The Truth of the Matter

204

A weekly analysis of the complex policy issues driving the news.

Recent Episodes
  • Auto Tariffs Threaten to Drive Up Prices
    Apr 15, 2025 – 23:26
  • China’s Halt of Critical Minerals
    Apr 15, 2025 – 20:15
  • Rep. Bryan Steil on STABLE Act
    Apr 11, 2025 – 22:57
  • Liberation Day Fallout and What Comes Next
    Apr 8, 2025 – 30:33
  • Mark Penn Polls and the Future of News
    Apr 7, 2025 – 22:49
  • South Korea’s Quiet Crisis and Trade with the U.S.
    Apr 4, 2025 – 07:05
  • Reciprocal Tariff Reactions
    Apr 3, 2025 – 24:18
  • Brief: Trump's Tariff Plan
    Apr 3, 2025 – 11:18
  • Drones and AI on the Ukrainian Battlefield
    Apr 2, 2025 – 17:01
  • Brief: What to Expect from Tariffs
    Mar 31, 2025 – 05:26
  • China Cracks Down on Journalism
    Mar 27, 2025 – 19:13
  • Hidden Depths: Water as a Resource and a Weapon
    Mar 25, 2025 – 24:13
  • Russia's Shadow War Against the West
    Mar 21, 2025 – 19:14
  • Trump’s Muscular Middle East Policy
    Mar 19, 2025 – 24:15
  • Securing Full Stack U.S. Leadership in AI
    Mar 17, 2025 – 21:47
  • Measles Outbreak Implications
    Mar 12, 2025 – 23:53
  • European Divorce
    Mar 11, 2025 – 26:21
  • Intelligence and Subversion in Ukraine
    Mar 7, 2025 – 21:54
  • Stepping Up on Spectrum
    Mar 4, 2025 – 19:30
  • Transatlantic Tensions at the Munich Security Conference
    Feb 26, 2025 – 28:03
  • Ukraine Minerals Deal Explained
    Feb 26, 2025 – 14:24
  • Protecting the Backbone of the Internet
    Feb 24, 2025 – 22:45
  • Tumultuous Times in Europe
    Feb 20, 2025 – 33:32
  • Responding to the LA Wildfires
    Feb 12, 2025 – 21:48
  • Tariffs and More Tariffs
    Feb 11, 2025 – 11:18
  • What's Happening to USAID?
    Feb 6, 2025 – 25:28
  • Tariff Leverage
    Feb 5, 2025 – 23:43
  • Don’t Brush Off Bird Flu
    Jan 30, 2025 – 19:17
  • DeepSeek Deep Dive
    Jan 29, 2025 – 29:37
  • Africa Policy in the Second Trump Administration
    Jan 27, 2025 – 21:08
  • A Rising Barometer for 2025
    Jan 22, 2025 – 19:38
  • Executive Order on AI and Energy Infrastructure - Emergency Podcast 2.0
    Jan 14, 2025 – 23:02
  • AI Diffusion Framework - Emergency Podcast
    Jan 13, 2025 – 28:30
  • Trudeau’s Dramatic Resignation
    Jan 10, 2025 – 24:25
  • Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi on bipartisan efforts to counter China
    Dec 20, 2024 – 16:39
  • House of Huawei: The Secret History of China’s Most Powerful Company
    Dec 18, 2024 – 19:07
  • Piecing Together What Happened in Syria
    Dec 12, 2024 – 22:26
  • Syria’s House of Cards
    Dec 11, 2024 – 12:35
  • Syria: Moment of Maximum Hope
    Dec 10, 2024 – 23:00
  • All About the Missiles
    Dec 2, 2024 – 20:10
  • Energy Scramble: Ensuring U.S. Leadership in AI
    Nov 21, 2024 – 18:57
  • Predicting AI Policy in the Second Trump Administration
    Nov 7, 2024 – 28:14
  • Navigating National Security in the age of AI
    Nov 4, 2024 – 20:02
  • Crossing the Rubicon: North Korea Sends Troops to Russia
    Nov 1, 2024 – 46:42
  • A “Negative Spiraling Cycle” in Lebanon
    Oct 31, 2024 – 24:04
  • The National Security Memorandum on AI
    Oct 26, 2024 – 30:20
  • The State of Election Security in 2024
    Oct 21, 2024 – 26:01
  • The Peril of American Neglect in the Pacific
    Oct 15, 2024 – 21:47
  • Escalating to War between Israel, Hezbollah, and Iran
    Oct 11, 2024 – 21:10
  • Pins and Needles in the Middle East
    Oct 2, 2024 – 25:26
Recent Reviews
  • no:nickname
    Was I listening to an infomercial?
