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Four years can change the direction of a country. Steve Yates compares where the United States stood heading into the 2022 midterms versus the landscape facing voters in 2026, focusing on four issues that shape America's future: border security, energy, technology, and the Western Hemisphere. Rather than telling listeners how to vote, he offers a framework for evaluating candidates and asking better questions about national priorities, security, economic strength, and America's strategic position. Listen, compare the trends, and decide which questions matter most before casting your vote.  Follow Nation States with Yates for clear, common-sense insights where Steve Yates serves as your personal national security advisor, breaking down world events in ways that matter to Main Street, not just Washington. Connect with the show at [email protected] and follow on X @NSWithYates. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Steve Yates breaks down the major national security and geopolitical stories shaping the week, including new details surrounding the FlyDubai hijacker and troubling questions about radicalization, vetting, and international intelligence sharing. Steve also examines the departure of U.S. B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford amid security concerns in the United Kingdom and a separate Iran-related spy scandal raising questions about the state of the U.S.-UK alliance. Plus, Brazil heads toward an October runoff following a major election result as Steve examines the broader political shift taking place across Latin America. And in the United States, an alleged Chinese spy is arrested at LAX amid accusations involving surveillance of the Taiwanese president’s son and communications with Chinese Communist Party handlers. Steve also previews two upcoming Nation States deep dives: a midterm election checklist one month out and an examination of Pete Hegseth’s State of the Force address and what it could mean for Main Street America. EMAIL STEVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Steve Yates delivers a Nation States weekend update on the major national security and geopolitical developments shaping the U.S. competition with Iran and China. Steve examines the attempted attack aboard a FlyDubai flight bound for Israel and developments in the United Kingdom, and discusses what they could mean for Iran, the IRGC, and the possibility of further military action. The FlyDubai investigation remains ongoing; President Trump has suggested a possible Iranian connection and threatened a strong response if one is established, while officials have cautioned that the motive and any connection to Tehran have not yet been confirmed. Then, Steve turns to the global AI race with China, U.S. energy security, the Strait of Hormuz, and the strategic importance of Alaska and Greenland. He explains his view of how expanded American energy production, access to rare earth minerals, and cooperation with allies could reduce China's leverage over critical supply chains. Plus, Steve assesses the proposed South Korean investment in Alaska energy infrastructure and what it could mean for U.S. energy dominance and America's allies in the Indo-Pacific. Trump announced plans involving a $54 billion South Korean investment in an Alaska natural-gas project, although South Korean officials have indicated that participation remains subject to commercial considerations. From Iran and the IRGC to China, AI, energy, rare earths, Alaska, and the Strait of Hormuz, Steve Yates breaks down the stories to watch heading into the weekend. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A state dinner and red-carpet diplomacy made headlines, but Steve Yates focuses on the real scorecard after Xi Jinping’s visit to Washington. From the temporary trade truce and AI competition to Taiwan deterrence, Iran’s oil lifeline, and the case of Jimmy Lai, he examines what Beijing gained, what Washington held firm on, and where key questions remain unresolved. The central test is not symbolism, but implementation. Listen now and decide whether this summit delivered progress or simply bought time before the next round of negotiations. Follow Nation States with Yates for clear, common-sense insights where Steve Yates serves as your personal national security advisor, breaking down world events in ways that matter to Main Street, not just Washington. Connect with the show at [email protected] and follow on X @NSWithYates. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Iran offered a seven-day plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but the price was steep: sanctions relief, unfrozen assets, and an end to economic pressure before any lasting agreement. Steve Yates explains why President Trump rejected the proposal, how leverage shapes nation-state negotiations, and what the decision could mean for energy markets, China, the Revolutionary Guard, and American consumers facing higher fuel costs. Listen for a clear breakdown of the bargaining strategy behind the headlines and the real-world impact on Main Street. Follow Nation States with Yates for clear, common-sense insights where Steve Yates serves as your personal national security advisor, breaking down world events in ways that matter to Main Street, not just Washington. Connect with the show at [email protected] and follow on X @NSWithYates. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As world leaders gather for the United Nations General Assembly, Steve Yates examines a question most Americans rarely ask: what does the United Nations actually deliver for Main Street America? Looking at the UN's origins, America's role as its largest funder, the Security Council veto system, and case studies from Korea to the South China Sea, Yates evaluates whether the institution still advances U.S. interests or has become more theater than tool. Listen for a practical framework to judge global institutions the same way Americans would evaluate any contractor: did the work get done, what did it cost, and would you hire them again? Follow Nation States with Yates for clear, common-sense insights where Steve Yates serves as your personal national security advisor, breaking down world events in ways that matter to Main Street, not just Washington. Connect with the show at [email protected] and follow on X @NSWithYates. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Xi Jinping heads to Washington for another summit with President Trump, the real question is not what gets announced, but what gets delivered. Steve Yates explains why implementation matters more than optics and examines the key tests facing U.S.-China relations, from AI controls and Taiwan to Iran, Ukraine, rare earth supply chains, fentanyl enforcement, and the fate of Jimmy Lai. Listen for a practical framework to separate diplomatic theater from meaningful results and understand what success should actually look like for American interests. Follow Nation States with Yates for clear, common-sense insights where Steve Yates serves as your personal national security advisor, breaking down world events in ways that matter to Main Street, not just Washington. Connect with the show at [email protected] and follow on X @NSWithYates. