Leon Panetta

What are the biggest threats facing democracy today—and what role should the United States play in confronting them? In this episode of Peace and Power Ukraine , host Gary Marx is joined by Leon Panetta , former Director of the CIA, former U.S. Secretary of Defense, former White House Chief of Staff, and longtime member of Congress, for a wide-ranging discussion on Ukraine, China, NATO, Iran, and the future of American leadership in an increasingly dangerous world. Drawing on more than five decades of public service, Panetta reflects on the global security challenges facing the United States and its allies, the lessons of history, and why democratic nations must remain united against authoritarian aggression. The conversation covers: • President Trump’s China summit and U.S.-China relations • Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, and authoritarian partnerships • Lessons from Ukraine’s resistance against Russia • Why Panetta believes Putin cannot be trusted • Taiwan and deterrence in the Indo-Pacific • The future of NATO and allied cooperation • U.S. support for Ukraine and bipartisan backing in Congress • Drone warfare and the lessons of modern conflict • Iran, nuclear negotiations, and the Strait of Hormuz • Chernobyl, nuclear security, and international cooperation Panetta also discusses the work of the Panetta Institute for Public Policy, his efforts to encourage young Americans to pursue public service, and why he believes compromise and effective governance remain essential to the health of American democracy. Throughout the discussion, he argues that the United States must continue leading from a position of strength, maintain strong alliances, and remain engaged in world affairs if it hopes to preserve stability and security in the decades ahead. The episode closes with a reflection on America’s 250th anniversary and why Panetta believes the nation’s greatest strength ultimately lies not in Washington, but in the resilience, character, and dedication of the American people. 00:00 — Leon Panetta on today’s global dangers 00:20 — Intro + Leon Panetta joins 04:42 — The Panetta Institute and public service 08:25 — Reflections on 50 years in government 09:57 — Trump’s China summit and Xi Jinping 12:45 — China, Russia, Iran, and global security threats 13:11 — Lessons from Ukraine’s resistance 16:25 — What the U.S. should learn from Ukraine 18:03 — Taiwan and deterrence in the Indo-Pacific 19:03 — Iran, nuclear negotiations, and the Strait of Hormuz 21:01 — U.S. aid to Ukraine and congressional support 22:07 — Drones and the future of warfare 24:04 — Chernobyl and nuclear security 25:59 — NATO’s future and allied cooperation 29:07 — America at 250 years: Panetta’s final message 30:31 — Closing thoughts Watch Full-Length Interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@PeacePower_FNW Follow us on social media X: @PeaceAndPower_ Instagram: peaceandpower_ukraine LinkedIn: Peace & Power Podcast TikTok: peace.power.ukraine Find more at Washington Signal Your source for policy, national security, and investigative journalism. https://washingtonsignal.com/

Leon Panetta, former Defense Secretary and CIA director under President Obama, joins Dasha Burns to assess the U.S. conflict with Iran, warning that unclear objectives, a closed Strait of Hormuz and uncertain nuclear negotiations could leave the U.S. stuck in a prolonged war. Plus, Panetta defends President Biden’s handling of the Israel/Gaza conflict but says Biden “should have been much tougher” in providing weapons for Ukraine. Leave us a voicemail or shoot us a text with your questions for our first anniversary special: 202-643-1536.

Leon Panetta, former Defense Secretary and CIA director under President Obama, joins Dasha Burns to assess the U.S. conflict with Iran, warning that unclear objectives, a closed Strait of Hormuz and uncertain nuclear negotiations could leave the U.S. stuck in a prolonged war. Plus, Panetta defends President Biden’s handling of the Israel/Gaza conflict but says Biden “should have been much tougher” in providing weapons for Ukraine. Leave us a voicemail or shoot us a text with your questions for our first anniversary special: 202-643-1536. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta says he was surprised that the Trump administration apparently had no plan to deal with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz before launching strikes on Iran in late February. “I think that basically is a failure of planning for what would be an obvious consequence of a war in the Middle East,” Panetta told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer. With hundreds dead, millions more displaced, billions spent, and oil prices surging, many are asking: Was this war avoidable? How might it end? And will America’s traditional allies continue to rebuff President Trump’s calls for help? Panetta, who served as defense secretary and CIA director in the Obama administration, will address those questions—and what it all means for the future of the Middle East and for American politics at home. Join Commonwealth Club World Affairs for an in-depth conversation with one of America’s most seasoned national security voices. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this conversation from the America at a Crossroads series, former U.S. Secretary of Defense and CIA Director Leon Panetta joins Larry Mantle, host of NPR’s AirTalk, to examine the shifting global landscape and the challenges facing American leadership in an era of renewed power politics. Drawing on decades of experience in national security and government, Panetta discusses how geopolitical tensions are reshaping international relations—from Ukraine and China to Venezuela and Greenland—and what these developments mean for the future of U.S. foreign policy and global stability. The discussion explores key questions including: • How is the global balance of power changing? • What challenges does the United States face in responding to rising geopolitical tensions? • What lessons from past administrations can guide today’s foreign policy decisions? With insight from one of the nation’s most experienced national security leaders, this conversation provides perspective on the strategic realities shaping today’s international environment.

