Ep. 23 Ukraine, the NDAA, and Fusion Hype — and Why We Track Santa

In this episode of Understandable Insights, Sue and Eric start with Europe’s move to fund Ukraine through 2026–2027 and unpack what that signals (and what it doesn’t): real staying power, internal fractures, the role of Russian propaganda, and visible public disagreements in intelligence assessments about Putin’s intentions.Next, they turn to the NDAA and use it as a lens on how national security actually gets built. Combatant Command reorganizations and new-domain priorities matter far less than defining the “ends”, especially the people side: training, readiness, and sustained execution.Then they hit the corporate strategy front: a media-company-plus-fusion deal becomes a case study in how momentum and financial engineering can masquerade as progress—while the energy reality remains that fusion isn’t an energy policy for this decade.They conclude with What We’re Watching: DJI drone restrictions, the TikTok ownership closing timeline, and a holiday reminder about trust—Santa is someone we trust, and tracking is something we’ve come to trust. Remember, for all those days that it seems dark and that we'll never come together, this is a mission that we can do against a global truth that we must preserve. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Understandable Insights02:28 Memorable Holiday Toys06:48 Ukraine Support and Russia Propaganda16:47 The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)22:04 Pentagon's Discussed COCOM Consolidation 28:55 Trump Media and TAE Technologies Merger36:03 What We’re WatchingArticles: NORAD Santa Tracker  About the show:Understandable Insights: Information to Intelligence with Sue Gordon is the national security podcast that provides you an elemental understanding of the world as it is, not how you prefer it to be.Each week, Eric Koepp — a former Marine, father, and entrepreneur — sits down with the Honorable Sue Gordon, the nation’s former top career intelligence officer. Together, they break down the headlines shaping our world and ask what they really mean for citizens, leaders, and institutions.From armed conflict to emerging tech, foreign interference to the resilience of democracy — this is where raw information becomes real intelligence. Unfiltered. Candid. Unapologetically clear.Website and Feedback:Remember we’re here for you. Provide us feedback or suggest topics for next time: FeedbackSend us Fan MailJoin us on Youtube, Instagram, and wherever you enjoy your podcasts. New episodes every Tuesday.  Follow or subscribe today.