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From the Briefing Room to the Newsroom

Geopolitical Intelligence as an Untapped Business Asset

Beth’s Current Thinking

Regions

Beth’s trusted analysis on crises across the globe provides information leaders need for action and the public needs to understand our complex world.
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Global

Beth’s trusted analysis on countries and regions, such as Ukraine- Russia, China, the Middle East and Iran, India, and Europe, provide information leaders need for action and the public needs to understand our complex world.
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Intelligence and National Security

Award-winning leadership in the Intelligence Community gives Beth the experience and insights to offer ways to improve America’s national security.
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Leadership

Public and private sector leaders look to Beth to apply her public policy skills to new leadership challenges.
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Cybersecurity

As institutions face greater threats from technology, they look to Beth to explain the intents of malign actors and ways to thwart these threats.
Learn More >>

Regions

Beth’s trusted analysis on crises across the globe provides information leaders need for action and the public needs to understand our complex world.

Learn More>>

Global

Beth’s trusted analysis on countries and regions, such as Ukraine- Russia, China, the Middle East and Iran, India, and Europe, provide information leaders need for action and the public needs to understand our complex world.

Learn More>>

Leadership

Public and private sector leaders look to Beth to apply her public policy skills to new leadership challenges.

Learn More>>

Gray-Zone Threats

As institutions face greater threats from technology, they look to Beth to explain the intents of malign actors and ways to thwart these threats.

Learn More>>

Intelligence and National Security

Award-winning leadership in the Intelligence Community gives Beth the experience and insights to offer ways to improve America’s national security.

Learn More>>

Videos

Watch the latest news videos, interviews, and reports covering trending topics from around the world—updated regularly for you.

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What To Expect from Biden at COP27, ASEAN, and G20 Summits
Carnegie Connects: U.S. Intel and the Ukraine Crisis With Beth Sanner
Beth Sanner Breaks Down the Russia-Ukraine Crisis on CNN

Podcasts

Listen to insightful podcasts featuring expert opinions, trending topics, and in-depth discussions on current news and events.

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The Axis of Upheaval': Beth Sanner NatSec Matters
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The Axis of Upheaval': Beth Sanner NatSec Matters
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The Axis of Upheaval': Beth Sanner NatSec Matters
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The Axis of Upheaval': Beth Sanner NatSec Matters
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Regions

Beth’s trusted analysis on countries and regions, such as Ukraine- Russia, China, the Middle East and Iran, India, and Europe, provide information leaders need for action and the public needs to understand our complex world.

View All

Geopolitical Intelligence as an Untapped Business Asset

If you are interested in private-sector intelligence, this webinar hosted by Ontic tackles questions and provides examples of “Geopolitical Intelligence as an Untapped Business Asset.” The video is linked here. I join our Ontic moderator, Adrienne Galbrecht, alongside Maria Robson-Morrow from Harvard Belfer’s Intelligence project, and Aaron Gertje, Amazon’s senior manager for resilience, intelligence, and crisis innovation. I think you’ll enjoy this lovely and interactive conversation.

Read More »
April 30, 2026

Trump Extends Ceasefire with Iran

If your head is spinning over what is happening with our war/ceasefire with Iran and what is next, you are not alone. All of us are trying to get our heads around what is happening and the way ahead. Here is my hot take about today on CNN AC360 with Anderson Cooper and my colleague, Alyssa Farah Griffin. Let me add a couple of points to what is said in the clip. First, boy, are things murky. I am pretty confident that the Intelligence Community knows a lot more about what is going on inside Iran than we do on the outside, and it was good to see CIA Director Ratcliffe was at the WH meetings today to discuss the way forward. ➤ Nonetheless, reports suggest that we are collectively having trouble understanding who is making decisions. Sure, there are factions in Iran, and I lean toward the idea that these are between IRGC factions, not so much political leaders (who never have had much agency and surely have less now that Iran is on a war footing) vs IRGC. The difference now is that we do not know who is adjudicating these factions and making the ultimate decision. That

Read More »
April 21, 2026

The United States Faces a Conundrum in Iran

Today, I joined CNN News Central to talk about where we are on Iran. The United States faces a conundrum. The Iranian regime is not going to be cowed into a nuclear deal, particularly zero enrichment (which I find hard to believe they would do), without major, major concessions from us. Those concessions, even if some sound good (like US economic opportunities), mean significant sanctions relief, i.e., lots of money flowing into this economically and morally bankrupt and dangerous regime. After killing so many Iranians, can we do that deal? And can we, should we do that deal when Iran’s missile force is an actual and growing threat that would worsen with sanctions relief? Hard to imagine we would. So we could walk/sail away, which makes us look weak. Hard to imagine. Or use our massive force to strike Iran. That’s getting easier to imagine.

