Best Natsec Podcasts (2026)

1
The Race to Control Global Tech: Craig Singleton 39:55

Play Pause

2h ago39:55

39:55

Michael speaks with Craig Singleton, China Program Senior Director and Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, about the new frontiers of the US-China tech competition. Craig explains China's willingness to weaponize its dominance in rare earth magnets and how that leverage has left US assembly lines vulnerable. He also explores…

1
Fundraising special: Trump’s natsec strategy, the US gov as private equity firm 59:57

14d ago59:57

59:57

Anatol Lieven analyzes the Trump national security strategy • Susannah Glickman on the transformation of the US government into a private equity firm (NYRB interview here) The post Fundraising special: Trump’s natsec strategy, the US gov as private equity firm appeared first on KPFA.By KPFA

1
Behind the News – January 1, 2026 1:32:48

1d ago1:32:48

1:32:48

Host Doug Henwood covers the worlds of economics and politics and their complex interactions, from the local to the global. The post Behind the News – January 1, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.By KPFA

1
Undercover for the holidays: Some of our favorite spy novels 29:01

5d ago29:01

29:01

What's more thrilling than a great... thriller? As national security buffs, we have thoughts. Host Mary Louise Kelly chats with national security correspondent Greg Myre and books and culture reporter Andrew Limbong about some of their favorite books and authors in the world of espionage fiction. Email the show at [email protected] NPR+ sup…

1
40 Year Career at the CIA Built Character for this Leader 23:32

8h ago23:32

23:32

For this episode of the Security Clearance Careers Podcast, we we explore leadership, ethics, and excellence in high-stakes environments. Today’s episode will reshape how you think about leadership, especially leadership where character and trust are at the foundation of leading groups in national security missions. Today we are thrilled to be join…

1
A House of Dynamite (2025) w/ Scott Sagan | Ep. 278 55:47

7d ago55:47

55:47

A special holiday crossover with The Bang-Bang Podcast! Van Jackson and Lyle Rubin are joined by the preeminent nuclear scholar Scott Sagan to discuss A House of Dynamite, the 2025 political thriller that imagines nuclear catastrophe not as spectacle or obvious madness, but as an orderly sequence of decisions made under crushing time pressure. Stru…

1
The Imaginary "War on Science"—and the Real One 2:42:26

7d ago2:42:26

2:42:26

Trent and Caitlin talk with philosophy of science expert Nathan Oseroff-Spicer about his review of the book "The War On Science," how the book misses the mark, what strategies its authors use to downplay the threats from the right and fabricate a threat from the left, and what motivations could possibly lead thirty-nine scholars to create such a me…

1
Year-end roundup: some of the best of BtN 2025 59:58

4d ago59:58

59:58

Highlights of 2025: Emile Torres on the posthumanists • Quinn Slobodian on eugenics and neoliberalism • Femi Taiwo on DEI and the war on it • Kristin Du Mez on white Christian nationalism • Anatol Lieven on the Trumpian worldview • Laleh Khalili on the relationship between the Pentagon and US capitalism • and Susannah Glickman on similar The post Y…

1
Israel's Intelligence Breakdowns: Yaakov Katz 59:09

1d ago59:09

59:09

Michael speaks with Yaakov Katz, former editor-in-chief of the Jerusalem Post and author of the new book While Israel Slept: How Hamas Surprised the Most Powerful Military in the Middle East. Yaakov discusses how the catastrophic intelligence failure leading up to October 7th was rooted in a moment of "lack of imagination" and Israel's fatal commit…

1
From CIA Officer to Governor: Abigail Spanberger on intelligence and politics 25:55

12d ago25:55

25:55

Virginia governor-elect Abigail Spanberger will be the first woman and the first former CIA officer to lead the commonwealth. Host Mary Louise Kelly talks to Spanberger about her unconventional career path that took her from Langley to D.C. and now to Richmond, and how some of her skills from gathering intelligence come in handy in politics. Email …

