GNSI Executive Director, General (Ret) Frank McKenzie sits down to give us a perspective that is seldom seen outside the rooms where globally impactful decisions are made.  McKenzie has said on many occasions that he believes the threat and likelihood of the use of nuclear weapons is the greatest in recent history. Perhaps even greater than during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1963. The United States has divested itself of nearly all of its arsenal of tactical nuclear weapons that once numbered in the thousands. The Soviet Union, now Russia, has not done the same. And with their conventional military forces faring so badly in Eastern Europe following their invasion of Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin may find himself needing to "escalate to de-escalate." And nuclear weapons are one of the few remaining assets that may be enough to turn the tide.  (16:16)

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What's Really Happening? is the podcast from the Global and National Security Institute at the University of South Florida that leverages the experiences, insights and invaluable leadership of the former Commander of United States Central Command (USCENTCOM), General (Ret) Frank McKenzie. As commander of one of the US military's 11 combatant commands, McKenzie reported only to the Secretary of Defense and the President of the United States. He was in command of all US military operations and personnel in the Central Region (encompassing the Middle East, South Asia and Northern Africa). He gives us a comprehensive look into what goes on "in the room," when decisions are made that can change the world.