Read More »
February 25, 2026

Intelligence

Award-winning leadership in the Intelligence Community gives Beth the experience and insights to offer ways to improve America’s national security.

View All

Geopolitical Intelligence as an Untapped Business Asset

If you are interested in private-sector intelligence, this webinar hosted by Ontic tackles questions and provides examples of “Geopolitical Intelligence as an Untapped Business Asset.” The video is linked here. I join our Ontic moderator, Adrienne Galbrecht, alongside Maria Robson-Morrow from Harvard Belfer’s Intelligence project, and Aaron Gertje, Amazon’s senior manager for resilience, intelligence, and crisis innovation. I think you’ll enjoy this lovely and interactive conversation.

Read More »
April 30, 2026

Trump Extends Ceasefire with Iran

If your head is spinning over what is happening with our war/ceasefire with Iran and what is next, you are not alone. All of us are trying to get our heads around what is happening and the way ahead. Here is my hot take about today on CNN AC360 with Anderson Cooper and my colleague, Alyssa Farah Griffin. Let me add a couple of points to what is said in the clip. First, boy, are things murky. I am pretty confident that the Intelligence Community knows a lot more about what is going on inside Iran than we do on the outside, and it was good to see CIA Director Ratcliffe was at the WH meetings today to discuss the way forward. ➤ Nonetheless, reports suggest that we are collectively having trouble understanding who is making decisions. Sure, there are factions in Iran, and I lean toward the idea that these are between IRGC factions, not so much political leaders (who never have had much agency and surely have less now that Iran is on a war footing) vs IRGC. The difference now is that we do not know who is adjudicating these factions and making the ultimate decision. That

Read More »
April 21, 2026

The United States Faces a Conundrum in Iran

Today, I joined CNN News Central to talk about where we are on Iran. The United States faces a conundrum. The Iranian regime is not going to be cowed into a nuclear deal, particularly zero enrichment (which I find hard to believe they would do), without major, major concessions from us. Those concessions, even if some sound good (like US economic opportunities), mean significant sanctions relief, i.e., lots of money flowing into this economically and morally bankrupt and dangerous regime. After killing so many Iranians, can we do that deal? And can we, should we do that deal when Iran’s missile force is an actual and growing threat that would worsen with sanctions relief? Hard to imagine we would. So we could walk/sail away, which makes us look weak. Hard to imagine. Or use our massive force to strike Iran. That’s getting easier to imagine.

Read More »
February 25, 2026

Leadership

Public and private sector leaders look to Beth to apply her public policy skills to new leadership challenges.

View All

Geopolitical Intelligence as an Untapped Business Asset

If you are interested in private-sector intelligence, this webinar hosted by Ontic tackles questions and provides examples of “Geopolitical Intelligence as an Untapped Business Asset.” The video is linked here. I join our Ontic moderator, Adrienne Galbrecht, alongside Maria Robson-Morrow from Harvard Belfer’s Intelligence project, and Aaron Gertje, Amazon’s senior manager for resilience, intelligence, and crisis innovation. I think you’ll enjoy this lovely and interactive conversation.

