Ep. 24 The National Security Trump Card: Ukraine, Greenland, and Windmills

In this episode of Understandable Insights, Sue and Eric discuss Ukraine’s latest turn: President Zelensky takes his pitch for peace to Mar-a-Lago as Russia sustains heavy strikes. They unpack what would actually signal progress: whether battlefield activity slows in a way that suggests a real path to peace rather than leverage and messaging.Next, they move north to Greenland to draw a sharp distinction between owning terrain and achieving security outcomes, arguing that strategy is built through partnerships and priorities, not possession thinking.Finally, offshore wind becomes the latest case study in overusing “national security” as a trump card: less a physics problem than a governance one and an overused label to bypass transparency, shut down dialogue, and avoid explaining tradeoffs.They close with predictions for 2026, What We’re Watching, and a look ahead for Ui in the coming year. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Understandable Insights00:49 New Year's Resolutions and Reflections04:10 Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks09:33 US-Greenland Relations13:19 Offshore Wind Projects and National Security18:07 Predictions for 202622:58 What We’re Watching26:34 Understandable Insights 2026 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.