    I kept listening for details but all I heard were generalities and unsubstantiated promises, Biden bad, repeated talking points. Dreck.
  • Giggly Bigs
    Mark Penn?
    I tend to like this podcast but I don’t understand having Mark Penn as a guest. He’s an absolute crank. CSIS is too serious an organization for Penn. Weird choice
  • Wydia Annisa allahlady 21
    Truth hurts
    Trust God Only
  • sappho1900
    Love to listen but the sound mixing is an issue
    This show is a wonderful resource to keep myself up to date on what is often not flushed out in detail on the regular news programs. My only critique is that the audio is often a nuisance for its inconsistency; sometimes the music is way louder than the conversation that follows or precedes it; other times the audio of some guests is barely audible while others are loud in my ear. I would definitely listen more often if these common issues were corrected.
  • NYCnewshound
    Wonderful show, Audio too low
    Great show great guests however, the audio is too low to be serviceable.
  • JennyGoestoCamp
    Pure Government Propaganda
    Formerly interesting and quasi informative, but now just another mouthpiece for the Ministry of Propaganda.
  • jstfre12
    Obvious support for china
    The latest china episode showed extreme bias. Jane perlez needs to be investigated for ties to MSS. She provided the exact talking points that MSS IO’s give their sources. I advise listeners to please look at how her talking points put America in a bad sense while continually praising China. Do your homework and read about the influence operations that the CCP conducts through voices such as Jane.
  • COL Blue31
    No Longer What It Was
    CSIS used to be an intellectual podcast with scholarly guests and top bar analysis. Now it’s just another talking head show with politically biased noise. If I want to see a TV news anchor complain about his rival, you don’t need CSIS.
  • This Ken
    Pretends to be non partisan
    Using a CNN reporter to offer a fair view of FOX is like asking the fox to guard the chicken coop.
  • kaifeng13
    Insightful and fun
    Fun, timely and in-depth discussion and analysis. Thank you, Andrew!
  • PapaTT3377
    This is a podcast that is so needful in the time we live!
    Jonathan has a great podcast going here! I was first introduced to “The Truth of the Matter Is…” while preparing to interview him on my podcast. His background has prepared him for the topics he shares from the Bible - but he has a unique way of drawing the listener into the story. During our interviewed, I know I mentioned it two or three times how “blown away” I was by his podcast! And the “name” says it all… “The Truth of the Matter Is…” I highly recommend this show!
  • jbrown1968
    Winter is Coming
    I was struck by the naïve discussion of the European energy crisis. You completely ignored the obvious solution: leveraging Europe’s huge endowment of natural gas. During the 70’s Britain was self sufficient and Holland was exporting gas to Germany. The silly and dangerous refusal to exploit this resource will cause great harm and suffering. This is a harbinger of the catastrophe facing America.
  • RJG179
    Excellent
    I love this show; it’s one of my favorites, and I’m excited whenever I see a new episode in my library.
  • U.S. Navy in Korea
    “Non-partisan”???
    I can’t remember the last guest who presented an honest presentation of conservative positions. The host is no better. Maybe Bob Shiefer’s absence has allowed TTOTM to veer off the rails. CSIS should overhaul the editorial staff for this podcast if it wishes to maintain its non-partisan reputation.
  • DubExpress
    Not any real journalism.
    It’s a propaganda machine.
  • doghousereiley
    Don’t waste your time
    I find it inane. I was never able to finish an episode. Unsubscribed.
  • scared senior
    Fer Fer.....
