In this episode of "Hot Wash" from earlier this year, host John Sorensen and RealClearDefense editor David Craig talk with New York Times bestselling author Brad Thor about his new installment in the extremely popular Scot Harvath series, "Black Ice." As climate change opens up new shipping routes in the Arctic, Russia and China increasingly challenge the US and its allies for control of newly accessible territory and resources. Thor has been writing thrillers for the past two decades, inspired by real world geopolitics and informed by a network of insiders. Although his books are fictional, he has even served as a member of the Department of Homeland Security’s Analytic Red Cell Unit, a group of writers brainstorming on potential terrorist threats. Will the warming Arctic be the next geopolitical flashpoint between the US, China and Russia? Note: this episode was recorded August 17, prior to the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. Subscribe to the Morning Recon newsletter at https://www.realcleardefense.com/daily_newsletters/ for a daily roundup of news and opinion on the issues that matter for military, defense, veteran affairs, and national security. Be sure to subscribe to Hot Wash on iTunes or wherever you listen to podcasts. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/realclear-defense-presents-hot-wash/id1575373700