![\"Image](\"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/dolphin-1200924_640.jpg\" "\\"Image")
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There\u2019s been some solid work out recently that draws a line between authoritarianism and the tendencies of the new American President, including David Frum\u2019s cover story for <\/span>The Atlantic<\/span><\/i> (to which we linked <\/span>a few weeks back<\/span><\/a>). As well as a few <\/span>astonishing revelations<\/span><\/a> about alleged contacts between Trump\u2019s team and Moscow (and <\/span>partial confirmation<\/span><\/a> of the Steele dossier), this week has also thrown up some pointed analysis from chess supremo Garry Kasparov. In <\/span>this must-read interview<\/span><\/a> with <\/span>Vox<\/span><\/i>, Kasparov reflects on Putinism, resistance and chess in the time of Trump. He also had a piece in <\/span>The Washington Post<\/span><\/i> (co-authored with his colleague, Thor Halvorssen), which addresses <\/span>the global rise in authoritarianism<\/span><\/a>. And in case you missed it, Michael McFaul\u2019s recent piece on <\/span>Putin\u2019s rise as a Trumpian playbook<\/span><\/a> is worth digesting.<\/span><\/p>\n If you\u2019ve ever wanted to read an <\/span>exhaustive analysis of the headlines published by the [North] Korean Central News Agency<\/span><\/a>, then you\u2019re in luck. Or maybe you\u2019re not, because the opening paragraphs of this computer-aided inquiry are bookended by the following two lines: <\/span><\/p>\n \u2018<\/span>Warning: long and exhaustive discussion of propaganda that nobody reads or cares about, by a non-specialist in North Korean politics. Contains complicated interactive graphs best viewed on a laptop or desktop computer.\u2019 <\/span><\/p>\n \u2018WARNING: EXCRUCIATINGLY DETAILED DISCUSSION OF SOME OF THE MOST BORING TEXTS EVER PRODUCED IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD FOLLOWS. DON\u2019T SAY I DIDN\u2019T WARN YOU!\u2019<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n If you\u2019re not put off, <\/span>jump on in<\/span><\/a>. The word-clouds, mentions and sentiment analyses are all really quite fascinating.<\/span><\/p>\n In this week\u2019s first-rate research picks, we kick off with the<\/span> phenomenal report from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue<\/span><\/a> (PDF), which translates a 55-page IS propaganda strategy and analysises the terrorist group\u2019s media tactics. A<\/span> sobering new publication from the Atlantic Council<\/span><\/a> puts the devastation of Aleppo under a microscope, expertly sorting fact from fiction in an effort to ensure that Syria is not \u2018so easily forgotten\u2019. Looking eastwards, this<\/span> mammoth effort from Chatham House<\/span><\/a> saw Sinologists gazing into their crystal balls to map out China\u2019s strategic goals in 2021. A<\/span> shorter read from RSiS<\/span><\/a> identifies the key challenges that keeps Southeast Asia\u2019s naval shipbuilding industry at the bottom of the pack. And in our own backyard,<\/span> the USSC has identified<\/span><\/a> the most damaging aspects of the Trump administration\u2019s trade policies to Australia\u2019s economy.<\/span><\/p>\n And finally, we\u2019ve all heard fantastic stories about how the <\/span>humble dolphin has been militarised<\/span><\/a> and deployed to hunt submarines, detect underwater mines and partake in other A+ animal activities. But <\/span>news this week<\/span><\/a> has thrown doubt on whether those tasks are sustainable if the next generation\u2014it\u2019s always the next generation…\u2014can\u2019t pass their drug tests. Stay off the blowies, kids. #420<\/span><\/p>\n Podcasts<\/b><\/p>\n Regular readers will have previously seen this feature suggest <\/span>About the News<\/span><\/i>, the one-year podcast collaboration between CSIS in DC and the Bob Schieffer College of Communication in Texas. It\u2019s a fantastic series, with truly interesting chats about the state of journalism today. Journos are their bread-and-butter guests, so when satirist <\/span>Stephen Colbert showed up last week<\/span><\/a>, we knew it\u2019d be tasty listening (36 mins). Catch up with that episode and others <\/span>here<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n The Wall Street Journal<\/span><\/i>\u2019s excellent podcast series \u2018Foreign Edition\u2019 rose to the occasion this week,<\/span> with its reportage and analysis<\/span><\/a> (25 mins) of the expulsion of Mike Flynn from the White House and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu\u2019s visit to Washington. If you\u2019re after a little more from the <\/span>Journal<\/span><\/i> on the Flynn fallout, be sure to tee-up the<\/span> newest \u2018Potomac Watch\u2019 episode<\/span><\/a> (20 mins), too.<\/span><\/p>\n Video<\/b><\/p>\n Chatham House was recently got the chance to interview Tina Tchen, the former Executive Director of the White House Council on Women and Girls and Chief of Staff to FLOTUS.<\/span> In the short video<\/span><\/a> (4 mins 20 secs), Tchen weighs in on gender equality\u2019s role in driving economic growth across the world and the importance of empowering women.<\/span><\/p>\n In an ideal offering for all the capability wonks out there, IHS Jane\u2019s regular Dr Lee Willett joins a panel for of one of Jane\u2019s esteemed intelligence briefings. Here\u2019s an<\/span> excerpt<\/span><\/a> (9 mins) \u00a0focusing on key developments in frigate programs around the globe. <\/span><\/p>\n Events<\/b><\/p>\n Canberra: The ANU\u2019s National Security College this week announced their inaugural Women and National Security conference, set to take place this coming April. Check out the exceptional line-up and registration details <\/span>here<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n