In the course of his long career, Leon Panetta was a lieutenant in the Army, a congressman from California, Bill Clinton’s White House chief of staff, Barack Obama’s director of the C.I.A., and later, his Secretary of Defense. David Remnick talks with Panetta about the current Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, the legality of the ongoing Navy strikes targeting civilian boats off the coast of Venezuela, and the problem with using the military as “the President’s personal toy.” The Political Scene draws on the reporting and analysis found in The New Yorker for lively conversations about the big questions in American politics. Join the magazine’s writers and editors as they put into context the latest news—about elections, the economy, the White House, the Supreme Court, and much more. New episodes are available three times a week. Tune in wherever you get your podcasts . Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

In the course of his long career, Leon Panetta was a lieutenant in the Army, a congressman from California, Bill Clinton’s White House chief of staff, Barack Obama’s director of the C.I.A., and later, his Secretary of Defense. David Remnick talks with Panetta about the current Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, the legality of the ongoing Navy strikes targeting civilian boats off the coast of Venezuela, and the problem with using the military as “the President’s personal toy.” New episodes of The New Yorker Radio Hour drop every Tuesday and Friday. Join host David Remnick as he discusses the latest in politics, news, and current events in conversation with political leaders, newsmakers, innovators, New Yorker staff writers, authors, actors, and musicians.

James and Al welcome former Secretary of Defense and CIA Director Leon Panetta to discuss the budget crisis, Hegseth’s approach to Pentagon leadership, the outrageous attacks on our generals, and the shaky status of the rule of law in the Trump era. Then, they cover the races in NJ, VA, and NYC, looking at the strategies that can deliver victory, why Mamdani could be an inspiring and uniting figure if he wins, and the CA ballot initiatives that could help the Democrats gain control of Congress. They also give their take on the government shutdown and what comes next for the country. Email your questions to James and Al at politicswarroom@gmail.com or tweet them to @politicon . Make sure to include your city– we love to hear where you’re from! Watch Politics War Room & James Carville Explains on YouTube @PoliticsWarRoomOfficial More from James and Al: Get text updates from Politics War Room and Politicon. Watch Politics War Room & James Carville Explains on YouTube @PoliticsWarRoomOfficial James Carville & Al Hunt have launched the Politics War Room Substack Get updates and some great behind-the-scenes content from the documentary CARVILLE: WINNING IS EVERYTHING, STUPID by following James on X @jamescarville and his new TikTok @realjamescarville Check Out Andrew Zucker’s New Politicon Podcast: The Golden Age Get More From This Week’s Guest: Former Secretary of Defense & Director of the CIA Leon Panetta: Defense.gov | CSIS | Panetta Institute for Public Policy | SFSU ICCE Please Support Our Sponsor: Quince: Upgrade your fall fashion and get 365-day returns and free shipping on high-quality, stylish, and affordable clothing you’ll wear for years to come when you go to quince.com/warroom

Former US Defense Secretary and Chairman of the Panetta Institute for Public Policy, Leon Panetta speaks Trump's summit with Putin and European leaders and his thoughts on the current state of the Russia/Ukraine war See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Summary An expert panel of world leaders gathered at the International Spy Museum to discuss the importance of NATO today and in the future. Panelists included former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs, among others. What You’ll Learn Intelligence Threats facing Baltic countries, including Russia The importance of NATO support for Ukraine Maintaining stability during political turmoil NATO’s growth and where it still needs to evolve in the 21st century Reflections The power of global partnerships The impact of honest leadership And much, much more … Quotes of the Week “In the old days, NATO was kind of a place where everybody did their talking points and then left. But for the first time in a very long time, NATO is more than just a forum. It is a security alliance that is very important to protecting world peace.” – Leon Panetta. Resources SURFACE SKIM *SpyCasts* Zelensky, Ukraine & Intelligence with Simon Shuster (2024) CIA Director, Defense Secretary, Gentleman with Leon Panetta (2024) Ukraine & the Alliance with NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Intelligence David Cattler (2023) NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Intelligence & Security with David Cattler (2022) *Beginner Resources* Why are the Baltic states strategically important for NATO? A. Sytas, Reuters (2023) [Short article] Ukraine conflict: Simple visual guide to the Russian invasion , BBC (2022) [Short article] The Formation of NATO and the Warsaw Pact | History , YouTube (2017) [3 min. video] DEEPER DIVE Primary Sources Statement by the North Atlantic Council on recent Russian hybrid activities (2024) Joint letter to DoD for Urgent Ukraine Aid (2024) Address by the President to Ukrainians at the end of the first day of Russia's attacks (2022) Statement by the North Atlantic Council on the situation at the Poland-Belarus border (2021) Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty on the Accession of the Republic of Estonia (2003) Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty on the accession of the Republic of Latvia (2003) Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty on the accession of the Republic of Lithuania (2003) The North Atlantic Treaty (1949)</

When Leon Panetta was growing up in Monterey, California, his Italian immigrant parents often invited soldiers training at nearby Fort Ord to holiday dinners before they shipped out to World War Two battlegrounds. Later, as Secretary of Defense, Panetta’s thoughts returned to those service members when deploying young men and women to war. He sat down with David to talk about his long political career, his thoughts on the war in Ukraine, the intelligence lapse around the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, and what Israel is doing wrong in its fight against Hamas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, A'ndre chatted with former Secretary of Defense (and CIA Director, and Chief of Staff, and Congressman!) Leon Panetta on a litany of key national security and foreign policy topics relating to the Israel-Gaza War, Russia-Ukraine, the U.S.-China relationship, and the 2024 Presidential Election. A'ndre and Secretary Panetta spent a good chunk of the interview discussing the ongoing War in Gaza, his views on a ceasefire, Benjamin Netanyahu, criticism of the Biden Administration, and why the U.S. needs to take a more proactive role on a two-state solution. Secretary Panetta also provides his take on the potential conditioning of U.S. military aid to Israel, particularly if the IDF enters Rafah and civilian casualties continue to mount. Secretary Panetta reacts to the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and answers if he is more pessimistic about the War in Ukraine today than he was a year ago. The former CIA Director also provides strong criticisms of congressional inaction on continued funding for Ukraine, and why polarization will damage U.S. credibility. A'ndre and Secretary Panetta close out with a brief conversation on China, and the Secretary 's thoughts on the intersections of foreign policy and the 2024 Presidential Election.