Read More »
April 30, 2026

Trump Extends Ceasefire with Iran

If your head is spinning over what is happening with our war/ceasefire with Iran and what is next, you are not alone. All of us are trying to get our heads around what is happening and the way ahead. Here is my hot take about today on CNN AC360 with Anderson Cooper and my colleague, Alyssa Farah Griffin. Let me add a couple of points to what is said in the clip. First, boy, are things murky. I am pretty confident that the Intelligence Community knows a lot more about what is going on inside Iran than we do on the outside, and it was good to see CIA Director Ratcliffe was at the WH meetings today to discuss the way forward. ➤ Nonetheless, reports suggest that we are collectively having trouble understanding who is making decisions. Sure, there are factions in Iran, and I lean toward the idea that these are between IRGC factions, not so much political leaders (who never have had much agency and surely have less now that Iran is on a war footing) vs IRGC. The difference now is that we do not know who is adjudicating these factions and making the ultimate decision. That

Read More »
April 21, 2026

The United States Faces a Conundrum in Iran

Today, I joined CNN News Central to talk about where we are on Iran. The United States faces a conundrum. The Iranian regime is not going to be cowed into a nuclear deal, particularly zero enrichment (which I find hard to believe they would do), without major, major concessions from us. Those concessions, even if some sound good (like US economic opportunities), mean significant sanctions relief, i.e., lots of money flowing into this economically and morally bankrupt and dangerous regime. After killing so many Iranians, can we do that deal? And can we, should we do that deal when Iran’s missile force is an actual and growing threat that would worsen with sanctions relief? Hard to imagine we would. So we could walk/sail away, which makes us look weak. Hard to imagine. Or use our massive force to strike Iran. That’s getting easier to imagine.

Read More »
February 25, 2026

Cybersecurity

As institutions face greater threats from technology, they look to Beth to explain the intents of malign actors and ways to thwart these threats.

View All

Geopolitical Intelligence as an Untapped Business Asset

If you are interested in private-sector intelligence, this webinar hosted by Ontic tackles questions and provides examples of “Geopolitical Intelligence as an Untapped Business Asset.” The video is linked here. I join our Ontic moderator, Adrienne Galbrecht, alongside Maria Robson-Morrow from Harvard Belfer’s Intelligence project, and Aaron Gertje, Amazon’s senior manager for resilience, intelligence, and crisis innovation. I think you’ll enjoy this lovely and interactive conversation.

Read More »
April 30, 2026

Trump Extends Ceasefire with Iran

If your head is spinning over what is happening with our war/ceasefire with Iran and what is next, you are not alone. All of us are trying to get our heads around what is happening and the way ahead. Here is my hot take about today on CNN AC360 with Anderson Cooper and my colleague, Alyssa Farah Griffin. Let me add a couple of points to what is said in the clip. First, boy, are things murky. I am pretty confident that the Intelligence Community knows a lot more about what is going on inside Iran than we do on the outside, and it was good to see CIA Director Ratcliffe was at the WH meetings today to discuss the way forward. ➤ Nonetheless, reports suggest that we are collectively having trouble understanding who is making decisions. Sure, there are factions in Iran, and I lean toward the idea that these are between IRGC factions, not so much political leaders (who never have had much agency and surely have less now that Iran is on a war footing) vs IRGC. The difference now is that we do not know who is adjudicating these factions and making the ultimate decision. That

Read More »
April 21, 2026

The United States Faces a Conundrum in Iran

Today, I joined CNN News Central to talk about where we are on Iran. The United States faces a conundrum. The Iranian regime is not going to be cowed into a nuclear deal, particularly zero enrichment (which I find hard to believe they would do), without major, major concessions from us. Those concessions, even if some sound good (like US economic opportunities), mean significant sanctions relief, i.e., lots of money flowing into this economically and morally bankrupt and dangerous regime. After killing so many Iranians, can we do that deal? And can we, should we do that deal when Iran’s missile force is an actual and growing threat that would worsen with sanctions relief? Hard to imagine we would. So we could walk/sail away, which makes us look weak. Hard to imagine. Or use our massive force to strike Iran. That’s getting easier to imagine.

Read More »
February 25, 2026
Choosing Beth to brief the President was one of the best decisions I made as DNI.
───── The Honorable Dan Coats, former Director of National Intelligence
"Beth is one the most credible voices that I hear day-in and day-out on CNN and elsewhere talking about important national security issues.
───── Colonel Chris Costa, Executive Director of the International Spy Museum
[Beth’s] comments have such texture, depth, and the wisdom of experience.
───── John McLaughlin, former Acting Director of National Intelligence
Few people know the art of briefing as she does … Grateful to Beth for her time, wisdom, and insights!
───── Dr. Maria Robson-Morrow, Harvard Intelligence Project