In this episode of The Global Signal, just over one month following the release of the U.S. National Security Strategy, Dr. Jordan Despanie, Technology and Security Policy Fellow at RAND Corporation, explores the intersection of innovation, biosecurity, and U.S. strategic planning. Drawing on his experience founding life sciences ventures and contributing to national-level research, Dr. Despanie offers insight into how scientific capability, government systems, and strategic priorities interact.

The discussion examines how budgetary constraints shape innovation in defense procurement, strategies for optimizing collaboration between government, contractors, and think tanks, and approaches to building sustainable, long-term U.S. strategic engagements in regions like Somalia, Nigeria, and Venezuela. Listeners gain a rare perspective on aligning innovation, institutional capacity, and national security in an era of rising global competition.

Venezuela’s oil sector has long punched above its weight in global energy politics. In this episode of The Global Signal, Rachel Ziemba, founder of Ziemba Insights, examines Venezuela’s historical influence in oil markets, the strategic rationale behind recent U.S. actions, and the structural constraints shaping any recovery in production. The conversation looks at how investors and markets are interpreting Venezuela’s oil potential today, and how political transition could recalibrate global energy flows. A sober, market-driven assessment of a pivotal but often misunderstood oil producer.

In this episode of the Global Signal, we sit down with Christopher Riley, CEO of the Emagro Group and 20-year veteran national security strategist, to unpack how capital, infrastructure, and influence are reshaping global power. We explore Washington’s evolving approach to economic statecraft, the rise of Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds as geopolitical actors, and the emerging flashpoints in Nigeria and the Sahel. A sharp, timely look at how finance is becoming the frontline of modern geopolitics.