Secretary Leon Panetta

In the premiere episode of Intelligence Matters, former Acting CIA Director Michael Morell puts his analyst hat on for a wide-ranging conversation with former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta. Morell succeeded Panetta as Acting Director of the Agency in 2011 when Panetta left to take on the role of Secretary of Defense under President Barack Obama. While the two men worked together, and both currently serve as Senior Counselors at Beacon Global Strategies, a geopolitical consulting firm based in Washington, the two have never had a conversation quite like this before. Morell talks to the Secretary about the spread of extremism, North Korea, and the importance of U.S. leadership in the world. They also get personal in this hour-long chat covering Panetta's humble beginnings as the son of Italian immigrants, his inspired passion for public service, and candid advice for President Trump.