    As a high school English teacher I cringe at poor speech of some guests. “Like, I mean, ugh, yeah, you know, ta ta, and and, tha makes me disappointed. Students put a token in jar with incorrect speech patterns. They write down words burbled. Once a week we practice correctly speaking. No names, no shaming. I want them to sound educated. Thanks, Dr. GC What has happened to Bob? He has been away for months. Is he well? Thanks. What’s going on with Bob Schrieffer? He is out of podcast? Miss him, is he OK? Thanks, Carol
  • Allie Sarachene
    Good idea, sadly doesn’t deliver
    Ben listening since first episode. Looked forward to the podcast. Unfortunately the final straw is the WH Correspondence episode. Lost me with the interview with New York Times White House correspondent Maggie Haberman. One sided to the left leaning, newspaper with a history of critical misses. Some episodes better than others, overall I find the title misleading. Would appreciate serious discussions, from all sides, without and agenda. Also, please bring back Bob Schieffer. He’s sadly missed.
  • jolo690
    Fantastic
    One of a select few podcasts which I turn to for informed discussion of current affairs
  • dgdccpuckyxktslyz
    Islamic State
    The interview with Seth Jones was highly biased. Yes, Trump speaks in hyperbole, so it’s entirely possible Baghdadi’s whimpering was exaggerated. It’s beside the point. I’m also intrigued by so many experts worried about abandoning the Kurds. How about the untenable position they put us in? What exactly are the experts suggesting as a long term solution? Lots of complaining about no strategy, then not offering strategies. We should absolutely be true to allies and partners, but they owe us the same.
  • GeorgiaGW
    Informative, Insightful, and Entertaining
    The first episode of this new podcast series does a great job outlining the national security threats facing our country today, in a way that everyone can understand. The topics are relevant and complicated, but the experts explain these concepts in effective ways. Very bipartisan approach to national security/foriegn affairs and I am excited to see future episodes!
  • sounder1111
    Turn up the volume please!
    I listen to a lot of podcasts and one thing that makes me want to switch when this one comes on is it's soooo quiet! I'm interested in the mission of CSIS and the guests and host, while a bit dry, provide thoughtful, educated reflections on major world events, but I can barely hear you!! This is a production issue, should be relatively easy to fix. Thanks for the info and I hope you use this to improve the show.
  • Poli Co
    Military industrial complex apologists
    After listening to a handful of these podcasts I've come to the conclusions that this is nothing more than pro war propaganda.
  • MEG411
    Informative, objective
    Provides in-depth coverage of foreign policy-related issues. Goes far beyond the headlines.
  • mccordicd
    Informative (when heard)
    I really like the brevity amidst depth of info. However I've noticed an inconsistency with the volume. I'll listen to it with the volume all the way up on my phone and still have trouble hearing it when I'm on the bus. Hope this can be fixed!
  • HA Schwartz
    Bipartisan and Smart
    An important weekly podcast because it's bipartisan and a smart primary source on foreign affairs.
  • Patty2347
    Informative
    This is very informative and not a "fluff" podcast.
  • Brad Fellsley
    Both simple and in-depth
    It's got echoes of the old-school BBC along with NPR's wry air. Every episode I listen to usually makes me step back and see these issues a little clearer. Quality stuff.
  • Tracky Jon-Jon
    Excellent!
    The only thing deeper than the insights provided by this podcast is Colm Quinn's sultry voice which always leaves me wanting more.
  • ian g 315
    I approve of the updated format
    CSIS seems to have recently updated the format of this podcast to be longer form interviews, event highlights, and commentary. I think this format works better than the previous one that was shorter pieces posted less regularly.
  • Wow_That_Was_Close
    Interesting Perspectives
    I look forward to listening to this think tank speak on international issues. Wish they created more podcasts on a timely manner.
  • Jeff from Pickens
    Excellent Podcast!!
    Thanks for providing a series of insightful programs on a broad variety of international affairs topics. These programs have a refreshing ideological balance and and address issues that receive at best cursory attention from the media.
  • Retirw
    It's OK
    I haven't been subscribing very long, but it seems very good. I understand more about the situation in Iraq than if I had watched television.
  • B.O'Connor
    Great resource
    Thanks to CSIS for taking the time to make these in depth pieces available to the public; many thanks also for encouraging the 2008 candidates to speak on international affairs--an area presidents MUST have clarity and vision on.
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