Defense Podcasts
Defense Podcasts
Defense Pulse
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Every morning
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Tuesday recap
EMAIL DIGESTS
Daily
Every morning
Weekly
Tuesday recap
In this episode, host Seth Holhouse examines the paradox of the U.S. government banning Anthropic's AI model Claude for national security reasons while simultaneously using it to plan and execute airstrikes on Iran. He reveals how the same AI architecture that powers military kill chains also underpins everyday consumer technologies, highlighting the blurred line between war‑facing and civilian AI systems. The discussion contrasts Anthropic's safety‑first stance with OpenAI's more permissive approach, showing how the Pentagon quickly shifted to OpenAI after Anthropic refused unrestricted use. Holhouse also outlines Palantir's role as the government's operating system, integrating AI insights into real‑time battlefield decisions.
The episode examines the escalating tension between the United States and Iran, highlighting how regional allies are now rallying behind the U.S. and demanding increased missile defense and military support. It discusses the potential opening of new basing and overflight...
In this episode, Brian Siegelwax interviews a partner from Holland & Knight who also leads the Quantum Industry Coalition, discussing the risks of overstating quantum technology to the U.S. government and the importance of realistic roadmaps. They explore how export...
In this episode, Federico Borsari of the Center for European Policy Analysis explains how uncrewed systems are becoming essential for security, surveillance, and infrastructure protection in the Arctic. He outlines the shifting NATO threat picture—driven by Russia’s expanding presence, NATO’s...
In this episode, Spirit Electronics CEO Marti McCurdy explains how her company provides end‑to‑end semiconductor services—from custom ASIC design and foundry access to wafer processing, packaging, board assembly, and final box builds—for aerospace, defense, and the rapidly growing new‑space sector....
In this episode, host Sarah Westall talks with war correspondent Michael Yon about the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel, highlighting Iran's strategic importance, the potential for a broader regional war, and the fragility of Israel's demographic and political stability....
The episode delves into the heated dispute between Anthropic and the U.S. Department of Defense, where the Pentagon labeled Anthropic a supply‑chain risk and canceled a $200 million contract, only for OpenAI to step in and claim the deal. Host Jaden...
In this episode Jordan Wilson breaks down a week of AI turbulence, highlighting OpenAI’s newly announced Pentagon contract that includes safeguards against autonomous weapons and mass surveillance, and contrasting it with President Trump’s directive to phase out Anthropic’s technology from...
In this episode, Kevin Roose, Casey Newton, and their panel dissect the accelerating impact of AI on the labor market, highlighting concerns that automation is displacing jobs across sectors. They also unpack recent developments: the Pentagon’s legal clash with Anthropic,...
In this episode, Tom Patton talks with Dr. Belinda Merchan, Chief Scientist at Slingshot Aerospace, about how AI is transforming space warfare training. Traditional training relied on scripted scenarios, but Slingshot’s agentic AI uses physics‑based models and proprietary tracking data...
In this episode of Net Assessment, Melanie Marlow (CSIS), Chris Preble (Stimson Center), and Zach Cooper (AEI) dissect the Trump administration’s proposal to build a new class of 30,000‑40,000‑ton "Trump‑class" battleships, dubbed the Golden Fleet. They examine the strategic rationale,...
In this episode, former Navy SEAL and sleep scientist Rob Sweetman discusses how chronic sleep deprivation undermines military readiness, first‑responder health, and overall resilience. He shares his personal journey from a SEAL who was taught to ignore sleep to a...
In this brief episode, host explores the controversial use of Anthropic's Claude AI model in the alleged Venezuelan invasion, discussing legal and ethical concerns around its deployment in military operations. Guest Amos Toh, a researcher at the Brennan Center, explains...
In this episode of Global Dispatches, host Mark Leon Goldberg talks with Ethiopian‑Canadian journalist Zacharias Zelalem about Ethiopia’s rapid slide toward a new, potentially regional war. Zelalem outlines recent flashpoints: mass troop deployments northward, the Ethiopian government’s revocation of Tigray’s...
In this episode of A Better Peace, host Ron Granary talks with Sam Helfont, an Iraq War veteran and scholar, about his new Oxford Very Short Introduction, *The Iraq Wars*. Helfont argues that the Gulf War, the 2003 invasion, and...
