Kurt and Rich sit down with former Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Admiral John Richardson on this Tea Leaves episode. Admiral Richardson shares what it was like being CNO, his thoughts on military discipline and learning from mistakes, and the state of the Navy today. The three also discuss the Pentagon’s reaction to recent events in the Middle East and in Iran, as well as how the United States’ naval capabilities compare with China’s.
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Kurt Campbell and Christopher Johnstone in APNews on Takaichi-Trump meeting
March 19, 2026
Media Mentions
Trump is expected to put “enormous pressure” on Takaichi, said Kurt Campbell, the former U.S. deputy secretary of state in ...
Kurt Tong in Politico on U.S.-Japan summit: ‘The Iran conflict creates an overlay of anxiety for the meeting’
March 18, 2026
Media Mentions
Tong argued that if it hadn’t been for Taiwan and Iran, “the visit would have been downright celebratory.” Takaichi and ...
Mehu Sitepu quoted in Associated Press on Trump’s trade deal with Indonesia
March 18, 2026
Media Mentions
The agreement requires ratification by Indonesia’s parliament before it can take effect. That adds another “layer of uncertainty,” said Mehu ...
Han Lin in The Straits Times on Trump’s China visit delay giving both sides time for trade deal
March 17, 2026
Media Mentions
“Typically, summits ratify progress already made, not create it. If back-channel talks aren’t moving, delay just gives hawks on both ...