On this episode of The Burn Bag, we unpack the U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear sites—marking a sharp escalation in the Israel-Iran conflict and raising fears of a wider regional war. National security expert Javed Ali joins us to trace the timeline from the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel to the Israeli strikes deep inside Iran and the decision that brought U.S. forces directly into the fight. We discuss the key turning points that drove the escalation, the role of Iran’s nuclear program in the conflict, and the potential for asymmetric retaliation from Iran’s extensive proxy network. Javed also offers insight into the precarious ceasefire announced by President Trump, what it might take to hold it, and the critical signals to watch in the weeks ahead.

In this episode, A’ndre speaks with retired four-star General Stanley McChrystal, former commander of Joint Special Operations Command and the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. Widely recognized for revolutionizing modern counterinsurgency strategy and interagency counterterrorism operations, McChrystal reflects on a lifetime of leadership, failure, resilience, and personal growth through the lens of his new book, On Character: Choices That Define a Life.

The conversation begins with McChrystal’s reflections on the defining moment of his resignation from the military and how it reshaped his understanding of identity, accountability, and integrity. He speaks candidly about navigating fear and how it presents itself in warfare and political polarization. General McChrystal also discusses leadership and accountability, drawing on the examples of prior military leaders such as General Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Topics covered include:

• The personal reckoning after his resignation and how it redefined his understanding of character
• Leading through fear, uncertainty, and moral complexity
• How belief systems and perception shape conflict, politics, and leadership
• Bridging division in a polarized society and restoring trust through integrity

You can purchase On Character here.

In this episode, A’ndre speaks with his old boss Dr. Paul Staniland, Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago and a leading authority on political violence and South Asian security, for an in-depth conversation on the recent confrontation between India and Pakistan.

Dr. Staniland analyzes the strategic logic behind India’s Operation Sindoor, launched in response to a deadly terrorist attack in Kashmir that killed 26 civilians. The conversation explores the evolving nature of India and Pakistan's disputes over Kashmir, the role of militant networks, and the risks of escalation in a nuclear-armed region shaped by domestic politics and great power rivalry.

Topics covered include:

• The political and strategic rationale behind India’s cross-border strikes
• Pakistan’s relationship with armed groups and its role in crisis escalation
• Lessons from past India-Pakistan confrontations — and what may be different now
• The role of the U.S., China, and backchannel diplomacy in managing the ceasefire
• How domestic politics contributed to the confrontation

Dr. Staniland offers a uniquely grounded perspective on how South Asia’s most volatile rivalry is evolving — and what to watch for as both countries recalibrate their strategies under rising regional and global pressure.

In this episode, A’ndre speaks with Mark Linscott, former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative and one of Washington’s most experienced trade negotiators, for an in-depth discussion on the logic and implications of President Trump’s "reciprocal" tariffs.

With decades of experience leading U.S. trade policy across multilateral institutions and bilateral platforms, Linscott offers expert analysis on how tariffs are being used as both an economic and geopolitical tool. The conversation covers the legal basis for executive tariff authority, the mechanics behind President Trump's “reciprocal tariffs,” and how Trump administration’s actions will impact the global trade landscape.

Topics covered include:

• The fundamentals of tariff policy and the legal tools used to implement them

• The scope and possible strategy behind Trump’s April 2 “Liberation Day” tariffs

• Escalating U.S.-China trade tensions and the role of 145% tariffs

• Reactions from key partners such as India, and the broader global economic impact

• How tariffs are being increasingly intertwined with national security concerns

Mark Linscott brings a uniquely informed perspective on how current tariff policies may redefine America’s role in global trade — and what to watch as the economic and political consequences unfold.

In this episode, A’ndre speaks with Dr. Yousef Munayyer, Senior Fellow at the Arab Center Washington DC, about recent U.S. policy developments affecting pro-Palestinian activism, including efforts by the Trump administration to deport foreign students and activists involved in campus protests.

The conversation explores how the war in Gaza is shaping political expression in the United States, particularly in the context of university activism, and examines broader questions around immigration policy, civic space, and public discourse. Dr. Munayyer also provides his view on U.S. support for Israel and how this is influencing domestic debates.

Topics covered include:

• The current state of the conflict in Gaza and U.S. policy under both Biden and Trump
• The status of the two-state solution and implications of regional diplomacy
• Campus protests and public discourse surrounding Israel-Palestine
• Recent deportation efforts impacting international students
• The intersection of foreign policy, free expression, and immigration enforcement
• Possible long-term impacts on U.S. civic space and international engagement

Dr. Munayyer authored a chapter Suppressing Dissent: Shrinking Civic Space, Transnational Repression, and Palestine-Israel, which you can find here.

This week, A’ndre is joined by former National Security Advisor Ambassador John Bolton for a wide-ranging conversation on the return of Donald Trump to the White House — and how the second term is stacking up against the first.

Drawing from his front-row experience during Trump’s first administration, Bolton reflects on the decision-making process he witnessed firsthand: the role of personality, the unpredictability, and the often transactional approach to global affairs. We dig into what’s changed, what hasn’t, and what it all means for U.S. national security.

Topics include:

• How Trump’s foreign policy in term two compares to term one
• Who Trump listens to and who he does not, and how that shapes U.S. policy
• The recent NSC firings and what it may signal about who has influence
• Trump’s approach to China, NATO, and the war in Ukraine
• What to make of Trump’s renewed talk of acquiring Greenland — and why Amb. Bolton believes there are real security interests behind the idea
• How Bolton views Trump’s latest tariff decisions through the lens of his leadership style

Amb. Bolton brings his signature candor and deep institutional knowledge to the table as we explore whether the second Trump term is more strategic — or a continuation of its most unpredictable tendencies.

This week on the podcast, A’ndre is joined by renowned national security attorney Mark Zaid to unpack the rapidly unfolding scandal now known as Signalgate — a controversy sparked when a The Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg was accidentally added to a Signal group chat among senior Trump officials. The chat revealed detailed U.S. military strike plans against Houthi targets in Yemen just hours before the operation, raising alarm bells across Washington about operational security, the handling of sensitive information, and basic judgment at the highest levels of government.

In this conversation, A'ndre asks:

• What laws were likely broken — and do they apply to former Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, and others in the chat?
• Is the Trump administration’s defense that the info was “unclassified” legally sound — or dangerously misleading?
• Could a journalist face legal exposure for publishing the leaked Signal thread?
• What would’ve happened to a junior officer who made the same mistake?
• Are we in uncharted territory, legally and institutionally, as executive power is increasingly stretched?

Plus, A'ndre and Mark dig into the broader crackdown on law firms and legal professionals seen as critical of the Trump administration, and what it means for checks and balances in the years ahead.

Mark brings his decades of experience — representing whistleblowers, intelligence officers, and journalists — to help us break down the legal implications, national security risks, and systemic dangers of a White House seemingly operating outside the lines.

In this episode, A’ndre Gonawela sits down with historian and University of Utah professor Peter Roady to explore how the definition of national security has evolved over the 20th and 21st centuries. They examine how U.S. presidents have shaped national security priorities, focusing on Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s vision in the 1930s—one that included economic security as a core pillar. Roady unpacks the conservative opposition to FDR’s expansive view of national security and how this ideological struggle shaped modern policy debates. The conversation also considers how the concept of national security has expanded beyond military threats to include issues like gun violence, public health, climate change, and political extremism. Peter and A'ndre analyze whether we are seeing a return to a broader, more holistic understanding of security — similar to FDR’s vision — or if national security remains narrowly defined by foreign policy and defense concerns.