1
Federal Holiday Parties, Alcohol, and Other Clearance Mistakes 23:49

3d ago23:49

23:49

Lindy Kyzer and Jill Hamilton talk about holiday party rules of engagement when working federal contracts. Would you normally dance to Cotton Eyed Joe if you didn't have that wine at the holiday party? Learn in this episode about other alcohol issues and your security clearance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

1
Decoding Trump’s National Security Strategy w/ American Prestige Pod | Ep. 277 1:09:49

12d ago1:09:49

1:09:49

Free crossover episode with the American Prestige Podcast! Julia Gledhill and Van Jackson joined Daniel Bessner and Derek Davison to breakdown the Trump administration’s newly released National Security Strategy. They discuss how the document leans on civilizational framing, portrays competition as existential conflict, omits diplomacy and institut…

1
Episode 741: The Lessons of Pearl Harbor at 84, with John Keuhn 1:07:37

12d ago1:07:37

1:07:37

History isn’t just about the past; it’s a guide for today! On this episode, we unravel the myths surrounding Pearl Harbor and what they teach us about current global tensions with returning guest, John Keuhn. Dr. John T. Kuehn is Professor of Military History at the Army Command and General Staff College. He served in the US Navy as a naval flight …

1
Is ISIS making a comeback? 28:19

16d ago28:19

28:19

The terrorist group has been linked to the mass shooting in Australia and a deadly attack in Syria. What do these two attacks reveal about the group's strength? Host Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Pentagon correspondent Tom Bowman and Middle East correspondent Jane Arraf about how the Islamic State has adapted in a post-caliphate world and what Amer…

1
What Do Republicans Know? 1:39:34

7d ago1:39:34

1:39:34

Caitlin and Trent talk with Matthew Sheffield about his experiences as a former Republican strategist and the information he wants progressives to know about their strategies and successes. Resources: https://plus.flux.community/p/what-republicans-know https://www.patreon.com/posts/142008768?utm_campaign=postshare_fan https://www.bbc.com/news/artic…

1
The Festivus Episode 1:06:17

7d ago1:06:17

1:06:17

Steph, Leah, and Jess kick off Secure Line’s first-ever video “Festivus” episode with a holiday tradition: the airing of the grievances. After a quick tribute to producer Lena (the only person exempt from criticism), the trio runs through what’s been frustrating them most about Canada’s national security landscape—and what they think needs to chang…

1
Fundraising special: the problem with lithium 59:59

7d ago59:59

59:59

Thea Riofrancos, author of Extraction: The Frontiers of Green Capitalism, on the complications of using lithium batteries to green our future (think tank here) The post Fundraising special: the problem with lithium appeared first on KPFA.By KPFA

1
The Reagan Survey: Public 'Firepower' for National Security 52:45

9d ago52:45

52:45

Michael speaks with Roger Zakheim, the Washington Director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, about the recently released National Security Strategy and the findings of the Reagan National Defense Survey of American public opinion. Although Roger critiques the National Security Strategy for a "huge missed opportunity" in fa…

1
“The Problem of America”: The Economist’s Shashank Joshi on Global Security in 2025 48:26

9d ago48:26

48:26

Secure Line closes out 2025 by taking stock of a year defined by geopolitical whiplash: grinding wars in Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine; rising tension in the Indo-Pacific; instability across Africa’s “coup belt”; and a U.S. foreign policy that’s reshaping alliances as much as it’s responding to threats. With a newly released U.S. National Security Strat…

1
Primitive Accumulation, Imperialism, and Culture-War Grand Strategy w/ Jacob Shapiro | Ep. 276 57:20

18d ago57:20

57:20

Free crossover episode with The Jacob Shapiro Podcast! It's a strategy of primitive accumulation masquerading as a culture warrior grand strategy. It's doing white Christian nationalism as foreign policy, imperialism in Latin America, far-right revolution in Europe. And what about China? In this crossover episode between The Un-Diplomatic Podcast a…

