Inside the Pentagon, With Ash Carter

Ash Carter, former U.S. defense secretary, discusses with James M. Lindsay what it’s like to run the largest institution in the United States. Carter’s book, Inside the Five-Sided Box: Lessons from a Lifetime of Leadership in the Pentagon, comes out today.

June 11, 2019 — 29:50 min

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Host

James M. Lindsay

Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy and Director of Fellowship Affairs

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Episode Guests

Ash Carter

Director, Belfer Center for Science & International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School

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Show Notes

Grand Strategy

Zbigniew Brzezinski, With Edward Luce

Edward Luce, U.S. national editor and a columnist for the Financial Times, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss what we can learn from the life, career, and writings of Zbigniew Brzezinski, national security advisor to President Jimmy Carter.

Podcast with James M. Lindsay and Edward Luce June 10, 2025 The President’s Inbox

South China Sea

The China-Philippines Standoff, With Derek Grossman

Derek Grossman, senior defense analyst at RAND and professor of policy analysis at the RAND School of Public Policy, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the confrontations between China and the Philippines over their competing claims in the South China Sea and the consequences for the United States.

Podcast with James M. Lindsay and Derek Grossman June 3, 2025 The President’s Inbox

South Africa

The United States and South Africa, With Reuben Brigety

Reuben Brigety, President of Busara Advisors and U.S. Ambassador to South Africa from 2022 to 2025, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss relations between Washington and Pretoria in the wake of last week’s meeting between President Donald Trump and President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Podcast with James M. Lindsay and Reuben E. Brigety II May 27, 2025 The President’s Inbox

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