03:58

3M ago1:03:58

1:03:58

I think the technical term for this is: a pickle. In a vacuum, Nintendo had an excellent direct. This is shaping up to be a wonderful launch. Especially if you consider players who will only own a Switch 2 - there is a host of excellent games coming to the Switch 2 within the first few months, to say nothing of excellent games in the first year! Bu…

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Drones and AI on the Ukrainian Battlefield 17:01

3M ago17:01

17:01

"Ukraine is sort of a laboratory for what the future of warfare across the planet could look like." The war in Ukraine has caused rapid military innovation since Russia's invasion over three years ago, from military-commercial integration to collaboration with the civil sector to the production of cheap, small attritable drones. But most of all, Uk…

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Brief: What to Expect from Tariffs 5:26

3M ago5:26

5:26

In this special episode of The Truth of the Matter, Andrew is joined by CSIS's Philip Luck, director of the CSIS Economics Program and Scholl Chair in International Business, to discuss the new tariffs set to take effect on April 2 and their impact on Americans and the global economy.By CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies

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China Cracks Down on Journalism 19:13

3M ago19:13

19:13

“If you’re a reporter in Beijing right now, you have to assume that the Chinese government knows every source you’re meeting with, that they know every interview you’re going to do.” When Jane Perlez worked as the New York Times bureau chief in Beijing, she supervised 15 journalists. Now, the Times has only two journalists permanently based in Chin…

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YoVG # 482 Switch 2 Direct Predictions w/ Stealth40k! 1:15:51

3M ago1:15:51

1:15:51

Nintendo's Switch 2 Direct is coming and all the rumors say it is going to be one hell of a show! We have special guest Stealth40k on to discuss what we know, rumors and hopes. Also, apologies for my audio quality on this one: Windows switched my mic to my webcam, and because we were recording when it happened - no pop up to let me know. So cool. V…

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Hidden Depths: Water as a Resource and a Weapon 24:13

3M ago24:13

24:13

Water is essential to global society, for everything from drinking and growing food to producing energy and cultural practices. 40 percent of the world’s workforce works in sectors that rely on water, and water counts for $58 trillion in global economic output each year. But while the industrialized world can take water access for granted, water re…

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Russia's Shadow War Against the West 19:14

3M ago19:14

19:14

Russia poses several types of threats to Western powers. In the conventional sphere, the invasion of Ukraine is a direct threat to European countries. But below the threshold of conventional war, Russia's military intelligence directorate is also carrying out "active measures," an irregular warfare campaign of sabotage and subversion against Wester…

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YoVG # 481 We Were Wrong! 55:22

3M ago55:22

55:22

We've gotten plenty of things wrong over the years. It's rare to say it as content creators, but for another evergreen episode this week, we thought: lets talk about being hilariously wrong. We cover everything from anime we were wrong about to being wrong about one of the biggest games of all time. So, lube up your ears and let us guide you on a j…