An Age of Anxiety? What Top Intelligence Leaders Predict for 2026

In the final One Decision episode of the year, ex-MI6 Chief Sir Richard Dearlove, former FBI Deputy and Acting Director Andrew McCabe, and retired four-star U.S. Army commander Gen. Joe Votel look ahead to 2026 and assess why global politics may be entering an "age of uncertainty."

The Former Chief of the British Intelligence Service predicts "a change of regime in Iran," pointing to the supreme leader’s age and the fact that "there’s no succession plan." He argues the system looks "fragile" and warns that any trigger inside Iran would be "a big event geopolitically.""

McCabe follows with his own forecast, saying, "I’ll go ahead and put my prediction on regime change in Venezuela," while also expressing hope for "truly an acceptable peace in Ukraine," even as he acknowledges how hard that will be to achieve given Russia’s posture.

Votel focuses on the near term, warning of "missed opportunities" in the Middle East as Gaza, Syria, and Lebanon undergo rapid change. He also points to Ukraine, arguing that how negotiations unfold will indicate "the direction Mr. Putin will go" and how key international relationships may evolve.

"Expect the unexpected," Votel notes.

Tune in for their 2026 political predictions and expert insight into what may come next.