The episode explores Finland’s rollout of the DEFINE Network, a nationwide defense innovation framework that links civilian 6G research with military applications. Central to this effort is the University of Oulu’s 6G Test Center, which provides rare radio‑frequency testing facilities...
In this episode, Gavin Kenneally, CEO and co‑founder of Ghost Robotics, walks listeners through the company’s evolution from a startup to a leader in legged robotics, highlighting how four‑legged platforms outperform wheeled robots on rough terrain. He explains the critical...
The episode highlights three major developments in the defense and commercial space sector: Stratolaunch securing a $90.8 million Department of War contract for the MACH‑TB 2.0 air‑launched test vehicle program, Agile Space Industries closing a $17 million Series A round to expand its small‑sat...
In this episode, Ken Miller and congressional outreach consultant Katy Nazaretova discuss the proposal to create a Joint Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations Combat Support Agency (CSA) to fill longstanding gaps in U.S. military spectrum governance. They explain how the legislative cycle...
In this episode, Lt. Gen. (Ret.) David J. Buck discusses how his three‑decade Air Force career—spanning strategic missile, space launch, satellite command, and cyber operations—shapes his work leading BRBR Mission Solutions, a firm that designs and builds mission‑critical infrastructure for...
In this episode, Dr. Eric Paglia talks with Dr. Andreas Raspotnik, a senior researcher at the Fridtjof Nansen Institute, about the European Union’s rising geopolitical role in the Arctic. They examine how the EU’s response to the recent Greenland crisis...
In this episode, Melissa Swisher, CRO of SkySafe, explains how airspace intelligence is evolving to protect large venues like stadiums from unauthorized drones. She highlights the biggest gaps in current drone defense—lack of real‑time detection, attribution, and actionable analytics—and how...
In this episode, host Jonathan Fulton talks with Dr. Eva Seiwert about the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s expanding role in the Middle East, noting Iran’s recent full membership and the region’s growing list of dialogue partners. Seiwert explains the SCO’s dual nature—as...
In Episode 12, host Jake Creps breaks down Domain OSINT, demonstrating how a single URL can reveal ownership, infrastructure, intent, and related activity using free tools like WHOIS, DNS enumeration, and reverse IP searches. He illustrates the process with a...
In episode 824 of Risky Business, Patrick Gray and Adam Boileau dissect a wave of cybersecurity headlines, from Microsoft’s unsettling reshuffle of its security leadership and upcoming Secure Boot certificate refresh to aggressive state‑backed campaigns by Russia targeting the Winter...
The episode examines the Federal Circuit appeal in Global K9 Protection Group LLC v. United States, highlighting how a contractor (K2 Solutions) lost its award by failing to intervene in a bid protest and by not obtaining a redacted copy...
The episode examines whether the recent aerospace and defense rally can sustain its momentum into 2026, starting with a look at how NATO alliances fund European defense spending. It then shifts to Middle East geopolitical dynamics and their impact on...
In this episode, Aaron and Jeffrey examine the expiration of the New START treaty, which for the first time in decades leaves the United States and Russia without a bilateral cap on offensive strategic weapons. They discuss a provisional handshake...
In this episode, hosts Zack, Melanie, and guest security analyst Kelly Grieco dissect the Department of War’s 2026 National Defense Strategy, debating what a "decent peace" with China would entail and whether it aligns with Chinese objectives. They critique the...
In this episode, Dr. Elsa Kania discusses her Harvard dissertation, “China’s Command Revolution,” which analyzes how the People’s Liberation Army is reforming its command structures, integrating new technologies, and fostering innovative decision‑making processes. She explains the shift from rigid, hierarchical...
In this episode, Dr. Emma Salisbury examines the risks of NATO navies embracing overly modular ship designs, arguing that the shift from traditional hull‑based platforms to interchangeable mission pods can undermine combat effectiveness and strategic cohesion. She highlights how modularity,...
In this episode Ken Miller examines the recent U.S. operation to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, highlighting how electromagnetic‑spectrum (EW) tactics—particularly the use of EA‑18G Growlers—enabled a casualty‑free mission against a robust Russian‑supplied air‑defence network. Journalist Mike Fabey provides operational...
The Net Assessment team analyzes the surprise U.S. operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, debating its strategic merits and implications for Venezuela’s political future. They explore why the operation caught many off guard and what it reveals about the...
