Lytt til The Burn Bag Podcast

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 [https://www.amazon.com/dp/0861549406].

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.