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Artwork for Today’s Battlegrounds

Today’s Battlegrounds

Hoover Institution
Russia
Ukraine
United States
China
NATO
Venezuela
Iran
Colombia
Democracy
European Union
Human Rights
Freedom
Turkey
Belarus
FARC
Hamas
Nicolas Maduro
M-19
Plan Colombia
Hezbollah

Today's Battlegrounds with H.R. McMaster is a podcast that provides a needed forum with leaders from key countries to share their assessment of problem sets and opportunities that have implications for U.S. foreign policy and national security strategy.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes94Founded5 years ago
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Artwork for Today’s Battlegrounds

Latest Episodes

In this episode of Today's Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Kai Sauer discuss Finland's defense and economic priorities, its role in NATO, Russia's persistent threat to European security, and how US-Finland cooperation enhances both nations’ security... more

Join Rosa María Payá, founder of Cuba Decide and a commissioner on the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, and Hoover Senior Fellow, H.R. McMaster, as they discuss US-Cuba relations, Cuba’s deepening economic and humanitarian crisis, its inter... more

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Join Abbas Milani and H.R. McMaster as they discuss the Iran War, its effects on the Iranian people, the Iranian regime, and prospects for peace and security in the Middle East and beyond.

For more conversations from world leaders from key countries... more

Join Anders Fogh Rasmussen, former prime minister of Denmark, and Hoover Senior Fellow, H.R. McMaster, as they discuss international security, the prospects for the US-Danish relationship, and the health of NATO and the transatlantic alliance as wars... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Kai Sauer
Finland's ambassador to Germany since 2023
Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Episode: Finland: NATO’s First Line of Defense | Today's Battlegrounds | Hoover Institution
Rosa María Payá
Founder of Cuba Decide; Commissioner on the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
Cuba Decide; Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
Episode: Cuba at a Crossroads: Crisis and the Long Struggle for Liberty | Today's Battlegrounds | Hoover Institution
Abbas Milani
Prof. of Iranian Studies, Hamid & Christina Moghadam Director at Stanford; Hoover Institution fellow
Hoover Institution / Stanford University
Episode: The Iran Wars: History, Ideology, and Prospects for Peace | Today's Battlegrounds | Hoover Institution
Christina Moghadam
Director of Iranian Studies at Stanford University; Hoover Institution fellow
Stanford University / Hoover Institution
Episode: The Iran Wars: History, Ideology, and Prospects for Peace | Today's Battlegrounds | Hoover Institution
Anders Fogh Rasmussen
Former Prime Minister of Denmark (2001-2009) and former NATO Secretary General (2009-2014)
NATO, Denmark
Episode: Denmark and the Future of NATO: What Comes Next for Western Security? | Today's Battlegrounds | Hoover Institution
Alix Didier Fils-Aimé
Prime Minister of Haiti, economist and former president of the Chamber of Commerce
Government of Haiti
Episode: Haiti: From Aid to Trade with Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé | Today's Battlegrounds | Hoover Institution
David MacNaughton
Former Canadian ambassador to the United States (2016-2019)
Public affairs strategist, Palantir Canada (2029-2025)
Episode: Turning U.S.-Canada Tension Into Opportunity with H.R. McMaster and David MacNaughton | Today's Battlegrounds | Hoover Institution
Chung Eui-yong
Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea
Republic of Korea Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Episode: Value of the 'Linchpin' Alliance Between the US and South Korea with Ambassador Chung Eui-yong | Today's Battlegrounds | H.R. McMaster | Hoover Institution
Ian Rowe
Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, co-founder of Vertex Partnership Academies
American Enterprise Institute
Episode: Cultivating Agency, Character, and Citizenship: A Visit to Vertex Partnership Academies | Today's Battlegrounds | H.R. McMaster | Hoover Institution

Host

H. R. McMaster
Host of Today's Battlegrounds

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 345 ratings
  • The I review with the Former Danish PM was awful

    McMaster had a softball interview with the Danish PM. It was embarrassing. It failed to probe the real reasons why the Europeans refused to assist in the Iran war. It failed to prove why Trump pressured Denmark and NATO on Greenland. It failed to probe how NATO helps the U.S., if at all. It failed to probe why NATO missed the huge U.S. naval and air build up in the Persian Gulf prior to the Iran war or why NATO members do not know how to use telephones to call the U.S. ambassadors in their count... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Jim from Silicon Valley
    United States2 months ago
  • Love HR’s Commentary

    General HR McMaster’s, political and military commentary is always insightful. He is articulate and thoughtful, and well balanced.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AndyFromConnecticut
    United Statesa year ago
  • 1

    Good analysis, lots of deep state influence, but the good kind that keeps freedom afloat above a sea of human history’s morass of authoritarianism

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    55Simon
    Canadaa year ago
  • WTH

    Iceland story is pure insanity. You all are nuts

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    The_T_K
    United Statesa year ago
  • US bases: closed in 1992 & reestablished in 2016 = waste, fraud & abuse

    1/22/2025, Ep 73, Philippines: America’s Ally & Strategic Archipelago.

