26 May 2025—Special Guest Candace Rondeaux!

Candace Rondeaux is a distinguished expert in international security, conflict studies, and political violence. She serves as the Senior Director for the Future Frontlines program at New America, focusing on next-generation security and democratic resilience. She is a Professor of Practice at Arizona State University, in the Center on the Future of War and the Melikian Center for Russian, Eurasian, and East European Studies. Candace was part of the Pulitzer Prize-winning team for coverage of the 2007 Virginia Tech massacre.On this episode, we discuss her new book, Putin’s Sledgehammer. The book explores the Wagner Group’s ascent as the Kremlin’s preferred tool for expanding global influence, and its eventual descent into chaos during the Yevgeny Prigozhin–led revolt in the summer of 2023. Article:Gazans Once Escaped To Rafah. Now Israel Is Razing It. (gift article). https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/05/15/world/middleeast/rafah-gaza-israel-damage.html?unlocked_article_code=1.KE8.EVKg.izH8PyIILHGQ&smid=url-share