1
The Secret History of Women at the CIA – A Conversation with Liza Mundy 23:01

10d ago23:01

23:01

Women have been integral to the intelligence community since its earliest days, yet for decades their contributions remained obscured—hidden not only by secrecy but also by policy and silence. In her recent book, The Sisterhood: The Secret History of Women at the CIA, author Liza Mundy brings these untold stories to light. She traces the journeys o…

1
Touring America with Border Patrol and ICE 1:02:53

13d ago1:02:53

1:02:53

Trent and Caitlin catch up with journalist Amanda Moore to hear about her tour of American cities that have been targeted for ICE and Border Patrol operations. Resources: https://www.thenation.com/article/activism/broadview-ice-cbp-gregory-bovino/ https://www.clippings.me/users/noturtlesoup17 https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/29/us/illinois-broadview-ice…

1
Is Trump breaking up with Europe? 28:16

23d ago28:16

28:16

In recent days, President Trump has called European leaders “weak," Biden-era aid to Ukraine “stupid" and Russia “strong.” It’s a radical shift in how the United States views its closest ally. Host Mary Louise Kelly speaks with national security correspondent Greg Myre and Paris correspondent Eleanor Beardsley about where the transatlantic alliance…

1
Regime Change, Drug War or Stalemate?: David Shedd & Jana Nelson 47:30

16d ago47:30

47:30

Michael speaks with former acting Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency David Shedd and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense of Western Hemisphere Affairs Jana Nelson about US strikes on narcotraffickers in Latin America and whether the Trump Administration is closing in on attacks on Venezuela. They discuss what could be next for the…

1
Netflix’s Marines (2025) w/ Sam Carliner | Bang-Bang Podcast Crossover | Ep. 275 1:27:08

26d ago1:27:08

1:27:08

Free episode crossover with The Bang-Bang Podcast! Van Jackson and Lyle Rubin are joined by returning guest Sam Carliner to take on Marines, Netflix’s new 250th-anniversary docuseries, an unmistakable propaganda piece (it’s literally featured on the official Marine Corps website) that nonetheless reveals more candor than the institution intended. D…

1
ODNI and UVA's National Security Data and Policy Institute 16:26

17d ago16:26

16:26

Charles Luftig, Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Policy and Capabilities, joined the Security Clearance Careers Podcast to discuss the National Security Data and Policy Institute (NSDPI). He shared insights on the origins of the institute, why UVA was a natural match for this partnership, and the interdisciplinary nature of the NSDPI’s …

1
Episode 740: The Better Part of a Decade and a Half with the Navy & Midrats, with Bryan McGrath 57:56

26d ago57:56

57:56

One of our guests on Episode 3 of Midrats was Bryan McGrath, CDR, USN (Ret.). Over the years he’s returned often, and has even graced us with the pleasure of a few guest posts here.As he’s let people know for years, he was going to retire for good at 60. True to his word, he hung it up a few weeks ago. Earlier this year before he got too focused on…

1
Sick in America: Is Everyone Else Lying to You? 1:04:47

20d ago1:04:47

1:04:47

Caitlin and Trent talk with Jonathan Howard, a neurologist, psychiatrist, and author of *Everyone Else Is Lying to You* and *We Want Them Infected*, both books analyzing the policies and discourses around the COVID-19 pandemic. Resources Science-Based Medicine website: https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/ *Everyone Else Is Lying to You*: https://books…

1
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is in hot water – again 25:28

30d ago25:28

25:28

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth was already facing questions for his role in the September 2 strikes on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean. Then on Thursday, a Pentagon report dropped that says he risked a United States bombing mission in Yemen when he shared classified plans on Signal. Host Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Pentagon correspondent Tom B…

1
Honduras, Sudan, sewer socialism 59:58

26d ago59:58

59:58

David Adler and Matt Kirkegaard of the Progressive International on the Honduran elections • Elfadil Ibrahim on the Sudanese civil war • Eric Blanc on the lessons of Milwaukee’s decades of “sewer socialism” for Mamdani and Wilson The post Honduras, Sudan, sewer socialism appeared first on KPFA.By KPFA

1
Leaving Washington | NATO Hawk to NATO Dove | Teaching International Relations | Realities of PhD Life | Ep. 274 1:04:02