    The Philippines told us to close Subic, Cubi Pt & Clark and get out by the end of 1992. The joke at the time, was that all the Filipino Senators that voted for the US to get out of the Philippines, all had green cards in case things got bad.

    I was a GS-11 civilian mariner (and an O-3 former SWO navy reservist) on a navy MSCPAC ship in Subic. It seemed like the Filipino government was playing with fire & it was obvious the... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    another RJF
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some listeners feel interviews could probe deeper on certain questions, but the host brings a clear, informed perspective.
Insightful and well-informed analysis that lands on strategic implications for policy.
High-caliber guests and rigorous discussion; a rare depth in geopolitical conversations.
Holistic, historically informed discussions that connect past events to present policy challenges.
Consistently informative on international security and alliance dynamics.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Finland: NATO’s First Line of Defense | Today's Battlegrounds | Hoover Institution
Q: Could you help our audience understand how Finland's approach to this transition—into NATO and deeper transatlantic cooperation—shapes current policy and future expectations?
Finland views the NATO transition as a structured, deterrence-preserving shift that strengthens collective security while ensuring political will and economic practicality keep pace with changing threats. It emphasizes interoperability, resilience, and a comprehensive security strategy that goes beyond military readiness to social and economic stability.
Cuba at a Crossroads: Crisis and the Long Struggle for Liberty | Today's Battlegrounds | Hoover Institution
Q: What role does international support play in a potential transition, and what should come next?
International backing should reinforce the Cuban people's push for freedom, validate the democratic alternative, and help sustain the transition process as it unfolds.
Cuba at a Crossroads: Crisis and the Long Struggle for Liberty | Today's Battlegrounds | Hoover Institution
Q: Why has Western engagement historically backfired, and how should policymakers adjust their approach?
Engagement without accountability empowered the regime's security and repressive apparatus; policymakers should couple pressure with support for democratic forces and civil society to foster a transition.
Cuba at a Crossroads: Crisis and the Long Struggle for Liberty | Today's Battlegrounds | Hoover Institution
Q: What is the current state of the Cuban economy and how does the regime sustain itself economically?
The regime maintains total control over the economy via the military and allied networks, extracting revenue from key sectors and using it to fund repression rather than development, which deepens the crisis for ordinary Cubans.
The Iran Wars: History, Ideology, and Prospects for Peace | Today's Battlegrounds | Hoover Institution
Q: So I thought maybe the first question I just asked you is, what is your assessment of the situation, especially within Iran, based on this campaign that we saw initiated, you know, now over a month ago?
Milani provides a historical and strategic assessment of the regime's posture, the people's suffering, and the prospects for change, highlighting the regime's fear, internal divisions, and the likelihood of long-term strategic pressures rather than quick concessions.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Today’s Battlegrounds

What is Today’s Battlegrounds about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Listeners can expect in-depth geopolitical analysis centered on U.S. foreign policy, defense, and international security, often featuring former government officials, diplomats, and prominent academics. Episodes routinely cover major regional flashpoints (the Middle East, Europe, the Western Hemisphere, and Indo-Pacific) with a focus on strategy, alliance management, and practical policy prescriptions. Noteworthy is the host's penchant for bringing high-profile, insider perspectives and historical context to current events, plus a willingness to explore long-term strategic futures, security architectures, and alliance dynamics. The show is likely attractive to policymakers, defense professionals, researchers, and strategic thinkers seeking ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Today’s Battlegrounds?

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1. GoodFellows: Conversations on Economics, History & Geopolitics
2. The Secrets of Statecraft
3. Uncommon Knowledge
4. School of War
5. The Libertarian

How many episodes of Today’s Battlegrounds are there?

Today’s Battlegrounds launched 5 years ago and published 94 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Today’s Battlegrounds?

Recent guests on Today’s Battlegrounds include:

1. Kai Sauer
2. Rosa María Payá
3. Abbas Milani
4. Christina Moghadam
5. Anders Fogh Rasmussen
6. Alix Didier Fils-Aimé
7. David MacNaughton
8. Chung Eui-yong

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