President Biden's National Security Advisor - Jake Sullivan - reflects on the administration's policies and on the future of America on the world stage.

About the series:
The Nakasaka Dialogues stimulate conversations about the state of public life and encourage progress toward our shared bonds.

This event series is made possible by a generous contribution from Humphrey School of Public Affairs alumnus Kiyoshi Nakasaka.
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This recording has been edited for brevity and clarity, including a 2-minute disruption during the remarks. Inquiries about the event can be directed to cspg@umn.edu.

The Nakasaka Dialogues Presents: A Conversation with Jake Sullivan

Audio Overview(English): Generate by NotebookLM ( Based on Sinhala Article: https://www.vikalpa.org/article/44889 BY Sampath Samarakoon 

[The HRCSL also recommended that the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security pay 200,000 rupees (LKR 2 lakhs) as compensation for the injustice caused to Rushdi]

This Sri Lankan article from Vikalpa, written by Sampath Samarakoon, critiques the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), describing it as a tool for human rights violations. The piece focuses on the case of Mohammed Rushdi, a young man arrested under the PTA for displaying an "F*** Israel" sticker, an act deemed by authorities as inciting terrorism. The article highlights how Rushdi's human rights were violated and how the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission (HRCSL) recommended compensation for the injustice he suffered. It further questions the current government's commitment to abolishing the PTA, despite earlier promises, emphasizing the need for its repeal to prevent future abuses of power and protect fundamental freedoms.



Colombo 

[Mohamed Rushdi] Branding a Young Man a Terrorist Victim (Under the Pretext of National Security): Can a Victim of the PTA Reclaim His Life?

International Policy students will be spending their careers in an AI-enabled world. We wanted our students to be prepared for it. This is why we’ve adopted and integrated AI in our Stanford national security policy class – Technology, Innovation and Great Power Competition.

Here’s what we did, how the students used it, and what they (and we) learned.

Teaching National Security Policy with AI

The conversation discusses Doug Valentine's "The CIA as Organized Crime: How Illegal Operations Corrupt America and the World," (https://amzn.to/44m9dJm) presents a critical examination of the Central Intelligence Agency's alleged historical and ongoing involvement in illicit activities. The text highlights the CIA's purported complicity in drug trafficking, political manipulation, and covert operations, often in coordination with other government agencies and even organized crime. It draws parallels between past interventions, such as the Phoenix Program in Vietnam, and contemporary actions in places like Afghanistan, Iraq, and Ukraine, arguing that similar tactics of propaganda, psychological warfare, and extrajudicial killings are employed to maintain control and further U.S. interests. The sources also suggest a deep-seated corruption within the American national security state and media, asserting that these entities work to conceal the truth from the public and suppress dissent, ultimately maintaining a system that benefits a powerful elite.

The CIA as Organized Crime

On today’s broadcast we will air excerpts from  a webinar held on June 10 and focusing on the theme of how   both NATO and the G7 are vehicles for the imperialist powers to dominate the globe and make the planet a great deal  more dangerous. It was organized by the Canada-Wide  Peace and Justice Network and featured three key voices: Owen Schalk, Tamara Lorincz and Barbara Waldern.

Imperialists Using NATO and G7 to Maintain Global Domination. Canada-Wide Peace and Justice Network Presentation.

'A superb book’ – Observer

‘Gripping, vivid and compelling’ – The Critic

‘Humane, absorbing and meticulous’ – New Statesman

Three Weeks in July is the extraordinary and definitive account of the events of the 7/7 London bombings, publishing on the 20th anniversary of the event. 

 Three Weeks in July delivers the definitive narrative of the 7 July 2005 London bombings and the chaos, confusion and terror that followed.

A true-crime investigation interwoven with high-stakes politics and history, it reveals untold accounts of the response to 7/7 by the government and the Metropolitan Police, as well as their efforts to prevent a second wave of attacks. Drawing on insights from key figures like Tony Blair, Peter Clarke (head of the Anti-Terrorist Branch at the Metropolitan Police) and Sir Ian Blair (Metropolitan Police commissioner), as well as victims and first responders, the book chronicles the frenzy of the first hours after the attack and the pivotal three weeks of police work, forensics and political machinations whose repercussions are still being felt to this day.

Three Weeks in July is the definitive account of one of the most tumultuous periods in modern British history, and a visceral and propulsive narrative that examines the vulnerabilities of the state and the ethical dilemmas of national security.

Three Weeks in July: 7/7, the aftermath and the deadly manhunt, By Adam Wishart and James Nally, Read by Mark Elstob

How To Sell to the Dept of War – The 2025 PEO Directory

Can venture capital unlock the Pentagon’s innovation problem? Alex Harstrick of J2 Ventures, an Army reservist and former leader of the Defense Innovation Unit's National Security Innovation Capital team, joins CTRL + ALT + DEFENSE to explore how startup speed and private-sector risk-taking could reshape defense. We dig into where VC is making a real impact, where it struggles against DOD bureaucracy, and what it will take for government and investors to actually work together to deliver the next wave of national security technology.

How startup speed and private-sector risk-taking could reshape defense

The October 2025 PEO Directory – Update 2.

The Department of War (DoW) is one of the world’s largest organizations.  If you’re a startup trying to figure out who to call on and how to navigate the system, it can be – to put it politely – challenging.

How to Sell to the Dept of War – The 2025 PEO Directory – Now with 500 more names

The Department of War Just Shot the Accountants and Opted for Speed

Podcasts on media, democracy, culture & politics.

Coming August 4: CTRL + ALT + DEFENSE podcast hosted by Billy Mitchell and Meagan Metzger! 
A raw, unfiltered new podcast from DefenseScoop and Dcode, exploring how cutting-edge technology, institutional barriers, and evolving national security priorities collide in today’s defense landscape.


CTRL + ALT + DEFENSE features candid conversations with leaders across defense, tech, venture capital, and policy—bringing forward diverse perspectives on the future of defense innovation.


From the front lines of government to the forefront of technology, this series examines the challenges and breakthroughs shaping tomorrow’s mission-critical decisions—with no spin, no agenda, and no filter.
⁠Stay tuned. ⁠


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About DefenseScoop 
DefenseScoop is the premier community-driven news source dedicated to the U.S. military’s acquisition, development and use of technology as a force for modern defense. As the Department of Defense moves in the direction of Joint All Domain Command and Control and other initiatives to connect the joint force and fight future battles, DefenseScoop will deliver the latest insights, trends and analysis on this pivotal transformation and engage Pentagon and service senior leaders to discuss ways technology can be a central fixture in our nation’s ability to understand threats, make decisions and take action in a rapid manner. ⁠https://defensescoop.com/about/

Publishers of award-winning fiction and non-fiction audiobooks for adults and children. Listen to exclusive clips from our books and free audioook extracts here on Soundcloud.

Podcast hosted by the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey School of Public Affairs. Conversations feature elected officials, academic thinkers, and public leaders on topics that range from healthcare to housing, governance theory, national security, and leadership in public affairs. Dialogue Across Difference illustrates the Center’s purpose of bringing multiple perspectives to the fore, of providing space for conversation on key issues of the day, and a chance to listen and learn from our differences.

Steve Blank is the originator of customer development & godfather of the #leanstartup; this is his podcast.

New tracks tagged #national security