Today on Coffee & Conflict, Joshua Huminski speaks with General H.R. McMaster (ret.) about the emerging axis of aggressors—Russia, China, and others—and what their coordinated challenges mean for American power and global stability. They discuss how these regimes are pushing for a return to a multipolar world, exploiting perceptions of American weakness, and contesting U.S. leadership. He also examines whether America’s 20th-century institutions are equipped for today’s geopolitical competition and why strategic empathy is essential for understanding our adversaries.

What’s driving the alignment between authoritarian powers—and can the U.S. effectively counter it? Is Washington thinking creatively enough to both pressure and engage rivals like Russia and China? How should American institutions adapt to compete in an era of disinformation, proxy conflicts, and strategic influence? And as Europe takes greater responsibility for its own defense, could that shift unintentionally weaken transatlantic unity?

Check out today’s experts on Twitter:

@joshuachuminski from @CSPC_DC

@LTGHRMcMaster from @HooverInst, @FSIStanford, @FDD_CMPP, and @Hudsoninstitute

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Today on Coffee & Conflict, Joshua Huminski is joined by Sherri Goodman, former Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Environmental Security and expert on climate and national security, to discuss her work exploring climate change as a "threat multiplier." Goodman shares insights from her career and explores how climate and environmental challenges increasingly shape U.S. military strategy and global security dynamics. Goodman delves into the evolution of the Pentagon’s approach to climate resilience, from addressing nuclear waste cleanup to incorporating environmental sustainability into defense planning. She highlights the role of ecological cooperation with Russia during the Cold War and its lessons for today’s national security challenges.

How should the Department of Defense prepare for the intensifying impacts of climate change on U.S. and global infrastructure? Can environmental cooperation serve as a bridge to manage tensions with adversaries like China, even amid growing geopolitical competition? And what advice would Goodman offer to the next Secretary of Defense to ensure climate readiness remains a priority for decades to come?

You can learn more about Threat Multiplier: Climate, Military Leadership, and the Fight for Global Security, and purchase a copy of the book, here: https://www.amazon.com/Threat-Multiplier-Military-Leadership-Security/dp/1642833266

Check out today’s experts on Twitter:

@joshuachuminski from @CSPC_DC

@GoodmanSherri from @PolarInstitute, @TheWilsonCenter

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Today on Coffee & Conflict, Joshua Huminski speaks with Kathleen McInnis, Director, Smart Women, Smart Power Initiative and Senior Fellow, Defense and Security Department at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, about how her debut novel pulls back the curtain on the Pentagon—one of the most powerful yet misunderstood institutions in U.S. national security. Drawing from her background in defense policy, McInnis examines the personal and professional challenges faced by women navigating Washington’s corridors of power. They discuss how her experiences shaped the book’s exploration of Pentagon bureaucracy, moral dilemmas in warfare, and the toll of high-stakes decisions, while highlighting the humor, humanity, and resilience found amidst the chaos.

How did your experiences in defense policy shape The Heart of War, and what does it reveal about the Pentagon’s inner workings? How does its bureaucracy hinder innovation while balancing the need for efficiency in national security? How has the landscape for women in defense evolved, and what changes are still needed to meet today’s geopolitical challenges?

You can learn more about Heart of War: Misadventures in the Pentagon, and purchase a copy of the book, here: https://www.amazon.com/Heart-War-Misadventures-Pentagon/dp/1682616517

Check out today’s experts on Twitter:

@joshuachuminski from @CSPC_DC

Kathleen McInnis from @CSIS

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