Coercive Capital with Elaine Dezenski

Andrew King, Executive Director of Future Union, joins Coercive Capital to expose how authoritarian financial flows are quietly reshaping democratic institutions—from pensions and universities to policy circles.
In this 50-minute interview, King breaks down:
– The origins of Future Union and why clean capital is essential
– The real-world risk of foreign influence in American finance
– The Clean Capital Pledge and how reform is starting to take hold
– Concrete examples of capture—and what we can do about it
Subscribe for more conversations at the intersection of finance, power, and democracy.
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How did the Chinese Communist Party build near-total control over the world’s most critical battery inputs? And how can the U.S. respond before it’s too late?
Josh Birenbaum of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) joins Elaine Dezenski on Coercive Capital to discuss their new report which breaks down the CCP’s strategic capture of the global battery supply chain—and outline what it will take for the United States to regain control.
Based on FDD’s July 2025 report, “Unplugging Beijing,” this episode offers a practical, urgent blueprint for restoring American battery independence.
 
Topics include:
How China cornered the lithium, nickel, and graphite markets
The role of state-backed firms in Beijing’s battery dominance
Why market solutions alone won’t solve the problem
What U.S. policymakers must do now—and who’s already behind
 
Hosted by Elaine Dezenski.
New episodes weekly on Coercive Capital.
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From the jungles of Mindanao to the back alleys of Damascus, Tom Sanderson has gathered intelligence the hard way. This episode of Coercive Capital is a behind-the-scenes look at the realities of global risk, drawn from firsthand encounters in conflict zones worldwide.
 
Host Elaine Dezenski and Sanderson explore:
 
The role of fieldwork in modern intelligence
How proxy networks and non-state actors shape today’s power landscape
The blind spots that leave institutions vulnerable
What Sanderson is watching next
Essential listening for anyone navigating today’s complex risk environment.
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In Episode 13 of Coercive Capital, host Elaine Dezenski is joined by Behnam Ben Taleblu, Senior Director of FDD’s Iran Program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and an expert on Iranian security and sanctions. They explore the cost and consequences of confronting the Islamic Republic—from the legacy of the U.S. “maximum pressure” campaign to the internal economic crises gripping Iran’s ruling regime. As nuclear diplomacy falters and regional tensions rise, financial institutions and compliance teams must adapt. What tools and insights are needed to understand Iran’s future trajectory? And how can policymakers and global markets stay ahead of the next flashpoint?
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Coercive Capital’s Proud Sponsors: This episode of Coercive Capital is brought to you by Hummingbird. Hummingbird is hosting a live, virtual webinar on Everyday AI for Compliance & Registration. In this session, experts will walk you through the best practices for leveraging artificial intelligence to streamline compliance processes and registration requirements, helping businesses save time and stay ahead of regulatory changes. To join the conversation and learn more about the webinar, visit Hummingbird’s website.
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Illicit Edge: Breaking News for Financial Crime Coercive Capital explores the intersection of U.S. economic and national security and global financial reform. Global adversaries are weaponizing our trade and financial systems, while Illicit financial flows, kleptocracy, and organized crime continue to erode democratic systems and destabilize economies. Elaine Dezenski brings together experts who understand these emerging threats and provide insights into the risks and emerging opportunities to strengthen our collective response.
#finance #iran #compliance
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Episode 13 of Coercive Capital, host Elaine Dezenski is joined by Behnam Ben Taleblu, Senior Director of FDD’s Iran Program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and an expert on Iranian security and sanctions. They explore the cost and consequences of confronting the Islamic Republic—from the legacy of the U.S. “maximum pressure” campaign to the internal economic crises gripping Iran’s ruling regime. As nuclear diplomacy falters and regional tensions rise, financial institutions and compliance teams must adapt. What tools and insights are needed to understand Iran’s future trajectory? And how can policymakers and global markets stay ahead of the next flashpoint?
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Coercive Capital’s Proud Sponsors: This episode of Coercive Capital is brought to you by Hummingbird. Hummingbird is hosting a live, virtual webinar on Everyday AI for Compliance & Registration. In this session, experts will walk you through the best practices for leveraging artificial intelligence to streamline compliance processes and registration requirements, helping businesses save time and stay ahead of regulatory changes. To join the conversation and learn more about the webinar, visit Hummingbird’s website. 
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Illicit Edge: Breaking News for Financial Crime Coercive Capital explores the intersection of U.S. economic and national security and global financial reform. Global adversaries are weaponizing our trade and financial systems, while Illicit financial flows, kleptocracy, and organized crime continue to erode democratic systems and destabilize economies. Elaine Dezenski brings together experts who understand these emerging threats and provide insights into the risks and emerging opportunities to strengthen our collective response. 
#finance #iran #compliance