1M ago1:04:02

1:04:02

Free episode cross-over! Van Jackson appeared as a guest on Davis Ellison’s Official Positions podcast. They talk about how Van became a scholar, why he left Washington for New Zealand, the social realities of being a foreign policy wonk, the dark side of life in rich countries, what strategic studies ought to be, and how Davis himself went from be…

1
Venezuela, China, and America's Secrets: David Shedd & Andrew Badger 44:25

25d ago44:25

44:25

Michael speaks with David Shedd, former acting director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, and Andrew Badger, a corporate risk advisor and former intelligence officer. David and Andrew share their stark forecasts for possible U.S. military strikes on Venezuela's Maduro regime and narco-trafficking targets. They then shift hemispheres to discuss th…

1
Modern Gangsters of Capitalism and the Imperial Boomerang 1:11:36

23d ago1:11:36

1:11:36

Trent and Caitlin talk with journalist and author Jonathan Katz about the gangsters of capitalism, the imperial boomerang, and the moral injuries inflicted when officers, agents, and soldiers engage in the inhumane and depraved acts that are demanded of them. Resources Jonathan's book https://jonathanmkatz.com/gangsters https://theracket.news https…

1
Secure BYOD in a World with Increasing Threats 22:22

24d ago22:22

22:22

In today’s mobile-first world, organizations juggle a tough balancing act: enabling employees to use personal devices while safeguarding sensitive data. BYOD, which stands for Bring Your Own Device, is a policy that allows employees to use their personal devices (like smartphones, laptops, and tablets) for work-related tasks. This practice has beco…

1
From Promises to Procurement: Can Canada Actually Spend $81.8 Billion? 35:38

28d ago35:38

35:38

In this episode of Secure Line, Leah West and Stephanie Carvin break down the most consequential defence budget Canada has seen in generations—joined by special guest Philippe Lagassé, Chair in International Affairs at NPSIA and author of Debating Canadian Defence. With Jess Davis away this week, Leah and Stephanie dive into the headline-grabbing $…

1
Behind the News – November 27, 2025 59:58

28d ago59:58

59:58

Host Doug Henwood covers the worlds of economics and politics and their complex interactions, from the local to the global. The post Behind the News – November 27, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.By KPFA

1
"Seditious" NatSec Democrats | MAGA’s A.I. Rupture | Venezuela Regime Change | Ukraine Peace Plan | Ep. 273 45:54

1M ago45:54

45:54

Why regime-change war with Venezuela is about drugs. And cartels. And immigration. And resource exploitation. And because it will be good for inflation. And because uranium to all of the world’s bad guys. What the fuck!? Things are shaping up like a choose-your-own adventure story that fails to learn from the Iraq War. What is the Ukraine peace pla…

1
Lessons from Ukraine: Mick Ryan 49:29

1M ago49:29

49:29

Michael speaks with Major General Mick Ryan (Ret.), a Senior Fellow for military studies at the Lowy Institute in Sydney, about the latest developments in the war in Ukraine and what we can learn to apply in conflicts around the globe. General Ryan assesses the current state of the front lines, detailing how Russia is leveraging its advantage in el…

1
National Delirium: NatSec in Post-9/11 America, from Dubya to Donny 1:09:00

1M ago1:09:00

1:09:00

Trent and Caitlin speak with journalist Spencer Ackerman about the CIA, DHS, and other parts of the US government ostensibly protecting us from terrorism. How have they achieved this level of impunity? What are the precedents for the intolerable level of human rights and privacy violations we see today? What have we allowed to be done to the “other…

1
Law Practice Shares Insights for Federal Workers 24:18

1M ago24:18

24:18

There are many law practices in the DMV that proudly champion the workplace rights of federal employees, supervisors, and senior executives across agencies nationwide—helping preserve what is often their most valuable asset: their government career. Shehan Legal joins the Security Clearance Careers Podcast to talk about the current state of affiars…