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China’s top security officials have laid out their biggest fears about artificial intelligence and the roadmap they believe will keep the Chinese Communist Party in control. Steve Yates breaks down a rare public window into Beijing’s thinking, from deepfakes and cyber warfare to data security, chips, and global AI competition. The bigger question is what America and its allies should refuse to accept as AI becomes critical infrastructure. Listen, share your thoughts, and join the conversation on one of the defining strategic challenges of the coming decade. Follow Nation States with Yates for clear, common-sense insights where Steve Yates serves as your personal national security advisor, breaking down world events in ways that matter to Main Street, not just Washington. Connect with the show at [email protected] and follow on X @NSWithYates. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jimmy Lai's imprisonment has become a measure of far more than one man's fate. Steve Yates examines how the jailed Hong Kong publisher's story challenges decades of U.S. assumptions about China's political future, Hong Kong's promised autonomy, and whether Beijing still has room for voices outside Communist Party control. As President Trump prepares for another meeting with Xi Jinping, the case raises difficult questions about leadership, freedom, faith, and the future of U.S.-China relations. Listen and share this episode as Congress revisits Jimmy Lai's case and policymakers weigh what comes next. Follow Nation States with Yates for clear, common-sense insights where Steve Yates serves as your personal national security advisor, breaking down world events in ways that matter to Main Street, not just Washington. Connect with the show at [email protected] and follow on X @NSWithYates. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When does a military conflict become a war, and who gets to decide? Steve Yates examines the constitutional, legal, and political debate surrounding U.S. military action, using the ongoing confrontation with Iran as a real-world case study. From declarations of war and presidential authority to the 1973 War Powers Resolution, he explains why America has fought major conflicts for decades without formally declaring war. Share this episode with friends and family who want a clearer understanding of how war powers actually work and why this debate remains unresolved. Follow Nation States with Yates for clear, common-sense insights where Steve Yates serves as your personal national security advisor, breaking down world events in ways that matter to Main Street, not just Washington. Connect with the show at [email protected] and follow on X @NSWithYates. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A surprising question at a Canadian security conference sparks a bigger conversation about the future of the U.S.-Canada relationship. Steve Yates looks beyond headlines and political rhetoric to examine Canada's economic stagnation, military readiness, growing interest in deeper ties with China, and why geography, trade, and security continue to bind North America together. The real story is not invasion fears. It is whether two longtime allies can adapt to a changing world while preserving a shared future. Listen now and join the conversation on one of the most important relationships in the Western Hemisphere. Follow Nation States with Yates for clear, common-sense insights where Steve Yates serves as your personal national security advisor, breaking down world events in ways that matter to Main Street, not just Washington. Connect with the show at [email protected] and follow on X @NSWithYates. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

America adopts more children into permanent families than any other wealthy nation, and Steve Yates argues that fact reveals something deeper about the American idea itself. Drawing from adoption data, international comparisons, personal experience as an adoptive father, and a memorable White House encounter involving President George W. Bush and Romania, he explores how law, love, and shared commitment can define family and citizenship beyond bloodlines. Share your thoughts and experiences with adoption, family, and belonging. Follow Nation States with Yates for clear, common-sense insights where Steve Yates serves as your personal national security advisor, breaking down world events in ways that matter to Main Street, not just Washington. Connect with the show at [email protected] and follow on X @NSWithYates. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Twenty-five years after September 11, 2001, Steve Yates shares a firsthand account from inside the White House complex as America came under attack. Drawing on his experience serving on the vice president’s national security staff, he reflects on the confusion, evacuation, continuity of government, and leadership lessons that emerged in the hours and days that followed. More importantly, he examines what those events still teach America in 2026 about vigilance, resilience, and national security. Listen, share with the next generation, and help preserve the lessons that history can teach before memory fades. Follow Nation States with Yates for clear, common-sense insights where Steve Yates serves as your personal national security advisor, breaking down world events in ways that matter to Main Street, not just Washington. Connect with the show at [email protected] and follow on X @NSWithYates. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Xi Jinping prepares to visit Washington for a high-stakes summit with President Trump, Steve Yates looks past the diplomatic theater to focus on what matters for everyday Americans. From trade commitments and farm exports to Taiwan, advanced technology, Iran, and the detention of U.S. citizens in China, the episode examines whether this meeting will produce measurable results or simply another round of promises. Listen for a practical look at the leverage, risks, and opportunities shaping the next chapter of U.S.-China relations. Follow Nation States with Yates for clear, common-sense insights where Steve Yates serves as your personal national security advisor, breaking down world events in ways that matter to Main Street, not just Washington. Connect with the show at [email protected] and follow on X @NSWithYates. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A major shift in U.S. strategy toward Iran may redefine how America uses power abroad. Steve Yates breaks down Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s newly announced Operation Economic Outcast, a campaign aimed at cutting off Iran’s financial lifelines and isolating the regime from the global economy. He explains why economic pressure, rather than expanded military engagement, could become the decisive tool in ending the conflict while reducing long-term risks to American families, energy markets, and national security. Listen and join the conversation about how economic power, sanctions enforcement, China’s role, and allied cooperation could shape what comes next. Follow Nation States with Yates for clear, common-sense insights where Steve Yates serves as your personal national security advisor, breaking down world events in ways that matter to Main Street, not just Washington. Connect with the show at [email protected] and follow on X @NSWithYates. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.