1
Episode 739: Pre-Thanksgiving Free for All 1:02:16

1M ago1:02:16

1:02:16

Summary In this episode of Midrats, Sal and Mark discuss various aspects of national security, including military deployments, the influence of drug cartels, and the geopolitical dynamics in South America. They delve into the implications of China’s growing presence in the Western Hemisphere and the challenges posed by information warfare. The conv…

1
Leaving Children Behind: Education Policy from Bush to Trump 1:25:10

1M ago1:25:10

1:25:10

Caitlin and Trent speak with educational policy researcher Derek Gottlieb about what it's like to research education in a country whose administration thinks public education shouldn't really even be a thing. Resources: https://www.derekgottliebphd.com/ "Building a Better Teacher" https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/07/magazine/07Teachers-t.html Kristo…

1
Republicans: how did they go from Eisenhower to Trump? 59:58

1M ago59:58

59:58

Paul Heideman, author of Rogue Elephant, on how the Republican party went from a staid vehicle of American business to the frothy lunacy of today The post Republicans: how did they go from Eisenhower to Trump? appeared first on KPFA.By KPFA

1
Bret Stephens' Case for Iraq-ing Venezuela | Palantir Democrats | G-7 Imperialist Multilateralism | Real War on Fake Antifa | Ep. 272 45:10

1M ago45:10

45:10

Van Jackson and Julia Gledhill link back up to discuss Bret Stephens' op-ed in the New York Times making the case for overthrowing Maduro in Venezuela...and why it's the Iraq War all over again. How the Democrats are in bed with Palantir and why they need to get out. The G-7 meeting in Canada revealed what can only be called imperialist multilatera…

1
Skepticism and Survival in Moscow: Dr. Kirill Shamiev 34:15

1M ago34:15

34:15

Michael speaks with Dr. Kirill Shamiev, a non-resident fellow at the Kennan Institute, about the internal dynamics of the Kremlin and its war in Ukraine. Dr. Shamiev discusses the growing skepticism among the Russian elite regarding Putin's invasion, increasing economic anxiety, and the current state of the regime. He also unpacks how the war has s…

1
Federal Worker? How to Keep Calm and Carry On 15:25

1M ago15:25

15:25

The "Fork in the Road" email was sent to federal employees on January 28, 2025. This email, from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), introduced a deferred resignation program, offering employees a choice between continuing their current employment or resigning with full pay and benefits until September 30, 2025. Almost a year after the federa…

1
Episode 738: Is the Navy Missing its Moment, with Chris Servello 57:35

2M ago57:35

57:35

For a decade and a half, since President Obama’s Pacific Pivot speech, there has been a rising tide in the conversation about the need to fix the US Navy’s shortfall to meet the challenge of the People’s Republic of China.Faced with systemic and cascading failures in everything from surface ship design to maintenance, and distractions as frivolous …

1
The Geopolitics of Jeffrey Epstein and Hegemonic Decline w/ Jeet Heer | Ep. 271 45:10

2M ago45:10

45:10

In this crossover episode with The Time of Monsters--a podcast of The Nation Magazine--Jeet Heer and Van Jackson discuss the worldmaking of Jeffrey Epstein and the complicity of America's entire ruling class in his crimes, from Larry Summers and Leon Panetta to Trump himself. Thousands of leaked emails reported by DropSite News have revealed someth…

1
What's It Really Like at the Portland ICE Facility? Part Deux 1:46:48

1M ago1:46:48

1:46:48

Caitlin and Trent speak with livestreamer Audrey Lee about her experiences participating in and documenting protests at the Portland ICE facility. Audrey explains the relationship among the people on the street, the officers of various departments and agencies, and the counterprotesters and right-wing influencers who have been interacting since she…

1
Sudan, and Japan’s new PM 59:58

2M ago59:58

59:58

Mosaab Baba, author of this article, on what’s behind the horrendous civil war in Sudan • Jake Adelstein, an American journalist who’s been living in Japan for almost 40 years, on that country’s reactionary new Prime Minister The post Sudan, and Japan’s new PM appeared first on KPFA.By KPFA